EP1183112B1 - Label separator for bottle purifying machines - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a label separator (1) for bottle purifying machines. The bottles to be purified are transported in the main passing direction (4) in the purifying machine by means of transport devices (2, 3) and are dipped into dipping baths (5, 6, 7) which are arranged one behind the other and are filled with cleansing liquor. Bottle labels are detached in said dipping baths and are flushed from the respective cleansing liquors to moveable belt sewage screens (18, 19) for separation. The belt sewage screens (18, 19) hold the bottle labels back and convey them from the separating areas. The inventive label separator (1) easily combines the function of separation and the function of collecting bottle labels at a central point (31) by arranging at least one belt sewage screen (18, 19) with a main conveying direction (27, 28) that is arranged essentially parallel or antiparallel in relation to the main passage direction (4) of the purifying machine. Said belt sewage screen (18, 19) comprises the separating areas of at least two dipping baths, whereby the separated labels can be discarded from the belt sewage screens (18, 19) at a central point (31).

Description

The invention relates to a label separator for Bottle washers where the bottles to be cleaned by means of transport devices in the main direction of flow Cleaning machines transported and arranged in a row, with

Dipping baths filled with cleaning fluid are immersed in Bottle labels detached and for separation from the respective Cleaning fluids are rinsed into movable sieve belts hold the bottle labels back and out of the separation areas convey out, with at least one of the sieve belts with Main direction of conveyance is essentially the same or opposite to Main flow direction of the cleaning machine is arranged and the Deposition areas of at least two immersion baths, wherein the separated bottle labels in a central place of the or the sieve belts can be thrown off.

A label separator of a comparable type is e.g. out known from DE-A-195 02 272.

In known bottle cleaning machines, the bottles pass through several in a row in the main direction of the cleaning machine arranged immersion baths with cleaning liquid, in particular Alkali baths in which they are submerged and exposed to the alkali become. This is the glue that sticks on the bottles solved, whereby the bottle labels get into the cleaning liquid and washed away with it. Because the labels stick differently sticking in the bottles, the detachment may take more or less long. It is therefore not possible to determine exactly in which immersion bath a Label is peeled off. Generally, most fall in the first dip Bottle labels, while their number in the following Immersion baths becomes smaller.

Because the bottle labels are not in the immersion baths in the long run can remain, they must be removed. On the other hand, since the Cleaning fluids from different immersion baths not together To be mixed, the labels must be removed from each individual immersion bath done separately.

There are therefore already known label separators in which a separate one for each immersion bath of the cleaning machine closed screen belt is provided, which next to each Dip bath perpendicular to the main direction of the cleaning machine circulates. The lye containing the label is made using propeller circulation pumps with high volume capacities and low pressures circulating sieve belts, where they get caught and thus be separated from the alkali. Due to the circulation of the Sieve belts become the labels from the separation area led out and by means of rotating brushes from the sieve belts away.

The known label separators have the disadvantage that the dispensed labels in several places, namely each one, with a caustic bath provided with a label separator. Since the Bottle labels should ultimately be disposed of together, you have to bring them together in one place. Are for this purpose Usually conveyors are provided, which accrue Bottle labels from the individual label separators to one Promote central waste disposal where they are in a container or a Label press to be initiated. The disadvantage of this solution is that considerable additional effort for the mentioned conveyor, the also requires a not inconsiderable additional installation space. Even more serious is the disadvantage that each one Label separator a drive and a device for ejecting the Labels, for example a rotating brush or a Showering device, required.

From DE-A 195 02 272 a label separator is known in which the Sucked off labels at several points in a main lye bath and several separate separators are fed, each one Have sieve belt. This arrangement is also complex.

From FR-A 10 90 784 a label separator is known in which the Alkali of an immersion bath is passed over a sieve belt, which the Conveys labels out of the immersion bath. Just like the one in The arrangement described in the previous paragraph is only used here only immersion bath freed from labels. If there were several baths use a large number of separators, which in turn makes a considerable one Effort arises.

The object of the invention is to provide a label separator for Bottle washers specify the labels of two or more immersion baths can be separated with less construction effort than in known label separators.

