DEVICE FOR REMOVING DUST FROM CLOSURES BY IONIZATION

Abstract

A device for removing dust from closures which are capable of circulating in a chute extending along a longitudinal axis (y-y′), includes a suction system arranged around the chute and are capable of sucking up the dissociated dust from the closures, and including at least one ionization bar extending longitudinally alongside the chute.

Claims

1. A device for removing dust from closures moving in a chute extending along a longitudinal axis (y-y′), comprising: suction means arranged around the chute and capable of suctioning the dust removed from the closures, and at least one ionization bar extending longitudinally alongside the chute, said at least one ionization bar being made of anodised aluminum or stainless steel, having a length of at least 100 mm.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the suction means comprise a first nozzle extending longitudinally on one side of the chute, and a second nozzle extending along a transverse axis (x-x′) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (y-y′).

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the suction means comprise at least one vacuum switch configured for detecting a vacuum generated by the first nozzle and/or the second nozzle.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the suction means comprise at least one blowing bar extending longitudinally alongside the chute and including a pressure switch configured for detecting a predetermined value of a pressure injected into the chute and a pressure regulator configured for adjusting said pressure.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the first nozzle is in the form of an oblong hole and the second nozzle is adjustable.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing surrounding a portion of the chute, the housing including a door for accessing the portion of the chute, wherein the at least one ionization bar extends within the housing and alongside the portion of the chute.

7. (canceled)

Description

[0030] Further aims, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given only by way of a non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows schematically a bottling line comprising a device for removing dust from closures according to the invention;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows schematically a device for removing dust from closures according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a housing comprising said device for removing dust from closures according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a conventional bottling line denoted by the general reference numeral 1.

[0035] The bottling line comprises storage means 2 suitable for storing closures, here caps, and a bottling machine 3 suitable for performing the operations necessary to obtain a finished product, for example a filled and sealed bottle.

[0036] In order to transfer the caps from the storage means 2 to the bottling machine 3, the bottling line comprises a removable conveyor 4, here a chute.

[0037] As illustrated, the chute 4 is surrounded by a device for removing dust from closures 5 which is capable of cleaning the caps which move between the storage means 2 and the bottling machine 3.

[0038] In other words, each cap is cleaned by said device 5 before it arrives in the bottling machine 3.

[0039] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which illustrates an embodiment of the device for removing dust from closures 5.

[0040] The device for removing dust 5 here comprises two ionization bars 51 and 52 which extend along a longitudinal axis y-y′.

[0041] The two ionization bars 51 and 52 are capable of emitting an electric field composed of positive and negative ions via emitter tips powered by a high-voltage generator not shown in the figure.

[0042] The caps are thus exposed to the electric field along the entire length of the ionization bars 51 and 52 to loosen as much dust as possible from the caps.

[0043] The dust is therefore floating in ionized air inside the chute 4.

[0044] In order to remove the dust and minimise its deposit in the chute 4 or again on the caps, it is advantageous to suction it.

[0045] For this purpose, the device for removing dust 5 comprises suction means including a first suction nozzle 53 and a second suction nozzle 54.

[0046] The first suction nozzle 53, which extends longitudinally on one of the sides of the chute 4, is capable of removing the ionized air charged with dust.

[0047] The first suction nozzle 53 is advantageously in the form of an oblong hole, which makes it possible to simultaneously suction a large amount of dust having any dimensions.

[0048] The second aspiration nozzle 55 is adjustable and extends along a transverse axis x-x′ perpendicular to the longitudinal axis y-y′. It is used to clean the inside of the cap.

[0049] The suction means also comprise, in this example, two blowing bars which extend longitudinally around the chute 4.

[0050] The two blowing bars make it possible to loosen the discharged dust but also to put ionized air in contact with the caps.

[0051] Optionally, in order to check the operation of the suction means in an autonomous manner, a vacuum switch 55 is arranged where on a suction pipe common to the two nozzles 53 and 54.

[0052] Thus, an alert is generated if an insufficient vacuum is detected at the suction nozzles 53 and 54.

[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the device for removing dust 5 is enclosed in a housing 6 which is accessed via a door 61.

[0054] For safety reasons, a position sensor 62 is arranged on the door 61 in order to detect whether the latter is open or closed.

[0055] Optionally, the device for removing dust 5 also comprises a pressure switch 64 suitable for detecting a predetermined pressure value of the air injected into the chute 4, and a pressure regulator 63 suitable for adjusting said pressure.

[0056] For information, the predetermined pressure value can be between 0 and 6 bar, depending on the requirements for the device for removing dust 5 and the desired speed.

[0057] Optionally, the housing comprises a device 65 capable of controlling the operation of ionization. More particularly it comprises the high-voltage generator which supplies the ionization bars 51 and 52, measures the voltage continuously and sends an alarm signal to the bottling line operators in case of failure.

[0058] Thus, the housing 6 allows the device for removing dust 5 to be self-managing and to diagnose, in a non-limiting manner, any operating problem relating to ionization, suction and air injection.