EP3645180B1 - Spraying station of a cleaning machine - Google Patents

Spraying station of a cleaning machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3645180B1
EP3645180B1 EP18733239.0A EP18733239A EP3645180B1 EP 3645180 B1 EP3645180 B1 EP 3645180B1 EP 18733239 A EP18733239 A EP 18733239A EP 3645180 B1 EP3645180 B1 EP 3645180B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cleaning
container
sensor unit
jet
spray
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP18733239.0A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3645180A2 (en
Inventor
Ruediger Preuss
Thorsten Slowak
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KHS GmbH
Original Assignee
KHS GmbH
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by KHS GmbH filed Critical KHS GmbH
Publication of EP3645180A2 publication Critical patent/EP3645180A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3645180B1 publication Critical patent/EP3645180B1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
    • B08B9/20—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought
    • B08B9/28—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought the apparatus cleaning by splash, spray, or jet application, with or without soaking
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B12/00—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
    • B05B12/08—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
    • B05B12/082—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to a condition of the discharged jet or spray, e.g. to jet shape, spray pattern or droplet size
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
    • B08B9/20—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought
    • B08B9/28—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks by using apparatus into or on to which containers, e.g. bottles, jars, cans are brought the apparatus cleaning by splash, spray, or jet application, with or without soaking
    • B08B9/34—Arrangements of conduits or nozzles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B13/00—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
    • B05B13/06—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00 specially designed for treating the inside of hollow bodies
    • B05B13/0627—Arrangements of nozzles or spray heads specially adapted for treating the inside of hollow bodies
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B13/00—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
    • B05B13/06—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00 specially designed for treating the inside of hollow bodies
    • B05B13/069—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00 specially designed for treating the inside of hollow bodies the hollow bodies having a closed end
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a spray station of a cleaning machine for cleaning containers with at least one spray station.
  • a not insignificant proportion of the drinks that are sold are offered in reusable containers made of glass or plastic.
  • the containers to be cleaned with the spray station according to the invention are also preferably reusable containers.
  • container cleaning machines are used within the bottling plants of the drinks industry. Such cleaning machines for cleaning reusable containers are known to the expert in a wide variety of designs.
  • bottle cells Designs in which the containers are held in so-called bottle cells are widespread.
  • Several of these bottle cells are arranged in a row and held by so-called bottle carriers.
  • These bottle carriers - also called container baskets - are in turn held on two endlessly rotating transport chains, which guide them through several treatment stations that follow one another in the transport direction. These transport chains are usually permanently driven.
  • the containers are fed to a cleaning machine by a so-called feed and the containers are removed by a so-called discharge.
  • the period between two feed or discharge processes is referred to as a work cycle.
  • the transport chain is driven over a longer period of time, i.e. over a large number of work cycles, preferably at a constant speed.
  • the treatment of the containers within the cleaning machine is essentially carried out in so-called immersion or lye baths of various temperatures and - at the end of the treatment - within so-called spray zones, which comprise at least one, preferably several spray stations connected in series in the direction of transport.
  • spray zones comprise at least one, preferably several spray stations connected in series in the direction of transport.
  • the interior of the corresponding containers held in the container basket is sprayed out several times in order to completely remove foreign bodies or lye residues from the interior of the containers.
  • the outer surface of the containers is cleaned at the spray stations, in particular by spraying. To completely clean the containers, sufficiently long periods of time are required for lye treatment and/or the spray zones.
  • these treatment times are achieved by designing such cleaning machines with large caustic baths and correspondingly dimensioned spray zones, whereby the individual spray stations in such cases can then generally have at least one, preferably several rotating individual spray nozzles.
  • spray nozzles have become known within cleaning machines, for example for rotating sprays or a rotating cleaning jet, in which the spray jet follows the container through a rotating valve or nozzle arrangement, immobile rigid sprays which are fixed and stationary, and movable sprays which are arranged on a movable element that performs a forward and backward movement and thus follow the transport movement of the container at least temporarily - namely preferably while the corresponding container is being subjected to the cleaning jet.
  • the containers are often reusable containers that are refilled with a liquid It is therefore important to avoid leaving residues of treatment or cleaning fluid in the container that is to be refilled.
  • a so-called Rins device for cleaning containers, in which the containers to be cleaned are moved by means of a transport system between a bottle inlet and a bottle outlet through various treatment zones, the treatment zones comprising at least one immersion bath and at least one spray zone with at least one spray station, the at least one spray station having at least one spray nozzle with at least one cleaning jet for applying a cleaning liquid to the container received in a transport system with its respective container mouth pointing downwards, the orientation of the cleaning jet relative to the container to be cleaned in the area of the spray station being predetermined during the application of the cleaning liquid to the container, the spray station having at least one inspection device which is designed to detect and/or evaluate the at least one cleaning jet generated by the spray nozzle, the inspection device having at least one sensor unit.
  • the interior of the container is only sprayed out for a short time interval.
  • this document provides that the presence of the spray jet is monitored by means of a throttle body
  • the publication EN 10 2006 017 407 A1 A method for treating bottles or similar containers has become known in which the containers are treated with a cleaning liquid at least on their outer surface in at least one treatment zone and are heated in a pretreatment phase to remove labels, in particular self-adhesive labels, before treatment with the liquid treatment medium.
  • the object of the invention is to provide an improved cleaning machine for cleaning containers, which eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art and which in particular ensures that no containers are filled with liquid contents in or on which residues of the treatment or cleaning liquid adhere.
  • a cleaning machine for cleaning of containers according to claim 1. The subclaims relate to particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention.
  • the spray station of a cleaning machine for cleaning containers is characterized in that the spray station has at least one inspection device which is designed to detect and/or evaluate the at least one cleaning jet generated by the spray nozzle.
  • the inspection device is arranged in a fixed position relative to the spray nozzle and/or the container to be cleaned.
  • the inspection device can also be designed in such a way that it can be moved between a rest position and a working position, for example it can be swivelled or moved.
  • the inspection device is designed to detect and/or evaluate several, preferably all, cleaning jets generated by means of the respective spray nozzles.
  • the inspection device is designed to detect and/or evaluate the intensity of the at least one cleaning jet generated by means of the spray nozzle.
  • the inspection device is designed to detect and/or evaluate the spray volume of the cleaning jet generated by means of the at least one spray nozzle, with which a corresponding container of cleaning liquid is cleaned during the application.
  • the inspection device is designed to to detect and/or evaluate at least one cleaning jet immediately after it emerges from the at least one spray nozzle.
  • the inspection device has at least one sensor unit for detecting the at least one cleaning jet generated by the spray nozzle and an evaluation unit for evaluating the cleaning jet detected by the sensor unit.
  • the at least one sensor unit is designed as an optical and/or capacitive sensor unit.
  • the at least one sensor unit can in particular be designed as a camera unit and/or infrared sensor unit.
  • the at least one sensor unit is designed as an ultrasonic sensor unit.
  • the at least one sensor unit can in particular be designed as a distance sensor or reflection sensor.
  • the at least one sensor unit is provided in such a way that its detection area is formed between the exit of the cleaning jet of the at least one spray nozzle to be detected and the entry of this cleaning jet via the container mouth into the associated container to be cleaned.
  • the inspection device has at least one sensor unit for detecting the at least one cleaning jet generated by the spray nozzle and an evaluation unit for evaluating the cleaning jet detected by the sensor unit.
  • the at least one sensor unit is designed as an optical and/or capacitive sensor unit.
  • the at least one sensor unit can preferably be designed as a camera unit and/or infrared sensor unit.
  • the at least one sensor unit is designed as a force sensor for detecting the impinging pulse of the cleaning jet generated by the at least one spray nozzle.
  • the at least one sensor unit is provided above the cleaning jet to be detected of the at least one pointed nozzle in such a way that this generated cleaning jet hits the detection area of the at least one sensor unit during the application.
  • 1 indicates a cleaning machine for cleaning containers 2 or the like in a side sectional view.
  • the containers 2 are designed as reusable containers, for example PET or glass bottles.
  • a transport system 5 is provided, with which the containers 2 to be cleaned are moved through various treatment zones, namely from a bottle inlet 6 (feed) through a first immersion bath 7 containing a cleaning liquid, e.g. alkaline water, then through a second immersion bath 8 containing a cleaning liquid, e.g.
  • the transport system 5 consists, in the manner known to those skilled in the art, of a plurality of bottle baskets 15 which are connected to one another in the transport direction A and are moved by circulating transport chains, each of which Figure 2
  • the embodiment shown as an example and shown in a highly simplified manner has three bottle cells or container cells 16 arranged next to one another perpendicular to the transport direction A.
  • a container in particular a bottle 2
  • the transport system 5 has several deflections which are located in the Fig.1 generally designated 18 - 22 and of which the deflection 19 is located entirely within the immersion bath 8.
  • the containers 2 designed as bottles are oriented with their bottle axis, in particular the bottle vertical axis FA, radially or approximately radially to the horizontal axis of this deflection, in such a way that the container mouths 2.1 and also the openings 17 of the container cells 16 moving past there face this axis.
  • FIG 2 an exemplary embodiment of a spray station 9 according to the invention of a cleaning machine 1 for cleaning containers 2 is shown, which is guided by the transport system 5 having a plurality of container baskets 15 through the various treatment zones of the Figure 1 cleaning machine 1 shown.
  • a spray station 9 is assigned to a spray zone of a cleaning machine 1.
  • the movement or transport direction of the transport system 5 or the container baskets 15 in the transport direction A is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of this Figure 2 oriented.
  • the direction of movement or transport of the container baskets 15 in the area of spraying relative to the spraying station 9 is indicated by the arrow A.
  • Each container basket 15 forms several receptacles or container cells 16, which serve to hold the respective container 2 and are formed in the respective container basket 15, perpendicular to the transport direction A of the transport system 5, adjacent to one another.
