JP2001327940A - Container cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container cleaning device which is capable of collectively cleaning the interior of many pieces of comparatively small containers with satisfactory cleaning effect and in a comparatively short time and is of a simple construction. SOLUTION: The container cleaning device has a cleaning liquid jet means 10 which spews a cleaning liquid from a plurality of nozzles 12 protruding almost vertically upward from each of the upper faces of a plurality of pipes 11A-11D laid extending almost horizontally. The containers 40 are set at the projecting positions of the nozzles 12 on the pipes 11A-11D of the cleaning liquid jet means 10 so that the nozzles 12 are inserted into the containers 40 with the openings of the nozzles 12 turned downward. Further, an elastic member (e.g. a metal mesh 20) which comes into contact with the containers 40 afloat from the pipes 11A-11D by the jet pressure of the cleaning liquid, is arranged above the means 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container cleaning device, and more particularly to a sample container (sample container) used for various experiments (tests) in various industrial fields, a sample container used for medical field inspections, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The present invention relates to a container cleaning apparatus suitable for cleaning relatively small containers used for packaging containers and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the pharmaceutical field, for example, a relatively small glass or plastic container is used as a sample container (sample container) used in an experiment (test) for drug development research. Such a container is supplied from a container trader, and at least the inside of the container is washed with a cleaning liquid before use. Once used, they are washed again and reused. Such a small container may be used as a packaging container (product container) for products such as drugs (tablets, liquids, powders, etc.). In such a case, at least the container is filled with a washing liquid before filling with the drug. Use after cleaning the inside. Such containers are often washed by hand. There is also a method of immersing a basket containing a plurality of containers in a cleaning liquid tank, shaking the containers together with the cages, and simultaneously removing dirt from the plurality of containers. Foreign matter may not be removed sufficiently.

[0003] Therefore, the inner surface of the container is sprayed with a jetting means (nozzle).
Although it is conceivable to wash with a cleaning liquid ejected from a container, a small container such as a sample container (sample container) is lightweight, so if the injection pressure of the cleaning liquid is increased, the container is blown off by the injection pressure of the cleaning liquid. Therefore, the injection pressure of the cleaning liquid cannot be increased so much, and the cleaning efficiency is poor. In the cleaning of beverage containers (bottles, cans, etc.), various cleaning apparatuses have been proposed in which a large number of containers are cleaned at once by using a cleaning liquid jetting means. Usually, this type of cleaning apparatus includes a container transporting unit and a holding unit in addition to the cleaning liquid injection unit. Therefore, a small container such as a sample container (sample container) is washed with a container holding means similar to a cleaning device for such a beverage container (bottle, can) or the like. It is conceivable to prevent the container from being blown off during the cleaning.

However, small containers such as sample containers (sample containers) are smaller and lighter than containers for beverages and the like, and have low strength. In addition, a high degree of operability is required for the gripping means, and the configuration of the gripping means is complicated mechanically or controlly.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, according to the present invention, the inside of a large number of relatively small containers can be collectively cleaned in a relatively short time with good cleaning properties. It is an object to provide a container cleaning device having a simple configuration.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above problems, the present invention has the following features. (1) A plurality of nozzles protrude substantially vertically upward on each upper surface of a plurality of pipes running substantially horizontally, and a cleaning liquid jetting means for jetting a cleaning liquid from each nozzle is provided. A device for cleaning the inside of a container with a cleaning liquid ejected from the nozzle, with the container being set so that the nozzle is inserted into the container with the opening thereof facing downward, and An apparatus for cleaning a container, comprising: an elastic member that abuts on a container rising from above to prevent the container from being detached from the pipe. (2) The container cleaning apparatus according to the above (1), wherein the elastic member is a metal mesh disposed substantially horizontally above the cleaning liquid ejecting means. (3) The container cleaning apparatus according to the above (1) or (2), wherein the cleaning liquid jetting means and the elastic member are housed in the housing, and a discharge port for the cleaning liquid is provided on a bottom surface of the housing. (4) The container cleaning device according to (3), wherein one side of the elastic member is rotatably attached to the side surface of the housing, and the elastic member serves as a middle lid of the housing. (5) The container cleaning device according to (3), wherein the bottom surface of the housing is inclined downward toward the discharge port. (6) The container washing apparatus according to (1), wherein the projecting height of the nozzle is lower than the height of the container, and the container is set by placing the container on the upper surface of the pipe. (7) The container washing as described in (6) above, wherein the protruding height of the nozzle is such that the tip of the nozzle abuts against the inner side surface of the container so that the container can be kept substantially upright even if the set container is inclined. apparatus. (8) The container cleaning device according to (1), wherein the height of the nozzle is higher than the height of the container, and the container is set by bringing the inner bottom surface of the container into contact with the tip of the nozzle. (9) Even if the container to be set is tilted after setting,
The container cleaning apparatus according to the above (8), wherein the container is an elongated container whose opening portion does not come off the nozzle by contacting the intermediate portion of the nozzle. (10) A plurality of pipes are branched from one trunk pipe, and a cock is provided at a branch side end of each pipe so that supply and stop of the cleaning liquid to the pipe can be performed by opening and closing the cock. The container cleaning apparatus according to the above (1).

