JP3903329B2 - Rotary valve of rotary bottle washer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rotary bottle washer, and more particularly, to a rotary valve structure that includes a stationary plate (distributor) and a rotating plate (rotor) to cut off the supply of cleaning liquid.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, a rotary bottle washer is a rotating body that rotates around a centrally arranged shaft, and an outer peripheral portion of the rotating body is provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and bottles that are conveyed by a conveyor are fed into an inlet star. A plurality of bottle grippers for reversing the bottle while it is picked up and gripped from the wheel and rotated and transported, and provided at positions corresponding to the bottle grippers of the rotating body, respectively. An inner washing nozzle that sprays and cleans the inside of the bottle and a rotary valve that supplies the washing liquid to the inner washing nozzle of the rotating body from the fixed side are provided.
[0003]
A conventional rotary valve has a fixed plate (distributor) and a rotating plate (rotor) which is attached to the lower surface of the rotating body and rotates integrally, and slides on the fixed plate disposed below the rotating plate. ). In the rotating plate, a discharge passage for feeding the cleaning liquid to the pipe connected to each of the inner washing nozzles is formed. On the other hand, the supply plate for distributing and supplying the cleaning liquid sent from the pump to the fixed plate. When the discharge passage of the rotating plate is connected to the supply passage of the stationary plate in a predetermined section during rotation of the rotating plate, the cleaning liquid is sent to the inner washing nozzle through the pipe, The bottle is sprayed into the bottle held by the gripper to clean the bottle.
[0004]
In the rotary bottle washer having the above-described configuration, the cleaning liquid sent from the pump is always supplied to the supply passage of the stationary plate, and the cleaning liquid is supplied to the nozzle from the discharge passage that coincides with this supply passage during the rotation of the rotating plate. Therefore, since the liquid is sprayed to the bottle, a strong hydraulic pressure always acts on the sliding surface between the stationary side plate and the rotating plate to separate the rotating plate. Therefore, the fixed side plate is pressed against the rotating plate by a pressing means such as an air cylinder or a spring so that the fixed side plate and the rotating plate are not separated and the cleaning liquid does not leak from the sliding surface. No. 6-254511, JP-A-6-254512, Japanese Patent Application No. 8-287603, Japanese Patent Application No. 8-287604, Japanese Patent Application No. 9-168151, etc.).
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the rotating plate is slid with respect to the stationary plate while being pressed by a pressing means such as an air cylinder as described above, one of the plates is usually made of resin so that both can rotate smoothly. It is made. When one of the upper and lower plates is metallic and the other is made of resin, the resin plate is worn by sliding and rotating. For example, when the rotating plate (rotor) is made of stainless steel and the fixed side plate (distributor) is made of resin, when the rotating plate rotates, the opening on the inlet side of the discharge passage that opens on the sliding surface is the peripheral portion. Since it has an edge shape, there is a problem in that when passing through the supply passage of the fixed side plate, the sliding surface of the fixed side plate is scraped and wear powder is generated. When the sliding surface is worn in this way, there are problems such as wear powder being mixed in the cleaning liquid and liquid leakage may occur. There is also a problem that the life of a resin member such as a fixed side plate (distributor) is shortened.
[0006]
In addition, rotary type bottle washers need to wash and sterilize internal fluid passages and nozzles before or after the start of production operation for washing bottles. When the valve is closed, the steam in the nozzle portion is condensed and the inside of the pipe is evacuated, and the steam condensate once discarded from the return pipe for discharging the sterilizing liquid or the like may flow backward.
[0007]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a rotary valve of a rotary bottle washer that suppresses wear of a resin plate and has improved sanitary properties. .
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The rotary valve of the rotary bottle washer according to the present invention includes a fixed side plate in which a cleaning fluid intake port, a supply passage communicating with the intake port and opening in a sliding surface is formed, and a slide of the fixed side plate. A rotating plate that is arranged so as to be slidable and rotatable with respect to the moving surface, is formed with a discharge passage that is communicated and cut off with the supply passage as it rotates, and a pressing means that presses the stationary plate against the rotating plate; When the discharge passage is connected to the supply passage of the stationary plate during the rotation of the plate, the cleaning fluid is injected into the rotary bottle washer for cleaning the bottle. A shallow groove facing the discharge passage of the rotating plate is formed on the sliding surface of the plate.
