Batch-off plant with a cleaning system for section-by-section cleaning of the batch-off plant and method for section-by-section cleaning in a batch-off plant with a cleaning system

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a batch-off plant with a cleaning system for section-by-section cleaning of the batch-off plant according to the combination of features of patent claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for section-by-section cleaning in a batch-off plant with a cleaning system according to the combination of features of patent claim 10.

[0002] Batch-off systems are systems that are installed downstream of a rolling mill, for example. With the help of a batch-off system, the rubber sheets produced using a calendering process are firstly cooled and then folded into easily manageable volumes.

[0003] In order to palletize, fold, or stack the produced rubber sheets, they must be coated with an anti-adhesive agent. The anti-adhesive agent is applied by coating the rubber sheet with the anti-adhesive agent using a coating device. The coating device essentially comprises an immersion tank through which the rubber sheet can be passed. A solution containing an anti-adhesive agent is located in the immersion tank.

[0004] However, it has been shown that the solution in the immersion tank becomes contaminated during the coating process. There are several known factors that contribute to the contamination of the anti-adhesion agent solution. Firstly, pieces of rubber or parts of the rubber sheets can get into the anti-adhesion agent solution due to mechanical stress. Due to evaporation and circulation in the system, the anti-adhesion agent can also precipitate and collect, for example, at the bottom of the coating device. Furthermore, it is known that the chemical components that do not end up on the rubber sheets as a coating go into solution. These factors lead to deposits forming on the bottom of the coating device and to foam forming on the surface of the liquid or solution. Under certain circumstances, foaming can occur to such an extent that it is impossible to empty or empty the coating.Overflow of the anti-adhesion solution in the coating device or in an immersion container.

[0005] Therefore, it has been necessary to manually perform a batch-off system, especially in the coating device area. This requires stopping the batch-off system while the corresponding cleaning is performed. Therefore, the batch-off system cannot be used during a cleaning process.

[0006] In light of the aforementioned disadvantages of the known prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning system for section-by-section cleaning of a batch-off system that enables simple section-by-section cleaning, for example, in the area of ​​a coating device, of a batch-off system. This should preferably be automatable with the aid of the cleaning system.

[0007] Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to conserve resources such as water resources with the aid of the cleaning system and to reuse or clean as high a proportion of the anti-adhesion solution as possible.

[0008] Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method by means of which at least partial cleaning of a batch-off system can be carried out automatically.

[0009] The object is achieved with regard to a batch-off system having a cleaning system by the subject matter of claim 1. With regard to a method for section-by-section cleaning of a batch-off system, the object is achieved by the method having the features of claim 10.

[0010] Appropriate developments of the inventive concept are the subject of the claims dependent on claims 1 and 10.

[0011] The invention is based on the idea that a cleaning system according to the invention for at least partially cleaning a batch-off system has at least one collecting container for a mixture to be collected.

[0012] The mixture to be collected contains at least anti-adhesion agent residues. The at least one collecting container has at least one foam skimming device, wherein the foam skimming device is designed to separate foam components of the mixture from liquid components of the mixture and transport the foam components to a foam collection container. By implementing a foam skimming device, it is possible to perform section-by-section cleaning, i.e., at least one cleaning in a selected section of the batch-off system.

[0013] This does not require interrupting the operation of the batch-off system. Rather, a foam skimming device can be used to perform at least partial cleaning during operation of the batch-off system, allowing further cleaning and separation steps without shutting down the batch-off system.

[0014] In addition to anti-adhesive residues, the mixture to be collected preferably contains water and / or material sections or material particles of the rubber component to be processed in the batch-off system, in particular the rubber band.

[0015] The anti-adhesion agent itself is preferably a mixture of various chemicals. These can be inert minerals combined with calcium stearate, detergents, antifoams, and rust inhibitors. The anti-adhesion agent residues may therefore contain components of the aforementioned powder compositions.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the foam skimming device comprises at least one wall or plate inclined in relation to the horizontal of the collecting container and a movable, in particular horizontally movable, spatula.

[0017] A horizontal axis of the collecting container is understood to mean, in particular, an axis that runs parallel to a liquid surface formed in the collecting container. The inclined wall or the inclined plate is thus inclined to the horizontal and to the liquid surface formed in the collecting container.

[0018] An inclined wall is understood to mean, in particular, a wall or housing section of the collecting container. In this case, a section of the collecting container itself is preferably designed to be inclined.

[0019] An inclined plate is preferably a separately formed component connected to the collecting container.

