EP3067126A1 - Device for flushing a container with a flushing medium - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus (1) for rinsing a container (100) with a rinsing medium, comprising a nozzle (2) for introducing the rinsing medium into the container (100) to be rinsed, the nozzle having a medium outlet (20) through which the rinsing medium flows the container (100) to be rinsed passes, the nozzle (2) being displaceably guided in a guide (3) and between a retracted position for positioning the container (100) and a position for rinsing the container inserted into the container (100) (100) is displaceable with the flushing medium, and a suction (5) for sucking at least a portion of the flushing medium from the container (100), wherein the guide (3) between the media outlet (20) of the nozzle (2) and at least one Region (52) of the suction (5) is arranged.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device for flushing a container with a flushing medium, for example a device in the form of a rinser, Luftrinsers or Ionisationsrinsers.

State of the art

It is known to flush containers in beverage filling plants prior to actual filling with a filling product by introducing a flushing medium. For this purpose, usually a filler, by means of which the respective filling product is conducted into the container to be filled, a so-called rinser upstream. The respective containers to be filled, for example bottles, are arranged in the rinser substantially upside down, that is, with their mouth substantially oriented downwards. Then, the respective flushing medium is introduced into the container in order to clean the container interior and in particular to remove particles still in the container interior. This flushing prepares the container interior for receiving the actual filling product, which is introduced into the subsequently rinsed container in a downstream filler.

As flushing medium can be used here, for example, water, sterile water or another rinsing liquid. Furthermore, air, sterile air, ionized air or another purge gas or purge gas mixture can also be used as purge medium. When flushing the container interior with liquids, the respective flushing medium then flows out of the downwardly directed mouth of the container held in the flushing device.

When purging with gaseous media, so for example with air, sterile air or ionized air, the flushing medium also flows into the container and through the mouth again out of this. When purging with gaseous media is on the one hand a predetermined atmosphere achieved within the container, for example with a sterile gas. On the other hand, dust, dirt and other particles are taken along with the gas stream and accordingly flushed out of the container. By using ionized air, for example, a charging of the respective container inner walls can be counteracted, so that the electrostatic adhesion of particles in the container can be reduced and, correspondingly, an efficient rinsing out of the respective particles can be achieved.

The respective flushing medium is introduced into the container to be treated via a nozzle, which has at its upper end a media outlet, from which the respective flushing medium then flows into the interior of the container to be flushed. It is known to put the containers over the rinsing nozzle so that the rinsing nozzle extends into the mouth region of the container to be treated or into the interior of the container to be treated. For such a slipping over the container via the nozzle, it is necessary that the container or the nozzle performs a relatively large stroke.

It is also known, for example from the DE 10 2010 043 014 A1 To insert the nozzle with its media outlet in the already arranged above the nozzle container.

By the moving parts within the flushing device, in particular by providing a stroke or a relative displacement of the nozzle relative to a guide, abrasion can be generated, which then undesirably enters the container to be flushed.

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for rinsing containers.

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

Accordingly, an apparatus for rinsing a container with a flushing medium is proposed, comprising a nozzle for introducing the flushing medium into the container to be flushed, wherein the nozzle has a media outlet through which the flushing medium passes into the container to be flushed, the nozzle displaceable in a guided tour and between a retracted position for positioning the container and an inserted into the container position for rinsing the container with the flushing medium is displaceable, and a suction for sucking at least a portion of the flowing back from the container flushing medium is provided. According to the invention, the guide is arranged between the media outlet of the nozzle and at least one region of the suction.

Characterized in that the guide between the media outlet of the nozzle and at least one region of the suction is arranged, possibly resulting abrasion products of the guide are sucked by the suction. Accordingly, it can be substantially prevented that these abrasion products, for example particles which are detached from the material of the guide or particles which adhere to the nozzle and are scraped off by the guide, not in the container to be washed or in the environment of the flushing device, of the rinser or a downstream filler. In this way, a hygienically improved flushing of the container can be achieved.

This is particularly important when the nozzle is moved to achieve the retracted position or inserted into the container position in the guide back and forth, because especially when moving the nozzle particles are dissolved, repelled or scraped off or further detachment of particles for example, takes place from the outside of the nozzle. This detachment or repulsion of the particles takes place in or on the guide of the nozzle.

