Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
  • B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
  • B08B9/20—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought
  • B08B9/28—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought the apparatus cleaning by splash, spray, or jet application, with or without soaking
  • B08B9/30—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought the apparatus cleaning by splash, spray, or jet application, with or without soaking and having conveyors
  • B08B9/32—Rotating conveyors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
  • B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
  • B08B9/20—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought
  • B08B9/28—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought the apparatus cleaning by splash, spray, or jet application, with or without soaking
  • B08B9/283—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought the apparatus cleaning by splash, spray, or jet application, with or without soaking by gas jets
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
  • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
  • B29C2949/0715—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration the preform having one end closed
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
  • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
  • B29C2949/079—Auxiliary parts or inserts
  • B29C2949/08—Preforms made of several individual parts, e.g. by welding or gluing parts together
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/02—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
  • B29C49/06—Injection blow-moulding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
  • B29C49/42414—Treatment of preforms, e.g. cleaning or spraying water for improved heat transfer
  • B29C49/42416—Purging or cleaning the preforms
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
  • B29C49/42414—Treatment of preforms, e.g. cleaning or spraying water for improved heat transfer
  • B29C49/42416—Purging or cleaning the preforms
  • B29C49/42418—Purging or cleaning the preforms for sterilizing
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2105/00—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
  • B29K2105/25—Solid
  • B29K2105/253—Preform
  • B29K2105/258—Tubular

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an installation for cleaning containers such as bottles, bottles, and more particularly, containers of the preform kind used to shape bottles and the like of thermoplastic material.
• This kind of installation which is mentioned in the documents WO 99/03513 and DE 10140906 makes it possible to clean and, as the case may be, to sterilize, preforms which are intended for the manufacture by blow molding or by stretch-blow molding, of containers made of thermoplastic material.
• This type of installation is also used for the cleaning of bottles such as, for example, bottles which have received after molding, a particular treatment aimed at producing an internal coating deposit which reinforces, in particular, the tightness of the wall.
• the installation comprises several cleaning stations equipped with a tube for blowing a gas under pressure and this insufflation tube is subjected to a rise and fall cycle to penetrate the corresponding bottle which is turned over said tube .
• the up and down movement of the insufflation tube is effected by means of a cam and roller system, with a cam which is fixed and a roller which is integral with the guide carriage of the insufflation tube.
• This cam system makes it possible to precisely position the nozzle located at the end of the insufflation tube relative to the bottom of the bottle.
• this type of installation it is common for this type of installation to see scrolls of product series whose dimensions are variable.
• the change in size of the bottles requires a change of the cam which allows the maneuvering of the insufflation tube.
• the cam is not changed and variations in the cleaning result are observed, given that the optimum distance between the nozzle and the bottom of the bottle is not respected.
• the present invention provides an installation for cleaning containers of the preform type and / or bottles or other, which overcomes the disadvantages of previous installations.
• the installation according to the invention allows the operator to adjust his machine and, in particular, to simultaneously adjust the position that must occupy the different blowing nozzles relative to the bottom of the machine. container to clean. This adjustment is effected by a simple, fast and effective intervention, which ensures at any time optimum cleaning of said preforms, bottles or other.
• the invention also aims to simplify this type of installation, particularly in the distribution of piping and tubing that can convey the cleaning fluid and compressed air with improvements that relate to the reduction of pressure losses.
• the cam type installations have many moving parts, with slide systems for each cleaning station.
• the present invention is also aimed at reducing the number of moving parts and at simplifying the construction of the guiding systems of the insufflation tubes.
• the installation according to the invention consists of a fixed base on which is installed a rotary frame which comprises: on the one hand, means for carrying the containers to be cleaned,
• insufflation tubes which are each manipulated by appropriate means, the cylinder type, to be introduced, on the fly, in the corresponding containers, which means for introducing said insufflation tubes in said containers consist of cylinders which each comprise a hollow rod serving insufflation tube, which rod extends between a cleaning fluid inlet and, on the other side, the nozzle which projects said fluid in and on the bottom of the container corresponding to clean.
• the installation comprises means which make it possible to simultaneously adjust the stroke of the various rods of cylinders which act as insufflation tubes, which means are embarked on the rotary frame.
