CN116216608A - Apparatus and method for handling container closures - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) and a method for treating container closures, preferably in a beverage filling plant, by means of a treatment medium, wherein the device (1) has: -a housing (5) having a treatment zone (11) therein through which the container closure can be transported for loading with a treatment medium; -at least one inlet (80) for the entry of the treatment medium into the treatment zone (11); and at least one outlet (81) for discharging the treatment medium from the treatment zone (11); and a circulation device (9) configured for placing the treatment medium in a turbulent and/or circulating flow in the treatment zone (11).

Description

Apparatus and method for handling container closures

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device and a method for treating, in particular sterilizing, container closures, preferably in a beverage filling plant, with a treatment medium.

Background

In filling and closing containers, it may be necessary to treat not only the container but also the closure prior to use, for example to clean, disinfect or sterilize it. Such handling of container closures is common, or even necessary, especially for hygienic reasons when filling beverages.

The closure handling system is for example equipped with an inclined channel along which the container closures to be handled slide due to gravity and are here loaded with the treatment agent. Alternatively, the container closures can be actively transported through the treatment section by means of a transport system, for example a rotating transport tray, so that the device can be designed more compactly, in particular in the vertical direction. Devices of this type of construction are known, for example, from EP 2 039 439 A1 and DE 102017 120 557 A1.

In the above-described apparatus, for example, a gas mixture containing hydrogen peroxide is passed through a pipe into a treatment zone and there is brought into contact with a closure to be treated. Typically, gas flows upwardly from the nozzle and the passing closures are sterilized from below. In this case, the treatment area is limited due to the arrangement and configuration of the nozzles or at least preset for technical reasons. Furthermore, the direction and coverage of the gas flow is determined and therefore the optimization for the process quality is limited.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to be able to improve the handling of container closures, in particular to increase the handling efficiency and/or to reduce the consumption of resources.

The object is achieved by the device and the method according to the invention for treating container closures with a treatment medium. Advantageous refinements result here.

The device is used for treating container closures with a treatment medium. The container closure can be a screw cap, crown cap, cork, grip cap, pop-top can cap or other suitable closure. The device is particularly preferably used in a beverage filling plant, for example a beverage filling plant for filling water (airless or carbonated), fruit juice, soft drinks, dairy products, beer, wine, mixed beverages, etc., or is an integral part of such a beverage filling plant.

The apparatus has a housing having a treatment zone therein through which a container closure can be transported for loading with a treatment medium.

The housing is preferably sealable relative to the external environment and can have a bottom, side walls and a removable cover. For transporting the container closures to be processed into the apparatus, closure transport means are provided, for example, on the closures. Similarly, the container closure is led out of the housing via an outlet, which can be provided, for example, on the side wall.

The apparatus also has at least one inlet for the treatment medium to enter the treatment zone or into the housing and at least one outlet for the treatment medium to be discharged from the treatment zone or the housing. A flow of treatment medium is generated through the inlet and outlet through the interior of the housing or the treatment zone, whereby the container closure is loaded with treatment medium and thereby treated.

The inlet and outlet comprise, for example, corresponding nozzles or simple openings through which the treatment medium is transported. According to one embodiment, the inlet is constituted by a tube which extends below a transport disc described below into the housing interior and comprises a plurality of nozzles or simple openings through which the treatment medium is blown into the treatment zone. Alternatively or additionally, the inlet can comprise a nozzle or a simple opening in a side wall of the housing. Multiple inlets and/or outlets can be provided at different locations of the device.

According to the invention, the apparatus also has a circulation device configured for placing the treatment medium in a turbulent and/or flowing, preferably circulating, flow in the treatment zone. In the case of a circulating flow, the treatment medium does not have to be located completely in the treatment region, but rather it can be partly led out of the treatment region and reintroduced into the treatment region at another point.

