JP2014172002A - Container cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container cleaning device capable of exerting high cleaning efficiency at any time without deteriorating operation efficiency of a cleaning process.SOLUTION: In a container cleaning device, cleaning nozzles 28, 29, 35, 36 spray cleaning liquid to a container C being carried. Cleaning nozzles 45, 46, 47 spray rinse water or RO (purified) water to the container C after cleaning liquid is sprayed. The first, second, third and fourth cleaning liquid tanks 26, 27, 33, 34 feed the cleaning liquid to the nozzles 28, 29, 35, 36, and store the used cleaning liquid dropped after being sprayed to the container C. The first and second rinse water tanks 51, 52 store the used rinse water dropped after being sprayed to the container C. Two-way solenoid valves V15, V16, V25 receive the used cleaning liquid and the used rinse water, and selectively discharge them into the first and third cleaning liquid tanks 26, 33 and the first rinse water tank 51, or into the second and fourth cleaning tanks 27, 34 and the second rinse water tank 52.

Description

  The present invention relates to a container cleaning apparatus that injects a cleaning liquid stored in a cleaning liquid tank and cleans an empty container before filling, and then rinses the container with a rinse water.

  Conventionally, what was disclosed by patent document 1 is known as such a container washing | cleaning apparatus. In the conventional container cleaning apparatus, the cleaning liquid sprayed to the container is collected in a cleaning liquid tank via a drain pan, sucked up by a pump, and used again for cleaning. Although the cleaning liquid collected in the cleaning liquid tank is gradually contaminated by the deposits on the container every time it is cleaned, since the container is usually unused, the degree of contamination is not so high as to reduce the cleaning effect. Therefore, the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid tank is normally used repeatedly throughout the day.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-21840

  However, when the filling material of the container is a liquid with high cleanliness or transparency such as pure water (RO water), even a slight dirt may not be allowed, so every time a predetermined number of washings are finished. You may be required to change to a new cleaning solution. In such a case, depending on the production amount (cleaning amount), it is necessary to replace the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank with a new one many times a day. Efficiency is reduced.

  An object of this invention is to provide the container washing | cleaning apparatus which can always exhibit the high washing | cleaning effect, without reducing the production efficiency of a washing | cleaning process.

  A container cleaning apparatus according to the present invention stores a cleaning unit that injects a cleaning liquid into a container being transported, a rinsing unit that injects rinsing water into a container after the cleaning liquid is injected, and a cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning unit. And a plurality of storage tank groups each having a cleaning liquid tank for storing the used cleaning liquid that has been sprayed and dropped into the container, and a rinsing water tank for storing the used rinsing water that has been sprayed and dropped into the container, and the used cleaning liquid And a discharge means for receiving the used rinse water and selectively discharging it to any one of the plurality of storage tank groups.

  Preferably, while the discharging means discharges the used cleaning liquid and the used rinsing water to any one of the plurality of storage tank groups, the cleaning liquid tank in any one of the plurality of storage tank groups is stored in the cleaning liquid tank. The new cleaning liquid is replenished, and the rinse water stored in the rinse water tank in any one of the plurality of storage tank groups is supplied. According to this configuration, the rinsing water that is about to overflow from the rinsing water tank can be reused, and the running cost can be reduced.

  Preferably, the discharge means is configured to use either the used cleaning liquid or the used rinse water while the cleaning unit injects the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid tank in any one of the plurality of storage tank groups into the container. It is discharged to the cleaning liquid tank and the rinsing water tank in the storage tank group.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the container washing | cleaning apparatus which can always exhibit a high washing | cleaning effect can be obtained, without reducing the production efficiency in a washing | cleaning process.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the washing | cleaning system provided with the container washing | cleaning apparatus which is one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a container cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a cleaning system including a container cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the structure for performing the washing | cleaning process with respect to the container C is demonstrated, and the structure for supplying a washing | cleaning liquid, sterilization water, etc. is mentioned later.

  The container C conveyed by the supply conveyor 11 is pushed out from the supply conveyor 11 to the transfer plate 13 side by the pusher 12. A conventionally known supply mechanism 14 is disposed on the opposite side of the supply conveyor 11 across the transfer plate 13, and the container C is transferred to the holder 16 of the transport chain 15 by the supply mechanism 14.

