EP2019078A1 - Device for sterilising containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a transporting device (2) for transporting containers along a transporting path (T). A treating unit (3) treats the containers along a preset area (A) of the transporting path in a preset manner. A treating unit (4) is arranged along wider preset area (B) of the transporting path, and treats the containers in a preset manner. Speed of the transporting device is changed. A controller (10) causes treating units to treat the containers independently of transportation speed during preset minimum time periods (t1, t2). Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a system for treating containers with a treating device (2) a method for treating containers.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for treating containers, and more particularly to a device for sterilizing containers and then filling them with a liquid medium. In the field of the beverage industry, it is known that containers and in particular plastic containers are first sterilized in the context of the filling process, for example with hydrogen peroxide gas (H ₂ O ₂ ) and then filled. It is known that these containers are first preheated as part of the treatment process, then sterilized with hydrogen peroxide and then blown out again before they are finally filled with the drink.

In particular systems are known from the prior art, in which, for example, the containers are preheated on a first treatment carousel, and then the containers are passed to a second treatment carousel, on which they are sterilized. Finally, the containers are passed on via a further transport carousel to a filling device, by means of which they are filled.

It is often necessary that the corresponding treatment units run at different speeds. In this way, it may happen that the time for the transport path between the preheating unit and the sterilization unit becomes so large that the containers unintentionally cool again too far. Furthermore, in these prior art devices, it is necessary for a plurality of the treatment carousels, for example both the preheating carousel and the carousel for the actual sterilization process, to have switching valves which control the respective treatment processes, such as the sterilization process or the preheating process. It is also necessary that the individual carousels be kept at a predetermined ambient temperature.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method which are simpler and more cost-effective than the devices and methods known from the prior art. Furthermore, an apparatus and a method are to be provided which allow greater independence from different transport speeds of the containers. This is inventively achieved by an apparatus according to claim 1, a system according to claim 11 and a method according to claim 13. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

A device according to the invention for treating containers has a first transport device, which transports the containers along a first transport path. Furthermore, a first treatment unit is provided, which treats the containers along a predetermined area of this first transport path in a first predetermined manner and a second treatment unit, which is arranged along a further predetermined area of this transport path and which the containers in a second of the first Treated way different way. According to the invention, the speed of the transport device is variable and a control device is provided, which is designed such that it causes at least one treatment unit to treat the containers independently of the transport speed during a first predetermined minimum time.

Thus, both treatment units are preferably arranged on the transport device and cause the containers to be treated during transport with the first transport device. Depending on the speed of the transport device thus changes by maintaining the minimum time for treatment, the distance along which a certain treatment process is carried out. Preferably, the control means is arranged to cause at least one processing unit to move the containers for a first predetermined period of time independently of the transport speed. H. treated both a first predetermined minimum time and a predetermined maximum time. This procedure ensures that certain treatment times for the treatment of the containers in each case, d. H. be maintained regardless of the transport speed.

Advantageously, the device comprises a third treatment unit, which treats the containers in a third of the first and second different ways. This third treatment unit can be arranged both on the first transport device and downstream with respect to the same. The third is preferred Treatment unit, however, at least partially provided on the first transport device ..

Preferably, a treatment unit is a preheating device which preheats the containers. Preferably, these are the treatment unit first applied in the transport direction of the containers. Advantageously, a treatment unit is a sterilization device which disinfects the interior of the containers. This is advantageously a sterilization device which cleans the interior of the containers with a gaseous medium and in particular with a gas containing hydrogen peroxide.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one treatment unit is a blow-out unit which blows out the containers with a heated medium, for example with hot air.

Thus, the containers are advantageously first heated, then sterilized with hydrogen peroxide (or disinfected) and finally blown out with hot air. These three processes may be followed by another process in which the containers are blown out with cool air. Thus, the invention is also based on the idea, all those operations that take place in a warm environment, ie, make the preheating, the actual sterilization process and the Ausspülvorgang with hot air on a single conveyor. This is more efficient from an energetic point of view than dividing the individual processes.

