ES2238304T3 - MULTIPLE TREATMENT MACHINE AND AUTOMATIC RINSE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Multiple treatment and automatic rinsing machine (11), comprising at least one oscillating support (12, 16) having a plurality of firmly fixed clamps (76), each capable of grasping a container, in which each of said clamps (76) is located in front of a respective rinsing unit (86, 90, 104) fed by at least two fluids and is provided with at least one injector (106) capable of injecting, alternatively, one of said two fluids in said container, each rinsing unit (86, 90, 104) also comprising at least one disk-type distribution valve (90) capable of selecting one of at least two of said fluids, such that the fluid is injected in the container controlling the initiation and completion of the fluid injection process, characterized in that said distribution valve (90) is connected to said injector (106) by at least one flexible tube (100), said injector being (106) supported by less a mobile carriage (104) that slides along at least one tube (86), such that said injector (106) can slide, while being controlled by at least one guide (112) , from a rest position, which points down, to an operational position that points up and vice versa.

Description

Multiple treatment and rinse machine automatic.

The present invention relates to a machine of Multiple treatment and automatic rinse according to the preamble of the claim 1. A machine of this type is known from EP-A-0 577 568.

Liquid products such as, for example, Water, syrup, wines, spirits and other products are usually put in the market in containers frequently constituted by bottles. In industry, these bottles are filled by machines automatic to which they must be transported in a clean condition and Ready for filling.

For this purpose, it should be noted that washing and Rinsing the bottles plays a very important role because, if not done properly, some bacterial growths can be developed that will dirty the product in the containers

The existing rinsing machines are suitable for treatment by a liquid, such as by example by sterilized water, water treated with ozone or dioxide of sulfur, chlorine and other products, followed by a treatment with inert gas.

There are also other solutions in which each container is subjected to double treatment with a product liquid followed with a final step with inert gas or by a first treatment with a liquid product and a final treatment double that includes a successive injection into the container of two different inert gases.

Next, reference will be made to a machine rinser that performs a procedure based on a first stage rinse with a liquid product, followed by inert gas.

Conventional machines designed for these treatments are known as being of a carousel type, provided, along its perimeter, with clamps to grip the containers and to offer them to an injector, which is introduced into them to inject a liquid or inert gas.

The various products to be injected (liquid or gas inert) are selected by control valves. These valves of control have a hollow body with protruding pins, whose Sliding motion is controlled by cams on the same machine. These protruding pins actuate a piston that connects the nozzle with the liquid product circuit or with the gas circuit inert. For example, EP 577 568 A1 teaches a machine rotating rinser provided with bottle grip assemblies and a series of fixed injectors, which are connected with the respective slide valves

In addition, each valve is provided with a horizontal slider to open and close the valve and each injector is connected to the respective valve through a pipeline long distance.

These conventional rinsing machines they have a fairly complex structure and may, in some cases, become poorly reliable. These inconveniences They are usually typical of control valves.

In addition, traditional machines are expensive, in particular regarding its maintenance. This, again, can imputed to the action of the control valves, which need frequent maintenance and adjustment work. These problems are can be resolved through the teachings of US Pat. No. 3,568,690 of the prior art, which refers to an apparatus of washing comprising a disc type distribution valve.

However, neither EP 577 568 A1 nor the US Patent No. 3,568,690 are able to suggest a solution to problem of complete flexibility, reliability and compactness of a rinsing machine; in particular, EP 577 568 A1 refers to a rinsing machine that takes up too much space, due to its voluminous horizontal structure.

The objective of the present invention is to eliminate the technical problems mentioned, obtaining a machine Multiple treatment and automatic rinse of a design not only simple, but also very reliable, to manufacture a machine rinser of an essentially low-cost type that does not require a frequent maintenance or adjustment actions and a design essentially safe.

This objective is achieved, according to this invention, by means of a machine of multiple treatment and automatic rinse according to claim 1.

The dependent claims provide particular embodiments of the invention.

Advantageously, the treatment machine Multiple and automatic rinse according to the present invention allows modify the treatment, in terms of an exposure to each individual fluid (liquid or inert gas) as well as the total time of exposure to these fluids. This makes the machine operation, since it can be easily adapted to the prevailing needs as well as to the particular type of liquid to be fed to the containers and other variables diverse.

