WO2013068379A1

WO2013068379A1 - Device and method for handling and feeding container closures

Info

Publication number: WO2013068379A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/071994
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Gassner
Original assignee: Gassner Gmbh
Priority date: 2011-11-08
Filing date: 2012-11-07
Publication date: 2013-05-16
Also published as: AT13042U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for handling and feeding separated and preferably pre-oriented or positionally oriented container closures (26) to a processing machine, preferably a closing machine, wherein the device comprises a conveying track (1) oriented in a preferably horizontal plane (23), said conveying track having an inlet (2) and an outlet (3) for the container closures (26), wherein the conveying track (1) has side walls (4) and a bottom (24) that has air inlet openings (11), from which compressed air can be blown into a conveying track volume (14) bounded by the side walls (4) and the bottom (24) by means of a compressed-air unit (15) in order to convey the container closures (26). According to the invention, in order to achieve the smallest possible space requirement of the device in all three spatial directions, the conveying track (1) has the shape of a spiral having a plurality of spiral turns (17) in the plane (23).

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT AND SUPPLY OF

CONTAINER CLOSURES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for

Treatment and supply of isolated and preferably pre-or position-oriented container closures to a

Post-processing machine, preferably closing machine, wherein the device in a, preferably horizontal plane oriented conveyor track with an inlet and a

Includes outlet for the container closures, wherein the

Conveyor side walls as well as a floor with

Air inlet openings, from which by means of a compressed air unit compressed air in a conveyor path volume, which is bounded by the side walls and the bottom, is inflatable to further promote the container closures. The present invention also relates to a

Process for the treatment and supply of isolated and preferably pre- or position-oriented container closures to a further processing machine, preferably

Closing machine, wherein the container closures are conveyed by means of compressed air in a preferably horizontal plane, further wherein the container closures have a top and a bottom, and wherein the top and bottom are substantially parallel to each other and the bottom faces the interior of a container and the top outside the container, when the container with the

Container closure is closed. STATE OF THE ART

In container filling plants containers are used by

Filling machines filled, and the filled containers are closed by means of a capping machine. For example, the containers may be containers

act thermoplastic material which in the

Behälterabfüllbetrieb be prepared by heating preforms by means of a furnace and by means of a

Inflator be formed into containers. The

Container closures in turn are removed from a storage container or a task unit by means of a removal conveyor and pre-oriented. Depending on the material of the container, different materials are typically used in the container closures. For example, plastic bottles (PET bottles) are usually closed with plastic or aluminum container closures; glass bottles

typically with container closures made of plastic, aluminum or sheet steel, wherein it may be the case closures, for example, crown corks or screw caps.

According to AT 10979 U1 the removal conveyor preferably has a steep conveyor section in order to convey the container closures as directly as possible a distance along a vertical direction upwards. From the steep conveyor section, the container closures are separated in a transfer station and transferred position-oriented to a conveyor unit, which the container closures finally a

Further processing machine, preferably closing machine supplies. In practice, it can be especially when singling and

Orientation in the transfer station to disrupt, for example, container closures wedge and jam. To prevent in such situations that (filled) containers can not be closed because no container closures more of the capping machine

It is important that a sufficient number of container closures between transfer station and

Sealing machine is present. In this way, containers with container closures may continue to be closed for some time, until e.g. the problem in the

Fixed the transfer station or shut down the system in an orderly manner. Thus, the container preforms can in any case be removed from the oven and subsequently inflated and closed so that no preforms remain in the oven. The latter would in any case the - unwanted - destruction of the preforms result. It is thus avoided that it comes to unnecessary losses of containers and to losses or contamination of valuable filler.

In order to have the said container closures in stock in a malfunction, ready for feeding to the capping machine, it is known from the prior art to provide very long straight-line conveying paths or conveying units. However, this costs a lot of space. In order to counter the space problem, EP 0993417 B1 discloses a dynamic one

Plug storage device known in the

Container closures are conveyed on a helical path to the closing machine. That on a

limited horizontal footprint will be a long

Conveyor generated by the conveyor

is arranged helically, with a plurality of turns in the vertical direction.

