WO1999028193A1

WO1999028193A1 - Device for eliminating the bacterial load in sealed containers

Info

Publication number: WO1999028193A1
Application number: PCT/EP1998/007208
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo Mazzoni
Original assignee: Loschi, Sergio
Priority date: 1997-11-26
Filing date: 1998-11-06
Publication date: 1999-06-10
Also published as: ITBO970687A1; ITBO970687A0; AU1234499A; IT1296564B1

Abstract

The device for eliminating the bacterial load in sealed containers, in particular on the upper portion housing their opening members, and associated with an automatic drinks dispenser consisting of a casing (150) to which a front door (14) is hinged, comprises: a seat (7) situated in said front door (14), for receiving from the casing (150) at least one sealed container (1) with predetermined orientation; at least one brush (2) keyed onto the shaft of a motor (5) operated by a control centre (100) in order to act on the upper portion (1b) of the sealed container (1); first members for eliminating the bacterial load on said upper portion (1b) of the container; second members acting after the first to direct a liquid solution into a position corresponding with the bristles of said brush (2); third members acting after the second to remove liquid traces present on the said upper portion (1b) of the sealed container (1).

Description

Device for eliminating the bacterial load in sealed containers

Technical field

This invention falls within the technical sector concerning devices for eliminating the bacterial load present on the surface of sealed containers, with particular reference to the region comprising the opening members for said containers.

The aforesaid containers are preferably in the form of cans provided with tear-off tabs containing for example food, and in particular drinks.

Background art

An object of the invention is to propose a device able to deliver sealed containers having an acceptable bacterial load on that surface portion adjacent to their opening members, by means of a technical solution of simple conception, high reliability and low cost.

This need is very serious in the case of disposable cans in which, following opening, the removed tear-off tab remains connected to the can and lying inside it, with inevitable contact between the drink contained in the sealed container and the external environment.

In most cases the external environment in question is represented by stores, open-air places, shelving, etc, ie environments in which the bacterial level set by health regulations does not envisage contact between the said cans and the consumer's mouth. In most cases the disposable cans in question are dispensed by an automatic distributor which generally does not provide the necessary guarantee of hygiene.

A further object of the invention is to propose a device easily adaptable to the different container formats by changing only a minimum number of elements.

Disclosure of the invention Said objects are attained in accordance with the content of the claims.

The characteristics of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description of two preferred but not exclusive embodiments given hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, on which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of the device in terms of its general components;

Figure 2 is a schematic front view of the working zone of a first embodiment of the device under examination;

Figures 2a and 2b schematically illustrate the modularity of the working zone of the proposed first embodiment of the device; Figures 3 and 4 are sections through the first embodiment of Figure 2 taken on the planes III-III and IV-IV; Figure 5 is a partial section relative to a constructional modification of the proposed device;

Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the device in terms of its general components;

Figures 7a and 7b are schematic side sectional views relative to two particularly significant operating stages of the device proposed in Figure 6;

Figures 8a and 8b are sectional views taken on the plane VIII-VIII relative to the significant operating stages represented in

Figures 7a and 7b respectively; Figures 9a and 9b are detailed views of two important operating configurations, with reference to said embodiment;

Figure 10 is a schematic section on the plane X-X of Figure 9a.

With reference to said figures, and to the first proposed embodiment, the reference numeral 5 indicates a motor operated by a control centre 100 when enabled by a first timer TM, and having a brush 2 fixed onto its shaft 90 by means of a corresponding head

80.

The brush 2 acts on the upper portion 1b of a suitably orientated sealed container 1 lying on a support seat 7 and elastically locked by a jaw 60, these being provided within a working zone A protected by a preferably transparent door 6. Specifically, the jaw 60 consists of two portions pivoted together at 60a and subjected in known manner to elastic members, not shown .

The support seat 7, opening towards a suitably trapped discharge, is provided with a primary grid 62 and a guide 71 within which a slide 70 slides in a transverse direction under light friction.

The slide 70 is provided coaxially to the brush 2 with a preferably f rusto-conical discharge channel 63 opening into the discharge 7a, and upperly comprises a secondary grid 61 positioned at a height depending on the longitudinal dimensions of the sealed container 1 under examination.

