Container handling system and method for operating same

Abstract

The invention relates to a container handling system for handling containers (1a, 1b), in particular beverage containers, comprising at least two handling devices which are arranged one behind the other and are designed to move the containers (1a, 1b) along a transport path (9), the transport path (9) extending along at least two housings (3a-3h) which are spatially separated from one another by means of a separating wall (8). According to the invention, a transport tunnel (10) connecting the housings (3a-3h) is arranged in the separating wall (8), the transport path (9) extending, at least in portions, through the transport tunnel (10), and the transport tunnel (10) being able to be fluidically connected to a sterile gas supply (11).

Description

[0001] Container treatment plant and operating procedures

[0002] Description:

[0003] The present invention relates to a container treatment system for treating containers, in particular beverage containers, with at least two treatment devices arranged one behind the other, which are designed to move the containers along a transport path and wherein the transport path extends along at least two housings spatially separated from one another by a partition wall.

[0004] In particular, the invention relates to container processing systems in the field of food technology, especially beverage technology, so that the containers accordingly have a shape that is common in this field of application. In principle, the containers can be so-called preforms, which are formed into beverage bottles during blow molding or stretch blow molding. Alternatively, the containers can also be beverage containers, designed either as beverage bottles or as beverage cans.

[0005] It is common practice for individual treatment devices in a container treatment plant to be arranged one behind the other, so that several treatment steps can be carried out simultaneously within just one container treatment arrangement. For example, it is common practice for preforms to be blow-molded or stretch-blow-molded into beverage bottles in a treatment device designed as a blow-mold or stretch-blow-mold device, and for the containers to then be filled in a downstream treatment device designed as a filling device. Of course, additional treatment devices can also be provided in this context. This results in different constellations and arrangements of treatment devices, with these treatment devices each being arranged within a separate housing depending on the area of ​​application.

[0006] This enclosure can, for example, also include clean rooms, which are designed to keep the germ load as low as possible within the operating area of ​​the respective treatment device. Especially for containers intended for sensitive food or beverages, sterile processing can significantly extend the shelf life. At the same time, for some foodstuffs, it is also essential to keep the germ load low in order to exclude any health risks to the end consumer. However, it is sufficient if only enclosures in particularly sensitive areas of the container treatment plant are designed as clean rooms.

[0007] Accordingly, the treatment of the containers within the container treatment plant takes place, at least over long distances, within enclosures so that the atmosphere prevailing there can be controlled. Typically, the pressure levels within these enclosures also differ in order to ensure a controlled flow within the container treatment plant. It should be noted that, despite the design of separate enclosures, the containers must also be transported along the transport path between the individual treatment devices so that there is at least a small area over which the enclosures are fluidly connected to one another. By setting targeted pressure levels, it may then be possible, for example, to create a flow from highly sensitive areas to less sensitive areas.

[0008] Such a design, however, is problematic whenever individual treatment devices require repair, which can include both maintenance and troubleshooting. In this case, manual intervention in the enclosures is usually necessary, meaning that the controlled environment can no longer be guaranteed. In such a case, it may be necessary to sterilize not only the treatment device intended for maintenance but also all other treatment devices, since the flow pattern can no longer guarantee that germs from the area intended for maintenance will penetrate into the other enclosures.

[0009] In practice, this problem is addressed, for example, by temporarily increasing the internal pressure in the adjacent cleanrooms, as described in EP 2 711 158 B1, to ensure that only a flow into the enclosure intended for maintenance occurs. However, any flow out of this cleanroom is excluded.

[0010] Such a design has proven itself in principle, but depending on the size of the enclosure, a large amount of sterile air must be introduced into the corresponding enclosure in a comparatively short period of time, so that correspondingly powerful blowers are required.

[0011] Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide a container treatment system which effectively and efficiently prevents the transfer of germ-contaminated air even in a repair shop.

[0012] The subject matter and solution of this problem is a container treatment plant according to claim 1. Accordingly, it is provided according to the invention that a transport tunnel connecting the housings is arranged in the partition wall, wherein the transport path extends at least at a distance through the first transport tunnel and wherein the tunnel can be fluidly connected to a sterile gas supply.