• the means for adjusting the stroke of the rod of the cylinders consist of a ring disposed on the free end of the rod, on the side of the arrival of the cleaning fluid and, of a stop whose position is adjustable under the effect of appropriate means, to establish and limit the stroke of said ring and to position the cleaning nozzle at a selected distance from the bottom of the container to be cleaned.
• the stops are distributed on a tray-shaped structure, which plate is operated by means of a screw-nut system, and / or rack-and-pinion, to adjust its position as required, with respect to the rotating frame.
• the means for simultaneously adjusting the rods of the cylinders are arranged directly on the support structure of the various cylinders, for axially displacing the support structure of the cylinders and placing the base of each cylinder rod, whose piston serves as adjusting ring and the mouth of the cylinder acts as a stop at a selected distance from the bottom of the corresponding container.
• the system for adjusting the distance between the nozzle and the bottom of the container is also constituted by a screw-nut and / or rack-and-pinion system interposed between the rotary frame. and the cylinder carrier structure.
• the operating means of the adjustment system are actuated either manually or via a PLC which manages, in particular, the information of a device for automatic reading of the height of containers , to adjust the distance between the nozzle and the bottom of said containers.
• each cylinder rod comprises, on the side of the cleaning nozzle, a bell adapted to slide on said rod via a tight guide to cover the opening of the container, which bell is connected to an apparatus of the vacuum cleaner type to allow the recovery of dirt and the like which are released and propelled from the bottom of the container by the cleaning fluid.
• the installation comprises a pressurized fluid supply unit of the compressed air type, which fluid supplies both the cleaning nozzles and the various pneumatic cylinders through their respective actuating members. .
• the installation comprises cylinders of the single-acting type, whose rod is placed in the active cleaning position under the effect of an elastic member of the spring type and the return, in the inactive position, is done by compressed air.
• the various fluids flow between the base and the rotary frame via a rotary distributor.
• the installation comprises a double fluid supply: a supply for the implementation of the cylinders, with compressed air, and - a separate supply with a fluid, compressed air or other, especially suitable for cleaning containers.
• FIG. 1 is a partial schematic view of the installation according to the invention with the nozzle in the active cleaning position
• FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the jack and the container, with the cleaning nozzle in the inactive position
• FIG. 1 shows an alternative embodiment of the installation.
• the installation shown schematically and partially in FIG. 1 concerns the cleaning of preforms 1; it allows a cleaning of said preforms 1 to dust, before their introduction into the heating furnace for example.
• This installation comprises a base 2 which is fixed and which carries a rotating frame 3 on which are found, on the one hand, the preforms 1 and, on the other hand, cleaning tubes 4 which penetrate axially into the corresponding preform 1.
• the plant is fed regularly into preforms by appropriate means, which preforms 1 are installed in a structure which comprises, for example, a wheel 5 of the notched type.
• This wheel 5 is integral with the rotating frame 3, and it rotates in front of a guide 5 'which is fixed, integral with the base 2.
• preforms 1 can also be maintained in different ways, by means of forceps, for example, not shown, carried by arms or a plate secured to the frame 3.
• these preforms 1 are positioned parallel to the axis X-X 'of the frame 3.
• Each tube 4 for blowing the cleaning fluid into the preforms 1 is movable parallel to the axis X-X 'to enter and exit said preforms.
• Each tube 4 is part of a cylinder 6; it constitutes the movable rod of said jack 6 and in particular a rod which is of the through type.
• This jack 6 is carried by a platform-shaped structure 7, which is part of the rotatable frame 3 and this platform 7 comprises in fact a multitude of cylinders 6 which are distributed over its entire periphery.
• Each jack 6 is in correspondence with a location 8 for receiving the preforms 1, which locations are arranged on the wheel 5.
• the insufflation tube 4 comprises, at one of its ends, the cleaning nozzle 9 and, at its other end, a flexible hose 10 of material of the type known under the name "RILSAN", which brings the cleaning fluid .
• the jack 6 is a pneumatic cylinder of the simple effect type. It is placed in the active cleaning position automatically by means of an internal resilient spring-like member 11 and its return to the inactive position is effected by injection of compressed air into the chamber 12 which is opposite to the chamber containing the spring 11.
• the spring 11 is supported on the piston 13 of the jack, which piston is integral with the cleaning tube 4 which serves as a rod for said jack 6.
