Container cleaning machine for cleaning containers and method for cleaning containers

Abstract

A container cleaning machine for cleaning containers and a method for cleaning containers, the container cleaning machine (100) for cleaning containers (130), such as bottles, having a transport device (102) for transporting the containers and a release device (111, 112, 113) for releasing a cleaning fluid onto the containers (130) transported in the transport device (102), wherein the release device (111, 112, 113) is configured to release the cleaning fluid with a time-varying characteristic during a release phase.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a container washing machine for washing containers such as bottles according to claim 1 and a method for washing containers according to claim 9. Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, container cleaning machines and methods for cleaning containers are well known. Accordingly, container cleaning machines are used in the beverage processing industry, which, for example, have several cleaning tanks and / or nozzles in order to apply a cleaning fluid to a container to be cleaned, such as a glass bottle, in order to, for example, remove dirt or sterilize the container.

[0003] It is also known to clean containers from the inside in a targeted manner, wherein nozzles can be provided which feed cleaning fluid into the interior of the container. Although this can in principle improve the cleaning result, the cleaning fluid remaining in the interior has a certain restriction on the feeding of the cleaning fluid, since the cleaning fluid remaining in the interior generates a counterpressure for the cleaning fluid to be fed further into the interior. Depending on the process control, this can have a negative impact on the cleaning result.

[0004] Purpose

[0005] Based on the known prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a container washing machine and a method for washing containers, by which the washing is improved.

[0006] Solution

[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a container cleaning machine for cleaning containers according to claim 1 and a method for cleaning containers according to claim 9. Advantageous developments of the invention are contained in the dependent claims.

[0008] The container washing machine of the present invention for washing containers such as bottles comprises a transport device for transporting containers and a dispensing device for dispensing washing fluid onto the containers transported in the transport device, wherein the dispensing device is constructed to discharge the washing fluid with time-varying characteristics during a dispensing phase.

[0009] In the following, "release phase" means a time span during which the release device releases the cleaning fluid onto the container. It does not include time periods before or after this release phase, during which the amount of cleaning fluid passing through the release device is increased or reduced according to process requirements, so as to start or end the release of the cleaning fluid. In this regard, the release operation can be understood as a time period between two periods during which the release device does not release the cleaning fluid. The release operation includes a first time span, which can be called the switch-on phase, and during which, for example, the release of the cleaning fluid begins until the amount of cleaning fluid reaches the desired value. During this phase, no application to the container is required. This is followed by a release phase, during which a specific amount of cleaning fluid is released from the release device in a targeted manner and this cleaning fluid is applied to the container. The release phase is followed by a switch-off phase, which includes a time span during which the amount of cleaning fluid can be reduced until finally no cleaning fluid is released and the release device thus ends the release of the cleaning fluid. During the switch-off phase, it is also not necessary to apply the released cleaning fluid to the container.

[0010] According to the invention, the time-varying characteristic comprises all properties or parameters of the cleaning fluid to be released, including parameters indicating the way in which the cleaning fluid is released. Therefore, the concept of a time-varying characteristic refers to a change in a characteristic that depends on the time t that has passed during the release phase. The concept of a time-varying characteristic does not refer to a characteristic that is trivially dependent on time, i.e., has no functional dependence on the time t that has passed during the release phase. That is, in the set of time-varying characteristics of the form f(t), only functions f are referred to where ƒ(t)≠c, where c is an arbitrary constant.

[0011] By varying the properties of the cleaning fluid release and / or the properties of the cleaning fluid over time, the cleaning result can be improved, for example by varying the composition of the cleaning fluid over time during the release phase or by varying the release direction of the cleaning fluid, thereby reducing the counterpressure generated by the released cleaning fluid.

[0012] The characteristics may include the release pressure, the purge fluid, the concentration of the chemical components of the purge fluid, the temperature of the purge fluid, and / or the throughflow of the purge fluid.

[0013] According to this embodiment, the characteristic comprises at least one of the parameters, but may also comprise several of the parameters. By varying these characteristics, on the one hand the cleaning objective or the effect achieved by the cleaning can be varied, for example by using different chemical compositions of the cleaning fluid during the release phase, so that, for example, disinfection is carried out with one chemical component, or biofilm or dirt is removed with another chemical component. The cleaning effect can also be varied by varying the physical parameters of the release, such as direction, pressure or temperature or flow rate, for example by increasing the temperature of the cleaning fluid, thereby disinfecting the container, or by varying the pressure to remove heavy dirt.

