EP2340132B1 - Injector arrangement, cleaning machine, and injector - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a spray nozzle assembly according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a cleaning machine according to the preamble of claim 9.

Injection nozzle arrangements for use in particular at injection positions or spray stations of cleaning machines for bottles or similar containers are known. The DE 42 16 664 C1 and 44 30 293 A1 disclose spray nozzle assemblies in which the nozzle bodies are bolted to four-edged fluid and support tubes. DE 20 2007 009 122 U1 also discloses a spraying position or spraying station of a cleaning machine wherein the nozzle bodies are disposed on the fluid and support tubes and held by a stirrup-type clip or clip comprising this fluid and support tube.

A disadvantage of known Spritzdüsananordnungen u.a., That for the attachment of the spray nozzles forming nozzle housing or body on the respective fluid and support tube as well as for the attachment of the injection shaft overarching headers fasteners in the form of screws or the like are required. This results in not only a considerable effort in terms of design and assembly, but this also requires flat surfaces for the respective attachment, i. the fluid and support tube with a rectangular or square cross-section and also the spray nozzles must be made flat even in the areas of the respective head piece on the outer surface. This results in numerous horizontal surfaces and also niches or angles that form resting surfaces for liquids, i. where liquids can accumulate with the risk of contamination or microbial contamination.

The object of the invention is to show a spray nozzle arrangement, which is characterized by a particularly simple, but also easy to install and maintain. To solve this problem is a spray nozzle assembly formed according to claim 1. A cleaning machine is the subject of patent claim 9.

The invention is characterized by a simplified and easy to assemble and maintain. In addition, the invention also provides the advantage that flat resting surfaces for liquids and niches or angles in which liquids could accumulate, can be avoided by appropriate shaping of the outer surfaces of the fluid and support tube and the spray nozzles. Plane surfaces for the attachment of the individual components are not required in the spray nozzle assembly 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. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

Fig. 1

in sehr vereinfachter schematische Darstellung zwei Spritzstationen einer Reinigungsmaschine für Flaschen, zusammen mit mehreren in Flaschenkörben angeordneten Flaschen;

Fig. 2 - 4

eine der Spritzdüsen der Spritzstationen der Figur 1 in Seitenansicht, im Längsschnitt sowie in Draufsicht, und zwar zusammen mit einer Spritzwelle sowie einem Trag- und Fluidrohr;

Fig. 5

einen Schnitt entsprechend der Linie I - I der Figur 2;

Fig. 6

die Spritzdüse der Figuren 1 - 5 in perspektivischer Darstellung, zusammen mit der Spritzwelle und dem Fluid- und Trägerrohr,

Fig. 7

in vergrößerter Darstellung ein Kopfstück;

Fig. 8

in perspektivischer Einzeldarstellung eine Spritzdüse einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Fig. 9

die Spritzdüse der Figur 8 in Seitenansicht;

Fig. 10

einen Schnitt entsprechend der Linie II - II der Figur 9;

Fig. 11

in vereinfachter Darstellung ein Fluid- oder Tragrohr mit einer Anschlussöffnung;

Fig. 12

in vereinfachter Darstellung eine Draufsicht auf eine Teillänge des Fluid- und Trägerrohrs.

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

Fig. 1

in a very simplified schematic representation two spray stations of a bottle washing machine, together with several bottles arranged in bottle baskets;

Fig. 2-4

one of the spray nozzles of the spray stations FIG. 1 in side view, in longitudinal section and in plan view, together with a spray shaft and a support and fluid pipe;

Fig. 5

a section corresponding to the line I - I of FIG. 2 ;

Fig. 6

the spray nozzle of Figures 1 - 5 in perspective, together with the spray shaft and the fluid and carrier tube,

Fig. 7

in an enlarged view, a head piece;

Fig. 8

in perspective detail a spray nozzle of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9

the spray nozzle of FIG. 8 in side view;

Fig. 10

a section corresponding to the line II - II of FIG. 9 ;

Fig. 11

in a simplified representation of a fluid or support tube with a connection opening;

Fig. 12

in a simplified representation of a plan view of a partial length of the fluid and carrier tube.

