DE102021122460A1 - Treatment module for cleaning and filling KEGs - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a treatment module (20) for cleaning and filling KEGs (3) each equipped with at least one KEG fitting (2). The treatment module (20) has at least one housing (21) for accommodating a KEG (3) and a treatment head (1) arranged at least in sections in the housing (21) for cleaning and filling the interior of the KEG (3). The treatment module (20) also includes at least one pressing element (15) for pressing the KEG (3) against the treatment head (1) and connecting and connecting devices (22, 22') for connection to a water supply and to a media supply for the filling product and for one or more treatment or cleaning media and for connection to an energy supply. A particular aspect can be seen in the fact that the treatment module (20) also has an exterior cleaning device (30) arranged at least partially in the housing (21) for cleaning the exterior of the KEG (3) and thus for cleaning both the exterior and the interior of the KEG (3) and for filling the KEG (3) with the filling product.

Description

The present invention relates to a treatment module for cleaning and filling KEGs each equipped with at least one KEG fitting. Furthermore, the invention relates to a treatment system with a plurality of such treatment modules and also to a method for cleaning and filling KEGs, each equipped with at least one KEG fitting, by means of such a treatment module.

Reusable kegs, also referred to as KEGs or KEG kegs or KEG containers, are well known in the beverage industry. One of the main advantages of using KEGs can be seen, for example, in the special design of the connections, which usually include a valve, with the KEGs being able to be cleaned and filled via these connections or valves during the required cleaning and filling process in a bottling plant and in addition the contents can also be removed, in particular tapped, from the consumer, particularly in the catering trade, with the aid of suitable dispensing heads via these connections or valves.

The specialist knows the connections of KEGs as fittings or KEG fittings. Consequently, the relevant person skilled in the art has long been well aware of the basic structure of such KEGs with at least one KEG fitting.

The KEGs designed as reusable kegs with a KEG fitting go through several usage cycles, with a freshly filled KEG being issued or placed on the market in each of these usage cycles and finally being returned to a bottling plant after the respective removal of the filling material. There, the KEG must first be subjected to a cleaning process before it can be refilled for renewed use. For the hygienically perfect cleaning of the KEGs, it is necessary to clean the KEGs both inside and outside.

As a rule, the KEGs are handled industrially and automatically in the filling plants, especially in the large plants in the beverage industry. Known for this are, for example, fully automated machines or systems with one or more stations for cleaning or filling the KEGs. Such machines or systems can also be referred to as a treatment device or treatment system.

In the case of the treatment devices or treatment plants described above, the KEGs are generally treated in large numbers and with a high throughput. The KEGs for the cleaning and filling process pass through cleaning and filling stations that are spatially different from one another but are set up in a fixed manner, with a preset cleaning and filling process taking place more or less in the same way for all KEGs to be treated.

More recently, however, there has been a trend towards smaller, independent breweries and bottlers, such as craft beer brewers, offering an increasingly larger and more diverse range. A more individual treatment of individual KEGs is becoming increasingly important here. There is therefore a need for smaller systems with increased flexibility, in which the KEGs can be cleaned and filled in the individually desired manner with little equipment.

The object of the present invention is to provide a treatment module for cleaning and filling KEGs, which allows the cleaning and filling of KEGs in a hygienically impeccable and particularly time-saving manner with little outlay in terms of equipment and with increased flexibility.

This object is achieved by a treatment module for cleaning and filling KEGs according to the features of independent patent claim 1. Furthermore, to achieve the object, a treatment system according to patent claim 22 and a method for cleaning and filling KEGs each equipped with at least one KEG fitting according to patent claim 23 are proposed. The dependent claims relate to particularly advantageous developments of the invention.

The present invention provides a treatment module for cleaning and filling KEGs each equipped with at least one KEG fitting. The treatment module has at least one housing for accommodating a KEG and a treatment head, which is arranged at least in sections in the housing, for cleaning the inside of the KEG and filling it. Furthermore, the treatment module comprises at least one pressing element for pressing the KEG against the treatment head as well as connecting and connecting devices for connecting to a water supply and to a media supply for the filling product and for one or more treatment or cleaning media and for connecting to an energy supply. According to a particular aspect of the invention, the treatment module also has an exterior cleaning device, which is arranged at least partially in the housing, for cleaning the exterior of the KEG. The treatment module is therefore suitable for external cleaning as well set up for cleaning the inside of the KEG and for filling the KEG with the filling product.

A “filling product” within the meaning of the present invention can be, for example, a beverage, in particular a beverage containing CO ₂ . For example, the filling product can be beer, a mixed beer drink or a carbonated soft drink.

All media commonly used in connection with cleaning in the food industry, in particular the beverage industry, which are familiar to a person skilled in the art, come into consideration as the “cleaning medium”. The cleaning can include a number of different cleaning steps with different cleaning media, the number of cleaning steps being carried out sequentially or one after the other, for example. When cleaning the KEGs, at least one lye is preferably used as a cleaning medium or as a component of a cleaning medium.

In the context of the invention, the present “treatment module” is to be understood as meaning a treatment module which is designed for cleaning and filling an individual KEG, namely for treating exactly one KEG. The treatment module as it is understood thus has exactly one housing and exactly one treatment head, with the housing being designed to accommodate a single, namely exactly a single KEG, with the KEG to be treated remaining in the one treatment module throughout the treatment, in particular in a state connected to the one treatment head in a sealed position.

The "treatment module" in the present understanding is set up for independent, independent operation and can be connected to the supply and discharge lines via the connection and connection devices, so that the treatment module is supplied with all the media, filling products and energy required in the cleaning and filling process and the media produced after the individual cleaning steps, in particular used media, can be disposed of again.

The "treatment" of KEGs, which can also be referred to as KEG barrels or KEG containers, includes both cleaning and filling the KEGs in the context of the invention, with the present treatment module being a multifunctional treatment module in which the KEG to be treated is both cleaned and filled, with cleaning taking place here as a combined exterior and interior cleaning. Of course, the interior cleaning also includes sterilization if this is necessary before filling a respective filling product.

The “cleaning”, namely both the interior cleaning and the exterior cleaning, is carried out in a respective cleaning operation or cleaning process with at least one cleaning step and by means of at least one cleaning medium or cleaning agent. Exterior cleaning can also be referred to as washing the outside of the KEG, washing the outside or washing the outside of the keg.

“Cleaning media” or “cleaning agents” can include liquid as well as gaseous or vaporous media or fluids, which can be used in particular at different temperatures. All media commonly used in the food industry, in particular the beverage industry, which are familiar to the person skilled in the art, come into consideration as “cleaning media” or “cleaning agents”, which are also referred to here as treatment media. Of course, disinfectants and, for example, water, air, nitrogen or CO ₂ gas also fall under such media, which can be used for cleaning the inside and/or outside of the KEG for cleaning, rinsing or drying, blowing out or blowing off the KEG. The cleaning preferably includes several different cleaning steps with different cleaning media.

In a particularly advantageous manner, each KEG can go through the entire cleaning and filling process in one and the same treatment module, resulting in several advantages. This means that there is no need to repeatedly connect and disconnect the KEG fitting to and from different treatment heads during the cleaning and filling process, which advantageously also protects the KEG fitting of the KEGs and is therefore subject to less wear. In addition, the treatment in the present treatment module advantageously leads to a saving of time and energy, whereby on the one hand the time for repeated coupling and decoupling of the KEG fitting to the treatment head can be saved and, moreover, transport time and transport energy are also eliminated, which in conventional systems are necessary to transport the KEG for the individual treatment processes from one treatment station to the next. The expenditure on equipment for the entire cleaning and filling process is also reduced to a minimum, so that a particularly space-saving and flexible installation is possible here, which is particularly advantageous for smaller bottling plants.

