Indian Patents. 269396:METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TREATING BOTTLES OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS

Title of Invention	METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TREATING BOTTLES OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS
Abstract	The invention relates to a method for treating bottles or similar containers, wherein the container is treated in at least one treatment zone, at least on the outer surface there of , with a cleaning fluid with a pre-treatment warming phase before treatment with the liquid tretment agent, for the removal of labels, in particular, self-adhesive labels.

Full Text	Method and Device for Treating Bottles or Similar Containers The invention pertains to a method according to the introductory part of patent claim I as well as a device according to the introductory part of patent claim 21. In case of bottle cleaning machines it is known (DF 30 06 490 A1) that an accumulation- and /or speed-up area of the conveying system feeding the bottles at the bottles inlet of the cleaning machine is designed as a fluid bath, in which the bottles are taken up over a portion of their height in order to achieve a reduction in sound emission caused by the bottles knocking against one another in the accumulation- and /or speed-up area. At the same time, in this fluid bath spraying of the bottles with water takes place through at least one spraying head or nozzle head arranged above the movement path of these bottles. The problem in cleaning of bottles or similar containers in bottle- or container-cleaning machines arises particularly in case of such bottles that are provided with self-adhesive labels made of e.g. paper, synthetic substance or a compound substance. Such labels can be removed from the respective container only with great difficulty and moreover have the great disadvantage that they generally coil up or roll up while being peeled off. This not only hinders detaching of these labels from the bottles taken up in the bottle cells of the bottle baskets of a cleaning machine, particularly when the cross-section of these bottle cells are relatively closely matched to the outer cross-section of the bottles, but also removing the peeled-off but totally or partially rolled up labels from the bottle cells becomes difficult due to the tight space conditions in the bottle cells and also because the self-adhesive properties are still retained wholly or partly in the peeled-off labels. At least a portion of the labels thus get dragged by the bottle cells within the cleaning machine. In order to ensure removal of the labels from the bottle cells, it is perhaps also necessary to increase the measurements of the bottle cells, which then in case of same measurements of a cleaning machine would drastically reduce its cleaning capacity (cleaned bottles per unit of time). Besides, in order to at all achieve detaching of'the self-adhesive labels, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the label removal system generally present in a cleaning machine and working with a volume flow, which at least requires an increased motor capacity and causes additional energy consumption. It is the task of this invention to present a method with which such disadvantages can be avoided. This task is fulfilled by means of a method according to patent claim 1. A device for conducting the method is part of the object of the patent claim 19. The invention foresees that the containers, before being introduced into the actual bottle cleaning machine - a bottle cleaning machine of known type -, is treated in such a way that at least a large portion of the self-adhesive labels is removed from the containers. For this, the containers and particularly the self-adhesive adhesive layer between the containers and the labels are heated in a pre-treatment phase in such a way that the self- adhesive adhesive layer of the respective label is transformed through heating into a soft or at least viscous condition, and the labels can be completely removed from the containers in a subsequent main treatment phase with a treatment medium used in this treatment phase. In the main treatment phase, the containers arc for example treated with a heated fluid treatment medium or splashed-off and/or sprayed-off with a heated treatment medium exiting from nozzles under high pressure, preferably in such a way that the jets of the treatment medium meet the container outer surface tangentially or almost tangentially at an acute angle, so that the labels are peeled off with these high pressure jets. The special advantages of the method as per the invention or the device as per the invention are among others as follows: - A safe and reliable detachment of the labels takes place. - The major portion of the labels thus no longer