Air rinsing apparatus and systems for rinsing containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019366397-A1
Application number	US-201916432249-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 5, 2019
Priority date	Jun 5, 2018
Publication date	Dec 5, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Air rinsing apparatus and systems for rinsing containers are disclosed. An example air rinsing apparatus includes: a first enclosure having a first inlet port and a first output port; a second enclosure within the first enclosure, the second enclosure comprising a second inlet port and a second output port, the second output port disposed on a same face of the first enclosure as the first inlet port; and one or more air movers configured to: urge first air into the second inlet port, the second enclosure configured to direct the first air from the second inlet port to the second output port; and pull second air from the first output port, the first enclosure configured to direct the second air from the first inlet port to the first output port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An air rinsing apparatus, comprising:
a first enclosure having a first inlet port and a first output port; a second enclosure within the first enclosure, the second enclosure comprising a second inlet port and a second output port, the second output port disposed on a same face of the first enclosure as the first inlet port; and one or more air movers configured to:
urge first air into the second inlet port, the second enclosure configured to direct the first air from the second inlet port to the second output port; and
pull second air from the first output port, the first enclosure configured to direct the second air from the first inlet port to the first output port.

2 . The air rinsing apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first enclosure comprises a plurality of first inlet ports including the first inlet port, and the second enclosure comprises a plurality of second output ports including the second output port and equal to the number of first inlet ports, the first enclosure configured to direct the second air from the plurality of first inlet ports to the first output port, and the second enclosure configured to direct the first air from the second inlet port to the plurality of second output ports.

3 . The air rinsing apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of second output ports include corresponding nozzles that extend through respective ones of the plurality of first inlet ports.

4 . The air rinsing apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of first inlet ports and the plurality of second output ports are arranged in a single row.

5 . The air rinsing apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of first inlet ports and the plurality of second output ports are arranged in two rows.

6 . The air rinsing apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first inlet port comprises a frustum-shaped opening configured to accelerate the second air entering the first inlet port.

7 . The air rinsing apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein the second output port comprises a nozzle extending through a smaller base of the frustum-shaped opening of the first inlet port.

8 . The air rinsing apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first enclosure comprises a first face, the first inlet port and the second output port being on the first face, and the air rinsing apparatus further comprising an extension plate positioned co-planar with the first face.

9 . The air rinsing apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second output port comprises an air knife.

10 . The air rinsing apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an ionizer disposed within the second enclosure and configured to generate positive and negative ions, the second enclosure configured to direct the first air from the second inlet port to the second output port such that the first air entrains the positive and negative ions.

11 . The air rinsing apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the one or more air movers are configured to urge the first air by providing positive air pressure to the second inlet port.

12 . The air rinsing apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the one or more air movers are configured to pull the second air by providing negative air pressure to the first output port.

13 . A container rinsing system, comprising:
a feed line configured to direct containers having openings, the feed line configured to direct the containers in a first number of rows of containers transverse to a direction of travel of the containers; an air rinsing apparatus disposed adjacent the feed line, the air rinsing apparatus comprising:
a first enclosure having a number of first inlet ports equal to the first number of rows of the containers, and a first output port;
a second enclosure within the first enclosure, the second enclosure comprising a second inlet port and a number of second output ports equal to the first number of rows of the containers, the second output ports disposed on a same face of the first enclosure as the first inlet ports; and
one or more air movers configured to:
urge first air into the second inlet port, the second enclosure configured to direct the first air from the second inlet port to the second output ports and into the containers; and
pull second air via the first output port, the first enclosure configured to direct the second air from the first inlet ports to the first output port to pull air and particulates from the containers.

14 . The container rinsing system as defined in claim 13 , the number of second output ports is equal to the number of first inlet ports, the first enclosure configured to direct the second air from the first inlet ports to the first output port, and the second enclosure configured to direct the first air from the second inlet port to the second output ports.

15 . The container rinsing system as defined in claim 14 , wherein the second output ports include corresponding nozzles that extend through respective ones of the first inlet ports.

16 . The container rinsing system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the first inlet ports and the second output ports are arranged in a single row.

17 . The container rinsing system as defined in claim 15 , wherein the first inlet ports and the second output ports are arranged in two rows.

18 . The container rinsing system as defined in claim 13 , wherein each of the first inlet ports comprises a frustum-shaped opening configured to accelerate the second air entering the first inlet port.

19 . The container rinsing system as defined in claim 18 , wherein each of the second output ports comprises a nozzle extending through a smaller base of the frustum-shaped opening of a respective one of the first inlet ports.

20 . The container rinsing system as defined in claim 13 , wherein the first enclosure comprises a first face, the first inlet ports and the second output ports being on the first face, and the air rinsing apparatus further comprising an extension plate positioned co-planar with the first face.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Feldmann William Mark
• Immell William Rick
• Coley Stanley
• Stefl Barbara
• Prows James Steven

Classifications

• B08B9/30

  and having conveyors · CPC title

• B08B5/023

  Cleaning travelling work · CPC title

• B08B9/286 Primary

  the gas being ionized · CPC title

• B08B2209/08

  Details of machines or methods for cleaning containers, e.g. tanks · CPC title

• B08B5/043

  Cleaning travelling work · CPC title