[0013] Accordingly, a defined bottleneck is introduced between the adjacent enclosures via the transport tunnel. This bottleneck defines the area through which the containers are transported between the adjacent enclosures during operation. This bottleneck can also prevent the transfer of germ-contaminated air by introducing sterile air into both enclosures equally via the sterile gas supply during maintenance. The sterile air first penetrates the feed tunnel and flows from there into both adjacent enclosures. The sterile gas supply is designed so that it can be directly connected to the transport tunnel in a fluid-acting manner. For this purpose, the sterile gas supply can be designed as a fluid-carrying line, at least at the end, which connects to the transport tunnel with a line outlet.This process makes it possible to apply controlled exposure to sterile gas to the area between the enclosures, which is defined exclusively by the transport tunnel. The sterile gas is primarily sterile air.

[0014] Advantageously, it is only necessary to introduce a sterile gas into the container treatment system in a comparatively small area, while the internal pressure in the adjacent enclosures can remain constant. Accordingly, a pressure drop in an enclosure intended for maintenance can be responded to much more quickly and in a more controlled manner, eliminating the need for large and powerful blowers for the enclosures.

[0015] A preferred development of the invention provides that the enclosures are each designed as a clean room with an overpressure generation device. The overpressure generation device is intended, in particular, to introduce sterile air into the clean room, whereby an overpressure can then be achieved compared to the surrounding atmosphere. In this context, a clean room is understood to be an enclosure that has a reduced number of airborne particles compared to the environment. A fundamental distinction is made between different cleanliness classes according to ISO 14644-1. Within the scope of the invention, cleanliness classes between ISO 3 and ISO 9 are particularly envisaged.

[0016] According to a particularly preferred development of the invention, the treatment devices each have a transport device or are formed from a transport device, wherein the transport device of at least one treatment device is arranged in the transport tunnel.

[0017] The transport device makes it possible to move the containers along the transport path, with several transport devices arranged one behind the other forming the entire transport path. Two different configurations are basically conceivable.

[0018] According to a first variant, at least one treatment device can be formed exclusively from a transport device. In this context, it should be noted that, within the scope of the invention, a treatment device is understood to mean any device that actively influences the containers in some way. In this context, a transport device is therefore also to be understood as a treatment device, since the containers are guided accordingly along the transport path.

[0019] Such a transport device can then consist of one or more transport units arranged one behind the other, whereby, when several transport units are arranged one behind the other, a transfer takes place between the individual transport units. The transport units are also selected from the group consisting of transport wheels, conveyor belts, conveyor chains, and pneumatic conveyor belts.

[0020] In principle, a transport device can be formed exclusively from one of the previously described types, although combinations are of course also conceivable. The most common design in container handling systems in the food industry is transport units in the form of transport wheels, with the container receptacles then arranged along a rotatably driven carrier. The container receptacles can be mounted on the carrier with a fixed pitch or have an angle-dependent pitch offset. The container receptacles can, for example, be so-called neck ring holders, which grip, in particular, beverage containers made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) below a so-called neck ring.It should be noted here that both the preforms and the resulting beverage bottles usually have an external thread for receiving a closure cap in the area of ​​the container mouth. Below this external thread there is a protruding neck ring or retaining ring which is particularly well suited to guiding the containers within the transport device. Such container holders are also provided in a transport chain, although these are then simply moved via a revolvingly driven transport chain. In a conveyor belt, the containers usually stand upright on a revolvingly driven conveyor belt. In an air conveyor belt, no moving components are usually provided. Instead, the containers rest, for example, above the neck ring on a guide rail and are moved in a controlled manner by the introduction of compressed air.

[0021] Although it is generally sufficient for the treatment devices to merely transport the containers, a second alternative provides for at least one of the treatment devices to have a treatment unit associated with the transport device for treating the containers during transport along the transport path. Accordingly, the containers are not only transported along the transport path. Rather, they also undergo further treatment during transport.

[0022] The treatment unit can be selected from the group consisting of a heating unit, a forming unit, a filling unit, a closing unit, a sterilizing unit, a dedusting unit, a drying unit, a cleaning unit, an inspection unit, and a labeling unit. The forming unit is, in particular, a blow-molding unit or a stretch-blow-molding unit. Accordingly, the treatment devices are then a heating device, a forming device, a filling device, a closing device, a sterilizing device, a dedusting device, a drying device, a cleaning device, an inspection device, and / or a labeling device. In principle, the invention is not limited to two treatment devices arranged one behind the other or two housings arranged one behind the other.Rather, several of these enclosures and / or treatment devices can be arranged in series one behind the other, with a corresponding feed tunnel with sterile gas supply being provided between each two adjacent enclosures.