  The transport chain 15 is endless, is wound around the sprockets 17 and 18 and the like, and is intermittently rotated clockwise in FIG. 1 by a drive source (not shown). A plurality of tanks 21 and the like are disposed below the transport chain 15 along the transport direction of the transport chain 15 as will be described later. The holder 16 is disposed on the transport chain 15 at regular intervals and holds the mouth of the container C. The container C is transferred from the supply mechanism 14 to the holder 16 in a horizontal state, and the conveyance chain 15 is turned in the horizontal direction by the sprocket 17 so that the container C is set in an inverted state, that is, an inverted state with the mouth portion directed downward. The container C is intermittently conveyed in the horizontal direction (right side in FIG. 1) in the inverted state, and a cleaning process is performed during this time.

  A pair of transport chains 15 are provided and arranged in parallel, and a holder 16 is attached to a fixing member (not shown) spanned between them. The container C is held by the holder 16 of the transport chain 15 above the sprockets 17 and 18, and the container C is not held by the holder 16 of the transport chain 15 below the sprockets 17 and 18. In the intermittent operation of the transport chain 15, the upper transport chain 15 stops at a position where the container C is close to the tips of the cleaning nozzles 22, 28, which will be described later. In this stopped state, the holder 16 of the lower transport chain 15. Is located between two adjacent holders 16 of the upper conveying chain 15. Thus, the cleaning nozzle 28 and the like positioned below the lower conveyance chain 15 do not interfere with the holder 16 of the conveyance chain 15.

  The container C is preliminarily cleaned with a normal temperature precleaning liquid in the precleaning section P1. A tank 21 for storing a precleaning liquid is provided in the precleaning section P1. Above the tank 21, an inner surface injection cleaning nozzle 22 and an outer surface injection cleaning nozzle 23 are provided. The cleaning nozzle 22 for inner surface injection is disposed below the upper transport chain 15, and when the container C is transported and stops at a predetermined position, it is lifted and inserted into the container C and stored in the tank 21. The preliminarily cleaned liquid is sprayed onto the inner wall surface of the container C. The outer surface injection cleaning nozzle 23 is disposed above the upper conveying chain 15 and injects the preliminary cleaning liquid stored in the tank 21 onto the outer wall surface of the container C substantially simultaneously with the inner surface injection cleaning nozzle 22. When the preliminary cleaning is thus completed, the inner surface injection cleaning nozzle 22 is lowered and removed from the container C, and the container C is transported to the pre-cleaning section P2 by the transport chain 15.

  In the pre-cleaning section P2, the container C is cleaned with a cleaning liquid in which warm water is mixed with a detergent such as a neutral detergent. A drain pan 24 is provided below the transport chain 15, and the drain pan 24 is partitioned by the tank 21 and the partition plate 25 in the preliminary cleaning section P 1. Below the drain pan 24, first and second cleaning liquid tanks 26 and 27 are provided, and the cleaning liquid is stored in these tanks 26 and 27. Above the drain pan 24, an inner surface injection cleaning nozzle (cleaning unit) 28 and an outer surface injection cleaning nozzle (cleaning unit) 29 are provided. The cleaning nozzle 28 for inner surface injection is disposed below the lower transport chain 15, and when the container C is transported and stopped at a predetermined position, it rises and is inserted into the container C and stored in one of the cleaning liquid tanks 26 and 27. The washed liquid is sprayed onto the inner wall surface of the container C. The outer surface injection cleaning nozzle 29 is disposed above the upper conveying chain 15 and injects the cleaning liquid onto the outer wall surface of the container C substantially simultaneously with the inner surface injection cleaning nozzle 28. When the pre-cleaning is finished, the inner surface injection cleaning nozzle 28 is lowered and removed from the container C, and the container C is transported to the main cleaning section P3.

  In the main cleaning section P3, the cleaning liquid is cleaned as in the pre-cleaning section P2. That is, the configuration of the main cleaning section P3 is the same as that of the pre-cleaning section P2, and a drain pan 31 is provided below the transport chain 15, and the drain pan 31 is partitioned by the drain pan 24 and the partition plate 32 in the pre-cleaning section P2. Below the drain pan 31, third and fourth cleaning liquid tanks 33 and 34 are provided, and the cleaning liquid is stored in these tanks 33 and 34. Above the drain pan 31, an inner surface injection cleaning nozzle (cleaning unit) 35 and an outer surface injection cleaning nozzle (cleaning unit) 36 having the same configuration as the pre-cleaning section P2 are provided, and the container C is transported to a predetermined position. When stopped, the cleaning liquid stored in one of the cleaning liquid tanks 33 and 34 is sprayed into the container C by the inner surface cleaning nozzle 35 and the outer surface spray cleaning nozzle 36. When the main cleaning is completed, the inner surface injection cleaning nozzle 35 is lowered and removed from the container C, and the container C is conveyed to the sterilizing water cleaning section P4.