The disadvantage here is on the one hand, the vertical space requirement. On the other hand, requirements for sterility and

Sterilization of the container closures are difficult to meet. The capping machines themselves are usually combined with the filling machines in housings

housed, which act as clean rooms. A sterilization and sterilization should usually be done as directly as possible before the capping machine. Chemical disinfection

(For example, by means of H ₂ O ₂ - or peroxyacetic acid immersion) is indeed due to high sterilization rates, but carries the risk of product contamination by residues of the disinfectant. In addition, there is an inherent danger to the operating personnel, and the operation is associated with high costs. As an alternative, the irradiation with UV light offers. However, the effect is weaker than the chemical disinfection and therefore depends more on the

Exposure time or irradiation time. For a given filling speed, it is therefore difficult to achieve sufficiently long irradiation times. For this would be the

Irradiation over a long conveyor line of

Container closures needed. This in turn is in the

Helix geometry either not at all or only with great technical effort feasible.

Finally, there is the problem of dust, which

production condition or by transport to the

Container closures can be found. The dust can either contain germs or acts as a nucleation point for germs. Also this problem is characterized by from the state of the

Technique known method not satisfactorily solved.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to avoid the abovementioned disadvantages. Thus, a device and a method for the treatment and supply of isolated and pre- or position-oriented container closures to a further processing machine, preferably closing machine, are provided, with only a minimum space requirement in all three dimensions of space is required. In particular, it must be taken into account that a problem-free sterilization or sterilization of

Container closures by UV irradiation while compactness of the device is made possible. Finally, the problem of dust on container closures should be taken into account.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

In order to buffer container closures, for example of crown corks or screw caps, in the feed to a further processing machine, in particular

To achieve a closing machine, a long conveyor line is provided in front of the further processing machine. On the long conveyor line can correspondingly many isolated

Container closures may be present, which are preferably oriented or orientation.

In order to consume despite a long conveying distance - typically 15 to 20 m - only a relatively small horizontal surface, it is provided, the container closures on a

to convey spiral conveyor track. In order to also the dimension of the device in the vertical direction

restrict the spiral is arranged with a large number of turns in the horizontal plane. This is particularly advantageous because the device due to the usual arrangement of a transfer station, which the

Container closures isolated and location-oriented, and from which the container closures for

Further processing machine must be transported, anyway arranged on a raised level in the vertical direction above the ground. The more spiral windings are present, the longer the conveyor track or conveyor line and the more Container closures can be stored or buffered on the conveyor track.

The device further comprises an inlet, in which the container closures of a (feed) conveying unit of

Be fed conveyor belt and enter the device. The end of the conveyor track is formed by an outlet, from which the container closures can be fed to the further processing machine. This will get the

Container closures from the outlet directly into an enclosure that acts as a clean room, with the container closures up to the

Do not leave the clean room in the capping machine. That the risk of contamination immediately before the capping machine is thus avoided.

The container closures are moved or conveyed on the conveyor track by means of compressed air. The compressed air is provided by a compressed air unit and flows out of air inlet openings of the bottom of the conveyor track.

On both sides of the conveyor track side walls are arranged, which prevent the container closures can move laterally away from the conveyor track or down. The bottom and sidewalls define a conveyor track volume, i. the compressed air is in this conveyor belt volume through the

Blown air inlets. In principle it is

of course, the compressed air also by the

To flow sidewalls in the conveyor path volume. Therefore, it is in a device for buffering and feeding of isolated and preferably pre- or position-oriented container closures to a further processing machine, preferably closing machine, wherein the device in a, preferably horizontal plane oriented conveyor track with an inlet and an outlet for the

Container closures comprises, wherein the conveyor track has side walls and a bottom with air inlet openings from which by means of a compressed air unit compressed air in a

Förderbahnvolumen, which is bounded by the side walls and the bottom, is inflatable to further promote the container closures, according to the invention provided that the

Conveyor in the plane the shape of a spiral with a

Has variety of spiral turns.