In this way, the circulation device optimizes the distribution and targeted application of the treatment medium, thereby enabling an improved effective treatment of the container closures with the treatment section remaining unchanged or reduced and/or the amount of treatment medium remaining unchanged or reduced. In particular, fresh treatment medium to be transported can be saved, so that the circulation device contributes to resource saving.

The device and the circulation device are preferably constructed modularly, so that existing devices can be retrofitted with the circulation device without having to be redesigned in principle. Thus, upgrades of existing systems can be performed simply and cost-effectively in terms of mechanical engineering.

Preferably, the circulation device has at least one fan, so that the atmosphere in the treatment area of the apparatus can be set in motion in a targeted manner. Particularly effective treatment of the container closures, in particular of the outer surfaces of the closures, can be achieved by the circulation and possible turbulence thus generated. The fan is preferably mounted in the upper region of the treatment zone, in particular on the cover.

The spatial terms "upper", "lower", "above", "below" and the like are relative to the direction of gravity and are explicitly defined by the mounting orientation of the device for use according to the prescribed use.

Preferably, the circulation device has a conduit and a fan configured for sucking in the treatment medium from the treatment zone and being placed in circulation via the conduit such that the treatment medium at least partly flows through the treatment zone a plurality of times. The conduit preferably extends at least partially outside the housing.

The treatment medium is distributed uniformly throughout the treatment region in this way, so that the container is sealed in a targeted manner over a plurality of points in the treatment region for the circumferential flow and application of the treatment medium, while the amount of treatment medium remains unchanged, i.e. without additional resource consumption. The turbulence of the flow generated here enables particularly effective treatment of the container closure, in particular from below.

The duct can be connected to the outlet, wherein the fan is in this case preferably mounted in the area of the outlet and outside the housing, since the suction power is maximized and possible retrofitting of existing systems is simplified.

Preferably, the circulation device has a distributor in the interior of the housing, which distributor is connected to the pipe and is configured for guiding at least a part of the process medium sucked by the fan from the process zone back into the process zone. In this case, the treatment medium sucked in by the fan reaches the distributor via the line, so that the treatment can be homogenized and/or the treatment medium can be targeted.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a transport tray rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation for transporting container closures through a treatment area. Above the transport tray, a helical closure guide can be provided for laterally guiding the container closures, thus allowing the container closures to be transported along a helical transport path during processing. This transport by means of transport trays allows a particularly compact construction type of the device.

Preferably, the distributor is arranged below the transport tray such that the treatment medium moved by the circulation device flows from below upwards through the treatment zone, thereby uniformly treating the inner and outer surfaces of the container closures in the respective orientations. The outlet is preferably arranged above the transport tray.

Preferably, the distributor has a plurality of nozzles, each having a plurality of openings, wherein the nozzles extend radially outwardly from the region of the rotational axis (said nozzles do not have to be directly/indirectly coupled to the rotational axis). In this way, the distributor in the form of a nozzle covers the whole or at least a large part of the treatment area. For example, five nozzles with a plurality of nozzles and/or simple openings, respectively, are installed.

Preferably, one or more ports open into the line, which ports respectively act as inflow and/or outflow openings, for example as inflow openings for fresh treatment medium and/or outflow openings for used treatment medium. Alternatively, the carrier medium or other substances can be introduced into the atmosphere of the treatment zone via such an interface. Thus, according to a preferred embodiment, fresh oxygen is delivered via the interface, which is useful for sterilization and co-acts with hydrogen peroxide in the treatment area, for example. The amount of fresh hydrogen peroxide can be reduced by this oxygen exchange. Thus, the inclusion of one or more interfaces as part of the recycling apparatus enables flexibility and further optimization of the process.

Preferably, the inlet is formed by one or more interfaces, so that a separate inlet for the treatment medium can be dispensed with.