lands in the cleaning machine. This significantly increases the service life of the cleaning mediums used in the cleaning machine, especially leaching solutions, and thus significantly reduces the consumption of cleaning medium and chemicals. - Moreover, the drainage load is significantly reduced, and that too with simultaneous reduction in costs for the cleaning process. - Besides, with the method as per the invention also the capacity and space requirement of the mediums to be provided in the cleaning machine for label removal as well as disposal of removed labels can be significantly reduced. Extensions of the invention form object of the sub-claims. The invention is described in more details below on the basis of figures of design examples. The following are shown: Fig. 1 in simplified schematic depiction, the bottle cell of a bottle cleaning machine along with a bottled arranged in this cell with partially detached self-adhesive label; Fig. 2 in simplified depiction and in top view, a plant for cleaning bottles or similar containers, consisting of a bottle washing machine and a pre-connected machine or device for detaching the labels; Fig. 3 in simplified schematic depiction, a design form of the device as per the invention; Fig. 4 in section, a station of the device for detaching the labels; Fig. 5 in a depiction like figure 3, a further design form of the invention; Fig. 6 in schematic depiction and in top view, a treatment zone of another design form of the invention; Fig.7 the treatment zone shown in figure 6, in side partial view In the figures 1 denotes bottles or similar containers that are provided with a self- adhesive label 2 made of paper, synthetic material or a compound substance. Figure I shows in a very simplified depiction a bottle crate 4 of a bottle- or container- cleaning machine 5 having several bottle cells 3, with which the bottles 1 fed through a conveying stretch 6 are transported for cleaning from a container inlet 5.1 through different cleaning zones to a container outlet 5.2, from which the cleaned bottles 1 are then guided away for further application through a conveyor stretch 7 (Fig. 2). As indicated in figure I, especially the self-adhesive labels 2 tend to get detached from the bottles I in the cleaning machine 5 or in the treatment zones there by rolling-in of the label edges. Due to this rolling-in, removal of the labels from the bottles 1 and out of the bottle cells 3 gets hindered, as already mentioned above. In order to avoid these already mentioned disadvantages, a device 8 is pre-connected to the cleaning machine 5, which exclusively serves the purpose of detaching the labels 2 from the bottles 1. The device 8 consists of mainly two sections, namely a section 8.1 for separating the vertically standing bottles 1 over a conveying mechanism 9, i.e. bottles 1 oriented with their bottle axis in vertical direction, and a section 8.2 in which detaching of the labels 2 takes place by heating and e.g. by splashing-off and/or sideways spraying- off (even with high pressure water- and /or steam jets), so that the bottles 1 whose labels 2 have been removed then land through the conveying stretch 6 on to the bottle inlet 5.1 of the cleaning machine 5. Figures 3 and 4 show the device 8 more in detail, and particularly its section 8.2. A device-internal conveyor mechanism is denoted by 10, with which the bottles I are moved standing upright through the section 8.1 and subsequently in the bottles stream through the section 8.2, distanced from one another. The section 8.2 is composed of several part-sections, in the depicted design form altogether four part-sections or treatment zones 11-14. In the treatment zones 11 and 12 respectively pre-heating or heating up of the bottles 1 (pre-treatment phase) takes place, especially in such a way that due to this heating up the adhesive layer of the labels 2 is transformed to a soft condition for easy detachment through heating. For heating, the bottles in the treatment zones 11 and 12 are treated from above or even from the side with hot water. For this, in the treatment zones 11 and 12 above the movement path of the bottles I and also sideways from this movement path, nozzle heads 15 or 16 each with several nozzle orifices are foreseen, from which the hot water is brought out on to the bottles 1 passing by. Below the conveying mechanism 10 in each treatment zone 11 or 12 a water collecting tub 17 with a suitable drainage 18 is foreseen. Within the collecting tub 17 there is a screen, for example a screen 19 formed by a circulating screen belt, with which alien substances or solid components, e.g. labels 2 already detached in the treatment zones 11 and 12, are removed and taken away. The water collected in the collection chamber 20 through the drainage 18 is recycled through a screen 