Another advantage of the present treatment module is that the handling steps are reduced to a minimum, which simplifies “KEG handling” and also reduces the cycle time during treatment. Since various treatment steps for cleaning the outside and inside can also take place at the same time, the throughput time of the KEG is reduced. Cycle adjustments with shortened or lengthened individual steps in the interior and/or exterior cleaning processes are possible individually and independently for each KEG to be treated with the present treatment module.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment variant, the treatment module comprises a holding device for holding the KEG, with the holding device of the treatment module being set up in particular to engage the KEG on the top and bottom, namely in the area of an upper side including the KEG fitting and an underside opposite the upper side take. For example, the pressing element and the treatment head are corresponding interacting elements of the holding device, which engage the KEG on the top and bottom. The holding device is particularly preferably designed to hold the KEG in a fixed manner.

The pressing element of the present treatment module can be designed, for example, as an active pressing element in the form of a pressing cross that can be moved in the direction of a central longitudinal axis of the processing module, which has a contact section against the formed on the underside of the KEG and in the "overhead position" of the KEG upwards pointing KEG base can be brought into contact and then presses down against the KEG base with a contact pressure directed from top to bottom. However, the pressing element can also be a stationary, for example passive, abutment or stop element facing the underside of the KEG, against which the KEG is actively pressed from below with a force effect directed from below upwards.

According to an alternative, likewise preferred embodiment variant, the holding device for holding the KEG comprises a rotary drive means which is set up to generate a rotation of the KEG held by the holding device about its vertical axis. In this way, the KEG is kept rotatable during its treatment, resulting in particular advantages for cleaning the outside, since the rotation of the KEG achieves particularly uniform and effective cleaning over the entire circumference of the KEG, namely in the area of its outer wall or lateral surface leaves.

Furthermore, the exterior cleaning device preferably comprises at least one nozzle arrangement, the nozzle arrangement having one or more nozzles, in particular spray nozzles. The nozzle(s), in particular spray nozzle(s), is/are set up for applying a treatment or cleaning medium and/or water to the outside of the KEG.

A number of nozzles of the nozzle arrangement are very particularly preferably set up and arranged within the housing in such a way that, due to their specification or nozzle properties and/or due to their arrangement in the housing, they are designed to spray the KEG received and held in the housing with cleaning agent and/or or to apply water laterally to a lateral surface of the KEG and/or to an upper side of the KEG including the KEG fitting and/or to an underside of the KEG. In this way, for example, it can be achieved that individual or also different outer sides or surfaces of the KEG can be cleaned and in particular that every possible outer surface or side of the KEG can be cleaned and thus a comprehensive external cleaning is achieved. This also enables an adjustable, targeted and/or more intensive impact on individual, for example heavily soiled, surface sections or areas of the KEG, which can be adjusted as required.

It is also conceivable in alternative forms of application to use different nozzles for different treatment media or to provide the multiplicity of nozzles in several nozzle groups or several nozzle arrangements and to use different nozzle groups or arrangements for different treatment media.

A particular advantage results when the treatment module is additionally equipped with means for cleaning a contact surface, in order to clean a contact surface between the treatment head and the KEG fitting. These means for cleaning the contact surfaces are formed in particular by spray nozzles, preferably by spray nozzles that can be switched on in a controlled manner. These additional spray nozzles or nozzles are arranged within the housing and are specially designed or set up in such a way that they also allow the contact surface between the KEG fitting and the treatment head to be cleaned. In the state of a KEG coupled to the treatment head in a sealed position, this contact surface is essentially inaccessible and can only be cleaned with difficulty. Therefore, in the present treatment module, special contact surface nozzles or sealing surface nozzles are provided, for example, which can preferably be switched and controlled separately and which, if necessary can also be supplied separately with treatment media, preferably also with treatment media that are different from the treatment media used for the rest of the exterior cleaning, for example with treatment media as they are used for the interior cleaning of the KEG or as they are used for CIP cleaning of the treatment head be used.

The preferably provided contact surface nozzles or sealing surface nozzles are, for example, switched or activated, i.e. treated with treatment medium, when the KEG is not or not yet sitting directly on the contact surface, i.e. for example shortly before the KEG is placed on the treatment head or immediately after uncoupling from the treatment head. The contact surface on the treatment head can also be cleaned, for example via the contact surface nozzles or sealing surface nozzles, after a first KEG is uncoupled and before another KEG is put back on, i.e. between respective treatment processes carried out for each of several KEGs to be treated sequentially . The means for cleaning the contact surfaces can thus be switched in a controlled manner in particular in terms of time or as a function of time.

For example, the additional nozzles, in particular contact surface nozzles, are arranged in the area of the treatment head and are set up in particular so that they can act on or spray down the treatment head surface and/or the sealing surface of the KEG fitting. By switching these nozzles accordingly before the sealing layer between the treatment head and the KEG fitting is established, for example before or during the positioning of the KEG in the housing or on the treatment head, spraying cleaning the contact surfaces or sealing surfaces can take place in the treatment module. In the present case, this is also referred to as contact surface cleaning or sealing surface cleaning. The contact surface cleaning or sealing surface cleaning can be carried out individually and as required by switching on accordingly. In the area of the treatment head, particularly preferably, corresponding, in particular switchable, drainage devices or valves are also provided, so that liquids which may collect during contact surface cleaning or sealing surface cleaning can be drained off by appropriate circuits, in particular also valve circuits.

According to a further preferred embodiment variant, the exterior cleaning device comprises at least one brush arrangement with at least one or more brush element(s) arranged in the housing. As a result, in addition to the external application of cleaning media to the KEGs or in addition to the external treatment with cleaning media, mechanical action on the outside is also possible in order to clean them. Even larger, heavy or stubborn dirt on the outside, such as encrustations etc., but also labels or label residues or labels, ink codes etc. can be efficiently removed. In principle, various brushes suitable for use in cleaning KEGs and known to those skilled in the art for this purpose can be used as brush elements. For example, various configurations of brushes are suitable, such as plate or strip brushes, cup brushes, roller brushes or round brushes, just to name a few variants by way of example and not conclusively.

According to particularly preferred embodiment variants, the at least one brush element of the brush arrangement is designed as a rotating brush, the rotating brush preferably being rotatable by means of a drive provided for this purpose, preferably via a direct drive. The rotation of the brush elements can take place, for example, as a rotation about a brush axis or brush center axis. Alternatively or additionally, the brush element can also be designed to run around a central longitudinal axis of the treatment module and run around a KEG held in the housing in the circulation mode. In other words, the brush can thus rotate on itself and/or it can rotate around the main axis of the KEG or around the KEG. In the latter case in particular, if the brush element is set up and arranged in such a way that it comes into contact with the lateral surface of the KEG, it can be used, for example, to clean the lateral surface of the lateral wall of the KEG completely, in particular over the entire circumference, even if the KEG is stationary in the Treatment module is held.

Preferably, at least one brush element—or several brush elements—of the brush arrangement is designed to clean the lateral surface of the KEG and is arranged inside the housing in such a way that the brush element is laterally adjacent to a KEG received and held in the housing. Alternatively or additionally, at least one brush element of the brush arrangement is preferably designed to clean the upper side of the KEG including the KEG fitting and is arranged inside the housing in such a way that the brush element is arranged at a level below a KEG received and held in the housing.

The exterior cleaning device preferably comprises a high-pressure spray, in particular a high-pressure spray with a number of pressure levels, it being possible for the high-pressure spray to take place separately in time or space with different pressure levels.

Furthermore, the housing is preferably designed as a closed, preferably completely closed housing, in particular as a housing that is sealed off from the outside environment, and has a door for introducing and removing the KEG. The closed, preferably completely and preferably tightly sealed housing reliably prevents unwanted spraying or leakage of treatment media or cleaning agents used for external cleaning. Alternatively or additionally, a labyrinth seal can also be provided on the housing or in the housing, for example, which is used for sealing purposes in order to prevent treatment or cleaning medium from escaping and/or spraying.