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are a front view and a plan view of an example of the container cleaning apparatus of the present invention. The container cleaning device,
It has a housing 50 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and has a cleaning liquid ejecting means 10 therein and a metal mesh 20 disposed above the cleaning liquid ejecting means 10 and covering substantially the entire area of the cleaning liquid ejecting means 10. .

The cleaning liquid injection means 10 has a plurality of pipes 11A to 11D which run substantially horizontally.
On each upper surface of D, a plurality of nozzles 12 project substantially vertically upward. The plurality of pipes 11A to 11D are branched from one trunk pipe 13, and a cock 14 is attached to an end on the branch start side. Further, a liquid introduction pipe 15 for introducing a cleaning liquid to the main pipe 13 from outside the housing is connected to a substantially middle position in the length direction of the main pipe 13.

A tank 30 containing a cleaning liquid and a cleaning liquid in the tank 30 are provided outside the housing 50.
The pump 31 has a pump 31 for feeding the liquid to the pump 5, and the pump 31 and the liquid introduction pipe 15 are connected by a bendable joint pipe 16.

The housing 50 is composed of a box 50A and a lid 50B, and the metal mesh 20 is usually rotatably attached to one side of the box 50A.
(For example, using a hinge or the like), and an inner lid that opens and closes. A discharge port 17 for discharging used cleaning liquid (waste liquid) to the outside of the housing is provided at the bottom of the box 50A of the housing. The metal mesh 2
0 does not necessarily have to be attached so as to open and close, and may be simply covered from above the container 40. In this case, for example, protrusions are formed on two or more side surfaces in the box portion 50A, and the metal mesh 2 is formed by the protrusions.
The edge of 0 is supported.

At the projecting position of each nozzle 12 of each of the pipes 11A to 11D, the container 40 is set so that the nozzle 12 is inserted inside the container with the opening facing downward, and a metal mesh as an inner lid is set. 20 is lowered and the lid 5 of the housing 50 is
When the pump 31 is operated with the OB closed, the washing liquid sucked up by the pump 31 from the tank 30 is sent to the liquid introduction pipe 15 through the joint pipe 16 and sent from the main pipe 13 to the pipes 11A to 11D.
The cleaning liquid sent to the pipes 11A to 11D is jetted from the tip of the nozzle 12, and dirt and foreign matter on the inner surface of the container are efficiently removed by the jetted cleaning liquid. Container 40 with injection pressure of cleaning liquid
Although the container 40 rises, the container 40 that has floated contacts the metal mesh 20 and does not separate from the pipes 11A to 11D. In addition, the metal mesh 20 relieves the impact when the container 40 comes into contact with its elasticity, so that the container 40 is not damaged. Since the raised container 40 is finely moved while being elastically held by the metal mesh 20, the cleaning performance (cleaning power) is also enhanced by the fine movement.