21, a pump 22 and a heating unit 23 to the nozzle heads 15 and 16. For supplementing the water dragged through the screen 19 while removing the alien substances, a valve-controlled water supply 17.1 is foreseen. The bottles 1 heated in the treatment zones 11 and 12 in the pre-treatment phase are then splashed over with hot water in the subsequent treatment zones 13 and 14 (main treatment phase). For this, the treatment zones 13 and 14 in principle have the same design structure as described for the treatment zones 11 and 12, however with the difference that the quantity of water brought out during splashing over on the bottles 1 is greater than the water quantity used during heating of the bottles I in the treatment zones 11 and 12, and the nozzle heads 15 and 16 have enlarged nozzle orifices. The water used during splashing-over has a temperature just below boiling point, e.g. a temperature of approximately 95°C. It has been seen that at this water temperature the labels 2 generally get detached from a bottle in only a few seconds, e.g. in maximum 10 seconds, and then can be removed by the screen 19 formed by circulating screen belts or similar removal unit foreseen in the treatment zones 12 and 13. The device 8 and particularly also its section 8.2 is designed as modular type, i.e. the individual treatment zones 11 - 14 are designed identical or almost identical in the already described manner and can be combined into the device 8 according to requirement. In doing so, especially also the number modules or treatment zones used for pre-treatment or pre-heating the bottles 1 and/or for removing the labels 2 (main treatment can be selected according to the respective case of application. Above, one started on the premise that heating of the bottles 1 in the treatment zones 11 and 12 takes place with hot water. Even other methods are possible. Thus the bottles 1 or the self-adhesive layer of the labels 2 can also be heated by other gaseous, vaporous and/or fluid mediums, particularly also with steam or hot air, in order to ultimately achieve detachment of the labels in the treatment zones 13 and 14. One can also think of other possibilities of pre-heating the bottles 1, e.g. with infrared-radiation and/or through treatment with electromagnetic waves (microwaves), the last mentioned especially if the adhesive layer of the self-adhesive labels 2 contains an electrically conductive additive or filling substance, so that during pre-heating with microwave radiation mostly only this adhesive layer is heated for fluidisation or softening of the adhesive. It was also assumed above that removal of the labels in the treatment zones 13 and 14 takes place by splashing off with hot water. Here too there are other possibilities, e.g. sideways spraying-off or peeling-off of the labels 2 by means of high pressure water jets, e.g. with the help of hot high pressure water jets etc. Figure 5 shows a'device 8a that is different from the device 8 mainly in that the pre- treatment or pre-heating of bottles 1 moved distanced from another by the conveying mechanism 10 through the treatment zones 24 - 27 takes place in a controlled manner in the treatment zones 24 and 25 and similarly also removal of the labels 2 by splashing- over and/or sideways spraying-off in the treatment zones 26 and 27, i.e. through controlled release of the respective treatment medium. Tor this, a sensor unit 28 is foreseen at the outlet of the treatment zone 25, i.e. at the transition from this treatment zone to the treatment zone 26, e.g. a sensor unit that determines the temperature of the passing bottles 1, so that through a control unit 29 allocated to the sensor unit 28 and by controlling the valves 30 and 31 the quantity of hot water brought out through the nozzle heads 15 can be regulated to achieve the most optimum pre-heating of the bottles 1 with optimum energy consumption. If pre-heating of the bottles 1 in the treatment zones 24 and 25 does not take place with hot water, but as described above, with another medium, e.g. steam, hot air, infrared- or microwave energy etc., then the quantum of energy fed to the bottles 1 through this medium is accordingly controlled by the sensor unit 28 and the control unit 29. The sensor unit 28 has, for example, additionally a camera system that is a component of an image processing and/or evaluation unit, with which the ratio of bottles 1 with and without labels 2 is determined and then accordingly through the control 29 and valves 33 the quantity of hot water brought out of the nozzles 34 for splashing-off the bottles is controlled. Another sensor unit 35 is foreseen at the transition between the treatment zones 26 and 27. This sensor unit is also a camera system of an image processing or image evaluation unit 36, with which again the portion of bottles 1 