EP1179315B1 - Cleaning apparatus for receptacles - Google Patents

Abstract

The cleaning device has a transport arrangement (6) for delivering the containers (2) to a cleaning station for applying cleaning liquid to the containers. The transport arrangement has a circulating conveyor device (8) with a number of holders for the containers so that they can be transported continuously from an input station to an output station.

Description

The invention relates to a cleaning device for containers, such as cups, glasses or the like according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such cleaning devices are used in particular in the catering trade at parties, trade fairs, etc., with the necessary glasses for serving, for example, Pilsner glasses to be cleaned in the shortest possible time. Conventionally, so-called tunnel scrubbers are used, in which the soiled glasses are inserted into a basket and run through a conveyor disposed in a tunnel cleaning station in which the recorded in the basket glasses are disinfected, washed with detergent and rinsed. At the end of the tunnel, the basket with the cleaned glasses is removed and a new basket of soiled glasses is fed for the next cleaning cycle.

The disadvantage of this solution is that the system must always be monitored in order to remove the basket with cleaned glasses and to supply refilled baskets. Furthermore, a considerable effort is required to stack the glasses to be cleaned in the basket and to remove the cleaned glasses from the basket and to move the baskets back and forth between the stations. For an optimal cleaning result always make sure that the baskets themselves are not polluted.

A solution to the above-mentioned problem is proposed in the document DE-A-2735532, which discloses a cleaning device according to the preamble.

In contrast, the invention has for its object to provide a cleaning device over which a simple and thorough cleaning of containers, such as glasses, cups or the like is possible without system malfunctions.

This object is achieved by a cleaning device having the features of patent claim 1.

According to the cleaning device is provided with a rotating conveyor, which has a plurality of holders for the containers. These are inserted into the holder and then pass through the cleaning station. The containers are added along a loading station arranged in front of the cleaning station, while the removal of the cleaned containers takes place via a removal station following the cleaning station. If not removed at the removal station, the containers will go through the cleaning cycle again.

This circulation with integrated into the funding holders for the containers eliminates the need to provide special baskets or other facilities for the glasses, so that the logistical effort and the risk of contamination is minimized by contaminated baskets compared to the tunnel solution. In the case in which, for example, cleaned glasses are not removed at the removal station, no disruption of the system occurs, but these glasses go through the cleaning cycle again. With a particularly high degree of contamination, it may well be advantageous for the glasses to pass through the cleaning cycle several times, so that even high hygienic applications are satisfied.

Due to the largely automated cleaning and circulation guide the steps that require a mechanical handling of the glasses (containers) are limited only to the hanging in the brackets and the removal in the removal station, so that the risk of breakage compared to the conventional solutions in which the glasses in The baskets were stacked and had to be taken out of these, is substantially reduced. Alone by the lower glass loss plant of the invention is amortized in a very short time.

The cleaning speed can be particularly easily varied by a variable-speed drive, the cleaning speed can be adapted for example to the dispensing speed of the dispensing system, so that there is always a purified glass available. In this way, the buffer for providing fresh glasses can be minimized, so that the risk of glass breakage can be further reduced.

As a conveying means preferably a circulating belt, a chain or the like is used, wherein transversely to the transport direction, preferably in the horizontal direction projecting fork-shaped holding forks are provided, via which the containers can be supported hanging or standing.

For better cleaning and fixation of the containers during the cleaning process in the cleaning station, a pressure element can be provided at least along a partial section of the conveyor track, via which the containers are pressed against the respective holder. In a particularly preferred embodiment, this pressure element is formed by a brush, the bristles are preferably employed in the conveying direction, so that over the brush, for example, the bottom of the containers is cleaned and further an exact positioning the containers is ensured during the cleaning process.

The cleaning station advantageously has a main cleaning station and a downstream final cleaning station in which a rinsing of the container takes place.

The final cleaning station is preferably supplied with fresh cleaning liquid, for example water, wherein a drain of a collecting container of the final cleaning station is connected to an inlet of a main cleaning station associated container, so that the resulting in the final cleaning, only slightly polluted cleaning liquid is used in the main cleaning station for main cleaning. By this cycle, the fresh water demand of the cleaning system compared to conventional solutions can be significantly reduced.

