WO2010060587A2

WO2010060587A2 - Device and method for treating bottles or similar containers

Info

Publication number: WO2010060587A2
Application number: PCT/EP2009/008336
Authority: WO
Inventors: Klaus Baumgartner; Matthias Bestmann; Peter Friede; Anja Göllner; Holger Grossmann; Steffen Kappel; Margit Kiefer; Thomas Stolte
Original assignee: Khs Ag
Priority date: 2008-11-27
Filing date: 2009-11-24
Publication date: 2010-06-03
Also published as: WO2010060587A3; DE102008059431A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for treating bottles or (VA) similar containers, with treatment positions arranged on the (3) periphery of a rotor which may be driven about a vertical machine axis, wherein each treatment position has means for holding (7, 14) said container for treatment in an inverted position and at least one treatment nozzle (6) which may be introduced into said container (2), with a container inlet (22) for introducing the containers to the treatment positions and with a container outlet (23) for removing the treated container (2).

Description

Apparatus and method for treating bottles or similar containers

The invention relates to a device for treating surfaces or similar containers according to the preamble of claim 1 or 3. Devices of this type, which have a plurality of treatment positions on the circumference or peripheral region of a rotatable about a vertical machine axis rotor a plurality of treatment positions are in particular as a so-called rinser known. The invention further relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 14.

Within the food industry, but also in other areas, it is customary to clean and / or sterilize containers used as packaging before filling. In a variety of applications, a so-called Rinsen the container is sufficient. In this case, the containers are rinsed with a liquid and / or gaseous treatment medium and treated in particular on their inner container surfaces, whereby foreign substances present in the containers, e.g. Dirt or dust particles are removed and any existing germs are killed.

In order to make the rins as effective and inexpensive as possible, it is customary to keep the containers in the overhead position or in the inverted state during rinsing, so that the treatment media used, which are introduced into the container interior via at least one treatment nozzle introduced into the treated container, from this as free and completely drain and drain.

All hitherto known devices designed as rinsers have a uniform construction principle in which the introduction of the treatment nozzles into the containers takes place in that the containers are respectively stationary, ie arranged at constant heights, and the container nozzles are moved, ie through the respective container opening into the container interior introduced or again after treatment the container opening are moved out of the container interior. This construction has significant disadvantages, namely:

> Since the treatment nozzles are moved or moved, it is necessary to perform the lines for supplying the treatment media to the container nozzles flexible, but at least movable. This requires increased costs in design and manufacturing, but above all an increased cost of maintenance and servicing, since the flexible and / or movable lines for supplying the treatment media are particularly susceptible to wear.

> Furthermore, it is necessary by design to guide the flexible lines for the treatment media so that they end inside the rotor. As a result, a hygienic separation between a "clean" or "clean side" and an "impure side" of a rinser of the usual design is not possible.

The "clean" or "clean" side is in each case the part of the rotor circumference which is located in the moment under consideration in the angular range of the rotational movement of the rotor in front of the container outlet, while the "non-clean" side of the rinser in each case that part of Rotor periphery is, which is at the same time in the angular range of rotation of the rotor, which adjoins the container inlet.

"Container" in the context of the invention are bottles, jars, cans or other containers used as packaging materials of different materials, for example, those made of glass or plastic.

"Overhead position" or "reversed state" in the sense of the invention means a positioning of the respective container in the form that it is arranged with its container opening at the bottom and with the container bottom overhead. The object of the invention is to provide a device which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages of known devices. To solve this problem, a device according to the patent claim 1 or 3 is formed. A method for treating containers is the subject of patent claim 14.

In one embodiment of the invention, a separation between the clean or pure side and the impure side of the device and in particular the rotor and the treatment space or area is achieved by the at least one cover or shield, which, for example, on the rotor with this is provided circumferentially. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this cover or shield, together with at least one further shield, forms a closed or substantially closed one and thus against environmental influences, e.g. Dust, dirt, germs, etc. protected treatment room, in which the treatment or rinsing of the container takes place at the individual treatment positions.

In a further embodiment of the invention, in which the treatment nozzles are arranged non-movable or constant height and lowered the container for treatment to the respective treatment nozzle and raised again after the treatment of the treatment nozzle, the serving for supplying the treatment media lines wear resistant than Tubes are formed, whereby wear-related maintenance and repair work and downtime are avoided.