The present treatment module particularly preferably has at least one return and/or drain device for the return and/or drain of the treatment or cleaning media used in the cleaning and/or the water used in the cleaning. A treatment or cleaning medium that has already been used at least once for cleaning is also referred to here as a used treatment or cleaning medium or as a service medium. Likewise, the water used at least once during the cleaning is referred to synonymously as used water or process water, or as mixed water or gray water.

With the provided return and/or drain device, the cleaning media and/or the water produced during cleaning can advantageously be collected in a targeted and controlled manner after use and finally discharged or discharged for discarding or disposal or returned for recycling. The discharge or return can be controlled here, for example, depending on the degree of contamination of the media or the water. It is also possible to circulate water or media, with the “used media” or the “used water” being fed back to the supply tank and thus to the treatment module after any treatment and/or filtration that has taken place. In this way, in particular savings in the consumption of fresh water and/or cleaning media can be achieved.

According to very particularly preferred embodiments, the return and/or drain device comprises separate and switchable, in particular controlled, switchable processes, with a predetermined process preferably being used for the return and/or drain of the treatment or cleaning media and for the return and/or Drainage of water another predetermined flow are provided. It is also possible to separate the service water from the used cleaning media, so that the water and cleaning media can be separated and disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations and requirements. This also makes recycling easier, since the water and the cleaning media can be separated and returned and/or circulated as required. Due to the different service lives of cleaning media and water, this brings enormous advantages, especially from an economic point of view and for reasons of cleaning effectiveness.

It is preferably also provided that the return and/or drain device can also be switched, in particular controlled, for cascading use of the treatment or cleaning media and/or the water and can be connected to the connecting and connecting devices. The cascading use of the used treatment or cleaning media and/or the industrial or gray water results in particular advantages if the cascading use takes place in such a way that the treatment or cleaning media or the water is first used for internal cleaning and then for external cleaning be used. In the present case, this is understood as a cascade “from the inside to the outside”, since this ensures in particular that no dirt or germs adhering to the outside enter the interior of the KEG.

Particular advantages result if a treatment unit is additionally provided for the treatment of the treatment or cleaning media and/or the water used during cleaning. Such a processing unit can have, among other things, at least one filter device with at least one corresponding filter in order to separate dirt, particles and the like. The treatment or cleaning media and/or the water are processed via the processing unit before they are used further or before they are returned for renewed use, namely, for example, filtered and cleaned. Corresponding filters in the filter device of the processing unit can be coarse filters, fine filters, membrane filters, in particular mat filters, filter fleece or the like and can be used individually or in combination.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment variant, the treatment head of the present treatment module is designed as a multifunctional treatment head and is set up both for cleaning the inside of the KEG and for filling it. The treatment head has a treatment head housing and at least one plunger held in the treatment head housing so as to be displaceable in the axial direction of a treatment head axis for opening the KEG fitting of the KEG to be treated and arranged in a sealed position on the treatment head. At least one fluid chamber and flow paths or channels communicating with it in a controllable manner are formed in the treatment head, with the flow paths or channels being controllably connectable to the interior of the KEG to be treated when the KEG fitting is open. For example, at least two flow paths or channels are formed in the treatment head, wherein the first flow path or channel can be acted upon in a controllable manner with the filling product and the second flow path or channel for the controllable removal of at least one treatment medium from the interior of the KEG and/or to the controllable Supplying at least one treatment medium into the interior of the KEG is used and can extend at least partially through the plunger.

The treatment head has at least one first controllable media valve assigned to the fluid chamber, which is connected to a filling product feed and is designed as a product valve for the controlled feeding of a filling product, in particular a beverage, into the interior of the KEG to be treated. A second controllable media valve serving as a return valve is also provided. Very particularly preferably, at least the first media valve serving as a product valve, preferably also the return valve, has a multiple sealing arrangement for multiple sealing of the filling product feed from the fluid space. A control and/or monitoring unit that communicates with the media valves is provided for the control and/or monitoring of the media valves.

By means of the multiple sealing arrangement of the media valve, at least one safety or leakage chamber is advantageously formed, which can preferably be flushed by means of a flushing device, in particular by means of a flushing valve or satellite valve and/or a controlled drain, and which in at least one first closed valve position of the first media valve has a separate Forms gap between the fluid space and the filling product feed, so that always, especially over the entire process of cleaning and filling, a safe separation of the treatment or cleaning media is guaranteed by the filling product. The multiple sealing arrangement of the first media valve is preferably formed by a double seat or double sealing leakage valve.

The present treatment module has a control and/or monitoring unit which is set up and designed in particular to control and/or monitor the cleaning and filling process. The control and/or monitoring unit is provided for controlling and/or monitoring at least the exterior cleaning, in particular for controlling and/or monitoring the exterior cleaning as required. The control and/or monitoring unit is also provided for controlling and/or monitoring at least the interior cleaning, in particular for controlling and/or monitoring the interior cleaning as required and for controlling and/or monitoring at least the filling. The specified control processes can be carried out directly by the control and/or monitoring unit and/or by the control and/or monitoring unit communicating with at least one further, preferably also provided controller or control device and/or regulator. For example, the control and/or monitoring unit is also in communication with the media valves of the treatment head and controls and/or monitors them. In particular, adjustment movements of the valve body and the respective valve positions of the media valves can also be controlled and/or monitored.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present treatment module, at least one or more supply tank(s) connected to the treatment head is/are provided for the supply of treatment or cleaning media, with the supply tank(s) being arranged at a level below the treatment head/ are. For example, this simplifies the process of blowing out the KEGs, so that the treatment of the KEGs is faster and also involves less compressed air consumption. The supply tanks are particularly advantageously arranged at a level directly below the treatment head, since in this way the smallest possible difference in height between the supply tanks and the treatment head can be overcome by means of pumps and the energy consumption of the pumps can therefore be reduced.

A blow-off and/or drying device for blowing off and/or drying the outside of the treatment module is also preferred KEGs provided. The blow-off and/or drying device can in particular be operated in a controlled manner, namely it can be switched on or switched on and can be activated by corresponding communication with the control and/or monitoring unit provided for controlling and/or monitoring at least the exterior cleaning, in order to, after the exterior cleaning, ie after the external treatment with treatment media, in particular with liquid treatment media and/or water, to improve or accelerate drying.

By blowing off and/or drying the KEGs using the blowing off and/or drying device, it is possible on the one hand to optimize a sensory, for example optical, control or monitoring of the cleaning and the success of the cleaning, since, for example, a camera image generated during the optical control is significantly improved is when there are no more liquid residues, such as droplets or a liquid film or the like, on the outside of the KEG. Furthermore, the adhesion of an inscription to be applied, for example by printing, for example with inkjet, or the adhesion of a label to be applied can be significantly improved as a result.

An optical camera for monitoring the exterior cleaning is also particularly preferably provided, which is communicatively connected to the control and/or monitoring unit, the camera and the control and/or monitoring unit communicating in such a way and being set up to monitor the exterior cleaning depending on the camera signal to control.

A thermal imaging camera for direct and/or indirect monitoring of the internal cleaning and external cleaning and in particular also for indirect monitoring of the filling is also preferably provided in the treatment module. For example, the thermal imaging camera can be used to indirectly monitor the process of interior cleaning and filling. It is also possible to directly monitor the cleaning of the outside, as dirt deposits, or e.g. labels, change the heat radiation of the surface and therefore dirty parts of the KEG surface or parts with labels have a different heat radiation than clean, clean parts of the surface. Therefore, based on the heat radiation pattern or image recorded by means of the thermal imaging camera, the external cleaning process, for example, can be directly observed or monitored and preferably optionally controlled and adjusted depending on the heat radiation pattern or image obtained, in particular if the thermal imaging camera is equipped with the control and/or or monitoring unit is communicatively connected.