[0023] For example, one known design of the container treatment plant provides that the containers are first fed in in the form of preforms and heated in a heating device which has appropriate heating units for the treatment. By heating the containers, the material, which is primarily polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is softened, so that the heated containers are then transferred to a forming device, which is designed in particular as a blow molding device or stretch blow molding device, in which, while the containers are transported within a transport wheel, they are subjected to a blowing fluid via a blow molding unit and pressed against a blow mold cavity. A stretch blow molding device is a specific design of a blow molding device which also includes the insertion of a stretch rod for axially elongating the container.

[0024] Forming is carried out either with a gaseous blowing fluid (e.g., compressed air) or with a liquid blowing fluid, in which case the filling material is primarily a liquid, in particular a food product, e.g., a beverage (form-fill process). To enable this type of forming, the blowing units each have a container receptacle designed as a blow mold. This blow mold typically consists of at least two blow mold halves, which are designed to be pivotable relative to one another and which together form a blow cavity corresponding to the shape of the beverage bottle to be produced.

[0025] When the blow cavity is open, a container in the form of a preform can be inserted, with the blow mold then being closed by pivoting the blow mold halves. A fluid supply is assigned to the container receptacle, through which the blow fluid is introduced under pressure into the container in the closed state to cause plastic deformation of the container. Typically, the fluid supply is formed on a valve device arranged above the container receptacle, so that the supply of the blow fluid can be controlled accordingly via the valve device.

[0026] The at least one blow molding unit is usually arranged on a transport wheel so that the blow molding of the containers takes place as the transport wheel rotates. In particular, a large number, e.g. 10 to 20 blow molding units, are arranged on the carrier so that a large number of containers can be formed simultaneously. According to such an embodiment, the blow molding units, including the fluid supplies and the container holder, are firmly mounted on the transport wheel so that the blow molding fluid is supplied to the containers in a rotating system. For this purpose, the fluid supplies connect either directly or indirectly to a rotary union which enables the blow molding fluid to be transferred between a stationary line system and the rotating fluid supplies. According to such an embodiment, the supply line is part of the stationary line system and connects to the rotary union at the end.

[0027] After forming, the containers are removed from the blow molding machine and can be fed to further processing devices, such as a filling machine with at least one filling unit. This filling unit can then be used to fill the finished blow-molded containers in the form of beverage bottles with a filling material.

[0028] Of course, additional treatment devices can also be provided between these treatment devices. Accordingly, a suitable number of transport tunnels between the enclosures is also required. For example, it is possible to provide a sterilization device for sterilizing the containers. This sterilization device is preferably arranged upstream of the forming device along the container transport path. In the case of a blow-molding or stretch-blow molding system, the sterilization device can be arranged either upstream of the heating device or between the heating device and the blow-molding device.An arrangement upstream of the heating device has the advantage that, in the case of sterilization with the aid of a sterilization fluid, the sterilization fluid is first introduced into the sterilization device via the sterilization unit and this sterilization fluid is then activated in the downstream heating device. The sterilizing agent is in particular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), peracetic acid, steam or mixtures thereof. Furthermore, it is also conceivable for the sterilization device to be integrated into the heating device or the blow molding device, so that these accordingly additionally have at least one sterilization unit, so that sterilization takes place during heating or during blow molding. Instead of sterilization with a sterilization fluid, sterilization of the containers by irradiation, in particular by UV irradiation, is also conceivable.A preferred embodiment further provides that the transport tunnel extends into the enclosures over a length which is at least 0.8 times, in particular 0.9 times, the width and / or the height of the transport tunnel.

[0029] A further development provides for the transport tunnel to be closed circumferentially in cross-section. Accordingly, the transport tunnel can be designed like a tube and have a round or square cross-section. This design has the advantage of ensuring that the sterile air introduced into the transport tunnel can only escape through the openings on both sides of the transport tunnel, thus making it particularly easy to achieve a controlled flow.

[0030] In principle, however, it is also sufficient if the transport tunnel is essentially U- or C-shaped in cross-section, with a wall being provided at least opposite the sterile gas supply. This wall deflects the incoming flow and directs it into the enclosures. Such a design can also prevent flow between adjacent enclosures. If the transport tunnel has an opening in the wall, it is also possible for this to be at least partially closed during transport due to the container's shape.

