Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
  • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
  • B67C3/001—Cleaning of filling devices
  • B67C3/002—Cleaning of filling devices using cups or dummies to be placed under the filling heads
  • B67C3/004—Cleaning of filling devices using cups or dummies to be placed under the filling heads permanently attached to the filling machine and movable between a rest and a working position

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a cleaning arrangement and its method of use.
• the present invention relates to a cleaning arrangement and its method of use for the cleaning-in-place (CIP) of level filling machines, thereby obviating the need to dismantle parts of the equipment.
• CIP cleaning-in-place
• Such externally mounted manifold is a hindrance in that it blocks a clear view of the filling machine - at least on the side of the external pillar.
• the external manifold can be dangerous as an operator can bump against it inadvertently and injure himself while inspecting the filling machine.
• the cleaning operation described in US 8,002,900 is time consuming and may not operate effectively.
• the manifold does not extend fully around the filling machine and does not clean all of the valves simultaneously. In the illustrated example only half the valves are cleaned per cleaning cycle and thus at least two cleaning cycles are needed to fully clean the filling machine.
• the cleaning cycle may result in some contaminated product settling in the valves leading to ineffective cleaning of the machine, for example, if a valve is cleaned during a first cleaning cycle, then during the second cleaning cycle some contaminated product can be flushed out of another valve and the product may settle in the first valve instead of being flushed out of the machine. It may be possible to overcome that problem by increasing the extent of the manifold so that it cleans all the valves simultaneously, but that would also result in a much larger external manifold, which would increase the physical dangers described above.
• a cleaning arrangement for cleaning a level filling machine that has a number of circumferentially spaced filling valves, includes
• a manifold being adapted to be located within the confines of the filling machine; a number of cleaning tubes rotatably supported by the manifold, wherein the cleaning tubes and filling valves are equal in number and associated into pairs;
• rotation means being adapted to rotate the cleaning tubes between a storage position, wherein the cleaning tubes are spaced apart from the filling valves, and an operative position, wherein the cleaning tubes are adapted to be in sealed flow communication with their respective filling valves;
• connection means being adapted to connect the manifold to a flushing means for flushing a cleaning fluid through the filling machine to simultaneously clean each of the filling valves.
• the cleaning tubes may be located internally within a circumference of the filling valves when rotated into the storage position.
• the manifold may be ring-shaped being adapted to surround a central pillar of the filling machine.
• the manifold may be separated into an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold, each of the inlet and outlet manifolds being arc shaped and adapted to be located between a central pillar and a lifter table of the machine.
• the cleaning tubes may be S-shaped.
• Each cleaning tube may have a funnel opening at its terminal end remote from the manifold, wherein the funnel opening is adapted to engage with a filling valve.
• the rotation means may include a tube gear provided on each of the cleaning tubes and a common central ring gear operatively engaging each of the tube gears concurrently.
• the rotation means may have a rotation limiting arrangement being adapted to restrict the degree of permitted rotation.
• the connection means may include at least one pipe extending from the manifold(s) wherein the pipe extends to the periphery of the filling machine, the pipe being adapted to be joined to a pump for pumping the cleaning fluid.
• the cleaning arrangement may include a docking station for automated connection and disconnection of the flushing means to and from the manifold.
• the docking station may be pneumatically operated.
• a method of cleaning a level filling machine that has a number of circumferentially spaced filling valves includes the steps of
• the method may include the step of rotating the cleaning tubes relative to the manifold between their storage and operative positions.
• the rotation may occur simultaneously in all of the cleaning tubes.
• the method may include the step of raising the filling valves away from the manifold to permit positioning the cleaning tubes into the operative position.
• the method may include the step of lowering the filing valves towards the cleaning tubes so that they engage and are in flow communication with each other.
• the method may include the step of providing two manifolds, wherein the first manifold is an inlet manifold being adapted to disperse cleaning fluid to flow from the manifold through the cleaning tubes into the filling valves and then into the filling machine, and wherein the second manifold is an outlet manifold being adapted to receive cleaning fluid from the filling machine through the filling valves and cleaning tubes into the manifold and for recycling the cleaning fluid via a pump to the inlet manifold.
• The may include the step of providing half of the cleaning tubes on the inlet manifold and half of the cleaning tubes on the outlet manifold.
