Cleaning device and method for cleaning a keg

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning device (10) for cleaning a keg (18) which has an annular channel (14) and a riser pipe (16) connected to a fitting of the keg (18). The cleaning device (10) has a treatment head (12) connectable to the fitting for cleaning the interior of the keg (18), wherein the part of the treatment head (12) connectable to the riser pipe (16) is connected to a supply line (22) for a cleaning agent, in particular a liquid, and the part of the treatment head (12) connectable to the annular channel (14) is connected to a drain (26) for the cleaning agent, wherein a connecting line (34) with a self-priming pump (36) is arranged between the supply line (22) and the drain (26) to pump the cleaning agent from the drain (26) back into the supply line (22).Such a cleaning device ensures reliable and optimal interior cleaning of the KEG (18) while saving cleaning agents in an environmentally friendly manner.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning a keg, which has an annular channel and a riser pipe connected to a fitting of the keg. The cleaning device includes a cleaning head connectable to the fitting, at least for cleaning the interior of the keg. The part of the cleaning head connectable to the riser pipe is connected to a supply line for a cleaning agent, preferably a liquid, and the part of the cleaning head connectable to the annular channel is connected to a drain for the cleaning agent.

[0002] Reusable kegs, also known as keg barrels or keg containers, are well-known in the beverage industry. These kegs are primarily used when handling and dispensing beverages or other liquid products in larger quantities, especially in quantities greater than 5 liters. Particularly in the catering industry, it often proves especially advantageous to handle beverages in kegs rather than bottles or cans, and the use of kegs offers numerous benefits in this regard.

[0003] One of the main advantages of using kegs lies in the special design of their connections, which typically include a valve. These connections and valves allow the kegs to be cleaned and filled during the necessary cleaning and filling process at a bottling plant. Furthermore, the contents can be dispensed at the consumer's end, particularly in the food service industry, using suitable taps via these same connections and valves. These keg connections are known to experts as fittings or keg fittings. Therefore, the basic design of such kegs, with at least one keg fitting, has long been familiar to relevant professionals.

[0004] Reusable kegs typically undergo several use cycles, with each keg being returned to a bottling plant, for example, after the liquid contents have been emptied. Each keg must first undergo a cleaning process before it can be refilled with liquid in a hygienically clean condition. These reusable kegs are usually made of steel.

[0005] The treatment of the aforementioned kegs includes internal cleaning, if necessary sterilization of the keg's interior, and subsequent filling with the product. Typically, the kegs are treated in specialized equipment within keg treatment and filling systems, where they are cleaned and filled upside down, i.e., with the fitting facing downwards. For the treatment process, a connection, specifically a sealing layer, is first established between the keg fitting and a treatment head provided or already present in the treatment station.

[0006] It is known from the prior art that linear processing or filling machines or linear processing or filling systems, especially so-called linear fillers, are frequently used for the treatment, in particular the filling, of kegs. Depending on the design, these operate in discontinuous, i.e., clocked, mode, or continuously. However, it is also possible to use other types of machines for the processing of kegs that operate in a mode other than linear mode.

[0007] To hygienically clean a reusable keg, which, for example, returns to a bottling plant after a usage cycle, requires a complex internal cleaning process that usually includes several cleaning steps.

[0008] For this purpose, it is known from the prior art to alternately apply different liquid and gaseous treatment media for the internal cleaning of the KEGs and to alternately expose the KEGs to the corresponding treatment media in successive treatment steps.

[0009] WO 2016 / 131651 A1 discloses a cleaning device of this type in which a circulating or steam pump is arranged between the outlet and the inlet to pump steam from the outlet to the inlet for reintroduction into the interior of the keg. A disadvantage of this known device is that, particularly when using a liquid cleaning agent, reliable operation of the cleaning process cannot be guaranteed.

[0010] One object of the invention is to create a cleaning device of the type mentioned above that enables reliable cleaning of the interior of a keg.

[0011] This problem is solved by a cleaning device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are also disclosed in the description and in the drawing.

