EP3067126B1 - Device for flushing a container with a flushing medium - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device for rinsing a container with a rinsing medium, for example a device in the form of a rinser, air rinser or ionization rinser.

State of the art

It is known to rinse containers in beverage bottling plants by introducing a rinsing medium before the actual filling with a filling product. For this purpose, a so-called rinser is usually installed upstream of a filler, by means of which the respective filling product is guided into the container to be filled. The respective containers to be filled, for example bottles, are arranged essentially upside down in the rinser, i.e. with their mouths oriented essentially downwards. The respective flushing medium is then introduced into the container in order to clean the interior of the container and in particular to remove particles that are still in the interior of the container. This rinsing prepares the interior of the container to receive the actual filling product, which is introduced into the then rinsed container in a downstream filler.

For example, water, sterile water or another rinsing liquid can be used as the rinsing medium. Furthermore, air, sterile air, ionized air or another flushing gas or flushing gas mixture can also be used as the flushing medium. When rinsing the interior of the container with liquids, the respective rinsing medium then runs out of the downward-pointing mouth of the container held in the rinsing device.

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

The respective rinsing medium is introduced into the container to be treated via a nozzle, which has a media outlet at its upper end, from which the respective rinsing medium then flows into the interior of the container to be rinsed. It is known to place the containers over the rinsing nozzle in such a way that the rinsing nozzle extends into the mouth area of the container to be treated or into the interior of the container to be treated. In order to place the container over the nozzle in this way, it is necessary that the container or the nozzle performs a relatively large stroke.

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

The FR 2 779 668 A1 describes a device for rinsing a container with a nozzle for introducing air and a suction device. Further rinsing devices with suction devices are available JP 2002 308231 A , EP 0 319 376 A1 as well as US 2,644,188 A out.

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

Presentation of the invention

Based on the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for washing containers.

This task is solved by a device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments result from the subclaims.

Accordingly, a device for flushing a container with a flushing medium is proposed, comprising a nozzle for introducing the flushing medium into the container to be flushed, the nozzle having a media outlet through which the flushing medium passes into the container to be flushed, the nozzle being displaceable in guided by a guide and between a retracted position for positioning the container and a position inserted into the container for rinsing the container with the rinsing medium, and a suction for suctioning at least part of the rinsing medium flowing back out of the container is provided. According to the invention, the guide is arranged between the media outlet of the nozzle and at least one area of the suction.

Because the guide is arranged between the media outlet of the nozzle and at least one area of the suction, any abrasion products that may arise from the guide are sucked off by means of the suction. Accordingly, it can essentially be prevented that these abrasion products, for example particles that are detached from the material of the guide or particles that adhere to the nozzle and are scraped off by the guide, do not get into the container to be flushed or into the environment of the flushing device. the rinser or a downstream filler. In this way, hygienically improved rinsing of the containers can be achieved.

This is particularly important when the nozzle is moved back and forth in the guide to reach the retracted position or the position inserted into the container, since particularly when the nozzle is moved, particles are loosened, repelled or scraped off or further detachment of particles for example, from the outside of the nozzle. This detachment or repelling 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 get from the rinsed containers onto the nozzle and/or the guide and adhere to them, so that they are repelled accordingly when the nozzle moves relative to the guide.

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

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

The guide is preferably located completely in the suctioned area in order to be able to suck off particles that occur in the area of the parts moving relative to one another, i.e. the nozzle moving in the guide, so that entry of these particles into the container or the environment can be avoided.

The guide is preferably also located between the media outlet and the suction, so that particles released by the guide can be sucked out by means of the suction.

The suction is preferably provided in such a way that it also at least partially sucks off the flow of rinsing media which emerges from the container through its mouth during rinsing. A corresponding suction opening is preferably provided, by means of which all or at least part of the flow of flushing medium can be sucked off. Correspondingly, while the container is being rinsed, there is a flow of rinsing media which points out of the container, flows at least partially around the guide and then at least partially reaches the suction. In this way, it is possible to use the flushing medium flow directed in this way to prevent flushing medium that has already flowed out of the container from flowing back into the container and thus also prevent particles that may have been detached in the area of the guide from being transported.

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, when the appropriate pressure conditions are present or by switching a corresponding valve, the nozzle can be pushed into the container to be rinsed opposite the guide in order to achieve the position of the nozzle inserted into the container and then complete rinsing of the container to be rinsed to reach the container.