with and without label 2 is determined. Then through the control 29 and by corresponding controlled activation of valves 37 splashing-off of the bottles 1 takes place through the nozzles 38, and by controlled activation of the valves 39 sideways spraying-off of the bottles 1 and/or peel ing-off of the labels 2 takes place through nozzles 40, and that too always controlled according to the ration of number of bottles I with and without labels 2. The functions of the central control unit 29 and the image processing and/or image evaluation unit 32 and 36 are preferably combined in a common control, e.g. in a common control formed at least partially by a computer. Figures 6 and 7 show as another design form a treatment zone 41, which like the treatment zones 11 - 14 or 24 - 27 can be combined together with additional treatment zones into a device for detaching the labels 2 from the bottles I. The treatment zone 41 again includes the device-internal conveying mechanism 10, on which the bottles 1 standing upright are moved through the treatment zone 41 on the conveying stretch 42 formed by this conveying mechanism. On both sides of the conveying stretch 42 two clamping jaws conveyors 33 and 34 are foreseen that are respectively formed by two endless circulating driven belts 45 that border the conveying stretch 42 sideways with their inner-lying lengths 45.1 and lie sideways against the bottles I, and that too against their circumference surface outside the labels 2 to be detached. In the depicted design example, the lower belt 45 of each clamp-jaw conveyor 43 or 44 lies with its length 45.1 against the bottles 1 in the region of the bottle base or a little above this bottle base, and the upper belt 45 lies with its length 45.1 against the bottles 1 at the bottle body, somewhat at the transition to the tapering bottle neck. Each belt forms a closed loop that is arranged with its loop plane in a horizontal or almost horizontal plane. Furthermore, each belt 45 is guided over at least two rollers 46 and 47 and slide rollers or guides (not shown). Out of the rollers, at least the rollers 47 of each clamp-jaw conveyor 43 or 44 are arranged on a common shaft driven by a drive 48. The distance between both the clamp-jaw conveyors 43 and 44 or the inner lying lengths 45.1 is selected in such a way that the bottles I distanced from one another and passing the treatment zone 41 are held clamped between the clamp-jaw conveyors 42 and 44. The belts 45 of the clamp-jaw conveyor 43 and the belts 45 of the clamp-jaw conveyor 44 are driven with different speeds, as indicated in figure 6 by arrows B and C, so that while passing the conveying stretch 42 the bottles 1 get rotated around their vertical bottle axis. Above the conveying stretch 42 again nozzle heads are foreseen, e.g. spray pipes 49 with nozzles 49.1 for bringing out the respective treatment medium, i.e. while using the treatment zone 41 for the pre-treatment phase for bringing out the pre-treatment medium heating the bottles I, or while using the treatment zone 41 for the main treatment phase for bringing out the fluid treatment medium (e.g. hot water) for final removal of the labels 2. Against the conveying stretch 42, additionally spraying pipes 50 with nozzles 50.1 are arranged on the side, with which the bottles I moving past are treated sideways. Especially while using the transport zone 41 for the main treatment phase, the spray nozzles are oriented in such a way that the jets (e.g. fan-like jets) of the fluid treatment medium coming out of these are oriented tangentially or almost tangentially on to the circumference of the passing by bottles 1. An additional spray pipe 51 with several nozzles 51.1 is foreseen below the conveying stretch 42 or the movement path of the bottles. By using the clamp-jaw conveyors 43 and 44 there is especially also the possibility of designing the conveying stretch 42 at least for a part of it length without the conveying mechanism 10 forming the stand surface for the bottles 1, so that the nozzles 51.1 foreseen below the conveying stretch 42 can have its full impact. The invention was described above on the basis design examples. It is obvious that alterations or deviations are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention. Thus, for example, it is also possible that in relation to the signals delivered by the sensor units 28 and 35 not only the individual treatment zones 24 - 27 is controlled but the entire plant, in which case then instead of two sensor units 28 and 35 only one sensor unit is foreseen at the container outlet of the device 8a. There is also the possibility of providing suitable sensors or sensor units before each treatment zone in such a way that for each bottle 1 it is individually checked, whether on the bottle 1 still one or more labels 2 are