U.S. patent application number 12/227308 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-10 for equipment for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products.
Invention is credited to Marco Baroni, Gianpietro Zanini.
Application Number | 20090223168 12/227308 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38510341 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090223168 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zanini; Gianpietro ; et
al. |
September 10, 2009 |
Equipment for Processing Containers Filled with Liquid or Powder
Products
Abstract
Equipment (1) for processing containers filled with liquid or
powder products comprises a carousel (5) conveying containers (2)
for processing, a drive system (6) by which the carousel is set in
rotation about a vertical axis (X); a containing element (14)
placed around the carousel (5), and a covering element (18)
associated with the top of the carousel (5), combining with the
containing element (14) to create a fluid-tight chamber (19)
internally of which the carousel (5) is housed in its entirety. The
covering element (18) is in vertical direction slidably engaged
with the side wall for height adjustment of an upper frame (11)
according to the size of the container (2).
Inventors: |
Zanini; Gianpietro;
(Montanara Di Curtatone, IT) ; Baroni; Marco;
(Barbasso Di Roncoferraro, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Harbin Klima Law Group
500 Ninth Street SE
Washington
DC
20003
US
|
Family ID: |
38510341 |
Appl. No.: |
12/227308 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
May 16, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2007/001265 |
371 Date: |
November 13, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/281 ;
53/111R |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67C 3/22 20130101; B67C
2003/2668 20130101; B67C 3/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/281 ;
53/111.R |
International
Class: |
B65B 3/02 20060101
B65B003/02; B65B 7/28 20060101 B65B007/28; B65B 55/02 20060101
B65B055/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 17, 2006 |
IT |
BO2006A000376 |
Claims
1. Equipment for processing containers filled with liquid or powder
products, comprising: a carousel (5) designed to accommodate
respective containers (2) for processing; motion-inducing means (6)
by which the carousel is set in rotation about a respective
vertical axis (X); and, a containing element (14) placed around the
carousel (5), characterized in that it further comprises a covering
element (18) associated with the top of the carousel (5), combining
with the containing element (14) to create a chamber (19)
internally of which the carousel (5) is housed.
2. Equipment as in claim 1, wherein the containing element (14)
comprises a side wall (16) presenting a substantially vertical
planar inner surface (17) directed toward the carousel (5), and the
covering element (18) is slidably engaged with the side wall
(16).
3. Equipment as in claim 2, wherein the containing element (14)
further comprises a bottom wall (15) extending around the carousel
(5) and presenting a peripheral rim (15a) compassing the transverse
dimension of the carousel (5), the side wall (16) issuing from the
peripheral rim (15a) and presenting a top edge (16a) remote from
the selfsame peripheral rim (15a).
4. Equipment as in claim 3, wherein the carousel (5) further
comprises a platform (7) presenting a plurality of peripheral
stations (8) serving to accommodate respective containers (2) for
processing, and an upper frame (11) positioned above and associated
with the platform (7), presenting a plurality of filling and/or
capping devices (12) each positioned in alignment with a respective
peripheral station (8) of the platform (7) and serving to fill the
respective container (2) for processing with a product and/or to
close the selfsame container (2) with a cap, the covering element
(18) presenting a first extremity (18a) associated with the upper
frame (11) and a second extremity (18b) opposite to the first
extremity (18a), associated with the side wall (16).
5. Equipment as in claim 4, wherein the carousel (5) further
comprises means (5a) of inducing vertical motion, associated with
the platform (7) and with the frame (11), by which the frame (11)
is traversed along the vertical axis (X) toward or away from the
platform (7).
6. Equipment as in claim 5, wherein the covering element (18)
comprises a panel (20) of substantially annular geometry,
presenting a flat bottom face (21) positioned internally of the
chamber (19), and a peripheral portion (22) coinciding with the
first extremity (18a) of the selfsame element (18) and resting on a
rim (11a) of the frame (11).
7. Equipment as in claim 6, further comprising first sealing means
(23) interposed between the peripheral portion (22) of the bottom
face (21) and the rim (11a) of the frame (11).
8. Equipment as in claim 7, wherein first sealing means (23)
comprise a flexible element (23a) anchored permanently to the
peripheral portion (22) of the bottom face (21), against which the
rim (11a) of the frame (11) slides during the rotation of the
carousel (5) about the vertical axis (X).
