CONTAINER TREATMENT LINE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A CONTAINER TREATMENT LINE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a container treatment line, a control unit for a container treatment line, a cleaning machine, and a method for operating a container treatment line. Furthermore, the invention relates to a computer program for a control unit.

[0002] Container treatment lines comprising a cleaning machine for cleaning containers and a container treatment system downstream of the cleaning machine, which comprises one or more container treatment machines, are well known in the art. Such container treatment lines are often suitable for processing or treating containers of different formats, such as glass or PET bottles of different sizes.

[0003] The container throughput of the container treatment plant located downstream of the cleaning machine or of at least one of its container treatment machines can vary for different container formats. For example, it can be the case that the container treatment plant or at least one of its container treatment machines can process or treat containers of a large container format more slowly than containers of a small container format, so that the container treatment plant or the at least one container treatment machine can achieve a lower container throughput when treating containers of a large container format than with containers of a large container format. This means that if the container format of the containers to be treated changes, the container throughput of the container treatment plant or of the at least one container treatment machine can change.

[0004] Furthermore, the container throughput of the container treatment plant or at least one of its container treatment machines can change independently of any change in container format, for example as a result of a defect and / or technical malfunction of the container treatment plant or individual container treatment machines or individual machine components. The cleaning machine is normally designed in accordance with the maximum container throughput of the downstream container treatment plant. If the container treatment plant is operated at its maximum container throughput, the containers are treated in the cleaning machine, e.g., by immersing the containers in a caustic or acid bath, for a desired treatment duration.If, however, the container treatment plant is operated at a reduced throughput rather than its maximum container throughput, the transport speed of the cleaning machine is reduced, which leads to an increase in the throughput time of the containers through the cleaning machine and thus also in the treatment time of the containers, in particular the immersion time of the containers in a caustic or acid bath. This can lead to damage to the containers, e.g. due to excessively long exposure to temperature and / or excessively long exposure to caustic and / or acid on the containers. Reusable PET bottles are particularly affected by this, but damage such as increased glass corrosion can also occur with glass bottles in such cases.

[0005] Document EP3401028A1 discloses a container treatment line according to the preamble of claim 1. Document ITTO20120507A1 discloses another prior art container cleaning machine.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of creating a possibility to avoid or at least reduce damage to containers during their transport through a cleaning machine.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention by a container treatment line according to claim 1, by a method according to claim 8, and by a computer program according to claim 16. Preferred or advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the further claims and in the following description. The features or combinations of features contained in the claims are declared to be an integral part of the description.

[0008] The container treatment line according to the invention comprises a cleaning machine for cleaning containers and a container treatment system downstream of the cleaning machine, which has at least one container treatment machine. Furthermore, the container treatment line according to the invention comprises a conveyor for conveying the containers to the cleaning machine, for example by push-pull transport. The cleaning machine comprises a container inlet with several lanes, a container outlet, and an internal transport device for transporting the containers from the container inlet to the container outlet. Said transport device has several carrier units arranged one behind the other in the transport direction of the transport device, each having several container receptacles arranged transversely to the transport direction for holding the containers during their transport from the container inlet to the container outlet.The cleaning machine further comprises a loading device for loading at least some of the container receptacles with the containers. Furthermore, the container treatment line comprises a control unit.

[0009] The container treatment line according to the invention is characterized in that the control unit is configured to process data relating to the container throughput of the container system and / or relating to the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine and to control the loading device in such a way that, for an operating period, one of the carrier units and / or a plurality of the carrier units is / are either loaded with containers by means of the loading device or left empty depending on the container throughput of the container treatment system and / or the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine.

[0010] The control unit can therefore control the loading device in such a way that, depending on the container throughput of the container treatment plant and / or the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine all carrier units of the transport device are loaded with containers or only some of the carrier units are loaded with containers and some of the carrier units are left empty.

[0011] If the container treatment system and / or the at least one container treatment machine is operated at a first, low container throughput, for example, some of the carrier units can be left empty and some of the carrier units can be loaded with containers. However, if the container treatment system and / or the at least one container treatment machine is operated at a second, higher container throughput, more carrier units, in particular all carrier units, can be loaded with containers.

[0012] By feeding the carrier units based on the container throughput, it is possible to avoid having to significantly change the transport speed of the cleaning machine in order to adapt the container throughput of the cleaning machine to the container throughput of the container treatment system and / or the at least one container treatment machine. In this way, a substantially constant throughput time of the containers through the cleaning machine or through its processing stations can be achieved (largely) independently of the container throughput of the container treatment system and / or the at least one container treatment machine. This makes it possible to avoid excessively long treatment times for the containers in the cleaning machine, in particular excessive immersion times for the containers in an acid or alkali bath of the cleaning machine.Consequently, damage to containers during their transport through the cleaning machine, which is due to excessively long treatment time of the containers in the cleaning machine, can be avoided or at least reduced.

[0013] In the context of the present invention, "leaving a carrier unit or a plurality of carrier units empty" means that the carrier unit or the plurality of carrier units are not loaded with containers, i.e. no containers are introduced into this carrier unit(s).

[0014] In this case, the container throughput of the container treatment system or of the at least one container treatment machine is understood to mean the number of containers treated per unit of time by the container treatment system or of the at least one container treatment machine. The term performance or machine / system performance is often used for this. This value is usually expressed in the unit "containers per hour." Accordingly, the container throughput of the cleaning machine is understood to mean the number of containers treated or cleaned by the cleaning machine per unit of time.

[0015] As mentioned at the beginning, the invention relates to a control unit for a container treatment line.

[0016] The control unit according to the invention is provided for a container treatment line with a cleaning machine for cleaning containers and a container treatment system downstream of the cleaning machine, in particular for the container treatment line according to the invention described above.

