APPARATUS FOR DECONTAMINATING A HOLLOW CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING SUCH AN APPARATUS

Abstract

The invention relates in particular to an apparatus for decontaminating a container, which comprises a decontamination chamber (5), comprising a decontamination lamp (50), a panel (21) for opening and closing the apparatus, and an element for locking the panel in the closed position. The apparatus comprises a positioning carriage (6) for positioning said container (1) in said decontamination chamber and the panel is movable in translation in a first translation direction (D1) over a first travel segment between an open position and a closed position. The positioning carriage is movable in a second direction, parallel to said first direction, over a second travel segment, said second travel segment extending partially in said first travel segment. The positioning carriage is associated with an elastic return member (70) which is constrained in the treatment position of the positioning carriage.Figure for abstract: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: APPARATUS FOR DECONTAMINATING A HOLLOW CONTAINER AND METHOD OF IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH A DEVICE

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus designed to decontaminate a hollow container, and in particular the interior of the container. The apparatus is unitary, that is to say that it is designed to decontaminate one container at a time, in particular by emitting a light flux.

[0002] Various techniques are known for decontaminating the interior of containers, such as preforms, bottles or other flasks, before filling them with a food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical fluid in industrial manufacturing and packaging lines.

[0003] There is now a need to decontaminate containers in stores: in an ecological approach, many stores offer their customers the option of reusing the containers of the products they sell. Customers thus keep the containers of the products they buy. Once the container has been emptied of its contents, it is washed by the customer and brought back to the store to be refilled.

[0004] Even when washed, it is however usual for the container to be contaminated by various agents, particularly microbiological ones, which are not visible to the naked eye and which can recontaminate the product after filling. It is therefore important for the retailer to be able to provide a decontamination or sterilization service before filling, even if the container returned by the customer appears visually clean.

[0005] Decontamination devices such as those described in document EP 2 785 383 are known, aimed at decontaminating all kinds of objects, in particular medical objects: the device comprises a decontamination chamber in which ultraviolet radiation is emitted and a conveyor which allows the objects to be introduced into the decontamination chamber and delivered after decontamination. Such a device is however not ideal for decontaminating containers because it is particularly designed to decontaminate the exterior of flat or substantially flat objects. In addition, the device proposed in this document is bulky.

[0006] The invention thus aims to propose an apparatus for decontaminating hollow containers, which is not bulky and which ensures internal decontamination of hollow containers, such as flasks, pots or bottles.

[0007] The invention relates to this end to an apparatus for decontaminating a hollow container comprising a container opening, to enable it to be filled, said apparatus comprising: - an internal decontamination chamber, including a decontamination lamp, - a panel for opening and closing the device, movable between an open position of the device and a closed position of the device, - a panel locking element in the closed position.

[0008] The apparatus according to the invention is remarkable in that said panel is movable in translation along a first translation direction over a first travel segment between said open position and said closed position, in that said apparatus comprises a carriage for positioning said container in said decontamination chamber, said positioning carriage being movable along a second translation direction, parallel to said first translation direction, over a second travel segment between: a) a loading position of said positioning trolley, in which the positioning trolley is outside said decontamination chamber, and b) a treatment position of the positioning trolley, ensuring decontamination of said container and in which the positioning trolley is inside said decontamination chamber, said second travel segment of said positioning carriage extending partially into said first travel segment, and in that the positioning carriage is associated with an elastic return member which is constrained in the treatment position of the positioning carriage, the container bearing at least partially on the panel in the treatment position of said positioning carriage.

[0009] The apparatus thus produced allows the passage of the panel from the open position to the closed position of the drawer - and vice versa - to cause the positioning carriage to move from said loading position to the processing position by exerting pressure on the container. The constrained spring allows the apparatus to adapt to different container formats. In addition, the support of the spring on the positioning carriage allows the carriage, the container and the panel to be pushed back when the drawer is opened.

[0010] By combining the movement of the opening panel of the device with that of the device which positions the container, the space taken up by the device is optimized, which therefore makes it compact.

