Device and method for cleaning a bath liquid of a container cleaning device
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing container cleaning devices face challenges in efficiently and cost-effectively cleaning bath liquids, as filter units often become clogged and require frequent replacement, leading to high water consumption and operational inefficiencies.
A device with a rotating sieve belt and a spray unit that showers the sieve belt with cleaning liquid in the opposite direction of the bath liquid flow, combined with a collecting container for reusing the cleaning liquid, reduces residue and alkalinity, allowing for efficient and water-saving cleaning.
The solution enables simple, permanent, and water-saving cleaning of bath liquids by effectively filtering contaminants and reusing cleaning liquids, reducing the need for frequent filter replacements and minimizing water consumption.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024060723_14112024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Device and method for cleaning a bath liquid of a container cleaning device
[0002] The invention relates to a device for cleaning a bath liquid of a container cleaning device and a method for cleaning a bath liquid of a container cleaning device.
[0003] Container cleaning devices are commonly used in the art to clean containers, such as beverage containers and / or reusable bottles, and remove labels. For this purpose, container cleaning devices typically have numerous container cells into which the containers are received and transported through various cleaning zones with cleaning baths.
[0004] In the cleaning zones, the containers are treated with various bath fluids, such as soft brine, lye, warm water, and / or fresh water, to remove contaminants and / or labels attached to the containers. The detached contaminants and labels collect in the bath fluids of the respective cleaning zone, requiring regular or even continuous cleaning of the bath fluid. To clean the bath fluid, a filter unit, for example in the form of a filter belt, is usually provided in the area of one or more of the cleaning baths. The bath fluid is passed through the filter unit, which also becomes clogged over time and therefore also needs to be regularly cleaned of contaminants or replaced. This is very cumbersome and time-consuming due to the typical size of a filter belt.
[0005] To avoid replacing the filter unit, some existing tank cleaning systems already have a means for flushing the filter unit. However, to avoid excessive water consumption, these systems typically only operate intermittently, thus preventing complete cleaning of a filter belt. Alternatively, continuous flushing is required, which is associated with high water consumption. Such high water consumption was acceptable in the past, but is increasingly no longer desired by tank cleaning system operators due to increased environmental awareness.
[0006] Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a device for cleaning a bath liquid of a container cleaning device, which enables a simple, permanently efficient and water-saving cleaning of the bath liquid of a container cleaning device.
[0007] The object is achieved according to the invention by a device according to claim 1 and by a method according to claim 9. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.
[0008] The device according to the invention for cleaning a bath liquid of a container cleaning device comprises a rotatingly driven screen belt having an upper run and a lower run. According to the invention, the upper run is provided for filtering and / or removing contaminants from a bath liquid conveyed from at least one cleaning bath of the container cleaning device onto the screen belt. According to the invention, the device comprises a spray unit arranged between the lower run and the upper run for spraying the screen belt with a cleaning liquid, as well as a collecting container arranged below the lower run and / or below the spray unit for collecting and subsequently reusing the cleaning liquid discharged by the spray unit.The inventors recognized that the bath fluid of the container cleaning device can be easily and quickly freed of contaminants, such as dirt particles or label residue, by filtering it through the upper run of the screen belt. The spray unit enables simple and efficient cleaning of the screen belt by spraying the cleaning fluid through the screen belt in a direction opposite to the flow direction of the bath fluid. This reduces the bath fluid residues on the screen belt and also lowers the residual alkalinity. This allows, in particular, the use of plastic elements for guiding the screen belt, such as sliding elements or plastic sealing elements.Furthermore, the inventors have recognized that arranging the spray unit between the lower run and the upper run and a collecting container below the lower run allows the cleaning liquid to be reused, for example to refill one of the cleaning baths, whereby the water consumption of the container cleaning device can be significantly reduced.
[0009] Although the device according to the invention for cleaning a bath liquid can, in principle, be a stand-alone device independent of a container cleaning device, it is preferred that the device according to the invention be integrated into a container cleaning device. The device for cleaning a bath liquid is preferably arranged within a housing of the container cleaning device.