[0017] The control unit according to the invention is characterized in that it is designed to process data relating to a container throughput, in particular a container throughput of the container system and / or relating to the container throughput of at least one container treatment machine of the container system, and to control a loading device of the cleaning machine in such a way that, for an operating period, a carrier unit of the cleaning machine or a plurality of carrier units of the cleaning machine are either loaded with containers by means of the loading device or left empty depending on the container throughput.

[0018] The control unit can, in particular, be designed to control only components or devices of the cleaning machine. Alternatively, the control unit can be a common or central control unit of the container treatment line, which is configured to control both components or devices of the cleaning machine and components or devices of the downstream container treatment system.

[0019] If necessary, the control unit can be designed as a multi-part control unit. This means that the control unit can consist of several, particularly spatially separated, parts. The individual parts of the control unit can, for example, be arranged in different housings.

[0020] The control unit or at least a part of the control unit can be a component of the cleaning machine, wherein the control unit or the part of the control unit does not necessarily have to be arranged in or on the machine housing of the cleaning machine, but can, for example, be arranged spatially remote from the machine housing. Alternatively, the control unit and the cleaning machine can be separate devices. In the latter case, the control unit preferably has a data transmission interface via which the control unit can be connected to the cleaning machine and via which the control unit can send data and / or control commands to the cleaning machine or its components.

[0021] The cleaning machine according to the invention is a cleaning machine for cleaning containers, which comprises: a container inlet with a plurality of lanes and a container outlet, an internal transport device for transporting the containers from the container inlet to the container outlet, which has a plurality of carrier units arranged one behind the other in the transport direction of the transport device, each with a plurality of container receptacles arranged transversely to the transport direction for holding the containers during their transport from the container inlet to the container outlet, and a loading device for loading at least some of the container receptacles with the containers.

[0022] The cleaning machine according to the invention is characterized in that it also comprises the control unit according to the invention and the control unit is designed to control the loading device of the cleaning machine as a function of the container throughput.

[0023] The containers can be, for example, bottles, especially glass bottles or reusable PET bottles. The containers can be, for example, beverage containers.

[0024] The control unit can be configured, for example, via a computer program stored in a data memory of the control unit or in a data memory connected to the control unit and executed by a processor of the control unit, to control the loading device of the cleaning machine in the manner described above.

[0025] The data relating to the container throughput, in dependence on which the control unit controls the loading device and possibly other components of the cleaning machine, or at least a portion of this data can be stored in the control unit, for example in the form of a data set in which different operating states of the container treatment system are each assigned a container throughput on which the control process is based. Alternatively, it can be provided, for example, that the data relating to the container throughput or at least a portion of this data is / are transmitted to the control unit from one or more external devices, for example from a sensor unit which monitors the container throughput during ongoing operation of the container treatment system and / or from an operating unit (human-machine interface) by means of which the container throughput can be adjusted and / or the container format to be processed can be adjusted.

[0026] The cleaning machine preferably comprises several treatment stations for treating the containers during their transport from the container inlet to the container outlet. One of the treatment stations may, for example, include a caustic bath.

[0027] Another of the treatment stations may, for example, include an acid bath. Another of the treatment stations may, for example, have a spraying device for spraying the containers with a cleaning medium.

[0028] It is advisable for the containers to be treated in the cleaning machine, particularly in its treatment stations, during transport from the container inlet to the container outlet, whereby the containers are cleaned.

[0029] Preferably, the cleaning machine is connected to the downstream container treatment plant via a conveyor device of the container treatment line in order to be able to transport the containers from the container outlet of the cleaning machine to said container treatment plant or to the at least one container treatment machine of the container treatment plant.

[0030] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the loading device comprises several adjacently arranged drive plates, each with at least one drive finger, preferably two drive fingers, for inserting the containers into the container receptacles. The drive plates are preferably mounted on a common shaft. Said shaft is preferably connected to a rocker that drives the shaft.

[0031] The at least one container treatment machine of the container treatment system can, for example, be a filling machine for filling the containers with a liquid. Alternatively, the at least one container treatment machine of the container treatment system can be another type of container treatment machine, such as a labeling machine or a container printing machine.

[0032] In principle, the container treatment system can comprise any combination of several different container treatment machines, such as a filling machine and a labeling machine.

[0033] Preferably, the transport speed of the transport device of the cleaning machine is controllable or regulatable. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to control or regulate the transport speed of the transport device as a function of the container throughput of the container treatment system and / or the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine.

[0034] The method according to the invention is a method for operating a container treatment line with a cleaning machine for cleaning containers and a container treatment system downstream of the cleaning machine, in particular for operating the container treatment line according to the invention described above.

[0035] The method according to the invention provides that the containers are conveyed to the cleaning machine by means of a conveyor device of the container treatment line, preferably by push-pull transport, and the containers are introduced into lanes of a container inlet of the cleaning machine. Furthermore, it is provided that the containers are transported from the container inlet of the cleaning machine to its container outlet by means of an internal transport device of the cleaning machine, wherein the transport device comprises a plurality of carrier units arranged one behind the other in the transport direction of the transport device, each having a plurality of container receptacles arranged transversely to the transport direction, in which container receptacles the containers are held during their transport from the container inlet to the container outlet. Furthermore, at least some of the container receptacles are loaded with the containers by means of a loading device of the cleaning machine.

[0036] The method according to the invention is characterized in that data relating to the container throughput of the container system and / or relating to the container throughput of at least one container treatment machine of the container system are processed by a control unit of the container treatment line and the loading device is controlled by the control unit in such a way that, for an operating period, one of the carrier units and / or a plurality of the carrier units is either loaded with containers by means of the loading device or left empty depending on the container throughput of the container treatment system and / or the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine.

