Transport system in the drinks industry and computer-controlled or electronic method for operating the transport system

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport system (1, 10, 14) in the drinks industry comprising a transport device (TR), which is designed to transport containers (3) in a transport direction through the transport system, comprising a rinsing region (4, 18) which is designed to form a liquid curtain (5, 19) through which containers which can be transported by the transport device (2) can pass. The invention further relates to a computer-controlled or electronic method for operating the transport system.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport system in the beverage industry according to the preamble of claim 1 and a computer-controlled or electronic method for operating the transport system according to claim 15. State of the art

[0002] Air jet drying systems are known from the prior art. These involve directing air at high speed onto the surface of containers to be dried, such as bottles, cans, and / or containers. This allows any liquid adhering to the surface of the container to be at least partially blown off. Small water droplets, in particular, can be difficult or even impossible to blow off.

[0003] For example, to ensure error-free labeling of containers, it is necessary to efficiently dry the surface of the containers when they leave a container treatment machine, such as a pasteurizer, cooler or warmer. Task

[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a transport system in the beverage industry and a computer-controlled or electronic method for operating the transport system, which, after a surface treatment of containers with a liquid, have a drying result that enables further processing of the containers, for example labeling, without disruption.

[0005] DE 2 248 220 discloses a bottle cleaning machine in which at least one fresh water curtain can be provided as a lock on the discharge and / or feed side, which can be passed by empty bottle cells.

[0006] US 4,313,767 discloses a method and apparatus for cleaning the interior of can bodies by removing solid particles from the interior using ionized gas pulses. Pressure fluid curtains are provided laterally on both sides of the conveyor and can comprise air, another gas, or a liquid such as water.

[0007] DE 26 29 853 discloses a transport system according to the preamble of claim 1, and shows a continuous cleaning and sterilizing machine for bottles, in which, after leaving a second spray zone, the bottles are blown dry with heated air in a drying zone.

[0008] DE 20 2008 013 072 U1 discloses a device for treating containers. Water is allowed to flow down or over containers in treatment zones to remove labels and / or other foreign matter or solids from or from the containers. Solution

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by the transport system in the beverage industry according to claim 1 and the computer-controlled or electronic method for operating the transport system according to claim 15. Further developments of the invention are covered in the subclaims.

[0010] The invention relates to a transport system in the beverage industry with a transport device which is designed to transport containers in a transport direction through the transport system, with a splash zone which is designed to form a liquid curtain which can be passed by containers transported by the transport device.

[0011] The containers can include bottles, cans or containers.

[0012] The liquid curtain can be a continuous, freely falling film of liquid. The liquid curtain can extend over a width (the width can, for example, be perpendicular to the transport direction) that corresponds, for example, to the total width of the transport device. The width of the liquid curtain can also be smaller than the total width of the transport device. For example, a minimum width of the liquid curtain can be 2% to 5% greater than a maximum width of the containers passing through the liquid curtain. The width of the liquid curtain can be variable, for example, by switching existing liquid nozzles on or off.

[0013] The height of the liquid curtain (for example, the height can be parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container) can be adjusted such that containers of a given height can pass through the liquid curtain and their surface can be completely wetted with liquid. The height of the liquid curtain can be variable, for example, by providing height-adjustable liquid nozzles.

[0014] By passing through the liquid curtain, the containers can be wetted with liquid, thus avoiding the presence of small liquid droplets (diameter ≤ 1 mm), which are more difficult than larger liquid droplets to run down from the surface of the containers due to the effect of gravity and / or to be blown off.

[0015] By flushing the containers with the liquid curtain, liquid droplets form on the surface of the containers. These droplets are large enough to flow downwards from the surface of the containers under the influence of gravity. Since the majority of the liquid can flow off the containers under the influence of weight after passing through the liquid curtain, small liquid droplets (diameter ≤ 1 mm), which are difficult to blow off, are no longer present on the surface of the containers. Containers treated in this way can be up to 60% drier after flushing with the liquid curtain than containers whose surface was merely sprayed with liquid. The liquid curtain can therefore be used to dry the containers.

[0016] The slosh zone can be further designed to form the liquid curtain across the entire width of the transport device. This allows several containers transported side by side on the transport device to pass through the liquid curtain.

