Method and equipment inspection contamination of for bottle

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Industrial application field]

The present invention is a method for inspecting bottles transported along a transport section, particularly plastic bottles, in a form in which the presence or absence of contamination is inspected by inspecting gas samples taken out from individual bottles. Also related to.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

For reusable bottles, especially for plastic bottles that cannot be washed at high temperatures, such as PET bottles, ensure contamination to remove contaminated bottles or to exclude them from new fillings. The problem arises that it must be detected. In this case, in particular, the recovered bottles used for substances (poisons, solvents) that may be harmful to the user must be detected.

【0003】

For this purpose, it is already known to take one gas sample out of the bottle and check this gas sample by photoionization detection (PID). This also allows the presence or absence of slight traces of unwanted substances in the bottle or plastic material to be detected.

【0004】

Since such inspection equipment must have a high bin processing capacity per minute (favorably 250-300 bottles per minute) in order for such inspections to be carried out in industrial filling operations. Conventionally, a large number of individual PIDs / machines were used, that is, each of the large number of bins to be inspected was assigned to a unique PID / machine. This requires a large amount of cost, maintenance and calibration costs.

【0005】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

An object of the present invention is to provide a method in which cost cost, maintenance cost and calibration cost are significantly reduced.

【0006】

[Means for solving problems]

According to the present invention, in the method of the form described at the beginning, gas is simultaneously taken out from a large number of bottles, and the taken out gas samples are sequentially placed in a controlled order at the inlet of an inspection device common to a large number of bottles. Solved by supplying.

【0007】

[Effect of the invention]

Costs can be reduced as desired by feeding the gas sample from multiple bottles tested at the same time to only one testing device in sequence.

【0008】

In this case, advantageously, be used a mass spectrometer as an inspection apparatus, the mass spectrometer analyzer may be particularly well detected contamination.

【0009】

The solution of the present invention is a known solution having a large number of PIDs / machines located near each individual bottle for individual gas samples from each bottle towards a common inspection device for a large number of bottles. A longer transport route is obtained than in the case of the measure. However, despite this, contrary to initial expectations, it has become clear that sufficient time is left for inspection, especially for mass spectrometric measurements, even in the case of the desired high bin processing capacity.

【0010】

Advantageously, measures can be taken to reduce or avoid the influence of the gas sample transport path from each bottle to the inspection device. Particularly advantageous, the gas is continuously supplied from each bottle to be inspected to the inspection device, especially the distribution device located relatively close to the mass spectrometer. Each one of the gas streams supplied to this distributor is connected to the mass spectrometer by a short path.

【0011】

Even more advantageously, to avoid condensation, at least the conduit from the bottle to the distributor is heated and air is blown into the bottle to be inspected to concentrate the gas sample as much as possible with the contaminants that may occur. be able to.

【0012】

The device for carrying out the method is specified in claim 6.

【0013】

[Example]

The apparatus schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 has a transport section 2 for bin 3. In the inspection section of the transport section 2, gas samples are taken out from bottles 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d. For this purpose, sampling sons 4, 5, 6 and 7 are inserted into the bottle via the bottle neck without touching the bottle to avoid any contamination.

【0014】

Gas is sucked out of each bottle by the sonde and guided through conduits 8,10,12,14 to a distributor having switching valves 16,17,18,19 respectively. At one position of the switching valve, the gas sucked from each bottle by this switching valve is supplied to the collecting conduit 21 connected to the suction pump 26 via the outlet conduits 22, 23, 24, 25. The suction pump 26 transports gas from each bottle and discharges it to the surrounding environment through a conduit 27.

【0015】

While the bottle is in the inspection category, the suction pump 26 continuously sucks gas from the bottle and conveys it to the switching valve. By the control device 30 connected to the control mechanism 35 arranged at the upper level, the switching valves 16, 17, 18, 19 1 of the switching valves 16, 17, 18, 19 via the electric control leads 31, 32, 33, 34, respectively, for a predetermined time. Since one is switched, the gas flowing from each bin through the switching valve is applied to an inspection device such as a PID / machine, preferably a collecting conduit 20 connected to the inlet of the mass spectrometer 1.

