DE2343230A1 - Automatic bottle crate cleaning machine - has intermittent crate conveyor and sectioned rotating wash drums - Google Patents

Abstract

The design is intended to reduce overall space requirements while providing a high volume of throughput with efficient cleansing. The creates which can be arranged in groups are moved intermittently along a slide by an overhead endless conveyor with downward projecting arms. The crates are moved into a drum consisting of several separate sections. The sections are mounted on a common axis lying in the transport direction and rotating in a transverse direction. The sections have an inner structure consisting of three convex crate supports which together have a trochoidal cross section about the axis. The outer drum wall is formed by panels with slots to allow the passage of the conveyor arms. Partitions are fitted between the drum sections to separate the cleaning stages consisting of baths and/or cleansing sprays.

Description

Device for cleaning bottle crates

The invention relates to a device for cleaning bottle crates, which pass through the various treatment zones boxes and rotated during their passage several times transversely to the axis of its conveying direction 360 ^0th

It is known to turn bottle crates arriving in rows one behind the other inside a tunnel by 36c ⁰ around their transverse or longitudinal axis and to spray them out before, during and / or after a turn and thereby both remove coarse dirt and carry out a thorough crate cleaning. The bottle crates can be conveyed by a feed device at the entrance of the machine tunnel, so that the crates are conveyed through the inside of the tunnel without any division, touching the end faces, or by means of driven conveyor rollers, belts or chains that keep the crates at a distance. Powered box turning devices inside the machine can also be provided. Disadvantages of these devices for cleaning bottle crates are a large overall length in relation to the throughput or the inadequate cleaning of the bottle crates if the total treatment time of the crates is relatively short and the crates are not immersed.

In order to partially avoid these disadvantages, a device for cleaning bottle crates is already known which "inside of a housing, a central shaft as well as receiving baskets arranged in a star shape on this shaft for several one behind the other in each has a basket to be introduced bottle crates. Multiple boxes

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are pushed one after the other by a feed device at the beginning of the housing into the horizontal cage corresponding to the box conveyor track and then gradually turned up to one full turn (JSo ^J ) by clockwise rotation of the central shaft and in different handling zones, including a dip switch subjected to cleaning. A similar treatment can be carried out again in a second treatment stage. When the boxes reach the starting position again in the first or, if necessary, the second treatment stage, they are each ejected from the machine by the boxes that are newly pushed in and are to be cleaned. But even this crate cleaning device, if intensive cleaning is to be guaranteed, cannot meet the performance requirements in modern bottling plants of the highest performance. Furthermore, this cleaning device cannot be used in high-performance systems in which the bottle crates are conveyed while maintaining the formation that does not correspond to a pallet, without giving up the advantages of layer-wise crate conveying.

The object of the invention is to avoid the disadvantages mentioned a device of the type mentioned and in particular the safety division of a high box throughput, with one from Maintain several bottle crates assembled crate formation can be and the individual bottle crates nevertheless a thorough, both a spray and a sufficient immersion treatment be subjected to extensive cleaning.

To solve this problem it is proposed according to the invention that an intermittently drivable, of several at an angle to one another

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arranged box sliding floors in chamber-like each. for receiving by at least two boxes side by side suitable segments subdivided, basket-like cleaning drum is provided that this Cleaning drum is divided into longitudinal sections, the different, at least partially separated from each other in a liquid-tight manner Treatment zones are assigned and da3 above the Cleaning drum an intermittently driven, over the Total length of the device guided box conveyors is provided, the conveying means only when the drum is at a standstill the top chamber segment of the cleaning drum. The Kammerähnlicheη segments are so from the basket-like shell of the Cleaning drum and the box sliding floors are formed, which in cross section similar to the tendons of a circle in the drum shell Split segments. The width of these segments depends on the box formations to be processed. The length of the segments corresponds approximately to the length of the transverse housing walls separated from one another by cutouts for the box conveyor device Treatment stations or the number of boxes located one behind the other per segment. This results in the box capacity. One of the boxes is placed in each of the foremost segment standing vertically above the center of the device A feeder, which is introduced in layers, via the discontinuously operating box conveyor device provided with drivers complete crate formation e.g. a complete crate layer, as it occurs in the depalletizer, transferred. So it is not necessary to have the box formation corresponding to a pallet layer before or during transport through the Split Kaatenwascheinrichtung. The actual crate cleaning

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gungsverfahreηj consisting of a plurality of consecutive combined V / eleh- and injection zones can be made which pass, respectively, during a drum rotation from the Kastenforraation cyclically weraen _f is advantageously preceded by a similarly formed Vorreinigungsaone in which the boxes once, without NaSbehcndlung. to J6o must be turned so that any coarse dirt or broken pieces of Piasch can fall from the boxes into a collecting tray. A drying zone, possibly operated with warm air or the like, can be connected downstream of the wet cleaning zone.