Particles can come from the nozzle and / or the guide and are generated by the friction and relative movement of the guide and nozzle. However, particles can also pass from the rinsed containers to the nozzle and / or the guide and adhere to them, so that they are correspondingly repelled during a relative movement of the nozzle for guidance.

The particles released in this way at the guide can be sucked out accordingly by the arrangement of the guide between the suction and the media outlet.

Preferably, the suction surrounds the guide, so that particles which are released at the respective upper or lower ends of the guide, at which the nozzle enters or leaves the guide, can be sucked out immediately by means of the suction.

The guide is preferably located completely in the suctioned-off region in order to be able to suck off particles which accumulate in the region of the mutually moving parts, that is to say the nozzle moved in the guide, so that entry of these particles into the container or the environment can be avoided.

The guide is preferably also between the media outlet and the suction, so that particles which are released from the guide can be sucked by the suction.

The suction is preferably provided so that it also at least partially sucks the flushing medium stream, which emerges from the container during flushing through the mouth. A corresponding suction opening is preferably provided, by means of which the entire or at least part of the flow of the flushing medium can be sucked off. Accordingly, during flushing of the container, a flushing medium stream is present, which points out of the container, at least partially flows around the guide and then at least partially reaches the suction. In this way it is possible, by means of the flushing medium flow directed in this manner, to prevent a backflow of flushing medium which has already flowed out of the container back into the container and thus also a transport of particles possibly detached in the region of the guide.

The nozzle preferably comprises a nozzle piston for displacing the nozzle relative to the guide by the pressure of the flushing medium. In this way, in the presence of the corresponding pressure conditions or by switching a corresponding valve, the nozzle can be inserted relative to the guide in the container to be rinsed to achieve in this way the inserted into the container position of the nozzle and then a complete rinsing of the to be rinsed To reach container.

In order to allow retraction of the nozzle to the retracted position, the nozzle is preferably biased by a biasing device into the retracted position, for example by means of a coil spring or by means of an elastomer. Accordingly, in the presence of the corresponding pressure conditions, an automatic retraction of the nozzle can be achieved, in particular when a nozzle piston is no longer subjected to the flushing medium or when there is a corresponding backpressure on the side of the media outlet.

A further improvement of the hygienic properties of the device can be achieved by performing the pretensioning in the retracted position by means of magnets which operate wear-free. Accordingly, the possible entry of particles can be further reduced because abrasion of an elastomer or a return spring is avoided and a spring break or destruction of the elastomer can not occur, so that the unwanted entry of particles can be prevented here.

Brief description of the figures

• Figur 1 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Spülen eines Behälters in einer ersten Ausführungsform;
• Figur 2 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Spülen eines Behälters in einer zweiten Ausführungsform;
• Figur 3 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung des Spülvorganges eines Behälters; und
• Figur 4 eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer Führung in Kombination mit einer Absaugung.

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

• FIG. 1 a schematic sectional view of an apparatus for purging a container in a first embodiment;
• FIG. 2 a schematic sectional view of an apparatus for purging a container in a second embodiment;
• FIG. 3 a schematic sectional view of the rinsing process of a container; and
• FIG. 4 a schematic perspective view of a guide in combination with a suction.

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 are denoted by identical reference numerals. To avoid redundancy, the repeated description of these elements will be omitted in the following description.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a device 1 for rinsing a container not shown here with a flushing medium. A nozzle 2 with a media outlet 20 is provided, wherein the flushing medium is introduced into the container to be flushed through the media outlet 20.

The nozzle 2 can be advanced in the direction of the arrow and inserted in this way into the container to be rinsed so as to reach a position inserted into the container. In this case, the flushing medium passes through a media channel 22 of the nozzle 2, in order then to be able to exit from the media outlet 20.

In FIG. 1 the retracted position of the nozzle 2 is shown in which, for example, a placement or replacement of the container to be washed can be performed on the nozzle.

The nozzle 2 is guided in a guide 3, wherein the nozzle 2 relative to the guide 3 is relatively displaceable and in particular between the in FIG. 1 shown retracted position and then in the arrow direction relative to the guide 3 advanced position of the nozzle 2, which corresponds to the inserted position in the container, is provided.

