Method and device for washing and rinsing hollow bodies

Abstract

Method for washing or rinsing hollow bodies (13), in particular hollow bodies (13) with a small opening cross-section in relation to their length, wherein the hollow bodies (13) are conveyed with the opening directed downwards on a wire rod chain (9) suspended above nozzles (21) in order to spray a rinsing liquid into the hollow bodies (13), characterized in that the hollow bodies (13) are first brought to the nozzles (21) by the wire rod chain (3) and then travel through a partial section while remaining stationary above the rotating nozzles (21) and are sprayed by the nozzles (21) during this time.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for washing and rinsing hollow bodies according to the preamble of patent claim 1. The invention further relates to a device for washing and rinsing hollow bodies according to the preamble of patent claim 2.

[0002] Hollow bodies, such as containers or cans made of steel or aluminum, are often manufactured by cold extrusion, deep drawing, or ironing. All processes used to form the initially essentially flat starting material require lubricants, which must be removed after the container is manufactured if it requires painting. For containers with a very large opening cross-section relative to their length, internal cleaning is relatively easy.

[0003] DE 12 56 561 A describes a method and a device for washing bottles, in which the washing liquid is introduced into the bottle by means of a tube extending deep into the interior of the bottle

[0004] US 5,363,866 A describes a method for cleaning bottles in which the bottles to be cleaned are continuously moved in a uniform spatial orientation past a series of jet nozzles ejecting a cleaning agent. Each time a bottle passes a specific jet nozzle, the jet nozzle is aligned with the bottle mouth during a specific section of the bottle's path of travel.

[0005] However, if the conditions are changed, for example, with long, narrow containers or with a retracted opening, the time during which a container passing over a washing nozzle can be sprayed with washing fluid on its inside is reduced. Since such containers are mass-produced, the residence time, which depends on the relative movement between the nozzle and the hollow body, cannot be extended indefinitely. Consequently, the smaller the diameter-to-length ratio of the body to be cleaned, the poorer the cleaning result.

[0006] An object of the invention is to provide a method and a device which make it possible to optimally clean hollow bodies with any diameter / length ratio using the smallest possible amount of detergent and rinsing agent.

[0007] This object is achieved by a method according to the features of patent claim 1 and by a device according to the features of patent claim 2. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0008] By temporarily guiding the openings of the hollow bodies over or to the nozzles, each hollow body can be optimally exposed to the spray fluid for a specified time. The rinsing fluid only reaches the areas to be cleaned, allowing optimal washing results to be achieved with a smaller amount of fluid and thus less energy consumption. The small amount of rinsing fluid is sufficient because the fluid jet only reaches the areas to be cleaned, and there is essentially no overspray. Depending on the design of the spray nozzles, the interior of the hollow body and / or its outer surface can be exposed to the spray fluid.

[0009] The invention is explained in more detail below using an illustrated embodiment. Fig. 1 a side view of the device, Fig. 2 a view of the device according to Fig. 1 from diagonally above, Fig. 3 an axial section through a nozzle and the adjacent elements of the device, Fig. 4 a perspective, partial view of a wire rod on the means of transport, Fig. 5 a cross-section through a hollow body on the wire rod above a nozzle and Fig. 6 a side view of the device.

[0010] Of the device 1 for washing and rinsing hollow bodies 13, only the machine parts essential to the invention are shown. The splash guards and the drives have been omitted. The device 1 comprises a shaft 3 on which a chain wheel 5 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner. On the rim 7 of the chain wheel 5, a wire rod chain, chain 9 for short, wraps around the chain wheel 5, preferably by approximately 270°. Wire rods 11 are attached to the chain 9, which are parallel to the axis of rotation A of the shaft 3 or at an acute angle thereto. For the sake of clarity, Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 only six each ( Fig. 1) or four ( Fig. 2) Wire rods 11 are shown. Hollow bodies, e.g., can bodies, are suspended or threaded onto the wire rods 11 with the opening facing downward.

[0011] Below the sprocket 5, a nozzle wheel or nozzle carrier 15 is mounted, also connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the shaft 3. Areas or nozzle holders 17 are formed on the nozzle carrier 15, each of which houses at least one nozzle 21. Each nozzle 21 is connected to a washing and / or rinsing agent pump (not shown) via the nozzle carrier 15 and a connection 19. The nozzles 21 on the nozzle holders 17 are slightly offset from the axes B of the wire rods 11 in the area below the opening in the hollow body 13.

[0012] Due to the rotationally fixed arrangement of the chain wheel 5 and the nozzle carrier 15 on the shaft 3, a wire rod 11 on the chain 9 always comes to rest above a nozzle 21, while the chain 9 is in meshing engagement with the ring 7 on the chain wheel 5. Consequently, a synchronous movement from nozzles 21 to hollow bodies 1 is achieved. In other words: the hollow bodies 13 are temporarily stationary above the nozzles 21. The exposure of the hollow bodies 1 to a washing or rinsing liquid therefore lasts as long as the chain 9 is in engagement with the chain wheel 5. The residence time of the hollow bodies (13) above the nozzles 21 can therefore be adjusted by the peripheral speed of the chain wheel 5.

