Method and apparatus for cleaning head-mounted containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for cleaning upside-down containers (2), for example, plastic containers, such as PET containers, comprising the steps of: spraying the interior (6) of an upside-down container with a first alkaline solution at a first temperature; and simultaneously applying a second alkaline solution at a second temperature to the exterior (7) of the upside-down container. The invention further relates to a device (1, 18) for cleaning upside-down containers, comprising a supply device with receiving positions for the upside-down containers; a spraying device (3) configured for spraying the interior of the upside-down containers with a first alkaline solution at a first temperature; and an application device (8) configured for simultaneously applying a second alkaline solution at a second temperature to the exterior of the upside-down containers.The second temperature is lower, for example at least 5 °C or 10 °C lower, than the first temperature.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for cleaning upside-down containers according to claim 1 and to a device for cleaning upside-down containers according to claim 11. Stand the Technology

[0002] In common cleaning processes for plastic and, for example, PET reusable bottles, the bottles are first immersed in a caustic bath. After immersion, the bottles are sprayed inside with this caustic. Since plastic and, for example, PET bottles are temperature-sensitive and excessive shrinkage can occur if the caustic temperature is too high, the temperature of the caustic used is limited, generally to around 60 °C. Thus, the contribution of temperature to the bottle cleaning performance is limited (Sinner's circle). The bottles are usually sprayed at a temperature of around 58 °C.

[0003] US 1,161,467 discloses a method for cleaning glass bottles, in which previously hot-washed glass bottles are sprayed with cold water for cooling only on the inside, but not on the outside, in order to prevent the glass from breaking.

[0004] DE 40 08 636 A1 discloses a spraying station with a first spraying device for internal spraying of containers and with a second spraying device for spraying an outer surface of the containers, wherein the force components generated by the liquid jets of the second spraying device are directed opposite to the force components generated by the first liquid jets and compensate them.

[0005] WO 97 / 29859 A1 discloses a method for cleaning bottles, in particular plastic bottles, wherein a cleaning agent containing active oxygen acts on the bottles.

[0006] DE 10 2008 021869 A1 discloses a bottle cleaning machine, wherein a pre-spraying area comprises at least one spraying device, under which a collecting tray is arranged into which the pre-spraying water can drain.

[0007] US 5 441 063 A discloses a cleaning device for bottles, wherein spray nozzles are introduced into the interior of the rotating bottles and spray the interior with a cleaning liquid.

[0008] DE 10 2006 039599 A1 discloses a cleaning device and a cleaning method for containers, wherein the interior of containers is exposed to the cleaning agent when passing through an immersion bath. Task

[0009] Based on the known state of the art, the technical problem to be solved is to provide a method and a device for cleaning upside-down containers with which the contribution of the temperature of a cleaning agent can be optimally utilized. Solution

[0010] This object is achieved according to the invention by the method for cleaning upside-down containers according to claim 1 and the device for cleaning upside-down containers according to claim 11. Further embodiments and developments are covered in the subclaims.

[0011] The inventive method for cleaning upside-down PET containers, for example, reusable PET containers or bottles, comprises the steps of spraying the interior of an upside-down container with a first lye at a first temperature and simultaneously exposing the exterior of the upside-down container to a second lye at a second temperature. The second temperature is at least 5°C lower than the first temperature.

[0012] The first and second lye can be the same lye, for example, the same type of lye, except for the temperature. The lye can also be or include another medium suitable for cleaning the containers. The terms "first" and "second" are used here and below for differentiation and have no other restrictive meaning.

[0013] Generally, reusable containers are cleaned for reuse. This may involve first soaking the containers in a caustic bath to soak and at least partially detach labels from the container and / or to soak and at least partially detach residues inside and / or on the outside of the containers.

[0014] The containers can be arranged upside down in container cells of a container basket of a container cleaning machine that moves in one direction of travel. In a container basket, several containers can be arranged next to one another in a row, with the row extending transversely to the direction of travel. The method can be provided such that the spraying and simultaneous loading of the upside-down containers takes place at least for all containers in one row. However, the spraying and simultaneous loading of the upside-down containers can also take place simultaneously for all containers in several rows. The method can take place while the container basket is moving in the direction of travel. It is not necessary to stop the container basket to carry out the method.

[0015] To achieve optimal container cleaning, the caustic solution is heated, as this makes it easier to remove foreign matter adhering to the container through spraying and exposure. Since the container material is also heated by the heated caustic solution, changes in the material properties must be taken into account, such as undesirable deformations, such as shrinkage in blow-molded plastic bottles, PET bottles, plastic containers, and / or PET containers.

[0016] On the inside of the containers to be cleaned, there may be dried product residue and / or other dirt residues and / or mold and / or other types of bacteria that need to be removed. Labels and / or dried glue may be present on the outside of the containers to be cleaned. Dried product residue and / or other dirt residues and / or mold and / or other types of bacteria are usually found to a lesser extent on the outside than on the inside of the containers.In order to avoid excessive heat input into the containers during cleaning and / or undesired deformation of the containers during cleaning, but still achieve optimal cleaning, the interior of an upside-down container is sprayed with a first lye at a first temperature and, at the same time, the exterior of the upside-down container is exposed to a second lye at a second temperature, the second temperature being at least 5 °C lower than the first temperature.

[0017] The first temperature may be between 50°C and 90°C, or, for example, the first temperature may be between 53°C and 87°C. The method may further comprise the steps of capturing and collecting the first liquor used to spray the interior of the upside-down container in a collection container after the spraying, and capturing and collecting the second liquor used to spray the exterior of the upside-down container in the collection container after the spraying. The collected first and second liquor can be reused for further method steps.

[0018] The method may further comprise the step of filtering the collected first liquor and the collected second liquor prior to collection in the collection container. Filtering can filter out foreign matter in the first and second liquor before it enters the collection container and potentially settles and / or accumulates there.

[0019] The method may further comprise the steps of draining at least a portion of the first and second liquor collected in the collection container from the collection container, heating a first portion of the at least one portion and thereby obtaining first liquor at the first temperature suitable for spraying the interior of an upside-down container, and cooling a second portion of the at least one portion and thereby obtaining second liquor at the second temperature suitable for applying to the exterior of an upside-down container. By mixing the first and second liquor in the collection container, the liquor in the collection container may generally deviate from the first and second temperatures, so that prior heating or cooling of the liquor may be required depending on the intended reuse.

[0020] Before the steps of spraying the interior of an upside-down container with the first lye at the first temperature and simultaneously exposing the exterior of the upside-down container to the second lye at the second temperature, the method can comprise the steps of immersing the upside-down container in a lye bath with a third lye at a third temperature, wherein the second temperature is lower, for example at least 5 °C or 10 °C lower, than the third temperature and wherein the first temperature is higher, for example at least 5 °C or 10 °C higher, than the third temperature, and subsequently immersing the upside-down container from the lye bath. The third, first and second lyes can be the same lye except for the temperature, for example the same type of lye.

[0021] By immersing the containers in the lye bath, any dried product residues and / or other dirt residues and / or mold and / or other types of bacteria present on the inside of the containers to be cleaned, and any labels and / or dried glue and / or dried product residues and / or other dirt residues and / or mold and / or other types of bacteria present on the outside can be soaked and at least partially removed from the container.

[0022] The third temperature can be the same as the second temperature or the third temperature can be 5 °C to 10 °C higher than the second temperature.

[0023] The method may further comprise the steps of catching and collecting the first lye used to spray the interior of the upside-down container after spraying in the lye bath, and catching and collecting the second lye used to apply the exterior of the upside-down container after applying it in the lye bath. The spraying of the interior of an upside-down container with the first lye at the first temperature and the simultaneous application of the second lye at the second temperature to the exterior of the upside-down container can take place above the lye bath, so that no further collection container is required apart from the lye bath.

[0024] The method may further comprise the steps of draining at least a portion of the liquor collected in the liquor bath from the liquor bath, heating a first portion of the at least one portion and thereby obtaining first liquor at the first temperature suitable for spraying the interior of an upside-down container, cooling a second portion of the at least one portion and thereby obtaining second liquor at the second temperature suitable for applying to the exterior of an upside-down container, and heating a third portion of the at least one portion and thereby obtaining third liquor for the liquor bath at the third temperature.