For ease of explanation, the three mutually perpendicular spatial axes are indicated in the figures as X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis. The X axis and the Z axis are the horizontal space axes and the Y axis is the vertical space axis.

In the figures, 1 and 2 are two injection positions or stations of a cleaning machine for cleaning bottles 3, in a manner known to those skilled with a machine-internal transport system in a transport direction A (X-axis) at the spray stations 1 and 2 turned, ie with their bottle opening 3.1 are moved downward pointing past. The transport system consists in the manner also known to those skilled in a variety of bottle baskets 4, which connect in the transport direction A to each other and perpendicular to the transport direction A (Z-axis), ie perpendicular to the plane of the FIG. 1 According to the number of bottle cells 4.1, each injection station 1 or 2 has a spray nozzle arrangement 5 with a plurality of spray nozzles 6, which are arranged offset in the direction of the Z axis are.

Each spray nozzle assembly 5 includes i.a. a circular-cylindrical in cross-section spray shaft 7, which is arranged with its longitudinal extent in the Z-axis and rotatably and / or pivotally mounted on a support frame of the spray nozzle assembly 5. At one end of the spray shaft 7 is provided with a trained in the illustrated embodiment as a star actuator 8, via which the injection shaft 7 is rotated synchronously with the transport movement of the bottle baskets 4 and / or pivoted.

The spray nozzle assembly 5 and the spray nozzles 6 are arranged below the movement path on which the bottles 3 with their bottle mouth 3.1 be moved past the spray stations 1 and 2 over. The injection shaft 7 is arranged above a fluid and carrier tube 9, which is also oriented with its axis parallel to the injection shaft 7 in the Z-axis and extends over the entire length or almost the entire length having the spray nozzle assembly 5 in this axial direction ,

On the upper side of the fluid and support tube 9 6 nozzle body 10 are attached to each one with the interior of the fluid and support tube 9 in communication fluid channel 11 to form the spray nozzles. This is oriented with its axis in the direction of the Y-axis and also in the region of an upper side 10.1 of the nozzle body 10, namely at a local trough-like contact surface, which serves for a tight abutment against the spray shaft 7 and for this purpose about an axis parallel to the Z axis. Axis arcuately concave curved, with a radius that is equal to or approximately equal to half the outer diameter of the spray shaft 7. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the fluid channel 11 is formed in an intermediate nozzle 13 which is sealingly arranged using a seal 12 in the nozzle body 10 in the direction of the Y-axis and which at its upper end the trough-like contact surface for sealing contact with the spray shaft. 7 forms and rubbing against the outer surface of the injection shaft 7 abuts with this contact surface, and pressed by spring means acting between the nozzle body 10 and the intermediate nozzle 13. The nozzle body 10 and the intermediate nozzle 13 formed as a wearing part are, for example, molded parts (injection-molded parts) made of plastic. According to the invention, the seal 12 is formed by a sealing element, which at the same time generates the intermediate nozzle 13 against the injection shaft 7-pressing spring force, this sealing element so in addition to the sealing function also has the function of a compression spring.

On the top of the nozzle body 10, a cap-like head 14 is attached, which is made for example as a molded part (injection molded part) made of plastic, in such a way that it the injection shaft 7 in the region of a KopfstückAusnehmung 14.1 at the respective spray nozzle 6 on a peripheral region greater than 180 ° dense or substantially tightly encloses, ie on a peripheral region, on which the spray shaft 7 is not enclosed by the nozzle body 10 or by the intermediate nozzle 13.