[0037] The features and advantages mentioned in the present description in connection with the container treatment line according to the invention, the control unit according to the invention, and the cleaning machine according to the invention also apply analogously to the method according to the invention. Conversely, the features and advantages mentioned in the present description in connection with the method according to the invention also apply analogously to the container treatment line according to the invention, the control unit according to the invention, and the cleaning machine according to the invention.

[0038] Preferably, the containers are introduced into the carrier units or their container receptacles in groups by means of the loading device. In other words, preferably several containers are introduced into the carrier units or their container receptacles simultaneously by means of the loading device.

[0039] After passing through the cleaning machine, the containers are expediently treated in the at least one container treatment machine of the container treatment system. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, after passing through the cleaning machine, the containers are filled with a liquid, in particular a beverage, in the at least one container treatment machine of the container treatment system. This means that treating the containers in the at least one container treatment machine preferably involves filling the containers with a liquid.

[0040] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the loading device is controlled by the control unit such that one or more of the carrier units are left empty if the container throughput of the container treatment system and / or of the at least one container treatment machine is less than a reference container throughput. The reference container throughput preferably corresponds to the maximum container throughput of the container treatment system and / or the maximum container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine.

[0041] The container throughput of the container treatment system and / or of the at least one container treatment machine can depend in particular on the container format. In this case, the loading device is advantageously controlled by the control unit such that, for an operating period, one of the carrier units and / or a plurality of the carrier units is either loaded with containers by means of the loading device or left empty, depending on the container format. This makes it possible to achieve a substantially constant throughput time for the containers through the cleaning machine or through its processing stations, regardless of the container format. In this way, damage to containers of a container format that the container treatment system or the at least one container treatment machine can only process with a low container throughput can be avoided or at least reduced.

[0042] Preferably, in the event of a decrease or increase in the container throughput of the container treatment system and / or the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine, in particular as a result of a change in the container format, the control unit changes the container throughput of the cleaning machine by controlling the loading device by the control unit in such a way that the number of carrier units loaded with containers per unit of time by means of the loading device is changed. The change in the container throughput of the cleaning machine can be triggered, for example, by a machine / system operator via an operating unit (human-machine interface) connected to the control unit.

[0043] In particular, it can be provided that when changing from a larger to a smaller container format - for example, from 2-liter bottles to 1.5-liter bottles - the container throughput of the cleaning machine is increased by the control unit in that the loading device is controlled by the control unit in such a way that the number of carrier units loaded with containers per unit of time by means of the loading device is increased. Conversely, it can be provided that when changing from a smaller to a larger container format - for example, from 1.5-liter bottles to 2-liter bottles - the container throughput of the cleaning machine is reduced by the control unit in that the loading device is controlled by the control unit in such a way that the number of carrier units loaded with containers per unit of time by means of the loading device is reduced.

[0044] Furthermore, regardless of whether the container format is changed, it can be provided that in the event of a decrease (case A) or an increase (case B) in the container throughput of the container treatment system and / or of the at least one container treatment machine, the container throughput of the cleaning machine is reduced (case A) or increased (case B) by the control unit in that the feeding device is controlled by the control unit in such a way that the number of carrier units fed with containers per unit of time by means of the feeding device is reduced (case A) or increased (case B).

[0045] Preferably, a carrier unit of the transport device is left empty by temporarily stopping or slowing down a drive of the loading device.

[0046] It is advantageous if the carrier units of the transport device are driven continuously and without interruption by means of a drive means, in particular a drive chain, of the transport device.

[0047] At its container outlet, the cleaning machine can have a removal device, by means of which the containers are removed from the container receptacles of the carrier unit. The removal device can be controlled by the control unit. In particular, the removal device can be controlled by the control unit such that the removal device operates continuously and without interruption. Alternatively, the removal device can be controlled by the control unit such that a drive of the removal device is temporarily stopped when an empty carrier unit passes the removal device.

[0048] It is particularly advantageous if the transport device of the cleaning machine, when transporting the containers from the container inlet to the container outlet, is operated at a transport speed that lies within a speed interval limited by a lower speed limit and an upper speed limit, wherein the upper speed limit is at most 20%, preferably at most 10%, greater than the lower speed limit. This means that the transport device is advantageously operated at a transport speed that lies within a narrow speed interval. This enables energy-efficient and low-wear operation of the transport device.

[0049] The two speed limits are preferably independent of the container format and / or the container throughput of the container treatment system and / or the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine. This reasonably assumes that the container throughput of the container treatment system or of the at least one container treatment machine is not greater than the maximum container throughput of the cleaning machine.

[0050] Preferably, the transport device of the cleaning machine is operated during transport of the containers from the container inlet to the container outlet in such a way that a treatment time of the containers in the cleaning machine, such as the immersion time of the containers in lye and / or the immersion time of the containers in acid, deviates by a maximum of 20%, in particular by a maximum of 10%, from a target treatment time of the containers.

[0051] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the loading device is controlled by the control unit such that a group of several carrier units of the transport device arranged directly one behind the other is left empty. For example, two to fifteen, in particular four to twelve, carrier units of the transport device arranged directly one behind the other can be left empty. This makes it possible to stop the drive of the loading device less frequently to empty carrier units, thereby reducing wear on the loading device or its drive.

[0052] In particular, it can be provided that the loading device is controlled by the control unit in such a way that a group of n carrier units loaded with containers arranged directly one behind the other is followed by a group of m carrier units left empty and arranged directly behind the other, where n and m are natural numbers greater than 1. The following can apply to n and m: n = m, n > m or n < m.

