EP2473291A2

EP2473291A2 - Method for the internal cleaning of a bottle-cleaning or container-cleaning machine, and bottle-cleaning or container-cleaning machine

Info

Publication number: EP2473291A2
Application number: EP10752309A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ulrich Wiedemann
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2009-09-03
Filing date: 2010-08-30
Publication date: 2012-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 2030-08-30
Also published as: RU2012112835A; IN2011KN04654A; BRPI1009595B1; RU2496586C1; CN102470404A; BRPI1009595A2; WO2011026594A2; CN102470404B; EP2473291B1; WO2011026594A3; DE102009039965A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the internal cleaning of bottle-cleaning or container-cleaning machines (1) comprising several treatment zones (7-16) designed in an interior of the machines. The containers to be cleaned move through said treatment zones during the operation of the cleaning machine or during the container-cleaning process and are treated with different cleaning or processing fluids. The internal cleaning occurs in a machine cleaning mode following the container cleaning process.

Description

Method for cleaning the interior of a bottle or container cleaning machine and bottle or container cleaning machine

The invention relates to a method for internal cleaning of a bottle or container cleaning machine according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a bottle or container cleaning machine with a cleaning system for internal cleaning according to the preamble of claim 13.

Bottle or container cleaning machines are known in various designs and consist in principle of a plurality of treatment zones formed in a machine interior, through which the containers are exposed during normal operation of the cleaning machine, i. be moved in the transport direction during the container cleaning process using a machine-internal conveyor. The machine-internal conveyor usually consists of a plurality of successive in the transport direction container or bottle baskets, which are held at both ends of two endless conveyor belts formed by transport chains. At a container task, the containers to be cleaned are fed to the cleaning machine or the machine-internal transport system. At a container delivery, the cleaned containers are removed from the cleaning machine or the machine-internal transport system.

The treatment zones comprise, for example, at least one pre-treatment zone designed as an immersion bath for preheating the containers and for pre-soiling contaminants and labels, preferably at least two pre-treatment zones designed as a dip bath and at least one further pre-treatment zone designed as a spray zone for preheating the containers and in the transport direction Removal of soiling and labels using a process fluid, eg in the form of water, followed by at least one treatment zone formed as an immersion bath in the transport direction, but preferably at least two treatments formed as an immersion bath. Treatment zones for treating the container with a process liquid in the form of an alkali, then in the transport direction at least one treatment zone for treating the container with a so-called "Nachlauge", ie with an alkali of low concentration, inter alia, for removing adhering to the containers lye residues from the previous immersion bath and thereafter, in the transport direction, a plurality of treatment zones for spraying the containers internally and externally with a process liquid consisting essentially of water or water, then at least one treatment zone for internal and external spraying of the containers with fresh water and subsequently at least one treatment zone for drying the cleaned container.

For hygienic reasons or to maintain the necessary sterility periodic cleaning and / or disinfection of the cleaning machine is required. In order to be able to carry out this internal cleaning and / or disinfection with as little time and / or effort as possible, it is common and known to design bottle or container cleaning machines with a machine internal cleaning and / or disinfection system, with which after completion of a container cleaning process In a machine cleaning mode, the internal cleaning and / or disinfection can be carried out at least largely automatically. The machine interior cleaning system includes i.a. a plurality of cleaning and spraying nozzles, via which the liquid cleaning and / or disinfecting media used in the machine cleaning mode can be applied, for example, as sharp jets to all areas of the machine interior and the functional elements to be cleaned and / or disinfected there.

The prior internal machine cleaning systems require that the process liquids used in the previous container cleaning process, which are still in the bottle or container cleaning machine, be drained and generally discarded prior to the machine cleaning mode, and that the interior cleaning and / or disinfecting using fresh water ggs. with cleansing and / or disinfecting additives done what a high fresh water consumption and associated high costs for the internal cleaning caused.