According to the invention, it is further proposed that the cleaning drum has a common central shaft and spoke rings extending radially from the shaft at longitudinal intervals, that a box sliding base is provided in each case along the conveying direction between the spokes and connected to them, with a respective spoke ring of outer ring pieces underneath Formation of a drum segment for receiving at least one Kastenformatioijeingefaß, at least two outer ring pieces are connected to each other via box guides and between each two outer crane pieces a conveyor belt is provided and when the drum comes to a standstill, the intervention of the conveying means into the respective uppermost drum segment facing the box conveyor is provided . This represents a particularly expedient design of the cleaning drum. It has a relatively low structural weight with a stable construction and allows the cleaning media an almost unhindered access to the slide boxes to be cleaned. In each case two spoke rings together with the outer rings and the connecting struts serving as box guides form a drum section which is

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adjacent section has a small distance »so that the Rotate the drum, which might hoear a bit over the shaft Housing transverse walls between the drum sections and also the Spacer and driver elements of the box conveyor units find their place here while the drum is turning.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is proposed that three convex box sliding floors are provided in the Relnigimg drum and connected to a body shaped like a trophy in cross section sind. that the radial spokes proceeding from the centric in the free space of the trochoid body by the Corners of the body are guided and a hexagonal openwork outer wreath with two alternating side lengths wear, with the longer side assigned to a sliding base and has the gap for the engagement of the box conveyors. This cleaning drum has a large box capacity a very space-saving form. Due to the convexly curved sliding floors, the individual boxes of a box fermation are also approximately horizontal position of the respective sliding base in the spray zone of the cleaning device with its rare walls is not wall touching each other, but their side walls diverge accordingly the curvature of the floor slightly upwards, so that these wall surfaces are also hit intensively by the spray jets.

According to the invention it is further proposed that the central shaft of the cleaning drum be placed in the individual treatment zones several times is mounted at least partially separating transverse housing walls. Relatively long cleaning drums can also be used with a Series of different treatment zones arranged one behind the other due to the multiple bearing of the central shaft in the housing

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transverse walls designed with low weight without static disadvantages will.

According to the invention it is further proposed that the box conveyor as an endless conveyor chain guided through the device via deflection wheels on the crate loading and unloading as well as slide rails is formed and partially right to the longitudinal sections the cleaning drum with both box feed and with Provide spacer elements for the subsequent box formation is. Sin endless, on a slide and over Umienkräder The guided crate conveyor allows a simple and at any time variable adjustment of the crate transport heights outside the crate cleaning device to the transport heights within this device. For this it is only necessary to move the Umienkräder of the conveyor chain over the transport routes of the loading and unloading points to be arranged accordingly low. The intermittent drive of the conveyor leaves itself with uncomplicated, outside the Na3 range carry out the mechanical means to be assigned to the cleaning device, Box pushers and box spacer elements have in about the width of a box formation and are each non-rotatably and correctly divided to the individual drum sections so attached to the conveyor chain that when the conveyor chain is at a standstill and rotating Rsinigungstroinrael always between the Distances between two trunnion sections run over the transverse walls of the housing. Instead of a circulating chain with feed and spacer elements, a back and forth could of course also be used. or up and down feed device use.