[0011] Furthermore, and according to an advantageous embodiment, the decontamination lamp is a lamp of elongated shape having a lamp section and a lamp axis, the lamp section being smaller than the opening of the container, to allow positioning of said decontamination lamp in the container by moving the positioning carriage into the treatment position, said decontamination lamp being fixed in said decontamination chamber.

[0012] This allows the interior of the container to be decontaminated, which is moved and guided around the lamp when the drawer is closed.

[0013] The apparatus according to the invention may also comprise the following characteristics, taken separately or in combination:

[0014] - the positioning carriage can be equipped with an adapter for said container which is removable and a locking wedge of the removable adapter in said positioning carriage, said locking wedge comprising one end which is pivotally mounted on the positioning carriage and another end which ensures locking of the locking wedge on the positioning carriage, said pivoting end ensuring passage of said wedge between an opening position of the wedge and a locking position of the wedge;

[0015] - advantageously, the wedge in the locked position can have a larger section smaller than a section of an entrance to the decontamination chamber, to allow the shim to be inserted into the decontamination chamber when the positioning trolley moves from the loading position to the treatment position. In addition to ensuring that the adapter is held in place, this prevents the drawer from closing if the shim is not properly locked;

[0016] - the removable adapter, having an adapter axis, may comprise a threaded cylindrical through opening which is fixed by screwing around a neck of the container, said neck delimiting said opening of the container, said axis of the adapter being aligned with the axis of said lamp when said removable adapter is in position in the positioning carriage. The adapter thus makes it possible to position the axis of the container in the axis of the lamp for its introduction into the container;

[0017] - said threaded cylindrical through opening may have two ends between which extend at least two coaxial internal cylindrical parts, said at least two cylindrical parts comprising different diameters, one of said at least two parts being accessible by one end of said threaded cylindrical through opening and the other of said at least two parts being accessible by the other end of said threaded cylindrical through opening.

[0018] The adapter can thus fit at least two container neck sizes;

[0019] - the threaded cylindrical through opening of the adapter may have an axis oriented horizontally, ensuring positioning of the container in a lying position in the device. This allows the device to be opened from its front face;

[0020] - said lamp axis can be oriented horizontally; and

[0021] - said opening and closing panel of the device can be mounted mobile in horizontal translation to form a front panel of said device.

[0022] The invention also relates to a method for implementing the decontamination apparatus as defined above, the method comprising the following steps: - opening the panel of the apparatus by horizontal translation of said panel in a first opening direction, - positioning the container in a lying position by at least partially fixing said container in said positioning carriage, - closing the panel, by horizontal translation of said panel in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, said closing of the panel causing said panel to stop against said container, said closing of the panel thus generating the movement of the container and the positioning carriage in said decontamination chamber and constraining the elastic return member, - and locking the panel in the closed position.

[0023] According to an embodiment which will be described later, the positioning of the container (comprising a neck) in the lying position is achieved by screwing the adapter around the neck of the container and by at least partial introduction of the adapter screwed to the container into a housing of the positioning carriage, the housing imposing an orientation of an axis of the adapter in a direction coaxial with the axis of the lamp.

[0024] Furthermore, the adapter can be held in position in said positioning carriage by locking the wedge. In this case, the locking of the wedge is detected to allow the closing of said panel of the device.

[0025] Advantageously, the container is positioned around the decontamination lamp by introducing said decontamination lamp into the container through said opening of said container during the movement of the positioning carriage.

[0026] More preferably, the opening of the panel is carried out by unlocking said locking element of the panel in the closed position; said unlocking causing said positioning carriage to move from the treatment position to the loading position under the effect of a relaxation of the elastic return member.

