Abstract:
A filling nozzle cleaning device comprises an adaptor  74  having an upward socket  131  connectable to a downward discharge outlet  51  of a filling nozzle  41  disposed above a bed  11,  a collecting pipe  73  having a vertical pipe portion  121  communicating with the socket  131  and extending through the bed  11  rotatably and upwardly and downwardly movably, and a drive mechanism for moving the adaptor  74  so as to advance the socket  131  to or retract the socket  131  from below the discharge outlet  51  and connect the socket  131  to the discharge outlet  51  when the socket is advanced. The drive mechanism has a rotary actuator  161  and a fluid pressure cylinder  165  which are connected to the vertical pipe portion  121  below the bed  11  for rotating and upwardly and downwardly moving the pipe portion  121.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a cleaning device for the filling nozzles of liquid filling apparatus which are adapted to fill a beverage or like liquid into containers. 
     As disclosed in JP-A No. 11-165797, a device of the type mentioned is already known for use in liquid filling apparatus which comprise a container conveyor provided on a bed, and a filling nozzle disposed above a path of transport of containers and having a downward discharge outlet. The known device comprises an adaptor having an upward socket connectable to the discharge outlet and provided integrally with a collecting pipe, with the socket in communication with the collecting pipe, and a drive mechanism for moving the adaptor so as to advance the socket to below the discharge outlet or retract the socket from below the outlet and to connect the socket to the discharge outlet when the socket is advanced. The drive mechanism comprises an upwardly-downwardly pivotally movable arm having the adaptor attached thereto so as to make the adaptor movable in a longitudinal direction and supported by a stand on the bed so as to advance the adaptor to below the discharge outlet or retract the adaptor from below the outlet, a first fluid pressure cylinder mounted on the arm so as to be pivotally movable therewith and having a piston rod connected to the adaptor, and a second fluid pressure cylinder mounted on the bed upwardly or downwardly pivotally movably and having a piston rod connected to the arm. 
     A collecting pump is disposed below the bed, and the collecting pipe is connected to the pump while bypassing the bed. 
     With the conventional device described, the drive mechanism is installed on the bed in the vicinity of the filling nozzle. The device therefore has the problem of being complex in the construction on the bed in the vicinity of the filling nozzle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to overcome the above problem and to provide a cleaning device for filling nozzles which is simplified in construction on the bed in the vicinity of the filling nozzles to ensure greatly improved sanitation and remarkably facilitated maintenance. 
     The present invention provides a cleaning device comprising an adaptor having an upward socket connectable to a downward discharge outlet of a filling nozzle disposed above a bed, a collecting pipe integral with the adaptor so as to communicate with the socket, and a drive mechanism for moving the adaptor so as to advance the socket to below the discharge outlet or retract the socket from below the outlet and to connect the socket to the discharge outlet when the socket is advanced, the collecting pipe having a vertical pipe portion, the vertical pipe portion extending through the bed rotatably and upwardly and downwardly movably at a position away from the discharge outlet by a distance equal to the distance by which the socket is horizontally spaced apart from the vertical pipe portion, the drive mechanism having an actuator connected to the vertical pipe portion at a position below the bed for rotating and upwardly and downwardly moving the pipe portion. 
     With the filling nozzle cleaning device of the present invention, the socket of the adaptor is connected to and disconnected from the discharge outlet of the filling nozzle by rotating and upwardly and downwardly moving the vertical pipe portion of the collecting pipe. Moreover, the pipe portion is rotated and upwardly and downwardly moved from below the bed by the actuator of the drive mechanism. Accordingly, the vertical pipe portion of the collecting pipe alone is provided on the bed in the vicinity of the filling nozzle, with none of the drive mechanism and the like present thereon. This ensures very satisfactory sanitation and maintenance in the vicinity of the filling nozzle. 
     A container conveyor extends below the filling nozzle, and a vertical tubular stand is installed on the bed and fitted around the vertical pipe portion so as to render the pipe portion free to rotate and move upward and downward, the stand being adjustable in position in directions parallel to a path of transport by the conveyor. If the chains and the like of the conveyor become elongated, the position of the stand is so adjusted as to accommodate the stand to the elongation, whereby the position of the adaptor can be adjusted easily. 