According to the invention it is further proposed that at least the Box pusher of the conveyor below the sliding surface

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has an arched box guide and guide. The sharp change in the position of individual crates eiaez ⁰ crate shape transversely to the conveyor direction is prevented by the dumbbell of the basket-like locking drum. The Kastenleitfläefcsn below dsr feed surfaces of the slide may result in <7 © ^fe ncien and dip the device in Läng;: direction DCSR TroBmel shifted and possibly to Can Gehäusequerwändan applied loads when emerging back to the feed faces of Kasfcenschiefoers approach. If the box spacing shark comes to a stop over this housing transverse wall when the conveyor is at a standstill, it can warp on the guide surfaces on the retaining elements

For a further embodiment of the invention it is proposed that the box sliding floors several strips across the box conveying direction have elevations running over the entire conveyor width the boxes each slightly around their transverse to the conveying direction Axes tilted and thereby also a spray treatment of the Box front surfaces made possible.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing, for example and shown schematically.

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section, wherein the cleaning drum and their individual segments are only indicated and FIG. 2 shows a cross section through a device for cleaning Bottle crate.

Inside the housing 1 is a cleaning drum 2 and a endless, moving through all cleaning zones J5 of the device extending, above the drum 2 on slide rails 4 guided roller chain 5 vcrgesehev The front end of the housing 1 is

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as a box loading station la »-klntepe alea and the rear one designed as a delivery station Ib. The conveyor chain 5 is in these stations via deflection wheels 6a, 6b and 6c out and at the loading station la on the significantly lower compared to the conveying level within the cleaning device Level of the conveyor 7 pulled down. A slideway 8 adjoining the loading station la is used in conjunction with the pivot-proof on the conveyor chain 5 arranged feed elements 9, to overcome this difference in height and to introduce a box formation 10 brought up to the loading station la into the Cleaning drum 2. The spacer elements 11 in a similar way The way in which the feed elements 9 are attached to the conveyor chain 5, wear during the entire transport of the bottle crates through the cleaning device to maintain a crate formation 10 and the required distance to the preceding box formation 10 care. The housing 1 is supported by transverse walls 12, which the Separate individual treatmentζoneη 3 and a recess 13 for have the passage of the box conveyor 9 or 11, divided.

respectively

The cleaning drum 2 is formed by a central shaft 14 and / or three spokes 15 (FIG. 2) extending radially from the shaft 14 at intervals depending on the transverse division of the housing, which are enclosed by a hexagonal outer ring 16 and which run parallel to the conveying direction (arrow 17) are (not shown) as a box guides serving struts connected to one another, so that overall a basket-like construction of the cleaning drum 2 gives the outer rims l6 also have gaps 18 for the passage of the box conveyors 9 »11. In each case between the spokes 15 and aligned along the central shaft 14 are overall

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three slightly convex box sliding floors 19 are arranged. they form a cross-section trochoidal body, the outside of which represent the box sliding surfaces 19.

Be freed except the first treatment zone 3, in the turned boxes by rotating the cleaning drum 2 360 ⁰ and of coarse foreign bodies, such as Piaschenscherben, paper, etc., 3, the treatment zones a box diverter 20 and above the Which or cleaning drum 2 a spraying zone consisting of a plurality of spraying pipes 21 arranged between the leading and the returning strand 5a or 5b of the box conveyor device 5 (only one NaS treatment zone is shown in FIG. 1). The spray pipes 21 are supplied from the respective soft baths 20 via lines and pumps (not shown). A semicircular arrangement of the spray tubes 20 around the upper part of the cleaning drum 2 that protrudes from the soft bath 20 would also be possible. In this case, however, the tubes would have to have recesses similar to the gaps l8 in the outer rings l6 of the cleaning drum 2 in order to allow the box feed 9 or spacing elements 11 to pass through. The method of operation of the device is as follows: The box formation 10 corresponding to a pallet layer is fed from a depalletizing machine to the loading station la of the cleaning device and introduced here via a driven conveyor 7 between the spacer 11 and the corresponding slide 9 of the intermittently driven box conveyor 5 , conveyed in individual conveying cycles according to the discontinuous drum movement (intermittent drive by motor 22 and chain drive 23) via the slide 8 to the receiving level of the cleaning drum 2 and finally to the horizontally aligned "