[0025] The temperature of the lye bath can be kept constant at the third temperature. Thus, heating the first portion of the lye discharged from the lye bath may be required to obtain the first lye at the first temperature, and cooling the second portion of the lye discharged from the lye bath may be required to obtain the second lye at the second temperature.

[0026] Before the step of draining at least a portion of the lye collected in the lye bath from the lye bath, the method may further comprise the step of filtering the at least a portion of the lye collected in the lye bath. Filtering can filter out foreign substances in the at least a portion of the lye collected in the lye bath, preventing them from settling and / or accumulating in downstream pipes, pumps, and / or nozzles.

[0027] The device according to the invention for cleaning upside-down PET containers, for example, reusable PET containers or bottles, comprises a supply device with receiving spaces for the upside-down containers, a spraying device designed to spray the interior of the upside-down containers with a first lye at a first temperature, and an application device designed to simultaneously apply a second lye at a second temperature to the exterior of the upside-down containers. The second temperature is at least 5°C lower than the first temperature.

[0028] The supply device with receiving spaces for the upside-down containers can comprise a container basket moving in a running direction with container cells of a container cleaning machine.

[0029] The ejection device may comprise one or more nozzles, for example, spray nozzles. The ejection device may be provided below the upside-down containers, for example, such that the containers can be moved over the ejection device.

[0030] The application device may comprise one or more nozzles, for example, spray nozzles. The application device may be provided above the upside-down containers, for example, such that the containers can be moved past the application device.

[0031] The device can be designed to carry out the method described above.

[0032] The device further comprises a collecting container which is designed to catch and collect the first lye used to spray the interior of the upside-down containers after spraying and to catch and collect the second lye used to apply to the exterior of the upside-down containers after application.

[0033] The device may further comprise a filter device which may be configured to filter the collected first liquor and the collected second liquor before collection in the collection container.

[0034] The device further comprises a discharge device designed to discharge at least a portion of the first and second liquor collected in the collection container from the collection container, a heater designed to heat a first portion of the at least one portion and thereby obtain the first liquor at the first temperature, wherein the obtained first liquor is suitable for spraying the interior of an upside-down container, and a cooler designed to cool a second portion of the at least one portion and thereby obtain the second liquor at the second temperature, wherein the second liquor is suitable for applying to the exterior of an upside-down container.

[0035] The discharge device may comprise an outlet with a connecting pipe.

[0036] The heater and cooler may each include heat exchangers.

[0037] The device may further comprise a lye bath containing a third lye at a third temperature, which may be configured for immersing the upside-down containers. For example, the lye bath may be further configured to catch and collect the first lye used to spray the interior of the upside-down containers after spraying, and to catch and collect the second lye used to pressurize the exterior of the upside-down containers. Even if the first and second lye enter the lye bath, the lye contained therein is still described as the third lye.

[0038] The device may further comprise a further discharge device configured to discharge at least a portion of the lye collected in the lye bath from the lye bath, and a further heater configured to heat a third portion of the at least one portion and thereby obtain third lye having the third temperature.

[0039] The discharge device may comprise an outlet with a connecting pipe.

[0040] The heater and cooler may each include heat exchangers.

[0041] The device may further comprise a filter device arranged upstream of the discharge device, which may be designed to filter at least part of the lye collected in the lye bath.

[0042] The first temperature may be between 50°C and 90°C, or for example, the first temperature may be between 53°C and 87°C, and / or the second temperature may be, for example, 5°C to 10°C lower than the first temperature, and / or the third temperature may be, for example, 5°C to 10°C higher than the first temperature. Short character description

[0043] The attached figures illustrate aspects and embodiments of the invention by way of example for better understanding and illustration. It shows: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a device for cleaning upside down containers, Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a device for cleaning upside down containers and Figure 3 shows a side sectional view of a container cleaning machine. Detailed description

[0044] In the figures described below, like reference numerals designate like parts. For clarity, like parts are described only when they first appear. However, it is understood that with reference to a variant or embodiment of a part described in the figures, they can also be applied to the corresponding parts in the other figures.

