JP2018167224A - Container cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce energy consumption of a container cleaning device which blows off foreign matters in a container by compressed air.SOLUTION: A container cleaning device 1 includes: a conveyance device (an inverting line) 14 which holds a container in an inverted posture and conveys the container along a predetermined conveyance path 40; a nozzle 46 which is connected to a compressed air source 45 through piping 47 having a solenoid valve 48, and jets compressed air from downward to a cleaning position P0 as a predetermined position on a path where a mouth part of the conveyed container passes; a first sensor 51 which detects whether or not the container is in a first position P1 on an upstream side than the cleaning position on the conveyance path; and a control device 54 which controls opening/closing of the solenoid valve based on a signal from the first sensor so as to jet the compressed air from the nozzle when it is estimated that the mouth part exists in the cleaning position and stop jetting of the compressed air from the nozzle when it is estimated that the mouth part does not exist in the cleaning position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a container cleaning apparatus that blows off foreign matter in a container with compressed air.

  A container cleaning device having a transport device that continuously transports a container while inverting the container and an air injection device that blows compressed air inside the inverted container to remove foreign substances in the container is known (for example, a patent Reference 1).

JP 2004-269265 A

  Since the number of containers processed per unit time required for such a container cleaning device is relatively large, the air injection device continues to inject compressed air, and the container passes through the compressed air flow that is continuously injected. It becomes the mode to do. Therefore, there is a problem that a large amount of compressed air that does not contribute to cleaning the inside of the container is generated and energy efficiency is poor. Moreover, when the foreign material has adhered to the conveyance apparatus, there exists a possibility that a foreign material may be swollen by the compressed air which flowed out of the container, and may adhere to the outer surface of the container conveyed.

  This invention makes it a subject to reduce energy consumption in the container washing | cleaning apparatus which blows off the foreign material in a container with compressed air in view of the above background.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an aspect of the present invention is a container cleaning device (1) that blows off foreign matters in a container (2) with compressed air, and the mouth (2A) faces downward. A compressed air source is provided via a conveying device (14) that holds the container in an upside down posture and conveys the container along a predetermined conveying path (40), and a pipe (47) including an electromagnetic valve (48). A nozzle (46) that is connected to (45) and injects compressed air from below toward a cleaning position (P0) that is a predetermined position on a path through which the mouth of the container to be conveyed passes; A first sensor (51) for detecting that the container has reached a first position (P1) upstream of the cleaning position in the path; and when the mouth is estimated to be present at the cleaning position, Compressed air is injected from the nozzle, and the mouth portion is placed at the cleaning position. A controller (54) for controlling the opening and closing of the solenoid valve based on a signal from the first sensor to stop the injection of compressed air from the nozzle when it is estimated that the nozzle does not exist. And

  According to this aspect, since the injection of the compressed air from the nozzle is stopped when it is estimated that the mouth portion of the container does not exist at the cleaning position, the amount of the compressed air injected from the nozzle flows outside the container. Reduced. Thereby, the amount of compressed air that does not contribute to the cleaning of the inside of the container can be reduced, and the energy consumption can be reduced. Further, even if foreign matter adheres to the transport device, the amount of compressed air flowing outside the container is reduced, so that the foreign matter is prevented from flying up by the compressed air. Therefore, it is possible to suppress foreign matters from adhering to the outer surface of the container to be transported.

  Further, in the above aspect, the control device may include a delay time (set in advance as a time required for the compressed air supplied to the nozzle to reach a predetermined specified pressure (PS) from the start of opening of the electromagnetic valve. TD) and a valve opening standby time (TW) that is a time from when the first sensor detects the container to when the electromagnetic valve starts to open based on the conveying speed (V) of the conveying device. The electromagnetic valve may be controlled to open after the valve opening waiting time has elapsed since the first sensor detected the container.

  According to this aspect, since the control device sets the timing for opening the electromagnetic valve based on the conveyance speed and the preset delay time, the electromagnetic valve is opened before the mouth of the container reaches the cleaning position. The pressure of the compressed air supplied to the nozzle when the mouth of the container reaches the cleaning position becomes equal to or higher than the specified pressure. Thereby, the compressed air can be supplied into the mouth portion from when the mouth portion of the container reaches the washing position, and an appropriate washing time can be secured. Since a predetermined time is required until the pressure of the compressed air supplied to the nozzle reaches the specified pressure after the solenoid valve is opened, if the delay time is not taken into account, the supply of compressed air is delayed and the cleaning time is It will be shorter than the appropriate time. Further, since the control device sets the timing for opening the solenoid valve based on the transport speed, the compressed air can be injected at an appropriate timing even when the transport speed is changed.