[0053] Advantageously, the loading device is controlled by the control unit in such a way that the said sequence of n carrier units loaded with containers arranged directly one after the other and subsequently m carrier units left empty arranged directly one after the other is repeated periodically.

[0054] Preferably, the loading device is controlled by the control unit in such a way that the numerical ratio of carrier units loaded with containers and carrier units left empty is equal or approximately equal, in particular in order to avoid a container backlog downstream of the cleaning machine.

[0055] The cleaning machine can have a blocking element on at least one of the aisles for blocking and releasing the associated aisle. Furthermore, the cleaning machine can have a drive device for driving the at least one blocking element. In this case, this drive device is preferably controlled by the control unit such that the blocking element either blocks or releases the associated aisle depending on the container throughput of the container treatment system and / or the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine. Alternatively, it can be provided that the at least one blocking element is manually operable and / or can be manually inserted into the associated aisle.

[0056] The cleaning machine preferably comprises a spraying device with multiple spray nozzles for spraying the containers with a cleaning medium, such as water. The spraying device or the cleaning medium can be used, in particular, to spray residues of acid, alkali, and / or other treatment media from the containers. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spraying device is controlled by the control unit such that empty carrier units are not sprayed with the cleaning medium or are sprayed with a smaller amount of cleaning medium than the carrier units loaded with containers. This enables cleaning medium- and energy-saving operation of the cleaning machine.

[0057] It can be provided that the cleaning machine comprises at least one sensor unit connected to the control unit, by means of which it is determined whether a carrier unit or a group of carrier units is loaded with containers or is empty. This at least one sensor unit expediently generates a sensor signal which is dependent on the loading status of the carrier unit or the group of carrier units. The control unit can control the spraying device depending on this sensor signal. Alternatively, it can be provided that it is detected purely by software, i.e. without the use of a sensor unit, whether a carrier unit or a group of carrier units is loaded with containers or is empty. For example, it is possible to determine the loading status of a carrier unit or a group of carrier units based on information about how the loading device was controlled by the control unit when the carrier unit orto determine the group of carrier units that has passed the loading device.

[0058] Furthermore, the spraying device can have at least one controllable shut-off and / or throttling device, such as a valve, for influencing the cleaning medium flow through at least one of the spray nozzles, wherein at least one of the spray nozzles is expediently assigned to the at least one shut-off and / or throttling device. In an advantageous variant of the invention, it is provided that the at least one shut-off and / or throttling device is controlled by the control unit in such a way that the at least one shut-off and / or throttling device is shut off or throttled when, after a carrier unit loaded with containers, an empty carrier unit or a group of several empty carrier units arranged directly one behind the other passes the spray nozzle(s) assigned to the at least one controllable shut-off and / or throttling device.For the purposes of the invention, a spray nozzle is considered to be associated with a valve if the valve is designed to control this spray nozzle.

[0059] Alternatively or additionally, the spraying device can have at least one pump for conveying the cleaning medium to at least one of the spray nozzles, wherein at least one of the spray nozzles is expediently assigned to the at least one pump. It can be provided that the at least one pump is controlled by the control unit in such a way that the delivery rate of the at least one pump is reduced if, after a carrier unit loaded with containers, an empty carrier unit or a group of several empty carrier units arranged directly one behind the other passes the spray nozzle(s) assigned to the at least one pump. For the purposes of the invention, a spray nozzle is considered to be assigned to a pump if the pump is configured to convey the cleaning medium to this spray nozzle. The delivery rate of the at least one pump can be adjusted, for example, via a frequency control of the pump.

[0060] As mentioned at the beginning, the invention relates, among other things, to a computer program for a control unit of a container treatment line.

[0061] The computer program according to the invention is characterized in that the computer program causes the container treatment line to carry out the method according to the invention when it is executed on the control unit of the container treatment line.

[0062] The computer program can be stored on a computer-readable data carrier or storage medium. The computer program expediently contains program code that is processed by the control unit and used by the control unit to control the loading device and, if applicable, other devices of the cleaning machine.

[0063] The description of preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention given so far contains features that are sometimes summarized in several parts in the individual dependent claims. However, these features can also be considered individually and combined into useful further combinations. In particular, these features can each be combined individually and in any suitable combination with the container treatment line according to the invention, the control unit according to the invention, the cleaning machine according to the invention, the method according to the invention, and / or the computer program according to the invention.

[0064] The properties, features, and advantages of the invention described above, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more easily understood in connection with the following description of the embodiments of the invention, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. The embodiments serve to illustrate the invention and do not limit the invention to the combination of features specified therein, including with regard to functional features. Furthermore, suitable features of each embodiment can also be explicitly considered in isolation, incorporated into another embodiment to supplement it, and / or combined with any of the claims.

[0065] They show: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a container treatment line according to the invention with a container cleaning machine and a downstream container treatment system in a top view; Fig. 2 shows the cleaning machine of the container treatment line from Fig. 1 in a sectional view; Fig. 3 the container treatment line from Fig. 1 in an operating state in which some carrier units of the container cleaning machine are loaded with containers and some of the carrier units are left empty; Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a container treatment line according to the invention with a container cleaning machine and a downstream container treatment plant in a view from above; Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment of a container treatment line according to the invention with a container cleaning machine and a downstream container treatment plant in a view from above; Fig. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of a container treatment line according to the invention with a container cleaning machine and a downstream container treatment plant in a view from above.

[0066] Fig. 1 shows a schematic, highly simplified representation of a first container treatment line 1a in a view from above.

[0067] The container treatment line 1a comprises a cleaning machine 2 for cleaning containers, in particular for cleaning bottles, as well as a container treatment system 3 downstream of the cleaning machine 2.

