EP2647443A1 - Device for cleaning containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a transporting device for transporting a container (4) to a discharging station via a cleaning chamber (25), where an axis of the transporting device runs in a horizontal direction. The transporting device has a pushing device for moving forward the container in a transporting section. The transporting device has guiding elements (2) with radially outer and inner guiding element parts (5, 6) arranged with respect to the axis, respectively. The parts support and/or guide the container inwardly and outwardly in a radial direction in the section.

Description

The invention relates to a device for cleaning containers with a helical transport device on which the containers supplied via a feeder are transported by at least one cleaning chamber to an unloading station, wherein the transport means guide elements for guiding the containers along a helical transport path and at least one feed device for advancing the containers on the transport path comprises, and being arranged in the cleaning chamber with at least one source of cleaning medium connectable spray nozzles, the guide elements comprise at least one with respect to the axis radially outer helical guide member and at least one with respect to the axis radially inner helical guide member which the containers support or guide outside and inside in the radial direction in the transport route.

Such a device is known from US 3,032,798 A known. A device with a horizontal helical transport device is also from the DE 3315413 A1 known. Such a device has the advantage of a relatively long cleaning distance with space-saving design due to the helical transport path with an axis extending in the horizontal direction. In contrast to cleaning devices with extending in the vertical direction helical transport path, as for example from the DE 10116854 B4 has become known, it is necessary for transport routes with extending in the horizontal direction helix to support the containers in the transport path in the radial direction so that they can not fall off the transport route. For this purpose are at the subject of DE 3315413 A1 the containers received positively in a container entrainment. The container entrainment consist of four parallel to each other and transverse to the helical guide elements extending rods which are attached via a fork to a centrally mounted within the spiral guide drive shaft. This leads to a very complex construction, due to which it is difficult, for example, to arrange in the axial direction in the space enclosed by the transport space extending stationary nozzle systems. The nozzles can only be arranged on co-rotating with the container entrainment tubes, which in turn leads to constructional problems with regard to the connection of the supply lines for the spray nozzles.

The in the US 3,032,798 A described is so designed that the guide elements comprise at least one with respect to the axis radially outer helical guide member and at least one with respect to the axis radially inner helical guide member which support the containers outside and inside in the radial direction in the transport path or lead. The fact that the radial support of the containers in the helical transport path with the aid of helical guide elements, namely at least one radially outer and at least one radially inner helical guide element, a much simpler construction is achieved, and it is especially created the possibility of the feed device much easier to train than this in the subject of DE 3315413 A1 the case is. Due to this design, the guide elements and the feed device can be realized structurally separate, so that manages the to choose the optimum constructive training for the respective function.

The invention aims to improve a device of the type mentioned in that an improvement of the cleaning effect can be achieved.

To solve this problem, the cleaning device whose helical transport device has a horizontal or horizontal axis inclined, according to a first aspect of the invention provided with guide elements which are designed and arranged such that it has a rectangular receiving cross-section for the containers to be cleaned in the transport route define and limit, the side edges seen in axial section inclined to the helix axis. The inclination of the side edges can be designed so that the open side of the transport container in the transport direction or against the transport direction.

The guide elements are thus designed and arranged such that they define and limit the receiving cross section for the containers to be cleaned in the transport route. In this case, the arrangement of the guide elements in a rectangular receiving cross section is such that the side edges of the rectangle seen in axial section inclined to the helical axis. As a result, an improvement in the cleaning effect can be achieved in certain cases.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the cleaning device of the aforementioned type is developed such that the axis of the helical Transport means inclined to the horizontal, wherein the inclination angle is preferably between 5 ° and 45 °.

For lateral support of the containers in the helical transport path, it is preferably provided that at least one lateral helical guide element is arranged radially between the at least one outer and the at least one inner helical guide element, which supports the containers on at least one side in the axial direction in the transport path . leads. The at least one lateral helical guide element can preferably be arranged such that one turn of the helical guide element supports or guides the container on one side and the adjoining turn of the helical guide element on the other side. This means that the helical lateral guide element each successive turns of the helical transport path limited to each other.

