阅读说明：本技术 用于对使用过的瓶进行机器清洁的方法和洗瓶机 (Method for machine cleaning used bottles and bottle washing machine ) 是由 帕特里克·恩格尔哈特 伊娃·拜尔勒 韦罗妮卡·克内歇尔 安娜·茨威加特 于 2021-04-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：描述了用于对使用过的瓶进行机器清洁的方法和洗瓶机。因此,将瓶输送到第一碱液的作用区域中/输送经过第一碱液的作用区域,以便利用第一碱液来使在瓶上存在的标签软化。在去除被软化的标签后,将瓶沉入第二碱液中以进行主清洁。通过在第一碱液不能侵入这些瓶的内部空间的情况下在第一碱液的作用区域内处理瓶,可以可靠地避免标签残留物经由第一碱液进入瓶的内部空间。由此,可以可靠地防止包含在标签残留物中的微粒进入瓶的内部空间。(A method and a bottle washing machine for machine cleaning used bottles are described. The bottles are therefore transported into/through the region of action of the first lye in order to soften the labels present on the bottles with the first lye. After removal of the softened label, the bottle is immersed in a secondary lye for main cleaning. By treating the bottles in the region of action of the primary alkali fluid without the primary alkali fluid being able to penetrate into the inner space of these bottles, the entry of label residues into the inner space of the bottles via the primary alkali fluid can be reliably avoided. Thereby, the particles contained in the label residue can be reliably prevented from entering the inner space of the bottle.)

1. A method for machine cleaning used bottles (2), wherein the bottles are transported into/through the region of action of a first lye (6) in order to soften with the first lye the labels (3) present on the bottles, and wherein the bottles are immersed into a second lye (9) after removal of the softened labels for main cleaning, characterized in that the bottles are treated within the region of action of the first lye, so that the first lye cannot penetrate into the inner space (2c) of the bottles.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the first lye (6) is conducted and/or purified separately from the second lye (9) in order to avoid the first lye and in particular the label residue (13) contained therein from entering the second lye used for the main cleaning.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in order to soften the label (3), the bottle (2) is immersed into a first dipping bath (5) filled with the first lye (6), and the mouth (2a) of the bottle is guided and/or closed there all the time above the level (6a) of the first lye in order to prevent the ingress of the first lye.

4. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottle (2) is filled with the second lye (9) while passing through the first dipping bath (5).

5. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottle (2) is placed in the first lye (6) for an action time of 2 to 6 minutes in order to soften the label (3).

6. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein labels (3) softened by means of the first lye (6) are removed by means of a liquid flow (5b) and/or a liquid jet.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottles (2), in particular a transport system (10) with a bottle basket (11) for the bottle treatment, are rinsed outside before being lowered into the second lye (9).

8. A bottle washing machine (1, 31) for used bottles (2), comprising: a label removal stage (4) having a first dipping bath (5) for softening labels (3) present on the bottles by means of a first lye (6) and for removing the softened labels; and a subsequent main cleaning stage (7) with a second dipping bath (8) for the bottles containing a second lye (9), characterized by a transport system (10) which guides the bottles into/through the first dipping bath in the label removal stage so that the first lye cannot penetrate into the interior space (2c) of the bottles.

9. Bottle washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the label removal stage (4) comprises a lye circuit (12) separate from the main cleaning stage (7) for conducting and/or purifying the first lye (6).

10. The bottle washing machine according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the transport system (10) is configured such that it sinks the bottles (2) into the first dipping bath (5) and thereby keeps the mouths (2a) of the bottles always above the level (6a) of the first lye (6), and in particular is shielded from the lye spray present in the label removal stage (4).

11. Bottle washing machine according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the label removal stage (4) comprises a device (5a) for the circumfluence of the bottles (2) and/or a device (14) for the spraying of the bottles, in order to remove the softened labels (3) from the bottles.

12. Bottle washing machine according to any one of claims 8 to 11, further having an intermediate rinsing stage (15) arranged between the label removal stage (4) and the main cleaning stage (7) for removing the first lye (6) and/or the removed label residues (13) from the outside of the bottles (2).

13. The bottle washer according to any of claims 8 to 12, further having a second lye circuit (17) for a second lye (9) used in the second dipping bath (8) and in particular further having a connection line (18) connecting the second lye circuit (17) with the label removal stage (4) for filling bottles (2) therein with the second lye.

14. Bottle washing machine according to at least one of claims 8 to 13, having a residue emptying stage (21) and a pre-cleaning stage (22) following or preceding, respectively, the label removal stage (4).