• the method may include the step of selectively reversing the direction of flow of the cleaning fluid.
• the invention extends to a level filling machine provided with a cleaning arrangement as described herein or operated according to a method as described herein.
• Figure 1 A perspective view of a partial assembly of a level filling machine being provided with a cleaning arrangement according to the invention
• Figure 2 A perspective view of the level filling equipment of Figure 1 showing the cleaning arrangement in a storage position;
• Figure 3 A perspective view of the level filling equipment of Figure 1 showing the cleaning arrangement in an operative position
• Figure 4 A perspective view of cleaning arrangement shown in Figure 3;
• Figure 5 A perspective view of cleaning arrangement shown in Figure 4 having its central ring gear removed for greater clarity;
• Figure 6 A partial perspective view of further embodiment of cleaning arrangement. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
• a level filling machine in the form of a rotary filler is shown located on a table 12.
• the filling machine 10 includes a supply tank 14 supported by a central pillar 16 above the table 12. Numerous filling stations surround the pillar 16 with each filling station having a dispensing valve 18 located above a lifter table or platform 20.
• the dispensing valves 18 are located in an annular arrangement beneath the supply tank 14 and are in flow communication therewith to enable product in the supply tank 14 to dispensed through the valves 18.
• Each valve 18 has a nozzle 22 at its terminal end remote from the supply tank 14.
• the nozzle 22 is provided with a flexible bellows 24 being adapted to be compressed to open the valve 18.
• Each platform 20 is mounted on a column 21, which has a wheel 26 at its base that runs on a cam 28, thereby to cause vertical movement so that the platform 20 is raised towards and lowered away from its associated valve 18.
• the pillar 16 operates as a drive axle and causes rotation of the filling machine 10 around the pillar 16.
• bottles are moved onto the platforms 20, which are then raised by the cam 28, due to the rotation of the filling machine 10 on pillar 16, towards the valves 18 so that the bottle spouts press against the nozzles 20 to open the valves 18 to allow dispensing of product from the supply tank 14 into the bottles.
• a cleaning arrangement in accordance with the invention is annularly provided around the pillar 16 and substantially located within the confines of the ring formed by the adjacent platforms 20.
• the cleaning arrangement 30 includes two semi-circular manifolds 32,34 being annularly arranged to form a ring around the pillar 16 and being located between the pillar 16 and the platforms 20.
• the manifolds 32,34 each respectively have an inlet / outlet pipe 36,38 extending outwardly beneath the platforms 20 to the periphery of the filling machine 10.
• Each manifold 32,34 further has a number of cleaning tubes 40 extending upwardly from its upper side, wherein the cleaning tubes 40 are in flow communication with their respective manifolds 32,34.
• each valve 18 is associated with a specific a cleaning tube 40.
• Half of the cleaning tubes 40 are provided on the manifold 32 and the remaining other half of the cleaning tubes 40 are provided on the manifold 34.
• Each of the cleaning tubes 40 has a funnel opening 42 at its terminal end remote from the manifold 32,34.
• An outer annular tube gear 44 is provided on each of the tubes 40 and which surrounds the tubes 40 in the vicinity of their end that is joined to the manifold 32,34.
• a ring gear 46 is centrally provided around the pillar 16 and operatively engages with each of the tube gears 44 concurrently.
• a curved slot 48 which extends through an arc of about 90° is provided in the ring gear 46 so that it is concentric with the pillar 16, which slot 48 receives a post 50 extends through it to restrict rotational movement of the ring gear 46 around the pillar 16.
• the cleaning tubes 40 are curved in an S-shape and are mounted to be rotatable on the manifolds 32,34. As such, rotation of the ring gear 46 causes each of the cleaning tubes 40 to be simultaneously rotated relative to the manifolds 32,34. This rotation enables the cleaning tubes 40 to be rotated between a storage position (as shown in Figure 2), wherein the funnel openings 42 are located substantially above the manifolds 32,34, and an operative position (as shown in Figure 3), wherein the funnel openings 42 are located beneath and aligned with their respective valves 18.
• a storage position as shown in Figure 2
• an operative position as shown in Figure 3
• the pitch between the funnel openings 42 will be the same as the pitch of the valves 18 of the filling machine 10.
• the movement of the ring gear 46 can be actuated by a motor 52 (shown in Figure 5) or by pneumatic or hydraulic means (shown in Figure 6).
• the supply tank 14 is adapted and able to be raised and lowered on pillar 16 relative to the cleaning tubes 40. This vertical movement can either be achieved by the supply tank 14 moving or sliding longitudinally downwardly along the pillar 16 or by having the supply tank 14 joined to the pillar 16 and raising or lowering the pillar 16, e.g. by having the pillar 16 being telescopic.
• the cleaning tubes 40 are rotated into their storage position so that bottles can be located unencumbered on the platforms 20 beneath the valves 18.
