JPH048117B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a container cleaning device, and more specifically to a container that is configured to spray a cleaning agent from a cleaning nozzle into the inside of an inverted container to clean the container. Regarding cleaning equipment.

``Prior Art'' Conventionally, as a container washing device, a pair of sprockets are disposed vertically, an endless chain is horizontally stretched between the sprockets, and a container holder provided on the chain is used to hold a container in an upright position. A device is known in which a container is supplied and held. In this type of container washing device, the container held by the container holder is turned from an upright state to an inverted state by being conveyed around one sprocket, and the cleaning agent is poured into the container in the inverted state. After spraying and cleaning, the container is conveyed around the other sprocket, rotated in the normal direction to an upright position, and then transported out of the container washing device in the upright position (U.S. patent Specification No.
3481348, West German Patent Specification No. 1214564).

Further, as a container washing device having another configuration, one in which a pair of sprockets are arranged horizontally instead of vertically is known. In this type of container washing device, a container holder is rotatably attached to an endless chain that is stretched between the sprockets, and by rotating the container holder relative to the chain, the container held by it is brought into an upright position. (U.S. Patent No. 3,530,971), a container holder is attached to the endless chain that spans between the sprockets in an inverted state, and the container is mounted on the container holder. It is necessary to supply and discharge it in an inverted state (West German Patent Publication No. 3301525).

``Problems to be Solved by the Invention'' However, in the former container washing device in which a pair of sprockets are arranged vertically, the container is automatically reversed and rotated in the normal direction simply by transferring the chain around the sprocket. This has the advantage that no special mechanism is required for reversing and forward rotation of the container; however, if the sprocket is provided with a cleaning nozzle, it has the disadvantage that the cleaning time cannot be extended. .

In other words, when a cleaning nozzle is provided on the sprocket, the cleaning nozzle can be transferred in synchronization with the container holder, which eliminates waste of cleaning agent and allows efficient cleaning. When the sprocket is arranged vertically as in , only 1/4 of the range in the circumferential direction of the sprocket, and therefore the time for efficient cleaning was shortened.

On the other hand, in the latter type of container washing equipment in which a pair of sprockets are arranged horizontally, the chains are generally pulled out from opposite positions in the diametrical and horizontal directions of the sprockets, so it is not possible to The container in the state rotates around the sprocket over 1/2 of the circumferential range of the sprocket, so if the sprocket is provided with a cleaning nozzle, the former container cleaning device You can take longer washing time.

However, in the latter container washing device, it is necessary to rotatably attach a container holder to an endless chain and rotate the container holder with respect to the chain, or it is necessary to rotate the container holder in an inverted state attached to the chain. Since it is necessary to supply and discharge the container in an inverted state, a mechanism for this is required, which has the disadvantage that the overall structure of the apparatus becomes complicated.

"Means for Solving the Problems" The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and consists of attaching container holders for holding containers to an endless chain at predetermined intervals, and attaching the chain to the containers. An upright conveyance section in which a container held by a holder is conveyed in an upright state; an inversion section in which the chain is rotated vertically to invert the upright container to an inverted state; and a reversal section in which the container is conveyed in an inverted state. In a container washing device that is provided so as to be able to circulate through an inverted conveyance section and a normal rotation section in which the chain is vertically rotated to normally rotate an inverted container to an upright state, the chain is endless. In addition, a sprocket is arranged to be freely rotatable in a horizontal plane in the inverted conveyance section, and the universal chain is hung around the sprocket, and as the sprocket rotates, the container remains in an inverted state. A cleaning nozzle that can be conveyed around the sprocket, is further transferred to the sprocket in synchronization with the container holders, and sprays a cleaning agent into the inside of the inverted containers held by each container holder to wash the containers. It is designed to provide a.

``Function'' In this way, if the sprocket is provided to be rotatable in the horizontal plane in the above-mentioned inverted conveyance section and an endless universal chain is strung around the sprocket, the inverted container can be moved in the circumferential direction of the sprocket. In addition, since the container can be rotated and transferred over, for example, a half range, the cleaning time can be longer than in a container cleaning device in which the sprocket is disposed vertically.

In addition, since the chain for conveying the container is composed of a universal chain, it is possible to rotate the universal chain in the vertical direction to automatically reverse and rotate the container. No special mechanism is required for rotation.

