Multi-stage washing system including water treatment system

Abstract

The multi-stage can washing system includes a water treatment system configured to receive contaminated water from a skimming trough corresponding to the last supply tank, purify the contaminated water, and supply the purified water to the first supply tank of one or more supply tanks. The water treatment system includes a pressure vessel configured to mix contaminated water with ozone or air to produce gaseous water; a foaming cell configured to generate bubbles in the gaseous water to produce floss, scoop up and discard the floss, degas the gaseous water to remove residual gas, and produce degassed water; and a filtration system configured to receive the degassed water, filter solid particles from the degassed water to produce purified water, and supply the purified water to the first supply tank.

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] <Cross-Reference to Related Applications> The present application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 533,709, entitled "Multi-Stage Washer Including A Water Treatment System", filed on August 21, 2023.

[0002] The disclosed concept relates generally to can manufacturing, and more specifically, to can washers used in can manufacturing processes. [[Background Art]]

[0003] Metal beverage and food containers (e.g., cans) are mechanically formed using a system of formers and dies. To prevent damage to the product, oil is used to lubricate the surfaces of the containers during the forming process. After the forming process, oil and other contaminants are washed away from the surfaces through a plurality of washing stages in a multi-stage washing apparatus. Since lacquer spraying and ink decoration are performed before food and beverage products are filled into the cans, the metal surface must be sufficiently clean and dry prior to these steps.

[0004] For multi-stage washing apparatuses, it has been confirmed that contaminants are present in the water used in the rinsing stages of the multi-stage washing apparatus. These contaminants are undesirable because they may transfer to the cans being washed.

[0005] There is room for improvement in can washers. [[Summary of the Invention]]

[0006] According to one aspect of the disclosed concept, a multi-stage can washing apparatus comprises a conveyor system configured to transport cans through the multi-stage can washing apparatus; a piping system configured to supply water to a plurality of nozzles configured to spray water onto cans being transported by the conveyor system; one or more supply tanks configured to supply water to the piping system and to collect the water sprayed by the nozzles, each supply tank including a skimming trough configured to scoop water from the top of the supply tank; and a water treatment system configured to receive contaminated water from the skimming trough corresponding to the last of the one or more supply tanks, purify the contaminated water, and supply the purified water to the first of the one or more supply tanks, wherein the water treatment system comprises a pressure vessel configured to mix the contaminated water with ozone or air to produce gaseous water; and a frothing cell configured to generate bubbles in the gaseous water to produce froth, scoop up and discard the froth, degas the gaseous water to remove residual gas, and produce degassed water. The system includes a cell and a filtration system configured to receive deaerated water, filter solid particles from the deaerated water to produce purified water, and supply the purified water to the first of one or more supply tanks.

[0007] According to another aspect of the disclosed concept, a water treatment system for a multi-stage can washing apparatus comprises: a pressure vessel configured to receive contaminated water and mix the contaminated water with ozone or air to produce gaseous water; a foaming cell configured to generate bubbles in the gaseous water to produce floss, scoop up and discard the floss, degas the gaseous water to remove residual gas, and discharge the degassed water; and a filtration system configured to receive the degassed water, filter solid particles from the degassed water to produce purified water, and discharge the purified water.

[0008] According to yet another aspect of the disclosed concept, a foaming cell for a water treatment system of a multi-stage can washing apparatus comprises: a mixing chamber configured to receive gas-containing water and mix one or more chemical substances into the gas-containing water; a separation chamber having a gradually increasing diameter and configured to generate bubbles in the gas-containing water to produce floss; a separation plate positioned above the separation chamber and configured to scoop up the floss from the gas-containing water; and a degassing chamber configured to remove gas from the gas-containing water and discharge degassed water, the degassing chamber including a liquid diverting structure configured to prevent gas from reaching the discharge port. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] A complete understanding of the present invention can be obtained by reading the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-stage can washing apparatus based on an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed concept.

[0011] [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an elevation view of a frothing cell based on an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed concept. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] It should be understood that certain elements shown in the drawings and described in the following specification are merely illustrative embodiments of the disclosed concept, provided solely for illustrative purposes and as non-limiting examples. Accordingly, specific dimensions, orientations, assemblies, the number of components used, the configuration of the embodiments, and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein should not be considered to limit the scope of the disclosed concept.