Preferably, the treatment medium is or comprises a gas. For example, compounds with hydrogen peroxide and/or chlorine and/or carbon dioxide and/or peracetic acid can be considered. Preferably, the treatment itself comprises cleaning and/or sanitizing and/or sterilizing the container closures. The treatment particularly preferably comprises or involves the sterilization of the container closures.

The above-mentioned object is also achieved by a method for treating a container closure, preferably in a beverage potting arrangement, with a treatment medium. The method comprises the following steps: transporting the container closures through the treatment zone and simultaneously loading the container closures with a treatment medium in the treatment zone; the process medium is introduced into the process zone and is discharged from the process zone, so that a flow of process medium through the process zone preferably occurs during transport of the container closures through the process zone. In this case, the treatment medium is at least partially exposed to turbulence and/or flow, preferably circumferential flow, in the treatment region by means of the circulation device.

Features, technical effects, advantages and embodiments described with respect to the apparatus are similarly applicable to the method.

For the reasons mentioned above, it is therefore preferable to actively draw the treatment medium from the treatment zone by means of a fan and to at least partially lead it back into the treatment zone via a pipe and a distributor.

Preferably, for the reasons mentioned above, a medium, preferably oxygen, different from the treatment medium is introduced into the treatment zone via an interface into the conduit.

Preferably, the treatment medium is or comprises a gas. For example, compounds with hydrogen peroxide and/or chlorine and/or carbon dioxide and/or peracetic acid can be considered. Preferably, the treatment itself comprises cleaning and/or sanitizing and/or sterilizing the container closures. Particularly preferably, the treatment comprises or involves the sterilization of the container closures.

Preferably, the method is performed by means of an apparatus according to one of the variants of the embodiment described above.

Other preferred and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments. The features described herein can be implemented alone or in combination with one or more of the features described above, provided that the features do not contradict each other. Here, preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in detail by the following description of the drawings.

Here, it is shown that:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus for processing container closures according to one embodiment;

fig. 2 schematically shows a perspective sectional detail of the device in fig. 1;

fig. 3 schematically shows a general cross-sectional view of the device in fig. 1; and

fig. 4 schematically shows a perspective cross-sectional view of an apparatus for handling container closures according to another embodiment.

Detailed Description

Preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same, similar or identically acting elements are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in order to be able to avoid redundancy.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a perspective side view of an apparatus 1 for handling container closures according to a first embodiment.

The device 1 has a sealed housing 5 comprising a bottom 50 (see fig. 2 to 4), side walls 52 and a removable cover 54. For introducing container closures (not shown in the figures) to be handled into the apparatus 1, timed closure delivery means 6 are provided on the caps 54. The cap transfer device 6 obtains the container caps to be processed via a cap slide (not shown in the drawing), for example from a cap sorting apparatus located upstream. The cap transfer device 6 is configured to feed individually the container caps to be processed, for example by means of a sluice.

An outlet 7 for the treated container closure from the device 1 is also provided on the housing 5. In beverage filling applications, the outlet 7 can be connected in a sealing manner to a corresponding transport device (not shown) which conveys the processed container closures to a capping machine for closing the filled containers by means of the processed closures.

The outlet 7 extends partly onto the bottom region of the housing 5, wherein the outlet can additionally be configured as an outflow opening for discharging particles and/or liquid from the housing 5. The particles and/or liquid to be discharged can thus, for example, be discharged into a separator adjoining the device 1.

Fig. 2 and 3 show the internal construction of the apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment from different perspectives and with different degrees of detail.

The housing 5 encloses a transport disk 2 for transporting container closures, which is rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation 24, and a helical closure guide 3, which is arranged above the transport disk 2 and serves for laterally guiding the container closures. The cover guide 3 has a continuous, preferably one-piece, spiral sheet metal strip 30 which is firmly attached to one or more holders 32. Below the spiral-shaped sheet metal strip 30, a transport tray 2 is arranged, which has a corresponding opening or perforation(s) 22 for air and/or liquid permeability and/or for dirt removal.

Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a top guide 4, preferably height-adjustable, for guiding the container closure from above. The top guide 4 comprises a helically formed, flat guide plate 40 which is fastened to a height-adjustable holding device 42 in the direction of the axis of rotation 24. By moving the holding device 42 in the direction of the axis of rotation 24, the distance between the guide plate 40 and the transport disc 2 is changed.

For handling the container closures, the transport disc 2 is placed in rotation. The container closures are transported via the closure transport device 6 into the initial area of the closure guide 4 close to the axis of rotation 24 of the transport disc 2. The container closures located on the transport tray 2 are rolled on the closure guide 3 along guide rails preset by the shape of the closure guide 3 by the rotational movement of the transport tray 2. In this way, the container closures are transported about the axis of rotation 24 from radially inside towards radially outside. Due to this helical transport, the container closure-to-container closure spacing increases with the outward displacement of the track, as the circumference also increases with increasing diameter, thus resisting possible stacking of container closures.

The top guide 4 is arranged such that the guide plates 40 extend between the sheet metal strips 30. The top guide plate 4 helps to keep the container closure in position with the correct orientation at all times, in which the best processing results can be achieved. In particular tilting and/or wedging of the container closure can be avoided. The top guide 4 guides the container closures here on the side opposite the transport tray. The container closure can thus be guided both laterally by the closure guide 3 and from above by means of the top guide 4.

Through the above-mentioned opening or perforation(s) 22 of the transport tray 2, dirt can fall from the transport tray 2 onto the bottom 50 of the housing 5 arranged therebelow. Near the bottom 50, a flushing opening 10 is preferably provided in the side wall 54 for letting in flushing medium. By means of the incoming flushing medium, the bottom 50 is flushed and possible dirt, such as particles and/or liquid, is flushed out towards and through the outflow opening. In order to be able to ensure an advantageous discharge, the bottom 50 is preferably slightly inclined, currently about 3 °, towards the outflow opening. Thus, the bottom 50 preferably has no vertical surface upon which water or cleaning agent can rest. It is thus also possible to keep the drying time of the device 1 short after cleaning.

The apparatus 1 further has means 8 for transporting the treatment medium into the treatment zone 11 and for transporting the treatment medium away from the treatment zone 11. In the treatment zone 11, the container closure is loaded with a treatment medium as defined therein.

The treatment medium is preferably used for cleaning and/or sanitizing and/or sterilizing the container closures; the treatment medium is preferably a gaseous medium. For example, compounds with hydrogen peroxide and/or chlorine and/or carbon dioxide and/or peracetic acid can be considered. The treatment itself preferably comprises cleaning and/or sanitizing and/or sterilizing the container closure. The treatment particularly preferably comprises or involves disinfection of the container closure.

The rotational speed of the transport disc 2 is preferably adjustable, so that the residence time of the container closures to be treated in the treatment zone 11 is adjustable.

The device 8 comprises an inlet 80 (see fig. 3) with one or more openings for the passage of the treatment medium into the treatment zone 11 and an outlet 81 with one or more openings for the discharge of the treatment medium from the treatment zone 11. A flow of treatment medium through the interior of the housing can be produced by means of the inlet 80 and the outlet 81, wherein the container closures located on the transport trays 2 are in contact with the flow of treatment medium in the treatment zone 11 and are thereby treated

In the present embodiment, the inlet 80 comprises a tube 80a which extends into the housing interior below the transport tray 2 and comprises a plurality of nozzles or simple openings through which the treatment medium is blown into the treatment zone 11. Alternatively or additionally, the inlet 80 can comprise a simple opening in the nozzle or sidewall 52. Multiple inlets 80 can be provided at different locations on the device 1. In an alternative embodiment, only one inlet 80 is preferably provided in the region of the center of the housing 5. The inlet 80 can be installed, for example, in the vicinity of the cap transfer device 6.

