CONTAINER TREATMENT MACHINE

Abstract

A container-treatment machine includes a frame, transport devices for conveying containers, and intermediate conveyors. Treatment stations, some of which are treatment modules, are arranged between the first and second transport-devices. The intermediate conveyors convey containers to corresponding ones of the treatment stations. The intermediate conveyors extend transversely between the transport devices. Some of the treatment modules are held on the frame so as to be removable from operating positions thereof.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first treatment module is associated with said intermediate conveyor.

3. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a push-fit connection to engage said first treatment module and said frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a guide rail, wherein said guide rail holds said first treatment module to said frame so that said first treatment module can be displaced.

5. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a detent, wherein said detent secures said first treatment module to said frame at an operating position thereof.

6. An apparatus comprising treatment stations for treating containers, and a container-treatment machine to which said treatment stations are connected, said container-treatment machine comprising a frame, first and second parallel transport devices for conveying said containers, and intermediate conveyors, said intermediate conveyors comprising a first intermediate conveyor, wherein said treatment stations are arranged between said first and second transport-devices, wherein said intermediate conveyors convey containers to corresponding ones of said treatment stations, wherein said intermediate conveyors extend transversely between said first and second transport-devices, wherein said treatment stations comprise treatment modules that are held on said frame so as to be removable from operating positions thereof, said treatment modules comprising a first treatment module, and wherein said containers are selected from the group consisting of large cans, small casks, and kegs with valve closures or fittings, wherein said container-treatment machine comprises central fluid lines, wherein said first treatment module comprises peripheral fluid lines, and wherein said apparatus further comprises a fluid interface between said central fluid lines and said peripheral fluid lines, wherein said fluid interface comprises first and second coupling flanges, wherein said first coupling flange is arranged on said frame at an operating position of said first treatment module, wherein said first coupling flange interacts with said second coupling flange, and wherein, as a result of said interaction, said central fluid lines and said peripheral fluid lines are connected to each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first and second coupling flanges interact when said first treatment module is moved to said operating position.

8. An apparatus comprising treatment stations for treating containers, and a container-treatment machine to which said treatment stations are connected, said container-treatment machine comprising a frame, first and second parallel transport devices for conveying said containers, and intermediate conveyors, said intermediate conveyors comprising a first intermediate conveyor, wherein said treatment stations are arranged between said first and second transport-devices, wherein said intermediate conveyors convey containers to corresponding ones of said treatment stations, wherein said intermediate conveyors extend transversely between said first and second transport-devices, wherein said treatment stations comprise treatment modules that are held on said frame so as to be removable from operating positions thereof, said treatment modules comprising a first treatment module, and wherein said containers are selected from the group consisting of large cans, small casks, and kegs with valve closures or fittings, said apparatus further comprising first electrical lines, second electrical lines, a first electrical interface, and a second electrical interface, wherein said first electrical lines and said first electrical interface are constituents of said container-treatment machine, wherein said second electrical lines and said second electrical interface are constituents of said first treatment module, wherein, when said first treatment module is in an operating position thereof, said second electrical interface engages said first electrical interface thereby causing electrical connection between said first and second electrical lines.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first electrical interface and said second electrical interface are arranged to couple with each other when said first treatment module is moved into said operating position thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a controller and an electrical bus system that links said controller to said container-treatment machine for control thereof, wherein said container-treatment machine comprises a first connection element on said frame, wherein said first connection element interacts with a corresponding connection element of said first treatment module when said first treatment module is push-coupled onto said frame, wherein said first connection element and said corresponding connection element of said first treatment module contact each other no later than when the first treatment module has reached its operating position on said frame.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first treatment module comprises a first arrangement and said frame comprises a second arrangement, wherein, when said first treatment module is in an operating position thereof, said first arrangement mates with said second arrangement, wherein said first arrangement is selected from the group consisting of first support structures and frame elements, and wherein said second arrangement is selected from the group consisting of second support structures and frame elements.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first treatment module comprises an arrangement that can be actuated such that, when said first treatment module is in an operating position thereof, said arrangement engages at least one of said transport devices in a conveying region thereof, wherein said arrangement is selected from the group consisting of a switchable guide element and a deflector element.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising first, second, and third transport sections, said first and second transport sections being constituents of said first transport-device and said third transport section being a constituent of said second transport-device, wherein said first, second, and third transport sections, together with said intermediate conveyors, define a serpentine path that meanders through said container-treatment machine.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said treatment modules comprise a cleaning module and a filling module.

15. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a third transport-device, wherein said third transport-device is parallel to and adjacent to said first or second transport-devices, wherein said third transport-device is connected to said first intermediate conveyor.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a third transport-device and a separate transfer conveyor, wherein said third transport-device is parallel to and adjacent to said first or second transport-devices, wherein said third transport-device is connected to said first intermediate conveyor.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said third transport-device conveys in a direction contrary to that of at least one of said first and second transport-devices.

18. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first intermediate conveyor conveys in a reversible direction such that during a first time interval said intermediate conveyor conveys in a first direction and during a second time interval said intermediate conveyor conveys in a second direction, wherein said first and second directions are opposite directions.

19. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first and second transport-devices comprise endless conveyors.

20. (canceled)

21. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first and second transport-devices comprise conveyor belts.

22. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first and second transport-devices convey in the same conveying direction.

23. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said treatment modules comprise a cleaning module and a filling module.

24. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a controller and an electrical bus system that links said controller to said container-treatment machine for control thereof, wherein said container-treatment machine comprises a first connection element on said frame, wherein said first connection element interacts with a corresponding connection element of said first treatment module when said first treatment module is push-coupled onto said frame, wherein said first connection element and said corresponding connection element of said first treatment module contact each other no later than when the first treatment module has reached its operating position on said frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a container treatment machine which has two transport devices and fifteen treatment stations disposed between them,

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a view according to FIG. 1 in which two cleaning stations in the manner of cleaning modules have been removed from the container treatment machine,

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a container treatment machine similar to FIG. 2 having an additionally arranged third transport device,

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a smaller container treatment machine for treating returnable kegs,

[0044] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a larger container treatment machine for treating returnable kegs and non-returnable kegs,

[0045] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a filling module pushed into a guide rail of the frame of the container module, and

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a view of a container treatment machine according to FIG. 1 which has more than two transport devices between which are arranged treatment modules having the same action that are combined to form treatment groups.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] A container treatment machine 10, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a frame 12 in which are arranged parallel, or approximately parallel, first and second transport devices 14, 16, examples of which include endless conveyor belts. The first and second transport devices 14, 16 preferably convey in the same conveying direction. In some embodiments, the transport devices 14, 16 include switchable travel-stops 19. In the illustrated embodiment, the first transport device 14 forms a feeder for the containers 18 to the container treatment machine 10 or is connected to an external container feeder.

[0048] The second transport device 16 either discharges the containers 18 from the machine or connects to an external container discharge. Treatment stations 20, 22, 24 . . . 48, which are preferably each modular and can be in latched or pushed into the frame 12, are arranged between the first and second transport devices 14, 16. Each treatment station 20, 22, 24 . . . 48 preferably has its own deflection element 50 to transfer the containers 18 from one of the two transport devices 14, 16 to an intermediate conveyor 52 associated with a treatment station 20, 22, 24 . . . 48.

[0049] The treatment stations can also be brought together as a combined module to form a treatment group. An example of a treatment group is a pre-cleaning group 54. Such a pre-cleaning group 54 can be formed from the first two pre-cleaning modules 20, 22 that are encountered as one progresses along the conveying direction. Two transfer stations 24, 26 facilitate reciprocal transfer between transport devices 14, 16 in both directions.

[0050] In many cases, a treatment module will introduce a fluid into a container 18. Examples of a fluid include hot water, acid, or a base. In many cases, this fluid needs to act for an extended period.

[0051] Instead of occupying an outlet valve at the treatment station, a container 18 filled with such a fluid might instead spend this waiting time while elsewhere. For example, the container 18 might instead wait at a 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 18 at the transfer module 24, 26.