When cleaning is performed using all the pipes 11A to 11D, the cocks 14 provided on all the pipes 11A to 11D are opened.
The cocks 14 of the required number of pipes are opened so that the cleaning liquid is sprayed from the nozzles of the pipes, and the cocks of the other pipes are closed. Thereby, the consumption of the cleaning liquid can be saved. Although four pipes are shown in the figure and eight nozzles are protruded from each of the four pipes, these are not limited.

As described above, the cleaning apparatus of the present invention aims at cleaning a light-weight container that may be blown off by the injection pressure of the cleaning liquid injected from the nozzle. They are generally bottles and hollow columnar (short, long) containers and the like weighing 20 g or less, and usually have a wall thickness of 0.5 to 2 mm and a capacity of about 1.
A container made of glass or plastic (eg, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, etc.) of about 20 ml. Specifically, sample containers and packaging containers for liquids (solutions) (sample tubes, vials, screw tubes, narrow-mouth bottles, candle bottles, spray bottles, etc.); sample containers such as powders and pellets (powder, tablets) And packaging containers (sample tubes, snap tubes, snap cups, styrene screw bottles, etc.); test containers such as test tubes, beakers, measuring cylinders, etc .; specimen containers;

Although the sizes of the pipes 11A to 11D and the nozzle 12 are not limited, the outer diameter (width) of the pipes 11A to 11D is usually 5 to 1 in accordance with the above-mentioned lightweight and small container.
The outer diameter of the nozzle 12 is about 2 to 3 mm, and the inner diameter of the nozzle is about 1 to 2 mm. In addition, piping 11A ~
The inside diameter of the cock 14 attached to 11D is preferably the same size as the inside diameter of the pipe. Further, the joint pipe 16 is made of a material (for example, rubber or the like) having a strength capable of withstanding the pressure of the discharge pump, and is made thick.

As shown in FIG. 1, the container 40 is set in such a manner that, even when the container 40 is placed on the upper surface of the pipes (11A to 11D), the tip of the nozzle 12 is brought into contact with the inner bottom surface of the container 40. That is, the inner bottom surface of the container 40 may be supported by the tip of the nozzle 12 (FIG. 3). In the former case, the height of the nozzle protruding from the upper surface of the pipe is, of course, lower than the height of the container to be cleaned, but is preferably at least 0.5 times the height of the container. Although it depends on the inner diameter of the container, if the protrusion height of the nozzle is 0.5 times or more the height of the container, even if the container is tilted after setting the container (immediately after setting or after the end of the washing operation), When the tip of the nozzle comes in contact with the inner surface of the container, the container does not roll over and is held in a substantially upright state, thereby preventing the container from falling off the pipe. In the case of this embodiment, the piping (11A
It is preferable that the outer peripheral shape of to 11D) is circular, that is, a cylindrical tube is used. In the case of a cylindrical tube, the opening of the container does not adhere to the upper surface of the pipe, and the cleaning liquid from the container is efficiently discharged during cleaning. On the other hand, in the latter case, the height of the nozzle protruding from the upper surface of the pipe is naturally higher than the height of the container, but is preferably 1.5 times or less the height of the container. This is because if the protrusion height of the nozzle is too large,
This is a factor of increasing the size of the entire device. In this case, there is an advantage that the cleaning solution can be easily discharged from the container. In the case of this embodiment, the container to be cleaned is set so that the container does not fall out of the nozzle even if the container is tilted after setting (immediately after setting or after the end of the cleaning operation).
An elongated container (a container having a ratio of the diameter to the height of the bottom approximately 1.5 times or more (preferably 2.0 times or more)) is preferable. That is, if the container is inclined,
The inner periphery of the opening of the container comes into contact with the middle portion of the nozzle, and the container is held by the nozzle.

