Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
  • B65B55/24—Cleaning of, or removing dust from, containers, wrappers, or packaging ; Preventing of fouling

Definitions

• This invention falls within the technical sector concerning devices for eliminating the bacterial load present on the surface of sealed containers, with particular reference to the region comprising the opening members for said containers.
• the aforesaid containers are preferably in the form of cans provided with tear-off tabs containing for example food, and in particular drinks.
• An object of the invention is to propose a device able to deliver sealed containers having an acceptable bacterial load on that surface portion adjacent to their opening members, by means of a technical solution of simple conception, high reliability and low cost.
• the external environment in question is represented by stores, open-air places, shelving, etc, ie environments in which the bacterial level set by health regulations does not envisage contact between the said cans and the consumer's mouth.
• the disposable cans in question are dispensed by an automatic distributor which generally does not provide the necessary guarantee of hygiene.
• a further object of the invention is to propose a device easily adaptable to the different container formats by changing only a minimum number of elements.
• Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of the device in terms of its general components
• Figure 2 is a schematic front view of the working zone of a first embodiment of the device under examination
• Figures 2a and 2b schematically illustrate the modularity of the working zone of the proposed first embodiment of the device
• Figures 3 and 4 are sections through the first embodiment of Figure 2 taken on the planes III-III and IV-IV
• Figure 5 is a partial section relative to a constructional modification of the proposed device
• Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the device in terms of its general components
• Figures 7a and 7b are schematic side sectional views relative to two particularly significant operating stages of the device proposed in Figure 6;
• FIGS. 8a and 8b are sectional views taken on the plane VIII-VIII relative to the significant operating stages represented in
• Figures 7a and 7b respectively;
• Figures 9a and 9b are detailed views of two important operating configurations, with reference to said embodiment;
• Figure 10 is a schematic section on the plane X-X of Figure 9a.
• the reference numeral 5 indicates a motor operated by a control centre 100 when enabled by a first timer TM, and having a brush 2 fixed onto its shaft 90 by means of a corresponding head
• the brush 2 acts on the upper portion 1b of a suitably orientated sealed container 1 lying on a support seat 7 and elastically locked by a jaw 60, these being provided within a working zone A protected by a preferably transparent door 6.
• the jaw 60 consists of two portions pivoted together at 60a and subjected in known manner to elastic members, not shown .
• the support seat 7, opening towards a suitably trapped discharge, is provided with a primary grid 62 and a guide 71 within which a slide 70 slides in a transverse direction under light friction.
• the slide 70 is provided coaxially to the brush 2 with a preferably f rusto-conical discharge channel 63 opening into the discharge 7a, and upperly comprises a secondary grid 61 positioned at a height depending on the longitudinal dimensions of the sealed container 1 under examination.
• the head 80 of the brush 2 is shaped to define a first channel 4a and a second channel 3a which have substantially vertical axes and are suitably profiled and flared.
• a first nozzle 4 and a second nozzle 3 are positioned on opposite sides above the plane defined by said head 80.
• first pipe 43 connected to a first electrically driven pump 35 operated by the control centre 100 when enabled by a second timer TD.
• the first pipe 43 branches from a first vessel 30 which contains disinfectant and at the base of which there is a liquid presence sensor 31.
• a second pipe 34 deriving from the water main 300 is connected to the second nozzle 3. Upstream of said second nozzle 3 there are connected in the stated order a flow switch 10, a solenoid valve 50 operated by the control centre 100 when enabled by a third timer TA, and a pressure switch 20.
• a by-pass 46 is connected between the second pipe 34 and a second electrically driven pump
• the by-pass 46 branches from a water-containing second vessel 40, at the base of which there is a second liquid presence sensor 41, and which is fed by known members 42.
• the operation of the first embodiment of the proposed device will now be described.
• the sealed container 1 is placed on the support seat 7 such that the opening members of the sealed container faces the brush 2, and is adequately locked by the jaw 60, for example rigid with the machine casing, after which the user can lower the door 6 to set the device of the invention for carrying out a disinfection cycle.
• the sensors 1a and 6a sense respectively the presence of the sealed container 1 and the lowering of the door 6, the first indicator lamp 8a lights and the user can choose whether to effect "complete" disinfection or "partial” disinfection.
• the control centre 100 activates an electromechanical block 15 which prevents the opening of the door 6 in order to protect the working zone A, and operates the first timer TM to power the motor 5, which rotates the brush 2.
• the second timer TD operated by the control centre 100, powers the pump 35 to initiate the so-called first wash stage.
• the first pump 35 feeds disinfectant from the first vessel 30 to the first nozzle 4 so that it passes through the channels 3a and/or 4a present in the head 80 of the brush 2, to reach the upper portion 1b of the sealed container, and hence the opening members of said sealed container.