[0014] Furthermore, the release element can be arranged in such a way that it can be moved towards the container and away from the container, and wherein the characteristic comprises a distance from an opening of the container.

[0015] The distance can be a positive value, which indicates the distance of the opening from the external (outside the container) dispensing element. The distance can also be a negative value, which means hereinafter that the dispensing element or at least a part of the dispensing element (e.g. the dispensing opening) is introduced into the container. This makes it possible to advantageously dispense the cleaning fluid onto a specific part of the container.

[0016] In one specific embodiment, the discharge element is designed to discharge the cleaning fluid with a variable spray geometry, and the property comprises the spray geometry.

[0017] The spray geometry data include both the direction and the shape of the released cleaning fluid spray. In this regard, the cleaning fluid spray does not have to have a one-dimensional shape of a liquid jet, but can, for example, include cleaning fluid in the shape of a cone or a triangular face. The spray geometry data do not have to be symmetrical, and can, for example, also include a cone with an elliptical or irregular cross section perpendicular to the direction of movement of the cleaning fluid from the discharge opening of the discharge element. The cleaning result can be influenced by changing the spray geometry data.

[0018] In a further scheme of this embodiment, the spray geometry data includes at least one of the following: the release direction of the cleaning fluid spray, the cross-sectional area of ​​the cleaning fluid spray in a plane perpendicular to the release direction of the cleaning fluid spray, and the spray area of ​​the cleaning fluid spray in a plane parallel to the release direction of the cleaning fluid spray.

[0019] By changing the direction of release of the cleaning fluid, the cleaning fluid can be applied to specific areas of the container in a targeted manner. By changing the cross-sectional area, the cleaning agent pressure acting on specific surfaces of the container to be cleaned can be changed in a targeted manner. This can also be achieved by changing the spray area, wherein in this case the cleaning fluid spray is not limited to a two-dimensional cleaning fluid spray.

[0020] In particular, the following solution can be adopted: the spray geometry data include a release direction, and wherein the release direction Through the form of The time correlation function of is described by , where f(t) and h(t) are time correlation functions, and α and β are constants.

[0021] Thus, the cleaning fluid jet is released along the curved surface of a cone, wherein the cleaning fluid jet precesses about the center axis of the cone. This is particularly helpful for solutions in which the release element is introduced into the container opening for application to the container interior, because the back pressure of the cleaning fluid already in the interior on the cleaning fluid to be further introduced into the container can be reduced, thereby favorably influencing the amount of cleaning fluid that can be introduced into the container per time unit, thereby improving the cleaning result.

[0022] In one embodiment, the release element is arranged on a movable frame, and wherein the frame can move with the container in the transport direction of the container along the transport device during the release phase, so that during the release phase, the distance between the release element and the container in the transport direction of the container remains substantially constant.

[0023] Here, the distance between the dispensing element and the container in the transport direction of the container during the dispensing phase remains substantially constant means that during the dispensing phase, the distance between a specific point of the container (e.g. the center point of the opening of the container) and a specific point of the dispensing element measured in the transport direction of the container varies at most to a value that is smaller than the size of the container in the transport direction of the container. For example, the maximum variation of the distance can be less than 50% or 25% or 10% of the extension of the container in the transport direction. Preferably, however, the distance between the container and the dispensing element in the transport direction remains constant or the relative position during the dispensing phase deviates by less than 2 mm. This embodiment ensures that the cleaning fluid is applied to the container as far as possible during the entire dispensing phase.

[0024] Furthermore, the transport device can comprise a receptacle for receiving the container, and wherein the receptacle comprises securing means for securing the container during the release phase.

[0025] This embodiment ensures that, despite changes in the properties of the dispensing operation of the cleaning fluid, the container is prevented from slipping in the receptacle or from being damaged.

[0026] The method of the invention for cleaning containers such as bottles uses a container cleaning machine, which comprises a transport device for transporting containers and a dispensing device for dispensing cleaning fluid onto the containers transported in the transport device, wherein the dispensing device is designed to dispense cleaning fluid with time-varying properties during a dispensing phase, the method comprising transporting the container to the dispensing device and applying cleaning fluid to the container during the dispensing phase, wherein the properties vary as a function of time during the dispensing phase. This method improves the cleaning result.

[0027] In addition, the characteristics may include the release pressure, the cleaning fluid, the concentration of the chemical components of the cleaning fluid, the temperature of the cleaning fluid, and / or the flow rate of the cleaning fluid. By adjusting these characteristics, the cleaning result can be further improved.

