Nothing Special   »   [go: up one dir, main page]

EP1028300A1 - An apparatus for drying bottles - Google Patents

An apparatus for drying bottles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1028300A1
EP1028300A1 EP99830067A EP99830067A EP1028300A1 EP 1028300 A1 EP1028300 A1 EP 1028300A1 EP 99830067 A EP99830067 A EP 99830067A EP 99830067 A EP99830067 A EP 99830067A EP 1028300 A1 EP1028300 A1 EP 1028300A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bottles
belts
conveyor line
drying apparatus
drying
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP99830067A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1028300B1 (en
Inventor
Giovanni Sardi
Giovanni Colla
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cames SNC Di Colla G & Sardi G
Original Assignee
Cames SNC Di Colla G & Sardi G
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cames SNC Di Colla G & Sardi G filed Critical Cames SNC Di Colla G & Sardi G
Priority to EP99830067A priority Critical patent/EP1028300B1/en
Priority to DE69913480T priority patent/DE69913480T2/en
Priority to AT99830067T priority patent/ATE256275T1/en
Priority to DE1028300T priority patent/DE1028300T1/en
Priority to ES99830067T priority patent/ES2149751T3/en
Publication of EP1028300A1 publication Critical patent/EP1028300A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1028300B1 publication Critical patent/EP1028300B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08CLEANING
    • B08BCLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/08Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
    • B08B9/20Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought
    • B08B9/28Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought the apparatus cleaning by splash, spray, or jet application, with or without soaking
    • B08B9/30Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought the apparatus cleaning by splash, spray, or jet application, with or without soaking and having conveyors
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08CLEANING
    • B08BCLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/08Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
    • B08B9/20Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08CLEANING
    • B08BCLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/08Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
    • B08B9/20Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought
    • B08B9/28Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought the apparatus cleaning by splash, spray, or jet application, with or without soaking
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26DRYING
    • F26BDRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B15/00Machines or apparatus for drying objects with progressive movement; Machines or apparatus with progressive movement for drying batches of material in compact form
    • F26B15/10Machines or apparatus for drying objects with progressive movement; Machines or apparatus with progressive movement for drying batches of material in compact form with movement in a path composed of one or more straight lines, e.g. compound, the movement being in alternate horizontal and vertical directions
    • F26B15/12Machines or apparatus for drying objects with progressive movement; Machines or apparatus with progressive movement for drying batches of material in compact form with movement in a path composed of one or more straight lines, e.g. compound, the movement being in alternate horizontal and vertical directions the lines being all horizontal or slightly inclined
    • F26B15/18Machines or apparatus for drying objects with progressive movement; Machines or apparatus with progressive movement for drying batches of material in compact form with movement in a path composed of one or more straight lines, e.g. compound, the movement being in alternate horizontal and vertical directions the lines being all horizontal or slightly inclined the objects or batches of materials being carried by endless belts