The object of the invention is to provide a method by which the consumption of fresh water in the internal cleaning and / or disinfection and thus the cost of this internal cleaning and / or disinfection can be substantially reduced. To solve this problem, a method according to claim 1 is formed. A bottle or container cleaning machine is designed according to the patent claim 13.

In the method according to the invention, at least one process liquid, which was already used in the cleaning process preceding the cleaning mode, during the normal cleaning operation of the cleaning machine, is used as a liquid cleaning medium during the interior cleaning and / or disinfection. This process liquid is taken from the respective treatment zone or a receiving trough associated with the treatment zone or from a storage or buffer store assigned to the treatment zone. In principle, it is at least expedient for cleaning and / or disinfecting a treatment zone to use the process fluid of one or more treatment zones, which take place in the transport direction of the machine-internal transport system to the treatment zone to be cleaned, so that each treatment zone in each case with respect to the own process liquid lower loaded process fluid a downstream in the transport direction treatment zone is cleaned and / or disinfected.

The process liquid in the form of the after-liquor is used for cleaning, in particular pre-cleaning and / or disinfection of the at least one pretreatment zone and for cleaning, in particular pre-cleaning and / or disinfection of the machine interior (head space) in the area of the container task and container dispensing and the there Functional elements, including the local container transport and / or insertion and / or Ausschubelemente used. 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 combination in the claims or their backward relationship. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figure, which shows in a simplified schematic functional representation of a bottle or container cleaning machine 1 for bottles or the like container together with a machine cleaning system.

The cleaning machine 1 is u.a. from one of a machine interior 2 bordering parallelepiped or substantially cuboidal housing 3, at one end face 4 a container task 5, via which the containers to be cleaned are introduced into the machine 1, and overlying a container delivery 6 are provided at the cleaned container led out of the cleaning machine 1 and fed via a non-illustrated outer conveyor for further use. In the machine interior 2, a plurality of treatment zones are formed in the manner known to those skilled in the art, through which the containers are successively moved in a transport direction A by means of a machine-internal transport system or conveyor not shown in the figure.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cleaning machine 1 has the following treatment zones between the container inlet 5 and the container outlet 6, in which the containers are treated with process liquids and which adjoin one another in the following direction in the transport direction A:

First preheating or pretreatment zone 7 in the form of a bath for treating the containers with heated water second preheating or pretreatment zone 8 in the form of a bath for treating the containers with heated water

Preheating or pre-treatment zone 9 with spray nozzles for spraying the containers with warm water

first lye bath 10 for treating the container with alkali, in particular for removing dirt and labels

second lye bath 1 1 for treating the container with alkali, in particular for removing dirt and labels

Treatment zone 12 for treating the containers with so-called "after-caustic", i.e. with a low-concentration liquor, inter alia, for removing residues of high-percentage liquor from the laWing baths 10 and 11

first spray zone 13 for internal and external spray of the container with water

second Abspritzone 14 for spraying the container with water third spray zone 1 5 for spraying the container with water fourth spray zone 16 for spraying the container with fresh water.

The treatment zones 12-16 each have suitable spray nozzles for the treatment of the containers there, which are designated generally by 17 in the FIGURE. Furthermore, the treatment zone 12, a trough 18 for collecting the effluent from the containers afterglow and the treatment zones 13 - 15 each have a trough 19 for collecting the effluent from the containers spray water, the trough 19 of the treatment zone 15 at the same time for collecting the of the Containers draining or dripping water of the treatment zone 16 is used. At the transition between the two treatment zones 12 and 13, an additional drip pan 20 is provided below the movement path of the container in the illustrated embodiment.

