JP3915172B2 - Nozzle cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a nozzle cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for cleaning a nozzle for cleaning a liquid or other fluid such as a cleaning liquid to clean an outer surface of an article such as a container.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a container cleaning device such as a rinser or a bottle washer is provided with a cleaning nozzle that injects a liquid such as cleaning liquid or fresh water onto the outer surface of the container to clean the outer surface of the container. A so-called outer washing nozzle that cleans the outer surface of the container uses a spray nozzle or the like in order to perform cleaning by jetting a liquid such as a cleaning liquid at a wide angle.
[0003]
As described above, the outside washing nozzle provided in the container cleaning device such as the rinser gradually adheres to the nozzle outlet while the liquid is sprayed to wash the container such as the bottle. It is necessary to perform cleaning or sterilization as appropriate. Therefore, conventionally, cleaning or sterilization is performed by applying a cleaning chemical, hot water, steam or the like from the outside of the nozzle.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As in the prior art, the entire outer surface of the nozzle cannot be completely cleaned only by applying a cleaning liquid, sterilizing hot water or steam from the outside. In particular, when the container is washed with a chemical solution in the previous process of the rinser and the finisher is used to wash away the chemical solution adhering to the previous process, there is a problem that scale or the like is likely to occur on the outer surface of the nozzle. is there. When the scale is fixed in this way, the outer surface of the nozzle needs to be strongly cleaned and sterilized. However, as described above, it is not possible to completely remove the scale or the like by simply applying a cleaning chemical from the outside. It was impossible. Therefore, in such a case, the nozzle pipe is removed, and it is manually processed by immersing it in a chemical solution or the like. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time and work efficiency is poor.
[0005]
In recent years, it has been widely used that a rinser or the like is disposed in a clean room and a container after being cleaned by the rinser is sent to a filler (filling machine) or the like while maintaining a clean state. When the rinse nozzle of the rinser placed in such a clean room is sterilized with hot water or steam, the clean room is filled with steam, and the aseptic filter is wetted, and various bacteria are prone to multiply. .
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can completely clean and sterilize the inner and outer surfaces of the nozzle for cleaning containers and other articles and the piping system, and can also automatically and efficiently perform cleaning. An object of the present invention is to provide a possible nozzle cleaning device. It is another object of the present invention to provide a nozzle cleaning device in which steam is not filled into the clean room even when a cleaning device such as a rinser equipped with a nozzle is disposed in the clean room. Is.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A nozzle cleaning apparatus according to the present invention includes a nozzle body having a fluid passage formed therein, and a nozzle outlet that is attached to the nozzle body and ejects fluid supplied through the fluid passage. In particular, a device for cleaning or sterilizing the nozzle, wherein a concave portion is formed on the outer surface of the nozzle body, the nozzle outlet is accommodated in the concave portion, the position where the concave portion is blocked from the outside, and the position where the concave portion is opened. A lid member that can reciprocate between the two and a reflux passage that communicates with the inside of the recess, and when cleaning the article by injecting fluid from the nozzle outlet, the lid member is disposed at the recess opening position. When the nozzle is washed, the recess is sealed by the lid member and fluid is supplied from the fluid passage.
[0008]
In the nozzle cleaning device, when cleaning an article such as a container, the lid member is moved to supply the cleaning liquid or the like with the recess in which the nozzle outlet is accommodated open. Further, when cleaning the nozzle itself, the inside of the recess in which the nozzle outlet is accommodated is sealed with a lid member, and a cleaning chemical, hot water for sterilization, steam or the like is sprayed from the nozzle outlet. Then, the fluid such as a chemical solution is blown out from the nozzle outlet through the internal passage of the nozzle body, and cleans or sterilizes the inside of the piping system and the nozzle, and further flows in the recess, that is, on the outer surface side of the nozzle outlet. After the outer surface of the nozzle is cleaned or sterilized by the above, it is discharged to the outside through the reflux passage.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a simplified overall structure of a rotary type rinser provided with a nozzle cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the main part of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are longitudinal sectional views showing different sections of the nozzle cleaning device.
[0010]
First, the configuration of the rotary type rinser will be briefly described with reference to FIG. The container 2 to be cleaned is continuously transported by the transport conveyor 4, pitched at predetermined intervals by the timing screw 6, and introduced into the rotating body 10 via the inlet star wheel 8. A plurality of bottle grippers 12 (see FIG. 2) are provided near the outer periphery of the rotating body 10 at regular intervals, and each bottle gripper 12 is fed from the inlet star wheel 8 rotating in synchronization with the rotating body 10. The containers 2 are delivered one by one.
