JPS5839593B2 - Container surface treatment method and device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to and has an object to treat the surface of an article with a fluid suitable for coating, cleaning or chemically reacting with the article. It is an object to provide an improved method and apparatus for treating articles with fluids that removes any fluid remaining on the article after treatment and allows the fluid to be used in subsequent treatment operations.

The invention is particularly applicable to the cleaning of wide-mouth metal containers, e.g. by cleaning with toxic cleaning fluids such as trichlorethylene or methyl chloride, but also to surfaces with special properties, e.g. improved varnish adhesion. It is equally applicable to surface treating metal containers with suitable liquids that chemically react with the container to provide a layer.

According to the invention, the container is cleaned by placing a container within an internal cavity of a body and passing a liquid through the cavity such that the fluid flows along the surface of the container to be treated. washing the article by passing a quantity of the liquid in a compressed gas phase through the cavity; purge the liquid from the cavity by passing a quantity of the fluid in a gaseous phase through the cavity; ) and subsequently withdrawing the gas phase fluid from the cavity to reduce the pressure therein and drying the container and cavity by evaporation of the liquid therein; A method of treating a surface of a container with a fluid suitable for cleaning or chemically reacting is provided.

The gaseous fluid withdrawn from the cavity is advantageously subsequently compressed to form a gaseous fluid that is used for liquid removal in subsequent processing operations in the same or other cavities. can be used.

Compression of the gaseous fluid provides sufficient heating to the gaseous fluid under reduced pressure to compensate for the latent heat removed by evaporation of the liquid within the cavity.

However, it is additionally desirable for the walls of the cavity to be heated electrically or by other means to compensate for at least some of the latent heat.

In the method of the invention, the space between the container and the wall of the cavity is preferably completely filled with liquid when the liquid is passed through, thereby replacing the air present in the cavity.

The gas phase fluid is then circulated in a closed circuit.

In order to eliminate or at least substantially reduce the presence of air when the liquid is passed through, the air present in the cavity when the container is placed is preferably removed prior to the passage of the liquid. It is removed using a vacuum.

One configuration of a turret machine suitable for applying a toxic cleaning fluid to the surface of a wide-mouthed container according to the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The machine shown in the drawings was designed by John Maxwell Jackson.
) by John Maxwe 1
No. 4,026,311, filed on March 20, 1975 by John J.

Elements that correspond to similar elements in the US patent have been identified by reference numerals with 200 added to the reference numerals of the corresponding elements in the US patent.

For example, the substrate is identified as 10 in the drawings of the US patent and 210 in the drawings attached hereto.

Reference should therefore be made to the aforementioned US patent for a more complete description of the construction and operation of the components illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section along the axis of rotation showing only half of the machine, and FIG. 2 shows the apparatus according to the invention required for supplying cleaning liquid to the machine and carrying out the removal and drying sequence. It is shown in diagram form.

In these figures, the turret machine has a circular base plate 210
, has a vertical spindle 212 fixed to the center of the substrate and a turret 214 rotatably mounted to the spindle by bearings 215 and 216.

FIG. 1 shows only one half of the machine on one side of the longitudinal axis X--X.

The turret 214 has a hub 2 with a bearing attached thereto.
17, and a circular upper plate 219.

A cylinder 225 coaxial with the spindle 212 is connected to the upper plate 21.
The pinion 2 is fixed to the lower side of the cylinder 225, and teeth 226 are formed in the lower end portion of the cylinder 225, which is rotatable by a drive mechanism (not shown) to rotate the turret.
It is engaged with 2γ.

The top plate 219 includes 24 pot assemblies 228 (only one is shown in the drawings) for housing containers to be cleaned and for cleaning and cleaning the pot assemblies as described below. Supplying drying and operating fluid,
Or a manifold ring 229 is attached to the pot assembly with flexible piping for drainage.

A stationary plate 232 on top of the spindle 212 supports a distribution ring 233 for supplying fluid into or discharging fluid from the manifold ring.

Each pot assembly defines a vertical cylindrical shell 238 closed at the bottom and open at the top, a cylindrical core 242 within the shell, and a cavity 246 for receiving the container to be cleaned. The lid 257 has a lid 258 cooperating with the shell and core, and a cam roller 296, 2 suitable for running in a circular cam track on the substrate 210.
97 is connected to a vertical shaft 281 via a slipping clutch 287'.

