EP2584298B1 - Drying device for container and method for cleaning such a drying device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a drying device for containers, in particular for bottles, according to the features of the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for cleaning such a drying device.

When manufacturing, filling and / or packaging containers, in particular when manufacturing, filling and / or packaging bottles in the beverage industry, it often happens that moisture adheres to the outside of the containers. This is, for example, liquid that overflows when the containers are filled. Furthermore, it can also be a residual liquid that still adheres to the containers, for example after they have been cleaned. Temperature fluctuations during processing can also cause moisture to condense on the outside of the container. Since this moisture in subsequent processing steps, for example when inspecting empty or full bottles, when labeling or the like. disturbing, it must be removed from the container before further processing steps. For this purpose, the containers pass through drying modules in which the adhering moisture is blown off. The blown-off moisture drops collect in a drip pan, but often also stick to the inner side walls of the drying module.

A device for drying objects is in DE 102008004774 A1 described. Air supply openings for supplying drying air and at least one exhaust air opening for removing moist exhaust air are provided in a drying chamber. In particular, this device provides an internal air duct which is directed past the inlet and / or outlet opening for the objects to be dried. Another device known from the prior art for drying objects is shown in WO 82/03832 A1 disclosed.

Even with this directional guidance of the exhaust air, blown drops can collect on the side walls of the drying module. Especially in warm areas, this leads to an enormous contamination of the drying modules, because a lot of germs accumulate and can quickly multiply due to the excellent moist and / or warm conditions. The drying modules must therefore be cleaned regularly, preferably at least once a day, in order to avoid increased nucleation and contamination. The cleaning is traditionally done manually by the interior of the Drying module is sprayed with water, if necessary treated with a cleaning agent and then sprayed out again with water. This is quite time consuming and often uncomfortable for the operator performing it. Since no production can take place during this time, the intervals between cleaning are often extended. This in turn creates a higher germ load for the operators of subsequent processing stations, since the germs find improved conditions for their growth.

The object of the invention is to be able to carry out a simple, quick and inexpensive cleaning of drying modules.

The above object is achieved by an apparatus and a method, which comprise the features in patent claims 1 and 9. Further advantageous configurations are described by the subclaims.

The invention relates to a device for drying containers, in particular a drying module for drying empty or filled beverage bottles or the like. in a container treatment and / or filling system. The device comprises an essentially closed drying chamber, with an inlet and outlet opening for the containers to be dried. The containers are transported upright through the drying chamber using a transport system. The device comprises at least one air supply opening for supplying drying air. Furthermore, the device can have at least one air discharge opening for the discharge of moist exhaust air. According to the invention, the device has at least one cleaning device for chemical or chemical and mechanical cleaning of the interior of the drying chamber. Via the cleaning device, a cleaning agent and / or disinfectant can be fed into the interior of the drying chamber, distributed and removed again from the interior of the drying chamber.

For example, neutral agents, in particular cold and / or hot water, can be used as cleaning agents and / or disinfectants. Special cleaning agents, in particular alkaline cleaners, can also be used. The use of acidic cleaners is also possible insofar as these do not attack the materials used in the interior of the drying chamber.

The cleaning device comprises at least one cleaning nozzle and / or a brush. In particular, a spray ball, a deflection nozzle, a rotary nozzle, a flat jet nozzle or a double flat jet nozzle can be used. The device preferably comprises a plurality of cleaning nozzles and / or Brushing, a cleaning nozzle and / or brush being arranged at least in each of the corner regions of the drying chamber.

According to a preferred embodiment, the cleaning nozzles and / or brushes are arranged stationary in the interior of the drying chamber. The cleaning nozzles and / or brushes are preferably also pivotable, so that complete rinsing and cleaning of the interior of the drying chamber is possible by pivoting the cleaning nozzles and / or brushes during the cleaning process.