Ideally, the air inlet openings are not designed as simple holes, but have a known guide section, which deflects the compressed air at least partially in the conveying direction. A regular

Arrangement of such air inlet openings can be realized in the form of a gill plate. Therefore it is at one

preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention provided that the bottom of the conveyor track is designed as a gill plate.

The container closures are on the spiral

Moving or moving from outside to inside.

Accordingly, the inlet forms the mouth of the outermost spiral turn or closes at the mouth of the outermost

Spiral winding preferably tangentially. The outlet, however, is located in the center of the spiral. It is therefore in a particularly preferred embodiment of the

Device according to the invention provided that the outermost spiral winding preferably connects tangentially to the inlet and the outlet substantially in the center of the spiral

is arranged. Of course, it is also conceivable to carry out the inlet in the center and the outlet to the outermost spiral preferably tangentially thereafter.

Analogously, it is therefore in a method for buffering and supplying isolated and preferably pre- or

Oriented container closures to a

Further processing machine, preferably closing machine, wherein the container closures by means of compressed air in a, preferably horizontal plane, wherein furthermore the container closures a top and a

Underside, and wherein the top and bottom in

Are substantially parallel to each other and the bottom faces the interior of a container and the top is outside the container when the container with the

Container closure is closed, according to the invention

provided that the container closures are conveyed in the plane on a spiral path to the center of a spiral, from where they are supplied to the further processing machine.

As already mentioned, the device will usually be arranged on a raised level in the vertical direction. Accordingly, it makes sense, the

To arrange further processing machine at a lower level in order to make optimal use of the available space can. Therefore, as a supply of container closures for

Further processing machine at the end of the conveyor a

Slide provided. This can be designed so that the orientation of the container closures when sliding down over the chute is set so that they are correct

arrive oriented in the rendering machine. For example, it is conceivable that the container closures of a

Orientation with its underside pointing vertically upwards when sliding over the slide into one

Orientation are rotated with the bottom facing the vertical direction down. Therefore, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention that the outlet comprises a chute, the

inclined relative to the plane of the spiral, wherein the inclination has a component in the direction of gravity. Likewise, a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention that the supply of the container closures for Further processing machine by sliding over a chute with a proportion of movement takes place in the direction of gravity.

The generation of the compressed air used for conveying the container closures is on the one hand associated with costs, on the other hand, it is problematic for hygienic reasons to simply let the compressed air blown into the conveyor belt volume escape into the environment. The latter inevitably leads to air currents and air turbulences, which is an ideal

Represent transport of germs. Such a

It is important to prevent germ transport. To escape the

Compressed air in the vertical direction to reduce or prevent upward, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention that the

Device has a lid which in a

Closure position prefers all spiral turns of

Conveyor or the conveyor path volume in a direction normal to the plane of the spiral, preferably airtight terminates. The lid also serves as a guide for the

Container closures in the direction normal to the plane of the spiral.

The compressed air can thus be injected from an air supply channel, which is located under the conveyor track and runs congruent with this, in the conveyor track volume. That a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention provides that under the gill plate or the bottom of the conveyor track, an air supply channel is arranged to supply compressed air to the air inlet openings. It should be noted that dust, which is located on the container closures, is at least partially blown off by the compressed air. That The container closures are not only conveyed by the compressed air, but also at the same time

dedusted. Electrostatic charging of the container closures causes the dust to become very strong on the container closures

adheres. In this case, the dust from the

In order to better blow off container closures, the injected compressed air can be ionized, preferably by means of ion-spray nozzles, so that the electrostatic charging of the container closures is neutralized. It is therefore provided in a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention that ion spray nozzles are provided in order to ionize the compressed air to be injected into the conveyor track volume.

