JPH10194245A - Sterilizing device for cap inside face of container such as bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rapidly sterilize the inside faces of caps without transferring containers, by putting containers such as bottles on L-shaped carriers and transferring them along a main conveyor in a state without restriction and tumbling them sideways during the transfer movement to sterilize the cap inside faces with the liquid contents in the containers. SOLUTION: A sending-in conveyor 4 and a sending-out conveyor 6 are partly overlapped and a main conveyor 7 is arranged. And a plurality of L-shaped carriers 9 are lined up on the conveyor 7. Respective L-shaped carriers 9 are provided along guide rails 12a, 12b so as to fall down. And a conveyor 14 receiving the L-shaped carriers and moving at the same speed with the conveyor 7 is laid to support an appropriate position of the front end side of the carriers when the vertical carrier falls down sideways. The cap inside face is sterilized by tumbling the container 3a sideways and the container is erected again and delivered to the sending-out conveyor 6 and sent out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for laying down a container such as a bottle sideways and sterilizing the inner surface of a cap with the liquid stored therein.

[0002]

Conventionally, there are roughly three types of methods for sterilizing the inner surface of a cap with a liquid stored therein by turning a container such as a bottle sideways. One of them is disclosed in
As is apparent from Japanese Patent Publication No. 0-99831, a fixed guide rail that guides both sides of the container to be fed is provided with a gentle curve so that the container gradually inclines from the upright state and returns to the upright state again. This is a method of sterilizing the inner surface of the cap with the stored liquid while the container passes while inclining in the curve. The biggest disadvantage of this method is that there is a risk of friction between the container and the fixed guide rails, which can damage the container.

As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 58-82832, the two types are configured so that a conveyor can be inclined, and a number of guide plates are mounted on the conveyor in parallel, and a driving pulley and Two round rubber belts are provided between the driven pulleys, and a container is interposed between the guide plates so as to be inclined in accordance with the inclination of the guide plates. This method requires that a guide plate and two round rubber belts hold each container while maintaining properness. In addition, the containers must be of the same size, and each time the size of the container changes, troublesome adjustment is required.

[0004] The three are, as apparent from Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-77894, the conveyor chain is divided into two units, one for conveying the container and the other for supporting the container. While the horizontal surface of the transfer unit and the vertical surface of the support unit maintain the initial included angle with each other, the transfer unit is inclined from the horizontal to the support unit,
The bearing unit is configured to return to the horizontal again, and the bearing unit is inclined from the vertical toward the opposite direction of the transport unit and configured to return to the vertical again. Although this device is unrestricted with respect to the container, there is a large amount of weight movement such that the container transfers from the transfer unit to the support unit on the way, and then transfers from the support unit to the transfer unit again. Is difficult to raise. Also, since the container transport unit and the support unit are configured with the same strength, and members such as guide rails are installed so that the support surface of the container transport unit and the support surface of the support unit maintain the initial included angle with each other. In addition, the configuration is complicated and the installation cost and running cost are high.

According to the present invention, a container such as a bottle is unrestricted,
A device that adapts widely to the material, shape, size, etc. of the container, does not transfer from the transport unit to the support unit, and is capable of performing high-speed moving sterilization by being inverted and raised while riding on the transport unit. It is.

[0006]

A feeding conveyor for receiving a container whose inner surface of a cap is not sterilized is arranged at an inlet portion, and a feeding conveyor for feeding out a container whose inner surface of a cap is sterilized is arranged at an outlet portion, and the feeding conveyor and the feeding conveyor are fed out. A part of the main conveyor is arranged in parallel between the conveyors, and an L-shaped carrier composed of a horizontal carrier part and a vertical carrier part is arranged in a row on the main conveyor in units of a conveyor chain. The mold carrier is provided so as to fall down on the guide rail that supports and guides the conveyor chain, and an L-shaped carrier receiving conveyor that is arranged in parallel with the main conveyor and moves at the same speed as the main conveyor is arranged. When the vertical carrier part falls down horizontally, it supports the proper position on the tip side and transfers the carriage to the main transport conveyor. The container whose inner surface is not sterilized is turned downside down, the inner liquid of the cap is immersed in the inner surface of the cap, and the inner surface of the cap is sterilized. An apparatus for sterilizing the inner surface of a cap of a container such as a bottle, wherein the sterilized container is erected, transferred to a feeding conveyor, and the inner surface of the cap is discharged to an outlet portion.

[0007] The L-shaped carrier in the main transport conveyor may be provided by a steel plate having an appropriate thickness, and a buffer member may be provided in the vertical carrier portion.