Each trough 18 and 19 is connected to a common bus 21 via an individual duct forming a trough drain, and that

Tub 18 of treatment station 12 via line 12.1 • trough 19 of the treatment station 13 via line 13.1

Tub 19 of treatment station 14 via line 14.1

• trough 19 of the treatment station 15 via line 15.1. In each line 12.1 - 15.1 an electrically individually controllable control valve 22 is provided. Furthermore, at least in the lines 12.1 and 13.1, for example, but also in the lines 14.1 and 15.1 each have a screen or filter device 23 is provided, namely for filtering out solid components, in particular of solid protective components and / or labels from over this Leitun - gene recycled process fluid. The screening and filtering units 23 and 24 are each equipped, in the manner known to those skilled in the art, with means for the mechanical discharge of the filtered-out constituents, for example with motor-driven sieve or filter belts. The collecting line 21 leads to a central screening and filtering device 24, which forms the central Schmutzaustrag the cleaning machine 1 and is connected via a line 25.1 constantly with a trough 25 of the treatment zone 9, for discharging the collected in the tub 25 process liquid (water ) of the pretreatment zone 9 in the screening and filtering device 24th

To the screening and filtering device 24 u.a. a line 26 connected to the pump 27, the process liquid from the screening and filtering unit 24 or from the container or the chamber of this filter unit for internal cleaning of the cleaning machine 1 under pressure, for example with a pressure in the range of 2 bar to 5 bar, preferably with a pressure of 2.5 bar to the distributed distributed in the machine interior space 2 spray nozzles 28 promotes, and controlled in the manner described in more detail below. The spray nozzles 28 are basically provided distributed in all areas of the cleaning machine 1, where a cleaning and / or disinfection is required.

The cleaning or spray nozzles 28 are at least partially formed so that they cover a spray area of 360 ° and / or the spray nozzles 28 are as ro- performing, for example, self-rotating spray nozzles. Arranged are the spray nozzles 28 in particular at the various treatment stations 9 and 12-16 and in the head space 29 of the cleaning machine 1, on which the container inlet 5 and the container outlet 6 are provided, in each case for cleaning and / or disinfecting the treatment stations, including all functional elements and surfaces. Further spray nozzles 28, in particular also those in the head space 29 serve for cleaning the machine internal transport system, ie in particular the transport chains and the container carriers or baskets of this system, etc. Furthermore, it is possible to spray nozzles 28 also formed on the treatment zones 7, 8, 10 and 1 1 provide.

To supply and individual control of the cleaning and spray nozzles 28, these are connected via individually controllable electrical control valves 30 and distribution lines 31 to the pump 27 having line 26.

Basically, the internal cleaning of the cleaning machine 1, but at least a part of the machine interior 2 and the treatment zones with process liquid, which takes place before the cleaning mode, i. during normal cleaning operation of the cleaning machine 1 during the cleaning of the containers or bottles has already been used, preferably such that for cleaning a treatment zone, the process liquid is used from at least one following in the transport direction A treatment zone, wherein in the cleaning mode possibly in the process liquid used existing solid components or contaminants that could clog the cleaning and spray nozzles 28 in the screening and filter units 23 and 24 or in an additional filter 32 (microfilter) are retained, which eg is provided in the line 26 in front of the pump 27. The sieve and filter units 23 and 24 or their containers or chambers serve as a buffer tank to ensure a continuous flow of the cleaning mode.

With the machine internal cleaning system having the control valves 22 and 30 and the spray nozzles 28, the following cleaning processes are possible, inter alia: After emptying the pre-treatment zones 7 and 8, these and also the pre-treatment zone 9 are cleaned or disinfected with the after-liquor from the treatment zone 12 or from the tub 18 there and the sieve and filter unit 23 serving as buffer storage for the after-caustic Alkalinity of the Nachlauge optimal hygienic conditions in the baths of the pre-treatment zones 7 and 8 is achieved. With the filter unit 23, a fine or microfiltration of the respective process liquid takes place, so that with a nozzle diameter of the cleaning and spray nozzles of approximately 4 mm, clogging of these nozzles is reliably prevented.