In order to enable the nozzle to be retracted into the retracted position, the nozzle is preferably biased into the retracted position by means of a biasing device, for example by means of a spiral spring or by means of an elastomer. Accordingly, if the appropriate pressure conditions exist, an automatic retraction of the nozzle can be achieved, especially when a nozzle piston is no longer exposed to the flushing medium or when there is a corresponding counterpressure on the side of the media outlet.

A further improvement in the hygienic properties of the device can be achieved by prestressing the device into the retracted position using magnets, which work without wear. Accordingly, the possible entry of particles can be reduced even further, since abrasion from an elastomer or a return spring is avoided and a spring break or destruction of the elastomer cannot occur, so that the undesired entry of particles can also be prevented here.

Short description of the characters

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. Show:

Figure 1

a schematic sectional view of a device for rinsing a container in a first embodiment;

Figure 2

a schematic sectional view of a device for rinsing a container in a second embodiment;

Figure 3

a schematic sectional view of the rinsing process of a container; and

Figure 4

a schematic perspective representation of a guide in combination with a suction.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Elements that are the same, similar or have the same effect are designated with identical reference numerals. In order to avoid redundancies, the repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in the following description.

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a device 1 for rinsing a container, not shown here, with a rinsing medium. A nozzle 2 with a media outlet 20 is provided, with the flushing medium being 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 in this way inserted into the container to be rinsed in order to achieve a position inserted into the container. The flushing medium passes through a media channel 22 of the nozzle 2 in order to then be able to exit the media outlet 20.

In Figure 1 the retracted position of the nozzle 2 is shown, in which, for example, the container to be rinsed can be placed or replaced over the nozzle.

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

A guide surface 4 is formed between the guide 3 and the nozzle 2, on which the guide 3 guides the nozzle 2. The guide surface 4 is designed here in the form of a plain bearing, so that the outside of the nozzle 2 slides along the inside of the guide 3. In this process of sliding the nozzle 2 with respect to the guide 3 between the in Figure 1 In the retracted position shown and in a position pushed into the container, it can happen that 3 particles are detached on or through the guide. The particles can either be deposited on the outer surface of the nozzle 2 or the inner surface of the guide 3 due to the actual rinsing process, or the movement of the nozzle 2 in the guide 3 causes wear, which leads to material being released from the guide 3 Guide 3 or the surface of the nozzle 2 leads. In each of these cases, moving the nozzle 2 relative to the guide 3 releases particles. The concern with these particles is that they can then be introduced into the container via the flushing medium or enter the environment and in this way cause contamination of the environment.

In order to prevent such an entry of particles into the container to be rinsed, a suction 5 is provided, which is connected via a suction nozzle 50 to a vacuum device or suction device, not shown. The suction 5 is in the in Figure 1 The exemplary embodiment shown is provided in such a way that it enables suction at least partially below the guide 3 or the guide surface 4. For this purpose, a suction chamber 52 is provided, which is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle 50, and from which suction takes place via the suction nozzle 50. The suction chamber 52 of the suction 5 lies below the guide 3 in the exemplary embodiment shown. The guide 3 lies accordingly 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.

Because the guide 3 and in particular the guide surface 4 is arranged between the media outlet 20 and the suction 5, a volume flow is directed in the direction of the suction 5 or in the direction of the suction nozzle 50, which may remove any detached or released particles from the guide 3 or the Nozzle 2 transported away. These particles, which are detached in particular from the guide surface 4, are then sucked off accordingly and cannot be introduced into the interior of the container to be treated or rinsed. These particles then do not contaminate the environment, so that not only the hygiene of the rinsing device itself, but also the hygiene of the entire beverage filling system can be improved.

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

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

In Figure 1 the nozzle body 24 is intended to accommodate a nozzle piston 26 of the nozzle 2 in such a way that the nozzle piston 26 is essentially gas-tight with a bore in the Nozzle body 24 completes. Via a flushing media inlet 28, it is possible to bring the flushing medium into the nozzle body 24 in such a way that it both presses on the nozzle piston 26 and also reaches the media outlet 20 through the media channel 22. By appropriately dimensioning the nozzle piston 26 and the media channel 22, pressure is exerted on the nozzle 2 in such a way that it is pressed out of the nozzle body 24 in the direction of the arrow and can thus be brought into the position inserted into the container.