• the rotation of the filling machine 10 causes the platforms 20 to be raised by cam 28 so that the bottle spouts press against the nozzles 22 to open the valves 18 thereby permitting dispensing of product from the supply tank 14 into the bottles as the filling machine 10 is rotated.
• the platforms 20 are lowered to allow the bottles to be removed for further processing.
• the filing machine 10 is to be cleaned, all the bottles are removed from the platforms 20 and any remaining product is drained from the supply tank 14 and the valves 18.
• the supply tank 14 is initially raised slightly on pillar 16 to provide sufficient clearance beneath the valves 18 for the cleaning tubes 40 to be rotated into their operative position.
• Motor 52 is activated to rotate ring gear 46 through about 90° and to thereby rotate the cleaning tubes 40 outwardly by about 90° so that their funnel openings 42 are aligned with and located beneath the valves 18.
• the supply tank 14 is then lowered so that the valves 18 come into contact with the cleaning tubes 40 and the nozzles 22 extend into the funnel openings 42.
• the edge of the funnel openings 42 presses against the nozzle 22 to overcome the bias of the bellows 24 to open the valve 18.
• the funnel openings 42 thus seal against the valves 18 to cause the valves 18 and supply tank 14 to be in sealed flow communication with the cleaning tubes 40 and manifolds 32,34.
• a cleaning pump is attached between the inlet/outlet pipes 36,38 and cleaning fluid is pumped into the filling machine 10 to fill the pipes 36,38, the manifolds 32,34, the cleaning tubes 40, the valves 18 and the supply tank 14.
• the cleaning pump is then operated to flush the filling machine 10 with the cleaning fluid for as long as necessary.
• the cleaning fluid is first flushed in one direction, e.g. with the cleaning fluid entering the pipe 36 and exiting the pipe 38, whereafter the direction is reversed so that the cleaning fluid enters the pipe 38 and exits the pipe 36, thereby to achieve thorough cleaning. Once cleaning is finished, the cleaning fluid is drained from the filling machine 10 and the cleaning pump disconnected from the pipes 36,38.
• the supply tank 14 is then raised on pillar 16 to disengage the valves 18 from the funnel openings 42 to allow activation of the ring gear 46 for rotation of the cleaning tubes 40 into their storage position.
• the supply tank 14 is subsequently lowered into its normal operating position to be ready for a next filling operation.
• the operation of the cleaning cycle can be fully automated without any operator interference. Normally the operator will only be required to connect the cleaning pump to the pipes 36,38, but even this step can be automated if needed. Due to the manifolds 32,34 and cleaning tubes 40 being located within the confines of the platforms 20 when rotated into the storage position, there is maximum use made of the available space in the filling machine 10. This allows for a compact machine that does not have any projections outside thereof that may hinder effective operation of the machine or cause a danger.
• a further envisaged embodiment of the invention is to provide a single manifold and to connect the cleaning pump between the manifold and the supply tank. In such embodiment the cleaning fluid will be flushed from the manifold through the valves and will be recycled from the supply tank to the manifold, or vice versa.
• FIG 6 there is shown a further embodiment of a cleaning arrangement 54, which is substantially similar to the cleaning arrangement 30 except for the movement of the ring gear 46 being performed by pneumatic means and therefore has an air inlet pipe 56 operatively joined to the ring gear 46 (the arrangement 54 also includes more cleaning tubes 40).
• the cleaning arrangement 54 further has a connection arrangement in the form of a docking station 58 being fixedly mounted on the table 12.
• the docking station 58 has a U-shaped support frame 60 that movably supports connecting pipes 62 for the cleaning fluid and a pneumatic air supply pipe 64.
• the connecting pipes 62 are to be joined to the cleaning pump, while the air supply pipe 64 is to be joined to a source of pressurised air.
• An actuation cylinder 66 in mounted on the support frame 60 having its driving rod 68 fixedly joined to actuation plate 70 that, in turn, is fixedly joined to the connecting pipes 62 and air supply pipe 64.
• the cleaning arrangement 54 is rotated into a pre-set cleaning position at which the inlet / outlet pipes 36,38 and the air inlet pipe 56 all are aligned with the connecting pipes 62 and air supply pipe 64.
• the cylinder 66 is then actuated to draw actuation plate 70 towards the support frame 60 allowing the connecting pipes 62 and air supply pipe 64 to slide through the support frame 60 and engagingly mate with the inlet / outlet pipes 36,38 and the air inlet pipe 56.
• the cleaning process can then be performed as previously described, after which the cylinder 66 pushes actuation plate 70 away from the support frame 60 to disengage the connecting pipes 62 and air supply pipe 64 so that normal filling operation can resume.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

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Publications (1)

Family

ID=49160325

Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (3)

Citations (1)

• 2013
  • 2013-03-14 WO PCT/IB2013/052019 patent/WO2013136289A1/fr not_active Ceased
• 2014
  • 2014-08-08 ZA ZA2014/05829A patent/ZA201405829B/en unknown

Patent Citations (1)

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