[0008] The leading end of a delivery transfer guide rod for transferring to the delivery conveyor may be inserted inside the support surface of the vertical carrier portion of the L-shaped carrier in the main transport conveyor.

[0009] A groove is formed in the vertical carrier portion of each L-shaped carrier in the main transport conveyor, and a groove is formed in the support surface. The tip of a transfer guide rod for transferring to the transfer conveyor is inserted into the groove. It is also possible to do so.

The vertical carrier portion of each L-shaped carrier in the main transport conveyor is provided with a cylindrical rubber, and a groove is formed in the bearing surface, and a feeding guide rod for transferring to the feeding conveyor in the groove. May be inserted and arranged.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION At the inlet, a feeding conveyor for receiving a container whose inner surface is unsterilized is provided, and at the outlet, a feeding conveyor for feeding out a container whose inner surface is sterilized,
A main conveyor is arranged in parallel between the feeding conveyor and the feeding conveyor, and an L-shaped carrier comprising a horizontal carrier portion and a vertical carrier portion in units of a conveyor chain. Are arranged in line, and the L-shaped carrier is provided so as to fall down along a guide rail for supporting and guiding the conveyor chain,
An L-shaped carrier receiving conveyor is arranged parallel to the main conveyor for a required length and moves at the same speed as the main conveyor, and when the vertical carrier falls down sideways, it supports a proper position on the tip side, and The inner surface of the cap that has been transferred to the transport conveyor has the container that has not been sterilized fall down sideways, soaks the liquid contained in the inner surface of the cap, sterilizes the inner surface of the cap, and again guides the L-type carrier on the conveyor chain according to the guide rail. An apparatus for sterilizing the inner surface of a cap such as a bottle, wherein the container is erected, and the container whose inner surface is sterilized is erected, transferred to a feeding conveyor, and the container whose inner surface is sterilized is sent to an outlet.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A device for sterilizing the inner surface of a cap of a container such as a bottle according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment. And a delivery conveyor 6 for feeding out the container 3b whose inside surface of the cap has been sterilized is disposed at the outlet portion 5, and the delivery conveyor 4 is provided with the delivery conveyor 4.
A main conveyor 7 is disposed in parallel between the feed conveyor 6 and the main conveyor 7. The main conveyor 7 includes a horizontal carrier portion 9 a and a vertical carrier portion 9 b in units of a conveyor chain 8. A mold carrier 9 is arranged in a row, and a container 3a whose inner surface of the cap is not sterilized from the feeding conveyor 4 at the entrance portion 2 is erected on the L-shaped carrier 9 by a feeding transfer belt 10 and a feeding transfer falling prevention guide rod 11. Transfer in the state of.

The L-shaped carrier 9 falls down as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 according to guide rails 12a and 12b for supporting and guiding the conveyor chain 8, and the horizontal carrier portion 9a is vertically extended. The inner surface of the cap to which the transfer is performed with the orientation carrier portion 9b oriented sideways, the unsterilized container 3a is turned sideways, transported in a state where the container 3a is turned sideways, and the state where the content liquid stored in the inner surface of the cap is immersed is maintained for a certain period of time. , To sterilize the inner surface of the cap. Then, according to the guide rails 12a and 12b for supporting and guiding the conveyor chain 8, the L-shaped carrier 9 is erected in the reverse order of the above-mentioned case, and the container 3b with the inner surface of the cap sterilized is erected and transported. Here, the transfer member 6 is transferred to the outlet conveyor 6 by the transfer transfer guide rod 13a inserted inside the bearing surface of the vertical carrier portion 9b and the transfer transfer overturn prevention guide rod 13b on the opposite side, and is conveyed to the outlet portion 5.

L which is parallel to the main conveyor 7 for a required length and moves at the same speed as the main conveyor 7
A mold carrier receiving conveyor 14 is disposed, and when the vertical carrier portion 9b falls down horizontally, it is supported at a distance from the leading end thereof, and the L-shaped carrier 9 is supported together with the main transport conveyor 7.
To move stably.

The L-shaped carrier 9 is appropriately formed of a steel plate, and after the cylindrical rubber 15 is fitted to the vertically-oriented carrier portion 9b, the L-shaped carrier 9 is integrally mounted with a suitable fixing means such as a screw or an adhesive. The horizontal carrier portion 9a is configured to be easily slippery and to be easily transferred from the feeding conveyor 4 to the main conveyor 7 or from the main conveyor 7 to the feeding conveyor 6, respectively.

The vertical carrier portion 9b is provided with the cylindrical rubber 15 to buffer shocks when the container is turned over, and has a frictional force in the vertical carrier portion 9b. Both the unsterilized container 3a and the sterilized container 3b are provided so as not to fall from the horizontally oriented vertical carrier portion 9b.