     A cleaning nozzle having a downward cleaning opening is disposed below a path of rotation of the socket centered about the vertical pipe portion, and the cleaning nozzle is fixed to the stand. When disconnected from the discharge outlet, the socket can then be held connected to the cleaning opening. This obviates the likelihood that the adaptor will be contaminated with the ambient atmosphere. Moreover, the position of the cleaning nozzle can be adjusted simultaneously with the position adjustment of the adaptor. 
     The actuator comprises a rotary actuator having a body restrained from rotating about the axis of the vertical pipe portion but free to move upward or downward and a rotary shaft projecting upward from the body and connected to a lower end of the vertical pipe portion, and an actuator of the straight moving type having a straight movable rod extending in parallel to the axial direction of the vertical pipe portion and connected to the body. The vertical pipe portion can then be rotated and upwardly and downwardly moved by a simple mechanism comprising the actuators of the rotary type and the straight moving type only. 
     The vertical pipe portion has a collecting hole below the bed, and a shell is fitted around the pipe portion and covers the collecting hole, the shell rendering the pipe portion free to rotate and being movable with the pipe portion upward and downward, a flexible pipe having one end connected to the shell and the other end connected to a collecting pump. The liquid collected by the adaptor can then be promptly guided to below the bed without being allowed to remain on the bed. This contributes to further improved sanitation, also providing a shortened path from the adaptor to the collecting pump to achieve a higher efficiency in circulating the cleaning liquid and eliminating the likelihood of the collecting pump incorporating air into the liquid. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view in cross section showing a cleaning device of the invention and surroundings thereof; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in cross section of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along the lines III—III in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line IV—IV in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a view in vertical section taken along the line V—V in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line VI—VI in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view corresponding to FIG.  2  and showing the device during filling; 
     FIG. 8 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line VIII—VIII in FIG.  7  and corresponding to FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a packaging machine equipped with the device of the invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a view in vertical section taken along the line X—X in FIG. 9; and 
     FIG. 11 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line XI—XI in FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 
     The term “front” as used in the following description refers to the side of the plane of FIG. 1 away from the viewer&#39;s side and perpendicular to the plane (toward the direction of the arrow A in FIG.  1 ), and the opposite side is referred to as “rear.” The terms “left” and “right” refer respectively to the left and right sides (left-hand and right-hand sides of FIG. 1) of the illustrated device as it is seen from the rear forward. 
     FIG. 1 shows a bed  11 , a container conveyor  12  having a path of transport extending forward above the bed  11 , a filling device  13  and cleaning device  14  which are arranged at an intermediate portion of the transport path, and a clean room  15  having accommodated therein the conveyor  12 , filling device  13  and cleaning device  14  and providing a required packaging space. 
     The bed  11  is in the form of a horizontal flat hollow body having a thickness in the vertical direction and having a top wall  21  and a bottom wall  22 . 
     The conveyor  12  has a pair of left and right endless chains  31  and a multiplicity of holders  32  attached to the chains. The chains  13  are driven intermittently to simultaneously transport three containers C as held by holders  32  at a time by one cycle. 
     The filling device  13  comprises three filling nozzles  41  disposed above the container transport path and corresponding to the three containers C to be transported by one cycle, a lifter  42  for raising the containers C from the holders  32 , and a pusher  43  for pushing down the containers C raised by the lifter  42  back to the holders  32 . 
     The filling nozzle  41  is in the form of a vertical tube and has a downward discharge outlet  51  at its lower end. The filling nozzle  41  is connected by a connecting pipe  52  to an unillustrated tank for the liquid to be filled. Arranged at the left and right sides of the filling nozzle  41  are a left fixed guide  53  and a right fixed guide  54 , each in the form of a vertical plate, for guiding the containers to be moved upward and downward by the lifter  42  and the pusher  43 . Formed in the left fixed guide  54  are slits  55  for avoiding interference with the pusher  43  (FIG.  3 ). 
     The filling nozzle  41 , left fixed guide  53  and right fixed guide  54  are supported by a box frame  56  provided upright on the bed  11 . By unillustrated means, the box frame  56  is made adjustable in position in the direction of transport by the conveyor. The position of the box frame  56  is adjusted in corresponding relation, for example, with the elongation of the chains  31 . 
