INSTRUCTIONS FOR DISINFECTING CAN CAPS FOR CLOSING CANS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement for disinfecting can lids and sealing cans. Up to now, separate devices have been provided for this purpose, arranged at different positions within a filling system for the containers. A problem with these known arrangements is that the sterilized can lids must remain sterile until they reach the can sealer. The transport path must therefore be enclosed, and a suitable supply of sterile gas may be required in the transport area to prevent germs from reaching the can lids via the ambient air.

[0002] German patent GB 1 093 751 A discloses a method and apparatus for sterilization using UV light. Bottles are transported horizontally and stood upright in an elongated, enclosed chamber. The empty bottles are then filled with a bulk material and transported along the conveyor belt. Bottle caps are stacked on top of each other and sterilized by UV lamps. Finally, the caps are attached to the bottles.

[0003] JP H04 242525 A discloses a method and apparatus for sterilizing container lids illuminated between two UV lamps. The apparatus comprises an elongated linear transport section with a transport chain to move the container lids past the UV lamps.

[0004] WO 2005 / 005260 A1 relates to a method and apparatus for applying advertising media to the closures of bottles such as mineral water bottles, fruit juice bottles, beer bottles or soft drink bottles, wherein the closures are labelled and subsequently sterilized or disinfected. The treated closures are placed in storage containers and kept sterile.

[0005] EP 2 650 022 A1 discloses a device and a method for radiation-based sterilization of container closures, wherein three-dimensionally shaped container closures such as bottle caps are sterilized. To ensure that the inside of a bottle cap is also sufficiently sterilized, the bottle caps are positioned at an angle and illuminated at an angle.

[0006] WO 2012 / 069101 A1 discloses a device for sterilizing container closures. Several closures are arranged vertically in a stack. A multitude of columnar stacks are arranged concentrically around the circumference. Radially further out and radially further in, multiple UV lamps are positioned to continuously irradiate and sterilize the closures. The closures are vertically oriented and stacked to prevent them from shading each other. The device does not directly seal the containers.

[0007] JP S59 91959 A discloses a device in which circular plates are sterilized using UV radiation. The circular plates are placed centrally and closely stacked on top of each other. They are then irradiated with UV light from the side.

[0008] The prior art discloses various devices and methods for disinfecting container closures and sealing containers. A disadvantage is that maintaining sterility is complex and that the devices require a lot of space.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the invention to create an arrangement in which the sterility of the can lids is better preserved before closing.

[0010] This problem is solved according to the invention by an arrangement according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] According to the invention, the arrangement includes a feed device, e.g., a transport star, in which receptacles, e.g., transport recesses, for individual can lids are arranged. The feed device is arranged in the feed area of ​​a can sealer. According to the invention, the arrangement includes at least one sterilization unit for the individual can lids received in the feed device, which sterilization unit is arranged in the transport area of ​​the feed device. The advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the sterilization unit is arranged directly in connection with the feed device for the can sealer. As a result, the sterilized can lids only travel a minimal conveying distance before being fed to the can sealer, particularly by the feed device.According to the invention, the feed device comprises a transport star and the sterilization device has at least one pulsed light device, and a pulsed light device is formed above and / or below the feed device.

[0012] Preferably, the sterilization device includes a sterilizer, e.g., a UV lamp, for the top and bottom of the lid. In this way, the can lid is sterilized on both sides. As a minimum requirement, it would suffice for the lid to be sterilized only on its underside facing the can, as this affects the hygiene of the product filled into the can, for example, a beverage. The sterilization device can, of course, also operate with gas, chemicals, and / or heat. The use of a UV lamp has the least impact on the overall technical design of the arrangement according to the invention.

[0013] Preferably, the feeding device is designed as a transport star, the rotation of which is controlled in particular by a motor. A transport star is technically simple to implement and ensures the reliable pickup and feeding of the can lids to the can sealer, the transport star also having sufficient space around its circumference for the arrangement of at least one sterilization device.

