FR3089829A1 - Jar cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning pots (1) before they are filled, in particular with a food product, said device comprising a means for feeding said pots (1) in a first horizontal direction (H1), a projection means ( 3) compressed air, an ionization means (4), an air suction means (5), and at least one means for holding (6) said pots (1) against their movement towards said means air suction (5), said at least one holding means (6) comprising two rails (7) parallel to said first horizontal direction (H1), characterized in that said at least one holding means (6 ) further comprises means for vertical translation (8) of said rails (7) relative to the rest of the cleaning device. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a device according to the invention. Figure of the abstract: Figure n ° 1

Description

Description

Title of the invention: Device for cleaning pots

The present invention is in the field of cleaning facilities for pots before filling.

The individual pots of yogurt, mousse, custard or the like are filled in continuous filling lines. The pots can be made upstream of the line, just before filling, or, as is more and more the case, can be made on another line, then introduced at the entry of the filling line. The market demands smaller and smaller series and more and more diversified container sizes.

Before filling, the pots must be cleaned to remove any dust, in particular plastic, any residue from wood, hair, insects, pollen, etc.

It is known to carry out this cleaning by a cleaning device comprising a jet of compressed air directed towards the inside of the pots, and a suction making it possible to evacuate the air with the dirt evacuated from the pots. An ionization device makes it possible to ionize part of the air, to cause detachment of dust, and thus to improve the quality of cleaning.

The pots are placed horizontally on a feed belt, in plates having housings capable of holding them in place horizontally; the air jet comes from the top to enter the pots as they pass through the device, and the suction is done upwards. Under the effect of suction, the pots tend to rise from their housing. To prevent this, a holding device has been introduced, generally comprising two fixed rails placed above the pots, and against which the pots stick under the effect of suction. The rails must be arranged very close to the top of the pots, to limit the separation of the pots so that the housings continue to ensure their horizontal maintenance, and must have a spacing adapted to the width of the pots.

These rails have a very precise position vertically and horizontally, and are specifically adapted to a jar format.

When you want to change the pot size, you have to change the complete cleaning device, or at least the holding device. It takes time and comes at a cost.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device which is easy to adapt to several pot formats, different both in height and in width.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device which is easy to adapt to a different jar format, and which improves, or at least does not deteriorate, the quality of cleaning.

The present invention aims to respond at least in part to the above objects by providing a cleaning device with a holding device comprising movable rails in vertical translation of said rails relative to the rest of the cleaning device. To this end, it provides a device for cleaning pots before they are filled, in particular with a food product, said device comprising means for supplying said pots in a first horizontal direction, means for projecting compressed air, means for ionization, an air suction means, and at least one means for holding said pots against their movement towards said air suction means, said at least one holding means comprising two rails parallel to said first horizontal direction, characterized in that said at least one holding means further comprises means for vertical translation of said rails relative to the rest of the cleaning device.

Thanks to these provisions, it is possible to adapt the device very quickly to pots, for example of different height.

According to other characteristics:

the vertical translation means can comprise at least one jack, and the two rails are fixed to the lower end of said at least one jack, which is a simple and effective embodiment of the invention,

- the two rails can be connected at their ends, so as to form a closed loop, which improves the maintenance of the rails,

- The section of each of the two rails can be rounded, which allows minimal disruption of the circulation of ions, and thus better cleaning efficiency; this technical effect, which one benefits independently of whether the rails are arranged in a loop or not, is all the more advantageous when the rails are arranged in a loop, because in this case the ions are more disturbed by the addition of elements at the end of the rails,

- each of the two rails can be in the form of a wire of circular section, which is a simple and effective embodiment of the invention, - at least one of the two rails can be movable in horizontal translation relative to the other, so as to be able to adjust their spacing, and thus to easily adjust the device for cleaning pots of different dimensions, in particular of different width,

- Said cleaning device can comprise a carriage movable in horizontal translation in a direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, on which is fixed at least said holding means, which allows that the holding means can in turn be used to maintain different lines of parallel pots,

- Said cleaning device can comprise at least a second holding means, provided with two rails and a means of vertical translation, said second holding means being configured to go up or down independently of the first holding means, which makes it possible to '' use the device to clean pots of different dimensions, activating in turn different holding means depending on the type of pot to be cleaned.

The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a device according to the invention, in which said rails are made from a wire of circular section, preferably of stainless steel.

Thanks to these provisions, the device according to the invention can be manufactured in a simple manner and easily adaptable to any format.

According to other characteristics:

- The method according to the invention may include steps of cutting to length of said wire, folding, then connection end to end, for example by welding, which constitutes a simple and effective embodiment of the invention.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended figures in which:

[Fig.l] is a perspective view of a pot cleaning device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[Fig.2] is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1.