  • Such container baskets 15 are also referred to as bottle baskets.
  • the spray station 9 of the cleaning machine 1 according to the invention for cleaning the containers 2 comprises at least one spray nozzle 30 with at least one cleaning jet 31 for applying a cleaning and/or treatment liquid to the container 2 accommodated in the transport system 5, in particular in the container basket 15 with its respective downward-facing container mouth 2.1.
  • the orientation of the cleaning jet 31 generated by the spray nozzle 30 relative to the container 2 to be cleaned can be predetermined in the area of the spray station 9 during the application of the cleaning liquid to the container 2.
  • the spray station 9 can be designed in particular for internal spraying or internal cleaning of the containers 2.
  • the containers 2 are oriented in the container cells 16 with their respective container axis FA in the vertical direction and are moved with their container mouth 2.1 pointing downwards past the spray station 9 or over a distributor or spray pipe 32 having a plurality of spray nozzles 30.
  • the distributor pipe 32 with the spray nozzles 30 is located below the path of movement of the container baskets 15 passing the spray station 9, in such a way that the number of spray nozzles 30 is preferably at least equal to the number of container cells 16 of each container basket 15 and each spray nozzle 30 is located in the vertical direction below the path of movement of a container cell 16 of the container baskets 15.
  • Each cleaning jet 31 emerging from a spray nozzle 30 essentially in a vertical direction upwards can thus enter the containers 2 moving past the spray station 9 via the openings 17 through the container mouths 2.1 not covered by the container cells 16.
  • the distributor pipe 32 is connected via a supply line 33 to a source 34 for the cleaning and/or treatment liquid, for example for a liquid cleaning medium, e.g. for lye, or for water, e.g. for fresh water.
  • a source 34 for the cleaning and/or treatment liquid for example for a liquid cleaning medium, e.g. for lye, or for water, e.g. for fresh water.
  • a pump 35 which Treatment liquid is provided in the required quantity and at the required pressure.
  • a flow control valve 36 is arranged on the outlet of the pump 35, with which the cleaning jets 31 emerging from the spray nozzles 30 can be controlled and/or regulated with regard to their spray quantity [ml/min] and/or their pressure via a control device 37.
  • the cleaning jets 31 are controlled synchronously with the movement of the container baskets 15 by an additional device (not shown but generally known to the person skilled in the art), the spray nozzles being designed as bores in a shaft rotating about its longitudinal axis.
  • an additional device not shown but generally known to the person skilled in the art
  • the spray nozzles being designed as bores in a shaft rotating about its longitudinal axis.
  • spray nozzles 30 can be controlled in such a way that the discharge of the cleaning and/or treatment liquid from the spray nozzles 30 is reduced or interrupted as long as there are no containers 2 above the spray nozzles 30 or in the effective range of the spray nozzles 30. This achieves, among other things, a considerable saving in liquid spray medium and a considerable saving in drive energy for the pump 35.
  • the alignment, in particular the orientation, of the cleaning jet 31 relative to the container 2 to be cleaned can be changed in the area of the spray station 9 while the container 2 is being subjected to the cleaning liquid.
  • the cleaning jet 31 can initially be directed at an inner side of the container 2, then directly at the inner surface of the base of the container 2 and then at another inner side of the container 2 opposite the first inner side.
  • the respective cleaning jet 31 can also be controlled or regulated by the flow control valve 36 in such a way that the application of cleaning fluid occurs exclusively during the period in which a continuous stream of containers 2 is moved through the effective area of the spray station 9.
  • each container 2 is in the effective range of a spray nozzle 30 for a sufficiently long time interval, i.e. a sufficiently long period of time is available for the spraying phases in order to be exposed to the cleaning fluid.
  • At least one spray station 9 of the cleaning machine 1 has at least one inspection device 40 which is arranged in a fixed position relative to the spray nozzle 30 and/or the container 2 to be cleaned and which is designed to detect and/or evaluate the at least one cleaning jet 31 generated by this spray nozzle 30.
  • the inspection device 40 can be designed to detect and/or evaluate the function, for example the presence and/or the relative orientation of the cleaning jet 31 during the application of the cleaning liquid to the container 2 conveyed above it in a container cell 16.
  • the inspection device 40 is designed to detect and/or evaluate one or each individual cleaning or spray jet 31.
  • the inspection device 40 is designed to detect and/or evaluate the presence, the spray performance or intensity [ml/s] and/or the pulse of at least one, preferably several cleaning or spray jets 31.
  • the inspection device 40 is designed to detect and/or evaluate several, preferably all, spray nozzles 30 of the at least one spray station 9.
  • the inspection device 40 is designed to detect and/or evaluate, thus in particular also to determine, the spray volume [m 3 /h] of the cleaning jet 31 generated by means of the at least one spray nozzle 30, with which a corresponding container 2 of cleaning liquid is cleaned during the application.
  • the inspection device 40 can advantageously be used to record and/or evaluate for each container 2 of a container row of a corresponding container basket 15 the spray volume of the cleaning jet 31 with which each container 2 was cleaned during the application. Furthermore, if the spray volume of cleaning fluid falls below a definable spray volume, i.e. a definable minimum volume of the respective cleaning jet 31, an error message can be output in an evaluation unit AE, preferably with assignment, i.e. specification of the corresponding container basket 15 and the associated container row within this container basket 15.
  • inspection device 40 is advantageously designed to detect and/or evaluate, i.e. in particular to monitor, the emergence of the respective cleaning jet 31 from a corresponding spray nozzle 30.
  • Such monitoring can advantageously be carried out by monitoring, i.e. detecting and/or evaluating, the respective cleaning jet immediately after it emerges from a corresponding spray nozzle 30, i.e. before it enters the respective container mouth 2.1.
  • the inspection device 40 can have at least one sensor unit 41 and preferably an evaluation unit AE, which for example, can be operatively connected to one another via a transmission line 42.
  • the sensor unit 41 can be designed to detect at least one cleaning jet 31 generated by the spray nozzle 30, and the evaluation unit AE can be designed to evaluate the cleaning jet 31 detected by the sensor unit 41.
  • a separate sensor unit 41 for detecting the respective cleaning jet 31 can be provided for each cleaning jet 31 generated by each spray nozzle 30.
  • a single sensor device 41 for detecting all cleaning jets 31 can be provided for each cleaning jet 31 generated by each spray nozzle 30.
  • the sensor unit 41 can be designed, for example, as an optical and/or capacitive sensor unit.
  • the sensor unit 41 can also be designed as a camera unit and/or infrared sensor unit.
  • the sensor unit 41 can comprise a transmitter unit 41.1 and a receiver unit 41.2.
  • the receiver unit 41.2 can be designed as a reflector unit that reflects the transmitted light beam back to the transmitter unit 41.1.
  • the sensor unit 41 can also be designed as a force and/or pressure sensor.
  • the sensor unit 41 of the inspection unit 40 is arranged or provided in the spray station 9 in such a way that the emergence of the respective cleaning jet 31 from a corresponding spray nozzle 30 can be detected by the respective cleaning jet 31 preferably being detectable immediately after emerging from a corresponding spray nozzle 30, i.e. in particular before entering the associated container mouth 2.1 of a corresponding container 2.
  • the sensor unit 41 can be provided in such a way that its detection range EB lies between the exit of the cleaning jet 31 of the at least one spray nozzle 30 to be detected and the entry of this cleaning jet 31 via the container mouth 2.1 into the associated container 2 to be cleaned.
  • the detection area EB of the sensor unit 41 can extend perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the at least one cleaning jet 31 generated by the spray nozzle 30 to be detected.
  • the detection and/or evaluation of the at least one cleaning jet 30 generated by the spray nozzle 30 can thus take place at full capacity, in particular when the container baskets 15 are fully loaded with containers 2 to be cleaned.
  • the inspection device 40 can also have at least one sensor unit 45, which can also be operatively connected to the evaluation unit AE via a transmission line 42.
  • the sensor unit 45 can also be designed to detect the at least one cleaning jet 31 generated by the spray nozzle 30, and the evaluation unit AE can be designed to evaluate the cleaning jet 31 detected by the sensor unit 45.
  • a separate sensor unit 45 can be provided for each cleaning jet 31 generated by each spray nozzle 30 to detect the respective cleaning jet 31.
  • sensor units 45 can also be provided.
  • a separate sensor unit 45 is provided for each container basket 15 present in a container row.
  • the multiple sensor units 45 can be operatively connected to one another and to the evaluation unit AE via a transmission line 42.
  • a single sensor device 45 for detecting all cleaning jets 31 can be provided for each cleaning jet 31 generated by each spray nozzle 30.
  • the at least one sensor unit 45 can be designed, for example, as a force sensor for detecting the impinging pulse of the cleaning jet 31 generated by the at least one spray nozzle 30.
  • the at least Sensor unit 45 can be designed as a camera unit and/or infrared sensor unit and/or capacitive sensor unit. If several sensor units 45 are provided, these can also be designed in different ways.
  • the at least one sensor unit 45 has a detection area EB which is designed parallel or substantially parallel to and above the at least one cleaning jet 31 generated by the spray nozzle 30 to be detected.
  • the at least one sensor unit 45 is arranged above the cleaning jet 31 to be detected of the at least one pointed nozzle 30 in such a way that this generated cleaning jet 31 hits the detection area EB of the at least one sensor unit 45 during the application.
  • the at least one sensor unit 45 can be provided, in particular arranged, on a ceiling 3.1 of the housing 3 of the cleaning machine 1.
  • the at least one sensor unit 45 is arranged above the at least one spray nozzle 30 to be detected in such a way that its cleaning jet 31 strikes the sensor unit 45 and/or its detection area EB during the application of cleaning fluid and is thus detected.
  • the detection and/or evaluation of the at least one cleaning jet 30 generated by the spray nozzle 30 can take place by leaving a corresponding container cell 16 free in a transported container basket 15, i.e. no container 2 to be cleaned is accommodated, and the detection and/or evaluation of the cleaning jet 31 of the spray nozzle 30 takes place when the free container cell 16 is located above the spray nozzle 30 to be checked.
  • the cleaning jet 30 then exits through the opening 17 on the side of the associated container cell 16 opposite the spray nozzle 30 and hits the at least one sensor unit 45 or in its detection range EB.
  • spray stations 9 according to the invention of the type described above are arranged one after the other. provided, whereby these spray stations 9 can then also be designed for the application of different spray or cleaning liquids.
  • the detection and/or evaluation can be carried out by means of the inspection device 40 at, in particular before, the start of production of the cleaning machine 1.
  • the first row of containers is pushed into the container basket 15 waiting at the task 6 or conveyed onto the transport system 5.
  • each additional container basket 15 is also filled with containers 2.
  • the detection and/or evaluation of at least one cleaning jet generated by the spray nozzle 30 of a spray station 9 advantageously takes place immediately before the first filled container basket 15 reaches this spray station 9.
  • the detection and/or evaluation can also take place at the end of production, i.e. after the last filled container basket 15 has passed the last nozzle 30 of the last spray station 9 as seen in the transport direction A.
  • the detection and/or evaluation of at least one cleaning jet generated by the at least one spray nozzle 30 takes place during ongoing production.
  • a detection and/or evaluation cycle i.e. a monitoring cycle, can be triggered at any time during production.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)

