JPH08318240A - Washing solution circuit sterilizing device of bottle washing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent a contaminant such as various bacteria from penetrating into a washing soln. circuit from the outside through a nozzle orifice or the like by connecting return piping to a nozzle cap and a nozzle cover and moving the nozzle cap and the nozzle cover to a standby position and a closing position by a cap and cover opening and closing mechanism. CONSTITUTION: A nozzle cap 20 and a nozzle cover 21 are formed into an almost cup shape and made movable between a standby position not surrounding the peripheries of the nozzle orifices of inner and outer washing nozzles 18, 19 and a closing position surrounding the peripheries of the nozzle orifices of both nozzles 18, 19 in an integrated state. Return piping 56 is connected to the nozzle cap 20 and the nozzle cover 21 to move the nozzle cap 20 and the nozzle cover 21 to the standby position and the closing position by a cap and cover opening and closing mechanism 30. By this constitution, a contaminant such as various bacteria can be prevented from penetrating into a washing soln. circuit from the outside through the nozzle orifices.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning liquid circuit sterilizer for bottle cleaning devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional cleaning device for containers such as bottles for soft drinks, there is one disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 3-123685. This is the first zone where the transport path formed in a substantially “Ω” shape on the horizontal plane is sequentially positioned in the inverted state of the container, the washing nozzle for the inverted container (outside washing for washing the outside of the container A second zone for cleaning with a nozzle and an inner washing nozzle for cleaning the inside of the container, a third zone for finishing and cleaning the inside of the container, a fourth zone for discharging and draining the cleaning liquid from the container, and an upright container. The container is cleaned by the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid pump of the cleaning liquid circuit while the gripping member that holds the container is sequentially partitioned through each zone of the fifth zone to be placed in the state. It is the one. The used cleaning liquid is collected in the circulation cleaning tank through the water receiving table provided at the lower part of the cleaning device, is filtered, and is reused. The cleaning device needs to regularly sterilize the cleaning liquid circuit itself so that the number of bacteria remaining in the container thus cleaned can be maintained at a value equal to or less than the value specified by the Food Sanitation Law.

[0003]

However, since the conventional bottle washing apparatus as described above is provided with a plurality of members such as an inner washing nozzle and an outer washing nozzle, as shown in FIG. In order to sterilize and clean these members, it is necessary to manually perform the cleaning work using another cleaning tool, which not only takes time to sterilize the cleaning liquid circuit, but also from the outside during the cleaning work of the cleaning liquid circuit. There is a problem that dirt such as bacteria may enter the cleaning liquid circuit through the nozzle opening or the like. The present invention aims to solve the above problems.

[0004]

The present invention provides a cleaning device,
It is possible to switch between cleaning the bottle and cleaning the cleaning liquid circuit itself.When cleaning the bottle, the nozzle openings of each nozzle can be opened as before, while cleaning the cleaning liquid circuit itself The above problem is solved by being configured so as to be able to be surrounded. That is, the cleaning liquid circuit sterilizer of the bottle cleaning device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a gripper device (16) capable of gripping and opening a bottle (60) and a gripper capable of supporting and rotating the gripper device (16). Table (14) and a plurality of internal washing nozzles (18) provided on the gripper table (14)
A plurality of outer washing nozzles (19) provided on the gripper table (14) adjacent to the inner washing nozzle (18), and a supply side connected to the inner washing nozzle (18) and the outer washing nozzle (19) It has a pipe (52) and a cleaning liquid pump (58) which is connected to the supply side pipe (52) and discharges a cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid pump (58) is connected to the internal cleaning nozzle (1).
8) and the washing liquid supplied to the outer washing nozzle (19) are intended to wash the inside and outside of the bottle (60),
Each is formed in a substantially cup shape, and is in a standby position that does not surround the nozzle openings of the inner washing nozzle (18) and the outer washing nozzle (19), and the inner washing nozzle (18) and the outer washing nozzle (19). (20) that can move integrally with a closed position that surrounds each nozzle opening of the
And a nozzle cover (21) and a nozzle cap (20)
And the return side pipe (56) connected to the nozzle cover (21), and the cap / cover opening / closing mechanism (30) for moving the nozzle cap (20) and the nozzle cover (21) to the standby position and the closed position. And are characterized by having. Further, in the second aspect of the present invention, the cap / cover opening / closing mechanism (30) projects outward in the radial direction, and the guide groove (31) extends in the radial direction.
a) a plurality of guide members (31), a link member (34) whose one end side is connected to the guide groove (31a) of the guide member (31), and the gripper table (14). A bracket (36) for rotatably supporting the other end of the link member (34), and the link member (34)
One end side is fixed to the other end side of the nozzle cap (20) and the nozzle cover (2
1) has a lever (26) attached thereto and a vertical drive mechanism that is connected to the other end of the guide member (31) and moves the guide member (31) in the vertical direction. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the vertical drive mechanism is a fluid pressure cylinder (40), and the other end of the guide member (31) of the cap / cover opening / closing mechanism (30) is a fluid pressure cylinder (40). It is characterized by being connected to the movable part. The reference numerals in parentheses indicate the corresponding members of the embodiment.

