Foreign object detection in bottle units

Abstract

The invention relates to a container washing machine having a plurality of unit carriers (2) which each receive a plurality of container units (3) arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the carrier (1), wherein the unit carriers (2) are guided in a conveying direction. According to the invention, the container units (3) have a first through-opening (13) which is aligned at least along a first line of sight (12); and at least one inspection device (8) having a transmitting and receiving module is provided for detection along the first line of sight (12). The subject of the invention also includes a unit carrier (2) for a container washing machine and a method for operating a container washing machine.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a container washing machine having multiple unit carriers, each unit carrier receiving multiple container units arranged sequentially along its longitudinal direction, wherein the unit carriers are guided along the conveying direction. This invention also relates to a unit carrier and a method for operating the container washing machine. Background Technology

[0002] A large number of beverages sold on the market are packaged in recyclable bottles made of plastic or glass. To clean these recyclable bottles for refilling, washing machines are used in bottling plants. These washing machines use automated methods to clean the large quantities of recyclable bottles returned by the deposit system and prepare them for refilling.

[0003] This invention is based on a container washing machine, as described, for example, in EP1813358A2 and EP2303478B1. The container washing machine includes multiple unit carriers extending longitudinally along a carrier, each unit carrier receiving multiple container units arranged sequentially in the longitudinal direction of the carrier. The unit carriers are generally guided perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the carrier along a conveying direction. The conveying direction is generally understood as the direction of movement of the unit carriers and the containers received therein, wherein multiple turns occur within the container washing machine to thoroughly clean the outer and inner sides of containers in the form of recyclable bottles.

[0004] Possible designs for a cell carrier and the container cells received therefrom are described in EP1281447B1 and DE102015113668A1.

[0005] The unit carrier can be made, for example, from sheet metal through stamping and bending. The container unit is made of plastic and / or steel and is housed within the unit carrier. The container unit is held within the unit carrier, for example, by means of snap-fit ​​connections, so that it can be easily replaced within a maintenance framework in case of wear or damage.

[0006] The unit carrier is guided sequentially through a feeding zone, a cleaning zone, and a discharging zone in a loop, wherein the recyclable bottle is inserted into the container unit in the feeding zone, for example by means of a rotating mechanical guide element, and discharged from the container unit in the discharging zone.

[0007] For more information on the future designs and features of this type of container cleaner, please refer to the KHS Group's demonstration video of the KHSInnoclean SE container cleaner.

[0008] With known container cleaning machines, even if the possibility of maintenance outside the regular maintenance cycle due to operational failure cannot be completely ruled out, high throughput and a high degree of automation can be achieved. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Against this backdrop, the objective of this invention is to further improve the reliability and operational safety of container cleaning machines. Furthermore, this invention also discloses a unit carrier for a container cleaning machine and a method for operating a container cleaning machine.

[0010] The subject matter and solution to the problem of the present invention are a container cleaning machine, a unit carrier, and a method for operating the container cleaning machine according to the present invention.

[0011] Therefore, the present invention relates to a container cleaning machine comprising a plurality of unit carriers extending longitudinally along a carrier, each unit carrier receiving a plurality of container units arranged sequentially in the longitudinal direction of the carrier, wherein the carrier units are generally guided perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the carrier along a conveying direction. According to the invention, the container unit has a first through-hole aligned at least along a first line of sight; and at least one inspection device with transmitting and receiving modules is provided for inspection along the first line of sight.

[0012] This invention is based on the understanding that when a container unit is loaded with containers to be cleaned, especially recyclable bottles, residual foreign matter in the container unit can directly lead to malfunctions and operational interruptions in many cases. According to current technology, residual foreign matter in the container unit prevents the placement of recyclable bottle-type containers in the appropriate locations, causing the corresponding control system to shut down so that the malfunction can be rectified through operator intervention.

[0013] In this context, foreign objects carried with empty containers, such as sticks, stones, and straps, as well as damaged and / or stuck recyclable bottles, including their fragments, can be considered foreign objects.

