US2431988A - Automatic machine for washing containers - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1947. F. J. cozzoLl AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR WASHING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 194:5

ATTORNEY De@ Z 1947- F. J. cozzoLl 2,431,988

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR WASHING CONTAlNERS Filed Feb. 12, 1945 4 SheeS-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1947. Ricci-Z611 2,431,988

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR WASHING CONTAINERS INVENTOR IKM/#W ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1947. A F. J. cozzoLl 2,431,988

AUTOMAIIC MACHINE FOR WASHING CONTA1NES l Filed Feb.l 12,'1943 4 sheets-sheet 4 /gl "El mvENToR 7MM4/- ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR WASHING CONTAINERS Frank J. Cozzoli, Plainfield, N. J.

Application February 12, 1943, Serial No. 475,625

8 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in the method and means of sterilizing tubular containers and more particularly to improvements in a washing machine capable of cleansing a variety of sizes and shapes of containers successively or simultaneously without danger of fracture and without undue loss or waste of the cleansing fluids during the washing process.

The present invention is an improvement on, and a continuation in part of, my prior application Serial No. 410,727, noW Patent #2,379,789, `dated July 3, 1945, and has for a primary aim to render available a machine organization capable of automatically feeding, sterilizing, and discharging delicate tubular containers such as, but not limited to, glass ampule and suture tubes, in an efllcient manner.

Another aim of the invention is to improve and render available a sturdy yet iiexible washing machine structure whose cleansing capacity in tubes per minute may be increased or decreased to suit a users requirements, a machine that is thorough in its operation and economical to operate, a machine that, by making a few simple adjustments, may be adapted to receive and cleanse various sizes and shapes of glass containers,-simultaneously, if the needs require, and a machine embodying a control means adapted for either continuous or cyclic operation.

A further aim of the invention is to eliminate the heretofore customary operation of hand feeding and the dangers incident thereto, such as glass splintering, and to further improve the character of the cleansing mechanisms and operations to the end that one is assured that tubes to be sterilized are not only untouched by human hands during the sterilization process but are also free of small splinters of glass or other foreign particles that might otherwise be contained or produced therein during the initial stages of manufacture.

The invention further undertakes to render the operation of cleaning more thorough than is possible by prior methods by subjecting each tube or container to a succession of different cleans- 'ing operations each of which may be followed by a liquid expelling and drying operation that removes all traces of the cleansing fluid used during the previous stage and thereby to condition the tubes to receive the same or a different cleansing iiuid during a neXt following stage.

Still another objective of this invention is to conserve the cleansing iiuid or fiuids used during the washing operations. This objective is attained first by providing a plurality of separate systems arranged to deliver independently of one another a selected cleaning fluid at a controllable rate at a given station to the interior of a tube only while the tube is at that station. During the transit of the tubes from station to station, the supply of cleaning fluid is closed oli automatically. In cooperation with this method of supplying cleaning fluid intermittently, the fluid previously supplied to a given tube is separately collected and returned to its individual reservoir where it may be ltered or otherwise processed and re-used. In this Way, cleaning fluids are used only when and in an amount necessary and there is no mixing of two or more cleaning fluids together which might render them less efficient or unusable for the purpose.

Another objective of the invention is to cooperatively associate with the foregoing an improved control system operable automatically to bring the cleansing machine to a stop at any time during the successive cleaning stages with the various elements and parts thereof in a position such that each of the several valves controlling the respective iiuid supply systems is closed off, so that the machine may not inadvertently come to rest and be left idle with the fluid pressure systems still functioning.

Still another objective of the invention is to provide an improved means for carefully and accurately locating the tubes to be cleansed on each of the cleaning nozzles in a manner that eliminates the possibility of fracture or chipping heretofore occasioned in hand loading devices, and for denitely relating the loading mechanisms with the tube translating andwithlthe valve control and stopping mechanisms so that not only will the machine remain properly timed but that, when stopped, the valves will be closed and the feeding and tube locating means will be in position to receive a new batch of tubes.

This invention further aims to render available a washing machine whose capacity and number of tube receiving needles and cleaning stages may be increased or decreased to suit particular needs without severe reconstruction or reorganization.