The present treatment module is set up in particular as a treatment module for the combined cleaning and filling process and is equipped to allow independent external cleaning, internal cleaning and filling operation, with the treatment head during the entire cleaning and filling process, which is also referred to as the cleaning and filling process can be connected to the KEG fitting of the KEG to be treated or is sealingly attached or coupled to this. A single or singular treatment module can thus carry out all the steps for the external cleaning, internal cleaning and filling of a KEG, so that the present processing module already forms the smallest unit of a processing plant. The loading of the treatment module, namely the insertion and removal of KEGs, can be carried out here manually or with the help of a machine, or with the help of a machine or even fully automatically.

In particular, the present treatment module is also designed in such a way that it can be combined or coupled with other treatment modules, in particular also with other treatment modules of the same type, to form a larger treatment system. Due to the independence of each individual treatment module, the respective treatment modules can particularly advantageously work or be operated independently of one another in such a treatment plant.

The present invention thus also includes a treatment system having at least one treatment module, as specified in the above description. The treatment system can include one or more further treatment modules, it being possible for the further treatment modules to be designed in the same way or in a different way. The present invention includes, in particular, a treatment system with a plurality of treatment modules, as specified in the above description, with at least two of the treatment modules being set up for treating KEGs of the same type and/or with at least a first of the treatment modules being set up for treating KEGs of a first type and at least a second of the treatment modules is set up for treating KEGs of a second type.

The treatment system preferably includes a loading robot for feeding and removing the KEGs to and from the individual treatment modules. The loading robot can, for example, one with several degrees of freedom a have the moveable gripper arm for gripping the KEGs.

The respective treatment module is advantageously designed as a “stand-alone” module, ie as a treatment module that can be operated independently of the other treatment modules of the treatment facility. With regard to the number of treatment modules, this enables a high level of flexibility in the treatment system - both in terms of the total number of treatment modules in the treatment system, which can be increased or decreased as desired, and the number of treatment modules in operation at a specific point in time.

“KEGs of the same type” is understood here to mean that the KEGs are the same in at least one property relevant to the cleaning and filling process and considered here. Such properties can include, for example, the following from the non-exhaustive list of properties: capacity, size, geometry, external shape, material, weight, strength or thickness of the KEG wall, type of KEG fitting, and so on. By considering one or more of the properties, for example, a classification or differentiation into types of KEGs can also be made, in particular into different types of KEGs. The "KEG of a first type" and the "KEG of a second type" differ from each other, e.g. with regard to the type of their KEG fitting and/or their volume. However, differences between the KEG types can also be drawn from other of the above-mentioned properties, for example also with regard to the filling product to be filled or filled.

In the present treatment plant, the cleaning and filling processes in each individual treatment module can be tailored to the respective KEG to be treated there or adapted as required and in a controlled manner, with the type or the type of KEG or a degree of contamination of the KEG or the type of filling product to be filled or the like can be taken into account. Mixed operation is also possible in the present treatment plant, since each individual treatment module can be connected to a respective filling product supply in a controlled switchable manner via the product feed and thus different filling products can be filled in individual - also adjacent - treatment modules at the same time.

The treatment system can also have at least one dirt detection device for detecting, in particular spatially resolved detecting, dirt on the outside of a KEG. The dirt detection device can be designed as a camera, for example, or can include at least one camera. With the help of the dirt detection device, it is possible, for example, to determine the degree of soiling of a KEG and to control the exterior cleaning process in the respective treatment module depending on the degree of soiling determined. For example, the cleaning duration and/or the type of cleaning for the respective KEG can be individually adjusted depending on its degree of soiling. The dirt detection device is preferably connected to the respective control and/or monitoring unit of the treatment modules and/or to a central system control.

The dirt detection device can be arranged, for example, on the loading robot mentioned above, in particular on its gripping arm. In this way, the degree of contamination of a KEG can be determined while the KEG is being transported to a treatment module by the loading robot. Alternatively, the dirt detection device can be arranged in a stationary manner.

The dirt detection device preferably includes a number of detection units, for example cameras. These are advantageously arranged at different points, for example on the loading robot and/or at one or more points of the respective treatment module. This enables a particularly reliable detection of the degree of soiling using a number of recordings, in particular from different directions or perspectives.

Alternatively, the degree of contamination of the respective KEG can be visually determined by a system operator and, for the purpose of adjusting the exterior cleaning process for the KEG, can be transmitted via an HMI (Human Machine Interface) to a control and/or monitoring unit of a treatment module and/or a central system control.

The present invention also relates to a method for cleaning and filling KEGs, each equipped with at least one KEG fitting, by means of a treatment module. The treatment module is in particular a treatment module as described above. In the method, a KEG to be treated is placed in a housing of the treatment module and, with the help of a pressing element, its KEG fitting is brought into a sealing position with a treatment head of the treatment module and pressed using a pressing element, with the KEG being held in the housing. An interior cleaning of the KEG is carried out and for this purpose an interior of the KEG is cleaned in one or more interior cleaning steps. After the interior has been cleaned, the KEG is filled with a filling product, with both the interior cleaning and the filling of the KEG taking place via the treatment head which interacts in a sealed position with the KEG fitting. According to a particular aspect of the method, the exterior of the KEG received and held in the housing is also cleaned by means of an exterior cleaning device which is at least partially arranged in the housing of the treatment module.

Advantageously, the KEG is connected to the treatment head with its KEG fitting in a sealed position during the entire cleaning and filling process.

The exterior cleaning and the interior cleaning of the KEG are very particularly preferably carried out at an overlap in time, in particular at the same time. This can save a considerable amount of time, since individual steps of external cleaning and internal cleaning can run in parallel.

Furthermore advantageously, the external cleaning comprises one or more external cleaning steps. One of the external cleaning steps can be, for example, applying treatment or cleaning medium and/or water to the KEG by means of a nozzle arrangement of the treatment module. Alternatively or additionally, a cleaning treatment using a brush arrangement can be carried out as an external cleaning step. The advantages of the brush arrangement in this regard, already described in connection with the treatment module, naturally also apply to the method in the same way.

The KEG is preferably rotated about its vertical axis during at least one of the external cleaning steps, which supports a comprehensive, in particular full-scope, cleaning in a particularly effective manner.

According to a preferred variant of the method, the interior cleaning and/or the exterior cleaning are adapted in a controlled manner to the degree of contamination of the KEG, in particular in terms of time and/or with regard to the amount of treatment or cleaning medium used and/or the water. One or more cleaning cycles for the interior cleaning and/or the exterior cleaning are preferably carried out in a controlled manner.

In the method according to a preferred embodiment, the treatment or cleaning medium and/or water used for cleaning is controlled and switchably supplied via a common water supply and media supply for one or more treatment or cleaning media and fed to the external cleaning device or the treatment head. In a particularly preferred manner, the treatment or cleaning medium and/or water can also be used in a controlled manner in a cascade-like manner, as has already been described above in connection with the treatment module.

The expression “substantially” or “approximately” means deviations from the exact value in each case by up to +/-10%, preferably by up to +/-5%, and/or deviations in the form of for the function insignificant changes.

Further developments, advantages and possible applications of the invention also result from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. All of the features described and/or illustrated are fundamentally the subject matter of the invention, either alone or in any combination, regardless of how they are summarized in the claims or how they relate back to them. The content of the claims is also made part of the description.

• 1 stark vereinfacht und nur beispielhaft schematisch skizziert eine Ausführungsvariante eines Behandlungsmoduls einer beispielhaften Ausführungsvariante mit einem aufgenommenen KEG,
• 2 stark vereinfacht und nur beispielhaft schematisch skizziert eine Ausführungsvariante eines Behandlungsmoduls,
• 3 stark vereinfacht und nur beispielhaft und grob schematisch skizziert eine Ausführungsvariante eines Behandlungsmoduls in einer Draufsicht,
• 4 eine schematische Darstellung eines exemplarischen Behandlungskopfes einer beispielhaften Ausführungsvariante mit ebenfalls teilweise dargestelltem KEG und
• 5 stark vereinfacht und nur beispielhaft schematisch skizziert eine Ausführungsform einer Behandlungsanlage in einer Draufsicht.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

• 1 greatly simplified and only schematically sketched as an example an embodiment variant of a treatment module of an exemplary embodiment variant with a recorded KEG,
• 2 greatly simplified and only schematically sketched as an example an embodiment variant of a treatment module,
• 3 greatly simplified and only as an example and roughly schematically outlines an embodiment variant of a treatment module in a plan view,
• 4 a schematic representation of an exemplary treatment head of an exemplary embodiment variant with KEG also partially shown and
• 5 greatly simplified and only as an example schematically outlines an embodiment of a treatment plant in a plan view.