[0010] The container cleaning device can, in principle, be any system for cleaning containers. For this purpose, the container cleaning device preferably has several cleaning baths with one or different bath liquids, for example, lye, warm water, or fresh water. The containers can, in principle, be any type of vessel, with the containers preferably being made of plastic or glass and / or being intended to hold a food product and, in particular, a beverage. Accordingly, the containers are preferably bottles. Furthermore, the containers are preferably reusable bottles, in particular made of glass or plastic.
[0011] According to the invention, the screen belt is intended for filtering impurities from the bath liquid. Basically, a screen belt is understood to be a body that is suitable for retaining impurities from the bath liquid on a surface and allowing the bath liquid to pass through. For example, the screen belt has a screen surface perforated with a plurality of openings that extends between edge elements or a respective lateral guide chain. Preferably, the screen belt has a plurality of screen elements arranged at a distance from one another in the running direction of the screen belt for filtering the impurities. The screen elements are, for example, each arranged at their ends on sliding elements and are each arranged with the sliding elements in a guide. Preferably, the screen belt is guided in guides on the upper and lower strands, at least in the area of the spray unit.
[0012] The upper run and the lower run describe two freely running sections of the screen belt at a distance from one another. According to the invention, the screen belt is driven in rotation, which means that the screen belt is deflected by at least one deflection roller and preferably at least two deflection rollers and is driven by a drive unit, for example an electric motor. In all sections, the screen belt has an upper side and a lower side facing away from the upper side. The upper run has a first upper side section and a first lower side section facing away from the first upper side section. The first upper side section is preferably arranged above the first lower side section with respect to the position of use of the device. The lower run has a second upper side section and a second lower side section facing away from the second upper side section.The second upper side section is preferably arranged below the first and / or second lower side section, relative to the position of use of the device. The lower side sections are preferably arranged facing one another, in particular due to at least one deflection of the screen belt. Furthermore, the lower run, at least in the region of the spray unit, is preferably arranged at an angle between 0° and 50°, preferably between 0° and 35°, particularly preferably between 0° and 20° to the upper run. Most preferably, the lower run is arranged parallel to the upper run, at least in the region of the spray unit.
[0013] A spray unit is generally understood to be a unit designed to dispense cleaning fluid onto the screen belt and to rinse the screen belt. The spray unit is designed to free the screen belt of impurities filtered out of the bath fluid. To do this, the spray unit dispenses the cleaning fluid, for example water, toward the screen belt, in particular toward the lower run of the screen belt. The spray unit is preferably designed to dispense the cleaning fluid substantially across the entire width of the screen belt. Likewise, the spray unit preferably has at least one outlet opening for dispensing the cleaning fluid. The outlet opening is preferably designed and arranged such that the cleaning fluid is sprayed onto the screen belt, in particular substantially at right angles to a surface of the screen belt.Furthermore, the outlet opening is particularly preferably formed as a nozzle, so that the cleaning liquid is discharged from the spray unit under pressure, in particular a pressure of 1-6 bar and preferably 2-5 bar, and / or is directed onto the screen belt, in particular the lower run of the screen belt.
[0014] The spray unit preferably has at least two outlet openings arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal axis direction of the spray unit. The spray unit particularly preferably has several outlet openings arranged at a distance from one another, and most preferably at the same distance from one another. It is particularly preferred that the outlet openings extend over 60%-120%, preferably 80%-100%, and particularly preferably 95%-100% of the length of the conduit element and / or the width of the screen belt.
[0015] According to the invention, the spray unit is arranged between the lower run and the upper run. The spray unit is preferably arranged between the underside sections of the lower run and the upper run and / or directed onto an underside section, in particular the lower run. The spray unit is particularly preferably arranged between the first underside section and the second underside section. The spray unit is preferably arranged closer to the lower run, in particular the second underside section, than to the upper run, in particular the first underside section. The spray unit is preferably arranged at a distance of between 0 cm and 20 cm, particularly preferably between 1 cm and 15 cm, and most particularly preferably between 2 cm and 10 cm from the second underside section.
[0016] A separating element is preferably arranged between the spray unit and the upper run to collect contaminants, in particular label residues, that accidentally detach from the upper run or pass through the upper run. For example, the separating element is designed in the form of a protective plate.