"Example" The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated example.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a container washing device according to the present invention, in which an endless universal chain 3 equipped with a container holder 2 that holds a container 1 is connected to a container 1 held by the container holder 2. an upright conveyance section A in which the container 1 is conveyed in an upright state; an inversion zone B in which the chain 3 is rotated in the vertical direction to invert the upright container 1 into an inverted state; and an inverted conveyance section in which the container 1 is conveyed in an inverted state. It is provided so as to be able to travel in circulation over a conveyance section C and a normal rotation section D in which the chain 3 is further rotated in the vertical direction to normally rotate the container 1 from an inverted state to an upright state.

In addition, in FIG. 1, the triangular container holder 2
shows an upright state, and an inverted triangular container holder 2 shows an inverted state.

Containers 1 are brought in from the outside of the container washing device in a row in an upright state by a carry-in conveyor 4, and are fed into the container holder 2, which is conveyed through the upright conveyance section A, and held there, and are then reversed. After passing through section B, it is reversed and brought into an inverted conveyance section C.

This inverted conveyance section C is provided with a cleaning nozzle 5 that is operated in synchronization with the container holder 2.
A cleaning agent such as cleaning air or cleaning liquid is injected into the inside of the inverted container 1 from the cleaning nozzle 5, so that the inside of the inverted container 1 can be washed. A cleaning nozzle 6 for cleaning the outside of the container 1 may be provided at this position if necessary.

The inverted containers 1 carried into the above-mentioned inverted conveyance section C and washed by the washing nozzles 5 and 6 are then rotated in the normal direction in the forward rotation section D to an upright state, and are further carried out in one row in an upright state. The container is carried out by a conveyor 7 to the outside of the container washing device.

Next, to explain the specific configuration of the container washing device, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the container washing device rotates at fixed intervals above and below a vertical shaft 10 disposed in the vertical direction. Horizontal sprocket 1 that is freely supported and rotates in opposite directions
1 and 12, and vertical sprockets 14 and 15 which rotate in opposite directions and are rotatably supported at a fixed interval on the left and right sides of a horizontal shaft 13 disposed in the horizontal direction. The endless universal chain 3 is stretched between the sprockets 11, 12, 14, and 15.

As shown in FIG. 4, the endless universal chain 3 has a large number of connectors 18 connected in a line in an endless manner, and each connector 18 has a roughly semicircular protrusion 19 on one side. , a recess 20 into which the protrusion 19 of the connector 18 adjacent to the other side is fitted, and further a cylindrical connection member 21 is rotatably supported inside each approximately semicircular protrusion 19. ing.

The connecting member 21 has a connecting shaft 2 extending in its diameter direction.
2, and this connecting shaft 22 has an elongated hole 23 formed in the protrusion 19 in the circumferential direction thereof, and an adjacent connector 18 into which the protrusion 19 is fitted.
The connecting shaft 22 is fixed to the wall 24 by penetrating the recess thereof, and rollers 25 are rotatably supported at both ends of the connecting shaft 22.

Therefore, the connecting member 21 and the wall portion 24 are integrally connected to each other via the connecting shaft 22, and the connecting member 21 is connected to the protruding portion 19 within the range of the elongated hole 23 as shown in FIG. It can be rotated in a plane parallel to the page. In addition, the connecting shaft 22 and the wall portion 2
4 is rotatable about the axis of the connecting shaft 22 with respect to the connecting member 21 and the protrusion 19 .

In addition, each connector 18 constituting the endless universal chain 3 has a universal chain 3 connected to each sprocket 1, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
1, 12, 14, and 15, and a roller 28 is rotatably provided on the surface that is always on the inside when it is hung over the containers 1, 12, 14, and 15, and a container holder 2 for holding the container 1 is attached on the opposite surface that is always on the outside. There is. Each of these container holders 2 is constituted by a semi-cylindrical member with a cutout on the outside, and its lower end is narrowed to form an annular holder 2a for holding the periphery of the mouth of the inverter 1.

The rollers 25 provided at both ends of the connecting shaft 22 are
As can be understood from FIG. 5, it is designed to engage the teeth of horizontally arranged sprockets 11 and 12, respectively, and to be conveyed integrally with each sprocket 11 and 12. As shown in phantom lines, rollers 28 provided inside each connector 18 are adapted to engage vertically disposed sprockets 14 and 15. A guide rail 29 guides each roller 28 between the sprockets.
is provided so that the chain 3 can be conveyed on a predetermined linear trajectory between each sprocket.

However, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a timing screw 30 that is rotated in synchronization with the operation of the chain 3 is provided at the tip of the carry-in conveyor 4 as described above. The container 1 transported by the timing screw 3
0 allows it to be synchronized with the container holder 2 and to be inserted into the container holder 2.

The container 1 inserted into the container holder 2 is prevented from falling laterally from the container holder 2 by a side guide 31 whose outer surface is fixed to the machine frame. When the container 4 passes beyond the tip of the carry-in conveyor 4, the bottom of the container 4 is supported by a bottom guide 32 fixed to the machine frame and is prevented from falling off the container holder 2 in the axial direction.

The bottom guide 32 gradually raises the container 1 pushed into the container holder 2 by the timing screw 30 and moves the opening of the container 1 into the container holder 2.
It is formed so as to be close to the holding part 2a of the
Further, the bottom guide 32 is omitted in a section where there is no risk that the container holder 2 will be in an inverted state and the container 1 will fall from the container holder 2. On the other hand, the side guide 31 is provided over the entire area where the container 1 is transported by the container holder 2.

The bottom guide 32 is provided not only on the carry-in conveyor 4 side but also from the normal rotation section D to the carry-out conveyor 7. As the container 1 becomes upright and approaches the end of the conveyor 7, the container 1 that has been in contact with the annular holding part 2a of the container holder 2 is gradually lowered to a state where it can be discharged from the container holder 2. It is formed to allow Then, the container 2 guided by the bottom guide 32 and lowered from the container holder 2 to a state where it can be discharged is transferred from the container holder 2 onto the discharge conveyor 7 and carried out to the outside.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a rotating body 35 is provided at the lower part of the sprocket 12 located in the above-mentioned inverted conveyance section C, and this rotating body 35 rotates together with the sprocket 12. located at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the container holder 2, directly below the container holder 2 that is conveyed around the sprocket 12,
The above-mentioned cleaning nozzle 5 for spraying a cleaning agent into the interior of the inverted container 1 held by the container holder 2 is attached.

Each of the cleaning nozzles 5 is connected to a cleaning agent supply device through a rotary joint (not shown), and communicates with the cleaning agent supply device only when the cleaning nozzle 5 is positioned directly below the container holder 2. It is designed to spray detergent.

In the above configuration, the container 1 transported by the carry-in conveyor 4 is transferred to the timing screw 3.
The container 1 inserted into the container holder 2 is conveyed by the container holder 2 while being supported by the side guide 31 and the bottom guide 32. Ru. When the container holder 2 passes through the reversing section B and is inverted to an inverted state, and the mouth of the container 1 comes to be held by the annular holding part 2a of the container holder 2, the bottom guide 32 moves the container 1 The support is released, and the container 1 is transported while being supported by the side guides 31 in an inverted state.

When the inverted container 1 is transported around the sprocket 12 located in the inverted transport section C, the cleaning nozzle 5 provided at the bottom of the sprocket 12 is located directly below the container holder 2 and is integrated with it. At the same time, the cleaning nozzle 5 is communicated with the supply device, so that the cleaning agent from the supply device is injected from the cleaning nozzle 5 into the inside of the container 1, thereby cleaning the container 1.

When the container 1 is conveyed 1/2 rotation around the sprocket 12, washing is completed, and the container 1 that has been washed is
Next, by passing through the normal rotation section D, the container 1 is rotated in the normal direction to the original upright state, and the container 1 in the upright state is guided by the side guides 31 and the bottom guide 32 onto the carry-out conveyor 7. The container holder 2
and is carried out to the outside by the discharge conveyor 7.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the container 1 in an inverted state can be washed over the range of 1/2 rotation of the sprocket 12 disposed horizontally, the sprocket 12 disposed vertically can be cleaned. The cleaning time can be longer than that of conventional container cleaning equipment. In addition, the chain for conveying the container 1 is composed of the universal chain 2 and has four sprockets 11, 12, 14, 15 arranged as described above.
Since the universal chain 3 is hung in an endless manner through the sprockets 14 and 15, it is possible to rotate the container 1 in the vertical direction and automatically reverse and rotate the container 1 in the normal direction. There is no need for a special mechanism for this purpose, which simplifies the configuration.

