DE102018005572A1 - Device for treating container closures - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for treating container closures (4), preferably for sterilizing container closures (4) for closing containers in a beverage filling installation (8), comprising a treatment chamber (2) for treating container closures (4), and a transport device (3) for transporting container closures (4) through the treatment chamber (2), wherein the transport device (3) comprises a linear drive (30).

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device for treating container closures, in particular for sterilizing container closures for closing containers in a beverage filling installation.

State of the art

In beverage filling plants, it is well known to treat container closures before they are applied to filled containers to close them. In particular, the container closures are sterilized so that no germs or other contaminants can get into the containers then shot and in particular not into the contents received in the containers through the container closures.

In conventional systems, it is known to sort the container closures by means of a cascade conveyor with respect to their spatial orientation and at the same time to promote in height and then supply a treatment chamber for sterilizing the container closures. The treatment chamber may, for example, be arranged above a clean room in order to allow it to be fed to a capper arranged in the clean room solely by gravity.

It is known, for example, to use in container aseptic Beverage filling container disinfection systems, by means of which the container to be placed on the then filled container closures are sterilized or disinfected. As a rule, peracetic acid and / or hydrogen peroxide in vapor form are used in such treatment chambers to sterilize the container closures. These container closure sterilization systems are provided, for example, with their own guide channel, in which the container closures to be sterilized or disinfected slide on the basis of gravity and are acted upon by the sterilizing agent or disinfectant.

This type of device for treating container closures builds up and therefore requires high hall heights of up to 10 m ceiling height. In order to achieve the required throughput of container closures, there are always a plurality of container closures at the same time in the guide channel in the treatment chamber. Accordingly, it can come to a wedging or jamming of the container closures in the guide trough by the back pressure of the guided through the guide trough container closures closures.

The guide channel must be designed for the respective container closure type in order to achieve a problem-free and correct position guidance of the container closures through the treatment chamber and towards the capper. When changing the type of container closures used, the guide channel must accordingly be replaced, or different guide grooves are provided parallel to each other in the treatment chamber, between which can then be switched.

The guide trough may have at the end of the treatment chamber, in which the treatment of the container closures, a stopper, which prevents a container closure can continue to slip through the guide trough. This is necessary to ensure that each container closure - even the first, which is not yet seated on a column of container closures - has spent the required treatment time in the treatment chamber.

Due to the aggressive environment within the treatment chamber, in particular caused by the prevailing temperature and the concentration of the sterilant, the residence time of the container closures in the treatment chamber must be maintained relatively accurately.

If the treatment chamber is kept too short in the treatment chamber, there is a risk that the container closures will not be properly sterilized. However, container closures that linger too long in the treatment chamber, for example, due to jamming of the container closures in the guide trough or due to a plant stop, must be discarded and can not be used to seal a container because, for example, the material of the container closures has been thermally treated for too long or was too heavily attacked by the treatment agent. The container closures may also be deformed in the guide channel due to temperature and back pressure, if they remain in the treatment chamber for a long time.

Since the guide channel gravity can promote only one side, the no longer usable, because, for example, over-treated, container closures must be discharged to the bottom. As a rule, they then land at the bottom of the isolator of the beverage bottling plant. However, opening and evacuating these container closures results in a breach of the clean room condition of the insulator, resulting in intermediate sterilization is required. It is tried accordingly to avoid this.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for treating container closures, in particular for sterilizing container closures for containers in a beverage filling plant.

The object is achieved by a device for treating container closures, preferably for sterilizing container closures for containers in a beverage filling installation, having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims, the description and the attached figures.

Accordingly, an apparatus for treating container closures, preferably for sterilizing container closures for closing containers in a beverage filling plant, is proposed, comprising a treatment chamber for treating container closures, and a transport device for transporting container closures through the treatment chamber. According to the invention, the transport device comprises a linear drive, wherein the linear drive is operable in a conveying direction and a counter-conveying direction.

Because the transport device comprises a linear drive, the movement of a container closure or a plurality of container closures through the treatment chamber can be adjusted individually and variably. Consequently, it is possible to temporally vary the treatment time of the container closures in the treatment chamber or to adapt to the respective type of container closures. Thus, a chamber size of the treatment chamber can be used for different types of container closure. Likewise, it is not necessary to use different guide troughs, which provide different passageways for the different container closures and also different treatment times in a single treatment chamber.