Between the guide 3 and the nozzle 2, a guide surface 4 is formed, on which the guide 3, the nozzle 2 leads. The guide surface 4 is formed here in the form of a sliding bearing, so that accordingly slides the outside of the nozzle 2 on the inside of the guide 3 along. In this process of sliding the nozzle 2 with respect to the guide 3 between the in FIG. 1 shown retracted position and an inserted into the container position, it may happen that on or through the guide 3 particles are detached. The particles can either be attached to the outer surface of the nozzle 2 or the inner surface of the guide 3 by the actual rinsing, or it is caused by the movement of the nozzle 2 in the guide 3 wear, which corresponds to a dissolution of material from the Guide 3 and the surface of the nozzle 2 leads. In each of these cases, particles 3 are released as the nozzle 2 moves relative to the guide 3. These particles are of concern that they can then be entered via the flushing medium in the container or enter the environment and thus produce a contamination of the environment.

In order to prevent such an entry of particles in the container to be flushed, a suction 5 is provided, which is connected via a suction nozzle 50 with a vacuum device or suction device, not shown. The suction 5 is in the in FIG. 1 shown embodiment provided so that it at least partially below the guide 3 and the guide surface 4 allows suction. For this purpose, a suction chamber 52 is provided, which is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle 50, and from which a suction takes place via the suction nozzle 50 accordingly. The suction chamber 52 of the suction 5 is in the embodiment shown below the guide 3. The guide 3 is located between the media outlet 20 of the nozzle 2 and the suction 5, and in particular between the media outlet 20 of the nozzle 2 and the suction chamber 52 of the suction. 5

The fact that the guide 3 and in particular the guide surface 4 is arranged between the media outlet 20 and the suction 5, a volume flow in the direction of the suction 5 and directed in the direction of Absaugstutzens 50, which possibly releasing or liberated particles of the guide 3 and Nozzle 2 removed. These particles, which are detached in particular on the guide surface 4, are then correspondingly sucked off and can not be introduced into the interior of the container to be treated or rinsed. These particles then also do not contaminate the environment, so that not only the hygiene of the flushing device itself, but also the hygiene of the entire beverage bottling plant can be improved.

In the embodiment shown, the suction 5 comprising the suction chamber 52 and the suction nozzle 50 is integrated with the guide 3. A corresponding muzzle attachment 6, which shows both the guide 3 with the guide surface 4 and the approach for the suction nozzle 50, is in FIG. 4 to see. Accordingly, it is a muzzle attachment 6, which makes it possible to provide both a guide 3 for the nozzle 2 and an exhaust 5 for at least a portion of the flushing medium flowing back from the container and for released particles. The muzzle attachment 6 is placed on the nozzle body 24 (see FIG. 1 ) and also provides a suction opening 54 ready.

The guide 3 is connected in the muzzle attachment 6 to an outer wall 56 defining the suction chamber 52 via at least one web 60. The muzzle attachment 6 can be formed in one piece, for example as an injection molded part or casting.

In FIG. 1 the nozzle body 24 is provided to receive a nozzle piston 26 of the nozzle 2 so that the nozzle piston 26 is substantially gas-tight with a bore in the Nozzle body 24 closes. Via a flushing medium inlet 28, it is possible to bring the flushing medium into the nozzle body 24 in such a way that it presses both on the nozzle piston 26 and also passes through the media channel 22 to the media outlet 20. By a corresponding dimensioning of the nozzle piston 26 and the media channel 22 so that a pressure is exerted on the nozzle 2 so that it is pushed out of the nozzle body 24 in the arrow direction and can be brought into the inserted into the container position.

A biasing device 7, which is shown here in the form of a spiral spring 74, is also provided and acts counter to the displacement pressure on the back of the nozzle piston 26th

Accordingly, the nozzle 2 can be moved from the retracted position, in which it is pressed by the biasing device 7, into the inserted into the container position by a corresponding flushing medium pressure on the Spülmedienzulauf 28 is applied to the nozzle piston 26, such that it the nozzle piston 26 presses. The force generated in this way compresses the pretensioning device 7, so that the nozzle 2 is pushed in the direction of the container interior.

