EP2292340A1 - Method for cleaning containers and cleaning machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves making a cleaning medium to impact on containers (B) to be conveyed e.g. bottles, by a cleaning machine (W), where the bottles are made of plastic or glass. The containers are intensively cleaned in a station (5) prior to a final cleaning effect and/or in a process step using only chemical-free cleaning medium, where the process step is selected with respect to the final cleaning effect. An inner surface of the container is cleaned by granular ice. Dry ice is radiated or injected as the granular ice and formed from carbon dioxide or water ice such as slurry ice.

Description

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a cleaning machine according to the preamble of patent claim 11.

For example, in the beverage industry, it is known to use for cleaning containers, especially bottles made of plastic or glass, in conjunction with water chemicals, such as alkalis or acids, to a considerable extent directly on or in the containers and possibly also to work with heat. These known methods require a considerable amount of water and chemicals for each container to be cleaned, as well as considerable expenditure of energy for generating heat. The high water requirement is u.a. due to the fact that the chemicals must not only be brought to the cleaning operation with a certain dilution, but must also be removed without residue. This results in a tremendous cost of cleaning the containers, and may therefore also result in indirect additional costs if, due to chemicals that have not been completely removed without residue, recalls of contaminated by chemical residues in the container bottled drinks are required. In filling and packaging technology, for example, refillable bottles made of glass or plastic, the cleaning machine used is the largest consumer of thermal energy and chemicals, for example in the form of alkalis. For example, about 30 kJ of thermal energy and about 20 ml of a 2.5% alkaline solution are required per bottle to be cleaned.

Out EP 1 787 662 A a modular washing and sterilizing machine is known in which contaminated objects are cleaned in several stations and finally disinfected, in particular used medical instruments. In a pre-treatment station, the soiled articles are prewashed in one or more cleaning steps with cold water and / or treated in an ultrasonic bath. In at least one subsequent washing station is washed with hot water, optionally with added detergents, and takes place during a hot disinfection followed by rinsing and drying in a drying chamber. The washing operations take place in wash chambers, in which the soiled articles are transported by car. The hot disinfection is carried out with hot water at a temperature of for example 90 ° C to 93 ° C. Because pretreatment takes less time than the main wash with hot disinfection and drying, several parallel main washing stations are used.

In WO 2007/051473 A It is proposed to intensively clean reusable glass bottles with a glass powder which has been radiated through a high-pressure medium. For plastic bottles, glass powder is extremely abrasive.

Out DE 196 28 842 A a method for cleaning metal bottles such as scuba tanks or compressed air cylinders is known in which for internal cleaning a cleaning substance with granular abrasive particles of glass scrap from eg tempered glass, either dry or in a liquid, filled in the bottle and then the bottle in a relative movement is added relative to the cleaning substance. The relative movement comprises a rotation of the bottle about its longitudinal axis and in addition cyclic tilting movements across it.

The invention has for its object to provide a method of the type mentioned above and a cleaning machine for performing the method, which allow at least substantially without chemicals reliable cleaning with reduced energy consumption. Part of the task is the creation of a cleaning machine for bottles, which can be operated almost without heat and largely or entirely without chemicals and thus very cost.

The stated object is achieved according to the method with the features of claim 1 and with the cleaning machine according to claim 11.

Since, according to the method, at least the cleaning of the containers is carried out in a process step which is a priority for the achievable cleaning effect or in at least one station of the cleaning machine at least largely with chemical-free cleaning media, and hardly any thermal energy or chemicals are used, the cost of container cleaning can be considerably reduced , Since no chemicals are used, the residual risk with additional costs for recall campaigns is considerably reduced.

In the cleaning machine, the intensive cleaning is carried out so that at least the same cleaning effect as in conventional cleaning machines is achieved without having to use significant thermal energy and / or chemicals. In the pre-cleaning station, work is done free of chemicals with pre-mixing and high-pressure water jets. In the intensive cleaning station, chemical-free granular cleaning material is irradiated under pressure, which develops an intensive cleaning effect either directly upon impact and / or removes impurities by subsequent relative movement and friction influences and rinses, and sufficient sterility of the intensively cleaned container is achieved in the disinfection station.

At least in the intensive cleaning station, e.g. blast cleaned with pressurized water or air as the carrier medium and granular material conveyed by the carrier medium. The granular material can be reusable or residue-free degradable or reprocessable, and developed for impurities first intensive cleaning abrasive action, even without the use of heat.

In this case, according to the method used as a granular material (individually or in combination) metal, plastic, sand, salt or similar granular material.