[0028] In one embodiment, the dispensing element is moved towards and / or away from the container during the dispensing phase and the characteristic comprises a distance from the opening of the container. This allows a targeted application of cleaning fluid to the interior of the container, thereby improving the cleaning result of the interior.

[0029] Furthermore, the release element can release the cleaning fluid with a variable spray geometry during the release phase, and the characteristic comprises the spray geometry. By varying the spray geometry, in particular the pressure of the cleaning fluid acting on the container surface can be adjusted, thereby improving the cleaning result.

[0030] In a further development of this embodiment, the spray geometry data includes at least one of the following: a release direction of the cleaning fluid spray, a cross-sectional area of ​​the cleaning fluid spray in a plane perpendicular to the release direction of the cleaning fluid spray, and a spray area of ​​the cleaning fluid spray in a plane parallel to the release direction of the cleaning fluid spray. With this embodiment, the medium reaching the container can be controlled more accurately.

[0031] In particular, the following solution can be adopted: the spray geometry data include a release direction, and wherein the release direction Through the form of The time-dependent function of is described as f(t) and h(t), wherein f(t) and h(t) are time-dependent functions, and α and β are constants. This construction scheme can especially reduce the back pressure generated by the cleaning fluid that has been fed into the container, thereby increasing the amount of cleaning fluid fed to the inner cavity of the container, thereby improving the cleaning result.

[0032] Furthermore, the following solution can be adopted: the release element is arranged on a movable frame, and wherein the frame can move with the container in the transport direction of the container along the transport device during the release phase, so that during the release phase, the distance between the release element and the container in the transport direction of the container remains substantially constant.

[0033] This prolongs the time during which the cleaning fluid strikes the intended portion of the container.

[0034] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Figure 1 An embodiment of a container cleaning machine is shown

[0036] Figure 2a to Figure 2d Different implementations showing time-varying properties

[0037] Figure 3a and 3b Different embodiments of release elements arranged in a movable manner are shown DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Figure 1 A container washing machine 100 according to an embodiment is shown. The container washing machine 100 can have a configuration that is well known in the prior art. The container washing machine can in particular correspond to a container input device 150, in which containers 130, such as bottles, are conveyed to the container washing machine 100, for example, in a disordered material flow, and the container washing machine can then receive these containers by means of a transport device 102. For this purpose, the transport device 102 can include several container carriers 131, which can each accommodate a container 130.

[0039] The container carrier 131 can have several container receptacles, which are arranged transversely to the transport direction of the container carrier 131. This allows several containers 130 to simultaneously pass by or through corresponding cleaning stations, which can have a corresponding extension transversely to the transport direction of the container carrier 131. This allows a high discharge efficiency of the container cleaning machine 100 to be achieved.

[0040] Subsequently, the containers 130, which are optionally located in the container carriers 131, are transported along the transport device 102 through the bottle washing machine 100 to the output device 160, to which the containers can be transferred after passing through the container washing machine. Similar to the input device 150, the output device 160 can be designed as a random material conveyor for transporting containers. Other embodiments are also possible here.

[0041] In the bottle washer, the transport device can guide the container so that it passes by several washing stations. For example, a washing tank 170 can be provided, through which the container can be guided and fully or partially immersed. The washing tank 170 can be filled with a washing fluid, such as water or an acidic or alkaline solution, to remove dirt or contaminants.

[0042] According to the invention, the containers 130 are passed at least by the discharge elements 111 to 113, wherein the discharge elements 111 are able to discharge the cleaning fluid 114 toward the containers, so that the containers are supplied with the cleaning fluid 114. The discharge elements 111 are preferably arranged outside the cleaning tank 170 and can be arranged, for example, as shown here, on the frame 101, which can be designed to be fixed relative to the transport device 102. However, according to the combination Figure 3b In the embodiment described, the frame 101 can also be arranged in a movable manner so that the release elements 111 to 113 move with the container along the transport device.

[0043] In principle, the discharge elements 111 to 113 can be designed in any desired manner. However, according to a preferred embodiment, the discharge elements are designed as nozzles for discharging a cleaning fluid jet or a cleaning fluid atomization (hereinafter referred to as a cleaning fluid jet).

[0044] According to the invention, during the dispensing phase in which the dispensing elements 111 to 113 dispensing the cleaning fluid onto the container in a targeted manner, at least one property can be varied over time, so that the cleaning result can be advantageously influenced.

