FR2640167A1 - AUTOMATIC RINSING AND STERILIZATION MACHINE FOR BOTTLES - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic machine for rinsing and sterilizing bottles characterized in that it is essentially constituted by cups 1 for receiving the bottles 2 arranged in satellites 10 in a wheel 3 whose axis 4 is horizontal, by a device 5 for introducing the bottles 2 into the cups 1 supplied by a chain 6 for conveying the bottles, by a device 8 for receiving the washed bottles discharging the latter by means of an outlet chain 7 and, optionally, by a casing protection 9 surrounding the wheel 3 with its satellites 10 on the part of the path extending after the device 5 for introducing the bottles to the device 8 for receiving the washed bottles.

Description

Automatic bottle rinsing and sterilization machine La

  present invention relates to the field of packaging liquids, in particular food liquids, in glass bottles, or others, and more particularly the prior rinsing and sterilization of such bottles and relates to a ma-

  china automatic bottle rinsing and sterilization

  teilles. The new bottles are packed in the factory on wooden pallets over a height of about five sheets which are separated from each other by a layer of cardboard, the whole being kept under a cover in

  heat-shrinkable synthetic material.

  The cleanliness of these bottles is, however,

  is involved for various reasons, namely in particular because of a condensation phenomenon due to temperature variations during transport and storage as well

  because of penetrations of broken glass,

  or others, or unwanted odors emanating from

  in particular cardboard or synthetic material.

  In the first case, a form occurs

  tion of droplets which dehydrate later inside the bottle, leaving traces. To overcome these drawbacks, new bottles are rinsed with running water,

  possibly added a sterilizing product.

  Such rinsing can be carried out manually or

  by means of automatic or semi-automatic devices.

  To this end, there are currently two known

  rinsing ceded. The first method consists of placing the bottles on a transport chain emerging through a distribution star in a carousel provided with grippers for gripping the bottles by their necks. The bottles are then turned over in order to receive, for example, an injection of water or

  of air. The carousel cycle being continuous, each bou-

  it is returned to its standing position on the chain

after draining.

  The second method consists in pushing simultaneously

  several bottles outside the transport chain

  port and thread them into a row of buckets which are

  mounted in a vertical wheel, the axis of which is therefore homo

  rice, the necks being directed towards said axis. The buckets are arranged all around the wheel which plunges through its lower half, in a tank filled with a sterilizing solution, generally based on SO 2.

  The rows of buckets, which carry the bottles-

  the, therefore plunge successively one after the other

  very much in the solution. At the outlet of the solution, after exceeding the horizontal, the bottles are emptied

  and receive, at a predetermined location from their

  course, an injection of running water.

  From the upright, inverted position, of the bottles, i.e. the neck being turned towards

  at the bottom, said bottles drip then are evacuated

  cured on a transport chain.

  Known rinsing methods and devices

  provide relatively satisfactory results

  doing; however, drip time is an issue.

  me crucial limiting the hourly production capacity of

these methods and devices.

  Indeed, generally, four operations must

  successive wind, namely an injection of a sulfur solution followed by an injection of filtered running water

  after a time called "reaction" and a time of draining

  ge, which should be as long as possible.

  Hourly production capacity cannot be

  obtained only by the number of pliers gripping the

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  and therefore, only by enlarging the diameter of the carousel, which very quickly poses an almost insoluble problem of space as well as a

manufacturing cost problem.

  When using a wheeled rinsing machine, the bottles are not in position

  overturned only for a short fraction of their

  course compared to a full turn of the wheel, so

  that satisfactory drainage is difficult to obtain.

  The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks.

  Its purpose is, in fact, to be a self-contained machine

  bottle rinsing and sterilization material

  characterized in that it consists essentially of bottles receiving bowls arranged in satellites in a wheel whose axis is horizontal, by

  a device for introducing the bottles into the go-

  food supplied by a bottle conveyor chain

  them, by a device for receiving the bottles la-

  vee discharging the latter by means of an outlet chain and; possibly, by a protective casing surrounding the wheel with its satellites on the part of the course extending after the introduction device

  from the bottles to the bottle receiving device

washed seals.

  The invention will be better understood thanks to the

  description below, which relates to an embodiment

  preferred tion, given by way of nonlimiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

  Figure 1 is a side elevational view in section

  eg of a machine according to the invention

  FIG. 2 is a front elevation view in section

  eg according to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partial view, in side elevation

  and in section, representing the introduction of a bottle

  the, and Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3

  representing the bottle being rotated.

