Patent GB-1411871-A (GB)
Title: Automatic cleansing apparatus for ampoules
IPC: B08B9/42
Filed: 1973-02-19
Abstract: 1411871 Washing ampoules TAKEDA YAKUHIN KOGYO KK 19 Feb 1973 [21 Feb 1972] 8037/73 Heading B8T A cleansing apparatus for ampoules or similar container has a feeder unit X with rotary supply disc B; a cleansing unit Y including a rotary transport drum C, a liquid bath D and a drying device E; and a removal unit Z with rotary disc F. A screw conveyer A supplies ampoules 1 to the cut-out portions 7 of the supply disc B where they are held by suction communicated by the suction unit H via passages 8 in the supply disc B and a curved groove 12 in a stationary disc 10 with which the former is in airtight spring loaded contact. The groove 12 is cut so that as the supply disc B rotates suction is communicated to the cut-out portions 7 at the appropriate time to draw an ampoule from the conveyer A and to cut-off the suction at the point where the ampoule is transferred to the transport drum C. A common motor M rotates the supply disc and transport drum in opposite directions but at the same peripheral speed. Nozzles 22 extending radially outwards from the transport drum C are spaced so that they align with ampoules in the supply disc B as the ampoules and nozzles are rotated to the horizontal position. At this point a passage 14 in the stationary disc 10 communicates compressed air from a compressor unit J to the bottom of the cut-out portions 7 via passages 9 and the ampoules are blown from the supply disc on to the nozzles 22 on the transport drum C. A cushioning device (K), Fig. 5 (not shown), prevents ampoules being damaged during the transfer operation. Cleaning.-An ampoule support guide rail 24 keeps the ampoules on the nozzles 22 during their passage on the drum C. Cleansing liquid D with ultra sonic wave emitter L cleans the outside of the ampoules as they pass through the bath. Fluid from a pumping device N is supplied to the nozzles 22 for cleaning the inside of the ampoules via passages 21, and a fixed disc 25 with a cut-out groove 27. The fixed disc 25 is spring loaded against the drum C and has additional grooves 29, and 28, which are connected to the compressor unit J. As the passages 21 come into contact with groove 29 a blast of air enters the ampoule via the nozzles 22 and ejects liquid from within. Similarly as the ampoules enter the drying unit E the passages 21 come into contact with the groove 28. This permits air from the compressor unit J to cool the ampoules during passage through the drying unit E (which also acts as a sterilizer). From the drying unit ampoules are transferred to the disc F of the rotary removal unit Z by a blast of air from nozzles in a pick-up device Q (details, Fig. 8, not shown). The disc F is similar to the disc B and is driven by the same motor M and at the same peripheral speed. A stationary disc 10<SP>1</SP> is in spring-loaded contact with the disc F and suction from the unit H is communicated to the cut-out portions 7<SP>1</SP> via the groove 36 and passages 9<SP>1</SP>. The groove 36 is cut so that suction is applied as the cut-out portions 7<SP>1</SP> come opposite the pick up device Q. A segmental plate 42 forms a pocket with the cut-out portions 7<SP>1</SP> for receiving the ampoules from the pick-up device. The ampoules are held in the cut-out portions 7<SP>1</SP> until suction is released at the screw conveyer G when they are forced out by a member (39), Fig. 12 (not shown), which runs in a groove 38. Should an ampoule be broken during the cleansing operation any part remaining on the nozzle 22 is removed by a rejector device P (details, Fig. 10, not shown). In a modified version of the apparatus a deflector plate (40), Fig. 13 (not shown), may be used in place of the screw conveyers. In a further version that does not have a bath D, Figs. 14 and 15 (not shown), the supply and removal discs are bevel-shaped and ampoules are supplied to the transport and removal discs by gravity so that some of the passages and grooves previously described can be deleted.