[0027] Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description of a non-limiting embodiment, and the appended drawings, in which:

[0028] [Fig.l] is a schematic sectional view of part of an apparatus according to the invention, [Fig.l] illustrating the apparatus with its panel in the open position, a container to be decontaminated being introduced into the apparatus to be fixed in a positioning trolley in the loading position

[0029] [Fig.2] is a schematic sectional view of the apparatus shown in [Fig.l], with the panel illustrated in an intermediate position between its open position and its closed position, the container being wedged with its bottom against the panel, the positioning carriage being in an intermediate position between its loading position and its treatment position, a tubular decontamination lamp being partially introduced into the container,

[0030] [Fig.3] is a schematic sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the panel illustrated in the closed position, the container being held in position by the positioning carriage and resting on a rear face of the panel, the positioning carriage being in its treatment position, around the decontaminating lamp in the decontamination chamber,

[0031] [Fig.4] is a perspective and schematic view of an apparatus according to the invention,

[0032] [Fig.5] is a schematic representation in section and from the front of a part of the positioning carriage of the apparatus according to the invention, and

[0033] [Fig.6] is a block diagram illustrating a method of implementing the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.

[0034] [Fig. 4] illustrates a decontamination apparatus according to the invention, making it possible to decontaminate one by one hollow containers of the flask or bottle type 1, comprising a container body 10 having a bottom 11 and a container opening delimited by a container neck 12.

[0035] Figures 1, 2 and 3 show such a container to be decontaminated.

[0036] The decontamination device shown in [Fig.4] is, for example, placed in a cosmetics store, offering its customers the option of returning their container 1 when it is empty to refill it.

[0037] The containers 1 are previously washed by the customers.

[0038] The use of the apparatus according to the invention therefore makes it possible to provide additional safety in terms of hygiene, by decontaminating the interior of the containers 1 before they are filled.

[0039] [Fig.4] shows that the apparatus is in the form of a decontamination cabinet, of the chest of drawers type, with a drawer 2 equipped with a handle 20, the drawer 2 allowing the container 1 to be introduced into the apparatus.

[0040] In the example illustrated, drawer 2 is located approximately halfway up the device.

[0041] Below the drawer, there is a first fixed box 3 which is equipped with a decorative element 30 cut through the front sheet metal of the box 3, closed by a translucent wall allowing the user to see the emission of a flash of light inside the device (during a decontamination cycle for example).

[0042] Above the drawer 2 is a second fixed box 4 which is equipped with buttons and / or indicator lights 40, 41 and 42, allowing respectively the starting and stopping of the device, to visually indicate and to allow a user to control the opening of the drawer 2, the last button being used to manually control the launch of a decontamination cycle.

[0043] Reference will now be made to Figures 1 to 3 to describe the elements that comprise the apparatus according to the invention.

[0044] The apparatus comprises an internal decontamination chamber 5, in which a decontamination lamp 50 is placed.

[0045] In this embodiment, the lamp 50 is made in the form of a quartz tube and the light emitted by the tube is a decontaminating pulsed light. It should be understood that the lamp 50 could be a lamp emitting continuous UV light, in an alternative embodiment.

[0046] The lamp 50, in the form of a tube, is therefore of elongated shape. It has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the container neck 12, to allow the introduction of the lamp 50 into the container 1 through the opening of the container.

[0047] The lamp 50 also has an XL lamp axis

[0048] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the lamp is fixed in the chamber 5 with its lamp axis XI positioned horizontally or substantially horizontally.

[0049] The lamp 50 is fixed by fixing one end 51 of the lamp in a receiving element 52, for example by screwing the end 51 into the receiving element 52.

[0050] The receiving element 52 is held at a distance from a bottom 53 of the decontamination chamber 5, to leave sufficient space around the lamp 50 to allow the body 10 of the container 1 to move around the lamp 50.

[0051] The base 53 is a support plate and the receiving element 52 is fixed on a foot 54, itself fixed on the base 53 (support plate).

[0052] The drawer 2 allows the opening and closing of the device according to the invention.

[0053] The drawer 2 comprises a panel 21, secured to rods 23 which are slidably mounted in guide studs 24. The studs 24 are fixed to the bottom 53 of the decontamination chamber 5. The rods 23 are equipped, at their free end, with stops 25 limiting the travel of the drawer 2 and the panel 21.

[0054] The drawer 2 is thus mounted to slide between an open position and a closed position.