[0017] The collecting container is basically a component that is intended to collect the cleaning fluid delivered by the spray unit onto the screen belt and sprayed through the screen belt. For this purpose, the collecting container has an inlet opening on its upper side or on a side facing the screen belt and the spray unit, which inlet opening preferably extends over the entire upper side of the collecting container. The inlet opening is particularly preferably rectangular in shape. The collecting container further preferably extends at least over the entire width of the screen belt and the spray unit and particularly preferably projects beyond it. The collecting container is also preferably cuboid in shape, wherein the width transverse to the direction of rotation of the screen belt is particularly preferably longer than the length parallel to the direction of rotation.For further use of the cleaning fluid, the collecting container is connected, for example, to a cleaning bath of the container cleaning device or in the circuit of the spray unit.
[0018] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the spray unit is connected to the collecting container in such a way that the cleaning fluid collected in the collecting container is reused for cleaning the lower run. For this purpose, the collecting container is preferably connected to the spray unit via a pump and / or a line, which advantageously allows the cleaning fluid to be reused for cleaning the lower run, thus enabling cost-effective and resource-saving cleaning of the screen belt.
[0019] However, over time, the cleaning fluid becomes enriched with the contaminants released by the sieve belt, so the cleaning fluid should be filtered as the device for cleaning a bath fluid increases in operation. For example, a filter unit for filtering the cleaning fluid before reuse can be arranged on the pump and / or line connecting the collecting container to the spray unit. According to an advantageous development of the invention, however, a sieve body arranged in the collecting container is arranged for filtering the cleaning fluid passed through the sieve belt, whereby the contaminants can be easily removed from the cleaning fluid.
[0020] Basically, the sieve body is understood to be a body that is intended to separate the contaminants, in particular label residue, from the cleaning fluid. The sieve body is preferably designed for mechanically filtering the cleaning fluid. The sieve body preferably has a sieve surface with several openings penetrating the sieve surface for the passage of the cleaning fluid. Furthermore, the sieve body is preferably made of a metal. Likewise preferably, the sieve body is arranged on an underside or in the region of a base of the collecting container, so that any contaminants that settle remain in the sieve body. Most preferably, the sieve body extends substantially over the entire base surface of the collecting container. By means of the sieve body, the cleaning fluid can be efficiently and easily filtered as it is collected by the collecting container and thus freed from contaminants.
[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the collecting container and / or the sieve body is designed such that the sieve body can be adjusted between a use position and a removal position. In the use position, the sieve body is arranged in the collecting container such that the sieve body, in particular the sieve surface of the sieve body, extends over the entire cross-section of the inlet opening and can thus collect all of the cleaning fluid entering the collecting container and / or cleaning fluid emitted by the spray unit. In the removal position, the sieve body can be removed from the collecting container and / or from the cleaning device to remove impurities filtered out of the cleaning fluid and / or to clean and / or replace the sieve body.
[0022] The sieve body and / or the collecting container preferably has at least one support element for supporting the sieve body in the use position and / or for guiding the sieve body during adjustment between the use position and the removal position or vice versa. When adjusting between the use position and the removal position, the sieve body is preferably moved along a movement path arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spray unit. The support element is preferably formed such that the sieve body, in the use position, is arranged at a distance from a base of the collecting container. Particularly preferably, the sieve body is formed as a sheet metal element and has tabs for guiding and stabilizing the sieve body. By making the sieve body adjustable between the use position and the removal position, simple and quick cleaning of the sieve body is possible.
[0023] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the collecting container has a blocking unit that can be adjusted between a blocking position that fixes the sieve body in the use position and a release position that releases the sieve body for adjustment between the use position and the removal position. In the blocking position, the blocking unit prevents the sieve body from being moved from the use position to the removal position. In the release position, the blocking unit releases the sieve body for removal from the collecting container. Preferably, the blocking unit has a blocking element that is engaged with the sieve body and / or a section of the collecting container in the blocking position and disengaged in the release position. Furthermore, the blocking unit is preferably arranged on a housing plate connected to the sieve body and / or can be removed from the collecting container with the sieve body.For example, the locking unit is designed as a twist lock. This locking unit can be used to easily and reliably prevent unwanted adjustment of the sieve body.