[0014] According to the present invention, before the container (especially a recyclable bottle) is refilled on the corresponding unit carrier in which the container unit is arranged, foreign objects can be identified at least along a first line of sight by means of an inspection device having a transmitting and receiving module.

[0015] Traditional container washing machine designs typically involve guiding the unit carrier sequentially through the feeding zone, washing zone, and discharging zone in a loop, with the inspection device positioned between the discharging and feeding zones. This spatial and functional division principle generally applies to known types of container washing machines, where in a single-end design, the feeding and discharging zones are located at the same end of the machine, while in a double-end design, they are located at opposite ends.

[0016] It is understood that, in order to provide a continuous first line of sight, each container unit has two opposing through-holes, wherein the through-holes of all container units are arranged in a row aligned with each other, at least assuming that the unit carrier and the container units received therein are not damaged or deformed. Such deficiencies can also be identified in principle within the framework of this invention, as described below.

[0017] Within the framework of this invention, if the inspection device detects foreign matter and / or mechanical damage in one of the unit carriers or the container unit received therein, the corresponding unit carrier and (if applicable) the corresponding container unit can be identified. Subsequently, all or at least part of the corresponding unit carrier will no longer be loaded with a container, especially a recyclable bottle.

[0018] Therefore, even if the total capacity of the container washing machine decreases to some extent, immediate operational interruptions can be avoided. This allows for better planning of operational downtime, such as scheduling it during periods of lower output. Furthermore, the availability of qualified operators in terms of time can be considered when scheduling maintenance work.

[0019] In addition, multiple of the above-mentioned faults can be collected first and then eliminated together during maintenance. This not only makes it easier to plan downtime but also greatly reduces downtime.

[0020] According to the conventional design of container washing machines, the unit carrier is guided at least sectionally within the machine housing along the conveying direction, wherein the transmitting and receiving modules are arranged either outside or inside the machine housing. When arranged outside the machine housing, it has at least one detection port for the transmitting and receiving modules. When arranged outside the machine housing, the transmitting and receiving modules are easily accessible for maintenance purposes and are protected from the possible moisture and / or heat of the machine housing's interior. When arranged inside the machine housing, no detection port is required, and the transmitting and receiving modules are better protected from external influences and damage.

[0021] Within the framework of this invention, various design possibilities are available for the transmission and reception modules.

[0022] For example, the transmitting and receiving modules can be designed as simple gratings, in which case the light source, acting as the transmitter unit, and the associated sensor, acting as the receiver unit, are arranged opposite each other along a first line of sight. If a foreign object is located within at least one container unit along the first line of sight, the light beam emitted by the light source will be deflected or at least weakened, thereby causing the sensor signal to disappear or weaken compared to the free line of sight.

[0023] Then, the relevant unit carrier can send a blocked signal to the machine control system, which will subsequently not load the corresponding unit carrier. With a suitable machine control system, unit carriers can be individually identified and allocated, allowing blocked unit carriers to be moved, for example, to a maintenance location for maintenance.

[0024] According to a preferred design of the invention, the transmitting and receiving module comprises at least one first laser rangefinder. The laser rangefinder can be arranged only on one side of the housing, and when the unit carrier carrying the container unit disposed therein passes through mutually aligned first through-holes at the height of a first line of sight, the laser rangefinder can identify foreign objects thereby via backscattered signals. The laser rangefinder can also determine the position of the detected foreign object longitudinally relative to the carrier. The corresponding position information can be used in a particularly advantageous manner within the framework of manual or automatic maintenance to directly remove the corresponding foreign object.

[0025] Of course, foreign objects existing between two following container units along the longitudinal direction of the carrier can also be detected by determining the distance.

[0026] If the transmitting and receiving modules used to verify the first line of sight have only exactly one laser rangefinder, foreign objects can only be detected from one side. If a foreign object is detected, the container unit located in front of it along that line of sight is free at least at the first opening, and can be loaded with containers, especially recyclable bottles, if necessary. However, there may be another foreign object behind the detected one, the location of which is initially unknown.