• the subsequent switching of the second timer TD halts power to the first pump 35 and operates the third timer TA via the control centre 100, to initiate the so-called second wash stage, necessary to remove the residual traces of disinfectant.
• the motor 5 maintains the brush 2 in rotation until the next switching of the first timer TM,to define the so-called drying stage in which any residual liquid traces present on the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1 are eliminated.
• the switching of the first timer TM indicated by the second indicator lamp 8b, causes the control centre 100 to inhibit the electromechanical block 15 and enable the user to open the door 6 and withdraw the suitably treated sealed container 1.
• the aforegoing description relates to a "complete" disinfection cycle.
• the second timer TD is prevented from powering the first pump 35, whereas the control centre, in suitable phase relationship with the operation of the motor 5 by the first timer TM, powers the second pump 45, when enabled by the third timer TA.
• the control centre 100 closes the solenoid valve 50 if enabled by the second liquid presence sensor 41 positioned in the second vessel 40, and activates the second pump 45 in suitable phase relationship. This latter feeds the second nozzle 3 via the by-pass 46 and the second pipe 34, until the third timer TA switches.
• the flow switch 10 together with the second liquid presence sensor 41, act on the control centre 100 to prevent subsequent use of the said device, by setting it to a "shutdown state" resettable only by appropriate authorized personnel.
• the said "shutdown state" indicated by the third indicator lamp 8c can also be produced by the action of the first liquid presence sensor 31 positioned in the first vessel 30 containing disinfectant. It should be noted that the said slide 70 can be easily replaced by appropriate authorized personnel, to enable sealed containers of variable longitudinal dimensions to be disinfected. This is apparent from Figures 2a and 2b showing the different slides 79a and 70b carrying the sealed containers 11a and 11b respectively.
• slides 70, 70a, 70b are used already provided with a connected jaw 60 suitable for locking different sized sealed containers 1, 11a, 11b respectively.
• a further constructional modification relative to the feed of liquids to the brush 2 is shown in Figure 5.
• Suitably sized radial channels 82 extend radially within the shaft 90 of the motor 5, to converge into a hole 81 provided within and coaxial to the shaft 90.
• the hole 81 which is closed at its upper end, communicates at its lower end with the head 80 of the brush 2, to open in correspondence with the bristles thereof.
• This arrangement dispenses with the pair of fixed nozzles 3 and 4, by using the system comprising the pipe 86, radial channels 82 and hole 81 to feed the disinfectant or rinsing water to the brush 2, as in the second embodiment, to be described hereinafter.
• This device can be implemented either as an independent machine, to be positioned to the side of any automatic sealed can dispenser, or as a single structure comprising both the device of the invention and a known dispenser device.
• the reference numeral 51 indicates a first pulley keyed onto the motor 51, which is positioned with its axis horizontal .
• the first pulley 51 rotates a second pulley 52 coupled to a splined shaft 39 comprising an internal duct 39a and on which the head 80 of the brush 2, also positioned with its axis horizontal, is keyed.
• Said motor 5 and first and second pulleys 51 and 52 are carried by a movable arm 19 free to rotate about a first pivot 13 (Figure 7a).
• the movable arm 19 comprises a toothed sector 23 engaging a geared motor unit 49 arranged to operate the movable arm 19 such as to define a working configuration C and a rest configuration B of the brush 2 ( Figures 8a, 8b).
• Said splined shaft 39 on one end of which the head 80 of the brush 2 is keyed, engages at its other end a headpiece 24 which impresses the desired horizontal traversing movements on the splined shaft 39, without preventing its rotation transmitted by the second pulley 52.
• the rocker lever 36 is shaped such that the horizontal traversing movements imposed by the electromagnet 32 are suitably transmitted to said splined shaft 39, with consequent pressing of the brush 2 against the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1.
• the said headpiece 24 is connected to a flexible pipe 25 opening into the change-over valve 85, so as to feed fluid to the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1 through the internal duct 39a of the splined shaft 39 and the brush 2.
• the sealed container is positioned with its axis horizontal, coaxial to the brush 2, so that this latter is faced by its upper portion 1b comprising the opening devices.
• the container 1 is supported on the support seat 7, rigid with the machine body, by horizontal conveyor rollers 12 idle on their shafts and provided with lips 12a.
• the proposed device of the second embodiment is inserted into an existing automatic dispenser 101 comprising a casing 150 to which a front door 14 is hinged, access to which is allowed exclusively to authorized personnel.
• a separator 29 to define a chamber 28 at ambient temperature and a refrigeration chamber 18 at a temperature lower than the preceding, these communicating via a flexible gate 22.
• This second embodiment of the device of the invention is positioned within the chamber 28 rigid with the front door 14, at a height higher than the suitably trapped discharge system 7a. In a further constructional modification, the said device is positioned rigid with the separator 29.
• the refrigeration chamber 18, comprising suitable hairpin coils, not shown, is provided in its upper region, on the side distant from the separator 29, with vertical stacks 17 of sealed containers 1.
• the sealed containers 1 are orientated such that their upper portion 1b faces the separator 29, which is provided with bactericidally acting light sources 16 of substantially vertical axis.
• a converging conveyor 21 which, by means of oblique conveying rollers 11, idle about their shafts and not necessarily provided with lips, directs the selected sealed container through the flexible gate 22 and onto the horizontal conveying rollers 12, then into possible contact with the brush 2 for a "partial" disinfection cycle (pushbutton 9b) or a "complete” disinfection cycle (pushbutton 9a).
• the provision of the light sources 16 ensures optimum elimination of the bacterial load present on the upper portions 1b of the already stacked sealed containers 1, but does not necessarily exclude the provision of the first vessel 30 containing disinfectant, and of the associated first pipe 43 and first pump 35 .
• the second vessel 40 for overcoming any unreliability of the water main 300, and positioned in a compartment 22a provided in the lower part of the chamber 28 in order not to hinder the opening of the front door 14.
• the second wash stage is necessary not only for removing residual traces of disinfectant, but also and in particular for removing any solid residue present on the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1.
• the control centre 100 activates an electromechanical block 15 which prevents opening of the corresponding door 6 and causes the chosen sealed container 1 to be released from the corresponding stack 17 by known means and be directed by the converging conveyor 21 towards the oblique conveying rollers 11 and then, via the flexible gate 22, to the horizontal conveying rollers 12, where it is adequately slowed down by the lips 12a at the support seat 7, before coming into contact with the brush 2.
• control centre 100 operates the geared motor unit 49 and the electromagnet 32 to cause the arm 19 to traverse from its rest configuration B to its working configuration C with the aid of the toothed sector 23, followed by possible movement of the brush 2 towards the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1 until consequent contact.
• the sealed container 1 urged into correspondence with the upper portion 1b by the action of the brush 2 when the movable arm 19 is in its working configuration, abuts against the terminal portion 11a of the oblique conveying rollers 11 to ensure stability of said sealed container 1 during the wash and/or drying stage.
• This stability is increased by the action exerted by the lips 12a in proximity to the zone of contact between the horizontal conveying rollers 12 and said sealed container 1.
• the terminal portion 11a counteracts the axial movement of the sealed container 1 in the direction of the casing 150 whereas the lips 12a prevent the sealed container 1 rotating about its axis.
• the third timer TA opens the solenoid valve 50 to feed chemically tested water from the water main 300 to the flexible pipe 25 and then through the internal duct 39a of the splined shaft 39 to the brush 2 and thus to the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1 in contact with it.
• the rotation of the motor 5 is transmitted by the system comprising the first pulley 51, transmission members 21 and second pulley 52 to the splined shaft 39 coupled to the second pulley 52, and hence to the brush keyed onto it.
• the switching of the first timer TM following the switching of the third timer TA, and indicated by the second indicator lamp 8b, results in operation of the geared motor unit 49 which, by means of the toothed sector 23, causes the movable arm 19 to move from the working configuration C to the rest configuration B, with simultaneous de-energization of the electromagnet 32.
• the electromechanical block 15 is inhibited by the control centre 100 to enable the door 6 to be opened by the user who can then withdraw the chosen sealed container, which now has a considerably reduced bacterial load, in particular in correspondence with its opening devices.
• the proposed device does not operate and the automatic dispenser 101 behaves traditionally. If the said sealed container 1 is not sufficiently gripped on the horizontal conveying rollers 12 by the simultaneous action of the lips 12a and the abutting action of the conveying rollers 11, the described distributor 101 can be provided with restraining members 102 acting in a plane substantially perpendicular to that defined by the support seat 7.
• fan or heating fan means operated in phase relationship with the drying stage can be provided to direct air streams at least onto the lateral surface of the sealed container 1.
• both the embodiments of the described device and its possible modifications provide optimum disinfection of sealed containers of reasonably variable shape inserted into it, with considerable elimination of the bacterial load present at the container opening devices.
• the device components are of small number and simple construction, to the advantage of production costs, which are consequently very low.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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ID=11342661

Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (2)

Citations (5)

• 1997
  • 1997-11-26 IT IT97BO000687A patent/IT1296564B1/it active IP Right Grant
• 1998
  • 1998-11-06 AU AU12344/99A patent/AU1234499A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-11-06 WO PCT/EP1998/007208 patent/WO1999028193A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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