[0055] The panel 21 of the drawer 2 is movable in translation between the open position of the drawer ([Fig.l]) and the closed position of the drawer ([Fig.3]).

[0056] The translation is carried out in a horizontal or substantially horizontal translation direction DI, as for the opening or closing of a chest of drawers.

[0057] In the illustrated example, which is in no way limiting, the panel 21 is oriented in a plane perpendicular to the translation direction DI in which it is moved.

[0058] The drawer 2 and its panel 21 are guided in translation by the rods 23 sliding in the guide studs 24.

[0059] A locking element 22 is provided, ensuring the locking of the drawer in the closed position of the apparatus, the locking element acting on the blocking of the panel 21 in the treatment position: the illuminated button 41 makes it possible to unlock the locking element 22. The unlocking of the element 22 is done by manually actuating the button 41, but only when this is authorized: the illuminated button 41 lights up when the user can actuate this button (as will be seen later).

[0060] The locking element 22 is therefore associated in its operation with the button 41 for opening and closing the drawer 2.

[0061] The apparatus according to the invention also comprises a positioning carriage 6, which ensures the correct positioning of the container 1 in the apparatus and which is mounted to move in order to bring the container 1 into the decontamination chamber 5, in a position allowing decontamination, and to remove the container 1 from the decontamination chamber, to allow its release from the apparatus.

[0062] The positioning carriage 6 comprises a receptacle 60 which is mounted to move in horizontal translation on an axis 61. More precisely, the receptacle 60 is fixed to a pad 62 which slides on a horizontal axis 61.

[0063] The receptacle 60 serves as a support, reception and locking device for a removable adapter 8 which will be presented later.

[0064] A spring 70, working in compression, is positioned around the axis 61: one (71) of the ends of the spring 70 is in abutment against a fixed element of the axis 61 and another end 72 of the spring 70 is in abutment against the pad 62 of the positioning carriage 6.

[0065] When the positioning carriage 6 is in the processing position ([Fig.3]), the pad 62 compresses the spring 70 which is constrained: in this position, the spring therefore exerts pressure on the pad of the positioning carriage. This pressure is however contained and does not cause the positioning carriage to return to the loading position because the locking element of the panel in the closed position prevents this.

[0066] When the positioning carriage 6 moves from the processing position to the loading position (from [Fig. 3] to [Fig. 1]), the shoe 62 is pushed back by the spring 70 which is no longer / not compressed and which returns to its natural position.

[0067] The spring 70 thus constitutes an elastic return member which is forced into the processing position of the positioning carriage.

[0068] This embodiment thus provides a spring, but it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the implementation of a spring and that it could extend to the implementation of equivalent means, such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, for example.

[0069] To ensure precise positioning of the container 1 in the apparatus, and as mentioned previously, the positioning carriage 6 comprises an adapter 8, which is fixed to the container and which is removable from both the container and the positioning carriage 6. In addition, the receptacle 60 of the positioning carriage comprises a housing 66 which makes it possible to precisely position the adapter 8 and therefore the container fixed on the adapter 8.

[0070] [Fig. 5] schematically shows the removable adapter 8 and the receptacle 60 of the positioning carriage 6: the adapter 8 is positioned in the housing 66 of the receptacle 60. A locking wedge 80 ensures the locking of the adapter 8 in position in the receptacle 60. The wedge 80 can be produced by an element one end 81 of which is pivotally mounted on a part of the receptacle 60 and the other end 82 of which is fixed to another part of the receptacle 60. The wedge can thus adopt a closed position in which it blocks the adapter 8 in position in the receptacle 60, and an open position in which it allows the adapter 8 to be released from the receptacle 60.

[0071] The size of the wedge in the closed position is such that it can enter the decontamination chamber. In the open position, or when not properly closed, it comes into contact with the peripheral wall of the decontamination chamber 5, thus preventing the positioning carriage from moving from its loading position to its treatment position.

[0072] The removable adapter 8 is designed, in the context of this embodiment, to be fixed around the neck of the container.