15. Bottle washing machine according to at least one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the label removal stage (4) is configured as an upstream module (32) separate from the main cleaning stage (7), which has its own machine housing (33) and a lye circuit (12) for the first lye (6).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method and a bottle washing machine for machine cleaning used bottles according to the preamble of claims 1 and 8.

Background

For cleaning used reusable bottles, it is known to use alkaline baths and lye jets (also called lye softening) for softening dirt, labels, residual glue, etc. In this case, the bottle is usually completely immersed in an alkaline bath in order to treat not only its outside but also its inner space.

For example, in the known bottle washing machines, the following process steps or process stages are arranged as follows: emptying residues; pre-cleaning; first lye softening (bath containing lye), including label removal; second lye softening (bath with lye) with label removal; spraying alkali liquor; alkali liquor post-treatment; washing with hot water; washing with cold water; fresh water flushing or fresh water spraying. Then, between these two lye softens, a level compensation of the lye is usually provided. The lye softening usually has a common purification circuit for the lye used therein and is connected directly to one another via a level compensation.

Here, it has proven problematic to: dirt particles, label residues (for example made of paper, plastic or aluminum), glue residues and the like removed from the outside of the bottle also enter the interior space of the bottle via the lye used for this purpose. The disadvantage of modern labels is, in particular, that paint and ink particles are more entrained in the lye used, and these particles are also transported with the lye into the interior space of the bottle.

Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that: such particles can only be removed with difficulty or can no longer be removed completely in a subsequent cleaning step. This results in undesirable filling of the cleaned bottle with particles and the like.

There is thus a need in connection therewith for an improved method for machine cleaning labeled reusable bottles and a corresponding improved bottle washing machine.

Disclosure of Invention

The object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and by a bottle washing machine according to claim 8.

The method is used for machine cleaning of used bottles, i.e. reusable bottles retrieved from sale and use.

The bottles are thus transported into/through the region of action of the first lye in order to soften the labels present on the bottles with the first lye. After removal of the softened labels, the bottles are immersed in a secondary lye for main cleaning. According to the invention, the bottles are treated in the region of action of the primary alkali fluid without the primary alkali fluid penetrating into the inner space of the bottles.

The inner space of these bottles cannot therefore be contaminated by particles, in particular particles such as paint and ink particles, which are removed from the outside of the bottles and are therefore contained in the first lye. Therefore, the processing steps for removing such particles from the inner space of the bottles, which are otherwise necessary but not according to the invention, are superfluous.

Preferably, the first lye is conducted and/or purified separately from the second lye in order to avoid the first lye and in particular label residues, glue residues, paint and ink particles and the like contained therein from entering the second lye used for the main cleaning.

In particular, for the first lye there is a circuit for cleaning the first lye separate from the second lye. This is to be understood as preventing the primary alkali liquid from entering the secondary alkali liquid. Correspondingly, a small amount of the second lye loaded with the above-mentioned fouling is admitted to the first lye.

The first and second lye may have the same composition and/or the same concentration, except for soil, label residue, etc. removed from these bottles. However, the first and second alkaline solutions may in principle also have different compositions and/or concentrations. Importantly, the method comprises the following steps: the primary lye used for removing the labels is prevented from entering the secondary lye used for the main cleaning in large quantities.

Preferably, in order to soften the labels, the bottles are immersed in a first immersion bath containing the first lye and the mouths of the bottles are always above their liquid level here, in order to prevent the first lye from penetrating into the interior space of the bottles.

Preferably, the closed area present on the mouth for housing the rotating snap ring, the metal cap, etc., is always kept above the liquid level when these bottles are submerged. Thus, all wall areas of the bottles that are normally used for labeling can be completely immersed in the first immersion bath without the first lye entering the inner space of the bottles.

In other words, the bottles are only completely immersed into the primary alkali fluid, in particular only the mouth of the bottles, which is not usually labeled, and/or the closure area for accommodating the bottle caps, are not immersed into the primary alkali fluid.

Preferably, the bottles are filled with a second lye while passing through the first bath. In this way, it is possible, on the one hand, to already soften the dirt present in the interior of the bottles in the region of the label removal in terms of pre-softening. On the other hand, filling the bottles with the second lye reduces the risk of the first lye accidentally entering the inner space of the bottles. That is, splashes of the first lye may be diluted in the filled bottle by means of the second lye to a possibly not severe concentration.

Preferably, the bottles are placed in the primary alkali solution for an action time of two to six minutes to soften the label. By this, the most common labels can be reliably softened for subsequent removal or already removed from the bottles.

Preferably, the labels softened by means of the first lye are removed by means of a liquid flow and/or a liquid jet. The liquid flow can be generated, for example, in an immersion bath filled with the first lye by means of a stirrer. The liquid jet may be generated, for example, by means of a water jet or a lye jet.