[0045] The Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a device 1 for cleaning upside-down containers 2. The containers 2 can be PET containers, for example reusable PET containers. Figure 1A row of six containers 2 arranged side by side is shown as an example. The containers 2 can be arranged in a supply device (not shown) with receiving spaces for the upside-down containers 2. The supply device can be a container basket with container cells or simply a carrier with clamping devices, which can be arranged in a container cleaning machine and moves in a travel direction. In a container basket, several containers 2 can be arranged side by side in a row, with the row extending transversely to the travel direction.

[0046] A spraying device 3 is provided below the upside-down containers 2 and is designed to spray the interior 6 of the upside-down containers 2 with a first lye at a first temperature. The spraying device 3 comprises, for example, six nozzles 5, for example spray nozzles. The nozzles 5 can be supplied with the first lye for spraying the interior 6 of the containers 2 via a supply line 4. The spraying device 3 can be provided below the upside-down containers 2 in such a way that the containers 2 can be moved over the spraying device 3.

[0047] In addition, an application device 8 is provided, which is designed to apply a second alkali at a second temperature to the exterior 7 of the upside-down containers 2 at the same time as spraying a first alkali at a first temperature into the interior 6 of the upside-down containers 2. The application device 8 shown comprises, by way of example, six nozzles 9, for example spray nozzles. The nozzles 9 can be supplied with the second alkali for applying the exterior 7 of the containers 2 via a supply line 10. The application device 8 can be provided above the upside-down containers 2 in such a way that the containers 2 can be moved past the application device 8.

[0048] The device 1 further comprises a collecting container 11, which is designed to collect the first lye used to spray the interior 6 of the upside-down containers 2 after spraying, and to collect the second lye used to apply the exterior 7 of the upside-down containers 2 after application. For this purpose, the collecting container 11 can be provided in a spatial area below the spraying device 3 and below the application device 8.

[0049] The device 1 further comprises a filter device 12, which is designed to filter the collected first liquor and the collected second liquor before collecting them in the collection container 11. The filter device 12 can be provided in a region between the ejection device 3 and the collection container 11.

[0050] By means of a drainage device 13, at least a portion of the first and second lye collected in the collection container 11 can be drained from the collection container 11. The drainage device 13 can comprise an outlet with a connecting pipe.

[0051] From the discharge device 13, a first portion of the at least one part can be fed to a first branch 14, which leads through a heater 15. The heater 15 is designed to heat the first portion, whereby the first liquor at the first temperature can be obtained. The heater 15 can be designed, for example, as a heat exchanger. The first liquor at the first temperature obtained in the heater 15 is fed to the supply line 4 and thus to the nozzles 5 of the ejection device 3 to be used to eject the interior 6 of the containers 2.

[0052] From the discharge device 13, a second portion of the at least one part can be fed to a second branch 16, which leads through a cooler 17. The cooler 17 is designed to cool the second portion, whereby the second liquor at the second temperature can be obtained. The cooler 17 can be designed, for example, as a heat exchanger. The second liquor at the second temperature obtained in the cooler 17 is fed to the supply line 10 and thus to the nozzles 9 of the application device 8, in order to be used to apply the water to the exterior 7 of the containers 2.

[0053] The second temperature is lower, for example, at least 5°C or 10°C lower, than the first temperature. The first temperature may be between 50°C and 90°C, or, for example, the first temperature may be between 53°C and 87°C, and / or the second temperature may be, for example, at least 3°C ​​lower than the first temperature.

[0054] The Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a device 18 for cleaning upside-down containers 2.

[0055] The device 18 comprises a lye bath 19 containing a third lye at a third temperature. The lye bath 19 can be designed for immersing the upside-down containers 2 before the containers 2 are sprayed with the first lye and subjected to the second lye. The lye bath 18 is also designed to catch and collect the first lye used to spray the interior 6 of the upside-down containers 2 after spraying, and to catch and collect the second lye used to apply the exterior 7 of the upside-down containers 2. For this purpose, the lye bath 19 can be provided in a spatial region below the spraying device 3 and below the application device 8.