The conveyor belt volume is practically closed when the lid is closed. Only in the area of the inlet and the

Outlet may be a small, negligible part of

Uncontrolled escape of compressed air: in the area of the inlet in the direction of the delivery unit, which the

Container closures the device according to the invention supplies; in the area of the outlet towards the

Processing machine. However, the vast majority of the blown into the conveyor belt volume compressed air ultimately enters a region of the outlet, where a

Inlet opening of an air return channel is located, which serves to supply the used compressed air back to the compressed air system. The recirculated air can be filtered in a filter, whereby any entrained dust and / or germs from the container closures from the compressed air

be deposited. That it is first blown sterile compressed air, contaminated with dust and / or germs,

recycled and cleaned again by means of filters or

sterilized. In this way, almost all compressed air can be reused. Therefore, it is provided in a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention that under the air supply channel

Air return duct is arranged, which has an inlet opening in the region of the outlet, preferably in order to recirculate the compressed air used for further conveying the container closures from the conveyor path volume to the compressed air unit. This requires that the air return duct on the one hand begins with its inlet opening substantially below or adjacent to that region where the air supply duct ends.

On the other hand, the air return passage terminates substantially below or adjacent to the beginning of the air supply passage, in the area of the compressed air unit. Of course, it is also conceivable that contaminated with dust and / or germs air with a separate suction from the

Extract the conveyor path volume through the air return duct. Also in this case, the air return duct has to start with its inlet opening substantially below or adjacent to the area where the air supply duct ends.

Accordingly, the air return channel is at least in one area or at least partially below the

Air supply duct. Preferably, the

Air return duct at least in the area of the outlet under the air supply duct. It is understood, however, that the air return passage is not entirely up to the separate

Suction device must be located under the air supply duct. Accordingly, the term "under" to understand.

In order to simply remove the lid from the closed position, for example, if a direct access to the conveyor track from above is required, it is in a special

preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention provided that the lid outside the outermost

Spiral winding is rotatably mounted, wherein the rotation axis is normal to the plane of the spiral and the lid is rotatable between the closed position and an open position.

In addition, in the lid, a UV irradiation unit

be housed, which irradiates the container closures with UV light for disinfection purposes. Here are the Container closures usefully orientated so that their underside faces upwards, as the undersides can subsequently come into contact with the contents of the container and therefore must be as sterile and germ-free as possible. It is therefore provided in a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, that the undersides of the

Container closures are turned away from the plane of the spiral when they are transported.

The UV irradiation unit ideally illuminates the entire conveyor track, ie all spiral turns and all on it

located container closures, with UV light. Typically, in this way 15 to 20 m conveyor track is irradiated with UV light. This will ensure that the

Container closures are irradiated with UV light for a relatively long time, they need to cover the entire spiral conveyor path. Thus, a very expensive and expensive UV irradiation unit, which would have to generate extremely intense UV light due to a short irradiation time, can be dispensed with. Therefore, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, that in the lid, a UV irradiation unit

is arranged, which in the closed position in

Substantially covers the entire spiral conveyor track to substantially all container closures on the

Sterilize spiral conveyor path by UV irradiation and sterilize.

If only very short irradiation times of, for example, 0.5 to 2 s were possible, a so-called high-pressure system as a UV irradiation unit would be necessary to achieve the required

Sterility and sterility of the container closures too

to guarantee. Due to the necessary power, however, such high pressure systems generate a great deal of heat, which can cause the container closures to heat up undesirably. Apart from the necessary cooling are high pressure systems insofar disadvantageous, as the high intensity of UV radiation is a potential source of danger for employees.

However, the time available with the device according to the invention for UV irradiation of the containers is

much longer, so that a so-called low or

Medium pressure system can be used as a UV irradiation unit easily. These systems produce less heat and are less dangerous due to the lower UV intensity. With such systems, UV irradiation times of at least 5 seconds are usually required to be acceptable

To realize germ killing rates. With the device according to the invention, however, UV irradiation times between 20 and 80 s can be achieved with typical conveyor line lengths of 15 to 20 m. It is therefore provided in a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention that it is in the UV irradiation unit to a low or

Medium pressure system acts. Consequently, it is provided in a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention that the container closures, in particular the undersides of the container closures during transport of the container closures on the spiral path at least 20 s, preferably between 25 s and 80 s with UV light

be irradiated to sterilize the container closures and sterilize.