[0024] In principle, the collecting container is sufficient for collecting and reusing the cleaning fluid, whereby the collecting container can have a section in the lower region for storing the collected cleaning fluid and can also be designed such that the collected cleaning fluid can be directly and / or completely discharged for further use. According to an advantageous development of the invention, however, it is provided that the cleaning device has a collecting container connected to the collecting container for expanding the storage capacity of the collecting container or for forming a storage volume. The collecting container preferably has an outlet opening, in particular for connecting to the collecting container, which outlet opening is particularly preferably arranged in the region of a lower end of a side wall of the collecting container.The collection container describes a component that is intended to expand the storage capacity of the collection container and / or to store the cleaning fluid.
[0025] Particularly preferably, the collecting container and / or the collecting tank are connected via a supply line to a bath arranged within a clean room of the container cleaning device. Furthermore, the spray unit of the device is preferably connected to the bath of the container cleaning device via the line and / or a pump, so that the spray unit can be operated with the cleaning fluid stored in the bath of the container cleaning device. Because the collecting container is connected to the collecting container and / or the bath of the container cleaning device, a particularly large amount of cleaning fluid can be stored.
[0026] The spray unit according to the invention is generally sufficient for cleaning the screen belt of contaminants. However, a cleaning unit for removing coarse contaminants from the screen belt is preferably arranged on the lower run and / or the upper run upstream of the spray unit in the running direction of the screen belt. The cleaning unit is particularly preferably designed for mechanically cleaning the screen belt. For example, the cleaning unit can be designed as a metallic scraper or wiping bar. According to an advantageous development of the invention, however, it is provided that a cleaning roller for removing coarse contaminants from the screen belt is arranged upstream of the spray unit in the running direction of the screen belt. The cleaning roller is preferably designed such that the coarse contaminants, in particular label residues, adhering to the lower run, in particular the second upper side section of the lower run, are removed.
[0027] The cleaning roller preferably has a plurality of cleaning elements extending radially from a longitudinal axis of the cleaning roller for removing coarse contaminants. The cleaning elements are preferably made of a plastic. The cleaning roller can be driven in rotation by means of a drive, preferably counter to the running direction of the screen belt. The cleaning roller is particularly preferably designed as a brush roller. The cleaning roller enables simple and reliable pre-cleaning of the screen belt before rinsing with the cleaning fluid, whereby the screen body clogs more slowly and can be used for an extended period without replacement.
[0028] The method according to the invention for cleaning a bath liquid of a container cleaning device can be carried out in particular with the device described above and comprises the method steps of directing a bath liquid from a cleaning bath onto a rotatingly driven screen belt having an upper run and a lower run, filtering and / or removing impurities from the bath liquid by means of the upper run of the screen belt, showering the screen belt with a cleaning liquid by means of a spray unit arranged between the lower run and the upper run, collecting the cleaning liquid in a collecting container arranged below the lower run and / or the spray unit and further using the cleaning liquid discharged by the spray unit and collected in the collecting container.
[0029] The cleaning fluid collected in the collection container can, in principle, be reused in any way within the container cleaning device. Preferably, the cleaning fluid collected in the collection container is reused for cleaning the lower strand.
[0030] An embodiment of the device and method according to the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:
[0031] Fig.1 is a side view of a device for cleaning a bath liquid of a container cleaning device;
[0032] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3a is a perspective view of the device of Figs. 1 and 2 with a sieve body arranged in a position of use,
[0033] Fig.3b is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 - 3a with the sieve body arranged in a removal position,
[0034] Fig.4 is a side view of a container cleaning device with the device of Fig. 1 - 3.
[0035] Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a device for cleaning 1 a bath liquid of a container cleaning device 2.
[0036] The device 1 has a rotatingly driven screening belt 3 with an upper run 4 and a lower run 5. Furthermore, the device 1 has a spray unit 6 arranged between the lower run 5 and the upper run 4, as well as a collecting container 7 arranged below the lower run 5 and the spray unit 6.