With the Nachlauge from the treatment zone 12 and from the local tub 18 and the associated screening and filtering device 23 continues to be a treatment or disinfection of the headspace 29 and the local functional element, including the Behälterförder- and transport element of the container task 5 and the container delivery 6, via the local cleaning and spray nozzles 28 and with subsequent treatment with process fluid (water) from one of the treatment zone 13-15, preferably from the treatment zones 14 and 15.

Furthermore, it is possible to treat the head space 29 for the necessary disinfection with the process fluid from one of the treatment zones 13-15, preferably from the treatment zones 14 and 15, wherein the process fluid is admixed with a special disinfectant, e.g. in a provided in the line 26 and not shown in the figure, mixing device or mixing section.

For the cleaning of the treatment zones 12-14, the process fluid of at least one treatment zone following the treatment zone A is used, ie, for example, for the cleaning of the treatment zone 12, the cleaning or spraying nozzles 28 are provided with the process fluid by corresponding control of the control valves 22 and 31 via the pump 27 the treatment zone 13 and / or 14 and / or 15 from the associated tubs 19 and / or the associated screen and filter units used as a buffer tank 23 or other buffer storage fed. In an analogous manner, to clean the treatment zones 13 and 14, the process liquid (water) of the treatment zones 14 and / or 15 or of the treatment zone 15 is supplied to the cleaning and spraying nozzles 28 there by corresponding activation of the control valves 22 and 31 via the pump 27.

The cleaning of the treatment zone 15 takes place in the illustrated embodiment, in particular using the collected in the tub 19 at least a majority of fresh water from the treatment zone 16 containing process liquid, the local cleaning and spray nozzles 28 by appropriate control of the control valves 22 and 30 via the pump 27 is supplied, and possibly in a further process step with fresh water. The cleaning of the treatment zone 16 takes place in the illustrated embodiment by appropriate control of the control valves 22 and 30 via the pump 27 in a first process step with the afterglow from the treatment zone 12 and in a further process step by spraying with fresh water.

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

It was assumed above that all, used in cleaning mode process liquids of the cleaning and spraying nozzles 28 supplying pump 27 are respectively fed through the sieve and filter unit 24 and its container, the (sieve and filter unit) so that all process liquids as Cache is used. In principle, it is also possible to design the internal machine cleaning system in such a way that not only separate buffer storages are provided for different process liquids, but also these process liquids by appropriate control of Steuerven- valves of the pump 27 or other pump corresponding to this pump from the respectively associated Buffer memory to be supplied directly, ggs. via a filter upstream of the pump. Furthermore, there is the possibility of adapting the pressure with which the process fluid is supplied to the cleaning and spraying nozzles 28 to the requirements of the area to be cleaned, for example by a corresponding control of the power of the pump 27, so that, for example, during the cleaning of the various Treatment zones 7 - 15 the respective process fluid at high pressure to generate the sharpest possible spray jets the cleaning and spraying nozzles 28 is supplied while cleaning other area of the cleaning machine, for example, for cleaning transport elements or conveyor belts on the container inlet 5 and / or container outlet 6 the For this purpose used cleaning and spraying nozzles 28, the respective process liquid is supplied at a lower pressure, for example at a pressure of 2.5 bar.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 bottle or container cleaning machine

2 machine interior

3 housing

4 front side

5 container task

6 container delivery

7 - 16 treatment zones

12.1, 13.1, 14.1, 15.1 pipe for draining the process liquid from the

treatment zone

17 spray elements for treating the container

18, 19, 20 Collecting or collecting trough

21 manifold

22 control valve

23, 24 sieve and filter unit

25 drip tray

26 line

27 pump

28 Cleaning and spraying nozzle

29 headspace of the cleaning machine 1

30 control valve

31 distribution line

32 filters

A transport direction of the containers through the cleaning machine

Claims

claims

1. A process for the internal cleaning of bottle or container cleaning machines (1) with several in a machine interior (2) formed treatment zones (7-16) through which moves the container to be cleaned during operation of the cleaning machine or in the container cleaning process and with different cleaning or Process fluids are treated, the internal cleaning is carried out in a subsequent to the container cleaning process machine cleaning mode, characterized in that