[0013] The terms used herein to indicate direction, such as clockwise, counterclockwise, left, right, up, down, upward, downward, and their derivatives, relate to the orientation of elements shown in the drawings and do not limit the claims unless expressly stated in the claims.

[0014] In this specification, the singular forms of "a" and "an" and "the" include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a multi-stage can washing apparatus 100 based on an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed concept. Specifically, Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the second rinsing stage of the multi-stage can washing apparatus 100. The multi-stage can washing apparatus 100 may have a plurality of rinsing stages, a plurality of washing stages, and a plurality of processing stages. In some exemplary embodiments, the multi-stage can washing apparatus 100 may be a washing / drying apparatus and may include one or more drying stages.

[0016] The cans are transported by the conveyor system 170 through the multi-stage washing device 100. The cans are transported through the multi-stage washing device 100 from right to left, as shown in Figure 1. The second rinsing stage includes a closed water loop. Water from four supply tanks 102, 112, 122, and 132 is pumped into the piping system 160 by corresponding supply pumps 106, 116, 126, and 136. The piping system 160 delivers water to various nozzles 162 located above and below the conveyor system 170. The nozzles 162 are configured to spray water onto the cans as they pass through the conveyor system 170.

[0017] The multi-stage cleaning system 100 is configured to recover and reuse the water sprayed into the cans. Various drains and pipes are used to recover the water and return it to the supply tanks 102, 112, 122, and 132. By recovering and reusing the water in the multi-stage cleaning system 100, water usage is significantly reduced. However, contaminants such as oil and other substances washed out from the cans become mixed into the water in the supply tanks 102, 112, 122, and 132. The multi-stage cleaning system 100 includes a system to efficiently treat the water and reduce contaminants.

[0018] Contaminants have a natural tendency to float on the surface of the water in the supply tanks 102, 112, 122, and 132. To remove such contaminants, each supply tank includes skimming troughs 104, 114, 124, and 134. The skimming troughs 104, 114, 124, and 134 are configured to discharge substances exceeding a predetermined level in the supply tanks 102, 112, 122, and 132. More specifically, the skimming troughs 104, 114, 124, and 134 are located near the top of the supply tanks 102, 112, 122, and 132 so that any contaminants floating at the top of the supply tanks 102, 112, 122, and 132 are discharged by the skimming troughs 104, 114, 124, and 134. Meanwhile, the outlets to the piping system 160 are located near the bottom of the supply tanks 102, 112, 122, and 132 so that water with fewer contaminants, used for rinsing the cans, is supplied to the piping system 160. The supply tanks 102, 112, 122, and 132 are cascaded together, with material from the first supply tank 102 being discharged to the second supply tank 112, and similarly to the fourth supply tank 132, from which it is discharged to the water treatment system.

[0019] The water drawn from the fourth supply tank 132 is typically the most contaminated water in the system, as it is composed of water drawn from the first to third supply tanks 102, 112, and 122. The water drawn from the fourth supply tank 132 is sent to the recovery tank 140, which is located at the starting point of the water treatment system. The water collected in the recovery tank 140 is pumped into the pressure vessel 144 by a pump 142. Ozone 145 is also pumped into the pressure vessel 144 under pressure via a diffuser and dissolved in the water. In this way, the water is mixed with ozone 145 in the pressure vessel 144. In some exemplary embodiments, air may be used instead of ozone 145. Mixing water and gas in the pressure vessel 144 produces a gas-containing liquid.

[0020] Next, water from the pressure vessel 144 is sent to the foaming cell 200. The foaming cell 200 is configured to remove contaminants from the water by generating bubbles in the water. Due to electrostatic attraction, the contaminants adhere to the surface of the bubbles, and the bubbles rise to the water surface, generating floss. The floss with the contaminants attached can then be scooped up from the water surface and disposed of by the waste treatment system 146.