[0073] To do this, it comprises a cylindrical and threaded through opening 83, which is screwed around the neck 12 of the container 1.

[0074] More specifically, the removable adapter 8 is a hollow tubular part, which has two internal ends: one of the ends corresponds to one end of the threaded through cylindrical opening and the other end corresponds to the other end of the threaded through cylindrical opening. Between these two threaded through opening ends, the adapter has two cylindrical parts through, each with a different diameter. One end gives access to a first internal diameter of threaded cylinder another end gives access to a second internal diameter of threaded cylinder.

[0075] In this way, a container neck 12 having a first diameter can be screwed onto one side of the removable adapter. A container neck 12 of a second diameter can be screwed onto this same removable adapter but on the other side. The removable adapter is therefore suitable for two container necks of different dimensions.

[0076] Thus, the axis of the threaded through opening merges with the axis of the container when the removable adapter 8 is screwed onto the neck of the container.

[0077] The housing 66 of the positioning carriage 6 accommodates the removable adapter, screwed onto the neck of the container, so that the axis of the removable adapter 8 (and therefore that of the container) coincides with the axis XI of the tubular lamp 50, oriented horizontally or substantially oriented horizontally. In this way, the lamp is perfectly centered relative to the opening of the container, to allow unhindered introduction of the lamp into the container by moving the container along its axis.

[0078] Reference will now be made to the movement of the positioning carriage in the apparatus according to the invention.

[0079] The positioning carriage 6 ensures the positioning of the container 1 in a lying position and it is movable in translation in a direction D2 which is horizontal or substantially horizontal, to allow the positioning of the container around the tubular lamp 50. In the treatment position of the positioning carriage 6, the lamp is in the container 1: the movement of the positioning carriage 6 makes it possible to move the container around the lamp which remains fixed in the decontamination chamber, the lamp penetrating into the container through the opening in the neck 12 of the container as it moves.

[0080] The translation direction D2 of the positioning carriage 6 is therefore parallel to the translation direction DI of the panel 21.

[0081] Furthermore, the positioning carriage 6 is movable between two positions: a loading position, shown in [Fig.l], in which the positioning carriage is located away from the decontamination chamber 5 and in which it can receive the container 1, and a treatment position shown in [Fig.3], in which the positioning carriage 6 is located in the decontamination chamber 5, with the container, to allow the internal decontamination of the container.

[0082] Between the loading position and the treatment position, the positioning carriage 6 moves over a travel segment C2 (see [Fig.3]) which corresponds substantially to the length of lamp introduced into the container 1 in the treatment position of the positioning carriage.

[0083] Similarly, between its open position and its closed position, the drawer 2 (and its panel 21) moves over a segment of travel C1 (see [Fig.3] also). The segment of travel C1 has a length which corresponds to the length of the lamp introduced into the container in the treatment position of the positioning carriage 6, added to an adaptation length which corresponds to the distance between the bottom of the container loaded into the apparatus, in the loading position of the positioning carriage 6, and the panel 21.

[0084] According to the invention, the two travel segments C1 and C2 partially overlap. In other words, the travel segment C2 on which the positioning carriage 6 moves corresponds to a part of the first travel segment C1 carried out by the drawer 2 moved between its open position and its closed position (see [Fig.3]).

[0085] This allows the movement of the panel to cause the movement of the positioning carriage 6:

[0086] The drawer 2, in the open position, is pushed until the bottom of the container comes to rest on the panel 21. This first distance traveled in the first stroke segment corresponds to an adaptation distance DA.

[0087] This adaptation distance DA is the distance between the position of the open drawer panel and the position of the panel in abutment on the bottom of the container, and makes it possible to adapt to any container length up to a maximum container length imposed by the maximum opening of the drawer ([Fig.3]).

[0088] Then, the drawer continues to be pushed: it then moves the positioning carriage 6 over a useful distance DU so that the device penetrates sufficiently into the decontamination chamber 5 for the container to position itself around the lamp 50: the length of the lamp located in the container in the treatment position of the positioning carriage 6 corresponds (or corresponds substantially) to the useful distance traveled DU, which also corresponds to the length of the travel segment C2 traveled by the positioning carriage (see [Fig.3]).

