CONTAINER-TREATMENT MACHINE

Abstract

A method for treating kegs in a container-treatment machine includes passing a first keg through a first set of treatment stations on the container-treatment machine and passing a second keg through a second set of treatment stations on the container-treatment machine. The first and second sets depend on a condition of the first and second kegs.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a container-treatment machine for treating containers selected from the group consisting of kegs having valve closures, and casks, said apparatus comprising a first treatment station, a second treatment station, a first transporter, a second transporter, and first and second intermediate conveyors, wherein said first and second transporters are parallel, wherein said first and second transporters transport containers, wherein said first and second treatment stations are arranged between said first and said second transport devices, wherein said first and second treatment stations are associated with said first and second intermediate conveyors respectively, wherein said intermediate conveyors convey containers to said associated treatment stations, wherein said intermediate conveyors extend between said first and second transport devices, and wherein said intermediate conveyors convey containers in contrary directions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container-treatment device is configured to operate said first and second transport paths and at least one of said intermediate conveyors to define a serpentine path along which a container meanders through said container-treatment machine.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first treatment station comprises a filling station and said second treatment station comprises a cleaning station.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first treatment station comprises a main cleaning station and said second treatment station comprises a pre-cleaning station.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said treatment stations comprises an external cleaning station.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first treatment station is a buffer station for holding and pausing containers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first treatment station is a sterilization station.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first treatment station comprises an inspection-and-test station station.

9. The container treatment station of claim 1, wherein said second treatment station comprises an inspection-and-test station that controls feeding of containers to said first treatment station.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third transport device, wherein said third transport device is arranged in parallel adjacent to said first transport device, wherein said third transport device conveys in a direction contrary to that of said first transport device, wherein said third transport device is connected to said intermediate conveyor.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a third transport device, wherein said third transport device is arranged in parallel adjacent to said first transport device, wherein said third transport device conveys in a direction contrary to that of said first transport device, and wherein said inspection-and-test station station connects to said third transport device.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a third transport device, wherein said third transport device is arranged in parallel adjacent to said first transport device, wherein said third transport device conveys in a direction contrary to that of said first transport device, and wherein said inspection-and-test station station controls said third transport device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third transport device and a container discharge station, wherein said third transport device is arranged in parallel adjacent to said first transport device, wherein said third transport device conveys in a direction contrary to that of said first transport device, and wherein said third transport device connects to said container discharge station.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising switchable deflection-elements that are arranged in a connection region between said first and second transport devices and said intermediate conveyors.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said deflection elements are mounted on said intermediate conveyors.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said intermediate conveyors are configured to have reversible conveyor directions.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second transport devices comprise elliptically displaceable lifting beams.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising stop elements arranged in conjunction with said intermediate conveyors.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising guide elements are arranged in conjunction with said intermediate conveyors.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transfer conveyor with no associated treatment station arranged between said transport devices, wherein said transfer conveyor transfers containers from one transport device to another.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third transport device, wherein said third transport device is arranged in parallel adjacent to said first transport device, wherein said third transport device conveys in a direction contrary to that of said first transport device, wherein said third transport device is connected a separate transfer conveyor.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a frame that removably holds said treatment stations, said treatment stations being detachable from said frame.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a frame that holds said intermediate conveyors, said intermediate conveyors being detachable from said frame.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first conveying device conveys in a first direction, and wherein said second conveying device conveys in said first direction.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second transport devices comprise endless conveyors.

26. A method for treating kegs in a container-treatment machine, said method comprising passing a first keg through a first set of treatment stations on said container-treatment machine and passing a second keg through a second set of treatment stations on said container-treatment machine, said first and second sets being selected based on a condition of said first and second kegs.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein passing a first keg through a first set of treatment stations comprises guiding said first keg along a first path, and wherein passing a second keg through a second set of treatment stations comprises guiding said second keg along a second path, wherein said first and second paths are serpentine paths that meander through said container-treatment machine.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein passing a first keg through a first set of treatment stations comprises guiding said first keg through said first set of treatment stations over a first serpentine transport path that meanders between said first and second transport device, and passing a second keg through a second set of treatment stations comprises guiding said second keg through said second set of treatment stations over a second serpentine transport path that meanders between said first and second transport device.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising inspecting said first keg, based on results of said inspection, selecting said first set of treatment stations, inspecting said second keg, and, based on results of said inspection, selecting said second set of treatment stations,