To meet the legal requirements, the main cleaning station may be preceded by a disinfection station.

Below the feeding station, a feed container is preferably provided, so that the environment of the system is practically not polluted.

The application of the cleaning liquid and possibly the disinfectant is advantageously carried out via spray nozzles.

The cleaning device can be easily adapted via an adjusting device to different container geometries, for example, the effective distance between the cleaning station and the transport device is changed.

The cleaning device according to the invention is particularly advantageously applied to drinking glasses, which are provided with a bottom and a handle.

Other advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the other dependent claims.

• Fig. 1a und 1b ein Funktionsschema eines erfindungsgemäßen Reinigungsgeräts für Pilsgläser und
• Fig. 2 eine Explosionsdarstellung wesentlicher Bauelemente des Reinigungsgeräts aus Fig. 1.

In the following a preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

• Fig. 1a and 1b is a functional diagram of a cleaning device according to the invention for Pilsner glasses and
• 2 is an exploded view of essential components of the cleaning device of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 1a and 1b show a system diagram of a cleaning device 1 for Pilsner or wine glasses 2. The cleaning device 1 consists essentially of a cleaning station 4 and a transport device 6 for the glasses. 2

According to the schematic plan view, the transport device 6 has a horizontally circulating toothed belt 8, which wraps around a deflection roller 10 and a pulley 12. The drive of the toothed belt 8 via a variable speed motor 14, the speed of which is adjustable via the machine control, not shown. The output shaft of the drive motor 14 is coupled to the pulley 12. The timing belt 8 is surrounded by the other drive elements of a dash-dotted line indicated panel, so that contamination of these components is prevented. The advantage of a toothed belt drive lies in the maintenance-free and smooth running. It is, however conceivable to provide other drives, such as V-belts, chains or the like.

On the toothed belt 8 laterally cantilevered holding forks 16 are provided, in which the glasses 2, as shown in Fig. 1a, can be used. Instead of holding forks 16, other elements, such as clamping elements, positive receptacles, etc. may be used.

As is apparent from Fig. 1b, the holding forks 16 extend approximately in that horizontal plane which is spanned by the toothed belt 8. The bifurcated end portions of the holding forks 16 engage around the bottom of a glass 2 so that it is suspended in the holding forks and the glass opening facing down (view of FIG. 1a).

The hanging of the glasses 2 in the holding forks 16 takes place in the region marked A in FIG. 1b; the cleaned glasses are removed in the area marked E, wherein the direction of rotation of the toothed belt 8 is predetermined by the arrows in Fig. 1b. In other words, the glass 2 to be cleaned is first conveyed via the toothed belt 8 from the feeding station A to the deflection roller 10, deflected along this path by 180 ° and then fed to the cleaning station 4.

This cleaning station 4 has a disinfection station 18, a main cleaning station 20 and a final cleaning or rinsing station 22. The disinfection station 18 has a reservoir 24 in which the disinfectant is received. This is sucked in via a self-priming pump 26 and fed to a nozzle bar 28. This has a plurality of spray nozzles 30, sprayed over the disinfectant on the above the nozzles conveyed past glasses 2 becomes. The control of the nozzles 30 takes place in dependence on the engine control and is thus adaptable to the conveying speed of the belt 8.

The disinfectant dripping from the glasses 2 is collected in a collecting container 32 and returned via a return 34 into the disinfecting container 24.

After the disinfection step, the glass 2 passes to the main cleaning station 20, in which the impurities are removed by supplying cleaning liquid, for example detergent-added water. The main cleaning station 20 has a reservoir 36 in which the cleaning liquid is received. This is sucked in via a further self-priming pump 38 from the container 36 and - similar to the disinfection station - sprayed through a nozzle bar 40 with a plurality of nozzle heads 42 on the glasses 2 so that they are thoroughly cleaned. The dripping of the glasses 2 cleaning fluid is collected in a tub 44 and returned via a return 46 into the reservoir 36. As indicated in Fig. 1a, the nozzle bar 40 of the main cleaning station 20 has a greater length than that of the disinfection station, so that a thorough cleaning of the glass 2 is ensured. The reservoir 36 has an overflow 48, via which the fluid level in the reservoir 36 can be kept constant and superfluous cleaning fluid in a channel (not shown) is discharged.