[0027] In this context, as a further extension, a laser rangefinder can also be present on each side of the line of sight to verify the first line of sight, thus avoiding mutual interference in the transport direction through offset. If both laser rangefinders detect foreign objects in the same container unit of a unit carrier, then at least at the height of the first through-hole, this foreign object is unique. Reliable operation can proceed directly after the foreign object is removed. If the two laser rangefinders detect different foreign objects, there will be an unchecked area along the corresponding unit carrier between them. In the corresponding maintenance, it is required to inspect the container units between the detected foreign objects individually.

[0028] Alternatively or additionally, for example, the corresponding unit carrier may not be loaded with a container in the form of a recyclable bottle during the first run after maintenance, so that foreign objects can be re-inspected by an inspection device before the first loading.

[0029] As mentioned above, when a foreign object is detected, the corresponding unit carrier will not, or at least will not, fully load the container. However, the unit carrier is typically guided through the container cleaning machine empty or only partially loaded before maintenance. Here, the foreign object may also be removed simply by the cleaning process, so that the initially present error or fault no longer exists upon re-verification.

[0030] Accordingly, the corresponding unit carrier can be reloaded. According to the prior art, residual foreign matter usually directly causes malfunctions, while within the framework of this invention, a particularly advantageous self-cleaning function is even achieved, thereby avoiding downtime and only temporarily reducing the cleaning machine's capacity.

[0031] The first opening is positioned appropriately within the container unit where foreign objects typically reside, thus allowing for identification. However, in this context, it is also desirable to be able to monitor a larger area of ​​the container unit.

[0032] According to a further extension of the invention, in this context, the light beam or laser beam emitted from the transmitting and receiving modules can move perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the carrier and the transport direction; for this purpose, the through-hole is designed, for example, as an elongated aperture. The container unit can then be scanned to a certain extent along the through-hole designed as an elongated aperture.

[0033] For this purpose, for example, the transmitting and receiving modules can be adjusted perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the carrier and perpendicular to the transport direction, wherein such adjustment is performed, in particular, by a machine control system, especially for targeted inspection of container units. Furthermore, the beam and laser beam can also be moved in a desired manner via mirrors, optical systems, or the like.

[0034] Alternatively or additionally, the container unit may also have a second through-hole aligned along a second line of sight different from the first line of sight. Thus, the first and second lines of sight may be offset along the conveying direction or preferably perpendicular to the conveying direction and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the carrier.

[0035] Furthermore, if at least the first through-hole is designed as an elongated hole, an inspection device with a laser rangefinder sensor of the grating type or multiple grating types can also be considered.

[0036] As described above, the first through-hole should be located in a position where foreign objects are likely to appear in the container unit. In this context, it is desirable that the first through-hole be located in a region of a central plane extending longitudinally along the carrier, which is also a plane of symmetry in the conventional design of the container unit.

[0037] According to known methods, the unit carrier can be guided along the conveying direction by a conveyor chain assembly. For example, the conveying device can have two parallel conveyor chains. As described later, the inspection device of the present invention can also be used to verify the operational performance of the conveyor chain assembly.

[0038] Another subject of the present invention is a container carrier for a container washing machine, the container carrier comprising a plurality of receiving portions for container units arranged sequentially in the longitudinal direction of the carrier and boundary walls arranged at the ends relative to the longitudinal direction of the carrier, wherein, according to the present invention, at least one of the boundary walls has a wall opening.

[0039] The opening is configured to perform the above-mentioned verification, wherein, in the case of a unit carrier containing a container unit, the first through-hole of the container unit is aligned with the at least one opening along a first line of sight.

[0040] Further design considerations for the unit carrier can be found in the implementation of the container washing machine. For example, if an inspection system with one grating or two opposing laser rangefinders is to be installed, openings must be provided on the boundary walls at both ends.

[0041] The at least one wall opening and the through-hole of the container unit can have the same shape or matching shapes. For example, if the through-hole is designed as an elongated hole when the inspection device is adjustable, the wall opening must also be implemented accordingly larger. If the container unit has multiple through-holes at different locations of the first line of sight and at least one second line of sight, it is preferable to also provide multiple associated wall openings.