Identical reference symbols are used in the figures for elements of the invention that are the same or have the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference numbers in the individual NEN figures shown that are required for the description of each figure. The invention is also shown in the figures only as a schematic view to explain the mode of operation. In particular, the representations in the figures only serve to explain the basic principle of the invention. For reasons of clarity, all components of the device have not been shown.

The treatment module, generally designated 20 in the figures, is used for cleaning and filling KEGs 3 equipped with a KEG fitting 2, namely in particular for cleaning the inside of an interior 3.1 of the KEG 3, for cleaning the outside of the KEG 3 and for filling the KEG 3 with a liquid filling product, in particular a beverage. The treatment module 20 is therefore a combined external cleaning, internal cleaning and filling module and it is set up and designed in such a way that it accommodates an individual, namely exactly one KEG 3 or exactly a single KEG 3 for its treatment. Several treatment modules 20 can be provided in a treatment plant, as in 5 schematically sketched.

The present treatment module 20 comprises at least one housing 21 for accommodating a KEG 3 and a treatment head 1 arranged at least in sections in the housing 21 for cleaning the interior and filling of the KEG 3. Furthermore, the treatment module 20 has an exterior cleaning device arranged at least partially in the housing 21 30 is provided for cleaning the outside of the KEG 3, whereby the treatment module 20 is set up for the three functions “cleaning the outside”, “cleaning the inside” and “filling with filling product”. The treatment module 20 can in particular also be provided with a special, multifunctional treatment head 1 for cleaning the inside and filling of KEGs 3, as described below in connection with 4 will be described in more detail.

The KEGs 3 to be treated are designed in a manner known to those skilled in the art and have a barrel-like or essentially cylindrical geometry or shape with two end faces, namely with an underside 3b forming a KEG base and an upper side 3a. The underside 3b and the upper side 3a are arranged opposite one another along a vertical axis or main axis HA of the KEG 3 and are connected by a lateral surface forming a lateral wall. On one of its end faces, in particular on its upper side 3a, the KEG 3 is equipped with the KEG fitting 2, which is provided in the area of the vertical axis or main axis HA of the KEG 3 and essentially forms two openings. A first opening is therefore coaxial with the main axis HA of the KEG 3 and is connected to one end of a riser pipe 16 which extends in the interior 3.1 of the KEG 3 at least in sections over a specific length in the direction of the main axis HA. The riser pipe 16 is preferably provided coaxially with the main axis HA of the KEG 3 and is open at its end, which faces the bottom provided on the underside 3b of the KEG 3 .

The further opening is designed as an annular opening concentrically enclosing the first opening or the riser pipe 16, in particular as an annular channel. Both openings can be closed by a self-closing KEG valve device of the KEG fitting 2 . The KEG valve device, which is in particular biased in its closed position by a compression spring, can be opened for cleaning and/or filling the KEG 3 .

During the treatment of a KEG 3 in the present treatment module 20, the KEGs 3 are aligned upright and upside down, ie with their upper side 3a, which has the KEG fitting 2, pointing downwards. In this “overhead position”, a respective KEG 3 to be treated is coupled to the treatment head 1 via its KEG fitting 2 or is sealingly connected to it, in particular pressed against it in a sealed position. In the coupled state, namely in the position connected to the treatment head 1, the main axis HA of the KEG 3, a treatment head axis BA of the treatment head 1 and a central longitudinal axis MLA of the treatment module 20 are essentially congruent or coaxial with one another and thus coincide to form a common axis .

That in the 1 The housing 21 of the treatment module 20 that is only indicated as a dashed line is designed as a completely closed housing 21 in the example shown and is sealed off from the external environment in order to prevent the cleaning media and/or water used for cleaning, in particular for external cleaning, from splashing and undesirably escaping. For loading and unloading the KEGs 3 in the housing 21, namely to introduce a KEG 3 to be treated for its treatment in the treatment module 20 or in the housing 21 or to bring it back out of the treatment module 20 or from the after treatment To be able to remove the housing 21, a door, which is not shown in the figures and is not designated in any more detail, is provided in the housing 21.

For holding the keg 3 accommodated in the housing 21 during the treatment the treatment module 20 provided a holding device which according to the example shown 1 is designed to hold the KEG 3 in place. In the example of 2 the holding device is designed to hold the KEG 3 in a rotating manner and for this purpose comprises a rotary drive means, not shown in detail, which is set up to produce a rotation indicated by the double arrow in 2 to generate the indicated rotation of the KEG 3 held by the holding device about its vertical axis HA. Of course, however, the embodiment as that of 1 have a holding device for holding the KEG 3 in a rotating manner. Vice versa, embodiments as in the 2 shown have a holding device for holding the KEG 3 fixed.

The treatment module 20 includes a pressing element 15 for pressing the KEG 3 against the treatment head 1, specifically for tightly pressing the KEG 3 or for pressing the KEG 3 with its KEG fitting 2 in a sealing position with the treatment head 1. In the example shown, this has an effect a pressure cross formed pressure element 15, which is mounted displaceably in the direction of the central longitudinal axis MLA, actively pressing down on the KEG 3. The pressing element 15 and the treatment head 1 are in the example shown 1 Corresponding interacting elements of the holding device which engage the KEG 3 on the top and bottom, namely in the area of the top 3a comprising the KEG fitting 2 and the bottom 3b opposite the top 3a and thereby hold the KEG 3 .

The present treatment module 20 is equipped with connecting and connecting devices 22, 22', the connecting and connecting devices 22, 22' being provided for connection to a water supply and to a media supply, and also for connection to an energy supply. The media supply here includes both a supply for the filling product to be filled and for one or more treatment or cleaning media. This includes all liquid or gaseous treatment or cleaning media that are required for individual steps of internal cleaning as well as for individual steps of external cleaning.

The connecting and connecting devices 22, 22' are in communication with a control device or control and/or monitoring unit, which is not shown in the figures and is not described in more detail, which is in particular set up and designed to control the cleaning and filling process and/or or to monitor. The control and/or monitoring unit or the additional control device, if applicable, can in particular also be part of a module controller which controls and/or regulates the entire treatment module 20 .

The supply of treatment or cleaning media, water and filling product to the treatment head 1 and to the External cleaning device 30 controlled and regulated, depending on the progress of the process and the course of the process and according to the requirements of the individual process steps. The supply of treatment or cleaning media, water and filling product can also be adapted to the progress and course of the process as required or depending on the situation.

In order to also ensure a controlled or controlled or regulated return and/or drain of the treatment or cleaning media used in the cleaning and/or the water used in the cleaning, the treatment module also has 20 return and/or drain devices 23, 24 separate and controlled switchable sequences are provided. The cleaning media used for cleaning the inside can, for example, also be collected and discharged or returned separately from the cleaning media used for cleaning the outside via these return and/or drain devices 23, 24. Here, a predetermined flow is provided for the return and / or flow of the treatment or cleaning media and a further predetermined flow for the return and / or flow of water, so that used water is collected separately from the treatment or cleaning media and removed - or can be traced back.