According to an alternative embodiment, rotating brushes are provided, which are movably attached to frame elements or cross member elements. The brushes are in particular attached to the frame elements in the interior of the drying chamber in such a way that they contact the surfaces to be cleaned, in particular the inner walls of the drying chamber. The brushes coat the inner walls and / or other areas to be cleaned and thus improve the cleaning success, since in addition to chemical cleaning with water and / or a suitable cleaning agent, the corresponding surfaces are mechanically cleaned. The cleaning device is assigned at least one storage container with cleaning agent and / or a water connection. The reservoir or the water connection is connected via lines to the cleaning nozzles and / or brushes, so that the cleaning agent and / or the water is supplied to them and is distributed through them in the interior of the drying chamber.

The cleaning process is preferably automated and can be controlled and monitored by a control module. In particular, the control module controls the cleaning cycle and / or the cleaning process according to a predefined program that includes, for example, the different cleaning steps. The control module can also specify the intervals at which the interior of the drying chamber is automatically cleaned. Alternatively, the cleaning process can also be started manually by a user via the control module.

The cleaning process can thus be controlled via a controller assigned to the drying module. However, it can also be provided that the controller is connected to a central, higher-level system that coordinates the different modules of a container treatment device. The higher-level system activates the control module in particular when, for example, the system is at least partially due to a product change needs to be converted. The cleaning intervals can thus be set individually via the time, start / end of production etc. or manually.

According to a further embodiment, the inlet and outlet openings can be largely sealed off by means of closure devices during the cleaning of the drying chamber, so that the interior of the drying chamber forms a closed system. This can prevent cleaning agents from escaping during the cleaning process and thus contaminating the surroundings of the device. This further improves the safety of the personnel operating the device. In particular, it effectively prevents the personnel from coming into contact with the possibly aggressive cleaning agent and / or superheated steam etc. In particular, it can be provided that the closure devices are controlled by the control module. The control module controls the locking devices accordingly before the start and after the cleaning process is completed.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the closure device in the region of its contact surfaces with the inlet and outlet openings is equipped with sealing elements, in particular with rubber lips and / or brush strips. In particular, rugged areas such as the guide rail for the containers in the entry and exit areas, i.e. in the area of the inlet or outlet opening can thus be sealed better.

According to a further embodiment, the cleaning process takes place automatically at predefined time intervals, the control unit interrupting the inflow of containers into the drying chamber before the start of the cleaning process, while the containers located in the interior of the drying chamber are conveyed out of the drying chamber through the outlet opening. This ensures that there are no containers in the interior of the drying chamber during the cleaning process. Furthermore, it can be provided that the transport system continues to move during the cleaning process, so that the entire transport system is also sufficiently cleaned.

The locking devices can also be monitored by active locking or via door contacts. The cleaning process is only started by the control module when the closure devices are closed and there are no more containers in the interior of the drying chamber.

Furthermore, the device can comprise a suction device for the cleaning agent, in order to be able to control and remove it separately from the device. Furthermore, the drying chamber can be equipped with a viewing window. The viewing window enables the operator to monitor the functional state and / or the cleanliness of the interior of the drying chamber.

The invention further relates to a method for cleaning an already described device for drying containers with a cleaning device according to the invention. According to the invention, at least one cleaning and / or disinfectant is introduced into the interior of the drying chamber via the cleaning device. The following cleaning steps preferably run automatically and / or in a controlled manner during a cleaning process. First, water is injected into the interior of the drying chamber to moisten the inner surfaces and remove the coarsest dirt. The interior of the drying chamber is then acted upon with cleaning agent via the cleaning nozzles, in particular cleaning agent foam is injected into the interior. The cleaning agent can preferably act for a defined time. For example, an exposure time of approximately 5 minutes to 10 minutes is provided. The cleaning agent is then rinsed out by injecting water into the interior through the cleaning nozzles. After rinsing and blowing out the at least one air supply opening again, operation of the device can be resumed. The blowing out of the air supply opening serves to remove cleaning agent residues and / or water which may have penetrated the air supply system. Air can then be blown in through the cleaning nozzles to dry the interior before production is resumed.

