EP2782687A1

EP2782687A1 - Device for processing containers

Info

Publication number: EP2782687A1
Application number: EP12766883.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Martin Schach
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2011-11-23
Filing date: 2012-09-13
Publication date: 2014-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2032-09-13
Also published as: JP6120866B2; US20140290515A1; EP2782687B1; US9162440B2; WO2013075764A1; CN103906582A; CN103906582B; JP2015506880A; DE102011119171B3

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for processing containers, in particular for printing on containers, comprising at least one rotor (1), which has a plurality of processing positions (3) on the rotor circumference thereof and can be driven such as to revolve around a vertical rotor axis or machine axis in a direction of rotation of the rotor, and comprising at least one extractor device (6) for extracting foreign materials or contaminants that accumulate during processing, wherein said extractor device extends in the direction of rotation of the rotor at least over a part of the rotor circumference and laterally surrounds the rotor (1).

Description

Device for treating containers

The invention relates to a device for treating containers, in particular for printing on containers, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Devices for treating containers by printing the containers are known (DE 10 2006 001 223 A1). In particular, devices are also known in which the containers are moved on a treatment path formed by a plurality of rotors connected to transport rotors and in each case around a vertical machine axis, and a treatment step of a treatment comprising several treatment steps takes place at the treatment positions of each rotor, for example the application of a Color set for color printing, pretreating the containers for printing or curing and / or crosslinking of the ink eg by energy input, i. by heat and / or UV radiation and / or microwave radiation and / or beta radiation. It is also known to use for the printing of the container liquid or largely liquid printing inks or printing inks, which are then applied with working according to the so-called ink-jet method and electrically or electronically controllable printheads or at the nozzle.

It is also known (DE 10 2009 043 497 A1) to keep the container suspended during the treatment on container carriers or so-called pucks, each of which is moved with the container held on it through the entire treatment path.

From DE 10 2009 013 477 A1 a suction device is known in which each individual container is received in a suction sleeve provided with an opening unit.

When treating and especially when printing the container can not be avoided that foreign or harmful or interfering substances, for example, during printing spurted or released ink, their micro-fine particles or pigments and Solvent and when drying the ink by energy input evaporated solvent or when drying the ink with UV light resulting ozone or spilled and solvent splashed into the environment, which is especially in high-performance treatment or printing devices, with which, for example, up to 36,000 multicolored printed images can be realized in the hour, to a significant, especially harmful to health environment, leading to uncontrolled contamination of machine or device elements, etc., unless a suction device for the foreign or foreign matter is present.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for treating, in particular for printing containers with a suction device, which allows for high reliability and a reduced design and energy costs an effective suction of incurred in the treatment foreign or foreign matter. To solve this problem, a device according to the patent claim 1 is formed.

In the device according to the invention, the suction of foreign matter or impurities takes place directly at the treatment positions, i. directly at the respective place of origin of foreign or foreign matter, via the non-rotating with the rotor and the rotor open suction hood, which extends in the rotor rotation direction at least over a treatment path corresponding angular range of rotation of the rotor or the rotor circumference. Air turbulence caused by the rotation of the rotor as well as by any rotation or rotation of the container during their treatment, have basically no or substantially no negative effect on the suction of foreign or foreign matter, but the rotational movement of the rotor for an accelerated Removing foreign and foreign matter from the treatment positions by the centrifugal or centrifugal forces and used for an acceleration of the exhaust air flow and thereby at least supports the extraction of foreign or foreign matter.

The respective exhaust hood is aerodynamically optimally designed in their hood interior in relation to the local flow conditions, and also in the sense of energy and process efficiency, in particular in such a way that an air flow which has a positive effect on the treatment or printing process is achieved with minimally injected suction energy at the treatment positions and the suction device can accordingly also be operated cost-efficiently.

For the purposes of the invention, "containers" are in particular cans, bottles, tubes, pouches, each made of metal, glass and / or plastic, but also other packaging materials which are suitable for filling products "means within the meaning of the invention deviations from the respective exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of insignificant changes for the function.

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.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment. 1 is a simplified perspective view of the rotor of a

Apparatus for treating containers by printing, together with a suction device;

2 shows a simplified, schematic sectional view of the rotor and the suction device of FIG. 1 and its suction hood in a vertical sectional plane enclosing the rotor axis;

3 is a perspective detail view of the suction device;

FIG. 4 shows a representation similar to FIG. 3 in a further embodiment; 5 is a perspective detail view of the lamellar or

Baffle arrangement of the suction device of Figure 4; Fig. 6 in a simplified schematic representation and in plan view of the rotor of a device for treating containers by printing, together with a suction device according to another

Embodiment of the invention;

7 shows a simplified, schematic sectional view of the rotor as well as the suction device of FIG. 6 and its suction hood in a vertical sectional plane enclosing the rotor axis;

FIG. 8 shows the suction hood of FIG. 6 in a detail view and in plan view; FIG.

