DE102019133164A1 - Transport route and container treatment plant with such a transport route - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a transport path for transporting containers from a closure device into an unsanitary environment, the transport path comprising: a housing having an end on the closure device side and an end on the environment side; a first transport device extending at least partially within the housing and configured to transport the containers out through the ambient end; a second transport device which extends at least partially to the end on the closure device side and is designed to transport the containers through the closure device end into the housing; and a transfer device arranged in the housing for moving the containers from the second transport device to the first transport device.

Description

Field of invention

The present invention relates to the transport of containers in a container treatment plant, in particular from a closing device for closing the containers filled in a filling device in an unhygienic environment and a container treatment plant with such a transport path.

State of the art

In container treatment plants, containers such as bottles, cans, etc., are treated in several successive process steps. The process steps are generally carried out in separate treatment stations, which can be put together, for example, as modules of a common system concept. A container treatment plant for glass bottles or plastic bottles, e.g. B. made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PEP), etc., can for example comprise a blow molding device, filling device, closing device, labeling device, packaging device, cleaning device, sterilization device, inspection device, etc. as separate, modularly designed treatment stations. The individual treatment stations, which carry out successive process steps, are generally connected in series, with one or more transport devices taking over the transport of the containers from the treatment stations to the respective downstream treatment stations.

The execution of successive process steps through the separate treatment stations of the system as well as the transport between the treatment stations thus corresponds to the known principle of assembly line processing, in which a continuous flow of containers to be treated through the treatment stations arranged in series by means of suitable control processes with regard to the process duration of the individual process steps and / or the amount of containers transported per unit of time from one treatment station to the next treatment station is achieved.

The containers are typically transported on conveyor belts of transport devices at least between some of the treatment stations, for example supported by railings. However, the transport devices or belts transport not only the containers, but also contaminants such as, in particular, microorganisms and here in particular harmful germs or germ-forming organisms. This problem occurs in particular on the transport route from a filling device (a filler) for filling the containers to a closing device for closing the filled containers. For example, certain bottled beverages such as beer are generally made to foam before they are closed, so that oxygen can be expelled from the head area of the container (and in particular bottles) and the shelf life of the bottled beverage can be increased. In this case, part of the frothed beverage often escapes over the edge of the container and runs down the outside of the container, thereby contaminating the transport device. The transport device then carries the beverage residues to the subsequent treatment station, for example to the closing device and beyond. Further product carryover and thus contamination of the transport route can occur due to defective / broken containers or the product spilling over into the container after filling.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a transport of containers which is improved in terms of hygiene and a container treatment system with such a transport.

Description of the invention

• ein Gehäuse mit einem verschließvorrichtungsseitigen (stromaufwärtigen) Ende und einem umgebungsseitigen (stromabwärtigen) Ende;
• eine erste Transportvorrichtung, die sich zumindest teilweise in dem Gehäuse erstreckt und zum Transportieren der Behälter durch das umgebungsseitige Ende aus dem Gehäuse hinaus (namentlich in die unhygienische Umgebung) ausgebildet ist (insbesondere kann sich die erste Transportvorrichtung über das umgebungsseitige Ende hinaus erstrecken);
• eine zweite Transportvorrichtung, die sich zumindest teilweise in dem Gehäuse zu dem verschließvorrichtungsseitigen Ende (und gegebenenfalls darüber hinaus) erstreckt und zum Transportieren der Behälter durch das verschließvorrichtungsseitige Ende in das Gehäuse hinein ausgebildet ist; und
• eine in dem Gehäuse angeordnete Überschubvorrichtung zum Verbringen der Behälter von der zweiten Transportvorrichtung zu der ersten Transportvorrichtung.

The above-mentioned object is achieved by providing a transport route (or a transport system) for transporting containers (e.g. bottles, cans, etc.) from a closing device for closing containers filled in a filling device into an unsanitary environment (which, for example, is not a clean room and a may be an unhoused / housing-free environment), whereby the transport route comprises:

• a housing having a shutter-side (upstream) end and an ambient-side (downstream) end;
• a first transport device which extends at least partially in the housing and is designed for transporting the container through the end on the ambient side out of the housing (namely into the unsanitary environment) (in particular, the first transport device can extend beyond the end on the ambient side);
• a second transport device which extends at least partially in the housing to the closing device-side end (and possibly beyond) and is designed to transport the containers through the closing device-side end into the housing; and
• a transfer device arranged in the housing for moving the containers from the second transport device to the first transport device.

