GB875177A - A tunnel sterilizer comprising rotating containers - Google Patents

Abstract

875,177. Continuous sterilization of liquids in bottles &c. SIEBOLS, P. April 2, 1959 [April 2, 1958], No. 11189/59. Class 49. [Also in Group XXX] In apparatus for the continuous sterilization of articles, such as bottles of milk-coffee mixture or chocolate-milk of high fat content, beer or lemonade, consisting of consecutive chambers I to X (Fig. 1) forming an oblong tunnel which is divided up internally into a number of compartments separated by partitions 1, wherein heating, sterilization and cooling of the articles successively take place, the articles are advanced stepwise in a number of axially rotating containers 3 from one compartment into the succeeding one through opening and closing hatches 2 in the partitions and a head-over rotation is imparted to the containers about their axes in at least some of the compartments. The head-over rotation is effected by the rotation of shafts 5 at the ends of the containers in semi-circular bearings 6, through a gear 14 on the shaft cooperating with a second gear 15 driven through a worm from a single shaft 17; the rates of rotation of the containers in the various compartments is varied by suitable selection of the ratios of the worms. Alternatively the rotation may be obtained by employing friction wheels, chain-sprocket wheels or V-belts. The containers 3 are advanced by the movement of beams 18 on which bearings 21, for receiving the shafts 5 of the containers, are mounted. The beams 18 are lifted by the raising of beams 20 through a mechanism 22, a forward movement of the beams 18 on rails 24 is urged by hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders 23, the stroke of which accurately corresponds with the pitch of the bearings 6, and the shafts are then lowered into the bearings 6 by lowering of the beams 20. The lifting and conveying mechanism is arranged to actuate the opening and closing of the hatches 2. Where the shafts of the containers are supported between the double side walls 26, 27 of the compartments (as shown in Fig. 5), the longitudinal slot needed along the inner wall 26 may be encased by shiftable plates.