The inventive solution to this problem is that Sieve belt the separation areas all with bottle labels essential contaminated immersion baths is formed continuously, the separated bottle labels at a central point in the area of the first dip can be thrown off. In this embodiment collects the only screen belt contains all of the separated bottle labels. It is advantageous if the Cleaning machine further behind the immersion baths continuous sieve belt to be "operated" first, because most Bottle labels accumulate in the first immersion bath, which of the counter-rotating screen belt is last reached before the bottle labels be dropped at the central collection point.

In the label separator according to the invention, the screen belt is not used only for separating and removing the labels from the Separation areas, but at the same time as a conveyor for Collect the bottle labels in one place where everyone Labels from all immersion baths can be collected and disposed of centrally can. This has the advantage that the effort for a special one Collective conveyor can be saved.

Furthermore, at least one drive and a device for ejection of labels, in most applications a variety of them, saved that would be required for each individual sieve belt, because the label separator according to the invention works with one single or at most with two sieve belts. The invention arranged sieve belts can due to the measure that their Main conveying direction parallel to the main flow direction of the Cleaning machine is done with the conveyor function in a simple manner take over, in contrast to the known Label separators in which the main direction of conveyance of the Sieve belts perpendicular to the main direction of the cleaning machine is arranged.

To avoid overloading the sieve belt with bottle labels and to increase the discharge speed, a second embodiment of the invention is proposed, in which two sieve belts are provided, of which a first sieve belt essentially separates the separation area of the first immersion bath most loaded with bottle labels with the main conveying direction The main direction of flow of the cleaning machine and a second screen belt separate the separation areas of the other immersion baths loaded with bottle labels
Main conveying direction passes, whereby the separated bottle labels can be thrown off at a central point in the vicinity of the two sieve belts. In this embodiment, the first screen belt is assigned solely to the first immersion bath, and it is busy with the discharge of the large quantities of bottle labels that arise here. The second screen belt collects the bottle labels from the other immersion baths, each of which has far fewer labels than the first immersion bath. Since the two sieve belts run in opposite main conveying directions, they bring the bottle labels from opposite directions together at a central point where they meet.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention provided that the one or the sieve belts and the Separation areas in the side next to the immersion baths provided side chambers are arranged, which in Follow the main conveying direction. With that lie the provided for the separation of the bottle labels Side chambers immediately next to the associated ones Immersion baths, so that the manufacturing costs and the length the flow paths for the cleaning liquid are minimized become.

In an advantageous development of the invention recommended that the side chambers be in a vertical position Direction from the exit of the with rinsed labels permeated lye to the top of the immersion baths extend that the sieve belt into the side chambers immersed in a trough shape and when transitioning from one Side chamber to the next over the adjacent Chamber walls runs.

To separate the bottle labels you need Side chambers only part of the vertical extent the diving pools. Since the side chambers on the other hand with the immersion baths regarding the cleaning liquid the upper edge must communicate roughly with that of the Plunge pools match to run out of water To prevent cleaning liquid. Through the leadership the sieve belt from one side chamber to the next the adjacent chamber walls becomes an undesirable one Mixing the cleaning liquids of each Dipping baths avoided. The trough-shaped guidance allows a particularly advantageous flow through the Cleaning liquid, the free inlet of the horizontal cleaning liquid loaded with labels over large flow cross-sections, then vertically from above down through the trough-shaped section of the Sieve belt and finally the label-free Cleaning liquid below the sieve belt using a pump is returned to the immersion bath.

In a further embodiment of the invention, that the central drop point with one or two rotating brushes to remove the bottle labels from one or both sieve belts, a common one Chute and a common collection container or Label press is provided.

An embodiment of the invention is as follows explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Figur 1:

eine Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Etikettenabscheiders in schematischer, teilweise geschnittener Darstellung gemäß Linie B-B von Figur 3;

Figur 2:

einen Schnitt durch eine Flaschenreinigungsmaschine gemäß Linie A-A von Figur 3, wobei die Lage der nicht in der Schnittebene liegenden Seitenkammern des Etikettenabscheiders durch den Rahmen D angedeutet ist;

Figur 3:

eine Draufsicht auf die in Figur 2 gezeigte Flaschenreinigungsmaschine mit Etikettenabscheider in schematischer Darstellung;

Figur 4:

einen Schnitt gemäß Linie C-C von Figur 1 bzw. Figur 3.

The figures show in detail:

Figure 1:

a side view of a label separator according to the invention in a schematic, partially sectioned representation along line BB of Figure 3;

Figure 2:

a section through a bottle washer according to line AA of Figure 3, wherein the position of the side chambers of the label separator not lying in the cutting plane is indicated by the frame D;

Figure 3:

a plan view of the bottle washer shown in Figure 2 with label separator in a schematic representation;

Figure 4:

4 shows a section along line CC of FIG. 1 or FIG. 3.

The one shown in Figures 1 and 4 Label separator 1 is for one in Figures 2 and 3 bottle cleaning machine shown determined. How best seen in Figure 2, the bottles by means of a bottle basket 2 Transport chain 3 essentially in Main flow direction 4 through the cleaning machine transported and successively in immersion baths 5, 6, 7 immersed. In the immersion baths 5, 6, 7 the bottle labels stuck on the bottles from time to time are from the cleaning liquid, in the present Example of a lye, washed away. The diving baths 5, 6, 7 have different areas, one of which Inflow area 8 and an outflow area 9 in FIGS. 2 and 4 are designated. As you can also see there, the bottles 2 located there in the direction of the arrow 10 washed around by the lye, the ones not shown Bottle labels get into the drainage area 9.

As best seen in Figure 4, the Bottle labels with the lye in the direction of the arrow 11 first horizontally and then vertically upwards in washed an inlet channel 12 through which they in turn horizontally in the direction of arrow 13 in each case next to the associated immersion bath 5, 6, 7 arranged side chamber 14, 15, 16 arrive. In the respective side chamber 14, 15, 16, the alkali flows vertically in the direction of arrow 17 down through a sieve belt 18, 19, which holds the bottle labels and therefore out of the lye separates. The lye cleaned from bottle labels initially flows via a drain channel 20 according to arrow 21 in the horizontal then down in the vertical direction through a pump channel 22 in which a propeller pump 23 is arranged, which is driven by a motor 24 becomes. In the further course the lye comes in Arrow direction 25 back into the inflow region 8 of the respective immersion baths 5, 6, 7. The propeller pump 23 generates only a slight pressure difference, so that the Cleaning liquor whose liquid level in Figure 4 by line 26 is indicated, with large volume flows is promoted over large flow cross-sections.

As can best be seen in Figure 1, the first is Screen belt 18 in the separation area between the inlet channel 12 and drain channel 20 trough-shaped. His Main conveying direction 27 is parallel to Main flow direction 4 of the cleaning machine aligned. The associated side chamber 14 is the assigned first immersion bath 5, in which most Bottle labels can be removed. To the side chamber 14 follow in the main conveying direction 4 Cleaning machine the side chambers 15 and 16 which are assigned to the baths 6 and 7.

The second screen belt 19 is the first screen belt 18 arranged in opposite directions. Its main conveying direction is 28 aligned antiparallel to the main direction of flow 4. The second screen belt 9 has two or more trough-shaped Areas, one in the side chamber 15 and the other in the side chamber 16, each between the Inlet channels 12 and outlet channels 20, the Sieve belt 19, the two immersion baths 6 and 7 associated deposition areas. To a Mix the cleaning solutions in the two Avoiding side chambers 15 and 16 is the second Screen belt 19 over the adjoining chamber walls 29 carried away.

The bottle labels are removed from the sieve belts 18, 19 conveyed in opposite directions 27, 28 until they the proximity area 30 between the two Reach side chambers 14, 15. In the proximity area 30 runs a section 18a of the first screen belt 18 and a portion 19a of the second screen belt 19 approximately vertically down to a central discharge point 31. Right and left of the central drop point 31 is a rotating brush 32, 33 for detachment bottle labels from the sieve belts 18, 19 arranged. From the drop point 31 fall Bottle labels in a common chute 34, which forwards them to a label press 35.