In attaining the aims of the invention it is proposed to arrange a conveyor structure with a series of transversely extending trough assemblies, each of which carries one or more radiating tubular needles on which the tubes to be cleaned are located. In the instant embodiment the trough assemblies are removably attached to the links of chainsthat pass over cog wheels intermittently revolvable on horizontal axes. As

the cogs are intermittently actuated, the troughs and needles pass from the under side of the wheel axis to a horizontal position where synchronously driven tube feeding mechanisms align the tubes and needles and place the tubes on the needles. The next movement of the conveyor lifts the tubes out of the loading mechanism, and subsequent movements place them in a vertical position, with ytheir open ends down. Each 'trough assembly is formed with a laterally extending common conduit in communication with each of the needle jets, and whose outer end is adapted to be engaged successively by each of a series of independent fluid supply nozzles. The supply nozzles are normally stationary relative to the movement of the troughs, but have a reciprocating motion timed with the conveyor movements so that after each trough arrives at a station a connection is made with a separate uid system and the particular cleaning uid or agent of that system is forced through the supporting needles to the-interior of the inverted tubes. In thepresent embodiment eight effective stations havebeen illustrated, andas one may desire to follow each Vinjection of cleaning fluid with a drying medium, four ofthe stations might be termed cleaning stations .and the intervening four, .drying stations. The invention, however, comprehends various combinations and the foregoingexample is but representative ofthe many combinations made possible by this invention.

Themechanisms are arrangedhowever, so that `immediately upon the shuttingoff of the cleansing iiuid at the first station of a pair, the inverted tubes drain into the troughs and may continue draining while the conveyor moves another step. At the next station,va connection with an air supply, for exampleis made-t hasten the 4expulsion anddryingof ythe tube. Meanwhile, the liquid collecting in .the troughs during vthe washing transferring and the Yexpulsion stages, is free to owiinto a catchbasin and from there conducted backto the reservoir. .Each pair of stations has its owncatch basin so that, inthe instant example, as many as =four different cleaning agents maybeused successively on .each tube and the respective liquids separatelycollected for re-use.

Meanwhile, additional tubes are being fed and located on the needles at the loading station, by means drivenby the conveyor driving means, and the thoroughlyfcleaned tubes are being discharged from the needles at the end station on to a conveyoror other .mechanism leading to packaging or `nlling devices. The operation is such that the attendant merely places unclean tubes, which may be of like sizeor-of .different sizes, in the loading channelaafter which they-are automatically aligned .with the Washing-needles, placed thereon, and movedthrough the successive cleansing, sterilizing anddrying stations, and the sterile tubes thereafter discharged upon a conveyor or receiving means ready for the subsequent operations of filling and sealing. The washing operation is continuously intermittent and allows just enough Ydwell .period at each station to insure proper loading, proper connecting and disconnecting of the iiuid lines, and cyclic operation of the control valves, .to insure adequate sterilization and drying time without waste or mixing of the ingredients. Followingthe initial operation of placing unclean vtubes lin the feeding racks, the machine operation is entirely automat-'c in its functioning.

O. her obj. c's and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description andin part drawings, like characters of reference denote .corresponding Darts throughout all the views, of which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a washing machine constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 1A is a fragmentary View of a portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 equipped with a modified Yform of loading mechanism.

Fig. .1B is a plan view of the loading mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1A.

Fig. `2 `is an end view thereof, partly in section better to illustrate the drive means and the mechanisms for coordinating the movements of the s everalelements and controls.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of a portion of the machine illustrating the valves and part of the control system.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of one formof control circuit.

Fig. 5 is plan View of the loading mechanism illustrated in Fig. Yl.

Fig. 6 is an end view thereof; Fig. '7 is an enlarged viewof a portion of the tube and needle aligning means; and Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken through one-of the loading troughs and aligning means.

Referring more `particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the Washing machine illustrated is mounted upon a pair of leg standards I0, and comprises essentially, a pair of lower rails ll, l2 and a pair of upperrails i3, i4, between which a series of bearing plates l5, .16, H, I8, are secured. The construction is such that by using increased or decreased lengths of rails Il-I4, and adding or removing pairs o-f bearing plate units IE-I8, the length of the machine may be altered and its capacity changed to suit specic requirements without expensive reconstruction or time consuming delays. This improved structure is set forth and-claimed more specifically in my cepending application Serial No. 514,930, Dec. 20, 1943.

