Container closure sterilising unit

Abstract

A container closure sterilising unit including at least one closure treatment station and a device for feeding a plurality of container closures to the closure treatment station. The feeding device having a guiding means defining a conveying path that includes at least one linear tract and along which the treatment station is positioned. The feeding device includes a conveying means associated with the guiding means and operable to advance the plurality of closures toward the treatment state spaced along the conveying path.

1 . A container closure sterilizing unit, comprising:
 at least one closure treatment station and a feeding device for feeding a plurality of container closures to said closure treatment station; said feeding device comprising guiding means defining a conveying path including at least one linear tract and along which said at least one treatment station is positioned;   wherein said feeding device includes a conveying means operatively associated with said guiding means and operable to advance said plurality of closures toward said treatment station positioned along said conveying path.   
     
     
         2 . The sterilizing unit of  claim 1 , wherein said conveying means includes a helical coil operable to advance said closures along said conveying path in single file and fed to said at least one treatment station with uniform speed. 
     
     
         3 . The sterilizing unit of  claim 2 , wherein a longitudinal axis of said helical coil extends parallel to said tract of conveying path. 
     
     
         4 . The sterilizing unit of  claim 2 , wherein said helical coil is born by a shaft substantially coaxial with coil and driven by motor means. 
     
     
         5 . The sterilizing unit of  claim 2 , wherein said helical coil is hollow and configured to receive a flow of a thermal carrier fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The sterilizing unit of  claim 1 , wherein said guiding means includes a plurality of guides. 
     
     
         7 . The sterilizing unit of  claim 6 , wherein at least for a portion of said guides are inclined relative to the horizontal direction. 
     
     
         8 . The sterilizing unit of  claim 6 , wherein said guides includes:
 at least one first guide extending, at least along said tract of conveying path, parallel to said tract and operatively active on a lateral edge surface of closures; and   at least one second guide cooperating with a top surface of said closures.   
     
     
         9 . The sterilizing unit of  claim 1 , including an outer casing adapted to house said guiding means and said conveying means. 
     
     
         10 . The sterilizing unit of  claim 9 , wherein said outer casing has at least a first service window positioned in the location of said closure treatment station to enable treatment of said closures travelling along said path, the sterilizing unit including at least one source of ionizing radiation arranged at a relative service window. 
     
     
         11 . The sterilizing unit of  claim 3 , including a plurality of strengthening guide elements extending parallel to said axis of said helical coil and substantially tangential to the convolutions of said helical coil.