DE202020103082U1 - Washing system for cleaning containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Washing installation (1) for cleaning containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.n) for transport and storage, the washing installation (1) having
- a cleaning chamber (3) with a cleaning unit arranged in the cleaning chamber (3),
- A transport conveyor unit (9), the transport conveyor unit (9) being designed and set up to transport the containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.n) through the cleaning chamber (3),
- A feed unit (5) arranged in a feed plane (Z), the feed unit (5) conveying the containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.n) to be cleaned in a feed direction (ZFR) to the cleaning chamber (3) and the The containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.n) to be cleaned are transferred to the transport conveyor unit (9) in a stacked state, the containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.n) to be cleaned one of at least two containers (2.1, 2.2) form an existing stack of containers, and
- A conveying unit (6) arranged in a conveying plane (A), the conveying unit (6) conveying the cleaned containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.n) away from the cleaning chamber (3) in a conveying direction (AFR), the cleaned containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.n) are transferred from the transport conveyor unit (9) to the discharge unit (6) in a stacked state, the cleaning unit having a plurality of support elements (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4) extending in the vertical direction ) and a spray nozzle frame (8) movably mounted on these support elements (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4), with a plurality of spray nozzles (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.n) over the circumference of the spray nozzle frame (8) is provided distributed and the spray nozzle frame (8) is designed to be movable in the vertical direction (VR) at least over the vertical extent of the container stack.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a washing system for cleaning containers with the aid of spray nozzles which can be moved in the vertical direction.

State of the art

Washing systems for cleaning containers which are used, for example, to transport and store bottles or food, in particular meat and baked goods, are known from the prior art. In order to achieve thorough cleaning of the often very dirty containers, washing lines with horizontally aligned conveyor belts are used, on which the container to be cleaned is placed either automatically or by hand and which then passes through a horizontal, mostly elongated cleaning chamber sealed against splash water. Systems of this type are, for example, off DE 86 17 094 U1 , DE 43 35 695 C2 and DE 10 332 443 A1 known.

In each section of the cleaning chamber there are spray nozzles which spray the container from all sides with a hard jet of hot and / or cold water with and without cleaning agent and thus remove the contaminants from the container. If you want to achieve thorough cleaning, the cleaning chamber usually extends over a distance of up to 10 m in length, which is associated with a correspondingly large area requirement.

To reduce the space required by such washing systems, the DE 101 16 854 A1 proposed to connect the cleaning chamber vertically to a horizontal loading device. The transport device of this cleaning chamber is formed by a helix arranged centrally in the cleaning chamber, the beginning of which adjoins the end of the loading device at the same level. The transport device moves each container to be washed on the spiral from the loading device through the cleaning chamber to the exit of the cleaning chamber. Spray nozzles for the cleaning liquid are arranged on the outer housing of the cleaning chamber, distributed over the circumference, in vertically successive planes and on at least one nozzle holder tube extending vertically and concentrically through the cleaning chamber.

Although the cleaning results achieved with the systems known from the prior art are entirely satisfactory, on the other hand the throughput of containers per time achieved with the known washing systems is often unsatisfactory.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a washing system for cleaning containers which ensures a high throughput of containers with good cleaning results. This object is achieved according to the invention by the washing system according to independent claim 1. Further advantageous aspects, details and configurations of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the description and the drawing.

• - eine Reinigungskammer mit einer in der Reinigungskammer angeordneten Reinigungseinheit,
• - eine Transportfördereinheit, wobei die Transportfördereinheit zum Transport der Behältnisse durch die Reinigungskammer ausgelegt und eingerichtet ist,
• - eine in einer Zuförderebene angeordnete Zufördereinheit, wobei die Zufördereinheit die zu reinigenden Behältnisse in einer Zuförderrichtung zu der Reinigungskammer fördert und die zu reinigenden Behältnisse in übereinander gestapeltem Zustand an die Transportfördereinheit übergibt, wobei die zu reinigenden Behältnisse einen aus zumindest zwei Behältnissen bestehenden Behältnissstapel bilden, und
• - eine in einer Abförderebene angeordnete Abfördereinheit, wobei die Abfördereinheit die gereinigten Behältnisse in einer Abförderrichtung von der Reinigungskammer wegfördert, wobei die gereinigten Behältnisse von der Transportfördereinheit in übereinander gestapeltem Zustand an die Abfördereinheit übergeben werden.

