Sterilizing tunnel for pharmaceutical containers

Abstract

A sterilizing tunnel ( 10; 10 a ) for pharmaceutical containers ( 1 ) has an entry zone ( 11 ), a heating zone ( 12 ), and two cooling zones ( 13, 14 ). The individual zones contain ventilating fan units ( 22, 23, 24 ) that generate air currents, which serve to heat and cool the containers ( 1 ) that a transport apparatus ( 17 ) conveys through the sterilizing tunnel ( 10; 10 a ). The invention proposes that the heating and cooling units, which operate using the principle of heated and cooled air flows, be supplemented with radiant heat-generating heating units ( 35, 36, 37, 40 ). The sterilizing tunnel ( 10; 10 a ) according to the invention makes it possible to achieve a uniform heating and cooling of the containers ( 1 ), preventing stress cracks in the containers ( 1 ) and permitting intentional heating that makes it possible, for example, for the containers ( 1 ) to be coated with a substance.

1 . A sterilizing tunnel ( 10 ;  10   a ) for pharmaceutical containers ( 1 ), with a transport apparatus ( 17 ) that conveys the containers ( 1 ) along a heating zone ( 12 ) and at least one cooling zone ( 13 ,  14 ), and with ventilating fan units ( 22 ,  23 ,  24 ) for generating air currents that circulate around the containers ( 1 ) in the heating zone ( 12 ) and the at least one cooling zone ( 13 ,  14 ), characterized in that at least in the region of the heating zone ( 12 ), in addition to the ventilating fan unit ( 22 ), at least one radiant heat-generating heating unit ( 35 ) is provided, which acts on the container bottoms ( 3 ).  
     
     
         2 . The sterilizing tunnel according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one heating unit ( 35 ) is disposed on the side oriented toward an entry zone ( 11 ) of the heating zone ( 12 ).  
     
     
         3 . The sterilizing tunnel according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the transport apparatus ( 17 ) is embodied as a radiation-permeable wire mesh belt and that the at least one heating unit ( 35 ) is disposed on the side of the transport apparatus ( 17 ) opposite from the containers ( 1 ).  
     
     
         4 . The sterilizing tunnel according to one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the at least one heating unit ( 35 ) in the heating zone ( 12 ) is disposed in a first region ( 34 ) that is separated by means of a dividing wall ( 31 ) from a second region ( 33 ) in which the ventilating fan unit ( 22 ) acts on the containers ( 1 ).  
     
     
         5 . The sterilizing tunnel according to  claim 4 , characterized in that additional radiant heat-generating heating units ( 36 ,  37 ) are disposed in the first region ( 34 ) above and to the side of the containers ( 1 ).  
     
     
         6 . The sterilizing tunnel according to one of  claims 1  to  5 , characterized in that at least one additional radiant heat-generating heating unit ( 40 ) is also disposed in the region of the cooling zone ( 13 ,  14 ), on the side oriented toward the heating zone ( 12 ).  
     
     
         7 . The sterilizing tunnel according to  claim 6 , characterized in that at least one additional heating unit ( 40 ) is disposed above the containers ( 1 ).  
     
     
         8 . The sterilizing tunnel according to one of  claims 1  to  7 , characterized in that a temperature sensor ( 39 ) is disposed in the vicinity of the at least one heating unit ( 35 ) and cooperates with the control unit of the sterilizing tunnel ( 10 ).