GB1387445A - Apparatus and method for cleaning pastry material out of emptied containers and collecting the material - Google Patents

Abstract

1387445 Removing paste from emptied containers H J HEINZ CO 1 June 1972 25681/72 Heading B8T Food paste remaining in cans after emptying is removed by conveying the inverted open cans over a collection hopper 28, preventing the upward movement of the cans, and directing pressurized steam into each can. The inverted open cans are moved off a feeding tray 26 by the lugs 34 of an intermittently-operated chain conveyer 32 and slide along rods 36, being restrained vertically by guide 160 and laterally by guide 165. When in each of two locations at the centre of the hopper length, the can is entered by a vertically-reciprocated steam nozzle 102 and cleaned with steam (at 90-105 p.s.i.g.). The chain conveyer 32 is driven by a sprocket 56 carried on a shaft 52 which has a pair of crank arms 66 between which is pivoted the piston rod of a pneumatic cylinder 60, a pawl-and-ratchet 82 ensuring rotation of the shaft 52 which is also braked. The steam nozzles 102 are supplied by a common pipe 108 fixed to pairs of arms 110 which support rollers 112 engaging rails 113, and are reciprocated vertically by a pneumatic cylinder connected to the sides 116. Limit switches provided on the rails 113 are operated by the vertical reciprocation of the steam nozzles 102, and a limit switch is operated when the piston rod of cylinder 60 is fully extended. The apparatus is controlled pneumatically by the limit switches and a pair of air control valves, Figs. 6 and 6A (not shown). Paste may be discharged from the hopper 28 by means of a pump.