WO1995011765A1 - Continuous washing and transfer of articles to a clean room - Google Patents
Continuous washing and transfer of articles to a clean room Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1995011765A1 WO1995011765A1 PCT/GB1994/002316 GB9402316W WO9511765A1 WO 1995011765 A1 WO1995011765 A1 WO 1995011765A1 GB 9402316 W GB9402316 W GB 9402316W WO 9511765 A1 WO9511765 A1 WO 9511765A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- clean room
- articles
- washing
- enclosure means
- enclosure
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 25
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 230000000844 anti-bacterial effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 230000001678 irradiating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000013022 venting Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- CBENFWSGALASAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ozone Chemical compound [O-][O+]=O CBENFWSGALASAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 abstract description 9
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 210000003739 neck Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 239000003899 bactericide agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000825 pharmaceutical preparation Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940127557 pharmaceutical product Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
- B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
- B08B9/20—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
- B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
- B65B55/04—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
- B65B55/08—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by irradiation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
- B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
- B65B55/04—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
- B65B55/10—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by liquids or gases
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B2203/00—Details of cleaning machines or methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
- B08B2203/005—Details of cleaning machines or methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam the liquid being ozonated
Definitions
- This invention relates to a method for effecting continuous washing and transfer of articles to a clean room, and to an installation for use in carrying out such method.
- the invention is concerned particularly, but not exclusively, with articles in the form of bottles intended to be charged with liquid for human consumption, for example, mineral water.
- clean room means a room-like enclosure associated with a supply of clean air introduced to maintain a pressure in the clean room slightly greater than ambient atmospheric pressure for the purpose of inhibiting the entry into the clean room of air-borne contaminants of any kind.
- Clean rooms are known per se and their construction is not a feature of the present invention. Although the use of clean rooms in the bottling industry is fairly recent, clean rooms are commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry. The number of operations which can be carried out inside the clean room is, however, very limited. In fact, the only operation generally carried out in the clean room is the actual filling. Other processes, such as washing the containers, applying labels, etc are carried out outside the clean room.
- the containers to be filled are treated and sterilized in batches on the way to the clean room.
- the containers are loaded from outside into a box-type chamber where they are washed and sterilized, usually by heat.
- the sterilized containers are then conveyed out of the chamber and then into a clean room for filling.
- a method for effecting continuous washing and transfer of articles to a clean room comprising the steps of: conveying the articles continuously on a conveyor means extending within enclosure means and into a clean room, and within the enclosure means sequentially subjecting the articles to a bactericidal wash and to bactericidal radiation.
- the said method includes the step of inducing an exhaust current from the enclosure means to ensure a continuous air flow therethrough from the clean room.
- the articles are bottles intended to be charged with mineral water and the bactericidal wash is water and ozone and the bactericidal radiation is ultraviolet radiation.
- an installation for use in the continuous washing and transfer of articles to a clean room comprising: a continuous conveyor for conveying the articles and extending within enclosure means and into a clean room, an exit from the enclosure means being within the clean room, a washing means for use in washing the articles and disposed within the enclosure means adjacent an entrance thereto, and an irradiating means operable to emit bactericidal radiation towards the conveyor and articles thereon and disposed within the enclosure means downstream of the washing means.
- a venting means adjacent the entrance to the enclosure means, being operable to induce an exhaust current from the enclosure means.
- the enclosure means comprises a cabinet housing the washing means and a duct connecting the interior of the cabinet with the interior of the clean room.
- the washing means comprises a rotary bottle-washing mechanism.
- the irradiating means comprises ultraviolet lamps.
- the irradiating means produces heat.
- the bottles are supported, during transfer, by a pair of guide rails above the conveyer, which support the necks of the bottles to prevent light plastic bottles from falling.
- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an installation for the washing and transfer to a clean room of bottles, all in accordance with the present invention
- Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view similar to Fig. 1, but showing additional constructional features and modifications;
- Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line III- III in Fig. 2 to a larger scale than Fig. 2.
- the installation comprises a continuous conveyor 10 for carrying articles in the form of bottles 11 and extending within an enclosure means 12 and into a clean room 13.
- the enclosure means 12 has an entrance indicated by reference numeral 14 and an exit indicated by reference numeral 15 and disposed within the clean room 13.
