Labeler automated cleaning system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017014875-A1
Application number	US-201615206722-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 11, 2016
Priority date	Jul 17, 2015
Publication date	Jan 19, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning one or more components of a bottle labeling assembly, the apparatus comprising a pneumatic motor; a cleaning component coupled to the pneumatic motor; the cleaning component including a plurality of bristles and configured to rotate according to operation of the pneumatic motor; a guide rail and bearing coupled to at least one of the cleaning component or the pneumatic motor; and a pneumatic cylinder coupled to the guide rail and bearing and at least one of the cleaning component or the pneumatic motor, the pneumatic cylinder operative to move the cleaning component and the pneumatic motor along the guide rail and bearing is shown.

First claim

1 . An automated cleaning system comprising:
a cleaning component integrated into a conveyor belt bottle filling assembly; and a pneumatic actuator integrated into the conveyor belt bottle filling assembly and communicatively coupled to the cleaning component to control a movement of the cleaning component for removing residue from a labeling component of the conveyor belt bottle filling assembly.

2 . The automated cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic actuator is preconfigured to automatically pause the conveyor belt bottle filling assembly at predefined time intervals and initiate a cleaning cycle.

3 . The automated cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic actuator is communicatively coupled to the cleaning component via a mechanical arm, the pneumatic actuator transmits one or more electrical signals to the mechanical arm to control a movement of the cleaning component.

4 . The automated cleaning system of claim 1 further comprising:
a drying component.

5 . The automated cleaning system of claim 4 , wherein the drying component is an air knife mechanism.

6 . The automated cleaning system of claim 1 further comprising:
a container that holds a cleaning solution; and
a spray mechanism coupled to the container, wherein the cleaning solution is dispensed during a cleaning cycle of the automated cleaning system.

7 . An apparatus for cleaning one or more components of a bottle labeling assembly, the apparatus comprising:
a pneumatic motor; a cleaning component coupled to the pneumatic motor; the cleaning component including a plurality of bristles and configured to rotate according to operation of the pneumatic motor; a guide rail and bearing coupled to at least one of the cleaning component or the pneumatic motor; and a pneumatic cylinder coupled to the guide rail and bearing and at least one of the cleaning component or the pneumatic motor, the pneumatic cylinder operative to move the cleaning component and the pneumatic motor along the guide rail and bearing.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:
a reservoir to hold a cleaning solution;
a spray mechanism to spray the cleaning solution onto the plurality of bristles of the cleaning component; and
an atomizer coupled to the reservoir and the spray mechanism, the atomizer to atomize a liquid form of the cleaning solution from the reservoir, wherein the spray mechanism sprays an atomized version of the cleaning solution.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:
a check valve coupling the reservoir to the atomizer to prevent any backflow into the reservoir.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:
a housing that houses the spray mechanism, the housing coupling the pneumatic cylinder to the at least one of the cleaning component or the pneumatic motor, wherein the housing directs the spray.

11 . The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:
a spray control mechanism to control the amount of spray dispensed by the spray mechanism, the spray control mechanism being coupled to the spray mechanism.

12 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the pneumatic cylinder moves the cleaning component and the pneumatic motor along the guide rail and bearing in a straight line.

13 . A method of cleaning one or more components of a bottle labeling assembly comprising:
determining the one or more components of the bottle labeling assembly are empty; moving a cleaning component into contact with the one or more components of the bottle labeling assembly with a pneumatic cylinder; rotating the cleaning component with a pneumatic motor for a predetermined amount of time to remove excess residue; and removing the cleaning component from contact with the one or more components of the bottle labeling assembly with the pneumatic cylinder when the predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the cleaning component is moved along a guide rail using the pneumatic cylinder.

15 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
atomizing a cleaning solution; and
spraying the atomized cleaning solution onto the cleaning component.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the atomized cleaning solution is sprayed prior to rotating the cleaning component.

Assignees

• Niagara Bottling Llc

Inventors

• Brower Kyle
• Winningham Casey
• Ruben Daren

Classifications

• A46B13/02

  power-driven {carriers} · CPC title

• B08B9/00

  Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto · CPC title

• B05B7/0018

  with devices for making foam · CPC title

• B08B1/34

  rotating about an axis parallel to the surface · CPC title

• A46B13/00

  Brushes with driven brush bodies {or carriers}(power-driven toothbrushes A61C17/16) · CPC title