In the present embodiment, the outlet 81 is arranged in the cover 54 radially offset from the axis of rotation 24. Alternatively, a plurality of outlets 81 can be mounted on different parts of the apparatus 1. Preferably, one or more outlets 81 are provided in the region of the closure outlet 7.

The apparatus 1 further comprises a circulation device 9, which according to the present embodiment has a fan 90, which is mounted in the region of the outlet 81 and is configured for actively sucking the treatment medium in the interior of the apparatus 1. The treatment medium sucked in at the outlet 81 by the fan 90 reaches the distributor 92 via a duct 91 which extends at least partially outside the housing 50. The distributor 92 is preferably located below the transport tray 2 and has a plurality of nozzles, spouts 92a or simple openings, so that the treatment medium sucked at the outlet 81 can be at least partially led back into the treatment zone 11. The nozzle 92a can extend radially outward from the region of the axis of rotation 24 in order to be able to cover at least a large part of the treatment region 11. For example, five spouts 92a each having a plurality of openings/nozzles are installed.

The treatment medium is distributed uniformly throughout the treatment zone 11 in such a way that the container closure flows around and is acted upon with the treatment medium in a targeted manner at a plurality of points in the treatment zone 11, while the amount of treatment medium remains unchanged, i.e. without additional resource consumption. The flow turbulence generated here enables particularly effective treatment of the container closure, in particular from below.

The conduit 91 can form a closed circuit or one or more ports 93 can open into the conduit 91, which ports for example serve as inflow openings for fresh treatment medium and/or outflow openings for used treatment medium. Alternatively, a carrier medium or other substance can also be introduced into the atmosphere of the treatment region 11 via such an interface 93. Thus, according to a preferred embodiment, fresh oxygen is delivered via the interface 93, which fresh oxygen is useful for sterilization and co-acts with hydrogen peroxide in the treatment zone 11. The amount of fresh hydrogen peroxide can be reduced by this oxygen exchange.

Together, the fan 90, the duct 91, the distributor 92 and possibly the interface 93 constitute an embodiment of the circulation device 9.

Additionally or alternatively, the circulation device 9 can comprise one or more fans 94 as a separate circulation device 9 or as part of the circulation device 9, preferably in the upper region of the treatment region 11.

The fan 94 can be mounted on the cover 54. The fan 94 is configured for purposefully placing the atmosphere in the treatment zone 11 of the apparatus 1 in motion. Particularly effective treatment of the container closures, in particular of the outer surface of the closure, can be achieved by the circulation and possible turbulence thus generated.

The circulation device 9 is preferably configured such that the treatment medium thus moving in the treatment zone 11 does not move with the container closures, i.e. in this case the container closures do not have to be held on the transport tray 2 by separate holding means (clips, weights, magnets, etc.). However, turbulence of the treatment medium in the treatment zone 11 is desirable.

If the apparatus 1 is equipped with a circulation device 9 with an interface(s) 93, the inlet 80 can be omitted if necessary when the treatment medium is introduced into the pipe 91 via the interface(s) 93. In other words, if multiple interfaces are installed, at least one of interfaces 93 or interfaces 93 forms portal 80 or assumes its function. Such an embodiment is shown in fig. 4.

According to an embodiment, not shown separately in the figures, the circulation means 9 comprise only one or more fans 94.

The circulation device 9 described herein optimizes the distribution and targeted application of the treatment medium, thereby enabling an improved efficient treatment of the container closures with the treatment sections remaining unchanged or reduced and/or the amount of treatment medium remaining unchanged or reduced. In particular, fresh treatment medium to be transported can be saved, so that the circulation device 9 contributes to resource saving.

The device 1 and the circulation device 9 are preferably constructed modularly, so that existing devices 1 can be retrofitted with the circulation device 9 without having to be redesigned in principle. The upgrade of existing systems can thus be performed in terms of mechanical engineering simply and at low cost.

