Device for evaporating a liquid sterilising agent and method for cleaning the device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (200) for evaporating a liquid sterilising agent, in particular for a container treatment system (100), preferably for a container production and / or container filling machine, the device comprising: a sterilising agent supply line (210) for feeding the liquid sterilising agent into an evaporator; and an evaporator (220) which is connected to the sterilising agent supply line (210) via a supply line portion (221) and is designed to transform the liquid sterilising agent into a gaseous aggregate state and then feed it to a container treatment system. The device also has a cleaning agent supply line (230) for feeding a cleaning fluid into the evaporator (220), in particular via the supply line portion (221).

Description

[0001] Device for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent and method for cleaning the device

[0002] The invention relates to a device for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a method for cleaning such a device according to the preamble of claim 9 and to a container treatment system according to claim 14. Container treatment systems, such as container manufacturing machines and / or container filling machines, are complex processing systems used, for example, for the production and / or filling of PET bottles or the like.

[0003] The basic structure of a container treatment machine is described, for example, in DE 42 12 583 25 A1. Hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution is typically used in container treatment machines to sterilize the containers, their preforms, or machine elements. For this purpose, the aqueous solution is first introduced into an evaporator, where it is converted into a gaseous state. The hydrogen peroxide-containing gas thus generated is then provided for a sterilization process, in which the gas is applied to the inside and / or outside of the containers, their preforms, or the machine elements using one or more nozzles, for example, by spraying or the like.

[0004] To prevent the hydrogen peroxide provided from decomposing during evaporation, to ensure it remains stable in the gaseous state, and / or to contain the catalytic decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide, the aqueous solution is usually treated with additives or stabilizers. However, these additives can precipitate for a variety of reasons during the evaporation process, during transfer, and even during sterilization, leading to deposits within the evaporator and / or the container treatment system. These deposits are usually salts. In particular, the deposits can clog the evaporator and / or the downstream lines and nozzles, or even enter the containers or preforms.

[0005] To prevent this, the relevant components of the evaporation device, and possibly also the lines or equipment of a container processing plant supplied by the evaporation device, must be serviced at regular intervals. The relevant components are removed, cleaned, and then reinstalled. This can sometimes be very time-consuming and lead to long downtimes of the evaporation device and / or the container processing plant, i.e., times during which the container processing plant is idle and cannot be used for the production and / or filling of containers. Maintenance also incurs corresponding personnel costs.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to address at least one of the above-mentioned problems. In particular, devices and methods are to be provided that enable a low-maintenance supply of a sterilizing fluid to container treatment systems.

[0007] This object is achieved with a device for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent according to claim 1. The device is particularly designed to be able to feed both a liquid sterilizing agent and a cleaning fluid into the evaporator and has corresponding supply lines for this purpose.

[0008] A container treatment plant is understood here to mean, in particular, process plants that are designed to produce and / or fill containers. An example of a container treatment plant is a so-called blow molding machine, which produces containers from preforms made of a thermoplastic material using a blow molding process, preferably a stretch blow molding machine in which the forming takes place using a stretch rod. This also means, in particular, forming machines in which the preform is formed into the container and the container is filled simultaneously by using the filling material as the forming fluid, in particular also using a stretch rod. This also means, in particular, filling machines in which finished containers are filled with a filling material. This also means closers that close filled containers, e.g. closing containers with caps or screw closures.

[0009] The device proposed herein for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent is particularly designed to be fluidly connected to such a container treatment system, for example via appropriate lines. The device for evaporating the liquid sterilizing agent comprises at least one evaporator and two supply lines, wherein the two supply lines are fluidly connected to the evaporator, in particular for supplying the evaporator with a sterilizing agent and a cleaning fluid. One of the supply lines is designed to supply a liquid sterilizing agent, and the other supply line is designed to supply a cleaning fluid.

[0010] The supply line for the liquid sterilizing agent can also be referred to as the sterilizing agent supply line. The sterilizing agent supply line is preferably fluid-tight with respect to the liquid sterilizing agent and / or fluid-conductingly connected to the evaporator, for example via a supply line section, in particular such that the liquid sterilizing agent enters the evaporator and can be evaporated there.

[0011] The sterilizing agent can be any agent suitable for sterilizing a container processing system and / or workpieces processed therein. The sterilizing agent preferably has a liquid state under standard conditions, i.e., at a temperature of 0°C and a pressure of 1.01325 bar, and / or under laboratory conditions, i.e., at a temperature of 20°C and a pressure of 1.01325 bar. The sterilizing agent is therefore, in particular, a liquid sterilizing agent, such as an aqueous solution with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).