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising, based on a condition of said first keg after having gone through a second treatment station, transferring said first keg to a third transport device to be conveyed to a treatment station that precedes said second treatment station.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the schematic drawings, in which:

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a container-treatment machine that has two transport devices and fifteen treatment stations disposed between them,

[0047] FIG. 2 shows the container-treatment machine of FIG. 1 with two cleaning stations having been removed from the container-treatment machine,

[0048] FIG. 3 shows a container-treatment machine similar to that shown in FIG. 1 but having an additionally arranged third transport device,

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a smaller container-treatment machine for treating returnable kegs,

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a larger container-treatment machine for treating returnable kegs and non-returnable kegs, and

[0051] FIG. 6 shows a container-treatment machine that has three transport devices parallel to one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] A container-treatment machine 10, shown in FIG. 1, comprises a frame 12 in which are arranged a first transport device 14 and a second transport device 16. In the illustrated example, the first and second transport devices 14, 16 are endless conveyor belts that run at least approximately parallel to one another and that preferably move in the same conveying direction. In some embodiments, the transport devices 14, 16 include switchable travel-stops 19. The first transport device 14 feeds containers 18 to the container-treatment machine 10. The second transport device 16 discharges containers 18 from the container-treatment machine 10.

[0053] The container-treatment machine 10 accommodates a plurality of treatment modules 20-48 that can be in latched or pushed into the frame 12 between the first and second transport devices 14, 16. Each treatment module 20-48 has its own deflection element 50. The deflection element 50 transfers containers from one of the first and second transport devices 14, 16 to an intermediate conveyor 52 associated with its treatment module 20-48.

[0054] The treatment modules 20-48 can also be brought together as a combined module to form treatment groups. For example, FIG. 1 shows a pre-cleaning group 54 that has first and second pre-cleaning modules 20, 22. These are arranged along the conveying direction of the first transport device 14.

[0055] Following the pre-cleaning modules 20, 22 are first and second transfer modules 24, 26. These too can be configured as a combined module to form a transfer group. The first and second transfer modules 24, 26 facilitate reciprocal transferring from one transport device 14, 16 to the other transport device 16, 14 in both directions.

[0056] In many cases, a treatment module will introduce a fluid, such as hot water, acid, or a base, into a container. This fluid needs to act for a certain period of time. Instead of occupying an outlet valve at the treatment station, this waiting can be carried out downstream of the treatment module. For example, the waiting can occur at the transfer module 24, 26. The transfer module 24, 26 thus acts as a waiting or residence station at which the fluid introduced by an upstream treatment module is given time to act. In some embodiments, the fluid thus introduced can also be drained away from the container at the transfer module 24, 26.

[0057] A cleaning group 56 follows the transfer modules 24, 26. The illustrated cleaning group 56 comprises five cleaning modules 28-36. The first three cleaning modules 28, 30, 32 have intermediate conveyors 52 that move in a first conveying direction; and the last two cleaning modules 34, 36 have intermediate conveyors 52 that move either in a second conveying direction that is contrary to the first conveying direction or in that are reversible.

[0058] Buffer modules 38-42 and sensor modules 44 that follow the cleaning group 56 buffer containers 18 in case the throughput of containers 18 through the cleaning group 56 does not match the turnover of a filling group 58 formed by the combination of first and second filling modules 46, 48. This makes it possible to equalize differences in the throughputs of the individual groups of the container-treatment machine 10 so that the filling of containers does not cause problems in the processing sequence due to different throughputs of the individual groups.

[0059] Each treatment module 20-48 has a fluid interface 60. Pushing a treatment module 20-48 into the frame 12 couples this fluid interface 60 automatically to the container-treatment machine's own fluid interface. This permits connection of the treatment module 20-48 to the container-treatment machine's own fluid feed.

[0060] A guide rail or detent device locks those treatment modules that are configured as treatment modules at their respective operating positions in or on the frame 12 of the container-treatment machine 10. As indicated by the arrows on the first and second transport devices 12, 14 and intermediate conveyors 52, as a container 18 moves through container-treatment machine 10 it follows a serpentine path that enables it to be treated individually in different ways.

