EP2212038B1 - Container cell, in particular bottle cell and holding basket with container cells of this type - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container cell according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a container basket according to the preamble of claim 13.

Container or bottle cells as part of container or bottle baskets in container or bottle washing machines are known and serve there for receiving containers during their transport with a transport system formed by a plurality of container or bottle baskets through the various cleaning and treatment zones of the respective container - or bottle washing machine ( DE 195 42 673 A1 ).

Also known are container or bottle cells ( DE 42 42 375 A1 ), the wall or jacket of each of a cylindrical or polygonal-shaped portion and an adjoining tapered portion (mouth region), wherein the tapered portion as well as a recorded in a cell carrier part of the cylindrical or polygonal portion are made entirely of plastic, while a protruding over the cell carrier and the mouth region remote portion of the shell is made of sheet metal or reinforced with a metal sheet.

In order, inter alia, for the positioning and / or fixation of the container in the container cells and / or for the treatment of the container in the container cells and / or for the flow of treatment media in the container cells optimal training, especially shaping and / or structuring of the cell inner surfaces To achieve simplified production of the container cells, it is also common to manufacture such container cells completely as molded plastic parts. The disadvantage here, however, that such container cells made of plastic, inter alia, for reasons of stability, a relatively large mass and thus have a high heat capacity. This results in the operation of a container cleaning machine due to the temperature differences between the different treatment zones and by the resulting constant heating and cooling of the container cells during transport through the treatment zones to significant energy losses.

Another embodiment of container cells, for example, by the DE 88 14 691.3 known. This document shows a container cell with a multilayer structure, wherein the outer shell of the container cell is made of metal. The interior of the container cell consists of an insert made of plastic. By doing so, a reduction in the heat capacity of the container cells is already achieved. A disadvantage of the by the DE 89 14 691.3 However, the presented container cell is that plastic also has a significant specific heat capacity, so that even such a container cell has a significant heat capacity.
Also known was an embodiment of container cells according to G 86 33 675.4. This document discloses a bottle cell with an elongated jacket made of plastic, wherein the plastic sheath is to be reinforced by a metal ring. By this procedure, the bottle cell thus formed should be both energy-saving, as well as dimensionally stable and resistant to contamination such as broken glass. Although this document also deals with the topic of energy saving, it does not deal with considering the jacket of the bottle cell as an object of possible further energy savings. This is to be regarded as a disadvantage.
The use of foamed plastic for the purpose of insulation is out DE 25 57 356 B1 known. Here, the container basket carrying the cells is insulated to the outside by the foamed plastic.

The object of the invention is to show a container cell having a high thermal and mechanical stability and in particular also in terms of shape and structure optimally formed inner cell surface has a reduced heat capacity. To solve this problem, a container cell according to the patent claim 1 is formed. A container basket consisting of a cell carrier and a plurality of container cells is the subject of patent claim 13.

The container cell according to the invention, by virtue of its special design, surprisingly combines the advantages of a container cell which can be produced in a simple production method and which is optimally structured and / or shaped at least on the inner surface of the container cell for the cleaning or treatment of the containers, with the advantage of reduced heat capacity and, associated therewith, a substantial one Energy saving in the operation of a container cleaning machine equipped with the container cells according to the invention.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures.

• Fig. 1 in vereinfachter perspektivischer Teildarstellung einen Behälterkorb bestehen aus einem Zellenträger und mehreren an diesem Zellenträger vorgesehenen Flaschen- oder Behälterzellen;
• Fig. 2 - 4 jeweils in Teildarstellung einen Schnitt durch den Mantel bzw. die Wandung einer Behälterzelle des Behälterkorbes bei unterschiedlichen Ausführungsformen, wobei Fig. 2 nicht unter den Schutzbereich der Ansprüche fällt.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

• Fig. 1 in a simplified perspective partial representation of a container basket consist of a cell carrier and several provided on this cell carrier bottle or container cells;
• Fig. 2-4 in each case in a partial representation of a section through the jacket or the wall of a container cell of the container basket in different embodiments, wherein Fig. 2 does not fall within the scope of the claims.

The in the FIGS. 1 and 2 generally designated 1 container basket consists essentially of a preferably made of corrosion-resistant sheet steel, box-like cell carrier 2 and a plurality of bottle or container cells 3, which are respectively used in recordings 2.1 of the cell carrier 2 suitable and held on this example by locking twist-proof and firmly positioned ,

The container basket 1 is part of a container cleaning machine, not shown, for cleaning bottles or similar bottle-like containers and in particular part of a transport system of the container cleaning machine, which has a plurality of similar container baskets 1, each with its cell carriers 2 at both ends with mounting tabs 2.2 on rotating transport elements, for example are held on circulating transport chains and with which the containers to be cleaned are moved through cleaning and treatment zones of the cleaning machine.

The general shape of the container cells 3 is roughly matched to the shape of the containers or bottles to be cleaned, ie, the shell or the wall of each container cell 3 is composed of a tubular portion 4, which in the illustrated embodiment, a substantially polygonal or square outer - And inner cross-section with rounded corners and in the representation of FIG. 1 is open at the top of the container basket 1 or there forms the open bottle or container cell end, as well as from one of the section 4 downwardly adjoining, frusto-conically tapered mouth region or section 5 together. Against the section 5 is the respective, received in the container cell 3 container with its mouth area.

The section 4 projects with a section 4.1 over the top of the cell carrier 2 and is received in the cell carrier 2 with a section 4.2. The section 5 protrudes beyond the underside of the cell carrier 2. In order to facilitate the treatment of the container accommodated in the container cell 3, openings 6 and 7 are provided in the wall of the container cell 3, in particular a plurality of openings 7 at the bottom of the portion 5.

The peculiarity of the container cells 3 consists in the fact that their jacket or their wall at least in the entire region 4, but preferably also in the region 5 and thus in any case over the greater part of the container cell total length multilayer, i. at least two layers is formed, namely at least one layer of a first material for the required strength at low specific heat capacity and at least one further layer of a second material, which u.a. a protection of the container is used. The first material is for example metal, the second material is a suitable plastic, in the example illustrated here, not falling within the scope of the invention, a fiber-reinforced plastic, e.g. fiberglass reinforced plastic. In this sense, the container cells 3 in the illustrated embodiment of the support body 8, which forms at least the greater part of the outer surface or outer surface of the container cells 3 and is made of preferably corrosion-resistant steel sheet, and from a preferably the entire container cell inner surface forming layer or layer. 9 made of plastic, for example the fiber-reinforced plastic, eg fiberglass reinforced plastic.

The support body 8 is made, for example, as a stamping or hydro-formed sheet metal part, using a preferably corrosion-resistant steel sheet having a material thickness in the range between about 0.7 to 1.0 mm. The production of the support body 8 then takes place, for example, so that in each case two carrier body parts or halves are formed from the steel sheet and these are joined together before the plastic layer 9 is applied. As a starting material for the production of the support body 8 and a thin-walled metal or steel pipe can be used.

The plastic layer 9 is formed, for example, by a fiber-reinforced plastic and / or is applied, for example, by sintering, spraying, dipping or in another suitable manner with appropriate shaping of the container cell inner surface.

The FIG. 3 shows in a presentation like FIG. 2 as an embodiment of the invention, a container cell 3a, which differs from the container cell 3 in that instead of the plastic layer 9, a plastic layer 9a is used made of a foamed plastic. The plastic layer 9a is provided, for example, in a molding process or in an in-mold process on the support body 8 or molded onto it. In principle, it is also possible to first produce the plastic layer 9a as a foamed plastic molding and then to connect it to the support body 8. The plastic layer 9a is designed at least on its exposed surface sides as a closed-pore layer with the smoothest possible surface. The in the FIG. 3 again schematically with the position 10 specified functional elements, inter alia, for optimum positioning and / or holding the container to be cleaned, for the creation of optimal flow conditions in the container cell 3a and for improved cleaning of hard to reach container areas and a gentle treatment, etc. are for example part of Plastic 9a or formed on this layer with.

• für eine optimale Positionierung und/oder Halterung der zu reinigenden Behälter, insbesondere auch für eine Klemmung von Behältern, speziell auch PET-Flaschen,
• für optimale Strömungsverhältnisse eines Reinigungs- oder Behandlungsmediums in den Behälterzellen 3, auch für die Erzeugung einer Strömung mit Drall zum verbesserten Ablösen und Austragen von Etiketten oder Etikettenresten,
• für eine verbesserte Reinigung von schwer zugänglichen Behälterbereichen, beispielsweise von Behälterhalsringen,
• für eine schonende Behandlung der Behälter usw. erforderlich ist.

The container cell 3 or 3a has, inter alia, the advantage that the container cell inner surface in terms of their shape, their course, their structuring, with respect to integrally formed functional elements (position 10 of the. By the forming process during application of the plastic layer 9 or 9a FIG. 2 and 3 ), etc., can be formed in a simplified manufacturing process, such as, inter alia

• for an optimal positioning and / or mounting of the containers to be cleaned, in particular also for a clamping of containers, especially also PET bottles,
• for optimal flow conditions of a cleaning or treatment medium in the container cells 3, also for generating a flow with swirl for improved detachment and discharge of labels or label residues,
• for improved cleaning of inaccessible container areas, for example container neck rings,
• for a gentle treatment of the container, etc. is required.

Furthermore, in particular the closed end of the respective container cell 3 or 3a with the local, forming a lattice-like structure openings 7 in a particularly simple manner by appropriate shaping of the plastic layer 9 or 9a realized.

In order to reduce wear, a surface coating with nanoparticles (eg with carbon nanofiber material) or with a mass containing these nanoparticles in a suitable matrix, eg polymer matrix, may be provided as an additional layer or layer in the container cells 3 or 3a, preferably on inner surfaces of the Container cells 3 and 3a in particular, where it comes to a contact with containers, as shown in the FIG. 2 is indicated for the container cell 3 with the layers 9.1 and 10.1.

By the support body 8, the container cell 3 or 3a has a sufficiently high stability, so that while retaining the advantage of an optimal for the positioning, mounting and / or cleaning of the container shape of the container cell inner surface, the total mass of the container cell 3 and 3a and in particular the mass of plastic can be kept low, for the container cell 3 or 3a so compared to conventional container made of plastic container capacity significantly reduced heat capacity results, with the advantage of significant energy savings in the operation of a container cleaning machine. Thus, for example, with the described design of the container cells 3 and 3a compared to container baskets with conventional plastic container cells produced an energy saving up to 18% can be achieved.

The design according to the invention thus combines the advantages of optimum shaping of the inner surface of the container cell with a considerable reduction of the heat capacity and thus a considerable energy saving in the operation of a cleaning machine.

FIG. 4 shows as a further embodiment, a container cell 3b, which differs from the container cells 3 and 3a in that the plastic layer 9 and 9a corresponding plastic layer 9b is only partially applied, resulting in a further reduction of the total mass of the plastic material. The partial application can be carried out in various forms, for example, by the fact that the plastic layer 9b is applied only point and / or strip-shaped or lattice-like, or is provided with corresponding openings or windows.

If the container cells 3 - 3b are provided on their outer surface with a plastic layer, then these can also be applied only partially in each case in the manner described above.

The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention.

Thus, it has been assumed that the plastic layer 9 is provided only on the inside of the container cell. In principle, it is also possible to provide the respective support body 8 also on the outside with a plastic layer, so as to realize by a simplified shaping process on the bottle or container cell outer surface also more complex shapes or structures, e.g. for a simplified attachment of the container cells on the cell carrier 2, etc. serve. However, the plastic layer 9 is the preferred solution only on the inside.

Furthermore, it is possible for the container cells 3 and 3a to have plastic layers on their inside and / or outside that differ in terms of the type of plastic material used, the properties of this material, the additives used, in particular the filler, etc., but the respective one Requirements are adjusted.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

container basket

2

cell support

3, 3a, 3b

Container or bottle cell

4, 5

Section of the container cell or container cell wall

4.1, 4.2

part Of

6, 7

opening

8th

Carrier body made of corrosion-resistant sheet steel

9, 9a, 9b

Plastic layer

9.1, 10.1

layers

10

Structuring on the container carrier inner surface

Claims (13)

1. Container cell for a container cleaning machine, in particular for a bottle cleaning machine, with a cell interior space surrounded by a cell mantle (4, 5) and with a cell interior surface made of plastic, to hold a container for cleaning, wherein the cell mantle (4, 5), at least over the greater part of a container cell length, consists in multiple layers of at least one thin-walled cell or carrier body (8) made of a first material, and of a layer (9, 9a, 9b) forming at least the cell interior surface made of a second material, characterised in that the second material is a foamed plastic.
2. Container cells according to claim 1, characterised in that the first material is metal, such as steel.
3. Container cells according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the plastic is a fibre-reinforced plastic.
4. Container cell according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cell or carrier body (8), at least over the greater part of the container cell length, forms the outer surface of the container cell.
5. Container cell according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container cell inner surface is formed by the moulding of the plastic with a moulding or structuring (10) which optimizes the positioning and/or holding and/or cleaning of the containers.
6. Container cell according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plastic layer (9, 9a, 9b) is applied by spraying on or gating, by coating or sintering methods, by immersion, and/or by foaming.
7. Container cell according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cell or carrier body (8) is formed as thin-walled, for example with a material thickness in the range between approximately 0.7 and 1.0 mm.
8. Container cell according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cell or carrier body (8) is made of sheet metal by permanent deforming, for example as a stamped or hydro-deformed sheet component.
9. Container cell according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cell or carrier body (8) is made from a thin-walled tube.
10. Container cell according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cell mantle exhibits a segment (4) which is essentially tubular and forms an open end of the container cell, as well as a segment (5) which tapers, for example in the form of a truncated cone, and that the cell or carrier body (8) extends at least over the entire area of the tubular segment (4), and preferably also at least over a part of the length of the tapering segment (5).
11. Container cell according to claim 10, characterised in that the cell or carrier body (6) extends over the entire length of the tapering segment (S).
12. Container cell according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, in order to reduce wear, a surface coating (91, 10.1) is provided with nano particles or of a compound containing a nano particle in a suitable matrix, e.g. a polymer matrix, preferably on inner surfaces of the container cell (3, 3a, 3b).
13. Container cell for a container cleaning machine, consisting of a cell carrier (2) as well as of a plurality of container cells (3, 3a, 3b) provided at the cell carrier (2), characterised in that the container cells (3, 3a, 3b) are formed in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,

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