All the individual features shown in the embodiments can be combined and/or exchanged with each other, as applicable without departing from the scope of the invention.

List of reference numerals:

1 apparatus

10 flushing openings

11 treatment area

2 transport plate

22 perforations

24 axis of rotation

3 seal cover guiding device

30 metal plate strip

32 support

4 top guide

40 guide plate

42 holding device

5 shell body

50 bottom part

52 side wall

54 cover

6. Cover conveying device

7. Closure outlet

8. Device for transporting and discharging a treatment medium

80 inlet

80a tube

81 outlet

9 circulation device

90 fan

91 pipeline

92 dispenser

92a spray pipe

93 interface

94 fan

Claims (14)

1. An apparatus (1) for treating container closures with a treatment medium, preferably in a beverage filling plant, wherein the apparatus (1) has:

-a housing (5) having a treatment zone (11) therein through which the container closure can be transported for loading with a treatment medium;

-at least one inlet (80) for letting the treatment medium into the treatment zone (11) and at least one outlet (81) for discharging the treatment medium from the treatment zone (11); and

-circulation means (9) configured for causing said treatment medium to be placed in turbulence and/or flow in said treatment zone (11).

2. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the circulation device (9) comprises at least one fan (94), which is preferably arranged in an upper region of the treatment region (11).

3. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the circulation device (9) has a conduit (91) and a fan (90) configured for sucking the treatment medium from the treatment zone (11) and placing it in circulation via the conduit (91) such that the treatment medium flows at least partially through the treatment zone a plurality of times.

4. A device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the circulation means (9) have a distributor (92) in the interior of the housing (5), which is connected to the pipe (91) and is configured for guiding at least a portion of the treatment medium sucked by the fan (90) from the treatment zone (11) back into the treatment zone (11).

5. The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a transport tray (2) rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation (24) for transporting the container closures through the treatment zone (11), wherein preferably a helical closure guide (3) arranged above the transport tray (2) is mounted, which closure guide is configured for guiding the container closures along a helical transport path.

6. The apparatus (1) according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the dispenser (92) is arranged below the transport tray (2), wherein the outlet (81) is preferably arranged above the transport tray (2).

7. The apparatus (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the distributor (92) has a plurality of nozzles (92 a) each having a plurality of openings, wherein the nozzles (92 a) extend radially outwards in a star-like manner from the region of the axis of rotation (24).

8. Device (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that one or more ports (93) open into the pipe (91), which ports accordingly function as inlet and/or outlet ports, wherein the inlet (80) is preferably formed by one or more ports (93).

9. The apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the treatment medium is or comprises a gas, preferably for cleaning and/or sanitizing and/or sterilizing a container closure, wherein the treatment medium preferably comprises hydrogen peroxide and/or a chlorine compound and/or carbon dioxide and/or peracetic acid.

10. A method for treating container closures, preferably in a beverage filling facility, with a treatment medium, wherein the method has:

transporting the container closures through the treatment zone (11) and loading the container closures with the treatment medium in the treatment zone (11);

passing the treatment medium into the treatment zone (11) and discharging the treatment medium from the treatment zone such that a treatment medium flow is produced through the treatment zone (11), wherein

The treatment medium is also placed at least partially in turbulence and/or flow in the treatment zone (11) by means of a circulation device (9).

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the treatment medium is actively sucked from the treatment zone (11) by means of the fan (90) and is at least partly led back into the treatment zone (11) via a pipe (91) and a distributor (92).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that a medium, preferably oxygen, different from the treatment medium is introduced into the treatment zone (11) via an interface (93) into the conduit (91).

13. The method according to any of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the treatment medium is or comprises a gas, preferably for cleaning and/or sanitizing and/or sterilizing the container closures, wherein the treatment medium preferably comprises hydrogen peroxide and/or chlorine compounds and/or carbon dioxide and/or peracetic acid.

14. Method according to any of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the method is performed by means of an apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 8.

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