In particular, it can be provided that the water and / or cleaning agent is suctioned off after each of the cleaning steps. This makes it possible, for example, to collect and reprocess the cleaning agent separately. For example, a drain is integrated in the base plate of the interior or on the side. The cleaning agent can be collected, disposed of or processed and reused. For example, a drain for water and a drain for cleaning agents can be provided, the water drain opening and the cleaning agent drain being closed when a cleaning step is carried out with water, and the cleaning agent drain opening and the water drain being closed when a cleaning step is carried out with cleaning agents. Alternatively, a single drain can be provided, which switches over to different disposal routes can be. In particular, several drain lines can be provided, each of which leads to its own collection container. Depending on the cleaning step, the corresponding disposal route or the corresponding drain line for water, alkaline cleaning agent, acid cleaning agent, etc. is opened with the aid of a changeover valve, while the other disposal routes are each closed. The water or cleaning agent gets into the assigned collection container, from which it can then be removed and sent to a suitable reprocessing facility.

According to a preferred embodiment, air is also blown through the at least one air supply opening into the interior of the drying chamber during the cleaning process. This ensures that no water or cleaning agent gets into the air supply system and contaminates it. In order to save energy during the cleaning process, the performance of the blower can be reduced compared to the blower performance during the drying process, so that, for example, only about 20% of the normal dry air volume is blown in per unit of time.

The cleaning is preferably carried out mechanically, swelled or sprayed. The pressure, the temperature and / or the amount of cleaning media can be set and controlled by the control module. The lines leading to the cleaning nozzles for the water and / or the cleaning agent can be equipped with flow monitors or flow meters or the like. be equipped. The supply of water and / or cleaning agent can thereby be controlled even better and the complete treatment of the interior of the drying chamber can be guaranteed or ensured.

It should also be noted that chemical cleaning also means cleaning the drying chamber only with water as a cleaning agent, for example with hot water steam.

The automatic cleaning via the cleaning device can be operated independently of the general system cleaning system or can be connected to the existing system cleaning system. Thus, for example, a common supply of detergent and / or water connection can be used.

The particular advantage of automated cleaning is that no time-consuming cleaning by an operator is necessary. It also ensures that cleaning is carried out at regular intervals. This effectively prevents the drying chamber from becoming colonized with germs, especially molds such as Aspergillus or the like. This leads to a significant improvement in the hygienic conditions in such systems. Health risks for the personnel operating the device through mold spores or the like. can thus be largely minimized.

• Figur 1 zeigt eine schematische Vorderansicht eines Trocknungsmoduls für Flaschen gemäß vorliegender Erfindung.
• Figuren 2 bis 4 zeigen jeweils eine schematische Seitenansicht des Innenraumes eines Trocknungsmoduls für Flaschen gemäß vorliegender Erfindung.
• Figur 5 bis Figur 8 zeigen jeweils eine weitere schematische Vorderansicht eines Trocknungsmoduls für Flaschen gemäß vorliegender Erfindung.
• Figur 9 zeigt schematisch die Reinigungsschritte während eines Reinigungszyklus.

In the following, exemplary embodiments are intended to explain the invention and its advantages with reference to the attached figures. The size ratios of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the real size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

• Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a drying module for bottles according to the present invention.
• Figures 2 to 4 each show a schematic side view of the interior of a drying module for bottles according to the present invention.
• Figure 5 to Figure 8 each show a further schematic front view of a drying module for bottles according to the present invention.
• Figure 9 shows schematically the cleaning steps during a cleaning cycle.

Identical reference numerals are used for identical or identically acting elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference numerals are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments merely represent examples of how the device according to the invention or the method according to the invention can be designed and do not constitute a final limitation.

Figure 1 to Figure 5 each show views of a drying module 1 for bottles 2 according to the present invention. The drying module 1 comprises an essentially closed drying chamber 10 with an inlet and outlet opening 15, 17 for the bottles 2. The bottles 2 are transported upright through the drying chamber 10 by means of a transport means 3. For example, this is a transport lane in which the bottles 2 pass through the drying chamber 10 one after the other in the transport direction TR.