The head 80 of the brush 2 is shaped to define a first channel 4a and a second channel 3a which have substantially vertical axes and are suitably profiled and flared. A first nozzle 4 and a second nozzle 3 are positioned on opposite sides above the plane defined by said head 80.

With the first nozzle 4 there is associated a first pipe 43 connected to a first electrically driven pump 35 operated by the control centre 100 when enabled by a second timer TD. The first pipe 43 branches from a first vessel 30 which contains disinfectant and at the base of which there is a liquid presence sensor 31.

A second pipe 34 deriving from the water main 300 is connected to the second nozzle 3. Upstream of said second nozzle 3 there are connected in the stated order a flow switch 10, a solenoid valve 50 operated by the control centre 100 when enabled by a third timer TA, and a pressure switch 20.

Upstream of the solenoid valve 50 a by-pass 46 is connected between the second pipe 34 and a second electrically driven pump

45 the operation of which is also enabled by the third timer T_A.

The by-pass 46 branches from a water-containing second vessel 40, at the base of which there is a second liquid presence sensor 41, and which is fed by known members 42. The operation of the first embodiment of the proposed device will now be described. The sealed container 1 is placed on the support seat 7 such that the opening members of the sealed container faces the brush 2, and is adequately locked by the jaw 60, for example rigid with the machine casing, after which the user can lower the door 6 to set the device of the invention for carrying out a disinfection cycle. When the sensors 1a and 6a sense respectively the presence of the sealed container 1 and the lowering of the door 6, the first indicator lamp 8a lights and the user can choose whether to effect "complete" disinfection or "partial" disinfection. In this respect there are three disinfection stages, the type of cycle, ie complete or partial, being identified by the succession in which these stages are carried out.

Having selected the desired option by means of the said first pushbutton 9a or second pushbutton 9b, the control centre 100 activates an electromechanical block 15 which prevents the opening of the door 6 in order to protect the working zone A, and operates the first timer TM to power the motor 5, which rotates the brush 2. In suitable phase relationship with the operation of the motor 5, the second timer TD, operated by the control centre 100, powers the pump 35 to initiate the so-called first wash stage. During this stage the first pump 35 feeds disinfectant from the first vessel 30 to the first nozzle 4 so that it passes through the channels 3a and/or 4a present in the head 80 of the brush 2, to reach the upper portion 1b of the sealed container, and hence the opening members of said sealed container.

The subsequent switching of the second timer TD halts power to the first pump 35 and operates the third timer TA via the control centre 100, to initiate the so-called second wash stage, necessary to remove the residual traces of disinfectant.

During this stage chemically tested water is fed from the water main 300 through the solenoid valve 50 to the second nozzle 300, so that it passes through the channels 3a and/or 4a present in the head 80 of the brush 2, to reach the upper portion 1b of the sealed container, and hence the opening members of said sealed container. The switching of the third timer TA halts the water flow through the solenoid valve 50, whereas the first timer TM continues to power the motor 5, it being set for a time exceeding the sum of the set times of the second timer TD and third timer TA. In this manner the motor 5 maintains the brush 2 in rotation until the next switching of the first timer TM,to define the so-called drying stage in which any residual liquid traces present on the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1 are eliminated. The switching of the first timer TM, indicated by the second indicator lamp 8b, causes the control centre 100 to inhibit the electromechanical block 15 and enable the user to open the door 6 and withdraw the suitably treated sealed container 1. The aforegoing description relates to a "complete" disinfection cycle. If the user selects a "partial" disinfection cycle by personal choice, the second timer TD is prevented from powering the first pump 35, whereas the control centre, in suitable phase relationship with the operation of the motor 5 by the first timer TM, powers the second pump 45, when enabled by the third timer TA. If the pressure switch 20 indicates that the water main 300 is temporarily unavailable for use, the control centre 100 closes the solenoid valve 50 if enabled by the second liquid presence sensor 41 positioned in the second vessel 40, and activates the second pump 45 in suitable phase relationship. This latter feeds the second nozzle 3 via the by-pass 46 and the second pipe 34, until the third timer TA switches.

If the water main availability is not restored within the time required for emptying the second vessel 40, the flow switch 10, together with the second liquid presence sensor 41, act on the control centre 100 to prevent subsequent use of the said device, by setting it to a "shutdown state" resettable only by appropriate authorized personnel.