To increase the accessibility of the UV irradiation unit for

To ensure maintenance purposes, it is provided that the UV irradiation unit at a bottom of at least one

Cover flap is arranged. The at least one lid flap is between a closed and an open

Cover flap position can be positioned. In the closed lid flap position, the container closures can be irradiated through an upper guide which guides the container closures in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the spiral when the lid is in the closed position Lock position is located. Therefore, it is provided in a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention that the lid comprises at least one lid flap, which has a lid flap top and a

Cover flap bottom has and between a

closed and an open lid flap position

is positionable, and that the UV irradiation unit is arranged on the lid flap bottom to in the

Closing position of the lid when closed

Lid flap position the container closures by a

To irradiate overhead line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments. The drawings are exemplary and are intended to illustrate the inventive idea, but in no way restrict it or even reproduce it.

Showing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device according to the invention without a lid

Fig. 2 is an axonometric view of an inventive

Device with a lid in opening position

Fig. 3 is an axonometric view of an inventive

Device with a lid in closed position

4 is a sectional view along the line B-B in Fig. 3rd

Fig. 5 is an axonometric detail view of the area A from

Fig. 3

Fig. 6 is a side view with compressed air unit Fig. 7 is an axonometric view of the underside of a lid

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a lid

Fig. 9 is an axonometric view of another

Embodiment of the device according to the invention

Fig. 10 is an axonometric view of the partially

sliced portion C of Fig. 9

WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention

Device in supervision. In this case, the device has a cover surface 21, which is oriented in a horizontal plane 23 (in Fig. 1, the drawing plane), in the present embodiment, normal to a vertical direction 8. On the cover surface 21, a conveyor track 1 is formed, which, starting from an inlet 2, spirals in a plurality of -

illustrated case in nine - spiral turns 17 runs from outside to inside. In this case, container closures 26 (compare Fig. 8) are introduced tangentially into the outermost spiral turn 17 via the inlet 2 and finally into the center of the spiral

transported, where the outlet 3 is located. In the region of the outlet 3, the innermost spiral turn 17 opens into a

Slide 16, via which the container closures 26 in a vertically lower, not shown

Further processing machine slip.

The transport of the container closures 26 on the conveyor track 1 by means of compressed air from the air inlet openings 11, which in the bottom 24 of the conveyor track 1 in regular

Distances are arranged, exit. In this case, the bottom 24 can be designed as a gill plate 5 (see FIG. To a lateral sliding away of the container closures 26 of the To avoid conveyor track 1, the conveyor track 1 is provided laterally with side walls 4 along its entire course. The air inlet openings 11 are also shaped

for example, by not shown

Guide sections have the compressed air not only

vertically upwards, in the vertical direction, but partly also in the conveying direction 22 is blown.

FIG. 2 shows the device according to the invention from FIG. 1 in an axonometric view, but additionally provided with a cover 6. This is rotatably supported by a cover frame 20 outside the outermost spiral winding 17 about a rotation axis 9, wherein the rotation axis 9 parallel to the vertical

Direction 8 runs. The cover 6 can thus from a

Opening position 10, which is shown in Fig. 2 and in which the lid 6 does not cover part of the spiral conveyor track 1, in a closed position 7 (see Fig. 3) are rotated.

In Fig. 2 it can be clearly seen that the device is extended parallel to the vertical direction 8. In particular, runs under the entire conveyor track 1, an air supply channel 12, the beginning of which is recognizable in the region of the inlet 2. Through the air supply duct 12, compressed air is blown through the air inlet openings 11 by means of a compressed air unit 15. That the air supply channel 12 is closed at the top (ie in the vertical direction 8) through the bottom 24 of the guide track 1. In the area of the inlet 2, the end of an air return channel 13 can also be seen. This serves to return the used compressed air to

Compressed air unit 15. Accordingly ends the

Air return passage 13 in an area under the beginning of the air supply duct 12th

The beginning of the air supply duct 12 is also ideally suited for the placement of ion spray nozzles (not shown), to ionize the compressed air to be injected. In this way, if necessary, an electrostatic charging of the container closures 26 counteracted.