The cam roller allows the purge container to be ejected from the pot assembly during passage of the pot assembly through the unloading position during rotation of the turret, and allows the purification container to be ejected from the pot assembly during passage of the pot assembly through the loading position. pot·
To enable insertion of the container to be purified into the assembly, the shaft and lid of each pot assembly are raised and rotated to allow shell 2.
The iron lid can be swung on one side of 38.

The lid 258 is connected to a sleeve 280 on the shaft 281, and the sleeve recesses in another sleeve 282 secured to the turret only when the lid is mated to the shell of the pot assembly and in the closed position. It has teeth 287 suitable for engaging therein.

The iron lid is biased downwardly with respect to the shaft 281 by a spring 290 which abuts a cooperating element of the slipping clutch 287'.

The components of the turret machine described above are described in U.S. Pat.
The corresponding components in the machine shown and described in the US Pat.

The construction and function of the components of the turret machine that differ from the US patent will now be described to enable the turret machine to be operated in accordance with the present invention.

The distribution ring 233 is formed in two parts: an inner distribution ring 10 and an outer distribution ring 11.

The outer ring 11 has a flange 12 that covers the outer end of the ring 10 and the two rings have three pegs 14 (
(only one is shown).

The pile 14 is fixed to a stationary plate 232.

The two distribution rings 10.11 are connected to the plate 23.
2, the springs 15 and 16 are compressed between the springs 15 and 16, and the manifold ring 229 is biased into sliding contact with the manifold ring 229.

The manifold ring 229 is connected to the turret top plate 219.
It rests on top elastic spacer 17 and is connected to top plate 219 for rotation together by three positioning pegs 18 (only one shown).

The resilient spacer 17 avoids distortion of the manifold as well as the distribution ring and minimizes heat loss therefrom.

The manifold ring 229 has three ducts for each pot assembly 228.
20, 21, 22, the duct 20°21.22 opens on the upper surface of the ring 229, and the duct 20, 2L22
The other end of the opening opens into the periphery of the ring 229, and the openings in the periphery of the three ducts 20, 21, and 22 connect flexible pipes 23, 24, and 24, respectively, to the associated pot assemblies as described below. 25.

The lower surface of the inner distribution ring 10 has a first pair of arcuate grooves 30, 310 for circulating liquid purification fluid through the pot assembly and an arcuate groove for circulating hot gas phase fluid through the pot assembly. A second pair of grooves 32, 33 and a third pair of arcuate grooves 34, 350 are formed for extracting vapor of a gas phase fluid, such as purification fluid, from the pot assembly and creating a vacuum therein. .

Grooves 30, 32, 34 are all arranged on a common circumference and are adapted to communicate with each of the ducts 20 as the manifold ring 229 rotates with the turret.

Also, the grooves 31, 33, 35 are all arranged on a common circumference and are adapted to communicate with each of the ducts 21 when the manifold ring rotates with the turret.

The underside of the outer distribution ring 11 is formed with three arcuate grooves 37, 38, 39 arranged on a common circumference so that each of the ducts 22 is It is adapted to communicate with the

Line groove 37 is connected to the purifying liquid and a source of compressed air at a pressure slightly in excess of the vapor pressure of the purifying liquid, and groove 38 is connected to a source of compressed air and groove 39 is connected to a vacuum source. has been done.

All arcuate grooves are connected to pipes for supplying and discharging fluid through openings in the upper surface of the distribution ring.

Flexible pipe 23.2 for each pot assembly
5 are connected to the respective ports 45, 46 of the cylinder of the piston valve 47.

The piston 48 of the valve is connected to a stirrup 49 attached to the sleeve 280 of the associated pot assembly, permitting rotation of the sleeve relative to the stirrup but limiting relative axial movement therebetween. It is designed to prevent

Therefore, the piston 48 rises and falls whenever the lid opens and closes, respectively.

The piston 48 is equipped with a duct 50, and the lid 25
8 is arranged to connect port 45 and pipe 23 to duct 51 at the base of the pot assembly whenever 8 is in the closed position.