[0012] According to the invention, a connecting line is provided between the supply line and the outlet, in which a self-priming pump is arranged to pump the cleaning agent, particularly a liquid, from the outlet back into the supply line. This ensures reliable circulation of the liquid cleaning agent from the outlet to the supply line, even if the liquid level of the cleaning agent does not reach the pump inlet. Due to the pump's self-priming design, it can raise the level of the cleaning agent to such an extent that it reaches the pump inlet and can be reliably pumped, even if there is a gap between the cleaning agent level and the pump inlet containing gas or water vapor.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the self-priming pump is a diaphragm pump, in particular a pneumatic diaphragm pump. Such a pump is self-priming and very reliable in its operation, so that the cleaning process of the keg's interior can be carried out reliably. Reliable cleaning of the keg's interior is extremely important from a health perspective. It is critical from a health and hygiene standpoint if product residues or other contaminants adhere to the inner walls of a keg.

[0014] The invention makes it possible to ensure absolutely reliable cleaning of the KEG interior regardless of the fill level of the cleaning agent in the drain.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the self-priming pump is a frequency-controlled pump, which has the advantage that the pumping power can be changed according to, for example, a preset cleaning program, optionally in different cleaning phases of the cleaning process.

[0016] Preferably, the cleaning device includes a control unit configured to control the self-priming pump based on time and / or sensor data. This ensures that the pump is controlled for a sufficient duration or intensity to achieve optimal cleaning of the keg interior, while simultaneously preventing excessively long cleaning procedures that would reduce the throughput of kegs in the cleaning device.

[0017] Preferably, in this case, a flow meter connected to the control unit is arranged in the supply line and / or the outlet, and the control unit is designed to derive control signals for the self-priming pump from the flow meter data. In this way, the control unit can accurately monitor the throughput of cleaning agent and thus the cleaning intensity, controlling it according to a cleaning program.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the supply line is connected via a valve to a cleaning agent tank and / or to a cleaning agent pump for a cleaning agent, particularly a liquid one. In this way, a control device can very precisely control the amount of cleaning agent circulated for cleaning, according to preset optimized values, by means of the valve.

[0019] The invention also relates to a method for cleaning a keg, which has an annular channel and a riser pipe that open into a fitting of the keg. During the cleaning process, the fitting is connected to a treatment head of a cleaning device, wherein a cleaning agent, in particular a liquid, is supplied to the riser pipe via a supply line connected to the treatment head. Furthermore, cleaning agent is discharged from the annular channel via a discharge line connected to the treatment head. According to the invention, cleaning agent is pumped from the discharge line back into the supply line for reintroduction into the keg by means of a self-priming pump arranged in a connecting line between the supply line and the discharge line. Regarding the advantages of this method, reference is made to the above description of the device.

[0020] Preferably, the method is carried out using a cleaning device as described above.

[0021] An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the attached schematic drawing.

[0022] The only character ( Fig. 1) shows a cleaning device 10 which has a treatment head 12 which is connected in particular via a KEG fitting to an annular channel 14 and a riser pipe 16 of a KEG 18.

[0023] The cleaning device 10 comprises a supply line 22 connected to a cleaning agent supply 20, in which a flow meter 24 is arranged. The cleaning agent supply 20 can be formed in the usual manner by a cleaning agent tank and a feed pump or by similar cleaning agent supply options known per se. The supply line 22 is connected to the riser pipe 16 of the KEG 18 via the treatment head 12 and, in particular, via the KEG fitting. The annular channel 14 of the KEG 18 is connected via the treatment head 12 to a drain 26, in which an optional control or regulating valve 28 and an optional drain pump 30 are arranged. The drain 26 terminates in a container or tank 32 for used cleaning fluid. A connecting line 34, in which a self-priming pump 36 is arranged, is arranged between the drain 26 and the supply line 22.This serves to pump cleaning agent from outlet 26 into inlet 22, in order to reintroduce the cleaning agent via riser pipe 16 into the interior of the keg, thus intensifying the cleaning process through circulation of the liquid cleaning agent. This results in less cleaning fluid being used, which is very advantageous from an environmental perspective.