In the example of 1 the return and/or drain devices 23, 24 can be connected to the connecting and connecting devices 22, 22` in a controlled switchable manner, whereby a cascade-like use of the treatment or cleaning media and/or the water is made possible. In the course of a circulatory return or cascade-like use of the treatment or cleaning media and/or the water or when they are reused, treatment or cleaning of the treatment or cleaning media and/or the water may be necessary and provided, for which the treatment module 20 has a Figures has processing unit not shown, which comprises a filter device with at least one filter.

In the examples shown, the exterior cleaning device 30 of the treatment module 20 comprises a nozzle arrangement 31 with a plurality of nozzles 32 designed as spray nozzles. The nozzles 32 are set up for applying treatment or cleaning medium and/or water to the outside of the KEG 3 . The nozzles are distributed within the housing 21 in such a way that the KEG 3 accommodated and held in the housing 21 can be exposed to cleaning agent and/or water at least laterally and the lateral surface in particular can be sprayed on as a result.

As can be seen from the representations of 2 and 3 As can be seen, the nozzles 32 in the example of the embodiment variant shown are arranged in a plurality of vertical rows of nozzles 32, namely in a large number of vertical rows of nozzles, with each row of nozzles being replaced by a plurality of nozzles arranged one above the other, i.e. consecutive nozzles in the direction of the central longitudinal axis MLA of the treatment module 20 32 is formed. The several rows of nozzles are in turn arranged at predetermined angular distances from one another around the central longitudinal axis MLA. A radial distance between the nozzles 32 and the central longitudinal axis MLA is selected such that the outer wall in the area of the lateral surface of a KEG 3 held in the treatment module 20 can be optimally exposed to cleaning agent and/or water. It goes without saying that other arrangements of the nozzles 32 are also possible, for example in a matrix-like distribution pattern around the central longitudinal axis MLA or also as individual nozzles or groups of nozzles. Furthermore, one or more of the nozzles 32 can also be arranged in such a way that the outside of the KEG 3 can also be cleaned on its upper and lower side 3a, 3b via the nozzles 32 with cleaning agent and water.

Although not shown in the figures, one or more nozzle(s) for high-pressure spraying can also be provided, it being possible for the high-pressure spraying to take place at a number of different pressure stages. For example, the high-pressure spraying can take place in a preferably controlled and adjustable manner, in particular depending on the cleaning program and/or controlled and adaptable to the degree of contamination of the KEG 3, at different pressure levels, also spatially or temporally separated. Such nozzles can, for example, also be designed as flat jet nozzles, with the jet generated by the nozzles hitting the lateral surface of the KEG jacket or the bottom of the KEG bottom tangentially. In this way, a so-called peeling effect can be achieved in order to remove labels, for example.

In the examples shown, the exterior cleaning device 30 of the treatment module 20 also includes a brush arrangement 33 with brush elements 34, 35 arranged in the housing 21 to support the exterior cleaning or to improve the cleaning effect.

The brush element 34 is primarily provided for cleaning the lateral surface of the KEG 3 and for this purpose is arranged within the housing 21 such that it is laterally adjacent to the KEG 3 accommodated and held in the housing 21 . Several such brush elements 34 can also be provided for cleaning the lateral surface. The brush element 34 is in the example 2 and 3 a vertically oriented, substantially cylindrical roller brush which extends longitudinally along its brush axis VA1 and which rotates about its brush axis VA1. The brush element 34 is arranged within the housing 21 in such a way that the brush axis VA1 is aligned essentially parallel to the central longitudinal axis MLA of the treatment module 20 and, in particular, at a distance from the central longitudinal axis, so that the bristles of the brush element 34 are effectively in contact with the bristles held in the housing 21 KEG 3 can reach.

The brush element 35 - in the example 2 and 3 two such brush elements 35 are provided - is designed for cleaning the upper side 3a of the KEG 3, which includes the KEG fitting 2, and is arranged in the housing 21 at such a height level that the brush element 35 is located underneath a KEG 3 that has been picked up and held, and the bristles effectively come into contact with the top 3a of the keg 3 held in the housing 21. The brush elements 35 are in the example 2 and 3 each in the form of cup or end brushes, which rotate about their respective brush axis VA2, VA2`, which is aligned essentially parallel to the central longitudinal axis MLA of the treatment module 20.

It goes without saying that the brush elements 34, 35 can alternatively also be designed as stationary brush elements 34, 35, in particular if the KEG 3 is caused to rotate during the treatment. It is also conceivable that the KEG 3 rotates during the treatment and at the same time the brush elements 34, 35 rotate in the opposite direction.

With reference to the 4 a treatment head 1 will now be described purely by way of example--on the basis of a possible embodiment shown there only as an example--as it can be used in the treatment module 20, for example. The preferred treatment head 1 shown as an example is a special, multifunctional ler treatment head 1 for internal cleaning and filling of KEGs 3.

The treatment head 1, which includes a treatment head housing 4, has a plunger 5, which is at least partially accommodated in a cavity in the treatment head housing 4 and is held in the treatment head housing 4 so that it can be displaced in the axial direction of a treatment head axis BA, and which, when displaced, presses the KEG fitting 2 of the to be treated and in Sealing layer arranged on the treatment head 1 KEGs 3 can open. The cavity in the treatment head housing 4 also forms, at least in part or at least in sections, a fluid chamber 6 and flow paths or channels SK1, SK2 that communicate controllably with the fluid chamber 6 and which, when the KEG fitting 2 of a KEG arranged in a sealed position on the treatment head 1, is open 3 are controlled with the interior 3.1 of the KEG 3 connected. For example, the interior 3.1 of the KEG 3 can be filled with the filling product via the first flow path or channel SK1. The second flow path or channel SK2 is used for the controllable removal of at least one treatment medium from the interior 3.1 of the KEG 3 and/or for the controllable supply of at least one treatment medium into the interior 3.1 of the KEG 3. The second flow path or channel SK2 can at least partially pass through extend the plunger 5.

The treatment head 1 also has media valves 7, 12 assigned to the fluid chamber 6, specifically a first controllable media valve 7 that serves as a product valve for the controlled supply of the filling product, which can be connected to a filling product feed 8, and a second controllable media valve 12 that serves as a return valve.

Each of the media valves 7, 12 extends along a respective valve axis, namely the product valve 7 along a product valve axis PVA and the return valve 12 along a return valve axis RVA. The media valves 7 , 12 connect with a respective valve housing section 4a to a transition section or valve transition section of the treatment head housing 4 . The valve housing section 4a can, for example, be an integral part of the treatment head housing 4 and can be designed in one piece with it.

At least in the case of the first controllable media valve 7 serving as a product valve, a valve body 7.1 is provided which is at least partially accommodated in the valve housing section 4a or at least partially protrudes into the valve housing section 4a and is movable in the direction of the product valve axis PVA. An actuator is provided for the movement of the valve body 7.1 along the product valve axis PVA. Inside the valve housing section 4a there is a valve seat 7.2 against which the valve body 7.1 bears sealingly in the region of its front valve body end at least in one of its extreme positions, namely in a closed position or a first closed valve position. In his in 4 shown, other extreme position, namely the open position, the valve body 7.1 is at a distance from the valve seat 7.2, whereby a flow path for the filling product is released, in that the filling product feed 8 is fluidically connected in this valve position to the fluid space 6 and the first flow path or channel SK1 connected thereto. The media valves 7, 12 are controlled and/or monitored via the control and/or monitoring unit, which among other things also controls and monitors the valve positions and the switching of the valves.

In the multifunctional treatment head 1 shown, the product valve 7 has a multiple sealing arrangement 9 for multiple sealing of the filling product feed 8 from the fluid chamber 6 in order to ensure that the filling product and cleaning media or cleaning agents are separated reliably. A flushable safety or leakage chamber 10 is formed via the multiple sealing arrangement 9, which in the example shown is formed by a double seat or double sealing leakage valve and comprises a first sealing element 11.1 and a second sealing element 11.2 Space between the fluid space 6 and the filling product feed 8 forms and thereby the filling product feed 8 and the fluid space 6 reliably and preferably completely and advantageously sealingly separates or seals from one another.