[0014] Preferably, the can sealer is arranged within the transport area of ​​the conveyor star wheel, so that the sterilized can lids are transferred directly from the feed star wheel to the sealing position of the can sealer. The conveying path of the sterilized can lid is thus reduced to a specific sector of the conveyor star wheel. This ensures a high level of sterility of the can lid during sealing.

[0015] Preferably, the feed star has transport recesses on its circumferential section for the individual can lids, which form the receptacles for the lids. Such an arrangement is easy to implement and ensures a more secure hold of the can lids during sterilization and, if necessary, when applying them to the can in the can sealer. Furthermore, can lids can be easily transferred from a stacking device to the feed star and vice versa.

[0016] Preferably, the sterilization device includes at least one pulsed light device that irradiates the lids at the points to be sterilized without contact, using strong light pulses, preferably in the UV range, thus ensuring sterility. Another advantage of such a sterilization device is that it does not interfere in any way with the flow and transport of the individual can lids in the transport star.

[0017] Preferably, a first stacking device for can lids is arranged at the inlet of the feed device, so that the can lids can be transferred individually from the first stacking device to the transport star.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a second stacking device is arranged at the outlet of the feed device, e.g., the transport star, and is located within the feed of the can sealer. Preferably, the second stacking device then forms the feed to the can sealer. This also allows for a very direct feed of the sterilized can lids to the can sealer, the advantage of which lies in the fact that the second stacking device, arranged between the feed device and the can sealer, forms a buffer so that short-term fluctuations in the sterilization and / or operating speed of the can sealer can be compensated for, naturally limited by the stacking capacity of the second stacking device.

[0019] Preferably, the can sealer is arranged directly in or at the outlet of the feed device, so that the can lids no longer have to travel long distances after they have been dispensed by the feed device.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the can sealer is arranged on the feeding device, and the feeding device feeds the sterilized can lids individually to the can sealer. In this case, the feeding device already acts as a singulation device for the feed to the can sealer. The feeding device thus simultaneously fulfills two tasks: singulation and sterilization of the can lids, as well as feeding them into the can sealer.

[0021] Preferably, the feed device and the sterilization unit are arranged in a closed housing which has a supply and exhaust port for sterile gas and, of course, a supply and exhaust port for the can lids. In this way, the entire process can be carried out in a sterile environment, which increases the sterility of the can lids to be applied in the can sealer.

[0022] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first stacking device is arranged in the feed opening, and / or the second stacking device is arranged in the discharge opening. This creates ample space in the housing and allows for easy feeding and removal of the can lids.

[0023] Preferably, the openings provided for the insertion or removal of the can lids are also used for the gas insertion and removal. This minimizes the number of openings in the otherwise closed housing, thus improving the maintenance of sterility. It is not essential that the insertion opening for the can lids also be used as the gas insertion opening.

[0024] The following terms are used synonymously: gas supply - gas supply channel; can lid - lid; outlet pipe - gas discharge - can lid discharge opening; sterilization device - sterilizer - UV lamp. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the above embodiments can be combined with each other in any way.

[0025] The invention will now be described, for example, with reference to an embodiment in conjunction with the schematic drawing.

[0026] This shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of an arrangement according to the invention with a stacking device arranged between the feeding device and the can sealer; Fig. 2 a vertical section through the arrangement according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 a section III-III from Fig. 2 .

[0027] The arrangement 10 according to the invention comprises, according to the Figures 1 to 3A feed device 12 in the form of a transport star, driven by a motor 28, is arranged in a largely enclosed housing 22 together with a first stacking device 14, a second stacking device 16, an upper UV lamp 18, and a lower UV lamp 20. The first stacking device 14 is located in a feed opening 26 of the housing 22. The second stacking device 16 is located in an outlet tube 38, which projects from the housing 22. The outlet tube 38 also serves as a gas outlet for a process gas used in the housing 22, e.g., a sterile or sterilizing purge gas. A can sealer 24 is located at the outlet of the second stacking device 16.