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to an apparatus for drying bottles, particularly of the type used in combination with a machine for washing bottles in a bottling plant.
  • the large bottling plants generally comprise a series of automated apparatuses performing the several operations of the bottling cycle, such as washing and drying the inside of the bottles, filling the bottles with a desired liquid, corking or capping the bottles, washing and drying the bottle outside, labelling and packaging the bottles.
  • the drying of the bottle external surface is generally performed by advancing the standing bottles along a conveyor belt through streams of forced air directed around the bottle external surface.
  • a problem associated with the drying step derives from the necessity to obtain a complete drying of the whole external surface of the bottle, without leaving areas that are not completely dried at the end of the drying step since moist areas could impair the success of the subsequent labelling step.
  • a first object of the present invention is therefore to provide an apparatus that allows the complete drying of the whole external surface of the bottles.
  • a further problem associated with the bottle drying step derives from the necessity to obtain a high drying speed to prevent undue delays in large bottling lines.
  • a second object of the present invention is therefore to provide an apparatus allowing to quickly dry a large number of bottles.
  • the apparatus for drying bottles accomplishes the advancing of the bottles to be dried through a conveying line comprising a pair of conveyor belts adjacent and parallel to each other advancing at different speeds, on which the standing bottles are carried, the bases of such bottles resting for half on one belt and for half on the adjacent belt.
  • the bottles are made to advance through air streams ejected from ducts located sideways to the conveyor belts and inclined in a downwards direction with respect to the bottle translation. This way, thanks to the combination of the belt translation motion with the bottle rotary motion, the air stream licks up the whole bottle surface starting from the cork down to the bottle base producing a spiral drying effect.
  • the conveyor line is divided in two or more sections located either parallel to each other or at different angles to reduce the longitudinal overall dimension of the apparatus.
  • the apparatus 1 for drying bottles according to the invention is disposed on a substantially parallelepiped base 3, constituted by a box-shaped frame 3d and provided with a covering 3a, detachable side walls 3b and a plurality of adjustable supporting feet 3c.
  • the apparatus 1 comprises a conveyor line 10a, 10b for feeding the bottles 2 to be dried through means 40 generating air streams, such means being located sideways to the conveyor line 10a, 10b.
  • the conveyor line 10a, 10b comprises a first section 10a on which the bottles 2 to be dried are disposed, and a second section 10b from which the dried bottles 2 are withdrawn for being transferred to the next processing steps.
  • Each conveyor line 10a, 10b comprises a pair of conveying belts, indicated in the Figures with the references 12a, 13a for the section 10a, and 12b, 13b for the section 10b, respectively, said belts being adjacent and parallel to each other, and supporting the bases of the bottles 2, with half of the base resting on a belt and the other half resting on the adjacent belt.
  • the conveyor belts 12a, 12b of the conveyor line 10a, 10b advance at a speed different from the speed of the belts conveyors 13a, 13b. This way, during the advancing movement of the belts, a rotating motion around their axes is imparted to the bottles 2.
  • the conveyor belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b are slightly inclined towards the centre line of the conveyor line so that the transversal cross section of the conveying surface on which the bottles 2 rest has a V-shaped configuration.
  • the conveyor belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b are preferably realized through meshes of a resistant and inextensible plastic material, running over supports 11a, 11b, preferably of box-type stainless steel members, on which spacers 17 and 18 of a material having a low coefficient of friction are applied for an easier sliding of the belts.
  • said spacers 17 and 18 are realized in such a way that the belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b are inclined towards the centerline, as shown in Figure 3 by an angle ⁇ preferably comprised between about 1° and 5°.
  • Figure 4 shows a cross section of the driving mechanism of the conveyor belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b, this mechanism also providing the different advancing speeds to the belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b.
  • the drive mechanism comprises a shaft 20, protruding from a gearmotor 24 (shown in Figure 1), on which a first gear 21 is mounted, engaging with its outer teeth 21a the meshes of the faster conveyor belt 12a, 12b.
  • the gear 21 in turn is keyed to a idle shaft 23 rotatably supported on a (not illustrated) support.
  • the shaft 23 can be fastened to such support and the gear 22 can be rotatably supported on the shaft 23 through a bushing or a ball bearing.
  • the gear 22 is further provided with external teeth 22a engaging the meshes of the slower belt 13a, 13b, substantially laying in the same plane of the faster belt 12a, 12b.
  • the tolerance of the mesh openings 14 in belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b is large enough to allow the engagement thereof with the teeth 21a (respectively 22a) of the gear 21 (respectively 22) also when the conveyor belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b are in a position inclined with respect to the rotation axis of said gears 21, 22.
  • a first driving mechanism of the type described with reference to Figure 4 is provided for driving the belts 12a, 13a of the section 10a of the conveyor line, while a second similar mechanism is provided for driving the belts 12b, 13b of the section 10b of the conveyor line.
  • Both driving mechanisms can be actuated by means of corresponding electric motors (not shown), synchronized to each other through known means, for instance a speedometer dynamo.
  • the apparatus further comprises a motor-driven rotatable disk 26, preferably of a spongy material, located in correspondence of a semicircular wall 28, adapted to transfer the bottles 2 from the section 10a to the section 10b of the conveyor line 10a, 10b along a semicircular path defined by the contour of said wall 28.
  • a motor-driven rotatable disk 26 preferably of a spongy material, located in correspondence of a semicircular wall 28, adapted to transfer the bottles 2 from the section 10a to the section 10b of the conveyor line 10a, 10b along a semicircular path defined by the contour of said wall 28.
  • the means 40 for generating the drying air streams can comprise pairs of ducts 41 hanging from the base covering 3a through brackets 42 and disposed sideways of the conveyor line 10a, 10b.
  • Such ducts 41 are suitably inclined to the conveying surface along the conveyor line 10a, 10b so as to produce air streams at different heights along said conveyor line 10a, 10b.
  • said ducts 41 are disposed tilted downwards along the bottles' advancing direction, in the first section 10a starting from a height corresponding to the cork or cap 2a applied to the bottle down to a point located at half of the bottle height, and in the second section 10b extending from a point slightly higher than half the height of the bottles 2 down to the base of the bottles 2.
  • said air flows are obtained through a plurality of holes 43 provided along each duct 41 and directing the air towards the bottles transit zone, as illustrated in Figure 3, so as to generate a laminar flow of air that perpendicularly licks the external surface of the bottles 2.
  • a bottle 2 advancing along the conveyor line 10a, 10b, is thus subjected to a spiral drying action, moving top-down that drags downward the film of water covering the bottles 2 and ensures a complete drying of the whole external surface of the bottles 2.
  • a pair of fans 44 is located on the covering 3a of the base 3, and each fan is connected by a hose 45 to a hub 46 connected to the upper end of each duct 41.
  • FIGS 1 and 2 illustrate a washing station 50 located upwards of the apparatus 1 according to the invention.
  • the washing station 50 comprises a screw or worm conveyor 51 for picking up each bottle 2 from a belt conveyor 31 and inserting it into a semicircular socket 52 of a first revolving circular distributor 53.
  • the first distributor 53 transfer the bottles 2 onto one rotatable base 54 of a plurality of rotatable bases provided on a rotatable circular carousel 55. After being deposited onto the rotating bases 54 the bottles 2 are blocked by pressing caps 56 located on the upper part of the carousel 55, at the control unit 60 of said rotating carousel 55.
  • a brush 57 is mounted, rotating in the opposite direction with respect to the rotating bases 54 and to the carousel 55, for washing of the external surface of the bottles 2 through water jets from nozzles 61 laterally disposed with respect to the carousel 55.
  • a second rotating circular distributor 58 picks up the bottles 2 from the carousel 55 and transfers them onto the first section 10a of the conveyor line 10a, 10b of the apparatus for drying bottles.
  • a wail 70 properly shaped with curved profiles corresponding to the curvatures of the distributors 53 and 58 and of the carousel 55, is provided for maintaining the bottles 2 inside the semicircular sockets 52 and 59 during the transfer of the bottles 2 from the belt 31 to the rotating carousel 55 and from the rotating carousel 55 to the first section 10a of the conveyor line 10a, 10b.
  • the bottles 2 after being subjected to the drying step, through a special tapered portion 71 the bottles 2 are transferred again from the second section 10b of the conveyor line 10a, 10b to the belt conveyor 31 from which they will be picked up for the subsequent processing steps.
  • a support 32 fixed to the base 3 through a box-type member 33, for supporting said belt conveyor 31 parallely to the conveyor line 10a,10b.
  • guides 29 that can be adjusted both in height and horizontally through corresponding handle grips 30; moreover such guides are parallel to the conveyor line 10a, 10b and to the belt conveyor 31 so as to keep the bottles 2 on the corresponding conveyor belts during the translation along the conveyor line and along the belt 31.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)