[0052] A cleaning group 56 follows the transfer modules 24, 26. The illustrated cleaning group 56 comprises five cleaning modules 28, 30, 32, 34, 36. The first three cleaning modules 28, 30, 32 have intermediate conveyors 52 that move in a first conveying direction. The last two cleaning modules 34, 36 also have intermediate conveyors 52. In some embodiments, the intermediate conveyors 52 move in a second conveying direction that is contrary to the first conveying direction. Alternatively, these last intermediate conveyors 52 convey in reversible directions.

[0053] 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.

[0054] A guide rail or detent device locks 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.

[0055] 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 or replaced. This modular design thus avoids lengthy down-times associated with having to shut down the container-treatment machine 10 during repairs.

[0056] 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.

[0057] In this case, the sensor and test station 44 of the container-treatment machine 70 is configured so as to transfer unsatisfactorily treated 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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 first 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.

[0060] 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 the first transport device 14 by way of the pre-cleaning group 92. Once rinsed in this way, the 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.

[0061] FIG. 6 shows a presser element 132 of a filling module 120. The presser element 132, which is operated by a linear drive, includes a presser molding 134 at a lower-end thereof. A module frame 124 holds the presser element 132 to a guide rail 122, and ultimately, to the frame 12. This modular frame 124 is complementary to the guide rail 122. A detent connection 128 secures the filling module 120 on the frame 12.

[0062] An intermediate conveyor 52 is held inside the frame 12. In some embodiments, the intermediate conveyor 52 is an endless belt.

[0063] A deflector element 50 having a horizontal guide 51 is held on the right-hand side of module frame 124 in such a way as to enable it to rotate. A vertical holder 130 mounts the presser element 132 of the filling station 120 on the left-hand side of the module frame 124.

[0064] On the end face of the module frame 124 are both a fluid interface 60 and an electrical interface 126. These interact with complementary corresponding interfaces on the frame 12 when filling module 120 is pushed into the operating position. The interfaces are standardized for all different types of treatment module so that any desired treatment modules can be arranged at the plug-in positions.

[0065] It is will be apparent to the skilled person that the above mentioned treatment modules do not necessarily have to be modular. They can also be permanently installed in the frame 12 of a container-treatment machine 10, 70, 80, 90.

[0066] FIG. 7 shows a treatment machine 140 having comprises five parallel transport devices 141a, 141b, 141c, 141d, 141e.

[0067] A pre-cleaning group 142 having three pre-cleaning modules 144 is arranged between the first two transport devices 141a, 141b in a first frame section 12a of the container treatment machine 140. A first main cleaning-group 146 having three main cleaning-modules 148 is arranged between the second and third transport devices 141b, 141c in a second frame section 12b of the container treatment machine. A second main cleaning-group 150 having three main cleaning-modules 152 is arranged between the third and fourth transport devices 141c, 141d in a third frame section 12c. Finally, a filling group 154 having three, preferably identical filling modules 156 is arranged between the fourth and fifth transport devices 141d, 141e in a fourth frame section 12d.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment, the pre-cleaning group 142 has identical pre-cleaning modules 144; the first main cleaning-group 148 has identical main cleaning-modules 148; the second main cleaning-group 150 has identical main-cleaning modules 152, which can be identical with the main cleaning-modules 152 of the first main cleaning-group 146; and the filling modules 156 of the filling group 154 are identical to each other.

[0069] This embodiment of a container treatment machine demonstrates that the treatment machine can also comprise a plurality of separate frames or frame sections and that more than two transport devices can be provided. In addition, only the same type of function modules can also be combined in the function groups, and a diversity of the container treatment machine can be achieved by an appropriate choice of function groups. The function modules of a function group can also optionally form a cohesive group module which, as a unit, can be inserted into and taken out of the container treatment machine.

[0070] In the figures, identical reference numbers indicate those parts that are identical or that have the same functions.

[0071] The depicted embodiments should not limit the extent of protection of this application, but the invention can be varied within the scope of the dependent claims.

[0072] Having described the invention, and a preferred embodiment thereof, what is claimed as new, and secured by letters patent is: