EP2786811B1 - Device for supplying cleaning devices with cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device for supplying consumers with a cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid, preferably in a beverage filling plant.

State of the art

In beverage filling plants, it is known to perform different cleaning and / or disinfecting operations by means of a cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid. It is thus known, for example, to treat container closures, by means of which the containers filled with the filling product are closed after filling, with a disinfectant fluid before application to the filled containers. For this purpose, the container closures are usually passed through a bath with disinfecting fluid to achieve disinfection. Furthermore, cleaning and / or disinfecting fluids in beverage filling plants are also consumed by other consumers, for example in a rinser, a water lock for gas-tight sealing of an insulator, an outlet bath and an injector cooling system, and is also used for internal disinfection of an isolator or clean room, for maintenance disinfection and lubrication used by a capper.

The cleaning and / or disinfecting fluids used by the individual consumers are in this case brought in via separate feed lines each starting from corresponding separate reservoirs, so that, for example, in the area of the closure disinfection an independent circulation within the closure disinfection module is provided. Accordingly, separate supply lines with the corresponding peripherals in combination with the necessary signaling integration for each consumer are provided separately.

Furthermore, the mentioned consumers are not integrated into a holistic and automated cleaning concept due to the separate connection.

The EP 0 903 320 A1 describes a CIP system for cleaning a bottling plant. The DE 297 08 145 U1 describes a device for cleaning and / or sterilizing caps for bottles. The DE 37 22 867 A1 describes a central dosing station for supplying several cleaning systems with cleaning agents. The WO 01/38218 A1 describes a method for section-wise CIP cleaning. The EP 2 289 839 A1 describes an apparatus and a method for providing a sterile liquid for a filling plant according to the preamble of claim 1.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for supplying consumers with cleaning and / or disinfecting fluids in a beverage bottling plant, which allows a more efficient supply.

The object is achieved by the device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims.

Accordingly, a device for supplying consumers with a cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid, preferably in a beverage filling plant, proposed, comprising a reservoir for receiving a supply of cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid.

According to the invention, at least two consumers are connected to the reservoir via a loop.

The fact that at least two consumers are connected via a loop to the reservoir, it is possible to feed different consumers with cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid from a single central reservoir. In addition, a constant flow of the disinfecting fluid can be achieved via the provision of a loop, so that fresh disinfectant fluid with a constant temperature and defined properties is always available at the respective customers.

Under a ring line is understood here a line that allows a flow of the disinfecting fluid in a circuit. Here, for example, cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid is removed from the reservoir, passed through the loop and then the Reservoir fed back into the loop not taken residual fluid. Accordingly, by providing the pump, it is possible for the disinfectant fluid in the loop to always circulate in order to provide a disinfectant fluid with defined properties at each removal point and in particular for each of the connected consumers. Accordingly, the disinfecting fluid, starting from the reservoir, for example, provided to a first consumer, then the possibly used by this consumer disinfecting fluid is returned to the loop, and then passed to the next consumer. Accordingly, an individual flow and return for the individual connected to the ring line consumer does not take place, but the ring line is used in the lying upstream of the respective consumer areas of the loop as feed and lying in the downstream of the respective consumer areas of the loop as return.

The connected via the loop with the reservoir consumers are, for example, a water lock for gas-tight sealing of an insulator, a Verschließerschmierung, an outlet bath, Injektorkühlstrecke, a maintenance disinfection of a beverage bottling plant, a surface cleaning in a beverage bottling plant, a rinser, an external treatment of an insulator and other consumers of Cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid.

According to the invention, a bath for a closure disinfection is integrated in the ring line, as a separation between a pressurized flow and a non-pressurized return. The bath for the closure disinfection has an overflow to hold the liquid level in the bath so that a constant stream of disinfecting fluid flows through the bath, from the pressurized inlet to the overflow substantially unpressurized return. The inclusion of a bath for the disinfection disinfection allows in addition to the separation between pressurized flow and unpressurized return further an additional buffer volume of disinfecting fluid, since the bath itself provides another reservoir or volume.

A central treatment for the cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid, which in particular includes a check of the disinfectant concentration in the disinfecting fluid, as well as a filtering and temperature control of the disinfecting fluid, allows a sparing use of the cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid. A return of cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid used for the disinfection into the reservoir efficiently utilizes the volume of disinfecting fluid in the device.

