Container washing device

Abstract

To return a container after washing to an upright state even if the container is supplied in the inverted state.SOLUTION: When transfer means 7 supplies a container 1 in an inverted state at a transfer position to a first container holding part 3A, a first rotation mechanism 31A maintains the container 1 in the inverted state while movement means 4 moves the first container holding part 3A to a washing position from the transfer position. When washing means 8 washes the container 1 in the inverted state at the washing position, a second rotation mechanism 31B rotates the container 1 from the inverted state to an upright state while the movement means 4 moves the second container holding part 3B from the washing position to the transfer position. Consequently, the transfer means 7 can take out the container 1 in the upright state from the second container holding part 3B at the transfer position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container cleaning device, and more particularly to a container cleaning device provided with cleaning means for injecting a cleaning medium into the interior of an inverted container with its opening facing downward.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a container cleaning device for cleaning the interior of a container having an opening, there are provided a container holding part for holding the container, moving means for moving the container holding part between a transfer position and a cleaning position, supply means for supplying the container, discharge means for discharging the container, transfer means for supplying and removing the container to and from the container holding part located at the transfer position, and cleaning means provided at the cleaning position for injecting a cleaning medium into the interior of the container (Patent Document 1). In the container cleaning device of Patent Document 1, when the transfer means supplies a container with its opening facing upward to the container holding part, the moving means reverses the container holding part to invert the container, and after cleaning by the cleaning means, the container holding part is reversed again to return the container to its upright state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the container cleaning device of Patent Document 1 has a problem that it can only process a container in an upright state, that is, a container with its opening facing upward, and cannot process a container with its opening facing downward. In view of such problems, the present invention provides a container cleaning device capable of cleaning a container supplied in an inverted state and returning the cleaned container to an upright state.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] That is, the container washing device according to claim 1 comprises a container holding unit for holding a container having an opening, a moving means for moving the container holding unit between a transfer position and a washing position, a supply means for supplying the container, a discharge means for discharging the container, a transfer means for supplying and removing containers to and from the container holding unit located at the transfer position, and a washing means provided at the washing position for spraying a washing medium into the inside of the container. In a container cleaning device in which the above-mentioned container holding part is in an inverted state with the opening of the container facing downwards at the above-mentioned cleaning position, and the above-mentioned cleaning means sprays a cleaning medium from below the inverted container, The above supply means supplies an inverted container, The above-mentioned moving means is provided with a rotating mechanism for rotating the container holding part. When the transfer means supplies the inverted container to the container holding unit at the transfer position, the rotating mechanism maintains the container in an inverted state while the moving means moves the container holding unit from the transfer position to the washing position. The cleaning means cleans the inverted container at the cleaning position, and while the moving means moves the container holder from the cleaning position to the transfer position, the rotating mechanism rotates the container from an inverted state to an upright state with the opening facing upwards. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the above invention, even if the container is supplied to the transfer position in an inverted state, the rotating mechanism maintains the container in an inverted state while the moving means moves the container from the transfer position to the washing position, so that the container can be washed with its opening facing downwards at the washing position. Furthermore, according to the present invention, while the container is being moved from the washing position to the transfer position after washing, the rotating mechanism can change the container from an inverted state to an upright state, making it possible to remove the washed container in an upright state. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Diagram illustrating the upright mode of a container washing device. [Figure 2] Diagram illustrating the inverted mode of a container washing device. [Figure 3] Plan view illustrating the means of transport and rotation mechanism. [Figure 4] Front view illustrating the means of transport and rotation mechanism. [Figure 5] Diagram illustrating the operation of the moving means and rotation mechanism in the upright mode. [Figure 6] Diagram illustrating the operation of the means of transport and rotation mechanism in inverted mode. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The illustrated embodiment will be described below. Figures 1 and 2 show a container washing device 2 for washing an empty container 1 with an opening 1a formed at the top, and the device supplies the washed container 1 to a filling device (not shown) located downstream. The container washing device 2 includes a container holding unit 3 for holding the container 1, a moving means 4 for moving the container holding unit 3 between a transfer position and a washing position, a supply conveyor 5 as a supply means for supplying the container 1, a discharge conveyor 6 as a discharge means for discharging the container 1, a transfer means 7 for supplying and removing the container 1 to and from the container holding unit 3 located at the transfer position, and a washing means 8 provided at the washing position for spraying a washing medium into the inside of the container 1. These are controlled by a control means configured by a computer or the like (not shown). The container 1 has an opening 1a at the top where a cap is attached, and multiple containers 1 are supplied by the supply conveyor 5 while being housed in a packaging box 9. Furthermore, the packaging box 9 contains either an upright container 1 with its opening 1a facing upwards, as shown in Figure 1, or an inverted container 1 with its opening 1a facing downwards, as shown in Figure 2. In this embodiment, when cleaning the container 1 in the upright position, it operates in the upright mode shown in Figure 1, and when cleaning the container 1 in the inverted position, it operates in the inverted mode shown in Figure 2. In this embodiment, regardless of whether it is the upright mode or the inverted mode, the container 1 after washing is discharged to the discharge conveyor 6 in an upright state.