[0021] Figure 2 is an elevation view of a foaming cell 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed concept. Water from the pressure vessel 114 enters the mixing chamber 202 of the foaming cell 200 through a nozzle. In the mixing chamber 202, one or more chemicals may be mixed with the water to assist in the flotation process. The mixing chamber 202 may be cylindrical with a constant diameter. From the mixing chamber 202, the water proceeds to a foaming chamber 204 which is directly coupled to the mixing chamber 202. The first end of the foaming chamber 204 is directly coupled to the mixing chamber 202 and has a first diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the mixing chamber 202. As a result of the diameter of the foaming chamber 204 increasing along its length, the second end of the foaming chamber 204 has a second diameter larger than the first diameter. As previously stated, ozone or air is dissolved in the water in the pressure vessel 144. As the diameter of the foaming chamber 204 gradually increases, bubbles are formed in the gas-containing water. Contaminants in the water adhere to the surface of the formed bubbles, and the bubbles naturally rise to the water surface, creating floss.

[0022] Water flows from the foaming chamber 204 to a separation chamber 206, which is directly coupled to the foaming chamber 204. The separation chamber 206 is cylindrical and may have substantially the same diameter as the second end of the foaming chamber 204. As described above, floss containing contaminants attached to the surface of the bubbles forms on the water. In the separation chamber 206, the floss is scooped up from the water. The separation chamber 206 includes a separation plate 208 for scooping the floss from the water. The separation plate 208 may be a plate extending downward from the top of the separation chamber 206 by a portion of the height of the separation chamber 206, and the separation plate 208 scoops up the floss from the water while allowing the remaining water to pass through the separation chamber 206 without obstruction. The separation plate 208 is also configured to guide the floss to a discharge pipe 210 attached to the top of the separation chamber 206. The discharge pipe may be connected to the waste treatment system 146 so that the discharged floss can be sent to the waste treatment system 146 for disposal.

[0023] Water flows from the separation chamber 206 to the degassing chamber 212, which is directly coupled to the separation chamber 206. The degassing chamber 212 includes a first stage, which is cylindrical and substantially the same diameter as the separation chamber 206. The degassing chamber also includes a second stage, which has a first end with the same diameter as the first stage of the degassing chamber. The second stage of the degassing chamber 212 gradually decreases in diameter toward the discharge port 220. The first stage of the degassing chamber 212 includes a first outlet port 214 located at the top of the degassing chamber 212, which allows gas to escape from the water and be recovered for disposal or reuse. The second stage of the degassing chamber 212 includes a second outlet port 218 located at the top of the degassing chamber 212, which also allows gas to be recovered for disposal and reuse. The discharge port 220 is located lower in the degassing chamber 212 than the second outlet port 218. The second stage of the degassing chamber 212 also includes a liquid diverting structure 216. The liquid diverting structure 216 is located between the second outlet port 218 and the discharge port 220. The liquid diverting structure 216 extends downward into the degassing chamber 212, and the bottom of the liquid diverting structure 216 is lower than the bottom of the discharge port 220. The liquid diverting structure 216 is configured such that water moving to the discharge port 220 must pass below the bottom of the liquid diverting structure 216 and then rise to the discharge port 220. This type of structure prevents gas from reaching the discharge port 220. Instead, the gas rises above the liquid diverting structure 216 and is collected by the first or second outlet ports 214, 218 located at the top of the degassing chamber 212.

[0024] Returning to Figure 1, the floss and gas recovered by the foaming cell 200 may be sent to the waste treatment system 146 for disposal or to another location for reuse. The water discharged from the discharge port 220 of the foaming cell 200, with contaminants reduced by the foaming cell 200, is sent from the foaming cell 200 to the recovery tank 148. In the recovery tank 148, any air or ozone remaining in the water may be safely released into the atmosphere.

[0025] The water in the recovery tank 148 is pumped to the filtration system 152 by the pump 150. The filtration system 152 is configured to remove solid contaminants that are too heavy to be floated and removed in the flotation cell 200. For this purpose, the filtration system 152 may include a membrane filter, and passing water through the membrane filter filters out and removes remaining solid contaminants.