Alternatively, in a particularly expedient process variant, for example, with granulated ice conveyed in compressed air or pressurized water. With the abrasive cleaning effect, a particularly efficient cold shock for the contaminants occurs, by means of which the impurities become brittle and contractible and thus easily removable and removable. For this purpose, either dry ice of carbon dioxide or water ice (slurry ice) is radiated from non-chemical water as granular ice. During the intensive cleaning, the dry ice is converted completely without leaving any residue into carbon dioxide, which is optionally filtered off with suction. The water ice, which melts during the intensive cleaning, rinses off any dissolved impurities. At about the same energy demand, the need for grainy ice and the amount of waste water are 90% to 95% lower than for conventional water-based processes with chemicals. Furthermore, there is no damage even on sensitive surfaces, as the grains of ice act gently, and no dust that would have to be removed separately. Compared to a water jet high-pressure cleaner with a water consumption of up to 500 liters per hour, when cleaning with water ice, eg slurry ice, only 55 liters of water per hour are consumed. The intensive cleaning success with, for example, formed as pellets ice grains is based on the cooling and embrittlement effect and the mechanical abrasive effect. Especially with dry ice, there are no liquid residues after intensive cleaning. In this case, for example, in the intensive cleaning 1.0 mm to 5.0 mm, preferably about 2.0 mm large ice grains, preferably pellets, with a pressure of about 3.0 bar to 15.0 bar, preferably about 5.0 bar and / or a speed of about 150 m / s to 500 m / s, preferably about 300 m / s, irradiated. This leads within a relatively short time to an intensive cleaning effect, preferably, in the interior of the container and in the mouth area.

In a suitable variant of the method, a nut shell granulate is brought to act as a granular material by means of a carrier medium for acting on the container surface for cleaning purposes, such that the nut shell granulate performs a relative movement on the container surface. Nut shell granulate is not only a cost-effective, "renewable" cleaning medium, but also provides a surprisingly efficient cleaning effect. Nutshell granules are available in large quantities and specifications almost anywhere in the world, and are universally suitable both for cleaning containers made of glass and plastic containers, such as PET bottles, since it has a moderately abrasive effect. Furthermore, nut shell granulate may be reusable and, in any case, readily biodegradable. With nut shell granules not only labels, label residues and glue from the outer surface but also e.g. Remove stubborn dirt from the inner surface of the containers quickly and efficiently. Nut shell granules having a particle size of about 0.1 mm to about 1.0 mm, preferably up to about 0.8 mm, are brought to act on the outer and / or inner container surface, optionally either dry or with water as the carrier medium.

According to another important idea, the granular material, in particular the ice, is injected with the carrier material into the container under pressure to radiate the inner surface and, preferably, subsequently or simultaneously generates a relative rotational movement between the container and the pressure jets the radiated inner surface with the granular material and the substrate again processed, rinsed and finally cleaned.

In an expedient embodiment, the granular material is disinfected prior to the intensive cleaning process step in order to record any germs from the outside. In order to keep the costs for the use of materials as low as possible, it is expedient to collect excess and / or used cleaning media and at least to recycle as much as possible. This is especially true for water as the carrier medium or meltwater from the ice, which gets rid of the removed contaminants and cleaned and reused in the cycle. It is important, the intensive cleaning of the container at least substantially without supplying heat to the cleaning medium or the containers to save costs.

In an expedient variant of the method for cleaning the container inner surface of the container with at least the granular material is at least partially filled, preferably with a mixture of water and Nutschalengranulat or nutshell granules only and the container is shaken to exert the abrasive effect on the inner surface. The shaking motion may optionally be superimposed with a rotational movement of the container. Standard soiling of the inner surface is thus removed particularly efficiently and quickly.

In a specific process variant, each container is wetted in at least one pre-cleaning step with chemical-free water and impurities are pre-soaked for a predetermined period of time. Mainly external contaminants are then removed by high pressure water jets from chemical free water. This is especially true on the outside of the container, e.g. carried out on the label or a label sleeve. Subsequently, the container is intensively cleaned by pressure blasting with the granular material at least one further, also pollution-dependent predetermined period of time, and then rinsed with chemical-free water. The container is then already clean, but for reasons of hygiene finally a chemical-free disinfection of the container, at least inside and in the mouth area made. Then the container, preferably a returnable bottle, is ready for filling.

The chemical-free disinfection can be carried out by applying and burning gas or a residue-free combustible substance, i. by a flame disinfection which uses a small amount of energy to ignite.

Alternatively, it is possible to efficiently disinfect with ozone, which can be subjected to energy pulses, also to be eaten reliably into innocuous components.

In order to carry out the intensive cleaning as efficiently as possible, it is expedient if the containers are intensively cleaned over a first or at least a second and a longer period of time, depending on the level of contamination that can be better detected after the pre-cleaning. The longer the intensive cleaning is carried out, the more reliably even stubborn impurities are removed. This also means that each container is only intensively cleaned just as long as necessary.

