EP3044156B1 - Rotary feedthrough and device for treating and/or for transporting containers, said device having such a rotary feedthrough - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a rotary feedthrough according to the preamble of claim 1, to a plant or apparatus for transporting and / or treating containers according to the preamble of claim 12 and to a method for transporting and treating containers according to the preamble of claim 13.

For treating and / or transporting containers, i.a. Installations and / or devices are known which have at least one circulating driven transport element treatment or transport positions for the containers and in which the treatment or during transport of the container, a liquid sterilization medium, preferably in the form of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 in highly concentrated aqueous solution) , preferably in heated or vaporized form and also at least one further sterile medium, for example sterile air, are applied to surfaces to be treated, via treatment heads and / or nozzles provided on the revolving transport element. The treated surfaces are then usually surfaces of the container. The treatment heads are then part of the treatment positions.

The liquid sterilization medium and the further sterile medium are supplied to the treatment heads or nozzles on the circulating transport element of at least one outer supply unit, which does not revolve with the transport element, via at least one rotary distributor or a rotary connection. This rotary joint consists in the simplest case of two elements or rotary leadthrough parts, of which a rotary leadthrough part is connected as a fixed part with a non-rotating to the transport element plant or device element and a rotating rotary feedthrough part with the revolving transport element. For the sterilization medium and the at least one other medium are in the two parts of the rotary feedthrough of each other and also after formed on the outside by mechanical seals sealed and passing through the rotary feedthrough through flow channels ( WO 2008/019831 A1 ).

To prevent ingress of bacteria or other germs from the outside into the flow paths for the treatment media, it has also been customary and necessary to provide between the rotary leadthrough parts of the respective rotary feedthrough barrier or buffer spaces, which are annular chambers between the outer surface of an inner Rotary feedthrough part and the inner surface of an outer rotary feedthrough part of the rotary feedthrough and formed between two relative to the axis of rotation of the rotary feedthrough axially offset mechanical seals and are acted upon during operation with an additional, different from the treatment media buffer or barrier medium. When forming the barrier or buffer spaces as vapor barriers, the barrier medium is often a hot vaporous medium.

A disadvantage of known rotary unions u.a. not only the need to use the additional barrier medium not used for the treatment, but i.a. also a complex and trouble-prone construction. A disadvantage of known rotary unions also that a monitoring of the barrier medium, in particular the pressure of this medium by means of an additional monitoring circuit is necessary to detect leaks early.

Is used in known rotary unions as a barrier medium, a heated vapor medium, this has the further disadvantage that the existing seals are heavily stressed by the high temperature of the barrier medium, which has a significant reduction in the service life of the relevant rotary feedthrough result.

The object of the invention is to show a rotary feedthrough, which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages with simplified structural design. To solve this problem, a rotary feedthrough according to the patent claim 1 is formed.

The object of the invention is further to show a device for treating and / or transporting containers, which has at least one rotary feedthrough and avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages with a simplified structural design with regard to the formation of this rotary feedthrough. To solve this problem, a device according to the patent claim 12 and a corresponding method according to claim 13 is formed.

The device according to the invention is, for example, part of an overall system for the sterile and / or aseptic filling of products into containers. The non-rotating with the respective transport element, i. fixed rotary feedthrough part of the respective rotary feedthrough is arranged on a machine frame of the device or even on a part of an enclosure of the plant for aseptic and / or sterile filling. The rotating rotary feedthrough part of the respective rotary feedthrough is provided on the transport element or on a rotating rotary feedthrough part of the transport element, in each case such that the axis of rotation of the rotary feedthrough is arranged coaxially with the axis of rotation of the transport element.

The respective rotary union also forms in the invention at least two separate flow paths for two different treatment media, namely for a liquid sterilization medium and another sterile medium. A flow path is formed by an outer annular space which is partially formed on the fixed rotary leadthrough part and partly on the rotating rotary leadthrough part of the rotary feedthrough, through which the liquid sterilization medium flows and is connected to the treatment heads and / or nozzles on the circulating transport element. At least one further flow path is formed by adjoining flow channels in the fixed and rotating rotary leadthrough part. The outer annular space encloses the two rotary leadthrough parts in each case on a surface or side lying on the outer side, at least over part of its length, and also the transition between the two rotary leadthrough parts, while at the same time forming an entry Bacteria and / or germs preventing buffer space. This can be dispensed with the use of additional vapor barriers and acted upon with an additional barrier medium buffer chambers or spaces with elaborate seals.