- the enclosure means 12 consists of a cabinet portion 12a which houses a bottle-rinsing mechanism 16 which is disposed adjacent the entrance 14; and the enclosure means 12 further consists of a duct 12b within which is arranged an irradiating means in the form of a bank or banks of ultraviolet lamps 17.
- the clean room 13 is bounded by a wall of which a portion is indicated by reference numeral 13a; . and it will be understood that the duct 12b passes through the wall portion 13a in such a manner that an air-tight seal is effected between the duct 12b and the wall 13a.
- the bottle-rinsing mechanism 16 is " operable to rinse and drain the insides of the bottles; and the mechanism is supplied with water incorporating a bactericidal agent, e.g. ozone, by means of a supply pipe 16a.
- the rinsing mechanism is drained by means of a drain pipe 16b.
- Bottles 11 carried inwards on the continuous conveyor 10 are first subjected to a bactericidal wash by means of the rinsing mechanism 16.
- the bottles on the conveyor 10 On emerging from the rinsing mechanism cabinet 12a, the bottles on the conveyor 10 enter the duct 12b and are subjected to bactericidal radiation from the ultraviolet lamps 17.
- the exterior surfaces of the bottles 11 are substantially disinfected as is the inward moving run of the conveyor 10.
- the bottles 11 may be supported as they are conveyed along the conveyor 10 by a pair of guide rails (not shown) extending along the conveyor 10 and above it. This rails hold the necks of the bottles 11 to prevent light plastic bottles from falling.
- Heat which is also produced by the lamps 17, assists in vaporising water droplets remaining on the bottles 11 from the previous wash treatment; and an ozone-rich environment is created within the duct 12b and the cabinet 12a which is continuously exhausted at the entrance 14 due to the higher pressure within the clean room 12.
- a venting means (not shown in Fig. 1) is incorporated in the cabinet 12a adjacent the entrance 14 and operable to induce a positive exhaust current from the enclosure means to ensure a continuous air flow therethrough from the clean room 13.
- the venting means (not shown in Fig. 1) is preferably an exhaust fan or an exhaust impeller.
- the installation described above provides a means for the continuous washing and transfer of bottles into the clean room and accomplishes improved production rates compared with installations hitherto proposed.
- parts corresponding with those in Fig. 1 are given the reference numerals used in Fig. 1.
- the entrance 14 is provided with a replaceable insert 14a having an aperture configured to match the outline of a bottle 11 as is shown in Fig. 3. This arrangement reduces the opportunity for contaminant dust particles and the like to enter the cabinet 12a at the entrance 14.
- the rinsing mechanism 16 is a rotary mechanism know per se.
- Bottles 11 entering the cabinet 12a on the conveyor 10 are engaged regularly by a feeder worm 18a and carried by a first transfer wheel 19a to an array of radial arms 20 which, whilst turning anti ⁇ clockwise, sequentially invert the bottles 11 over spray heads (not shown) for washing and then re-invert the bottles for return to the conveyor 10 by way of a second transfer wheel 19b and feed worm 18b.
- the cabinet 12a is free-standing adjacent the clean room wall 13a except that the cabinet 12a is linked to an aperture in the wall 13a by means of a first duct 12c.
- a second duct 12d encloses the inner end portion of the conveyor 10 and also mutually-opposed banks of ultraviolet lamps 17a.
- the conveyor 10 returns at about the inner end of the duct 12d (that is, the exit from the enclosure means defined by the cabinet 12a, duct 12c and duct 12d) ; and a bottle deflector or "scroll" 22 moves the bottles onto a continuous conveyor 21 leading to a bottle-filling station (not shown) .
- the cabinet 12a is provided with venting means in the form of an exhaust fan 23 which is operable adjustably to ensure a continuous and substantially even air-flow from the clean room 13.
- the operation of the Fig. 2/Fig. 3 embodiment is as described with reference to Fig. 1.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
- Cleaning In General (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU79456/94A AU7945694A (en) | 1993-10-26 | 1994-10-21 | Continuous washing and transfer of articles to a clean room |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9321993.9 | 1993-10-26 | ||
GB939321993A GB9321993D0 (en) | 1993-10-26 | 1993-10-26 | Continuous washing and transfer of articles (e.g.bottles) to a clean room |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1995011765A1 true WO1995011765A1 (en) | 1995-05-04 |
Family
ID=10744089
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB1994/002316 WO1995011765A1 (en) | 1993-10-26 | 1994-10-21 | Continuous washing and transfer of articles to a clean room |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU7945694A (en) |
GB (1) | GB9321993D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1995011765A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2838076A1 (en) * | 2002-04-04 | 2003-10-10 | Sidel Sa | PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR DECONTAMINATION OF PREFORM COLLARS |
CN102284460A (en) * | 2011-04-28 | 2011-12-21 | 长沙汇一制药机械有限公司 | Continuous in-out bottle washing method and bottle washing machine thereof |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CH345260A (en) * | 1957-06-19 | 1960-03-15 | Jovignot Raymond | Process for placing a previously sterilized product in sterile containers under sterile conditions and installation for carrying out the process |
FR2129901A1 (en) * | 1971-03-19 | 1972-11-03 | Aseptisation Sa | Bottle sterilization device - using action of uv radation for bottling lines eg in breweries |
DE3138215A1 (en) * | 1980-09-03 | 1983-03-03 | Helmut 6950 Mosbach Silberzahn | Device for the sterilisation of containers |
JPH0245336A (en) * | 1988-07-28 | 1990-02-15 | Snow Brand Milk Prod Co Ltd | Device for sterilizing vessel |
EP0361858A1 (en) * | 1988-09-26 | 1990-04-04 | Elopak Systems Ag | Method and apparatus for aseptic packaging |
JPH02109836A (en) * | 1988-10-14 | 1990-04-23 | Toppan Printing Co Ltd | How to sterilize containers |
EP0436042A1 (en) * | 1989-07-26 | 1991-07-10 | Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd. | Method of sterilization of container for sterile packing |
JPH04144672A (en) * | 1990-10-05 | 1992-05-19 | Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd | Sterilization of packaging material |
-
1993
- 1993-10-26 GB GB939321993A patent/GB9321993D0/en active Pending
-
1994
- 1994-10-21 WO PCT/GB1994/002316 patent/WO1995011765A1/en active Application Filing
- 1994-10-21 AU AU79456/94A patent/AU7945694A/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CH345260A (en) * | 1957-06-19 | 1960-03-15 | Jovignot Raymond | Process for placing a previously sterilized product in sterile containers under sterile conditions and installation for carrying out the process |
FR2129901A1 (en) * | 1971-03-19 | 1972-11-03 | Aseptisation Sa | Bottle sterilization device - using action of uv radation for bottling lines eg in breweries |
DE3138215A1 (en) * | 1980-09-03 | 1983-03-03 | Helmut 6950 Mosbach Silberzahn | Device for the sterilisation of containers |
JPH0245336A (en) * | 1988-07-28 | 1990-02-15 | Snow Brand Milk Prod Co Ltd | Device for sterilizing vessel |
EP0361858A1 (en) * | 1988-09-26 | 1990-04-04 | Elopak Systems Ag | Method and apparatus for aseptic packaging |
JPH02109836A (en) * | 1988-10-14 | 1990-04-23 | Toppan Printing Co Ltd | How to sterilize containers |
EP0436042A1 (en) * | 1989-07-26 | 1991-07-10 | Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd. | Method of sterilization of container for sterile packing |
JPH04144672A (en) * | 1990-10-05 | 1992-05-19 | Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd | Sterilization of packaging material |
Non-Patent Citations (3)
Title |
---|
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 14, no. 209 (M - 968) 27 April 1990 (1990-04-27) * |
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 14, no. 327 (M - 998) 13 July 1990 (1990-07-13) * |
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 16, no. 419 (C - 981) 3 September 1992 (1992-09-03) * |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2838076A1 (en) * | 2002-04-04 | 2003-10-10 | Sidel Sa | PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR DECONTAMINATION OF PREFORM COLLARS |
WO2003084818A1 (en) * | 2002-04-04 | 2003-10-16 | Sidel | Method and installation for decontaminating preform necks |
US7867440B2 (en) | 2002-04-04 | 2011-01-11 | Sidel Participations | Method and installation for decontaminating preform necks |
CN102284460A (en) * | 2011-04-28 | 2011-12-21 | 长沙汇一制药机械有限公司 | Continuous in-out bottle washing method and bottle washing machine thereof |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB9321993D0 (en) | 1993-12-15 |
AU7945694A (en) | 1995-05-22 |
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