Description

Die vorliegende Erfindung bezieht sich auf eine Spritzstation einer Reinigungsmaschine zum Reinigen von Behältern mit zumindest einer Spritzstation.The present invention relates to a spray station of a cleaning machine for cleaning containers with at least one spray station.

Ein nicht unerheblicher Teil der in den Handel gelangenden Getränke wird in Mehrwegbehältern aus Glas oder Kunststoff angeboten. Auch bei den mit der erfindungsgemäßen Spritzstation zu reinigenden Behältern handelt es sich vorzugsweise um Mehrwegbehälter. Zur Reinigung dieser Behälter für ihre Wiederverwendung werden innerhalb der Abfüllbetriebe der Getränkeindustrie so genannte Behälterreinigungsmaschinen verwendet. Derartige Reinigungsmaschinen zur Reinigung von Mehrwegbehälter sind dem Fachmann in den unterschiedlichsten Bauarten bekannt.A not insignificant proportion of the drinks that are sold are offered in reusable containers made of glass or plastic. The containers to be cleaned with the spray station according to the invention are also preferably reusable containers. To clean these containers for reuse, so-called container cleaning machines are used within the bottling plants of the drinks industry. Such cleaning machines for cleaning reusable containers are known to the expert in a wide variety of designs.

Weit verbreitet sind Ausführungen, bei welchen die Behälter in so genannten Flaschenzellen aufgenommen werden. Mehrere dieser Flaschenzellen sind in einer Reihe angeordnet von so genannten Flaschenträgern aufgenommen. Diese Flaschenträger - oder auch Behälterkörbe genannt - wiederum sind an zwei endlos umlaufenden Transportketten gehalten, von welchen sie durch mehrere, in Transportrichtung aufeinander folgende Behandlungsstationen geführt werden. In der Regel sind diese Transportketten permanent angetrieben.Designs in which the containers are held in so-called bottle cells are widespread. Several of these bottle cells are arranged in a row and held by so-called bottle carriers. These bottle carriers - also called container baskets - are in turn held on two endlessly rotating transport chains, which guide them through several treatment stations that follow one another in the transport direction. These transport chains are usually permanently driven.

Die Zufuhr der Behälter zu einer Reinigungsmaschine erfolgt durch eine so genannte Aufgabe, die Abfuhr der Behälter durch eine so genannte Abgabe. Der Zeitraum zwischen zwei Zufuhr- bzw. Abgabevorgängen wird als Arbeitstakt bezeichnet. Die Transportkette wird über einen längeren Zeitraum, d.h. über eine Vielzahl von Arbeitstakten hinweg mit vorzugsweise konstanter Geschwindigkeit angetrieben.The containers are fed to a cleaning machine by a so-called feed and the containers are removed by a so-called discharge. The period between two feed or discharge processes is referred to as a work cycle. The transport chain is driven over a longer period of time, i.e. over a large number of work cycles, preferably at a constant speed.

Die Behandlung der Behälter innerhalb der Reinigungsmaschine erfolgt im Wesentlichen in sogenannten Tauch- oder Laugebädern unterschiedlichster Temperaturen und - zum Abschluss der Behandlung - innerhalb so genannter Spritzzonen, die zumindest eine, vorzugsweise mehreren in Transportrichtung hintereinander geschaltete Spritzstationen umfasst. Innerhalb dieser Spritzzonen wird u.a. das Innere der entsprechenden in dem Behälterkorb aufgenommenen Behälter mehrfach ausgespritzt, um Fremdkörper oder aber auch Laugerückstände vollständig aus dem Inneren der Behälter zu entfernen. Weiterhin wird an den Spritzstationen aber auch die Außenmantelfläche der Behälter gereinigt, insbesondere abspritzt. Zur vollständigen Reinigung der Behälter werden hinreichend große Zeiträume für Laugebehandlung und/oder die Spritzzonen benötigt.The treatment of the containers within the cleaning machine is essentially carried out in so-called immersion or lye baths of various temperatures and - at the end of the treatment - within so-called spray zones, which comprise at least one, preferably several spray stations connected in series in the direction of transport. Within these spray zones Among other things, the interior of the corresponding containers held in the container basket is sprayed out several times in order to completely remove foreign bodies or lye residues from the interior of the containers. In addition, the outer surface of the containers is cleaned at the spray stations, in particular by spraying. To completely clean the containers, sufficiently long periods of time are required for lye treatment and/or the spray zones.

Bei Reinigungsmaschinen mit vorzugsweise großer Mengenleistung, beispielsweise mehr als 5000 Behältern je Stunde, werden diese Behandlungszeiten dadurch erreicht, dass solche Reinigungsmaschinen mit großen Laugebädern und entsprechend dimensionierten Spritzzonen ausgebildet sind, wobei die einzelnen Spritzstationen in solchen Fällen dann in der Regel wenigstens eine, vorzugweise mehrere rotierende Einzelspritzdüsen aufweisen können.In the case of cleaning machines with preferably high volume output, for example more than 5000 containers per hour, these treatment times are achieved by designing such cleaning machines with large caustic baths and correspondingly dimensioned spray zones, whereby the individual spray stations in such cases can then generally have at least one, preferably several rotating individual spray nozzles.

Innerhalb der Reinigungsmaschinen sind mehrere Bauarten von Spritzdüsen bekannt geworden, so z.B. für rotierende Spritzungen bzw. einem rotierenden Reinigungsstrahl, bei denen der Spritzstrahl durch eine rotierende Ventil- oder Düsenanordnung dem Behälter folgt, unbeweglich starre Spritzungen welche fest und ortsfest angeordnet sind, und verfahrbare Spritzungen, welche auf einem beweglichen, eine Vor- und Rückwärtsbewegung ausführen Element angeordnet sind und somit der Transportbewegung der Behälter zumindest zeitweise - nämlich vorzugsweise während der Beaufschlagung des entsprechenden Behälters mit dem Reinigungsstrahl - folgen.Several types of spray nozzles have become known within cleaning machines, for example for rotating sprays or a rotating cleaning jet, in which the spray jet follows the container through a rotating valve or nozzle arrangement, immobile rigid sprays which are fixed and stationary, and movable sprays which are arranged on a movable element that performs a forward and backward movement and thus follow the transport movement of the container at least temporarily - namely preferably while the corresponding container is being subjected to the cleaning jet.

Es muss dabei insbesondere sichergestellt sein, dass nach dem Durchlaufen eines Behälters durch die Spritzzonen keine Reste der mitunter aggressiven Behandlungsflüssigkeit bzw. Reinigungsflüssigkeit, beispielsweise der Behandlungsflüssigkeit der angewandten Laugebäder, (mehr) an oder in dem jeweiligen Behälter anhaften.In particular, it must be ensured that after a container has passed through the spray zones, no residues of the sometimes aggressive treatment liquid or cleaning liquid, for example the treatment liquid of the lye baths used, (any longer) adhere to or in the respective container.

Wie eingangs erwähnt, handelt es sich bei den Behältern oftmals um Mehrwegbehälter, die im Anschluss an die Reinigung erneut mit einem flüssigen Füllgut befüllt werden sollen. Reste von Behandlungs- oder Reinigungsflüssigkeit in dem dann erneut zu befüllenden Behälter gilt es daher zu vermeiden.As mentioned at the beginning, the containers are often reusable containers that are refilled with a liquid It is therefore important to avoid leaving residues of treatment or cleaning fluid in the container that is to be refilled.

Dazu hat es sich als überaus vorteilhaft erwiesen, bereits während des Ausspritzens eines Behälters, zu überprüfen, ob der für das Ausspritzen eines Behälters vorgesehene Spritzstrahl während der vorgesehenen Spritzzeit wirklich vorhanden ist.For this purpose, it has proven to be extremely advantageous to check, while spraying a container, whether the spray jet intended for spraying a container is actually present during the intended spraying time.

Bekannt wurde beispielsweise eine sogenannte Rins-Vorrichtung gemäß der EP 0 920 358 B1 . Dieses Dokument zeigt eine Reinigungsmaschine zum Reinigen von Behältern, bei der die zu reinigenden Behälter mittels eines Transportsystems zwischen einem Flascheneinlauf und einer Flaschenabgabe durch verschiedene Behandlungszonen bewegt werden, wobei die Behandlungszonen zumindest ein Tauchbad sowie wenigstens eine Spritzone mit zumindest einer Spritzstation umfassen, wobei die zumindest eine Spritzstation wenigstens eine Spritzdüse mit zumindest einem Reinigungsstrahl zum Beaufschlagen des in einem Transportsystem mit seiner jeweiligen nach unten gerichteten Behältermündung aufgenommenen Behälters mit einer Reinigungsflüssigkeit aufweisl, wobei die Ausrichtung des Reinigungsstrahls relativ zu dem reinigenden Behälter im Bereich der Spritzstation während der Beaufschlagung des Behälters mit der Reinigungsflüssigkeit vorgegeben ist, wobei die Spritzstation zumindest eine Inspektionseinrichtung aufweist, die zur Erfassung und/oder Auswertung des zumindest einen von der Spritzdüse erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls ausgebildet ist, die Inspektionseinrichtung zumindest eine Sensoreinheit aufweist. Bei derartigen Rinsern wird der Innenraum des Behälters lediglich während eines kurzen Zeitintervalls ausgespritzt. Mehr im Detail sieht diese Schrift vor, dass das Vorhandensein des Spritzstrahls mittels eines Drosselkörpers und einer entsprechenden Kontrolleinrichtung kontrolliert wird.For example, a so-called Rins device according to the EP 0 920 358 B1 This document shows a cleaning machine for cleaning containers, in which the containers to be cleaned are moved by means of a transport system between a bottle inlet and a bottle outlet through various treatment zones, the treatment zones comprising at least one immersion bath and at least one spray zone with at least one spray station, the at least one spray station having at least one spray nozzle with at least one cleaning jet for applying a cleaning liquid to the container received in a transport system with its respective container mouth pointing downwards, the orientation of the cleaning jet relative to the container to be cleaned in the area of the spray station being predetermined during the application of the cleaning liquid to the container, the spray station having at least one inspection device which is designed to detect and/or evaluate the at least one cleaning jet generated by the spray nozzle, the inspection device having at least one sensor unit. In such rinsers, the interior of the container is only sprayed out for a short time interval. In more detail, this document provides that the presence of the spray jet is monitored by means of a throttle body and a corresponding control device.

Eine weitere Rins-Vorrichtung wurde durch die WO 99/28 043 A1 bekannt. Zur Kontrolle des Vorhandenseins des Spritzstrahles sieht diese Schrift mehr im Detail vor, dass der Spritzstrahl zunächst gegen eine Kraftmesseinrichtung gerichtet wird. Durch die Kraftwirkung des auf die Kraftmesseinrichtung treffenden Spritzstrahls kann das Vorhandensein des Spritzstrahls sicher erkannt werden. Erst anschließend wird der auszuspritzende Behälter in den Spritzstrahl geschwenkt und somit ausgespritzt.Another rinsing device was installed by the WO 99/28 043 A1 known. To check the presence of the spray jet, this document provides in more detail that the spray jet is first directed against a force measuring device. The presence of the spray jet can be reliably detected by the force of the spray jet hitting the force measuring device. Only then is the container to be sprayed swiveled into the spray jet and thus sprayed.

Ferner ist aus der Druckschrift DE 10 2006 017 407 A1 ein Verfahren zur Behandlung von Flaschen oder dergleichen Behälter bekannt geworden, bei dem die Behälter in wenigstens einer Behandlungszone zumindest an ihrer Außenfläche mit einer Reinigungsflüssigkeit behandelt werden und zum Ablösen von Etiketten, insbesondere von selbstklebenden Etiketten, vor dem Behandeln mit dem flüssigen Behandlungsmedium in einer Vorbehandlungsphase erwärmt werden.Furthermore, the publication EN 10 2006 017 407 A1 A method for treating bottles or similar containers has become known in which the containers are treated with a cleaning liquid at least on their outer surface in at least one treatment zone and are heated in a pretreatment phase to remove labels, in particular self-adhesive labels, before treatment with the liquid treatment medium.

Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es, eine verbesserte Reinigungsmaschine zum Reinigen von Behältern aufzuzeigen, die die Nachteile des Standes der Technik beseitig und die insbesondere sicherstellt, dass keine Behälter mit flüssigen Füllgut befüllt werden, in oder an denen Reste der Behandlungs- oder Reinigungsflüssigkeit anhaften. Zur Lösung dieser Aufgabe ist eine Reinigungsmaschine zum Reinigen von Behältern entsprechend dem Patentanspruch 1 ausgebildet. Die Unteransprüche betreffen besonders vorteilhafte Ausführungsvarianten der Erfindung.The object of the invention is to provide an improved cleaning machine for cleaning containers, which eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art and which in particular ensures that no containers are filled with liquid contents in or on which residues of the treatment or cleaning liquid adhere. To solve this problem, a cleaning machine for cleaning of containers according to claim 1. The subclaims relate to particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Gemäß einem wesentlichen Aspekt der Erfindung zeichnet sich die Spritzstation einer Reinigungsmaschine zum Reinigen von Behältern dadurch aus, dass die Spritzstation zumindest eine Inspektionseinrichtung aufweist, die zur Erfassung und/oder Auswertung des zumindest einen von der Spritzdüse erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls ausgebildet ist.According to an essential aspect of the invention, the spray station of a cleaning machine for cleaning containers is characterized in that the spray station has at least one inspection device which is designed to detect and/or evaluate the at least one cleaning jet generated by the spray nozzle.

Besonders vorteilhaft wird damit eine Spritzstation bereitgestellt, mittels der während des laufenden Betriebs der Reinigungsmaschine eine Überprüfung der Funktion der Spritzdüsen und damit letztlich der ordnungsgemäßen Reinigung der Behälter stattfindet.It is particularly advantageous to provide a spray station by means of which the function of the spray nozzles and thus ultimately the proper cleaning of the containers can be checked during ongoing operation of the cleaning machine.

Besonders vorteilhaft ist die Inspektionseinrichtung relativ zur Spritzdüse und/oder dem zu reinigenden Behälter ortsfest angeordnet.It is particularly advantageous if the inspection device is arranged in a fixed position relative to the spray nozzle and/or the container to be cleaned.

Dabei kann die Inspektionseinrichtung trotz ortsfester Anordnung auch so ausgebildet sein, dass sie zwischen einer Ruhe- und einer Arbeitsposition bewegt, beispielsweise geschwenkt oder verfahren werden kann.Despite its fixed arrangement, the inspection device can also be designed in such a way that it can be moved between a rest position and a working position, for example it can be swivelled or moved.

Gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsvariante kann dabei vorgesehen sein, dass die Inspektionseinrichtung zur Erfassung und/oder Auswertung mehrerer, vorzugsweise sämtlicher mittels der jeweiligen Spritzdüsen erzeugter Reinigungsstrahlen ausgebildet ist.According to a preferred embodiment variant, it can be provided that the inspection device is designed to detect and/or evaluate several, preferably all, cleaning jets generated by means of the respective spray nozzles.

Gemäß einer weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsvariante kann dabei vorgesehen sein, dass die Inspektionseinrichtung zur Erfassung und/oder Auswertung der Intensität des zumindest einen mittels der Spritzdüse erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls ausgebildet ist.According to a further preferred embodiment variant, it can be provided that the inspection device is designed to detect and/or evaluate the intensity of the at least one cleaning jet generated by means of the spray nozzle.

Gemäß einer nochmals weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsvariante kann dabei vorgesehen sein, dass die Inspektionseinrichtung zur Erfassung und/oder Auswertung des mittels der zumindest einen Spritzdüse erzeugten Spritzvolumens des Reinigungsstrahls ausgebildet ist, mit dem ein entsprechender Behälter an Reinigungsflüssigkeit während der Beaufschlagung gereinigt wird.According to yet another preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the inspection device is designed to detect and/or evaluate the spray volume of the cleaning jet generated by means of the at least one spray nozzle, with which a corresponding container of cleaning liquid is cleaned during the application.

Gemäß einer nochmals weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsvariante kann dabei vorgesehen sein, dass die Inspektionseinrichtung dazu ausgebildet ist, den zumindest einen Reinigungsstrahls unmittelbar nach dem Austreten aus der zumindest einen Spritzdüse zu erfassen und/oder auszuwerten.According to yet another preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the inspection device is designed to to detect and/or evaluate at least one cleaning jet immediately after it emerges from the at least one spray nozzle.

Gemäß einer nochmals weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsvariante kann dabei vorgesehen sein, dass die Inspektionseinrichtung zumindest eine Sensoreinheit zur Erfassung des zumindest einen von der Spritzdüse erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls sowie eine Auswerteeinheit zur Auswertung des von der Sensoreinheit erfassten Reinigungsstrahls aufweist.According to yet another preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the inspection device has at least one sensor unit for detecting the at least one cleaning jet generated by the spray nozzle and an evaluation unit for evaluating the cleaning jet detected by the sensor unit.

Gemäß einer nochmals weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsvariante kann dabei vorgesehen sein, dass die wenigstens eine Sensoreinheit als optische und/oder kapazitive Sensoreinheit ausgebildet ist. Dabei kann die wenigstens eine Sensoreinheit insbesondere als Kameraeinheit und/oder Infrarotsensoreinheit ausgebildet sein.According to yet another preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one sensor unit is designed as an optical and/or capacitive sensor unit. The at least one sensor unit can in particular be designed as a camera unit and/or infrared sensor unit.

Gemäß einer nochmals weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsvariante kann dabei vorgesehen sein, dass die wenigstens eine Sensoreinheit als Ultraschall-Sensoreinheit ausgebildet ist. Dabei kann die wenigstens eine Sensoreinheit insbesondere als Abstandssensor oder Reflektionssensor ausgebildet sein.According to yet another preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one sensor unit is designed as an ultrasonic sensor unit. The at least one sensor unit can in particular be designed as a distance sensor or reflection sensor.

Gemäß einer nochmals weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsvariante kann dabei vorgesehen sein, dass die zumindest Sensoreinheit derart vorgesehen ist, dass deren Erfassungsbereich zwischen dem Austritt des Reinigungsstrahls der wenigstens einen zu erfassenden Spritzdüse und dem Eintritt dieses Reinigungsstrahls über die Behältermündung in den zugehörigen, zu reinigenden Behälter ausgebildet ist.According to yet another preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one sensor unit is provided in such a way that its detection area is formed between the exit of the cleaning jet of the at least one spray nozzle to be detected and the entry of this cleaning jet via the container mouth into the associated container to be cleaned.

Gemäß einer nochmals weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsvariante kann dabei vorgesehen sein, dass die Inspektionseinrichtung zumindest eine Sensoreinheit zur Erfassung des zumindest einen von der Spritzdüse erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls sowie eine Auswerteeinheit zur Auswertung des von der Sensoreinheit erfassten Reinigungsstrahls aufweist.According to yet another preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the inspection device has at least one sensor unit for detecting the at least one cleaning jet generated by the spray nozzle and an evaluation unit for evaluating the cleaning jet detected by the sensor unit.

Gemäß einer nochmals weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsvariante kann dabei vorgesehen sein, dass die wenigstens eine Sensoreinheit als optische und/oder kapazitive Sensoreinheit ausgebildet ist. Bevorzugt kann die wenigstens eine Sensoreinheit als Kameraeinheit und/oder Infrarotsensoreinheit ausgebildet sein.According to yet another preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one sensor unit is designed as an optical and/or capacitive sensor unit. The at least one sensor unit can preferably be designed as a camera unit and/or infrared sensor unit.

Gemäß einer nochmals weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsvariante kann dabei vorgesehen sein, dass die wenigstens eine Sensoreinheit als Kraftsensor zur Erfassung des auftreffenden Impulses des von der zumindest einen Spritzdüse erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls ausgebildet ist.According to yet another preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one sensor unit is designed as a force sensor for detecting the impinging pulse of the cleaning jet generated by the at least one spray nozzle.

Gemäß einer nochmals weiteren bevorzugten Ausführungsvariante kann dabei vorgesehen sein, dass die zumindest eine Sensoreinheit derart oberhalb des zu erfassenden Reinigungsstrahls der zumindest einen Spitzdüse vorgesehen ist, dass dieser erzeugte Reinigungsstrahl während der Beaufschlagung in den Erfassungsbereich der zumindest einen Sensoreinheit trifft.According to yet another preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one sensor unit is provided above the cleaning jet to be detected of the at least one pointed nozzle in such a way that this generated cleaning jet hits the detection area of the at least one sensor unit during the application.

Der Ausdruck "im Wesentlichen" bzw. "etwa" bzw. "ca." bedeutet im Sinne der Erfindung Abweichungen vom jeweils exakten Wert um +/- 10%, bevorzugt um +/- 5% und/oder Abweichungen in Form von für die Funktion unbedeutenden Änderungen.The expression "substantially" or "approximately" or "ca." in the sense 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.

Weiterbildungen, Vorteile und Anwendungsmöglichkeiten der Erfindung ergeben sich auch aus der nachfolgenden Beschreibung von Ausführungsbeispielen und aus den Figuren. Dabei sind alle beschriebenen und/oder bildlich dargestellten Merkmale für sich oder in beliebiger Kombination grundsätzlich Gegenstand der Erfindung, unabhängig von ihrer Zusammenfassung in den Ansprüchen oder deren Rückbeziehung. Auch wird der Inhalt der Ansprüche zu einem Bestandteil der Beschreibung gemacht.Further developments, advantages and possible applications of the invention also emerge from the following description of embodiments and from the figures. All described and/or illustrated features, either individually or in any combination, are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their reference back. The content of the claims is also made part of the description.

Die Erfindung wird im Folgenden anhand der Figuren an Ausführungsbeispielen näher erläutert. Es zeigen:

Fig. 1
in schematischer Darstellung und in Seitenansicht eine Reinigungsmaschine zum Reinigen von Behältern mit zumindest einer erfindungsgemäßen Spritzstation und
Fig. 2
in vereinfachter schematischer Darstellung eine erfindungsgemäße Spritstation einer Reinigungsmaschine, zusammen mit einem mehrere Behälterzellen bildenden Flaschenkorb eines Transportsystems.
The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the figures. They show:
Fig.1
in schematic representation and in side view a cleaning machine for cleaning containers with at least one spray station according to the invention and
Fig. 2
in a simplified schematic representation of a spray station of a cleaning machine according to the invention, together with a bottle basket of a transport system forming several container cells.

Für gleiche oder gleich wirkende Elemente der Erfindung werden in den Figuren identische Bezugszeichen verwendet. Ferner werden der Übersichtlichkeit halber nur Bezugszeichen in den einzelnen Figuren dargestellt, die für die Beschreibung der jeweiligen Figur erforderlich sind.Identical reference symbols are used in the figures for identical or identically acting elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure.