Alternatively, at least two lateral helical guide elements are provided, which support the containers on both sides, i. on opposite sides, support or lead.

Preferably, the guide elements are formed by helically bent tubes, rods or profiles. Preferably, in each case at least two guide elements are provided, ie at least two radially outer, at least two radially inner and / or two lateral guide elements, each of which may be formed by tubes, rods or profiles. The at least two guide elements preferably extend parallel to each other.

A particularly simple and space-saving design of the feed device results according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, when the feed device comprises at least one transversely to the feed direction of the transport spiral extending driver, which passes through the transport path between the at least one outer helical guide member and the at least one inner helical guide member , Preferably, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, circumferentially preferably uniformly distributed drivers are provided. Since the containers are held according to the invention due to the arrangement of the at least one outer and at least one inner helical guide member and with the preferably provided at least one lateral helical guide member on all sides in the transport path, the drivers have only the task of the containers along the helical transport path to move forward, for which a simple pushing in the circumferential direction is required, wherein only a relative movement in the axial direction must be allowed at the contact point between the driver and the respective container. The drivers can therefore be easily formed by running transversely to the feed direction of the transport spiral rods, tubes or profiles. The drivers can either be arranged extending in the axial direction of the transport spiral or obliquely to the axial direction. In the case of the oblique arrangement it can be required to form the drive rods or tubes curved.

In order to accomplish the advance of the drivers in a simple manner, it is preferably provided that the at least one driver is arranged at the two opposite axial ends of the helical transport path, held around the axis rotatably driven support elements. The support elements may preferably be formed by a support ring which is rotatably mounted at a radial distance from the axis. In a storage of the support elements outside the axis or helical axis, it is possible in a simple manner, as corresponds to a preferred embodiment, to arrange spray nozzles stationary in the space enclosed by the helical transport path space, since the space in question not in this case of itself in the radial direction extending, the helical axis rotating components, such as struts or the like., Interspersed. The embodiment is therefore advantageously such that the spray nozzles are arranged on pipes or rods that can be connected to the at least one source of the cleaning medium. The fluid outlet from the spray nozzles is preferably oriented in the direction of the helical transport path.

In order to improve the cleaning effect, it is preferably provided that the distance between the circumferentially offset mutually arranged drivers is chosen to be greater than the circumferential extent of the containers. This leads to the fact that the containers in the helical transport section each jerkily slide down after exceeding the highest point, until they reach the in Circling each circumferential direction next driver. Due to this jerky movement, the adhering dirt particles are better solved. A similar effect occurs in each case when crossing the lowest point in the helical transport path, due to the jerky movement, for example, an improved flushing out of accumulating in the containers cleaning water and the dissolved dirt particles is observed.

To further improve the cleaning effect, the spray nozzles can be arranged not only radially within the transport path, but it can be arranged preferably further spray nozzles radially outside the transport path. Furthermore, at least one nozzle island may preferably be arranged in the cleaning chamber, the nozzles of which have a discharge direction extending essentially in the axial direction of the transport spiral, whereby the lateral surfaces of the containers can also be exposed to cleaning medium in a simple manner. Furthermore, a section of the cleaning chamber can be formed as a drying chamber and can have connectable blow-off or drying nozzles with at least one source of a drying medium.

Due to the preferably horizontal course of the helix axis, ie due to the horizontal arrangement of the transport helix, the cleaning chamber can be divided into a plurality of sections in a simple manner without, for example, causing a significant mixing of cleaning medium used in adjacent sections. This advantage can also be at a slightly inclined to the horizontal orientation be achieved. Preferably, the training in this context is further developed such that the spray nozzles are connectable in a first axial portion of the cleaning chamber with a first source of a cleaning medium and the spray nozzles in a second axial portion of the cleaning chamber with a second source of a cleaning medium. In particular, it can be provided that the cleaning medium of the first source and the cleaning medium of the second source have different chemical and / or physical properties from each other, in particular different temperature, different levels of detergent, different fluid pressures or the like. Furthermore, nozzles with different injection angles, Nozzle cross-sections or nozzle geometries are used.