[0020] The spatula, which is movable in particular horizontally, is, for example, a plastic element that can be moved above the inclined surface or inclined plate. Due to the movement of the spatula, which is particularly horizontal, a foam component of the mixture formed on the liquid surface can be pushed along the inclined surface or inclined plate toward an edge section of the collecting container, so that the foam component of the mixture can be separated from the liquid components of the mixture and transported to a foam collection container. Thus, the foam is skimmed off at the collecting container.

[0021] The spatula can generally be described or designed as an elongated component that enables a sweeping motion over a liquid surface.

[0022] It is possible for the cleaning system to have multiple collection containers. A first collection container is preferably located below a coating device of the batch-off system. The coating device can be a dipping tank or immersion tank. The mixture in the immersion tank or dipping tank, which contains anti-adhesion agent residues, can thus be drained vertically downwards into the first collection container.

[0023] A preferably at least second collecting container can be arranged below a drip zone of the batch-off system. A drip zone is the drying area of ​​a batch-off system in which the anti-adhesion agent initially deposited on the rubber sheet can drip off.

[0024] With the aid of the cleaning system according to the invention, it is thus advantageously possible to collect, clean, or process excess anti-adhesive agent that drips from coated rubber sheets.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one collecting container, in particular the first collecting container, has a collecting section in the bottom section, in particular a conical section, which is designed to collect solids from the mixture. The solids of the mixture can be powder components of the anti-adhesion agent. Furthermore, the solids can be particles or material sections of the rubber sheet or rubber material to be treated in the batch-off system.

[0026] In other words, in the bottom section, which is preferably formed vertically opposite the foam skimming device of the collecting container, a depression is preferably formed which can serve as a collecting section for the heavier solids of the mixture.

[0027] The at least one collecting container, in particular the first collecting container, can be fluidly connected to a centrifuge, a centrifugal separator, or a screw conveyor. For this purpose, the collecting container, particularly in the area of ​​the collecting section, may have a solids discharge opening through which the collected solids can be removed from the collecting container and transported to a centrifuge, a centrifugal separator, or a screw conveyor.

[0028] It is possible that the screw conveyor is formed in the collecting container, in particular in the area of ​​the collecting section, so that the solids collected in the collecting section can be transported out of the collecting container.

[0029] When designing a centrifugal separator, however, it is possible for the collected solids to be subjected to further cleaning, allowing the solids to be separated from the liquid components once again.

[0030] In a further embodiment of the invention, the foam collection container can have a filter device, in particular a sieve separator, which is designed to separate residual liquid from the foam component located in the foam collection container.

[0031] The foam collection container can be fluidly connected to a waste collection container, wherein the waste collection container preferably has a filter device, in particular a sieve separator, which is designed to separate residual liquid from the materials located in the waste collection container.

[0032] It is possible that, if at least two collection containers are provided, the separated foam components are transported to a common foam collection container. It is therefore possible that, despite the provision of multiple collection containers, only one foam collection container is provided in the cleaning system.

[0033] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is possible for a rinsing and / or spraying device to be formed in a / the drip zone of the batch-off system, which is designed to dilute the mixture to be collected in the drip zone.

[0034] Preferably, the at least second collecting container, which is formed in a / the drip zone, is designed as an elongated collecting container having an inclined wall in one section. Thus, in such an embodiment of the invention, the inclined wall is formed by the collecting container itself. Since the mixture to be collected has a lower viscosity in the drip zone than, for example, in the area of ​​the coating device, it is advantageous to dilute the mixture to be collected in the drip zone so that appropriate skimming of foam can occur.

[0035] With the help of the purification system according to the invention, it is possible to purify mixtures that previously had to be disposed of completely as waste products from a batch-off plant using several components included in the purification system. It is possible to reuse the liquid components of the collected mixture thus separated in the batch-off plant.

[0036] The proportion of solids that actually need to be disposed of is significantly reduced.

[0037] Since the batch-off system does not need to be shut down during a cleaning process, further costs can be saved. Furthermore, the cleaning processes that can be performed using the cleaning system save considerable amounts of water that would previously have been used to flush or clean the batch-off system.

[0038] A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for section-by-section cleaning in a batch-off system with a cleaning system. The method according to the invention provides that a mixture containing anti-adhesion agent residues is collected at least section-by-section in at least one collecting container. The foam skimming device designed according to the invention preferably regularly separates foam components of the mixture from liquid components of the mixture, and the foam components are transported to a foam collection container.

[0039] Preferably, the foam skimming device is activated at regular time intervals, wherein the time interval is 20 min to 240 min, in particular 30 min to 120 min, in particular 45 min to 80 min.