  Further, in the above aspect, a pressure sensor (49) for detecting a pressure in a portion between the solenoid valve and the nozzle in the pipe, and detecting that the mouth of the container has reached the cleaning position. The apparatus further includes a second sensor (52) and a notification device (56) for performing notification based on an output from the control device, wherein the control device is configured to receive the container based on a signal from the second sensor. When in the cleaning position, it is determined whether or not the pressure detected by the pressure sensor is greater than or equal to the specified pressure, and the notification device notifies when the pressure detected by the pressure sensor is less than the specified pressure. It is good to control to perform.

  According to this aspect, when the compressed air is to be injected, if the pressure of the compressed air at the nozzle does not reach the specified pressure, the notification device notifies the operator, so that the operator has an abnormality in the container cleaning device. Can recognize that

  Further, in the above aspect, the first sensor detects the mouth portion of the container, and the control device passes through from the time when the first sensor starts to detect the mouth portion until it stops being detected. Based on the time, the valve opening duration (TK), which is a period for continuing the opening control of the solenoid valve, is calculated, and the solenoid valve is closed after the opening duration has elapsed since the opening control of the solenoid valve was started. It is good to speak.

  According to this aspect, since the period in which the nozzle injects the compressed air is set based on the period in which the mouth of the container passes through the predetermined position, the compressed air is appropriately timed according to the passage of the mouth of the container. Can be stopped, and the amount of compressed air injected to the outside of the container can be reduced.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, energy consumption can be reduced in the container washing | cleaning apparatus which blows off the foreign material in a container with compressed air.

The top view of the container washing device concerning an embodiment Front view of the container cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment (II arrow view of FIG. 1) Side view of the container cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment (viewed in the direction of arrow III in FIG. 1) Cross section of grip conveyor (IV-IV section of Fig. 2) Cross section of grip conveyor (VV cross section of Fig. 2) The figure which shows the positional relationship of an air injection apparatus, a 1st sensor, and a 2nd sensor. Time chart showing the operation of the air injection device

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the container cleaning apparatus of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the container cleaning device 1 is a device that blows off foreign matter inside the container 2 with compressed air, and is provided on the side of the transport line 3 that transports the container 2. The conveyance line 3 is formed by a conveyor such as a belt conveyor, and a conveyance surface facing upward extends substantially horizontally and linearly. The container cleaning device 1 extends in parallel with the transport line 3 in a plan view. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the extending direction of the container cleaning device 1 and the extending direction of the transfer line 3 are defined as the front-rear direction and the horizontal direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction is defined as the left-right direction. The transport line 3 transports the containers 2 toward the front with reference to the front-rear direction shown in FIG.

  The container 2 includes a glass bottle, a plastic bottle, a can, a paper cup, and the like, and has a mouth portion 2A that opens upward at the upper end. The container 2 is supplied to the conveying line 3 in a standing posture in which the mouth 2A is opened and the mouth 2A is located at the upper end.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the container cleaning device 1 includes a main body 10, a pull-in line 11 that draws the container 2 from the transfer line 3 to the main body 10, and a payout line that pays out the container 2 from the main body 10 to the transfer line 3. Twelve. The main body 10 is conveyed by the reversal line 14 and the reversal line 14, which are turned upside down during the conveyance of the container 2 received from the drawing line 11, and then further reversed upside down to return to the original posture. An air injection device 15 that injects compressed air into the container 2, a cover 16 that forms an outer shell of the main body 10, a reverse line 14, the air injection device 15, and a base 17 that supports the cover 16. The cover 16 covers the side surface and the upper surface of the main body 10. On the side surface of the cover 16, an opening 19 is formed through which the drawing line 11 and the payout line 12 pass.