  In the sterilizing water washing section P4, the container C is washed with room temperature sterilizing water mixed with a sterilizing agent. A drain pan 37 is provided below the transport chain 15, and the drain pan 37 is partitioned by the drain pan 31 and the partition plate 38 in the main cleaning section P3. Below the drain pan 37, first and second sterilizing water tanks 41 and 42 are provided, and the sterilizing water tanks 41 and 42 store sterilizing water. Above the drain pan 37, an inner surface injection cleaning nozzle 43 and an outer surface injection cleaning nozzle 44 are provided. The inner surface injection cleaning nozzle 43 is disposed below the lower conveyance chain 15, and when the container C is conveyed and stopped at a predetermined position, it rises and is inserted into the container C and supplied from a sterilizing water supply source (not shown). Sterilizing water is sprayed onto the inner wall surface of the container C. The outer surface injection cleaning nozzle 44 injects the sterilized water stored in one of the sterilizing water tanks 41 and 42 onto the outer wall surface of the container C substantially simultaneously with the inner surface injection cleaning nozzle 43.

  After cleaning with sterilizing water, the container C is transported to the rinse section P5 by the transport chain 15. In the rinse section P5, the container C is washed with rinse water and RO water. An inner surface injection cleaning nozzle (rinsing part) 45 for injecting rinsing water is provided upstream of the inner surface injection cleaning nozzle (rinsing part) 46 for injecting RO water in the transport direction. The nozzles 45 and 46 are disposed below the lower conveyance chain 15. An outer surface injection cleaning nozzle (rinsing portion) 47 for injecting rinsing water is provided above the upper transport chain 15 and at a position corresponding to the inner surface injection cleaning nozzle 45 for injecting rinsing water.

  The drain pan 48 is provided below the nozzles 45 and 46, and a partition plate 49 partitions the drain pan 48 and the drain pan 37 in the sterilizing water cleaning section P 4. Below the drain pan 48, first and second rinse water tanks 51 and 52 are provided. When the container C is transported and stopped at a predetermined position, the inner surface cleaning nozzles 45 and 46 are moved up and inserted into the container C, and rinse water or RO water is sprayed onto the inner wall surface of the container C to rinse the container. The outer surface injection cleaning nozzle 47 injects rinse water stored in one of the rinse water tanks 45 and 46 onto the outer surface of the container C.

  After the rinsing section P5, the container C is set in a horizontal state by the conveyance chain 15 being turned in the horizontal direction by the sprocket 18. The container C is delivered to the discharge mechanism 61 in a horizontal state, and is set in an upright state with the mouth portion facing upward. The container C is then transferred to the discharge conveyor 62 and conveyed to the filling process. In the filling process, the container C is filled with RO water which is product water.

Next, a configuration for supplying cleaning liquid, sterilizing water, and the like to each cleaning nozzle 22 will be described.
As described above, the product water filled in the container C in the filling process is RO water, and the RO water is generated by reverse osmosis membrane filtration of tap water. In this production step, concentrated water which is water having a high chlorine concentration is obtained as a by-product. Since this concentrated water has a sterilizing effect, in the preliminary cleaning section P1, concentrated water is supplied to the tank 21 via the supply line L1, and rinse water (tap water) is supplied to the tank 21 via the supply line L2. It is used as a preliminary cleaning solution. In order to control the amount of water supplied to the tank 21, valves V1 and V2 are provided at the front ends of the supply lines L1 and L2. The tank 21 is provided with a pumping pump 71 for supplying the preliminary cleaning liquid to the cleaning nozzles 22 and 23. The supply line L2 branches off in the middle and extends to the rinse water tanks 51 and 52 in addition to the tank 21.