Abstract

An apparatus (1) is disclosed for drying bottles (2), comprising at least one line (10a, 10b) for conveying the standing bottles (2) through means (40) adapted to dry the bottle external surface, in which the bottle conveyor line (10a, 10b) comprises a pair of conveyor belts (12a, 13a, 12b, 13b) parallely disposed and advancing at different speeds on which the bases of said bottles (2) rest.

Description

  • The present invention refers to an apparatus for drying bottles, particularly of the type used in combination with a machine for washing bottles in a bottling plant.
  • The large bottling plants generally comprise a series of automated apparatuses performing the several operations of the bottling cycle, such as washing and drying the inside of the bottles, filling the bottles with a desired liquid, corking or capping the bottles, washing and drying the bottle outside, labelling and packaging the bottles.
  • According to a known technique, after the washing step the drying of the bottle external surface is generally performed by advancing the standing bottles along a conveyor belt through streams of forced air directed around the bottle external surface.
  • A problem associated with the drying step derives from the necessity to obtain a complete drying of the whole external surface of the bottle, without leaving areas that are not completely dried at the end of the drying step since moist areas could impair the success of the subsequent labelling step.
  • A first object of the present invention is therefore to provide an apparatus that allows the complete drying of the whole external surface of the bottles.
  • A further problem associated with the bottle drying step derives from the necessity to obtain a high drying speed to prevent undue delays in large bottling lines.
  • A second object of the present invention is therefore to provide an apparatus allowing to quickly dry a large number of bottles.
  • The above and other objects of the invention are accomplished through an apparatus for drying bottles as claimed in the attached claims.
  • The apparatus for drying bottles according to the invention accomplishes the advancing of the bottles to be dried through a conveying line comprising a pair of conveyor belts adjacent and parallel to each other advancing at different speeds, on which the standing bottles are carried, the bases of such bottles resting for half on one belt and for half on the adjacent belt.
  • Thanks to the different advancing speeds of the belts, a rotating motion is imparted to the bases of the bottles around their axes during the advancing motion. Still according to the invention, the bottles are made to advance through air streams ejected from ducts located sideways to the conveyor belts and inclined in a downwards direction with respect to the bottle translation. This way, thanks to the combination of the belt translation motion with the bottle rotary motion, the air stream licks up the whole bottle surface starting from the cork down to the bottle base producing a spiral drying effect.
  • Advantageously, according to the invention, the conveyor line is divided in two or more sections located either parallel to each other or at different angles to reduce the longitudinal overall dimension of the apparatus.
  • The invention will be disclosed with greater detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus according to the invention, located downwards of a station for washing the bottles;
  • Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a sectional view along line A-A of Figure 1;
  • Figure 4 is a sectional view of a detail of the driving mechanism of the conveyor belts.
  • With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the apparatus 1 for drying bottles according to the invention is disposed on a substantially parallelepiped base 3, constituted by a box-shaped frame 3d and provided with a covering 3a, detachable side walls 3b and a plurality of adjustable supporting feet 3c. The apparatus 1 comprises a conveyor line 10a, 10b for feeding the bottles 2 to be dried through means 40 generating air streams, such means being located sideways to the conveyor line 10a, 10b.
  • According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the conveyor line 10a, 10b comprises a first section 10a on which the bottles 2 to be dried are disposed, and a second section 10b from which the dried bottles 2 are withdrawn for being transferred to the next processing steps.
  • Of course the choice of a conveyor line divided into two sections is not to be considered as limiting since the apparatus of the invention could provide either a single section or a plurality of sections arranged in parallel or according to different directions as needed, without departing from the inventive concept.
  • Each conveyor line 10a, 10b comprises a pair of conveying belts, indicated in the Figures with the references 12a, 13a for the section 10a, and 12b, 13b for the section 10b, respectively, said belts being adjacent and parallel to each other, and supporting the bases of the bottles 2, with half of the base resting on a belt and the other half resting on the adjacent belt.
  • According to the present invention, the conveyor belts 12a, 12b of the conveyor line 10a, 10b advance at a speed different from the speed of the belts conveyors 13a, 13b. This way, during the advancing movement of the belts, a rotating motion around their axes is imparted to the bottles 2.
  • By properly adjusting the mutual speeds of the belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b it is possible to impart to the bottles 2 a desired advancing speed as well as a number of rotations (turns) suitable to ensure a complete drying of the bottles 2.
  • Moreover, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the conveyor belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b are slightly inclined towards the centre line of the conveyor line so that the transversal cross section of the conveying surface on which the bottles 2 rest has a V-shaped configuration.
  • Thanks to the different speed of the conveyor belts and to the particular V configuration of the carrying plane a constant rotation of the bottles 2 around their axes is ensured and the distances between the bottles 2 are kept constant during the drying step.
  • The conveyor belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b are preferably realized through meshes of a resistant and inextensible plastic material, running over supports 11a, 11b, preferably of box-type stainless steel members, on which spacers 17 and 18 of a material having a low coefficient of friction are applied for an easier sliding of the belts.