[0028] The transport star 12 has transport recesses 30 around its circumference, in which individual can lids 32 are received. The direction of rotation of the transport star 12 is indicated by an arrow. The gas supply and discharge 36, 38 can be provided optionally. The housing is preferably completely closed except for the supply opening 26 for the can lids, the gas supply channel 36, and the outlet tube 38, which forms both the can discharge opening and the gas discharge.

[0029] The arrangement according to the invention operates as follows: The can lids 32 are fed to the transport star 12 via the first stacking device 14 at the feed point 33. A singulation device (not shown) is arranged at the outlet of the first stacking device 14, which feeds the can lids 32 individually to the transport star, i.e., to the transport recesses 30 of the transport star 12. The lids are then transported in the transport recesses 30 of the transport star 12, passing under the upper UV lamp 18 and along the lower UV lamp 20, so that the can lids 32 are sterilized on both their upper and lower surfaces. Finally, the can lids are fed to the second stacking device 16 at the discharge point 34, which forms the feed device for the can sealer 24 arranged below it.Furthermore, a particularly sterilizing gas is supplied to the housing 22 via the gas supply channel 36 and discharged at the outlet pipe 38, in which the second stacking device 16 is arranged. In this way, the can lids 32 are bathed in a sterile or sterilizing gas during the entire singulation, sterilization, and feeding process, so that the sterilization or sterility caused by the UV lamps 18, 20 is maintained until a can is sealed with a sterilized can lid 32 in the can sealer 24.

[0030] In Fig. 2 The dashed arrows indicate the path of the sterile gas. This could be, for example, oxygen, CO2, or any other sterilizing gas. Reference symbol list

[0031] 10 Arrangement for disinfecting can lids and sealing cans 12 Feed device - transport star 14 First stacking device 16 Second stacking device 18 Upper UV lamp - first sterilization device 20 Lower UV lamp - second sterilization device 22 Housing 24 Can sealer 26 Feed opening for can lids 28 Drive motor 30 Transport recess in the transport star for individual can lids 32 Can lids 33 Feed point of the conveyor 34 Discharge point of the conveyor 36 Gas supply channel 38 Discharge pipe

Claims

1. An arrangement for disinfecting can lids (32) and for sealing cans comprising a feed device (12), in which recesses (30) are arranged for individual can lids (32), which feed device (12) is arranged in the feed area of a can sealer (24), wherein at least one sterilisation device (18, 20) for individual can lids (32) received in the feed device (12) is arranged in the transport area of the feed device (12), wherein a first stacker for can lids (32) is arranged in an inlet (33) of the feed device (12), characterised in that a second stacker (16) is arranged in the outlet (34) of the feed device (12) and lies in the feed of the can sealer (24), and that the feed device (12) comprises a transport star (28), and the sterilisation device comprises at least one pulse-light-device (18, 20) and that in each case a pulse-light-device (18, 20) above and / or below the feed device (12), wherein the pulse-light-device irradiates the can lids (32) contactless via light pulses in the UV range and thus ensures freedom from germs.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the sterilisation device in each case comprises a steriliser, in particular a UV radiator (18, 20) for the can upper and underside.

3. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the can sealer (24) is arranged in the transport area of the feed device (12).

4. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transport star (28) has transport recesses (30) for individual can lids (32) on its circumferential section.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the second stacker (16) forms the inlet of the can sealer (24).

6. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in the can sealer (24) is arranged directly in or on the outlet (34) of the feed device (12).

7. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the can sealer (24) is arranged on the feed device (12), and that the feed device (12) feeds the sterilised can lids (32) individually to the can sealer (24).

8. The arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the feed device (12) and the sterilization device (18, 20) are arranged in a closed housing (22), which has a gas supply (36) and a gas discharge (38) for a germ-free gas, as well as feed and discharge openings (26, 38) for the can lids (32).

9. The arrangement according to claim 8, characterised in that the feed opening for the can lids and the gas supply and / or the discharge opening (38) for the can lids and the gas discharge (38) are integrated.

10. The arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the second stacker (16) is arranged in the gas discharge (38).