As described above, the container to which the container cleaning apparatus of the present invention is applied mainly includes packaging containers for products (products) of a relatively large variety of small-quantity production such as drugs (chemicals) and various product developments. Is a relatively small and lightweight container mainly used as a sample container (sample container) used for experiments (tests) for cleaning. Such background, the size and handleability of the cleaning device itself, power consumption and nozzles In general, the number of pipes is about 5 to 10 and the number of nozzles per pipe is about 10 to 20 from the viewpoint of uniformity of the injection amount (injection pressure) of the cleaning liquid from the nozzle. .

The pipes 11A to 11D, the main pipe 13 and the nozzle 12 are preferably those which are unlikely to cause rusting or bacterial propagation, and are usually made of stainless steel. Is also good. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle may be covered with an elastic material such as rubber in order to reduce the impact when the nozzle 12 comes into contact with the inner surface of the container. The injection port of the nozzle 12 may be provided only at the tip or at both the tip and the side. When provided on the side surface, a plurality of injection ports having different injection directions can be provided. The injection port may be either one in which the cleaning liquid is jetted in a single straight line or one in which the cleaning liquid is diffused and jetted. The injection pressure of the cleaning liquid from the nozzle is a pressure at which the cleaning liquid is normally jetted to a height of 50 cm to 1 m, and is from 1.96 to 29.4 kPa.
Degree, preferably about 4.90 to 19.6 kPa.

The box portion 50A of the housing is usually made of stainless steel in which rust and bacteria do not easily propagate, but may be made of other metals or resins. In addition, it is preferable that the bottom surface be an inclined surface that is inclined downward toward the discharge port 17 so that the waste liquid easily flows to the discharge port 17. Further, the lid 50B of the housing is usually formed of a transparent resin such as polyvinyl chloride in order to reduce the weight and allow the inside of the housing to be observed from the outside.

The metal mesh 20 for preventing the container from being detached from the pipe may be made of another elastic member. For example, meshes made of resin or rubber, solid sheets made of rubber, foam sheets made of resin or rubber, non-woven fabrics of organic fibers such as natural resins and synthetic resins, and non-woven fabrics of inorganic fibers such as metal fibers and glass fibers. No. In the apparatus of this embodiment, the metal mesh 20 is employed because it is excellent in alleviating the impact force and maintaining the elasticity of the container, and is hard to grow bacteria, is easy to maintain, and shows a state during cleaning. This is because it has an advantage that it can be seen from the outside. The material (metal) of the metal mesh is preferably stainless steel, copper, or the like. The wire diameter is usually about 0.2 to 1 mm, and the mesh roughness is about 5 to 10 mesh.

In the apparatus of this embodiment, the cleaning liquid storage tank 30 is used.
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of tanks 30A to 30C containing different cleaning liquids are connected by a branch pipe 32 having a cock 33 attached to each branch pipe, and a desired cleaning liquid is supplied to a pump 31. May be sucked up and sent to the pipe 16. It is preferable that the inside diameters of the branch pipe 32 and the cock 33 are substantially the same from the viewpoint of liquid flowability.

As the cleaning liquid, water, hot water, an organic solvent such as alcohol, a detergent solution, a germicide solution and the like are selected according to the purpose. With the configuration shown in FIG. 4, for example, the procedure of using two or more types of cleaning liquids, that is, cleaning with a detergent solution and then cleaning with water or hot water, can be easily performed by switching the cock 33 provided in the branch pipe 32. Can be done. Also, by removing the joint pipe 16 from the pump and connecting it to an air supply source (cylinder, fan type blower) (not shown) or the like, air (hot air) can be jetted from the nozzle 12 and the washed container is dried. It can also be used as a drying device. Therefore, a series of washing operations including the washing of the container with the washing liquid and the drying process of the container can be performed by one unit.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The apparatus shown in FIGS.
A glass hollow cylindrical container (capacity: 2 ml) having a size of 10 mm, a height of 30 mm, and a thickness of 1.5 mm) was washed. The number of branch pipes of the cleaning liquid injection means of the cleaning apparatus was 5, the number of nozzles per pipe was 20, and a total of 100 containers were washed at once. For the housing, a stainless steel box and a lid made of polyvinyl chloride were used. For the metal mesh, a stainless wire having a wire diameter of 0.5 mm and a roughness of 10 mm were used.
Use a knitted mesh and place it 5 mm from the tip of the nozzle.
It was arranged substantially horizontally at a position separated by mm. Methanol was used as a cleaning liquid, and this was sprayed from the tip of a nozzle having a protrusion height of 20 mm at a spray pressure of 9.81 kPa for 30 seconds. Visual inspection of the inner surface of the container after washing revealed no adhesion of dirt or foreign matter. Further, methanol was put into the washed container, and liquid chromatography (LC) analysis revealed that components other than methanol were not detected, and the inner surface of the container was extremely clean.