About the respective rotary feedthrough, the further sterile medium can be fed without pressure or under pressure as a gas and / or vapor medium or as a liquid medium.

• Ein gesondertes Barrieremedium ist nicht erforderlich;
• eine Überwachung eines Barrieremediums ist ebenfalls nicht erforderlich;
• die jeweilige Drehdurchführung zeichnet sich durch einen kostengünstigen Aufbau aus, und zwar u.a. durch Reduzierung der Dichtstellen, des Wartungsaufwandes, der Wartungskosten und eine erhebliche Verlängerung der Standzeit.

Significant advantages of the invention are thus, inter alia:

• A separate barrier medium is not required;
• monitoring of a barrier medium is also not required;
• The respective rotary feedthrough is characterized by a cost-effective structure, including by reducing the sealing points, maintenance, maintenance costs and a significant extension of the service life.

"Container" are in the context of the invention in particular cans, bottles, tubes, pouches, each made of metal, glass and / or plastic, but also other packaging, especially those which are suitable for filling powdery, granular, liquid or viscous products.

The expression "essentially" or "approximately" in the context of the invention means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5%, and / or deviations in the form of changes that are insignificant 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.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Darstellung und in Draufsicht eine Maschine zum Transportieren und Behandeln von Behältern;

Fig. 2

in vereinfachter Darstellung eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Drehdurchführung für zwei Medien zur Verwendung bei der Behälterbehandlungsmaschine der Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine vereinfachte Schnittdarstellung einer Drehdurchführung der Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

eine Draufsicht auf die Drehdurchführung der Fig. 2;

Fig. 5

in Schnittdarstellung eine weitere Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Drehdurchführung, zusammen mit einer schematisch dargestellten Behälterbehandlungsstation;

Fig. 6 und 7

in vergrößerter Darstellung Details der Drehdurchführung der Fig. 5;

Fig. 8

in vereinfachter Darstellung die Drehdurchführung der Fig. 5, zusammen mit einem Rohrleitungs- bzw. Verbindungssystem zum Zuführen des weiteren sterilen Mediums an Behälterbehandlungspositionen;

Fig. 9

eine Darstellung ähnlich Fig. 3 bei einer weiteren Ausführungsform.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

in schematic representation and in plan view of a machine for transporting and handling of containers;

Fig. 2

in a simplified representation of a side view of a rotary feedthrough according to the invention for two media for use in the container treatment machine of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a simplified sectional view of a rotary feedthrough of Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 4

a plan view of the rotary feedthrough of Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 5

in a sectional view of another embodiment of the rotary feedthrough according to the invention, together with a schematically illustrated container treatment station;

6 and 7

in an enlarged view Details of the rotary feedthrough of the Fig. 5 ;

Fig. 8

in a simplified representation of the rotary feedthrough of Fig. 5 together with a piping system for supplying the further sterile medium to container treatment positions;

Fig. 9

a representation similar Fig. 3 in another embodiment.

In the Fig. 1 1 is a container treatment machine of rotating design with a about a vertical machine axis circumferentially drivable transport element in the form of a rotor 2, at the periphery of a plurality of treatment positions 3 are provided for treating containers 4. The container treatment machine 1 serves, for example, for cleaning, sterilizing and / or sterilizing the containers 4 using a liquid sterilizing medium having a high bactericidal effect, for example using an aqueous solution (H2O2) containing hydrogen peroxide in a higher concentration and is part of a system for aseptically filling the containers 4 with a liquid product, such as a rotary Aseptikfüllers. The surfaces to be treated are at least the inner surfaces of the container 4. The liquid sterilization medium is applied to the treatment areas 3 via local nozzles or treatment heads preferably in hot or vaporized form on the surfaces to be treated, ie at After treatment with the sterilization medium takes place for its activation and / or drying or blowing out of the treated areas with a second, preferably also heated, sterile gas and the treatment of the container treatment machine 1 on the surfaces to be treated or vapor, medium, for example with heated sterile air.

The containers 4 to be treated are supplied to the treatment positions 3 via an outer conveyor 5 and a container inlet 6. The treated containers are removed from the treatment positions 3 to a container outlet 7 and forwarded to a feed dog 8.