Furthermore, it is also possible in this way to provide only on the first transport switching valves, which trigger, for example, a preheating or disinfection process. The blowing with cold air, which takes place in the transport direction downstream with respect to the transport device, however, can be done without switching valves, since the time used in this case does not need to be controlled exactly. By providing all processes taking place in a warm medium on a transport device, no warm clean room is necessary, which otherwise would have to be arranged between individual transport devices. At the same time, however, the precise maintenance of certain times maintains a precisely predetermined validated degermination process.

Preferably, the minimum and also the maximum times and thus the treatment times are predetermined, but preferably these treatment times can also be predetermined or set from the outside by the user. In this way, a high process flexibility is achieved.

Another advantage of the inventive design is that a blockage with other facilities, such as a blow molding machine is possible. Also can be eliminated by the common arrangement of said treatment units on the same transport device, a preheating and thus the transport device, for example in the form of a transport carousel can be dimensioned smaller overall.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the control device is designed such that it causes at least two treatment units, the containers handle regardless of the transport speed during the first and second predetermined minimum times. These two treatment units are also preferably arranged on the first transport device or on the first transport path. The control device preferably causes the third treatment unit to treat the containers independently of the transport speed during a third predetermined minimum time. Thus, essentially the entire treatment process, namely the preheating process, the sterilization process and the subsequent blow-out process can be carried out independently of the transport speed with respectively defined treatment times. Preferably, the containers are also treated during predetermined maximum times with at least two treatment units, more preferably with the three treatment units.

Preferably, a further transport device adjoins the first transport device, wherein the transport speed of this further transport device is synchronized with the transport speed of the first transport device. In particular, this may be another transport star on which the containers, as mentioned above, are blown out, for example, with cool air.

Preferably, at least one treatment unit and particularly preferably all treatment units are arranged on the first transport device such that they are at least partially moved with the containers to be treated. In this way, in a particularly advantageous manner, a temporal retention of Treatment times are achieved regardless of the transport speed.

Preferably, at least one treatment unit, particularly preferably at least two treatment units and particularly preferably all three treatment units, has one or more switchable valves which control a treatment process for the respective containers. As mentioned above, preferably no further such switching valves are provided downstream of the first transport device.

Advantageously, the first transport device is a transport carousel.

The present invention is further directed to a plant for treating containers with a device of the type described above and a filling device, which is arranged downstream of this device. The terms "upstream" and "downstream" are understood with reference to the transport direction of the containers.

Preferably, a cold blowing device is provided between the device and the filling device, which blows the containers with a preferably gaseous medium, wherein the temperature of this medium is not or only slightly above the room temperature.

The present invention is further directed to a method for treating containers, wherein the containers are transported by a first transport means along a predetermined transport path and be treated during transport on this transport route with a first treatment unit in a first predetermined manner and with a second treatment unit in a second different from the first manner. According to the invention, the containers are treated by at least one treatment unit for a predetermined time and a control device causes the containers, regardless of the transport speed, with which the containers are transported by the transport device, are treated for a predetermined minimum time.

Advantageously, the containers are preheated with a first treatment unit, then sterilized with a second treatment unit and then blown out with a third treatment unit with a heated medium, in particular with heated air. In a further advantageous method, the control device causes the containers from the first, the second and the third treatment unit to be treated in each case during predetermined minimum times and preferably also during predetermined maximum times.

Further advantages and embodiments of the present will become apparent from the attached drawings:

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Behandeln von Behältnissen nach dem Stand der Technik;

Fig. 2

eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zum Behandelns von Behältnissen; und

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung zur Veranschaulichung der zeitlichen Steuerung der einzelnen Behandlungsprozesse.

Show:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an apparatus for treating containers according to the prior art;

Fig. 2

a device according to the invention for treating containers; and

Fig. 3

a schematic representation for illustrating the timing of the individual treatment processes.

Fig. 1 shows a device 30 for treating containers according to the prior art. This device 30 has a preheating unit 32, in which the containers are preheated, in particular by blowing with heated air. For this purpose, the containers are conveyed along a transport carousel 31 and during this conveying process hot air is introduced into the containers (not shown). The preheating unit 32 is adjoined by a transport star 39, which conveys the containers further to a sterilization unit 34.

This sterilization unit 34 also has a transport carousel 35, with which the containers are conveyed along a circular path. By the sterilization unit 34, the containers are sterilized, for example, with hydrogen peroxide vapor and, optionally, optionally blown hot after this process. About a further transport carousel 42, the containers are then fed to a filler 36, which fills the containers. The speeds of the preheating unit 32, the sterilization unit 34 and the filler 36 are synchronized with each other. Usually, such machines are designed so that in full operation, ie at high speed, the heat supplied in the context of the preheating process is dimensioned to the Sterilization process in the sterilization unit 34 to make particularly favorable.

Thus, 34 treatments are carried out on the containers with warm medium both by the preheating unit 32 and by the sterilization unit. If, for some reason, the transport speed of the entire machine is throttled, inevitably results in a longer period during which the containers are conveyed along the transport star 39. If this period exceeds a certain limit, the containers are too cool to be properly and accurately sterilized. In the prior art, for example, it may be possible to keep the complete space around the units 32, 34 and 39 at a certain temperature level. It is also possible to achieve a corresponding warmed-up environment through a plurality of ventilation units 38. However, it can lead to delays and failures because the containers cool down too far along the transport process. Furthermore, it is also necessary in the prior art to provide on both units 32 and 34 switchable valves, which regulate the treatment of the containers.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a device 1 according to the invention for treating containers. This device 1 has a schematically illustrated first transport device 2, which is also designed here as a transport carousel. Along this transport carousel 2, three treatment units 3, 4 and 6 are provided, which treat the containers in successive process steps or areas A, B and C, respectively. The reference T refers to the Transport route, along which the containers are conveyed in the transport direction 2.

More specifically, the first treatment unit 3 is a preheating unit that preheats the containers (not shown). This takes place along the annulus segment or area designated by the reference symbol A. Subsequently, the containers with the second treatment unit 4 are sterilized, this process in Fig. 2 during the area B is performed. Following the sterilization process, a blow-out process with hot air is carried out in the region C by a third treatment unit 6. In particular, the sterilization process taking place in section B can be controlled very precisely with regard to the time window required for this purpose.

Via a control device 10, the individual treatment processes are controlled. As mentioned above, can also in Fig. 2 shown inventive device 1 are operated at different transport speeds. Fig. 2 shows the situation where the device is running at maximum speed. The individual times t1, t2 and t3 are kept constant regardless of the transport speed. This is achieved in that the individual treatment units 3, 4, and 6 are each at least partially and particularly completely, arranged on the transport carousel 2 and thus rotate with this. In this way it can be ensured that the exact times t1, t2 and t3 are maintained even at lower transport speeds.

As part of the individual treatment steps, the container is rinsed in each case, for example, with heated or heated air and a sterilization medium, such as hydrogen peroxide vapor. For this purpose, schematically illustrated switching valves 5, 7, 9 are provided on the transport device or the individual treatment units which control the individual processes or control the supply of the individual preheating, sterilization and blow-off media. More precisely, by controlling these switching valves, the individual times t1-t3 and in particular the time t2 can be kept constant independently of the transport speed.

To the transport device 2, on which, as mentioned above, all processes are arranged, which take place in a heated environment, is followed by another treatment unit 16, which in turn serves to blow out the containers with warm air. However, this process is not to be observed in terms of its time window in the same exact manner as the running on the conveyor 2 processes. The further treatment unit 16 is followed by a cold blow unit 18, with which the containers are blown out with cool air. Also for this process, no exact time specifications are to be observed. Therefore, it is also possible to dispense with switchable valves at the treatment units 16, 18 in order to reduce the manufacturing costs and to reduce the complexity. Between the treatment unit 16 and the cold blow unit 18, a transport carousel 17 is provided. Another transport carousel 19 is provided between the cold blow unit 18 and the filling device 20.

The filling device 20 also has a transport device 21 in the form of a transport carousel, along which the containers are conveyed and filled. The filling device 20 is followed by a further transport device 24 and a closure unit 26, with which the containers are closed. The transport speeds of each in Fig. 2 shown transport device are synchronized with each other. The reference numerals 12 and 14 relate to external treatment facilities, which serve for an external treatment of the containers.

Fig. 3 shows a representation to illustrate the running on the conveyor 2 processes. Again, the three treatment areas A, B and C are marked, ie the preheating area A, the sterilization area B and the area C, in which hot air is blown out. In the case of the upper part of Fig. 3 the entire system is driven at the maximum speed v1. As mentioned, the respective treatment times for the containers t1-t3 and in particular the period for the sterilization t2 are kept constant by the control device 10. This means that the individual sections A, B, and C here have the maximum extent and in this way the circle is almost completely closed, wherein the resulting gap 7 represents the space that is required for the transfer to the other transport devices.

At the in Fig. 2 As shown, the system is moved at the transport speed V ₁ . In the upper part of Fig. 3 corresponds to the transport path T along which the containers in total in the transport device. 2 the sum of the three areas A, B and C. The middle partial image illustrates an operation at a speed v2 which is less than the maximum speed v1. In this case, again, the three temporal sections t1-t3 are kept constant, which, however, due to the lower transport speed, results in that the individual spatial areas A, B and C are shorter. This occurs in the middle field of Fig. 3 also a rest area D on, in which no treatment of the containers is made. However, it is preferably ensured by suitable measures that also in this section, the containers are kept at a certain desired temperature. For this purpose, it is possible to arrange the complete transport device 2 in a heated room.

In the lower part of Fig. 3 the transport speed was further reduced, which in turn leads to a proportional reduction of the individual areas A - C. Accordingly, here the rest area D is further extended. It should be noted that in particular the time t2, which is used for the sterilization process, should be kept as accurate as possible. However, it would also be possible to slightly vary the periods t1 and t3.

The individual treatment times t1 - t3 are fixed, but freely programmable by the user, so that a comfortable change, for example, to different types of containers, can be done.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a blocking of the transport device 2 with a blow molding machine is possible. This has the advantage that the preheating step, ie Area A, omitted or can be greatly shortened and thus a total of the transport device 2 and the transport carousel 2 can be made smaller.

All disclosed in the application documents features are claimed as essential to the invention, provided they are new individually or in combination over the prior art.

Claims (15)

Device (1) for treating containers with a first transport device (2), which transports the containers along a first transport path (T), with a first treatment unit (3), which the containers along a predetermined area (A) of this transport path (T ) treated in a first predetermined manner, a second treatment unit (4) which along a further predetermined region (B) of this transport path (T) is arranged and which treats the containers in a second different from the first manner, characterized in that the Speed of the transport device (2) is variable and that a control device (10) is provided which is designed such that it causes the at least one treatment unit (3, 4) the containers regardless of the transport speed during a first predetermined minimum time (t1, t2 ). Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) comprises a third treatment unit (6), which treats the containers in a different way from the first and the second way. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a treatment unit (3) is a preheating device, which preheats the containers. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a treatment unit (4) is a sterilization device (4) which disinfects the interior of the containers. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a treatment unit (6) is a blow-out unit (6) which blows the containers with a heated medium. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (10) is designed such that it causes at least two treatment units (3, 4, 6) the containers regardless of the transport speed during first and second predetermined minimum times (t1, t2). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further transport device (18) adjoins the first transport device (2), wherein the transport speed of the further transport device (18) is synchronized with the transport speed of the first transport device (2). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one treatment unit (3, 4, 6) is arranged on the transport device (2) that it is at least partially moved with the containers to be treated. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one treatment unit (3, 4, 6) has a switchable valve which controls a treatment process for the containers. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first transport device (2) is a transport carousel (2). Plant for treating containers with a device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims and a filling device (20) which is arranged downstream relative to the device (1). Plant according to claim 10, characterized in that between the device (1) and the filling device, a cold blowing device is provided which blows out the containers with medium whose medium is not above the room temperature. Method for treating containers, the containers being conveyed along a predetermined transport path (T) by means of a transport device (2) be transported and treated during transport on this transport route with a first treatment unit (3) in a first predetermined manner and with a second treatment unit (4) in a second different from the first manner, characterized in that the containers by at least one Treatment unit treated during a predetermined time and a control device (10) causes the containers, regardless of a transport speed, with which the containers are transported by the transport device for a predetermined minimum time (t1) are treated. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that the containers are preheated with a treatment unit (3), then sterilized with a second treatment unit (4) and then blown out with a third treatment unit (6) with a heated medium. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that the control device (10) causes the containers of the first, the second and the third treatment unit respectively during predetermined minimum times (t1, t2, t3) are treated.

Images