【0016】

The suction through the collecting conduit 20 to the mass spectrometer is performed by a unique transfer pump. After the gas in one of the bins to be inspected by the mass spectrometer, eg bottle 3a, is sucked in, the switching valve 16 is switched again so that the gas flow from bin 3a is reconnected to the outlet conduit 22.

【0017】

If the mass spectrometer 1 is prepared for the next analysis, i.e., for the analysis of the gas flow from bin 3b, the switching valve 17 is switched so that the gas flow from bin 3b is a short-term assembly conduit. It is supplied to 20 and thus to mass spectrometer 1. Next, since the switching valves 18 and 19 are sequentially switched in the same format for a short time, the gas samples from the bins 3c and 3d can be analyzed sequentially, respectively.

【0018】

Sondes 4, 5, 6, 7 are then pulled out of bins 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, four new bins are prepared on the transport section, sondes are inserted into the new bins, and so on. Take out the gas sample.

【0019】

The previously inspected bottles 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d continue to be transported over the transport section, and the bottles detected by the mass spectrometer for unacceptable contamination are removed from the transport section by the release device. The uncontaminated bottles inspected continue to be fed to the filling device after passing through at least one cleaning device, where new drinks are filled.

【0020】

That is, by the device or method described in FIG. 1, a large number of bottles can be inspected by only one inspection device or mass spectrometer. Even when the transport capacity of the transport section is large, the method can be advantageously implemented as described in FIG. 1, that is, the gas flow can be continuously transported from each bottle and supplied to the distribution device. Thus the transport time for the gas sample from the sonde through the conduit 8 is not important for the measurement.

【0021】

Each gas sample at the outlet of the distributor or switching valve is used for the mass spectrometer 1, that is, the transport path through the conduit 20 to the mass spectrometer is associated with the measurement time. In this way, a large number of bottles, for example 16 bottles, can be rapidly transported in the transport section 2 and analyzed by only one mass spectrometer.

【0022】

Other steps can be taken to improve rapid analysis. Therefore, for example, it is advantageous to blow air into the bottle during sample removal in order to increase the concentration of contaminants contained in the gas sample. Advantageously, air blowing can be achieved by configuring conduits 8,10,12,14 as double conduits, so that sample gas is sucked in through one passage of this conduit as described. And through the other passage (using another pump not shown), air is blown into the bottle by an additional outflow in sondes 4, 5, 6, 7.

【0023】

In addition, it is advantageous to heat at least the sample gas passages of conduits 8, 10, 12, 14 to prevent sample gas condensation in each conduit. In addition, the supply conduit 20 for the mass spectrometer can also be heated.

【0024】

On the one hand, the control device 30 controls the switching of the switching valves 16, 17, 18, and 19. Further, the control device 30 controls the insertion and withdrawal of the sonde for each bin. In any case, this is done by a superordinate control mechanism 35 that controls all the transport equipment for the bottles (described later in FIG. 3). The control device 30 and the control mechanism 35 can also be configured as a combined control unit. Sonde insertion and withdrawal are fully mechanically generated via a lifting unit operated by a control cam.

【0025】

FIG. 2 also schematically illustrates another embodiment of the device for carrying out the method. In this case, two inspection devices or, advantageously, mass spectrometers 1,1a are provided. In this case, one mass spectrometer 1 is used to inspect bins 3a, 3b, 3c, and the other mass spectrometer 1a is used to inspect bins 3d, 3e, 3f. In other words, in this case as well, one mass spectrometer is commonly used to inspect a large number of bottles.

【0026】

Inspection of individual bottles is performed in the same format as described in Figure 1. That is, for example, bins 3a and 3d are inspected by mass spectrometers 1 and 1a, respectively. Analyzed by total 1 or the gas sample from bin 3b is analyzed by mass spectrometer 1a. The switching valve is then switched again to the collecting conduits 21, 21a and thus to the suction pump 26. Gas samples from bottles 3b, 3e are then inspected in a similar fashion.