[0068] The container treatment system 3 downstream of the cleaning machine 2 comprises a container treatment machine 22. In the present exemplary embodiment, the container treatment machine 22 is a filling machine, in particular a rotary filling machine. After passing through the cleaning machine 2, the containers are filled with a liquid, in particular a beverage, in this container treatment machine 22. In addition to said container treatment machine 22, the container treatment system 3 can comprise one or more further container treatment machines, such as a labeling machine, although any further container treatment machines are not shown in the figures.

[0069] The cleaning machine 2 comprises a container inlet 4 and a container outlet 5. At its container inlet 4, the cleaning machine 2 is connected to an inlet-side conveyor 23 of the container treatment line 1a, which serves to convey the containers to be cleaned to the container inlet 4 of the cleaning machine 2, in particular in a so-called push-pull transport. At its container outlet 5, the cleaning machine 2 is connected to an outlet-side conveyor 24 of the container treatment line 1a, which is also connected to the aforementioned container treatment machine 22 of the container treatment system 3 and serves to convey the containers cleaned by the cleaning machine 2 to the container treatment machine 22.The outlet-side conveyor device 24 is designed to transfer the containers from a multi-row container stream to a single-row container stream during their transport from the container outlet 5 of the cleaning machine 2 to the container treatment machine 22.

[0070] Furthermore, the cleaning machine 2 comprises an internal transport device 6, i.e. a transport device 6 arranged in the machine housing of the cleaning machine 2, for transporting the containers from the container inlet 4 to the container outlet 5. The transport device 6 of the cleaning machine 2 comprises a plurality of carrier units 8 arranged one behind the other in the transport direction 7 of the transport device 6, each with a plurality of container receptacles 9 arranged transversely to the transport direction 7 for holding the containers during their transport from the container inlet 4 to the container outlet 5. During their transport through the cleaning machine 2, the containers are transported to treatment stations 25 of the cleaning machine 2 (cf. Fig. 2 ) undergo a treatment which cleans the containers.

[0071] The transport path along which the containers are transported through the cleaning machine 2 by means of the transport device 6 preferably has a meandering course (cf. Fig. 2 ). In Fig. 1 (as well as in Fig. 3 bis 6 ), however, the transport route is shown as a straight transport route for the sake of better clarity and easier representation.

[0072] As from Fig. 1 As can be seen, the container inlet 4 of the cleaning machine 2 comprises several aisles 10 for guiding the containers. These are formed by aisle walls 11 arranged parallel to one another. The distance between adjacent aisle walls 11 is preferably adjustable so that the distance can be adapted to the container format of the containers to be processed. Instead of aisle walls 11, the aisles 10 can be formed, for example, by movable guide elements, in particular by spacers on one or more circulating chains.

[0073] Furthermore, the cleaning machine 2 comprises a loading device 12 at its container inlet 4 for loading the carrier units 8 or their container receptacles 9 with containers. The loading device 12 is designed to introduce the containers in groups into the carrier units 8 or their container receptacles 9. At its container outlet 5, the cleaning machine 2 has a removal device 13 for removing the containers from the carrier units 8 or their container receptacles 9 and for transferring the containers to the outlet-side conveyor device 24.

[0074] In addition, the container treatment line 1a is equipped with a control unit 14. The control unit 14 is connected to the loading device 12 of the cleaning machine 2 via a control line 15 and is configured to control the loading device 12—preferably with the aid of a computer program stored in a data memory of the control unit 14. Optionally, the control unit 14 can be connected to one or more other devices of the container treatment line 1a or the cleaning machine 2, such as the removal device 13 of the cleaning machine 2, and configured to control this device(s).

[0075] The container throughput of the container processing machine 22 can change as a result of a change in the state of the container processing machine 22, e.g., due to a defect and / or a (temporary) malfunction of the container processing machine 22 or individual elements of the container processing machine 22 and / or due to a change in the container format of the containers to be processed. It is assumed below that the container throughput of the container processing machine 22 is greater when processing containers of a small container format (such as 1.5-liter bottles) than when processing containers of a large container format (such as 2-liter bottles), because the container processing machine 22 requires a longer processing time, in particular a longer filling time, for containers of a large container format than for containers of a small container format.

[0076] A plant operator selects which container format is to be processed by the container processing line 1a via a control unit (not shown) (human-machine interface). The selection is transmitted from the control unit to the control unit 14. Each container format that can be processed by the container processing line 1a is assigned a container throughput of the container processing plant 3 or its container processing machine 22. The container throughput for the respective container format is stored in the control unit 14 or is retrieved by the control unit 14 from an external data storage device.

[0077] The loading device 12 of the cleaning machine 2 is controlled by the control unit 14 such that, for an operating period, one carrier unit 8 or a plurality of carrier units 8 of the transport device 6 are either loaded with containers by means of the loading device 12 or left empty, depending on the container throughput of the container treatment machine 22. In the present exemplary embodiment, the loading device 12 of the cleaning machine 2 is controlled by the control unit 14 such that, when processing containers of the smallest container format, all carrier units 8 are loaded with containers by means of the loading device 12, and when processing containers of a larger container format, some of the carrier units 8 are loaded with containers by means of the loading device 12 and some of the carrier units 8 are left empty.

[0078] The carrier units 8 are moved by means of a drive chain 26 of the transport device 6 (cf. Fig. 2 ) continuously and without interruption. Furthermore, the transport device 6 is operated, regardless of the container format, at a transport speed that lies within a speed range limited by a lower speed limit and an upper speed limit, with the upper speed limit being at most 10% greater than the lower speed limit. The term "transport speed" in this case refers to the speed at which the carrier units 8 are transported in the cleaning machine 2.

