Patent ID: 7487568

Claim:
Machine ( 10 ) for cleaning the inner walls ( 66 , 75 ) of a receptacle comprising several cleaning stations ( 14 ) that are mounted so as to rotate about a main axis (A 1 ) and that are distributed circumferentially about the main axis (A 1 ), characterized in that each cleaning station ( 14 ) is fitted with an insufflation tube ( 36 ) that extends along a substantially vertical axis (A 2 ), that is connected to a source ( 16 ) of pressurized gas, and that is provided, at its top axial end, with a generally cylindrical nozzle ( 38 ) designed to insufflate the gas towards the inner walls ( 66 , 75 ) of the receptacle ( 12 ), and each station comprising support means ( 62 ) that hold the receptacle ( 12 ) generally vertically so that the opening of the receptacle ( 12 ) is arranged downwards on the axis (A 2 ) of the insufflation tube ( 36 ), a programmed controller in which the insufflation tube ( 36 ) is controlled so as to slide along its axis (A 2 ), during a cleaning cycle, between a first top axial position, in which the nozzle ( 38 ) extends inside the receptacle ( 12 ), and a second bottom axial position, the cleaning cycle comprising an ascending phase (Pm) corresponding to the ascending travel of the insufflation tube ( 36 ), from its bottom position to its top position, and a descending phase (Pd) corresponding to the descending travel of the insufflation tube ( 36 ), from its top position to its bottom position, in that the nozzle ( 38 ) comprises an annular peripheral slot ( 64 ) that is capable of forming a peripheral jet (f 2 ) of pressurized gas of generally frustoconical shape directed towards the inner side walls ( 66 ) of the receptacle ( 12 ) and downwards, when the nozzle ( 38 ) extends inside the receptacle ( 12 ), and in that the peripheral jet (f 2 ) is triggered for at least a part of the descending phase (Pd) inside the receptacle ( 12 ), in that the source ( 16 ) of pressurized gas is common to several cleaning stations ( 14 ), in that the machine is fitted with a gas distributor ( 28 ) comprising a main fixed duct ( 31 ) that is coaxial with the main axis (A 1 ), that is connected to the source ( 16 ) of pressurized gas and that comprises, in its axial wall ( 102 ), at least one distribution window ( 104 , 106 ), a connection hub ( 32 ) that is mounted so as to rotate about the main duct ( 31 ), that is connected rotatably to the cleaning stations ( 14 ) and that comprises a series of radial channels ( 33 , 35 ), and in that each radial channel ( 33 , 35 ) comprises, at its outer end, an outer orifice ( 98 ) that is connected to the insufflation tube ( 36 ) of an associated cleaning station ( 14 ) and, at its inner end, an inner orifice ( 100 ) that opens in line with the distribution window ( 104 , 106 ) during an angular sector of the rotation cycle of the hub ( 32 ) so as to cause the supply of the associated insufflation tube ( 36 ) during an adequate period of the cleaning cycle.