  In accordance with the invention, and as my-

  more particularly, for example, the figures

  Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, the automatic bottle rinsing and sterilization machine is essentially constituted by cups 1 for receiving bottles 2 arranged in satellites 10 in a wheel 3

  whose axis 4 is horizontal, by a device 5 of

  production of the bottles in the buckets 1 supplied by a chain 6 for conveying the bottles 2, which are discharged, after washing, on an outlet chain 7 by means of a receiving device 8 and, optionally, by a protective casing 9 surrounding the wheel 3 with its buckets 1 mounted in satellites 10 on the part of the

  course of the bottles 2 which extends after the arrangement

  introduction 5 to the receiving device 8.

  The buckets 1 are advantageously arranged in

  rows on satellites 10 articulated at their ends

  tees, by means of discs 11, on the wheel 3, which is constituted by star arms or by flanges in

  disc shape (dotted line in Figure 1), the arti-

  culation being carried out in such a way that the buckets

  1 fitted with bottles 2 have their center of gravity

  between the axis of articulation on the wheel 3 and the

  tellites 10, so that the bottles engaged in the satellites 10 by their necks orient themselves naturally

  vertically, the neck down (Figures 1 and 2).

  In accordance with a characteristic of the invention

  tion, the cups 1 are each advantageously in the form of a hollow cylinder provided at its end

  facing satellite 10 with a shrinking sec-

  tion for the housing of the neck of the bottles 2 (FIG. 1). Each bucket mounting satellite 10 1 is provided with an injector rail (not shown), which is connected, in a manner known per se, to a central distribution manifold (not shown). So at

  by means of an automatic control device (not

  presented), it is possible to inject, successively, during the progression by rotation of the cups 1 on the satellites 10 with the bottles 2 inside the casing 9, two fluids, namely a washing and disinfection fluid and a rinse aid, water. According to another characteristic of the invention, each satellite 10 can advantageously be provided with a chute (not shown) for receiving the washing and rinsing fluids opening at one end into corresponding bores of a disc 11 for articulation of the satellites 10, a static gutter 26, connected to the casing 9, surrounding the lower part of the path of the discs 11 provided with these holes for recovering said washing and rinsing fluids. Such a provision

  fluid circulation circuit is not shown

  shown in detail in the drawings, but is a perfectly known embodiment in mechanical engineering. In addition, the provision of a static gutter 26 for receiving the washing and rinsing fluids makes it possible to avoid carrying out this recovery in the bottom of the casing 9

  and, optionally, to treat the two fluids separately

  for re-use. Finally, such a recu-

  also avoids splashes of fluids inside or outside the casing 9 and makes a separation of the "wet compartment" from the "dry compartment" so that the bottles

  rinsed remain dry outside.

  The device 5 for introducing the bottles into the cups 1 of the satellites 10, which is supplied by a chain 6 for conveying the bottles 2, known per se, advantageously consists, on the one hand, of

  a rack 13, slightly inclined with respect to the glass

  ticale, including the horizontal bar 14 for supporting

  teeth serves to support articulated levers 15, the former

  end is secured to a crosspiece 16 for lifting the bottles 2 extending in front of the teeth of the rack 13, said levers 15 being actuated, in known manner, by means of jacks or the like (not shown), and,

  on the other hand, by a rail 17 in the form of a bottom lever

  cylinder 2 on the cross 16 and the râ-

  door 13, pivotally mounted at one end on a rear

  drive bre 18 actuated by a jack or the like (not shown), the cross member 16 being advantageously provided with a longitudinal pallet 19 extending up to

  proximity to the conveyor chain 6.

  The device 8 for receiving bottles la-

  vées consists of a swivel rack 20, of which

  the pivot axis 21 extends parallel and ni-

  calf with the output chain 7, and which is actuated by means of a jack or the like (not shown) acting

  on said axis 21, a stop rail 22, also extending

  ment parallel to the chain 7 and the rack 20, being provided along the chain 7 above the latter. Thus, the bottles 2 unloaded from the buckets 1 of the satellites 10 on the rack 20 and brought, by

  pivoting, by the latter, on the chain 7, are main-

held on the latter.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, each satellite 10 is provided, on one of its axes of articulations on the wheel 3, with a rubberized wheel or a pinion 23 intended to cooperate with a cam or a rack 24 , integral with the housing

  protection 9, extending over a circular sector

  centered on the axis of the wheel 3, on the part of the

  course of the bottles 2 including the unloading and the loading of these and allowing the pivoting of the satellites 10 from their vertical position, the

  neck of the bottles being turned down towards the

  said unloading position, as well as the return of

  said satellites 10 in an automatic position of pi-

  bottle bottling, neck turned down

(figure 1).