[0023]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the container cleaning apparatus of the present invention, the inside of a plurality of relatively small containers can be collectively cleaned in a relatively short time with good cleaning properties.
In addition, without using a special gripping means for holding the container, by the cleaning liquid spraying means and the elastic member disposed above it,
Since the container can be held and washed, the apparatus configuration is simple and the apparatus is inexpensive. In addition, air (hot air) or the like can be sent by the cleaning liquid spraying means, and there is an effect that the process from cleaning with the cleaning liquid to drying of the container after cleaning can be continuously performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an example of a container cleaning apparatus of the present invention, showing a state in which a wall of a front housing is broken.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of the container cleaning device of FIG. 1, showing a state where a lid of a housing is opened.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a setting state of a container in another example of the container cleaning apparatus of the present invention (in which the setting of the container is performed in such a manner that the nozzle tip is brought into contact with the inner bottom surface of the container).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a connection configuration of a plurality of cleaning liquid storage tanks in another example of the container cleaning apparatus of the present invention (one having a plurality of cleaning liquid storage tanks).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cleaning liquid injection means 11A-11D Piping 12 Nozzle 13 Trunk piping 14 Cock 15 Liquid introduction piping 16 Joint pipe 20 Metal mesh 30 Tank 31 Pump 40 Container 50 Housing 50A Box 50B Lid

Claims (10)

[Claims] A plurality of nozzles protruding substantially vertically upward from upper surfaces of a plurality of pipes running substantially horizontally, and a cleaning liquid jetting means for jetting a cleaning liquid from each nozzle; and a nozzle on the pipe of the cleaning liquid jetting means. A device for cleaning the inside of a container with a cleaning liquid ejected from the nozzle, wherein the container is set so that the opening is directed downward and the nozzle is inserted into the inside of the container. A container cleaning device comprising: an elastic member that abuts on a container that rises from above a pipe to prevent detachment of the container from the pipe. 2. The container cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a metal mesh disposed substantially horizontally above the cleaning liquid ejecting means. 3. The container cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid ejecting means and the elastic member are accommodated in a housing, and a cleaning liquid discharge port is provided on a bottom surface of the housing. 4. The container cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein one side of the elastic member is rotatably attached to the side surface of the housing, and the elastic member serves as a middle lid of the housing. 5. The container cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the bottom surface of the housing is inclined downward toward the discharge port. 6. The container cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the height of the projection of the nozzle is lower than the height of the container, and the container is set by placing the container on the upper surface of the pipe. 7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the protruding height of the nozzle is such that the tip of the nozzle abuts on the inner surface of the container to keep the container substantially upright even when the set container is inclined. Cleaning equipment. 8. The container cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the height of the projection of the nozzle is higher than the height of the container, and the container is set by bringing the inner bottom surface of the container into contact with the tip of the nozzle. 9. The container cleaning apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the container to be set is an elongated container whose opening contacts the intermediate portion of the nozzle and does not come off from the nozzle even if the container is tilted after setting. 10. A plurality of pipes are branched from one main pipe, and a cock is provided at a branch side end of each pipe, and supply and stop of a cleaning liquid to the pipes can be performed by opening and closing the cocks. 2. The container cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: