Method and apparatus for cleaning containers

Abstract

A machine for cleaning containers such as flat media carriers has inside and outside arrays of nozzles arranged to spray a cleaning solution onto containers supported on a spinning rotor in a chamber. The cleaning solution, a mixture of water and a detergent or surfactant, is prepared by drawing out surfactant from a surfactant bulk storage vessel with a metering pump. The flow rate of the water is measured by a flow meter and in combination with the metering pump, a proper amount of surfactant is injected into the water line to produce a mixture with a desired surfactant concentration for removing contaminants. The mixture is injected into the water line at a mixing control valve to ensure that the water and surfactant are thoroughly mixed before being injected into the media carrier.

1 . A method for cleaning flat media carriers, comprising: 
 spinning the carriers about a spin axis;    pumping surfactant out of a storage vessel;    mixing the surfactant with a predetermined amount of water to obtain a mixture of surfactant and water; and    spraying the mixture of surfactant and water onto the carriers.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  with the pumping performed via a flow metering pump, further including setting a flow rate of the flow metering pump to achieve a desired concentration of surfactant in the mixture of surfactant and water.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  with the mixing performed via a mixing control valve.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further including measuring the amount of water flowing into the mixing control valve.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3  further including adjusting the amount of surfactant pumped out of the storage vessel based on the measured amount of water flowing into the mixing control valve.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further including stopping the rotor and then spinning the rotor in a reverse direction.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further including spraying the mixture of surfactant and water in a radial inwardly direction from a first outer spray manifold, and also spraying the mixture of surfactant and water in a radial outwardly direction, from a second inner spray manifold.  
   
   
       8 . A method for removing contaminants from flat media carriers, comprising: 
 loading the carriers onto a rotor within a flat media carrier cleaning machine;    spinning the rotor;    spraying a water/surfactant mixture onto the carriers via an inlet line by:    injecting water into the inlet line;    measuring the flow of water entering the inlet line;    pumping surfactant from a storage vessel into the inlet line using a flow metering pump;    mixing the surfactant and water to obtain a surfactant/water mixture; and    setting flow rate of the flow metering pump to achieve a desired concentration of surfactant for the surfactant/water mixture.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising discontinuing pumping surfactant; and rinsing the carriers by spraying the carriers only with water.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising discontinuing injecting of water into the inlet line; and drying the carriers by spraying the carriers with a dry gas.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the dry gas comprises nitrogen or air.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the water comprises de-ionized water.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising spinning the rotor at from 1-50 rpm while spraying the mixture toward the carriers.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising adjusting flow rate of surfactant being pumped into the inlet line by adjusting operation of the metering pump.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the surfactant and water are injected into the inlet line via a mixing control valve.  
   
   
       16 . A method for cleaning one or more containers, comprising:  
     spinning the rotor; 
 supplying DI water to the mixer at a known flow rate;  
 pumping surfactant from a storage vessel to a mixer via a flow metering pump;  
 adjusting the amount of surfactant pumped out of the storage vessel based on the flow rate of water flowing into the mixer;  
 mixing the surfactant with water at the mixer, to obtain a mixture of surfactant and water; and  
 spraying the mixture of surfactant and water onto the containers.