EP0830905A2 - Device for transporting bottles in a bottle cleaning machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The conveyor holds the bottle in cells, in turn held in cell carriers mounted along a chain. The cells have clamps (12) at their mouths. The clamps sit on a movable central finger (11), which can move the them in and out of engagement with a collar (14) on the bottle. The finger is preferably elastic. The cells or cell carriers may have fluid flow guides (16), which end beneath the collar. These guides are integral to the clamps, and formed from channels (17) near the bottle mouth.

Description

The invention relates to a device for transporting bottles in a bottle washer according to the preamble of the main claim.

Bottle washers are used for intensive cleaning of reusable bottles used especially in the beverage industry. The reusable bottles exist preferably made of glass and can be used in several rounds for subsequent Refill can be used. The bottles are made accordingly trained cells through the individual treatment stations of a cleaning machine transported. Several treatment stations are provided in which the bottles, for example, with their bottoms down or down can be transported above or at an angle to the horizontal plane. A requirement it is particularly possible to move the bottles equipped with labels as freely as possible hold in the cells so that any adherent or remaining in the cells Labels or their remnants can be easily rinsed off. Further is it is necessary to bottle the bottles, particularly in the area of such Cleaning machine with the mouth down to transport the spray jet guided through the mouth area of a cell for spraying out without any problems of the bottle cavity. To do this the individual bottle cells in their mouth area are specially shaped Contours that essentially correspond to the bottle mouth area and with an exact centering of the bottles pointing downwards in this area can be carried out. With the reusable glass bottles used their own weight already leads to a secure installation and centering in the actual Mouth area of the bottle cell. It is different with lightweight Plastic bottles, which may not work properly due to their light weight be centered. This is especially true when different Bottle sizes within a bottle cell through the individual treatment stations the bottle washer should be transported. In these For example, the cleaning machine is for the largest bottle designed, which finds a relatively good centering within the cell. But as soon as Smaller bottles need to be cleaned, slight inclinations Cause improper spraying. With appropriate contours within such a cell, these problems can largely be solved will. However, when using lightweight plastic bottles given the disadvantage that these are raised when hitting a spray jet and be removed from the actual mouth area. This can be too certain complications with the very careful internal spraying, especially in the end area of such a cleaning machine.

From DE-AS 22 01 648 a device for cleaning bottles has become known, the cells being arranged on a base body and each made of Brackets and side parts supporting on the underside are available for receiving the bottles are of different sizes and shapes, the Side parts in the longitudinal direction of the base body with respect to the bracket are. With this configuration, the cell size can be adapted to different ones Bottles possible. A centering of these bottles or clamping in certain stations of such a cleaning machine is not possible. Furthermore, a device has become known from DE-OS 2 360 730, the one has a fixed wedge, which is approached by the mouths of the cells can and in this way a loosened jammed by an inclined contact surface Bottles. Further measures cannot be carried out with this device will.

Finally, a cleaning machine has become known from US 2,367,652. where the bottles are clamped into the mouth holder at the feed station and guided through all stations while maintaining this clamping and at the delivery station after releasing the clamp. The bottles will kept in the upper area during the entire transport. An effective cleaning this area as well as loosening and removing neck labels and -grinding is not possible.

The object of the invention is to create a solution to the problem here, with which preferably in the spray stations, but also certain others Treatment stations, perfect centering and clamping of all to be processed Bottle types is ensured. In addition, a perfect cleaning also from the undersides of plastic bottles detected during clamping be guaranteed with support collar.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a generic device the characterizing features of claim 1 and 4 solved.

The bottles are, for example, in the individual stations in which a special Centering is not required or is even undesirable, freely movable in the cells through the cleaning machine or the individual treatment stations guided. However, as soon as a special exposure to cleaning fluid the bottles with the mouths facing downwards are perfect Centering to the stationary or movable spray jets ensured. Complicated mechanical hold-down devices, one of which are no longer required effect such centering of such bottles. The proposed according to the invention Formations and arrangements of the clamping parts can easily Way through control curves arranged in the movement path of the bottle cell or control bars using the bottle cell material or in addition pressure devices arranged thereon automatically centering the bottles make. With appropriately elastic cell material the cell jacket itself for locking and centering the bottles in question be used. But it is also possible in the area of the desired centering positions retractable centering fingers or clamping parts to provide, which from a other material and connected to the relevant areas of the cell or are mounted on it and can be controlled by appropriate control surfaces are.

Because the optimal locking of the bottles with muzzle or support collar on their Bottom is done, their cleaning is not always guaranteed, so that Mold formation u. Like. Can be the result. To make sure this problem too To solve, flow guide elements are provided, which when driving over the spraying stations the spray liquid also or specifically against these undersides and thereby also the surfaces that are covered by the surfaces of the clamping parts are cleaned are.

The invention is illustrated below with reference to the drawings Exemplary embodiments explained in more detail.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht einer solchen Behandlungsabteilung einer Reinigungsmaschine, insbesondere Spritzabteilung,

Fig. 2

eine Flaschenzelle mit darin befindlicher Flasche in zentrierter Position und

Fig. 3

einen Zellenträger mit Strömungsleitorganen.

The drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a side view of such a treatment department of a cleaning machine, in particular spraying department,

Fig. 2

a bottle cell with the bottle in it in a centered position and

Fig. 3

a cell support with flow guide organs.

According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the cleaning machine from individual treatment stations not shown and one Injection station 1, for example, two in a row in the direction of movement arranged spray devices 2, 3 can be formed. These sprayers 2, 3 each have a rotating nozzle shaft 4, which are driven by starfish 5 can be controlled by the movable cell supports and in this way always directs an exact spray jet to the inside of the bottle. Such an execution is known and described in EPA 0 134 830. Looked into the drawing level the bottle washer has a plurality of cells 6, which are fastened in a cell carrier 7. The cell support 7 is in turn on one endless chain 8 attached and can in this way by the respective Treatment stations are transported.

According to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, there is a large one Bottle 9 in the bottle cell 6. Between the inner cell jacket and the outer bottle jacket there is sufficient space for any labels to stick or rinse off their remains or clean the coat itself satisfactorily to be able to. Within such a cell 6, further smaller ones, not shown, become Bottles processed, which largely due to the cell mouth contour The senses are centered. As soon as a cell 6 with the spray jet of the spraying device 2, 3 is applied, there is a risk that by the considerable Pressure of this spray jet raised smaller bottles and as far from the mouth removed that a perfect rinsing of the interior is not more is guaranteed.

For this purpose, the bottle 9 is at least in the area of spraying stations 1 kept centered in cells 6. The bottles can be centered 9 by jacket or partial jacket surfaces of the receiving cell 6. In In the exemplary embodiments according to FIG. 2, the bottles are centered movable centering finger 11 made from the rest position to the clamping position are spendable. The clamping parts 12 lie against the bottom 13 of the support collar 14 of the bottles 9. For this purpose are in the machine In the area of the respective spraying stations, sliding strips 15 are provided which are the centering fingers 11 and thus move the clamping parts 12 against the bottom 13 and the Hold bottles 9 during the spraying process.

There is a small amount between the underside 13 and the support surfaces of the clamping parts 12 Distance provided, the minimal freedom of movement of the bottles allows. In the case of a spray jet directed into the bottles 9, both surfaces lie to each other.

In addition, 6 flow guide organs are on the cell support 7 or the cell jacket 16 arranged, which open in the region of the underside of the support collar 14 and spec. have nozzle-like configurations that direct the spray liquid against the support collar and its underside. Hereby can spray liquid directly against the mouth or the spraying process Support collar 14 of the bottles 9 are passed. According to the performance example in Fig. 3, the flow guide elements are part of the clamping parts 12. You can as Guide grooves 17 formed and on the bottle facing surfaces of the Clamping parts 12 may be arranged. As soon as the internal injection of the bottles 9 has taken place or before this internal spraying, the spray jet 18 reaches the area of the flow guide elements 16 and then hits against the bottle mouth as well as against the Underside of the support collar 14. The first with the bottom of the Clamping parts 12 adjacent bottle is due to the existing little play moved downwards by the spray jet 18 so that all surfaces are free of clamping parts 12 and the like are and can be cleaned properly. It is also conceivable, the flow guide 16 as an independent unit on the bottle cells 6 or cell supports 7 to be arranged.

Claims (7)

Device for transporting bottles in a bottle cleaning machine, in which the bottles are taken up by transport cells and guided through the individual treatment stations, the cells being held in cell carriers which in turn are attached to rotating chains and the cells have clamping means arranged in the mouth area, characterized in that that on the cell carrier (7) and / or the cell jacket (6), movable centering fingers (11) are temporarily arranged from the rest position into the clamping position, the clamping parts (12) of which against the underside of support collars (14) of the bottles (9) to be treated can be put on and removed again. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping parts (12) are arranged on spring-elastic centering fingers (11) and can be brought into the clamping position by their control. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping parts (12) have a supporting surface which can be brought into the clamping position at a small distance from the underside of the supporting collar (14) located in the lower receiving position. Device according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that flow guide members (16) are arranged on the cell carrier (7) and / or the cell jacket (6), which end in the region of the underside of the support collar (14). Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow guide members (16) are part of the clamping parts (12). Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow guide members (16) are designed as guide grooves (17) which are arranged in the surfaces of the clamping parts (12) facing the bottle mouth. Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow guide member (16) is designed as an independent spray liquid guide.

Images