  The pull-in line 11 and the payout line 12 are conveyors having a conveyance surface facing upward and having a path bent in the horizontal direction. The payout line 12 is disposed in front of the lead-in line 11. The transport surface of the drawing line 11 has an upstream portion 11A extending from the rear to the front along the transport line 3, and an intermediate portion 11B extending leftward from the front end of the upstream portion 11A and passing through the opening 19 into the main body 10. And a downstream portion 11C extending rearward from the left end of the intermediate portion 11B. The transfer surface of the payout line 12 includes an upstream portion 12A extending from the front to the rear in the main body 10, an intermediate portion 12B extending rightward from the rear end of the upstream portion 12A, and passing through the opening 19 to reach the outside of the main body 10. A downstream portion 12C extending from the rear to the front along the transport line 3 from the middle right end. The downstream portion 11C of the drawing line 11 and the upstream portion 12A of the payout line 12 extend along a common straight line extending in the front-rear direction. The pull-in line 11 and the payout line 12 are formed by a belt curve conveyor or a roller conveyor using a bendable belt.

  A first guide member 21 that guides the container 2 flowing through the transport line 3 toward the pull-in line 11 is provided at a portion of the transport line 3 corresponding to the upstream portion 11A of the pull-in line 11. In the downstream portion 12C of the payout line 12, a second guide member 22 that guides the container 2 flowing through the payout line 12 to the transport line 3 side is provided. The first guide member 21 and the second guide member 22 are each formed of a plate material or a rod-like member, and are brought into sliding contact with the container 2 conveyed by the conveying line 3 and the payout line 12, thereby making the container 2 side with respect to the conveying direction. Lead towards. The first guide member 21 is displaceable between a use position located on the transport line 3 and a non-use position retracted outside the transport line 3, and moves on the transport line 3 when in the use position. The container 2 is moved onto the drawing line 11. By displacing the first guide member 21 between the use position and the non-use position, it is possible to select whether or not to send the container 2 to the container cleaning device 1. The second guide member 22 is always located on the payout line 12 and moves the container 2 moving on the payout line 12 onto the transport line 3.

  The inversion line 14 provided in the main body 10 is a grip conveyor that holds (contains) the container 2 from both left and right sides and conveys it. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the inversion line 14 has a pair of left and right endless grip belts 25. The grip belt 25 includes an endless transmission body 26 such as a chain, a belt, and a wire, a plurality of blocks 27 supported by the transmission body 26, and a flexible grip member 28 coupled to the surface of the block 27. Have. The blocks 27 provided with the grip members 28 are arranged adjacent to each other along the longitudinal direction of the transmission body 26. Each block 27 is formed with a plurality of guide rollers 31 supported by a rotatable guide wheel 29 and an engagement groove 27 </ b> A that engages with the plurality of guide rollers 31 supported by a fixed guide frame 30. Yes. The plurality of guide rollers 31 are arranged in a predetermined arrangement direction, and each block 27 moves in the arrangement direction of the guide rollers 31 by engaging with the guide rollers 31 in the engagement grooves 27A. Thereby, the grip belt 25 moves in the arrangement direction of the guide rollers 31. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the inversion line 14 includes a drive unit 32 that rotates the guide wheel 29. The drive unit 32 includes an electric motor and a power transmission mechanism that transmits the rotational force of the electric motor to the guide wheel 29. When the guide wheel 29 is rotated, the block 27 is moved in the arrangement direction of the guide roller 31 by the frictional force generated between the guide roller 31 supported by the guide wheel 29 and the block 27, and the grip belt 25 is rotated. The grip member 28 is formed of a flexible member such as urethane rubber, and can be in close contact with the side surface of the body portion 2B of the container 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a conveyance path 40 for the container 2 is formed between the left and right grip belts 25. The grip members 28 of the left and right grip belts 25 are opposed to each other in the transport path 40, and hold the container 2 from the left and right by being in close contact with the container 2 from the left and right. The conveyance path 40 of the reversal line 14 includes an inlet portion 40A extending rearward, an inlet-side curved portion 40B extending downward and forward while curving in a semicircular shape downward from the rear end of the inlet portion 40A, and inlet-side curved. An intermediate portion 40C extending forward from the lower end of the portion 40B, an outlet-side curved portion 40D extending upward and rearward while being curved semicircularly upward from the front end of the intermediate portion 40C, and an upper end of the outlet-side curved portion 40D And an outlet portion 40E extending rearward from the rear side. In plan view, the inlet portion 40A, the inlet-side curved portion 40B, the intermediate portion 40C, the outlet-side curved portion 40D, and the outlet portion 40E are arranged on a common straight line extending in the front-rear direction. The inlet portion 40A and the outlet portion 40E are disposed above the intermediate portion 40C.

