Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
  • B67C7/00—Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
  • B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
  • B08B9/20—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought
  • B08B9/42—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought the apparatus being characterised by means for conveying or carrying containers therethrough
  • B08B9/426—Grippers for bottles

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of machines for treating objects, in particular hollow bodies such as containers or container preforms.
• the invention relates more particularly to the field of object processing machines in which a series of processing stations are movable along a path in a loop circuit, for example by being integral with a rotary carousel for driving or d 'an endless drive chain, and each comprise a gripping system intended to pick up an object at a loading point and to return it to an unloading point of the path. Between its loading and unloading point, an object is moved relative to the station, by the gripping system, from an initial loading position to at least one processing position and then to a final unloading position. Furthermore, the machine includes devices for processing the objects supported by each station.
• a machine of this type, intended for the treatment of containers is for example described in the document EP-A-0,477,341.
• the machine described in this document allows only one treatment of each container, at least if one wants to be able to maintain a high rate of operation of the machine.
• the residence time of a container on the machine is inversely proportional to the number of containers treated during a given duration, and this residence time is in any case less than the time necessary for the carousel to perform a rotation.
• the useful processing time is further limited by the times required for loading, unloading, and two reversals of each container.
• preforms or blanks follow a loop path circuit, being carried by rotary gripping systems and, while being rotated on themselves, pass through reheating zones comprising heating elements and reflectors .
• the preforms or blanks are introduced with the collar at the top, then are turned over to be reheated with their collar facing down to prevent it from overheating and then deforming during the subsequent blowing operation, and are turned over a second time to allow the blowing of neck-top containers.
• the residence time of a preform on the machine is inversely proportional to the number of preforms processed during a given period, and the useful time for reheating or conditioning is still limited by the times required. loading, unloading and two reversals of each preform. We know of other installations where the containers are blown with the neck down and where a second turning does not take place.
• the object of the invention is to propose a particularly compact and economical machine in order to be able to carry out treatment of objects at high speed.
• the invention provides a machine of the type described above in which, between the loading and unloading points, the object is moved relative to the station, by the gripping system, from an initial loading position to at at least one treatment position and then a final unloading position, of the type in which the machine includes devices for processing the objects supported by each station, of the type in which each station is provided with a gripping unit comprising at least two gripping systems, and of the type in which the gripping unit is movable relative to the station between at least a first position, for which a first object carried by a first system of the unit is in its initial position while q u a second object carried by a second unit system is in a processing position, and a last position for which the first object is in a line position While the second object is in its final position, characterized in that between the loading and unloading of an object, the path followed by it comprises a number of all of the circuits which is between number of gripping systems of each treatment unit and the whole immediately lower.
• the invention makes it possible to keep each object on a respective station for a journey time greater than that necessary for the station to complete a complete circuit tour. I t is therefore possible to pass several times the same object at the same point of the path, however having modified the position of the gripping unit, therefore the spatial position of the object.
• a machine according to the invention can be used to carry out several successive treatments, without being more cumbersome than a machine of the prior art which only allowed a single treatment, and of course, without reducing the rate. It is thus possible to carry out, in the same space, rinsing and cleaning treatments for objects.
• the invention can also be used to increase the processing time of an object, without reducing the overall rate of operation of the installation and without increasing its size.
• the gripping unit is capable of taking over an object
• Each gripping unit is movable in rotation relative to the associated station around an axis tangent, at a given point, to the direction of travel of the station at this point; - Each gripping unit is movable sequentially between at least as many discrete positions as each gripping unit has gripping systems;
• each device follows the path of the stations, and each device is movable relative to the adjacent stations between a cleared position and an active position in which it is capable of cooperating with at least one of the objects carried by one of the gripping units;
• Each processing device comprises at least two processing means each intended to cooperate with an object, the two objects being carried respectively by two adjacent stations;
• the processing devices are fixed to the chassis of the machine along the path of the stations, so that the objects are subjected to the corresponding treatment when they pass opposite the devices;
• the positions are integral with a drive device, constituted by a rotating carousel of the machine; - The positions are integral with a drive device, consisting of a drive chain, in a closed circuit, of the machine;
• the processing devices are movable in rotation relative to the drive device about an axis substantially perpendicular to the main plane of the drive device, that is to say parallel to the axis of rotation of the carousel when the drive device consists of such a carousel;
• each treatment device is interposed between two adjacent gripping units and, in the active position, each treatment device cooperates with objects from the two adjacent units that frame it;
• the treatment devices each comprise at least one spout for projecting a rinsing fluid and a spout for projecting a cleaning product;
• each gripping unit comprises two gripping systems which each carry a hollow body substantially by its open end; the objects are arranged in opposite directions along two parallel axes which are contained in a radial plane of the path and which are offset on either side of the axis of rotation of the unit;
• the machine being intended for cleaning and rinsing containers, in the initial position and in the final position, the containers are in a vertical position with the open end downwards for undergoing a first and a final rinsing treatment;
• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the operating principle of a processing machine according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the machine according to the invention.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a container gripping unit
• FIG. 5 is a top view of the carousel of the machine illustrating the two relative positions of the processing devices with respect to the gripping units;
• FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of a machine according to the invention, arranged for reheating preforms or blanks of containers.