The sieve belts 18, 19 are below the respective Side chamber 14 or 15, 16 against the respective Main conveying direction 27, 28 returned, respectively a length compensation area 18b, 19b is provided. Finally, the sieve belts 18, 19 in another Sections 18c, 19c substantially vertically upwards returned to their starting points 36 and 37, respectively.

Can in the label separator arrangement described those accumulating in the dipping baths 5, 6, 7 Label quantities are discharged by the shortest route, without a sieve belt 18, 19 through the following ejected labels is overloaded.

Since the label separators and their drives also from the machine side via a running platform provided for this purpose 38 are easily accessible, an additional running platform in front of the label separators.

The labels occurring at the central point 31 are pressed together in the label press 35 and can then be disposed of easily and conveniently become.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Etikettenabscheider

2

bottle baskets

3

transport chain

4

Main direction of passage

5

dip

6

dip

7

dip

8th

inflow

9

drainage area

10

arrow

11

arrow

12

inlet channel

13

arrow

14

side chamber

15

side chamber

16

side chamber

17

arrow

18

screen belt

18a

section

18b

Length compensation range

18c

section

19

screen belt

19a

section

19b

Length compensation range

19c

section

20

drain channel

21

arrow

22

pump channel

23

propeller pump

24

engine

25

arrow

26

line

27

Main direction

28

Main direction

29

chamber walls

30

approach area

31

Intercept position

32

brush

33

brush

34

chute

35

label Press

36

starting point

37

starting point

38

walkway

Claims (6)

1. A label separator for bottle cleaning machines, with which the bottles to be cleaned are transported by way of transport devices (3) in the main passage direction (4) of the cleaning machines and are immersed in immersion baths (5, 6, 7) which are filled with cleaning fluid and are arranged in succession and in which the bottle labels are detached and for separation from the respective cleaning fluids are rinsed onto moveable travelling screens (18, 19) which retain the bottle labels and convey them out of the separating regions, wherein at least one of the travelling screens (18, 19) is arranged with the main conveying direction (27, 28) running essentially in the same direction or in the opposite directions to the main passage direction (4) of the cleaning machine and covers the separating regions of at least two immersion baths (5, 6, 7), wherein the separated bottle labels may be ejected from the travelling screen or travelling screens (18, 19) at a central location (31), characterised in that the travelling screen (19) is formed running through the separating regions of all immersion baths (5. 6, 7) which are essentially burdened with bottle labels, wherein the separated bottle labels may be ejected at a central location in the region of the first immersion bath (5).
2. A label separator according to claim 1, characterised in that two travelling screens (18, 19) running in opposite directions are provided, of which a first travelling screen (18) runs through the separating region of the first immersion bath (5) which is burdened the most with bottle labels with a main conveying direction (27) running essentially in the same direction as the main passage direction (4) of the cleaning machine, and a second travelling screen (19) runs through the separating regions of the remaining immersion baths (6, 7) burdened with bottle labels with an opposite main conveying direction (28), wherein the separated bottle labels may be ejected at a central location (31) in the approach region (30) of both travelling screens (18, 19).
3. A label separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the travelling screens (18, 19) and the separating regions are arranged in side-chambers (14, 15, 16) which are provided laterally next to the immersion baths (5, 6, 7) and which are arranged in succession in the main passage direction (4).
4. A label separator according to claim 3, characterised in that that the side-chambers (14, 15, 16) extend in the vertical direction from the exit of the caustic solution which is riddled with rinsed-off labels up to the upper edge of the immersion baths (5, 6, 7), that the respective travelling screen (18, 19) immerses into the side-chambers in a trough-like manner and on transition from one side-chamber (16) to the next (15) in the main conveying direction (28) runs over the adjacent chamber walls (29).
5. A label separator according to claim 4, characterised in that free supply of the cleaning fluid burdened with labels is effected from above onto the trough-like section of the respective travelling screen (18, 19) and the cleaning fluid free of labels is led back into the immersion bath (5, 6, 7) below the respective travelling screen (18, 19) by way of a pump (23).
6. A label separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the central ejection location (31) with one or two rotating brushes (32, 33) for detaching the bottle labels from the travelling screens (18, 19) is provided with a common drop shaft (34) and a common collection container or label press (35).

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