9. Equipment as in claim 8, comprising slide means (24) associated
with the side wall (16) and with the panel (20), at the second
extremity (18b) of the covering element (18), enabling movement of
the panel (20) relative to the side wall (16) along the vertical
axis (X), toward and away from the bottom wall (15).
10. Equipment as in claim 9, wherein slide means (24) comprise a
plurality of guide rods (25) spaced apart one from the next and
projecting from the top edge (16a) of the side wall (16), each
extending longitudinally parallel to the vertical axis (X) and
occupying a respective through hole (26) afforded by the panel
(20).
11. Equipment as in claim 10, wherein the covering element (18)
further comprises a lateral baffle (27) positioned internally of
the chamber (19), projecting from the bottom face (21) of the panel
(20) between the holes (26) and the peripheral portion (22), of
which a cylindrical outer surface (27a) is directed toward the
inner surface (17) of the side wall (16) and toward the guide rods
(25), and a cylindrical inner surface (27b) is directed toward the
carousel (5).
12. Equipment as in claim 11, wherein the lateral baffle (27)
presents a top edge (28) anchored to the bottom face (21) of the
panel (20), and a bottom edge (29), remote from the top edge (28),
furnished with second sealing means (30) offered to the inner
surface (17) of the side wall (16).
13. Equipment as in claim 12, wherein second sealing means (30)
comprise an annular support (31) attached to the bottom edge (29)
of the baffle (27), also a flexible sealing element (33) seated in
a groove (32) afforded by the annular support (31), offered to the
inner surface (17) of the side wall (16) and slidable against this
same surface in a direction parallel to the vertical axis (X).
14. Equipment as in claim 9, wherein slide means (24) comprise an
annular projection (34) associated rigidly with the side wall (16)
and extending from the inner surface (17) of the selfsame wall
(16), also a plurality of guide rods (25) spaced apart one from the
next and projecting from a top surface (34a) of the annular
projection (34) directed toward the bottom face (21) of the panel
(20), each extending longitudinally parallel to the vertical axis
(X) and occupying a respective through hole (26) afforded by the
panel (20).
15. Equipment as in claim 14, wherein the covering element (18)
further comprises a lateral baffle (27) positioned internally of
the chamber (19), projecting from the bottom face (21) of the panel
(20) between the holes (26) and the peripheral portion (22), of
which a cylindrical outer surface (27a) is directed toward the
inner surface (17) of the side wall (16) and toward the guide rods
(25), and a cylindrical inner surface (27b) is directed toward the
carousel (5).
16. Equipment as in claim 15, wherein the lateral baffle (27)
presents a top edge (28) anchored to the bottom face (21) of the
panel (20), and a bottom edge (29), remote from the top edge (28),
slidable internally of an annular slot (35) afforded by the top
surface (34a) of the annular projection (34) when the panel (20) is
traversed along the vertical axis (X).
17. Equipment as in claim 16, wherein the lateral baffle (27) is
furnished with second sealing means (30) located between the
selfsame baffle (27) and the annular projection (34).
18. Equipment as in claim 17, wherein second sealing means (30)
comprise a primary flexible element (36) associated with the top
surface (34a) of the annular projection (34) and offered to the
cylindrical inner surface (27b) of the baffle (27), also a
secondary flexible element (37) secured to the bottom edge (29) of
the lateral baffle (27) and offered to an inside wall (35a) of the
annular slot (35).
19. Equipment as in claim 8, wherein the covering element (18)
presents a tubular housing (38) of substantially annular shape
encompassing an internal void (39) delimited by the panel (20) in
combination with two cylindrical flanks (41a, 41b) issuing from
relative opposite lateral extremities of the panel (20), and a top
(40) positioned above the panel (20) and associated with the flanks
(41a, 41b).
20. Equipment as in claim 19, wherein one of the two flanks (41a,
41b) is breasted with the inner surface (17) of the side wall (16)
and slidable thus against the selfsame inner surface (17) when the
covering element (18) is traversed along the vertical axis (X),
relative to the side wall (16), toward or away from the bottom wall
(15).
21. Equipment as in claim 20, further comprising second sealing
means (30) interposed between the panel (20) and the inner surface
(17) of the side wall (16).