The air return passage 13 begins with an inlet opening 19 in the region of the outlet 3, since there almost the entire

Compressed air reaches. That the air return passage 13 starts in an area below the end of the

Air supply duct 12. The air return duct 13 but does not necessarily coincide with the

Air supply channel 12.

3 shows an axonometric view of the device with the cover 6 in the closed position 7. The cover 6 closes a conveyor track volume 14 (see FIG

Substantially airtight, which is formed by the bottom 24 of the conveyor track 1 and by the side walls 4. This is a prerequisite that the compressed air is not in the

Environment escapes, but almost completely over the

Air return duct 13 to the compressed air unit 15 (see Fig. 6) can be recycled. The compressed air unit 15 can be clearly seen in the side view of FIG. 6. The compressed air unit 15 and contains

preferably a filter element (not shown) to filter the spent, recirculated compressed air. As a result, in particular dust and germs, which are initially located on the container closures 26 and are blown off by the compressed air, are deposited. Good as well

recognizable in Fig. 6 is the course of the air supply passage 12 and the air return passage thirteenth

The inlet port 19 of the air return passage 13 is

particularly well visible in Fig. 4, the one

Section view of the device of FIG. 3, wherein the sectional plane is parallel to the vertical direction 8 and extends through the line BB, wherein the arrows Indicate direction. Furthermore, it can be clearly seen in FIG. 4 that the chute 16 leads downwards against the vertical direction 8. The chute 16 is in an enclosure 25

arranged, which is clearly visible in Fig. 4. These

Housing serves as a clean room, the container closures 26 no longer leave until closing in the capping machine. It is thus prevented that after sterilization by means of a UV irradiation unit 18 (see Fig. 7), the container closures 26 can be contaminated again.

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged axonometric view of the

Area A of Fig. 3. In this view are particularly well recognizable: the side walls 4, the gill plate 5 with

Air inlet openings 11 and the beginning of the

Air supply duct 12 and the end of the

Air return duct 13.

Fig. 7 shows the underside of the lid 6, wherein in this view, the UV irradiation device 18 can be seen. With this, in the closed position 7, substantially the entire surface of the spiral conveyor track 1 can be illuminated with UV light. Since the transportation of the container closures 26 across the entire conveyor 1, which is typically between 15 and 20 meters in length, takes a relatively long time, typically between 20 seconds and 80 seconds, there is sufficient time for the container closures 26 to be highly UV-controlled to sterilize. Of course it is important that the

Container closures 26 with their bottom up

oriented to be transported on the conveyor 1, since the

Bottom can come into contact with the contents of a filled container at a later date. Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of the lid 6 in one

Sectional view, with the cutting plane perpendicular to the plane 23 of the spiral. The cover 6 has two cover flaps 27, which by means of hinges 38 between an open 32 and a closed lid flap position 31 by one

Turntable pivot axis 30 are rotatable. Here are the

Cover flap rotation axes 30 parallel to the plane 23 of the spiral. A transverse strut 40 of the cover frame 20 limits the rotation in the direction of the closed cover flap position 31. For easy movement by a person, the cover flaps 27 each have a handle 37.

Each lid flap 27 has a lid flap top 28 and a lid flap bottom 29. The

Lid flap top 28 is formed with a slope, i. it is not normal to the vertical direction 8, so that moisture or dirt from the lid flap top 28 can slide.