[0009] First, the supply conveyor 5 and discharge conveyor 6 described above are located on either side of the container holding section 3, which is positioned at the transfer location by the moving means 4. The supply conveyor 5 transports the packaging box 9 containing the container 1, and stops the packaging box 9 near the downstream end of the supply conveyor 5. The packaging box 9 is transported with its top lid open so that the transfer means 7 can remove the container 1. The discharge conveyor 6 receives the container 1, which has been cleaned by the cleaning means 8, in an upright position and transports it to a subsequent process (not shown).

[0010] The transfer means 7 described above consists of a rail 11 that extends over the supply conveyor 5, the moving means 4, and the discharge conveyor 6, a slider 12 that moves along the rail 11, and a liftable holding head 13 provided on the slider 12. The holding head 13 is configured to hold both upright and inverted containers 1. When positioned above the supply conveyor 5 by the slider 12, it holds the containers 1 contained in the packaging box 9 and transfers them to the container holding unit 3 located at the transfer position. The holding head 13 may include both a head for holding the opening 1a of the container 1 in an upright position and a head for holding the bottom surface of the container 1 in an inverted position, or it may be configured so that these can be replaced automatically or manually. Also, when the cleaning means 8 cleans the container 1 and the moving means 4 moves the container holding part 3 holding the washed container 1 to the transfer position, the holding head 13 holds the container 1 in the container holding part 3 and transfers it to the discharge conveyor 6.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the moving means 4 includes two rotating wheels 21 provided so as to sandwich two container holding parts 3, a support means 22 for pivotally supporting the rotating wheels 21, and a driving means 23 for rotating the rotating wheels 21. Here, FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the moving means 4, and FIG. 4 shows a front view thereof. Each of the rotating wheels 21 has a disk shape with a through hole provided at the center, and these are connected at a predetermined interval by a connecting member (not shown), and rotate about a revolution axis C1 passing through the center of the rotating wheel 21. Also, a ring-shaped spacer 21a is fixed to the outside (not shown) of each rotating wheel 21, and a ring-shaped driving wheel 21b is further fixed to the spacer 21a on the left side (in the drawing).

[0012] The support means 22 includes two bearing members 24 for pivotally supporting the rotating wheels 21 and a holding plate 25 for holding the bearing members 24, and the holding plate 25 is grounded to the ground. The bearing member 24 has a cylindrical shape with a through hole formed inside, and pivotally supports the spacer 21a and the driving wheel 21b of the rotating wheel 21 rotatably on its outer peripheral surface. The driving means 23 is constituted by a motor provided on the holding plate 25 on the left side (in the drawing) of the support means 22, and a gear 23b meshing with the driving wheel 21b is provided on the driving shaft 23a of the motor. With such a configuration, when the driving means 23 rotates the driving shaft 23a, the rotating wheel 21 rotates by the driving wheel 21b meshing with the gear 23b.