[0012] The vaporizer is essentially formed from a container and a heating element. The term "container" describes the ability of the vaporizer to hold a quantity of fluid to be vaporized, i.e., to provide a free volume for accommodating this fluid, e.g., in the form of channels or a pot. Preferably, the heating element is arranged inside the vaporizer or container and / or is configured to heat and / or warm and / or vaporize gaseous and / or liquid fluids within the container. Preferably, the vaporizer is configured to vaporize a liquid sterilizing agent and / or heat a liquid cleaning fluid.The heating element is therefore designed to heat the interior of the container and / or wall areas of the container to a temperature of 100 °C or more, in particular to a temperature that is above the boiling point of the liquid sterilizing agent, in particular above, for example, 120 °C or 130 °C or 150 °C or more. Many different designs of evaporators are possible. The evaporator can, for example, be designed as an aluminum cylinder in which a flow channel in the form of a spiral is milled, whereby a desired residence time of the fluid flowing through the channel is achieved. On the top side of the aluminum cylinder there can be, for example, holes for heating rods as heating elements and a temperature sensor. Materials other than aluminum are possible, but are considered less advantageous.The evaporator could essentially also be designed as a pot with an internal heating plate, in which the fluid to be heated flows through one opening onto a hot surface of the heating plate, is heated there, and exits through a second opening. The evaporator could also be designed as a tube, the wall of which is heated, and the fluid flowing through it is heated by contact with the wall. The sterilizing agent is preferably introduced into the evaporator in atomized form.

[0013] Preferably, the evaporator is designed such that the sterilization fluid and / or the cleaning fluid flow through the evaporator, wherein these fluids are heated during the flow.

[0014] The evaporation device preferably has a supply line section for supplying the evaporator with the sterilizing agent and / or the cleaning fluid, and which is arranged in particular in an upper region of the evaporator and / or is fluidly connected to the sterilizing agent and / or the cleaning agent supply line.

[0015] To remove the sterilizing agent and / or heated cleaning fluid vaporized by the vaporizer from the vaporizer, the vaporizer further comprises a line, which is arranged in particular in a lower region of the vaporizer and / or is configured to be connected to a line and / or a nozzle of a container treatment system. "Lower" here means located vertically at the bottom.

[0016] The device further comprises a supply line for a cleaning agent. The supply line is preferably configured to transport and / or hold a liquid cleaning agent. The supply line is thus fluid-tight, particularly with respect to the liquid cleaning agent. The supply line can also be referred to as a cleaning agent supply line. The cleaning agent supply line is preferably fluid-tight and, in particular, is connected to the supply line section in a fluid-conducting manner.

[0017] The cleaning fluid can be any liquid and / or gaseous medium suitable for cleaning an evaporator and / or its inlet and outlet lines and / or lines and / or nozzles of a container treatment system, such as water, water with additives, distilled water, mild acids or the like. Since salts generally have to be removed, the cleaning fluid has particularly good salt-dissolving properties. The cleaning fluid is preferably in a liquid state under standard conditions, i.e. at a temperature of 0°C and a pressure of 1.01325 bar and / or under laboratory conditions, i.e. at a temperature of 20°C and a pressure of 1.01325 bar. The cleaning fluid is therefore in particular a liquid cleaning agent, such as a weak acid, in order not to attack the material of the evaporator, e.g. aluminum.Citric acid or a solution containing citric acid is a preferred cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid is preferably free of hydrogen peroxide and / or different from the liquid sterilizing agent. The cleaning fluid is preferably warmed or heated in the evaporator, but in particular not evaporated. The cleaning fluid therefore leaves the evaporator, particularly in liquid form, and is then fed, for example, into the lines of the container treatment system.

[0018] The device preferably has a storage container for the sterilizing agent and / or a storage container for the cleaning fluid. Alternatively, these media could also be provided by external supply devices.

[0019] In particular, a device for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent for container treatment systems is proposed, which device is also designed to feed a cleaning fluid into the evaporator and heat it. This can be achieved, for example, by the cleaning agent supply line opening into the sterilizing agent supply line and / or into a supply line section of the evaporator into which the sterilizing agent supply line also opens. From a process engineering perspective, the cleaning agent supply line, just like the sterilizing agent supply line, is therefore arranged upstream of the evaporator so that the cleaning fluid flows through the evaporator. It is also preferred that a portion of the supply line used for the sterilizing agent supply line is also cleaned. Unlike the sterilizing fluid, the cleaning fluid is advantageous in that it is not fed into the evaporator in an atomized form.

[0020] The advantage of the described solution lies in the fact that the device is designed to evaporate a sterilizing agent and also has a self-cleaning function, particularly for additives that have precipitated from the sterilizing agent, such as salts. The proposed cleaning agent supply line makes it possible, in particular, to clean both the evaporator and the lines and / or nozzles of the container treatment system at regular maintenance intervals, thereby increasing the availability of the container treatment system.

[0021] The sterilizing agent is preferably an aqueous solution comprising hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The aqueous solution preferably also contains additives and / or stabilizers that inhibit the catalytic decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide, particularly when the hydrogen peroxide is converted into a gaseous state within the evaporator by heating. The aqueous solution preferably contains at least 3% by mass, more preferably at least 10% by mass, more preferably at least 25% by mass, in particular between 30 and 35% by mass, of hydrogen peroxide. The sterilizing agent is preferably, for example, a 35% aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution.

[0022] The cleaning fluid is preferably an acid, especially a weak acid. A weak acid is understood to be one that is not completely dissociated. A weak acid has the advantage of dissolving salts well while still treating the materials being rinsed through gently.

[0023] Preferably, the cleaning fluid comprises an aqueous solution containing citric acid (CeH2O3) and / or is citric acid. Preferably, the cleaning fluid is free of hydrogen peroxide and / or different from the liquid sterilizing agent.

[0024] The evaporator is preferably temperature-controlled. For this purpose, the evaporator has, for example, a heating element and / or a temperature sensor, which are preferably arranged within the evaporator. The heating element and the temperature sensor preferably form a control loop, in particular for adjusting the temperature within the evaporator. For this purpose, the heating element can be formed, for example, from one or more heating rods, heating plates, heating coils, or similar heating devices.

[0025] The device preferably further comprises a supply line for a carrier medium or carrier fluid. The supply line is preferably designed to transport and / or hold a gaseous carrier medium. The supply line is therefore fluid-tight, in particular with respect to the gaseous carrier medium. This supply line can also be referred to as a carrier medium supply line. A typical carrier fluid is, for example, air, in particular sterile air. The carrier medium supply line is preferably fluid-tight and, in particular, is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the supply line section of the evaporator, in particular such that the carrier fluid flows through the evaporator.

[0026] The carrier fluid can be any liquid and / or gaseous medium suitable for conveying the sterilizing fluid and / or cleaning fluid and / or rinsing fluid described herein through the evaporator and / or its supply and discharge lines and / or the lines and / or the nozzles of the container treatment system. Preferably, however, the cleaning fluid and / or the rinsing fluid are not mixed with the carrier fluid. The carrier fluid serves, for example, to atomize the sterilizing fluid upstream of the evaporator in order to supply the sterilizing fluid in atomized form to the evaporator. The carrier fluid is preferably in a gaseous state under standard conditions, i.e. at a temperature of 0°C and a pressure of 1.01325 bar and / or under laboratory conditions, i.e. at a temperature of 20°C and a pressure of 1.01325 bar.The carrier fluid is therefore, in particular, a gaseous carrier medium, such as air, in particular sterile air, which is pressurized to a pressure of, for example, 1 to 2 bar or more, in order to convey, in particular, the sterilizing fluid described herein through the evaporator and / or the lines and / or the nozzles of the container treatment system. The carrier fluid is preferably free of hydrogen peroxide and / or the cleaning fluid and / or the liquid sterilizing agent. It is also conceivable that the carrier fluid is also used, at least in part, as a rinsing fluid.

[0027] Preferably, the device further comprises a supply line for a rinsing agent or a rinsing fluid. The supply line is preferably configured to transport and / or hold a liquid rinsing agent. The supply line is thus fluid-tight, particularly with respect to the liquid rinsing agent. This supply line can also be referred to as a rinsing agent supply line. The rinsing agent supply line is preferably fluid-tight and, in particular, is fluidly connected to the supply line section of the evaporator, in particular such that the rinsing fluid flows through the evaporator.

[0028] The flushing fluid can be any liquid and / or gaseous medium suitable for flushing the evaporator and / or its inlet and outlet lines and / or the lines and / or the nozzles of the container treatment system. The flushing fluid preferably has a liquid state and / or a solid state under standard conditions, i.e. at a temperature of 0°C and a pressure of 1.01325 bar and / or under laboratory conditions, i.e. at a temperature of 20°C and a pressure of 1.01325 bar. The flushing fluid is therefore in particular a liquid flushing agent, such as water, which is pressurized in particular with a pressure of, for example, 1 to 2 bar in order to flush the evaporator and / or its inlet and outlet lines and / or the lines and / or the nozzles of the container treatment system. Preferably, the rinsing fluid is free of hydrogen peroxide and / or the carrier fluid and / or the cleaning fluid and / or the liquid sterilizing agent.

[0029] Preferably, the device further comprises a common feed point at which the cleaning agent supply line and / or the carrier fluid supply line and / or the rinsing agent supply line open into the supply line section, in particular so that the cleaning fluid and / or carrier fluid and / or rinsing fluid flows through the supply line section and is thereby treated. The common feed point is fluidically connected to the supply line section, in particular so that the liquid sterilizing agent and / or the cleaning fluid and / or the carrier fluid and / or the rinsing fluid flows through the supply line section at least in sections.

[0030] Alternatively and / or additionally, the device further comprises a controllable valve arranged in the sterilizing agent supply line for adjusting a volume flow. A controllable shut-off valve can also be provided, preferably downstream of the valve adjusting the volume flow. For the sterilizing agent, the volume flow can also be adjusted, for example, via a pump that delivers the sterilizing agent, e.g., via its speed.

[0031] Alternatively and / or additionally, the device further comprises a controllable valve arranged in the cleaning agent supply line for adjusting a volume flow. A controllable shut-off valve may additionally be provided, preferably downstream of the valve adjusting the volume flow. Alternatively and / or additionally, the device further comprises a controllable valve arranged in the carrier agent supply line for adjusting a volume flow. A controllable shut-off valve may additionally be provided, preferably downstream of the valve adjusting the volume flow.

[0032] Alternatively and / or additionally, the device further comprises a controllable valve arranged in the detergent supply line for adjusting a volume flow. A controllable shut-off valve may also be provided, preferably downstream of the valve adjusting the volume flow.

[0033] The above-mentioned valves for adjusting a flow rate can be designed as pressure reducing valves, for example. This means that a pre-pressure is manually set, for example, and in conjunction with the pipe or nozzle cross-section, a flow rate is determined.