The lid flap top 28 and the lid flap bottom 29 define a cavity 34 which can be used for the wiring of the UV irradiation unit 18. At the

Lid flap bottom 29, a reflector 33 and the UV irradiation unit 18 are arranged. The UV irradiation unit 18 generates heat during its operation by means of

Heat conduction is conducted into the cavity 34. For cooling, each cover flap 27 on its top flap 28 has two recesses 35, which are completed by a respective ventilation grille 36. In this case, a ventilation fan (not shown) is installed in a recess 35, the air sucks into the cavity 34 and presses through the other recess 35 from the cavity 34.

In the closed lid flap position 31, the UV irradiation unit 18, viewed in the vertical direction 8, is arranged directly after an upper guide 39. The upper guide 39 is used in the closed position 7 of the lid 6 for guiding the

Container closures 26 in the vertical direction 8 and forms the bottom of the lid 6. The upper guide 39 must be transparent to the UV light. In addition to solutions made of monolithic quartz glass or with PTFE films, the most cost-effective embodiment of the upper guide 39 is a perforated plate. Depending on the size of the

Container closures 26 may be provided with different sized holes. Typical hole diameters are between 5 and 15 mm, typically around 10 mm. In order to shade as little UV light as possible, the holes are made with thin webs

executed. Overall, the intensity of the UV light is reduced by only 10% to 20% through the perforated plate.

Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment of the

Device according to the invention. In this, the lid 6 no upper guide 39, but one for UV light

permeable film (not shown). The film closes the cover 6 from the conveyor track. This has the advantage that when bursting of a portion of the UV irradiation unit 18, no broken pieces in the conveyor track 1 or on or in the

Container closures 26 can get. That the film forms the bottom of the lid 6 and has no openings through the broken pieces in the conveyor track 1 and auf. In or in the

Container closures 26 could arrive.

The cover 6 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 is rotatably mounted, but the axis of rotation is in this case parallel to the plane 23 of the spiral. To hold the lid 6 in an open position, a corresponding holding device, e.g. in the form of at least one

Gas spring 43, provided.

To guide the container closures 26 in the vertical direction 8, an upper guide 41 connected to the side walls 4 is provided in this case. This is particularly clearly visible in the detail view of FIG. 10. Each side wall 4 is formed by a guide rail, which are spaced by means of spacers 42 from the bottom 24 of the conveyor track 1 in the vertical direction 8 and limit the movement of the container closure 26 in the plane 23 of the spiral. Seen in the vertical direction 8 4 further spacers 42 are arranged after each side wall and after this

Spacers the upper guide 41 formed as a further guide rail. The dimensions of the upper guide 41 are selected parallel to the plane 23 of the spiral so that the container closure 26 can not move in the vertical direction 8 as far as the upper guide, as shown in Fig. 10th

shown.

In the partial sectional view of Fig. 10 also a truss-like stiffening rib 44 can be seen, which in

Air supply channel 12 is arranged and does not obstruct the air supply. Outwardly, the stiffening rib 44 continues in a crane eye 45 to a comfortable moving the

To enable device by means of a crane.

REFERENCE LIST Track conveyor

inlet

outlet

Side wall

gill plate

cover

closed position

Vertical direction

axis of rotation

opening position

Air inlet opening

Air supply duct

Air return duct

Conveyor track volume

Compressed air unit

slide

spiral

UV irradiation unit

inlet port

Lidmaker

cover surface conveying direction

Level of the spiral

Bottom of the conveyor

Enclosure of the slide

container closure

flap

Cover flaps top

Cover flaps base

Cover flaps axis of rotation

Closed lid flap position Open lid flap position

reflector

Cavity for wiring

recess

ventilation grille

Handle

hinge

upper guide

crossmember

Upper guide connected to side wall Spacer sleeve

Gas Springs Truss-like stiffening rib

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

Device for the treatment and supply of isolated and preferably pre- or position-oriented

Container closures (26) into one

Further processing machine, preferably

Closing machine, the device being oriented in a, preferably horizontal, plane (23).