For example, the second caustic may be directed at the softened labels as a liquid jet to remove the labels from the bottles. In principle, it is also conceivable to use the first lye if the mouths of the bottles are shielded in the region of the liquid jet with respect to the first lye and/or the mouths of the bottles are closed off there. This is possible, for example, by means of fixed covering strips, under which the mouths of the bottles travel without being affected by the liquid jet.

The removal of the labels can be performed faster and more reliably by means of the liquid flow and/or the liquid jet.

Preferably, the bottles are rinsed outside before being immersed in the second lye, in particular the transport system with the bottle basket which comprises the treatment of one of the bottles. Thus, residues of the primary lye and/or label residues of the type described above which remain adhering to the bottles and, if necessary, to the transport system can be removed before the bottles, including their inner side/inner space, are immersed in the secondary lye. Contamination of the second lye with dirt due to removal of the label can thus be avoided particularly reliably.

The described bottle washing machine therefore comprises a label removal stage having a first dipping bath for softening the labels present on the bottles by means of a first lye and for removing the softened labels. The bottle washing machine also comprises a subsequent main cleaning stage with a second dipping bath for the bottles containing a second lye.

According to the invention, the bottle washing machine further comprises a transport system which guides the bottles in the label removal stage into/through the first dipping bath without the first lye penetrating into the inner space of the bottles. Thereby, the advantages described in relation to claim 1 can be achieved.

Additionally, the label removal stage may include a first lye jet for softening the labels present on the bottles. In this case, the transport system is also configured such that it guides the bottles through the primary lye injection without the primary lye penetrating into the interior space of the bottles. This can be achieved, for example, by suitable masking of the mouths of the bottles, possibly also by temporary closure of the mouths of the bottles.

Preferably, the label removal stage comprises a lye circuit separate from the main cleaning stage for conducting and/or purifying the first lye. This is to be understood as: the primary lye is separately conducted and/or purified such that it cannot pass from the lye circuit into the secondary lye. While in principle the second lye is allowed to pass back into the first lye.

Preferably, the conveying system is designed in such a way that it sinks the bottles into the first dipping bath and thereby keeps the mouths of the bottles above the level of the first lye at all times. Thus, all the side wall regions of the bottles that are suitable for labeling can be lowered into the primary alkali fluid without the region of the mouth and/or the closure region for receiving the bottle cap being lowered into the primary alkali fluid. It is thus possible to reliably prevent the first lye from sinking into the interior space of these bottles while effectively softening the existing label.

Additionally, the transport system can also be configured such that the transport system shields the mouths of the bottles from possible spraying of the first lye, for example by means of a stationary shield present on the transport system, the mouths of the bottles running under the shield in a suitable manner to avoid intrusion of the first lye into the interior space of the bottles.

Preferably, the label removal stage comprises a device for streaming and/or spraying the bottles in order to remove the softened labels from the bottles. As already described with regard to the method, this can be achieved, for example, by means of an agitator present in the first immersion bath and/or by means of water jets, lye jets or the like.

Preferably, the bottle washing machine further comprises an intermediate rinsing stage arranged between the label removal stage and the main cleaning stage for removing primary lye and/or label residues, such as paint and ink particles, from the outside of the bottles. The intermediate rinsing stage can be arranged, for example, at the output of the label removal stage or at the input of the main cleaning stage. The intermediate rinsing stage is then, for example, configured such that the transport system which guides the bottles through the bottle washing machine is also rinsed in a corresponding manner in order to remove residues of the first lye which may be present on the transport system and/or label residues of the type described before the respective transport device enters the main cleaning stage/second dipping bath.

Preferably, the bottle washing machine further comprises a second lye circuit for a second lye used in a second dipping bath. The bottle washing machine then comprises, in particular, a connecting line which connects the second lye circuit to the label removal stage in order to fill and/or spray the bottles therein with the second lye for removing the labels.

The entry of the second alkaline solution into the label removal stage is in principle not objectionable. This applies in particular when the first lye and the second lye have the same composition and/or the same concentration of the composition on the production side. Then, the second lye is preferably also used in the second lye injection arranged downstream of the second dipping bath and is supplied through the second lye circuit.

Preferably, the bottle washing machine further comprises a residue evacuation stage and a pre-cleaning stage, respectively, preceding or following the label removal stage. The described label removal stage can therefore be combined flexibly with residue emptying and pre-cleaning stages known per se, depending on the plant configuration of the bottle washing machine.