Next, FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the present invention in which the container holder 40 has a different configuration. The container holder 40 of this embodiment grips the mouth of the container 1. It consists of a clipper mechanism. If the container holder 40 is of a gripper type, the side guide 31 and bottom guide 32 can be omitted.

The container holder 40 is a universal chain 3
A bracket 41 is attached to each connector 18 of the bracket 41, and a pair of gripping arms 43 and 44 are rotatably attached to a shaft 42 provided on the bracket 41. The bracket 41 is secured by pin 45.
It is fixed at Then, a spring 46 is elastically loaded on the base side of the pair of gripping arms 43, 44 to expand the base side of the gripping arms 43, 44, so that normally both tips of the gripping arms 43, 44 can hold the container. The mouth part of 1 can be grasped.

A cam follower 47 is attached to the base of one of the gripping arms 44 which is rotatable with respect to the bracket 41, and by engaging the cam follower 47 with a fixed cam 48 fixed to the machine frame, the pair of gripping arms 43, 44 to the above spring 46
In this state, the opening of the container 1 can be inserted between the tips of the gripping arms 43 and 44, or the container 1 can be discharged.

Furthermore, an annular holding member 49 for holding the mouth of the container 1 is attached to the bracket 41, and when the container 1 is turned upside down using the container holder 40,
The outer periphery of the opening of the container 1 can be supported. Since such an annular holding member 49 is provided, an appropriate guide member (not shown) is provided particularly at the container feeding position to the container holder 40, and the container 1 is slightly raised and the opening of the container is can be positioned within the annular holding member 49.

Even if the container holder 40 with such a configuration is used,
It is clear that the same effects as in the embodiments described above can be obtained.

Furthermore, FIG. 8 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, in which the upper sprocket 12a provided with the cleaning nozzle is arranged at an angle. . That is, in the present invention, arranging the sprocket provided with the cleaning nozzle in a horizontal plane does not mean that the sprocket must be located in a completely horizontal plane, but rather the container is substantially inverted.
In other words, the range of inclination of the sprocket is such that the cleaning agent sprayed into the container can be easily discharged by gravity.

Similarly, when rotating the chain vertically to rotate the container between an upright state and an inverted state, it is not necessary to rotate the chain completely within the vertical plane;
Even if the container is slightly tilted from the perfect vertical direction, it is only necessary that the container can be rotated between a substantially upright state and an inverted state.

Further, FIGS. 9 to 11 respectively show other embodiments of the present invention, and while the above-mentioned embodiments each provided a cleaning nozzle 5 on one sprocket 12, 12a, In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the two upper sprockets 12b are provided with washing nozzles, and in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the three upper sprockets 12c and 12d are provided with washing nozzles. By providing cleaning nozzles on a plurality of sprockets in this way, the overall cleaning time can be lengthened, and the type of cleaning agent can be changed for each sprocket as needed.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show an embodiment in which the container holder has a different configuration, and the container holder 50 of this embodiment is the same as the container holder 40 of FIGS. 6 and 7.
Similarly, it is composed of a gripper mechanism that grips the mouth of the container 1, but the container 1 is attached to the universal chain 3 like the two container holders 2 and 40 described above.
Rather than being held in a direction parallel to the connecting axis 22 of the , it is being held in a direction perpendicular thereto.

That is, in each connector 18 of the universal chain 3, a bearing portion 51 that bulges out on the side opposite to the roller 28 is integrally formed on the wall portions 24 on both sides through which the connecting shaft 22 passes. , a shaft 52 is slidably attached to each bearing portion 51 parallel to the connecting shaft 22. A semicircular gripping member 53 is attached to one end of each shaft 52 so as to face each other, and a spring 54 is elastically loaded between each gripping member 53 and the wall 24 to bring both gripping members 53 close to each other. By applying force in this direction, the opening of the container 1 can be gripped between both gripping members 53.

Then, the container 1 gripped by both the gripping members 53
In order to make it possible to inject the cleaning agent into the interior of the container, a through hole 55 is formed in the connector 18 on the same axis as the container 1, and the roller 28 is positioned at a position avoiding the through hole 55. It is attached to the connector 18.

Further, a cam follower 5 is provided at the other end of each shaft 52.
By engaging each cam follower 56 with a fixed cam 57 provided at the supply position and the discharge position of the container, the pair of gripping members 53 are expanded against the spring 54, and the holding members 53 are expanded against the spring 54. In this state, the opening of the container 1 can be inserted between the gripping members 53 or can be discharged.