Furthermore, because the transport device comprises a linear drive, it is no longer necessary to first lift the container closures to be treated by way of a mass conveyor and then to let them slide down by a guide trough due to gravity. Rather, horizontal movements and vertical movements with and against gravity are possible by the linear drive. The treatment of the container closures can thus also be done close to the ground. It is therefore not necessary to provide space or technical measures for the supply, sorting and gravity-induced feedback on the stage, as well as for the inspection of the necessary system parts and devices.

Because the linear drive can be operated in a conveying direction and a counter-conveying direction, it is possible to be able to move container closures which are located in the treatment chamber also out of the treatment chamber counter to the conveying direction. In particular, when a system stop in the chamber located container closures can be back led out of this and be returned to the further operation of the system again in the treatment chamber, so that the interrupted treatment of the container closures can be continued or started again.

The fact that the container closures are led back out of the treatment chamber, the treatment chamber downstream no additional routes or buffer lines are provided. Thus, the capper can be arranged directly downstream for closing containers with the container closures of the treatment chamber. As a result, a particularly compact construction of a device having the device is achieved.

In the case of a system stop of a device comprising the device for treating container closures, for example a beverage filling system, container closures located in the treatment chamber can thus be actively moved out of the treatment chamber by the linear drive so that over-treatment or damage to the container closures can be avoided. Preferably, the container closures moved out of the treatment chamber during the plant stop can be re-supplied to the treatment after a restart of the plant. As a result, the rejection of container closures can be significantly reduced at a plant stop.

Due to the active transport of the container closures by means of the linear drive, it is also possible to avoid deformations of the container closures, since no dynamic pressure acts on the individual container closures and these are guided substantially without mutual contact with one another.

Furthermore, by the linear drive a downstream capper can be supplied with exact timing container closures. An additional stopper between the transport device and the Capper, or a pick & place station or a positioning of the closer is therefore not required.

An introduction and removal of container closures into the treatment chamber or out of the treatment chamber can also be made particularly efficient by the linear drive. In particular, if the treatment chamber has a multi-door lock for introduction and / or removal, a container closure introduced by a first door of the lock can be stopped or slowed down in the lock until the first door has been closed again and the second door has subsequently been opened. Accordingly, it is also possible to move out of the treatment chamber when a container closure is removed. This can continue to be reduced due to the improved lock seal the use of the disinfectant, since the losses are reduced at the lock.

Thus, by providing the linear transport device, an apparatus for treating a container closure having a particularly compact, efficient and simple structure can be provided.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the transport device has a long stator and at least one runner, which can be driven individually via the long stator, for receiving at least one container closure to be treated, wherein a plurality of runners is preferably provided. Furthermore, it is possible that a rotor is designed to receive a plurality of container closures.

The linear drive can be designed in the form of a linear motor, wherein a stator is provided in the form of a long stator, by means of which the transport path is described, and the runners are moved individually on this long stator.

By individually driven runner can be controlled or adjusted according to the position and the movement of a container closure or more container closures in and through the treatment chamber individually. In addition, a clock-accurate recording of a container closure of a feed and a tact-precise transfer of a container closure to the capper is possible. The long stator preferably provides a trajectory of the rotor or a cycle or a main transport line for the runner.

With each runner more than one container closure can be transported. In this way, an efficient transport of the container closures can be achieved with a reduced number of runners.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the long stator can also be arranged outside a wall of the treatment chamber and the rotor can be guided via a guide on the other side of the wall in the treatment chamber. This avoids that the long stator comes into contact with the treatment medium in the treatment chamber.

Further, when a traveler according to another preferred embodiment has a driver for carrying a container closure out of a feed chute, the traveler may act as a stopper on the feed chute. Preferably, when a takeover of the container closures from the feed chute, for example a feed chute of a sorting plant, a runner is always positioned at the exit of the feed chute so that falling out of a container closure from the feed chute is prevented. The driver ensures that a transferred from the feed chute to a runner having the rotor container closure can be taken on a moving away of the runner from the feed reliably from the runner. In addition, the driver of a next runner, which has been moved after a previous runner has been moved from the feed chute to its position, receive a further container closure and preferably prevent by means of its driver that further container closures can slide out of the feed chute or emerge.

Even if the transport device has a buffer for temporarily storing container closures, container closures which are led out of the treatment chamber approximately during a plant stop can be temporarily stored. In addition, this makes it possible, in case of malfunction of parts of the system or the device, for example, in case of disturbances of the supply of container closures to the transport device to operate the system without significant interruption.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the transport device has a switch, wherein the buffer is connected via the switch to a main transport line of the transport device, preferably a first switch for connecting the buffer at a first location of the main transport line and a second switch for connecting the buffer a second point of the main transport line is provided. This makes it possible container closures led out of the treatment chamber via the switch, preferably the first switch, to move into the buffer, and, after a temporary storage, return to the main transport line via a switch, either the first switch or the second switch. In addition, the second switch allows the main transport line, which forms a regular circuit, to be used at least partially as an additional buffer line.