stuck. In relation to this checking, the capacity of the subsequent treatment zone is then controlled or regulated in total and/or even the capacity of only individual function elements, e.g. nozzles. This regulation can also take place in such a way that the respective treatment medium is given off by only such nozzles, in whose influence range the concerned container finds itself. The invention was described above for devices for treating bottles. It is obvious that these devices can also be similarly suited for other containers for removal of self-adhesive labels. Furthermore, the device according to the invention is not only suitable for detaching self-adhesive labels but also for detaching labels that have been applied with another adhesive or glue application on the respective bottle or on the respective container. In the above described design forms, the containers or bottles I were moved as single- track contain flow through the various treatment zones 11- 14 or 24 - 27 or 41. It is obviously also possible to design the device in such a way that the containers or bottles 1 are moved in a multi-track container flow or bottle flow through the device, whereby then through corresponding guide landings several parallel lanes are formed for respectively one container flow and the individual nozzles are foreseen in corresponding distribution above and/or sideways and/or below these lanes. List of reference signs 1 bottle 2 label 3 bottle cell 4 bottle crate 5 cleaning machine 5.1 container inlet 5.2 container outlet 6, 7 conveying stretch 8, 8a device 8.1, 8.2 section of the device 9 conveying stretch 10 device-internal conveying mechanism 11, 12, 13, 14 treatment zone 15, 16 nozzle head 17 collecting tub 17.1 water supply to collecting tub 17 18 drainage 19 screen 20 collection chamber 21 screen 22 pump 23 heating system 24, 25, 26, 27 treatment zone 28 sensor unit 29 control unit 30, 31 control valve 32 image processing 33 control valve 34 nozzle 35 sensor unit 36 image processing 37 control valve 38 nozzle 39 control valve 40 nozzle 41 treatment zone 42 conveying stretch 43, 44 clamp-jaw conveyor 45 belt 45.1 length 46, 47 roller 48 drive 49 nozzle head or spray pipe 49.1 nozzles 50 spray pipe 51.1 nozzles A conveying direction of the bottles 1 by the device 8 or 8a B, C circulating direction of the belts of the clamp-jaw conveyor 43 or 44 Patent Claims 1. Method for treating bottles or similar containers (1), in which the containers are treated in at least one treatment zone (13, 14, 26, 27) at least on their outer surface with a treatment medium, having the distinctive feature that the bottles, for detaching the labels stuck on to them, particularly self-adhesive labels, before treatment in a bottle cleaning machine of known type are warmed up or heated with a treatment medium in an independent treatment phase. 2. Method as per claim 1, having the distinctive feature that the independent treatment phase is divided into a pre-treatment phase and a main treatment phase. 3. Method as per claim 2, having the distinctive feature that the bottles (1) are warmed up or heated in the pre-treatment phase with a fluid treatment medium or through radiation energy. 4. Method as per one of the previous claims,, having the distinctive feature that the bottles (1) in the main treatment phase are treated by splashing-off with the heated fluid treatment medium, e.g. with heated water. 5. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the bottles in the main treatment phase are treated by high pressure spraying with the fluid treatment medium, e.g. water. 6. Method as per claim 5. having the distinctive feature that the high pressure spraying-offtakes place with the heated fluid medium, e.g. with heated water. 7. Method as per claims 2 to 6, having the distinctive feature that the heated treatment medium has a temperature in the range between 90 and 100°C, e.g. a temperature of about 95°C. 8. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the bottles (1) in the pre-treatment phase and main treatment phase are treated standing upright from above and/or from the side with the treatment medium. 9. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the treatment medium is brought out at least partly tangentially or at an acute angle on to the container outer surface for peeling off the labels (2). 10. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the bottles (I) in the pre-treatment phase are warmed up by a fluid heated medium, e.g. by heated water. 11. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the bottles (I) in the pre-treatment phase are heated by a hot gaseous medium, e.g. by hot air and/or steam. 12. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the heating of the containers in the pre-treatment phase takes place through radiation energy, e.g. through infrared or electromagnetic radiation, particularly in the microwave range. 13. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the pre-treatment phase and the subsequent main treatment phase take place respectively in treatment zones (11 - 14; 24 - 27; 41), and the bottles (1) are moved by means of a conveying element (10) through the treatment zones (11 - 14; 24-27; 41). 14. Method as per claim 13, having the distinctive feature that for the pre-treatment phase and/or the main treatment phase at least two treatment zones (11,12, 24, 25; 13, 14, 26, 27; 41) are used. 15. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that pre-heating of the bottles (1) is carried out in the pre-treatment phase in a temperature-controlled manner. 16. Method as per claim 15, having the distinctive feature that subsequent to the at least one treatment zone (24, 25) for the pre-treatment phase, at least one sensor (28) determining the temperature of the containers (1) is foreseen for temperature regulation. 17. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the quantity of treatment medium used in the main treatment phase is controlled in relation to the ratio "containers (1) with labels (2) / containers (1) without labels (2)". 18. Method as per claim 17, having the distinctive feature that in conveying direction (A) of the bottles (I) before the at least one treatment zone (26. 27) for the main treatment phase, at least one sensor unit is foreseen, e.g. at least one camera of an image processing or detection system (32, 36), in order to determine the ratio "containers (1) with labels (2) / containers (1) without labels (2)". 19. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the bottles (I) fed through a conveying stretch (9) in a single or multi-track container flow get distanced from one another in a section of the conveying stretch (9) or the device preceding the at least one treatment zone (11, 24) for the pre-treatmenl phase in such a way that during the pre-treatment phase and the main treatment phase each container (I) has a distance from the adjacent containers. 20. Method as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the containers (1) in the treatment zone for the pre-treatment phase and/or in the treatment zone for the main treatment phase are held between at least two clamp- jaw conveyors (43, 44), especially for treatment with a treatment medium from below. 21. Device for treating bottles or similar containers (1) with a treatment medium on their outer surface, with at least one treatment zone (13, 14; 26, 27; 41), through which the containers (I) are moved on a conveying mechanism (10), having the distinctive feature that the device is foreseen for detaching labels (2), particularly self-adhesive labels, and is designed as independent unit. 22. Device as per claim 21, having the distinctive feature that the within the device on the conveying stretch formed by the conveying mechanism (10) in a conveying direction (A) at least one pre-treatment zone (11, 12; 24, 25; 41) for heating the containers (1) and at least one main treatment zone (13,14; 26, 27; 41) are designed. 23. Device as per claim 22, having the distinctive feature that the at least one main treatment zone (13, 14; 26, 27; 41) has agents (15, 16, 34, 40) for bringing out a heated fluid treatment medium on to the containers (I), e.g. for brining out heated water. 24. Device as per claim 22 or 23, having the distinctive feature that in the at least one main treatment zone (13, 14; 26, 27; 41) nozzles (15, 16; 34, 40; 49.1, 50.1, 51.1) are foreseen for high pressure spraying of the containers (I) with a treatment medium, e.g. with water, preferably with heated treatment medium or water. 25. Device as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that in the at least one main treatment zone nozzles (16, 40, 50.1) are foreseen for bringing out the fluid treatment medium tangentially or almost tangentially or at an acute angle on to the container outer surface for peeling off the labels (2) from the containers (1). 26. Device as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the at least one pre-treatment zone (11, 12; 24, 25; 41) has agents (15, 16, 49.1, 50.1, 51.1) for bringing out a heated fluid and/or gaseous medium, e.g. for bringing out hot water and/or hot air and/or steam on to the containers (1). 27. Device as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the at least one pre-treatment zone (11, 12; 24, 25; 41) has agents for heating the containers (1) through radiation energy, e.g. through infrared and/or electromagnetic waves, particularly in the microwave range. 28. Device as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that there are at least two pre-treatment zones (11, 12; 24, 25) and/or at least two main treatment zones (13, 14; 26, 27). 