[0013] Next, the container holding part 3 that moves by the moving means 4 will be described. In the present embodiment, first container holding parts 3A and second container holding parts 3B having the same configuration are provided at positions facing each other across the rotation axis C1 of the rotary wheel 21, and first rotation mechanisms 31A and second rotation mechanisms 31B for rotating them are further provided. The first container holding part 3A includes a frame body 32 rotatably provided between the two rotary wheels 21, a gripping member 33 provided inside the frame body 32 for gripping the container 1, and an opening / closing means 34 for moving the gripping member 33 forward and backward. The second container holding part 3B also has a similar configuration. As shown in FIG. 3, the frame body 32 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and rotation axes C2 are provided at both ends. The rotation axes C2 are each pivotally supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the rotary wheel 21. Inside the frame body 32, four containers 1 can be aligned along the axis of the rotation axis C2, and four sets of the gripping members 33 are provided at positions facing each other across the four containers 1.

[0014] The opening / closing means 34 is constituted by a ball screw 34a provided so as to cross the frame body 32, a pair of sliders 34b that move forward and backward by the ball screw 34a, a motor 34c provided on the frame body 32, and a timing belt 34d provided between the motor 34c and the ball screw 34a. The ball screw 34a is provided such that the screw directions are opposite to each other with a connecting member 34e provided at the center interposed therebetween. The slider 34b is provided at a position facing the position where the container 1 is sandwiched, and the gripping member 33 is provided inside the slider 34b. The motor 34c is fixed inside the frame body 32, the drive shaft penetrates the frame body 32 and protrudes to the outside, and one end of the ball screw 34a also protrudes to the outside of the frame body 32. The timing belt 34d is stretched between the drive shaft of the motor 34c and the ball screw 34a. With this configuration, when the motor 34c rotates the ball screw 34a in one direction via the timing belt 34d, the screw direction of the ball screw 34a is reversed, causing the pair of sliders 34b to move closer to each other, and the gripping member 33 to hold the container 1. On the other hand, when the ball screw 34a is rotated in the opposite direction, the sliders 34b separate from each other, causing the gripping member 33 to open the container 1.

[0015] Here, when the transfer means 7 transfers the container 1 to the first container holding section 3A or the second container holding section 3B at the transfer position, the container 1 is placed on a support table 35 provided below the first container holding section 3A. The support table 35 is located below the first container holding section 3A at the transfer position and is provided to be able to move up and down by a lifting means 35a. The support table 35 is mounted on a mounting plate 37 which is held by a T-shaped stay 36 that is provided so as to penetrate the bearing member 24 of the moving means 4, and the stay 36 is fixed to the outer end of the bearing member 24 that constitutes the support means 22. The lifting mechanism 35a for raising and lowering the support table 35 is composed of a servo cylinder controlled by the control mechanism, and when the transfer mechanism 7 supplies the container 1 to the first and second container holding sections 3A and 3B, and when the container 1 is removed, the mounting plate 37 is moved to the raised position to support the container 1. On the other hand, when the container 1 is held by the first and second container holding parts 3A and 3B, the support table 35 moves to a lowered position and retracts so that the container 1 does not interfere when the moving means 4 moves the first and second container holding parts 3A and 3B. Furthermore, the lifting mechanism 35a can change the height at which it supports the container 1 using the support table 35, according to the height of the supplied container 1.

[0016] Furthermore, below the mounting plate 37, a pressing table 38 having the same configuration as the support table 35 is provided, and is provided so as to be able to move up and down by a lifting means 38a controlled by the control means. The pressing table 38 is positioned above and contacts the bottom of the inverted container 1, which is located in the above-mentioned cleaning position, from above, thereby supporting the container 1 so that it does not shift due to the pressure of the cleaning medium sprayed into the container 1. The pressing table 38 is also designed to move downwards to support the container 1 from the bottom when the container 1 held in the first and second container holding sections 3A and 3B is being cleaned by the cleaning means 8. On the other hand, once cleaning by the cleaning means 8 is complete, the pressing table 38 moves to the raised position and retracts so that the container 1 does not interfere when the moving means 4 moves the first and second container holding parts 3A and 3B. Furthermore, the lifting mechanism 38a can change the position in which the pressing table 38 supports the bottom of the container 1 according to the height of the supplied container 1.