If the transport device is designed to supply the container closure directly to a capper for closing a container with a container closure, a particularly simple construction of a system comprising the device, in particular of a beverage filling installation having the device, can be provided.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the treatment chamber is designed as a sterilization chamber for containers, preferably for preforms of the containers, and also for the container closures for closing the containers. This makes it possible to treat both the containers, preferably the preforms of the containers, as well as the container closures in a common treatment chamber. This is made possible because of the linear drive for a ground-level treatment is possible and on the other hand due to the individually controllable positioning or speed of movement of the container closures to be treated in the treatment chamber, the residence time or treatment time of the container closures and the container in the treatment chamber individually and independently is adjustable.

In other words, a residence time or treatment time of the container closures is largely independent of the residence time or treatment time of the containers or preforms in the same treatment chamber. Consequently, a further to be provided further treatment chamber for the container closures or containers omitted, and thus a second evaporator for the sterilization medium, a second device for air conditioning with heat exchanger and a control of this second treatment chamber and a monitoring device for the aforementioned components. A system comprising the proposed device can accordingly be made more compact and simpler compared to conventional systems. In addition, their process reliability is increased. Likewise, a device designed in this way requires a lower necessary maximum height compared to conventional devices for treating container closures.

In a preferred further embodiment, the individual runners of a plurality of runners are individually controllable. Thus, the speeds of the individual runners along their way can be set and controlled individually. Thus, for example, the runners with closures, which have already covered more than half of the treatment section in the treatment chamber, are driven backwards at a plant stop at higher speed in order to suspend the closures no temporal over-treatment on the reverse. If the system continues to run, the retracted closures are again under the ideal conditions, especially in the then required or intended remaining time, driven through the treatment section.

Preferably, the runners are moved back to a high to very high speed runner on a return path between the capper and a closure feed for feeding each new closure to be treated, particularly as compared to their respective velocity between the closure feed and the treatment chamber and in the treatment chamber. With this, they quickly set the route back and thus fewer runners on the entire line can be used with the same treatment performance.

In order to clean the container closures prior to feeding into the treatment chamber, in particular to remove coarse dirt, the treatment chamber may be preceded by a cleaning device for freeing a container closure of dirt to be treated. The cleaning device can preferably be designed as a flushing device or blowing device which uses a liquid flushing medium or a gas, preferably clean air, for cleaning or pre-cleaning the container closures.

When the transport device has a tortuous section with respect to its main direction of movement, which is designed such that a container closure transported by the transport device in the winding section experiences a change in its orientation, the coiled section preferably being arranged in the region of the cleaning device Pre-cleaning of container closures are made even more effective before feeding into the treatment chamber. Preferably, in the winding section, a container closure is at least partially held in or on the rotor.

In this case, the container closures are preferably upstream of the winding section or upstream of the winding section Lying oriented transport device and experienced in the winding section, a change in their orientation and preferably tilting or pivoting so that they are next to or below the transport device. Preferably, the cleaning device is also arranged below the transport device, so that the cleaning medium of the cleaning device, preferably the cleaning fluid, gas or gas mixture can be sprayed or blown from below to the container closure to be cleaned. Furthermore, this makes it possible for coarse dirt particles to be released from the container closure either by gravity already before cleaning or at least after cleaning in the direction of gravity.

list of figures

• 1 schematisch eine Vorrichtung zum Behandeln von Behälterverschlüssen;
• 2 schematisch die Vorrichtung aus 1 in einem Regelbetrieb;
• 3 schematisch die Vorrichtung aus 1 kurz nach einem Anlagenstopp der Getränkeabfüllanlage;
• 4 schematisch eine Vorrichtung zum Behandeln von Behälterverschlüssen gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform; und
• 5 schematisch eine Vorrichtung zum Behandeln von Behälterverschlüssen gemäß einer nochmals weiteren Ausführungsform.