[0031] The invention further relates to a method for operating a container treatment plant according to the invention, wherein, during production, at least two enclosures arranged one behind the other are operated at an overpressure. During a maintenance step, the pressure in one of the enclosures drops, and simultaneously, both enclosures are pressurized with a sterile gas via the sterile gas supply. The maintenance step can comprise a maintenance measure and / or a troubleshooting measure.

[0032] Accordingly, at least one of the enclosures, but in particular both enclosures, is operated like a clean room during production, with the containers being treated within the treatment devices and moved along the transport path. Opening one of the enclosures then reduces the pressure or internal pressure in the enclosures, and introducing the sterile gas, in particular sterile air, prevents fluid flow between the enclosures. In this context, a sterile gas refers to a gas that has previously been filtered in a particle filter or where the separation efficiency is at least 99.95%.

[0033] According to a further development of the invention, the enclosures have different internal pressures during production. In particular, the internal pressure in the enclosures during production is between 10 Pa and 30 Pa above the atmospheric pressure surrounding the enclosures. Different internal pressures can provide special protection for particularly sensitive areas. However, especially in the case of an enclosure with a lower internal pressure, opening the enclosure at high pressure can result in a flow of germs into the adjacent enclosure. This is prevented during maintenance operations by introducing the sterile gas.

[0034] According to a further development of the invention, the sterile gas introduced into the feed tunnel has a higher pressure than the internal pressure in the enclosures adjacent to the feed tunnel. The pressure of the sterile gas is at least 1.2 times, particularly preferably 1.5 to 2.5 times, the highest internal pressure of the adjacent enclosures.

[0035] The following illustrations illustrate the fulfillment in more detail.

[0036] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a container treatment plant according to the invention

[0037] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the transition area between two consecutive enclosures.

[0038] Fig. 1 shows a container treatment plant according to the invention for treating containers 1a, 1b, which has a plurality of treatment devices and together form a transport path 9, along which the containers 1a, 1b are transported and treated in the course of which in a variety of ways. In particular, the treatment devices can be designed merely as a transport device and exclusively effect transport of the containers 1a, 1b, or the treatment devices have a transport device, in which case additional treatment takes place during the transport of the containers 1a, 1b. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment as a stretch blow molding plant, in which containers 1a in the form of preforms are formed into containers 1b in the form of beverage bottles.

[0039] For this purpose, the container treatment system is divided into a plurality of housings 3a-3h, wherein the containers 1a in the form of preforms are first introduced into a first housing 3a via a feed chute 2. Within this first housing 3a, the containers are dedusted via a treatment device designed as a dedusting device 4, wherein the dedusting device 4 has a dedusting unit (not shown in detail) for dedusting the containers 1a. The dedusting device 4 also has several transport devices in the form of transport wheels, via which transport into the second housing 3b is also possible. It should be noted that all adjacent housings 3a-3h are separated from one another by a partition wall 8.

[0040] In the second housing 3b, a treatment device designed as a sterilization device 5 sterilizes the containers 1a. Sterilization of the containers 1a can be achieved by introducing a sterilization fluid into the containers 1a. The sterilization fluid is, in particular, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, steam, or mixtures thereof.

[0041] The containers 1a are then transported into a third enclosure 3c and into a fourth enclosure 3d.

[0042] In the fourth enclosure 3d, the containers 1a, 1b are fed into and removed from various treatment devices. Furthermore, the enclosure 3d and the adjoining enclosures 3e-3g along the transport path 9 are designed as clean rooms to prevent the introduction of germs into the containers 1a, 1b.

[0043] Starting from the fourth enclosure 3d, the containers 1a are first introduced into a heating device 6, in which the containers 1a are transported to a fifth enclosure 3e, where they are subjected to heat by heating units 13 to soften the material of the containers 1a, allowing subsequent plastic deformation in a simple manner. The material is, in particular, PET.

[0044] From the fifth housing 3e, the containers 1a then pass again into the fourth housing 3h and from there into a sixth housing 3f and a blow molding device 7, in which the containers 1a are transformed into containers 1b in the shape of beverage bottles by stretch blow molding. For this purpose, the blow molding device 7 has a plurality of blow molding units 14, each consisting of a blow mold and an associated fluid supply, via which a blow molding fluid can be introduced into the containers 1a, 1b. The blow molding fluid is, in particular, compressed air or, alternatively, a liquid filling material.