[0005]

When the bottle is washed, the nozzle cap and the nozzle cover are located at the retracted position which does not surround the inner washing nozzle and the outer washing nozzle. As a result, the cleaning liquid is sprayed from each nozzle onto the bottle before cleaning, and the inside and outside of the bottle are cleaned. During cleaning of the cleaning liquid circuit itself, the nozzle cap and nozzle cover are positioned in a closed position surrounding the respective nozzle, as shown in FIG. As a result, the cleaning liquid sprayed from each nozzle fills the inside of the nozzle cap and the nozzle cover without scattering to the outside, and after cleaning the outer peripheral portion of each nozzle, the cleaning liquid tank is passed through the return side pipe. Will return. As described above, since the outer peripheral portion of each nozzle can be cleaned by the cleaning liquid circuit itself, the cleaning operation of the cleaning liquid circuit itself becomes easier than ever before. Further, it is possible to prevent dirt such as germs from entering the inside of the cleaning liquid circuit from the outside while cleaning the inside of the cleaning liquid circuit, so that the cleaning degree can be increased as compared with the conventional case. In the structure according to the second aspect, the relatively small vertical movement on the center side is converted into the relatively large arcuate movement on the outer peripheral side. Thereby, a plurality of nozzle caps and movable members such as the nozzle cover can be driven by the small cap / cover opening / closing mechanism, and a small device can be obtained. In the structure according to the third aspect, since it is easy to provide the space portion in the central portion, the arrangement and design of the flow path are facilitated.

[0006]

EXAMPLE FIG. 1 shows an example of the present invention. 1 is shown in FIG.
1 shows a cross section taken along line 1-1. That is, the left half of the figure shows what is cut by a plane passing through the center of the internal washing nozzle 18,
The right half shows the one cut along the plane passing through the middle of the two outer washing nozzles 19. The bottle cleaning device 10 is attached to a main shaft 12 arranged at an axial center portion, a substantially disk-shaped gripper table 14 integrated with the main shaft 12, and a table surface outer peripheral portion of the main shaft 12, and grips and releases a bottle 60 to be cleaned. It has a plurality of possible gripper devices 16, a cleaning liquid circuit 50 described later, and a fluid pressure cylinder 40 arranged concentrically with the main shaft 12, and, although not shown, a rotary drive device for rotating the main shaft 12, And a lifting drive device for moving the spindle 12 in the axial direction.

The cleaning liquid circuit 50 includes a plurality of internal cleaning nozzles 1.
8, an outer washing nozzle 19, which is formed in a substantially cup shape, and a nozzle cap 20 which can surround and seal the inner washing nozzle 18 by fitting it with the outer peripheral side, and is also formed in a substantially cup shape. Nozzle cover 21, which can enclose and seal the outer washing nozzle 19 by pressing the open end against the gripper table 14, the supply side pipe 52, the return side pipe 56, the cleaning liquid tank 57, the cleaning liquid pump 58, and the filter. Have 59. In this embodiment, one end of the supply pipe 52 is connected to the inner washing nozzle 18 and the other end is connected to the supply port 54a of the pipe manifold 54. Further, a branch pipe 53 branching from the supply pipe 52 is provided, and an end portion on the opposite side of the branch pipe 53 is connected to the outer washing nozzle 19. Further, one end side of the return side pipe 56 is connected to the nozzle cap 20 and the nozzle cover 21, and the other end side is connected to the discharge port 54b of the pipe manifold 54. Also, the supply side chamber 54c of the pipe manifold 54
Is connected to the discharge side of the cleaning liquid pump 58 described above via a port 54e and a pipe 61, and the discharge side chamber 54d is connected to the cleaning liquid tank 57 described above via a port 54f, a pipe 63 and the filter 59 described above. Each is connected.