The said "shutdown state" indicated by the third indicator lamp 8c can also be produced by the action of the first liquid presence sensor 31 positioned in the first vessel 30 containing disinfectant. It should be noted that the said slide 70 can be easily replaced by appropriate authorized personnel, to enable sealed containers of variable longitudinal dimensions to be disinfected. This is apparent from Figures 2a and 2b showing the different slides 79a and 70b carrying the sealed containers 11a and 11b respectively.

If the transverse dimensions of the sealed containers 11a and 11b are not compatible with the profile and length of the jaw 60, the said jaw 60 together with the elastic members acting on it must be replaced.

In a constructional modification, not shown, slides 70, 70a, 70b are used already provided with a connected jaw 60 suitable for locking different sized sealed containers 1, 11a, 11b respectively. A further constructional modification relative to the feed of liquids to the brush 2 is shown in Figure 5.

This shows a change-over valve 85 to which the first pipe 43 and second pipe 34 are connected and from which a pipe 86 extends opening into an annular chamber 84 formed by means of a bush 83 coaxial to the shaft 90 of the motor 5 and known gaskets.

Suitably sized radial channels 82 extend radially within the shaft 90 of the motor 5, to converge into a hole 81 provided within and coaxial to the shaft 90. The hole 81, which is closed at its upper end, communicates at its lower end with the head 80 of the brush 2, to open in correspondence with the bristles thereof.

This arrangement dispenses with the pair of fixed nozzles 3 and 4, by using the system comprising the pipe 86, radial channels 82 and hole 81 to feed the disinfectant or rinsing water to the brush 2, as in the second embodiment, to be described hereinafter.

This device can be implemented either as an independent machine, to be positioned to the side of any automatic sealed can dispenser, or as a single structure comprising both the device of the invention and a known dispenser device. In the accompanying drawings relative to the second proposed embodiment, the reference numeral 51 indicates a first pulley keyed onto the motor 51, which is positioned with its axis horizontal .

By way of transmission members 21, the first pulley 51 rotates a second pulley 52 coupled to a splined shaft 39 comprising an internal duct 39a and on which the head 80 of the brush 2, also positioned with its axis horizontal, is keyed.

Said motor 5 and first and second pulleys 51 and 52 are carried by a movable arm 19 free to rotate about a first pivot 13 (Figure 7a). At the pivot 13 the movable arm 19 comprises a toothed sector 23 engaging a geared motor unit 49 arranged to operate the movable arm 19 such as to define a working configuration C and a rest configuration B of the brush 2 (Figures 8a, 8b). Said splined shaft 39, on one end of which the head 80 of the brush 2 is keyed, engages at its other end a headpiece 24 which impresses the desired horizontal traversing movements on the splined shaft 39, without preventing its rotation transmitted by the second pulley 52.

The headpiece 24, provided with suitable bearings, is hinged to one end of a rocker lever 36 free to swivel about a second pivot 33 rigid with the movable arm 19 under the action of an electromagnet 32 which is operated by the control centre 100 and is also carried by the movable arm 19, it being hinged to the other end of the rocker lever 36. The rocker lever 36 is shaped such that the horizontal traversing movements imposed by the electromagnet 32 are suitably transmitted to said splined shaft 39, with consequent pressing of the brush 2 against the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1. The said headpiece 24 is connected to a flexible pipe 25 opening into the change-over valve 85, so as to feed fluid to the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1 through the internal duct 39a of the splined shaft 39 and the brush 2.

The sealed container is positioned with its axis horizontal, coaxial to the brush 2, so that this latter is faced by its upper portion 1b comprising the opening devices.

In this case the container 1 is supported on the support seat 7, rigid with the machine body, by horizontal conveyor rollers 12 idle on their shafts and provided with lips 12a. The proposed device of the second embodiment is inserted into an existing automatic dispenser 101 comprising a casing 150 to which a front door 14 is hinged, access to which is allowed exclusively to authorized personnel.

Between the casing 150 and the front door 14 there is interposed a separator 29 to define a chamber 28 at ambient temperature and a refrigeration chamber 18 at a temperature lower than the preceding, these communicating via a flexible gate 22. This second embodiment of the device of the invention is positioned within the chamber 28 rigid with the front door 14, at a height higher than the suitably trapped discharge system 7a. In a further constructional modification, the said device is positioned rigid with the separator 29.