  The cleaning liquid used in the pre-cleaning section P2 and the main cleaning section P3 is prepared by mixing warm water and detergent. The hot water is supplied to the cleaning tanks 26, 27, 33, and 34 through the supply line L3. For this reason, the supply line L3 is branched into four, and each tip faces the cleaning tanks 26, 27, 33, 34, and in the vicinity of each tip, valves V3, V4 for controlling the supply amount of hot water. , V5, V6 are provided. On the other hand, the detergent is supplied to the washing tanks 26, 27, 33, and 34 from a detergent supply source (not shown).

  The cleaning tanks 26, 27, 33, 34 are provided with pumps 72, 73, 74, 75 for supplying the cleaning liquid to the cleaning nozzles 28, 29, 35, 36. The cleaning liquid discharged by these pumps is pumped to the cleaning nozzles 28, 29, 35 and 36 through the pumping lines Y1 and Y2. The pumping line Y1 is bifurcated and connected to the first and second cleaning tanks 26 and 27, and the pumping line Y2 is bifurcated and connected to the third and fourth cleaning tanks 33 and 34. Yes. Each pumping line Y1, Y2 is provided with valves V7, V8, V9, V10 for controlling the discharge amount of the pumps 72, 73, 74, 75.

  In the cleaning tanks 26, 27, 33, and 34, pots 81, 82, 83, and 84 are provided at predetermined height positions, and drainage ports 85, 86, 87, and 88 are provided at the bottom. The cleaning liquid flowing out from the soot and the drainage port is discharged to the outside through drainage lines H1, H2, H3, and H4. Each drain line is provided with valves V11, V12, V13, and V14 for opening and closing the drain ports 85, 86, 87, and 88.

  The bottom part of the drain pan 24 in the pre-cleaning section P2 receives the used cleaning liquid that has been sprayed and dropped into the container C, and selectively discharges it to one of the first and second cleaning liquid tanks 26, 27. A direction solenoid valve (discharge means) V15 is provided. Similarly, a two-way solenoid valve (discharge means) for receiving the used cleaning liquid and selectively discharging it to one of the third and fourth cleaning liquid tanks 33 and 34 is also provided at the bottom of the drain pan 31 in the main cleaning section P3. ) V16 is provided.

  The sterilizing water used in the sterilizing water washing section P4 is a hypochlorous acid aqueous solution at room temperature. The sterilizing water is pumped to the cleaning nozzle 43 for inner surface injection by the supply line L4. That is, new sterilizing water is always supplied to the inner surface cleaning nozzle 43. On the other hand, the sterilizing water supplied to the outer surface injection cleaning nozzle 44 is sterilizing water stored in the first or second sterilizing water tanks 41, 42. The sterilizing water stored in the first and second sterilizing water tanks 41 and 42 is a mixture of the sterilizing water used for cleaning the container C and new sterilizing water replenished via the supply line L5. is there. That is, at the lowermost part of the drain pan 37, a two-way electromagnetic valve V17 for receiving the used sterilizing water that has been sprayed and dropped into the container C and discharging it to the first or second sterilizing water tank 41, 42 is provided. . Further, the supply line L5 branches into two, each tip faces each sterilizing water tank 41, 42, and valves V18, V19 for controlling the amount of sterilizing water supplied are provided in the vicinity of each tip. It is done.

  The sterilizing water tanks 41 and 42 are provided with pumps 76 and 77 for supplying sterilizing water to the outer surface injection cleaning nozzle 44. The sterilizing water discharged by these pumps 76 and 77 is pumped to the cleaning nozzle 44 via the pumping line Y3. The pumping line Y3 branches into two and is connected to the first and second sterilizing water tanks 41 and 42. The pumping line Y3 is provided with valves V21 and V22 for controlling the discharge amounts of the pumping pumps 76 and 77.

  Further, in the sterilizing water tanks 41 and 42, ridges 89 and 90 are provided at predetermined height positions, and drainage ports 91 and 92 are provided at the bottom. The sterilizing water flowing out from the tubs 89 and 90 and the drain ports 91 and 92 is discharged to the outside through the drain lines H5 and H6. The drain lines H5 and H6 are provided with valves V23 and V24 for opening and closing the drain ports 91 and 92, respectively.

  In the rinse section P5, the rinse water sprayed from the inner surface cleaning nozzle 45 is tap water and is pumped to the inner surface spray cleaning nozzle 45 via the supply line L6. That is, new rinsing water is always supplied to the inner surface injection nozzle 45. On the other hand, the RO water sprayed from the inner surface spray cleaning nozzle 46 is the same as that filled in the container C in the filling step, and is pumped to the inner surface spray cleaning nozzle 46 via the supply line L7. The rinse water supplied to the outer surface jet cleaning nozzle 47 is rinse water stored in the first or second rinse water tanks 51 and 52.