[0034] Preferably, the controllable valves in the sterilizing agent supply line and / or the cleaning agent supply line and / or the carrier agent supply line and / or the rinsing agent supply line are connected to a control unit, in particular a control unit as described below. Said controllable valves are the aforementioned shut-off valves and / or the valves for adjusting a volume flow.

[0035] Preferably, the control unit is configured to control the valves in the sterilizing agent supply line and / or the cleaning agent supply line and / or the carrier agent supply line and / or the rinsing agent supply line and / or to communicate with a control unit of the container treatment system, for example via a bus system, or alternatively wirelessly. The control unit of the container treatment system can also be referred to as a container treatment system control unit.

[0036] The device for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent thus comprises, in particular, a control unit configured to control the individual volume flows within the various supply lines and / or their blocking state, in particular by means of controllable valves arranged within the supply lines. This control relates to opening and closing corresponding valves at desired times and for desired durations and / or to controlling the volume flows. Preferably, the control unit is configured to carry out a method described below for cleaning a device for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent and / or a sterilization process and / or a cleaning process.

[0037] Preferably, the device further comprises a line from the evaporator to the container treatment plant, which line is designed to guide the sterilizing agent and / or the cleaning fluid and / or the carrier fluid and / or the rinsing fluid to the container treatment plant.

[0038] The evaporator is therefore fluidly connected, in particular via a line, to the container treatment system or the corresponding components, such as lines and / or nozzles of the container treatment system.

[0039] The stated object is also achieved with a cleaning method having the features of claim 9. The method is preferably carried out using a device for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent as described above and / or below. The device for evaporating the liquid sterilizing agent or the container treatment system is preferably designed to carry out a sterilization method or sterilization process, in particular as described herein and / or by means of a liquid sterilizing agent, such as a hydrogen peroxide solution. The sterilization method or sterilization process can, for example, be part of a manufacturing process in which preforms are inflated and sterilized by means of the container treatment machine. For this purpose, the liquid sterilizing agent is atomized, for example, by means of an air jet and then fed into the evaporator.In the evaporator, the liquid sterilizing agent is then heated until it evaporates, transforming the sterilizing agent into a gaseous state. The gaseous sterilizing agent is then conveyed via a line from the evaporator to the container treatment machine, where it is applied to the preforms and / or containers, e.g., using a nozzle. During the sterilization process, the evaporator can have an operating temperature of over 100°C, for example, approximately 150°C. In particular, the evaporator is designed to set an operating temperature that is above the boiling point of the sterilizing agent.

[0040] According to the invention, it is now proposed to clean the evaporator or the lines and nozzles of the container treatment machine used for the sterilization process using a cleaning fluid following the sterilization process. The cleaning method proposed herein can therefore be used in particular for a cleaning process of an evaporation device with an evaporator, optionally also for the lines leading to the container treatment system, including the nozzles supplied by it. The proposed method and the fluids used therein are preferably selected such that they can remove deposits in the evaporator and / or the lines and / or nozzles of the container treatment system that have arisen during the sterilization process, for example due to precipitated additives from the sterilizing agent, for example precipitated as salts.

[0041] In other words, this means that the evaporator and, for example, the container treatment machine supplied by it have a treatment operation. In this treatment operation, containers are treated by the container treatment machine, and the sterilizing fluid is evaporated in the evaporator and fed to the container treatment machine for use, e.g. for sterilizing preforms, containers, closures, etc. and / or handling equipment (pliers, mandrels, etc.) and / or system areas that come into contact with these workpieces (blowing nozzle, stretching rod, filling devices, etc.). In a cleaning operation that is to be distinguished from this treatment operation, i.e. a second operating mode of the evaporation device and, for example, the container treatment machine supplied by it, the evaporator and, if necessary, other lines and other equipment supplied by the evaporator are cleaned.For this cleaning operation, the container treatment operation is interrupted and continued, for example, after the cleaning operation has been completed.

[0042] For this purpose, the evaporator is first brought from its current temperature to an appropriate operating temperature for cleaning. If the current temperature of the evaporator, for example 150°C, is above the appropriate operating temperature of, for example, 95°C, which is the case if the evaporator was previously in processing mode and, for example, supplied a container processing machine with a sterilizing agent, the evaporator can be cooled down using a rinsing agent, for example water or air. In other words, the evaporator is cooled from the operating temperature for providing the sterilizing fluid, for example 150°C, to an operating temperature for evaporator cleaning, for example below 100°C. The operating temperature of the evaporator is therefore different in these two operating modes.If the current temperature of the evaporator, for example, is 20 °C below the corresponding operating temperature during cleaning operation of, for example, 95 °C, which is the case when the evaporator is started after a prolonged standstill, the evaporator can be heated, for example, using the heating element. The operating temperature during cleaning operation depends in particular on the cleaning fluid used. This operating temperature is preferably below 100 °C, in particular so that the cleaning fluid remains in a liquid state. For example, the operating temperature is between 75 °C and 95 °C.

[0043] Provided the evaporator has reached the appropriate operating temperature during cleaning, the cleaning fluid, e.g., citric acid or other cleaning fluids mentioned above, is fed to the evaporator and warmed or heated in the evaporator, in particular until the cleaning fluid reaches a temperature that essentially corresponds to the operating temperature of the evaporator during cleaning. Preferably, the cleaning fluid is not evaporated, thus retaining its liquid state.