The present invention provides a washing system for cleaning containers for transport and storage. The car wash includes

• - a cleaning chamber with a cleaning unit arranged in the cleaning chamber,
• - A transport conveyor unit, wherein the transport conveyor unit is designed and set up to transport the containers through the cleaning chamber,
• - A feed unit arranged in a feed level, the feed unit conveying the containers to be cleaned in a feed direction to the cleaning chamber and transferring the containers to be cleaned to the transport conveyor unit in a stacked state, the containers to be cleaned forming a container stack consisting of at least two containers, and
• - A conveying unit arranged in a conveying plane, the conveying unit conveying the cleaned containers away from the cleaning chamber in a conveying direction, the cleaned containers being transferred from the conveying unit to the conveying unit in a stacked state.

According to the invention, the cleaning unit has a plurality of support elements running in the vertical direction and a spray nozzle frame movably mounted on these support elements, a plurality of spray nozzles being provided distributed over the circumference of the spray nozzle frame and the spray nozzle frame being designed to be movable in the vertical direction at least over the vertical extent of the container stack is.

It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the spray nozzle frame does not necessarily have to be designed as a single, continuous frame, but that it can consist of several individual parts. For example, two frame parts running parallel to the transport conveyor unit and two further frame parts that complete the frame to form a rectangle can be provided.

With the aid of the washing system according to the invention for cleaning containers, an external cleaning of a stack of containers formed from several containers is carried out in a first step, labels attached to the outside of the containers in particular being removed. Spray nozzles are moved in the vertical direction along the stack of containers. Only then does the interior of the then again separated containers take place.

Due to the stacking of several containers on top of each other and the comparatively high speed with which the spray nozzles attached to a spray nozzle frame can be moved in the vertical direction over the extension of the container stack, a cleaning of the containers that are moved in the horizontal direction is easier compared to washing systems , significantly increased throughput of 1000 and more containers per hour. In the washing system according to the invention, stacks of containers 2 m high and more can be cleaned.

A particular advantage arises from the fact that the containers are delivered to the washing installation practically without exception in a stacked form. These stacks of containers can then be conveyed directly to the cleaning chamber by the feed unit without any further work step. A previous separation or other type of regrouping of the containers is not necessary.

The containers according to the present invention are in particular bottle crates and containers for storing and transporting food, in particular meat crates of sizes E1, E2 and E3.

The feed, discharge and transport conveyor units used in the context of the present invention are conventional transport devices known to those skilled in the art, such as conveyor belts, such as are used in particular in cleaning chambers of washing systems. The transport devices used in this context are designed in particular so that they withstand the wear and tear that occurs due to the damp environment in connection with the dirt from the containers to be cleaned as well and as permanently as possible.

In a manner also known to the person skilled in the art, the feed, discharge and transport conveyor units are equipped with conventional driver elements, which usually have at least one endlessly circulating driver drive train. The driver elements can in particular extend transversely to the conveying direction over at least part of the extent of the feed, discharge and transport conveyor units.

The driver elements can be designed as a tube, as a roller or as a strip-like molded part, but in principle any type of driver element can be used. Preference is given to driver elements that are inexpensive to manufacture and at the same time wear-resistant, such as simple pipes or molded parts, which are preferably designed in the form of strips. The driver elements can be designed to be rotatable about their respective longitudinal axis. The driver elements preferably have an elastically deformable layer arranged on the surface. The use of such product-friendly layers has the advantage that damage to the containers coming into contact with the driver element is practically completely avoided.

The conveying plane preferably corresponds to the conveying plane and, particularly preferably, the conveying direction also corresponds to the conveying direction. This embodiment is associated with the advantage that no level difference has to be overcome either between the feed unit and the transport conveyor unit or between the transport conveyor unit and the discharge unit. If the feed direction corresponds to the discharge direction, the transport conveyor unit connects linearly to the feed unit and the discharge unit connects linearly to the transport conveyor unit. The stacks of containers can therefore be transported through the cleaning chamber without changing their direction of movement. There are advantages with regard to the throughput of containers per unit of time.

Basically, water from the public pipeline system can be used for cleaning, which is fed to the spray nozzles with the help of a high-pressure pump. The washing system is preferably equipped with a storage tank for cleaning liquid, the plurality of spray nozzles being supplied with cleaning liquid from the storage tank. In this embodiment, only one storage tank needs to be kept, since all spray nozzles are supplied with cleaning liquid from this storage tank.

It is particularly preferred that each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles is pivotably attached to the spray nozzle frame with the aid of an articulated holder. As a result, the spray angle of the nozzles can be adjusted relative to the container to be cleaned with a view to an optimal cleaning effect.