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Qleitboden 19 of the first drum section 2a pushed. The box spacer 11 assumes a position directly above the housing transverse wall 12. The box pusher 9, possibly provided with box guide and guide surfaces (not shown) below the bottom surface, reaches just in front of the spoke rim 15 of the first drum section 2a. In a similar position, each between two Trommeiabsohnitten, are also the other, each with a box formation 9 in engagement feed 9 or spacer elements # Ente 11. As soon as the box formation 10 is inserted into the drum segment 2a, the drum 2 is over the Drive means 22, 2 ~ $ rotated by a 3chaltse.hrltt. After every three switching cycles, a box formation 10 resumes the transport division and is transferred to the following drum section 2 via the box conveyor device 5, 9, 11. This process is repeated continuously in the individual drum sections until the respective box formation 10 reaches the delivery station 1b. In this way, the individual Kastenfcrmationen 10 leading into the drum segments 2a in three switching stages in each case a full rotation through 360 ⁰ out, while in the first portion by the turning of coarse dirt and in the following sections by alternating high pressure spraying from the spray tubes 21 and common treatment in the Soft baths 20 assigned to each, possibly containing various cleaning media, to be freed of more strongly adhering dirt. For easier discharge of the coarse dirt particles removed from the boxes in the first treatment zone .5, a mobile collecting pan can be arranged below the cleaning drum 2. Subsequent to the wet cleaning zone, hot air zones for drying the boxes or prischewater zones can also be used.

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for rinsing off any remaining cleaning agents Find use. During the various switching movements, the position of the box formations 1 ″ changes constantly and also of the individual ones Boxes within this formation to each other, so that in interaction with the convex curvature of the sliding floors 19 a intensive spray treatment even of those directed against one another Box walls is made possible. Soiling, even at hidden box locations, is thoroughly softened or washed away. Of course, the described invention can not only be used for complete box formations corresponding to a pallet layer, but can also be used for single box arrangements.

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Claims (7)

Claims 1.) Device for cleaning bottle crates, the crates - · 'pass through different treatment zones and during their passage several times across the axis of their conveying direction 36o ° are rotated, characterized in that an intermittent Drivable box sliding floors (19) arranged at an angle to one another in chamber-like each for receiving Basket-like cleaning drum (2) subdivided by at least two boxes next to one another suitable segments (2a) is provided is that this cleaning drum (2) in longitudinal sections is divided, the different, at least partially liquid-tight separated treatment zones (3) are assigned and that above the cleaning drum (2) an intermittently driven over the entire length of the Device (l) guided box conveying devices (5, 9, 11) are provided, the conveying means (9, 11) of which only when stationary the drum (2) engage in the uppermost chamber segment (2a) of the cleaning drum (2). 2.) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning drum (2) has a common central shaft (l4) and each at longitudinal distances radially from the shaft (14) outgoing spoke rings (15) that longitudinal to the conveying direction between the spoke η (15) and connected to these in each case a box sliding base (19) is provided that in each case one Spoke rim (15) of outer rim pieces (16) forming a drum segment (2a) for receiving at least one 509810 ^ 0539 Box formation (ίο) is bordered, at least two outer rim pieces (l6) are connected to each other via castall guides and between two Jlußenkranz pieces (l6) a running in the conveying direction and when the drum (2) is at a standstill, the engagement of the conveying means (9, 11) in the the box conveyor (5 * 9 » H) facing respective uppermost drum segment (2a) permitting Licke (l3) is provided. 3.) Device at least according to claim 1, characterized in that three convex box sliding floors (19) are provided in the cleaning drum (2) and are connected to a, trochoidal cross-section body, that the radial spokes (15) »starting from the central * in the free space of the trochoid body enclosed shaft (l4) are guided through the corners of the body and carry a hexagonal openwork outer rim (l6) with two alternately different side lengths, whereby the longer side is assigned to a sliding base (19) and the gap (l8) for engaging the box conveyor (9, 11). 4.) Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the Zentralwel} .e (l4) of the cleaning drum (2) several times in the individual treatment zones (3) is mounted at least partially separating transverse housing walls (12). 5) device according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the box conveyor (5, 9, ll] as an endless conveyor chain guided through the device (1) via deflection wheels (6) on the crate loading and unloading as well as slide rails (4) (5) is designed and divided correctly to the longitudinal 5098? 070539 sections of the cleaning drum (2) with both box feed (9) as well as with spacer elements / fdr the following Box formation (io) is provided. 6.) Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 5> characterized in that at least the box pusher (j) of the conveying device (5) has an arched box guide and lead fish below the sliding surface. 7.) Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the box sliding floors (19) have several have strips extending transversely to the box conveying direction over the entire conveying width elevations. 509810/0 5 39 ι5 · Blank