[0044] The heated cleaning fluid is then fed from the evaporator, for example, into a line that is connected to the lines or nozzles of the container treatment system, in particular the lines or nozzles through which the sterilizing agent previously flowed.

[0045] By heating the cleaning fluid, the cleaning performance of the cleaning fluid against the deposits is increased.

[0046] According to one embodiment of the method, the heated cleaning fluid can be introduced into the lines at intervals and / or repeated cyclically, in particular in such a way that the evaporator and / or the lines and / or the nozzles of the container treatment system are repeatedly flowed through by heated cleaning fluid.

[0047] According to a further embodiment of the method, the evaporator and / or the lines and / or the nozzles of the container treatment system can also be cleaned with water. In one embodiment, the evaporator and / or the lines and / or the nozzles of the container treatment system are, for example, regularly rinsed with water and, at longer intervals, additionally with a weak acid, such as citric acid.

[0048] Preferably, the operating temperature of the evaporator is adjusted to the temperature of the cleaning operation by flushing the evaporator with compressed air and / or by flushing the evaporator with water and / or by alternately flushing the evaporator with compressed air and water and / or by waiting.

[0049] It is therefore proposed, in particular, to cool the evaporator before the cleaning process, in particular to a temperature below 100 °C, for example by flushing with water or compressed air. This ensures, in particular, that the cleaning fluid does not evaporate in the evaporator.

[0050] Preferably, the evaporator and / or the line from the evaporator to the container treatment system is rinsed with compressed air and / or water, in particular to remove residues of the cleaning fluid from the evaporator and / or the line from the evaporator to the container treatment system. Rinsing with water is particularly preferred. Further preferably, the evaporator is then reheated and rinsed with air, in particular sterile air, to dry off all cleaning agents or all water, e.g., to then return the evaporator to the operating state in which a sterilizing agent is evaporated and made available to a container treatment machine.

[0051] Preferably, the above rinsing and / or the remaining rinsing steps are also carried out in all lines and / or nozzles of the container treatment system that have come into contact with the cleaning fluid.

[0052] Preferably, the operating temperature of the evaporator is monitored and, if necessary, controlled or regulated throughout the entire process or cleaning process, in particular so that the temperature in the evaporator remains essentially constant. The temperature in the evaporator can be kept constant, for example, by rinsing with water or by activating the heating elements. This preferably also applies to the post-rinsing.

[0053] The cleaning method is preferably activated automatically and / or semi-automatically and / or manually. According to one embodiment, the cleaning method can be activated, for example, by a specialist, in particular after a certain operating time has been reached and / or after completion of a production operation, and / or when no sterilization process is pending and / or no containers need to be produced and / or filled. The cleaning method is therefore carried out in particular when the container treatment plant is to be shut down. According to a further embodiment, the cleaning method can also be activated when contamination is detected in the evaporator and / or its supply or discharge lines and / or a line and / or a nozzle of the container treatment plant.The contamination can be detected, for example, by a specialist and / or by any sensors in the pipes, for example by a flow sensor, which is arranged in particular behind the evaporator.

[0054] Preferably, the cleaning method is carried out automatically and / or repeated at regular intervals. Preferably, the cleaning method is carried out after the evaporation device has been operated in evaporation mode for evaporating the sterilizing agent, so that the evaporator is still at a high operating temperature and its thermal energy can be used for the cleaning process, or the treatment system supplied by it has been operated in a treatment mode for treating containers.

[0055] According to a further embodiment, the cleaning method can be activated automatically or semi-automatically. For this purpose, for example, the control unit of the device and / or the container treatment plant control unit can have a program which, in addition to a manufacturing and / or filling and / or sterilization process, also includes a cleaning process which includes a cleaning method described herein. In other words, the evaporation device and the container treatment plant supplied thereby can be operated in two operating modes, e.g. controlled by the aforementioned control units, namely in a cleaning mode in which a cleaning process can be carried out, and in a treatment mode in which the container treatment plant carries out its intended treatment of containers and the evaporator evaporates the liquid sterilizing agent and supplies it to the container treatment plant.

[0056] The solution to the stated problem is also achieved with a container treatment plant having the features of claim 14. Such a container treatment plant is shown, for example, in Figure 1.

[0057] The container treatment system is preferably designed as a container manufacturing and / or container filling machine, in particular as described above and / or below. The container treatment system comprises at least one device for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent, as described above and / or below, and / or a container treatment system control unit configured to initiate and / or execute a method as described above and / or below, and / or a nozzle connected to a device as described above and / or below and configured to apply the sterilizing agent to or into a workpiece, in particular a preform or a container.

[0058] The container processing system preferably comprises a device for forming a preform into a container and / or a device for filling and / or closing and / or labeling a container. Other devices for handling containers not mentioned above are possible.

[0059] A container is understood herein to mean finished containers of any kind, as well as preforms. The container is preferably made of a thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0060] Treatment or container treatment is understood here to include, in particular, filling, forming, closing, sterilizing, but also transporting containers.

[0061] In conjunction with the following figures, the present invention is explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments.

[0062] Fig. 1 shows schematically and by way of example a container treatment plant, preferably a machine for blow molding containers.