  The end portion of the inlet portion 40A is disposed above the downstream portion 11C of the lead-in line 11. As a result, the container 2 conveyed in a standing posture on the drawing line 11 enters the inlet portion 40A of the reversing line 14 from the downstream portion 11C of the drawing line 11 while being held by the left and right grip members 28. Is done. 40 A of inlet parts convey back in the state which maintained the container 2 in the standing posture.

  Since the inlet-side curved portion 40B is bent in a semicircular shape downward, the container 2 is turned upside down so that the mouth portion 2A is turned to the lower side. The intermediate portion 40C conveys the container 2 forward while maintaining the inverted posture. Since the outlet-side curved portion 40D is curved in a semicircular shape upward, the container 2 is turned upside down again to return to the original standing posture.

  The end portion of the outlet portion 40E is disposed above the upstream portion 12A of the payout line 12. Thereby, the exit part 40E delivers the container 2 to the upstream part 12A of the discharge line 12 in a standing posture.

  The inversion line 14 includes a conveyance speed sensor 42 that detects the conveyance speed V, that is, the movement speed of the grip belt 25. In the present embodiment, the conveyance speed sensor 42 is a rotary encoder that detects the rotation speed of the electric motor of the drive unit 32, and outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the conveyance speed V.

  The air injection device 15 is disposed vertically below the intermediate portion 40C. As shown in FIG. 6, the air injection device 15 includes, for example, a compressed air source 45 that is a compressor, a nozzle 46 that injects compressed air, a pipe 47 that connects the compressed air source 45 and the nozzle 46, and a pipe 47. A solenoid valve 48 provided, a pressure sensor 49 provided between the nozzle 46 and the solenoid valve 48 in the pipe 47, a first sensor 51 for detecting whether or not the container 2 exists at a predetermined position, and a first sensor 51 2 sensors 52 and a control device 54 for controlling opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve 48.

  The nozzle 46 has at least one injection hole. The nozzle 46 has directivity and injects compressed air along the injection axis X. The smaller the injection angle (spreading width) of the compressed air injected from the nozzle 46, the better. The nozzle 46 injects compressed air from below toward a cleaning position P0 that is a predetermined position in a path through which the mouth 2A of the container 2 conveyed by the intermediate portion 40C passes. The nozzle 46 is arranged so that the injection axis X is parallel to the vertical direction. Accordingly, the mouth portion 2A of the container 2 conveyed by the intermediate portion 40C passes on the injection axis X of the nozzle 46, so that the compressed air ejected from the nozzle 46 passes through the mouth portion 2A and enters the inside of the container 2. You can enter.

  The electromagnetic valve 48 opens and closes the flow path of the compressed air in the pipe 47 and switches between supplying and stopping the compressed air to the nozzle 46. The pressure sensor 49 detects the pressure (gauge pressure) in the flow path between the electromagnetic valve 48 and the nozzle 46 in the pipe 47. That is, the pressure sensor 49 detects the pressure of the compressed air supplied to the nozzle 46. The pressure sensor 49 is preferably provided at a position closer to the nozzle 46 than the electromagnetic valve 48.

  The first sensor 51 and the second sensor 52 are provided in the vicinity of the intermediate portion 40C of the inversion line 14. The first sensor 51 and the second sensor 52 may be, for example, a non-contact proximity sensor such as a capacitance type, a photoelectric type, or an ultrasonic type that can detect glass, plastic, or the like, an optical sensor, or the like. In the present embodiment, the first sensor 51 and the second sensor 52 are sensors having a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and emit light emitted from the light emitting unit when the container 2 does not exist between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. When the light receiving part detects and the container 2 exists between the light emitting part and the light receiving part, the light is blocked by the container 2 and the light receiving part does not detect the light. Each of the first sensor 51 and the second sensor 52 outputs an ON signal when the container 2 exists in the detection area, and outputs an OFF signal when the container 2 does not exist in the detection area.