[0017] The slosh area can be further configured to form the liquid curtain with a thickness ranging from 0.5 mm to 15 mm. Thus, containers with different diameters and / or outer shapes can be wetted with liquid from the liquid curtain.

[0018] A spray device is provided in the slosh area to form the liquid curtain. The spray device can, for example, comprise 2-5 liquid nozzles per meter of the liquid curtain. The liquid nozzles can comprise flat jet nozzles. The spray device can enable a uniform formation of the liquid curtain. The spray device is designed to be vertically movable, so that the height of the liquid curtain can be varied, for example, to provide the height of the liquid curtain in such a way that containers of a given height can pass through the liquid curtain and their surface can be completely wetted with liquid.

[0019] The slosh zone can be further designed to provide a volume flow of the liquid along the liquid curtain in a range of 60 liters per hour per meter of the liquid curtain to 600 liters per hour per meter of the liquid curtain. The volume flow can be controlled or predetermined depending on the height and / or thickness of the liquid curtain.

[0020] The liquid can be or comprise water, and for example, the liquid can comprise surfactants. The surfactants can reduce the surface tension of liquid adhering to the containers, allowing the liquid to drain more easily from the containers. The liquid can be the liquid used to form the liquid curtain and / or the liquid that can be used in a container treatment area of ​​a container treatment machine, described further below.

[0021] The transport system may further comprise a basin located below the flushing area and designed to collect liquid from the flushing area. The liquid can thus be collected for reuse.

[0022] The flushing area can be further designed to use liquid from the basin to form the liquid curtain. This eliminates the need for additional liquid to form the liquid curtain.

[0023] The transport system can further comprise a container treatment machine, which comprises a container treatment area designed to treat containers transportable by the transport device, wherein the flushing area immediately follows the container treatment area in the transport direction. In the container treatment area, for example, liquid can be sprayed onto the containers.

[0024] The scalding area can be included in the container handling machine. The container handling machine can therefore include, for example, a pasteurizer, cooler, or warmer, as well as the scalding area.

[0025] The flushing area can be provided separately from the container handling machine. The container handling machine can be a known pasteurizer, cooler, or warmer, followed by the flushing area.

[0026] The container treatment area can be designed to spray liquid in such a way that the liquid can be sprayed onto the containers or that the containers can be sprinkled with the liquid. By spraying the liquid, the containers can be pasteurized, for example, in a pasteurizer, the containers can be cooled in a cooler, and the containers can be heated in a heater. After passing through the container treatment area, the containers can be transported by the transport device to the slosh area, where they can pass through the liquid curtain, which can be created, for example, by means of a spraying device. Because the containers can be wetted by liquid from the liquid curtain, any liquid droplets that still adhere to the containers after leaving the container treatment area can also be absorbed by the liquid from the liquid curtain.This means that after passing through the liquid curtain, no small droplets can cling to the containers, meaning they can be drier than after passing through the container treatment area. For example, blow-drying containers in a drying area is easier because there are no longer any small droplets on the container surface.

[0027] The transport system may further comprise a basin located below the flushing area and the container treatment area, and configured to receive liquid from the flushing area and the container treatment area. The liquid can thus be collected for reuse.

[0028] The slosh zone can also be designed to use liquid from the basin to form the liquid curtain. This eliminates the need for additional liquid to form the liquid curtain.

[0029] The transport system may further comprise a drying area, which may follow the flushing area in the transport direction and which may be designed to generate an air flow in order to be able to additionally blow dry the surfaces of the containers.

[0030] The quench zone and the drying zone can be included in the container treatment machine. The container treatment machine can therefore, for example, include a pasteurizer, cooler, or heater as well as the quench zone, or the quench zone and the drying zone.

[0031] The flushing and drying sections can be provided separately from the container treatment machine. The container treatment machine can be a known pasteurizer, cooler, or warmer, followed by the flushing section or the flushing and drying sections.

[0032] The container treatment machine can be designed as a pasteurizer, cooler or warmer.

[0033] In particular, it can be provided that a packaging device is arranged downstream of the container treatment machine, by means of which at least two containers can be connected to form a bundle.

[0034] The packaging device may, for example, comprise nozzles for applying adhesive to the outer surfaces of the containers so that they are directly bonded together.

[0035] Alternatively or additionally, the packaging device may comprise a cardboard or film feeder by means of which cardboard or film is fed for at least partially wrapping the containers.