[0026] From the recovery tank 148, water is sent to the first supply tank 102. The purified water introduced into the first supply tank 102 pushes up the existing water in the first supply tank 102, raising the water level in the first supply tank 102. When the water level rises, as described above, the upper layer water is skimmed into the second supply tank 112 by the skimming trough 104. The water at the top of the supply tanks 102, 112, 122, 132 is more contaminated than the water at lower positions of the supply tanks 102, 112, 122, 132. The multi-stage washing apparatus 100 performs a continuous process in which water is skimmed from the tops of the supply tanks 102, 112, 122, 132, purified in a water treatment system, and then the purified water is reintroduced into the first supply tank 102. Through this process, the water used for rinsing cans is reused, reducing water consumption. The process also purifies water to remove contaminants, ensuring that cans being rinsed are not rinsed with contaminated water. Therefore, the multi-stage washing apparatus 100 including the water treatment system rinses cans efficiently and effectively.

[0027] Although FIG. 1 shows a specific arrangement of a part of the multi-stage washing apparatus 100, it will be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept. For example, the disclosed concept may be applied to any number of rinsing stages without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept. As another example, any number of supply tanks may be used without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept. These are two examples of modifications that may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept, and it will be understood that other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept.

[0028] Specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to these details may be developed in light of the general teachings of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the specific arrangements disclosed are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed concepts, which should be construed to the full extent granted by the appended claims and all equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A multi-stage can washing device, A conveyor system configured to transport cans through the aforementioned multi-stage can washing device, A piping system configured to supply water to a plurality of nozzles configured to spray water onto cans being transported by the conveyor system, One or more supply tanks configured to supply water to the piping system and to collect the water sprayed by the nozzle, each supply tank including a skimming trough configured to scoop water from the top of the supply tank, A water treatment system configured to receive contaminated water from a skimming trough corresponding to the last of the one or more supply tanks, purify the contaminated water, and supply the purified water to the first of the one or more supply tanks, It is equipped with, The water treatment system includes a pressure vessel configured to mix ozone or air with the contaminated water to produce gas-containing water, A foaming cell configured to generate bubbles in the gas-containing water to produce floss, scoop up and discard the floss, degas the gas-containing water to remove residual gas, and produce degassed water, A filtration system configured to receive the deaerated water, filter solid particles from the deaerated water to produce purified water, and supply the purified water to the first of the one or more supply tanks, A multi-stage can washing machine, including a multi-stage can washing device.

2. The multi-stage can washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure vessel is configured to mix ozone with the contaminated water.

3. The multi-stage can washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the skimming trough is located above the corresponding supply tank, and the piping system is connected to the lower part of one or more supply tanks and configured to receive water from there.

4. The foaming cell comprises a foaming chamber having a gradually increasing diameter, configured to generate bubbles in the gas-containing water to produce floss, A separation chamber coupled to the foaming chamber, the separation chamber having a separation plate positioned at the top of the separation chamber and configured to scoop up the floss from the gas-containing water, A degassing chamber configured to remove gas from the gas-containing water and discharge degassed water, the degassing chamber includes a liquid flow structure configured to prevent the gas from reaching the discharge port, A multi-stage can washing apparatus according to claim 1, including the following:

5. The multi-stage can washing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the foaming cell includes a mixing chamber configured to receive the gas-containing water from the pressure vessel and mix one or more chemical substances into the gas-containing water.

6. The multi-stage can washing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the mixing chamber has a cylindrical shape with a diameter substantially the same as the minimum diameter of the foaming chamber, the mixing chamber is directly coupled to the foaming chamber, and is configured to supply the gas-containing water to the foaming chamber.

7. The multi-stage can washing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the separation chamber has a cylindrical shape with a diameter substantially the same as the maximum diameter of the foaming chamber.

8. The multi-stage can washing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the separating plate extends from the top of the separating chamber and is configured to scoop up the floss from the gas-containing water and allow the remainder of the gas-containing water to proceed to the degassing chamber.

9. The multi-stage can washing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the discharge pipe is connected to the separation chamber, and the separation plate is configured to direct the floss toward the discharge pipe.

10. The degassing chamber includes a first stage having a cylindrical shape with a diameter substantially the same as the maximum diameter of the foaming chamber, The multi-stage can washing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the degassing chamber includes a second stage directly coupled to the first stage, and the second stage has a gradually decreasing diameter.

11. The second stage of the degassing chamber includes at least one outlet port located above the second stage of the degassing chamber and configured to allow gas to escape from the second stage of the degassing chamber. The multi-stage can washing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the lower part of the second stage of the degassing chamber is connected to the discharge port.

12. A water treatment system for a multi-stage can washing machine, A pressure vessel configured to receive contaminated water and mix the contaminated water with ozone or air to produce gaseous water, A foaming cell configured to generate bubbles in the gas-containing water to produce floss, scoop up and discard the floss, degas the gas-containing water to remove residual gas, and produce degassed water, A filtration system configured to receive the deaerated water, filter solid particles from the deaerated water to produce purified water, and discharge the purified water, A water treatment system equipped with the following features.

13. The foaming cell comprises a foaming chamber having a gradually increasing diameter, configured to generate bubbles in the gas-containing water to produce floss, A separation chamber coupled to the foaming chamber, the separation chamber having a separation plate positioned at the top of the separation chamber and configured to scoop up the floss from the gas-containing water, A degassing chamber configured to remove gas from the gas-containing water and discharge degassed water, the degassing chamber includes a liquid flow structure configured to prevent the gas from reaching the discharge port, The water treatment system according to claim 12, including the following:

14. The foaming cell includes a mixing chamber configured to receive the gas-containing water from the pressure vessel and mix one or more chemical substances into the gas-containing water. The water treatment system according to claim 12, wherein the mixing chamber has a cylindrical shape with a diameter substantially the same as the minimum diameter of the foaming chamber, the mixing chamber is directly coupled to the foaming chamber, and the gas-containing water is supplied to the foaming chamber.

15. The separation chamber has a cylindrical shape with a diameter substantially the same as the maximum diameter of the foaming chamber. The separation plate extends from the top of the separation chamber and is configured to scoop up the floss from the gas-containing water, allowing the remaining gas-containing water to proceed to the degassing chamber. The water treatment system according to claim 12, wherein the discharge pipe is connected to the separation chamber, and the separation plate is configured to direct the floss toward the discharge pipe.

16. The degassing chamber includes a first stage having a cylindrical shape with a diameter substantially the same as the maximum diameter of the foaming chamber, The degassing chamber includes a second stage directly coupled to the first stage, the second stage having a gradually decreasing diameter, The second stage of the degassing chamber includes at least one outlet port located above the second stage of the degassing chamber and configured to allow gas to escape from the second stage of the degassing chamber. The water treatment system according to claim 12, wherein the lower part of the second stage of the degassing chamber is connected to the discharge port.

17. A foaming cell for the water treatment system of a multi-stage can washing machine, It is configured to generate floss by generating bubbles in gas-containing water, and includes a bubble-generating chamber having a gradually increasing diameter, A separation chamber coupled to the foaming chamber, the separation chamber having a separation plate positioned at the top of the separation chamber and configured to scoop up the floss from the gas-containing water, A degassing chamber configured to remove gas from the gas-containing water and discharge degassed water, the degassing chamber includes a liquid flow structure configured to prevent the gas from reaching the discharge port, A foaming cell equipped with a foaming cell.

18. The foaming cell includes a mixing chamber configured to receive the gas-containing water from a pressure vessel and mix one or more chemical substances into the gas-containing water. The foaming cell according to claim 17, wherein the mixing chamber has a cylindrical shape having substantially the same diameter as the minimum diameter of the foaming chamber, the mixing chamber is directly coupled to the foaming chamber, and the gas-containing water is supplied to the foaming chamber.

19. The separation chamber has a cylindrical shape with a diameter substantially the same as the maximum diameter of the foaming chamber. The separation plate extends from the top of the separation chamber and is configured to scoop up the floss from the gas-containing water, allowing the remaining gas-containing water to proceed to the degassing chamber. The foaming cell according to claim 17, wherein the discharge pipe is connected to the separation chamber, and the separation plate is configured to direct the floss toward the discharge pipe.

20. The degassing chamber includes a first stage having a cylindrical shape with a diameter substantially the same as the maximum diameter of the foaming chamber, The degassing chamber includes a second stage directly coupled to the first stage, the second stage having a gradually decreasing diameter, The second stage of the degassing chamber includes at least one outlet port located above the second stage of the degassing chamber and configured to allow gas to escape from the second stage of the degassing chamber. The foaming cell according to claim 17, wherein the lower part of the second stage of the degassing chamber is connected to the discharge port.

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