[0037] The screen belt 3 has a plurality of screen elements 30 arranged at a distance from one another in the running direction of the screen belt 3 for filtering the impurities. The screen elements 30 are each arranged at their ends on sliding elements 31 and are each arranged with the sliding elements 31 in a guide 32, wherein the screen belt 3 is guided in guides 32 on the upper run 4 and the lower run 5, at least in the area of the spray unit 6. Furthermore, the screen belt 3 is deflected by deflection rollers 33 and driven by a drive unit not shown in the figures. The upper run 4 has a first upper side section 8 and a first lower side section 9 facing away from the first upper side section 8. The first upper side section 8 is arranged above the first lower side section 9 with respect to the position of use of the device 1. In the position of use, the upper run 4 is arranged horizontally.The lower run 5 has a second upper side section 10 and a second lower side section 11 facing away from the second upper side section 10. The second upper side section 10 is arranged below the first and second lower side sections 9, 11 relative to the position of use of the device 1. The lower run 5 is arranged parallel to the upper run 4 in the region of the spray unit 6.
[0038] The spray unit 6 is arranged between the first bottom section 9 and the second bottom section 11. Furthermore, the spray unit 6 is arranged closer to the second bottom section 11 than to the first bottom section 9. A separating element in the form of a protective plate 12 is arranged between the spray unit 6 and the upper run 4.
[0039] The spray unit 6 has a line element 13 and a plurality of outlet openings in the form of nozzles 14 arranged at a distance from one another substantially over the entire length of the line element 13, wherein the nozzles 14 are directed onto the second underside section 11 of the lower run 4.
[0040] The collecting container 7 is arranged at a distance from the second upper side section 10 of the lower run 4. Furthermore, the collecting container 7 extends in the direction of a longitudinal axis L of the spray unit 6 over the entire length of the guide element 13 of the spray unit 6 and has an inlet opening 15 with a rectangular cross-section 16 extending parallel to a longitudinal axis L of the spray unit 6.
[0041] The device 1 further comprises a sieve body 17 arranged in the collecting container 7, which, as shown in Figure 2, has a sieve surface 18 with a plurality of openings 19 penetrating the sieve surface 18. The sieve body 17 is adjustable between a use position shown in Figure 3a and a removal position shown in Figure 3b. The collecting container 7 has a support element 20 for supporting the sieve body 17 in the use position and for guiding the sieve body 17 during adjustment between the use position and the removal position.
[0042] Furthermore, the collecting container 7 has a blocking unit in the form of a rotary closure 22 arranged on a housing plate 21 connected to the sieve body 17. The rotary closure 22 is adjustable between a blocking position that secures the sieve body 17 in the use position and a release position that releases the sieve body 17 for adjustment between the use position and the removal position.
[0043] The collecting container 7 is connected via a supply line 23 to a bath 24 arranged within a clean room 29 of the container cleaning device 2. The spray unit 6 is connected to the bath 24 of the container cleaning device 2 via a pump 25, so that the spray unit 6 is operated with the cleaning fluid stored in the bath of the container cleaning device 2.
[0044] Furthermore, the device 1 has a cleaning roller 26 arranged upstream of the spray unit 6 in the running direction of the screen belt 3, with a plurality of cleaning elements 27 extending in the radial direction from a longitudinal axis LR of the cleaning roller 26 for removing coarse impurities from the screen belt 3.
[0045] The device 1 can be used to carry out a method for cleaning the bath liquid of the container cleaning device 2. The bath liquid is fed from a cleaning bath 28 of the container cleaning device 2 onto the screen belt 3. Contaminants are filtered and removed from the cleaning liquid by means of the upper run 4. Coarse contaminants are subsequently removed from the second upper side section 10 of the lower run 5 by the cleaning roller 26. The screen belt 3 is then rinsed by means of the spray unit 6, with the cleaning liquid being sprayed through the nozzles 14 onto the second lower side section 11 of the lower run 5. The cleaning liquid is finally collected in the collecting container 7, filtered by the screen body 17, and fed via the supply line 23 to the bath 24 of the container cleaning device 2.For reuse in the spray unit 6, the cleaning fluid is transported from the bath 24 to the spray unit 6 by means of the pump 25.