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. Showing:

• 1 schematically an apparatus for treating container closures;
• 2 schematically the device 1 in a regular operation;
• 3 schematically the device 1 shortly after a stop of the beverage bottling plant;
• 4 schematically a device for treating container closures according to another embodiment; and
• 5 schematically a device for treating container closures according to yet another embodiment.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

In the following, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the figures. In this case, identical, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are provided with identical reference numerals, and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

In 1 is schematically a device 1 for treating container closures 4 shown. The device 1 is in a beverage bottling plant 8th integrated. The beverage bottling plant 8th also has a sorting device 5 for sorting container closures 4 , as well as an insulator 7 and one in the insulator 7 located capper 6 for closing containers with the container closures 4 on.

The sorting device 5 , the capper 6 as well as the insulator 7 can also be part of the device 1 be educated.

The device 1 has a treatment chamber 2 which is present for sterilizing the container closures 4 is trained. The treatment chamber 2 is here the insulator 7 the bottling plant 8th assigned. Alternatively, the treatment chamber 2 also separately to the insulator 7 be provided. In addition, it has a transport device 3 on which a linear drive 30 includes. The linear drive 30 has a long stator 31 and a variety of over the longstator 31 each individually driven runners 32 for receiving container closures to be treated 4 on. The linear drive 30 is accordingly constructed in the form of a linear motor, with a long stator 31 and a variety of on this moving and individually driven runners 32 ,

Every runner 32 has a driver 33 to take along a container closure to be transported 4 from a feed chute 50 the sorting device 5 on. The runner 32 and the driver 33 can also be designed so that in each case more than a single container closure 4 from the runner 32 taken along and transported. For example, two or more, for example 4 . 6 or 8th container closures 4 on the runner 32 be transported.

The linear drive 30 is in the present case designed such that it is in a conveying direction (see 2 ) and in a counter-conveying direction (see 3 ) is operable. In other words, the runners can 32 in two directions along the transport device 3 to be moved.

Furthermore, the transport device 3 a buffer 35 on, which for temporary storage of container closures 4 is provided. The buffer 35 is with a main transport line 34 the transport device 3 over a first switch 36 and a second switch 37 connected. The first switch 36 is at the main transport line 34 between the feed chute 50 and the treatment chamber 2 arranged, the second turnout 37 is the capper 6 and the insulator 7 downstream of the transport device 3 arranged.

2 schematically shows the device 1 out 1 in a regular operation, in which the transport device 3 the runners 32 in the conveying direction 9 individually moved. From the sorting device 5 over the feed chute 50 to the transport device 3 supplied container closures 4 be at the end of the feed chute 50 individually by one runner each 32 taken. After taking over a container closure 4 by a runner 32 at the end of the feed chute 50 Will the container closure 4 carrying runners 32 in the treatment chamber 2 funneled. In the treatment chamber 2 becomes the container closure 4 with a vaporous treatment medium, in the present case vaporized hydrogen peroxide, applied. Alternatively, another per se known treatment medium, such as peracetic acid, in the treatment chamber 2 used to achieve the treatment of the container closures.

The residence time or treatment time of each container closure 4 in the treatment chamber 2 is determined by the individually specified speed of the runner 32 predetermined and can be adjusted accordingly. Over-treatment or insufficient treatment can thus be effectively avoided. After discharging the treated container closures 4 from the treatment chamber 2 These are in the isolator 7 continued and directly and precisely to the capper 6 to hand over. After passing the container closure 4 to the capper 6 becomes the runner 32 again from the insulator 7 slid out and along the transport device 3 along the cycle of the main transport line 34 continue in the direction and to the feed chute 50 moved so that a new container closure to be treated 4 can be included. On this "way back" can the respective empty runner 32 be moved at high speed, in this way the number of runners needed 32 to keep low.

3 schematically shows device 1 out 1 shortly after a stop of the beverage bottling plant 8th , To prevent container closures 4 , which occurred as the plant stop already in the treatment chamber 2 were re-treated, these were in the opposite direction 10 contrary to the normal conveying direction 9 (please refer 2 ) from the treatment chamber 2 moved back. Here are those runners 32 , which wear closures that have been treated to more than 50%, especially quickly from the treatment chamber 2 moved out.

The runners 32 get over the first switch 36 on or in the buffer 35 , As there are more runners 32 in the treatment chamber 2 were as the buffer 35 became part of the runners 32 , which are to plant stop in the treatment chamber 2 over the second turnout 37 continue on the main transport line 34 promoted. In other words, the area serves the main transport line 34 which is used to return the runners 34 after discharging from the insulator 7 is provided as a further buffer or as an extension of the buffer 35 ,

After completion of the plant stop those are in the buffer 35 and in the further buffer runner 32 again in the conveying direction 9 to and into the treatment chamber 2 promoted so that the container closures 4 undergo proper sterilization. After the buffer 35 and the further buffer are emptied, again new container closures 4 from the feed chute 50 recorded and as in 2 shown, thus in normal operation, through the treatment chamber 2 emotional.