[0056] The device 18 further comprises a filter device 20 arranged upstream of the discharge device 13, which is designed to filter at least a portion of the lye collected in the lye bath that can be discharged.

[0057] From the discharge device 13, a third portion of the at least one portion can be fed to a third branch 21, which leads through a heater 22. The heater 22 is designed to heat the third portion, whereby the third liquor at the third temperature can be obtained. The heater 22 can be designed, for example, as a heat exchanger. The third liquor at the third temperature obtained in the heater 22 is fed to the liquor bath 19.

[0058] The first temperature may be between 50°C and 90°C, or for example, the first temperature may be between 53°C and 87°C, and / or the second temperature may be, for example, 5°C to 10°C lower than the first temperature, and / or the third temperature may be, for example, 5°C to 10°C higher than the first temperature.

[0059] The Figure 3shows a side sectional view of a container cleaning machine 23 with two caustic baths 25, 28. The container carriers with the containers arranged upside down therein are transported along a transport path 24 through the container cleaning machine 23; in the illustration, the transport direction runs from right to left. The containers pass from a first caustic bath 25 into an area in which a spraying device 26 is provided for spraying the interior of the upside-down containers with first caustic at the first temperature and a loading device 27 is provided for simultaneously loading the exterior of the upside-down containers with second caustic at the second temperature. The first caustic and the second caustic are drained from the first caustic bath 25 by means of a draining device 29, as explained in more detail below.The area with the ejection device 26 and the application device 27 is arranged above the second lye bath 28, wherein a deflection plate 33 is provided below the ejection device 26 and the application device 27 and above a level of the lye in the second lye bath 28.

[0060] The containers then enter a second caustic bath 28, which is separate from the first caustic bath 25. After leaving the second caustic bath 28, the containers can be removed from the container cleaning machine 23 and forwarded to further processing steps.

[0061] In the illustration, the first lye used to spray the interior of the upside-down containers is caught and collected in the first lye bath 25 after spraying, and the second lye used to apply the exterior of the upside-down containers is caught and collected in the first lye bath 25 after spraying. For this purpose, the deflector plate 33 can be provided below the area in which the ejection device 26 and the application device 27 are provided, which deflector plate 33 directs the first lye used to spray the interior of the upside-down containers to the first lye bath 25 after spraying, and the second lye used to apply the exterior of the upside-down containers to the first lye bath 25 after spraying.

[0062] Lye can be drained from the first lye bath 25 by means of the drain device 29. The drained lye is filtered in a filter device 30. The filtered lye is passed, firstly, through a heater 31, which is designed to heat the lye supplied to it and thereby obtain the first lye at the first temperature, and then to the ejection device 26, and secondly through a cooler 32, which is designed to cool the lye supplied to it and thereby obtain the second lye at the second temperature, and then to the application device 27.

[0063] A container cleaning machine may also comprise one or more than two caustic baths, wherein spraying and loading of the containers may be provided on the transport path between the first and the second caustic bath and / or between the following caustic baths.

Claims

1. Method for cleaning PET containers (2) oriented upside down, comprising the steps of: - spraying the interior (6) of a PET container (2) oriented upside down with a first lye at a first temperature, - simultaneously impinging the exterior (7) of the PET container (2) oriented upside down with a second lye at a second temperature, characterised in that the second temperature is at least 5 °C lower than the first temperature.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first temperature is between 50 °C and 90 °C, or wherein, for example, the first temperature is between 53 °C and 87 °C.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising the steps of: - collecting and accumulating the first lye used for spraying the interior (6) of the PET container (2) oriented upside down after the spraying in an accumulation container (11), and - collecting and accumulating the second lye used for impinging the exterior (7) of the PET container (2) oriented upside down after impingement in the accumulation container (11).

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of: - filtering the collected first lye and the collected second lye prior the accumulating in the accumulation container (11).

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising the steps of: - discharging at least one part of the first and second lyes accumulated in the accumulation container (11), - heating a first portion of the at least one part and thus obtaining first lye at the first temperature suitable for the spraying of the interior (6) of a PET container (2) oriented upside down, - cooling a second portion of the at least one part and thus obtaining second lye at the second temperature suitable for the impinging of the exterior (7) of a PET container (2) oriented upside down.