• FIG. 2 shows the insufflation tube 4 in the inactive position with the spring 11 compressed under the effect of the pressure of the compressed air injected into the chamber 12 of the jack 6. With the tube 4 in this retracted position, the preform 1 can be released from the tray 5 and be taken by appropriate means to enter the furnace.
• the stroke of the insufflation tube 4 can be adjusted, in the axis of said preform, to maintain a distance d between the nozzle 9 situated at the end of said tube 4 and the bottom 14 of the preform 1.
• the insufflation tube 4 comprises, at its free end, on the side of the arrival of the cleaning fluid, a ring 15 which forms a kind of shoulder to the end of said tube.
• the positioning of the insufflation tube 4 is effected by means of this ring 15 and a stop 16 which is in the form of a plate, which plate is common for all the insufflation tubes 4 and in particular to all the rings 15 disposed on said tubes 4.
• This plateau-abutment 16 is vertically movable to vary the stroke of all the insufflation tubes 4. It is movable along the axis XX 'of the frame 3 by means of, for example, a screw system 17-nut 18 which can be manipulated directly by an operator. Any other means can be used to maneuver the abutment plate 16 relative to the frame 3, for example, a rack and pinion system.
• This plateau-abutment 16 is rotatably mounted on the frame 3 as the system for adjusting its position.
• the position of the abutment plate can also be adjusted via a PLC which, for example, takes into account information from an automatic reading and / or pattern recognition device, able to give the dimension of preforms 1 to clean.
• a PLC which, for example, takes into account information from an automatic reading and / or pattern recognition device, able to give the dimension of preforms 1 to clean.
• the latter may also have, for his adjustment, a graduated rule 19, secured to the frame 3 and an index 20 which is carried by the tray -butée 16, for example.
• the ring serving to limit the stroke of the insufflation tube 4 is constituted by the piston 13 of the jack 6.
• This piston 13 comes into abutment when the tube 4 is in the active cleaning position, on the mouth 21 of the jack 6.
• the adjustment of the stroke of the tubes 4 is then effected by adjusting the position of all the jacks 6 relative to the frame 3.
• the cylinders 6 operate in an all-or-nothing mode: in the active position, the piston 13 which is associated with the rod 4 of the jack 6 is abutting on the mouth 21 of the latter and, in the inactive position, said piston 13 is also in abutment on the other end of said jack 6 via the spring 11.
• the various cylinders 6 are carried by the structure 7 in the form of a plate and this structure 7 is centered and guided by means of a system of the kind slide (s) 22 integral with the frame 3 to maintain all the cylinders 6 in axial correspondence with the location 8 of the preforms 1.
• An operating mechanism, of the screw 17-nut 18 type, as above, makes it possible to move axially, along the axis x-x ', the support plate 7 and it makes it possible to adjust the stroke of the tube 4 as required. insufflation to establish the desired distance d between the nozzle 9 and the bottom 14 of the preform to be cleaned.
• control of the operating mechanism of the plate 7 can also be carried out manually or, via a not shown automaton, which takes into account information automatically given or not, concerning the size of the preform 1 to clean or any other object, such as, for example, bottles.
• the operator can have a graduated rule 19 installed, for example, on the slide 22 and an index 20 allowing a direct reading of the position of the plate 7 to establish a distance of appropriate between the nozzle 9 and the bottom 14 of the preform 1.
• a suction bell 23 which is installed on the insufflation tube 4, between the nozzle 9 and the jack 6.
• This bell 23 is slidably mounted on the insufflation tube 4, with a guide of the tight type.
• the tube 4 passes from its inactive position to its active cleaning position, it embarks the bell 23 which is automatically positioned on the opening of the preform 1 without hindering the movement of the tube 4.
• This bell 23 is connected to a device of suction not shown to remove the dust that is detached and ejected by the nozzle 9 cleaning.
• the arrival of the cleaning fluid, the compressed air and the suction of dust and the like at the level of the bell 23 is effected by means of a rotary joint, not shown, arranged between the base 2 and the rotating frame 3.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Cleaning In General (AREA)
• Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=40718752

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (11)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 2008
  • 2008-11-04 FR FR0857485A patent/FR2937889B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2009
  • 2009-11-02 WO PCT/FR2009/052109 patent/WO2010052416A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2009-11-02 CN CN2009801516414A patent/CN102245318A/zh active Pending
  • 2009-11-02 EP EP09768123A patent/EP2346623A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-11-02 US US13/127,388 patent/US20110209731A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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