  • According to the invention, said spacers 17 and 18 are realized in such a way that the belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b are inclined towards the centerline, as shown in Figure 3 by an angle α preferably comprised between about 1° and 5°.
  • Figure 4 shows a cross section of the driving mechanism of the conveyor belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b, this mechanism also providing the different advancing speeds to the belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b. The drive mechanism comprises a shaft 20, protruding from a gearmotor 24 (shown in Figure 1), on which a first gear 21 is mounted, engaging with its outer teeth 21a the meshes of the faster conveyor belt 12a, 12b.
  • The free end of the shaft 20, provided with teeth 20a engages the internal teeth 22b of a second (annular) gear 22 the diameter of which is smaller than that of the gear 21. The gear 21 in turn is keyed to a idle shaft 23 rotatably supported on a (not illustrated) support.
  • Alternatively, the shaft 23 can be fastened to such support and the gear 22 can be rotatably supported on the shaft 23 through a bushing or a ball bearing.
  • The gear 22 is further provided with external teeth 22a engaging the meshes of the slower belt 13a, 13b, substantially laying in the same plane of the faster belt 12a, 12b.
  • In this respect the tolerance of the mesh openings 14 in belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b is large enough to allow the engagement thereof with the teeth 21a (respectively 22a) of the gear 21 (respectively 22) also when the conveyor belts 12a, 12b and 13a, 13b are in a position inclined with respect to the rotation axis of said gears 21, 22.
  • In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a first driving mechanism of the type described with reference to Figure 4 is provided for driving the belts 12a, 13a of the section 10a of the conveyor line, while a second similar mechanism is provided for driving the belts 12b, 13b of the section 10b of the conveyor line.
  • Both driving mechanisms can be actuated by means of corresponding electric motors (not shown), synchronized to each other through known means, for instance a speedometer dynamo.
  • Again with reference to Figure 1, the apparatus according to the present invention further comprises a motor-driven rotatable disk 26, preferably of a spongy material, located in correspondence of a semicircular wall 28, adapted to transfer the bottles 2 from the section 10a to the section 10b of the conveyor line 10a, 10b along a semicircular path defined by the contour of said wall 28.
  • Preferably the means 40 for generating the drying air streams can comprise pairs of ducts 41 hanging from the base covering 3a through brackets 42 and disposed sideways of the conveyor line 10a, 10b.
  • Such ducts 41 are suitably inclined to the conveying surface along the conveyor line 10a, 10b so as to produce air streams at different heights along said conveyor line 10a, 10b.
  • Preferably, said ducts 41 are disposed tilted downwards along the bottles' advancing direction, in the first section 10a starting from a height corresponding to the cork or cap 2a applied to the bottle down to a point located at half of the bottle height, and in the second section 10b extending from a point slightly higher than half the height of the bottles 2 down to the base of the bottles 2.
  • Advantageously, said air flows are obtained through a plurality of holes 43 provided along each duct 41 and directing the air towards the bottles transit zone, as illustrated in Figure 3, so as to generate a laminar flow of air that perpendicularly licks the external surface of the bottles 2.
  • A bottle 2 advancing along the conveyor line 10a, 10b, is thus subjected to a spiral drying action, moving top-down that drags downward the film of water covering the bottles 2 and ensures a complete drying of the whole external surface of the bottles 2.
  • For producing a flow of forced air inside the ducts 41, a pair of fans 44 is located on the covering 3a of the base 3, and each fan is connected by a hose 45 to a hub 46 connected to the upper end of each duct 41.
  • Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a washing station 50 located upwards of the apparatus 1 according to the invention. The washing station 50 comprises a screw or worm conveyor 51 for picking up each bottle 2 from a belt conveyor 31 and inserting it into a semicircular socket 52 of a first revolving circular distributor 53.
  • The first distributor 53 transfer the bottles 2 onto one rotatable base 54 of a plurality of rotatable bases provided on a rotatable circular carousel 55. After being deposited onto the rotating bases 54 the bottles 2 are blocked by pressing caps 56 located on the upper part of the carousel 55, at the control unit 60 of said rotating carousel 55.
  • At the center of the rotating carousel 55 a brush 57 is mounted, rotating in the opposite direction with respect to the rotating bases 54 and to the carousel 55, for washing of the external surface of the bottles 2 through water jets from nozzles 61 laterally disposed with respect to the carousel 55.
  • A second rotating circular distributor 58, of the same type of distributor 53 and equipped with semicircular sockets 59, picks up the bottles 2 from the carousel 55 and transfers them onto the first section 10a of the conveyor line 10a, 10b of the apparatus for drying bottles.
  • A wail 70, properly shaped with curved profiles corresponding to the curvatures of the distributors 53 and 58 and of the carousel 55, is provided for maintaining the bottles 2 inside the semicircular sockets 52 and 59 during the transfer of the bottles 2 from the belt 31 to the rotating carousel 55 and from the rotating carousel 55 to the first section 10a of the conveyor line 10a, 10b.
  • According to the invention, after being subjected to the drying step, through a special tapered portion 71 the bottles 2 are transferred again from the second section 10b of the conveyor line 10a, 10b to the belt conveyor 31 from which they will be picked up for the subsequent processing steps.
  • It is further provided a support 32, fixed to the base 3 through a box-type member 33, for supporting said belt conveyor 31 parallely to the conveyor line 10a,10b.
  • As better illustrated in Figure 3, there are further provided guides 29 that can be adjusted both in height and horizontally through corresponding handle grips 30; moreover such guides are parallel to the conveyor line 10a, 10b and to the belt conveyor 31 so as to keep the bottles 2 on the corresponding conveyor belts during the translation along the conveyor line and along the belt 31.

Claims (10)

  1. An apparatus (1) for drying bottles (2) comprising at least one conveyor line (10a, 10b) for advancing said bottles (2) through drying means (40), characterized in that said at least one conveyor line (10a, 10b) comprises a pair of conveyor belts (12a, 13a, 12b, 13b) on which said bottles (2) rest, said belts being disposed parallel to each other and advancing at different speeds.
  2. A drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said belts (12a, 13a, 12b, 13b) advance in the same direction.
  3. A drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said belts (12a, 13a, 12b, 13b) are inclined towards the center line of the conveyor line (10a, 10b) so as to define a carrying surface having a substantially V-Shaped transversal cross section.
  4. A drying apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said conveyor line comprises a first section (10a) for transferring the bottles (2) along a first direction, and a second section (10b) for transferring the bottles (2) along a second direction.
  5. A drying apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized by providing means for transferring said bottles (2) from said first section (10a) to said second section (10b) of said conveyor line, said means comprising a motor driven rotating disk (26), preferably of a spongy material, and a shaped wall (28) defining the path of the bottles.
  6. A drying apparatus (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said drying means (40) comprises pairs of ducts (41) for generating flows of forced air that are located transversely to said conveyor line (10a, 10b) and inclined downwards along the advancing direction of the bottles (2).
  7. A drying apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said ducts (41) are equipped with a plurality of holes (43) for ejecting air.
  8. A drying apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said different belt speeds are obtained through a drive mechanism comprising a shaft (20), a first gear (21) keyed to said shaft (20) and provided with outer teeth (21a) engaging the faster belt, and a second gear (22) of smaller size than said first gear (21), said second gear (22) being provided with outer teeth (22b) and engaging the slower belt and with inner teeth (22a) meshing with teeth (20a) formed at the end of said shaft (20).
  9. A drying apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that said belts (12a, 13a, 12b, 13b) comprise meshes of a resistant plastic material and inextensible, with a mesh opening (14) large enough to allow the engagement of the teeth (21a, 22a) also when the belts (12a, 13a, 12b, 13b) are inclined.
  10. A drying apparatus (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises, upwards of said conveyor line (10a, 10b), a washing station (50) for washing the external surface of the bottles (2).
EP99830067A 1999-02-09 1999-02-09 An apparatus for drying bottles Expired - Lifetime EP1028300B1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99830067A EP1028300B1 (en) 1999-02-09 1999-02-09 An apparatus for drying bottles
DE69913480T DE69913480T2 (en) 1999-02-09 1999-02-09 Device for drying bottles
AT99830067T ATE256275T1 (en) 1999-02-09 1999-02-09 DEVICE FOR DRYING BOTTLES
DE1028300T DE1028300T1 (en) 1999-02-09 1999-02-09 Device for drying bottles
ES99830067T ES2149751T3 (en) 1999-02-09 1999-02-09 BOTTLE DRYING APPARATUS

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99830067A EP1028300B1 (en) 1999-02-09 1999-02-09 An apparatus for drying bottles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1028300A1 true EP1028300A1 (en) 2000-08-16
EP1028300B1 EP1028300B1 (en) 2003-12-10

Family

ID=8243270

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99830067A Expired - Lifetime EP1028300B1 (en) 1999-02-09 1999-02-09 An apparatus for drying bottles

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1028300B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE256275T1 (en)
DE (2) DE1028300T1 (en)
ES (1) ES2149751T3 (en)

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002044637A1 (en) * 2000-12-01 2002-06-06 O.N. Beck & Co. Ltd. Drying apparatus for articles on a conveyor
EP1357082A1 (en) 2002-04-26 2003-10-29 Cames snc di Colla G. & Sardi G. An apparatus for preparing the bottles to be labelled in a bottling plant
EP1357041A1 (en) * 2002-04-26 2003-10-29 Cames snc di Colla G. & Sardi G. An apparatus for bringing bottles to a desired temperature in a bottling plant
EP1363096A1 (en) * 2002-05-16 2003-11-19 Cames snc di Colla G. & Sardi G. An apparatus for drying the external surfaces of bottles
EP1363095A1 (en) * 2002-05-16 2003-11-19 Cames snc di Colla G. & Sardi G. An apparatus for drying bottles in a bottling plant
EP1498675A1 (en) * 2003-07-18 2005-01-19 Cames snc di Colla G. & Sardi G. An apparatus for drying bottles
EP1927547A1 (en) * 2006-11-30 2008-06-04 Europool S.r.l. Apparatus for drying external surfaces of containers to be labelled
DE102007012837A1 (en) 2007-03-17 2008-09-18 Krones Ag Apparatus and method for drying containers
ITGE20090088A1 (en) * 2009-11-19 2011-05-20 Omar Srl DEVICE FOR THE ONLINE TRANSFER OF BOTTLES AND WASHING EQUIPMENT INCLUDING THIS DEVICE
DE102010000548A1 (en) * 2010-02-25 2011-08-25 Krones Ag, 93073 Transport and drying section for individually conveyed articles and method for drying individually conveyed articles
DE102010030824A1 (en) 2010-07-01 2012-01-05 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Drying unit for drying subject matters in e.g. fillable containers, has vibration device comprising vibration generator designed to generate vibrations/oscillations of objects transported in drying apparatus
CN103551355B (en) * 2013-11-04 2015-09-02 桂林周氏顺发食品有限公司 Jar high-efficient washing drying equipment and washing drying means
EP2915599A1 (en) 2014-03-03 2015-09-09 Cames S.r.l. Con Unico Socio Station intended for a bottling plant and provided with an improved conveying line
CN104896900A (en) * 2015-06-23 2015-09-09 安徽安庆市金徽酒业有限公司 Device for using electric heat to dry wine bottles
CN108704905A (en) * 2018-05-23 2018-10-26 栾友祥 A kind of automatic cleaning drying device of brake oil pipe of automobile
CN112696916A (en) * 2020-12-29 2021-04-23 粟玉霞 Gas distribution device for medical reagent bottle drying equipment
CN112696886A (en) * 2020-12-29 2021-04-23 粟玉霞 Quick drying equipment for medical reagent bottle
CN112696887A (en) * 2020-12-29 2021-04-23 粟玉霞 Medical reagent bottle stoving case
CN114646203A (en) * 2022-03-04 2022-06-21 芜湖市智睿包装制品有限公司 Energy-saving oven for processing plastic cup and method thereof
CN115540572A (en) * 2022-04-22 2022-12-30 宣卫东 Kit drying device
CN116336783A (en) * 2023-05-11 2023-06-27 汕头市粤东药业有限公司 Drying device for traditional Chinese medicine processing