[0042] Finally, the present invention also relates to a method for operating a container cleaning machine, which is particularly implemented as described above. A unit carrier extending longitudinally along a carrier (each unit carrier receiving multiple container units arranged sequentially in the longitudinal direction of the carrier) passes sequentially through a feeding zone, a cleaning zone, and a discharging zone in a loop along a conveying direction.

[0043] During normal operation, containers, especially recyclable bottles, are placed into container units in the infeed area, then cleaned in the cleaning area, and discharged from the container units in the discharge area. Between the discharge and infeed areas, each passing container unit is also inspected for foreign objects by at least one inspection device. If a foreign object is detected, the corresponding unit carrier is detected by the machine control system. Subsequently, the corresponding unit carrier will not, or at least not fully, load containers during restricted operation.

[0044] The optimal design of this method can also be derived from the description of the container cleaning machine itself.

[0045] Furthermore, within the framework of this method, it is permissible to move the unit carrier containing foreign objects to a maintenance location for maintenance. The maintenance location can be chosen such that the individual unit carrier is easily accessible. The maintenance can be performed manually or by automated equipment such as robots. In principle, individual container units or the entire unit carrier can also be replaced within the maintenance framework. The removed unit carrier can be cleaned separately.

[0046] Of course, if there is no dedicated maintenance location, appropriate measures can be taken.

[0047] As described above in conjunction with the container cleaning machine, according to a preferred design of the present invention, the location of the foreign object is determined along the longitudinal direction of the carrier. The corresponding location can be further processed and / or output to the operator.

[0048] As described above, the inspection device compliantly includes transmitting and receiving modules, particularly optical transmitting and receiving modules. In the example design described in the form of gratings and laser rangefinders, a repetitive, fixed signal pattern is generated during normal operation. If all the first through-holes are precisely oriented along the first line of sight, the beam or laser beam will produce an approximately rectangular signal, depending on the speed of the unit carrier along the transport direction and the size of the through-holes. It is important to note that the machine control system can at least approximately determine in advance when a single unit carrier will be guided through the inspection device.

[0049] Repeated characteristic signals are also obtained between the unit carriers that follow each other.

[0050] For example, if the signal generated by the aligned first through-hole deviates in time from the expected pattern, it can be inferred that the operating characteristics of the conveyor chain assembly have changed, which is used to guide the unit carrier along the conveying direction. For example, an extension of the conveyor chain may cause a corresponding deviation, which the machine control system can adjust appropriately based on the recorded signals.

[0051] Furthermore, if the signal from the inspection device deviates from the expected pattern, it can be inferred that the unit carrier and the container unit it receives are misaligned. For example, if the unit carrier is initially slightly bent relative to the longitudinal direction of the carrier, the first through-hole will no longer be precisely aligned along the line of sight. Consequently, the approximately rectangular pulse will shorten and / or deform. In this respect, changes over a longer period can also be identified and recorded by the machine control system. The signal from the inspection device can also be used to correct the orientation of the unit carrier or the received container unit or to replace the corresponding unit carrier and / or at least one container unit. Attached Figure Description

[0052] The invention will now be explained with reference to the example figures.

[0053] In the attached image: Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a container cleaning machine is shown; Figure 2 Showing according to Figure 1 A localized area of ​​the container washing machine; Figure 3 A detailed diagram of the unit carrier of a container cleaning machine with an inspection device is shown. Figures 4 to 6 Show Figure 3 Alternative embodiments; Figure 7 The sensor signals for various operating states are shown. Detailed Implementation

[0054] Figure 1 A schematic side view of a container washing machine for cleaning multiple containers, the containers being in the form of recyclable bottles 1, is shown. As shown below, unit carriers 2 are positioned sequentially along the conveying direction, each extending along the longitudinal direction 1 of the carrier. Each unit carrier 2 receives multiple container units 3 arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction 1. The unit carriers 2 are guided along the conveying direction by a conveyor chain assembly 4.