[0040] If the cleaning system has several collecting containers, each with its own foam skimming device, it is possible for the respective foam skimming devices to be activated in parallel or at different times.

[0041] The advantage of staggered activation of multiple foam skimmers is that the foam components collected by each of them can be cleaned continuously. The post-treatment or subsequent cleaning steps associated with the skimmed foam components can be carried out more quickly due to the smaller amounts of foam components collected.

[0042] Advantages and usefulness of the invention will become apparent from the description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. These show: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a cleaning system according to the invention; and Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of a cleaning system according to the invention.

[0043] In the following, the same reference numbers are used for identical and equivalent parts.

[0044] Fig. 1 shows schematically the basic structure of a cleaning system 10 according to the invention for section-by-section cleaning of a batch-off system 100. In the batch-off system 100, a rubber sheet 99 is cooled and coated with an anti-adhesive agent so that the rubber sheet 99 can be further transported or processed in a stacked or folded form 98.

[0045] To coat the rubber sheet 99 with an anti-adhesion agent, the batch-off system 100 has a coating device 90. The coating device 90 is designed as a type of dipping tank through which the rubber belt 99 can be guided. An anti-adhesion agent solution L is located in the dipping tank so that the rubber sheet 99 can be coated with the appropriate anti-adhesion agent. The anti-adhesion agent solution is a mixture of water and anti-adhesion agent, with the anti-adhesion agent being present, for example, at a concentration of 2 to 4 wt.%, based on the total mixture.

[0046] A mixture G containing anti-adhesive residues is collected in a collecting container 20a. In addition to anti-adhesive residues, the mixture G may contain, for example, rubber components or rubber particles.

[0047] The collecting container 20a further comprises a foam skimming device 30. The foam skimming device 30 comprises at least one plate 32 inclined relative to the horizontal plane 21 of the collecting container 20a and a movable spatula 33. The spatula 33 can be moved horizontally in the direction of movement D, as indicated by the arrow.

[0048] With the aid of the horizontally movable gap 33, a foam component S of the mixture G can be separated from liquid components F of the mixture G and transported to a foam collection container 40. The first collection container 20a is arranged vertically below the coating device 90.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, the cleaning system 10 according to the invention has a second collecting container 20b. The second collecting container 20b is arranged vertically below the drip zone 95 of the batch-off system 100. In the drip zone 95, drops of the anti-adhesion agent can separate from the coated rubber sheet 99.

[0050] These anti-adhesion agent drops can be collected with the help of the second collecting container 20b. The second collecting container 20b has an inclined wall 31. The inclined wall 31 is part of the foam skimming device 30. Furthermore, a gap 33 is also formed in connection with the second collecting container 20b. The spatula 33 can also be moved in the direction of movement D. When the spatula 33 is moved to the left, a foam component S can thus be transported to the foam collection container 40. A liquid component F of the mixture G, however, initially remains in the second collecting container 20b.

[0051] In the first collecting container 20a, the inclined plate 32 is formed as a separate component. In other words, in this context, in order to form a foam skimming device 30, it is necessary to form a separate plate 32 in addition to a spatula 33.

[0052] In conjunction with the second collecting container 20b, a wall of the collecting container 20b itself is designed as an inclined surface or inclined wall 31. Thus, the formation of a separate plate is not necessary here.

[0053] In order to enable a better skimming or a better separation of the foam component of the mixture from the liquid component F of the mixture G, a spray device 70 is preferably formed in the region of the second collecting container 20b, so that the anti-adhesion agent drops collected by the second collecting container 20b can be diluted.

[0054] In the first collecting container 20a, the concentration of the anti-adhesion agent in the foam component S is, for example, approximately 50%.

[0055] The first collecting container 20a has a collecting section 23 in the bottom section 22. The collecting section 23 is designed to collect solids M of the mixture G. The collecting section 23 is formed, for example, by a conical shape of the bottom section 22. The collecting section 23 can also be referred to as a recess in the collecting container 20a, in which solids M of the mixture G collect.

[0056] In the Fig. 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the cleaning system 10 comprises a screw conveyor 50, by means of which the solids M can be transported from the first collecting container 20a. The solids M are preferably transported to a waste collection container 80. This waste collection container can have a filter device, in particular a sieve separator 85, which is designed to separate residual liquid from the materials located in the waste collection container 80.

[0057] The solid M can, for example, be deposits of the precipitated anti-stick powder and rubber compound particles. The precipitated anti-stick powder can be present at a concentration of approximately 75% at this stage.