An air supply system 4 is arranged above and / or next to the transport alley for the bottles 2, for example drying air 20 is supplied by a blower 6 generated and passed via air lines 7 into the interior of the drying chamber 10, where the drying air 20 from so-called air knives 5 is preferably blown obliquely downwards onto the bottles 2. The blown off moisture preferably collects in a drain pan 9, which comprises a drain 9 _A. The moist exhaust air 22 is removed by suction via an air discharge opening 8.

The drying chamber 10 comprises at least one cleaning device through which cleaning agents can be fed into the interior of the drying chamber 10. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cleaning device comprises a plurality of cleaning nozzles 30, one cleaning nozzle 30 in each case being arranged in one of the corners of the drying chamber 10. Furthermore, at least two cleaning nozzles 30 are arranged in the central region of the drying chamber 10. The cleaning nozzles 30 are preferably spray balls, deflection nozzles, flat jet nozzles, double flat jet nozzles or the like. The cleaning nozzles 30 are preferably pivotable and / or rotatable in all spatial directions.

Instead of cleaning nozzles 30, brushes can also be used, in particular brushes with openings through which cleaning agents can be fed into the interior of the drying chamber 10.

As in Figure 3 As shown, the cleaning device is assigned at least one storage container 50 with cleaning agent 51. In addition, the cleaning device comprises at least one access to a water connection 60. The cleaning agent 51 and / or water is fed to the cleaning nozzles 32 or brushes via lines 52, 62 and distributed in the interior of the drying chamber 10. The cleaning agent 51 can be water, for example. Special cleaners, in particular alkaline cleaning agents, can also be used for an improved cleaning and / or disinfecting effect. Cleaning with acidic cleaning agents is also possible, provided that the materials used in the interior of the drying chamber 10 are not attacked by the cleaning agent 51 used.

The interior of the drying chamber 10 is preferably cleaned automatically. In particular, the cleaning steps, the duration of the cleaning process and the intervals between two cleaning processes can be controlled. As in Figure 4 a control device 40 is provided for this purpose. This controls a pump device 53 via which water, cleaning agent 51 or a mixture of water and cleaning agent 51 is fed to the cleaning nozzles 30. On the other hand, the control device 40 controls the cleaning nozzles 30 or brushes. These are preferably arranged stationary in the interior of the drying chamber, but can, for example, be pivoted and / or rotated. As a result, the water and / or cleaning agent 51 can be distributed largely uniformly in the interior or on the inner side surfaces of the drying chamber 10. The cleaning is preferably carried out automatically after certain preset time intervals. In this case, the control unit 40 interrupts the supply of bottles 2 into the drying chamber 10, so that there are no bottles 2 in the drying chamber 10 during the cleaning process. However, it can be provided that the empty means of transport 3 continues to move through the drying chamber 10 in order to enable comprehensive cleaning of the means of transport 3.

However, it can also be provided that a user starts the cleaning process manually via the control device 40.

Air 21 is preferably further blown into the interior of the drying chamber 10 by the air knives 5 during the cleaning process. This prevents water and / or cleaning agents from getting into the air knifes 5 or into the air lines 7. In order to save energy during the cleaning process, the performance of the blower 6 can be reduced by approximately 80%, the effect described above still being achieved.
Figure 5 shows that special closure devices 35 are provided with which the inlet and outlet openings 15, 17 for the containers can be closed before the start of the cleaning process, so that the interior of the drying chamber 10 forms a completely closed space and no water and / or cleaning agent 51 after got outside. The closure devices 35 can be equipped at the contact points with the openings 15, 17 with sealing elements 36, in particular with rubber lips and / or brush strips. For example, rugged areas such as the railing guide for the bottles in the entrance and exit areas can be sealed well.

The locking devices 35 can be attached manually. However, the closure devices 35 are preferably automatically adjustable and are controlled by the control device 40, so that the inlet and outlet openings 15, 17 for the containers are automatically closed before the cleaning process begins and are opened automatically after the cleaning process has ended. Figure 5 also shows one arranged in the lower side area Suction device 55 for water and / or cleaning agent 51, so that the cleaning agent 51 can be collected separately and reprocessed if necessary.