[0017] Next, the first and second rotating mechanisms 31A and 31B will be described. The first rotating mechanism 31A includes a first transmission wheel 41A rotatably mounted on a bearing member 24 constituting the support means 22, a first passive wheel 42A that rotates the first container holding part 3A in conjunction with the rotation of the first transmission wheel 41A, and a first driving means 43A that drives the first transmission wheel 41A. Similarly, the second rotation mechanism 31B includes a second transmission wheel 41B rotatably mounted on the bearing member 24, a second passive wheel 42B that rotates the second container holding portion 3B in conjunction with the rotation of the second transmission wheel 41B, and a second driving means 43B that drives the second transmission wheel 41B. The first transmission wheel 41A and the second transmission wheel 41B are gears rotatably mounted on the bearing member 24 and are rotatably mounted independently of the rotating wheel 21. The first passive wheel 42A is a gear provided at the tip of the rotation axis C2 of the first container holding part 3A and meshes with the first transmission wheel 41A. Similarly, the second passive wheel 42B is provided at the tip of the rotation axis C2 of the second container holding part 3B and meshes with the second transmission wheel 41B. The first and second drive means 43A and 43B described above are motors fixed to the support means 22, and their drive shafts are provided with gears 43Aa and 43Ba that mesh with the first and second transmission wheels 41A and 41B, respectively.

[0018] According to the above configuration, when the first drive means 43A drives the first transmission wheel 41A, the first container holding part 3A connected to the first passive wheel 42A rotates in conjunction with it, and the container 1 held by the first container holding part 3A can be rotated. Similarly, when the second drive means 43B drives the second transmission wheel 41B, the second passive wheel 42B rotates in conjunction with it, causing the container 1 held in the second container holding part 3B to rotate. In other words, while the first and second container holding parts 3A and 3B are revolving around the orbital axis C1 due to the rotation of the rotating wheel 21, the first and second rotating mechanisms 31A and 31B make it possible to rotate the first and second container holding parts 3A and 3B around the rotation axis C2.

[0019] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the drive shaft of the first drive means 43A that meshes with the first transmission wheel 41A is provided so as to straddle the second transmission wheel 41B. In contrast, the rotation axis C2 connected to the second passive wheel 42B that meshes with the second transmission wheel 41B is provided so as to straddle the first transmission wheel 41A. Due to this configuration, when the rotating wheel 21 is rotated 360°, the drive shaft of the first driving means 43A and the rotation axis C2 of the second passive wheel 42B interfere with each other. Therefore, in this embodiment, the first and second container holding sections 3A and 3B are moved between the transfer position and the washing position, respectively, by rotating the rotating wheel 21 180° in either the forward or reverse direction. Specifically, in Figure 1, the first container holder 3A reciprocates along a semicircular trajectory on the right side of the circular rotation trajectory of the rotating wheel 21, while the second container holder 3B reciprocates along a semicircular trajectory on the left side of the trajectory.

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cleaning means 8 is located below the cleaning position of the rotating means and includes a cleaning nozzle 8a facing upward, a lifting means 8b for raising and lowering the cleaning nozzle 8a, and a supply means 8c for supplying a cleaning medium to the cleaning nozzle 8a. The above-mentioned cleaning nozzles 8a are provided in four positions, corresponding to the spacing between the containers 1 held by the first and second container holding sections 3A and 3B shown in Figures 3 and 4. By moving up and down by the above-mentioned lifting means 8b, their tips are inserted into the interior of the containers 1. The lifting mechanism 8b is configured by means such as an air cylinder, and while the moving mechanism 4 moves the first and second container holding parts 3A and 3B, the cleaning nozzle 8a is positioned in a lower standby position, and when the container 1 is in the cleaning position, the cleaning nozzle 8a is raised to the cleaning position. In this embodiment, the supply means 8c is configured to spray air as a cleaning medium, thereby removing dust from inside the container 1. A liquid may also be used as the cleaning medium. Furthermore, since the container 1 is in an inverted position during cleaning, dust inside the container 1 blown away by the air falls from below the opening 1a of the container 1, and if a liquid is used as the cleaning medium, the liquid can be discharged downwards from the opening 1a.