  The rinsing water stored in the first and second rinsing water tanks 51 and 52 is a mixture of rinsing water and RO water used for cleaning the container C and new rinsing water replenished via the supply line L2. It is a thing. At the bottom of the drain pan 48, a two-way solenoid valve (discharge) for receiving the used rinse water and RO water that has been sprayed and dropped into the container C and discharging it to the first or second rinse water tanks 51, 52. Means) V25 is provided. Further, the supply line L2 branches into three, of which the leading ends of the two branch lines face the rinsing water tanks 51 and 52, while the other one branch line faces the tank 21 in the preliminary cleaning section P1. Valves V26 and V27 for controlling the supply amount of the rinsing water are provided in the vicinity of the respective ends of the branch lines facing the rinsing water tanks 51 and 52.

  The rinsing water tanks 51 and 52 are provided with pumps 78 and 79 for supplying rinsing water to the outer surface injection cleaning nozzle 47. Rinsing water discharged by these pumps 78 and 79 is pumped to the washing nozzle 47 via the pumping line Y4. The pumping line Y4 branches into two and is connected to the first and second rinse water tanks 51 and 52. The pumping line Y4 is provided with valves V28 and V29 for controlling the discharge amounts of the pumping pumps 78 and 79.

  Further, in the rinsing water tanks 51 and 52, the basins 93 and 94 are provided at predetermined height positions, and the drainage ports 95 and 96 are provided at the bottom. The sterilizing water flowing out from the basins 93 and 94 and the drainage ports 95 and 96 is discharged to the outside through the drainage lines H7 and H8. The drain lines H7 and H8 are provided with valves V31 and V32 for opening and closing the drain ports 95 and 96, respectively.

  In addition to the drainage ports 95 and 96, discharge ports 97 and 98 are provided at the bottoms of the rinse water tanks 51 and 52, respectively. A supply line L8 is connected to the discharge port 97 provided in the first rinse water tank 51, and the supply line L8 extends into the second and fourth cleaning liquid tanks 27 and 34. Similarly, a supply line L9 is connected to the discharge port 98 provided in the second rinse water tank 52, and the supply line L9 extends into the first and third cleaning liquid tanks 26 and 33. Valves V33 and V34 for opening and closing the supply line L8 are provided near the outlet of the supply line L8, and valves V35 and V35 for opening and closing the supply line L9 are provided near the outlet of the supply line L9. It is done.

  The height position of the flanges 81 to 84 of the first to fourth cleaning liquid tanks 26, 27, 33, 34, that is, the position where the liquid level of the cleaning liquid stored in these tanks 26, 27, 33, 34 becomes the highest. Are the same as each other. Further, the height positions of the flanges 93 and 94 of the first and second rinse water tanks 51 and 52, that is, the position where the liquid level of the rinse water stored in the rinse water tanks 51 and 52 becomes the highest are the same. However, the height positions of the rods 93 and 94 are set higher than the rods 81 to 84 of the cleaning liquid tank 26 and the like. Moreover, in the normal operation | movement of the washing | cleaning system of this embodiment, each tank is a full state and a liquid level exists in the upper edge part of the eaves 81-84, 93, 94. Therefore, the used rinsing water stored in the rinsing water tanks 51 and 52 is washed with the cleaning liquid tanks 26, 27, 33, via the discharge ports 97 and 98 and the supply lines L8 and L9, depending on the water pressure of the rinsing water tanks 51 and 52. 34 can be supplied.

  It should be noted that the height positions of the rods 89, 90 of the first and second sterilizing water tanks 41, 42 are the same as the height positions of the rods 81-84 of the first to fourth cleaning liquid tanks 26, 27, 33, 34. It is.

  Next, the operation switching operation of the cleaning liquid tank 26 and the like in this embodiment will be described. In the pre-cleaning section P1, the pre-cleaning liquid is stored only in the tank 21, and there is no tank switching operation. In contrast, in the pre-cleaning section P2, the main cleaning section P3, the sterilizing water cleaning section P4, and the rinsing section P5, a plurality of tanks are provided and switched at a predetermined timing. In the present embodiment, the cleaning tank 26 and the like include a first storage tank group including first and third cleaning liquid tanks 26 and 33, a first sterilizing water tank 41, and a first rinsing water tank 51, The second and fourth cleaning liquid tanks 27 and 34, the second sterilizing water tank 42, and the second rinsing water tank 52 are grouped into a second storage tank group.

