Patent GB-731115-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for the continuous sterilization of containers
IPC: A23L3/04
Filed: 1953-04-15
Abstract: 731,115. Sterilizers. STORK & CO.'s APPARATENFABRIEK N. V., GEB. April 15, 1953. [April 16, 1952], No. 10365/53. Class 81(1). An apparatus for the continuous sterilization of containers having a liquid chamber in open connection with the short leg of at least one open U-shaped liquid lock, an endless conveyer .provided with carriers for the containers, suspended pivotally about horizontal axes relatively to the conveyer, wherein during their travel through the apparatus the carriers can at the most rock against the conveyer and during a change of direction of the conveyer the carriers are subjected to a whole or partial corresponding change of their position. As shown in the apparatus which comprises a tower 1 subdivided into vertical channels by vertical partition walls 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 so arranged that the vertical spaces formed between the walls 2 and 3, 4 and 5 and 6 and 7 are connected at the bottom as if by two U-pipes disposed next to each other and having space between the walls 4, 5 filled with steam held in equilibrium by water in the spaces between the walls 2, 3 and 6, 7 the water levels being at 8, 9 respectively and at 10 in the steam space, the steam being introduced through a pipe 11, an endless conveyer chain 12 provided with carriers 23 consisting of a cylindrical container provided with two suspension lugs to rest on transverse bearing rods extending horizontally between the side members of the conveyer chain and provided at both sides with protruding pins 32, 33 projecting laterally past the chain elements of the conveyer to limit the freedom of movement of the carriers about their suspension axes, move first from an unloading and loading station through the space between the outside wall 1 and the partition wall 2 over a turnover plate 13 when the carriers are inverted by striking against the hub of the turnover plate and thus pass down between the walls 2, 3 which are so close to prevent the carriers tipping over further to the bottom where they again right themselves at a turnover plate 16 and ascend between the walls 4, 5 in the steam chamber where sterilization takes place, the inversion and re-inversion being repeated successively at turnover plates 14, 17 and 15 so that the carriers 23 are always below their suspension lugs in the ascending parts and above the descending parts. Cooling is effected in the space between the walls, 6, 7 by water being sprayed from a pipe 26 and flowing over the containers whilst a fan 27 supplies cooling air in the direction of the arrows 28. The conveyer 12 is finally conducted over turnover plates 30, 31 back to the loading and unloading station through a water collecting vessel 29 where further cooling takes place. At the upper horizontal line of carriers at the loading and unloading station the pins 32, 33 rest on the conveyer chain so that the carriers 23 no longer hang freely and at the bottom turnover plates 16, 17 the pins 32, 33 prevent a sudden re-inversion of the carriers 23 by contacting the chain. The carriers are closed at the ends by the chains thus preventing the bottles or other containers from falling out and are thus conveyed through the apparatus the carriers being only freely accessible at the loading and unloading station in the lower horizontal line of carriers.