Preferably, the label removal stage is configured as an upstream module spatially separated from the main cleaning stage, which upstream module has its own housing/its own treatment chamber and has its own lye circuit for the first lye. For example, the label removal stage can then precede the main cleaning stage in the sense of being retrofitted, in order to divert label removal from the main cleaning stage and then use this main cleaning stage only for bottles without labels.

In order to avoid the mentioned soiling problems, bottle washers of known design can also be retrofitted afterwards with a label removal stage according to at least one of the embodiments described above. The label removal stage can then also precede the already present residue evacuation stage and the pre-cleaning stage.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are presented in the accompanying drawings. Wherein:

fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a bottle washing machine according to a first embodiment; and

fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a bottle washing machine according to a second embodiment.

Detailed Description

As can be seen in fig. 1, a bottle washing machine 1 for cleaning used bottles 2 on which a label 3 is present, i.e. reusable bottles that are recycled, for example, after consumption, has: a label removal stage 4 having a first dipping bath 5 (lye softening) for softening labels 3 in a first lye 6 contained in the first dipping bath 5; and a subsequent main cleaning stage 7 with a second dipping bath 8 (lye softening) for external and internal cleaning of the bottle 2 in a second lye 9.

The bottle washing machine 1 further comprises a transport system 10 having bottle baskets 11 which circulate in the bottle washing machine 1 in a multi-track manner in a manner known per se and which guide the bottles 2 through the bottle washing machine 1 in each case. The bottle baskets 11 are arranged, for example, at uniform distances from one another on a continuously circulating chain or the like, wherein, however, only a few bottle baskets 11 are schematically illustrated in fig. 1.

As is also depicted in fig. 1, the bottles 2 are guided by the transport system 10 in the region of the label removal stage 4 in such a way that at least the mouths 2a of the bottles 2 and preferably also the closed regions 2b below adjacent to these mouths do not sink into the primary alkali fluid 6, but rather only the lower lateral wall regions 2c provided for accommodating the labels 3 sink into the primary alkali fluid.

Thus, the present label 3 can be effectively and reliably softened by the primary alkali fluid 6 without the primary alkali fluid 6 entering the inner space 2d of the bottle 2 through the mouth 2a of the bottle 2.

In FIG. 1, a circuit 12 for conducting and/or purifying the first basic liquid 6 is also schematically depicted. The first lye 6 contaminated by the removed labels 3 and small-sized label residues 13 is circulated and filtered through the circuit 12 in a manner known per se in order to separate and discharge and clean the labels 3 and the label residues 13, such as paint and ink particles or the like, in a suitable manner.

The first dipping bath 5 comprises a device 5a, for example a stirrer, for generating a liquid flow 5b in the first basic liquid 6 in order to remove the labels 3 softened by the first basic liquid 6 from the bottles 2. In addition or alternatively, a device 14 for spraying, for example lye spraying or water spraying, the bottles 2 in the region of the label removal stage 4 is conceivable in order to remove the labels 3 from the bottles 2 by means of a liquid jet.

For example, the second alkaline liquid 9 used in the second bath 8 may be used to spray the bottle 2 after softening the label 3. For this purpose, the second alkaline liquid 9 may enter the first alkaline liquid 6, especially as long as the first and second alkaline liquids 6, 9 have the same composition.

The bottle washing machine 1 further comprises an intermediate rinsing stage 15 arranged between the first and second dipping baths 5, 8, which intermediate rinsing stage is preferably configured as a spray of bottles 2 during which no labels are present.

For example, the bottles 2 can be sprayed there with water or a second lye 9 in order to remove residues of the first lye 6 and, if appropriate, also label residues 13 adhering to the bottles 2 before the bottles 2 sink into the second dipping bath 8. This can prevent: the residue of the primary alkali fluid 6 and/or the label residue 13 enters the secondary alkali fluid 9.

For this purpose, the intermediate rinsing stage 15 is preferably also configured to spray the transport system 10 as well in order to remove any residues of the first lye 6 and/or the label residues 13 that may be present thereon before the transport system 10 reaches the region of the second dipping bath 8.

Preferably, the primary cleaning stage 7 comprises a second circuit 17 for guiding and/or purifying the second alkaline liquid 9. The second circuit 17 is separated from the first circuit 12 such that the first lye 6 cannot enter the second circuit 17 to avoid contamination of the second lye 9 by the first lye 6.

Since, in the context of the main cleaning stage 7, the transport system 10 is preferably designed such that the bottles 2 are completely immersed in the second dipping bath 8 and are therefore placed in the second alkaline solution 9 both on the outside and on the inside in order to soften the dirt present on/in the bottles 2.