• the invention can be applied, for example, quite advantageously to machines intended for rinsing and disinfecting containers, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, with a view to filling them. with a liquid which can be food, or even machines intended to rinse and disinfect blanks of such containers, called preforms.
• PET polyethylene terephthalate
• the following description more specifically illustrates the treatment of objects constituted by hollow bodies, such as containers (bottles, flasks or the like) or container preforms.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 have illustrated the principle of an object processing machine which is both compact and capable of high speeds.
• This machine comprises a series of stations 1 2 which carry out a loop path.
• all of the stations 1 2 are integral with a circular carousel 1 0 which is rotated continuously around its axis A0.
• the invention could also be implemented in the context of posts linked to each other according to the principle of an endless drive chain.
• the principle of this machine is to keep each object on a respective station for a period greater than that necessary for the station to make a complete revolution of its tracking circuit. In this case the object remains on the post for almost two turns.
• the machine illustrated is therefore a rotary machine whose axis of rotation will be q ualified vertical for the clarity of the description.
• the carousel 1 0 comprises a series of stations 1 2 q which are angularly distributed around the axis A0 and which are each intended to carry several bottles 1 1.
• each station 1 2 can carry two bottles.
• the invention can also be implemented with stations that can each support more bottles.
• Each station has a gripping unit 1 4 of bottles which is movable relative to the station, therefore relative to the carousel, and which in this case comprises two gripping systems 1 6 which can each take care of a bottle.
• Each gripping unit 1 4 is mounted movable in rotation relative to its station 1 2 around an axis An which is tangent to the trajectory of the station.
• each gripping unit is designed to be able to occupy two positions opposite 180 degrees around the axis An.
• the number of positions for a unit may be greater than the number of bottles.
• the gripping systems 1 6 are arranged so that the bottles carried by the same unit are arranged along two axes vertical parallel, symmetrically on either side of the axis An and the bottles of course being in the opposite direction with respect to each other. Thus, when one of the bottles is oriented with its open end upwards, the open end of the other bottle is oriented downwards.
• the clamps 1 6 are offset along the direction of the axes of the bottles and they are arranged on either side of the axis An so that the one carrying the bottle neck down is located below the level of the one who carries the bottle neck up. By this arrangement, it decreases the free space necessary for the inversion of the gripping unit when it carries the bottles.
• the gripping unit 14 is entirely symmetrical with respect to the axis An. Due to the geometry of the gripping unit 1 4, each clamp is brought to find itself alternately in an external radial position and in an internal radial position relative to the axis A0 of the carousel. In one case, the bottle it carries is oriented neck down, here when the clamp is in the external radial position. In the internal radial position, it is oriented neck up. Whatever the position of the gripping unit 1 4, the axes of the bottles are all substantially in the same radial plane containing the axis A0 of rotation of the carousel and perpendicular to the axis An of rotation of the unit 1 4 considered.
• the gripping unit 14 is driven in rotation around its axis An over 1 80 deg res. In this way, the bottle which was initially in the external radial position with the neck at the bottom undergoes a displacement which brings it to an internal radial position with the neck at the top.
• each gripping unit 1 6 has two arms 1 8 which extend symmetrically in a plane perpendicular to the axis An.
• Each arm 1 8 has a U-shaped end which, during the rotation of the carousel, is intended to follow a fixed section 20 of the machine.
• the profiles are arranged according to arcs of circles of axis A0.
• each profiled section 20 extends along a section of a helix wound on a toric surface.
• each gripping unit 14 is only required to occupy two positions and only one reversal sector is provided. In this way, a bottle which has just been taken in charge on the carousel, and which has just been turned over, is brought to carry out a complete rotat in the internal radial position. Within the framework of a cleaning and disinfection treatment, this duration makes it possible to give the sterilizing agent sufficient action time. One could however consider a machine having for example three turning sectors. Likewise, provision could be made to bring the gripping unit to a certain number of intermediate positions.
• the gripping unit occupies only two distinct discrete positions. Also, the initial positions of loading and final unloading of a bottle are the same. However, it could be envisaged that these two positions of the bottle are different.
• each gripping unit 1 4 only has two gripping systems 1 6 so that each container performs a fraction of carousel turn numbers between 1 and 2.