[0063] Fig. 2 shows schematically and exemplarily a container treatment plant with a device for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent.

[0064] Fig. 3 shows schematically and by way of example a method for cleaning a device for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent.

[0065] The following explains the basic structure of a container treatment system 100 using a container manufacturing machine designed to produce a container from a preform by blow molding. However, the basic structure of the container treatment system 100 would remain unchanged if the preforms were formed into containers not by blowing air, but by simultaneous forming with simultaneous filling. The structure of the device 200 for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent, described below, would also remain unchanged if the container treatment system 100 were different.

[0066] Fig. 1 shows a schematic and exemplary container treatment system 100 designed as a container manufacturing machine. The container manufacturing machine is preferably configured to form a container from a preform, in particular by means of a blow molding machine B equipped with a heating device H with a circulation path 20 and with a rotating blowing wheel 25. Starting from a preform input 26, the preforms 1 are transported by transfer wheels 27, 28, 29 into the heating device H and into the area of ​​the circulation path 20. In a transfer area, the preforms 1 are transferred from a transfer wheel 29 to a transport device 33. Heating devices 30 and blowers 31 are arranged along the circulation path 20 in order to temperature-control the preforms 1. The part of the circulation path 20 that runs along the heating devices 30 is referred to in the present application as the heating path 24.After the preforms 1 have been sufficiently tempered, they are transferred to the blowing wheel 25, in the area of ​​which blowing stations 3 are arranged. For transfer to the blowing wheel 25, a transfer wheel 35 removes the preforms from the transport devices 33 in a removal area. The finished blow-molded containers are fed by further transfer wheels to an output line 32.

[0067] In order to be able to form a preform 1 into a container in such a way that the container has material properties that ensure the long-term usability of the food products, especially beverages, filled within the container, special process steps must be observed during the heating and orientation of the preforms 1. Furthermore, advantageous effects can be achieved by adhering to specific dimensioning specifications. Various plastics can be used as thermoplastic materials. Suitable examples include PET, PEN, or PP.

[0068] In the selected example, the expansion of preform 1 during the orientation process is achieved by supplying compressed air. The compressed air supply is divided into a pre-blowing phase, in which gas, for example, compressed air, is supplied at a low pressure level, and a subsequent main blowing phase, in which gas is supplied at a higher pressure level. During the pre-blowing phase, compressed air is typically used at a pressure ranging from 10 bar to 25 bar, and during the main blowing phase, compressed air is supplied at a pressure ranging from 25 bar to 40 bar.

[0069] It can also be seen from Fig. 1 that, in the illustrated embodiment, the circulating path (20) is formed from a plurality of circulating transport devices 33, which are arranged in a chain-like manner and guided along deflection wheels 34. In particular, the idea is to use the chain-like arrangement to create a substantially rectangular basic contour. In the illustrated embodiment, a single, relatively large deflection wheel (34), the head wheel, is used in the area of ​​the extension of the circulating path 20 facing the feed wheel 29 and a removal wheel 35, and two comparatively smaller deflection wheels 36 are used in the area of ​​adjacent deflections. In principle, however, any other circulating path contours are also conceivable.

[0070] To enable the feed wheel 29 and the removal wheel 35 to be arranged as closely as possible relative to one another, the illustrated arrangement proves to be particularly expedient, since three deflection wheels 34, 36 are positioned in the area of ​​the corresponding extension of the circulating path 20, namely the smaller deflection wheels 36 in the area of ​​the transition to the linear circulating sections of the circulating path 24 and the larger deflection wheel 34, head wheel, in the immediate transfer area to the feed wheel 29 and the removal wheel 35.

[0071] The chain-like, connected support devices 33 rotate around the described deflection wheels 34, 36 and along the circulating path 20. For this purpose, one of the deflection wheels, e.g., the head wheel 34, or several of the deflection wheels can be designed to be rotationally driven, e.g., by a motor driving the head wheel 34, or e.g., by a mechanical coupling to the rotation of the blowing wheel 25, which can, for example, have a rotary drive. The feed wheel 29 transfers preforms 1 to support devices 33, which arrive preform-less in a feed area of ​​the circulating path. From this feed area, the support devices 33, now equipped with a preform 1, guide the preform 1 clockwise along the circulating path 20, first toward the distant deflection wheel 34, then around this deflection wheel 34, and then back toward the removal wheel 35.As soon as a carrying device 33 with a preform 1 reaches the removal area of ​​the circulation path 20, the preform 1, which at this point has undergone the heating required for forming, is removed from the carrying device 33 or transferred to the removal wheel 35 and rotated by the latter towards the blowing wheel 25. The carrying device 33, which is devoid of preforms after this removal process, now runs along the circulation path 20 from the removal area to the feed area in order to pick up another preform 1 there.

[0072] The illustrated feed and removal wheels 29 and 35, respectively, may, for example, have pincer-like feed and removal means. Since these wheels, collectively referred to as transfer wheels, are not relevant to the present invention, further description is omitted. The blowing wheel 25 also requires no detailed description for the same reason. These wheels can be designed in a wide variety of ways, as is known in the prior art.