[0045] The containers 1b are then removed and again enter the fourth enclosure 3d and from there into a seventh and eighth enclosure 3g, 3h.

[0046] Although the partition walls 8 essentially prevent an exchange of air between the individual enclosures 3a-3h, it may be necessary for one of these enclosures 3a-3h to be opened in the event of a maintenance step, in which case, however, it must be ensured that no air passes between adjacent enclosures 3a-3h.

[0047] This is made possible by a configuration according to Fig. 2, which schematically describes the transition between the third and fourth housing 3c, 3d.

[0048] The containers 1a are transported along a transport path 9 between the enclosures 3c, 3d. A transport tunnel 10 is arranged in the partition wall 8, through which the containers 1a can be transported between the enclosures 3c, 3d. The enclosures 3c, 3d can, in particular, be clean rooms equipped with an overpressure generation device, and the pressure within the enclosures 3c, 3d is greater than the ambient pressure.

[0049] Sterile air 12 is introduced into this transport tunnel 10 via a sterile gas supply 11, which flows through the transport tunnel 10 into the adjacent enclosures 3c, 3d. For this purpose, the sterile gas supply 11 is directly connected to the transport tunnel 10. This prevents air from being exchanged between the enclosures 3c, 3d. The pressure at which the sterile air 12 is introduced into the transport tunnel 10 is greater than the internal pressure in the enclosures 3c, 3d.

[0050] According to the example shown, the transport tunnel 10 has circumferentially closed walls, resulting in an O-shaped cross section. However, it is also conceivable for the transport tunnel 10 to have a C- or U-shaped cross section.

[0051] List of reference symbols

[0052] 1a, 1b Container 2 Feed chute

[0053] 3a-3h Enclosure

[0054] 4 Dust extraction device

[0055] 5 Sterilization device

[0056] 6 Heating device 7 Blowing device

[0057] 8 Partition wall

[0058] 9 Transport path

[0059] 10 transport tunnels

[0060] 11 Sterile gas supply 12 Air

[0061] 13 Heating unit

[0062] 14 Stretch blow molding unit

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Container treatment system for treating containers (1a, 1b), in particular beverage containers, with at least two treatment devices arranged one behind the other, which are designed to move the containers (1a, 1b) along a transport path (9), and wherein the transport path (9) extends along at least two housings (3a-3h) spatially separated from one another by a partition wall (8), characterized in that a transport tunnel (10) connecting the housings (3a-3h) is arranged in the partition wall (8), wherein the transport path (9) extends at least partially through the transport tunnel (10), and wherein the transport tunnel (10) can be fluidly connected to a sterile gas supply (11).

2. Container treatment plant according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of two adjacently arranged housings (3a-3h), preferably both adjacently arranged housings (3a-3h), are designed as a clean room with an overpressure generating device.

3. Container treatment plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the treatment devices each have a transport device or are designed exclusively as a transport device, wherein the transport device of at least one treatment device is arranged at least partially in the transport tunnel (10).

4. Container treatment plant according to claim 3, characterized in that the transport devices each consist of one or more transport units arranged one behind the other, which are selected from the group consisting of transport star, conveyor belt, transport chain and air conveyor belt.

5. Container treatment plant according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that at least one treatment device has a treatment unit assigned to the transport device for treating the containers (1a, 1b) during transport along the transport path (9).

6. Container treatment plant according to claim 5, characterized in that the treatment unit or the treatment units are selected from the group consisting of heating unit (13), forming unit, filling unit, closing unit, sterilizing unit, dedusting unit, drying unit, cleaning unit, inspection unit and labeling unit.

7. Container treatment plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport tunnel (10) extends into the housings (3a-3h) over a length which is at least 0.8 times, in particular 0.9 times, the width and / or the height of the transport tunnel (10).

8. Container treatment plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport tunnel (10) is closed circumferentially in cross-section.

9. A method for operating a container treatment plant according to one of the preceding claims, wherein during production operation the at least two enclosures (3a-3h) arranged one behind the other are operated with an overpressure and wherein in a maintenance step the internal pressure in one of the enclosures (3a-3h) drops and wherein at the same time both enclosures (3a-3h) are supplied with sterile gas via the sterile gas supply (11).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein during production operation the enclosures (3a-3h) have a different internal pressure.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the sterile gas introduced into the transport tunnel (10) has a higher pressure than the internal pressure in the enclosures (3a-3h) adjacent to the transport tunnel (10).

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