The supporting 4rails il-Id are spaced apart, as in Fig. 2, and the channel therebetween contains substantially all of the actuating mechanisms. The conveyor mechanism also travels between thesupporting rails and includes two linked chain structures I9 and 2i), whose pivot rolls 2l engagenotches 22 in driving and driven pairs of star wheels 23 and 2li. The wheels 23 and 212 are xedly mounted to shafts 25 and 26, respectively, andthese are journaled in bearing blocks 2 and 28supported by the main frame. lBetween the pair of star wheels 23 a ratchet wheel 29 is xed and adapted to be driven intermittently by means ofa springpressed pawl 3Q mounted to the end of `anactuating lever 3l. The other end of the leveris pivoted to a cross support at 32 in such a positionthat a central portion of the lever overlays-an actuating cam or roller 33 mounted upon a main-cam shaft 34.

A motor 35 drives the main shaft through reduction gearing in a housing 35, and when operating .the-actuating arm 13H is caused to be raised and lowered once during each complete turn of the cam shaft. Each time the arm is lifted the pawl '30 engages a notch in the ratchet wheel and indexes the wheel one position. Such movements, it will be seen, advances the conveyor step by step in a counterclockwise direction (in Fig. 1), leaving a dwell period between steps for loading and cleansing operations.

The links of the two conveyor chains are disposed directly opposite one another and are bridged by removable needle trough assemblies 40 each of which comprises an open ended trough member 4| having a plurality of aligned tube supporting hollow needles 42 radiating therefrom. Each needle is screw threaded to the bottom of a trough and its interior arranged to communicate with a common conduit 43 formed in the trough bottom. If it is desired to use less than six needles, the excess is removed and the holes appropriately capped. The conduit is closed at one end and its other end is provided with a conical seat 44 which ls adapted to cooperate intermittently with the generally spherical end of fluid supply conduits 45.

In the present embodiment, eight supply stations and eight supply nozzles 45 have been illustrated. The number may, however, be increased or decreased as desired. Each of the nozzles 45 is normally spring pressed toward the seat 44 in a related trough assembly by a spring 46 operating between a -loose collar 41 and a normally tight colla` 48. By adjusting the tight collar to the left (in Fig. 2) the particular nozzle affected may be prevented from moving.

The several nozzles are actuated outwardly by means of levers 49 that are secured to an oscillatable shaft 50 journaled in brackets 5l secured to the framing, Another lever 52 is also secured to the shaft 50 and has its lower end pivotally connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 53 which in turn is pivoted at 54 in a bracket secured to the framing. The other end of the bell crank 53 carries a roller 55 that tracks on the periphery of a cam 56 secured to the cam shaft 34. Part of the surface of the cam 56 is relieved to provide a low portion into which the roller 55 drops during the movement of the conveyor. When the conveyor and the trough assemblies 40 have been indexed, the high portion of the cam 56 engages the roller 55 and actuates the bell crank clockwise from the position illustrated in Fig. 2. This movement through the toggle-like connection with lever 52 rocks the shaft 55 and levers 49 in a counterclockwise direction and the supply nozzles move inwardly and seat upon the respective seats in the trough assemblies.

After the nozzles are seated, a valve 6U associated with each supply line, is opened and fluid is directed through one or more of the lines 6 l. nozzles 45, and conduits 43 of the trough assemblies 40, Normally the valves 60 are closed, and are opened only when their respective valve stems 62 are depressed.

The means for opening the valves comprises a series of adjustable screws 63 carried at the free end of a pivoted bracket 64, each of which may be set so as to effect opening of its related valve to a greater or lesser extent depending upon requirements. The inner end of the bracket is pivoted to the framing, and carries an actuating arm member 65. 'Ihe arm 65 mounts near its lower` end, a roller 66 that engages a cam 61 mounted on the cam shaft. The cam 61 progresses from minimum to maximum diameter (see Fig. 4) so that the valves are gradually opened and quickly closed. The angular setting of the cam 61 on the cam shaft 34 is cooperatively related with the movements of the conveyor so that the opening and closing of the respective valves 6 is timed to .occur during the period of dwell of the trough assembliesat the different stations, and between the interval of seating and unseatingof. the supply nozzles, to the end that no cleaning fluid flows to the needles until all connections are tight. The setting of the individual set screws 63 controls the volume of fluid suppliedv to the different groups of needles at the diierent stations.