Preferably, the ring line comprises a heat exchanger for controlling the temperature of the disinfecting fluid. Preferably, the loop further comprises a filter device for filtering the disinfecting fluid used.

The liquid level in the reservoir is preferably held via a distribution valve, by means of which a certain proportion of disinfecting fluid is fed into the loop, and a further portion is discharged and / or passed to a cleaning system. In a complete discharge is worked accordingly with lost disinfecting fluid.

Particularly preferably, the device is integrated in an automated cleaning concept of an entire beverage bottling plant, wherein the integration into the automatic cleaning concept preferably via the supply or recovery of the example in a surface cleaning on the recovery in the reservoir fed cleaning medium. The cleaning medium can also be supplied to the reservoir in a separate feed. Accordingly, it can be achieved by the introduction of cleaning medium into the reservoir both a cleaning of the reservoir itself, as well as a cleaning of the loop and the consumer with the cleaning medium. The cleaning medium can then be discarded again after completion of the cleaning process and the template tank can be refilled with disinfectant.

It is particularly preferable to recover the cleaning fluid used in a cleaning process, for example for cleaning surfaces, whereby the cleaning fluid thus recovered can then be returned to the reservoir.

The level position in the reservoir can also be achieved via a second pump during the cleaning process.

Accordingly, when performing a cleaning, the disinfecting agent still remaining in the reservoir, the loop and the consumers can be discarded, and then the cleaning fluid can be introduced. The cleaning fluid can either pass through a recovery in the reservoir and the loop, or can be introduced via a cleaning device directly into the reservoir and / or the loop. Then, the cleaning of the reservoir, the loop and the consumer is performed by passing the cleaning fluid. After completion of the cleaning, the cleaning fluid can then be discarded or discharged and new disinfectant fluid initiated in order to resume production operation can.

By incorporating the device in a cleaning concept, for example by feeding the respective cleaning fluid into the reservoir, a problem-free cleaning of all involved consumers, the loop, the reservoir and all other components can be achieved via the overall cleaning concept. Here it is also possible, by means of the treatment devices, which serve for the preparation of the disinfectant, so for example a filter device or a heat exchanger to achieve a treatment of the cleaning medium. The device can also be used accordingly for the treatment of the cleaning medium in a beverage bottling plant.

The above object is further achieved by a method having the features of claim 7. Advantageous developments emerge from the subclaims.

Accordingly, a method is proposed for supplying consumers with a cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid in a beverage filling plant, comprising providing a cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid in a reservoir and pumping the cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid to a consumer. According to the invention, the cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid is pumped via a loop from the reservoir to at least two consumers.

Preferably, a cleaning fluid is introduced into the reservoir for cleaning the device, preferably a cleaning fluid of a cleaning process collected via a collecting device, and the cleaning fluid is supplied to the reservoir.

Brief description of the figures

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Versorgung von Verbrauchern mit einem Reinigungs- und/oder Desinfektionsfluid in einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel, und

Figur 2

eine Vorrichtung zur Versorgung von Verbrauchern mit einem Reinigungs- und/oder Desinfektionsfluid in einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel.

Preferred further embodiments and aspects of the present invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. Showing:

FIG. 1

a schematic representation of a device for supplying consumers with a cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid in a first embodiment, and

FIG. 2

a device for supplying consumers with a cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid in a second embodiment.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

In the following, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the figures. In this case, identical, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are denoted by identical reference numerals and a repeated description of these elements will be omitted in the following description in part in order to avoid redundancies.

In FIG. 1 a device 1 for supplying consumers 6 is shown with a disinfecting fluid in a beverage filling plant. A reservoir 2 is provided, which is provided for receiving a supply of disinfecting fluid. A pump 3 serves to pump the disinfecting fluid from the reservoir 2 into a ring line 4.