[0055] The recyclable bottle 1 is placed into the container unit 3 in the feeding area 5 and then cleaned in multiple stages on the inside and outside in the cleaning area 6. The cleaned recyclable bottle is then discharged from the container unit 3 in the discharge area 7 and is usually supplied to subsequent filling.

[0056] According to the conventional design of the container cleaning machine, an inspection device 8 is installed between the discharge zone 7 and the feed zone 5.

[0057] Figure 2 A section of a container washing machine is shown, in which the inspection device 8 is arranged between the discharge zone 7 and the feed zone 5. Container units 3 are arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction 1 of the carrier, each configured in a known manner to receive recyclable bottles 1. For clarity, in... Figure 2 Only a single container unit 3 is shown in its entirety; however, as always, the unit carrier 2 is completely filled with container unit 3.

[0058] Figure 2 It is also shown that the unit carrier 2 is guided in the conveying direction within the machine housing 9, wherein the transmitting and receiving modules of the inspection device 8 are arranged outside the machine housing 9 in the form of a first laser rangefinder 10.

[0059] like Figure 2 As shown, the machine housing 9 has a detection port 11. By arranging the laser rangefinder 10 outside the machine housing 9, it is made easy to access and its excessive exposure to high temperature, humid environment or the like is reduced.

[0060] exist Figure 3 As can be seen, container unit 3 is located within laser range sensor 10 and... Figure 3The machine housing 9 (not shown) has aligned through-holes 13 at the height of the detection port 11 along the first line of sight 12. The unit carrier 2, where the container unit 3 is located, also has wall openings 15 at the same height on the end-side boundary wall 14. According to... Figure 3 The laser rangefinder 10 serves as a combined transmitting and receiving module of the inspection device 8, used for detection along the first line of sight 12.

[0061] Understandably, in order to provide a continuous first line of sight 12, each container unit 3 has two opposing through-holes 13, wherein the through-holes 13 of all adjacent container units 3 are aligned with each other in the manner described above.

[0062] During normal operation, if the container unit 3 passes through the laser rangefinder 10 empty after the recyclable bottle 1 is removed from the discharge area 7, then the first line of sight 12 is free or unobstructed. The laser beam used for measurement by the laser rangefinder 10 can pass through the entire first line of sight 12, therefore the laser rangefinder 10 can only record at most the distance to the wall opposite to the machine housing 9, which functions as the receiving unit.

[0063] Conversely, if a foreign object is present in one of the container units 3 at the height of the first through-hole 13, the corresponding foreign object is identified and located using the laser rangefinder 10. Then, by means of the machine control system, the foreign object is assigned to a specific unit carrier 2 and also to a specific container unit 3 in relation to that unit carrier 2.

[0064] Then, through the machine control system, in conjunction with appropriate blocking devices (not shown), loading or at least fully loading of the recyclable bottle into the corresponding unit carrier 2 can be avoided. If a single area or a single recyclable bottle 1 can be blocked along the longitudinal direction 1 of the carrier, then the container unit 3 can be loaded at least before the foreign object is detected, based on the position signal.

[0065] During further operation of the container washing machine, unloaded or only partially loaded unit carriers 2 are also guided through the washing zone 6. Here, foreign objects may be removed. Upon further passage through the inspection device 8, it will be identified that the foreign objects are no longer present. Thus, the corresponding unit carriers can then be loaded with recyclable bottles 1 in the usual manner. In the prior art, foreign objects usually cause immediate malfunctions, while in the framework of this invention, a self-cleaning function can be partially achieved, thereby avoiding maintenance and only causing a slight temporary decrease in production capacity.

[0066] If foreign matter remains in the corresponding container unit 3, then at least the container units 3 of the remaining unit carriers 2 can be loaded in a conventional manner for an extended period, resulting in a slight decrease in capacity over that extended period. The foreign matter must then typically be removed within the framework of maintenance work.