22. Equipment as in claim 21, wherein second sealing means (30)
comprise a flexible element (43) anchored to the bottom face (21)
of the panel (20) at the second extremity (18b) of the covering
element (18) and offered to the inner surface (17) of the side wall
(16), in such a way as to slide against the selfsame inner surface
(17) when the covering element (18) is traversed along the vertical
axis (X).
Description
[0001] This application is the national phase of international
application PCT/IB2007/001265 filed May 16, 2007 which designated
the U.S. and that international application was published under PCT
Article 21(2) in English. This application claims priority to
Italian Patent application number B02006A 000376, filed May 17,
2006, which is incorporated by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to equipment for processing
containers filled with liquid or powder products.
[0003] The invention finds application advantageously in the art
field of carousel type equipment used for sterilizing, filling and
closing containers with a capped neck in which a variety of
different substances can be packaged, for example liquid food
products such as milk or fruit juices, and non-food products such
as mineral lubricating oils, detergents, etc.
BACKGROUND ART
[0004] The prior art embraces items of equipment comprising a
carousel embodied as a rotating platform designed to support
containers for processing and mounted on a fixed, floor-standing
base frame; the frame generally will house respective drive
components by which the platform is set in rotation about a
vertical axis.
[0005] Also forming part of the carousel is a frame, positioned
above the platform and joined to the selfsame platform by way of a
respective drive shaft.
[0006] The frame and the platform are caused by the shaft to rotate
as one about the vertical axis.
[0007] The frame carries a plurality of capping and/or filling
assemblies arranged around its peripheral edge and operating on
respective containers positioned beneath.
[0008] Thus, when the platform and frame are set in rotation, the
containers are engaged by the aforementioned assemblies and closed
with a cap, in the case of a capping carousel, or filled with a
product in the case of a filling carousel.
[0009] The carousel also comprises a device serving to induce
vertical motion, by which the frame can be positioned closer to or
farther from the platform; thus, the height of the frame relative
to the platform is adjustable according to the size of container
being processed.
[0010] Conventional units of the type outlined above are washed
down periodically so as to remove any splashes or spills of the
liquid or powder products with which the containers for processing
are filled. During the course of feeding and/or filling operations,
in effect, part of the liquid or powder product can escape from the
respective containers and foul the surfaces of the carousel.
[0011] At the end of a given production run, accordingly, nozzles
are activated to direct a washing liquid onto the carousel,
especially onto those areas where the splashes or spills are most
heavily concentrated.
[0012] To avoid wetting the area around the equipment, the carousel
is housed generally within a protective structure consisting in a
side wall, or guard, and a collection tank attached to the
underside of the platform.
[0013] In this way, the washing liquid is kept in by the side wall,
which rises to the full height of the carousel, then collected in
the tank and channelled away to a waste pipe.
[0014] Nonetheless, the top edge of the side wall is effectively
detached from the frame and positioned at a height only a short
distance above the carousel, with the result that an opening, hence
a passage, is created around the frame.
[0015] Consequently, splashes of washing liquid can still fly
beyond the wall or guard by way of the aforementioned opening,
wetting the area outside the guard and the top surface of the
frame.
[0016] In this situation, it will be appreciated that there are
components housed on top of the frame, controlling the operation of
the capping and/or filling assemblies, which should not be exposed
to liquid products of any kind as contact with liquids could result
in damage.
[0017] The object of the present invention is to provide equipment
for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products,
such as will be unaffected by the drawbacks mentioned above.
[0018] In particular, the object of the invention is to provide
equipment for processing containers filled with liquid or powder
products, embodied in such a way as to prevent the escape of
washing liquids directed at the carousel.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The stated object is realized in equipment according to the
present invention for processing containers filled with liquid or
powder products, comprising: a carousel designed to accommodate
respective containers for processing; motion-inducing means by
which the carousel is set in rotation about a respective vertical
axis; and a containing element placed around the carousel,
characterized in that it further comprises a covering element
associated with the top of the carousel, combining with the
containing element to create a chamber internally of which the
carousel is housed.
[0020] The invention will now be described in detail, by way of
example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates equipment according to the present
invention for processing containers filled with liquid or powder
products, viewed in a side elevation and partly in section;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a detail of the equipment illustrated in FIG. 1,
viewed in a side elevation and partly in section, and illustrated
in a first possible embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a detail of the equipment, viewed in a side
elevation and partly in section, illustrated in a second possible
embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a detail of the equipment, viewed in a side
elevation and partly in section, illustrated in a third possible
embodiment.