The transport path of the containers on the second transport device can be essentially parallel to the transport path of the containers on the first transport device. In particular, the first and second transport devices can be guided at least partially in parallel to push the containers over.

The containers can pass from the closing device to the second transport device via a transfer station, for example a transport star. The outer surface of the containers transported on the second transport device can be contaminated, for example by the foaming of a beverage (such as beer) filled into the container and the foam partially escaping from the containers (see also description below). However, they are not transported out of the housing on this second transport device, but rather transferred inside the housing with the aid of the push-over device to the first transport device, on which they leave the housing. In this case, the transfer does not necessarily take place by sliding it over, so that the term sliding device here generally includes a transfer device. The first transport device is therefore cleaner compared to the second transport device, so that the spread of dirt, for example microorganisms and germs, can be largely avoided.

The housing is used for machine / accident protection, should be made relatively large for maintenance and cleaning purposes and can be a hygienic room or clean room that meets relatively low cleanliness requirements, such as a class clean room ISO 8 or 9 according to the standard DIN EN ISO 14644-1 , train.

The transport path can furthermore comprise a cleaning device which is arranged in the housing and is designed to clean the container during transport on the second transport device. Here, the cleaning device can comprise a first cleaning device for cleaning with water and / or a second cleaning device for cleaning with a gas, in particular air. In particular, the cleaning device can be designed to clean a head area of the container (such as bottles). Furthermore, the cleaning device can also be designed to clean the second transport device. Thus, water that is discharged by the cleaning device to clean the outer surface of the container can also be used (after it has drained off the outer wall of the container) to clean the second transport device.

The water discharged by the cleaning device for cleaning the container can be collected and discharged in a collection and discharge device arranged in the transport path and at least partially in the housing. For example, the water for reuse can be fed to a washing installation, for example a bottle washing machine, which can in particular be arranged upstream of the filling device. The water can also be at least partially fed back to the cleaning device. The collecting and diverting device can comprise a section of a housing bottom of the housing which is inclined with respect to the horizontal and / or a gully let into the housing bottom. In addition, a further cleaning device assigned to the first transport device can be provided for further cleaning the containers on the first transport device or for cleaning the first transport device.

For the purposes of this application, “water” can mean untreated water, sterile water or water / sterile water to which disinfectants / sterilants have been added.

According to a development, the first and the second transport device can be designed with the aid of transport belts. Thus, the first transport device can comprise a first circulating transport belt, and the second transport device can comprise a second circulating transport belt. The containers are transported upright on the conveyor belts. The conveyor belts can be designed as circulating endless conveyor belts. Here, the section of the first revolving conveyor belt running in the transport direction is spaced a first distance from the section of the first revolving conveyor belt running counter to the transport direction, and the section of the second revolving conveyor belt running in the transport direction is separated from the section of the second revolving conveyor belt running counter to the transport direction Conveyor belt with a second distance (which can be different from the first distance, but does not have to be) spaced. As already mentioned, it is desirable to dimension the housing in such a way that maintenance and cleaning work are facilitated. For example, the housing can have a housing height which corresponds to at least three times, in particular at least five times, the first or the second distance.

Furthermore, a container treatment system is provided which has a filling device for Filling containers, in particular for filling bottles or cans with beer, has a closing device for closing the filled container and the transport path according to one of the developments described above. The filling device and the closing device can be arranged in a clean room, which is provided by a further housing and, for example, meet higher cleanliness requirements than the clean room possibly provided in the above-mentioned housing. The above-mentioned housing of the transport path has a sluice function compared to such a clean room, which is provided by the further housing, as a result of which contamination of the filling and closing devices by the unsanitary environment can be avoided. The transport path can be connected, for example, via an outlet star assigned to the closing device.

The container treatment system can furthermore comprise a frothing device which is designed to froth a beverage (such as beer) filled into the container in the filling device. Any soiling on the outside of the container can largely be removed in the above-mentioned housing of the transport section and such soiling is essentially not carried away by using the first transport device.

In addition, a brewery system with the container treatment system according to the above-mentioned examples is provided.

• Transportieren der Behälter von der Verschließvorrichtung zu der zweiten Transportvorrichtung, die sich zumindest teilweise innerhalb eines Gehäuses erstreckt;

The above-mentioned object is further achieved by providing a method for transporting containers from a closing device via a first and a second transport device into an unsanitary environment (which, for example, is not a clean room and can be an unhoused / housing-free environment), the method being as follows Steps to be performed one after the other include:

• Transporting the containers from the closing device to the second transport device which extends at least partially within a housing;

Transporting the containers on the second transport device within the housing; Pushing (with the aid of a pushing device arranged in the housing) the container within the housing from the second transport device onto the first transport device; and

Transporting the container from the first transport device out of the housing into the unsanitary environment.