The device according to the invention makes it possible to clean pots 1 intended to be filled, for example with a food product such as yogurt, mousse, custard or the like.

The device according to the invention, a preferred embodiment of which is shown in fig. 1 and 2, comprises a means for bringing the pots 1 in a first horizontal direction Hl, making it possible to move the pots 1 to the zone in which they will be cleaned. The feeding means can be for example a conveyor belt, or a chain carrying plates 2 in which the pots 1 have been placed.

The device according to the invention further comprises a means 3 for spraying compressed air, constituted for example by one or more nozzles 3, capable of sending a stream of compressed air into the pot 1 to be cleaned. It also includes an ionization means 4, comprising one or more tips electrically connected to an electrical outlet so that a voltage can be applied to said tip. It also includes a means for extracting air 5, such as a hood 5, for example with a casing covering the entire device, to allow air to be collected. The device further comprises a holding means 6, so that the pots 1 are held in place when the air suction means 5 are activated.

The holding means 6 comprises two rails 7 arranged parallel to the first horizontal direction Hl. When the air suction means 5 is activated, the pots 1 tend to rise from the supply means. They then come to be pressed under the two rails 7, which prevent them from lifting further by holding them vertically in position. The presence of the two rails 7, the spacing of which is chosen as a function of the dimensions of the pots 1, thus allows effective maintenance of the pots 1 while providing access to the interior of the pots 1 so that air can be there. projected by the projection means 3, that ions produced by the ionization means 4 can enter it, and that air can be sucked in by the suction means 5.

The distance in the horizontal direction Hl over which the rails 7 can for example correspond to the section of an industrial line in which the pots 1 are under the effect of the air suction means 5 .

The holding means 6 comprises a vertical translation means 8. The vertical translation means 8 makes it possible to modify the height of the rails 7. The height of the rails 7 must be modified according to the size of the pots 1, to allow maintenance sufficiently close to the initial position of the pots 1, so that they are always held horizontally by the plate 2, and so that they are in position to be reached by the projection 3 and ionization means 4. It is thus possible cleaning pots 1 of different dimensions with a single device, by means of a simple vertical translation operation of the rails 7. The vertical translation means 8 can for example comprise two vertical cylinders, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 1.

The vertical translation means 8 must be understood as vertical translation means relative to the cleaning device. Indeed, there is usually a means of vertical translation of the entire cleaning device, allowing it to be lifted, for example, for maintenance or for changing tools. The vertical translation means 8 is a vertical translation means of the rails 7 relative to the rest of the cleaning device, that is to say while the rest of the device, and in particular the casing of the suction device 5, remains stationary.

In the devices of the prior art, the rails 7 are fixed by their ends to the casing of the suction device 5. In the device according to the invention, this is not possible because they must be movable in vertical translation relative to the rest of the cleaning device, and in particular relative to this casing.

The rails 7 can be fixed to the lower end of the cylinders 8, for example by means of a lug 9. One can imagine a single cylinder 8, at the lower end of which the two rails 7 are fixed. The two rails 7 then appear cantilevered on each side of the jack.

In the case shown in FIG. 1, the rails 7 extend between two jacks 8, and beyond each jack 8 cantilevered. To reduce the drawbacks of the overhang, and reinforce their rigidity, they can then be connected at their ends, thus forming a closed loop. It is also possible to provide, or not, a part inclined upwards at each end of the rails 7, to facilitate the arrival of the pots 1 and their taking under the rails 7.

This introduces a more complex shape, and in particular two segments perpendicular to the direction Hl.

In the context of the present invention, it will be considered that the two rails 7 are parallel to the direction Hl because their active parts are. It will be considered that this characteristic is not faulted by the fact that a segment perpendicular to the direction Hl is added thereto, nor by the addition of a part inclined upwards at the ends of the rails 7.

The first tests with such rails 7 revealed a quality of cleaning lower than that obtained with the devices of the prior art.

According to the invention, and as illustrated in fig. 1 and 2, the rails 7 can have a rounded section. This rounded shape allows the holding means 6 to have minimal interference with the ions produced by the ionization means 4 and used to improve the cleaning of the pots 1. And in fact this arrangement has made it possible to improve the quality of the cleaning.

The rails 7 may have the shape of a wire of circular section, and for example be produced from a wire of circular section, typically of stainless steel, cut to the desired size then if necessary folded and connected end to end, to obtain the rails 7. This production method has the advantage of being simple. The choice of a rail 7 of circular section also makes it possible to improve the moment of inertia of the rail 7 for a given weight, compared to a rectangular or square rail for example. However, the rails generally extend beyond the two cantilever cylinders 8 (see fig. 1); a greater moment of inertia and / or a lower weight therefore has a definite advantage.