9 suction hood of Figure 6 in perspective detail view.

In the figures, 1 of a vertical machine axis MA circumferentially drivable rotor of a module of a treatment machine or device for printing on containers 2, not shown otherwise, for example, for direct printing of the container 2 on its Behälteraußen- or lateral surface with a multi-color print. The device has, for example, a plurality of rotors or modules which connect in a container transport direction in transport moderately to each other and at the treatment positions 3 each a partial treatment is performed, for example, applying a set of colors of the multi-color imprint, preparing the container surface for printing, drying the ink, etc.

On the circumference of the rotor 1 are distributed at equal angular intervals around the machine axis MA and formed at the same radial distance from this machine axis MA treatment positions 3, in which the container 2 in the illustrated embodiment each hanging, i. with their container axes in the vertical direction are kept parallel to the machine axis MA oriented to container carriers 4. These are in the illustrated embodiment so-called "pucks", which are moved with the containers 2 through the device and during the treatment of a controlled rotary or Pivoting movement of the container 2 to allow its container axis.

At the treatment positions 3 of the rotor 1, a treatment head 5 is provided in each case, with which the respective treatment step is carried out, for example the application of a color set of the multicolor overprint. In In this case, the treatment heads 5 are printheads and electrically operated print heads operating specifically by the ink-jet method with which the liquid ink or printing ink, ie color pigments in a liquid matrix (solvent), are controlled via nozzles to the respective treatment position 3 arranged container is applied.

If the treatment positions 3 on the rotor 1 are those for drying out the printing ink, for example by energy input, e.g. by heat, UV light, etc., the treatment heads 5 are at these treatment positions 3 the corresponding energy radiation emitting treatment heads, such as infrared emitters and / or UV emitters, etc.

In order to avoid that when printing sprayed or sprayed, not reached on the container 2 ink and / or released during drying of the ink or printing solvent residues and / or generated by the UV radiation ozone as foreign or foreign matter uncontrolled in the environment , A non-rotating with the rotor 1 suction device 6 is provided which encloses the rotor 1 in the rotor rotational direction A on a part of its circumference with a suction hood 7, ie i.e. to an angular range or essentially to an angular range of the rotational movement of the rotor 1 on which (angle range) the treatment of the container 2 takes place at the treatment positions 3, for example over an angular range of about 180 ° to 270 °.

The suction hood 7 or its housing has in the direction of the machine axis MA a height at least equal to the corresponding height of the treatment positions 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the height, the suction hood 7 or whose housing has in the direction of the machine axis MA, greater than the height of the rotor 1, so that the suction hood 7 extends from the underside of the rotor 1 to over the top.

In more detail, the housing of the suction hood 7 consists of a lower housing wall 8, an upper housing wall 9, which are arranged in the illustrated embodiment with their surface sides in planes perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the machine axis MA, and from a outer, the machine axis MA and the rotor at a distance partially to closing peripheral wall 10, based on the rotor rotation direction A at the front end 7.1 of the suction hood 7 and at the rear end 7.2 of the suction hood each in a direction extending to the rotor 1 peripheral wall section 10.1 or 10.2 passes. The suction hood 10 enclosing the rotor 1 on a part of its circumference and not rotating with the rotor 1 thus forms a hood interior 11 which is open in particular radially to the rotor 1. In the middle or approximately in the middle between the two ends 7.1 and 7.2 is at the formed by the peripheral wall 10 rear wall in the hood interior 11 a large-area filter assembly 12 is provided in the form of at least one air filter. The filter arrangement 12, which extends in the illustrated embodiment with respect to the machine axis MA over an angular range which is substantially greater than half the length of the suction hood 7 between the ends 7.1 and 7.2, extends from the inner surface of the lower housing wall 8 to the inner surface of the upper housing wall 9 and separates the hood interior 11 of a chamber 13, which is provided on the rotor 1 remote from the back of the suction hood 7. The chamber 7 or its interior closed to the environment is connected to a suction channel 14.1 with a suction channel 14 which has a relatively large cross-section and is formed for example by at least one tube and / or at least one tube system, with a vacuum, not shown. or suction source, for example, connected to the suction or vacuum inlet of a suction fan.