[0079] Fig. 2 shows the cleaning machine 2 of the container treatment line 1a from Fig. 1 in a schematic sectional view.

[0080] In Fig. 2 the loading device 12, the removal device 13 and the previously mentioned treatment stations 25 of the cleaning machine 2 are visible.

[0081] Furthermore, in Fig. 2 a part of the previously mentioned drive chain 26 is shown, by means of which the carrier units 8 are driven. For the sake of simplicity, Fig. 2 only some chain links of the drive chain 26 are shown, while the remaining course of the drive chain 26 is indicated by a line. In addition, Fig. 2 several drive motors 27 of the cleaning machine 2 are shown, by means of which the drive chain 26 is driven.

[0082] As from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 As can be seen, the cleaning machine 2 is a so-called two-end machine. This means that the container inlet 4 and the container outlet 5 are arranged at opposite ends of the cleaning machine 2. In principle, the cleaning machine 2 can alternatively be designed as a so-called single-end machine. In a single-end machine, the container inlet 4 and the container outlet 5 are arranged on the same side of the cleaning machine 2 at different heights. The above and the following statements apply analogously if the cleaning machine 2 is designed as a single-end machine.

[0083] Fig. 3 shows the container treatment line 1a from Fig. 1 , in the same view as in Fig. 1 .

[0084] In Fig. 3 the container treatment line 1a is shown in an operating state in which some of the carrier units 8 are loaded with containers by means of the loading device 12 and some of the carrier units 8 are left empty, ie not loaded with containers. In Fig. 3 (as well as in the other figures) the container receptacles 9 of the carrier units 8 loaded with containers are shown hatched and the container receptacles 9 left empty are shown not hatched.

[0085] In the specific example from Fig. 3 A carrier unit 8 loaded with containers, all of whose container receptacles 9 are loaded with containers, is followed by two empty carrier units 8 arranged directly one behind the other. This sequence of loaded carrier units 8 on the one hand and empty carrier units 8 on the other hand is purely exemplary. In principle, a different sequence of loaded and empty carrier units 8 and / or a different ratio of loaded to empty carrier units 8 is also possible.

[0086] The following description of further embodiments is primarily limited to the differences to the embodiment from Fig. 1 bis 3 , to which reference is made with regard to identical features and functions. Identical and / or corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals where appropriate. Features of the embodiment of Fig. 1 bis 3 are adopted in the further embodiments without being described again.

[0087] Fig. 4 shows a schematic, highly simplified representation of a second container treatment line 1b in a view from above.

[0088] The second container treatment line 1b differs from the first container treatment line 1a in Fig. 1 bis 3 Essentially, in the second container treatment line 1b, the cleaning machine 2 has a blocking element 16 at several of its lanes 10 for blocking and releasing the associated lane 10. Furthermore, the cleaning machine 2 comprises a drive device (not shown in the figure) for driving the blocking elements 16.

[0089] In the present embodiment, this drive device is controlled by the control unit 14, which also controls the loading device 12 of the cleaning machine 2. The drive device for driving the blocking elements 16 is controlled by the control unit 14 such that the associated lanes 10 are either blocked or released by means of the blocking elements 16 depending on the container throughput of the container treatment machine 22.

[0090] To illustrate the functioning of the locking elements 16, Fig. 4 Several containers 17 are shown located at or in front of the container inlet 4, which are fed to the cleaning machine 2 by means of the inlet-side conveyor 23 in a push-pull transport manner. If one of the lanes 10 is blocked by the associated blocking element 16, no containers 17 can reach the loading device 12 via this lane 10, so that the container receptacles 9 of the carrier units 8, which are arranged in alignment with this lane 10, are not fed with containers 17 by the loading device 12.

[0091] In the specific example from Fig. 4 Three carrier units 8 loaded with containers arranged directly one behind the other are followed by one empty carrier unit 8. In the case of the carrier units 8 loaded with containers, only those container receptacles 9 are loaded with containers which are not arranged in alignment with a lane 10 blocked by a blocking element 16.

[0092] Fig. 5 shows a schematic, highly simplified representation of a third container treatment line 1c in a view from above.

[0093] In the third container treatment line 1c, the cleaning machine 2 comprises a spraying device 18 with several spray nozzles 19 for spraying the containers with a cleaning medium, such as water. Fig. 5 Three spray nozzles 19 are shown as examples. Each of these spray nozzles 19 shown represents a spray nozzle of a nozzle transverse row consisting of several spray nozzles arranged one behind the other transversely to the transport direction 7 for spraying several containers. Advantageously, the number of spray nozzles in the respective nozzle transverse row is equal to the number of container receptacles 9 provided by each carrier unit 8.

[0094] Furthermore, the spray device 18 has a plurality of shut-off and / or throttle elements 20, which are designed, for example, as valves, for influencing the cleaning medium flow through the spray nozzles 19 or the transverse rows of nozzles, with each of the shut-off and / or throttle elements 20 being assigned a transverse row of nozzles. The shut-off and / or throttle elements 20 are arranged in supply lines of the spray device 18, via which the spray nozzles 19 are supplied with the cleaning medium.

[0095] Said shut-off and / or throttling devices 20 are connected to the control unit 14 via control lines not shown in the figure and are controlled by the latter.

[0096] Each of the shut-off and / or throttling devices 20 is controlled by the control unit 14 such that the respective shut-off and / or throttling device 20 is shut off or throttled when, after a carrier unit 8 loaded with containers, an empty carrier unit 8 or a group of several empty carrier units 8 arranged directly one behind the other passes the transverse row of nozzles assigned to the respective shut-off and / or throttling device 20. In this way, it is achieved that empty carrier units 8 are not sprayed with the cleaning medium or are sprayed with a smaller amount of cleaning medium than the carrier units 8 loaded with containers.