[0013] In order to achieve optimal spraying of the interior of the hollow bodies 1 or their outer surfaces, the nozzles 21 can be aligned accordingly on the nozzle holders 17. It is therefore possible to spray at an acute angle into the interior of the hollow body 1 or onto its outer surface. Of course, more than one nozzle 21 can be formed on each nozzle holder 17. In order to keep the consumption of washing and rinsing liquid and thus also of energy, e.g. for heating the liquid, low, the nozzles 21 can be switched off on the section where no hollow bodies 1 lie above the nozzles 21. On the large section where the hollow bodies 13 lie above the nozzles 21, the nozzles 21 are open and the pump (not shown) can apply washing liquid or rinsing liquid to the interior of the hollow bodies 13 or, depending on the position of the nozzles 21, to the outside, i.e. the outer surface.The long dwell time of the hollow body 13 above the nozzle 21 while traveling through the large section allows the amount of washing fluid required for cleaning to be sprayed. This significantly reduces washing fluid loss, as the fluid discharged from the nozzle 21 only reaches its destination directly.

[0014] As an alternative to a chain wheel 5 as a guide for the chain 9 with the wire rods 11, a curved segment (not shown) could also be provided, on whose casing the chain is guided in a sliding manner.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention according to Fig.3, the wire rods 11 are designed as tubes, onto whose upper end a spray head 23 provided with multiple outlets is placed. The lower end of the hollow wire rods 11 preferably has a conically tapered flange 25, in which the conically shaped tip 27 of a correspondingly shaped nozzle 21 can engage in a sealing manner. In order to achieve the sealing connection to the wire rod 11, the nozzle 21 is mounted in the nozzle carrier 15 so that it can be displaced vertically upwards with a force F. The nozzle 21 is guided so that it can be displaced in a bore 29 in the nozzle carrier 15 and is supported by a spring 31. The spring 31 rests, for example, on a roller 33, which rolls on a curved track 35 arranged below the nozzle carrier 15 in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0016] The spring 31 is arranged in a cavity in the nozzle carrier 15, which cavity is connected to the pump for rinsing fluid (not shown) through an opening 37. Instead of spray fluid, compressed air, for example warm compressed air, can also be blown into the hollow bodies 13 through the wire rods 11 following the rinsing process in order to achieve faster drying of the rinsed areas.

[0017] A valve 39 can be formed on the lower end of the movable nozzle 21 in order to allow rinsing liquid and / or air to escape only when the nozzle 21 is connected to the wire rod 11 and the pressing of the nozzle 21 against the wire rod 11 causes an axial displacement of the nozzle 21 in the nozzle carrier 15, whereby the valve 39 is opened and the outflow of spray liquid is released. List of reference symbols: 1 device 3 Wave 5 sprocket 7 wreath of 5 9 wire rod chain 11 wire rods 13 hollow bodies 15 nozzle carriers 17 nozzle holder 19 Connection 21 nozzles 23 Spray head 25 flange 27 top 29 Hole 31 spring 33 roll 35 Curved track 37 Opening 39 Valve

Claims

[1] Method for washing or rinsing hollow bodies (13), in particular hollow bodies (13) with a small opening cross-section in relation to their length, wherein the hollow bodies (13) are conveyed with the opening directed downwards on a wire rod chain (9) suspended over nozzles (21) in order to spray a rinsing liquid into the hollow bodies (13), characterized by that the hollow bodies (13) are first brought to the nozzles (21) by means of the wire rod chain (3) and then pass through a partial section while remaining stationary above the moving nozzles (21) and are sprayed by the nozzles (21) during this time. [2] Device for washing or rinsing hollow bodies (13), in particular hollow bodies (13) with a small opening cross-section in relation to the length, comprising a transport means for transporting the hollow bodies (13) via nozzles (21) for spraying a medium onto the hollow bodies (13), characterized by , that - the transport means comprises an endlessly rotating carrier (9) with wire rods (11), - the rotating support (9) with the hollow bodies (13) placed on it is guided along a circular path for a section of its length, - a nozzle carrier (15) with a plurality of nozzles (21) is arranged under the circular section and that - the hollow bodies (13) on the wire rods (11) are stationary above the nozzles (13) in the area of the partial section. [3] Device according to claim 2, characterized by in that the rotating carrier comprises a wire rod chain (9) which partially wraps around a chain wheel (5) or an arc segment which is fixedly seated on a shaft (3) in a rotationally fixed manner, the nozzle carrier (15) being arranged below the chain wheel (5) on the shaft (3) or below the arc segment and carrying a plurality of nozzles (21) which are each located below the wire rods (11) on the wire rod chain (9). [4] Device according to claim 3, characterized by that the wire rods (11) are hollow and their lower end can be temporarily connected directly to the nozzle (21) located underneath. [5] Device according to claim 4, characterized by that the nozzles (21) are guided vertically displaceably in the nozzle carrier (17). [6] Device according to claim 5, characterized by that the vertical displacement is effected by a curved track (35) arranged below the nozzle carrier (17). [7] Device according to claim 6, characterized by that the displacement of the nozzles (21) is effected by rollers (33) rolling on the curved track (35). [8] Device according to claims 2 to 7, characterized by that the nozzles (21) are connected to a valve (39) which only allows the supply of rinsing liquid while a nozzle (21) and a wire rod (11) are superimposed.

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