The piston is arranged to close port 45 and expose port 46 to connect pipe 25 and duct 22 to duct 51 whenever the lid is in the closed position.

The duct 51 extends upwardly through the core 242 and opens into a cavity 246 in the pot assembly.

Each pot assembly 228 is connected to the top plate 21 of the turret.
9 is attached to a platen 55 which rests on a standoff washer 56.

The platen is secured to the turret by screws 57.

The platen 55 is equipped with an electrical heating element to which electrical current is applied through wires 58, 59 and slip rings 60, 61 concentrically secured to the turn chief by posts 62 and insulated by bushes 63. is supplied.

The current is applied to the brush device 6 fixed on the top surface of the stationary plate 232.
4 to the rotating slip ring.

In FIG. 2, the turret machine has a tank 70 holding a supply of cleaning fluid, a pump 71 capable of pumping liquid from the tank through a pipe 72 into the groove 30 of the inner distribution ring 10, and a groove 34-35. Connected pipe T4
a vacuum pump 73 for extracting cleaning fluid vapor through
and a compressor 75 for compressing the cleaning fluid vapor from the pump 73 and tank 70 and supplying the compressed vapor to the groove 32 of the inner distribution ring 10 through a pipe 76.

A valve 77, a pressure gauge 78, and a filter 79 are attached to the pipe 72.

Tank 70 has an inlet vibe 8 for supplying pure cleaning liquid
0, an overflow pipe 81 for the outflow of dirty liquid, and a flow smoothing chamber (fl) in the head space of the tank.
ow-smoothing chamber) 82 and a vapor separator 83, a condenser 84 for extracting the cleaning fluid vapor in the tank, and a cooling coil 85.

The flow smoothing chamber 82 is connected to the respective groove 31, 33 of the inner distribution ring 10 by a pipe 86, 87;
They receive cleaning fluid from them.

The chamber 82 also has a plurality of baffles to facilitate fluid flow therethrough.

Steam separator 83 is connected to the inlet of compressor 75 by pipe 88 and includes a plurality of baffles.

Condenser 84 has an inlet vibe 90 connected to the tank headspace, an outlet vibe 91 for discharging air and steam to the atmosphere or to a fluid recovery device (not shown), and cleaning fluid condensed in the tank. return pipe 92 for returning
has.

The outlet of the vacuum pump 73 is connected by a pipe 95 to the inlet of the compressor 75, and the pump and compressor are connected in common so that the vapors exhausted from the vacuum pump are sucked into the compressor on each stroke for recompression. is driven synchronously by pulley 96.

The outlet vibe 88 of the steam separator 83 (also connected to the inlet of the compressor) is provided with a valve 97 to regulate the amount of make-up steam admitted to the compressor and to control the amount of steam provided from the compressor through pipe 76. Regulate pressure.

A pressure gauge 98 is provided in the pipes 74,76.

As shown in FIG. 1, the underside of the inner distribution ring 10 is provided with concentric grooves 100° 101 proximate the respective radially inner and outer ends of the ring 10.

The grooves 100, 101 are connected by a pipe (not shown) to a pipe 74 leading to the inlet of the vacuum pump 730, so that the solvent leaking from the grooves 30-33 from the contacting surfaces of the distribution ring and the manifold ring is collected into the system. Consumption and air pollution can thereby be avoided.

Grooves ioo and 1oi have been omitted from FIG. 2 to more clearly show grooves 30-35.

In operation, tank 70 is filled with a volatile cleaning liquid (degreasing solvent), such as a logenated hydrocarbon, such as trichlorethylene or methyl chloride.

The cleaning liquid is pumped from a tank 70 to a pipe 72 by a pump 71.
and the groove 30 of the inner distribution ring 10 through the filter 79
pumped out.

The pressure of the liquid in the pipe 72, indicated by a gauge 78, is controlled by a valve 7γ.

When the duct 20 in the manifold ring 229 is brought into alignment with the groove 30 by rotation of the turret, the cleaning fluid in the groove 30 flows through the duct 20 and pipe 23 to the piston valve 47 of the associated pot assembly.

When the pot assembly lid 258 is in the closed position,
The piston 48 is in its lowest position as shown in FIG.
and flows through duct 51 to cavity 246 within the pot assembly.