To be on the safe side, incompletely cleaned containers can finally be detected by inspection even before the disinfection, and either removed, returned again for pre-cleaning or for intensive cleaning. As a result, the error rate of not sufficiently cleaned containers can be reduced almost to zero.

In an expedient embodiment of the cleaning machine, the intensive cleaning station is associated with a reservoir for granular material, in particular ice pellets, and a metering device for the granular material, a blasting machine with at least one blasting gun and at least one blast nozzle, wherein the blasting nozzle and / or the blasting gun, preferably and can be arranged to increase the cleaning effect, controlled movable and / or rotatable. It may be optimally appropriate to provide for the granular material, a disinfecting device to enter in the intensive cleaning no germs from the outside.

In an expedient embodiment of the cleaning machine, the storage container, the material metering device and the pressure blasting machine for storing and processing nut shell granules are designed as the granular material. This material-specific design takes special account of the processing behavior of nut shell granules.

In a further embodiment, at least the pre-cleaning station and the intensive cleaning station have liquid collecting means which may be connected to cleaning and reprocessing devices which are contained directly in the cleaning machine or placed outside thereof. In this way, at least water is used in the circulation with only negligible losses of wastewater actually discharged. Dissolved impurities are discarded and eliminated.

In an advantageous embodiment, at least two different lengths of intensive cleaning sections are provided in the intensive cleaning station, and linked in parallel via points. The turnouts may be controlled by a bin inspection station, depending on the detected level of contamination of the containers being conveyed to the intensive cleaning station, to individually clean each bin just as intensively as needed. Incidentally, the conveying path in the cleaning machine can run continuously or comprise sections of different speeds of movement, for example with buffer sections, and auxiliary conveying sections for hanging transport of the containers, if such Main conveyor line should be designed for vertical transport. When injecting or blasting with the granular material, components of the blasting system may optionally move with it, or the containers may be temporarily stopped locally for a short time.

In a further embodiment, a disposal and / or return inspection station is provided between the intensive cleaning station and the disinfecting station and / or between the pre-cleaning station and the intensive cleaning station. Specifically, the inspection station between the intensive cleaning station and the disinfection station can be used to weed out until then not sufficiently cleaned containers, or returned to the pre-cleaning station or in the intensive cleaning station.

The cleaning machine may be designed as a rotary or linear runner, e.g. depending on the available space.

Further, in the cleaning machine, at least in the intensive cleaning station, rotating devices for the containers and / or the jet nozzles or blasting guns may be provided to produce relative rotational movement between the containers and the filled cleaning medium to intensify or extend the cleaning, and may be upstream and / or downstream the intensive cleaning station or possibly also upstream of the pre-cleaning station container turning devices may be provided. The turning devices change the position of the containers between a hanging position and an overhead position, and vice versa, in order to provide optimum accessibility for the cleaning medium for the different cleaning operations, to empty the containers and also for the inspection before the final disinfection and / or the disinfection clean and hardly more wetted darzubieten.

In an expedient embodiment, at least one container shaking device, preferably for upright or hanging or horizontal containers, is provided at least in the intensive cleaning station in order to bring the abrasive effect of the granular material, in particular of a nutshell granulate, more efficiently into effect. For example, a standard contamination of the inner surface with a mixture of water and nutshell granules, preferably with a mixing ratio of about 50:50, can thus be removed in a short time and subsequently removed conveniently. The Behälterschüttelvorrichtung may be formed so that optionally the shaking with a Rotational movement of the container is superimposed. Depending on the type of container, it can be cleaned standing or hanging or lying down during intensive cleaning.

Particularly expedient is disinfected with ozone, which acts without heat, and decomposes without residue. For this purpose, an ozone-fed applicator may be provided, and, preferably, e.g. piezoelectric energy pulse generator for the ozone.

In essence, the invention is to use substantially no or no chemicals in container cleaning in a cleaning machine, but to work with chemical-free cleaning media, which does not have their cleaning effect on chemical but on other e.g. develop physical and / or mechanical way. This can e.g. granular material that has an abrasive effect when blasted under pressure. The granular material dissolves impurities, promotes the loosened impurities away and can be removed without residue. If the granular material is ice, then a cold shock effect is added to the abrasive cleaning effect, which intensifies the cleaning. All process steps can be carried out substantially without or only little heat supplied to finally achieve at least as good cleaning result as it was previously possible only with the use of much water, much chemicals, and much thermal energy. When working with granular material inside the container, the granular material is injected with pressure until a certain degree of filling is achieved. When injecting the inner walls can be radiated. Subsequently, upon further conveying of the container, the filling with the granular material may produce an additional frictional cleaning effect by creating a relative and possibly strong rotational movement between the container and the filling leading to a turbulent and purifying relative flow along the inner wall of the container the granular material is again brought into intimate cleaning contact with the inner walls by the centrifugal force, and detached impurities remain in motion until removed.