During the treatment of the container 2 on the rotor 1 driven by the machine axis MA, the foreign substances or contaminants or waste air contained in the treatment are extracted from the circumference of the rotor 1 or from the treatment positions 3, ie directly at the point of origin the foreign or foreign matter in the exhaust air are at least partially filtered out at the filter device 12. In order to achieve the best possible suction effect, the rotor 1 extends in the illustrated embodiment with its treatment areas 3 having peripheral area in the hood interior 11 inside. Furthermore, in the hood interior 11 lamellar and as baffles acting wall elements 15 are provided, even in the region of the two ends 7.1 and 7.2 and between these ends.

In the illustrated embodiment, these wall elements 15, which are both spaced from the circumference of the rotor 1 and to form a suction channel 11.1 from the inside of the peripheral wall 10, each extending from the lower housing wall 8 to the upper housing wall 9 and are oriented or obliquely that increases the distance between the circumference of the rotor 1 and the respective wall element 15 in the rotor rotational direction A on the wall elements 15 which are provided in the rotor rotational direction A in front of the intake port 14.1 or on a first partial length (eg half) of the suction hood and on the wall elements 15, which are provided in the rotor rotational direction A after the intake port 14.1 or on a second partial length (eg half) of the exhaust hood 7, the distance between the circumference of the rotor 1 and the respective wall element 15 decreases in the rotor rotational direction A.

The wall elements 15 contribute to an optimal distribution of the suction and to achieve optimum flow conditions while avoiding turbulence. Incidentally, a particularly effective suction effect at a reduced power of the suction fan connected to the exhaust duct 14 u.a. results for the suction device 6. already by the fact that the foreign or foreign matter arising during the treatment of the container 2 are already conveyed by centrifugal forces, which result from the rotation of the rotor 1, into the hood interior 1 which is open radially towards the rotor 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show, as a further embodiment, a suction device 6a which can be used instead of the suction device 6 and in turn has a suction hood 16 corresponding to the suction hood 7 whose hood interior 17 is connected to the suction duct 14 via a filter device and via this to the suction blower (not shown) connected is. The suction hood 16 in turn extends over a portion of the circumference of the rotor 1 in the rotor rotational direction A, ie based on the machine axis MA over an angular range less than 360 °, for example over an angular range of about 180 ° to 270 °. The hood interior 17 is at the bottom by a part-annular bottom wall 18, bounded at the top by a chamber 19 and at the periphery by a peripheral wall 20, which in this embodiment partially circular cylinder surrounds the machine axis MA with distance. The rotor 1 is not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In these figures, however, in each case the machine axis MA is indicated, which in turn is also the axis of the rotor 1 at the same time.

In the hood interior 17 a plurality of lamellar and acting as a guide plate wall elements 21 are provided, each extending from the lower housing wall 18 into the chamber 19, which is open on its side facing the housing bottom 18 side, but otherwise closed to the environment. The chamber 19 extends over the entire angular length of the suction hood 16 between the end corresponding to the end 7.1 16.1 and the End 7.2 corresponding end 16.2. The wall elements 21 are respectively radially or substantially radially oriented with respect to the machine axis MA with their lower end 21.1 fixed to the lower housing wall 18 and with their upper end extending into the chamber 19, but the upper end 21.2 is opposite the lower end 21.1 of each wall element 21 is offset in the rotor rotation direction A by an angular amount, which in the illustrated embodiment corresponds approximately to the pitch between two adjacent wall elements 21 or is slightly smaller than this pitch. Furthermore, the wall elements 21 are curved concavely on their front side relative to the rotor rotation direction A.

In the region of its upper end 21. 2, the wall elements 21 are fastened to an additional wall element 22, which is already part of the wall of the chamber 19. The actual interior of the chamber 19, in which the flow paths 23 formed between the wall elements 21 open and which forms a suction channel 1.1 corresponding suction channel is located above the wall element 22. Within the chamber 19, for example, one of the filter device 12 corresponding filter device is provided. During the treatment of the container 2, the exhaust air with the foreign or contaminants via flow channels 23, which are each formed between two wall sections 21, sucked through the chamber 19 and the suction channel 14 from the region of the treatment positions 3 with rotating rotor. If a filter device 12 corresponding to the filter device 12 is provided in the chamber 19, the foreign or foreign substances present in the exhaust air are at least partially separated therefrom.