The main shaft 12 arranged in the lower center of FIG.
Although it has a columnar shape, a cone shaft portion 12a and a male screw portion 12b at the tip end are formed on the upper end side in the figure, respectively, and the cone shaft portion of the main shaft 12 is formed. A cylindrical member 13 having a conical hole 13a formed in 12a.
Are fitted together. The nut 1 is attached to the male thread 12b.
5 is screwed in. The gripper table 14 described above is fitted and fixed to the outer peripheral side of the tubular member 13. By doing so, the main shaft 12, the tubular member 13, and the gripper table 14 are integrated. The main shaft 12 is supported by a fixed frame (not shown) on its lower end side so as to be rotatable via bearings and movable by a predetermined stroke in the axial direction. By being independently driven by the device and the lifting drive device,
It can rotate with the gripper table 14, and
Gripper table 14, cap / cover opening / closing mechanism 3
0, the fluid pressure cylinder 40, and the pipe manifold 54 are movable in the vertical direction in the drawing.

In addition to the gripper device 16, the inner washing nozzle 18, the outer washing nozzle 19, the nozzle cap 20, the nozzle cover 21, and the fluid pressure cylinder 40, the gripper table 14 has one end portion of the rotation preventing shaft 22. Each is installed. The other end of the rotation stopping shaft 22 is connected to the cap / cover opening / closing mechanism 30.
The gripper device 16 is configured to be capable of gripping and releasing the bottle 60 to be cleaned as described above, and swinging the gripped bottle 60 for 180 degrees from the upright position to the inverted position. ing.

The cap / cover opening / closing mechanism 30 includes a ring-shaped ring assembly 32, a link member 34, and a bracket 3.
It has six and two pins 38 and 39, and a lever 26. The ring assembly 32 has a plurality of guide members 31 protruding outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral portion of a lower inner cylinder 43 of a fluid pressure cylinder 40, which will be described later. The guide member 31 has a guide groove 31 a in the radial direction. Has been formed. A pin 38 is movably fitted in the guide groove 31a.
The link member 34 is fitted and fixed to the upper end side (the other end side) in the drawing. The lower end side (one end side) of the link member 34 in the drawing
A pin 39 is fitted and fixed to this. Pin 39
Is also fitted and fixed to one end side (inner end side) of the lever 26. On the other end side (outer end side) of the lever 26, the nozzle cap 20 and the nozzle cover 21 are attached integrally with each other with a predetermined gap. Bracket 36
Are fixed to the gripper table 14. The above-mentioned pin 39 is rotatably supported by the bracket 36. That is, the link member 34, the lever 26, the nozzle cap 20, and the nozzle cover 21 are rotatable about the pin 39 in the integrated state.
By driving the ring assembly 32 in the vertical direction in the figure by the fluid pressure cylinder 40, the cap / cover opening / closing mechanism 30 moves the nozzle cap 20 and the nozzle cover 21 between the retracted position and the closed position. ing. That is, the nozzle cap 20 is located at any one of the retracted position shown in the left half of the figure and away from the inner washing nozzle 18, and the closed position surrounding the inner wash nozzle 18 shown in the right half of the figure. Similarly, the nozzle cover 21 has a retracted position separated from the two outer washing nozzles 19 and a closed position in which the nozzle cover 21 is pressed against the table surface of the gripper table 14 and surrounds the outer washing nozzles 19. It can be located in either position. Nozzle cap 2
0 and the nozzle cover 21 are in the retracted position, the cleaning liquid circuit 50 is opened at the nozzle opening of the inner washing nozzle 18 and the nozzle opening of the outer washing nozzle 19, respectively.
When the nozzle cap 20 and the nozzle cover 21 are in the closed position, the cleaning liquid circuit 50 communicates with the return side pipe 56 through the inner cleaning nozzle 18 through the nozzle cap 20 and the outer cleaning nozzle 19 through the nozzle cover 21, respectively. Is configured to.