  Before starting the cleaning system, all tanks are empty. First, preparation is performed for the tank 21 in the preliminary cleaning section P1, the cleaning liquid tank 26 in the first storage tank group, and the like. Concentrated water is supplied from the supply line L1 to the tank 21 by opening the valve V1, and rinse water (tap water) is supplied from the supply line L2 by opening the valve V2. The valve V3 is opened to the first cleaning liquid tank 26, hot water is supplied from the supply line L3, and detergent is supplied from a detergent supply source (not shown). Similarly, the valve V5 is opened to the third cleaning liquid tank 33, hot water is supplied from the supply line L3, and detergent is supplied from the detergent supply source. The valve V18 is opened to the first sterilizing water tank 41, and sterilizing water is supplied from the supply line L5. The valve V26 is opened and the tap water is supplied from the supply line L2 to the first rinse water tank 51. Supply of liquid in each of the tanks 21, 26, 33, 41, 51 is terminated when a float switch (not shown) is operated in a state where the cleaning liquid has reached a predetermined amount, thereby closing the valve V1 and the like.

  When the liquid supply to each tank of the first storage tank group is completed, the supply conveyor 11, the supply mechanism 14, the drive chain 15 and the like are started, and the cleaning process of the container C is started. That is, the valves V7, V9, V21, and V28 are opened and the pumps 71, 72, 74, 76, and 78 are activated, and the sterilizing water, the rinsing water, and the RO water are supplied from the supply lines L4, L6, and L7. The cleaning in the preliminary cleaning section P1, the pre-cleaning section P2, the main cleaning section P3, the sterilizing water cleaning section P4, and the rinsing section P5 is started.

  When the first storage tank group is driven, the two-way solenoid valves V15, V16, V17, V25 remove the cleaning liquid or the like that has dropped on the drain pans 24, 31, 37, 48, 33, 41 and 51 are determined to be discharged.

  The liquid level in each tank 26, 33, 41, 51 is controlled so as to be always maintained at a predetermined position. That is, when the liquid level exceeds a predetermined position, the float switch operates to close the valves V3, V5, V18, V26 of the supply lines L3, L5, L2 and the valves of the drain lines H1, H3, H5, H7. V11, V13, V23, and V31 are opened. On the other hand, when the liquid level falls below a predetermined position, the float switch acts to open the valves V3, V5, V18, V26 and close the valves V11, V13, V23, V31. In spite of such control of the liquid level, when the liquid level exceeds the upper edge of the bowls 81, 83, 89, the cleaning liquid is discharged to the outside through the drain lines H1, H3, H5, H7. Is done.

  When the liquid supply to each tank of the first storage tank group is completed and the cleaning process is started, preparation for the second storage tank group is started. This operation is basically the same as in the case of the first storage tank group. However, for the second and fourth cleaning liquid tanks 27 and 34, in addition to supplying detergent, hot water is supplied by the supply line L3. In addition, used rinse water is supplied from the first rinse water tank 51 via the supply line L8. The ratio of the amount of warm water to the amount of used rinse water is 2: 1. That is, about one third of the water used in the cleaning liquid tanks 27 and 34 is used rinse water.

  When the liquid supply to each of the tanks 27, 34, 42, 52 of the second storage tank group is completed and the predetermined number of containers C are cleaned using the first storage tank group, the first The storage tank group is switched to the second storage tank group. That is, the pumps 72, 74, 76, 78 of the first storage tank group are stopped, and the pumps 73, 75, 77, 79 of the second storage tank group are started. Further, the two-way solenoid valves V15, V16, V17, and V25 are switched so as to discharge the cleaning liquid or the like that has dropped into the drain pans 24, 31, 37, and 48 to the tanks 27, 34, 42, and 52 of the second storage tank group. . Then, after switching to the second storage tank group, the cleaning liquid, sterilizing water, and rinsing water in each tank 26, 33, 41, 51 of the first storage tank group are discharged to the drain lines H1, H3, H5, Drain through H7 to empty each tank.