The valve actuating arm 65 is guided near its lower end in a lug 68 at the side of the machine and the extreme lower end 69 projects therethrough to engage, during a certain portion of its travel, the plunger 10 of a sensitive switch 1|. As diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4, the switch 1l is normally open and is connected to the drive motor in parallel with a manually operated normally open switch 12. When the operator actuates the switch 12 to a closed position, the motor 35 operates to drive the cam shaft 34 and the parts connected therewith, of which the valve actuating and switch control arm 65 is one. The cam shaft will make approximately one-quarter of a turn from the position shown in Fig. 4 (counterclockwise in Fig. 4) before the end 69 engages the plunger 10 and closes the switch 1I. When this occurs the operator may release switch 12. Power operation continues until the cam roller 66 rides off the high part of the cam 61. At this point the valve actuating screws 63 are quickly lifted, allowing the valves to close, and the stem 69 lifts away from the switch plunger 10 and the switch 1l opens. The drive motor thereupon stops and the machine comes to rest with all valves closed; and with the loading mechanism retracted to a position ready to receive tubes. Spring elements 13, 14 and 15 assist in the retracting movements of the several elements. The switch 1l is of conventional design having provision for overtravel of its actuating button, as for example, the yield spring represented in Fig. 4.

With this simpliiied form of control, the machine may be operated continuously, by maintaining the foot switch 12 closed, or cyclically by the intermittent actuation of the foot switch. With either method of operation, however, the operation of the holding switch 1l is such as to insure that the fluid valves 60 are actuated to closed position by the time the main drive ceases operation.

Cooperatively related with the indexing of the troughs is the operation of the loading mechanism illustrated more particularly in Figs. 1A, 1B, and a variant form in Figs. 1, 5-8. The function of the loading mechanism is vto position the unclean ampules or tubes on the several needles of successive trough assemblies during the time they are at rest. Advantageously, a horizontal position of the needles, as illustrated in these figures, is selected as the loading station. The loading mechanism comprises a reciprocable carrier that is guided on the rails I3 and I4 and actuated toward and away from the needles by mechanism driven from the common cam shaft 34. A cam element 8| having a gently rising side and a relatively steep side, is mounted upon the cam shaft 34 for that purpose and engages a, roller 82 carried by a pivoted lever 83. The lower end of lever 83 connects with generally horizontal link member 84 which in turn connects with the lower end of a pivoted lever 85. The upper end of the lever 352L has a pin and slot engagement with the under side of the carrier 8U, and as the main cam shaft rotates, the loading mechanism is reciprocated in timed relation with the conveyor movements, heav-yspring 86 normally tends' tour-'ge theroller 82 against thecam 8l'l and the feed carrier 80f to retracted'. position.

As illustrated4 in the drawings, each troughassembly carries six needles whereby six aanpules'or tubes may be loaded and subsequently washed simultaneously. Likewise in the tube carrie'r there are six' channels 86 into which unclean tubes are to be laid. The forward portions of the channels 86 are somewhat tapered asfatf 81' and serve to guide the' forward ends of the tubes into coaxial alignment with the' needles'; In"y the preferred form of loading mechanismshown' in' Figs; 11A'y and 1B thev feeding! and aligning of tube and' needle' is effected pneumaticallsT during.' the forwardl travel' of the carr-ier 80;. whereasg the form' illustrated in' Figs. 5,. 6D andl 8` the feeding and aligning i's effected mechanically' bythe overtaking.' action of the indivldual plunger's 88 which urge the" respective tubes into the polished cone shaped recesses 89' provided in centering' fingers 90".` The centering ngers 90move forward with the carrier 80 and are provided with'A similar cone cavities 9| in their sides facing the' needles. Thus as the carrier advances, the several needles, should any bei not perfectly straight, are guided by the cone wallsi 9|4 through ay central opening 9|@ therein and i-'nto the ampule or tube that centered in t-liecone' on the other side.