For supplying the liquid sterilization medium and the further, likewise sterile and, for example, gaseous medium from a supply unit which supplies these media to the rotor 2 and to the nozzles and / or treatment heads provided at the treatment positions 3, one serves in the Fig. 1 - 4th generally designated 9 rotary feedthrough, which is arranged with its axis AD co-axially with the machine axis. The rotary feedthrough in the illustrated embodiment consists essentially of a formed as a pipe section rotary feedthrough part 10 and also designed as a piece of pipe rotary feedthrough part 11, which latter with a in the Fig. 3 upper part length, the rotary feedthrough part 10 encloses a partial length. The rotary leadthrough part 10 protruding from the rotary leadthrough part 11 forms the stationary part of the rotary leadthrough 9, that is, when using the rotary duct 9 in the container treatment machine 1, the rotary leadthrough part 10 is connected to a machine part not revolving around the rotor 2. The rotary leadthrough part 11 forms the part of the rotary leadthrough 9 rotating about the axis AD, that is, when using the rotary leadthrough 9 in the container treatment machine 1, the rotary leadthrough part 11 is connected to the rotor 2.

The two rotary leadthrough parts 10 and 11 form an inner continuous channel 12, which can be traversed by the further sterile medium in the direction of the arrow A to this medium in the example of the container treatment machine 1 of the outer supply unit to the rotor 2 and to the local treatment positions 3 to conduct. Between the two rotary leadthrough parts 10 and 11, two annular seals 13 and 14 are provided for sealing the channel 12, each abutting against a circular cylindrical outer surface of the rotary leadthrough part 10 and against a likewise circular cylindrical inner surface of the rotary leadthrough part 11 and with respect to the axis AD are axially offset from each other, so that between the ring seals 13 and 14, an annular chamber 15 is formed, which is bounded by the ring seals 13 and 14 and by the rotary leadthrough parts 10 and 11.

The rotary leadthrough 9 further comprises a buffer space or annular space 16 which encloses the rotary leadthrough parts 10 and 11 on its outer side and is formed by a housing 17 on the rotary leadthrough part 11 and a lid 18 on the rotary leadthrough part 10. The housing 17 is designed so that its interior closed at the bottom and the periphery and at the top of an annular opening 19 is open. Furthermore, the housing 17 is designed so that the opening 19 at the level or approximately at the level of in the Fig. 2 the upper end of the rotary feedthrough part 11, preferably slightly above this level. The provided on the fixed rotary leadthrough part 10 and the opening 19 covering cover 18 is provided with a the axis AD concentrically enclosing and downwardly angled edge portion 18.1, which overlaps the housing 17 at its upper opening edge. The arrangement and formation of the lid 18 is further such that it has a certain distance from the housing 17, so that the rotation of the rotary feedthrough part 11 with the housing 17 about the axis AD is possible without being affected by the cover 18.

In the cover 19, a connection 20 is provided, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment of a piece of pipe, which extends into the portion 17 formed by the housing 17 of the annular space and opens there. Through the port 20, the liquid sterilization medium is supplied during operation (arrow B). At the bottom of the housing 17, a further connection 21 is provided, via which the liquid sterilization medium is removed from the annular space 16 during operation (arrow C), specifically for feeding to the nozzles or treatment heads of the treatment positions 3. The chamber 15 is also in communication with the annular space 16 via a plurality of openings 22.

The supply and removal of the liquid sterilization medium is controlled by means of a level or level sensor 23, which is for example an inductive level sensor, such that the annular chamber 16 is always filled to a predetermined level N1 with the liquid sterilization medium, so in that a lower liquid space 16.1 containing the liquid sterilization medium and, moreover, a gas space 16.2 are formed in the annular space 16. The latter is occupied during operation of bactericidal gaseous components released from the sterilization medium, i. when using H2O2 as a liquid sterilant medium of radical oxygen atoms. In order to support the release of the bactericidal constituents of the sterilization medium, a device for an energy input into the liquid sterilization medium, for example in the form of an electric heater 24, is provided in the annular space 16, for example.

Through the openings 22, which are located above the level N1, get the bactericidal constituents of the sterilization medium also in the chamber 15th

As the Fig. 3 in particular also shows, the annular space 16 formed by the housing 17 and the lid 19 is arranged so that it the rotary leadthrough parts 10 and 11 at their relative to the axis AD radially outer regions as well as the transition between the two rotary leadthrough parts 10 and 11 encloses the outside.