[0021] The operation of the container washing device 2 according to the above embodiment will be described below. First, the operation of the upright mode, in which the container 1 is supplied in an upright position, will be explained using Figure 5. The supply conveyor 5 transports the packaging box 9 containing the upright container 1 and stops the packaging box 9 in the vicinity of the moving means 4. Figure 5(a) shows that the above-mentioned moving means 4 has the first container holding part 3A (or the second container holding part 3B) positioned at the transfer location, and the above-mentioned support table 35 is waiting in the raised position. Meanwhile, the moving means 4 positions the second container holding part 3B (or the first container holding part 3A) in the washing position, the container 1 held by the second container holding part 3B is in an inverted state, and the pressing table 38 is in the lowered position, supporting the bottom of the container 1. From this state, the transfer means 7 is activated to remove the four containers 1 from the packaging box 9, which are then placed on the support table 35 located at the transfer position. Subsequently, the gripping member 33 of the first container holding section 3A is closed by the opening / closing means 34, and the containers 1 are gripped. Meanwhile, in the cleaning position, the cleaning means 8 is activated, the cleaning nozzle 8a is inserted into the opening 1a of the container 1 which is facing downwards, and the cleaning medium is sprayed to clean the inside of the container 1.

[0022] Figure 5(b) shows the state in which the moving means 4 is in the process of moving the first container holding part 3A from the transfer position to the washing position and moving the second container holding part 3B from the washing position to the transfer position. At this time, the support table 35 is retracted from the raised position to the lowered position, and the pressing table 38 is also retracted from the lowered position to the raised position. In Figure 5(b), the rotating wheel 21 of the moving means 4 rotates clockwise as shown, causing the first container holding unit 3A to move from the transfer position to the washing position along the semicircular path on the right side of the figure, and the second container holding unit 3B to move from the washing position to the transfer position along the semicircular path on the left side of the figure. Accordingly, the first rotating mechanism 31A rotates the first container holding part 3A in synchronization with the movement of the first container holding part 3A, maintaining the state in which the opening 1a of the container 1 faces the outer circumference of the rotating wheel 21. Specifically, while the first container holder 3A revolves around the rotation axis C1 of the rotating wheel 21, the first rotation mechanism 31A rotates the first container holder 3A around the rotation axis C2, thereby maintaining the state in which the opening 1a of the container 1 held by the first container holder 3A faces the outer circumference of the rotating wheel 21. The amount of rotation of the first container holding part 3A at this time can be adjusted by the rotational speed of the first driving means 43A, the gear ratio between the first transmission wheel 41A and the first passive wheel 42A, and so on. Similarly, while the second container holder 3B moves due to the rotating wheel 21, the second rotating mechanism 31B rotates the second container holder 3B, maintaining the state in which the opening 1a of the container 1 faces the outer circumference of the rotating wheel 21.

[0023] Figure 5(c) shows the state in which the first container holding unit 3A has been moved to the washing position and the second container holding unit 3B has been moved to the transfer position. Continuing from the state shown in Figure 5(c), the first and second rotating mechanisms 31A and 31B rotate the first and second container holding parts 3A and 3B. As a result, the first container holding part 3A moves the container 1 in an inverted position to the washing position, and the second container holding part 3B moves the container 1 in an upright position to the transfer position. Subsequently, when the support table 35 rises from the lowered position to the raised position, the gripping member 33 of the second container holding section 3B is released and the container 1 is placed on the support table 35. At the same time, the pressing table 38 moves from the raised position to the lowered position and comes into contact with the bottom of the container 1 held by the first container holding section 3A. Then, at the transfer position, the transfer means 7 is activated to remove the container 1 placed on the support table 35 and transfer it to the discharge conveyor 6. Furthermore, a new container 1 is taken from the packaging box 9 on the supply conveyor 5 and transferred to the second container holding section 3B. Furthermore, at the cleaning position, the cleaning means 8 sprays a cleaning medium onto the inverted container 1 held by the first container holding part 3A to clean the inside of the container 1.