at least one process liquid used during the container cleaning process and preferably remaining in the cleaning machine is used as a liquid cleaning and / or disinfecting medium during the machine cleaning mode.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that during the machine cleaning mode already used in the container cleaning process after-liquor or dilute liquor is used as a cleaning and / or disinfecting medium.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a water or substantially of water and used in the container cleaning process process fluid is used for internal cleaning.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the internal cleaning is carried out by spraying with cleaning or spray nozzles (28) generated spray jets.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the process liquid used for the internal cleaning the cleaning or spray nozzles (28) a pressure in the range between 2 to 5 bar, preferably at a pressure of about 2.5 or about 4 bar is supplied.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the process liquid of one or more treatment zones is used in each case for the purification of these treatment zones in the transport direction (A) preceding treatment zone.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one treatment zone for treating the container with after-caustic and subsequent treatment zones (13-16) are formed for spraying the container with a process liquid of water or substantially of water that during of the machine cleaning mode, the treatment zone (12) for the afterglow and / or a treatment zone (13, 14) designed as an injection zone are treated with the process liquid from a spray zone (13-16) following in the transport direction (A).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one treatment zone (7, 8) a pretreatment zone with a u.a. for preheating the container serving bath, and that the pretreatment zone is treated with process liquid in the form of precursor.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a portion of the machine interior (2), for example, the container inlet and / or the container outlet having space (29) preferably including local functional elements and / or local container transport or conveying elements for cleaning and / or disinfecting be treated with the process liquid formed by Nachlauge.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one process liquid an additional cleaning and / or disinfectant is added.

1 1. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective process liquid is filtered prior to feeding to a cleaning and spray nozzle (28).

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in two in the transport direction (A) successive and running as dipping baths or lye baths treatment zones (10, 1), the process liquid of the subsequent in the transport direction immersion bath for cleaning in the transport direction (A) preceding , emptied dipping bath is used.

13. A bottle or container cleaning machine with a plurality of treatment zones (7-16) formed in a machine interior (2) through which the containers are subjected during a container cleaning process with the aid of a machine-internal conveyor in a transport direction (A) of a container task (5), the to be cleaned to a container to be cleaned, and a container delivery (6) are movable, and with an internal machine cleaning system for internal cleaning and / or disinfection with at least one liquid cleaning and / or disinfection medium during a machine cleaning mode,

characterized,

the cleaning system is designed for internal cleaning using at least one process fluid already used during the container cleaning process and preferably remaining in the cleaning machine (1).

14. Bottle or container cleaning machine according to claim 13, characterized in that the internal cleaning system has a plurality of cleaning and spray nozzles (28) and at least one process fluid under pressure providing source (27) via controlled connections or lines (30, 31) the cleaning and spray nozzles (28) is connected.

15. Bottle or container cleaning machine according to claim 14, characterized in that the at least one source for the at least one process liquid is at least one feed pump (27), preferably at least one feed pump (27) connected to a buffer tank (23, 24).

16. Bottle or container cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for different, already used during the container cleaning process process liquids, a common different process fluids under pressure providing source (27) is provided.

17. Bottle or container cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for different during the container cleaning process process liquids already used a common buffer memory (24) or separate buffer memory are provided, for example, separate buffer for lye or lye and water.

18. Bottle or container cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controllable connections of lines (31) with controllable valves (30) or hydraulic valves are formed.

19. Bottle or container cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one buffer memory of a at least one treatment zone (9, 12 - 15) associated sieve and filter means (23, 24) or the chamber is formed, for example, from the one Pre-treatment zone (9) associated sieve and filter unit (24) and / or from a treatment zone for treating the container with lye and / or a treatment zone for spraying the container with water associated with sieve and filter unit (23).