     The lifter  42  is attached to the upper end of a pushing up lift rod  61  disposed immediately below the filling nozzle  41 , while the pusher  43  is attached to the upper end of a pushing-down lift rod  62  disposed at the right of the rod  61 . The lift rods  61 ,  61  extend through the bed  11  and have lower ends projecting downward below the bed  11 . The downwardly projecting portions of the rods  61 ,  62  are interconnected by a connecting rod  63 . The two lift rods  61 ,  62  are driven by unillustrated means so as to move upward and downward at the same time. 
     The cleaning device  14  comprises a cleaning nozzle  71  disposed at the left of the filling nozzle  41 , a vertical tubular stand  72  disposed between and below the cleaning nozzle  71  and the filling nozzles  41 , a cleaning liquid collecting pipe  73  extending through the stand  72 , and an adaptor  74  for connecting the filling nozzles  41  and the cleaning nozzle  71  alternately to the collecting pipe  73 . 
     As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the cleaning nozzle  71  is in the form of a horizontal tube of rectangular cross section extending from the front rearward, having a length corresponding to the three nozzles and provided with a cleaning opening  81  provided by the absence of a wall from the entire bottom area. The cleaning opening  81  is at the same level as the discharge outlets  51 . A supply tube portion  82  projects leftward from the midportion of left side wall of the cleaning nozzle  71 . 
     With reference to FIG. 3, the cleaning nozzle  71  is supported at its front and rear ends by angles  91  on the upper ends of a pair of vertical rods  92 . The vertical rods  92  are interconnected at their lower ends by a horizontal connecting bar  93 . The connecting bar  93  is supported by a bracket  94  provided on the stand  72  and projecting leftward. 
     As shown in FIG. 5 most apparently, the stand  72  extends through the bed  11 . The portions of the top wall  21  and the bottom wall  22  of the bed  11  where the stand  72  extends through these walls are provided with upper and lower large slots  101 ,  102  which are elongated from the front rearward. 
     The stand  72  is provided with an upper rectangular flange  111  at an intermediate portion of the length thereof and with a lower rectangular flange  112  at the lower end thereof. The upper flange  111  is supported by the upper surface of edge portion around the slot  101 . The lower flange  112  is positioned below the bottom wall  22 . 
     With reference to FIG. 6 in addition to FIG. 5, four small slots  113  elongated from the front rearward are formed respectively at the four corners of the upper flange  111 . A fastening bolt  114  is screwed into the top wall  21  through each small slot  113 . The upper flange  111  is held between front and rear position adjusting bolts  115 . Each position adjusting bolt  115  is mounted on the upper surface of the top wall  21  by an internally threaded member  116 . 
     The stand  72  is moved forward or rearward by loosening the fastening bolts  114 , advancing one of the position adjusting bolts  115  and retracting the other bolt  115 . The stand  72  as moved is then fixed by the fastening bolts  114 , whereby the position of the stand  72  is adjusted to thereby accommodate the stand, for example, to the elongation of the chains  31  as is the case with the box frame  56 . 
     The collecting pipe  73  has a vertical pipe portion  121  fitted in the stand  72 , rotatable and movable upward and downward. The pipe portion  121  has upper and lower ends projecting upward and downward from the stand  72 . 
     The pipe portion  121  is provided with two collecting holes  122  formed in the lower end part and opposed to each other, and with a shell  123  fitting around the end part and covering the holes  122 . The pipe portion  121  is free to rotate relative to the shell  123 . The shell  123  is held between retaining rings  124  from above and below, whereby the shell  123  is made movable upward or downward along with the pipe portion  121 . An L-shaped flexible pipe  125  has an upper end connected to the shell  123  and a lower end connected to an inlet of a collecting pump  126  suspended from the bed  11  (FIG.  1 ). A drain pipe  127  is connected to an outlet of the pump  126 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the adaptor  74  is in the form of a flat hollow body generally triangular when seen from above and having a thickness in the vertical direction. At the vertex portion of the triangular body, the adaptor  74  has a bottom wall portion joined to the upper end of the vertical pipe portion  121  in communication therewith. At the base of the triangle, the adaptor  74  has a top wall portion provided with three sockets  131  arranged in a row and corresponding to the discharge outlets  51  of the three filling nozzles  41 . The edge of each socket  131  provides an annular upward projection  132 , with an annular groove  133  formed along the outer periphery of the projection. The adaptor  74  has a packing  134  fitting in the annular grooves  133  of the three projections  132  (see FIG.  2 ). 