  The detection area of the first sensor 51 is set at a first position P1 upstream of the cleaning position P0 in the transport direction of the container 2. That is, the first sensor 51 detects that the container 2 has reached the first position P1 immediately before the mouth portion 2A of the container 2 reaches the cleaning position P0. The detection area of the second sensor 52 is set at the cleaning position P0. The second sensor 52 detects that the mouth portion 2A of the container 2 has reached the cleaning position P0. The second sensor 52 detects the container 2 when the foremost end in the transport direction of the mouth 2A of the container 2 reaches the cleaning position P0.

  The control device 54 is an electronic control device that includes a CPU, a memory, and the like, and receives signals from the first sensor 51, the second sensor 52, the pressure sensor 49, and the conveyance speed sensor 42. The control device 54 calculates the valve opening waiting time TW and the valve opening duration TK of the electromagnetic valve 48 based on signals from these sensors at predetermined intervals set in advance.

  The control device 54 calculates the valve opening waiting time TW of the electromagnetic valve 48 based on the signal from the transport speed sensor 42, the signal from the first sensor 51, and a preset delay time TD. The delay time TD is a time required for the pressure of the compressed air supplied to the nozzle 46 to reach a predetermined specified pressure PS after the electromagnetic valve 48 is opened. Since the solenoid valve 48 and the nozzle 46 are separated from each other in the pipe 47, it takes time until the pipe 47 between the solenoid valve 48 and the nozzle 46 is filled with compressed air and the pressure rises. The delay time TD can be shortened by shortening the distance from the solenoid valve 48 to the nozzle 46 or increasing the pressure of the compressed air. The delay time TD is measured in advance using the manufactured air injection device 15, and the measured delay time TD is stored in the control device 54 before use or at the time of manufacture. The measurement may be performed by measuring the time from when the electromagnetic valve 48 is opened until the value of the pressure sensor 49 reaches the specified pressure PS.

  The control device 54 stores a moving distance D1 required from the first position P1 at which the container 2 is detected by the first sensor 51 until the mouth 2A of the container 2 reaches the cleaning position P0. The control device 54 acquires the transport speed V based on the signal from the transport speed sensor 42, and divides the movement distance D1 by the transport speed V, so that the container 2 reaches the first position P1, and then the container 2 A time TR required for the mouth 2A to reach the cleaning position P0 is calculated. Then, the control device 54 calculates the valve opening waiting time TW by subtracting the delay time TD from the required time TR. The valve opening waiting time TW is a time for waiting until the electromagnetic valve 48 starts to be opened after the first sensor 51 detects the container 2. That is, the electromagnetic valve 48 opens after the valve opening waiting time TW has elapsed since the first sensor 51 detected the container 2.

  The control device 54 controls the solenoid valve 48 based on the passage time of the mouth 2A, that is, the time from when the first sensor 51 starts to detect the mouth 2A until it stops being detected, that is, the ON duration time TON of the first sensor 51. A valve opening duration TK that is a period for continuing the opening control is calculated. The valve opening duration TK is a period from when the valve opening standby time TW ends. For example, the control device 54 sets the valve opening duration TK by multiplying the ON duration TON of the first sensor 51 by a coefficient. In the range where the coefficient is smaller than 1, the valve opening duration TK is shorter than the ON duration TON, and in the range where the coefficient is larger than 1, the valve opening duration TK is longer than the ON duration TON. The coefficient may be 1. Further, the control device 54 calculates the diameter D2 of the mouth portion 2A based on the ON duration of the first sensor 51 and the signal from the transport speed sensor 42, and the diameter D2 of the mouth portion 2A is set to the transport speed V described above. May be set to the valve opening duration time TK.

  The control device 54 opens the electromagnetic valve 48 after the valve opening standby time TW has elapsed from when the signal from the first sensor 51 is turned ON, and after opening the electromagnetic valve 48, the control device 54 opens the valve opening duration TK. After the elapse of time, the solenoid valve 48 is closed.