[0011]
The bottle gripper 12 that has received the container 2 from the inlet star wheel 8 is reversed by the reversing cam rail 14 while moving in the reversing zone A, and turns the container 2 held in an upright state into an inverted state. Below the container 2 held in an inverted state by each bottle gripper 12, an inner washing nozzle (nozzle for injecting a cleaning liquid into the container 2 for cleaning) 16 is arranged, and integrated with the bottle gripper 12. The container 2 held by the bottle gripper 12 and the inner washing nozzle 16 rotate integrally in the inner washing circulation washing zone B and the inner washing finishing washing zone C, while the inner washing nozzle 16 rotates integrally. The cleaning liquid is sprayed into the containers 2 from 14 to clean the containers 2. A plurality of outer washing nozzles 20 are disposed on both sides of the path through which the inverted container 2 is transported to inject cleaning liquid onto the outer surface of the container 2. Note that, as will be described later, these outer washing nozzles 20 are spray nozzles or drill hole nozzles for spraying the cleaning liquid at a wide angle.
[0012]
The container 2 whose inner side and the entire outer surface have been cleaned by the inner washing nozzle 16 and the outer washing nozzle 20 is conveyed in the draining zone D in an inverted state and drained. Thereafter, the bottle gripper 12 is reversed again by the reversing cam rail 14 in the reversing zone E to return the container 2 to the upright state and delivers it to the outlet star wheel 18. Each container 2 is discharged onto the conveyor 4 by the outlet star wheel 18 and sent to the next process.
[0013]
The outer washing nozzle 20 and its washing device (indicated by reference numeral 22 as a whole) will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The outer washing nozzle 20 is formed inside a cylindrical nozzle body 24 arranged upright, two nozzle outlets 26 and 27 attached to the nozzle body 24, and the nozzle body 24. The liquid supply pipe 28 is connected to the upper portion 24 and the liquid such as the cleaning liquid supplied via the liquid supply pipe 30 is constituted by an internal passage 32 in the axial direction for sending the liquid to the nozzle outlets 26 and 27.
[0014]
The cylindrical nozzle body 24 is formed with two circular recesses 34 and 35 that are recessed in the radial direction, and the nozzle outlets 26 and 27 are fixed in the recesses 34 and 35, respectively. Yes. A hole 36.37 formed on the bottom side of each nozzle outlet 26, 27 communicates with the internal passage 32, and the cleaning liquid is sent from the internal passage 32 to the nozzle outlet 26, 27. As described above, the nozzle outlets 26 and 27 are accommodated in the recesses 34 and 35, respectively, and their tips are located on the inner side of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical main body 24.
[0015]
A cylindrical cap (lid member) 38 is slidably fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the columnar nozzle body 24. Each outer washing nozzle 20 of this embodiment is provided with two nozzle outlets 26 and 27, and a cap 38 is formed from two cylindrical bodies 40 and 41 corresponding to the nozzle outlets 26 and 27. It is configured. Both cylinders 40 and 41 are formed with connecting flanges 40a and 41a, respectively, and are connected by two rods 42 and 43 so as to slide integrally. These cylinders 40 and 41 are connected to an actuator (moving means) such as a cylinder 46 attached to a bracket 44 fixed to the outside, and are moved forward and backward. When the cap 38 composed of the two cylinders 40 and 41 is moved onto the recesses 34 and 35 as shown by solid lines in FIGS. 3 and 4, the recesses 34 and 24 that accommodate the nozzle outlets 26 and 27 are accommodated. When the inside of the nozzle 35 is sealed and moved to a position away from the recesses 34 and 35 as shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure, the spraying of liquid such as cleaning liquid from the nozzle outlets 26 and 27 is obstructed. It is supposed not to. As the actuator, various types of conventionally known actuators can be used. For example, when a cylinder is used, if the cap 38 is not stopped with the recesses 34 and 35 completely opened, the container Since a spray cannot be sprayed at the time of washing | cleaning of 2, the single acting type | mold cylinder which has an internal spring is used.
[0016]
In addition, annular grooves are formed on both outer sides of the cylindrical nozzle body 24 in the axial direction of the recesses 34 and 35, and cap seals 48 are fitted. When covered by the two cylinders 40, 41), the liquid tightness between the inner surface of the cap 38 and the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle body 24 is maintained.
[0017]
The two recesses 34 and 35 in which the nozzle outlets 26 and 27 are accommodated are connected by a connection passage 50, and these recesses 34 and 35 communicate with the outside via a return water pipe 52. ing. The return water pipes 52 from the outer washing nozzles 20 are concentrated in one place and drained or circulated to the supply side.