[0046] Spraying the screen belt 3 with the cleaning fluid using the spray unit 6 located between the lower run 5 and the upper run 4 enables simple and efficient cleaning of the screen belt 3. This reduces the residues of the bath fluid on the screen belt 3 and lowers the residual alkalinity. This allows the use of plastic elements, such as sliding elements 31 or sealing elements, for the guide 32 of the screen belt 3.
[0047] 1 device for cleaning a bath liquid
[0048] 2 container cleaning device
[0049] 3 sieve belt
[0050] 4 Upper strand
[0051] 5 Lower strand
[0052] 6 spray unit
[0053] 7 collection containers
[0054] 8 first top section
[0055] 9 first subpage section
[0056] 10 second top section
[0057] 11 second subpage section
[0058] 12 Separating element / mudguard
[0059] 13 Line element
[0060] 14 Outlet opening / nozzle
[0061] 15 Inlet opening
[0062] 16 Cross section of the inlet opening
[0063] 17 sieve bodies
[0064] 18 screen area
[0065] 19 Opening
[0066] 20 support element
[0067] 21 Housing plate
[0068] 22 screw cap
[0069] 23 Supply line
[0070] 24 bathrooms
[0071] 25 Pump
[0072] 26 Cleaning roller
[0073] 27 Cleaning element 28 Cleaning bath
[0074] 29 Cleanroom
[0075] 30 sieve element
[0076] 31 Sliding element 32 Guide
[0077] 33 pulley
[0078] L Longitudinal axis of the spray unit
[0079] LR Longitudinal axis of the cleaning roller
Claims
Claims 1. Device for cleaning a bath liquid (1) of a container cleaning device (2), with a rotatingly driven sieve belt (3) having an upper run (4) and a lower run (5), the upper run (4) being provided for filtering and / or removing impurities from a bath liquid conducted from a cleaning bath (28) of the container cleaning device (2) onto the sieve belt (3), a spray unit (6) arranged between the lower run (5) and the upper run (4) for spraying the sieve belt (3) with a cleaning liquid, and a collecting container (7) arranged below the lower run (5) and / or the spray unit (6) for collecting and subsequently reusing the cleaning liquid emitted by the spray unit (6).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the spray unit (6) is connected to the collecting container (7) in such a way that the cleaning liquid collected in the collecting container (7) is reused for cleaning the lower run (5).
3. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by a sieve body (17) arranged in the collecting container (7) for filtering the cleaning liquid passed through the sieve belt (3).
4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the collecting container (7) and / or the sieve body (17) is formed such that the sieve body (17) is adjustable between a use position and a removal position.
5. Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the collecting container (7) has a blocking unit (22) which is adjustable between a blocking position fixing the sieve body (17) in the use position and a release position releasing the sieve body (17) for adjustment between the use position and the removal position.
6. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by a collecting container connected to the collecting container (7) for expanding the storage capacity of the collecting container.
7. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collecting container (7) and / or the collecting container is connected via a supply line (23) to a bath (24) arranged within a clean room (29) of the container cleaning device (2).
8. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by a cleaning roller (26) arranged upstream of the spray unit (6) in the running direction of the sieve belt (3) for removing coarse impurities from the sieve belt (3).
9. Method for cleaning a bath liquid of a container cleaning device (2), comprising the steps Directing a bath liquid from a cleaning bath (28) onto a rotatingly driven screen belt (3) having an upper run (4) and a lower run (5), Filtering and / or removing impurities from the bath liquid by means of the upper run (4) of the screen belt (3), spraying the screen belt (3) with a cleaning liquid by means of a spray unit (6) arranged between the lower run (5) and the upper run (4), Collecting the cleaning liquid in a collecting container (7) arranged below the lower run (5) and / or the spray unit (6) and Reuse of the cleaning fluid released by the spray unit (6) and collected in the collecting container (7).
10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the cleaning liquid collected in the collecting container (7) is reused for cleaning the lower run (5) by means of the spray unit (6).