[0045] The term "characteristics of the release of the cleaning fluid" includes, on the one hand, properties of the cleaning fluid itself, such as the release pressure, the cleaning fluid used, the concentration of the chemical components of the cleaning fluid, the temperature of the cleaning fluid and / or the flow rate of the cleaning fluid. In addition, the characteristics of the release of the cleaning fluid also refer to the release direction or the spray geometry data for releasing the cleaning fluid from the release element. Time-varying characteristics also include variable positions of the release element during the release phase and during the release of the cleaning fluid.

[0046] In this way, for example, the temperature of the cleaning fluid released during the release phase can be varied, and the container can first be rinsed, for example, with cold water, and then a heated alkaline or acidic solution can be applied to the container. In this way, the desired cleaning result can be reliably achieved, for example, the dirt is first softened with water and then dissolved by applying an alkaline or acidic solution, wherein the amount of components used is kept low. The release pressure of the cleaning fluid can be varied so that on the one hand the surface is wetted with the cleaning fluid and on the other hand the dirt is removed (at a higher pressure).

[0047] Therein, varying the pressure to be applied over time may comprise varying the release pressure from 0.5 bar to 20 bar, or from 0.5 bar to 10 bar, or from 0.5 bar to 7 bar, wherein the maximum pressure may be selected depending on the pressure resistance of the container to avoid damage.

[0048] By varying the flow rate of cleaning fluid released by the dispensing element onto the container per unit of time, the cleaning result can also be improved in that even coarser dirt can be reliably flushed out of the container by increasing the flow rate. The characteristic flow rate can be varied over time during the dispensing phase and can be varied, for example, between 0.1 l / min and 50 l / min, or between 1 l / min and 40 l / min, or preferably between 5 l / min and 30 l / min.

[0049] In particular, electrochemically activated water (ECA water) can be used as a cleaning fluid. This electrochemically activated water is obtained from a sodium chloride solution by electrolysis in a membrane cell with the aid of a generator. In this method, sodium ions are separated from chloride ions, so that an alkaline solution and hypochlorous acid are present on both sides of the membrane cell. The former can be used for cleaning, and the latter can be used for disinfection due to its high redox potential. By appropriately feeding the two solutions into a discharge element (for example, by means of isolated lines that merge in the discharge element), the composition of the cleaning fluid is changed over time, so that cleaning can be carried out first and then disinfection over time. In this case, the time span during the discharge phase when the alkaline catholyte is used for cleaning can be greater than the time span for disinfection, because hypochlorous acid has a high redox potential and can therefore quickly achieve disinfection.

[0050] Figure 2a to Figure 2d Different embodiments are shown, in which the properties of the discharge direction and / or the properties of the jet profile of the discharged cleaning fluid jet are varied over time.

[0051] exist Figure 2a In the embodiment, the release element 210 releases a cleaning fluid jet 211, which is shown in the top view ( Figure 2aThe cleaning fluid jet 211 is one-dimensional in the side view (left side of the figure) and is approximately triangular in the side view (right side of the figure). This can be achieved as follows: the outlet of the discharge element 210 is slit-shaped. In this embodiment, the cleaning fluid jet is rotated, for example, by rotating the outlet of the discharge element about a rotation axis R extending parallel to the discharge direction of the cleaning fluid jet 211 or perpendicular to the opening plane of the discharge element 210. That is, the cleaning fluid jet 211 moves into the position 211' through a rotation angle α(t). The rotation angle α(t) is a function of time and can be, for example, α(t) = β·t. As a result, the rotation speed remains constant over time. Other rotation angle functions α(t) can also be used, wherein the function α(t) is preferably selected in such a way that the cleaning fluid jet 211 rotates at least half a circle about the rotation axis R during the discharge phase. In the case of a start time t = 0 and an end time t = T, this means that α(0) = 0 and α(T) = π are met. This ensures that every point of the container is treated with cleaning fluid at least once by the cleaning jet 211. The cleaning fluid jet can also be rotated at least once around the rotation axis r, so that α(T)≥2π.

[0052] exist Figure 2b In the embodiment, the cleaning fluid jet 221 can be tilted into the position 221' at an angle β(t) relative to a reference direction, for example a direction perpendicular to the discharge opening of the discharge element. This changes the angle of incidence of the cleaning fluid jet on the container surface, thereby improving the removal of dirt.