【0027】

FIG. 3 illustrates a device 40 for inspecting bottles, which works roughly according to the method in plan view. The recovered reusable bins are randomly fed to the equipment on the transport line 41. The bottle is fed upright to the device and is normally open, i.e. no longer has a lid and has not yet been cleaned.

【0028】

By the conveyor and the appropriate dynamic pressure, the bin 3 is supplied to the star-shaped control member 42 and the transport worm 43 which form the line stop member, and the transport worm 43 keeps the bins upright in an evenly spaced order and continues to transport. A large number of inspection devices (later described in detail in FIG. 5) are provided along this transport section. In particular, bottles are inspected for accurate height and the presence of lids or other closures and the amount of liquid remaining. Inappropriate bottles are discharged from the transport worm 43 via one of the release members 51 or 52.

【0029】

The bottle thus pre-inspected reaches the intake rotating body 45 from the transport worm 43. A bottle is supplied from the intake rotating body 45 to the main rotating body 47. During the waiting time of the bottle in the main rotating body, the inspection is performed, for example, as a mass spectrometric inspection. Figure 3 illustrates the four bins 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d only schematically. In practice, the main rotating body can accept a large number of bins to be inspected, for example 16 bottles, which are inspected by a mass spectrometer located above the main rotating body.

【0030】

After the inspection, the inspected bottle reaches the carry-out worm 49 via the carry-out rotating body 48. Another release member 53 is arranged on the carry-out worm 49, and this release member discharges a bottle detected by the mass spectrometer as contaminated. In this case, the discharge can be carried out in various known forms, for example by a compressed air jet or an electromagnetically manipulated discharge plunger.

【0031】

However, it is advantageous to use a soft release mechanism that uprights the bin to be removed and supplies it to another transport section. This prevents the bottle containing potentially harmful liquids from tipping over. The bottle is upright and transported to the waste disposal site.

【0032】

Uncontaminated bottles are fed to the transport line 50 behind the unload worm 49, through which the bins are fed to the cleaning station and then to the filling station. The operation cabinet 54 is arranged on the bracket. The control unit for the entire device can be housed separately.

【0033】

FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the main rotating body 47 of FIG. Bin 3b held by holders 62, 63 of the main rotating body is shown. Another bin and bin holder located within the rotating body are not shown. Sonde 5 rushes into one of the bottles shown to take out the gas sample. The sonde 5 is held by a movable shuttle 61, and the carriage moves along the carriage guide 60 from the lower position shown in the figure to the upper position indicated by the chain line.

【0034】

In the range of entry of the bottle into the rotating body, the carriage 61 assigned to the holder 63 occupies the upper position. After the bin reaches the holder, the carriage moves downward along the carriage guide, which allows the appropriate sonde to non-contactly plunge into the bin through the bottle neck.

【0035】

A flexible hose 10 is connected to the sonde 5. Connection points are not shown for clarity in the drawing. At the lower position of the carriage, a flexible hose course is obtained, as in the case of the hose indicated by reference numeral 10. At the upper position of the carriage, the short hose section of the hose located behind the hose 10 provides the course as shown.

【0036】

The hose is guided to the center of the rotating body. The hose has a conduit 11 that takes the gas sample out of the bottle, and the conduit 11 is connected to the upper end of the rotating body by a connecting piece 80. From the connecting piece, the passage 81 is guided into the switching valve 17 at the upper end of the rotating body. The outlet of the switching valve is connected to the central conduit 21 of the rotating body by a conduit 23, which is guided by a suction pump 26 (see FIG. 1) (not shown). Another outlet of the switching valve 17 is guided to the connecting piece 82 via the passage 20 in the upper rotating body portion.

【0037】

The previously described portion of the rotating body rotates with the bin at the rotational speed of the rotating body. A stationary mass spectrometer 1 is arranged above the connection piece 82, and this mass spectrometer is shown in FIG. 4 in a generally suitable block. The stationary mass spectrometer is connected to the rotating body, that is, the passage 20 of the rotating body via the connecting piece 82. The electrical control leads to the switching valve are not shown in FIG. This control lead wire reaches a valve that rotates together with the rotating body from the control unit via the sliding contact contact.