The fluid pressure cylinder 40 is connected to the piping manifold 5.
4, an upper inner cylinder 41 having the upper end fixed in the figure, a lower inner cylinder 43 having the lower end fixed in the figure to the gripper table 14, a base 45 arranged so as to sandwich the upper and lower parts thereof, and the outer periphery thereof. It has an outer cylinder assembly 42 and a positioning bolt 47 arranged on the side. The base 45 is a positioning bolt 4
The axial position with respect to the pipe manifold 54 is regulated by 7. The outer cylinder assembly 42 is fitted to the base 45 so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction, the outer cylinder 44 is fixed to the upper end portion of the outer cylinder 44, and the upper cover 46 is penetrated by the upper inner cylinder 41 on the inner diameter side. A lower cover 48 is fixed to the lower end of the outer cylinder 44 in the figure, and the lower inner cylinder 43 penetrates the inner diameter side.
Made of. The upper cover 46 and the lower cover 48 are each formed with a port for working fluid. In the illustrated state, a working fluid is supplied to a port of the lower cover 48 from a fluid pressure source (not shown), thereby the outer cylinder assembly 42.
Moves downward in the drawing, and accordingly, the working fluid is discharged from the chamber on the upper side of the base 45 in the drawing through the port of the upper cover 46. That is, the fluid pressure cylinder 40 has a structure in which the inner cylinder side is fixed and the outer cylinder side moves. The ring assembly 32 is fixed to the lower cover 48.

A cam barrel 24 is arranged below the gripper table 14 in FIG. The cam barrel 24 is the main shaft 12
Are rotatably fitted to each other. The cam cylinder 24 has a cam groove 2 having a substantially sinusoidal shape in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion thereof.
4a are formed. A cam follower 25 is fitted in the cam groove 24a, and the magnet cylinder 2
7 is attached. In the magnet cylinder 27,
A magnet valve 29 having a magnetic polarity opposite to that of the magnet valve 29 is arranged. An upper end of a locking shaft 28 is fixed to the cam barrel 24. A lower end portion (not shown) of the locking shaft 28 is fixed to the above-mentioned fixed frame (not shown). As a result, the cam barrel 24 can move in the axial direction together with the main shaft 12, but does not rotate together with the main shaft 12. By doing this, the gripper table 1
By the rotation of 4, the magnet cylinder 27 moves in the vertical direction in the figure along the cam groove 24a, and the magnet valve 29 correspondingly moves in the vertical direction in the figure, and the internal washing nozzle 18
It is possible to open and close the flow path to the outer washing nozzle 19.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, when performing normal bottle cleaning, the ring assembly 32 is positioned at the position indicated by the phantom line in the figure. That is, the fluid is supplied from a fluid pressure source (not shown) to the port of the lower cover 48 of the fluid pressure cylinder 40 (the fluid is discharged from the port of the upper cover 46), and the outer cylinder assembly 42 is indicated by a phantom line in the figure. The nozzle cap 20 and the nozzle cover 21 at the tip of the lever 26 are positioned at the standby position (nozzle open position) indicated by the imaginary line in the figure by being positioned at the lower position shown. Next, the gripper table 14 is rotated and the cleaning liquid pump 58 is driven. Magnet valve 2 except the washing zone
Since the flow path is closed by 9, the cleaning liquid is not supplied to the inner washing nozzle 18 and the outer washing nozzle 19. When the gripper table 14 reaches the cleaning zone as the gripper table 14 rotates, the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid pump 58 to the inner cleaning nozzle 18 through the pipe 61, the pipe manifold 54 and the supply side pipe 52, and the inside of the bottle 60 is cleaned. At the same time, the washing liquid is supplied to the outer washing nozzle 19 through the branch pipe 53, and the bottle 6
The outer circumference of the mouth of 0 is washed. The used cleaning liquid is returned to the cleaning liquid tank 57 via a cleaning liquid receiving tray (not shown) below the cam cylinder 24. Next, in the case of cleaning the cleaning liquid circuit 50 itself of the bottle cleaning device 10,
The ring assembly 32 is located at the position shown by the solid line in the figure. That is, by supplying the fluid to the port of the upper cover 46 of the fluid pressure cylinder 40 (discharging the fluid from the port of the lower cover 48) and positioning the outer cylinder assembly 42 to the raised position shown by the solid line in the figure, The nozzle cap 20 and the nozzle cover 21 at the tip of the lever 26 are positioned at the nozzle closing position shown by the solid line in the figure. As a result, the nozzle cap 20
Are respectively fitted to the outer peripheral side of the inner washing nozzle 18,
Further, the nozzle covers 21 are pressed against the table surface of the gripper table 14 and surround the outer washing nozzles 19, respectively. The cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid pump 58 to the inner cleaning nozzle 18 and the outer cleaning nozzle 19 in the same manner as described above, and the cleaning liquid filled in the nozzle cap 20 through the inner cleaning nozzle 18 causes the outer peripheral portion of the inner cleaning nozzle 18 at the mouth side. Are washed. In addition, the cleaning liquid filled in the nozzle cover 21 through the external cleaning nozzle 19 causes the external cleaning nozzle 19
The outer peripheral portion of is cleaned. The used cleaning liquid is the return side pipe 56, the pipe manifold 54, the pipe 63, and the filter 5.
It is returned to the cleaning liquid tank 57 via 9. By circulating the cleaning liquid for a predetermined time, the bottle cleaning device 1
The zero cleaning liquid circuit 50 itself is cleaned.