[0009]
Further, the rotary valve of the rotary type washer according to the second invention is a shallow groove having a width wider than at least the diameter of the discharge passage on the sliding surface of the rotating plate, contrary to the first invention. Is formed.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a rotary bottle washer equipped with a rotary valve according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an essential part thereof. A rotating wheel 4 is attached to the upper part of the rotating shaft 2 arranged in the center and rotates integrally. A plurality of bottle grippers 6 are provided near the outer periphery of the rotating wheel 4 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Each of these bottle grippers 6 is supported on a support column 8 fixed to the outer peripheral edge of the rotating wheel 4 so as to be able to be reversed about a horizontal fulcrum. A rotary plate (rotor) 14 of a rotary valve 12 that shuts off supply of a cleaning liquid supplied to a nozzle 10 described later is fixed to the lower surface side of the central portion of the rotary wheel 4, and is integrated with the rotary wheel 4. Rotate.
[0011]
The same number of discharge passages 16 as the number of bottle grippers 6 are formed radially at equal intervals in the rotor 14. Each discharge passage 16 formed inside the rotor 14 has its cleaning liquid inlet side openings 16a arranged at equal intervals on the same circumference on the lower surface (sliding surface) 14a side of the rotor 14, and the cleaning liquid outlet side. The openings 16b are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 14 at a predetermined interval.
[0012]
Below the position where each bottle gripper 6 grips and reverses the bottle 20 (the position shown in FIG. 1), an inner washing nozzle (nozzle for washing the inside of the bottle 20) 10 for injecting the cleaning liquid is arranged. When the bottle 20 is inverted and turned upside down, the tip of the nozzle 10 faces the mouth of the bottle 20. Each of these nozzles 10 is connected to an outlet side opening 16 b of a discharge passage 16 provided in the rotor 14 via a supply hose 24.
[0013]
An annular fixed plate (distributor) 18 is disposed around the rotary shaft 2 and below the rotor 14. The distributor 18 is mounted on push-up means 28 arranged at a plurality of locations on the base 26. During operation of the rotary bottle washer, the distributor 18 is pushed up by the push-up means 28 and the upper rotor 14 is moved. It comes to adhere to.
[0014]
An arc-shaped cleaning liquid supply slot (cleaning liquid supply passage) 22 is formed inside the distributor 18. The long hole 22 for supplying cleaning liquid opens to the upper surface (sliding surface) 18a of the distributor 18 over the entire length, and communicates with the outside through a cleaning liquid supply port 23 formed on the side surface. The arc-shaped cleaning liquid supply slot 22 is located on the circumference of the same radius as the circle in which the inlet side openings 16a of the numerous discharge passages 16 formed in the rotor 14 are arranged. When the rotor 14 and the rotor 14 are overlapped, a part of the inlet side opening 16a of the discharge passage 16 formed at equal intervals on the entire circumference is positioned in the arc-shaped elongated hole 22.
[0015]
The cleaning liquid supply port 23 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the distributor 18 is connected to a pump (not shown) via a supply pipe 30, and the cleaning liquid discharged from the pump (for bottle cleaning) is supplied with this cleaning liquid. Each inner washing nozzle 10 is supplied from the opening 23 to each discharge passage 16 of the rotor 14 through the arc-shaped elongated hole 22 and further to the outlet hose 24 connected to the outlet side opening 16b of the discharge passage 16. Sent to.
[0016]
On the sliding surface 18 a of the distributor 18, two concentric circles are formed concentrically with the arc of the cleaning liquid supply slot 22 on the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side of the portion where the arc-shaped cleaning liquid supply slot 22 is open. The annular grooves 32 and 34 (see FIG. 4) are formed. These two inner and outer annular grooves 32 and 34 respectively pass through the inside of the distributor 18 and serve as barriers (to block the arc-shaped cleaning liquid supply oblong hole 22 formed in the distributor 18 from the surroundings). An introduction passage (not shown) for introducing the cleaning liquid is provided. The barrier cleaning liquid introduction passage is connected to a pump via another supply pipe that is branched from the supply pipe 30 for supplying the rinsing cleaning liquid for the bottle 20, and the barrier cleaning liquid is supplied to the rinse pipe. It is supplied separately from the cleaning liquid for use. In the drawings other than FIG. 4, the two annular grooves 32 and 34 are not shown.
[0017]
Furthermore, in the rotary valve 12 according to this embodiment, the remaining surface on the same circumference as the arc-shaped slot 22 is formed on the sliding surface 18a of the distributor 18 in which the arc-shaped cleaning liquid supply slot 22 is formed. A shallow groove 36 having a width substantially equal to the width of the elongated hole 22 is formed over the entire circumference of the portion. Usually, the width of the arc-shaped elongated hole 22 is larger than the diameter of the inlet side opening 16a of the discharge passage 16 formed in the rotor 14, and therefore the width of the shallow groove 36 is also equal to the inlet side opening. It is larger than the diameter of 16a. Therefore, when the rotor 14 slides and rotates on the distributor 18, the inlet side opening 16a of the discharge passage 16 passes over the arc-shaped elongated hole 22 and the shallow groove 36 of the distributor 18 and directly contacts the sliding surface 18a. There is nothing to do.
