GB1015188A - Improvements in or relating to methods and devices for cleaning and/or sterilizing bottle filling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,015,188. Bottle filling apparatus. U.D.E.C. Ltd. Feb. 14, 1964 [Jan. 21, 1963], No. 2608/63. Heading B8T. The surfaces of a bottle filling machine, which may be of the rotary type, which normally come into contact with the filling liquid are cleaned and/or sterilized by replacing the bottles by containers 53 having top openings of larger area than the bottle necks and which are of equal or greater height than the bottles, and by replacing the liquid in a bowl 13 by cleansing and/or sterilizing liquid, and causing said cleansing liquid to flow over said surfaces. Each container is positioned with its upper end in contact with a locating member 33 attached to two reciprocally moving rods 17, upward movement of the container causing the rods to move upwardly and an O-ring 39 to be brought into contact with a rim 18 of a filling head. A ring 21 has been previously loosened causing a diaphragm portion 22 of a resilient sealing member to be loosened and to so lift a delivery tube 24 relative to an air release pipe 29. Cleansing liquid thus flows through both the air pipe and between said pipe and the delivery tube, flowing into the container through an opening 36 and also through openings 37 and thence out through a small hole 56 near the container base and into a collecting tray 57. Since the rate of flow into the container is greater than the flow through the small hole 56 the cleansing liquid floods the greater part of the under surface of the locating member 33 and also the surface 34 into which the bottle neck normally fits. The bowl 13 is supplied with liquid through a float-controlled valve which has a part 41 fixed in relation to the bowl and another part 40 restrained against up and down movement, upward movement of the bowl causing the valve to open and the level of the liquid to rise above the air release pipe 26.