In the following, the cleaning and filling process is described in outline with reference to an exemplary sequence of how it can be carried out in an exemplary treatment module 20 which is equipped with the treatment head 1 described as an example.

An empty KEG 3 to be treated is placed in the housing 21 of the treatment module 20 and positioned there in such a way that the KEG 3 can be brought into a sealing position with the treatment head 1 with its KEG fitting 2 and against it using the pressing element 15 by means of a feed stroke is pressed. By moving the ram 5 in the treatment head 1, the KEG fitting 2 is opened before the interior cleaning process for cleaning the interior 3.1 of the KEG 3 is started, which can take place in several cleaning steps. The individual interior cleaning ment steps or several combined interior cleaning steps can be referred to as an interior cleaning cycle. During the internal cleaning, in each of the individual successive cleaning steps, a cleaning medium is supplied via the treatment head 1 and removed again via the second controllable media valve 12 of the treatment head 1, which serves as a return valve. During the entire interior cleaning, the product valve 7 connected to the filling product feed 8 is kept in its closed valve position, in which the fluid space 6 and the filling product feed 8 are safely separated from one another with double sealing via the safety or leakage space 10 formed by the multiple sealing arrangement 9.

After the interior cleaning steps for cleaning the interior 3.1, the first media valve 7 is brought into a central valve position acting as an intermediate or rinsing position in order to carry out a head or dead space rinsing with rinsing of the safety or leakage chamber 10 . The flushing and safe emptying of the safety chamber can be carried out via a flushing device preferably provided on the safety or leakage chamber 10 (but not shown in the figures), in particular via a flushing valve also referred to as a satellite valve and/or via a controlled outlet to the outside. or leakage space 10 be controlled in order to open it as needed or to keep it closed. After this head or dead space rinsing, the first media valve 7 is brought into the filling position in a controlled manner for the actual filling of the KEG 3 with filling product and filling product is fed in until the filling step is stopped again by closing the first media valve 7 when the desired filling level is reached.

The exterior cleaning, which takes place by means of the exterior cleaning device 30, is carried out at a time that overlaps with or at the same time as the interior cleaning steps or cycles that have been carried out, possibly also at a time that overlaps with the filling of the interior space 3.1, and which can also include a number of exterior cleaning steps or cycles. The outside is cleaned by spraying the KEG 3 or by spraying it off using the nozzle arrangement 31 and is supported by mechanical treatment using the brush arrangement 33 .

The cleaning process can, for example, also be set individually or adapted as required, including in terms of time, specifically the internal cleaning steps or cycles and the external cleaning steps or cycles independently of one another.

After completion of the filling step, the KEG fitting 2 is closed by moving the plunger 5, the sealing position of the KEG fitting 2 against the treatment head 1 is released, the treatment head 1 is decoupled from the KEG fitting 2 and the cleaned and filled KEG 3 is drained removed from the housing 21 of the treatment module 20 .

With reference to the 5 a treatment system 100 composed of several treatment modules for cleaning and filling KEGs 3 with a liquid filling material is now illustrated, the treatment system 100 shown comprising two treatment modules 20 according to the above description.

The treatment installation 100 has a feed area 101, via which the KEGs 3 to be cleaned and filled are conveyed to the treatment installation 100, and a delivery area 102, via which the KEGs 3 treated in the treatment installation 100 are removed again after they have been treated. The loading area 101 and/or the delivery area 102 can have a transport device, for example.

A treatment of the KEGs 3 taking place in the treatment system 100 can be a filling with liquid filling material, an interior cleaning or an exterior cleaning or, in the case of the treatment carried out in one of the treatment modules 20, a combined exterior and interior cleaning with filling.

In the embodiment variant shown, the two multifunctional treatment modules 20 for cleaning the inside, outside cleaning and filling of KEGs 3 each equipped with at least one KEG fitting 2 as well as another treatment module 103 are provided between the loading area 101 and the delivery area 102 . The further treatment module 103 can be, for example, a monofunctional filling module for filling a KEG 3 , a monofunctional cleaning module for cleaning the inside of a KEG 3 or a monofunctional cleaning module for cleaning the outside of a KEG 3 . The further treatment module 103 can also preferably be formed by a bifunctional cleaning and filling module for cleaning the interior and for filling KEGs 3 . Of course, deviating from the representation of the 5 , The treatment modules 20, 103 are assembled in any number, combination and relative arrangement to each other.

In the treatment system 100 shown, there is a loading robot 104 for feeding and removing the KEGs 3 to and from the individual Treatment modules 20, 103 are provided. All treatment modules 20, 103 are located in a detection area EB of the loading robot 104, so that each of the treatment modules 20, 103 can be operated by the loading robot 104. Within the detection area EB, the treatment modules 20, 103 of the treatment system 100 can be put together or set up in a completely flexible manner, in particular also in the 5 the type of installation shown.

From a like in 5 The treatment system 100 shown as an example results in very special advantages in that the treatment modules 20, 103 can be operated independently of one another and the treatments, in particular individual steps or cycles of the treatments in each of the treatment modules 20, 103, can be adapted independently to the individual requirements of exactly the respective Treatment module 20, 103 treated KEGs 3 can be adjusted, for example with regard to the number and duration of the individual treatment steps or cycles. In this way, an individually tailored treatment program can be determined and implemented for each individual KEG and, if necessary, adapted or “readjusted” during ongoing treatment operations without influencing the treatment of other KEGs 3 to be treated or other treatment modules 20, 103.

Instead of transporting the KEGs 3 to one or more functional devices or peripheral devices, such as e.g. g. printers for printing on a KEG 3, cappers for placing a cap on a KEG fitting, cap pullers for removing a cap from a KEG fitting and/or label applicators, the KEGs 3 can be driven past the treatment system 100 described with the loading robot 104 be guided past the respective functional devices. For this purpose, the functional devices are arranged in such a way that they lie on the travel path of the support arm of the loading robot 104 . As a result, separate conveyors are saved and the actuating path of the support arm of the loading robot 104, which is to be provided anyway, is also used to carry out the different functions of the functional devices on the KEG 3 without detours and therefore in a time-optimized manner. In particular, it can be provided that the loading robot 104 stops briefly at the respective functional device so that the functional device can carry out its intended treatment on the KEG 3 .

The invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that a large number of changes or modifications are possible without departing from the protective scope of the invention, which is defined by the patent claims.

Reference List

1

treatment head

2

KEG fitting

3

KEG

3.1

Interior of the KEG

3a

top of the KEG

3b

Underside of the KEG

4

treatment head housing

4a

valve body section

5

pestle

6

fluid space

7

first controllable media valve

7.1

valve body

7.2

valve seat

8th

filling product feeding

9

multiple sealing arrangement

10

safety or leakage space

11.1, 11.2

first and second sealing element

12

second controllable media valve

15

pressing element

16

riser

20

Cleaning and filling module

21

Housing

22, 22`

Connection and connecting devices

23

return and/or drainage device

24

return and/or drainage device

30

outdoor treatment facility

31

nozzle arrangement

32

nozzles

33

brush arrangement

34

brush element

35

brush element

100

treatment facility

101

task area

102

delivery area

103

treatment module

104

loading robot

B.A

treatment head axis

EB

detection range

HA

Main axis or vertical axis of the KEG

MLA

central longitudinal axis

PVA

product valve axis

RVA

return valve axis

SK1, SK2

flow paths or channels

VA1

brush axis

VA2, VA2`

brush axis

Claims (29)