The Fig. 5-8 show as a further embodiment, a rotary feedthrough 9a, which differs from the rotary feedthrough 9 substantially by structural details, but not by the basic constructive concept. The rotary feedthrough 9a in turn comprises the stationary, with the transport element or rotor 2 non-rotating rotary leadthrough part 10 and with the circulating transport element or rotor 2 connected, about the axis AD rotating rotary feedthrough part 11. The two rotary leadthrough parts 10 and 11 are formed in this embodiment each substantially of a pipe-piece-like element 25 and 26 respectively. The pipe-piece-like element 25 of the rotary leadthrough part 10 forms at its in the FIGS. 5 to 8 upper end of a connecting or connecting flange designed as section 25.1, which stands away from the rotary feedthrough 9a upwards and serves for connection to a further sterile medium leading stationary line. With a further tubular portion 25.2, the element 25 encloses an upper tubular portion 26.1 of the element 26 on an upper part length. Between the sections 25.2 and the section 26.1 bearing elements 27 are provided, which are offset relative to the axis AD and preferably at the same time also have the function of the two mechanical seals 13 and 14, which form the chamber 15 between them. Furthermore, the openings 22 are provided in the section 25.2, which connect the chamber 15 with the annular space 16. In addition to the bearing elements 27, a ring seal 14.1 is provided between the outer surface of the element 26 and the inner surface of the element 25 at the upper end of the portion 26.1.

Between the two sections 25.1 and 25.2, a disk 25.3 is provided on the element 25, which is radially away from the element 25 with respect to the axis AD and whose upper and lower sides are arranged in planes perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axis AD , The disc 25.3 forms in this embodiment, the cover 18 with the bottom of the disc 25.3 down away, the axis AD concentrically enclosing annular cover flange 18.1. The element 26 is connected to a section 26.2 via in the Fig. 5-8 lower side of the rotary feedthrough 9a before. Between the sections 26.1 and 26.2, a disc 26.3 is provided on the element 26 which, in turn, extends radially outward over the element 26 with respect to the axis AD and is arranged with its surface sides in planes perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axis AD ,

The disk 26.3 forms with its upper, i. the rotary feedthrough part 10 or the element 25 side facing the closed bottom of the annular space 16, on which a 26 surrounding the element with distance and in the illustrated embodiment coaxially with the axis AD circular cylindrical wall 29, which together with the disc 26.3 the housing 17th forms.

For axial securing of the connection between the elements 25 and 26, a guide ring 30 is provided on the upper side of the disk 25.3, which concentrically or substantially concentrically surrounds the axis AD and rests against the upper side of the disk 25.3, against a sliding guide 31 there. The guide ring 30 is connected via a plurality of rods 32, which are oriented with its axis parallel to the axis AD and are relative to this axis AD radially outside the lid 18 and the cover flange 18.1, connected to the disc 26.3. The guide ring 30 and the slide 31 thus form a sliding bearing for axially securing the rotary leadthrough parts 10 and 11 to each other.

On the cover 18, the connection 20 for supplying the liquid sterilization medium into the annular space 16 is again provided in an area not covered by the guide ring 30 and lying within this ring (arrow B). At the bottom of the annular space 16, ie at the disc 26.3 distributed in the illustrated embodiment around the axis AD a plurality of terminals 21 are provided, each connected to a line 33 for forwarding the liquid sterilization medium to the relevant treatment position 3 and to a local treatment head 34 are (arrow C). In the annular space 16, the level sensor 23 is further provided, the output signal via a control device 35, the supply of the liquid sterilization medium via the port 20 in the annulus 16 controls, so that there forming the liquid space 16.1 and the gas space 16.2, the mirror of the liquid sterilization medium is kept constant at the level N1. On the wall 29 above the level N1, but below the opening 19, an overflow 36 is provided for the liquid sterilization medium, which is connected to a provided on the circulating transport member receiving chamber 37 is, so that, for example, in a possible defect of the level control excess sterilization medium can flow into the receiving chamber 37.

The two rotary leadthrough parts 10 and 11 or the two elements 25 and 26 in turn form the through the rotary feedthrough and sealed outwardly flow channel 12 for the further sterile gas and / or vapor medium, i. in the illustrated embodiment, sterile air supplied to the individual treatment heads 34 via a manifold distribution system 28 connected to the tubular portion 26.2.