[0025] With reference to FIG. 1, numeral 1 denotes equipment, in
its entirety, for processing containers 2 filled with liquid or
powder products, each presenting a neck 3 and a filler mouth 4
closable by fitting a cap.
[0026] In general, such equipment 1 comprises at least one carousel
5 for processing containers 2, operated for example as a
sterilizing, filling or capping unit, designed to accommodate and
process respective containers 2 while rotating about a vertical
axis "X".
[0027] By way purely of example, the accompanying drawings provide
a detailed illustration of a carousel used for filling containers 2
with liquid or powder products, introduced through the mouth 4 of
each one. Nonetheless, the feature to which the invention relates
is applicable to any given carousel forming part of the equipment
1.
[0028] The carousel 5 is equipped with motion-inducing means 6, by
which it is set in rotation about the aforementioned axis "X".
[0029] In greater detail, the carousel 5 comprises a platform 7
presenting a plurality of peripheral stations 8 serving to
accommodate single respective containers 2. The platform 7 appears
as a disc mounted on a floor-standing base 9 that supports the
entire carousel 5.
[0030] The floor-standing base 9, which is of substantially
box-like appearance, houses a motor forming part of the
aforementioned motion-inducing means 6 and presenting a shaft 10
aligned longitudinally on the vertical axis "X" of rotation
[0031] The shaft 10 is associated with the platform 7, and with an
upper frame 11 positioned at the topmost end of the selfsame shaft
10, above the platform 7. Both the platform 7 and the frame 11 are
thus set in rotation as one about the vertical axis "X".
[0032] The carousel is equipped with a plurality of filling and/or
capping devices 12 mounted to the periphery of the frame 11. More
exactly, the devices 12 illustrated in the example of the drawings
are filling devices 12 only, given that the carousel 5 is a filling
carousel, as already intimated. The devices 12 in question are not
described and illustrated in detail, being familiar in
embodiment.
[0033] Each device 12 is positioned in alignment with a respective
peripheral station 8, so that the container 2 placed thereon can be
filled with a liquid or powder product during the synchronous
rotation of the platform 7 and the frame 11.
[0034] The product is delivered to the carousel by suitable
connecting pipes 12a positioned on the frame 11 and supplying each
of the devices 12 attached to the frame 11.
[0035] It will be seen also that the carousel 5 shown in FIG. 1
presents a plurality of supporting and weighing devices 13, each
positioned to coincide with a relative station 8. The devices 13 in
question, likewise conventional and therefore not described in
detail, are designed advantageously to weigh the containers 2
during the filling operation.
[0036] The carousel 5 also comprises means 5a of inducing vertical
motion, associated with the platform 7 and the frame 11 and serving
to move the frame 11 along the vertical axis "X" toward or away
from the platform 7.
[0037] Such means 5a are embodied to advantage as a set of
cylinders interposed between the frame 11 and the platform 7,
through the agency of which the height of the frame 11 can be
adjusted according to the size of container 2 being handled.
[0038] The equipment 1 further comprises a containing element 14
internally of which the carousel 5 is housed.
[0039] More precisely, the containing element 14 comprises a bottom
wall 15 extending around the carousel 5 and presenting a peripheral
rim 15a that compasses the transverse dimension of the carousel
5.
[0040] In particular, the bottom wall 15 is associated with the
floor-standing base 9 aforementioned, and presents a substantially
concave geometry such as will favour the collection of a washing
liquid directed onto the platform 7 and the frame 11.
[0041] The containing element 14 also presents a side wall 16
issuing from the peripheral rim 15a of the bottom wall 15.
[0042] The side wall 16 extends around the carousel 5, terminating
uppermost in a top edge 16a remote from the peripheral rim 15a, and
presents a planar vertical inner surface 17 directed toward the
carousel 5.
[0043] The equipment 1 further comprises a covering element 18
associated with the top of the carousel 5 and combining with the
containing element 14 to create a chamber 19 internally of which
the carousel 5 is enclosed.
[0044] The covering 18 element presents a first extremity 18a
associated with the frame 11 and a second extremity 18b, remote
from the first extremity 18a, slidably engaging the inner surface
17 of the side wall 16 in such a way that the platform 7 and the
lower part of the frame 11 remain enclosed internally of the
chamber 19.