In the device according to the invention, the individual treatment positions, for example, in each case a container receptacle or a container gripper, which is eg cam-controlled moved so that the container inlet with the container grippers respectively a container is detected or taken over and this container is then moved to a position in the the turned container with its container mouth is arranged centrically or substantially centrically aligned above the at least one treatment nozzle of the relevant treatment position, so that it then, together with the container gripper, is placed on the treatment container. can be lowered and this is introduced to the desired depth in the container. In this case, it is possible that the containers have already been taken over by the respective container gripper or brought into the turned position with the respective container gripper, for example by pivoting the container gripper, out of an upright container orientation, ie lying upwards with the container mouth.

The lowering of the containers onto the treatment nozzles and the lifting of the containers from the treatment nozzles after the treatment or after the rinsing takes place, for example, by cam control or else by controlled drive or lifting elements. These are then provided separately for the individual treatment positions, or together for groups of treatment positions, and comprise actuators, e.g. in the form of pneumatic cylinders or other linear drives.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment:

1 is a simplified schematic representation of a plan view of a designed as a rinser machine or device revolving design for treating containers in the form of bottles; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rotor of the device of FIG. 1; FIG.

3 shows a simplified representation of a partial section through the rotor of the device of Figures 1 and 2. 4 is a perspective detail view of a tubular nozzle carrier with a

Treatment nozzle of one of the treatment positions on the circumference of the rotor; Fig. 5 is a representation as Figure 3 in a further embodiment.

The device generally designated 1 in Figures 1-4 and designed as a rinser serves to treat, i. in particular for cleaning and / or sterilizing bottles 2 with different treatment media, which may be liquid, but also gas and / or vapor treatment media, and e.g. be used consecutively.

The device (rinser) 1 is u.a. from a rotatably drivable in the direction of the arrow A about a vertical machine axis VA rotor 3, which is provided in the illustrated embodiment at its peripheral region with a plurality of treatment positions 4, each consisting of a radially over the peripheral surface of an annular rotor element 3.1 wegstehende tubular Nozzle carrier 5 with a treatment nozzle 6 at the outer free end of the nozzle carrier 5 and with a carrier 7, which is controlled by a lifting drive 8 in the vertical direction by a predetermined stroke (double arrow B) up and down.

In the illustrated embodiment, the holder 7, which is respectively arranged above the associated nozzle carrier 5, is formed by two horizontal webs 7.1, which are spaced apart from each other and oriented parallel to the longitudinal extent of the nozzle carrier 5 and which are connected to the holder 7 at their two ends in the manner of a frame are. At the radially inner end relative to the machine axis VA each holder 7 is connected to the lower end of two lifting rods 9, which are guided in guides 10 on the rotor 3 for the lifting movement B in the vertical direction and at its upper end via a crossbar 11 with joint the piston rod of the drive element of the drive or lifting element 8 forming the pneumatic cylinder 12 are connected. With adjustment means 13, which are formed for example by stops and cooperate with the piston rod led out of the pneumatic cylinder 12 at the upper end, is the stroke B of the holder 7 adjustable, in terms of the size of this stroke as well as in terms of the upper and lower stroke position. In this way, the device 1 for bottles 2 of different sizes, ie for bottles 2 with different bottle height can be set optimally, so that an optimal treatment of different types of bottles or containers and in particular an optimal treatment of large and small containers or bottles 2 is possible.

At the lifting rods 9 remote, radially outer support end 7.2 each carrier or holder 7 with means (also centering pins) for attaching a bottle or container gripper 14 is formed, with which the respective bottle 2 turned during their treatment and with respect to the treatment nozzle. 6 centered.

On the circumference of the rotor 3 is formed with a cover 15 which consists essentially of a vertical axis of the machine axis VA enclosing wall portion 15.1 and an upper annular wall portion 15.2 which projects radially beyond the outer surface of the wall portion 15.1, in such a way in that a treatment space or region 16 is formed below the wall section 15.1, which is bounded at the top by the wall section 15.2, radially inwardly through the wall section 15.1 relative to the vertical machine axis VA and is open radially outwards and at the bottom, and in the individual treatment positions 4 or their treatment nozzles 6 and support 7 are provided.

Below the space 16 means for collecting and collecting at least the liquid treatment media are provided on a non-rotating with the rotor 3 machine element means, for example in the form of a ring-like collecting trough.