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102008004774A1 (en) * 2008-01-16 2009-07-23 Krones Ag Apparatus and method for drying articles, in particular liquid containers
DE102009052289A1 (en) * 2009-11-09 2011-05-12 Krones Ag Apparatus and method for labeling filled containers
CN109625790A (en) * 2018-12-13 2019-04-16 湖北枫林酒业酿造有限公司 A kind of bottle transmission air-drying device

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1930584A (en) * 1929-03-16 1933-10-17 Electric Furnace Co Belt drive conveyer
US2342189A (en) * 1940-07-25 1944-02-22 Crown Cork & Seal Co Conveying and transfer mechanism
US2501367A (en) * 1947-12-08 1950-03-21 Barry Wehmiller Mach Co Device for drying traveling articles
DE2403085A1 (en) * 1974-01-23 1975-07-31 Georg Obmann Bottle washing plant label remover - bottles carried between sprays by belts having different speeds, causing rotation
FR2444908A1 (en) * 1978-12-20 1980-07-18 Lemaire Freres Filled bottle drying machine - has side and under air jets, and rotates bottles by supporting one half on conveyor belt
FR2573187A1 (en) * 1984-11-13 1986-05-16 Meb Srl Washing and drying equipment for filled wine bottles
FR2660583A1 (en) * 1990-04-09 1991-10-11 Plastimarne Sa Automatic method for cleaning filled bottles and machine for implementing same
US5199868A (en) * 1989-05-24 1993-04-06 Centrotherm Elektrische Anlagen Gmbh & Co. Continuous furnace

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1930584A (en) * 1929-03-16 1933-10-17 Electric Furnace Co Belt drive conveyer
US2342189A (en) * 1940-07-25 1944-02-22 Crown Cork & Seal Co Conveying and transfer mechanism
US2501367A (en) * 1947-12-08 1950-03-21 Barry Wehmiller Mach Co Device for drying traveling articles
DE2403085A1 (en) * 1974-01-23 1975-07-31 Georg Obmann Bottle washing plant label remover - bottles carried between sprays by belts having different speeds, causing rotation
FR2444908A1 (en) * 1978-12-20 1980-07-18 Lemaire Freres Filled bottle drying machine - has side and under air jets, and rotates bottles by supporting one half on conveyor belt
FR2573187A1 (en) * 1984-11-13 1986-05-16 Meb Srl Washing and drying equipment for filled wine bottles
US5199868A (en) * 1989-05-24 1993-04-06 Centrotherm Elektrische Anlagen Gmbh & Co. Continuous furnace
FR2660583A1 (en) * 1990-04-09 1991-10-11 Plastimarne Sa Automatic method for cleaning filled bottles and machine for implementing same

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002044637A1 (en) * 2000-12-01 2002-06-06 O.N. Beck & Co. Ltd. Drying apparatus for articles on a conveyor
EP1357082A1 (en) 2002-04-26 2003-10-29 Cames snc di Colla G. & Sardi G. An apparatus for preparing the bottles to be labelled in a bottling plant
EP1357041A1 (en) * 2002-04-26 2003-10-29 Cames snc di Colla G. & Sardi G. An apparatus for bringing bottles to a desired temperature in a bottling plant
EP1363096A1 (en) * 2002-05-16 2003-11-19 Cames snc di Colla G. & Sardi G. An apparatus for drying the external surfaces of bottles
EP1363095A1 (en) * 2002-05-16 2003-11-19 Cames snc di Colla G. & Sardi G. An apparatus for drying bottles in a bottling plant
EP1498675A1 (en) * 2003-07-18 2005-01-19 Cames snc di Colla G. & Sardi G. An apparatus for drying bottles
EP1927547A1 (en) * 2006-11-30 2008-06-04 Europool S.r.l. Apparatus for drying external surfaces of containers to be labelled
DE102007012837A1 (en) 2007-03-17 2008-09-18 Krones Ag Apparatus and method for drying containers
EP1972877A2 (en) 2007-03-17 2008-09-24 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Apparatus and method for drying containers
ITGE20090088A1 (en) * 2009-11-19 2011-05-20 Omar Srl DEVICE FOR THE ONLINE TRANSFER OF BOTTLES AND WASHING EQUIPMENT INCLUDING THIS DEVICE
EP2324936A1 (en) * 2009-11-19 2011-05-25 Omar S.R.L. Apparatus for washing and drying bottles with a linear bottle transfer device
DE102010000548A1 (en) * 2010-02-25 2011-08-25 Krones Ag, 93073 Transport and drying section for individually conveyed articles and method for drying individually conveyed articles
US8793901B2 (en) 2010-02-25 2014-08-05 Krones Ag Transport- and drying device for individually transported articles and method for drying individually transported articles
DE102010030824A1 (en) 2010-07-01 2012-01-05 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Drying unit for drying subject matters in e.g. fillable containers, has vibration device comprising vibration generator designed to generate vibrations/oscillations of objects transported in drying apparatus
CN103551355B (en) * 2013-11-04 2015-09-02 桂林周氏顺发食品有限公司 Jar high-efficient washing drying equipment and washing drying means
EP2915599A1 (en) 2014-03-03 2015-09-09 Cames S.r.l. Con Unico Socio Station intended for a bottling plant and provided with an improved conveying line
CN104896900A (en) * 2015-06-23 2015-09-09 安徽安庆市金徽酒业有限公司 Device for using electric heat to dry wine bottles
CN108704905A (en) * 2018-05-23 2018-10-26 栾友祥 A kind of automatic cleaning drying device of brake oil pipe of automobile
CN112696916A (en) * 2020-12-29 2021-04-23 粟玉霞 Gas distribution device for medical reagent bottle drying equipment
CN112696886A (en) * 2020-12-29 2021-04-23 粟玉霞 Quick drying equipment for medical reagent bottle
CN112696887A (en) * 2020-12-29 2021-04-23 粟玉霞 Medical reagent bottle stoving case
CN114646203A (en) * 2022-03-04 2022-06-21 芜湖市智睿包装制品有限公司 Energy-saving oven for processing plastic cup and method thereof
CN114646203B (en) * 2022-03-04 2023-08-11 芜湖市智睿包装制品有限公司 Energy-saving type baking furnace for processing plastic cup and method thereof
CN115540572A (en) * 2022-04-22 2022-12-30 宣卫东 Kit drying device
CN116336783A (en) * 2023-05-11 2023-06-27 汕头市粤东药业有限公司 Drying device for traditional Chinese medicine processing
CN116336783B (en) * 2023-05-11 2023-08-22 汕头市粤东药业有限公司 Drying device for traditional Chinese medicine processing