Further, each gripping member 53 is integrally formed with an annular support portion 53a that supports the mouth of the container 1, so that when the container is held upside down by both gripping members 53,
The mouth of the container 1 can be supported by the annular support portion 53a.

The universal chain 3 equipped with the container holder 50 configured as described above differs from the universal chain 3 equipped with the other container holders 2 and 40 in that the roller 28 provided on the connector 18 is attached to the horizontal sprocket 1.
1 and 12, and the rollers 25 provided at both ends of the connecting shaft 22 engage with the vertical sprockets 14 and 15. Also in this universal chain 3, as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 11, it is clear that the sprocket can be hung endlessly over a plurality of sprockets.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the roller 28 of the universal chain 3 engages with the sprocket 12 located above in the horizontal direction, the cleaning nozzle 5 directly attached to the sprocket 12 connects the connector 1.
8, the cleaning agent sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 5 can be supplied into the container 1 through the through hole 55 to clean the inside of the container 1.

As shown in FIG. 15, the cleaning nozzle 5 may be provided on the above-mentioned rotating body 35, which is provided integrally with the lower part of the sprocket 12, and may be indirectly attached to the sprocket 12. In this case, it is necessary to form a notch 12a or a through hole (not shown) in the teeth of the sprocket 12 to allow the flow of the cleaning agent sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 5.

Furthermore, in the universal chain 3 equipped with the container holder 50 having the above configuration, as shown in FIG.
from the sprocket 12f disposed in a horizontal plane and rotating in the opposite direction;
Sprocket 12f is disposed in the horizontal plane from f.
Since it is possible to sequentially span the sprockets 12g rotating in the opposite direction, the three upper sprockets 12e to 12f can be placed close to each other, and the entire device can be made smaller. It becomes possible to do so.

In addition, in each of the above embodiments, sprocket 1
The cleaning nozzles 5 provided at 2, 12a to 12g can be moved up and down, and their tips can be inserted into the container 1. Furthermore, it is of course possible to provide cleaning nozzles in parts other than the sprockets 12, 12a to 12g, if necessary.
For parts other than ~12g, it is also possible to provide an arcuate guide rail to circulate and transport the universal chain 3.

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, according to the present invention, there is no need for a special configuration for inverting and forward rotating the container, so the configuration of the device is simple and it can be manufactured at low cost. The effect is that the cleaning time can be extended compared to conventional devices that do not require special configurations for inverting and forward rotating such containers.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a side view showing the specific configuration of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a part of the universal chain 3, and FIG. −
6 is a sectional view showing a container holder 40 in another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the main part of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the main parts of FIG. 5
Schematic configuration diagram showing a modification of the embodiment shown in the figure, No. 9
11 are schematic configuration diagrams showing other embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a container holder 50 in another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a sectional view taken along the - line in Figure 12.
4 is a plan view of the main part showing the relationship between the through hole 55 provided in the universal chain 3 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 and the cleaning nozzle 5 provided in the sprocket 12, and FIG. 15 is a modification of FIG. 14. A plan view showing an example,
FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram showing still another embodiment of the present invention. 1... Container, 4... Loading conveyor, 2,40,
50... Container holder, 5... Washing nozzle, 3...
Universal chain, 7... Unloading conveyor, 1
1, 12, 12a to 12g, 14, 15... Sprocket, A... Upright conveyance section, B... Inverted section, C... Inverted conveyance section, D... Normal rotation section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Container holders for holding containers are attached to an endless chain at predetermined intervals, and the chain is used as an upright conveyance section for conveying containers held by the container holders in an upright state. , an inversion section in which the chain is rotated vertically to invert the upright container to an inverted state; an inverted conveyance section in which the container is transported in an inverted state; In the container washing device, which is provided so as to be able to circulate through a normal rotation section in which containers are rotated normally to an upright state, the chain is constituted by an endless universal chain, and in the above-mentioned inverted conveyance section, a sprocket is moved in a horizontal plane. The universal chain is rotatably arranged around the sprocket, and as the sprocket rotates, the container can be conveyed in an inverted state around the sprocket, and the container holder is attached to the sprocket. 1. A container washing device characterized by being provided with a washing nozzle that injects a washing agent into the interior of an inverted container held by each container holder and washes the container.