[0024] The cleaning device 10 is controlled by a control unit 38, which is connected to the flow meter 24 and the self-priming pump 36 in the connecting line 34. The control unit 38 is also connected to the optional control valve 28 and the drain pump 30. Based on the data from the flow meter, the control unit 38 detects the quantity supplied to the interior and accordingly controls the cleaning agent supply from the cleaning agent source 20 and the operation of the self-priming pump 36 for circulating the cleaning agent.On the one hand, it can assess when enough cleaning agent has been supplied to the KEG interior via the supply line 22 by the cleaning agent supply 20, and on the other hand, it can evaluate how intensively or for how long the self-priming pump 36 in the connecting line 34 must be operated in order to ensure a desired intensive cleaning of the KEG interior by re-injecting the cleaning agent from the drain.

[0025] The circulation of the cleaning agent by actuating the self-priming pump can preferably only be started after a certain period of time, once the largest deposits have been removed from the inner wall of the keg. This can be controlled by a timer or detected by an optical sensor in the drain (not shown) and evaluated by the control unit 38.

[0026] The invention enables intensive and reliable cleaning of the keg interior, which is extremely important from a health and hygiene perspective. Furthermore, it reduces the need for cleaning agents, which is relevant from an environmental standpoint.

[0027] The invention has been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous modifications or adaptations are possible without departing from the underlying inventive concept. Reference symbol list 10 Cleaning device 12 treatment heads 14 Ring channel of the KEG 16 KEG riser pipe 18 KEGs, especially reusable KEGs 20 Cleaning agent supply 22 Supply line 24 flow meters 26 Derivative 28 Switching or regulating valve in the downstream 30 Drain pump 32 collection containers for used cleaning agent 34 Connecting line between drain and supply line 36 self-priming pump, especially diaphragm pump 38 Control unit QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 2016 / 131651 A1

[0009]

Claims

[1] Cleaning device (10) for cleaning a KEG (18) which has an annular channel (14) and a riser pipe (16) which are connected to a fitting of the KEG (18), wherein the cleaning device (10) has a treatment head (12) connectable to the fitting at least for the internal cleaning of the KEG (18), wherein the part of the treatment head (12) connectable to the riser pipe (16) is connected to a supply line (22) for a cleaning agent, in particular a liquid, and wherein the part of the treatment head (12) connectable to the annular channel (14) is connected to a drain (26) for the cleaning agent, wherein a connecting line (34) with a self-priming pump (36) is arranged between the supply line (22) and the drain (26) to pump the cleaning agent from the drain (26) back into the supply line (22). [2] Cleaning device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the self-priming pump (36) is a diaphragm pump, in particular a compressed air diaphragm pump. [3] Cleaning device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the self-priming pump (36) is a frequency-controlled pump. [4] Cleaning device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a control device (38) which is designed to control the self-priming pump (36) based on time and / or sensors. [5] Cleaning device (10) according to claim 4, characterized by , that a flow meter (24) connected to the control device (38) is / are arranged in the supply line (22) and / or in the discharge line (26), wherein the control device (38) is configured to derive control signals for the self-priming pump (36) from the data of the flow meter (24). [6] Cleaning device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the supply line (22) is connected via a valve to a cleaning agent supply (20), in particular a cleaning agent tank and / or a cleaning agent pump. [7] Method for cleaning a KEG (18) having an annular channel (14) and a riser pipe (16) which open into a fitting of the KEG (18), wherein, during the cleaning of the KEG (18), the fitting is connected to a treatment head (12) of a cleaning device (10), wherein a cleaning agent, in particular a liquid, is supplied to the riser pipe (16) via a supply line (22) connected to the treatment head (12), and wherein the cleaning agent is discharged from the annular channel (14) via a discharge (26) connected to the treatment head (12), wherein, by means of a self-priming pump (36) arranged in a connecting line (34) between the supply line (22) and the discharge (26), the cleaning agent is pumped from the discharge (26) back into the supply line (22) for reintroduction into the KEG (18). [8] Method according to claim 7, characterized by the cleaning device (10) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 6.

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