The refrigeration chamber 18, comprising suitable hairpin coils, not shown, is provided in its upper region, on the side distant from the separator 29, with vertical stacks 17 of sealed containers 1. The sealed containers 1 are orientated such that their upper portion 1b faces the separator 29, which is provided with bactericidally acting light sources 16 of substantially vertical axis.

Immediately below said stacks 17 there is removably fixed to the casing 150 a converging conveyor 21 which, by means of oblique conveying rollers 11, idle about their shafts and not necessarily provided with lips, directs the selected sealed container through the flexible gate 22 and onto the horizontal conveying rollers 12, then into possible contact with the brush 2 for a "partial" disinfection cycle (pushbutton 9b) or a "complete" disinfection cycle (pushbutton 9a).

The provision of the light sources 16 ensures optimum elimination of the bacterial load present on the upper portions 1b of the already stacked sealed containers 1, but does not necessarily exclude the provision of the first vessel 30 containing disinfectant, and of the associated first pipe 43 and first pump 35 .

What is however of fundamental importance is the provision of the second vessel 40 for overcoming any unreliability of the water main 300, and positioned in a compartment 22a provided in the lower part of the chamber 28 in order not to hinder the opening of the front door 14.

In this embodiment, which can also dispense with the first wash stage, the purpose of which is in any event fulfilled by the light sources 16, the second wash stage is necessary not only for removing residual traces of disinfectant, but also and in particular for removing any solid residue present on the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1.

The operation of the second embodiment of the proposed device will now be described, for the particular case in which the first wash stage is not considered necessary.

Having selected the type of sealed container present in the automatic dispenser 101, if enabled by the sensor 6a the control centre 100 activates an electromechanical block 15 which prevents opening of the corresponding door 6 and causes the chosen sealed container 1 to be released from the corresponding stack 17 by known means and be directed by the converging conveyor 21 towards the oblique conveying rollers 11 and then, via the flexible gate 22, to the horizontal conveying rollers 12, where it is adequately slowed down by the lips 12a at the support seat 7, before coming into contact with the brush 2.

Simultaneously with the selection of the sealed container 1, the control centre 100 operates the geared motor unit 49 and the electromagnet 32 to cause the arm 19 to traverse from its rest configuration B to its working configuration C with the aid of the toothed sector 23, followed by possible movement of the brush 2 towards the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1 until consequent contact.

This movement is required to adapt the position of the brush to the longitudinal dimension of the sealed container 1. In this respect the action of the electromagnet 32 on the rocker lever 36 causes the headpiece 24 to impress the desired horizontal movement on the splined shaft 39.

The sealed container 1, urged into correspondence with the upper portion 1b by the action of the brush 2 when the movable arm 19 is in its working configuration, abuts against the terminal portion 11a of the oblique conveying rollers 11 to ensure stability of said sealed container 1 during the wash and/or drying stage. This stability is increased by the action exerted by the lips 12a in proximity to the zone of contact between the horizontal conveying rollers 12 and said sealed container 1. Hence, the terminal portion 11a counteracts the axial movement of the sealed container 1 in the direction of the casing 150 whereas the lips 12a prevent the sealed container 1 rotating about its axis. If the first wash stage is not included, the second timer To is not provided, hence when the control centre 100 operates the first timer TM which controls power to the motor 5, the third timer TA, in suitable phase relationship, opens the solenoid valve 50 to feed chemically tested water from the water main 300 to the flexible pipe 25 and then through the internal duct 39a of the splined shaft 39 to the brush 2 and thus to the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1 in contact with it. The rotation of the motor 5 is transmitted by the system comprising the first pulley 51, transmission members 21 and second pulley 52 to the splined shaft 39 coupled to the second pulley 52, and hence to the brush keyed onto it.

The switching of the first timer TM, following the switching of the third timer TA, and indicated by the second indicator lamp 8b, results in operation of the geared motor unit 49 which, by means of the toothed sector 23, causes the movable arm 19 to move from the working configuration C to the rest configuration B, with simultaneous de-energization of the electromagnet 32. When the movable arm 19 reaches its rest configuration B the electromechanical block 15 is inhibited by the control centre 100 to enable the door 6 to be opened by the user who can then withdraw the chosen sealed container, which now has a considerably reduced bacterial load, in particular in correspondence with its opening devices.