Withf referenceit'o the feeder illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 each plunger 88/ carries at its'forward end' a yielding'. abutment or pusher' 92 that is compressed slightly when' the rimof the tube or ampu-le' has been advanced' into the cone 89 as far as' it will go;

When,j however, the machine is equipped with pneumatic feeding; means, a jet of air" directed at' the rear endof each' ampule, urges the" respectiveampules forward' along the channels and into'the'c'ones 89;without subjecting the ampules to physical contact with the ends of' the feed plungers; Referring.,` particularly to Figs. 1A an'd 1B, the slide" 80` carries a.v seri'es of air jetsV 883;, one located in eachlof the channels 86', which' receive compressed air from a common manifold 885'. The' forward end' of each ail` jet" tube 88'" is` provided with a small opening 885 through whicl'i a stream of air' is forced at the proper time and which moves the tube lying' in the channel 86 there'along` and' into the cone 89. The air for the' jets i's controlled by a normallyY closed valve 88d' se'cured' to the frame,` andA which' ist opened automatically duringA the' forward movement of' the slld'e and closed again during the" return movement.

To effect this" operation', apivoted valvev` actuating lever 88? i's'i provided, the under side of wli'ich iS'- formed with a cam surface 88f adapted to" track upon' a roller 882 of the slide. As the" slide moves forward, the roller 881g rocks' the lever about its pivotv and depressies the valve' stelrr,l thus admitting the a2i`i=l to' then manifold 88h" and' the jets'- 88TH. When the" pressure" is on, the ampules; A immediately move forward intor the cone chucks andi are held by the? streams of air` pressure' in positions ready to receive' the' needles; When the chucks open, the' air stream-s continue to pushthev ampules ifolwardwell-on: thefrieedles. Aheady of the control valve 88d' a` cut-off valve 881 may be' i-`n stalled for' closing" oir orl regulating the volunie; and ahead of` the valve 88d a pr'essur'e" reducing orregulating; valve (not show'n mayb'e installed; The' latter is desir-able in* installation ing cones.

is guided on rods IDI where'the line pressure is too high. A jet pressure of approximately 5 pounds will advance medium size ampules efficiently. Larger and smaller tubes' or heavier and lighter tubes will naturally require increased or decreased jet pressures. The air from the control valve is directed to the jets 88aA through a line 885 and a exible hose 88k, the latter type of connection providing for them'ovement of the jets relative to the'xed control valve.

The centering cone elements 89 and 9| are Iformed in two parts, each part being pivoted to the carrier at 93, some` distance below the conical seats, and one leg 94 of each pair is pivoted to an actuating rod 95 and the other leg 96 of each pair, is pivoted to another actuating rod 91. A spring 98a connected to the ends of the rods 96 and 91 at the ends opposite their respective rollers is tensioned normally to hold all of the cones in closed position (full line position in Fig. 7). As the carrier travels forward,` in response to the action of the cam 8|, rollers 95a and 9"!a carried 4at the ends of the rods 95 and 91, engage' stationary cams 98 and 99, and at the end: of the forward movement, the incline of the stationary cams react to force the rods inwardly thereby effecting opening of the cones, i. e;, to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 7. By the time this occurs the cleaning needles will have been centered and caused to project well into the ampule or tube necks and the succeeding indexing movement of the conveyor will eiec't a lifting of the ampules out of the channels 86 through the'then opened center- Just prior thereto, however, the opening' of the centering cones permits the compressed air vor the spring cushions 92 to push each tube forward further on the associated needle' so that the ampules are well forward on the needles at the time indexing occurs, and-consequently cannot fall oi.

The means for advancing the plungers 88- relative' to the' carrier is illustrated in Figs. 1, 5, and 6` and comprises a; sliding frame |91)v that that form part of the traveling carrier 802 The carrier also mounts at its rearA portion, a pair of supportingv rollers to2' rotatably mounted on a shaft |03. Each roller bears upon a track plate |04 securedl to the main framing. The shaft |03 pivotally mounts' a short lever |05' which has a pin and slot connection with t "e underside of the sliding frame |00, and by means of arod-like extension |06', extends through an aperture |01 in ar stationary crossplate `member |08. Accordingly-as the carrier 80'moves forward, from the position illustrated in- Fig. 1', the rod |06 fulcrums on the sides ofthe `opening in the crossplate and rocks the lever |05, and the movement of the lever |05 is transmitted to the slide |00 and plungers 88 secured thereto, whereby the latter move' forward slightly faster than the forward movement of? the carrier. nismis not necessary when the pneumatic feeder is; employed.

The action: of the various elements, on reverse mover-nent of the carrier (to allow a succeeding needle group toinove` into loading position), is just the reverse to that explained, with the result that ampule space between the4 air jets or plungers and the centering cones is provided to permit easyr insertion of unclean tubes into the channels.

In order adapted forv tubes of diierent length, eacli uat the'A 16a-ding" mechanismbe plunger 88 is adjustable endwise relative to the slide |50. Set screws llliia are provided to lock each plunger in adjusted position. The dotted lines in Fig. illustrate the lower three plungers adjusted outwardly to accommodate slightly longer tubes. All plungers are, however, similarly adjustable and in consequence two or more sizes of tubes may be loaded and sterilized simultaneously. When necessary, one or more of the needles in the trou-gh assemblies, may alsoA be replaced by needles of a size best adapted to support the particular tubes to be sterilized. For exceptionally large tubes, the stationary cams 98 and 9S and the fulcrum plate |08 may be shifted rearwardly the requisite amount to a1- low correspondingly long needles to swing into position in front of the centering cones. With the machine equipped with the pneumatic feeder, all of the jets may be adjusted as a unit to- Ward or away from the cone chucks, and if different length tubes are to be run simultaneously jet tubes of different lengths may be mounted in the slide and manifold.

As the needle assemblies move upwardly about the starwheel center 26, carrying and supporting thereon the ampules or tubes, the tubes should any be not fully down on the needles, are caused to settle thereon Vand are then carried along the top of the conveyor in an inverted position through the eight sterilizing stations. At the station a, hot water, for example, may be injected into the interior of the tubes through the needles and connections heretofore explained, and at the next station a', air or other drying medium. At the third station b, another cleansing fluid, not necessarily water, may be injected followed by a drying or expelling medium at station b', and similar cleansing and sterilizing operations performed at stations c, c', d, and d', thus insuring a high degree of sterility.

Although it is not essential, it has been found convenient to group the cleansing stations in pairs, as above mentioned, for the reason that the valves controlling the several fluid supply lines are opened after the trough assembly arrives in position, and closed before the assembly leaves that position and all the while liquid is draining from the inverted tubes into4 the troughs. This draining may continue during the transit from the rst station of a pair to the second and in the interests of conserving and reclaiming, without mixing the different fluids, the fluid that drains from the ampules and trough while at the second station (of any pair) should be collected with the fluid that drains from the trough at the first station of the pair. This objective may be achieved by providing a plurality of catch basins HIJ along the path of travel under the lips of the troughs. In the instant example four of such basins have been provided and each has an opening HI therein which may be plugged, as illustrated, in Fig. 2, or piped to appropriate reclaiming apparatus or to reservoirs. Such liquid that may drip from the sides of the troughs during their travel about the conveyor is collected in an underlying-pan H2 from which it escapes to a sump through a pipe As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the ampules or tubes are prevented from being blown oif the needles when the pressure is applied, by a Vertically adjustable cover H4. This cover is open ended and normally is set to clear the bottoms of the inverted tubes without allowing the tubes too much end play therebetween.

At the completion of the several cleaning cycles the sterile tubes are carried from under the cover ll4 and removed ordischarged from the needles. In the embodiment illustrated herein an adjustable guide plate or chute l l5 is provided on which the tubes are laid as the needles reach a position below the horizontal. When this occurs the sterile tubes automatically slide off the needles `on to the chute and thence on to a conveyor belt H6. The link connection Ill and pin and recesses H8 afford means for adjusting the chute to dierent tube sizes.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fullyreveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for Various utilizations by retaining one or more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States:

1.- In an ampule washing machine an indexible element, a series of ampule supporting and washing needles mounted on said element, means for indexing said washing needles successively -from an ampule feeding station to a washing station and back to said feeding station, valve means and conduits for supplying cleansing fluid to the ampules while at the washing station, and means mechanically synchronized with said indexing means for actuating said valve means temporarily to an open position when the said needles are at the Washing station, means for starting the ymachine in operation, and additional control means connected with and operated by said valve actuating means operative normally to stop the operating cycle of the machine upon the movement of said Valve actuating means to a position closing said valve means.