Furthermore, the method can comprise cleaning the containers on the second transport device and / or the second and first transport device inside the housing with the aid of a cleaning device (which is arranged in the housing), wherein the cleaning can in particular comprise cleaning with water and / or air.

• Abfüllen eines Getränks, insbesondere von Bier, in die Behälter;
• Aufschäumen des abgefüllten Getränks zum Austreiben von Sauerstoff;
• Verschließen der Behälter;
• Transportieren der verschlossenen Behälter mit dem abgefüllten Getränk zu der zweiten Transportvorrichtung;
• Transportieren der Behälter auf der zweiten Transportvorrichtung zumindest teilweise innerhalb eines Gehäuses;
• Überschieben der Behälter innerhalb des Gehäuses von der zweiten Transportvorrichtung auf die erste Transportvorrichtung; und
• Transportieren der Behälter von der ersten Transportvorrichtung aus dem Gehäuse hinaus in die unhygienische Umgebung.

The method can be part of a container treatment method which comprises filling a beverage into the containers, foaming the filled beverage, sealing the containers and transporting the containers in a housing by a first and second transport device. Thus, a method for treating containers, in particular bottles or cans, is provided, which has the following steps:

• Filling a drink, in particular beer, into the containers;
• Frothing the bottled beverage to drive off oxygen;
• Sealing the container;
• Transporting the sealed containers with the filled beverage to the second transport device;
• Transporting the containers on the second transport device at least partially within a housing;
• Pushing the container within the housing from the second transport device onto the first transport device; and
• Transporting the container from the first transport device out of the housing into the unsanitary environment.

The above-mentioned methods can be carried out with the aid of one of the above-described developments of the transport path according to the invention, and the above-described developments of the transport path according to the invention can be used to carry out the stated methods.

• 1 zeigt eine Transportstrecke mit einer ersten Transportvorrichtung, einer zweiten Transportvorrichtung, einer Überschubvorrichtung, einer Reinigungsvorrichtung und einem Gehäuse gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• 2 zeigt eine Behälterbehandlungsanlage mit einer Transportstrecke gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• 3 ist ein Flussdiagramm, das ein Verfahren zum Behandeln von Behältern gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung veranschaulicht.

Further features and exemplary embodiments as well as advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that the embodiments do not exhaust the scope of the present invention. It is further understood that some or all of the features described below can also be combined with one another in other ways.

• 1 shows a transport path with a first transport device, a second transport device, a pushing device, a cleaning device and a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• 2 shows a container treatment plant with a transport path according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• 3rd Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of handling containers in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention provides a transport route (a transport system) for transporting containers from a sealing device into an unsanitary environment. A schematic representation of such a transport route 10 shows 1 . The transport route shown 10 comprises a first transport device 1 with a first motor-driven conveyor belt and a second conveyor device 2 with a second motor-driven conveyor belt, as they may be conventionally known per se. The first transport device 1 and the second transport device 2 extend at least partially in a housing 3rd .

The first transport device 1 runs through one in the back wall 3a of the housing (in the surrounding end of the housing) 4th for the transport of containers, not shown, to the outside of the housing 3rd in the unsanitary environment.

The case 3rd is through the downstream rear wall 3a , a not shown upstream front wall, side walls 3b , A blanket 3c and a floor 3d educated. The housing can consist of sheet metal or comprise this material. It is made large enough to allow easy maintenance and cleaning. Furthermore, the housing can be carried on supports.

For the purposes of inspection, maintenance and cleaning, the housing has 3rd on the side walls 3b window 8th that can be at least partially opened and closed. The height of the housing is more than 3 times the distance between the areas that are movable in the transport direction and the areas of the circulating endless belts of the first transport device that are movable against the transport direction 1 and the second transport device 2 .

Furthermore is in the transport route 10 in the housing 3rd a cleaning device 5 for cleaning of the second transport device 2 transported container provided. The cleaning device 5 can be designed for cleaning the container, in particular in the head area thereof (for example at the neck and mouth of the bottle) with water and / or a gas such as air. The cleaning device 5 may comprise a first cleaning device (for example a bottle shower) for cleaning with water and / or a second cleaning device for cleaning with a gas, in particular air, (for example a blow-off device), with between these devices in the housing 3rd a partition (not in 1 shown) can be provided. The respective cleaning fluid is, for example, pressurized and distributed in a directed manner through nozzles or other outlets of the first cleaning device and / or second cleaning device.