According to Figure 6 it is provided that the drain 9A is assigned two drain lines 57a, 57b. Depending on the respective cleaning step, a switchover valve 59 is used to switch over to the desired disposal route, while the other disposal route is closed in each case. For example, the drain line 57a leads to a collecting container 58a for used cleaning agent 51 u. Accordingly, the drain pipe 57b leads to a collecting tank 58b for used water 61 u. The used cleaning agent 51 u or the used water 61 u can then be removed from the respective collecting container 58a, 58b and fed to a suitable reprocessing.

Figure 7 shows another air duct system. In order to complete the cleaning process, the interior of the drying chamber 10 must be dried again before the bottles 2 can be dried. For this purpose it can be provided that the necessary drying air 22 via the existing air supply system 4 (cf. Figure 2 ) is blown in. Alternatively and / or additionally, air 33 can also be blown in via the cleaning nozzles 30. The cleaning nozzles 30 are accordingly connected to air lines 32, which are connected, for example, to the blower 6 for the drying air 22 or to a separate blower (not shown).

According to one in Figure 8 Alternative embodiment shown rotating brushes 31 are provided instead of the cleaning nozzles, the position of which in the interior of the drying chamber 10 can be changed. The brushes 31 are arranged to be movable on a frame construction with vertical and horizontal cross member elements 70. As a result, the brushes 31 can remove the inner walls of the drying chamber and / or other areas to be cleaned - for example the transport means (not shown) or the like. - Brush and therefore additionally clean mechanically

Figure 9 schematically shows the cleaning steps during a cleaning cycle. First, water is injected into the interior of the drying chamber via the cleaning nozzles. This serves to moisten the interior surfaces and remove coarse dirt. Then the interior is foamed with a cleaning and / or disinfectant. This is also injected through the cleaning nozzles. Preferably, the cleaning and / or disinfectant twist the interior for a certain exposure time, for example 5min to 10min. The cleaning agent and / or disinfectant can now be suctioned off first or else rinsed out directly by injecting water into the interior via the cleaning nozzles. Residual cleaning agent is preferably completely removed by rinsing with water. In a final cleaning step, the interior of the drying chamber is blown dry. On the one hand, this is done via the air supply openings that blow in the drying air. On the other hand, air can also be blown in through the cleaning nozzles.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for a person skilled in the art that modifications or changes of the invention can be made without leaving the scope of the following claims.

Reference list

1

Drying module

2nd

bottle

3rd

Mode of Transport

4th

Air supply device / air supply system

5

Air knife

6

fan

7

Air duct

8th

Air discharge opening

9

Drain pan

9 _A

Outflow

10th

Drying chamber

15

Entrance opening

17th

Outlet opening

20th

Drying air

21

air

21 _R

Air with reduced fan performance

22

moist exhaust air

30th

Cleaning nozzle

31

Cleaning brush

32

Air lines

35

Locking device

36

Sealing element

40

Control module

50

Storage container

51

cleaning supplies

51 _U

used detergent

53

Pumping device

55

Suction device

57a / 57b

Drain pipe

58a / 58b

Collection container

60

Water connection

61 _U

used water

62

Water pipe

70

Truss element

t _effective

Exposure time

Claims (12)