4 schematically shows a device 1 for treating container closures 4 according to a further embodiment. It essentially corresponds to the device 1 , wherein the treatment chamber 2 not only for treating the container closures 4 is provided, but in the present case as a sterilization chamber for preforms 12 the container is formed, which after the blow molding and filling with a filling product in the capper 6 through the container closures 4 should be closed. The treatment chamber 2 is also for treating the container closures 4 designed for closing the container. Thus, a sterilization of both the container closures takes place 4 , which by means of the transport device 3 through the treatment chamber 2 be moved, as well as the preforms 12 , which by a separate to the transport device 3 provided preform transport device 11 also through the treatment chamber 2 be transported. The treatment times of the container closures 4 and the preforms 12 is different and adapted to the respective fittings. This makes it possible for both the preforms 12 as well as the container closures 4 a treatment with an optimal treatment time in the treatment chamber 2 experience.

5 schematically shows a device 1 for treating container closures 4 according to a further embodiment. It essentially corresponds to the one in 1 shown device, wherein in this embodiment no buffer is provided. Alternatively, however, the in 5 shown device 1 comprise a buffer according to the embodiments described above. Between the feed chute 50 and the treatment chamber 2 has the transport device 3 a sinuous section 38 on. In this sinuous section 38 learn the runners 32 each a change in their orientation. While the runners 32 at the end of the feed chute 50 with its receptacle for the container closure 4 pointing up, corresponding to gravity, pointing, the orientation of the runners 32 in the winding section 38 panned so the runners 32 with their shots each down, accordingly point in the direction of gravity. Thus, one points in the swiveled runner 32 held or recorded container closure 4 also down. Below the winding section 38 is a cleaning device 13 arranged, which the container closures 4 before being introduced into the treatment chamber 2 in this case freed from coarse dirt and dust by blowing with compressed air. After the container closure 4 through the cleaning device 13 was pre-cleaned, this container closure 4 having runners 32 in the remaining part of the tortuous section 38 pivoted further so that it has its original orientation again.

Where applicable, all individual features illustrated in the embodiments may be combined and / or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

device

2

treatment chamber

3

transport device

30

linear actuator

31

longstator

32

runner

33

takeaway

34

Main transport line

35

buffer

36

First turnout

37

Second turnout

38

Spiral section

4

container closure

5

sorter

50

feed chute

6

capper

7

insulator

8th

bottling plant

9

conveying direction

10

opposite direction

11

Preformtransportvorrichtung

12

preform

13

cleaning device

Claims (10)

Device (1) for treating container closures (4), preferably for sterilizing container closures (4) for closing containers in a beverage filling installation (8), comprising a treatment chamber (2) for treating container closures (4), and a transport device (3 ) for transporting container closures (4) through the treatment chamber (2), characterized in that the transport device (3) comprises a linear drive (30), wherein the linear drive (30) in a conveying direction (9) and a counter-conveying direction (10) operable is. Device (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the transport device (3) has a long stator (31) and a rotor (32) which can be driven individually via the long stator (31) for receiving a container closure (4) to be treated or a plurality of container closures (4) to be treated, wherein preferably a plurality of runners (32) is provided. Device (1) according to Claim 2 , characterized in that a runner (32) has a driver (33) for carrying a container closure (4) from a feed chute (50). Device according to Claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that more than one container closure (4) can be transported with each runner (32). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport device (3) has a buffer (35) for temporarily storing container closures (4). Device (1) according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the transport device (3) has a switch (36, 37), wherein the buffer (35) via the switch (36, 37) with a main transport line (34) of the transport device (3) is connected, preferably a a first switch (36) for connecting the buffer (35) at a first location of the main transport line (34) and a second switch (37) for connecting the buffer (35) at a second location of the main transport line (34) is provided. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport device (3) is adapted to supply the container closure (4) directly to a capper (6) for closing a container with the container closure (4). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the treatment chamber (2) is designed as a sterilization chamber for containers, preferably for preforms (12) of the containers, and also for the container closures (4) for closing the containers. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the treatment chamber (2) upstream of a cleaning device (13) for cleaning a container closure to be treated (4) is arranged. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport device (3) has, in relation to its main direction of movement, a serpentine section (38) which is designed such that it moves in the winding section of the transport device (3) Container closure (4) undergoes a change in its orientation, wherein the winding portion (38) is preferably arranged in the region of the cleaning device (13).

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