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

Accordingly, the nozzle 2 can be moved from the retracted position, into which it is pressed by means of the biasing device 7, into the position inserted into the container by applying a corresponding flushing media pressure to the nozzle piston 26 via the flushing media inlet 28 in such a way that it is on presses the nozzle piston 26. The force created in this way presses the biasing device 7 together, so that the nozzle 2 is pushed towards the interior of the container.

On the one hand, ambient air or ambient atmosphere flows into the suction 5 via the suction opening 54 directed in the direction of the media outlet 20 and, on the other hand, the flushing medium flowing back from the flushed container. If flushing is carried out here with a gas, for example air, sterile air or ionized air, the air flows out of the mouth again after the container has been flushed and enters the suction via the suction opening 54. Together with the flushing medium, particles that are flushed out of the flushed container are also sucked out via the suction 5. At the same time, the flow of flushing media directed towards the suction 5 and the suction also result in the suction of particles which may have become detached from the guide surface 4, the guide 3 and/or the outside of the nozzle 2. Accordingly, there is an improved removal of the particles rinsed out of the container as well as the particles generated within the rinsing device. These are accordingly not released into the environment, but are at least partially sucked out via the suction 5.

In Figure 2 a device 1 for rinsing a container with a rinsing medium is shown in a further exemplary embodiment. The structure is similar to that in Figure 1 structure shown. Only the biasing device 7, which in Figure 1 was formed by a spiral spring provided here by two magnets 70,72, which are poled in the repulsion direction. 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 pretensioning the nozzle 2 into the retracted position by means of the magnets 70, 72, a low-wear and thus hygienically improved device 1 can be provided. There is usually no friction or wear on the magnets 70, 72, so that no particles can come off here that could get into the interior of the container or into the environment.

Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of the actual process of rinsing a container 100, with the rinsing medium flow introduced into the interior of the container 100 via the nozzle 2, which is now in the position inserted into the container or its media outlet 20, being shown by means of 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 such that an annular gap remains between the nozzle 2 and the mouth 110 of the container 100, 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 enters the suction 5 via the suction opening 54 arranged on the front side, in order to then be sucked into the suction port 50 via the suction chamber 52. The guide 3, the guide surface 4 and/or the nozzle 2 are correspondingly flowed around by the flushing medium, so that the guide 3 is surrounded by the suction and corresponding particles which are in the area of the guide 3 in the area of the guide surface 4 or on the Detach the outside of the nozzle 2 so that it can be vacuumed using the suction 5.

To the extent applicable, all of the individual features illustrated in each exemplary embodiment may be combined and/or interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Reference symbol list

1

Device for rinsing a container

100

container

110

mouth

2

jet

20

Media exit

22

Media channel

24

Nozzle body

26

nozzle piston

28

Flushing media inlet

3

guide

4

Guide surface

5

suction

50

Suction nozzle

52

suction chamber

54

Suction opening

56

external wall

6

Muzzle attachment

60

web

7

Pretensioning device

70

magnet

72

magnet

74

coil spring

Claims (8)

1. Device (1) for flushing a container (100) with a flushing medium, comprising a nozzle (2) for introducing the flushing medium into the container (100) to be flushed, wherein the nozzle has a media outlet (20) through which the flushing medium enters into the container (100) to be flushed, wherein the nozzle (2) is guided displaceably in a guide (3) and is displaceable between a retracted position for positioning the container (100) and a position in which it is inserted into the container (100) for flushing the container (100) with the flushing medium, and an extraction unit (5) for extracting at least a part of the flushing medium flowing back out of the container (100),
   characterised in that
   the guide (3) is arranged between the media outlet (20) of the nozzle (2) and at least one region (52) of the extraction unit (5).
2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the extraction unit (5) surrounds the guide (3).
3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the guide (3) is situated completely in the region suctioned by the extraction unit (5).
4. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide (3) is situated between the media outlet (20) and the extraction unit (5).
5. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the extraction unit (5) has a suction opening (54) for suctioning the flushing medium flowing back out of the container (100), wherein the suction opening (54) preferably has the same orientation as the media outlet (20) of the nozzle (2).
6. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the nozzle (2) has a nozzle piston (26) by means of which the nozzle (2) is displaceable by means of impingement with the flushing medium from the retracted position into the position in which it is pushed into the container (100).
7. Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the nozzle (2) is biased into the retracted position by means of a biasing device (7).
8. Device (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the biasing device comprises a spiral spring (74), an elastomer and/or a magnet pair (70, 72).

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