As the granular material, nutshell granules are suitably used because this cleaning medium is not only highly efficient, but is derived from virtually unlimited renewable raw materials, is easily recyclable and readily biodegradable in any case. Nut shell granules can be used not only for blasting, but also in dry or with water staggered filling of the containers, which are cleaned on the inner surface by blasting and / or by shaking and / or rotating.

Fig. 1

eine Schemadarstellung einer Reinigungsmaschine für Behälter, hier Fla- schen aus Kunststoff oder Glas,

Fig. 2

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt der Reinigungsmaschine von Fig. 1, und

Fig. 3 bis 5

Schemadarstellungen zur Verdeutlichung eines Verfahrensschrittes bei der Intensivreinigung der Behälter.

The subject invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a cleaning machine for containers, here plastic or glass bottles,

Fig. 2

an enlarged section of the cleaning machine of Fig. 1 , and

Fig. 3 to 5

Schematic diagrams to illustrate a process step in the intensive cleaning of the container.

One in the Fig. 1 and 2 shown cleaning machine W is used, for example, for cleaning containers B, which are returned at least mainly by the reusable principle of consumers and filled again. Specifically, these can be plastic or glass bottles for the beverage industry, for which a very high standard of cleaning and hygiene standards must be observed for refilling.

The in the Fig. 1 and 2 shown cleaning machine W is designed as a linear rotor, but could alternatively be designed as a rotary.

In the cleaning machine W several stations 1 to 10 are connected in series in the conveying direction of the container B. Through all stations, a conveyor line 11 extends to the vertical transport, the auxiliary conveyor sections 29 are associated in parallel, for example, for hanging transport or overhead transport.

Station 1 is an unpacking and pre-softening station. The containers B are lifted by means of a gripper 13, 16, for example, from transport containers 12 and onto the conveyor line 11, e.g. a conveyor belt, provided, such that the container mouths point upwards. From a pre-softening device 15 with water spray nozzles 22 ', the containers are wetted both on the outside surface and inside with water, which may have room temperature and is free of chemicals to pre-emerge inside and / or outside existing dirt and any labels or label sleeves.

In the inlet of the station 2, which is a pre-cleaning station, a pre-softening section 3 is provided, which is associated with a turning device 18, which places the containers standing on the auxiliary conveyor section 29 upside down, so that the water introduced for pre-soaking can optionally proceed with dissolved dirt , In the station 2, high-pressure jet nozzles 22, possibly movable, are arranged at least on the upper side and on the lower side, which remove dirt, glue and labels with high-pressure water jets ("carpers"). The effluent water is collected with the detached impurities from collecting devices 17, fed to a pre-cleaning device 23 and then cleaned in a main cleaning device 20 and recycled via a line 14 in the circuit. In the precleaner 23, solids and solid contaminants may be secreted at 19. In the main cleaning device 20, "real" wastewater can be removed at 21.

In the outlet of the pre-cleaning station 2, a further turning device 18 is provided, which turns the container B by 180 ° and turns off on the conveyor line 11 before the pre-cleaned container B run into the next station 4, which by means of an inspection device 24 u.a. serves for differentiation of contamination.

The next station 5 is an intensive cleaning station, in which the containers B are thoroughly cleaned with at least one at least largely chemical-free cleaning medium. In the course of the conveying section 11 in the station 5, three points 25, 26 and 27 may be provided. The switch 25 is controlled, for example, by the inspection device 24 in order to separate a predetermined detected contamination level, no longer to be cleaned, faulty or no longer usable container and, for example, to promote a collector 33. The switch 26 located further downstream is, like the switch 27 located further downstream, assigned to a second intensive cleaning section 11 b which is parallel to the here straight intensive cleaning section 11a in the station 5 but longer. At least the switch 26 may be controlled by the inspection device 24 to selectively convey individual containers over the longer intensive cleaning section 11b or the shorter intensive cleaning section 11a, depending on the detected level of contamination that is lower than the level of contamination previously detected. Between the switches 26, 27, the successively conveyed containers can be spaced, so that from the second intensive cleaning section 11 b again returning containers are easily einschleusbar in the first intensive cleaning section 11 a.

In the station 5, a blasting machine A is arranged, which processes, for example, granular material R, for example, directly or by a carrier medium such as air or water at high pressure and high speed at least abrasive to the container B is brought into action, preferably in the interior and Mouth area of the container. The high-pressure blasting system A is closer to the Fig. 2 explained. Downstream of the blasting machine A, means 28 may be provided to allow the containers to rotate while promoted. The relative movement thus generated between the filling of the cleaning medium and the container serves for further purification.

The means 28 provided downstream of the blasting machine A, for example, may be additively combined with means 28 'which set the containers in a shaking motion, or alternatively may be replaced by the means 28' which provide either only dry granular material R or at least a partial filling in a mixture with a carrier medium such as water for internal cleaning in a shaking move. The shaking of the containers for internal cleaning is particularly useful when using Nutschalengranulat as the granular material R.