6. The method according to one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising, prior to the steps of the spraying of the interior (6) of a PET container (2) oriented upside down with the first lye at the first temperature and the simultaneously impinging of the exterior (7) of the PET container (2) oriented upside down with the second lye at the second temperature, the steps of: - immersing the PET container (2) oriented upside down in a lye bath (19) containing a third lye at a third temperature, wherein the second temperature is lower, for example at least 5 °C or 10 °C lower, than the third temperature, and wherein the first temperature is higher, for example at least 5 °C or 10 °C higher, than the third temperature, and - subsequently withdrawing the PET container (2) oriented upside down from the lye bath (19).

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the third temperature is 5 °C to 10 °C higher than the second temperature.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising the steps of: - collecting and accumulating the first lye used for spraying the interior (6) of the PET container (2) oriented upside down after the spraying in the lye bath (19), and - collecting and accumulating the second lye used for impinging the exterior (7) of the PET container (2) oriented upside down after the impinging in the lye bath (19).

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of: - discharging at least one part of the lye accumulated in the lye bath (19) from the lye bath (19), - heating a first portion of the at least one part and thus obtaining first lye at the first temperature suitable for the spraying of the interior (6) of a PET container (2) oriented upside down, - cooling a second portion of the at least one part and thus obtaining second lye at the second temperature suitable for the impinging of the exterior (7) of a PET container (2) oriented upside down, and - heating a third portion of the at least one part and thus obtaining third lye at the third temperature for the lye bath (19).

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising, prior to the step of the discharging the at least one part of the third lye accumulated in the lye bath (19) from the lye bath, the step of: - filtering the at least one part of the third lye accumulated in the lye bath (19).

11. Device (1, 18) for cleaning PET containers (2) oriented upside down, comprising: a supply device having receiving positions for the PET containers (2) oriented upside down; a spraying device (3) configured for spraying the interior (6) of the PET containers (2) oriented upside down with a first lye at a first temperature; an impingement device (8) configured for simultaneously impinging the exterior (7) of the PET containers (2) oriented upside down with a second lye at a second temperature; a discharge device (13) configured for discharging at least one part of the first and second lyes accumulated in an accumulation container (11) from the accumulation container (11); the accumulation container (11) configured for collecting and accumulating the first lye used for spraying the interior (6) of the PET containers (2) oriented upside down after the spraying and for collecting and accumulating the second lye used for impinging the exterior (7) of the PET containers (2) oriented upside down after the impinging; a heater (15) configured for heating a first portion of the at least one part and thus obtaining the first lye at the first temperature, wherein the obtained first lye is suitable for the spraying of the interior (6) of a PET container (2) oriented upside down; a cooler (15) configured for cooling a second portion of the at least one part and thus obtaining the second lye at the second temperature, wherein the second lye is suitable for the impinging of the exterior (7) of a PET container (2) oriented upside down, wherein the second temperature is at least 5 °C lower than the first temperature.

12. The device according to claim 11, further comprising: a filter device (12) configured for filtering the collected first lye and the collected second lye prior to the accumulating in the accumulation container (11).

13. The device according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising: a lye bath (19) with a third lye at a third temperature configured for immersing the PET containers (2) oriented upside down, wherein, for example, the lye bath (19) is further configured for collecting and accumulating the first lye used for spraying the interior (6) of the PET containers (2) oriented upside down after the spraying and for collecting and accumulating the second lye used for impinging the exterior (7) of the PET containers (2) oriented upside down.

14. The device according to claim 13, further comprising: a further discharge device (13) configured for discharging at least one part of the third lye accumulated in the lye bath (19) from the lye bath (19); a further heater (22) configured for heating a third portion of the at least one part and thus obtaining third lye at the third temperature.

15. The device according to claim 14, further comprising: a filter device (20) arranged upstream of the discharge device (13), configured for filtering the at least one part of the third lye accumulated in the lye bath (19).

16. The device according to one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the first temperature is between 50 °C and 90 °C, or wherein, for example, the first temperature is between 53 °C and 87 °C.

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