29. Device as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that there is a temperature control for temperature-controlled heating of the containers in the at least one pre-treatment zone (11,12; 24, 25). 30. Device as per claim 30, having the distinctive feature that connected subsequent to the at least one pre-treatment zone (24, 25), at least one sensor (28) determining the temperature of the containers (1) is foreseen for temperature regulation of the pre-treatment. 31. Device as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that there are agents for controlling the quantity of treatment medium brought out in the at least one pre-treatment zone (11,12, 24, 25) and/or in the at least one main treatment zone (13, 14; 26,27) on to the containers (1), in relationship to the ratio "containers (1) with labels (2) / containers (1) without labels (2)". 32. Device as per claim 31, having the distinctive feature that in conveying direction (A) of the containers (1) before the at least one main treatment zone (26, 27) at least one sensor unit is foreseen, e.g. at least one camera of an image processing or detection system (32, 36), in order to determine the ratio "containers (1) with labels (2) / containers (1) without labels (2)". 33. Device as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the conveying stretch formed by the at least one conveying mechanism (10, 43, 44) is designed for a single-track container flow. 34. Device as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the conveying stretch formed by the at least one conveying mechanism (10, 43, 44) is designed for a multi-track container flow. 35. Device as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that in conveying direction (A) of the containers (I) before the at least one pre- treatment zone (11, 12; 24, 25) agents are foreseen in order to distance the containers (1) from one another in conveying direction (A). 36. Device as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that below the conveying stretch (42) for the containers (1) in the at least one pre- treatment zone and/or in the at least one main treatment zone, agents (51,51.1) are foreseen for bringing out a treatment medium on to the containers (1). 37. Device as per one of the previous claims, having the distinctive feature that the conveying stretch (42) for the containers (1) is formed by clamp-jaw conveyors (43, 44) at least over a partial length of the at least one pre-treatment zone and/or the at least one main treatment zone. The invention relates to a method for treating bottles or similar containers, wherein the container is treated in at least one treatment zone, at least on the outer surface there of , with a cleaning fluid with a pre-treatment warming phase before treatment with the liquid tretment agent, for the removal of labels, in particular, self-adhesive labels.

Full Text

Method and Device for Treating Bottles or Similar Containers
The invention pertains to a method according to the introductory part of patent claim I as
well as a device according to the introductory part of patent claim 21.
In case of bottle cleaning machines it is known (DF 30 06 490 A1) that an accumulation-
and /or speed-up area of the conveying system feeding the bottles at the bottles inlet of
the cleaning machine is designed as a fluid bath, in which the bottles are taken up over a
portion of their height in order to achieve a reduction in sound emission caused by the
bottles knocking against one another in the accumulation- and /or speed-up area. At the
same time, in this fluid bath spraying of the bottles with water takes place through at least
one spraying head or nozzle head arranged above the movement path of these bottles.
The problem in cleaning of bottles or similar containers in bottle- or container-cleaning
machines arises particularly in case of such bottles that are provided with self-adhesive
labels made of e.g. paper, synthetic substance or a compound substance. Such labels can
be removed from the respective container only with great difficulty and moreover have
the great disadvantage that they generally coil up or roll up while being peeled off. This
not only hinders detaching of these labels from the bottles taken up in the bottle cells of
the bottle baskets of a cleaning machine, particularly when the cross-section of these
bottle cells are relatively closely matched to the outer cross-section of the bottles, but also
removing the peeled-off but totally or partially rolled up labels from the bottle cells
becomes difficult due to the tight space conditions in the bottle cells and also because the
self-adhesive properties are still retained wholly or partly in the peeled-off labels. At least
a portion of the labels thus get dragged by the bottle cells within the cleaning machine.