At each spray nozzle 6, the spray shaft 7 is provided with a spray channel 15 which is formed in the illustrated embodiment each of two continuous, radially to the axis of the spray shaft 7 oriented and perpendicular cutting holes, so that each spray channel 15 on the outer surface of the spray shaft. 7 a total of four communicating openings. The head piece 14 is provided on its upper side facing away from the nozzle body 10 with an opening 16. The cross sections of the opening 16 and the fluid channel 11 formed in the intermediate nozzle 13 are larger than the cross section of the openings of the spray channel 15. The cross section of the opening 16 is larger than the cross section of the fluid channel eleventh

A cleaning or spraying liquid, which is supplied to the fluid and carrier tube 9 with pressure, thus generates at the respective spray nozzle 6 a spray jet 17, which emerges radially controlled from the respective spray nozzle 6 to the axis of the spray shaft 7, if and while turning and / or pivoting the spray shaft 7, an opening of the spray channel 15 is arranged congruently with the fluid channel 11. By synchronously with the transport movement A controlled rotational movement of the spray shaft 7, the respective spray jet 17 is also within certain limits with the respective spray station 1 and 2 passing bottles 3 moves, as is also known in the art.

A special feature of the spray nozzle assembly 5 and the local spray nozzles 6 is now that the head piece 14 by sliding and possibly by clamping fit and / or locking the nozzle body 10 is fixed, preferably also releasably secured. The sliding of the respective head piece 14 takes place in an axial direction axially to the injection shaft 7, ie in the Z-axis. For assembly, the respective head piece 14 is placed laterally under slight elastic deformation with the Kopfstückausnehmung 14.1 on the spray shaft 7 of the respective nozzle body 10 or clipped and then axially displaced, so that the head piece 14 is finally held positively on the upper side 10.1 of the nozzle body 10.

The head piece 14 is for this purpose at two edge regions which are opposite in the mounted state in the direction of the X-axis, each with a protruding beyond the outside of the head piece 14 flange projection 18 and against this to the underside of the head piece 14, i. provided with mounted head piece 14 in the direction of the Y-axis offset with a further projection 19 which protrudes as well as the projection 18 on the Kopfstückaußenseite facing away from the Kopfstückausnehmung 14.1. All projections 18 and 19 each extend like a strip over the entire axial width of the head piece 14. In the assembled state, the projections 18 abut against the upper side of the nozzle body 10 with their underside facing the respective projection 19. The projections 19 each engage behind an undercut formed on the nozzle body 10 by a groove.

The nozzle body 10 each made as a molded part, for example made of plastic or other suitable material are fastened by using a respective seal 21 by latching to the fluid and support tube 9, namely by integrally formed on the nozzle body bottom 10.1 of the respective nozzle body 10 and on this nozzle body base 10.1 wegstehende notches 22, which are also passed through the seal 21, anchored in openings of the fluid and support tube 9 by latching. The nozzle body 10 is adapted to its on the seal 21 against the peripheral surface of the fluid and support tube 9 adjacent nozzle body bottom side 10.1 of the circular cylindrical outer surface of the fluid and support tube 9 adjusted around an axis parallel to the Z-axis circular cylindrical concave. Also for the attachment of the nozzle body 10 on the respective fluid and support tube 9 thus no separate fasteners, such as screws, etc. are required. In particular, it is also not necessary to form the fluid and support tube 9 with special surfaces, for example, with horizontal surfaces for the attachment of the spray nozzles 6 and the nozzle body 10. The seal 21 is also in the illustrated embodiment of the invention of the seal 12th forming, designed as a spring seal sealing element formed so that the assembly of the respective nozzle body 10 is substantially simplified.

The FIGS. 8-10 show as a further embodiment, a spray nozzle 6a, which is used instead of the spray nozzles 6 at the spray stations 1 and 2, together with the spray shaft 7 to form the respective spray nozzle assembly 5.

The spray nozzle 6 in turn consists of a nozzle body 10 corresponding nozzle body 10a and from the head piece 14 corresponding head piece 14a, which is also secured by latching or sliding sideways on the top of the nozzle body 10a, in that the molded on the head piece 14a Protrusions 19 engage in the provided on the upper side of the nozzle body 10 a grooves 20, as described above for the attachment of the head piece 14. The attachment of the head piece 14a on the nozzle body 10a can be additionally secured by gluing. Also otherwise, the spray nozzle 6a differs from the spray nozzle 6 only in that the attachment of the spray nozzle 6a on the fluid and support tube 9 is not done by latching with the aid of the locking elements 22, but with the help of a fluid and support tube 9 like a clamp or bow-shaped This is as a molded part made of a suitable material, for example made of plastic and preferably made of an elastic material, for example made of elastic plastic, with two brackets or bracket arms 23.1 and with these arms connecting arcuate bracket section 23.2.