The station 6 includes a further turning device 18, in which the container B conveyed upright are brought into an overhead position in order to empty it. The following station 7 is a rinsing station, in which the overhead containers are flushed with water or high pressure water inside and outside. The stations 6, 7 as the station 2, a pre-cleaning device 23 and a main cleaning device 20 for trapped water and optionally granular material R or molten ice downstream, the purified water, here the blasting machine A, feeds and separates water collected in collecting devices 17 from impurities.

The station 8 includes a further inspection device 24 for automatically detecting any residual contamination, wherein a reject station and / or return device, not shown, is controllable by the inspection device 24 in order to eliminate insufficiently cleaned containers or to return them to the station 2 or the station 5.

The disinfection station 9, for example for flame disinfection of e.g. Container B conveyed overhead contains nozzles 30 which are discharged from a reservoir 31 with a gas, e.g. Ozone or a residue-free combustible substance are fed to fill the containers before an ignition device 32 initiates combustion in order to carry out the disinfection of the container with the resulting flames, especially inside and in the mouth area also outside.

It is expedient to work in the disinfection station 9 with ozone which, preferably, is acted upon by at least one energy pulse, for example by piezoelectric means can, in order to disinfect sustainably, and thereby depleted without residue (eg, decomposes into oxygen and free radicals).

At the disinfection station 9 is followed in the station 10, a further turning device 18, which transfers the container B from the overhead position again to the vertical transport on the conveyor section 11.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the stations 4 and 5 of the cleaning machine W of Fig. 1 , In this embodiment of the cleaning machine W, the station 5 with the here two (or more) different lengths of intensive cleaning sections 11 a, 11 b designed for intensive cleaning using a granular material R. This granular material R should have a certain grain size, can be added residue-free, or even in the intensive cleaning use up residue, eg as slurry ice completely melt to water, do not generate dust, and the surface, especially in the mouth area or inside the container do not injure, but pre-soaked, for example, completely remove impurities, at least with impact energy and / or abrasive action.

The granular material R may be made of metal, plastic, sand, salt or the like, with salt providing the advantage of dissolving gradually, at least in contact with some water. Alternatively, the granular material R is in Fig. 2 Ice, either dry ice from carbon dioxide or water ice (slurry ice) from chemical-free water, for example in pellet form with a certain grain size.

The ice grains are conveniently conveyed and applied under pressure directly or with a carrier medium. The carrier medium M is either compressed air or pressurized water. The ice blasting technique combines several advantages. The approximately 2.0 mm large ice grains or particles are, for example, with compressed air, applied at a pressure of about 5 bar to the surface to be cleaned or injected into the container. The ice grains clean by their impact energy and abrasion by mechanical means. They gradually melt and rinse off contaminants from the surface. Dry ice from carbon dioxide evaporates without residue. The ice blasting technique can be used with water ice (slurry ice) even in confined spaces. For dry ice, the extraction of the resulting carbon dioxide is recommended. Even sensitive surfaces are not damaged by the relatively soft ice grains during intensive cleaning. Therefore, there is no dust that would have to be removed separately.

As already mentioned, 5 rotating devices 28 are provided in the station in order to rotate the containers, which are at least partially filled with the cleaning medium (granular material R and carrier medium M, such as air or water), either in one direction of rotation or in alternate directions of rotation, while being conveyed on, so that between the cleaning medium filling in each container and the inner wall of the container, a relative rotational movement occurs in the loosened or largely dissolved contaminants are finally rinsed and kept in motion, and in particular the granular material R, the inner wall continues to be subjected to abrasive and together with the carrier material is rinsed, wherein the granular material is brought by centrifugal force to the outside and in contact with the inner wall. Thus, the granular material comes into effect twice, first when pressure blasting from the blasting gun 40, and then during the rotational movement.

In the case of ice as granular material R (dry ice or water ice), the granular material also has at least two cleaning effects. In addition to the abrasive effect, i. due to the impact energy when blasting the inner wall of the container B or when injecting into the container, struck impurities, if they have not been immediately broken up and peeled, by the strong supercooling (in the case of dry ice from carbon dioxide, for example -79 ° C) together and become brittle. By resulting thermal stresses and under the influence of the impact or kinetic energy of the ice grains then solve this contamination easily from the surface. At least the subsequently encountered ice grains completely remove these already partially dissolved impurities. In the case of dry ice, this dissolves completely in gas after impact, which goes back to the atmosphere from which it was originally recovered. In the case of dry ice, there are practically no liquid residues, so that the abrasive cleaning effect during blasting, possibly with several cycles of movement of the blasting nozzles 41 or blasting gun 40 up to the bottom of the container, is very efficient. If necessary, additional water could also be used. In the case of grains of water ice, irradiated directly or with compressed air or pressurized water, this gradually melts, whereby washed away impurities are efficiently washed away and kept in a circulating movement in the container, and do not settle again.

The station 5 in Fig. 2 that the intensive cleaning station of the cleaning machine W, for example, from Fig. 1 represents, has a reservoir 34 for granular material R, in particular ice pellets such as slurry ice cream, or is connected to such. Of the Reservoir 34 may be insulated and / or cooled. From the reservoir 34, a supply via a metering device 35 to a mixing device 37, to which also a supply 38 for the carrier medium M, here water, for example, from the station 6, 7 or chemical-free pure water is connected. In this feeder 38, a pressure and / or flow control device 39 or the like. Be included. In the case of dry ice from carbon dioxide or slurry ice, the mixing device 37 can be supplied with compressed air, for example from a compressor, via a pressure regulating and quantity setting device.

In order to ensure that no additional germs are introduced during the intensive cleaning, a disinfection device 36 may be provided at least for the granular material R.

The mixing device 37 feeds at least one blasting gun 40, which, preferably, has special high-performance nozzles 41 and, if appropriate, in the direction of the arrows in FIG Fig. 2 relative to the conveyor line 11, 11 a linear and / or rotationally adjustable.

In the event that at least two different lengths of intensive cleaning sections 11 a, 11 b and the switches 27 are provided downstream of the jet gun 40 (suitably a group blasting guns) a separating device 42 is provided to space the successively transported along the conveyor section 11 container B. ,

For example, fall in Fig. 2 the ice grains from the reservoir 34 via the metering device 35 in a Ausgangskrümmer the blasting gun 40, which is fed with compressed air and generates a relatively gentle suction pressure for the ice grains. The compressed air accelerates the ice grains to about 300 m / s. The precisely calculated high-performance jet nozzles 41 now blast the cleaning medium from the ice grains (pellets) and the compressed air onto the surface to be cleaned, for example the inner surface and the mouth region, of the container. It can be worked with a pressure of about 5 bar. Of course, the aforementioned grain sizes, the pressure range and the speed can be varied in a wide range.

If the granular material is metal, plastic, sand, salt or the like, either compressed air or pressurized water can also be used as the carrier medium. The use of ice, especially slurry ice, as the granular material is given preference because of it For the container acts little aggressive and either evaporates or melts into water. For other granular materials used granular material that is surplus or used accumulates eg collected on the collection devices 17 (troughs or the like.) And previously separated in the reprocessing of the water and separately reprocessed. Salt, on the other hand, can be dissolved in dissolved form during the treatment of the water by desalting and either disposed of or reused.

As the granular material R, it is expedient to use a nut shell granulate, for example having a particle size of about 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm, preferably up to about 0.8 mm, for cleaning the containers inside and / or outside in the intensive cleaning station. Nutshell granules are a cost-effective cleaning material that is biodegradable and possibly easily recyclable, and is available almost indefinitely in virtually unlimited quantities worldwide as a renewable resource, and is, for example, a waste product of production processes that process nut kernels. The nutshell granules can be sprayed dry and / or filled in the intensive cleaning dry or, for example, with water as a carrier medium. For interior cleaning with nut shell granules, the container can be shaken and / or rotated, whereby e.g. Standard contaminants quickly peeled off and easily removed. When cleaning the exterior, nut shell granulate has proven to be particularly efficient for removing labels, label residues and glue or glue residue.

In the station 5, several substations each with blasting guns 40 and jet nozzles 41 could be used, where, appropriately, the containers could be turned between these substations, to be discharged in each case its content of cleaning medium and dirt. Appropriately, there is a certain residence time in the station 5, within which the cleaning medium acts agitated at least in the interior of the container. After the containers leave station 5, they ( Fig. 1 ) is turned by the turning device 18 in the station 6, so that its contents flow away (which is collected and optionally recycled with separation of no longer usable sub-substances) before the containers are rinsed in the station 7 with chemical-free water.

The Fig. 3 to 5 illustrate schematically the process in the intensive cleaning of a container B, for example, in the station 5 in the Fig. 2 and 1 ,

The empty, with the mouth area facing up on the intensive cleaning section 11a standing container B is in Fig. 3 from the jet nozzles 41 with pressure jets 43 applied, which are generated from the granular material R and optionally the carrier medium M, for example, from compressed air fed with dry ice or water ice pellets. The blasting gun 40 is inserted with the underlying blasting nozzles 41, for example, in the container B to gradually radiate upward from the container inner bottom, the inner wall. In this case, the jet nozzles 41 can be moved up and down in the direction of the arrows shown, and / or rotated. Optionally, jet nozzles 41 are also provided on the blasting gun 40 for cleaning the outer mouth region. Furthermore, a plurality of jet nozzles 41 can be provided over the length of the blasting gun 40.