Other features and advantages of a machine Multiple treatment and automatic rinse according to this invention will become more clearly apparent from the following description, which is provided by way of example no limiting, referring to the attached drawings simplified, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a top plan view simplified rinsing machine according to the present invention;

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Figure 2 illustrates an enlarged cross section drawn along line II-II of the

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Figure 3 illustrates a cross section enlarged drawn along line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 illustrates a cross section enlarged, drawn along line IV-IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 illustrates a first section cross section of a machine mounted control valve rinser according to the present invention;

Figure 6 illustrates a second section cross section of the same valve illustrated in Figure 5;

Figure 7 illustrates an exploded view of a body, a stationary disk and a mobile disk, which constitute the machine distribution valve according to the present invention;

Figure 8 illustrates a view of the valve distribution in a first operational position;

Figure 9 illustrates a view of the valve distribution in a second operational position;

Figure 10 illustrates a view of the valve distribution in a third operational position;

Figure 11 illustrates a view of the valve distribution in a fourth operating position; Y

Figure 12 illustrates a view of a shape different execution of the distribution valve in the first operational position

The figures cited illustrate a machine Multiple treatment and automatic rinse, as indicated in your globally by reference number 11.

Machine 11 has a type structure carousel and comprises an oscillating support constituted by an axis 12, whose end 12a is inserted into a support 14, while its opposite end 12b is firmly fixed to a plate 16. Shaft 12 is surrounded by a splash guard 17 to protect axis 12, thus avoiding any damage caused by fluids used to rinse containers.

In one of its parts near end 12a, the axis 12 has a longitudinal recess that houses a fin 18, which It is locked in position by screws. Fin 18 is mounted on a bushing 20 whose end is firmly attached to a profiled element in the form of a disk 22 and whose free edge supports a cogwheel 24 capable of driving the axis 12 of a rotating way.

The other end of the bushing 20 is inserted into a first end of a sleeve 26 with an interposed pair of bearings 28. This end of sleeve 26 is firmly attached to a plate annular 30 which, in turn, is firmly fixed by screws to a support plate 32.

A second end of the sleeve 26 is provided of a bearing 34 which includes a bush 36 mounted for sliding along the axis 12. The sleeve 26 supports a sleeve additional 38 that supports a bushing 40 at one of its ends turned towards the ring plate 30.

The other end of the sleeve 38 supports a bearing 42 designed to be connected in an oscillating manner to the sleeve 38, by a thickened portion 44 of the shaft 12. The same end of the sleeve 38 supports a ring 46 around its outer perimeter, which is firmly attached by screws to an annular plate 48. The outer edge of the plate 48 is surrounded by eight columns 50, which are, at their lower ends, attached to a ring 52. The ring 52 is attached to some supports of the radius type 54 and about five of the eight columns 50, while the other columns 50 are facing a unit 56 designed to load or unload the containers to be rinsed from a conveyor 58. The radius type supports 54 serve as support, on the block 60, to a wash tank 62 designed to contain the rinsing liquid, which drips to the bottom of the machine 11 by gravity, when the containers are rinsed. The washing tank 62 is also provided with a discharge tube
63.

The ring 52 and each of the brackets 54 are also firmly attached to some profiled parts 64, which are provided, at one of its free upper ends, with some supports 66 of a guide 68. each profiled part 64 also joins a stiffening rib 70 and a box 72, within which the Canister can be handled and rinsed.

The guide 68 is constituted by a ring profiling that extends along the entire length of the machine 11 and is coupled with some forks 74, each of the which is firmly attached to a clamp 76 designed to grab the containers. Each of the clamps 76 is supported by a fork 78 attached to the plate 16.

Each clamp 76 is located in front of a rinsing unit for containers. The rinsing unit it comprises a column 80 attached to each of the forks 78. A ring 82 is, in turn, suspended from these forks so that rotates all around the perimeter of machine 11 and is provided with two mounting accessories 84 located opposite each clamp 76 and supporting a suspended tube 86.

The tubes 86 support, at their ends lower, a second ring 88 similar to ring 82 and are attached to a distribution valve 90, in terms of feeding the fluids, inert liquids or gases, whereby the containers have to rinse off The distribution valve 90 is provided with a control lever 92 which is rotatably actuated by some cams 94 of machine 11. In this mounting configuration, cams 94 are provided in a number of four, three of the which are supported by curved guides 96.

Each valve 90 supports two outlet fittings 98, each of which is attached to a flexible tube 100, by example of silicone plastic.

Each of the two flexible tubes 100 is connects, at its opposite end, to a mounting accessory 102 of a mobile car or trolley 104, which supports an injector 106.