【0038】

The rotating body illustrated in FIG. 4 has 16 receiving positions (holders) for the bottle to be inspected and also has a large number of reciprocating stands, sondes, flexible hose conduits, connection pieces, electrical switching valves. And has a passage 20 for a unique connection piece 82. For clarity in the drawing, only two switching valves 17, 36 are shown in FIG. Other components, such as hoses 8, 10, 28, are also illustrated only partially.

【0039】

Clean air is blown into all bottles to be inspected to increase the concentration of contamination in the removed gas sample through the passages or conduits in the central conduits 71 and 16 and suitable flexible hoses. The more flexible hose 10 is heated to prevent condensation of the gas taken out of the hose conduit.

【0040】

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the inspection steps performed in the apparatus of FIG. The bin arriving at the transport line reaches the star-shaped control member 42, in which case the sideways bin causes a line stop via the star-shaped control member 42. The height of each individual bin is then checked in the intake worm via two photoelectric boxes. Excessively large or small bottles are removed.

【0041】

The ultrasonic sensor then checks that the bottle lid is removed in each bottle. The bottle with the bottle lid or another closure is removed. The weight sensor checks to see if there is still a large amount of residual liquid left in the bottle. If residual liquid remains, the bottle is removed.

【0042】

Depending on the intake modul, the bin reaches the main rotating body via the intake rotating body. A gas sample is taken from the bottle on the main rotating body and supplied to a mass spectrometer or PID / inspection machine for measurement. The waiting time of a bin on a rotating body is much longer than the measurement time given per bin (for comparison: the measurement time per bin is approximately 240 ms, whereas at 300 bins per minute, it rotates. The waiting time on the body is almost 2 seconds).

【0043】

In order to take advantage of the long waiting time of the bottle on the rotating body, the sample gas extraction is performed in many stages. That is, 0 stage If the bottle is located on the main rotating body, the sonde plunges into the bottle to remove the sample gas.

【0044】

1 step From sample gas removal to valve block All 16 sample gas hoses on the main rotating body constantly draw air to the valve block. When the sample hose rushes into the bottle, the sample gas in the bottle is pumped into the valve block. In the valve block, the sample gas is pumped directly from the valve into the atmosphere via an air pump or guided to the mass spectrometer by switching the valve.

【0045】

Each of the 16 valves in the valve block is connected to a mass spectrometer, another valve is closed and the sample gas is introduced into the atmosphere. Clean air is additionally blown into the bottle to remove the sample gas. This gives a high concentration of sample gas.

【0046】

In addition, all sample gas hoses are heated to prevent the sample gas from condensing in the hose.

【0047】

Stage 2 From valve block to mass spectrometer As already mentioned, one of each of the 16 valves is connected. This allows the sample gas to reach and analyze the mass spectrometer from the appropriate sample hose and belonging bottle. Each individual bottle can be analyzed in sequence on the rotating body by switching the valves appropriately and periodically.

【0048】

The two steps are repeated, i.e. only one bin is processed each, which is different from the first step, in which 15 stations are each processed in parallel, i.e. simultaneously.

【0049】

Finally, the sample gas analysis in the mass spectrometer provides the result of whether the bottle is contaminated or uncontaminated.

【0050】

It is also possible to provide a distributor that is completely mechanically controlled by the rotational motion of the rotating body for the sample gas flow instead of the electrically controllable distributor described.

【0051】

Instead of the described rotating body, in principle, the inspection can be performed along a single or multiple parallel or series of linear transport path divisions, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. ..

【0052】

FIG. 6 illustrates a mechanical distributor mounted on the rotating body 47 shown in FIG. 4 instead of the electrically switched distributor of FIG. 4, in this case FIG. The rotating body is not shown. The mechanical distributor has a lower rotating portion 100 coupled to the rotating shaft of the rotating body 47. The rotating portion 100 rotates synchronously with the rotating body or the bin.