After the main cleaning cycle, the glasses 2 to be cleaned pass through the final cleaning or rinsing station 22, in which the glasses 2 are rinsed off with clean cleaning liquid, for example fresh water, not added with cleaning agent. This fresh water is supplied via a control valve 50 from the water supply and by means of another, with Nozzle 52 provided nozzle bar 54 sprayed onto the glasses 2, so that all residues and impurities are rinsed off. The dripping fresh water from the glasses is collected in a fresh water sump 56, whose outlet is connected via a connecting line 58 to the reservoir 36. D. h., The resulting in the Endreingung, slightly polluted fresh water is supplied to the reservoir 36 of the main cleaning station, so that there is always a supply of almost unpolluted water. By this recycling, the water requirement of the entire cleaning device compared to conventional solutions can be significantly reduced. Thus, in a system with a total water requirement of 4000 to 5000 liters per hour by the above-described circulation of the fresh water requirement at most limit 500 liters per hour, so that the system can be operated extremely cost-effective and environmentally friendly. To connect the above cleaning stations only one channel for connection to the overflow 48 and a fresh water supply for feeding the Endreinigungsstation 22 is required.

After passing through the final cleaning station 22, the cleaned and rinsed glasses are removed at the removal station E. This removal station (E) is advantageously arranged in the immediate vicinity of a dispenser, so that the tapper always fresh glasses available.

As can be seen in particular from the illustration in FIG. 1 a, a pressure element 60 is provided in the area of the cleaning stations 18, 20, 22 above the belt 8, over which the bottom or the other overhead part of the glass 2 presses against the holding fork 16 during the cleaning process is, so that a reliable positioning of the glass 2 is ensured.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure element 60 is formed by a brush-shaped strip whose bristles are employed obliquely to the holding fork 16. D. h., The bottom of the glass 2 touches during the cleaning process along the brush-like pressure element, so that this assumes a dual function: on the one hand the glass 2 is fixed in position and on the other there is a cleaning of the glass bottom. Of course, instead of the brush-shaped pressure element 60, another, suitable pressure element for fixing the position can be provided. The cleaning of the bottom region could additionally or alternatively also be effected by further nozzles which are directed from above (view according to FIG. 1 a) onto the glass 2.

For particularly high cleaning requirements, the cleaning station 4 can still be followed by a drying or irradiation station, so that the glasses - for example, in production - can be removed from stock or ready for shipment. The feeding and removal of the glasses can be fully automated, for example, by handling equipment or mechanically by auxiliary staff.

The performance of the cleaning device 1 can be further increased if it is provided with an adjustment device (not shown) over which the distance between cleaning station 4 and transport device 6 is adjustable, so that an adaptation to different glass heights is possible. The adaptation to the glass geometry itself can be done by changing the holding forks 16.

FIG. 2 shows essential components of an exemplary embodiment according to the invention of the device concept shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b.

The cleaning device 1 shown in Fig. 2 is designed as a standalone unit and has a frame 62, on which the collecting container 32 of the disinfection station 18 and a large trough 64 stored, which combines the trough 44 of the main cleaning station 20 and the fresh water trough 56 of Endreinigungsstation 22.

The two trays 32, 64 extend over the total conveying length of the transport device 6, so that all dripping liquid is collected.

In addition to the two trays 32, 64 a collecting tray 76 is arranged on the frame 62, which extends along the feed region of the transport device 6, d. H. extends from the feed station A to the deflection 10, so that the residual liquid, for example, still contained in the glasses can drain. The collecting container 32 has a port which is connected to the disinfecting container 24; the trough 64 has a drain 68 which is connected via the return 46 to the reservoir 36.

The frame 62 further has four supports 70 on which a support bracket 72 is supported for the transport device 6. The support bracket 72 is displaceable in the height direction along the supports 70, so that an adaptation to different glass heights is possible. This shifting can be done via a separate, not shown adjusting device.

The cleaning or disinfecting agent is - as mentioned above - fed through the nozzle bars 28, 40 and 54, which are mounted in the trough 64 and the collecting container 32.

On the support bracket 72, a belt plate 74 is fixed, which forms the lower cover of the belt 8. On the unit of support bracket 72 and belt plate 74 are the drive motor 14 and the guide roller 10 and the pulley 12 are mounted. The belt plate further has guide angle 76 and a guide plate 78, along which the toothed belt 8 is guided.

On the belt plate 74, a plurality of supports 80 are still provided, on which an upper cover 82 and a multi-part motor housing 84, 85, 86 can be fastened. The engine itself is mounted on a motor console 88 fastened to the support bracket 72 or the belt plate 74.

As indicated in phantom in Fig. 2, a transparent front plate 90 can be mounted on the front end surfaces of the cover 82, so that the cleaning process of the glasses 2 can be observed.

Disclosed is a cleaning device for containers, such as cups, glasses or the like with a transport device through which the containers are conveyed to a cleaning station. The transport device according to the invention has a revolving conveyor with a plurality of holders, so that the containers are continuously transported from a feeding station to a removal station.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

cleaner

2

Glass

4

cleaning station

6

transport means

8th

toothed belt

10

idler pulley

12

capstan

14

drive motor

16

holding fork

18

disinfection station

20

Main cleaning station

22

final cleaning station

24

disinfection tank

26

self-priming pump

28

nozzle beam

30

jet

32

receptacle

34

returns

36

reservoir

38

pump

40

nozzle beam

42

jet

44

tub

46

returns

48

overflow

50

control valve

52

jet

54

nozzle beam

56

Freshwater sink

58

connecting line

60

presser

62

frame

64

tub

66

drip tray

68

procedure

70

Support

72

support bracket

74

belt drive

76

lead angle

78

guide plate

80

carrier

82

cover

84, 85, 86

motor housing

88

Motorkonsole

90

front panel

Claims (12)

1. Cleaning apparatus for vessels, such as, for example, cups, glasses or the like, having a transport device (6) for conveying the vessels (2) to a cleaning station (4) to apply cleaning liquid to the vessel (2), wherein the transport device (6) has a circulating conveying means (8) with a plurality of holders (16) for the vessels (2), so that the latter can be continuously transported from a loading station (A) to an unloading station (E),
   characterised in that, if not unloaded at the unloading station (E), the vessels (2) pass through the cleaning cycle again.
2. Cleaning apparatus according to patent claim 1, wherein the conveying means (8) is driven by way of a speed-regulated drive motor (14).
3. Cleaning apparatus according to patent claim 1 or 2, wherein the conveying means has a circulating belt (8), chain or the like to which fork-shaped holding forks (16) arranged transversely to the direction of transport are fastened, by means of which holding forks (16) the vessels (2) are supported.
4. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding patent claims, wherein a pressing element (60) is arranged at least at the section of the conveying path extending along the cleaning station (4), by means of which pressing element (60) the vessel (2) is pressed against the respective holder (16).
5. Cleaning apparatus according to patent claim 4, wherein the pressing element (60) is a brush the bristles of which are preferably set in the conveying direction.
6. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding patent claims, wherein the cleaning station has a main cleaning station (20) and a final cleaning station (22).
7. Cleaning apparatus according to patent claim 6, wherein the final cleaning station (22) is supplied with fresh cleaning liquid and an outlet of the final cleaning station (22) is connected to an inlet (58) of a reservoir (36) assigned to the main cleaning station (20).
8. Cleaning apparatus according to patent claim 6 or 7, wherein a disinfection station (18) is disposed upstream of the main cleaning station (20).
9. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding patent claims, wherein a collecting tray (76) is disposed beneath the loading station (A).
10. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding patent claims, wherein the vessel is a drinking glass (2) with stem and base, which is received in the holder (16) in a suspended manner.
11. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding patent claims, wherein the cleaning liquid or the disinfectant is applied via spray nozzles (30, 42, 52).
12. Cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, having an adjusting device for altering the distance between cleaning station (4) and transport device.

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