  According to another characteristic of the invention,

  not shown in the accompanying drawings, the articulation axis

  tion of at least one disc 11 of each satellite 10 is advantageously provided with a lever provided at its end

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  free of a cooperating roller or guide shoe, between

  the positions of unloading and loading of the bou-

  , with a curved guide rail integral with the corresponding wall of the casing 9. Thus, a correct position of the satellites 10 with the buckets 1 is perfectly ensured for the unloading and loading of the bottles 2, a random rotation of the satellites 10 ,

  possible when using a rubber wheel

  tee 23 cooperating with a cam 24, being prevented.

  The wheel 3 is advantageously driven at

  by means of a stepping motor or by a clipping device

  quets or Maltese crosses. Thus, a ro-

  sequential tation of the wheel 3 with the satellites 10 and the buckets 1, which is particularly useful for

  bottle unloading and loading operations

the 2.

  In order to maintain the bottles 2 in the cups 1 of the satellites 10, immediately after their loading, at the precise moment when each satellite is repositioned vertically under the effect of the rotation of

  the wheel 23 on the cam 24, the wheel 3 is provided, at the

  calf of each satellite 10, of an enveloping fairing

  fixed between the flanges forming the wheel 3 and present

  as a form of trough in an arc extending

  concentrically around the axis of articulation of the

  tellite 10 from a radial axis from the horizontal axis

  zontal 4 of the wheel 3 and passing through the articulation axis-

  tion of satellites 10 substantially to the secant

  of the generator of the bottles 2 resting in the râ-

  panel 13 (Figures 3 and 4). Thus, during the loading of the bottles 2 into the cups 1 of the satellites 10, the crosspiece 16 pushes the bottles 2 located on the

  rack 13 in said buckets 1, the generators

  bottles 1 passing then very close to the

edge of the shroud 25.

  During the next rotation of the wheel 3, the satellite 10, whose buckets 1 were previously loaded, rotates around its axis, under

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  the effect of friction or meshing of its wheel or its pinion 23 on the cam or the rack 24, so

  gradually bring the bottles 2 into a posi-

  vertical tion, the neck turned downwards. During the intermediate positions of rotation, the enveloping fairing 25 forms a rear stop for the bottom of the

  bottles 2 preventing them from falling out of taste

  Deets 1. When the satellite 10, with buckets 1 and

  the bottles 2, arrives in a pivotal position-

  ment, in which the center of gravity of the assembly is positioned under the axis of articulation on the wheel 3,

  which corresponds to the end of the cooperation or the

  wheel and cam or pinion 23 and the

  rack 24, it rotates automatically into a posi-

  vertical position for washing and rinsing the bottles. After the washing and rinsing operations, the bottles 2 can drip into the chutes provided in the satellites 10, then the latter are

  gradually tilted to the discharge position-

  ment, during the continued rotation of the wheel 3, by a new cooperation between the wheel or the pinion 23 and the cam or the rack 24 (Figure 1). AT

  the arrival of satellite 10 with buckets 1 and bou-

  2 in the unloading position, the bottles

  the 2 automatically slide out of the buckets 1 on the rack 20 of the evacuation device 8, a pivoting of said rack 20 upwards bringing the bottles 2 onto the outlet chain 7, the stop rail 22 ensuring their maintenance on said chain of outlet 7 during said pivoting. The buckets 1 of satellite 10 are then ready for the reception of new bottles to be washed during the step

next rotation.

  Thanks to the invention, it is possible to realize

  ser an automatic bottle rinsing machine allowing a high rate of treatment while

  ensuring perfect drainage of said bottles.

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  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements

  or by substitution of technical equivalents, without

  provided, however, from the scope of protection of the invention.

R E V E ND I C A T IONS

  1. Automatic rinse and sterilization machine

  reading of bottles characterized in that it is

  essentially consisting of receiving buckets (1)

  tion of the bottles (2) arranged in satellites (10) in a wheel (3) whose axis (4) is horizontal, by a device (5) for introducing the bottles (2) into the cups (1) powered by a chain (6) for conveying

  bottles, by a device (8) for receiving the bottles

  washed scraps disposing of the latter by means of an outlet chain (7) and, optionally, by a casing

  protection (9) surrounding the wheel (3) with its satel-

  lites (10) on the part of the course extending after the device (5) for introducing the bottles up to

  device (8) for receiving washed bottles.

