Container rinsing system and method

A container rinsing system comprising:

• a vacuum member forming a duct that defines a passageway and wherein the duct further comprises an outer periphery and a vacuum central axis, wherein the vacuum member is connected to a vacuum source;
• and
• an air nozzle defining a nozzle central axis, the air nozzle positioned within the outer periphery of the vacuum member, the air nozzle adapted to be positioned proximate an opening of a container, and adapted to direct a supply of compressed air to the container;
• and
• wherein the vacuum central axis is generally concentric with the nozzle central axis and a distal end of the nozzle is positioned proximate the vacuum inlet such that the distal end of the nozzle is positioned at substantially the same height as the vacuum inlet.

A method of rinsing containers passing through a container rinsing system comprising:

• providing a plurality of vacuum members, each vacuum member forming a duct that defines a passageway and wherein each duct further comprises an outer periphery, a vacuum inlet, and a vacuum central axis and further providing a plurality of air nozzles, each air nozzle defining a nozzle central axis, a respective air nozzle being positioned within a respective vacuum member wherein a distal end of the nozzle is positioned proximate the vacuum inlet such that the distal end of the nozzle is positioned at substantially the same height as the vacuum inlet, wherein each vacuum member is connected to a vacuum source;
• positioning the nozzle central axis concentric with the vacuum central axis;
• passing a plurality of containers by the vacuum members and air nozzles;
• supplying compressed air towards the containers and along the nozzle central axis;
• and
• vacuuming unwanted foreign particles away from the container.

A container rinsing system for removing foreign particles from empty polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers moving along an assembly line in a predetermined container flow path prior to being filled with a liquid beverage, each container having an open end, the container rinsing system comprising:

• a vacuum assembly positioned along the container flow path, the vacuum assembly having a housing having a plurality of vacuum members, each vacuum member defining a vacuum duct, each vacuum duct having a vacuum inlet and a vacuum outlet, the vacuum inlet defined by a generally circular aperture, and wherein the respective vacuum outlets are connected to a vacuum source, the housing further having a pair of depending legs proximate the inlets of the vacuum duct defining a rinsing channel along the predetermined container flow path;
• a nozzle assembly positioned in the housing and having a nozzle manifold and a plurality of nozzles extending from and in fluid communication with the nozzle manifold, wherein the nozzle manifold is connected to a compressed air source, a respective nozzle positioned within a respective vacuum duct wherein a distal end of the nozzle is positioned proximate the vacuum inlet such that the distal end of the nozzle is positioned at substantially the same height as the vacuum inlet, and wherein a first nozzle is an ionizing air nozzle and is positioned in a first vacuum duct, the nozzles other than the first nozzle being high velocity air nozzles;
• and
• a conveyor positioned adjacent the housing, the conveyor configured to transport the container through the rinsing channel and past the plurality of vacuum members and nozzles, wherein the first nozzle directs ionized air to the containers and the other nozzles direct high velocity compressed air to the containers and wherein the vacuum members provide a suction force to evacuate unwanted foreign particles away from the containers.