[0067] However, the corresponding maintenance work can be more easily planned and coordinated. For example, the availability of qualified operators can be considered. For instance, if suitable personnel are on-site and prepared for maintenance, maintenance can be carried out, and spare parts, such as new container units 3, can be prepared if necessary.

[0068] Alternatively, bundled maintenance can be adopted, and maintenance is only performed when two foreign objects and / or other damage are found on multiple unit carriers.

[0069] according to Figure 3 The through-hole is located in the region of the central plane extending along the longitudinal direction 1 of the carrier, which is also a plane of symmetry with respect to the individual container unit 3. Therefore, the first through-hole 13 is located in the region where foreign objects are expected to be present.

[0070] Figure 4 and Figure 5 This illustrates a possible extension of the invention to detect a larger portion or different parts of the internal space of container unit 3.

[0071] according to Figure 4 The first through-hole 13 and the wall opening 15 are designed as elongated holes that extend perpendicular to the conveying direction and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 1 of the carrier. According to Figure 4 The first through-hole 13, designed as an elongated opening, and the wall opening 15 extend along the height h of each container unit 3. According to Figure 4 The laser rangefinder 10 can move along the first through-hole 13, which is designed as an elongated hole, and the wall opening 15, thereby scanning the interior space of the container unit 3 to a certain extent at a height h, so as to improve the identification of foreign objects.

[0072] As a further design possibility, Figure 5 An inspection device with a first laser rangefinder 10 and a second laser rangefinder 10' is shown, the first and second laser rangefinders being arranged vertically along the height h of the container unit 3. This also improves the detection of foreign objects.

[0073] use Figure 3 The laser rangefinder shown can determine the location of foreign objects for passing unit carrier 2. By determining the distance, foreign objects can also typically be assigned to a single container unit 3, or, if necessary, to the intermediate space between container units 3 that are preceding or following each other.

[0074] Determining the location can greatly simplify maintenance work. For example, the location of foreign objects can be output to the operator or used for automatic removal, such as by a robot.

[0075] If using according to Figure 3If the laser rangefinder 10 determines a foreign object, it will also be concluded that the container unit 3 located in front of the laser rangefinder 10 is free at least at the height of the first through-hole 13. However, it is impossible to make a corresponding determination regarding the container unit 3 hidden behind the detected foreign object by the laser rangefinder 10.

[0076] In this context, according to Figure 6 In another aspect of the invention shown, a first laser rangefinder 10 and a second laser rangefinder 10' are respectively provided on both sides of the first line of sight 12. They can directly and sequentially determine the position of foreign objects for each passing unit carrier 2. If both laser rangefinders 10 and 10' detect foreign objects in the same container unit 3, the first line of sight before and after them is free. If foreign objects are detected at a distance from each other, it is generally expected that there will be another foreign object in the remaining container units 3 between them, which must be checked separately if necessary.

[0077] In principle, the recyclable bottle 1 can only be reloaded onto the corresponding unit carrier after maintenance if the corresponding unit carrier 2 has passed the inspection device 8 and no foreign objects have been found.

[0078] exist Figure 7 The diagram is purely schematic, illustrating that during normal operation of the container washing machine, the signals from the inspection device exhibit a repetitive, predetermined pattern. Based on the size of the first through-hole 13 and the speed of the unit carrier 2 along the conveying direction, reference pattern I is expected to appear, which... Figure 7 It is simplified as a rectangular pattern.

[0079] Besides foreign objects, the inspection device can also identify other disturbances or deviations from predetermined values. For example, if the conveyor chain of a conveyor chain assembly elongates during operation, a time-shift pattern II will be obtained based on reference pattern I. The corresponding elongation of the drive chain can then be considered or compensated for, for example, by the machine control system.

[0080] Furthermore, the correct orientation of the unit carrier and the container unit it receives can be monitored using the recording signal of the inspection device 8. For example, if a single unit carrier 2 is initially slightly bent relative to its longitudinal direction, the first through-hole of the corresponding container unit 3 will no longer be perfectly aligned. This will result in a deformed pattern III, such as... Figure 7 As illustrated in the simplified example, changes can also be recorded and analyzed over a long period to determine maintenance needs when necessary.