[0053] In this embodiment, the inclination angle β(t) can be a function of time between a starting position (here shown as cleaning fluid jet 221) and a maximum deflection (here represented as cleaning fluid jet 221'). In this case, the cleaning fluid jet can be caused to perform an oscillating movement about the starting position, so that the cleaning fluid jet swings toward the maximum deflection corresponding to position 221' and also deflects in the opposite direction over time t. In this case, the maximum deflection angles in both directions can be the same, so that β max =β -max .

[0054] By changing the function β(t), the movement direction of the cleaning fluid jet 221 can be changed.

[0055] exist Figure 2c , an embodiment is shown in which the opening angle γ(t) of the fluid jet changes over time. The opening angle is the angle between the discharge opening of the discharge element 230 and the outer boundary of the cleaning fluid jet 231 or 231 ′.

[0056] For example, the opening angle can be varied over an angular range of several degrees, for example 2° or even 45°, wherein the time span during which the opening angle is in a certain value range can be varied depending on the cleaning requirements.

[0057] exist Figure 2d , an embodiment is shown in which the cleaning fluid jet 241 is designed as a cleaning fluid jet that precesses about the rotation axis R. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a discharge opening of the discharge element 240 that is supported so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis R, wherein the discharge opening is preferably designed as a discharge nozzle that can discharge the cleaning fluid jet at the smallest possible opening angle (for example, less than 10° or less than 5°). In this case, the direction vector defining the discharge direction of the cleaning fluid jet Depends on the precession angle δ(t) and the "height value" h(t). If the precession angle δ(t) is called a function ƒ(t), then the direction vector can be expressed as expressed in the form of .

[0058] In this case, the values ​​α and β are in principle arbitrary real-valued constants, wherein α and β can be different or the same. If α and β are the same, then the vector The release direction of the cleaning fluid jet describes the movement along the conical surface of a cone with a circular base. If α and β are different, the release direction vector describes the movement along the cone with an elliptical base. If the height function h(t) is non-trivially time-dependent (i.e. "h(t) = c where c is a constant" does not apply), then in this embodiment, the opening angle of the cone also changes.

[0059] This embodiment makes it possible to apply cleaning fluid to the interior of the container particularly advantageously, wherein, for example, in the case of a non-rotationally symmetrical container, the constants α and β can be selected to be different from one another so that deviations of the container shape from a rotationally symmetrical shape are taken into account. Overall, this embodiment is particularly useful for minimizing the pressure generated by the cleaning fluid introduced into the container and thus for increasing the amount of cleaning fluid that can be introduced into the container during the discharge phase.

[0060] Figure 3aAn embodiment is shown in which the discharge element 310 is arranged in such a way that it can move relative to the container 130 located in the receiving part 331. In particular, the distance d between a point of the discharge element 310 and a point of the container (here, for example, between the discharge opening of the discharge element 310 and the opening of the container 130) can be varied as a time-dependent function d(t), so that during the discharge phase, the discharge element 310 can be moved, for example, towards the opening of the container. In this case, the distance d does not necessarily have to be positive. If the distance d is positive, the discharge element is located outside the container. If the distance d is negative, the discharge element is located inside the container (here represented by the dashed position 312). This embodiment is particularly helpful for feeding the cleaning fluid 311 into the inner cavity of the container.

[0061] from Figure 3a It can also be seen that the container carrier 331 can be constructed as a container for accommodating the container, and further includes a fixing device 335 for fixing the container in the container. The container can be held in the container 331 in a certain manner by the fixing device (represented by one or more clips here, but can also be constructed in other ways), so that during the movement of the container 130 located in the container 331 along the transport device 321, the position of the container relative to the container opening 333 and / or relative to the bottom 334 of the container 331 remains unchanged.

[0062] This construction is particularly advantageous with regard to the discharge element 310 to be introduced into the container 130, as it prevents the discharge element from being damaged. Figures 2a to 2d In combination with the described embodiments, this embodiment is also particularly advantageous, since by changing the spray geometry and / or changing the release direction of the cleaning fluid, the forces acting on the container can be changed. By using the fixing device 335, undesired movements of the container can be avoided.

[0063] exist Figure 3b Another embodiment is shown in the figure, in which the release element 310 can be moved along the transport direction T of the transport device 321 along the container (optionally located in the receiving part 331), so that the distance between the release element 310 and the container to which the cleaning fluid 311 is applied by the release element in the transport direction T preferably remains unchanged.