1. A device (1) for drying containers (2), in particular bottles, wherein the device (1) comprises an essentially closed drying chamber (10), with an inlet opening and an outlet opening (15, 17) for the containers (2), with a transport system (3) for the containers (2), wherein the containers (2) are transported through the drying chamber (10) standing in an upright position, with at least one air supply opening (5) for supplying drying air (20), wherein the device (1) comprises at least one cleaning device for chemical or for chemical and mechanical cleaning of the interior of the drying chamber (10), through which cleaning device a cleaning agent and/or disinfecting agent (51) can be supplied to, distributed within and removed from the interior of the drying chamber (10), wherein at least one storage container (50) with cleaning agent and/or disinfecting agent (51) is associated with the cleaning device, and wherein the cleaning device comprises at least one access (62) to a water connection (60), wherein the cleaning device comprises at least one cleaning nozzle (30), in particular a spraying ball, a deflecting nozzle, a rotating nozzle, a flat spray nozzle or a double flat spray nozzle, and/or at least one brush (31), and wherein the cleaning nozzles (30) and/or brushes (31) are arranged in a stationary manner within the interior of the drying chamber (10), characterised in that a drain for water and a drain for the cleaning agent (51) are integrated within the floor plate of the interior or at a lateral side, so that the cleaning agent (51) can be collected and reprocessed separately in each case, whereby the water drain is opened and the cleaning agent drain is closed when a cleaning step with water takes place and whereby the cleaning agent drain is opened and the water drain is closed when a cleaning step with cleaning agent takes place.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device comprises a plurality of cleaning nozzles (30) and/or brushes (31), wherein at least one cleaning nozzle (30) and/or brush (31) is arranged in each of the corners of the drying chamber (10).
3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device(1) comprises frame elements (70) on which frame elements (70) rotating brushes (31) are movably arranged so that the rotating brushes (31) within the interior of the drying chamber (10) can be brought into contact with the surfaces to be cleaned.
4. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a control module (40) is assigned to the cleaning device and wherein the cleaning device can be controlled manually and/or automatically via the control module (40).
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the cleaning cycle and/or the cleaning process is adjustable and/or controllable by the control module (40).
6. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) comprises closure devices (35) for the inlet opening and the outlet opening (15, 17) of the drying chamber (10).
7. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device (1) comprises a suction device (55) for water and/or cleaning agent (51).
8. A method for cleaning a device (1) for drying containers (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one cleaning agent and/or disinfecting agent (51) is introduced into, distributed within and then removed again from the interior of the drying chamber (10) via the cleaning device, characterised in that the following cleaning steps take place automatically and/or in a controlled manner within the interior of the drying chamber (10):

   • injecting water into the interior of the drying chamber (10) by means of the cleaning device to moisten the interior surfaces;

   • impinging a cleaning agent and/or disinfecting agent (51) on the interior of the drying chamber (10), which cleaning agent and/or disinfecting agent (51) is injected into the interior of the drying chamber (10) by the cleaning device;

   • action of the cleaning agent and/or disinfecting agent (51) for a defined time (t_wirk) ;

   • rinsing the interior to remove the cleaning agent and/or disinfecting agent (51);

   • re-rinsing the interior;

   • blowing out air the at least one air supply opening (5), wherein the blowing out of the air supply opening (5) serves to remove cleaning agent residues and/or water which has penetrated into the air supply system (5) and

   • blowing out the interior by means of the cleaning nozzles (30) with air to dry the interior before production is resumed,

   wherein a drain for water and a drain for cleaning agent (51) are integrated within the floor plate of the interior or at a lateral side, so that the cleaning agent (51) is collected and reprocessed separately in each case, wherein the water drain is opened and the cleaning agent drain is closed when a cleaning step with water takes place and wherein the cleaning agent drain is opened and the water drain is closed when a cleaning step with cleaning agent takes place.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein during the cleaning process air (21, 21R) continues to be blown through the at least one air supply opening (5) into the interior of the drying chamber (10).
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the drying air (20, 21, 21 R) is generated with a blower (6), and wherein the power of the blower (6) during the cleaning process is reduced by up to 80% compared to the power of the blower during the drying process.
11. The method according to one of the claims 8 to 10, wherein the cleaning process is controlled by a control module (40), which control module is coupled to the closure devices (35), and wherein the control module (40) controls the closure devices (35) before the start and after completion of the cleaning process, so that the inlet opening and the outlet opening (15, 17) for the containers (2) are closed by the closure devices (35) during the duration of the cleaning process and are opened again after completion of the cleaning process.
12. The method according to one of the claims 8 to 11, wherein the cleaning process takes place automatically at predefined time intervals, wherein the control unit (40) interrupts a supply of containers (2) to the drying chamber (10) before the start of the cleaning process.

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