[0073] After the containers have been blown, they are guided out of the area of ​​the blowing stations 3 by a removal wheel 37 and transported to the output line 32 via the transfer wheel 28 and an output wheel 38.

[0074] The heating section 24 shown in Figure 1 can be modified, for example, by providing a larger number of heating devices 30 in order to be able to temperature-control a larger quantity of preforms 1 per unit of time. The heating devices 30 described above are designed as heating boxes in which NIR radiators are arranged. This is to be understood merely as an example of usable heating devices. A large number of designs are known in the prior art which serve to temperature-condition preforms and can therefore be referred to as heating devices. Heating methods other than irradiation with IR or NIR radiation are also known in the prior art, e.g., heating the preforms by microwave irradiation. The invention is independent of the specific appearance of the heating devices 30 and also of the specific appearance of the heating section 24 and the circulation section 20.

[0075] Fig. 2 shows schematically and by way of example a container treatment system 100, as shown for example in Figure 1, with a device 200 for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent.

[0076] The device 200 for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent comprises a sterilizing agent supply line 210, an evaporator 220, a cleaning agent supply line 230, a carrier agent supply line 240, a rinsing agent supply line 250, a common feed point 260, a control unit 270, and a line 280 connected to the container treatment system 100, and in particular to a nozzle 180 of the container treatment system 100. The sterilizing agent supply line 210 is connected to the evaporator 220 via a supply line section 221, in particular to introduce an aqueous solution containing hydrogen peroxide into the evaporator 220. To control the volume flow or the amount of hydrogen peroxide, the sterilizing agent supply line 210 has a controllable valve 212 connected to the control unit 270. It could be a shut-off valve, for example.

[0077] The cleaning agent supply line 230, the carrier agent supply line 240, and the rinsing agent supply line 250 discharge into a common feed point 260, which is connected to the supply line section 221 of the evaporator 220. The cleaning agent supply line 230, the carrier agent supply line 240, and the rinsing agent supply line 250 each have a controllable valve 232, 242, 252, which are also connected to the control unit 270. Furthermore, the cleaning agent supply line 230 and / or the carrier agent supply line 240 can have further safety-relevant components 234, 244, such as a ball check valve.

[0078] The evaporator 220 has a temperature sensor 224 and corresponding heating elements 226, for example and purely by way of example in the form of three heating rods, which are arranged at least partially in the container 222 of the evaporator 220. Temperature control is achieved by means of the temperature sensor 224, and a corresponding temperature or operating temperature can be set in the evaporator 220.

[0079] The device 200 for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent is preferably controlled by means of the control unit 270, for example, as shown in Fig. 3. The control unit 270 is preferably configured to carry out at least one sterilization process and / or one cleaning process, in particular as described herein. In other words, the device 200 for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent can be controlled by the control unit 270 in a sterilization mode and in a cleaning mode.

[0080] During the sterilization process, an aqueous solution containing hydrogen peroxide is fed into the evaporator 220 via the sterilizing agent supply line 210. The aqueous solution may be atomized beforehand in a manner not shown. In the evaporator 220, the aqueous solution is superheated, converted into a gaseous state, and transferred to the container treatment system 100 via line 280, in particular in such a way that the hydrogen peroxide can be applied into and / or onto the containers and / or preforms, for example, using a nozzle arranged at the end of the supply line 280. During the cleaning process, the evaporator 270 or line 280, and thus also the downstream lines and the nozzle of the container treatment system 100, are cleaned, for example, with citric acid or another suitable cleaning fluid from the cleaning agent supply line 230.The cleaning process may also include rinsing the evaporator, lines and nozzles with water and / or compressed air.

[0081] To ensure that the sterilization process and the cleaning process do not occur simultaneously, the control unit 270 of the device 200 is connected to the container treatment system control unit 170, for example, via a shared bus system. Appropriate communication between the control units 170, 270 ensures that the cleaning process is only carried out when the container treatment system is not in production or treatment mode.

[0082] Fig. 3 schematically and exemplarily shows a method 300 for cleaning a device 200 for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent, in particular as shown in Fig. 2. Preferably, the cleaning or cleaning process takes place following a sterilization process of a container or a preform of the container treatment system 100.

[0083] In a first step 310, the agents or fluids required for the cleaning method described herein are provided, such as citric acid, water and (compressed) air.

[0084] Optionally, a sterilization process can be performed in a next step 320. For this purpose, for example, an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide can first be atomized and introduced into the evaporator. In the evaporator, the aqueous solution is then converted into a gaseous state by superheating and transferred to the container treatment system 100 and applied to the containers or preforms.

[0085] Following the sterilization process, the cleaning process begins.

[0086] For this purpose, an operating temperature is first set in the evaporator in a step 330, which is preferably below the boiling point of the cleaning fluid. This can be done, for example, by flushing the evaporator 335 and / or by waiting 336.

[0087] Subsequently, in a next step 340, the cleaning fluid is first introduced into the evaporator and from there into the downstream lines and nozzles. For this purpose, the cleaning fluid is first supplied to the evaporator, for example, then heated by the evaporator, in particular to operating temperature, and fed into a line from the evaporator to the container treatment system.

[0088] Optionally, in a next step 350, rinsing can be carried out, for example with compressed air and / or water, in particular in such a way that no cleaning fluid, e.g. no citric acid, is present in the evaporator and / or in the lines and / or the nozzles.