In the above description of the embodiment, the inner washing nozzle 18 is fixed to the gripper table 14, but the inner washing nozzle 18 is rotatably attached to the gripper table 14 and the inner washing nozzle 18 is fixed. It is also possible to provide a rotary drive mechanism for rotating around the axis.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention described in claim 1, cleaning of the bottle and cleaning of the cleaning liquid circuit itself such as the outer peripheral portion of the nozzle can be switched. When the cleaning liquid circuit itself is cleaned, since the cleaning liquid circuit is closed, it is possible to prevent dirt from entering from the outside and to effectively clean the cleaning liquid circuit itself. Further, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2, since a relatively small vertical movement on the center side can be converted into a relatively large arcuate movement on the outer peripheral side, a plurality of nozzle caps and nozzle covers are provided. Even though a moving member and a plurality of return side pipes are additionally provided, the device does not have to be too large. Further, claim 3
According to the present invention described, since it is easy to provide the space portion in the central portion, the arrangement and design of the flow path are facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a cleaning liquid circuit sterilizer of the present invention together with a bottle cleaning device, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of an inner washing nozzle and an outer washing nozzle.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the cleaning liquid circuit is a closed circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Bottle Cleaning Device 12 Main Spindle 14 Gripper Table 16 Gripper Device 18 Inner Wash Nozzle 19 Outer Wash Nozzle 20 Nozzle Cap 21 Nozzle Cover 24 Cam Cylinder 27 Magnet Cylinder 26 Lever 28 Locking Shaft 29 Magnet Valve 30 Cap / Cover Opening / Closing Mechanism 31 Guide Member 31a Guide groove 34 Link member 36 Bracket 40 Fluid pressure cylinder (vertical drive mechanism) 50 Cleaning liquid circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A gripper device (16) capable of gripping and opening a bottle (60), a gripper table (14) supporting the gripper device (16) and rotatable, and a gripper table (14) provided on the gripper table (14). A plurality of inner washing nozzles (18) and a gripper table (1) adjacent to the inner washing nozzles (18).
4) a plurality of outer washing nozzles (19), a supply side pipe (52) connected to the inner washing nozzle (18) and the outer washing nozzle (19), and a supply side pipe (52) And a cleaning liquid pump (58) for discharging the cleaning liquid, and a bottle (60) by the cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning liquid pump (58) to the inner cleaning nozzle (18) and the outer cleaning nozzle (19). In a bottle washing apparatus for washing the inside and outside of the above, a standby position, which is formed in a substantially cup shape, does not surround the nozzle openings of the inner washing nozzle (18) and the outer washing nozzle (19), and the inner washing nozzle. (18) and a nozzle cap (20) capable of moving integrally with a closed position surrounding the nozzle openings of the outer washing nozzle (19).
And a nozzle cover (21), a return pipe (56) connected to the nozzle cap (20) and the nozzle cover (21), respectively, and a nozzle cap (20) and a nozzle cover (21),
Cap to move to the standby position and the closed position
A cleaning liquid circuit sterilizer of a bottle cleaning device, comprising: a cover opening / closing mechanism (30). 2. The cap / cover opening / closing mechanism (30)
Of the guide groove (31
a) a plurality of guide members (31), a link member (34) having one end connected to the guide groove (31a) of the guide member (31), and the gripper table (14). A bracket (36) for rotatably supporting the other end of the link member (34), one end of which is fixed to the other end of the link member (34) and the other end of which has the nozzle cap (20). ) And the above-mentioned nozzle cover (21) are respectively attached to the lever (26) and the other end of the guide member (31), and
2. A cleaning liquid circuit sterilizer for bottle cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a vertical drive mechanism for moving the same in the vertical direction. 3. The vertical drive mechanism comprises a fluid pressure cylinder (4
0), and the guide member (3) of the cap / cover opening / closing mechanism (30).
The cleaning liquid circuit sterilizer of the bottle cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the other end of (1) is connected to a movable part of the fluid pressure cylinder (40).