The injector 106 is constituted by two tubes concentric that identify two ducts, one of which is powered by one of the two flexible tubes 100 while the another conduit is fed by the other flexible tube 100.

The mobile carriage 104 slides over the tubes 86 while being controlled by an outgoing pin 108 that serves as mounting to a steerable wheel 110. Wheel 110 is inserted between the free ends of a guide 112 that travels along of machine 11. This guide 112 is profiled in a C-shape and supported on platelets and necklaces 114 by columns fifty.

Each mounting accessory 84 supports a tube flexible 116 attached to a tube 118 curved towards the center of the machine 11. Each tube 118 is, in turn, connected by tubes flexible 120 with one of two distribution chambers 122, 124.

The distribution chambers 122, 124 are formed by a cylindrical body 126 provided with a partition 127. One end of body 126 is flanged and attached to plate 16, while the opposite end holds two concentric tubes, each one of which opens inside one of the chambers 122, 124 and has a free end provided with a threaded mounting accessory 128.

Valves 90 are driven by cams 94.

A first cam 94, which comes into contact first with valves 90 after the corresponding clamp 76 has grabbed a container, is mounted on the end of a pneumatic cylinder 129. Cylinder 129 can actuated to pass valve 90 without starting treatment rinse, provided that a sensor, of a known technique and not illustrated here for the sake of simplicity, it detects that the corresponding clamp 76 has not picked up a container.

The other three cams 94 are, on the contrary, mounted in a detachable manner on the guides 96, so that Allow adjustment.

Machine 11 is also provided with cams additional 130 attached to the plate 48, which control the action of opening and / or closing of the clamps 76.

Valves 90 are of a constructed type of ceramic discs

Each valve 90 comprises a body 132 provided of two mounting accessories 134 that connect to the two tubes 86, one of which feeds a liquid and the other feeds a gas inert. Each of the mounting accessories 134 starts a conduit attached to an input camera 136a, 136b which are, in turn, open to the opposite wall to which holds the accessories of assembly 134.

Each of these ducts also has a part that opens towards the outside in a lateral position with respect to the body 132 and can be closed by a screw thread 138.

The body 132 also supports two accessories of assembly 98. One of the two mounting accessories 98 is attached to a central outlet chamber 140, while the other is attached to a additional output chamber 142. cameras 140 and 142 open in the same wall in which the chambers 136a and 136b open.

The wall of the body 132, in which they are open Cameras 136a, 136b, 140 and 142, supports a tightly attached lid 144 that holds three overlapping discs.

A fixed disk 146 is firmly attached to the body 132 by pins 148 that are inserted in their recesses and located in front of some blind holes in the same body 132.

Disc 146 is provided with four holes interns, two of which 149 are aligned with the cameras 136a, 136b, while a central hole 150 is aligned with chamber 140 and a hole 152 is aligned with chamber 142. As illustrated in Figure 7, hole 152 is profiled with a cylindrical part rotated towards the cylindrical body 132 and another part turned to the opposite side and extended in a radial direction of so that it forms a channel.

Stationary disk 146 is associated with a mobile disk 154, which is able to rotate with respect to the disk stationary 146 operated by control lever 92. How to indicated in Figure 7, disk 154 is provided with three channels blind so that they form three additional chambers 156, 158 and 160, in which a fluid, liquid or gas, accumulates to pass to through one of the holes 149 located in front of the entrance of the fluid in valve 90, in one of the holes 150, 152 of the disc 146 corresponding to the fluid outlets from the valve 90, as a result of the rotating movements of the mobile disk 154

Mobile disk 154 is attached to a disk additional 162, which supports some pins 164 attached to the disk mobile 154 and attached to the end of an axis 166 which is supported on bearings by the cover 144 and exits from the same cover 144 by a part leading to the control lever 92. The cover 144 holds also a pin 168 to act as a valve stop 90.

The operation of the treatment machine Multiple and automatic rinse, according to the present invention, is essentially as follows.

The height of the machine 11 can be varied to be able to adapt to the height of the various containers or bottles to be rinsed in successive treatments. This operation is performs by sliding the sleeve 38 over the sleeve 26, while a control known by itself and not illustrated here is used in For the sake of simplicity.

The containers, which are usually formed by bottles, travel by conveyor 58 to the load assembly and discharge 56 of the rotating carousel-type rinsing machine 11 as illustrated by the arrows F.

At this point, the clamps 76 actuated by the cams 130 grab the containers and rotate them, so that are arranged with their openings turned towards the bottom, under fork control 74 and guide 68.