At their free ends, the hanger arms 23 are each provided with an integrally formed projection 24 facing inwards, ie in the space between the hanger arms 23.1. Each projection 24 is barb-like or formed with an inclined surface on its the bow section 23.2 facing underside, which forms an angle smaller than 90 ° with the subsequent inner surface of the respective projection 24 having bail arm 23.1.

The nozzle body 10a is formed on two opposite sides, each with a matched to the cross section of the projections 24 groove 25, in such a way that when attached to the nozzle body 10a pipe clip 23 each projection 24 is received in a groove 25 fitting and positive that each Bail arm 23 rests with its inner surface on a directly adjoining the projection 24 partial length surface against a flat surface region 26 of the outer surface of the nozzle body 10a. Otherwise, complement the inner surfaces of the hanger arms 23.1 and the bracket portion 23.2 with the circular cylinder-shaped and the head piece 14a facing away from the nozzle body bottom 10a.1 to a circular cylindrical opening 27, in the mounted spray nozzle 6a, the fluid and support tube 9, under elastic Deformation of the pipe clips 23.

On its underside facing away from the head piece 14a, the nozzle body 10a is provided with a plurality of protrusions or locking feet or elements 28 projecting over this underside, which are distributed around the opening of the channel 11, similar to the locking protrusions 22 of the spray nozzle 6 the locking feet 28 also in the same manner as described for the latches 22, passed through the seal or through the sealing portion 21 so that they project slightly beyond the nozzle body 10 a side facing away from the seal 21. In the illustrated embodiment, a total of four locking feet 28 are provided which form vertices of an imaginary rectangle.

The assembly of each spray nozzle 6a again takes place in the area of a respective connection opening 9.1 provided for each spray nozzle 6a in the fluid and support pipe 9, which has a cross-section which differs from the circular shape, for example the one in FIG FIG. 12 has shown rectangular cross-section and into which the locking elements 28 extend, so that they are supported in each case at the edge of the connection opening 9.1. As a result, inter alia, a clear position and orientation of the respective nozzle body 10a with respect to the fluid and support tube 9 as well as a rotationally secure arrangement of the nozzle body 10a on the support tube 9 are achieved.

In detail, the assembly of each spray nozzle 6a on the fluid and support tube 9 is carried out so that the corresponding with its functional elements and in particular also with the seal 21 preassembled nozzle body 10a is placed on the fluid and support tube 9 in the region of a connection opening 9.1, so that engage the locking elements 28 in this opening and the nozzle body bottom 10a.1 abut with the local seal 21 against the fluid and support tube. Subsequently, the pipe clamp 23, the fluid and support tube 9 is mounted encompassing, by lateral insertion of the projections 24 in the grooves 25 and under elastic deformation or under tensioning the pipe clamp 23 such that these elastically tensioned in the mounted state, the nozzle body 10a the provided on the nozzle body lower side 10 a.1 seal 21 presses against the fluid and support tube, namely to provide a tight transition between the fluid and support tube 9 and the nozzle body or formed in the intermediate nozzle 13 channel 11th