The vertical carrier portion 9b is provided with grooves 15a and 15b which are opened in the support surface for inserting the tip of the feeding and transfer guide rod 13a inside the support surface. The grooves 15a and 15b can be configured to separate members such as the cylindrical rubber 15, so that the portions are configured as spaces. Further, unsterilized containers 3a and sterilized containers 3b are mounted on the feeding conveyor 4 at the inlet 2, the feeding conveyor 6 at the outlet 5, and the main conveyor 7 at intervals. For the explanation of
In an actual line, they are conveyed without an interval.

[0018]

According to the present invention, a container such as a bottle is unrestricted, there is no transfer from a transfer unit to a support unit, and it is widely adapted to the material, shape, size, etc. of the container, and is inverted while riding on the transfer unit. And a high-speed moving sterilization can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cap inner surface sterilizing apparatus for a container such as a bottle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus for sterilizing the inner surface of a cap of a container such as a bottle according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of an inlet portion, a feeding portion, and an inverted portion of the container in the apparatus for sterilizing a cap inner surface of a container such as a bottle according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of an upright portion, a feeding portion, and an outlet portion of the container in the apparatus for sterilizing a cap inner surface of a container such as a bottle according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state where the container is supported upright on the main conveyor.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a support state in which the container is being inverted.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state where the bottle is horizontally inverted on the main conveyor.

FIG. 8 is a partial side view of the main conveyor chain used in the apparatus for sterilizing the inner surface of a cap of a container such as a bottle according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a guide rail of the main conveyor chain.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cap inner surface sterilization apparatus of bottles etc. 2 Inlet 3a Container with unsterilized cap inner surface 3b Container with sterilized cap inner surface 4 Feeding conveyor 5 Outlet 6 Feeding conveyor 7 Main conveyor 8 Conveyor chain 9 L-shaped carrier 9a Sideways Carrier portion 9b Vertically oriented carrier portion 10 Transfer transfer belt 11 Transfer transfer / overturn prevention guide rod 12a Guide rail 12b Guide rail 13a Transfer transfer guide rod 13b Feed transfer / overturn prevention guide rod 14 L-shaped carrier receiving conveyor 15 Cylindrical rubber 15a Groove 15b groove

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A feeding conveyor for receiving a container whose inner surface of a cap is unsterilized at an inlet portion, and a feeding conveyor for feeding out a container whose inner surface of a cap is sterilized at an outlet portion, between the feeding conveyor and the feeding conveyor. A part of the main conveyor is arranged in parallel, and the main conveyor is
L-shaped carriers composed of a horizontal carrier portion and a vertical carrier portion are arranged in units of a conveyor chain, and the L-shaped carrier is provided so as to fall down along a guide rail for supporting and guiding the conveyor chain, and is provided on the main transport conveyor. An L-shaped carrier receiving conveyor that is arranged in parallel for the required length and moves at the same speed as the main conveyor is arranged. When the vertical carrier falls down sideways, it supports the appropriate position on the tip side and transfers to the main conveyor. The inner surface of the cap, which has not been sterilized, is turned over, and the inner surface of the cap is sterilized by immersing the liquid contained in the inner surface of the cap. The container whose inner surface has been sterilized is erect and transferred to the feeding conveyor, and the inner surface of the cap is sterilized at the outlet. Cap inner surface sterilization apparatus such as a bottle container, characterized in that feeding the Mino container. 2. The apparatus for sterilizing the inner surface of a cap of a container such as a bottle according to claim 1, wherein the L-shaped carrier in the main conveyor is appropriately provided by a steel plate having a thickness, and a buffer member is provided in the vertical carrier portion. . 3. The delivery transfer guide rod for transferring to the delivery conveyor, which is inserted inside the support surface of the vertical carrier portion of the L-shaped carrier in the main transport conveyor, and is disposed. 3. An apparatus for sterilizing the inner surface of a cap of a container such as a bottle according to claim 2. 4. An L-shaped carrier of the main transport conveyor is provided with a groove which is opened in a support surface in a vertical carrier portion of the L-shaped carrier, and a leading end of a delivery transfer guide rod for transferring to the delivery conveyor is inserted into the groove. 4. The apparatus for sterilizing the inner surface of a cap of a container such as a bottle according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is sterilized. 5. A vertical transfer portion of each L-shaped carrier in the main transport conveyor is provided with a cylindrical rubber and provided with a groove which is opened on a bearing surface, and the groove is provided with a transfer for transferring to the feed conveyor. The tip of the guide rod is inserted and arranged.
The apparatus for sterilizing the inner surface of a cap of a container such as a bottle according to claim 3 or 4.