Claims

1. A container cleaning machine having multiple unit carriers (2), each unit carrier receiving multiple container units (3) arranged sequentially in a longitudinal direction (1), wherein the unit carriers (2) are guided along a conveying direction, characterized in that, The container unit (3) has a first through-hole (13) aligned at least along a first line of sight (12), wherein, in order to provide a continuous first line of sight (12), the container unit (3) has two opposing through-holes (13), wherein the through-holes (13) of all container units (3) are arranged in a row aligned with each other; and at least one inspection device (8) having a transmitting and receiving module is provided to perform inspection along the first line of sight (12).

2. The container cleaning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The unit carrier (2) is guided in the conveying direction within the machine housing (9), and the transmitting and receiving modules are arranged inside the machine housing (9) or outside the machine housing (9) having a detection port (11) for the transmitting and receiving modules.

3. The container cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The transmitting and receiving module consists of at least one first laser ranging sensor (10) and / or a grating.

4. The container cleaning machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The at least one inspection device and the other inspection device are arranged on opposite sides of the machine housing (9).

5. The container cleaning machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, The at least one inspection device and the other inspection device are arranged offset from each other on opposite sides of the machine housing (9).

6. The container cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The unit carrier (2) is sequentially guided in the loop to the feeding area (5), the cleaning area (6) and the discharge area (7), wherein the inspection device (8) is arranged between the discharge area (7) and the feeding area (5).

7. The container cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The transmitting and receiving modules are arranged adjustablely perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (1) of the carrier and perpendicular to the transport direction.

8. The container cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The container unit (3) has a second through-hole (13) aligned with a second line of sight (12) different from the first line of sight (12).

9. The container cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The unit carrier (2) is guided along the conveying direction by the conveyor chain assembly (4).

10. The container cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first through-hole (13) is located in the region of the central plane extending along the longitudinal direction (1) of the carrier.

11. The container cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The container unit (3) is configured to receive recyclable bottles.

12. A unit carrier (2) for a container washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a plurality of receiving portions for container units (3) arranged sequentially in the longitudinal direction (1) of the carrier and a boundary wall (14) arranged longitudinally about the end side of the carrier, characterized in that, At least one of the boundary walls (14) has a wall opening (15), wherein the wall opening (15) is configured to enable an inspection device (8) having a transmitting and receiving module to perform inspection along a first line of sight (12).

13. The unit carrier (2) according to claim 12, characterized in that, A container unit (3) having a first through-hole (13) is placed in an associated receiving part, wherein the first through-hole (13) and the at least one wall opening (15) are aligned along a first line of sight (12).

14. A method for operating a container cleaning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, The unit carrier (2) receives multiple container units (3) arranged sequentially in the longitudinal direction (1) of the carrier. The unit carrier (2) is guided sequentially to the feeding area (5), the cleaning area (6) and the discharging area (7) in the circuit along the conveying direction. In normal operation, the container is placed into the container unit (3) in the feeding area (5), then cleaned in the cleaning area (6), and discharged from the container unit (3) in the discharging area (7). In this process, between the discharge zone (7) and the feed zone (5), at least one inspection device (8) identifies foreign objects in the passing container units (3). When a foreign object is detected, the corresponding unit carrier (2) is detected by the machine control system. and In this case, the corresponding unit carrier (2) is subsequently not loaded or at least not fully loaded with containers during restricted operation.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, The unit carrier (2) containing foreign matter is transferred to the maintenance location for maintenance.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein, The location of the foreign object is determined along the longitudinal direction (1) of the carrier by the inspection device (8).

17. The method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein, The unit carrier (2) is guided along the conveying direction by the conveyor chain assembly (4), wherein the operating characteristics of the conveyor chain assembly (4) are determined by the signal from the inspection device (8).

18. The method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein, The correct orientation of the unit carrier (2) and the container unit (3) received therefrom is monitored by the signal from the inspection device (8).

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