[0089] Reference will now be made to a method of implementing the apparatus according to the invention, with particular reference to [Fig.6].

[0090] The device is first switched on (the device is switched on if it is switched off) by pressing button 40.

[0091] The device establishes a self-diagnosis following a first step A, aiming for example to identify that the positioning carriage 6 is indeed in its loading position, outside the decontamination chamber, or that everything is in order for the implementation of the device.

[0092] If this is the case (step A1), then the illuminated button 41 for actuating the panel 21 of the drawer 2 lights up (state 41 A) and the button 41 becomes operable, which means that the user is allowed to open the device by pressing button 41 and pulling handle 20 to open drawer 2.

[0093] If this is not the case (step A2), then the illuminated button 41 does not light up (state 41B) and the button 41 remains inactive. In this case, an operator should be called in (step Op) to identify the problem that is occurring in the device. The operator intervenes and possibly restarts the device to return to step A.

[0094] If the button 41 is lit (state 41A) and authorizes the opening of the panel 21, then the user will actuate the button 41 (step B): the locking element 22 is deactivated and the operator opens the drawer by pulling on the handle 20 of the panel 21 while pressing the button 41. In an alternative embodiment, automatic opening could be provided under the action of the spring.

[0095] Manually, the operator thus opens the drawer by pulling on the panel 21 to free up a maximum of space between the panel 21 and the positioning carriage 6: this maximum opening position corresponds to the opening position of the drawer, limited by the travel limit stop 25 C1 of the panel 21 of the drawer 2 (corresponding to the largest format of container usable with the device).

[0096] Then, the operator releases the removable adapter 8 from the positioning carriage 6 (by removing or releasing the wedge 80) and screws the adapter 8 onto the neck 12 of the container 1 to be decontaminated.

[0097] The operator again inserts the removable adapter 8, associated with the container 1, into the positioning carriage 6 and replaces the fixing wedge 80 to ensure the immobility of the container and the removable adapter in the apparatus (state E in [Fig.6]).

[0098] If the adapter is correctly inserted and immobilized by the wedge (step E1) and the wedge is correctly closed on the adapter, then the wedge does not hinder the introduction of the positioning carriage into the decontamination chamber 5 and the axis of the container is perfectly aligned (horizontally) with the axis X1 of the lamp of the decontamination chamber 5: the operator can close the drawer 2 by manually pushing the panel 21 (state 21B).

[0099] If the adapter is not correctly inserted and immobilized by the wedge 80 (step E2), or if the wedge 80 is not correctly closed, the positioning carriage 6 cannot enter the decontamination chamber 5 because the wedge comes up against the side wall of the chamber: the panel 21 remains open (state 21A) and the operator is invited to review the way in which he inserted the adapter, lock the wedge or screw the adapter onto the neck 12 of the container 1.

[0100] We consider the state El, indicating that the removable adapter 8 is correctly positioned and fixed by the wedge 80, and that the wedge 80 is correctly closed: The operator closes the drawer 2 (step F).

[0101] In doing so, the panel 21 comes into abutment against the bottom of the container which is driven in horizontal translation and moves, with the positioning carriage 6, from the loading position of the positioning carriage ([Fig. 1]) to the treatment position of the positioning carriage ([Fig. 3]): the lamp 50 does not move. It is the container 1 and the positioning carriage 6 which move under the action of the movement of the panel 21, the container surrounding the lamp 50.

[0102] In the treatment position of the positioning carriage 6, the spring 70 is compressed and the end of the lamp 50 located in the container has an end close to the bottom 11 of the container ([Fig.3]).

[0103] In the treatment position of the positioning carriage 6 in the decontamination chamber 5 (state 6A in [Fig.6] - in the closing position of the panel 21), the locking element 22 of the panel 21 is activated in the closing position.

[0104] The device according to the invention is ready to launch a decontamination cycle (State G in [Fig.6]).