In order to allow the assembly and clamping of the pipe clamp 23 in the lateral insertion of the projections 24 in the grooves 25, the pipe clip 23 has on the bracket portion 23.2 a reduced width, in the axial direction of the opening 27 (Z-axis in the assembled state) and in the form that at one in the FIG. 9 23.3 designated side of the pipe clamp 23, the edge of the bracket portion 23.2 relative to the edge of the hanger arms 23.1 to the in the FIG. 9 23.4 designated side of the pipe clamp 23 is offset. As a result, there is the possibility in the assembly of the respective pipe clamp 23 on the already on the fluid and support tube 9 positioned nozzle body 10a, the two projections 25 with its side 23.3 adjacent end ahead in the grooves 25 to introduce, in relation to the fluid and support tube 9 or the Z-axis inclined tube clamp 23, ie at the axis of the opening 27 relative to the Z-axis or the axis of the fluid and support tube 9 inclined and relaxed pipe clamp 23. Then the pipe clamp 23 is then under increasing straightening and tightening completely pushed onto the nozzle body 10a, ie, the projections 24 are inserted with increasing straightening and clamping the pipe clamp 23 completely into the grooves 25, so that finally the attachment of the nozzle body 10a on the fluid and support tube 9 is achieved with the clamped pipe clip 23.

After assembly of all the nozzle body 10a then takes place in this embodiment, the assembly of the spray shaft 7 by placing this shaft on the top of the nozzle body 10a by positively connecting the head pieces 14a with the nozzle bodies 10a by laterally pushing the head pieces 14a on the nozzle body 10a in the axial direction the spray shaft 7, ie in the direction of the Z axis.

A special feature of the spray nozzle assembly 5 and the local spray nozzles 6 and 6a is thus that the respective head 14 or 14a by pushing and possibly by clamping fit and / or locking or positively secured to the nozzle body 10 and 10a, preferably again is releasably attached. By the described attachment of the head piece 14 or 14a on the nozzle body 10 and 10a not only the assembly of the nozzle assembly 5 is substantially simplified, but there is also the possibility of a quick and easy replacement of the head pieces 14 and 14a. Furthermore, the spray shaft 7, if necessary, for example, for repair and / or maintenance purposes and / or for a possible replacement of the intermediate nozzle 13 by simply loosening the head pieces 14 and 14a easily removed or removed from the nozzle bodies 10 and 10a. Due to the detachable attachment of the head pieces 14 and 14 a, the spray nozzle assembly 5 is therefore particularly easy to maintain.

If the nozzle body 10 or 10a produced by spraying from a suitable plastic, it is possible to provide at the same time in the production of the respective nozzle body 10 and 10a, the seals 12 and 21 and the corresponding sealing element, by introducing this sealing element in the injection mold or by generating the respective nozzle body 10 and 10a and the associated sealing element in a two- or multi-component injection molding.

In addition to the aforementioned advantages, the spray nozzle assembly 5, regardless of whether spray nozzles 6 and / or 6a are used, also has the advantage that in particular horizontal surfaces as well as niches or angles to or in which liquids could accumulate, at least largely avoided, and in particular also by the fact that flat horizontal surfaces for the attachment of the head piece 14 and 14a on the respective nozzle body 10 and 10a and for the attachment of the nozzle body 10 and 10a on the fluid and support tube 9 are not required, the latter can be formed only with a round outer cross-section.

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. For example, it is also possible to produce the nozzle body 10 or 10a in one piece with the head piece 14 or 14a. The assembly of these nozzle elements 6 produced integrally with the nozzle body 10 and the head piece 14 then takes place, for example, by pushing it onto the respective spray shaft 7. The assembly of the nozzle elements 6 integrally with the nozzle body 10 and the head piece 14 on the fluid and support tube 9 takes place again using the seals 12 and 21 forming sealing elements and by locking the locking elements 22, for example in the openings 9.1. However, this design has the disadvantage that at a disassembly of the spray shaft 7, the integrally formed from the nozzle body 10 and the head piece 14 nozzle elements 6 must be destroyed.