[0061] FIG. 2 shows the container-treatment machine 10 of FIG. 1 following removal of two removable cleaning modules 32, 34, together with their associated intermediate conveyors 52. The removability of these and other treatment modules means that modules can easily and quickly be removed and replaced. This modular design thus avoids lengthy down-times associated with having to shut down the container-treatment machine 10 during repairs.

[0062] For this purpose, the stations are first deleted from the treatment layout by a central machine controller of the container-treatment machine and are then deactivated. They can now be easily removed from frame 12 while operations are in progress.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a container-treatment machine 70 that is configured in a manner similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This second embodiment of container-treatment machine 70 includes a third transport device 72 that conveys in a conveying direction that runs contrary to those of the first and second transport devices.

[0064] In this case, the sensor and test station 44 of the container-treatment machine 70 is configured so as to transfer unsatisfactorily containers to the third container transport device 72 where they are then fed along a return path 75 back to the pre-cleaning station 22 by way of a deflection apparatus 74 of the third transport device 72. The sensor and test station 44 could, for example, detect residual amounts of cleaning and rinsing fluids or residual contamination. After having been sent back via the return path 75, rejected containers 18 have a second chance to undergo the complete cleaning cycle or parts of the cleaning cycle of the cleaning group 56. The third transport device 72 therefore makes it possible to treat different containers in different ways according to their individual needs.

[0065] FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of a container-treatment machine 80 that is significantly smaller than that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The container-treatment machine 80 also has a frame 12 that holds a pre-cleaning module 82, two main cleaning modules 84, 86 and a filling module 88. These components can readily be detached from the frame 12. A relatively small system of this type allows the treatment, i.e. pre-cleaning, cleaning and filling, of returnable kegs as well as other returnable containers.

[0066] FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of a container-treatment machine 90 that contains a pre-cleaning group 92 with two pre-cleaning modules 94, 96, a cleaning group 98 with five cleaning modules 100-108, and a filling group 110 with two filling modules 112, 114. The container-treatment machine 90 processes returnable kegs. These kegs run through the pre-cleaning group 92 and the cleaning group 98. The container-treatment machine 90 is also suitable for filling non-returnable kegs. These kegs run via the first transport device 14 straight to the filling group 110, which then uses the two filling modules 112, 114 to simultaneously fill pairs of containers in the two filling modules. Once filled, these containers are transferred to second transport device 16.

[0067] The fourth embodiment of a container-treatment machine 90 can also be adapted to process new or non-returnable containers, which need no cleaning. These new containers are guided past all intermediate conveyors 52 and/or cleaning groups 92, 98 and are passed directly to the treatment modules of the filling group 110. Alternatively, the containers 18 could also be guided and treated in a kind of cleaning operation coming from first transport device 14 by way of the pre-cleaning group 92. Once rinsed in this way, containers 18 would then be returned via a deactivated cleaning group 98, i.e. without containers 18 being treated with a fluid, back to the first transport device 14 and from there to the filling group 110 or to the filling modules.

[0068] FIG. 6 shows a container-treatment machine 120 that has three transport devices 14, 16 and 122 arranged parallel to one another. In this embodiment, the pre-cleaning group 54, the transfer conveyor 24, 26, the main cleaning group 56 as well as the buffer stations 38 to 42 and the inspection and test station 44 all extend between the first and second transport devices 14, 16. The first and second transport device 14, 16 convey in identical directions. The third transport device 122 conveys in a conveying direction that is contrary to that of the first and second transport devices. The filling group 58, with its two filling stations 46, 48, is arranged between the second and third transport devices 116, 122. The third transport device 122 forms the container discharge.

[0069] It will be apparent that the above mentioned treatment modules do not necessarily have to be modular in configuration. They can, instead, be permanently installed in the frame 12 of container-treatment machine 10, 70, 80, 90. Alternatively, some may be modular and others may be permanently installed.

[0070] In the figures, the same reference numbers indicate parts that are identical or that have the same functions. The depicted embodiments should not limit the extent of protection of this application, but the invention can be varied within the scope of the claims.