In den Figuren ist mit 1 eine Reinigungsmaschine zum Reinigen von Behältern 2 oder dergleichen in einer seitlichen Schnittdarstellung gezeigt. Insbesondere sind die Behälter 2 dabei als Mehrwegbehälter beispielsweise PET- oder Glasflaschen ausgebildet. In dem von einem Gehäuse 3 gebildeten Innenraum 4 der Reinigungsmaschine 1 ist ein Transportsystem 5 vorgesehen, mit welchem die zu reinigenden Behälter 2 durch verschiedene Behandlungszonen bewegt werden, und zwar von einem Flascheneinlauf 6 (Aufgabe) u.a. durch ein erstes, eine Reinigungsflüssigkeit, z.B. alkalisches Wasser, enthaltendes Tauchbad 7, anschließend durch ein zweites, eine Reinigungsflüssigkeit, beispielsweise Lauge, enthaltendes Tauchbad 8 und durch verschiedene in einer Spritzone vorgesehene Spritzstationen 9, an denen jeweils ein Abspritzen der Flaschenaußen- sowie Innenflächen mit Spritzstrahlen aus Reinigungsflüssigkeiten und schließlich mit ReinWasser erfolgt, sodass die gereinigten Behälter 2 mit dem Transportsystem 5 schließlich an den Flaschenauslauf (Abgabe) bzw. an die Flaschenabgabe 14 gelangen.In the figures, 1 indicates a cleaning machine for cleaning containers 2 or the like in a side sectional view. In particular, the containers 2 are designed as reusable containers, for example PET or glass bottles. In the interior 4 of the cleaning machine 1, which is formed by a housing 3, a transport system 5 is provided, with which the containers 2 to be cleaned are moved through various treatment zones, namely from a bottle inlet 6 (feed) through a first immersion bath 7 containing a cleaning liquid, e.g. alkaline water, then through a second immersion bath 8 containing a cleaning liquid, e.g. lye, and through various spray stations 9 provided in a spray zone, at each of which the outer and inner surfaces of the bottles are sprayed with spray jets of cleaning liquids and finally with pure water, so that the cleaned containers 2 finally reach the bottle outlet (feed) or the bottle feed 14 with the transport system 5.

Das Transportsystem 5 besteht in der dem Fachmann bekannten Weise aus einer Vielzahl von in Transportrichtung A aneinander anschließenden und mit umlaufenden Transportketten bewegten Flaschenkörben 15, von denen jeder bei der in Figur 2 beispielshaft gezeigten, stark vereinfacht dargestellten Ausführungsform drei senkrecht zur Transportrichtung A nebeneinander angeordnete Flaschenzellen bzw. Behälterzellen 16 aufweist. In jeder Behälterzelle 16 ist ein Behälter, insbesondere eine Flasche 2, vorzugsweise zentriert so aufgenommen, dass dieser mit ihrer Behältermündung 2.1 im Wesentlichen deckungsgleich mit einer Öffnung 17 an dem sonst im Wesentlichen geschlossenen Ende der betreffenden Behälterzelle 16 liegt.The transport system 5 consists, in the manner known to those skilled in the art, of a plurality of bottle baskets 15 which are connected to one another in the transport direction A and are moved by circulating transport chains, each of which Figure 2 The embodiment shown as an example and shown in a highly simplified manner has three bottle cells or container cells 16 arranged next to one another perpendicular to the transport direction A. In each container cell 16, a container, in particular a bottle 2, is preferably received in a centered manner such that its container mouth 2.1 is essentially congruent with an opening 17 at the otherwise essentially closed end of the relevant container cell 16.

Das Transportsystem 5 weist mehrere Umlenkungen auf, die in der Fig. 1 allgemein mit 18 - 22 bezeichnet sind und von denen sich die Umlenkung 19 vollständig innerhalb des Tauchbades 8 befindet. Beim Vorbeibewegen an der Umlenkung 19 sind die als Flaschen ausgebildeten Behälter 2 mit ihrer Flaschenachse, insbesondere Flaschenhochachse FA radial oder etwa radial zur horizontalen Achse dieser Umlenkung orientiert, und zwar derart, dass die Behältermündungen 2.1 und auch die Öffnungen 17 der sich dort vorbeibewegenden Behälterzellen 16 dieser Achse zugewandt sind.The transport system 5 has several deflections which are located in the Fig.1 generally designated 18 - 22 and of which the deflection 19 is located entirely within the immersion bath 8. When moving past the deflection 19, the containers 2 designed as bottles are oriented with their bottle axis, in particular the bottle vertical axis FA, radially or approximately radially to the horizontal axis of this deflection, in such a way that the container mouths 2.1 and also the openings 17 of the container cells 16 moving past there face this axis.

In Figur 2 ist eine beispielhafte Ausführungsvariante einer erfindungsgemäßen Spritzstation 9 einer Reinigungsmaschine 1 zum Reinigen von Behältern 2 gezeigt, die mit dem, eine Vielzahl von Behälterkörben 15 aufweisenden Transportsystem 5 durch die verschiedene Behandlungszonen der in Figur 1 dargestellten Reinigungsmaschine 1 bewegt werden. Insbesondere ist eine solcher artige Spritzstation 9 einer Spritzzone einer Reinigungsmaschine 1 zugeordnet.In Figure 2 an exemplary embodiment of a spray station 9 according to the invention of a cleaning machine 1 for cleaning containers 2 is shown, which is guided by the transport system 5 having a plurality of container baskets 15 through the various treatment zones of the Figure 1 cleaning machine 1 shown. In particular, such a spray station 9 is assigned to a spray zone of a cleaning machine 1.

Insbesondere ist dabei die Bewegungs- oder Transportrichtung des Transportsystems 5 bzw. der Behälterkörbe 15 in Transportrichtung A senkrecht oder im Wesentlichen senkrecht zur Zeichenebene dieser Figur 2 orientiert. In der Figur 1 ist die Bewegungs- oder Transportrichtung der Behälterkörbe 15 im Bereich der Spritzung relativ zur Spritzstation 9 mit dem Pfeil A angedeutet. Jeder Behälterkorb 15 bildet mehrere Aufnahmen bzw. Behälterzellen 16, die zur Aufnahme des jeweiligen Behälters 2 dienen und senkrecht zur Transportrichtung A des Transportsystems 5 aneinander anschließend im jeweiligen Behälterkorb 15 gebildet sind. Derartige Behälterkörbe 15 werden auch als Flaschenkörbe bezeichnet.In particular, the movement or transport direction of the transport system 5 or the container baskets 15 in the transport direction A is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of this Figure 2 oriented. In the Figure 1 the direction of movement or transport of the container baskets 15 in the area of spraying relative to the spraying station 9 is indicated by the arrow A. Each container basket 15 forms several receptacles or container cells 16, which serve to hold the respective container 2 and are formed in the respective container basket 15, perpendicular to the transport direction A of the transport system 5, adjacent to one another. Such container baskets 15 are also referred to as bottle baskets.

Die erfindungsgemäße Spritzstation 9 der Reinigungsmaschine 1 zum Reinigen der Behältern 2 umfasst wenigstens eine Spritzdüse 30 mit zumindest einem Reinigungsstrahl 31 zum Beaufschlagen des in dem Transportsystem 5, insbesondere in dem Behälterkorb 15 mit seiner jeweiligen nach unten gerichteten Behältermündung 2.1 aufgenommenen Behälters 2 mit einer Reinigungs- und/oder Behandlungsflüssigkeit. Dabei kann die Ausrichtung des durch die Spritzdüse 30 erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls 31 relativ zu dem reinigenden Behälter 2 im Bereich der Spritzstation 9 während der Beaufschlagung des Behälters 2 mit der Reinigungsflüssigkeit vorgegeben sein.The spray station 9 of the cleaning machine 1 according to the invention for cleaning the containers 2 comprises at least one spray nozzle 30 with at least one cleaning jet 31 for applying a cleaning and/or treatment liquid to the container 2 accommodated in the transport system 5, in particular in the container basket 15 with its respective downward-facing container mouth 2.1. The orientation of the cleaning jet 31 generated by the spray nozzle 30 relative to the container 2 to be cleaned can be predetermined in the area of the spray station 9 during the application of the cleaning liquid to the container 2.

Mehr im Detail kann die erfindungsgemäße Spritzstation 9 insbesondere zur Innenspritzung bzw. Innenreinigung der Behälter 2 ausgebildet sein. Die Behälter 2 werden hierfür in den Behälterzellen 16 mit ihrer jeweiligen Behälterachse FA in vertikaler Richtung orientiert und mit ihrer Behältermündung 2.1 nach unten gerichtet an der Spritzstation 9 bzw. über einem eine Vielzahl von Spritzdüsen 30 aufweisenden Verteiler- oder Spritzrohr 32 vorbeibewegt werden.In more detail, the spray station 9 according to the invention can be designed in particular for internal spraying or internal cleaning of the containers 2. For this purpose, the containers 2 are oriented in the container cells 16 with their respective container axis FA in the vertical direction and are moved with their container mouth 2.1 pointing downwards past the spray station 9 or over a distributor or spray pipe 32 having a plurality of spray nozzles 30.

Das Verteilerrohr 32 mit den Spritzdüsen 30 befindet sich dabei unterhalb der Bewegungsbahn der die Spritzstation 9 passierenden Behälterkörbe 15, und zwar derart, dass die Anzahl der Spritzdüsen 30 vorzugsweise wenigstens gleich der Anzahl der Behälterzellen 16 eines jeden Behälterkorbes 15 ist und sich jede Spritzdüse 30 in vertikaler Richtung unterhalb der Bewegungsbahn jeweils einer Behälterzelle 16 der Behälterkörbe 15 befindet.The distributor pipe 32 with the spray nozzles 30 is located below the path of movement of the container baskets 15 passing the spray station 9, in such a way that the number of spray nozzles 30 is preferably at least equal to the number of container cells 16 of each container basket 15 and each spray nozzle 30 is located in the vertical direction below the path of movement of a container cell 16 of the container baskets 15.

Jeder aus einer Spritzdüse 30 im Wesentlichen in vertikaler Richtung nach oben austretende Reinigungsstrahl 31 kann somit durch die von den Behälterzellen 16 nicht abgedeckten Behältermündungen 2.1 in die sich an der Spritzstation 9 vorbeibewegenden Behältern 2 über die Öffnungen 17 eintreten.Each cleaning jet 31 emerging from a spray nozzle 30 essentially in a vertical direction upwards can thus enter the containers 2 moving past the spray station 9 via the openings 17 through the container mouths 2.1 not covered by the container cells 16.