     The adaptor  74  is provided with a movable guide plate  141  in the form of a vertical strip and extending horizontally at one side of the vertical pipe portion  121  opposite to the sockets  131 . 
     With reference to FIG. 4, the distance L 1  from the axis of the vertical pipe portion  121  to the center line of width of the cleaning opening  81  is made equal to the distance L 2  from the axis to a line through the centers of the three sockets  131 . Further with reference to FIG. 8, the distance L 3  from the axis of the pipe portion  121  to the guide surface of the left fixed guide  53  is made equal to the distance L 4  from the axis to the guide surface of the movable guide  141 . 
     As shown in detail in FIG. 5, the lower flange  112  of the stand  72  has a horizontal upper support plate  152  suspended therefrom by a pair of front and rear vertical suspenders  151  opposed to each other. A horizontal lower support plate  154  is suspended from the upper support plate  152  by four depending guide rods  153 . 
     The guide rods  153  extend through the body  162  of a rotary actuator  161 , permitting the body to move upward or downward along the rods. The rotary actuator  161  has an upward output shaft  163 , which is fitted in the lower end of the vertical pipe portion  121  and fixed to the lower end with a pin  164 . Attached to the lower support plate  154  is a fluid pressure cylinder  165  as directed upward. The cylinder  165  has a piston rod  166  connected to the body  162  of the rotary actuator  161 . 
     When the rotary actuator  161  is operated, the vertical pipe portion  121  is rotated along with the output shaft  163 . When the piston rod  166  is advanced by operating the fluid pressure cylinder  165 , the pipe portion  121  is raised with the rotary actuator  161 , while when the piston rod  166  is retracted, the pipe portion  121  is lowered with the actuator  161 . 
     The sockets  131  of the adaptor  74  are connected to the respective discharge outlets  51  of the filling nozzles  41  as shown in FIG. 2 when the nozzles  41  are to be cleaned. In this state, the cleaning liquid is sent into the filling nozzles  41  through the tank for the liquid to be filled. The cleaning liquid to be used is, for example, chlorine water. The cleaning liquid sent into the nozzles  41  is collected via the pipe  73  by the operation of the collecting pump  126 . 
     When the operation of cleaning the filling nozzles  41  is completed and to be changed over to the usual filling operation, the vertical pipe portion  121  is lowered, then turned through 180 degrees and thereafter raised, whereby the sockets  131  of the adaptor  74  are connected to the cleaning opening  81  of the cleaning nozzle  71 . FIGS. 7 and 8 show this state. When required, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning nozzle  71 . 
     During the usual filling operation, the movable guide  141  is positioned under the left fixed guide  53  and approximately flush therewith. The containers C raised by the lifter  42  are completely slipped out of the holders  32  upward and held by the left and right fixed guides  53 ,  54 . Although there is a clearance between the holder  32  and the guides  53 ,  54 , the clearance is compensated for by the movable guide  141 . When the containers C as raised by the lifter  42  are to be returned to the holders  32  by being pushed down by the pusher  43 , there is a likelihood that the container C will not be returned to the holders  32  smoothly if the movable guide  141  is absent, whereas the guide  141  obviates the likelihood. 
     With reference to FIGS. 9 to  11 , a description will be given below of a packaging machine which is most suitable to incorporate the foregoing filling device  13  and cleaning device  14  therein. 
     In the following description, the terms “front” and “rear” are used based on FIG. 9; the left-hand side of the drawing is referred to as the “front,” and the opposite side thereof as the “rear.” The terms “left” and “right” refer respectively to the left and right sides of the machine as it is seen from the rear forward. 
     Referring to FIG. 9, the packaging machine comprises a container bottom forming apparatus  311  and a container conveyor  312  extending forward from the apparatus. 
     The container bottom forming apparatus  311  comprises left and right rotors  321 , and first device groups  322  arranged at the left and right and each provided around the rotor  321 . 
     The rotors  321  have the same construction, and the first device groups  322  are also of the same construction. 
     To avoid interference of the rotors  321  with each other, the right rotor  321  is positioned as shifted longitudinally of the apparatus to the rear of the left rotor  321 . 