2.A An ampule sterilizing machine combining a series of intermittently movable ampule supporting assemblies, each having a fluid conduit therein adapted to be coupled intermittently with a source of supply duid, a series of movable but normally stationary cleansing fluid supply lines, normally closed valve means in each of said lines for controlling the respective flows of cleansing fluidsv to the respective assemblies; means for moving said vassemblies from one station to another and thereafter to couple said supply lines with the respective conduits in the respective assemblies and for actuating said valve means temporarily to an open position during the period of rest of said assemblies, means manually operable to start the operation of the machine, and additional' means connected with said valve actuating means normally effective to continue the machine in operation and to stop same automatically upon the movement of said valve actuating means to a position closing said valves.

3. In an ampule washing machine, the combination of a conveyor, a series of members attached to said conveyor, a plurality of elongated ampule supporting jet elements extending from said members, each of said jet elements of each member having a central bore in communication with a transversely extending conduit formed in the member, a series of rectilinearly movable 11 fluid 'supply conduits, normally .closed valve means in each of said supply conduits, means normally operative to bring said series of supply conduits into -uid tight relation with the con.- duits `in said members and cyclically to open said valve means therein, land means associated with eachof said valveopening means to control the oW opening of the valve means and thereby the fluld delivered Vto arelated member and jet element-s independently ofthe flow of uid delivered through other valve means and supply conduits to their related members and jet elements.

.4. In a device of ythe character described, a series of-units each of said units comprising an onen 4vended trough shaped `@lenient mounting o plurality of tubular needles and having yan open ended uid conduit therein with which each of said tubular needles communicates, means for imparting an intermittent :movement to `said units, Vmeans -operative `when said Aunits are at rest to connect the said fluid conduit of selected ones of said .units with independent sourdes of uid under pressure, Aand means adjacent Athe open ends .of v.said trough `shaped elements for separately collecting vthe uiddischarged through said needles.

5. In a device of the character described, a series of units, each of said units 4,comprising a trough shaped elementmounting .a plurality yof tubular needles and having an open endeduid conduit formed therein with Whichseach of said tubular needles communicates, Ameans underlying said troughs for advancing-said troughs `intermittently, a series of supply conduits each having end portions -disposed in the plane of movement of the troughs and in alignment with the open end of the fluid `conduits thereof when the troughs are vat rest, -a control valve `in each of saidsupply conduits, and control means for Vthe valves including ,means j-synchroniz'eu with the trough advancing fmeans for veffecting actuation of selected ones of said valves, the fluid discharged throughtheeiective valves, trough conduits, vand needles, and collecting in the respec- VG troughs 'being :Carried 19421055 fthe trough 'ad' vanoing mechanism :to la --point of discharge.

:6..In a device of ,the character described, .a container l carrierfoomprising an elongated trough shaped element open at one end and mounting a plurality of tubular supports on -which oontainers to be washed areadapied todos oarriedfsaid element having a .lengthwise extending duid oonduitformod therein with which each Tof said tubillar supports oommunicatesior supplying ,huid through the .respective supnoris fio Athe interior 12 o f the containers, said conduit `being closed rat for Ymoving Asaid element.

7. The combination set vforth in claim 6 lcharacterized K1by relatively movable means operable in timed relation with the movement of said .element forestablishing a connection .with oneend of thecommon uid conduit in saidelement Aand a source of supplyuid.

8. ,Inan ampule-,washing machine, an indexible element, -.a series of ampule supporting kand wash.- ing needles mounted on said element, power means vfor indexingsaid elemEntrOm -an ampule feeding .station :to .a washing station and back to saideeding station,. conduit means at saidwashing station l,including normally closed Valve means for supplying cleaning ,iuid .to `the washing Aneedles YWhile 4at that station, .power means synchronized with said indexing means for efiecting actuation `of `said .valve `means ,to open positionduring `the .period said element -is .at the washing station, means normally .effective for initiating the indexing cycle, fand `additional means .actuated .byand .Controlled by .said vulve actuating Vmeans A,to ,continue vthe indexing fcycle effective through one complete A,cycle of valve operation yindepende ntlyi.0f saidfinitiating means.

one end and open at its other .en dfand means .J. COZZOLI.

REFERENCES CITED 'The following .references are of :record ,in the file of this patent:

lUNITED STATES PATENTS `Country Date QreatBritaln-.s-g- Mar- 13, 1.929

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