2023 Equipment Overview - Inverting Rinsing Machine
For many products, dust, dirt and other debris in containers can be a big problem. Not only can it diminish the way a customer looks at a product, but it can be dangerous for products such as foods, drinks, medications and more. In certain industries, cleaning bottles can be not just a choice, but a necessity to avoid such contamination. Inverting rinsing machines can work as stand-alone machines or can be integrated into existing packaging lines to help with container cleaning.
As the name suggests, this rinsing machine inverts bottles to complete the cleaning process. Automatic inverting rinsers will clamp bottles as they move into the rinsing area on a power conveyor. Once clamped, the bottles are inverted over a waste reservoir. Rinse nozzles will then clean the inside of the bottle using air, water, product or other cleaning solutions. After the rinse is complete, the bottles are returned to the conveyor system, the clamp retracts and containers continue on the packaging line to the next machine, such as a liquid filler.
Automatic rinsing machines can clean up to sixteen bottles at a time and use a PLC and a touchscreen operator interface to allow for a variety of bottle shapes and sizes to be set up for cleaning in a quick and efficient manner. Settings for each bottle can be saved to the PLC, allowing recall of all duration, delay and indexing settings. This allows the operator to pull up all settings for a specific bottle with the touch of a few buttons once the bottle is initially set up. When bottles are provided to Liquid Packaging Solutions, recipes will typically be saved prior to delivery to the production floor making the machine user friendly for the packager!
Inverting rinsing machines are also available for smaller packagers as well. Semi-automatic rinsers require an operator for each cycle of bottles run. These smaller machines can use the same rinse media as the automatic equipment, but will usually be limited to about four bottles per cycle. The operator simply places the bottles upside down on the rinse nozzles and initiates the rinse via foot or finger switch. Once the rinse is complete, the operator will remove the bottles and repeat the process until all bottles have been cleaned. Semi-automatic rinsers will often be used in combination with a turntable and automatic equipment as well, allowing an operator to clean containers and simply place them on the loading turntable to be delivered to a conveyor for automatic filling, capping or other packaging processes.
Whether rinsing thousands of bottles an hour or a few bottles a week, rinsing machines can make the process more efficient and reliable. To learn more about container cleaning equipment, or to find the right solution for your packaging line, browse the LPS website or call to speak with a Packaging Specialist today.