In the suction 5 flows through the direction of the media outlet 20 directed suction opening 54 to an ambient air or ambient atmosphere and on the other hand, the back flowing from the rinsed tank flushing medium. If this is flushed with a gas, for example air, sterile air or ionized air, the air then flows out of the mouth after flushing the container and enters the suction via the suction opening 54. Together with the rinsing medium and particles which are flushed out of the rinsed container, sucked through the suction 5. At the same time takes place by the directed to the suction 5 flushing medium flow and the suction and a suction of particles, which may have solved on the guide surface 4, the guide 3 and / or the outside of the nozzle 2. Accordingly, there is an improved drainage of the particles flushed out of the container as well as the particles generated within the device for rinsing. These are accordingly not discharged into the environment, but at least partially sucked through the suction 5.

In FIG. 2 a device 1 for flushing a container with a flushing medium is shown in a further embodiment. The structure is similar to the one in FIG. 1 shown construction. Only the biasing device 7, which in FIG. 1 was formed by a coil spring is Here now by two magnets 70,72, which are poled in repulsion direction, provided. One of the magnets 70 is arranged on the nozzle body 24, the other of the magnets 72 is provided on the nozzle piston 26. By providing in this way by means of the magnets 70, 72 bias of the nozzle 2 in the retracted position, a low-wear and thus hygienically further improved device 1 can be provided. There is usually no friction or wear on the magnets 70, 72, so that particles which could escape into the interior of the container or into the environment can not come off here.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the actual process of purging a container 100, wherein on the now in the inserted position in the container nozzle 2 or the media outlet 20 exiting rinse medium into the interior of the container 100 introduced Spülmedienstrom initiated by the arrows.

The mouth 110 of the container to be rinsed is placed over the nozzle 2 or the nozzle 2 is retracted into the mouth 110 of the container 100. The nozzle 2 is dimensioned so that between the nozzle 2 and the mouth 110 of the container 100 still remains an annular gap through which the flushing medium can leave the container 100 again.

It can be seen by means of the schematically indicated arrows, that the flushing medium emerging from the container 100 via the frontally arranged suction opening 54 into the suction 5, to be then sucked through the suction chamber 52 into the suction nozzle 50. The guide 3, the guide surface 4 and / or the nozzle 2 are accordingly flows around the flushing medium, so that the guide 3 is surrounded by the suction and according to particles which are in the region of the guide 3 in the region of the guide surface 4 and on the Detach outside of the nozzle 2, can be sucked through the suction 5.

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

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Device for rinsing a container

100

container

110

muzzle

2

jet

20

media outlet

22

media channel

24

nozzle body

26

die rod

28

Spülmedienzulauf

3

guide

4

guide surface

5

suction

50

suction

52

suction

54

suction

56

outer wall

6

mouth essay

60

web

7

biasing means

70

magnet

72

magnet

74

spiral spring

Claims (8)

Apparatus (1) for rinsing a container (100) with a rinsing medium, comprising a nozzle (2) for introducing the rinsing medium into the container (100) to be rinsed, the nozzle having a medium outlet (20) through which the rinsing medium flows the container (100) to be rinsed passes, the nozzle (2) being displaceably guided in a guide (3) and between a retracted position for positioning the container (100) and a position for rinsing the container inserted into the container (100) (100) is displaceable with the flushing medium, and a suction (5) for sucking off at least part of the flushing medium flowing back out of the container (100),
characterized in that
the guide (3) is arranged between the media outlet (20) of the nozzle (2) and at least one region (52) of the suction device (5). Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the suction (5) surrounds the guide (3). Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide (3) lies completely in the area sucked out by the suction (5). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide (3) between the media outlet (20) and the suction (5). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suction (5) has a suction opening (54) for sucking out of the container (100) flowing back flushing medium, wherein the suction opening (54) preferably has the same orientation as the media outlet (20) of the nozzle (2). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nozzle (2) has a nozzle piston (26), by means of which the nozzle (2) is moved from the retracted position into the container (100) by applying the flushing medium. slid position is displaced. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nozzle (2) is biased in the retracted position by means of a biasing means (7). Device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the biasing means comprises a coil spring (74), an elastomer and / or a pair of magnets (70, 72).

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