The machine described above materializes a rinsing system based on using two fluids and providing a first treatment with a liquid and a subsequent treatment with an inert gas

The liquid and gas each enter from one of mounting accessories 128 and accumulate in the chambers of distribution 122 and 124.

The liquid will then be assumed to be introduces into machine 11 through an upper accessory 128 and that accumulates in chamber 122, while the gas penetrates to through lower accessory 128 and accumulates in chamber 124.

The liquid and the gas flow both through the tubes 116, 118 and 120, respectively, penetrating the valve distribution 90 through tube 86 and filling chambers 136a and 136b, respectively, and hole 149 aligned with these last.

Valve 90 selects which of the liquid or gas it must be transported to the exit under the control of cams 94.

The liquid or gas selected by valve 90 reaches the corresponding output accessory 98 and moves to the injector 106, after passing through the flexible tube 100

The injector 106 can slide from a resting position in which your mobile support carriage 104 occupies a position under tube 86 to an operating position, in which the mobile carriage 104 occupies a position above the same tube 86, so that the injector can penetrate, at least in part, into the container. The movement of the mobile support carriage 104 which allows the passage of the injector 106 from a rest position to a position operational and vice versa, it is controlled by guide 112, through the wheel 110 and pin 108. Injected liquid falls into the reservoir wash 62 by gravity and from there it can be extracted by the discharge tube 63.

The distribution valves 90 are controlled by the four cams 94.

The position of each of the cams 94 can be change so that they vary the rinse procedure, for example lengthening or shortening the treatment phases with the liquid or gas.

Also, whenever a sensor, not illustrated here for simplicity, stop detecting the presence of the container in the clamp 76, the pneumatic cylindrical slides automatically on cam 94 supported on it and does not find the control lever 92 of the corresponding valve 90. This prevents the procedure for rinsing and putting on. that the lever does not find the rear cams 94, either the procedure for rinsing opposite the clamp 76 is performed Without a bowl

The operation of the distribution valve 90 is clearly illustrated in Figures 8 to 11, which illustrate the valve configuration 90 and in particular the assumed position by the mobile disk 154 with respect to the stationary disk 146 and the body 132, in the four stretched elements that were passed by the latter among the four cams 94.

Figure 8 illustrates the configuration of the valve 90 in the stretched section of the machine 11 located opposite the loading and unloading unit indicated with 56 in Figure 2. As you can see, in this stretched section, both holes indicated with 149 in Figure 7 are closed and therefore, no liquid or gas can pass through the outlet accessories 98 of the valve 90.

Figure 9 illustrates the configuration assumed by the valve 90 in the stretch between the first cam 94 mounted on the pneumatic cylindrical indicated with 129 in Figure 3 and the second cam 94.

In this case, considering the numbers of reference of Figure 7, the liquid accumulated in chamber 136a and the corresponding hole 149 crosses the chamber 160 and the hole 152, enters chamber 142 and exits from the valve, while passing by its corresponding mounting accessory 98. On the other hand, the gas is left behind chamber 136b and in the corresponding hole 149, which is closed by the mobile disk 154.

Figure 10 illustrates the configuration assumed by valve 90 in the stretch between the second and third cams 94.

It is clear that, in this case, no Liquid or gas can escape from accessories 98.

Figure 11 illustrates, finally, the configuration assumed by valve 90 in the stretch included between the third and fourth cams 94.

In this case, considering the numbers of reference of Figures 5 and 7, the liquid is trapped between the chamber 136a and the corresponding hole 149 closed by the disc mobile 154. On the other hand, the gas displaces from chamber 136b and the corresponding hole 149 through the chamber 156 penetrates in the central hole 150 to pass inside the chamber 140 and exits from valve 90 through the corresponding accessory adapter 98.

In an alternative embodiment, the machine rinser, according to the present invention, is essentially similar to the one just described, but is able to perform a rinse procedure that covers three successive treatments with liquid and / or inert gas.

This procedure usually consists of a first liquid treatment, a second liquid or gas treatment inert and a third inert gas treatment. Machine rinse aid, in this embodiment, remains essentially the same that the one described above and differs from it only by the presence of a third machine entrance accessory, in addition to 128 already available accessories. This third accessory allows the transport of said fluid, liquid or gas, through the tubes 120, 118, 116, 86 and even valves 90. The latter have a construction and operation similar to those already described; one of These valves are illustrated in Figure 12, simply by way of example and not for limiting purposes.