[0024] Subsequently, the moving means 4 moves the container 1 from the washing position to the transfer position using the first container holding unit 3A, and then moves the container 1 from the transfer position to the washing position using the second container holding unit 3B, and repeats the above operation. However, the moving mechanism 4 rotates the rotating wheel 21 counterclockwise to move the first and second container holding parts 3A and 3B.

[0025] Next, we will explain the operation in the inverted mode, in which container 1 is supplied in an inverted state, using Figure 6. In Figure 6(a), the moving means 4 positions the first container holding part 3A (or the second container holding part 3B) at the transfer position, the transfer means 7 places the four containers 1 on the support table 35, and then the gripping member 33 of the first container holding part 3A grips the containers 1. Here, the height of the support table 35 is adjusted by the lifting mechanism 35a so that the position of the bottom surface of the container 1 supported in the inverted mode is the same as the position of the opening 1b of the container 1 supported in the upright mode. This eliminates the need to change the lifting stroke when the holding head 13 holds the container 2. Meanwhile, the moving means 4 positions the second container holding part 3B (or the first container holding part 3A) in a lower cleaning position, and the cleaning means 8 cleans the inside of the container 1, which is held in an inverted state by the second container holding part 3B.

[0026] Figure 6(b) shows the state in which the moving means 4 is in the process of moving the first container holding part 3A from the transfer position to the washing position and moving the second container holding part 3B from the washing position to the transfer position. In Figure 6(b), the rotating wheel 21 of the moving means 4 also rotates clockwise as shown, causing the first container holding part 3A to move its right half from the transfer position to the washing position, and the second container holding part 3B to move its left half from the washing position to the transfer position. Accordingly, the first rotating mechanism 31A rotates the first container holding part 3A, causing the opening 1a of the container 1, which was previously facing inward on the rotating wheel 21, to rotate so that the opening 1a of the container 1 faces outward. Meanwhile, the second rotating mechanism 31B rotates the second container holding part 3B, maintaining a state in which the opening 1a of the container 1 held by the second container holding part 3B faces the outer circumference of the rotating wheel 21.

[0027] Figure 6(c) shows the state in which the first container holding unit 3A has moved to the washing position and the second container holding unit 3B has moved to the transfer position. While the first container holder 3A moves from the transfer position to the washing position, the first rotating mechanism 31A rotates the first container holder 3A to position the inverted container 1 in the washing position while it remains in an inverted state. In contrast, while the second container holding unit 3B moves from the washing position to the transfer position, the second rotation mechanism 31B rotates the container 1 from an inverted state to an upright state and moves it to the transfer position. As a result, at the above-mentioned cleaning position, the container 1 is positioned with its opening 1a facing downwards, making it possible to clean the inside of the container 1 with the cleaning means 8. On the other hand, at the transfer position, the container 1 is placed on the support table 35 with its opening 1a facing upwards, and just like in the upright mode, the container 1 can be discharged to the discharge conveyor 6 in an upright position.

[0028] According to the container washing device 2 having the above configuration, in the inverted mode, the container 1 supplied in an inverted state to the transfer position can be positioned at the washing position while remaining in an inverted state, and the container 1 can be washed with the opening 1a facing downwards. Furthermore, since the container 1 after washing can be moved to the transfer position by changing its inverted state to an upright state, it can be discharged onto the discharge conveyor 6 with its opening 1a facing upwards. Furthermore, in this embodiment, even when the upright mode is selected, the container 1 is washed in an inverted state at the washing position, and the washed container 1 is discharged in an upright state. Therefore, regardless of whether the supplied container 1 is in an upright or inverted state, it is possible to discharge the container 1 in an upright state.