[0036] A drying device can be arranged immediately in front of this packaging device to dry the containers.

[0037] Furthermore, the invention relates to a computer-controlled or electronic method for operating the transport system as described above or further below.

[0038] The attached figures represent aspects of the invention by way of example for better understanding and illustration. It shows: Figure 1 a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of a transport system, Figure 2 a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of a transport system, Figure 3 a longitudinal section through a third embodiment of a transport system and Figure 4 a cross-section through the surge area of ​​the third embodiment of the transport system.

[0039] The Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of a transport system 1, which comprises a transport device 2 with which containers 3 are transported in a transport direction TR. In the illustration, the containers 3 are transported upright on the transport device 2, for example, a conveyor belt or the like.

[0040] First, the containers 3 reach a slosh area 4 and are transported through it. In doing so, the containers 3 pass through a liquid curtain 5 which is generated by means of a spraying device 6. The containers 3 are wetted by liquid from the liquid curtain 5, for example the surface of the containers 3 is coated with a liquid film. The spraying device 6 can be in the form of a spray bar which, for example, has a continuous outlet cross-section across the entire conveyor belt width, or in the form of a spray pipe with several flat jet nozzles arranged across the conveyor belt width. The spray pipe contains several flat jet nozzles arranged across the conveyor belt width, for example 2-5 nozzles per meter of the spray curtain 5. The liquid curtain 5 can be aligned perpendicular or essentially perpendicular to the transport direction TR and have a thickness d.For example, the liquid in the liquid curtain 5 falls downwards solely due to gravity. After passing through the liquid curtain 5, the majority of the liquid can flow away from the containers 3 under the influence of gravity, so that small liquid droplets (diameter less than 1 mm), which are difficult to blow off, are no longer present.

[0041] Optionally, the containers 3 can be transported from the flushing area 4 to and through a drying area 7, in which the containers 3, i.e., their surfaces, are additionally blown dry by an air stream 8 generated by air discharged from blower nozzles 9. This means that any liquid still adhering to the surfaces of the containers 3 is displaced from the surface, for example, blown away, or dried. Instead of the blower nozzles, a blower bar can also be used.

[0042] Figure 2shows a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of a transport system 10. In addition to the Figure 1 In addition to the elements of the first embodiment of the transport system 1 already described, the second embodiment of the transport system 10 also comprises a container treatment machine 11 with a container treatment area 12, which is arranged in the transport direction TR upstream of the flushing area 4 and upstream of the optional drying area 7. No further type of container treatment is provided between the container treatment machine 11 and the flushing area 4, so that the flushing area 4 can be regarded as immediately following the container treatment area 12 in the transport direction TR.

[0043] The containers 3 are transported by the transport device 2 through the container treatment machine 11 and in the container treatment area 12, liquid is sprayed onto the containers 3 by means of spray nozzles 13 or the containers 3 are sprinkled by means of the liquid emitted by the spray nozzles 13. The containers 3 are then transported further by the transport device 2 into the flushing area 4, where they pass the liquid curtain 5, as already described with regard to the Figure 1 described. Because the containers 3 are wetted by the liquid from the liquid curtain 5, liquid droplets adhering to the containers 3 after leaving the container treatment area 12 are also absorbed by the liquid.

[0044] The optional subsequent blow-drying of the containers 3 in the drying area 7 can thus be carried out more easily since no small drops are present.

[0045] Figure 3shows a longitudinal section through a third embodiment of a transport system 14, which comprises a container treatment machine 15, wherein the container treatment area 16, the flushing area 18 and the optional drying area 21 are comprised by the container treatment machine 15. The containers 3 are transported by means of the transport device 2 in the transport direction TR, so that they are transported into and through the container treatment area 16, wherein liquid is sprayed onto the containers 3 by means of the spray nozzles 17 or the containers 3 are sprinkled with the liquid discharged by the spray nozzles 17. The containers 3 are then transported further by the transport device 2 into the flushing area 18, where they pass through the liquid curtain 19, which is generated by means of the spray device 20.Because the containers 3 are wetted by the liquid from the liquid curtain 19, any liquid droplets adhering to the containers 3 after they leave the container treatment area 16 are also absorbed by the liquid. This means that no small droplets adhere to the containers 3, and the optional blow-drying of the containers 3 in the drying area 21 can be carried out more easily since no small droplets are present. The containers 3, i.e., their surfaces, are blown dry by an air stream 22 generated by air discharged from the blower bar 23. This means that any liquid still adhering to the surfaces of the containers 3 is displaced from the surface, for example, blown away, or dries off.