Embodiments are also preferred in which each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles has an outlet opening for the cleaning liquid, the cross section of the outlet opening being designed to be changeable. The enlargement or reduction of the cross section of the outlet opening of the spray nozzles creates the possibility of concentrating the jet of cleaning fluid on surfaces of different sizes of the container to be cleaned. For example, if the containers are only slightly soiled, the cross-section of the outlet opening of the spray nozzles can be selected to be relatively large, so that the cleaning jet covers a relatively large area of the container and cleaning takes place very quickly. If, on the other hand, there is very strong contamination, it can nevertheless be safely detached from the container by reducing the cross section of the outlet opening of the spray nozzles.

According to a further, particularly preferred embodiment, each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles is connected to a separate cleaning fluid circuit, each cleaning fluid circuit having at least one control valve, whereby a flow rate and a pressure of the cleaning fluid exiting the individual spray nozzles can be set. The ability to control the flow rate and pressure at the spray nozzles via individual, independently working cleaning fluid circuits, which are equipped with control valves, improves the effectiveness of the entire system. As already described above in connection with the size of the cross section of the outlet opening of the spray nozzles, it is also possible to react to the degree of contamination of the containers by changing the flow rate and pressure. By optimally adapting the parameters, the throughput of containers per unit of time can be further improved.

All of the above-described adaptations to the degree of soiling of the containers, i.e. changing the spray angle of the nozzles relative to the container to be cleaned, changing the cross-section of the outlet opening of the spray nozzles, changing the flow rate and the pressure of the cleaning liquid exiting at the individual spray nozzles, can be performed simultaneously with the movement the spray nozzles in the vertical direction. In this way, in a manner known to the person skilled in the art, soaking, washing, high-pressure washing and rinsing of the containers can take place one after the other through the spray nozzles. For example, at the beginning of the cleaning process, starting from an upper reversal position of the spray nozzles when the spray nozzles are moved down to a lower reversal position, the actual washing process can take place when the spray nozzles are subsequently moved upwards back to the upper reversal position be performed. It is also possible to carry out the washing process while moving downwards and then to rinse the containers with clear water.

It is clear to a person skilled in the art that when performing different treatment steps as described, it is advantageous if two or more groups of spray nozzles are provided which are supplied by different storage tanks, for example a storage tank for cleaning fluid with a high concentration of cleaning agent and a storage tank for cleaning fluid with a low concentration of detergent. A group of spray nozzles can also be connected directly to a supply line for clear water.

The different groups of spray nozzles can also have different settings with regard to the size of the cross section of the outlet opening of the spray nozzles, flow rate and pressure.

As usual, in principle different cleaning agents can be used in the cleaning liquid, the content of cleaning agent can be varied and the containers can also be rinsed exclusively with pure water.

According to a further, particularly preferred embodiment, the support elements are designed as tubes, with cleaning fluid being able to be transported through the tubes to the plurality of spray nozzles. In this case, no separate lines need to be provided from the storage tank to the spray nozzles, since the function of supplying cleaning fluid is taken over by the support elements.

After passing through the cleaning chamber, the containers are transferred from the transport conveyor unit to the discharge unit. In a manner known to the person skilled in the art, the containers can be separated in the area of the delivery unit, whereby they are divided and the interior of the containers can be cleaned in the usual way.

Ways of Carrying Out the Invention

The invention is based on an exemplary embodiment in connection with the 1 are explained in more detail. the 1 shows in an elevation a schematic representation of an embodiment according to the present invention in perspective view.

the 1 shows a car wash 1 for cleaning containers 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.n for transport and storage. The car wash 1 includes a cleaning chamber 3 with one in the cleaning chamber 3 arranged cleaning unit.

The cleaning chamber 3 consists in a manner known per se to the person skilled in the art of a frame made of vertical pipe supports and horizontally arranged connecting supports connecting these vertical pipe supports. The cleaning chamber 3 is enclosed, as usual, on the outside with cover plates in a splash-proof manner, with mounting openings being provided which, in turn, are closed with partially transparent, removable cladding elements.

The transport conveyor unit is shown 9 which are used to transport the containers 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.n through the cleaning chamber 3 is designed and set up in the feed level Z arranged feed unit 5 and those in the conveying level A. arranged discharge unit 6th .

The feed unit 5 promotes the containers to be cleaned 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.n in one feed direction ZFR to the cleaning chamber and transfers the containers to be cleaned 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.n stacked on top of each other to the transport conveyor unit 9 . The containers to be cleaned 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.n form a stack of containers consisting of ten containers in the exemplary embodiment shown.

The one in the cleaning chamber 3 arranged cleaning unit has in the embodiment shown four rails running in the vertical direction 7.1 , 7.2 , 7.3 , 7.4 on. On these rails 7.1 , 7.2 , 7.3 , 7.4 is a spray nozzle frame 8th movably mounted. Over the circumference of the spray nozzle frame 8th a plurality of spray nozzles is distributed 4.1 , 4.2 , 4.3 , 4.4 , 4.5 , 4.6 , 4.n intended.