     The container conveyor  312  has left and right transport paths  323  extending forward in parallel to each other from below the respective rotors  321 . The right transport path  323  is elongated rearward beyond the left path  323  by a length corresponding to the shift of one rotor  321  from the other rotor  321  in the longitudinal direction. The rear end of the right path  323  projects rearward beyond the left path  323  by the length. 
     Left and right second device groups  324  are arranged along the respective transport paths  323  from the rear forward. These groups are of the same construction and each include a primary top breaker  331 , filling device  332 , secondary top breaker  333 , top heater  334  and top sealer  335 . Unlike the rotors  321 , these devices  331  to  335  along one path are not shifted from those of the other path, and are each positioned at the same position for both paths with respect to the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the portion of the right path  323  on the right side of the left rotor  321  is an idle station. 
     Each transport path  323  is provided by a pair of left and right endless chains  341 , and a multiplicity of holders  342  attached to the chains  341  at a specified interval. 
     FIG. 10 shows the right rotor  321  and the right device group  322  in solid lines. 
     The right rotor  321  comprises a horizontal shaft  351  positioned immediately above the right transport path  323  and extending in parallel to the path longitudinally thereof, and three mandrel rows  352  arranged in parallel at three axially spaced portions of the rotary shaft  351 . Each mandrel row  352  comprises eight radial mandrels  361 . The pitch of mandrel rows is twice the pitch of container holders  342 . 
     FIG. 10 shows that one of the eight mandrels  361  providing each row  352  is at a halt as directed vertically downward. This position serves as the final station, i.e. an eighth process station S 8 . Arranged clockwise from this position are first to eighth process stations S 1  to S 8  as equidistantly spaced apart. 
     Three holders  342  are stopped at the same time by each cycle below the three mandrels  361  halted in the vertically downward position at the eighth station S 8 . For this purpose, the holders  342  are intermittently driven a distance corresponding to three times the holder pitch at a time. 
     The right first device group  322  comprises a feeder  371  disposed at the first process station S 1 , bottom heater  372  at the fourth process station S 4 , bottom breaker  373  at the fifth process station S 5 , bottom sealer  374  at the sixth process station S 6  and unloader  375  at the eighth process station S 8 . These devices are provided in three sets in corresponding relation with the three mandrel rows  352 . 
     While these feeder  371 , bottom heater  372 , bottom breaker  373 , bottom sealer  374  and unloader  375  are of known construction and will not be described in detail, the feeder  371  will be described briefly. The feeder  371  comprises a magazine  382  so disposed as to position an outlet  381  as opposed to a phantom outward extension line of the mandrel  361  halted at the first process station S 1 , the magazine  382  having accommodated therein a stack of flat blanks B, a picker  383  for withdrawing the blanks B from the outlet  381  one by one while unfolding each blank into a tube of square cross section, and a loader  384  for fitting the withdrawn blank B around the mandrel  361 . 
     The left and right feeders  371  are arranged at the left of the respective left and right rotors  321 . The left transport path  323  of the conveyor  312  terminates at the location of the left rotor  321  as its rear end, without extending to the position at the left of the right rotor  321  to provide a vacant space at this position. Accordingly, the right feeder  371  can be installed in the vacant space without extending over or interfering with the left transport path  323 . 
     By the feeder  371 , three tubular blanks B of square cross section are fitted around and supplied to the three mandrels  361  halted at the first process station S 1 . Each blank B supplied has one end projecting from the mandrel  361  to provide the bottom of a container. The projecting end of the blank B is heated by the heater  372 , folded by the breaker  373  so as to be closed, and the folded end portion is closed by the sealer  374 , whereby a tubular container C having a bottom is formed. The three containers C fitted around the three mandrels  361  are removed from the mandrels  361  by the unloaders  375  at the same time, caused to descend as they are without rotation and held by three holders  342 . 
     Each container C held by the holder  342  has the other end thereof for providing the top of the container prefolded by the primary top breaker  331 , is filled with contents by the filling device  332 , and has its prefolded end fully folded by the secondary top breaker  333 . Subsequently, the folded end is heated by the top heater  334  and thereafter sealed off by the top sealer  335 . 
     The conveyor  12 , and the combination of filling device  13  and cleaning device  14  shown in FIGS. 1 to  8  correspond to the conveyor  312  and the filling device  332  shown in FIGS. 9 to  11 .