  2. Machine according to claim 1, charac-

  advantageous in that the buckets (1) are advantageously arranged in rows on satellites (10) articulated at their ends, by means of discs (11), on the wheel (3), which is constituted by star arms or by disc-shaped flanges, the articulation being produced in such a way that the cups (1) fitted with the bottles (2) have their center of gravity between the axis of articulation on the wheel (3) and the satellites

  (10), so that the bottles engaged in the sa-

  tellites (10) by their neck naturally orient themselves vertically, the neck down; and in that the cups (1) are each advantageously in the form of a hollow cylinder provided at its end facing the satellite (10) with a narrowing of section

  for housing the neck of the bottles (2).

  3. Machine according to any one of the res-

  dications 1 and 2, characterized in that each satellite

  te (10) for mounting the cups (1) is provided with an injector ramp, which is connected, in a manner known per se,

  to a central distribution manifold.

  4. Machine according to any one of the res-

  ll dications 1 to 3, characterized in that each satellite

  (10) is advantageously provided with a receiving chute

  tion of washing and rinsing fluids leading to

  one end in corresponding holes of a dis-

  that (11) articulation of the satellites (10), a static gutter (26), connected to the casing (9), surrounding the lower part of the path of the discs (11) provided with these holes for recovering said washing fluids and

rinse.

  5. Machine according to claim 1, charac-

  characterized in that the device (5) for introducing the bottles into the cups (1) of the satellites (10), which

  is fed by a chain (6) for conveying the

  teilles (2) is advantageously constituted, on the one hand, by a rack (13), slightly inclined relative to the vertical, whose horizontal bar (14) for supporting the teeth serves to support articulated levers (15) the end of which is integral with a lifting cross-member (16)

  bottles (2) extending in front of the teeth of the rasp

  link (13), said levers (15) being actuated by means of jacks or the like, and, on the other hand, by a rail (17) in the form of a lever for tilting bottles (2) on the crosspiece (16) and the rack (13), pivotally mounted at one end on a drive shaft (18) actuated by a jack or the like, the crosspiece (16) being advantageously provided with a longitudinal pallet

  (19) extending to near the chain of con-

travel (6) .-

  - 6. Machine according to claim 1, charac-

  terized in that the device (8) for receiving bou-

  washed scum consists of a swivel rack

  (20), whose pivot axis (21> extends parallel-

  ment and level with the output chain (7), and which is actuated by means of a jack or the like acting on said axis (21), a stop rail (22>, also extending parallel to the chain ( 7) and the rack (20), being provided along the chain (7) above

the latter.

2640 1 6 7

  7. Machine according to any one of the res-

  dications 1 to 4, characterized in that each satellite (10) is provided, on one of its axes of articulations on the wheel (3), with a rubberized wheel or a pinion (23) intended to cooperate with a cam or a rack (24), integral with the protective casing (9), extending over a circular sector concentric with the axis of the wheel (3), on the part of the course of the bottles (2) including unloading and loading them and allowing the satellites (10) to pivot from their vertical position, the neck of the bottles

  being turned down towards said discharge position

  as well as the return of said satellites (10) to an automatic pivoting position for the bottles,

the neck turned down.

  8. Machine according to any one of the res-

  dications 1 to 4 and 7, characterized in that the axis

  of articulation of at least one disc (11) of each sa-

  tellite (10) is advantageously provided with a lever provided at its free end with a roller or cooperating guide shoe, between the unloading and

  bottle loading, with curved guide rail

  viligne integral with the corresponding wall of the casing (9).

  9. Machine according to claim 1, charac-

  advantageous in that the wheel (3) is advantageously

  dragged by a stepper motor or by a provision

  ratchet or Maltese cross.

  10. Machine, according to any one of the re-

  vendications 1 to 4, 7 and 8, characterized in that, in order to ensure the maintenance of the bottles (2) in the cups (1) of the satellites (10), immediately after their

  loading, at the precise moment when each satellite

  positioned vertically under the effect of the wheel (23) rolling on the cam (24), the wheel (3) is provided, at

  level of each satellite (10), of an enveloping fairing

  pant (25) fixed between the flanges forming the wheel (3) and having the shape of a trough in an arc

  extending concentrically around the axis of articulation-

  tion of the satellite (10) from a radial axis coming from the horizontal axis (4) of the wheel (3) and passing through the articulation axis of the satellites (10) substantially up to the intersection of the bottle generator (2) resting

in the rack (13).