Das Verteilerrohr 32 ist über eine Versorgungsleitung 33 mit einer Quelle 34 für die Reinigungs- und/oder Behandlungsflüssigkeit, beispielsweise für ein flüssiges Reinigungsmedium, z.B. für Lauge, oder für Wasser, z.B. für Frischwasser verbunden. In der Versorgungsleitung 33 ist eine Pumpe 35, welche die Behandlungsflüssigkeit in der erforderlichen Menge und mit dem erforderlichen Druck zur Verfügung stellt. Bevorzugt ist auf dem Ausgang der Pumpe 35 ein Stromregelventil 36 angeordnet, mit welchem über eine Steuereinrichtung 37 die aus den Spritzdüsen 30 austretenden Reinigungsstrahlen 31 hinsichtlich ihrer Spritzmenge [ml/min] und/oder ihrem Druck gesteuert und/oder geregelt werden können.The distributor pipe 32 is connected via a supply line 33 to a source 34 for the cleaning and/or treatment liquid, for example for a liquid cleaning medium, e.g. for lye, or for water, e.g. for fresh water. In the supply line 33 there is a pump 35 which Treatment liquid is provided in the required quantity and at the required pressure. Preferably, a flow control valve 36 is arranged on the outlet of the pump 35, with which the cleaning jets 31 emerging from the spray nozzles 30 can be controlled and/or regulated with regard to their spray quantity [ml/min] and/or their pressure via a control device 37.

Besonders bevorzugt werden die Reinigungsstrahlen 31 durch eine nicht gezeigte, dem Fachmann aber allgemein bekannte, zusätzliche Vorrichtung synchron mit der Bewegung der Behälterkörbe 15 gesteuert, wobei die Spritzdüsen als Bohrungen in einer um ihre Längsachse umlaufenden Welle ausgebildet sind. Diesbezüglich wird ausdrücklich auf die anmeldereigene DE 10 2007 030 220 B4 verwiesen.Particularly preferably, the cleaning jets 31 are controlled synchronously with the movement of the container baskets 15 by an additional device (not shown but generally known to the person skilled in the art), the spray nozzles being designed as bores in a shaft rotating about its longitudinal axis. In this regard, reference is expressly made to the applicant's own EN 10 2007 030 220 B4 referred to.

Beispielsweise können Spritzdüsen 30 derart gesteuert werden, dass der Austritt der Reinigungs- und/oder Behandlungsflüssigkeit aus den Spritzdüsen 30 reduziert oder unterbrochen wird, solange sich keine Behälter 2 über den Spritzdüsen 30 bzw. im Wirkungsbereich der Spritzdüsen 30 befinden. Hierdurch werden u.a. eine erhebliche Einsparung an flüssigem Spritzmedium und eine erhebliche Einsparung an Antriebsenergie für die Pumpe 35 erreicht.For example, spray nozzles 30 can be controlled in such a way that the discharge of the cleaning and/or treatment liquid from the spray nozzles 30 is reduced or interrupted as long as there are no containers 2 above the spray nozzles 30 or in the effective range of the spray nozzles 30. This achieves, among other things, a considerable saving in liquid spray medium and a considerable saving in drive energy for the pump 35.

Weiterhin kann die Ausrichtung, also insbesondere die Orientierung, des Reinigungsstrahls 31 relativ zu dem reinigenden Behälter 2 im Bereich der Spritzstation 9 während der Beaufschlagung des Behälters 2 mit der Reinigungsflüssigkeit veränderbar sein. Beispielsweise kann der Reinigungsstrahl 31 zunächst auf eine Innenseite des Behälters 2 gerichtet sein, um dann direkt auf die Innenfläche des Bodens des Behälters 2 und anschließend auf eine andere, der ersten Innenseite gegenüberliegende Innenseite des Behälters 2 gerichtet sein.Furthermore, the alignment, in particular the orientation, of the cleaning jet 31 relative to the container 2 to be cleaned can be changed in the area of the spray station 9 while the container 2 is being subjected to the cleaning liquid. For example, the cleaning jet 31 can initially be directed at an inner side of the container 2, then directly at the inner surface of the base of the container 2 and then at another inner side of the container 2 opposite the first inner side.

Alternativ oder ergänzend kann der jeweilige Reinigungsstrahl 31 durch das Stromregelventil 36 auch derart steuer- oder regelbar sein, dass die Beaufschlagung mit Reinigungsflüssigkeit ausschließlich während der Zeitdauer erfolgt, in der ein kontinuierlicher Strom von Behältern 2 durch den Wirkungsbereich der Spritzstation 9 bewegt werden.Alternatively or additionally, the respective cleaning jet 31 can also be controlled or regulated by the flow control valve 36 in such a way that the application of cleaning fluid occurs exclusively during the period in which a continuous stream of containers 2 is moved through the effective area of the spray station 9.

Durch eine entsprechende Steuerung der Bewegung des die Behälterkörbe 15 aufweisenden Transportsystems 5 und/oder durch eine gesteuerte Bewegung der Spritzdüsen 30 ist dafür gesorgt, dass sich jeder Behälter 2 über ein ausreichend großes Zeitintervall im Wirkungsbereich einer Spritzdüse 30 befindet, also für die Spritzphasen jeweils eine ausreichend große Zeitdauer zur Verfügung stehen, um mit der Reinigungsflüssigkeit beaufschlagt zu werden.By appropriately controlling the movement of the transport system 5 having the container baskets 15 and/or by a controlled movement of the spray nozzles 30, it is ensured that each container 2 is in the effective range of a spray nozzle 30 for a sufficiently long time interval, i.e. a sufficiently long period of time is available for the spraying phases in order to be exposed to the cleaning fluid.

Dieses kann beispielsweise dadurch zusätzlich verbessert werden, dass dann, wenn sich die Behälterkörbe 15 im Wirkungsbereich, insbesondere oberhalb, der jeweiligen Spritzstation 9 befinden, die Transportgeschwindigkeit des diese Behälterkörbe 15 aufweisenden Transportsystems 5 temporär reduziert wird.This can be further improved, for example, by temporarily reducing the transport speed of the transport system 5 having these container baskets 15 when the container baskets 15 are located in the effective range, in particular above, the respective spraying station 9.

Erfindungsgemäß weist zumindest eine Spritzstation 9 der Reinigungsmaschine 1 zumindest eine ortsfest gegenüber der Spritzdüse 30 und/oder dem zu reinigenden Behälter 2 angeordnete Inspektionseinrichtung 40 auf, die zur Erfassung und/oder Auswertung des zumindest einen von dieser Spritzdüse 30 erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls 31 ausgebildet ist.According to the invention, at least one spray station 9 of the cleaning machine 1 has at least one inspection device 40 which is arranged in a fixed position relative to the spray nozzle 30 and/or the container 2 to be cleaned and which is designed to detect and/or evaluate the at least one cleaning jet 31 generated by this spray nozzle 30.

Insbesondere kann die Inspektionseinrichtung 40 zur Erfassung und/oder Auswertung der Funktion, beispielsweise des Vorhandenseins und/oder der relativen Ausrichtung des Reinigungsstrahls 31 während der Beaufschlagung mit der Reinigungsflüssigkeit auf den darüber liegend in einer Behälterzelle 16 beförderten Behälters 2, ausgebildet sein.In particular, the inspection device 40 can be designed to detect and/or evaluate the function, for example the presence and/or the relative orientation of the cleaning jet 31 during the application of the cleaning liquid to the container 2 conveyed above it in a container cell 16.

Vorzugsweise ist die Inspektionseinrichtung 40 zur Erfassung und/oder Auswertung eines oder jedes einzelnen Reinigungs- bzw. Spritzstrahls 31 ausgebildet.Preferably, the inspection device 40 is designed to detect and/or evaluate one or each individual cleaning or spray jet 31.

Vorzugsweise ist die Inspektionseinrichtung 40 zur Erfassung und/oder Auswertung des Vorhandenseins, der Spritzleistung oder Intensität [ml/s] und/oder des Impulses zumindest eines, vorzugsweise mehrerer Reinigungs- bzw. Spritzstrahlen 31 ausgebildet.Preferably, the inspection device 40 is designed to detect and/or evaluate the presence, the spray performance or intensity [ml/s] and/or the pulse of at least one, preferably several cleaning or spray jets 31.

Ferner kann vorgesehen sein, dass die Inspektionseinrichtung 40 zur Erfassung und/oder Auswertung mehrerer, vorzugsweise sämtlicher Spritzdüsen 30 der wenigstens einen Spritzstation 9 ausgebildet ist.Furthermore, it can be provided that the inspection device 40 is designed to detect and/or evaluate several, preferably all, spray nozzles 30 of the at least one spray station 9.

Vorteilhaft kann auch vorgesehen sein, dass die Inspektionseinrichtung 40 zur Erfassung und/oder Auswertung, also insbesondere auch zur Ermittlung, des mittels der zumindest einen Spritzdüse 30 erzeugten Spritzvolumens [m3/h] des Reinigungsstrahls 31 ausgebildet ist, mit dem ein entsprechender Behälter 2 an Reinigungsflüssigkeit während der Beaufschlagung gereinigt wird.Advantageously, it can also be provided that the inspection device 40 is designed to detect and/or evaluate, thus in particular also to determine, the spray volume [m 3 /h] of the cleaning jet 31 generated by means of the at least one spray nozzle 30, with which a corresponding container 2 of cleaning liquid is cleaned during the application.

Mithin kann vorteilhaft mittels der Inspektionseinrichtung 40 auch für jeden Behälter 2 einer Behälterreihe eines entsprechenden Behälterkorbes 15 erfasst und/oder ausgewertet werden, mit welchem Spritzvolumen des Reinigungsstrahls 31 jeder Behälter 2 während der Beaufschlagung gereinigt worden ist. Weiterhin kann bei einem Unterschreiten eines definierbaren Spritvolumens an Reinigungsflüssigkeit, also eines definierbaren Mindestvolumens des jeweiligen Reinigungsstrahls 31, eine Fehlermeldung in einer Auswerteeinheit AE ausgegeben werden, und zwar vorzugsweise unter Zuordnung, also Angabe des entsprechenden Behälterkorbes 15 sowie der zugehörigen Behälterreihe innerhalb dieses Behälterkorbes 15.Thus, the inspection device 40 can advantageously be used to record and/or evaluate for each container 2 of a container row of a corresponding container basket 15 the spray volume of the cleaning jet 31 with which each container 2 was cleaned during the application. Furthermore, if the spray volume of cleaning fluid falls below a definable spray volume, i.e. a definable minimum volume of the respective cleaning jet 31, an error message can be output in an evaluation unit AE, preferably with assignment, i.e. specification of the corresponding container basket 15 and the associated container row within this container basket 15.

Es versteht sich von selbst, dass ein vollständig nicht vorhandener Spritzstrahl das definierte Mindestvolumen eines Spritzstrahls ebenfalls unterschreitet.It goes without saying that a completely non-existent spray jet also falls below the defined minimum volume of a spray jet.