[0046] An optional basin 24 is shown in dash-dotted lines below the container treatment area 16 and the flushing area 18, which can receive liquid from the container treatment area 16 and from the flushing area 18.

[0047] Figure 4 shows a cross section through the flushing area 18 of the third embodiment of the transport system 14. The spraying device 20 - as already exemplified in the embodiment with regard to the Figure 1 described - is arranged above the transport device 2, and the liquid curtain 19 is formed over the entire width b of the transport device 2. Thus, several containers 3 transported side by side on the transport device 2 can pass the liquid curtain 19.

Claims

1. Transport system (1, 10, 14) in the beverage industry, comprising: - a transport device (2) being designed to transport containers (3) through the transport system (1, 10, 14) in a transport direction (TR), - a rinsing region (4, 18) being designed to form a liquid curtain (5, 19) for drying the containers through which the containers (3) that are transportable through the transport device (2) can pass, wherein in the rinsing region (4, 18) for forming the liquid curtain (5, 19) a spraying device (6, 20) is provided, characterised in that the spraying device is being designed vertically movable.

2. The transport system (1, 10, 14) according to claim 1, wherein the rinsing region (4, 18) is furthermore designed to form the liquid curtain (5, 19) across a total width of the transport device (2).

3. The transport system (1, 10, 14) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rinsing region (4, 18) is furthermore designed to form the liquid curtain (5, 19) with a thickness (d) of 0.5 mm to 15 mm.

4. The transport system (1, 10, 14) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the spraying device (6, 20) comprises 2 - 5 liquid nozzles per meter of the liquid curtain (5, 19).

5. The transport system (1, 10, 14) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rinsing region (4, 18) is furthermore designed to provide a flow rate of the liquid along the liquid curtain (5, 19) within a range of 60 liters per hour per meter of the liquid curtain to 600 liters per hour per meter of the liquid curtain (5, 19).

6. The transport system (1, 10, 14) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the liquid is or comprises water, wherein the liquid comprises, for example, surface-active substances.

7. The transport system (14) according to one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a basin (24) which is arranged underneath the rinsing region (16) and is designed to receive liquid from the rinsing region (16), wherein, for example, the rinsing region (18) is furthermore designed to use liquid from the basin (24) to form the liquid curtain (19).

8. The transport system (10, 14) according to one of claims 1 to 7, furthermore comprising a container treatment machine (11, 15) comprising a container treatment region (12, 16) which is designed to treat containers (3) that are transportable through the transport device (2), wherein the rinsing region (4, 18) directly follows the container treatment region (12, 16) in the transport direction (TR), wherein, for example, the rinsing region (18) is comprised by the container treatment machine (15) or wherein, for example, the rinsing region (4) is provided separately from the container treatment machine (11).

9. The transport system (10, 14) according to claim 8, wherein the container treatment region (12, 16) is designed to spray liquid such that the liquid is sprayable onto the containers (3), or that the containers (3) are sprinklable with the liquid.

10. The transport system (14) according to one of claims 8 to 9, furthermore comprising a basin (24) which is arranged underneath the rinsing region (16) and the container treatment region (18), and which is designed to receive liquid from the rinsing region (16) and the container treatment region (18), wherein, for example, the rinsing region (18) is furthermore designed to use liquid from the basin (24) to form the liquid curtain (19).

11. The transport system (10, 14) according to one of claims 1 to 10, furthermore comprising a drying region (7, 21) which follows the rinsing region (4, 18) in the transport direction (TR), and which is designed to generate an airflow (8, 22) to be able to blow surfaces of the containers (3) dry.

12. The transport system (14) according to claim 11, if related to claim 8, wherein the rinsing region (18) and the drying region (21) are comprised by the container treatment machine (15).

13. The transport system (10) according to claim 11, if related to claim 8, wherein the rinsing region (4) and the drying region (7) are provided separately from the container treatment machine (11).

14. The transport system (1, 10, 14) according to one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the container treatment machine (11, 15) is designed as a pasteurizer, cooler, or heater.

15. Computer-controlled or electronic method for operating the transport system (1, 10, 14) according to one of claims 1 to 14.

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