[0097] In Fig. 5 For example, the middle of the three shut-off and / or throttling devices 20 shown is shut off or throttled, since in the snapshot of Fig. 5 a group of several empty carrier units 8 arranged directly one behind the other passes the spray nozzle 19 or nozzle transverse row assigned to the central shut-off and / or throttle device 20.

[0098] Fig. 6 shows a schematic, highly simplified representation of a fourth container treatment line 1d in a view from above.

[0099] In the fourth container treatment line 1d, the cleaning machine 2 also comprises a spraying device 18 with several spray nozzles for spraying the containers with a cleaning medium. Fig. 6 Three spray nozzles 19 are shown as examples, each of these spray nozzles 19 shown being representative of a spray nozzle of a transverse row of nozzles consisting of several spray nozzles arranged one behind the other transversely to the transport direction 7 for spraying several containers.

[0100] In addition, the spraying device 18 comprises a plurality of pumps 21 for conveying the cleaning medium to the spray nozzles 19, each of the pumps 21 being assigned to one of the transverse rows of nozzles. The pumps 21 are connected to the control unit 14 via control lines (not shown in the figure) and are controlled by the latter.

[0101] Each of the pumps 21 is controlled by the control unit 14 such that the delivery capacity of the respective pump 21 is reduced when, after a carrier unit 8 loaded with containers, an empty carrier unit 8 or a group of several empty carrier units 8 arranged directly one behind the other passes the transverse row of nozzles assigned to the respective pump 21. In this way, it is achieved that empty carrier units 8 are not sprayed with the cleaning medium or are sprayed with a smaller amount of cleaning medium than the carrier units 8 loaded with containers.

[0102] In Fig. 6 For example, the middle of the three pumps 21 shown has a reduced flow rate, since in the snapshot of Fig. 6 a group of several empty carrier units 8 arranged directly one behind the other passes the spray nozzle 19 or nozzle transverse row assigned to the middle pump 21.

[0103] In the concrete examples from Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 Four carrier units 8 loaded with containers arranged directly one behind the other are followed by four carrier units 8 left empty and arranged directly one behind the other.

[0104] In the examples from Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 It can be provided that one or more sensor units (not shown) are used to monitor whether a carrier unit 8 or a group of several carrier units 8 arranged directly one behind the other is loaded with containers or has been left empty. The control unit 14 controls the valves 20 or the pumps 21 of the spraying device 18 depending on the sensor signal(s) of the sensor unit(s). Alternatively, it can be provided that the loading status of a carrier unit 8 or a group of several carrier units 8 arranged directly one behind the other is determined purely by software, ie without the use of a sensor unit. For example, the loading status of a carrier unit 8 or a group of carrier units 8 can be determined based on information about how the loading device 12 was controlled by the control unit 14 when the carrier unit 8 orthe group of carrier units 8 has passed the loading device 12. Bezugszeichenliste

[0105] 1aContainer treatment line 1bContainer treatment line 1cContainer treatment line 1dContainer treatment line 2Cleaning machine 3Container treatment system 4Container inlet 5Container outlet 6Transport device 7Transport direction 8Carrier unit 9Container holder 10Aisle 11Aisle wall 12Feeding device 13Removal device 14Control unit 15Control line 16Blocking element 17Container 18Spraying device 19Spray nozzle 20Shut-off and / or throttle device 21Pump 22Container treatment machine 23Inlet-side conveyor 24Outlet-side conveyor 25Treatment station 26Drive chain 27Drive motor

Claims

1. A container treatment line (1a-1d) comprising a cleaning machine (2) for cleaning containers (17), a container treatment system (3) located downstream of the cleaning machine (2), which comprises at least one container treatment machine (22), and a conveying device (23) for conveying the containers (17) to the cleaning machine (2), wherein the cleaning machine (2) comprises: - a container inlet (4) having several lanes (10) and a container outlet (5), - an inner transport device (6) for transporting the containers (17) from the container inlet (4) to the container outlet (5), which includes several carrier units (8) arranged one behind the other in the transport direction (7) of the transport device (6), each having a plurality of container receptacles (9) arranged transversely to the transport direction (7) for holding the containers (17) during transport thereof from the container inlet (4) to the container outlet (5), and - a loading device (12) for loading at least some of the container receptacles (9) with the containers (17), and wherein the container treatment line (1a-1d) comprises a control unit (14), the control unit (14) being designed to process data concerning the container throughput of the container treatment system (3) and / or concerning the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine (22), characterised in that the control unit (14) is designed to control the loading device (12) in such a way that, for a period of operation, one of the carrier units (8) and / or a plurality of the carrier units (8) is either loaded with containers (17) by means of the loading device (12) or is left empty, as a function of the container throughput of the container treatment system (3) and / or of the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine (22).

2. The container treatment line (1a-1d) according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one container treatment machine (22) of the container treatment system (3) is a filling machine for filling the containers (17) with a liquid.

3. The container treatment line (1a-1d) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the cleaning machine (2) has a blocking element (16) on at least one of the lanes (10) for blocking and releasing the associated lane (10), the cleaning machine (2) preferably having a drive device for driving the at least one blocking element (16) and the control unit (14) preferably being designed to control said drive device in such a way that the associated lane (10) is either blocked or released by the blocking element (16) as a function of the container throughput of the container treatment system (3) and / or of the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine (22).

4. The container treatment line (1a-1d) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transport speed of the transport device (6) of the cleaning machine (2) can be controlled or regulated and the control unit (14) is designed to control or regulate the transport speed of the transport device (6) as a function of the container throughput of the container treatment system (3) and / or of the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine (22).