The characteristics of giving a section of rounded shape to the rails 7, of giving them a shape of circular section, and / or of making them made of stainless steel may of course apply or not to the various embodiments which are described below.

One of the rails 7 can be movable in horizontal translation relative to the other rail 7, in the direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction HL The spacing of the rails 7 can thus be adjusted and adapted to the dimensions of the pots 1 that l 'We want to clean with the device according to the invention. A greater variety of pots 1 can thus be cleaned with a single device, a simple adjustment of the spacing of the rails 7 making it possible to adapt to pots 1 of different dimensions.

Alternatively or in addition, one can provide at least a second means of vertical translation, configured to raise or lower a second pair of rails 7. It is thus possible to retract a pair of rails 7 by causing it to rise, and put in place another pair of rails 7 by lowering it, the other pair of rails 7 having for example a different spacing, the pair of rails 7 at the smallest spacing passing inside the rails 7 to the greater spacing when crossing one up, the other down.

The cleaning device may also include a carriage movable in horizontal translation, preferably in the direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction Hl. A single cleaning device is thus capable of cleaning, and in particular maintaining, in turn several lines of pots 1 parallel. This also makes it possible to set up several cleaning devices, and one or the other can then be made active according to the needs of production by a simple translation of the mobile carriage. As an alternative, the holding means 6 can be made movable in the direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction H1, leaving the other means of the cleaning device fixed. A person skilled in the art is fully capable of making the appropriate choices for implementing such provisions.

During their cleaning, the pots 1 are usually grouped together and held horizontally by the plates 2. Depending on the size of the pots 1, one can for example have one, two, or four on a plate 2 of standard size. Thanks to the invention, it is possible to integrate several holding means 6 different, and / or movable vertically, and / or with variable spacing, thus adapted to different dimensions of pots 1, in a single cleaning device, and thus use the same cleaning device for a wide variety of pots.

For example, in a row of pots 1, one can clean a first batch of pots 1 with a first cleaning device, with a suitable holding means 6. Then when a second batch of pots 1 must be treated in production in the cleaning zone, the first cleaning device is moved by its mobile carriage in horizontal translation so that it becomes inactive, then a second cleaning device is brought thanks to its cart, to clean the pots 1 of the second group. The production of the second batch can thus be done very quickly.

It is thus possible, thanks to the possible presence of the vertical translation means 8, the possibility if necessary to adjust the spacing between the rails 7, and the possible presence of carriages movable in horizontal translation that can move the cleaning devices, to obtain a flexible cleaning device, and easily usable with a wide variety of jars 1.

Although the above description is based on particular embodiments, it is in no way limitative of the scope of the invention, and modifications can be made, in particular by substitution of technical equivalents or by combination different from all or part of the characteristics developed above.

Claims (1)

Claims [Claim 1] Device for cleaning pots (1) before they are filled, in particular with a food product, said device comprising means for supplying said pots (1) in a first horizontal direction (Hl), means for projecting (3) air compressed, ionization means (4), air suction means (5), and at least means (6) for holding said pots (1) against their movement towards said suction means (5 ) air, said at least one holding means (6) comprising two rails (7) parallel to said first horizontal direction (Hl), characterized in that said at least one holding means (6) further comprises a means for vertical translation (8) of said rails (7) relative to the rest of the cleaning device. [Claim 2] Cleaning device according to the preceding claim, wherein the vertical translation means (8) comprises at least one cylinder, and the two rails (7) are fixed to the lower end of said at least one cylinder. [Claim 3] Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the two rails (7) are connected at their ends, so as to form a closed loop. [Claim 4] Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the section of each of the two rails (7) is rounded. [Claim 5] Cleaning device according to the preceding claim, wherein each of the two rails (7) is in the form of a wire of circular section. [Claim 6] Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one of the two rails (7) is movable in horizontal translation relative to the other, so as to be able to adjust their spacing. [Claim 7] Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a carriage movable in horizontal translation in a direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, on which is fixed at least said holding means (6). [Claim 8] Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least a second holding means (6), provided with two rails (7) and with a vertical translation means (8), said second holding means being configured for go up or down independently of the first holding means (6). [Claim 9] Method of manufacturing a device according to one of the preceding claims, in which said rails (7) are produced from a wire of circular section, preferably made of stainless steel. [Claim 10] Manufacturing process according to the preceding claim, comprising steps of cutting to length of said wire, folding, then connection end to end, for example by welding.