The ring line 4 is formed in the embodiment shown so that the disinfecting fluid is supplied from the reservoir 2 via the pump 3 and a distribution valve 5 a portion 40 of the loop 4, on which a plurality of consumers 6 are provided or from this section 40th branch. The consumers 6 are, for example, a water lock for the gas-tight sealing of an insulator space, a capper lubrication, a discharge bath, an injector cooling line, a rinser, an external treatment or external disinfection of a part of the beverage filling plant, an insulator cleaning or other consumers of disinfecting fluid. The respective consumers 6 are indicated only schematically in the figures, here any possible consumer 6, which disinfectant fluid is to be supplied, may be provided.

The first section 40 of the loop 4, at which the various consumers 6 can remove disinfecting fluid from the loop 4, is followed by a heat exchanger 7, by means of which the disinfecting fluid can be brought to a predetermined temperature. The heat exchanger 7 is operated in the embodiment shown with heat energy transported by steam, but can also be operated in any other way. Subsequently, further consumers 6 are provided on the heat exchanger 7 in a further section 42 of the ring line 4. Subsequently, a bath 8 is provided for a closure disinfection, wherein the disinfecting fluid is introduced via a feed line 80 from the ring line 4 into the bath 8. Via a return 82, the disinfecting fluid drains out of the bath 8, in order then to be guided back to the reservoir 2 via a further section 44 of the ring line 4.

The bath 8 for the closure disinfection is correspondingly integrated in the ring line 4, to the effect that disinfecting fluid can flow from a section 42 of the loop 4 into the bath 8, then flows through the bath 8, and then through the return 82 into the further section 44 the ring line 4 passes. Accordingly, the ring line 4 with its different sections 40, 42, 44 provides a circulation, which starting from the reservoir 2, a circular flow of the disinfecting fluid, in the FIG. 1 clockwise, allows. In this way it can be achieved that the disinfecting fluid, which is supplied to the individual consumers 6 or the bath 8 for the closure disinfection, is always fresh, has a predetermined concentration and is tempered via the heat exchanger 7. Accordingly, only a single treatment is required to supply a plurality of consumers 6, so that the complexity of the system can be reduced.

In the reservoir 2 or at any other position of the loop 4, the fluid can be further processed, so that the disinfecting fluid circulating in the loop 4 always has predetermined properties, for example, a predetermined concentration of disinfectant in the disinfecting fluid, or a predetermined disinfecting fluid temperature.

Accordingly, the consumers 6 can be provided with a predetermined disinfectant fluid at each sampling point. This improves the overall efficiency as well as the effectiveness of the respective disinfection processes. Furthermore, it can be avoided in this way that each individual consumer 6 must be connected to its own supply for the disinfecting fluid. Rather, a state is reached via the ring line, at which the upstream of the respective consumer 6, 8 lying portion of the ring line 4 for the respective consumer 6, 8 is regarded as a flow, and lying after the consumer 6, 8 section of the loop 4 acts as a return.

In the bath 8 for the disinfectant disinfection of disinfectant disinfect the respective moldings or container closures is also consumed, therefore, this bath 8 is considered a consumer, although it also forms a part of the loop 4 at the same time, since the bath 8 is always traversed by disinfecting fluid.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the heat exchanger 7 can be heated via steam to be introduced, in such a way that the disinfecting fluid, which is conducted in the ring line 4, is heated to a predetermined temperature via the heat exchanger 7.

Via the controllable distribution valve 5, the level of the liquid in the reservoir 2 can be controlled. If the liquid level in the reservoir 2 threatens to exceed a predetermined level, a portion of the liquid stream can be discharged via the branch 50 by means of the controllable distribution valve 5. This is particularly important in the cleaning method described below.

In the FIG. 1 The apparatus shown can be incorporated into a conventional cleaning concept, since a cleaning fluid which is emitted via cleaning nozzles 9, for example, for a CIP cleaning (cleaning-in-place) or a surface disinfection (SIP sterilization-in-place) of another component the beverage bottling plant are provided, preferably collected via collecting means 90 and then supplied to the reservoir 2. Accordingly, in a process state in which a cleaning of the beverage filling plant is carried out, the cleaning liquid used can be collected via the collecting means 90 and then supplied to the reservoir 2. From the reservoir 2 is then on the ring line 4 make available the corresponding cleaning fluid to the respective consumers 6, 8 possible. Via the controllable distribution valve 5, a certain proportion of the cleaning fluid used can then be returned via the branch 50 of the cleaning system, so that this cleaning fluid can then continue to be used in the cleaning process, for example for re-applying an outer surface of the beverage filling plant and a subsequent collection by means of the collecting device 90th

This makes it possible to include the device 1 in a cleaning procedure, since the cleaning fluids used can be included automatically at this point.