In that of the cover 15 and the wall portion 15.1 enclosed area of the rotor 3 further functional elements of the device 1 are housed, including the drive and lifting elements 8 and with respect to these radially to the vertical Machine axis VA even further inwardly offset on several vertical support elements 17 more the axis VA annularly enclosing, each formed by tubes manifold or ring channels 18.1 - 18.3 for supplying the treatment media to the treatment positions 4 and channels 19 and 20 for receiving tax - And supply lines, including compressed air lines for driving and operation of the individual drive and lifting elements. 8

The bottles 2 to be treated are placed in the apparatus 1 in their normal position, i. oriented with the bottle axis in the vertical direction and with the bottle opening at the top and hanging, for. at one in the area of the bottle mouths respectively provided mouth flange hanging over an outer conveyor 21 and then passed over a bottle or container inlet 22 to which the bottles are turned, each to a treatment position 4 and to the local container gripper 14 passed. The treated bottles 2 leave the device 1 at a bottle or container outlet 23, at which the bottles are returned to their normal position, and are supplied in this normal position via an external conveyor 24 for further use, for example a filling machine.

From known rinsers, the device 1 initially differs in principle in that the recorded from the container grippers 14 bottles 2 are lowered in the inverted state, ie facing down with their bottle mouth for treatment together with the respective container gripper 14 on the treatment nozzle 6, so they is introduced through the bottle mouth in the interior of the bottle in question 2. In this case, the carrier 7 with the container gripper 14 are initially in its upper stroke position and thus the respective turned bottle 2 with its bottle mouth first above the tubular treatment nozzle 6, with the bottle axis coaxially or approximately coaxially with the vertical axis of this nozzle. Subsequently, the respective carrier 7 is lowered with the container gripper 14 and held by this bottle 2 in the lower stroke position. About the respective treatment nozzle 6, the treatment of the bottle interior with the different Treatment media done. After the treatment, the respective carrier 7 with the bottle 2 is raised again into its upper lifting position, so that the bottle 2 is then again above the tubular treatment nozzle 6 with its bottle mouth and in this state at the container outlet 23 from the relevant treatment position 4 can be removed. The peculiarity of the device 1 is thus first of all that, unlike known rinsers, the introduction and execution of the treatment nozzles 6 into and out of the bottles 2 takes place by lowering and lifting the bottles 2 onto or from the treatment nozzles 6.

Another special feature of the device 1 is further that the treatment positions 4 are arranged within the space 16, u.a. Protected from the enclosed by the cover 15 interior of the rotor 3. By the cover 15 but in particular a separation between see the clean and non-clean area of the rotor or the space 16 is achieved, i. between that part of the rotor circumference or the space 16, which at the instant in question is just in the angular range of the rotational movement of the rotor 3 in front of the container outlet 23, and that part of the rotor circumference or the space 16 which is in the angular range at the same time the rotational movement of the rotor 3 is located, which adjoins the container inlet 22.

The cover 15 thus shields in particular the container outlet 23 and / or the treatment positions 4 preceding the container outlet 23 in the direction of rotation (A) of the rotor 3 relative to the container inlet 22 and / or opposite to the container inlet 22 in the direction of rotation (A) of the rotor 3 subsequent treatment positions 4 from. In particular, it is also prevented by the cover 15 that treatment medium spilled transversely to the diameter of the rotor 3 reaches the clean region of the treatment chamber 16 from the respectively non-clean region of the treatment chamber 16 and leads to contamination of the already treated bottles 2, ie impaired treatment status. Each treatment position 4 or groups of treatment positions 4 are provided on the annular channels 18.1-18.3 control valves 25, via which the various treatment media are supplied to the treatment nozzles 6 in a controlled manner.

FIG. 5 shows, as a further embodiment, a device 1a which differs from the device 1 essentially only in that a cover 26 is additionally provided which does not rotate with the rotor 3 and the treatment space 16 at least over the angular range of the rotary movement of the rotor 3 between the container inlet 22 and the container outlet 23 also on the radially outer side and below covers and for this purpose consists of the vertical machine axis VA annularly enclosing wall portion 26.1 and from a lower, at the same time as a sump for liquid treatment medium trained wall section 26.2. By means of suitable seals 27 and 28, the annular gap formed between the upper end of the wall section 26.1 and the outer edge region of the wall section 15.2 and the annular gap formed between the radially inner end of the wall section 26.2 and the underside of the annular rotor section 3.1 are each sealed.