【0053】

The rotating portion 100 is provided with a large number of connecting pieces 180 for the conduit 11 (see FIG. 4) (not shown). The gas sample reaches the inside of the distributor through this connecting piece. A stationary portion 110 having an anti-rotation member 111 is arranged above the rotating portion in the axial direction. A connecting piece 121 is guided from the stationary portion 110 toward a suction pump 26 (see FIG. 1) that continuously sucks air (gas sample) from the bottle.

【0054】

Further, the connection piece 182 is guided from the stationary portion 110 to the stationary mass spectrometer 1 (not shown in FIG. 6). If a second mass spectrometer 1a is provided, a connecting piece 182a is provided for this mass spectrometer.

【0055】

The rotating portion 100 and the stationary portion 110 slide on each other via the sealing surfaces 104 and 105. A distribution chamber is provided on one or both sealing surfaces 104 and 105. The first distribution chamber 106 of the sealing surface 105 is used as a suction chamber and is connected to the suction pump via a constant connection piece 121. The second distribution chamber 107 is used as a passage chamber for a gas sample supplied to the inspection device, and is connected to the constant connection piece 182 on the one hand.

【0056】

The suction chamber 106 is formed in an arc shape (see FIG. 7), and all connections are made through the passage holes except for the connection piece 180 shown in the drawing, which is connected to the passage chamber 107 shown in the left half of FIG. It is connected to a piece 180 or a conduit 11 or a bottle. The connecting piece 180 connected to the passing chamber feeds the gas sample from the belonging bottle through the appropriate conduit 11 through the passing chamber and the connecting piece 182 to the mass spectrometer.

【0057】

The gas sample reaches the suction pump or the ambient air from all the separate bottles through the suction chamber 106 and the connection 121. Each connection piece 180 is sequentially connected to the passage chamber 107 or the mass spectrometer by the rotational movement of the rotating body following the lower part of the distributor, while the separate connection pieces 180 are connected to the suction chamber 106. Be connected.

【0058】

When two mass spectrometers 1,1a are used, a second chamber 106a, 107a is provided as shown by the chain line in FIG. In this case, the suction chambers 106, 106a are connected to each other or to the same suction pump connection 121. On the other hand, chambers 107 and 107a are separated and connected to mass spectrometers 1,1a, respectively. Double the processing capacity can be obtained in the form of description.

【0059】

The sealing surfaces 104 and 105 are configured as dry sliding pairs that can maximize wear, for example as hard metal / sliding surfaces or as copper / sliding surfaces, respectively, or as hard metal / sliding surfaces on one side and ceramic / sliding surfaces on the other. it can.

【0060】

The sliding surface can be easily replaced in the illustrated embodiment. In order to obtain a good sealing action between the sealing surfaces 104 and 105, both components 100 and 110 of the distributor are axially tightened by a spherically supported spring 108. The central fixation allows for quick installation or removal of the distributor.

【0061】

For each gas sample supplied to the mass spectrometer, the illustrated arrangement form produces a short linear path, which reduces the memory effect.

【0062】

A central passage 171 communicating with the connection piece 170 is provided in the illustrated embodiment for the supply of blown air into the bottle, each of which is connected to a suitable conduit of a flexible heated hose 10. ..

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

The figure which showed typically the apparatus for carrying out a method.

[Figure 2]

The figure corresponding to FIG. 1 for explaining the second embodiment of the method.

[Fig. 3]

Top view of the device for carrying out a method having a large number of transport means for bottles.

[Fig. 4]

A partially cross-sectional side view of a part of the device of FIG.

[Fig. 5]

Fig. 3 Block diagram showing the inspection process of the device.

[Fig. 6]

Partial cross-sectional view of the distributor modified as compared to FIG.

[Fig. 7]

FIG. 6 is a plan view of one of the sealing surfaces.

[Fig. 8]

Top view of differently formed sealing surfaces.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,1a mass spectrometer 3,3a, 3b, 3c, 3d bin 4,5,6,7 Sonde 8,10 hose 16,17,18,19 Switching valve 45 Incorporated rotating body 47 Main rotating body 48 Carry-out rotating body 100 rotation part 104,105 Seal surface 110 stationary part