In an alternative, which in FIG. 2 is shown again, a device is shown in which by means of a ring line 4 in different sections 40, 42, 44, a disinfecting fluid is circulated through a pump 3 in a circle and is made available to the respective transfer points the consumers 6 available. A heating of the disinfecting fluid can be achieved via a heat exchanger 7 and a bath 8 for the disinfection of the closure is integrated in the ring line 4.

For dispensing a part or all of the liquid in the loop 4 and the reservoir 2 is not the controllable distribution valve 5 in the embodiment shown FIG. 1 provided, but a second controllable pump 52, by means of which corresponding fluid can be pumped into the branch 50. Thus, when a predetermined fluid level in the reservoir 2 is exceeded, the level can be lowered by actuating the pump 52. Furthermore, in the cleaning operation in which, for example, cleaning fluid is conducted into the reservoir 2 via the collecting device 90, it can be achieved that the device can continue to be operated by entering the cleaning fluid. Accordingly, via the pump 52, the ring line 4 can be completely emptied and prepared for the cleaning operation. After completion of the cleaning process, the ring line 4 can be emptied again via the pump 52 so that subsequently a disinfectant fluid can be taken up again.

By means of the heat exchanger 7 and the cleaning fluid can be heated.

The return 82 of the bath 8 for sealing disinfection is provided as an overflow, so that a constant inflow of disinfecting fluid via the flow 80 leads to a constant flow through the bath 8, and by means of the return 82 a predetermined fluid level in the bath 8 is maintained.

Where applicable, all individual features illustrated in the individual embodiments may be combined and / or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Device for supplying consumers with cleaning and / or disinfecting fluid

2

reservoir

3

pump

4

loop

40

Section of the loop

42

Section of the loop

44

Section of the loop

5

distributor

50

junction

52

pump

6

consumer

7

heat exchangers

8th

Bath for disinfection

80

leader

82

returns

9

cleaning nozzle

90

collecting means

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus (1) for supplying consuming units (6) with a cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid in a beverage-filling plant, comprising a reservoir (2) for accommodating a supply of cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid, wherein at least two consuming units (6) are connected to the reservoir (2) via a ring line (4), characterized in that
   a bath (8) for disinfecting container closures is integrated in the ring line (4), wherein the bath (8) is integrated in the ring line (4) for separating purposes between a pressurized forward flow section (42) and a pressure-free return flow section (44) provided in the form of an overflow.
2. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that a consuming unit (6) is a surge tank, a maintenance-function disinfecting unit, a capper-lubricating unit, an injector-cooling section, a rinser, an external cleaning unit of the beverage-filling plant, an insulator-cleaning unit and/or an outflow bath.
3. Apparatus (1) according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ring line (4) comprises a heat exchanger (7).
4. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a controlable distributing valve (5) and/or a pump (52) are/is provided for adjusting a liquid level in the reservoir (2).
5. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pump (3) is arranged in the ring line (4) for delivering the cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid.
6. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a collecting apparatus (90) for collecting a cleaning fluid of a cleaning apparatus (9) is provided, and the collecting apparatus (90) communicates with the reservoir (2).
7. Method of supplying consuming units (6) with a disinfecting fluid in a beverage-filling plant, comprising the steps of providing a cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid in a reservoir (2) and of pumping the cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid to a consuming unit (6), wherein the cleaning and/or disinfecting fluid is pumped from the reservoir (2) to at least two consuming units (6) via a ring line (4),
   characterized in that
   a bath (8) for disinfecting container closures is integrated in the ring line (4), wherein the bath (8) is integrated in the ring line (4) for separating purposes between a pressurized forward flow section (42) and a pressure-free return flow section (44) provided in the form of an overflow.
8. Method according to Claim 7, characterized in that a cleaning fluid, preferably a cleaning-process cleaning fluid collected via a collecting apparatus (90), is introduced into the reservoir (2), and the cleaning fluid is fed to the ring line (4) and preferably the consuming units (6).

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