Conveyor track (1) with an inlet (2) and an outlet (3) for the container closures (26), the conveyor track (1) having side walls (4) and a base (24) with air inlet openings (11), from which by means a compressed air unit (15) compressed air

Conveyor track volume (14), which is delimited by the side walls (4) and the bottom (24), can be inflated in order to further convey the container closures (26), the conveyor track (1) having the shape of a spiral in the plane (23). with a plurality of spiral turns (17) and under the bottom (24) of the conveyor track (1).

Air supply channel (12) is arranged around the

Air inlet openings (11) to supply compressed air, characterized in that an air return channel (13) is arranged under the air supply channel (12), which has an inlet opening (19) in the area of the outlet (3).

having .

Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom (24) of the conveyor track (1) is designed as a gill plate (5).

Device according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that at the inlet

(2) the outermost spiral turn (17) preferably connects tangentially and the outlet

(3) is arranged essentially in the center of the spiral.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outlet (3) comprises a chute (16) which is inclined with respect to the plane (23) of the spiral, the inclination having a component in the direction of gravity.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized

characterized in that the device has a cover (6) which, in a closed position (7), preferably covers all spiral turns (17) of the conveyor track (1) or the conveyor track volume (14) in a direction normal to the

Level (23) of the spiral, preferably airtight

completes.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the cover (6) is rotatably mounted outside the outermost spiral turn (17), with an axis of rotation (9) normal to the plane (23) of the spiral and the cover (6) between the locking position (7) and one

Opening position (10) is rotatable.

7. Device according to one of claims 5 to 6, characterized

characterized in that a UV irradiation unit (18) is arranged in the lid (6), which in the closed position (7) essentially covers the entire spiral-shaped conveyor track (1) in order to

To sterilize and sterilize essentially all container closures (26) on the spiral conveyor track (1) by UV radiation.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the UV irradiation unit (18) is a

Low or medium pressure system.

9. Device according to one of claims 7 to 8, characterized

characterized in that the lid (6) has at least one

Lid flap (27) includes one Lid flap top (28) and one

Has the underside of the lid flap (29) and between a closed one (31) and an open one

Lid flap position (32) can be positioned, and that the UV irradiation unit (18) on the

The underside of the lid flap (29) is arranged in order to irradiate the container closures (26) through an upper guide (39) in the closed position (7) of the lid (6) with the lid flap position (31) closed.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that ion spray nozzles are provided in order to ionize the compressed air to be blown into the conveyor track volume (14).

11. Methods for the treatment and delivery of

isolated and preferably forward or position oriented

Container closures (26) into one

Further processing machine, preferably

Closing machine, wherein the container closures (26) are transported by means of compressed air in a, preferably horizontal, plane (23), furthermore the

Container closures (26) a top and a

Have a bottom, and wherein the top and bottom are substantially parallel to each other and the bottom faces the interior of a container and the

Top is outside the container if the

Container is closed with the container closure (26), the container closures (26) in the plane (23) on a spiral path (1) to the center of a

Spiral are transported from where they are

Further processing machine are supplied, wherein further the compressed air is blown by means of a compressed air unit (15) into a conveyor track volume (14), which is delimited by side walls (4) and a bottom (24) with air inlet openings (11) of the track (1), and where the compressed air is supplied to the air inlet openings (11) by means of an air supply channel (12) which is arranged under the base (24), characterized in that the compressed air used to further convey the container closures (26) is taken from the conveyor track volume (14) by means of a Air return duct (13) for

Compressed air unit (15) is guided back, the air return channel (13) having an inlet opening (19) in the area of an outlet (3) of the web (1).

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the undersides of the container closures (26) when they are transported from the plane (23) of the spiral

are turned away.

13. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 12, characterized in that the container closures (26), in particular the undersides of the container closures (26), during the transport of the container closures (26) on the spiral path (1) for at least 20 s, preferably between Be irradiated with UV light for 25 s and 80 s in order to sterilize and seal the container closures (26).

sterilize.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the supply of the

Container closures (26) to the further processing machine by sliding over a slide (16) with a

Part of the movement occurs in the direction of gravity.