Patent GB-686273-A (GB)
Title: Container cleaning or drying apparatus
IPC: B08B9/36
Filed: 1950-10-24
Abstract: 686,273. Cleaning cans. CHAIN BELT CO. Oct. 24, 1950 [Nov. 14, 1949], No. 25856/50. Class 138 (i). [Also in Group XXX] An apparatus for cleaning or drying containers which is adapted to receive containers in axes parallel positions, reorient the containers into axial alignment, clean them and then discharge them in axes parallel positions, comprises a plurality of coacting components including a first conveyer to propel the containers in axial alignment in its direction of motion, feeding mechanism adapted to feed containers in axes parallel positions to said conveyer, rotatable mechanism for discharging containers from the conveyer, a rotatable cleaning member engaging the containers as they are propelled by the conveyer, a guide member disposed parallel to the cleaning member, and driving means to operate the components. Cans which have been filled with comestible, processed and sealed are moved into apparatus, Fig. 1, by a pair of endless chain feed conveyers 13, the can axes being in parallel relationship. The cans are correctly spaced on the feed conveyers by a rotating helical conveyer 17 and are pressed thereagainst by springs 18. The speed of the conveyer 13 is faster than translatory movement due to the member 17. The top run of the feed conveyer is supported by a plate 16, Fig. 2. The cans are transferred in correctly spaced positions onto a track 23 straddling an endless chain conveyer 24, Fig. 3, by means of pushers or flights 28 projecting vertically therefrom, the cans then assuming positions in which their axes are aligned. In order to prevent the cans being thrown upwardly from the track 23 due to their inertia and the high speed of operation of the machine, a tunnel guard 31 is provided over the track and conveyer 24. The axially aligned cans are pushed past a rotating brush 33 which is sprayed at one end with liquid from nozzles 47 so as to clean the cans, and which is dry at its other end to dry the cans. A stripping blade 45 is employed to prevent the brush from becoming waterlogged. As the cans pass the brush they are rotated at high speed by a rotating roller or guide member 32 covered with a resilient tractive material such as rubber. The brush and roller rotate in the same direction, the roller tending to push the cans upwardly while the brush tends to move them downwardly and causes cleaning liquid to be thrown down into a tray 61 and thence to a drain. A rod. 48 is positioned between the roller and brush above the track to prevent ejection of cans upwardly from the machine. The upper run of the conveyer 24 is supported against sagging and lateral movement by means of depending guide plates 29 which straddle a track 30. After passing the brush the cans enter a tunnel guard 49 and engage with the rearward faces 52 of pockets 51, Fig. 4, on a pair of star wheels 50 spaced on opposite sides of the driving sprocket 25 of the conveyer 24. As the star wheels rotate a can .slides down the faces 52, to be supported by the pusher 28 next preceding that which propelled the can into the pocket. The can is then pushed by a member 28 and assumes an axis vertical position on a platform 53, being guided thereonto by upper and lower control guide members 54 and 55 which also prevent any tendency for the cans to be thrown upwardly out of the machine. The member 54, Fig. 3, is adjustable vertically by operating screws 54" and horizontally by screws 54<SP>1</SP>, whilst the members 55 are adjustable laterally by screws 55<SP>1</SP>. The brush and roller are adjustable laterally by means of screws 44 and 42, Fig. 1, so that different sizes of cans may be cleaned. A motor 56, Figs. 1 and 2, drives a sheave 57, V-belt 59<SP>1</SP> and sheave 59 on the shaft 58 of the driving sprocket 25 of the conveyer 24. The shaft 58 also drives the star wheels 50. A sprocket 26 at the other end of the conveyer 24 drives from its shaft 60, Fig. 3, a sprocket 14 of the feed conveyer. The shaft 60 also drives bevel gears 21, 22 and thus the member 17. A motor 36 drives through sheaves and a V-belt, the brush and roller, the roller being driven faster than the brush. The conveyers, the member 17 and star wheels all move in timed relationship. The tension of the V-belt 59<SP>1</SP> is adjusted so that the drive will slip in event of a can jamming in the machine. U.S.A. Specification 1,415,258 is referred to.