The container in the pot assembly subdivides the cavity 246 into an inner chamber and an outer chamber, the inner chamber being formed between the inner surface of the container 242 and the outer chamber being formed between the outer surface of the container and the lid and shell 2.
38.

These two chambers are, for example, 0.005 inch (approximately 0.01
3 cfrL), preferably 0
．． 15 inches (approx.
4 and into the groove 31 of the inner distribution ring 10, along the inner surface of the container, around the mouth of the container, and along the outer surface of the container through the outer chamber. It flows.

A pipe 86 directs the dirty liquid flowing out of the groove 31 into a smoothing chamber 82 and from there discharges it into the holding tank 70.

Continued rotation of the turret causes pipes 23, 24 of the pot assembly to become disconnected from grooves 30, 31 and connected to grooves 32 and 33, respectively.

There, a pipe 7 is connected by a steam supply compressor 75.
This is where the cleaning fluid is removed from the cavity of the pot assembly by the introduction of a hot evaporative cleaning fluid fed into the groove 32 via 6.

The steam-mixed cleaning liquid expelled from the cavity in the pot assembly is collected in the groove 33 and led by a pipe 87 to the flow smoothing chamber 82 and from there to the tank 70.
Be released to.

Then, by continuous rotation of the turret, the pipe 23
．． 24 are separated from grooves 32 and 33 and connected to grooves 34 and 35, respectively, under high vacuum.

Then, the void space and grooves 34, 3 of the pot assembly.
All valves, paths and pipe sections connected to 5.
It is also exposed to vacuum.

Due to the low pressure, any remaining liquid will boil off from all parts of the system almost instantaneously, rapid drying will take place, and such machines will therefore ensure that no residue remains when the container is discharged from the chamber. It can be operated at high speed while minimizing loss of cleaning fluid due to expulsion of cleaning fluid.

When the turret is further rotated and the pot assembly is brought to position B shown in FIG. 2, the lid of the pot assembly is held by cam rollers 296 and 297 to ensure rotation. It will be done.

In addition, the lifting operation of the iron lid is performed by the valve 47 as mentioned above.
The piston 48 is raised.

Thereby, the duct 51 is connected to the pipe 25.

When the duct 22 connected to the pipe 25 mates with the groove 38, compressed air flows from the groove 38 into the cavity of the pot assembly and discharges the container therein.

Once the pot assembly reaches the A position shown in FIG. 2, a soiled container is provided to the pot assembly by a mechanism not shown.

The duct 22 then fits into the groove 39 and the vacuum therein sucks out the air in the cavity and in the pipe 25.

This air flow draws the container into the cavity prior to closure by the lid.

This air flow causes the container to be absorbed into the cavity prior to closure by the lid.

In addition, the room air between the container and the wall of the cavity should be drawn off so that a vacuum is created there just before closing with the lid.

When the lid is closed, the piston valve 47 reconnects to the pipe 25.
into the lower position to close off and connect the pipe 23 to the duct 51 for the start of the next cycle.

The groove 3γ engages the duct 22 during the supply of cleaning liquid for cleaning the container as well as the removal of the cleaning liquid from the cavity.

This groove then supplies compressed air to the pipe 25 at a pressure slightly in excess of the cleaning liquid and the steam pressure that removes the cleaning liquid, thereby causing the pipe 25 to pass through the piston valve 47.
This prevents these fluids from leaking into the tube.

If such a leak were to occur, these fluids would be lost to the atmosphere when the container was discharged.

It will be appreciated that the discharged steam is heated adiabatically by the compressor 75 and no additional heat supply to the discharged steam is necessary.

Of course, there is heat loss on the vacuum side due to evaporation within the pot assembly.

However, this heat is replaced by heat provided by electrical heating coils within platen 55.

An important feature of this turret machine is that if a container is incorrectly fed to the pot assembly, the supply of cleaning fluid to the pot assembly is cut off for the remainder of the cycle and is also incorrectly fed. The loaded container is discharged before the pot assembly reaches the unloading position B.

This ensures firstly that cleaning fluid is not released into the atmosphere through a failed pot assembly and secondly that unpurified containers are separated from cleaned containers.