When using the nozzle elements 6a, it is possible to remove these nozzle elements 6a without destroying them by removing the tube clamps 23 from the fluid and support tube 9, but in principle only if the connection of the respective tube clamp 23 with the associated nozzle body 10a is not additionally secured by gluing has been.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 2

injection station

3

bottle

3.1

bottle opening

4

bottle basket

4.1

bottle cell

5

The injection nozzle system

6, 6a

nozzle

7

splash wave

8th

actuator

9

Fluid and support tube

9.1

Opening in the fluid and support tube

10, 10a

nozzle body

10.1, 10a.1

Nozzle body base

11

channel

12

Seal or spring seal

13

Intermediate nozzle (wear or exchange element)

14, 14a

headpiece

15

injection channel

16

Opening in the head piece

17

spray jet

18, 19

head Start

20

groove

21

poetry

22

locking element

23

pipe clamp

23.1

Hanger arm or thigh

23.2

bow section

23.3, 23.4

Side of the pipe clamp 23

24

head Start

25

groove

26

Side surface on the nozzle body 10a

27

Pipe clamp opening

28

Locking element or foot

A

transport direction

X, Y, Z

spatial axis

Claims (9)

1. Injector arrangement, particularly for use at injection stations or injection positions (1,2) in machines for cleaning bottles or similar containers (3), having at least one fluid and support pipe (9), having at least one injector (6, 6a) on said fluid and support pipe (9) for generating at least one injection stream of a liquid medium fed through the fluid and support pipe (9), wherein the at least one injector (6, 6a) comprises at least one injector body (10, 10a) secured to the fluid and support pipe (9), in which a fluid channel (11) connected to the interior of the fluid and support pipe (9) is formed, and with an injector shaft (7) that can be rotationally or pivotally driven and contacting a contact surface surrounding an opening of the fluid channel (11) and comprising an injection channel (15) having at least two openings, each disposed over an angle region of the pivoting and/or rotating motion of the injector shaft (7) congruent to the opening of the fluid channel (11), and having a header (14, 14a) extending over the injector shaft (7) in the shape of a bow or hook, and thereby mounted on the injector body (10, 10a) by being pushed on and/or latched to the injector body (10, 10a), preferably in a releasable manner, wherein the fluid channel (11) in the injector body (10, 10a) is formed from the channel of an intermediate injector (13),
   characterised in that
   the intermediate injector (13) is arranged in an axially displaceable manner in the injector body (10, 10a), and is in contact pressed against the injector shaft (7) by means of at least one spring element and sealed by at least one seal (12) in the injector body (10, 10a), and wherein the seal (12) is at the same time formed as a spring element for pressing the intermediate injector (13) against the injector shaft (7) and a seal (21) is provided for sealing the connection between the injector body (10, 10a) and the fluid and support pipe (9), wherein this seal (21) is formed from a sealing element, which at the same time also forms the seal (12) of the intermediate injector (13) and is engaged through by at least one latching ad/or locking element (22, 28).
2. Injector arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the injector body (10,10a) is secured to the fluid and support pipe (9) by latching (22) and/or by a pipe clamp (23) engaging in pipe clip fashion around the fluid and support pipe (9).
3. Injector arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the header (14, 14a) is secured to the injector body (10, 10a) by pushing in the axial direction (Z-axis) of the injection shaft (7).
4. Injector arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the fluid and support pipe (9) and also the at least one injector (6, 6a), its injector body (10, 10a), and its header (14, 14a) are formed on all surface regions in such a way that no flat, horizontal, or depressed surface regions are present.
5. Injector arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one latching and/or locking element (22, 28) are provided or formed at the injector body (10, 10a) for the latched and/or rotationally resistant connection with the fluid and support pipe (9).
6. Injector arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the injector body (10a) is secured to the fluid and carrier pipe (9) by the pipe clamp (23), wherein the pipe clamp (23) is preferably manufactured from a permanently elastic material, such as, for example, from a permanently elastic plastic.
7. Injector arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pipe clamp (23) is secured by pushing on and/or latching to the injector body (10a).
8. Injector arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pipe clamp (23) exhibits a reduced width at a section (23.2) located opposite the injector body (10a) in an axial direction parallel to the axis of the fluid and support pipe (9).
9. Cleaning machine for cleaning bottles or similar containers, with at least one injection station (1, 2) with at least one injector arrangement, in particular for an internal and/or external injection of the containers, characterised in that the injector arrangement is formed in accordance with any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8.

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