Method and apparatus for cleaning containers

Abstract

Abstract A METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR CLEANING HOLLOW ARTICLES SUCH AS BOTTLES AS THEY ARE TAKEN FROM STORAGE AND FED INTO A FILLING LINE IN A BOTTLING PLANT. BOTTLES ARE TRANSFERRED IN INDIVIDUAL BOTTLE RECEIVING POCKETS FROM AN INFEED CONVEYOR THROUGH A RINSER TO A DISCHARGE CONVEYOR WHICH MAY BE AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL THAN THE INFEED CONVEYOR. THE POCKETS ARE ON AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR AND ARE CONSTRUCTED TO PERMIT LOADING AND UNLOADING OF THE POCKETS CONTINOUSLY WITHOUT ABUSING THE BOTTLES. THE BOTTLES ARE LOADED INTO THE POCKETS BY SYNCHRONIZED MERGING OF THE PATHS OF THE POCKETS AND BOTTLES ON THE INFEED CONVEYOR. THE POCKETS, WHILE MOVING WITH THE BOTTLES ARE LOWERED ONTO THE BOTTLES WHILE THE BOTTLES ARE UPRIGHT AND THEN PASS AROUND A DIRECTION CHANGING SPROCKET TO INVERT THE POCKETS TO SUPPORT THE BOTTLE''S MOUTH DOWNWARDLY WITH THE MOUTH EXPOSED TO AN UPWARDLY DIRECTED RINSING SPRAY. AFTER RINSING, THE POCKETS PASS AROUND ANOTHER SPROCKET, AFTER WHICH THE BOTTLES DROP FROM THE POCKETS ONTO A DISCHARGE CONVEYOR.

Inventors

• 👤 John R Duff
• 👤 Alfred S Decker

Bibliographic Details