From the second circuit 17, a connecting line 18 can branch off, which supplies the label removal stage 4 with the second lye 9, for example in order to fill bottles 2 which do not completely sink into the first dipping bath 5 with the second lye 9.

By this means, the dirt present in the bottle 2 can already be softened in the region of the label removal stage 4. Furthermore, the risk of accidental access of the first lye 6 into the inner space 2d of the bottle 2 can be reduced, in particular by completely filling the bottle 2 with the second lye 9. For example, splashes of the first lye 6 which may fall into the area of the mouth 2a may be diluted to an insignificant extent by the second lye 9 present in the bottle 2.

For the sake of completeness, the discharge 19 of the labels 3 and the label residues 13 separated from the first loop 12 is also schematically outlined.

The bottle washing machine 1 comprises a machine housing 20 into which not only the label removal stage 4, the intermediate rinsing stage 15 and the main cleaning stage 7 but also upstream or downstream cleaning stages of a type known in principle, such as a residue emptying stage 21, a pre-cleaning stage 22, a lye jet 23, a post-lye stage 24, warm water rinsing stages 25, 26, a cold water rinsing stage 27 and a final fresh water rinsing stage 28, can be integrated. The treatment stages downstream of the main cleaning stage 7 can be configured, for example, as sprays on the bottles 2.

In the downstream lye injection 23, the second lye 9 is preferably used so that the lye injection 23 can likewise be supplied with the second lye 9 from the second circuit 17.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a bottle washing machine 31 according to a second embodiment. In this case, the components of the apparatus having the same function as described in relation to the first embodiment of the bottle washing machine 1 are identified with the same reference numerals and are therefore not described again below. Instead, the differences between the bottle washing machine 1 according to fig. 1 and the bottle washing machine 31 according to fig. 2 are described subsequently.

The important differences are: the label removal stage 4 of the bottle washing machine 31 is designed as an upstream module 32, which is spatially separated from the main cleaning stage 7 and has a separate machine housing 33 and a separate treatment chamber 34.

The label removal stage 4 can then likewise precede the residue emptying stage 21 and the pre-cleaning stage 22. However, this configuration is merely optional. That is, it may be possible for the residue emptying stage 21 and/or the pre-cleaning stage 22 to also be absent or thus to precede the label removal stage 4 separately.

Also outlined in fig. 2 are: the main cleaning stage 7 can be divided into at least two sub-stages 7a, 7b, each having a second dipping bath 8 in which the bottle 2 is placed in a second alkaline solution 9. Next, a liquid level compensation 8a can be provided, for example, between the second immersion baths 8 of the individual sub-stages 7a, 7 b.

The second circuit 17 can then supply both second baths 8 with the second lye 9 or purify the second lye for both baths 8. The connection line 18 can then in turn be branched off from the second circuit 17 and/or one of the baths 8 in order to supply the label removal stage 4 with the second lye 9 if necessary.

The bottle washer 31 according to the second embodiment illustrates: label removal according to the present invention may be in the form of an upstream module 32 or may be added to existing bottle washing machines.

This is conceivable, in particular, because in the case of conventional bottle washers there are usually several sub-stages which have an immersion bath which is supplied with lye in common. Then, only the label removal stage 4 needs to be transferred from the existing bottle washing machine to the upstream module 32 to avoid that the primary alkali fluid 6 contaminated with label residues 13 enters the inner space 2d of the bottle 2, see above. In other respects, the existing immersion bath 8 can in principle be operated as described above, i.e. with a mutual level compensation 8a and at least one (if appropriate also common) purification circuit 17 for the secondary alkali liquid 9 used therein.

In addition to the first dipping bath 5, it is also possible to place the bottles 2 in the first lye 6, for example, with a device 14 for spraying the bottles from suitably oriented nozzles, in order to soften the labels 3. The mouth 2a of the bottle 2 is then shielded against the liquid jet produced and/or against stray splashes, for example by means of a fixed panel and/or hood and/or by means of a cover, sleeve or the like synchronized within the scope of the label removal stage 4.

In the context of the label removal stage 4, the mouth 2a of the bottle 2 and/or the closed region 2b is guided and/or shielded above the level 6a of the first lye 6 in the dipping bath 5 in order to prevent splashes with the first lye 6. This can be achieved, for example, by adapting the liquid level 6a to the course of the transport device 10 and/or to the respective bottle format. The separated labels 3 and label remains 13 can be discharged and removed in a known manner.

The loading of the bottles 2 into the bottle washers 1, 31 and the transport of these bottles 2 can be carried out multitrack and continuously in a known manner. The bottle loading and bottle removal according to fig. 1 and 2 on the same side is not mandatory, but is used here only for a clearer presentation.