Automatic bottle wash-up line

Abstract

A method and means for handling of laboratory animal drinking bottles ( 17 ) provided with nipples ( 17 ) in an automatic bottle wash-up line, wherein the nipples ( 16 ) of all the bottles ( 17 ), arranged in a basket, are removed from the bottles with the aid of compressed air in a nipple removal means ( 2 ) and are washed and dried together with the drinking bottles and are subsequently put back onto filled bottles in a nipple reassembly means ( 4 ), which operates with similar tools ( 6 ) as the nipple removal means ( 2 ).

1 . A method for handling of laboratory animal drinking bottles ( 17 ) provided with nipples ( 16 ) in an automatic bottle wash-up line, in which bottles with nipples arranged in a basket adapted for this purpose are placed on a conveyor for transport of said basket through a bottle wash-up line, characterized in that
 the nipples ( 16 ) on all the bottles ( 17 ) in a basket are removed from the bottles in one operation by sealingly attaching a mouthpiece ( 9 ) to each nipple ( 16 ), whereupon the nipples are removed from the respective bottle by a blow of compressed air through said mouthpiece, and are lifted up from the bottles,   the basket is turned upside down with the bottles ( 17 ) retained in the basket,   the nipples ( 16 ) are placed on the back side of the basket,   the basket in inserted into a washing machine ( 3 ) wherein bottles and nipples are washed and dried,   the nipples ( 16 ) are lifted up from the basket,   the basket is turned back into the original position with the bottles ( 17 ) having their bottle mouth upwards,   the bottles ( 17 ) are filled with water, and then   the nipples ( 16 ) are attached on the bottles ( 17 ).   
     
     
         2 . A means for handling of laboratory animal drinking bottles ( 17 ) provided with nipples ( 16 ) in an automatic bottle wash-up line, characterized in that it comprises a nipple removal means ( 2 ) and a nipple reassembly means ( 4 ), the nipple removal means ( 2 ) having a number of tools ( 6 ) corresponding to the number of drinking bottles ( 17 ) in a basket, the tools ( 6 ) being arranged in such a way that each tool can be brought into engagement with a nipple ( 16 ) on one of the bottles in the basket, a means for turning the basket upside down, a backside of the basket being arranged to contain the nipples ( 16 ) during washing and drying, and means for introducing the basket into a washing machine ( 3 ), and wherein the nipple reassembly means ( 4 ) has tools ( 6 ) corresponding to the tools ( 6 ) of the nipple removal means ( 2 ) for engagement with and lifting up of the nipples ( 16 ) from the back side of the basket, and attaching of the nipples to the bottles ( 17 ), a means for turning the basket and a means for filling the bottles with a liquid before attachment of the nipples. 
     
     
         3 . The means according to  claim 2 , characterized in that each tool ( 6 ) comprises a mouthpiece ( 9 ) being designed to be brought into sealing engagement with a spout ( 15 ) of a nipple ( 16 ). 
     
     
         4 . The means according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the mouthpiece ( 9 ) is connected to a source of compressed air. 
     
     
         5 . The means according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the tool ( 6 ) comprises a hollow spindle ( 7 ) which is movable in axial directions between an upper and a lower end position with the aid of an operating cylinder, a connection ( 8 ) for a source of compressed air being arranged at one end of the spindle, and the mouthpiece ( 9 ) being arranged at the other end thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The means according to  claim 3 , characterized in that a seal is arranged in the mouthpiece ( 9 ), such as an  0 -ring, which surrounds a spout ( 15 ) inserted into the mouthpiece ( 9 ), and thereby is arranged to apply a sufficient pressure against the spout to retain the spout ( 15 ) and the accompanying nipple ( 16 ), when the nipple has been released from a drinking bottle ( 17 ). 
     
     
         7 . The means according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the tool ( 6 ) comprises abutments ( 11 ,  12 ) med abutment surfaces ( 13 ,  14 ) situated substantially at the level of a lower edge of the mouthpiece ( 9 ), when said spindle ( 7 ) is in its lower end position, whereby the mouthpiece ( 9 ) can be released from a nipple ( 16 ) by axial movement of the spindle ( 7 ) from its lower end position towards its upper end position.