[0105] Following step G1, the operator presses button 42 of the device, which deactivates button 41 allowing the panel 21 to be opened (the panel is thus kept in the locked position throughout the decontamination cycle). A decontamination cycle is then carried out by emitting a decontaminating pulsed light.

[0106] At the time of treatment, the button 42 is lit (state 42A) and the operator can visually verify the emission of a flash of light visible through the decorative window 30 of the lower box 3 during decontamination.

[0107] If, after pressing button 42, it does not light up (step G2, state 42B), then the operator is invited to check, for example, that the panel is locked in the closed position or repeat steps El and F previously described.

[0108] At the end of the decontamination cycle (step H1), button 42 goes off (state 42B) and the operator waits to be authorized to open panel 21: the decontamination cycle returns to step A in [Fig.6].

[0109] After a predetermined time, the button 41 lights up, visually indicating to the operator that it can be pressed to open the panel and retrieve the decontaminated container.

[0110] By actuating the opening button 41, the locking element 22 of the panel 21 is deactuated and the panel opens automatically, pushed by the container 1 resting on it, itself pushed by the elastic return member (relaxation of the spring 70) acting on the positioning carriage 6 to which the container 1 is fixed.

[0111] It is understood from the preceding description how the invention makes it possible to decontaminate a container, by proposing a device that is compact and easy to use.

[0112] It is understood in particular that certain elements of the apparatus are thus designed or arranged to perform several functions at the same time. Thus, the removable adapter makes it possible to fix containers having two neck formats. In addition, since the adapter is removable, it can be provided to implement several removable adapters in the apparatus, with different through-opening diameters from one member to another, which makes it possible to adapt the apparatus to an infinite number of container neck formats.

[0113] The removable adapter also allows the container to be wedged in the treatment position in the decontamination chamber and ensures coaxiality between the lamp and the container, whatever the format of the container and the diameter of its neck.

[0114] Furthermore, the device offers a horizontal panel opening towards the front, and the container is lying down, which saves space: in fact, the device is only in the open position for loading, which represents a short time. The rest of the time the treatment volume and the loading volume of the container are recessed.

[0115] The horizontal movement means that no weight needs to be lifted to move the positioning carriage from its processing position to its loading position or vice versa.

[0116] It should be understood that the apparatus could be designed with a panel opening above and a container positioned vertically upside down or upside down (with the container neck facing downwards or upwards) without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0117] The drawer, as shown in the example above, provides three combined functions: closing and opening the device, moving the container, protecting a user against the flash and the high voltage necessary for decontamination.

[0118] The device adapts to any container height thanks to the spring (elastic return member).

[0119] Finally, the wedge not only ensures that the removable adapter is locked in position in the positioning carriage, but also allows the mechanical locking of the movement of the drawer (its translation) if the container or the removable adapter are not correctly placed in the device.

[0120] It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has been presented and that it extends to the implementation of any equivalent means.

Claims

1. Claims Apparatus for decontaminating a hollow container (1) comprising a container opening, said apparatus comprising: - an internal decontamination chamber (5), comprising a decontamination lamp (50),*** - a panel (21) for opening and closing the device, movable between an open position of the device and a closed position of the device, - a locking element (22) of the panel in the closed position, characterized in that said panel (21) is movable in translation along a first translation direction (D1) over a first travel segment (Cl) between said open position and said closed position, in that said apparatus comprises a positioning carriage (6) for positioning said container (1) in said decontamination chamber (5), said positioning carriage (6) being movable along a second translation direction (D2), parallel to said first translation direction (D1), over a second travel segment (C2) between: a) a loading position of said positioning carriage (6), in which the positioning carriage (6) is outside said decontamination chamber (5), and b) a treatment position of the positioning trolley (6), ensuring decontamination of said container (1) and according to which the positioning trolley (6) is located in said decontamination chamber (5), said second stroke segment (C2) of said positioning carriage (6) extending partially into said first stroke segment (Cl), said decontamination lamp being an elongate lamp having a lamp section and a lamp axis (XI), the lamp section being smaller than the opening of the container, to allow positioning of said decontamination lamp (50) in the container (1) by moving the positioning carriage (6) into the treatment position, and in that the positioning carriage (6) is associated with an elastic return member (70) which is constrained into the treatment position of the positioning carriage (6), the container (1) resting at least partially on the panel (21) in the processing position of said positioning carriage (6).