[0018]
The operation of the outside washing nozzle 20 and the washing apparatus 22 according to the above configuration will be described. In a normal operation in which the container 2 is cleaned by the rotary type rinser, the cap (lid member) 38 is moved upward in the drawing by the operation of the cylinder 46, and the recesses in which the nozzle outlets 26 and 27 are accommodated. 34 and 35 are opened. In this state, a liquid such as cleaning liquid or fresh water is supplied into the internal passage 32 in the main body 24 through the liquid supply pipe 28 and the liquid supply pipe 30. This liquid is sprinkled from the nozzle outlets 26 and 27 through the passages 32 inside the cylindrical nozzle body 24 through the bottom holes 36 and 37 of the nozzle outlets 26 and 27 and is conveyed in an inverted state. The container 2 is washed by being sprayed on the outer surface of the container 2 (see FIG. 2).
[0019]
Further, when washing the outer washing nozzle 20, the cap 38 is moved downward in FIGS. 3 and 4 by the cylinder 46, and the outer surface side of the recesses 34 and 35 is sealed by the both cylinders 40 and 41. In this state, cleaning chemicals are supplied from the liquid supply pipe 28 and the liquid supply pipe 30. The chemical solution is sent from the internal passage 32 of the nozzle body 24 to the nozzle outlets 26 and 27. The chemicals ejected from the nozzle outlets 26 and 27 strike the inner surfaces of the cylinders 40 and 41 constituting the cap 38 and flow through the recesses 34 and 35 to clean the outer surfaces of the nozzle outlets 26 and 27. In this embodiment, nozzle outlets 26 and 27 are provided in the recesses 34 and 35 at two locations, respectively, and after cleaning is performed by injecting a chemical solution for cleaning from each nozzle outlet 26 and 27, The chemicals are joined by the connection passage 50 and discharged from the return water pipe 52 to the outside.
[0020]
As described above, since the nozzle outlets 26 and 27 are accommodated in the recesses 34 and 35 formed in the nozzle body 24 and can be sealed by the sliding caps 38 (cylinders 40 and 41), Not only the inside of the outlets 26 and 27 but also the outer surface can be completely cleaned. Further, since the cleaning chemical solution is sprayed into the sealed recesses 34 and 35 so that the chemical solution flows at a high flow rate on the outer surface side of the nozzle outlets 26 and 27, the cleaning power is strong, and the previous step In addition, the scale generated due to the cleaning with the chemical solution can be automatically removed.
[0021]
Also, when hot water or steam is supplied to sterilize the nozzle outlets 26 and 27, the hot water or steam is injected into the recesses 34 and 35 to sterilize the nozzle outlets 26 and 27. Since it is collected from the return water pipe 52 without being discharged to the outside after being performed, the clean room is not filled. Therefore, the aseptic filter is not wetted and the inside of the clean room can be kept dry, so that it is possible to prevent the proliferation of germs.
[0022]
In addition, although the said Example demonstrated the washing | cleaning apparatus applied to the outside washing nozzle 20 provided in the rotary type | mold rinser, it is not restricted to the outside washing nozzle 20, In addition, the nozzle which wash | cleans a bottle mouth, and a container The present invention can be applied to various nozzles for cleaning the outer surface of an article such as a spray nozzle, such as a nozzle for cleaning a holder, a nozzle for cleaning a slider, or a nozzle for cleaning a filler table.
[0023]
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a nozzle cleaning apparatus according to the second embodiment. In the above embodiment, the cylindrical cap (lid member) 38 is placed between the position where the recesses 34 and 35 are opened and the position where the recesses 34 and 35 are sealed by the air cylinder 46 which is separate from the cleaning nozzle 20. However, this embodiment is characterized in that the air cylinder 146 is integrated with the cleaning nozzle 120.
[0024]
That is, as in the previous embodiment, the cylindrical nozzle body 124 is formed with two circular recesses 134 and 135, and the nozzle outlets 126 and 127 are respectively disposed in the recesses 134 and 135, respectively. It is fixed. The cleaning liquid is sent from the internal passage 132 to both nozzle outlets 126 and 127. Further, the two recesses 134 and 135 in which the nozzle outlets 126 and 127 are accommodated are connected by a connection passage 150, and these recesses 134 and 135 are connected to the outside via a return water pipe 152. Communicate.
