Automatic washing and drying machine for ampoules

Claim 2

An ampul washing and drying machine comprising a magazine for filled ampuls or the like, means providing for advance of the ampuls one by one to a washing area, an ampul feed member extending through the washing area and also through a subsequent drying area, means providing said member with an up and down and advance and retract motion, means at both sides of the feed member providing a support for the ampuls as the feed member is lowered, the moving feed member raising the ampuls from the support and advancing the ampuls simultaneously in separated condition, means spraying the ampuls in the water wash area, compressed air drying the ampuls in the drying area, and an accumulator receiving the washed and dried ampuls, means rotating the ampuls as they are advanced, said last named means being substantially in constant contact with the ampuls.

Claim 3

The machine of claim 1 wherein the ampul-rotating means includes a holddown bar against which the ampuls are moved by the moving feed member for rotating the ampuls by contact with the holddown bar, and means to vertically reciprocate the holddown bar as the ampuls are lifted and lowered.

Claim 4

An ampul washing and drying machine comprising a magazine for filled ampuls or the like, means providing for advance of the ampuls one by one to a washing area, an elongated toothed member extending through the washing area and also through a subsequent drying area, means providing said toothed member with an up and down and advance and retreat motion, means at both sides of the toothed member providing a similarly toothed edge at each side thereof in fixed relationship with respect to the machine, the moving toothed member raising and advancing all of the ampuls in the machine simultaneously from notch to notch between the teeth of the fixed members and in separated condition, means spraying the ampuls in the water wash area, compressed air drying the ampuls in the drying area, and an accumulator receiving the washed and dried ampuls, a holddown bar against which the ampuls are moved by the moving toothed member for rotating the ampuls by contact with the holddown bar, and means to reciprocate the holddown bar in accordance with the motion of the ampuls under influence of the toothed member.

Claim 5

An ampul washing and drying machine comprising a magazine for filled ampuls or the like, means providing for advance of the ampuls one by one to a washing area, an elongated toothed member extending through the washing area and also through a subsequent drying area, means providing said toothed member with an up and down and advance and retreat motion, means at both sides of the toothed member providing a similarly toothed edge at each side thereof in fixed relationship with respect to the machine, the moving toothed member raising and advancing all of the ampuls in the machine simultaneously from notch to notch between the teeth of the fixed members and in separated condition, means spraying the ampuls in the water wash area, compressed air drying the ampuls in the drying area, and an accumulator receiving the washed and dried ampuls, a holddown bar against which the ampuls are moved by the moving toothed member for rotating the ampuls by contact with the holddown bar, and means to reciprocate the holddown bar in accordance with the motion of the ampuls under influence of the toothed member.