• each container could perform on the carousel between 2 and 3 turns.
• the machine according to the invention also includes treatment devices 22 capable of spraying liquids, such as water or a sterilizing agent, inside the bottle.
• treatment devices 22 capable of spraying liquids, such as water or a sterilizing agent, inside the bottle.
• each device has two projection nozzles: an external nozzle 24 which is capable of projecting, upwards, a rinsing agent, here liquid, inside a ne bottle arranged neck down in external radial position, and an internal spout 26 which can project, downward, the sterilizing agent inside a bottle arranged neck up in internal radial position.
• each device 22 is movable between a disengaged position and an active position. Indeed, each device 22 is arranged at the top of a vertical column 28 which, relative to the axis AO, is located radially between the outer circle and the inner circle of the trajectory of the bottles.
• the two spouts 24, 26 are mounted to rotate about the axis of the column 28, preferably by means of a rotary connector 30 which allows the spouts 24, 26 to be connected to product distribution circuits 32 of the machine.
• the two nozzles 24, 26 extend opposite one another with respect to the column 28.
• the processing devices 22 are the same number as the gripping units 1 4 and they are interposed angularly between the stations 1 2.
• the two nozzles 24, 26 are oriented substantially in a radial plane containing the axis A0 so as not to interfere with the adjacent gripping units 1 4, or with the bottles they carry. In this position, they do not prevent the bottles from turning over.
• the two spouts In the active position, the two spouts have pivoted around the vertical axis of the column 28, so that the internal spout 26 faces the opening of a bottle in the internal radial position on one of the two positions adjacent to the device 22.
• the external spout 24 is then opposite the opening of a bottle in an external radial position on the other of the two adjacent positions.
• a device 22 can therefore treat two bottles at the same time by spraying one of the rinsing liquid and the other with a sterilizing agent.
• the external spout 24, which projects rinsing liquid into a bottle arranged with the neck down is received coaxially in a tubular recovery pipe 34, the open end of which faces the neck of the bottle when the device is in the active position.
• the recovery line 34 can thus collect the rinsing liquid which flows from the bottle and discharged, via the rotary connector 30, to the distribution circuits of the machine.
• the internal spout 24 and the recovery pipe 34 are integral with one another.
• the devices 22 include means for avoiding spraying product onto the machine if there is no bottle on one of the stations.
• the external spout 24 comprises a movable deflector 36 which, when there is no bottle, is located just opposite the spout 24 and the recovery pipe 34. Thus, the liquid projected by the spout 24 is returned directly to the recovery line.
• the deflector 36 is arranged at the end of an arm 37 which can pivot relative to the spout 24 and to the pipe 34 around a vertical axis parallel to the pivot axis of the latter.
• the deflector 36 pivots relative to the spout 24, which continues its race towards its active position opposite the open end of the bottle.
• the deflector is moved away from the spout and does not disturb the projection of liquid.
• the deflector 36 does not meet a bearing surface and remains opposite the spout 24, which is its usual position towards which it is brought back by elastic means (not shown).
• the internal spout 26 is fitted with recovery tubing 38 which, in the absence of a bottle, is located just opposite the spout 26.
• the tubing 38 In the presence of a bottle, the tubing 38 is pivotally separated by the neck of the bottle when the device 22 passes from its released position to its active position.
• the invention finds another particularly advantageous application for the reheating of preforms or blanks of containers in installations for manufacturing plastic containers, by blowing or drawing and then blowing such preforms or blanks.
• Figure 6 is a schematic illustration.
• the machine comprises a series of stations 1 20 which follow a loop path.
• all the stations 1 20 are integral with a circular carousel 1 00 which is rotated continuously around its vertical axis A1 0.
• the invention could also be implemented in the context of posts linked to one another according to the principle of a link chain.
• the stations 1 20 which are angularly distributed around the axis A1 0 and are each intended to carry several, in the example illustrated two, preforms 1 1 0 or blanks of containers
• Each station comprises a gripping unit 1 40 of preforms 1 1 0 or of container blanks which is movable relative to the station, therefore relative to the carousel, and which in this case comprises two gripping systems 1 60 which can each take charge of a preform 1 1 0 or container blank.
• Each gripping system 1 60 comprises on the one hand gripping means, not illustrated in detail, but known per se, of a preform 1 10 or container blank, and means for allowing the rotation of the preforms 1 1 0 around of their longitudinal axis at least when the preforms are in a heating zone.
• the gripping means are for example constituted by mechanisms of the mandrel type which grip the inside or the outside of the neck of the preforms, and the means for rotating the preforms on themselves are mechanically linked to the means of capture.
• the rotation is carried out for example using chain and pinion mechanisms, known per se and not shown.
