Machine Efficiently Washes Filled and Closed Containers

Bosch Packaging Technology's RAN 3080 is an exterior washing machine for vials, ampules, and cartridges. The machine removes product residue and other contamination from filled and closed glass containers using a new, efficient, high-pressure cleaning process. The transport system, which has also been developed by Bosch, grips the containers at the closure, ensuring an effective cleaning of virtually the entire container surface.

The machine consists of a rotary platform for cleaning and an identical rotary platform for drying. Following the infeed, the transportation system first grips the containers by their closure caps. This enables cleaning of virtually the entire container surface, including the neck. The ring nozzles of the cleaning station, which for the first time operate with high pressure, subsequently wash the containers from top to bottom. Additional bottom nozzles provide for clean container bases. Pressurized air continuously flows across the closure caps to stop moisture from getting to the closure rim and into the containers, thereby preventing product contamination.

The RAN 3080 features three individual washing stations, which enable the cleaning processes to be optimally adapted to different customer demands. Up to three different media can be used per cycle; apart from water, acids and alkaline solutions are applicable for heavy contamination. Drying also takes place at three stations with pressurized air from both ring and bottom nozzles and ensures that no residual moisture sticks to the containers. A strict separation of cleaning and drying area prevents recontamination of the containers after washing. The machine also complies with the high requirements for manufacturing highly potent pharmaceuticals, such as cytostatic drugs. Depending on production requirements, the washing machine can be equipped with different containment devices. An optional circulation system achieves significant savings by consistently re-using slightly contaminated cleaning media.

Source: Bosch Packaging Technology