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69913480D1 (en) 2004-01-22
DE69913480T2 (en) 2004-06-09
ES2149751T3 (en) 2004-06-16
ATE256275T1 (en) 2003-12-15
DE1028300T1 (en) 2001-03-15
EP1028300B1 (en) 2003-12-10
ES2149751T1 (en) 2000-11-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1028300B1 (en) An apparatus for drying bottles
US8327999B2 (en) Device and method for discharging elongate, coarse bulk products and for their further transport
CA2055537C (en) Container grouping apparatus
CA2114588A1 (en) Feed apparatus with two feedscrews
JP3584975B2 (en) Preform cleaning method and apparatus
JP2000508420A (en) Container inspection machine
JP2009149441A (en) Method and device for orientating product on conveyor
EP2933591B1 (en) Drying apparatus for drying containers
JP7385587B2 (en) Continuous circulation container conveyor device in packaging machinery
EP0405314B1 (en) Apparatus for feeding closures with a tube to an operating unit
FI82992B (en) FOERFARANDE VID BEHANDLING AV RETURFLASKOR OCH BEHANDLINGSANORDNING FOER RETURFLASKOR.
US20100314216A1 (en) Apparatus for unscrambling and orienting preforms or objects in general
US4563855A (en) Apparatus for packaging an edible liquid
CN103935546A (en) Boxing machine
EP1363096A1 (en) An apparatus for drying the external surfaces of bottles
EP1363095A1 (en) An apparatus for drying bottles in a bottling plant
EP1498675A1 (en) An apparatus for drying bottles
US2967321A (en) Container cleaning machine
JP2908239B2 (en) Bulb peeling equipment
US3375916A (en) Method and apparatus for positioning articles on a conveyer for packing the same
US3233718A (en) Bottle discharge apparatus
EP1036754B1 (en) A device for continuously feeding corks
US3775862A (en) Self clearing container part conveyor system
JP3712172B2 (en) Supply distribution device and supply distribution method
US2304050A (en) Container cleaning apparatus

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR IT LI PT

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

EL Fr: translation of claims filed
TCAT At: translation of patent claims filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: BA2A

Ref document number: 2149751

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T1

DET De: translation of patent claims
17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20010126

AKX Designation fees paid

Free format text: AT BE CH DE ES FR IT LI PT

AXX Extension fees paid

Free format text: SI PAYMENT 20010126

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20021205

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR IT LI PT

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: SI

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031210

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031210

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031210

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031210

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: KEMIA S.A.

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69913480

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20040122

Kind code of ref document: P

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2149751

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20040913

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050209

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040510

PGRI Patent reinstated in contracting state [announced from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Effective date: 20091201

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20100209

PGRI Patent reinstated in contracting state [announced from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Effective date: 20110616

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 17

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 18

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 19

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20180307

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20180221

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20180220

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20180426

Year of fee payment: 20

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R071

Ref document number: 69913480

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20200804

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20190210