In an alternative embodiment, the blasting gun 40 / blasting nozzle 41 is placed substantially stationary so as to inject the cleaning medium only into the container B, e.g. the container can either be stopped for a short time, or the blasting gun can move with the container for a short time, or the injection takes place only over the period of time during which the container B passes through the blasting nozzle 41.

In both cases is according to Fig. 4 then a filling or partial filling of the granular material R and the carrier medium M contained in the container when the container B moves from the area of the blasting gun 40. Now, the container B is rotated by the rotors 28 in a rotation, for example, about its vertical axis, so that for further cleaning between the filling with liquid friction to the container and the inner wall, a relative movement is formed in the loosened or dissolved impurities finally removed and taken and in motion held, and for example, by centrifugal forces or the flow dynamics, the granular material R is still pressed against the inner surface, and also with mechanical friction detaches any contaminant residues, which are then held in the filling of the granular material R and the carrier medium M in motion, and do not settle anymore. In this case, a predetermined residence time is maintained for this intensive cleaning in the intensive cleaning section 11a, which can be directed, for example, individually according to the detected by the inspection device 24 pollution level. With a higher degree of contamination, the affected containers in the longer intensive cleaning section 11 b are treated longer. Subsequently, the in Fig. 5 shown container through the turning device 18 turned so that the filling of the granular material R, the carrier medium M and the detached contaminants can flow, with a certain Time is allowed, so that the containers drip well before they are intensively rinsed in the station 7 with water.

In Fig. 4 As an alternative or in addition to the means 28 for rotating the containers, at least one means 28 'for shaking the containers may be provided to expose them to the inner surface during the internal cleaning of the abrasive action of the granular material R. Shaking, with or without simultaneous rotation, is particularly useful when using nut shell granules as the granular material R.

In the disinfecting station 9, gas or other residue-free combustible substance is injected into the container B, e.g. ignited, and the resulting flame after the ignition is also aimed specifically at the outside of the mouth region of the container in order to disinfect this area. Preferably, working with ozone, and optionally piezoelectrically generated energy pulses of a generator.

The largely chemical-free and without significant use of thermal energy carried out process with slurry ice, rejection to heavily polluted or unusable container B before the intensive cleaning, at least one penalty of heavily contaminated containers, and disinfection with ozone is particularly useful for several reasons and cost-effective. The automatic inspection and separation before intensive cleaning limits a certain permissible level of contamination, which can be deliberately adjusted to the cleanability of the granular material R, eg slurry ice. Hardly or few soiled containers B are then cleaned quickly. Heavily soiled containers B, optionally up to the predetermined level of soiling, are cleaned longer or even several times, optionally with renewed application of the granular material, it being possible to apply multiple granular material along the intensive cleaning section. In the case of slurry ice or water ice, this melts into water, which is removed by turning the container with the contaminants only by gravity and / or rinsed residue free with pure water. Due to the elapsed time until disinfection, the intensively cleaned surfaces are only slightly wetted, if at all, so that the ozone can play its disinfecting effect very efficiently, if necessary supported by energy impulses, which simply act on the piezoelectric way (or in another way) in the ozone. which is consumed without residues in oxygen and free radicals. Overall, an immense cost savings is achieved, compared to conventional methods, especially since no chemicals, hardly from the outside or introduced in cleaning media thermal energy, and much less water are used.

The containers, which are particularly discarded at the inspection station 24, do not necessarily have to be discarded, but can be collected for further cost savings and transferred to other, e.g. be cleaned more aggressively separately or specially pre-cleaned and then reintroduced into the process for a new attempt. Because this may well be a significant proportion of all containers to be cleaned, which is deliberately discarded initially to limit the predetermined and on the process and / or the cleaning ability of the granular material R, in particular slurry ice, coordinated pollution level.

An important aspect is that in intensive cleaning, e.g. to consciously limit the level of soiling to the process efficiency or cleaning action of the granular material by discarding containers detected as improperly detected. This is conveniently done after the pre-cleaning to achieve higher detection accuracy.

It may also be expedient to arrange a rinsing station between the intensive cleaning station and the disinfection station, in which the containers are rinsed or rinsed with chemicals-free water, if appropriate for reasons of safety.