2. Decontamination apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said decontamination lamp (50) is fixed in said decontamination chamber (5).

3. Decontamination apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the positioning carriage (6) is equipped with an adapter (8) of said container (1) which is removable and a wedge (80) for locking the removable adapter (8) in said positioning carriage (6), said locking wedge (80) comprising one end (81) which is pivotally mounted on the positioning carriage (6) and another end (82) which ensures locking of the locking wedge (80) on the positioning carriage (6), said pivoting end ensuring passage of said wedge between an open position of the wedge and a locking position of the wedge.

4. Decontamination apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the wedge (80) in the locked position has a smaller section than a section of an entrance to the decontamination chamber (5), to allow the introduction of the wedge (80) into the decontamination chamber (5) when the positioning carriage (6) passes from the loading position to the treatment position.

5. Decontamination apparatus according to claims 2 and 3, or according to claims 2, 3 and 4, characterized in that the removable adapter (8) has an adapter axis and comprises a threaded cylindrical through opening (83) which is fixed by screwing around a neck (12) of the container (1), said neck (12) delimiting said opening of the container (1), said axis of the adapter (8) being aligned with the axis (XI) of said lamp when said removable adapter (8) is in position in the positioning carriage (6).

6. Decontamination apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said threaded cylindrical through-opening (83) has two ends between which extend at least two coaxial internal cylindrical parts, said at least two cylindrical parts comprising different diameters, one of said at least two parts being accessible by one end of said threaded cylindrical through-opening (83) and the other of said at least two parts being accessible through the other end of said threaded cylindrical through opening (83).

7. Decontamination apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the threaded cylindrical through opening (83) of the adapter (8) has a horizontally oriented axis, ensuring positioning of the container (1) in a lying position in the apparatus.

8. Decontamination apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said lamp axis (XI) is oriented horizontally.

9. Decontamination apparatus according to claim 7 and 8, characterized in that said panel (21) for opening and closing the apparatus is mounted to move in horizontal translation to form a front panel of said apparatus.

10. Method for implementing the decontamination apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - opening the panel (21) of the apparatus by horizontal translation of said panel (21) in a first opening direction, - positioning the container (1) in a lying position by at least partial fixing of said container (1) in said positioning carriage (6), - closing the panel (21), by horizontal translation of said panel (21) in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, said closing of the panel (21) causing a stop of said panel (21) against said container (1), said closing of the panel (21) thus generating the movement of the container (1) and of the positioning carriage (6) in said decontamination chamber (5) and constraining the elastic return member (70), - and locking the panel (21) in the closed position.

11. Method according to claim 10, implementing an apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the container has a neck (12), in that the positioning of the container (1) in the lying position is carried out by screwing the adapter (8) around said neck of the container (1) and at least partial introduction of the adapter (8) screwed to the container (1) into a housing (66) of the positioning carriage (6), the housing (66) imposing an orientation of an axis of the adapter (8) in a direction coaxial with the axis of the lamp.

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the adapter (8) is held in position in said positioning carriage (6) by locking the wedge (80), and in that the locking of the wedge (80) is detected to authorize the closing of said panel (21) of the device.

13. Method according to claim 10, 11 or 12, implementing an apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the container (1) is positioned around the decontamination lamp (50) by introducing said decontamination lamp (50) into the container (1) through said opening of said container (1) during the movement of the positioning carriage (6).

14. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the opening of the panel (21) is carried out by unlocking said locking element (22) of the panel (21) in the closed position; said unlocking causing said positioning carriage (6) to move from the treatment position to the loading position under the effect of a relaxation of the elastic return member (70).

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