  The control device 54 defines the pressure P based on the signal from the pressure sensor 49 when the signal from the second sensor 52 is turned on, that is, when the mouth 2A of the container 2 reaches the cleaning position P0. It is determined whether or not the pressure is higher than PS. The control device 54 determines that the air injection device 15 is normal when the pressure P is equal to or higher than the specified pressure PS, and determines that the air injection device 15 is abnormal when the pressure P is less than the specified pressure PS. . When it is determined that the air injection device 15 is abnormal, the control device 54 drives the notification device to notify that the air injection device 15 is abnormal. The notification device may be, for example, a warning light, a buzzer, or a monitor that displays a pressure value.

  Next, the operation and effect of the container cleaning device 1 according to the above-described embodiment will be described. The container 2 is placed on the transport line 3 with the standing posture and the mouth portion 2 </ b> A opened, and is transported by the transport line 3. At this time, if the first guide member 21 is in the use position, the container 2 is sent from the transport line 3 to the drawing line 11. The container 2 is placed in a standing posture on the drawing line 11, transported into the main body 10 of the container cleaning device 1 by the drawing line 11, and delivered to the inlet 40 </ b> A of the reversing line 14. Since the reversal line 14 sandwiches and conveys the body 2B of the container 2 from the left and right sides, the mouth 2A of the container 2 does not come into contact with other objects and is maintained in a clean state. The container 2 passes through the inlet-side curved portion 40B and is inverted upside down to the inverted posture, and passes through the intermediate portion 40C while maintaining the inverted posture. Thereafter, the container 2 passes through the outlet side curved portion 40D, is turned upside down again, returns to the standing state, and is delivered to the payout line 12 from the outlet portion 40E. The container 2 is placed in a standing posture on the payout line 12, transported to the outside of the main body 10 of the container cleaning device 1 by the payout line 12, and sent onto the transport line 3 by the second guide member 22.

  The air injection device 15 injects the compressed air toward the inside of the container 2 that passes through the intermediate portion 40C, and cleans the inside of the container 2. The operation of the air injection device 15 will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. The air injection device 15 calculates the valve-opening standby time TW and the valve-opening continuation time TK at predetermined intervals set apart from the time chart of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the container 2 transported by the intermediate portion 40C reaches the detection area of the first sensor 51 at time T1, the signal output from the first sensor 51 to the control device 54 is turned ON. The signal from the first sensor 51 is kept ON until time T5 when the container 2 finishes passing through the detection region of the first sensor 51. The control device 54 measures the time from time T1 when the signal from the first sensor 51 is turned ON, and opens the electromagnetic valve 48 at time T2 when the valve opening standby time TW has elapsed.

  Compressed air flows to the nozzle 46 side by opening the solenoid valve 48, the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 49 increases with time, and the pressure becomes equal to or higher than the specified pressure PS at time T3. Since the time T3 when the pressure of the compressed air at the nozzle 46 is equal to or higher than the specified pressure PS is before the time T4 when the mouth 2A of the container 2 reaches the cleaning position P0, the mouth 2A of the container 2 is at the cleaning position P0. The nozzle can inject the compressed air at a predetermined pressure from the time when the pressure reaches, and the compressed air can enter the inside of the container 2 through the mouth 2A. Accordingly, the inside of the container 2 can be cleaned from when the mouth 2A of the container 2 reaches the cleaning position P0.

  Further, the control device 54 measures the time from the time T2 when the electromagnetic valve 48 is opened, and closes the electromagnetic valve 48 at a time T6 when the valve opening duration TK has elapsed. Thereafter, the container 2 passes through the detection region of the second sensor 52 at time T7, and the signal from the second sensor 52 is turned off. After the electromagnetic valve 48 is closed at time T6, the pressure supplied to the nozzle 46 decreases with the passage of time, and the injection of compressed air from the nozzle 46 stops.

  In the container cleaning device 1 configured as described above, the injection of compressed air from the nozzle 46 is stopped when it is estimated that the mouth 2A of the container 2 does not exist at the cleaning position P0. The amount of compressed air that flows outside the container 2 is reduced. Thereby, the amount of compressed air which does not contribute to the washing | cleaning of the inside of the container 2 can be reduced, and energy consumption can be reduced. Further, even if foreign matter adheres to the main body 10 such as the reversal line 14, the amount of compressed air flowing outside the container 2 is reduced, so that the foreign matter is prevented from flying up by the compressed air. Therefore, it is suppressed that a foreign material adheres to the outer surface of the container 2 to be conveyed.