FIGS. 6-9 show, as a further embodiment, a suction device 6b with a suction hood 24 corresponding to the suction hood 7, which does not extend with the rotor 1 in the rotor rotation direction A over a partial area of the rotor circumference, for example over an angular range of approximately 180 ° to 270 ° , At the rotor periphery, the treatment positions 3 are provided. The suction-type suction hood 24, which is sickle-shaped in plan view, forms a hood interior 25 which, in turn, is open radially relative to the rotor axis or relative to the machine axis MA to the circumference of the rotor 1 and through a lower housing wall 26, through an upper housing wall 27 and through a housing embodiment shown concentrically to the machine axis MA extending part-circular cylindrical peripheral wall 28 is limited. In the hood interior 25 more acting as baffles wall elements 29 are provided which extend from the lower housing wall 26 to the upper housing wall 27 and which extend to the rotor 1 adjacent edge of the housing walls 26 and 27. Of the peripheral wall 28, however, the wall elements 29 are spaced to form a suction channel 25.1, which extends within the hood interior 25 in the rotor rotational direction A from the front end 24.1 relative to this direction of rotation to the rear end 24.2 of the suction hood 24. The wall elements 29 are each curved about axes parallel to the machine axis MA, in such a way that the rotor 1 adjacent, extending between the housing walls 26 and 27 inner edge of each wall element 29 relative to the corresponding, the rotor 1 remote outer edge opposite Rotary direction of rotation A is offset by an angular amount, for example, the pitch of two wall elements 29 corresponds. The relative to the rotor rotation direction A on its front respectively convex and on its back concave curved wall elements 29 form between them flow channels 30, which open into the suction channel 25.1.

As FIG. 6 in particular shows, the suction hood 24 or its housing is shaped so that an inlet funnel 31 is formed in the region of the end 24.1 between the suction hood 24 and the circumference of the rotor 1 in such a way that there over an angular range or over a Angle length, which is smaller than the total length of the suction hood 24, starting from the end 24.1 initially a greater distance between the suction hood 24 and the circumference of the rotor 1, the (distance) is then reduced in the rotor rotational direction A, in the illustrated embodiment steady and stepless. In the region of the end 24.2 extends a suction tube 33, which is oriented in the illustrated embodiment with its axis parallel to the machine axis MA and to which the suction channel 14, not shown, connected to the hood interior 25 inside. The suction tube 32, which is closed at its end adjacent to the housing wall 26, has a screen-like design on its lateral surface with a multiplicity of openings, i. provided with a sieve-like structure 33, via which the suction channel 25.1 communicates with the interior of the suction tube 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the exhaust hood 24 is pivotable about an axis parallel to the machine axis MA, which axis is, for example, the axis of the exhaust pipe 32. The suction hood 24 can thus be pivoted away from the rotor 1 for cleaning, maintenance, repair purposes, etc. from the working position shown in FIG. 6, which is adjacent to the rotor 1.

In principle, there is also the possibility at the transition between the suction channel

25.1 and the suction tube 32, i. For example, on the screen-like structure 33 to provide a filter device 12 corresponding filter device.

The suction device 6b corresponds to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, in which (embodiment), the connection for the suction channel 14 and the suction tube 32 at the rear end relative to the rotor rotational direction A.

24.2 is located. Due to the structure with radially to the rotor axis protruding and recessed areas, the (structure) of the rotor 1 on the rotor circumference alone by the treatment positions 3 and their functional elements, with circulating rotor 1, an air flow within the exhaust hood 24 through the flow channels 30 and the suction channel 25.1 generated in the suction tube 32, the one rapid and complete removal or .Absaugen "of all foreign or foreign matter with greatly reduced energy consumption of a connected to the suction pipe 32 suction fan supported.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the peripheral wall 20, together with the wall elements 21 and the wall element 22, forms a structural unit which is fastened on a board forming the lower housing wall 18 or on the upper side of a table of the container treatment machine forming the lower housing wall 18 and in FIG If necessary, for example, for cleaning and or repair purposes removed from the lower housing wall 18 and / or can be replaced.

The invention would be described above by embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention. All versions have in common that the stationary, i. with the rotor 1 is not provided with circumferential suction hood laterally on the rotor and surrounding this on a portion of its circumference in the rotor rotational direction A, so that the removal of the resulting in the treatment of the container 2 foreign or contaminants from the treatment positions 3 and takes place directly at the point of origin and the rotational movement of the rotor 1 for an accelerated removal of foreign and foreign matter from the treatment positions 3 by the centrifugal or centrifugal forces and used for an acceleration of the exhaust air flow and thus the extraction of foreign or foreign matter is at least supported.