These valves have three accessories of admission of the type of the two accessories indicated with 134 in the Figure 12, one for each of the various fluids, but only two outlet accessories 98. The liquid, or both liquids if there is two, it actually passes through one of the two accessories 98 while the gas, or both gases if there are two, passes through the other accessory 98.

The operation of the valve with three intake and two outlet accessories as well as mounting the machine is essentially similar to the one described above and therefore, its description is omitted for the sake of brevity.

In practice, it has been proven that the machine Multiple treatment and automatic rinse, according to this invention, is especially advantageous, being very reliable. Further, it needs very few adjustments, which can be done in any case in a simple and fast way.

In addition, it should be mentioned that the machine constructed according to the present invention allows to realize a procedure for rinsing with liquids and gases that are maintained separated until injected into the container. This prevents mutual contamination of liquids and gases.

Claims (10)

1. Multiple treatment and automatic rinsing machine (11), comprising at least one oscillating support (12, 16) having a plurality of firmly fixed clamps (76), each capable of grasping a container, in which each one of said clamps (76) is located in front of a respective rinsing unit (86, 90, 104) fed by at least two fluids and is provided with at least one injector (106) capable of injecting, alternatively, one of said two fluids in said container, each rinsing unit (86, 90, 104) also comprising at least one disk-type distribution valve (90) capable of selecting one of at least two of said fluids, such that it is injected the fluid in the container controlling the initiation and completion of the fluid injection process, characterized in that said distribution valve (90) is connected to said injector (106) by at least one flexible tube (100), said injection being or (106) supported by at least one mobile carriage (104) that slides along at least one tube (86), such that said injector (106) can slide, while being controlled by at least one guide ( 112), from a rest position, which points downwards, to an operative position that points upwards and vice versa. 2. Rinsing machine (11) according to claim 1, characterized in that said oscillating support (12, 16) is constituted by at least one shaft (12) having a first end (12a), connected to at least one support (14 ) and a second end (12b), opposite said first end (12a), which is firmly attached to a plate (16) of said machine (11). 3. Rinsing machine (11) according to claim 1, characterized in that said distribution valve (90) is actuated by cams (94), said cams (94) being firmly fixed to said machine (11). 4. Rinsing machine (11) according to claim 3, characterized in that a plurality of said cams (94) are provided, such that a first cam, which is the first cam found by said distribution valve (90) after a corresponding clamp (76) has grasped a container, is mounted at the end of a pneumatic cylindrical (129), while at least three second cams are fixed on guides (96), said second cams being adjustable so that it varies the duration of the spray phases of said rinsing machine (11). 5. Rinsing machine (11) according to claim 1, characterized in that said disk-type distribution valve (90) has a plurality of ceramic discs. 6. Rinsing machine (11) according to claim 1, characterized in that said distribution valve (90) comprises a main body (132) closed by a cover (144) which is provided with at least one pin (168) acting as a stop for said valve (90), said main body (132) being provided with at least one intake fitting (134) that opens in an intake chamber (136a, 136b) inside the valve (90), comprising further said distribution valve (90) at least one outlet fitting (98) that opens in an outlet chamber (140, 142) inside the valve (90), said main body (132) being associated with at least a mobile disk (154) provided with modeled cameras (156, 158, 160), which are designed to alternatively connect at least one of said intake cameras (136a, 136b) to at least one of said cameras of outlet (140, 142), such that a fluid to be transported to said injector (106). A rinsing machine (11) according to claim 6, characterized in that said distribution valve (90) comprises at least one stationary disc (146) interposed between said main body (132) and said mobile disc (154), said stationary disc being (146) firmly fixed to the body (132) and presenting a first set of through holes (149) aligned with said intake chambers (136a, 136b) and a second set of through holes (150, 152) aligned with said exit chambers (140, 142) of said main body (132). A rinsing machine (11) according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one hole of said second set of through holes (152) comprises a first cylindrical part rotated to said main body (132) and a second part, which is rotated to the opposite side in relation to said main body (132) and extending in a radial direction to form a channel. A rinsing machine (11) according to claim 7, characterized in that said mobile disk (154) is provided with a plurality of blind channels forming said modeled chambers (156, 158, 160), said mobile disk (154) being capable of rotate to be able to cyclically communicate said modeled chambers (156, 158, 160) with said first and second sets of through holes (149, 150, 152) of said stationary disk (146). A rinsing machine (11) according to claim 6, characterized in that said movable disk (154) is attached to a terminal disk (162) that is fixed to the end of an axis (166) coming out from said cover (144) by a part that supports a control lever (92) to actuate said distribution valve (90).