Claims (20)

Method for cleaning containers (B), in particular bottles made of glass or plastic, in a cleaning machine (W) in which in several stations (1-9) and method steps at least one cleaning medium is applied to the containers (B) conveyed by the cleaning machine (W) ), characterized in that the containers (B) in at least one for the final cleaning effect priority station (5) and / or in at least one selected in view of the final cleaning effect process step with at least one at least substantially only chemical free Cleaning medium (R, M) are thoroughly cleaned. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that each container (B), at least the inner surface of the container (B), in with water or air as the carrier medium (M) promoted, preferably recyclable and / or residue-free degradable, granular material (R), preferably under pressure, at least by blasting, is intensively cleaned. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the granular material (R) is selected individually or in combination from the following group: metal, plastic, sand, salt. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that at least the inner surface of the container (B) is cleaned with granular ice, wherein, preferably, as the granular ice dry ice from carbon dioxide or water ice slurry like ice cream is injected or injected. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that for intensive cleaning as a granular material (R) a Nutschalengranulat is brought by means of a carrier medium to act on the container surface, such that between the Nutschalengranulat and the container surface, a relative movement is generated. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the granular material (R) with the carrier medium (M) under pressure in the container (B), preferably blasting the container inner surface, blasted is, and that, preferably, then or simultaneously between the container (B) and the pressure jets or the applied granular material (R) also for rinsing the radiated container inner surface with the granular material (R) and the support medium (M) a relative Rotational movement (28) is generated. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for cleaning the container inner surface of the container (B) with at least the granular material (R) at least partially filled, preferably filled with a mixture of water and Nutschalengranulat or nutshell granules, and at least shaken becomes. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each container (B) in at least one pre-cleaning step wets substantially on all sides with chemical-free water and internal impurities are pre-soaked for a predetermined period of time that the container is pre-cleaned by high-pressure jetting with chemical-free pressurized water on the outside Subsequently, the container (B) over at least one further, predetermined period of time at least by pressure blasting with granular material (R) and carrier medium (M) mainly inside thoroughly cleaned and then rinsed with chemical-free water, and that the container is finally disinfected free of chemicals, preferably by applying ozone, preferably with ozone which consumes at least one introduced energy pulse, preferably with an energy pulse generated piezoelectrically in the ozone, or at least on the inside and in the mouth by applying and burning gas or a residue-free combustible substance. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that non-segregated containers (B) are intensively cleaned over a first shorter and / or at least a second and longer period of time depending on the detected degree of soiling. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that before disinfection incompletely cleaned container (B) detected by an automatic inspection and rejected or returned to the pre-cleaning or intensive cleaning. Cleaning machine (W) for containers (B), in particular bottles made of glass or plastic, with a plurality of stations (1-9) arranged along at least one container-handling and conveying section (11, 29), in which the cleaning machines (W) conveyed containers (B) are cleaned, characterized in that in a pre-cleaning station (2) arranged downstream of an unpacking and pre-softening station (1) a high pressure water jet and pre-cleaning pre-cleaning section (V) is provided, to which an intensive cleaning station (5 ) with at least one intensive cleaning section (11 a, 11 b) and at least one initial region of the intensive cleaning section (11 a, 11 b) associated pressure-jet system (A) for chemical-free granular material (R) and a pressurized carrier medium (M) for the granular material connects, and that the intensive cleaning station (5) at least one container disinfection station (9) is connected downstream. Cleaning machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the intensive cleaning station (5) a reservoir (34) for granular material (R), in particular ice pellets, a material metering device (35) and the pressure blasting machine (A) with at least one, preferably controlled movable and / or rotatable, blasting gun (40) are associated with at least one jet nozzle (41). Cleaning machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the storage container (34), the material metering device (35) and the pressure blasting installation (A) for storing and processing nut shell granules are formed as the granular material (R). Cleaning machine according to claim 11, characterized in that at least the pre-cleaning station (2) and the intensive cleaning station (5) collecting means (17) to which cleaning and reprocessing devices (23, 20) are directly assigned, or at cleaning and reprocessing facilities (23 , 20) are connected. Cleaning machine according to claim 11, characterized in that at least two different lengths, parallel intensive cleaning sections (11a, 11 b) provided and linked, preferably via an upstream container inspection station (4), turnouts (25, 26, 27) are linked. Cleaning machine according to claim 11, characterized in that between the pre-cleaning station (2) and the intensive cleaning station (5) and / or between the intensive cleaning station (5) and the disinfection station (9) an inspection station (4, 8) is provided, preferably in one associated container disposal station. Cleaning machine according to at least one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that the cleaning machine (W) is designed as a rotary or linear rotor. Cleaning machine according to claim 11 , characterized in that at least in the intensive cleaning station (5) rotation devices (28) for the containers (B) and / or the respective blasting gun (40) or the blasting nozzles (41) and upstream and / or downstream of the intensive cleaning station ( 5) container turning devices (18) are provided. Cleaning machine according to claim 11, characterized in that at least in the intensive cleaning station (5) at least one container-shaking device (28 '), preferably for upright or hanging or horizontal container (B), is provided. Cleaning machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the container disinfection station (9) contains at least one ozone source (31) connected to an applicator for ozone, and that, preferably, an energy-pulse generator for applying the ozone, preferably a piezoelectric energy pulse generator is provided.

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