In a horizontal or approximately horizontal arrangement of the transport spiral, it is for example possible to rinse the containers in the end of the transport path with cold water, whereby a significant energy savings is achieved. The use of cold rinse water would not readily be possible with the vertical arrangement of the transport spiral, since the cold rinse water applied in the upper region of the cleaning chamber would subsequently mix with the hot cleaning water used in the lower region and would cool it considerably.

Although a transport helix with a horizontal axis is preferred within the scope of the invention, deviating orientations of the transport helix are also conceivable. For example, the transport spiral slightly inclined run so that the axis of the transport spiral, for example, an angle of 5 ° -45 ° with the horizontal includes.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device according to the invention is further developed such that the guide elements are designed as lines for the cleaning medium. In this way, the spray nozzles can be particularly simple and save space supply with cleaning medium, the arrangement of the driver elements on the support rings favors the supply of the inner guide elements with cleaning medium particularly.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown schematically in the drawing. In this show Fig. 1 a perspective view of a cleaning device, Fig. 2 another perspective view Fig. 3 a sectional view taken along the line III - III of Fig. 1 , the 4 and 5 Axial sections of modified formations of the transport spiral, the Fig. 6-10 Axial sections of embodiments of the transport spiral according to the invention, Fig. 11 a schematic representation of the cleaning chamber, the Fig. 12-15 schematic representations of the storage of the drivers and the Figure 16 a cross section through a cleaning device.

In Fig. 1 a cleaning device 1 is shown, which is used for cleaning containers, such as beverage bottle crates, boxes or the like., Is used. The containers for which the device according to the invention is suitable are, in particular, cubic or cuboidal Containers used for the storage and / or transport of products.

The cleaning device 1 has a transport path consisting of helical guide elements 2 in a housing 3 surrounding a cleaning chamber 25 in which the containers 4 to be cleaned are guided. The guide elements 2 can hereby be distinguished into radially outer guide elements 5 and radially inner guide elements 6 as well as laterally arranged, likewise helical guide elements 7. Between the radially outer guide elements 5 and the radially inner guide elements 6 extend the rod-like drivers 8 of the feed device of the cleaning device 1, which are connected to e.g. annular support elements 9 are attached. The support elements 9 are circumferentially or rotationally driven about the axis or helical axis, wherein the drive can be done for example via a tooth, chain or belt drive, not shown, which engages in the toothing 10 of the support members 9. To avoid complex storage devices for the feed device in the region close to the axis, the support elements 9 are mounted on at least two, preferably three points, not shown, which are formed for example by support rollers and / or gears, depending on the design inside and / or outside carry the support element, while at least one gear engages in the toothing 10 of the support elements 9.

The containers 4 to be cleaned are guided at the feed point 11 in the region of the helical transport path, where they are detected by the drivers 8 and pushed through the helical transport path. The feed in the axial direction takes place through an interaction of Driver 8 and the lateral guide elements 7, so that the containers to be cleaned through the cleaning device 1 helically along the axis or helical axis of the cleaning device. In Fig. 1 It can be seen that spray nozzles are arranged in different axial areas, wherein the spray nozzles 12 deliver, for example, cold water in a first axial area and spray nozzles 13 are arranged in a further axial area of the cleaning device, for example, warm water and / or water added with cleaning agents spray on the containers to be cleaned. In a further axial region, in turn, pure water-carrying spray nozzles can be arranged so that the washing medium is in turn removed from the containers. The distance between the drivers 8 is chosen to be greater than the length of the containers 4, so that each time it passes through the vertex and the lowest point in the transport path to a slipping and abrupt stopping or to a jerky acceleration of the containers 4, whereby a additional cleaning effect is achieved.

