GB1016443A - Improvements in or relating to machines for washing, sterilizing and filling containers - Google Patents

Abstract

1,016,443. Washing and filling casks. UNIVERSAL EQUIPMENT Co. (London) Ltd. July 26, 1963 [July 27, 1962], No. 28903/62. Heading B8T. Beer casks or the like are moved in an inverted position through stations A, B, C, D and E by a reciprocatory conveyer, and are held stationary at each station whilst cleaning operations and a fining operation is performed on them. They pass from a loading station A to a station B where they are subjected to an internal and external hot water wash and then an internal caustic solution wash: at station C they receive an interior hot water wash and steaming. At station D steam is again introduced followed by a cold water rinse; air under pressure is then applied to remove water and each cask is then subjected to an internal air pressure to detect leaks; finally the casks are filled with beer before passing to removal station E where the cask neck is sprayed with water. The machine described is automatic and has two side-by-side cask lanes; the conveyer comprises a longitudinally reciprocating carriage 20 roller mounted on a vertically reciprocable beam 13 whereby the rows of casks are lifted from the treatment heads at the various stations and are traversed to the adjacent head or station in turn. The beam is reciprocated vertically by an hydraulic cylinder 36 acting between a fixed framework 35 and a yoke 33 to which beam lifting rods 31 are secured. The rods are attached to channel members 25 secured to the beam and provided with rollers which run on fixed vertical posts 29. The carriage is reciprocated by an hydraulic cylinder 39. The machine services casks having spring-loaded spur closures surrounded by exterior necks, and the casks are correctly located in an inverted position by devices 41 on the carriage. Static washing heads 43, 44, which are similar, are located at stations B and C and a filing head 45 is positioned at station D. Each head, Fig. 9, includes a ring 47 which locates a cask neck, and includes a rubber annulus 49 which provides a fluid-tight seal between the cask neck and the head when downward pressure is applied to the cask. Such pressure is applied at each station by clamp plates 54 fixed to the pistons of pneumatic cylinder 55, all of which are moved together to clamp the casks on to their heads. The spur valves of the casks are then opened by moving a rod 59 of each head upwardly against the action of a spring 63 by an hydraulic cylinder acting through a rod 77 and a pivoted lever 73. The filling head at station D has an inlet 121 for steam and cold water, and an inlet 125 for beer controlled by a valve 126, Fig. 9, operated by a pneumatic cylinder 127; it also includes compressed air supply and exhaust lines 123 and 124 respectively, Fig. 10. The machine base houses a heated caustic solution tank 103 and a heated water tank 104, and hot water and then caustic solution is pumped to each head at station B via a pipe 108, Fig. 8. It flows through bores 70 and through the rod 59 into the cask, and the water and solution are drained from the cask via a pipe 109 and to a drain tray which is arcuately displaceable so that its effluent passes back to the appropriate tank. At station C each head is fed with hot water and then steam via a pipe corresponding to 108 in Fig. 8, the hot water is returned to the tank. The various stations are separated by vertically reciprocable doors 11 and 80 driven in unison through chain and sprocket drives, an hydraulic motor providing the drive. The machine includes electric timers acting through relays to control the operation of pneumatic valves controlling the various operations.