  The control device 54 sets the timing for opening the solenoid valve 48 in consideration of the preset delay time TD, and therefore, the compressed air is supplied into the mouth 2A from the time when the mouth 2A of the container 2 reaches the cleaning position. Therefore, an appropriate cleaning time can be ensured. Further, since the control device 54 sets the timing for opening the electromagnetic valve 48 based on the transport speed V, the compressed air can be injected at an appropriate timing even when the transport speed V is changed.

  The control device 54 sets the valve opening duration time TK based on the period during which the mouth portion 2A of the container 2 passes through a predetermined position, so that the compressed air is discharged at an appropriate timing according to the passage of the mouth portion 2A of the container 2. The injection can be stopped, and the leakage of compressed air to the outside of the container 2 can be reduced.

  The control device 54 determines whether or not the pressure P of the compressed air at the nozzle 46 is equal to or higher than the specified pressure PS when the mouth 2A of the container 2 is at the cleaning position P0, that is, when compressed air is to be injected. When the pressure P is lower than the specified pressure PS, the notification device is controlled to perform notification, so that the operator can recognize that an abnormality has occurred in the container cleaning device 1.

  Although the description of the specific embodiment is finished as described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be widely modified. For example, the control device 54 may set the valve opening waiting time TW based on the conveyance speed V with reference to a map in which the valve opening waiting time TW for the conveyance speed V is set in advance in consideration of the delay time TD. . Similarly, the control device 54 may set the valve opening duration TK based on the conveyance speed V with reference to a map in which the valve opening duration TK with respect to the conveyance speed V is set in advance. In another embodiment, in order to simplify the calculation of the valve opening duration TK, a predetermined value determined based on the diameter D2 of the mouth portion 2A regardless of the transport speed V is set as the valve opening duration TK. May be.

1: Container cleaning device 2: Container 2A: Mouth 3: Transport line 10: Main body 11: Pull-in line 12: Dispensing line 14: Inversion line (transport device)
15: Air injection device 40: Conveyance path 42: Conveyance speed sensor 45: Compressed air source 46: Nozzle 47: Pipe 48: Electromagnetic valve 49: Pressure sensor 51: First sensor 52: Second sensor 54: Control device 56: Notification apparatus

Claims (4)

A container cleaning device that blows off foreign matter in a container with compressed air,
A conveying device that holds the container in an upside down posture so that the mouth portion faces downward, and conveys the container along a predetermined conveying path;
A nozzle that is connected to a compressed air source via a pipe provided with a solenoid valve and injects compressed air from below toward a cleaning position that is a predetermined position on a path through which the mouth of the container to be conveyed passes; ,
A first sensor that detects that the container has reached a first position upstream of the cleaning position in the transport path;
Compressed air is injected from the nozzle when the mouth is estimated to be present at the cleaning position, and compressed air injection from the nozzle is stopped when it is estimated that the mouth is not present at the cleaning position. Preferably, the container cleaning device further includes a control device that controls opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve based on a signal from the first sensor.   The control device is based on a delay time set in advance as a time required for the compressed air supplied to the nozzle to reach a predetermined specified pressure from the start of opening of the electromagnetic valve, and a transport speed of the transport device. A valve opening waiting time which is a time from when the first sensor detects the container to when the electromagnetic valve starts to be opened, and after the first sensor detects the container, the valve opening The container cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic valve is controlled to open after the standby time has elapsed. A pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in a portion between the solenoid valve and the nozzle in the pipe;
A second sensor for detecting that the mouth of the container has reached the cleaning position;
A notification device that performs notification based on an output from the control device;
The control device determines whether the pressure detected by the pressure sensor is equal to or higher than the specified pressure when the container is at the cleaning position based on a signal from the second sensor, The container cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the notification device performs control so that the notification is performed when the pressure detected by the sensor is less than the specified pressure. The first sensor detects the mouth of the container;
The control device calculates a valve opening duration, which is a period for continuing the opening control of the electromagnetic valve, based on a passage time that is a time from when the first sensor starts to detect the mouth portion until it stops detecting. The container cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electromagnetic valve is closed after the valve opening duration has elapsed since the opening control of the electromagnetic valve was started. .

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