The cleaning liquid is by means of a pump 10 via a filter device and via feed lines to the spray nozzles 4.1 , 4.2 , 4.3 , 4.4 , 4.5 , 4.6 , 4.n transported.

Because the spray nozzle frame 8th in the vertical direction VR is designed to be movable over the vertical extent of the container stack, the containers can be cleaned in the stacked state. As a result, a number of containers can be cleaned at a time that goes far beyond the throughput of known washing systems in which the previously isolated containers are cleaned.

The cleaned containers 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.n are from the discharge unit 6th in a discharge direction AFR from the cleaning chamber 3 conveyed away, the cleaned containers 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.n previously from the transport conveyor unit 9 stacked on top of each other to the discharge unit 6th be handed over.

In the embodiment shown, the feed level corresponds Z the conveying level A. . This means that the height level at which the containers to be cleaned 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.n through the feed unit 5 to the cleaning chamber 3 are transported, corresponds exactly to the height level at which the cleaned containers 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.n through the discharge unit 6th from the cleaning chamber 3 be transported away.

In addition, the feed direction ZFR and the direction of conveyance AFR aligned with each other. The transport conveyor unit 9 connects linearly to the feed unit 5 on and the discharge unit 6th connects linearly to the transport conveyor unit 9 at. The stacks of containers 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.n can be transported through the cleaning chamber without changing their vertical and horizontal direction of movement. There are advantages with regard to the throughput of containers 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 , 2.n per time unit.

List of reference symbols

1

Car wash

2.1

container

2.2

container

2.3

container

2.n

container

3

Cleaning chamber

4.1

Spray nozzle

4.2

Spray nozzle

4.3

Spray nozzle

4.4

Spray nozzle

4.5

Spray nozzle

4.6

Spray nozzle

4.n

Spray nozzle

5

Feed unit

6th

Discharge unit

7.1

Support element

7.2

Support element

7.3

Support element

7.4

Support element

8th

Spray nozzle frame

9

Transport conveyor unit

10

pump

Z

Feed level

ZFR

Feed direction

A.

Discharge level

AFR

Discharge direction

VR

vertical direction

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 8617094 U1 [0002]
• DE 4335695 C2 [0002]
• DE 10332443 A1 [0002]
• DE 10116854 A1 [0004]

Claims (7)

Washing installation (1) for cleaning containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.n) for transport and storage, the washing installation (1) having - a cleaning chamber (3) with a cleaning unit arranged in the cleaning chamber (3), - A transport conveyor unit (9), the transport conveyor unit (9) being designed and set up to transport the containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.n) through the cleaning chamber (3), - A feed unit (5) arranged in a feed plane (Z), the feed unit (5) conveying the containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.n) to be cleaned in a feed direction (ZFR) to the cleaning chamber (3) and the The containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.n) to be cleaned are transferred to the transport conveyor unit (9) in a stacked state, the containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.n) to be cleaned one of at least two containers (2.1, 2.2) form an existing stack of containers, and - A conveying unit (6) arranged in a conveying plane (A), the conveying unit (6) conveying the cleaned containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.n) away from the cleaning chamber (3) in a conveying direction (AFR), the cleaned containers (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.n) are transferred from the transport conveyor unit (9) to the discharge unit (6) in a stacked state, the cleaning unit having a plurality of support elements (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4) extending in the vertical direction ) and a spray nozzle frame (8) movably mounted on these support elements (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4), with a plurality of spray nozzles (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.n) over the circumference of the spray nozzle frame (8) is provided distributed and the spray nozzle frame (8) is designed to be movable in the vertical direction (VR) at least over the vertical extent of the container stack. Washing system (1) Claim 1 , characterized in that the removal level (A) corresponds to the supply level (Z). Washing system (1) after one of the Claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that the feed direction (ZFR) corresponds to the discharge direction (AFR). Washing system (1) after one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.n) is pivotably attached to the spray nozzle frame (8) with the aid of an articulated bracket. Washing system (1) after one of the Claims 1 until 4th , characterized in that each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.n) has an outlet opening for cleaning liquid, the cross section of the outlet opening being designed to be variable. Washing system (1) after one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.n) is connected to a separate cleaning fluid circuit, each cleaning fluid circuit having at least one control valve, whereby a flow rate and a pressure the cleaning liquid exiting at the individual spray nozzles (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.n) can be adjusted. Washing system (1) after one of the Claims 1 until 6th , characterized in that the support elements (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4) are designed as tubes, wherein cleaning liquid can be transported through the tubes to the plurality of spray nozzles (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.n) .

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