Treatment module (20) for cleaning and filling KEGs (3) each equipped with at least one KEG fitting (2), having at least one housing (21) for receiving a KEG (3) and one arranged at least in sections in the housing (21). Treatment head (1) for cleaning and filling the inside of the KEG (3), at least one pressing element (15) for pressing the KEG (3) against the treatment head (1), and connecting and connecting devices (22, 22`) for connection to a water supply and to a media supply for the filling product and for one or more treatment or cleaning media and for the connection to an energy supply, characterized in that the treatment module (20) also has an external cleaning device (30) arranged at least partially in the housing (21). for cleaning the outside of the KEG (3) and thereby both for cleaning the outside and for cleaning the inside of the KEG (3) and for filling the KEG (3) with the Fü ll product is set up. Treatment module (20) after claim 1 , characterized by a holding device for holding the KEG (3), which is designed to hold the KEG (3) in a fixed manner. Treatment module (20) after claim 1 , characterized by a holding device for holding the KEG (3), which comprises a rotary drive means, the rotary drive means being set up to generate a rotation of the KEG (3) held by the holding device about its vertical axis (HA). Treatment module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external cleaning device (30) comprises at least one nozzle arrangement (31), the nozzle arrangement (31) having one or more nozzles (32), in particular spray nozzles, which external application of a treatment or cleaning medium and/or water to the KEG (3) is/are set up. Treatment module (20) after claim 4 , characterized in that a plurality of nozzles (32) of the nozzle arrangement (31) are arranged inside the housing (21) and set up to laterally spray the keg (3) received and held in the housing (21) with cleaning agent and/or water a lateral surface of the KEG (3) and/or on an upper side (3a) of the KEG (3) comprising the KEG fitting (2) and/or on an underside (3b) of the KEG (3). Treatment module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means for cleaning contact surfaces are also provided in order to clean a contact surface between the treatment head (1) and the KEG fitting (2), the means for cleaning contact surfaces being in particular spray nozzles , Preferably formed by controlled switchable spray nozzles. Treatment module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external cleaning device (30) comprises at least one brush arrangement (33) with at least one brush element (34, 35) arranged in the housing (21). Treatment module (20) after claim 7 , characterized in that at least one brush element (34, 35) of the brush arrangement (33) is designed as a rotating brush, the rotating brush preferably being rotatable by means of a drive provided for this purpose. Treatment module (20) after claim 7 or 8th , characterized in that at least one brush element (34) of the brush arrangement (33) is designed to clean the lateral surface of the KEG (3) and is arranged inside the housing (21) in such a way that the brush element (34) forms part of a ) recorded and held KEG (3) is laterally adjacent. Treatment module (20) according to one of Claims 7 until 9 , characterized in that at least one brush element (35) of the brush arrangement (33) is designed to clean the top side (3a) of the KEG (3) surrounding the KEG fitting (2) and in this way within the housing (21) is arranged such that the brush element (35) is arranged at a level below a KEG (3) received and held in the housing (21). Treatment module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external cleaning device (30) comprises high-pressure spraying, in particular high-pressure spraying with a number of pressure levels. Treatment module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (21) is designed as a completely closed housing (21), in particular as a housing (21) sealed off from the outside environment and has a door for inward and outward transfer of the KEG (3). Treatment module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one return and/or drain device (23, 24) for the return and/or drain of the treatment or cleaning media used in cleaning and/or the water used in cleaning . Treatment module (20) after Claim 13 , characterized in that the return and/or drain device (23, 24) comprises separate and switchable, in particular controlled, switchable processes, with preferably a drain for the return and/or drain of the treatment or cleaning media and a drain for the return - And / or drainage of water another drain are provided. Treatment module (20) after Claim 13 or 14 , characterized in that the return and/or drain device (23, 24) can be connected to the connecting and connecting devices (22, 22`) in a switchable manner, in particular in a controlled manner, for cascading use of the treatment or cleaning media and/or the water , A treatment unit for the treatment of the treatment or cleaning media used in the cleaning and/or the water preferably also being provided. Treatment module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the treatment head (1) is designed as a multifunctional treatment head and is set up both for cleaning the inside and for filling the KEG (3), the treatment head (1) having a treatment head housing (4) and at least one plunger (5) held in the treatment head housing (4) so that it can be displaced in the axial direction of a treatment head axis (BA) for opening the KEG fitting (2) of the KEG (3) to be treated and arranged in a sealing position on the treatment head (1). and wherein in the treatment head (1) at least one fluid space (6) and controllable flow paths or channels (SK1, SK2) communicating with the fluid space (6) are formed, which when the KEG fitting (2) is open can be controlled with the interior (3.1 ) of the KEG to be treated (3) can be connected. Treatment module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one or more supply tank(s) connected to the treatment head (1) is/are provided for the supply of treatment or cleaning media, the supply tank(s) is/are arranged at a level below the treatment head (1). Treatment module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a blow-off and/or drying device is also provided for blowing off and/or drying the KEG on the outside. Treatment module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control and/or monitoring unit is also provided for controlling and/or monitoring at least the external cleaning, in particular for controlling and/or monitoring the external cleaning as required. Treatment module (20) after claim 19 , characterized in that an optical camera is also provided for monitoring the exterior cleaning, which is communicatively connected to the control and/or monitoring unit, the camera and the control and/or monitoring unit communicating in such a way and being set up to monitor the exterior cleaning in To control dependence of the camera signal. Treatment module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a thermal imaging camera is also provided for direct and/or indirect monitoring of the internal cleaning and external cleaning and preferably also for indirect monitoring of the filling process. Treatment system with a plurality of treatment modules (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two of the treatment modules (20) are set up for treating similar KEGs (3) and/or wherein at least a first of the treatment modules (20) for treating KEGs (3) of one first type entered and at least a second of the treatment modules (20) is set up for treating KEGs (3) of a second type. Method for cleaning and filling KEGs (3), each equipped with at least one KEG fitting (2), by means of a treatment module (20), in particular a treatment module (20) according to one of Claims 1 until 21 , wherein in the method a KEG (3) to be treated is placed in a housing (21) of the treatment module (20) and with the aid of a pressing element (15) by a feed stroke with its KEG fitting (2) in the sealing position with a treatment head (1 ) of the treatment module (20) and is pressed and thereby held in the housing (21), with the interior of the KEG (3) being cleaned and for this purpose an interior (3.1) of the KEG (3) being cleaned in one or more interior cleaning steps , the KEG (3) being filled with a filling product after the interior has been cleaned and both the interior cleaning and the filling of the KEG (3) taking place via the treatment head (1) which interacts in a sealed position with the KEG fitting (2), characterized in that that in the method by means of an at least partially in the housing (21) of the treatment module (20) arranged external cleaning device (30) further external cleaning of the housing (21) recorded un d held KEGs (3) is carried out. procedure after Claim 23 , characterized in that the KEG (3) is connected to the treatment head (1) with its KEG fitting (2) in a sealed position during the entire cleaning and filling process. procedure after Claim 23 or 24 , characterized in that the cleaning of the outside and the inside of the KEG (3) overlap in time, in particular at the same time. Procedure according to one of Claims 23 until 25 , characterized in that the exterior cleaning comprises one or more exterior cleaning steps, with the exterior cleaning steps being exposure of the KEG (3) to treatment or cleaning medium and/or water by means of a nozzle arrangement (31) of the treatment module (20) and/or by means of a Brush arrangement (33) taking place cleaning treatment are carried out. Procedure according to one of Claims 23 until 26 , characterized in that the KEG (3) is rotated about its vertical axis (HA) during at least one of the external cleaning steps. Procedure according to one of Claims 23 until 27 , characterized in that the interior cleaning and/or the exterior cleaning are adapted in a controlled manner to the degree of contamination of the KEG (3), in particular in terms of time and/or in terms of the amount of treatment or cleaning medium used and/or the water, and preferably in a controlled manner or several cleaning cycles for the interior cleaning and/or the exterior cleaning are carried out. Procedure according to one of Claims 23 until 28 , characterized in that the treatment or cleaning medium and/or water used for cleaning is supplied in a controlled and switchable manner via a common water supply and media supply for one or more treatment or cleaning media and to the external cleaning device (30) and the treatment head (1) is supplied, in particular the treatment or cleaning medium and / or water is used in a controlled manner in a cascade.

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