[0025]
A cylindrical cap (lid member) 138 including two cylindrical bodies 140 and 141 is slidably fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the columnar nozzle body 124. Both cylinders 140 and 141 are formed with connecting flanges 140a and 141a, which are connected by a rod 142 to slide integrally. A cylindrical body 144 is fixed to the outer peripheral side of the nozzle body 124. The fixed cylindrical body 144 includes a cylinder portion 144 a having a gap with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle body 124. On the other hand, an enlarged diameter portion 141b that substantially coincides with the inner diameter of the cylinder portion 144a is formed on one 141 (downward in FIG. 5) of the two cylinders 140 and 141, and this enlarged diameter portion 141b is formed in the cylinder portion 144a. Sliding on the inner surface of A seal member 160 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter portion 141b, and constitutes an air chamber 162 in which a gap between the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle body 124 and the inner surface of the cylinder portion 144a is sealed. Air can be supplied into or discharged from the air chamber 162 via an air supply / exhaust port 164.
[0026]
A bracket 144b for slidably supporting the rod 142 is formed at the tip (lower end) of the cylinder portion 144a, and a spring 166 is interposed between the bracket 144b and the flange 140a of the upper cylindrical body 140. Thus, the rod 142 and the two cylinders 140 and 141 connected by the rod 142 are always urged upward. When air is supplied into the air chamber 162 from the air supply / discharge port 164, the lower cylinder 141, the rod 142 connected to the cylinder 141, and the upper connected to the other end of the rod 142 The cylindrical body 140 moves integrally with the spring 166 downward in the figure.
[0027]
In the nozzle cleaning apparatus according to the second embodiment, when a normal container cleaning operation is performed, the air in the air chamber 162 is discharged, and a cap (lid member) 138 including two cylindrical bodies 140 and 141 is provided. , It is raised to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure. When the cap 138 is positioned upward, the recesses 134 and 135 are open, and the cleaning liquid supplied to the nozzle outlets 126 and 127 via the internal passage 132 in this state is jetted outwardly and the container Perform cleaning. On the other hand, when the nozzle 120 is cleaned, air is introduced into the air chamber 162. Then, the cap 138 is pushed downward against the force of the spring 166 to seal both the concave portions 134 and 135. When cleaning liquid or the like is supplied to the nozzle outlets 126 and 127 in this state, the inner passage 132 and the inner and outer surfaces of the nozzle outlets 126 and 127 can be cleaned as in the first embodiment. The liquid after washing is discharged to the outside through the return water pipe 152. In this way, the above-described effects can be achieved even when the air cylinder 146 is integrated with the cleaning nozzle 120.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the concave portion is formed on the outer surface of the nozzle body, the nozzle outlet is accommodated in the concave portion, and the reciprocating motion is performed between the position where the concave portion is blocked from the outside and the position where the concave portion is opened. A possible lid member and a reflux passage communicating with the inside of the recess to the outside, and when the article is cleaned by ejecting fluid from the nozzle outlet, the lid member is disposed at the recess open position, and the nozzle is When cleaning, the concave portion is sealed by the lid member so that fluid is supplied from the fluid passage, so that the nozzle for cleaning the outer surface of the article, such as the rinse nozzle of the rinser, is provided inside and outside. Can be thoroughly cleaned or sterilized. In addition, since the cleaning and sterilization of the nozzle can be automated, the working efficiency is improved. In addition, even when the cleaning device using this nozzle is housed in a clean room, hot water for sterilization or steam from steam does not fill the room, so there is no risk of wetting a sterile filter or the like, In addition, since the room can always be kept in a dry state, the growth of bacteria can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a rotary rinser provided with a nozzle cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rotary type rinser.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an outer washing nozzle of the rotary type rinser and its washing apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a section different from that of FIG. 3 of the outer washing nozzle and the washing apparatus of the rotary type rinser.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a nozzle cleaning device according to a second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 nozzles (outside washing nozzles)
24 Nozzle body 26 Nozzle outlet 27 Nozzle outlet 32 Fluid passage (internal passage of main body)
34 Recess 35 Recess 38 Lid member (cylindrical cap)
40 cylinder 41 cylinder 46 moving means (cylinder)
48 Sealing member (cap seal)
52 Return passage (return water pipe)

Claims (2)

In a cleaning nozzle comprising a nozzle body in which a fluid passage is formed, and a nozzle outlet that is attached to the nozzle body and ejects fluid supplied through the fluid passage,
A recess is formed on the outer surface of the nozzle body, and the nozzle outlet is accommodated in the recess,
A lid member capable of reciprocating between a position where the concave portion is cut off from the outside and a position where the concave portion is opened, and a reflux passage communicating with the inside of the concave portion are provided, and the article is washed by ejecting fluid from the nozzle outlet. In this case, the lid member is disposed at the recess opening position, and when the nozzle is cleaned, the recess is sealed by the lid member and fluid is supplied from the fluid passage. The lid member includes a cylinder body slidably fitted to the outer periphery of the nozzle body, and a seal member that seals between the cylinder body and the recess, and the cylinder body is reciprocated by a moving means. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle cleaning device is slid.

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