Said partition can be the housing 3rd divide into sections. Containers can be moved from one section to the other of the second transport device through a corresponding opening provided in the partition wall 2 be transported. In particular, the cleaning device can be used to clean the container from the first cleaning device 5 supplied water also for cleaning the second transport device 2 Find use. The cleaning media can be supplied via a corresponding (in 1 piping (not shown) to that in the housing 3rd arranged cleaning device 5 to be delivered. Tanks for storing the cleaning media can be placed outside the housing 3rd be arranged. Another (in 1 cleaning device (not shown) can be the first transport device 1 be assigned.

Water used during cleaning can be taken to a collecting and draining device 6th collected and removed from the case 3rd be diverted and reused outside of the case 3rd arranged cleaning modules and / or again the cleaning device 5 are fed. The collection and discharge device 6th can be an area of the floor that is inclined relative to the horizontal 3d of the housing 3rd include. The collection and discharge device 6th can one in the ground 3d of the housing 3rd include a recessed gully.

The one from the first transport device 1 transported containers leave the housing 3rd after going through an overfeed device 7th from the second transport device to the first transport device 2 have been spent. This second transport device 2 the housing extends upstream through an opening made in the end of the housing on the closing device side 3rd towards an in 1 locking device not shown.

In the 1 Shown transport route 10 can be part of a container treatment plant (filling plant) or brewery upstream of the transport line 10 a fountain pen (a Filling device), for example for filling beer into the container and a closer (a closing device) for closing the filled container, for example with screw caps or crown caps. Upstream of the housing 3rd , preferably between the filler and the closer, in particular a foaming device can be provided for expelling oxygen from the head area of the filled container, which would contaminate the outside of the container and consequently the first transport device 2 caused with foam. Another dragging of the dirt, for example to a packing device or palletizing device downstream of the transport path 10 ) can largely be achieved by using the first transport device 1 or transfer device 7th , the cleaning device 5 and the first transport device 1 be avoided.

In 2 is an exemplary embodiment of a container treatment plant 100 shown in plan view. The container treatment plant 100 includes a filler F. for filling containers with beverages and a closer V for closing the filled containers. The containers become the filler F. via an inlet star 110 fed, via the transport star 120 a foaming device A. and fed from there to the closer V. The containers pass from the closer V via an outlet star 130 on the transport device 2 . The closer V, the filler F. , the inlet star 110 , the transport star 120 , the foaming device A. and the outlet star 130 are in one through a housing 140 mediated clean room arranged. The transport device 2 extends partially in the housing 140 and partly in a housing 3rd a transport route 10 (for example the transport route described above 10 ). The case 3rd partially adjoins the housing 140 at. Both housings can be connected to one another via an opening through which the container is transported on the transport device 2 he follows.

In the case 3rd the transport route 10 the containers are placed on the transport device 2 cleaned before being pushed through a pushing device 7th to another transport device 1 be spent over which the housing 3rd leave in an unsanitary (especially housing-free) environment. Contamination of the by the housing 140 mediated clean room through the unsanitary environment is made possible by the provision of the through the housing 3rd the transport route 10 mediated space largely avoided.

A method of handling containers in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the flow chart of FIG 3rd illustrated. The procedure can be carried out using the in 1 shown transport route 10 can be realized and the method can be found in the 1 shown transport route 10 or the in 2 shown container treatment plant can be implemented. In step 21 is in a filling device of a container treatment plant, which in 1 Transport route shown 10 may include a beverage, such as beer, filled into a container, such as a bottle or can. The filled drink is in step 22nd foamed after leaving the filling device, so that oxygen is displaced from the head area of the filled container, whereby the shelf life of the filled beverage in the container can be increased. The frothing 22nd can be done for example by means of a sterile water or hot water jet or a laser pulse or with the help of ultrasound.

The container filled with the foamed beverage is closed in a closure device 23 and transported on a transport device which extends partially inside and along a housing 24. The container can be transferred to the closure device at a suitable transfer station. The filling of the container with the beverage, the foaming of the filled beverage and the closing of the container can take place in a clean room. The containers can be transported into the housing through an opening provided in the clean room.