[0089] In addition, in a further step 360, the temperature in the evaporator can be monitored and, if necessary, adjusted during the entire cleaning process, e.g. even during rinsing.

[0090] Once the cleaning process is complete, the device or container treatment system can be used again for sterilization.

Claims

Claims 1. A device (200) for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent, in particular for a container treatment system (100), preferably for a container manufacturing and / or container filling machine, comprising: a sterilizing agent supply line (210) for supplying the liquid sterilizing agent to an evaporator; and an evaporator (220) connected to the sterilizing agent supply line (210) via a supply line section (221) and configured to convert the liquid sterilizing agent into a gaseous state and subsequently supply it to a container treatment system, characterized by: a cleaning agent supply line (230) for supplying a cleaning fluid to the evaporator (220), in particular via the supply line section (221).

2. Device (200) for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent according to claim 1, characterized in that: the device has a storage container for the sterilizing agent or and / or the sterilizing agent is an aqueous solution comprising hydrogen peroxide; and / or the device has a storage container for the cleaning fluid or is connectable to an external supply line for the cleaning fluid and / or the cleaning fluid is water or an acid, preferably a weak acid, in particular comprising citric acid.

3. Device (200) for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the evaporator (220) is temperature-controlled.

4. Device (200) for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a carrier agent supply line (240) for supplying a carrier fluid, in particular a gaseous carrier fluid, preferably air, into the evaporator, in particular via the supply line section (221), in particular for atomizing the sterilizing fluid upstream of the evaporator and / or a rinsing agent supply line (250) for supplying a rinsing fluid, in particular a liquid rinsing fluid, preferably water, into the evaporator, in particular via the supply line section (221).

5. Device (200) for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a common feed point (260) in which the cleaning agent supply line and / or the carrier agent supply line and / or the rinsing agent supply line open into the supply line section (221), in particular so that the cleaning fluid and / or the carrier fluid and / or the rinsing fluid flows through the supply line section (221) over an equal length.

6. Device (200) for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a controllable valve (212, 232, 242, 252) arranged in the sterilizing agent supply line (210) and / or the cleaning agent supply line (230) and / or the carrier agent supply line (240) and / or the rinsing agent supply line (250) for adjusting a volume flow and / or for blocking or releasing the supply line.

7. Device (200) for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a control unit (270) which is designed to control a controllable valve (212, 232, 242, 252) arranged in the sterilizing agent supply line (210) and / or in the cleaning agent supply line (230) and / or in the carrier agent supply line (240) and / or the rinsing agent supply line (250) for setting a volume flow and / or to control the blocking or releasing of the supply line and / or to communicate with a container treatment plant control unit (170).

8. Device (200) for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a line (280) from the evaporator (220) to the container treatment system (100), which line is configured to guide the sterilizing agent and / or the cleaning agent and / or a carrier fluid and / or a rinsing fluid to the container treatment system.

9. A method (300) for cleaning a device (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 with a cleaning fluid, comprising the steps: Setting (330) an operating temperature (T_B) of the evaporator (200), which is preferably below a boiling temperature (T_max) of the cleaning fluid; feeding (342) the cleaning fluid into the evaporator; Heating (344) the cleaning fluid in the evaporator; Introducing (346) the heated cleaning fluid into a line (280) from the evaporator (220) to the container treatment system (100).

10. The method (300) for cleaning according to claim 9, wherein adjusting (330) the operating temperature of the evaporator (200) comprises at least one method step from the following list, consisting of: Flushing (335) the evaporator with compressed air; Flushing (335) the evaporator with water; alternately flushing (335) the evaporator with compressed air and water; Wait (336).

11. A method (300) for cleaning according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising the steps: Flushing (350) the evaporator and / or the line (280) from the evaporator (220) to the container treatment plant (100) with compressed air and / or water and / or with a mixture produced by compressed air and water, in particular to remove residues of the cleaning fluid from the evaporator and / or the line from the evaporator to the container treatment plant.

12. Method (300) for cleaning according to one of claims 9 to 11, further comprising the steps: Monitoring (360) the operating temperature (T_B) of the evaporator, in particular regulating the operating temperature (T_B) by at least one heating element and / or repeated flushing with compressed air and / or water.

13. A method (300) for cleaning according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein: the method is carried out automatically at regular intervals and / or the method is triggered manually and / or the method is started when contamination has been detected on a nozzle and / or in a line of the container treatment plant (100) and / or the device (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, for which contamination the sterilizing agent is the cause.

14. Container treatment plant (100), in particular a container manufacturing machine for converting preforms into containers or a container filling machine for filling containers, comprising: a device (200) for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent according to one of claims 1 to 8 and / or a container treatment plant control unit (170) which is designed to trigger and / or execute a method according to one of claims 9 to 13 and / or a nozzle (180) which is connected to a device (200) for evaporating a liquid sterilizing agent according to at least one of claims 1 to 8 and is designed to apply the sterilizing agent onto or into a workpiece, in particular a preform or a container.

15. Container treatment plant (100) according to claim 14, further comprising: a device for forming a preform into a container, and / or - a device for handling, in particular filling and / or closing and / or labeling, a container.

Images