If the selected sealed container 1 does not require disinfection at the relative opening devices, either because of its particular shape or because of its contents, the proposed device does not operate and the automatic dispenser 101 behaves traditionally. If the said sealed container 1 is not sufficiently gripped on the horizontal conveying rollers 12 by the simultaneous action of the lips 12a and the abutting action of the conveying rollers 11, the described distributor 101 can be provided with restraining members 102 acting in a plane substantially perpendicular to that defined by the support seat 7.

In both the considered embodiments, but in particular in the second embodiment, fan or heating fan means operated in phase relationship with the drying stage can be provided to direct air streams at least onto the lateral surface of the sealed container 1.

This enables the lateral surface of the container to be dried of residual liquid traces deposited on said surface during the first and/or second wash stages. In al cases both the embodiments of the described device and its possible modifications provide optimum disinfection of sealed containers of reasonably variable shape inserted into it, with considerable elimination of the bacterial load present at the container opening devices. It should be noted that in the two aforedescribed embodiments the device components are of small number and simple construction, to the advantage of production costs, which are consequently very low. The aforegoing description has been given by way of non-limiting example, and consequently any modifications of detail, or variations in the shape and dimensions of the described components, are to be considered as falling with the same scope of protection, as claimed hereinafter.

Claims

Cl aims

1. A device for eliminating the bacterial load in sealed containers, in particular on the upper portion 1b housing the opening members of said sealed containers 1, characterised by comprising: a seat 7 for receiving at least one sealed container 1 with predetermined orientation; at least one brush 2 keyed onto the shaft of a motor 5 operated by a control centre 100 in order to act on the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1 housing its opening members; first members for directing a jet of disinfectant into a position corresponding with the bristles of brush 2; second members acting after the first to direct a liquid solution into a position corresponding with said bristles to remove disinfectant traces; third members acting after the second to remove liquid traces present on the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1.

2. A device for eliminating the bacterial load in sealed containers, in particular on the upper portion 1b housing the opening members of said sealed containers 1, said device being associated with an automatic drinks dispenser 101 consisting of a casing 150 and a front door 14 hinged to said casing, characterised by comprising: a seat 7 located in said front door 14 to receive from said casing 150 at least one sealed container 1 with predetermined orientation; at least one brush 2 keyed onto the shaft of a motor 5 operated by a control centre 100 in order to act on the upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1 housing its opening members; first members for eliminating the bacterial load on said upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1; second members acting after the first to direct a liquid solution into a position corresponding with the bristles of said brush 2; third members acting after the second to remove liquid traces present on the said upper portion 1b of the sealed container 1.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which said sealed containers 1 are arranged in vertical stacks 17 with their relative upper portions 1b facing the same direction, characterised in that said first members, located in said casing 150, consist of light sources of bactericidal action orientated in such a manner as to involve said upper portions 1b of the sealed containers 1.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said members are located in said front door 14 and are arranged to direct a disinfecting jet into a position corresponding with the bristles of said brush 2.

5. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised by comprising first means for moving the assembly comprising the brush 2 and its corresponding drive means from a raised rest configuration B to a lowered working configuration C, and second means for adjusting, on the basis of the format of said sealed containers 1, the axial position of the brush 2 when in said lowered working configuration C.

6. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said seat consists of: horizontal conveying rollers 12 for receiving from said casing 150, with the brush 2 in said lowered working configuration C, the sealed container 1 orientated such that its upper portion 1b faces the brush 2; first conveyor members, cooperating with second conveyor members provided in the casing 150, to convey said sealed container 1 into abutment against the bristles of said brush; first means 11a for axially stabilizing said sealed container 1 when resting on said horizontal conveying rollers 12; antirotation means 12a for said sealed container 1 when resting on said horizontal conveying rollers 12.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said seat 7 comprises: a slide 70 for supportingly receiving said sealed container 1 and with dimensions based on the container format, a jaw 60 rigid with the machine and consisting of two pivoted-together portions subjected to suitable elastic members to elastically lock the sealed container 1, and a primary grid 62 ensuring the outflow of liquid substances towards a discharge 7a present in the lower part of said seat 7.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said seat 7 comprises: a slide 70 the dimensions of which are based on the format of the sealed container 1, a jaw 60 rigid with said slide 2 and consisting of two pivoted-together portions subjected to suitable elastic members to elastically lock the sealed container 1, and a primary grid 62 ensuring the outflow of liquid substances towards a discharge 7a present in the lower part of said seat 7.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the slide 70 comprises a through discharge channel 63 closed upperly by a secondary grid 61 for supportingly receiving said sealed container 1.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said first members consist of a disinfectant-containing first vessel provided with a first liquid presence sensor 31 and from which there branches a first pipe 43 connected to a first electrically driven pump 35 operated by the control centre 100, said pipe feeding a first nozzle 4 for directing disinfectant into correspondence with a first channel 4a and second channel 3a provided in the head 80 of the brush 2.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said second members consist of a second nozzle 3 with which there is associated a second pipe 34 deriving from a water main 300, into said pipe there being connected in the stated order, upstream of the second nozzle 3, a flow switch 10, a shutoff member 50 operated by the control centre 100, and a pressure switch 20.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, characterised by comprising an emergency unit consisting of a water-containing second vessel 40 provided with a second liquid presence sensor 41 and from which there branches a by-pass 46 connected to a second electrically driven pump 45 operated by the control centre 100, said by-pass opening into said pipe 34, upstream of the shutoff member 50.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said third members coincide with said brush 2, which is rotated by said motor 5 for a predetermined time.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising a sensor 1a for detecting the presence of a sealed container 1, and a sensor 6a for detecting the presence of a door 6 positioned to protect a working zone A in which the sealed container 1 is located, initiation of any disinfection cycle, whether partial or complete, of the said device being dependent on detection by the sensors.

15. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised by comprising a sensor 6a for detecting the presence of a door 6 positioned to protect a working zone A in which the sealed container 1 is located, initiation of any disinfection cycle, whether partial or complete, of the said device being dependent on detection by the sensor.

16. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised by comprising a door 6 positioned to protect a working zone A in which the sealed container 1 is located, and by comprising an electromechanical block 15 activated by the control centre 100 during the time interval between the operation of said first members or second members, and the deactivation of said third members.

17. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said first and second members converge into a change-over valve 85 connected, via a pipe 86, to an annular chamber 84 in the form of a bush 83 coaxial to it, said annular chamber 84 communicating, via radial channels 82, with a hole 81 provided in the interior of and coaxial to the shaft 90 of the motor 5, its lower end opening in correspondence with said brush 2 via the head 80.

18. A device as claimed in claim 6, in which said sealed containers 1 are arranged in vertical stacks 17, characterised in that said first and second conveyor members consist, respectively, of oblique conveying rollers 11 and of a converging conveyor 21, both positioned within the same working plane, said converging conveyor 21 receiving the sealed container 1 when this is released from the selected vertical stack 17.

19. A device as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said first axial stabilization means 11a are oblique conveying rollers

11 arranged at lower levels.

20. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised by comprising supplementary locking members 102 acting, in proximity to the seat 7, in a plane substantially perpendicular to that defined by said seat 7, to press onto this latter that sealed container 1 positioned in it.

21. A device as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said antirotation means 12a consist of shaped lips from said horizontal conveying rollers 12.

22. A device as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said first means consist of a movable arm 19 pivoted centrally to a relative support and operated at one end shaped as a toothed sector 23 by motor members 49, said operating means consisting of a first pulley 51 operated by the motor 5 and arranged with its axis horizontal to drive, via transmission members 21, a second pulley 52 coupled to a splined shaft 39 rotatably supported by said movable arm 19 and on which said brush 2, also arranged with its axis horizontal, is keyed, said second means consisting of an electromagnet 32 carried by said movable arm 19 and hinged to one end of a rocker lever 36 which is pivoted centrally on a second pivot 33 rigid with said movable arm 19, and has pivoted to its other end a head 24 provided with bearings and enabling said splined shaft 39 to undergo the desired horizontal movements while not preventing its rotation, impressed by said drive means for the brush 2.

23. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said first and second members converge into a change-over valve 85 connected, via a flexible pipe 25, to an internal duct 39a provided coaxially within a splined shaft 39 on which said brush 2 is keyed, in order to feed fluid to this latter.

24. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised by comprising fan or heating fan means operated in phase relationship with the operation of said third members and provided to direct air streams at least onto the lateral surface of the container.