5. The container treatment line (1a-1d) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cleaning machine (2) has a spraying device (18) with a plurality of spray nozzles (19) for spraying the containers (17) with a cleaning medium, and the control unit (14) is designed to control the spraying device (18), in particular its shut-off and / or throttle elements (20) and / or its pumps (21), in such a way that carrier units (8) that have been left empty are not sprayed with the cleaning medium or are sprayed with a smaller quantity of cleaning medium than the carrier units (8) loaded with containers (17).

6. The container treatment line (1a - 1d) according to claim 5, characterised in that the spraying device (18) has at least one controllable shut-off and / or throttle element (20) for influencing the cleaning medium flow rate of at least one of the spray nozzles (19), wherein at least one of the spray nozzles (19) is associated with the at least one shut-off and / or throttle element (20) and the control unit (14) is designed to control the at least one shut-off and / or throttle element (20) in such a way that the at least one shut-off and / or throttle element (20) is shut off or throttled when after a carrier unit (8) loaded with containers (17), a carrier unit (8) left empty or a set of a plurality of carrier units (8) left empty and arranged immediately one behind the other passes the spray nozzle(s) (19) associated with the at least one shut-off and / or throttle element (20).

7. The container treatment line (1a-1d) according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the spraying device (18) has at least one pump (21) for conveying the cleaning medium to at least one of the spray nozzles (19), wherein at least one of the spray nozzles (19) is associated with the at least one pump (21) and the control unit (14) is designed to control the at least one pump (21) in such a way that the delivery rate of the at least one pump (21) is reduced when after a carrier unit (8) that has been loaded with containers (17), a carrier unit (8) that has been left empty or a set of a plurality of carrier units (8) that have been left empty and are arranged directly one behind the other passes the spray nozzle(s) (19) associated with the at least one pump (21).

8. A method for operating a container treatment line (1a - 1d) comprising a cleaning machine (2) for cleaning containers (17) and a container treatment system (3) located downstream of the cleaning machine (2), in particular for operating a container treatment line (1a - 1d) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein - the containers (17) are conveyed to the cleaning machine (2) by means of a conveying device (23) of the container treatment line (1a - 1d), - the containers (17) are introduced into lanes (10) of a container inlet (4) of the cleaning machine (2), - the containers (17) are transported by means of an inner transport device (6) of the cleaning machine (2) from the container inlet (4) of the cleaning machine (2) to the container outlet (5) thereof, the transport device (6) comprising a plurality of carrier units (8) arranged one behind the other in the transport direction (7) of the transport device (6), each having a plurality of container receptacles (9) arranged transversely to the transport direction (7), in which container receptacles (9) the containers (17) are held during transport thereof from the container inlet (4) to the container outlet (5), and - at least some of the container receptacles (9) are loaded with the containers (17) by means of a loading device (12) of the cleaning machine (2), wherein data concerning the container throughput of the container treatment system (3) and / or concerning the container throughput of at least one container treatment machine (22) of the container treatment system (3) is processed by a control unit (14) of the container treatment line (1a-1d), characterised in that the loading device (12) is controlled by the control unit (14) in such a way that, for a period of operation, one of the carrier units (8) and / or a plurality of the carrier units (8) is either loaded with containers (17) by means of the loading device (12) or is left empty as a function of the container throughput of the container treatment system (3) and / or of the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine (22).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterised in that the containers (17) are filled with a liquid in the at least one container treatment machine (22) of the container treatment system (3) after passing through the cleaning machine (2).

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the loading device (12) is controlled by the control unit (14) in such a way that one or more of the carrier units (8) are left empty when the container throughput of the container treatment system (3) and / or of the at least one container treatment machine (22) is lower than a reference container throughput, with the reference container throughput corresponding to the maximum container throughput of the container treatment system (3) and / or of the at least one container treatment machine (22).

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterised in that the container throughput of the container treatment system (3) and / or of the at least one container treatment machine (22) is a function of the container format and the loading device (12) is controlled by the control unit (14) in such a way that, for an operating period, one of the carrier units (8) and / or a plurality of the carrier units (8) is / are either loaded with containers (17) by means of the loading device (12) or left empty as a function of the container format.

12. The method according to any one of Claims 8 to 11, characterised in that, in the event of a decrease or increase in the container throughput of the container treatment system (3) and / or of the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine (22), in particular as a result of a change in the container format, the container throughput of the cleaning machine (2) is changed by the control unit (14) by controlling the loading apparatus (12) using the control unit (14) in such a way that the number of carrier units (8) loaded with containers (17) per unit of time by means of the loading apparatus (12) is changed.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterised in that the carrier units (8) of the transport device (6) are driven continuously and without interruption by means of a drive means, in particular a drive chain (26), of the transport device (6).

14. The method according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterised in that, during transport of the containers (17) from the container inlet (4) to the container outlet (5), the transport device (6) is operated at a transport speed that is within a speed interval limited by a lower speed limit value and an upper speed limit value, the upper speed limit value being no more than 20%, preferably no more than 10%, greater than the lower speed limit value, and wherein the two speed limit values are independent of the container format and / or independent of the container throughput of the container treatment system (3) and / or the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine (22).

15. The method according to any one of Claims 8 to 14, characterised in that the loading device (12) is controlled by the control unit (14) in such a way that a set of a plurality of carrier units (8) of the transport device (6) arranged directly one behind the other is left empty.

16. A computer program for a control unit (14) of a container treatment line (1a-1d), in particular a container treatment line (1a-1d) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which causes the container treatment line (1a-1d) to carry out a process according to one of claims 8 to 15 when the computer program is executed on the control unit (14).