If a container is accidentally fed into the pot assembly, the lid 258 will be forced into the shell 2 under the influence of the cam roller 297.
It would not be possible to pivot back to the position above 38.

Shaft 281 causes slipping clutch 287 to rotate, and when the shaft is pulled downwardly by the cam roller, teeth 287 will not engage the slots and spring 290 will be compressed.

Valve 47 therefore closes pipe 23 and closes pipe 2
Let's stay in the upper position where 5 is open.

Therefore, no cleaning liquid can flow through pipe 23, and check valve 102 in the lid prevents liquid from flowing back out of grooves 30, 32 and pipe 24.

As soon as the duct 22 moves and engages the groove 37, compressed air from such groove flows through the pipe 25 and into the cavity of the pot assembly, thereby before the pot assembly reaches the unloading position B. to discharge the incompletely supplied container.

While the machine is operating, a metered flow of pure cleaning fluid is continuously sent through pipe 80 to tank 70.

This is a pipe 81 connected to a distillation device (not shown).
It replaces the dirty cleaning fluid drained through.

Such dirty cleaning fluid is then recovered for reuse in the system.

The fluid system receives heat continuously from an electric heater in platen 55, and the temperature of the liquid in tank 70 is maintained 2.3 degrees below the boiling point by cooling coil 85, which acts as a temperature regulator.

Such systems continuously gain air because a small amount of air is trapped within the cavity of each pot assembly when the lid is closed.

This steam saturated air passes through pipe 90 from condenser 84 to the atmosphere or to a fluid recovery device.

Condensed cleaning fluid from condenser 84 returns to the tank through pipe 92.

When such a machine is used to form a surface layer on an article, a solution of coating material or a chemically reactive fluid will be used in place of the cleaning liquid.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view along the axis of rotation showing only half of the machine according to the invention, and FIG. 2 shows the invention required for supplying, removing and drying the machine of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram of the device. 10: Inner distribution ring, 11: Outer distribution ring, 30~
35, 37-39: groove, 47: piston valve, 48
: Piston, 70: Tank, 71: Pump, 73: Vacuum pump, 75: Compressor, 79: Filter, 82:
Flow smoothing chamber, 83: steam separator, 84: condenser,
210: circular substrate, 212: vertical spindle, 214:
Turret, 228: Pot assembly, 229: Manifold ring, 233: Distribution ring, 238: Cylindrical shell, 242: Cylindrical core, 246: Cavity, 258
:lid.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An open container is placed in a cavity surrounded by a wall having a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the container, and a fluid is caused to flow along the surface of the container. In a method for treating the surface of a container, a liquid is caused to flow through the space, and then a vapor phase fluid that has been compressed and heated from the liquid component is caused to flow through the space to form the space in the space. removing the liquid from the cavity, and then withdrawing the gas phase fluid from the cavity to reduce the pressure in the cavity and evaporate the liquid remaining in the cavity to remove the liquid from the surface of the container and the cavity. coating, cleaning, or chemically reacting the container, drying the container, and converting the gaseous fluid extracted from the cavity into a gaseous fluid that removes liquid from the cavity. A method of treating the surface of a container with a fluid suitable for 2 having a plurality of bodies with internal cavities for receiving containers, each body having an open position and a closed position for inserting and removing containers from the cavities; a lid movable between the cavity, the cavity having a shape substantially corresponding to the container, and the walls of the cavity disposed between the inner surface of the container and the interior surface of the container such that fluid flows along the container surface; Apparatus for treating the surface of a container, comprising conduit means spaced close to the outer surface and for communicating fluid to respective cavities of the body, for circulating liquid through the conduit means and the cavities; a first pump means for compressing and heating and circulating a gas phase fluid through the conduit means and the cavity; a second pump means for extracting the gas phase fluid from the conduit means and the cavity; third pump means for reducing the pressure within the conduit means and the cavity, each of said pump means being connected in series to said respective conduit means in the order of first, second and third pump means; dispensing means, the outlet of said third pumping means being connected to the inlet of said second pumping means, said second and third pumping means being driven synchronously. Apparatus for treating container surfaces with fluids suitable for coating, cleaning or chemically reacting.