In detail, each treatment head 34 in the illustrated embodiment has i.a. a heater 34.1, which in the treatment of the container 4 by the further sterile medium (sterile air) flows through and in which this medium is heated. In addition, a nozzle 34.1.1 is provided in the heater, via which the liquid sterilization medium is finely distributed or sprayed into the flow of the further sterile medium in an application phase of the respective treatment of the container 4. The mixture thus formed from the heated, further sterile medium and the sprayed or vaporized liquid sterilization medium (preferably H2O2) is introduced via a nozzle device 34.2, which is likewise part of the treatment head 34 and preferably has a spray tube extending into the container interior during the treatment respective container 4 introduced in the application phase. In a subsequent activation and / or drying phase, the supply of the liquid sterilization medium to the nozzle 34.1.1 is then interrupted and only the heated further sterile medium is introduced into the respective container 4.

The rotary unions 9 and 9a have the particular advantage that can escape through the annulus 16 flowing through the liquid sterilization medium and in particular also by the released from this sterilization medium bactericidal constituents that can escape through a gap formed between the lid 18 and the housing 17, a reliable barrier against penetration of external germs in the channel 12 is realized in a particularly simple manner, and that the sterilization medium flowing through the annular space 16 is, on the one hand, a barrier medium and, on the other hand, is used for the respective treatment process. The Fig. 9 shows in a very schematic representation how Fig. 3 as a further embodiment, a rotary feedthrough 9b, which differs from the rotary feedthrough 9 only in that the openings 22 are provided in two groups, which are offset axially relative to one another with respect to the axis AD. In the rotary feedthrough 9b, the supply and / or removal of the liquid sterilization medium is controlled by the level sensor 23 so that the level of the liquid sterilization medium in the annulus 16 has the level N2, which is above the upper openings 22, so that the chamber 15 is also flooded with the liquid sterilization medium.

Thus, a method is also included, the core of which is that during normal operation, hot immediately before filling the containers and not only during a CIP process, in which, as is known, not immediately afterwards a product is filled into the containers, the sterilizing agent is passed in only one way from a storage container or a supply line in the inner spaces of a central rotary feedthrough and is then forwarded and used for the aseptic surface treatment of the transported container. The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible, provided that the scope of protection of the following claims is not abandoned.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Container handling machine

2

rotor

3

treatment position

4

container

5

carrier

6

container inlet

7

container outlet

8th

carrier

9, 9a, 9b

Rotary union

10, 11

Rotary feedthrough part

12

channel

13, 14, 14.1

ring seal

14.1

poetry

15

chamber

16

annulus

16.1

liquid space

16.2

headspace

17

casing

18

cover

18.1

cover flange

19

opening

20, 21

connection

22

opening

23

level sensor

24

heater

25

element

25.1, 25.2

section

25.3

disc

26

element

26.1, 26.2

section

26.3

disc

27

bearing element

28

Manifold system

29

wall

30

guide ring

31

sliding surface

32

pole

33

management

34

treatment head

34.1

heaters

34.1.1

jet

34.2

nozzle assembly

35

electronic control device

36

overflow

37

receiving chamber

A, B, C

Flow direction of the medium

N1, N2

level

AD

Axis of rotary feedthrough

Claims (14)

1. Rotary feedthrough for use with a device (1) for the transport and/or treatment of containers (4) and for delivering a liquid bactericide sterilisation medium as well as at least one further liquid and/or gaseous and/or vaporous sterile medium to nozzles and/or treatment heads (34) on a rotating transport element (2) of the device (1), wherein the rotary feedthrough (9, 9a, 9b) comprises at least two rotary feedthrough parts (10, 11), of which one first rotary feedthrough part (10) forms a stationary part which does not rotate with the transport element (2), and a second rotary feedthrough part (11) forms a part which circulates with the transport element (2) about an axis of rotation (AD) of the rotary feedthrough (9, 9a, 9b), and wherein the rotary feedthrough parts (10, 11), connecting to one another, form at least one flow channel (12) sealed to the outside, for the delivery of the further sterile medium to the treatment positions, as well as with a buffer chamber (16), subjected to a barrier medium, at a transition between the rotary feedthrough parts (10, 11), wherein the buffer chamber is configured as a ring space (16), characterised in that the ring space (16) forming the buffer chamber, relative to the axis of rotation (AD), directly surrounds both the rotary feedthrough parts (10, 11), in each case at a radially outwards surface, at least partially, as well as also the transition between the rotary feedthrough parts (10, 11), and that the ring space (16) is connected in the form of a line to the nozzles and/or treatment heads (34), such that this space can be flowed through by the sterilisation medium used for the treatment, and the sterilisation medium can be conveyed to the nozzles and/or treatment heads (34) for the treatment of the containers.
2. Rotary feedthrough according to claim 1, characterised in that the first rotary feedthrough part (10) surrounds, with a part length, the second rotary feedthrough part (11) on a part length, or that the second rotary feedthrough part (11) surrounds, with a part length, the first rotary feedthrough part (10) on a part length.
3. Rotary feedthrough according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the ring space (16) is formed from a first housing part (17, 30), provided at the first or second rotary feedthrough part (10, 11), and from a second housing part (18), provided at the second or first rotary feedthrough part (11, 10), and that provided in each case in the housing parts (17, 18, 30) is at least one connection (21, 20) for delivering and removing the liquid sterilisation medium.
4. Rotary feedthrough according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the nozzles or treatment heads (34) are configured for the treatment of the containers (4) with the sterilisation medium and the further sterile medium.
5. Rotary feedthrough according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rotary feedthrough parts (10, 11) are configured in each case, at least on a part length at which these parts connect to one another, as tube elements (25, 26).
6. Rotary feedthrough according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the circulating rotary feedthrough part (11) is axially secured to the stationary rotary feedthrough part (11) by at least one slide bearing (30, 31).
7. Rotary feedthrough according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the liquid sterilisation medium is a medium releasing bactericide constituents.
8. Rotary feedthrough according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ring space (16) is in connection via at least one opening (22) with at least one chamber (15), which is formed between a surface, located radially outwards relative to the axis of rotation (AD), of the first rotary feedthrough part (10), and an inner surface of the second rotary feedthrough part (11), and also between at least two bearing and sealing elements (13, 14, 27), axially offset relative to the axis of rotation (AD) and arranged between the outer and inner rotary feedthrough parts (11, 10).
9. Rotary feedthrough according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the ring space (16) is filled with the liquid sterilisation medium completely or essentially completely, or partially filled with the liquid sterilisation medium, and that at least one filling status sensor (23) is provided for regulating the liquid level (N1, N2) in the ring chamber (16).
10. Rotary feedthrough according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterised in that the at least one additional chamber (15) is at least partially filled with the liquid sterilisation medium.
11. Rotary feedthrough according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by means in and/or at the ring space (16) in order to initiate the splitting of bactericide constituents out of the liquid sterilisation medium by the introduction of energy, wherein these means are formed by a heating device (24).
12. Device for the transport and/or treatment of containers (4), with container transport and/or treatment positions (3), which are provided at least at one transport element (2) driven such as to circulate about a machine axis, with nozzles and/or treatment heads (34) at the circulating transport element (2) for the introduction of a liquid bactericide sterilisation medium, as well as at least one further liquid and/or gaseous and/or vaporous sterile medium onto surfaces which are to be treated during the treatment of the containers (4), as well as with at least one rotary feedthrough (9, 9a, 9b) between the transport element (2) and a system element or machine element of the device (1) not circulating with the transport element (2), characterised in that the at least one rotary feedthrough is configured in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.
13. Method for the transport and processing of containers (4) by means of at least one transport element (2) driven such as to circulate about a machine axis, comprising container transport positions and/or treatment positions (3), which are provided at the transport element (2), wherein the transport element (2) comprises at least one rotary feedthrough (9, 9a, 9b) between the transport element (2) and a system element or machine element of the device (1), not circulating with the transport element (2), and, moreover, nozzles and/or treatment heads (34) are provided at the circulating transport element (2),

    - for the introduction of an at least temporally liquid bactericide sterilisation medium onto surfaces which are to be treated of containers (4), as well as

    - of at least one liquid and/or gaseous and/or vaporous sterilisation medium, which serves as a blocking medium for the inner chamber (15) as well as for the opening (22) of this chamber (15) of the rotary feedthrough (9, 9a, 9b),

    characterised in that
    the sterilisation medium, when in specified operation, first flows through at least a part of the inner spaces of the rotary feedthrough (9, 9a, 9b) and is conveyed downstream to the nozzles and/or treatment heads (34) of the circulating transport element (2) for the treatment of the containers (4) being transported there.
14. Method for the transport and treatment of containers in accordance with claim 13, characterised in that the device for the transport and/or for the treatment of containers (4) is configured in accordance to claim 12.

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