Weiterhin vorteilhaft ist Inspektionseinrichtung 40 dazu ausgebildet, das Austreten des jeweiligen Reinigungsstrahls 31 aus einer entsprechenden Spritzdüse 30 zu erfassen und/oder auszuwerten, also insbesondere zu überwachen. Vorteilhafterweise kann eine derartige Überwachung erfolgen, indem der jeweilige Reinigungsstrahl unmittelbar nach dem Austreten aus einer entsprechenden Spritzdüse 30, also vor dem Eintreten in die jeweilige Behältermündung 2.1 überwacht, also erfasst und/oder ausgewertet, wird.Furthermore, inspection device 40 is advantageously designed to detect and/or evaluate, i.e. in particular to monitor, the emergence of the respective cleaning jet 31 from a corresponding spray nozzle 30. Such monitoring can advantageously be carried out by monitoring, i.e. detecting and/or evaluating, the respective cleaning jet immediately after it emerges from a corresponding spray nozzle 30, i.e. before it enters the respective container mouth 2.1.

Gemäß einer Ausführungsvariante kann die Inspektionseinrichtung 40 zumindest eine Sensoreinheit 41 sowie vorzugsweise eine Auswerteeinheit AE aufweisen, die beispielsweise über eine Übertragungsleitung 42 miteinander in Wirkverbindung stehen können. Dabei kann die Sensoreinheit 41 zur Erfassung des zumindest einen von der Spritzdüse 30 erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls 31 ausgebildet sein sowie die Auswerteeinheit AE zur Auswertung des von der Sensoreinheit 41 erfassten Reinigungsstrahls 31.According to one embodiment, the inspection device 40 can have at least one sensor unit 41 and preferably an evaluation unit AE, which for example, can be operatively connected to one another via a transmission line 42. The sensor unit 41 can be designed to detect at least one cleaning jet 31 generated by the spray nozzle 30, and the evaluation unit AE can be designed to evaluate the cleaning jet 31 detected by the sensor unit 41.

Gemäß einer Ausführungsvariante kann für jeden erzeugten Reinigungsstrahl 31 einer jeden Spritzdüse 30 eine separate Sensoreinheit 41 zur Erfassung des jeweiligen Reinigungsstrahls 31 vorgesehen sein. Alternativ kann für jeden erzeugten Reinigungsstrahl 31 einer jeden Spritzdüse 30 eine einzige Sensoreinrichtung 41 zur Erfassung sämtlicher Reinigungsstrahlen 31 vorgesehenen sein.According to one embodiment variant, a separate sensor unit 41 for detecting the respective cleaning jet 31 can be provided for each cleaning jet 31 generated by each spray nozzle 30. Alternatively, a single sensor device 41 for detecting all cleaning jets 31 can be provided for each cleaning jet 31 generated by each spray nozzle 30.

Die Sensoreinheit 41 kann beispielsweise als optische und/oder kapazitive Sensoreinheit ausgebildet sein. Auch kann die Sensoreinheit 41 als Kameraeinheit und/oder Infrarotsensoreinheit ausgebildet sein. Je nach Ausbildung der Sensoreinheit 41 kann die Sensoreinheit 41 eine Sendeeinheit 41.1 sowie eine Empfängereinheit 41.2 umfassen. Die Empfängereinheit 41.2 kann dabei im Fall einer optischen Sendeeinheit 41.1, beispielsweise eines Infrarotsenders, als Reflektoreinheit ausbildet sein, die den gesendeten Lichtstrahl zurück an die Sendeeinheit 41.1 reflektiert.The sensor unit 41 can be designed, for example, as an optical and/or capacitive sensor unit. The sensor unit 41 can also be designed as a camera unit and/or infrared sensor unit. Depending on the design of the sensor unit 41, the sensor unit 41 can comprise a transmitter unit 41.1 and a receiver unit 41.2. In the case of an optical transmitter unit 41.1, for example an infrared transmitter, the receiver unit 41.2 can be designed as a reflector unit that reflects the transmitted light beam back to the transmitter unit 41.1.

Auch kann die Sensoreinheit 41 als Krafts- und/oder Drucksensor ausgebildet sein.The sensor unit 41 can also be designed as a force and/or pressure sensor.

Insbesondere ist die Sensoreinheit 41 der Inspektionseinheit 40 derart in der Spritzstation 9 angeordnet bzw. vorgesehen, dass das Austreten des jeweiligen Reinigungsstrahls 31 aus einer entsprechenden Spritzdüse 30 erfassbar ist, indem der jeweilige Reinigungsstrahl 31 vorzugsweise unmittelbar nach dem Austreten aus einer entsprechenden Spritzdüse 30, also insbesondere noch vor dem Eintreten in die zugehörige Behältermündung 2.1 eines entsprechenden Behälter 2 erfassbar ist.In particular, the sensor unit 41 of the inspection unit 40 is arranged or provided in the spray station 9 in such a way that the emergence of the respective cleaning jet 31 from a corresponding spray nozzle 30 can be detected by the respective cleaning jet 31 preferably being detectable immediately after emerging from a corresponding spray nozzle 30, i.e. in particular before entering the associated container mouth 2.1 of a corresponding container 2.

Beispielsweise kann die Sensoreinheit 41 derart vorgesehen sein, dass deren Erfassungsbereich EB zwischen dem Austritt des Reinigungsstrahls 31 der wenigstens einen zu erfassenden Spritzdüse 30 und dem Eintritt dieses Reinigungsstrahls 31 über die Behältermündung 2.1 in den zugehörigen, zu reinigenden Behälter 2 ausgebildet ist. Insbesondere kann sich der Erfassungsbereich EB der Sensoreinheit 41 lotrecht oder im Wesentlichen lotrecht zu dem wenigstens einen von der zu erfassenden Spritzdüse 30 erzeugten Reinigungsstrahl 31 erstrecken.For example, the sensor unit 41 can be provided in such a way that its detection range EB lies between the exit of the cleaning jet 31 of the at least one spray nozzle 30 to be detected and the entry of this cleaning jet 31 via the container mouth 2.1 into the associated container 2 to be cleaned. In particular, the detection area EB of the sensor unit 41 can extend perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the at least one cleaning jet 31 generated by the spray nozzle 30 to be detected.

Die Erfassung und/oder Auswertung des zumindest einen von der Spritzdüse 30 erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls 30 kann damit bei voller Auslastung, insbesondere jeweils vollständig beladenen Behälterkörben 15 mit zu reinigenden Behältern 2 erfolgen.The detection and/or evaluation of the at least one cleaning jet 30 generated by the spray nozzle 30 can thus take place at full capacity, in particular when the container baskets 15 are fully loaded with containers 2 to be cleaned.

Alternativ oder zusätzlich kann die Inspektionseinrichtung 40 auch zumindest eine Sensoreinheit 45 aufweisen, die ebenfalls über eine Übertragungsleitung 42 mit der Auswerteeinheit AE in Wirkverbindung stehen kann. Dabei kann auch die Sensoreinheit 45 zur Erfassung des zumindest einen von der Spritzdüse 30 erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls 31 ausgebildet sein sowie die Auswerteeinheit AE zur Auswertung des von der Sensoreinheit 45 erfassten Reinigungsstrahls 31. Gemäß einer Ausführungsvariante kann für jeden erzeugten Reinigungsstrahl 31 einer jeden Spritzdüse 30 eine separate Sensoreinheit 45 zur Erfassung des jeweiligen Reinigungsstrahls 31 vorgesehen sein.Alternatively or additionally, the inspection device 40 can also have at least one sensor unit 45, which can also be operatively connected to the evaluation unit AE via a transmission line 42. The sensor unit 45 can also be designed to detect the at least one cleaning jet 31 generated by the spray nozzle 30, and the evaluation unit AE can be designed to evaluate the cleaning jet 31 detected by the sensor unit 45. According to one embodiment, a separate sensor unit 45 can be provided for each cleaning jet 31 generated by each spray nozzle 30 to detect the respective cleaning jet 31.

Insbesondere können auch mehrere Sensoreinheiten 45 vorgesehen sein. Vorzugsweise ist für jeden in einer Behälterreihe vorhandenen Behälterkorb 15 eine eigene, separate Sensoreinheit 45 vorgesehen.In particular, several sensor units 45 can also be provided. Preferably, a separate sensor unit 45 is provided for each container basket 15 present in a container row.

Die mehreren Sensoreinheiten 45 können untereinander über jeweils eine Übertragungsleitung 42 untereinander sowie mit der Auswerteeinheit AE in Wirkverbindung stehen. Alternativ kann für jeden erzeugten Reinigungsstrahl 31 einer jeden Spritzdüse 30 eine einzige Sensoreinrichtung 45 zur Erfassung sämtlicher Reinigungsstrahlen 31 vorgesehenen sein.The multiple sensor units 45 can be operatively connected to one another and to the evaluation unit AE via a transmission line 42. Alternatively, a single sensor device 45 for detecting all cleaning jets 31 can be provided for each cleaning jet 31 generated by each spray nozzle 30.

Die wenigstens eine Sensoreinheit 45 kann beispielsweise als Kraftsensor zur Erfassung des auftreffenden Impulses des von der zumindest einen Spritzdüse 30 erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls 31 ausgebildet sein. Auch kann die wenigstens Sensoreinheit 45 als Kameraeinheit und/oder Infrarotsensoreinheit und/oder kapazitive Sensoreinheit ausgebildet sein. Sind dabei mehrere Sensoreinheiten 45 vorgesehen, so können diese auch auf unterschiedliche Weise ausgebildet sein. Insbesondere weist dabei die wenigstens eine Sensoreinheit 45 einen Erfassungsbereich EB auf, der parallel oder im Wesentlichen parallel sowie oberhalb des wenigstens einen von der zu erfassenden Spritzdüse 30 erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls 31 ausgebildet ist.The at least one sensor unit 45 can be designed, for example, as a force sensor for detecting the impinging pulse of the cleaning jet 31 generated by the at least one spray nozzle 30. The at least Sensor unit 45 can be designed as a camera unit and/or infrared sensor unit and/or capacitive sensor unit. If several sensor units 45 are provided, these can also be designed in different ways. In particular, the at least one sensor unit 45 has a detection area EB which is designed parallel or substantially parallel to and above the at least one cleaning jet 31 generated by the spray nozzle 30 to be detected.

Dabei kann vorgesehen sein, dass die zumindest eine Sensoreinheit 45 derart oberhalb des zu erfassenden Reinigungsstrahls 31 der zumindest einen Spitzdüse 30 angeordnet ist, dass dieser erzeugte Reinigungsstrahl 31 während der Beaufschlagung in den Erfassungsbereich EB der zumindest einen Sensoreinheit 45 trifft.It can be provided that the at least one sensor unit 45 is arranged above the cleaning jet 31 to be detected of the at least one pointed nozzle 30 in such a way that this generated cleaning jet 31 hits the detection area EB of the at least one sensor unit 45 during the application.