In Fig. 2 It can be seen that in an axial region opposite the feed point 11, a nozzle 14 is arranged, for example, for drying air, with which water adhering to the containers to be cleaned can be removed. After this drying step, the containers 4 to be cleaned are conveyed by the drivers 8 to a device 15 for the removal of the cleaned containers. In Fig. 2 as in Fig. 1 can be seen in different axial areas of the housing 3 arranged doors or inspection cover 16, which provide a very good access to the interior of the cleaning device 1, whereby a corresponding maintenance of the cleaning device 1 is made possible.

In Fig. 3 is now a cross section through a portion of the helical transport path shown, it being recognized that the containers to be cleaned 4 between the radially outer guide elements 5, the radially inner guide elements 6 and the lateral guide elements 7 are guided on all sides, wherein the feed by the driver 8 of the feed device takes place, which extend radially between the guide elements 5 and 6.

Fig. 4 shows a modified embodiment of the transport helix in axial section, wherein the axis of the transport helix is denoted by 17. In contrast to the training according to Fig. 3 the lateral guide elements 7 are always arranged in pairs. In the view according to Fig. 4 showing a section of the transport helix, adjacent turns 18, 19 and 20 of the transport helix can be seen, with a total of only a pair of lateral helical guide elements 7 is provided. It can be seen from the example of the container 21 that the winding 18 corresponding portion of the lateral guide elements 7 which supports one side of the container 21 and the winding 19 corresponding portion of the lateral guide elements 7, the other side of the container 21 is supported.

In the training according to Fig. 5 however, two pairs of lateral guide elements are provided, namely a pair of guide elements 7 for guiding the container 21 on one side and another pair of guide elements 22 for guiding the container 21 on the other side.

In the embodiment according to the invention Fig. 6 is limited by the helical guide elements 5, 6 and 7 rectangular receiving cross section 23 of the transport spiral to the axis 17 inclined. This can lead to a better emptying of the cleaning medium from the containers. In Fig. 7 a modified embodiment is shown, in which the rectangular receiving cross section 23 is inclined in the other direction, that is, the open side of the containers pointing against the transport direction 24 of the transport spiral. Like a comparison of 6 and 7 shows, the inclination of the receiving cross-section may be different in the context of the invention and depends in particular on the particular application and on the nature of the containers to be cleaned.

Fig. 8-10 show further modified embodiments of the invention, in which the axis 17 of the transport spiral is inclined to the horizontal. The axis 17 can be tilted to different degrees, in particular, the inclination angle α is preferably between 5 ° and 45 °. As with the training according to the Fig. 4-7 , even in the case of the inclined transport spiral, the rectangular receiving cross-section 23 of the transport helix can be parallel to the axis 17 ( Fig. 8 ) or inclined ( FIGS. 9 and 10 ) can be arranged. In the training according to Fig. 9 the inclination of the rectangular receiving cross-section 23 to the axis 17 is the same as the inclination of the axis 17 to the horizontal, so that the rectangular receiving cross-section 23 is arranged parallel to the horizontal.

In Fig. 11 the cleaning chamber 25 is shown schematically, wherein the various alternative ways of positioning the feed point 11 and the discharge point 26 are shown. The feeding point 11 and the unloading point 26 may be arranged at almost arbitrary positions along the circumference of the transporting helix, the six preferred positions in FIG Fig. 11 are shown schematically. With a suitable choice of the position of the feed point 11 and the discharge point 26 can be achieved, for example, that the containers run into the transport spiral with the open side up and leak with the open side still down from the transport coil. The reverse case is also conceivable.

The Fig. 12-15 schematically show different ways of storing the driver 8. In training according to Fig. 12 are the two carriers 8 holding support elements 9 formed by support rings, which are mounted circumferentially, wherein at least one of the two support rings 9 is driven circumferentially. The bearings for the circumferential bearing of the support rings 9 are indicated schematically at 28. The drive is indicated at 29. In the training according to Fig. 13 this is a support element of a support ring 9 and the other support member formed by a wheel 27, a disc or a spoked wheel. The wheel 27 is mounted circumferentially and driven on the axle. The training according to Fig. 14 differs from the training according to Fig. 13 in that the wheel 27 is mounted on the axle. The training according to Fig. 15 differs from the training according to Fig. 14 in that the drive 29 does not take place on the wheel 27 but on the support ring 9.