• each gripping unit 1 40 is mounted movable in rotation relative to its station 1 20 around an axis which is tangent to the position trajectory.
• each gripping unit is designed to be able to occupy two positions opposite 180 degrees around this axis.
• the gripping unit 140 is symmetrical with respect to the axis tangent to the trajectory of the station. Due to the geometry of the gripping unit 140, each preform is brought to find itself alternately oriented in a neck down position and in a neck up position.
• Appropriate conveying systems 1 50 bring the preforms 1 1 0 or blanks of containers, neck up, tangentially to a loading point of the carousel whose position is fixed around the axis A1 0. At this point, each preform is taken care of, by the gripping means of a gripping unit. As the carousel rotates, each time it passes through the loading point, each station takes on a preform 1 1 0. Once it has been taken over by a gripping unit 1 40, each preform 1 1 0 is then driven in rotation around the axis A1 0, by the carousel, over almost a half-turn in the example illustrated, until arriving at a turning sector.
• the gripping unit 140 is rotated around its axis tangent to the trajectory of the station over 180 degrees. In this way, the preform which was initially in position with the neck at the top undergoes a displacement which brings it to an internal radial position with the neck at the bottom.
• Means similar or identical to those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, such as profiles, can be used to ensure the reversal, always in the same direction, on the one hand and the maintenance in fixed position of the gripping units on the other hand. They will therefore not be described in more detail.
• each gripping unit 140 is only required to occupy two positions and there is only provided a single turning sector.
• the preform is again brought back to the neck up position by the gripping unit. It then carried out approximately one and a half r around the axis A1 0 since it was loaded onto the carousel.
• the rotation of the carousel continuing, the preform considered in the neck-up position arrives until a point of unloading where a conveyor system 170 takes each preform, and drives it towards a blow mold, not shown, thus releasing successively the stations which, on arriving at the loading point, can again take over a preform to be heated.
• the initial loading and final unloading positions of a preform are the same.
• these two positions of the preform are different, in particular in installations in which the preforms are introduced neck at the top, and the containers are blown with the neck at the bottom.
• the treatment consists of reheating the preforms 1 1 0, and processing devices 220, 221, constituted by means of reheating the preforms 1 1 0, the structure of which is known per se, are fixed to the chassis. the machine and are suitably arranged in the areas between the loading area 150 and the turning area on the one hand, as well as between the turning area and the unloading area on the other hand, so as to heat the preforms which pass opposite these means, whether they are with their neck at the top or at the bottom.
• these reheating means are constituted by lamps and reflectors.
• the reheating takes place in two turns of the carousel, and it is easy to see that it is possible to reduce the circumference of the carousel in a ratio of approximately two to achieve the same result, in terms of speed and efficiency, as with a conventional machine. It therefore succeeds in considerably reducing the size of a container manufacturing installation.
• the relative duration of the various heating stages depends on the location of the turning sector (s) relative to the circuit. In the example, the preforms carry out, after their loading, almost a half-turn of the circuit where they are warmed up neck, then a turn down neck, and finally almost a half-turn again neck up.
• reheating would start at the bottom or the top; moreover, in this case, there would no longer be means of reheating in the zone between the loading point and the turning sector or in that between the turning sector and the unloading point.
• the invention is therefore particularly advantageous in this particular type of application, since it makes it possible to reduce the footprint of the heating furnaces; in addition, it makes it possible to optimize the reheating thanks to the possibilities of positioning the preforms neck up or neck down.

Landscapes

• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Blow-Moulding Or Thermoforming Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
• Threshing Machine Elements (AREA)
• Disintegrating Or Milling (AREA)
• Formation And Processing Of Food Products (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
• Cleaning In General (AREA)
• Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
• Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
• Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
• Manipulator (AREA)
• Encapsulation Of And Coatings For Semiconductor Or Solid State Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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• 1999
  • 1999-06-28 FR FR9908209A patent/FR2795350B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2000
  • 2000-06-28 MX MXPA01013331A patent/MXPA01013331A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-06-28 ES ES00946030T patent/ES2246871T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-06-28 CN CN00809732A patent/CN1362897A/zh active Pending
  • 2000-06-28 AU AU59927/00A patent/AU775468B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2000-06-28 DE DE60022518T patent/DE60022518T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-06-28 WO PCT/FR2000/001799 patent/WO2001000340A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2000-06-28 EP EP00946030A patent/EP1200208B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-06-28 KR KR10-2001-7016526A patent/KR100436344B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-06-28 CA CA002376736A patent/CA2376736C/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-06-28 US US10/018,342 patent/US6945260B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-06-28 AT AT00946030T patent/ATE303873T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-06-28 JP JP2001506039A patent/JP3744853B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-06-28 BR BRPI0011923-7A patent/BR0011923B1/pt not_active IP Right Cessation

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