[0018]
If the groove 36 is deeper than a predetermined depth, the cleaning liquid is sent to the discharge passage 16 of the rotor 14 not communicating with the cleaning liquid supply slot 22 of the distributor 18 and discharged from the nozzle 10. Limited within a certain depth. The depth of the groove 36 is determined based on the relationship between the width of the groove 36 and the effective aperture area of the nozzle 10 and may satisfy the following conditions.
Nozzle effective aperture area S ₁ > groove cross-sectional area S ₂
For example, if the nozzle 10 has a diameter of 3 mm, the groove 36 has a depth of 0.2 mm, and a width of 10 mm,
S ₁ = 1.5 ² × π ≒ 7mm ²
S ₂ = 0.2 × 10 = 2mm ²
Thus, since the above condition is satisfied, the cleaning liquid is not ejected from the nozzle 10 not communicating with the long hole 22 for supplying the cleaning liquid.
[0019]
The operation of the rotary valve 12 of the rotary bottle washer having the above configuration will be described. During a production operation in which a normal washing operation is performed, the push-up force of each push-up means 28 acts to push up the distributor 18, and the upper surface (sliding surface) 18a thereof becomes the lower surface (slide surface) 14a of the rotor 14. It is in a pressure contact state, and the distributor 18 and the rotor 14 are prevented from being separated vertically by the pressure of the cleaning liquid supplied from the distributor 18 side to the rotor 14. In this state, the rotating wheel 4 and the rotor 14 supported by the rotating shaft 2 are rotated by driving means (not shown).
[0020]
Each bottle gripper 6 provided on the outer periphery of the rotating wheel 4 grips and receives the head of the bottle 20 that has been conveyed in an upright state by a conveying means such as a conveyor, and then rotates the rotating wheel 4. Accordingly, the bottle 20 is inverted while being conveyed, and the bottle 20 is inverted (the state shown in FIG. 1). The front end of the inner washing nozzle 10 for injecting the rinse cleaning liquid faces the mouth of the bottle 20 in an inverted state. The distributor 18 is formed with an arc-shaped cleaning liquid supply slot 22, and when the rotor 14 rotates, the inlet-side opening 16 a of the discharge passage 16 is connected to the arc-shaped slot 22 of the distributor 18. The rinsing cleaning liquid discharged from the pump is supplied through the supply pipe 30, the cleaning liquid supply port 23 formed on the side surface of the distributor 18 and the arc-shaped elongated hole 22, the discharge passage 16 of the rotor 14, the supply hose 24, and the like. It is sent to the washing nozzle 10 and sprayed into the bottle 20 to clean the inside of the bottle 20.
[0021]
While the inlet-side opening 16a of the discharge passage 16 formed in the rotor 14 is rotated so as to overlap the arc-shaped elongated hole 22 of the distributor 18, the cleaning liquid is sent to the nozzle 10 and injected into the bottle 20. And wash. Thereafter, when the inlet-side opening 16a of the discharge passage 16 of the rotor 14 passes through the arc-shaped elongated hole 22 of the distributor 18, a series of passages for supplying the rinsing cleaning liquid is blocked, and the cleaning is completed. Thereafter, the bottle gripper 6 drains water while holding the bottle 20 in an inverted state over a predetermined rotation range, and then reverses the bottle 20 again to return it to an upright state and discharges it outside the washing machine.
[0022]
As described above, the rotor 14 rotates and slides with respect to the upper surface (sliding surface) 18a of the distributor 18, but the peripheral portion of the inlet side opening 16a of the discharge passage 16 formed in the rotor 14 is Further, since it does not contact directly through the arc-shaped elongated hole 22 and the shallow groove 36 of the distributor 18, it is possible to prevent the distributor 18 from being scraped by the opening 16 a of the discharge passage 16 to generate wear powder. Therefore, the wear powder is not mixed in the cleaning liquid. If the groove formed in the remaining portion on the same circumference where the arc-shaped long hole 22 is formed is deep, the cleaning liquid flowing into the groove from the arc-shaped long hole 22 is ejected from the nozzle 10. Therefore, the groove 36 is made extremely shallow. In order to prevent the rotor 14 from sliding with the inlet side opening 16 a of the discharge passage 16, the width of the shallow groove 36 must be larger than the diameter of the inlet side opening 16 a of the discharge passage 16.
[0023]
Further, since the shallow grooves 36 are provided, all the nozzles 10 are conducted, so that the condensate of the discarded steam does not flow backward after the steam sterilization. Furthermore, since all the nozzles 10 can be conducted, it is possible to prepare for production several days later with clean air, sterile water, or the like sealed in the pipe.
[0024]
In the above embodiment, the shallow groove 36 is formed on the same circumference as the arc-shaped elongated hole 22 of the distributor 18 (that is, on the circumference through which the discharge passage 16 of the rotor 14 passes). You may make it form the cyclic | annular shallow groove | channel over the perimeter. When a groove is formed on the rotor 14 side, the width of the groove needs to be at least larger than the diameter of the inlet side opening 16a of the discharge passage 16.
[0025]
Further, as described above, the distributor 18 is pushed up by the push-up means 28 and is brought into pressure contact with the rotor 14. Normally, the push-up means 28 is appropriately arranged on the entire circumference of the distributor 18 so as to apply a uniform load to the distributor 18. However, in reality, a portion where the arc-shaped elongated hole 22 of the distributor 18 is provided. Since the surface pressure is higher than the other parts, in the conventional configuration, there is a risk that liquid leakage may occur in a region where the surface pressure changes from a high part to a low part. By forming the shallow groove 36 connected to the hole 22, liquid leakage can be prevented.
[0026]
In the above-described embodiment, the rotating plate (rotor) 14 is disposed on the upper side, and the fixed side plate (distributor) 18 disposed on the lower side is pressed by the pushing-up means 28 to be pressed. It is also possible to arrange the distributor on the upper side and press the lower rotor with the pressing means.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the rotary valve of the rotary bottle washer according to the present invention includes a fixed side plate in which a cleaning fluid intake port and a supply passage that communicates with the intake port and opens to a sliding surface are formed. A rotating plate that is disposed so as to be slidable and rotatable with respect to the sliding surface of the fixed side plate and that is formed with a discharge passage that is communicated and cut off with the supply passage with rotation, and a pressure that presses the fixed side plate against the rotating plate A rotary bottle washer for injecting the washing fluid and washing the bottle when the discharge passage is connected to the supply passage of the stationary plate during rotation of the rotating plate. By forming a shallow groove facing the discharge passage of the rotating plate on the sliding surface of the side plate, wear of the fixed side plate and the rotating plate can be suppressed. , It is possible to improve the sanitation.
[0028]
According to the second invention, the same effect as the first invention can be obtained by forming a shallow groove at least wider than the diameter of the discharge passage on the sliding surface of the rotating plate. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a rotary bottle washer provided with a rotary valve according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a main part of the rotary type bottle washer.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a sliding part of a rotor and a distributor constituting a rotary valve.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the distributor.
[Explanation of symbols]
14 Rotating plate (rotor)
14a Rotating plate sliding surface 16 Discharge passage 18 Fixed plate (distributor)
18a Sliding surface of fixed side plate 20 Bottle 22 Supply passage (arc-shaped long hole)
28 Pressing means (pushing means)
23 Cleaning fluid intake 36 Shallow groove

Claims (2)

A fixed side plate having a cleaning fluid intake port and a supply passage communicating with the intake port and opening in the sliding surface is disposed, and is slidably rotatable with respect to the sliding surface of the fixed side plate. A rotation plate having a discharge passage that is communicated and cut off with the supply passage is provided, and a pressing unit that presses the fixed side plate against the rotation plate. During rotation of the rotation plate, the discharge passage is connected to the fixed side plate. In a rotary bottle washer that injects the washing fluid to wash the bottle when connected to the supply passage,
A rotary valve for a rotary bottle washer, wherein a shallow groove facing the discharge passage of the rotating plate is formed on the sliding surface of the stationary plate. A fixed side plate having a cleaning fluid intake port and a supply passage communicating with the intake port and opening in the sliding surface is disposed, and is slidably rotatable with respect to the sliding surface of the fixed side plate. A rotation plate having a discharge passage that is communicated and cut off with the supply passage is provided, and a pressing unit that presses the fixed side plate against the rotation plate. During rotation of the rotation plate, the discharge passage is connected to the fixed side plate. In a rotary bottle washer that injects the washing fluid to wash the bottle when connected to the supply passage,
A rotary valve for a rotary bottle washer, wherein a shallow groove having a width wider than at least the diameter of the discharge passage is formed on the sliding surface of the rotating plate.

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