It has been assumed above that the rotor 1 is part of a device or treatment machine with a plurality of rotors 1, of which at least those on which the environment contaminating foreign substances or contaminants are released during the treatment are provided with a suction device 6, 6a or 6b , in which case a treatment step of a treatment comprising several treatment steps is then carried out on each rotor 1. Correspond to the Invention, however, the device or treatment machine may also have only a single rotor 1, on which then at the respective treatment positions 3, the complete treatment is performed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 rotor

2 containers

3 treatment positions

4 container carrier or puck

5 treatment head

6, 6a, 6b suction device

7 suction hood

7.1, 7.2 End of the extraction hood

8, 9 housing wall

10 peripheral wall

10.1, 10.2 inwardly guided peripheral wall section

1 1 hood interior

12 filter device

13 chamber

14 suction channel

14.1 Intake duct connection

15 wall element or baffle

16 suction hood

17 hood interior

18 housing wall

19 chamber

20 peripheral wall

21 wall element or air baffle

21.1, 21.2 lower or upper end of the air baffle

22 wall section

23 flow channel

24 suction hood 25 hood interior

25.1 suction channel

26, 27 housing wall

28 peripheral wall

29 Air baffle or wall element

30 flow channel

31 inlet funnel

32 suction tube

33 sieve structure

A rotor rotation direction

MA machine axis

Claims

claims

1. Apparatus for treating containers (2), in particular for printing on containers (2), with at least one rotor (1) having at its rotor circumference a plurality of treatment positions (3) and a vertical rotor or machine axis (MA) in a rotor rotation direction (A) is driven in rotation around, as well as with at least one suction device for suction of foreign or foreign substances resulting from the treatment,

characterized in that

the suction unit (6, 6a, 6b) has at least one suction hood (7, 16, 24) which is not moved with the rotor (1) and extends laterally around the rotor (1) in the rotor rotation direction (A) over at least part of the rotor circumference and a hood interior (11, 17, 25) which is open radially with respect to the machine axis (MA) and which is connected via at least one suction channel (14, 32) to at least one suction device, for example in the form of a suction blower, and wherein in the hood interior (11, 17, 25) acting as baffles wall elements (15, 21, 29) are provided which form between them flow channels (23, 30) which on the rotor (1) facing side of the suction hood (7 , 16, 24) are open and in the interior of the suction hood (7, 16, 24) open into a common for all flow channels (23, 30) or a group of flow channels suction channel (11.1, 19, 25.1).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that serving as baffles wall elements (15, 21, 29) between a lower housing wall (8, 18, 26) and an upper housing wall (9, 27) extend in the direction of Machine axis (MA) relative to the lower housing wall (8, 18, 26) is offset.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hood interior (11, 17, 25) via at least one filter device (12) with the at least one suction channel (14) and / or the at least one suction tube (32) is connected.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one suction channel (14) and / or the at least one suction tube (32) with the hood interior (25) or with a suction channel formed there (25.1) in the region of one end ( 24.2) of the suction hood (24) is connected, preferably in the region of a relative to the rotor rotational direction (A) rear end.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction hood (7, 16, 24) and / or its opening facing the rotor extends over at least the entire or substantially the entire axial height, at least one of the treatment positions ( 3) exhibiting part of the rotor (1) in the direction of the machine axis (MA), wherein the height of the suction hood ^' (7, 16, 24) and / or its opening in the direction of the machine axis (MA) is preferably greater than the corresponding height the rotor (1) or the part of the rotor (1) having the treatment positions (3).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotor (1) with a treatment positions (3) having peripheral region in the hood interior (11, 17, 25) extends.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction hood (24) is designed so that in a partial region (31) has a distance from the rotor circumference, which decreases increasingly in the rotor rotational direction (A), preferably steadily reduced.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction device (6, 6a, 6b) or its suction hood (24) from a rotor (1) adjacent working position in a position remote from the rotor (1) movable, for example, pivotable is.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the suction hood (24) is mounted on the at least one suction channel (32) or the at least one suction channel (32) forms an integral part of a rotation axis about which the suction hood (24) rotates and / or is pivotable.

10.Vorrichtung according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by several in each case about a machine axis (MA) rotatably driven rotors (1) which connect to form a container treatment section transporting each other and at which preferably one treatment step of a plurality of treatment steps having treatment is carried out, wherein at least one rotor (1), preferably all rotors (1), at the treatment positions (3) during the treatment foreign or foreign matter are released, a suction device (6, 6a, 6b) is assigned.