The transfer to the transport device can take place at a suitable transfer station, for example an outfeed star. In principle, the transport can be carried out hanging or standing. For example, the transport device can comprise a transport belt on which the container is transported standing either directly or via a container holder. The transport takes place in the direction of an unsanitary environment.

Cleaning takes place inside the housing 25th of the container, for example by water and / or air, in order to remove foam residues from the exterior of the container and also to free the second transport device from transferred foam residues. This is followed by an overtravel within the housing 26th of the container to a further transport device, which has, for example, a transport path that continues that of the aforementioned transport device. In particular, the transport path of the container on the further transport device can be at least partially essentially parallel to the transport path of the container on the aforementioned transport device.

The container is transported out of the housing into the unsanitary environment on the further transport device, which partially extends in the said housing 27 .

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Non-patent literature cited

• ISO 8 [0009]
• DIN EN ISO 14644-1 [0009]

Claims (15)

Transport path (10) for transporting containers from a closing device into an unsanitary environment, the transport path (1) comprising: a housing (3) having a closure device-side end and an ambient-side end; a first transport device (1) which extends at least partially in the housing (3) and is designed for transporting the containers through the end (3a) on the ambient side; a second transport device (2) which extends at least partially to the end on the closure device side and is designed to transport the containers through the closure device end into the housing (3); and a transfer device (7) arranged in the housing (3) for moving the container from the second transport device (2) to the first transport device (1). The transport route (10) according to Claim 1 which further comprises a cleaning device (5) which is arranged in the housing (3) and is designed for cleaning the container during transport on the second transport device (2). The transport route (10) according to Claim 2 wherein the cleaning device (5) comprises a first cleaning device for cleaning with water and / or a second cleaning device for cleaning with a gas, in particular air. The transport route (10) according to Claim 2 or 3rd , wherein the cleaning device is designed to clean the second transport device (2). The transport path (10) according to one of the preceding claims, which further comprises a collecting and diverting device (6) for collecting and diverting water discharged from the cleaning device (5) for cleaning the containers. The transport route (10) according to Claim 5 wherein the housing (3) comprises a housing base (3d) and the collecting and diverting device (6) comprises a section of the housing base (3d) which is inclined with respect to the horizontal and / or a drain let into the housing base. The transport path (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first transport device comprises a first circulating transport belt and the second transport device comprises a second circulating transport belt. The transport route (10) according to Claim 7 wherein the section of the first revolving conveyor belt running in the transport direction is spaced apart from the section of the first revolving conveyor belt running counter to the transport direction at a first distance; the section of the second revolving conveyor belt running in the transport direction is spaced apart by a second distance from the section of the second revolving conveyor belt running counter to the transport direction; and the housing (3) has a housing height which corresponds to at least three times, in particular at least five times, the first or the second distance. Container treatment system (100), with a filling device (F) for filling containers, which is designed in particular for filling bottles or cans with beer; a closing device (V) for closing the filled container; and the transport path (10) according to one of the preceding claims. The container treatment system (100) according to Claim 9 which further comprises a frothing device (A) which is designed for frothing a beverage filled into the container in the filling device (F). The container treatment system (100) according to Claim 9 or 10 , wherein the filling device (F) and the closing device (V) are arranged in a clean room which is formed by a further housing which has an opening to the housing (3) for transporting the container into this housing (3). Brewery plant with the container treatment plant (100) according to Claim 9 , 10 or 11 . Method for transporting containers from a closing device (V) via a first transport device (1) and a second transport device (2) into an unhygienic environment with the following steps: Transporting the container from the closing device (V) to the second (2) transport device (2) which extends at least partially within a housing (3); Transporting the containers on the second transport device (2) within the housing (3); Pushing the container within the housing (3) from the second transport device (2) onto the first transport device (1); and Transporting the container from the first transport device (1) out of the housing (3) into the unsanitary environment. The procedure according to Claim 13 , further with cleaning the container on the second transport device (2) within the housing (3) with the aid of a cleaning device (5), wherein the cleaning comprises in particular cleaning with water and / or air. Method for treating containers, in particular bottles or cans, with Filling a drink, in particular beer, into the containers; Frothing the bottled beverage to drive off oxygen; Sealing the container; Transporting the closed container with the filled beverage to a second transport device (2); Transporting the containers on the second transport device (2) at least partially within a housing (3); Pushing the container within the housing (3) from the second transport device (2) onto a first transport device (1); Transporting the container from the first transport device (1) out of the housing (3) into the unsanitary environment.

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