  The control of the liquid level in the second storage tank group is the same as that in the first storage tank group, and the liquid level is controlled to be always maintained at a predetermined position. Further, while the cleaning process is being performed using the second storage tank group, the used rinse water stored in the second rinse water tank 52 is drained through the supply line L9 after the drainage operation is completed. The first and third cleaning tanks 26 and 33 are supplied.

  When the cleaning of the predetermined number of containers C is completed in the cleaning process using the second storage tank group, it is switched to the first storage tank group in the same manner as described above, and the same switching operation is repeated thereafter. As described above, the switching operation between the first and second storage tank groups only switches the drive of each pump and each valve, and the operation of transporting the container C is continued and does not stop. . In addition, the switching operation is performed according to the number of cleaned containers C, but this number can be changed as necessary.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the tank for storing the cleaning liquid can be switched without interrupting the cleaning process of the container C, and a high cleaning effect can always be exhibited. Further, in the cleaning liquid tanks 26, 27, 33, 34, in addition to the hot water supplied from the supply line L3, the used rinsing water stored in the rinsing water tanks 51, 52 is supplied and reused. The amount of water used in can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the single tank 21 is provided in the preliminary cleaning section P1, but a plurality of tanks may be provided and switched as in the other sections. In this case, the used rinsing water stored in the rinsing water tanks 51 and 52, such as the cleaning liquid tank 26, may be supplied.

  Further, each tank such as the washing tank 26 does not need to be disposed directly under the drain pan 24 or the like, and a discharge port of a pipe connected to the two-way solenoid valves V15, V16, V17, and V25 may be connected to each tank. The arrangement of each tank can be freely determined.

  In the sterilizing water cleaning section P4, new sterilizing water is always supplied via the supply line L4 for cleaning the inner surface of the container C. Therefore, the amount of the sterilizing water overflowing from the sterilizing water tanks 41 and 42 is larger than that of the other tanks 26, 27, 33 and 34, as with the rinsing water tanks 51 and 52. Therefore, the first and second sterilizing water tanks 41 and 42 are connected by supply lines such as supply lines L8 and L9, and the sterilizing water overflowing from the sterilizing water tank in use is transferred to the sterilizing water tank being prepared. It is also possible to reflux.

  The first cleaning liquid tanks 26 and 33 and the second rinsing water tank 52 constitute a first storage tank group, and the second cleaning liquid tanks 27 and 34 and the first rinsing water tank 51 constitute a second storage tank group. The storage tank group may be configured by appropriately combining the cleaning liquid tanks 26, 27, 33, and 34 and the rinse water tanks 51 and 52, such as forming a storage tank group.

  Furthermore, the number of storage tank groups is not limited to two, and for example, three storage tank groups can be provided. In this case, while any one of the storage tank groups is used for cleaning the container, the cleaning liquid tank in the other storage tank group is replenished with a new cleaning liquid, and the rinsing water tank in the former storage tank group is used. The rinse water stored is supplied.

26, 27, 33, 34 Cleaning liquid tank 28, 29, 35, 36 Cleaning nozzle (cleaning part)
45, 46, 47 Cleaning nozzle (rinse)
51, 52 Rinsing water tank C Container V15, V16, V25 Two-way solenoid valve (discharge means)

Claims (3)

A cleaning unit for injecting a cleaning liquid into a container being conveyed;
A rinsing section for injecting rinsing water into the container after the cleaning liquid has been injected;
A cleaning liquid tank for storing the cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning unit and storing used cleaning liquid sprayed and dropped onto the container; and a rinsing water tank for storing used rinse water sprayed and dropped onto the container; A plurality of storage tank groups each having
A container cleaning apparatus comprising: a discharge unit that receives the used cleaning liquid and the used rinse water and selectively discharges the used cleaning liquid to any one of the plurality of storage tank groups.   While the discharging means discharges the used cleaning liquid and the used rinse water to any one of the plurality of storage tank groups, the cleaning liquid tank in any one of the plurality of storage tank groups. The rinsing water stored in the rinsing water tank in any one of the plurality of storage tank groups is supplied with a new cleaning liquid. Container cleaning device.   The discharging means is configured to discharge the used cleaning liquid and the used rinse water while the cleaning unit injects the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid tank in any one of the plurality of storage tank groups into the container. 3. The container cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container cleaning device is discharged into a cleaning liquid tank and a rinsing water tank in any one of the storage tank groups.

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