[0058] With the help of the waste collection container 80 and the additionally designed sieve separator 85, it is possible to separate residual liquid from collected waste materials so that this residual liquid can be returned to the batch-off system circuit.

[0059] Preferably, the foam component S of the foam collection container 40 is also collected in the waste collection container 80 and separated again with the aid of the sieve separator 85.

[0060] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is possible for the foam collection container 40 itself to have a filter device, in particular a sieve separator.

[0061] In Fig. 2A further embodiment of the invention is shown. This embodiment of the cleaning system 10 differs only in the alternative design of a centrifugal separator 60 instead of a screw conveyor 50.

[0062] With the help of the centrifugal separator 60, the solid M collected in the collection container 20a can be further separated into its liquid and solid components. The separated liquid components can be returned to the batch-off system. The solids separated by the centrifugal separator 60, however, can be transported to the waste collection container 80. Here, a further separation or purification can be carried out using a sieve separator 85.

[0063] The implementation of the invention is not limited to the examples and aspects mentioned above, but is also possible in a variety of modifications that are within the scope of the claims. List of reference symbols

[0064] 10 Cleaning system 20a, 20b Collection container 21 Horizontal of the collection container 22 Bottom section of the collection container 23 Collection section 30 Foam skimming device 31 Inclined wall 32 Inclined plate 33 Spatula 40 Foam collection container 50 Screw conveyor 60 Centrifugal separator 70 Spray device 80 Waste collection container 85 Screen separator 90 Coating device 95 Drip zone 98 Stack 99 Rubber track 100 Batch-off system DDirection of movement of spatula FFliquid component GGmixture LAnti-stick solution MSolids of the mixture SSoam component

Claims

1. Batch-off installation (100) having a cleaning system (10) for the sectional cleaning of the batch-off installation (100), wherein the cleaning system (10) has at least one collecting container (20a, 20b) for a mixture (G) to be collected, which contains at least anti-adhesive residues, and at least one foam collecting container (40), wherein the at least one collecting container (20a, 20b) has at least one foam skimming device (30), wherein the foam skimming device (30) is designed to separate foam constituents (S) of the mixture (G) from liquid constituents (F) of the mixture (G) and to transport the foam constituents (S) to the at least one foam collecting container (40).

2. Batch-off installation (100) having a cleaning system (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the foam skimming device (30) has at least one wall (31) or plate (32) inclined in relation to the horizontal (21) of the collecting container (20a, 20b) and a movable, in particular horizontally movable, spatula (33).

3. Batch-off installation (100) having a cleaning system (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a first collecting container (20a) is arranged below a coating device (90) of the batch-off system (100).

4. Batch-off installation (100) having a cleaning system (10) according to Claim 3, characterized in that an at least second collecting container (20b) is arranged below in a drip zone (95) of the batch-off installation (100).

5. Batch-off installation (100) having a cleaning system (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one collecting container (20a, 20b), in particular the first collecting container (20a), has, in the bottom section (22), an, in particular conically shaped, collecting section (23), which is designed to collect solids (M) of the mixture (G).

6. Batch-off installation (100) having a cleaning system (10) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the at least one collecting container (20a, 20b), in particular the first collecting container (20a), is fluidically connected to a centrifuge or to a centrifugal separator (60) or to a screw conveyor (50).

7. Batch-off installation (100) having a cleaning system (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foam collecting container (40) has a filter device, in particular a screen separator, which is designed to separate residual fluid from the foam constituent (S) located in the foam collecting container (40).

8. Batch-off installation (100) having a cleaning system (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foam collecting container (40) is fluidically connected to a waste collecting container (80), wherein the waste collecting container (80) preferably has a filter device, in particular a screen separator (85), which is designed to separate residual fluid from the material particles located in the waste collecting container (80).

9. Batch-off installation (100) having a cleaning system (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by a flushing and / or spraying device (70) which is formed in a / the drip zone (95) of the batch-off installation (100) and is designed to dilute the mixture (G) to be collected in the drip zone (95).

10. Method for sectional cleaning in a batch-off installation (100) having a cleaning system (10) according to any of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that mixture (G), which contains anti-adhesive residues, is collected in the at least one collecting container (20a, 20b) at least in portions, wherein foam constituents (S) of the mixture (G) are, preferably regularly, separated from liquid constituents (F) of the mixture (G) by means of the foam skimming device (30) and the foam constituents (S) are transported into a foam collecting container (40).

11. Method according to Claim 10, characterized in that the foam skimming device (30) is activated at regular time intervals, wherein the time interval is 20 min - 240 min, in particular 30 min -120 min, in particular 45 min - 80 min.