The invention has been explained above with reference to exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous other changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention. It is thus possible, for example, to design the treatment machine or apparatus 1 or 1a according to the invention in such a way that the containers or bottles 2 are only moved from their normal position to the turned position and to the respective treatment position 4 after treatment in a treatment position 4 the normal position be transferred. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1a device or rinser

2 bottle

3 rotor

3.1 ring-like rotor element

4 treatment position

5 tubular nozzle carrier

6 treatment nozzle

7 carriers

7.1 bridge or tab

7.2 Carrier end

8 lifting element

9 lifting rod

10 lifting rod guide

11 Traverse with joint

12 pneumatic cylinders

13 stop

14 container holder or gripper

15 cover

15.1, 15.2 wall section

16 treatment room

17 supporting element

18.1 - 18.3 Distributor or annular channel for treatment medium

19, 20 Ring channel for supply and control lines

21 outer conveyor

22 container inlet

23 container outlet

24 outer conveyor

25 control valve

26 cover

26.1, 26.2 wall section 27, 28 seal

VA vertical machine axis

A direction of rotation of the rotor 3

B stroke of the carrier 7

Claims

claims

1. Apparatus for treating bottles or similar containers (2), with on

Circumference of a processing around a vertical machine axis (VA) rotatably driven rotor (3) formed treatment positions (4), wherein each treatment position (4) means (14, 17) for holding the container to be treated (2) in the inverted state and at least one in the a container inlet (22) for supplying the container (2) to the treatment positions (4) and with a container outlet (23) for discharging the treated container (2), characterized by at least a shield or cover (15) which shields a clean area of the device (1, 1a) from a non-clean area of the device.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the treatment positions (4) for introducing the treatment nozzles (6) into the container (2) by lowering the container (2) on the treatment nozzles (6) and for leading out the treatment nozzles ( 6) are formed from the containers (2) by lifting the containers (2) from the treatment nozzles (6).

3. Apparatus for treating bottles or similar containers (2), with on

Circumference of a processing around a vertical machine axis (VA) rotatably driven rotor (3) formed treatment positions (4), wherein each treatment position (4) means (14, 7) for holding the container to be treated (2) in the inverted state and at least one in the a container inlet (22) for feeding the containers (2) to the treatment positions (4) and with a container outlet (23) for discharging the treated containers (2), characterized in that the treatment positions (4) for introducing the treatment nozzles (6) are formed by lowering the containers (2) onto the treatment nozzles (6).

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized by at least one shield or cover (15) which shields a clean area of the device (1, 1a) against a non-clean area of the device.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one shield or cover (15) the container outlet (23) and / or in the direction of rotation (A) of the rotor (3) respectively the container outlet (23) preceding treatment positions ( 4) with respect to the container inlet (22) and / or with respect to the direction of rotation (A) of the rotor (3) in each case to this container inlet (22) subsequent treatment positions (4) shields.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at constant height treatment nozzles (6) the means for holding the container (2) are controlled between at least one upper and one lower stroke position movable, for example, cam-controlled and / or by drive or lifting elements (8).

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the drive or

Hubelemente linear actuators, such as pneumatic cylinders have.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means (14, 7) for holding the container (2) of container holders or - claws (14), preferably formed on at least between the upper and lower lifting position movable carriers (7) are.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shield or cover (15) at least a first, the machine axis (VA) annularly enclosing wall portion (15.1) is formed, the treatment of a (4) having treatment room or Range limited to a relative to the machine axis (VA) radially inner side.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the shield or cover (15) has at least one further wall section (15.2) which limits the treatment positions (4) having treatment space or - area at the top.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a further, with the rotor (3) not encircling shield or cover (26) at least a portion of the rotational movement of the rotor (3) the treatment positions (4) having treatment room or Range limited relative to the machine axis (VA) radially outboard and / or below the treatment positions (4).

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that at least on a portion of the rotational movement of the rotor (3) through the shields or covers (15, 26) a sealed treatment chamber (16) is formed.

13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting movement (B) of the means for holding the container (2) is adjustable.

14. A method for treating bottles or similar containers (2) using a device having a plurality of treatment positions (4) formed on a circumference of a rotor (3), each with at least one treatment nozzle (6), for the treatment of the respective a treatment position (4) turned inserted container (2) is inserted into this through the container opening, characterized in that the introduction of the treatment nozzles (6) in the container (2) for the treatment and the leading out of the treatment nozzles (6) from the containers (2) after treatment by lowering the containers (2) onto the treatment nozzles (6) and by lifting the container (2) from the treatment nozzles (6).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the lifting movement, with the lowering of the container (2) on the treatment nozzles (6) and the lifting of the container (2) after the treatment takes place, for example, the size of the stroke and / or the upper and / or lower stroke position of this lifting movement is set as a function of the size of the treated containers.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the treatment of the container in a treatment positions having, on the rotor (3) formed treatment space or area (16), for the at least one shield or cover (15), preferably a shield or cover attached to the rotor (3) is provided so that a treatment state once reached during the treatment is not affected by a treatment medium from a preceding portion of the treatment space or area (16).