[0029] In the above embodiment, if a camera is installed above the supply conveyor 5 to photograph the inside of the packaging box 9 being transported on the supply conveyor 5 and to recognize whether the contained container 1 is upright or inverted, it is possible to automatically switch between upright mode and inverted mode. In the above embodiment, a washing position is set below the moving means 4, and the container 1 is washed in an inverted state at the washing position. However, washing positions may also be set at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions of the rotating wheel 21, for example, and the first and second rotating mechanisms 31A and 31B may be controlled so that the container 1 is in an inverted state at those positions. Furthermore, the transfer means 7 in the above embodiment may be configured with a slider 12 and a holding head 13 for transferring the container 1 from the supply conveyor 5 to the container holding part 3 of the moving means 4, and another set of sliders 12 and a holding head 13 for transferring the container 1 held in the container holding part 3 of the moving means 4 to the discharge conveyor 6. In this case, the holding head 13 for transferring the container 1 from the container holding section 3 to the discharge conveyor 6 can be configured to hold the container 1 in an upright position. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0030] 1 container 1a opening 2. Container washing device 3A, 3B First and second container holding sections 4. Means of transport 5. Supply conveyor (means of supply) 6. Discharge conveyor (discharge means) 7. Transfer means 8. Cleaning means 21. Rotating wheel 31A, 31B First and second rotation mechanisms C1 Orbital axis C2 Rotation axis

Claims

1. The system comprises a container holding unit for holding a container having an opening, a moving unit for moving the container holding unit between a transfer position and a washing position, a supply unit for supplying the container, a discharge unit for discharging the container, a transfer unit for supplying and removing the container to the container holding unit located at the transfer position, and a washing unit provided at the washing position for spraying a washing medium into the container. In a container cleaning device in which the above-mentioned container holding part is in an inverted state with the opening of the container facing downwards at the above-mentioned cleaning position, and the above-mentioned cleaning means sprays a cleaning medium from below the inverted container, The above supply means supplies an inverted container, The above-mentioned moving means is provided with a rotating mechanism for rotating the container holding part. When the transfer means supplies the inverted container to the container holding unit at the transfer position, the rotating mechanism maintains the container in an inverted state while the moving means moves the container holding unit from the transfer position to the washing position. A container washing device characterized in that, when the washing means washes an inverted container at the washing position, the moving means moves the container holding part from the washing position to the transfer position, while the rotating mechanism moves the container from an inverted state to an upright state with its opening facing upward.

2. The above transfer means supplies the container in an upright position to the container holding unit. When the transfer means supplies the container in an upright position to the container holding unit at the transfer position, the moving means moves the container holding unit from the transfer position to the washing position, while the rotating mechanism turns the container from an upright position to an inverted position. The container washing device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the washing means washes the inverted container at the washing position, the rotating mechanism moves the container holding part from the washing position to the transfer position, while the moving means moves the container holding part from the washing position to the transfer position.

3. The above-mentioned moving means has a rotating wheel that rotates around an orbital axis, and the container holding part is rotatably provided on the outer circumference of the rotating wheel via an axis of rotation. The above-described rotation mechanism comprises a transmission wheel rotatably mounted coaxially with the orbital axis of the rotating wheel, a passive roller mounted on the rotation axis of the container holding part and rotating the container holding part in conjunction with the transmission wheel, and a driving means for driving the transmission wheel. The container washing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the container holding part moves as the rotating wheel rotates, the driving means of the rotating mechanism rotates the passive roller via the transmission wheel, thereby rotating the container holding part around the axis of rotation, and thereby placing the container in an upright or inverted position.

4. The above-mentioned rotating wheel is provided with a first container holding section and a second container holding section at positions opposite to each other across the above-mentioned orbital axis. The container washing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the first container holding section is provided with a first transmission wheel, a first passive roller, and a first driving means, and the second container holding section is further provided with a second transmission wheel, a second passive roller, and a second driving means.

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