Mehr im Detail kann die wenigstens ein Sensoreinheit 45 an einer Decke 3.1 des Gehäuses 3 der Reinigungsmaschine 1 vorgesehen, insbesondere angeordnet, sein. Die wenigstens eine Sensoreinheit 45 ist dabei derart oberhalb der wenigstens einen zu erfassenden Spritzdüse 30 angeordnet, dass deren Reinigungsstrahl 31 während der Beaufschlagung mit Reinigungsflüssigkeit auf die Sensoreinheit 45 und/oder deren Erfassungsbereich EB auftrifft und damit erfasst wird.In more detail, the at least one sensor unit 45 can be provided, in particular arranged, on a ceiling 3.1 of the housing 3 of the cleaning machine 1. The at least one sensor unit 45 is arranged above the at least one spray nozzle 30 to be detected in such a way that its cleaning jet 31 strikes the sensor unit 45 and/or its detection area EB during the application of cleaning fluid and is thus detected.

Die Erfassung und/oder Auswertung des zumindest einen von der Spritzdüse 30 erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls 30 kann erfolgen, indem in einem beförderten Behälterkorb 15 eine entsprechende Behälterzelle 16 frei gelassen wird, also kein zu reinigender Behälter 2 aufgenommen ist, und die Erfassung und/oder Auswertung des Reinigungsstrahls 31 der Spritzdüse 30 erfolgt, wenn sich die freie Behälterzelle 16 oberhalb der zu überprüfenden Spritzdüse 30 befindet. Der Reinigungsstrahl 30 tritt sodann durch dich Öffnung 17 auf der der Spritzdüse 30 gegenüberliegenden Seite der zugehörigen Behälterzelle 16 aus und trifft auf die wenigstens eine Sensoreinheit 45 bzw. in deren Erfassungsbereich EB.The detection and/or evaluation of the at least one cleaning jet 30 generated by the spray nozzle 30 can take place by leaving a corresponding container cell 16 free in a transported container basket 15, i.e. no container 2 to be cleaned is accommodated, and the detection and/or evaluation of the cleaning jet 31 of the spray nozzle 30 takes place when the free container cell 16 is located above the spray nozzle 30 to be checked. The cleaning jet 30 then exits through the opening 17 on the side of the associated container cell 16 opposite the spray nozzle 30 and hits the at least one sensor unit 45 or in its detection range EB.

Bevorzugt sind in der Reinigungsmaschine 1 in Transportrichtung A aufeinander folgend mehrere erfindungsgemäße Spritzstationen 9 der vorbeschriebenen Art vorgesehen, wobei diese Spritzstationen 9 dann auch für das Ausbringen von unterschiedlichen Spritz- oder Reinigungsflüssigkeiten ausgebildet sein können.Preferably, in the cleaning machine 1 in the transport direction A, several spray stations 9 according to the invention of the type described above are arranged one after the other. provided, whereby these spray stations 9 can then also be designed for the application of different spray or cleaning liquids.

Dabei kann die Erfassung und/oder Auswertung mittels der Inspektionseinrichtung 40 bei, insbesondere vor, dem Produktionsstart der Reinigungsmaschine 1 durchgeführt werden. Für den Produktionsstart wird dabei die erste Behälterreihe in den an der Aufgabe 6 anstehenden Behälterkorb 15 eingeschoben, bzw. auf das Transportsystem 5 befördert. Nachfolgend wird jeder weitere Behälterkorb 15 ebenfalls mit Behältern 2 befüllt. Vorteilhaft erfolgt dabei die Erfassung und/oder Auswertung des zumindest einen von der Spritzdüse 30 erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls einer Spritzstation 9 unmittelbar bevor der erste befüllte Behälterkorb 15 diese Spritzstation 9 erreicht. In analoger Art und Weise kann die Erfassung und/oder Auswertung auch bei Produktionsende erfolgen, also nachdem der letzte befüllte Behälterkorb 15 die letzte Spitzdüse 30 der letzten Spritzstation 9 in Transportrichtung A gesehen passiert hat.The detection and/or evaluation can be carried out by means of the inspection device 40 at, in particular before, the start of production of the cleaning machine 1. For the start of production, the first row of containers is pushed into the container basket 15 waiting at the task 6 or conveyed onto the transport system 5. Subsequently, each additional container basket 15 is also filled with containers 2. The detection and/or evaluation of at least one cleaning jet generated by the spray nozzle 30 of a spray station 9 advantageously takes place immediately before the first filled container basket 15 reaches this spray station 9. In an analogous manner, the detection and/or evaluation can also take place at the end of production, i.e. after the last filled container basket 15 has passed the last nozzle 30 of the last spray station 9 as seen in the transport direction A.

Dabei kann auch vorgesehen sein, dass die Erfassung und/oder Auswertung der zumindest eines zumindest einen von der wenigstens einen Spritzdüse 30 erzeugten Reinigungsstrahls während der laufenden Produktion erfolgt.It can also be provided that the detection and/or evaluation of at least one cleaning jet generated by the at least one spray nozzle 30 takes place during ongoing production.

Insbesondere ist durch Verwendung der wenigstens einen erfindungsgemäßen Spritzstation 9 in einer Reinigungsmaschine 1 zu jedem Zeitpunkt während der Produktion ein Erfassung- und/oder Auswertungszyklus, also eine Überwachungszyklus, auslösbar.In particular, by using the at least one spray station 9 according to the invention in a cleaning machine 1, a detection and/or evaluation cycle, i.e. a monitoring cycle, can be triggered at any time during production.

Die Erfindung ist nicht auf das dargestellte Ausführungsbeispiel beschränkt, sondern kann innerhalb des Schutzbereichs der nachfolgenden Ansprüche beliebige variiert werden.The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but can be varied as desired within the scope of the following claims.

BezugszeichenlisteList of reference symbols

11
ReinigungsmaschineCleaning machine
22
Behältercontainer
2.12.1
BehältermündungContainer mouth
33
GehäuseHousing
3.13.1
DeckeCeiling
44
Innenrauminner space
55
TransportsystemTransport system
66
FlascheneinlaufBottle inlet
77
TauchbadImmersion bath
88th
TauchbadImmersion bath
99
SpritzstationSpray station
1414
FlaschenabgabeBottle delivery
1515
BehälterkorbContainer basket
1616
BehälterzelleContainer cell
1717
Öffnungopening
18...2218...22
UmlenkungRedirection
3030
SpritzdüseSpray nozzle
3131
ReinigungsstrahlCleaning jet
3232
VerteilerrohrDistribution pipe
3333
Versorgungsleitungsupply line
3434
Quellesource
3535
Pumpepump
3636
StromregelventilFlow control valve
3737
SteuereinrichtungControl device
4040
InspektionseinrichtungInspection facility
4141
SensoreinheitSensor unit
41.141.1
SendeeinheitTransmitter unit
41.241.2
EmpfängereinheitReceiver unit
4242
ÜbertragungseinrichtungTransmission device
4545
SensoreinheitSensor unit
AA
TransportrichtungTransport direction
AEAE
AuswerteeinheitEvaluation unit
EBEB
ErfassungsbereichDetection range
FAFA
BehälterhochachseContainer vertical axis

Claims (10)

  1. Cleaning machine for cleaning containers (2), wherein the containers (2) which are to be cleaned are moved by means of a transport system (5) in container cells (16) of the transport system (5) between a bottle inlet (6) and a bottle delivery station (14) through different treatment zones, wherein the treatment zones comprise at least one immersion bath (7, 8) as well as at least one spraying zone with at least one spraying station (9), wherein the at least one spraying station (9) comprises at least one injection nozzle (30) with at least one cleaning jet (31) for the application imposition of a cleaning fluid onto the container (2) received in a transport system (5, 15), with each respective container mouth (2.1) pointing downwards, wherein the alignment direction of the cleaning jet (31) relative to the container (2) which is to be cleaned is provided for in the region of the spraying station (9), during the imposition of the cleaning fluid onto the container (2), wherein the spraying station (9) comprises at least one inspection device (40), which is configured such as to detect and/or evaluate the at least one cleaning jet (31) produced by the injection nozzle (30), wherein at least one sensor unit (45) is arranged above the at least one injection nozzle (30) which is to be detected, such that, during the imposition of cleaning fluid, its cleaning jet (31) impacts onto the sensor unit (45) and/or a detection region (EB) of the sensor unit (45), and can therefore be detected when a free container cell (16) is located above the injection nozzle (30), and the cleaning jet (30) passes through an opening (17) of the container cell (16) on a side of the container cell (16) opposite the injection nozzle (30).
  2. Cleaning machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor unit (45) is provided, and in particular arranged, on a cover (3.1) of a housing (2) of the cleaning machine (1).
  3. Cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the inspection device (40) is configured for detecting and evaluating several, and preferably all, the cleaning jets (31) produced by means of the respective injection nozzles (30).
  4. Cleaning machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inspection device (40) is configured for detecting and/or evaluating the intensity of the at least one cleaning jet (31) produced by means of the injection nozzle (30).
  5. Cleaning machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inspection device (40) is configured for detecting and/or evaluating the spraying volume of the cleaning jet (31) produced by means of the at least one injection nozzle (30), with which a corresponding container (2) is cleaned with cleaning fluid during the application imposition.
  6. Cleaning machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one sensor unit (45) is configured as an optical and/or capacitive sensor unit.
  7. Cleaning machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one sensor unit (45) is configured as a camera unit and/or infrared sensor unit.
  8. Cleaning machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inspection device (40) comprises at least one sensor unit (45) for detecting the at least one cleaning jet (31) produced by the injection nozzle (30), as well as an evaluation unit (AE) for evaluating the cleaning jet (31) detected by the sensor unit (45).
  9. Cleaning machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one sensor unit (45) is configured as a force sensor for detecting the impacting impulse of the cleaning jet (31) produced by the at least one injection nozzle (30).
  10. Cleaning machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one sensor unit (45) is arranged in a fixed position relative to the injection nozzle (30) and/or to the container (2) which is to be cleaned.
EP18733239.0A 2017-06-30 2018-06-20 Spraying station of a cleaning machine Active EP3645180B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102017114657.1A DE102017114657A1 (en) 2017-06-30 2017-06-30 Spray station of a cleaning machine
PCT/EP2018/066417 WO2019002047A2 (en) 2017-06-30 2018-06-20 Spraying station of a cleaning machine

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EP3645180A2 EP3645180A2 (en) 2020-05-06
EP3645180B1 true EP3645180B1 (en) 2024-07-31

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EP (1) EP3645180B1 (en)
CN (1) CN111050932A (en)
DE (1) DE102017114657A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2019002047A2 (en)

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DE102019123765A1 (en) 2019-09-05 2021-03-11 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Method for monitoring the operation of a container cleaning machine
DE102020128719A1 (en) * 2020-11-02 2022-05-05 Khs Gmbh sensor module
DE102021115584B3 (en) * 2021-06-16 2022-12-15 Ulf Reinhardt Cleaning system for cleaning container units, drying device for drying and method
CN113369267B (en) * 2021-06-29 2023-06-23 华裕农业科技有限公司 Hatching tray continuous and rapid cleaning mechanism
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN111050932A (en) 2020-04-21
WO2019002047A2 (en) 2019-01-03
EP3645180A2 (en) 2020-05-06
DE102017114657A1 (en) 2019-01-03
WO2019002047A3 (en) 2019-03-14

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