[0064] This can be achieved, for example, as follows: the release element 310 is arranged on or at a frame 351, wherein the frame is, for example, fixedly mounted on rotatably mounted elements 352 and 353, and the frame 351 can be moved along the transport direction T with the receiving part 331 due to the rotation of the rotatably mounted elements 352 and 353. In this embodiment, the frame including the release element can be understood as the application device 350.

[0065] With the aid of this embodiment, the release element 310 can also be introduced into the container located in the container receiving part 331, because the frame follows the movement of the rotatable elements 352 and 353 and thus not only causes a movement in the transport direction T, but also causes a movement perpendicular to the transport direction towards and away from the container.

[0066] Therefore, combined with Figure 3a This embodiment can be implemented particularly advantageously.

[0067] As Figure 3b As an alternative to the linearly movable frame 351 shown, the frame 351 can also be designed as a roller, wherein the release element can be arranged along the outer circumference of the roller. The roller can be rotated relative to the curved transport device 321 and thereby cause the release element 310 to follow during the transport of the container 331 and the container arranged thereon. In the case of the frame 351 designed as a roller, the release element 310 can be arranged according to Figure 3a Build, and then move towards or away from the container.

[0068] Combination Figure 3a and Figure 3b The described embodiments may be combined with all other described embodiments.

Claims

1. A container washing machine for washing containers such as bottles, comprising a transport device for transporting the containers and a discharge device for discharging a washing fluid onto the containers transported in the transport device, wherein: The release device is configured to release the cleaning fluid with a time-varying characteristic during a release phase.

2. The container cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein: The characteristics include release pressure, cleaning fluid, concentration of chemical components of the cleaning fluid, temperature of the cleaning fluid, and / or flow rate of the cleaning fluid.

3. The container cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The release element is arranged in such a way that it can move towards the container and away from the container, and wherein the characteristic comprises a distance from an opening of the container.

4. The container cleaning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The discharge element is designed to discharge the cleaning fluid with a variable spray geometry, and the property comprises the spray geometry.

5. The container cleaning machine according to claim 4, wherein: The spray geometry data includes at least one of the following: a release direction of the cleaning fluid spray, a cross-sectional area of ​​the cleaning fluid spray in a plane perpendicular to the release direction of the cleaning fluid spray, and a spray area of ​​the cleaning fluid spray in a plane parallel to the release direction of the cleaning fluid spray.

6. The container cleaning machine according to claim 5, wherein: The spray geometry data include a release direction, and wherein the form is The time correlation function describes the release direction , where f(t) and h(t) are time-dependent functions, and α and β are constants.

7. The container cleaning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The release element is arranged on a movable frame, and the frame can be moved with the container in the transport direction of the container along the transport device during the release phase, so that during the release phase, the distance between the release element and the container in the transport direction of the container remains approximately constant.

8. The container cleaning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The transport device comprises a receptacle for receiving the container, and wherein the receptacle comprises securing means for securing the container during the release phase.

9. A method for cleaning containers, such as bottles, by means of a container cleaning machine, the container cleaning machine having a transport device for transporting the containers and a dispensing device for dispensing a cleaning fluid onto the containers transported in the transport device, wherein the dispensing device is designed to dispense the cleaning fluid with a time-varying characteristic during a dispensing phase, wherein: The method comprises transporting the container to the discharge device and applying the cleaning fluid to the container during a discharge phase, wherein the property is varied as a function of time during the discharge phase.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The characteristics include release pressure, cleaning fluid, concentration of chemical components of the cleaning fluid, temperature of the cleaning fluid, and / or flow rate of the cleaning fluid.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: The discharge element is caused to move towards the container and / or away from the container during a discharge phase, and wherein the characteristic comprises a distance from an opening of the container.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein: The discharge element discharges the cleaning fluid with a variable spray geometry during a discharge phase, and the characteristic comprises the spray geometry.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The spray geometry data includes at least one of the following: a release direction of the cleaning fluid spray, a cross-sectional area of ​​the cleaning fluid spray in a plane perpendicular to the release direction of the cleaning fluid spray, and a spray area of ​​the cleaning fluid spray in a plane parallel to the release direction of the cleaning fluid spray.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: The spray geometry data include a release direction, and wherein the form is The time correlation function describes the release direction , where f(t) and h(t) are time-dependent functions, and α and β are constants.

15. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein: The release element is arranged on a movable frame, and the frame can be moved with the container in the transport direction of the container along the transport device during the release phase, so that during the release phase, the distance between the release element and the container in the transport direction of the container remains approximately constant.

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