[0045] More exactly, and referring to the first embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the covering element 18 comprises a
panel 20 of substantially annular geometry that presents a flat
bottom face 21 positioned internally of the chamber 19 and directed
toward the bottom wall 15. The bottom face 21 presents a peripheral
portion 22 coinciding with the aforementioned first extremity 18a
of the element 18, at which the panel 20 presents an internal
circular edge.
[0046] The peripheral portion 22 rests on top of a rim 11a
presented by the frame 11, to which the aforementioned filling
devices 12 are attached. To advantage, the equipment comprises
first sealing means 23 interposed between the rim 11a and the
peripheral portion 22 of the bottom face 21, serving to prevent any
passage of washing liquid between the frame 11 and the panel
20.
[0047] Such first sealing means 23 include a flexible element 23a,
consisting advantageously of a flexible ring, associated
permanently with the peripheral portion 22.
[0048] Thus, as the carousel 5 rotates about its axis "X", the rim
11a of the frame 11 slides against the flexible element 23a and
maintains a hermetic sealing action.
[0049] The panel 20 is also associated with slide means 24 designed
to allow its movement along the vertical axis "X", relative to the
side wall 16, toward and away from the bottom wall 15.
[0050] In particular, the slide means 24 are located at the second
extremity 18b of the covering element 18 and comprise a plurality
of guide rods 25 spaced apart one from the next, projecting from
the top edge 16a of the side wall 16.
[0051] The single rods 25 are substantially cylindrical, of
circular cross section, each extending vertically along a
respective longitudinal axis parallel to the axis "X" of the
carousel.
[0052] The rods 25 also occupy respective through holes 26 afforded
by the panel 20, which is able thus to traverse the length of the
rods 25.
[0053] With this arrangement, accordingly, the panel 20 will be
seen to lie a short distance above the side wall 16.
[0054] The covering element 18 further comprises a lateral baffle
27 projecting from the bottom face 21 of the panel 20 and occupying
the chamber 19. The baffle 27 is located between the holes 26 and
the peripheral portion 22 and presents a substantially cylindrical
appearance, having a top edge 28 anchored to the bottom face 21 of
the panel 20 and a bottom edge 29 furnished with second sealing
means 30 offered to the inner surface 17 of the side wall 16. The
baffle 27 presents an outer surface 27a directed toward the inner
surface 17 of the side wall 16 and the associated rods 25, and an
inner surface 27b directed toward the carousel 5.
[0055] The second sealing means 30 comprise an annular support 31
attached to the bottom edge 29 of the baffle 27 and presenting a
substantially square cross sectional profile that includes a
vertical surface 31a directed toward the inner surface 17 of the
side wall 16.
[0056] The aforementioned vertical surface 31a affords a groove 32,
likewise annular, in which a flexible sealing element 33 is seated.
The flexible element 33 takes the form of a ring seal, offered in
fluid-tight contact to the inner surface 17 of the side wall 16.
Thus, when motion is induced in the frame 11 toward or away from
the platform 7, the panel 20 associated with the frame 11 is raised
or lowered, and the same movement is induced in the lateral baffle
27. Accordingly, the flexible element 33 is caused to slide against
the inner surface 17, assuring a hermetic sealing action in
combination with the side wall 16.
[0057] In the second embodiment of FIG. 3, the panel 20 remains at
a height permanently below the top edge 16a of the side wall
16.
[0058] With this solution, moreover, the slide means 24 comprise an
annular projection 34 associated rigidly with the side wall 16 and
extending transversely to the inner surface 17 of this same wall
16. The annular projection 34 appears substantially rectangular in
cross sectional profile and presents a top surface 34a directed
toward the bottom face 21 of the panel 20.
[0059] The slide means 24 further comprise a plurality of guide
rods 25 as described above, spaced apart one from the next and
projecting from the top surface 34a of the annular projection
34.
[0060] As in the solution described previously, the rods 25 are
disposed parallel to the main vertical axis "X" and occupy
respective through holes 26 afforded by the panel 20.
[0061] The top surface 34 of the annular projection 34 presents an
annular slot 35 directed toward the bottom face 21 of the panel
20.
[0062] Likewise in this instance, the lateral baffle 27 projects
from the bottom face 21 of the panel 20 and occupies the chamber
19.
[0063] In particular, the top edge 28 of the baffle 27 is anchored
to the bottom face 21 of the panel 20, whilst the bottom edge 29 is
seated slidably in the aforementioned annular slot 35.
[0064] To advantage, the baffle 27 is furnished with second sealing
means 30 located between the selfsame baffle 27 and the annular
projection 34.
[0065] In greater detail, the second sealing means 30 comprise a
primary flexible element 36 associated with the top surface 34a of
the annular projection 34 and offered to the inner surface 27b of
the baffle 27. In practice, the primary flexible element 36
consists in a ring seal of which an inner edge is anchored to the
top surface 34a, adjacent to the slot 35, and an outer edge engages
in fluid-tight contact with the inner surface 27b of the baffle 27.
Thus, when motion is induced in the panel 20, the inner surface 27b
of the baffle 27 will slide against the primary flexible component
36, maintaining a hermetic seal to disallow any infiltration of
liquid.
[0066] The second sealing means 30 further comprise a secondary
flexible element 37 secured to the bottom edge 29 of the lateral
baffle 27 and offered to an inside wall 35a of the annular slot
35.
[0067] The secondary flexible element 37 likewise consists in a
ring of which an inner edge is anchored to the bottom edge 29 of
the baffle, and an outer edge is breasted in fluid-tight contact
with the inside wall 35a of the slot 35.
[0068] Consequently, the secondary flexible element 37 engages in
sliding contact internally of the slot 35, maintaining a hermetic
seal in similar fashion to the first example illustrated, and
disallowing any infiltration of liquid by way of the rods 25.
[0069] In the third embodiment of FIG. 4, the covering element 18
appears as a tubular housing 38 of annular shape, encompassing a
relative internal void 39.
[0070] The void 39 serves to house components of the frame 11 such
as the aforementioned connecting pipes 12a, or electrical cables
needed for the operation of the filler device 12.
[0071] More exactly, the tubular housing 38 incorporates the panel
20 already described, and a top 40, positioned above the panel 20,
similarly presenting a flat and annular appearance. The top 40 and
the panel 20 are connected one with another at the respective
lateral extremities by way of two cylindrical flanks 41a and 41b
issuing perpendicularly from the panel 20 and combining with the
panel 20 and with the top 40 to delimit the void 39.
[0072] It will be seen that one flank 41a is positioned directly
above the frame 11, whilst the other flank 41b is breasted with the
inner surface 17 of the side wall 16. Accordingly, when the frame
11 is cause to traverse along the main axis "X", the tubular
housing 38 will accompany the movement vertically, with the outer
flank 41b riding against the inner surface 17.
[0073] To advantage, in this embodiment, the flexible element 23a
of the first sealing means 23 presents an angled portion 42
engaging the bottom face 21 of the panel 20 and the rim 11a of the
frame 11. The angled portion 42 extends transversely from the
bottom face 21 toward the carousel 5 to ensure a better fluid-tight
seal during the rotation of the frame 11.
[0074] Again in this third embodiment, the second sealing means 30
consist in a flexible element 43 anchored to the bottom face 21 of
the panel 20 and engaging the inner surface 17 of the side wall
16.
[0075] The flexible element 43 extends transversely from the bottom
face 21 toward the surface 17 of the side wall 16, in such a way as
will enable it to slide against the selfsame surface 17 when the
frame 11 is traversed along the vertical axis "X".
[0076] Likewise in this instance, the second sealing means 30
ensure a fluid-tight fit between the covering element 18 and the
side wall 16.
[0077] To advantage, when cleaning operations are carried out on
the carousel 5, the covering element 18 prevents any splash or
spillage of washing liquid over the side wall 16.
[0078] In effect, the panel 20 projecting sideways from the frame
11 combines with the side wall 16 and the bottom wall 15 to create
the aforementioned chamber 19, internally of which the carousel is
housed hermetically.
[0079] Consequently, the washing liquid will always remains within
the chamber 19, and there is no risk of splashing or wetting the
top part of the frame 11, which remains outside the chamber 19
(FIG. 1).
[0080] A further advantage of the invention is that the frame 11
can be moved toward and away from the platform 7 while maintaining
a fluid-tight seal at the covering element 18 at all times.
[0081] In effect, by deploying the second sealing means 30 as
described above, the covering element 18 can be traversed along the
vertical axis "X" of the equipment while maintaining a fluid tight
fit between the selfsame element 18 and the side wall 16.
* * * * *