In Fig. 16 the outer 5, inner 6 and lateral guide elements 7 are particularly easy to recognize, between which the containers 4 are guided during the passage of the helical transport path. The feed takes place with the aid of the driver elements 8, wherein the distance between the driver elements 8 is greater than the length of the containers 4 is selected. This leads to a slipping of the containers 4 when exceeding the top dead center and to an abrupt stopping at each next driver element 8, whereby an additional cleaning effect is achieved.

Claims (16)

Device for cleaning containers with a helical transport device whose axis is horizontal or inclined to the horizontal, wherein the angle of inclination is preferably between 5 ° and 45 °, and on which the containers supplied via a feeding device are transported through at least one cleaning chamber to an unloading station, wherein the transport device comprises guide elements for guiding the containers along a helical transport path and at least one feed device for advancing the containers on the transport path, and wherein in the cleaning chamber with at least one source of a cleaning medium connectable spray nozzles are arranged, wherein the guide elements at least one with respect to the axis ( 17) radially outer helical guide element (5) and at least one with respect to the axis (17) radially inner helical guide element (6) comprising the containers (4,21) support and guide outside and inside in the radial direction in the transport path, characterized in that the guide elements are designed and arranged such that they define and limit a rectangular receiving cross section for the containers to be cleaned in the transport path, the side edges seen in axial section inclined to Spiral axis run. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the inclination of the side edges is formed such that the open side of the transport container in the transport direction or against the transport direction. Device for cleaning containers with a helical transport device, on which the containers supplied via a feeding device are transported by at least one cleaning chamber to an unloading station, wherein the transport device guide elements for guiding the containers along a helical transport path and at least one feed device for advancing the containers on the Transport path comprises, and wherein in the cleaning chamber with at least one source of a cleaning medium connectable spray nozzles are arranged, wherein the guide elements at least one with respect to the axis (17) radially outer helical guide element (5) and at least one with respect to the axis (17) radially inner helical guide element (6) comprise, which support the containers (4,21) outside and inside in the radial direction in the transport path, characterized in that the axis of the turn elartigen transport device is inclined to the horizontal, wherein the inclination angle is preferably between 5 ° and 45 °. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one lateral helical guide element (7) is arranged radially between the at least one outer (5) and the at least one inner (6) helical guide member, which the containers (4,21 ) is supported on both sides in the axial direction in the transport path and leads. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the guide elements (5,6,7) of helically bent tubes, rods or profiles are formed. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the feed device comprises at least one in the axial direction of the transport coil extending driver (8), the transport path between the at least one outer helical guide member (5) and the at least one inner helical guide member (6) preferably penetrated in the axial direction. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart, in the circumferential direction preferably arranged uniformly distributed, drivers (8) is provided. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the distance between the drivers (8) is chosen to be greater than the circumferential extent of the containers (4,21). Apparatus according to claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the at least one driver (8) of the two opposite axial ends of the helical transport path arranged around the axis circumferentially drivable support elements (9,27) is held. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the spray nozzles (12,13) are arranged on connectable to the at least one source of the cleaning medium tubes or rods. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that spray nozzles are arranged radially within the transport path and further spray nozzles radially outside the transport path . Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the spray nozzles (12) in a first axial portion of the cleaning chamber (25) with a first source of a cleaning medium and the spray nozzles (13) in a second axial portion of the cleaning chamber (25). can be connected to a second source of a cleaning medium. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the cleaning medium of the first source and the cleaning medium of the second source from each other have different chemical and / or physical properties, in particular different temperature, different content of detergent, different fluid pressure or the like. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that in an axial portion of the cleaning chamber (25) nozzles (14) for a drying medium, in particular air, are arranged. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the nozzles (12,13,14) are arranged stationary. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the guide elements (5,6,7) are designed as lines for the cleaning medium.

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