In order to ensure removal of the labels from the bottle cells, it is perhaps also necessary
to increase the measurements of the bottle cells, which then in case of same
measurements of a cleaning machine would drastically reduce its cleaning capacity
(cleaned bottles per unit of time).

Besides, in order to at all achieve detaching of'the self-adhesive labels, it is necessary to
increase the capacity of the label removal system generally present in a cleaning machine
and working with a volume flow, which at least requires an increased motor capacity and
causes additional energy consumption.
It is the task of this invention to present a method with which such disadvantages can be
avoided. This task is fulfilled by means of a method according to patent claim 1. A device
for conducting the method is part of the object of the patent claim 19.
The invention foresees that the containers, before being introduced into the actual bottle
cleaning machine - a bottle cleaning machine of known type -, is treated in such a way
that at least a large portion of the self-adhesive labels is removed from the containers. For
this, the containers and particularly the self-adhesive adhesive layer between the
containers and the labels are heated in a pre-treatment phase in such a way that the self-
adhesive adhesive layer of the respective label is transformed through heating into a soft
or at least viscous condition, and the labels can be completely removed from the
containers in a subsequent main treatment phase with a treatment medium used in this
treatment phase.
In the main treatment phase, the containers arc for example treated with a heated fluid
treatment medium or splashed-off and/or sprayed-off with a heated treatment medium
exiting from nozzles under high pressure, preferably in such a way that the jets of the
treatment medium meet the container outer surface tangentially or almost tangentially at
an acute angle, so that the labels are peeled off with these high pressure jets.
The special advantages of the method as per the invention or the device as per the
invention are among others as follows:
- A safe and reliable detachment of the labels takes place.
- The major portion of the labels thus no longer lands in the cleaning machine. This
significantly increases the service life of the cleaning mediums used in the cleaning

machine, especially leaching solutions, and thus significantly reduces the consumption
of cleaning medium and chemicals.
- Moreover, the drainage load is significantly reduced, and that too with simultaneous
reduction in costs for the cleaning process.
- Besides, with the method as per the invention also the capacity and space requirement
of the mediums to be provided in the cleaning machine for label removal as well as
disposal of removed labels can be significantly reduced.
Extensions of the invention form object of the sub-claims. The invention is described in
more details below on the basis of figures of design examples. The following are shown:
Fig. 1 in simplified schematic depiction, the bottle cell of a bottle cleaning machine
along with a bottled arranged in this cell with partially detached self-adhesive
label;
Fig. 2 in simplified depiction and in top view, a plant for cleaning bottles or similar
containers, consisting of a bottle washing machine and a pre-connected machine
or device for detaching the labels;
Fig. 3 in simplified schematic depiction, a design form of the device as per the
invention;
Fig. 4 in section, a station of the device for detaching the labels;
Fig. 5 in a depiction like figure 3, a further design form of the invention;
Fig. 6 in schematic depiction and in top view, a treatment zone of another design form
of the invention;
Fig.7 the treatment zone shown in figure 6, in side partial view
In the figures 1 denotes bottles or similar containers that are provided with a self-
adhesive label 2 made of paper, synthetic material or a compound substance.
Figure I shows in a very simplified depiction a bottle crate 4 of a bottle- or container-
cleaning machine 5 having several bottle cells 3, with which the bottles 1 fed through a
conveying stretch 6 are transported for cleaning from a container inlet 5.1 through

different cleaning zones to a container outlet 5.2, from which the cleaned bottles 1 are
then guided away for further application through a conveyor stretch 7 (Fig. 2).
As indicated in figure I, especially the self-adhesive labels 2 tend to get detached from
the bottles I in the cleaning machine 5 or in the treatment zones there by rolling-in of the
label edges. Due to this rolling-in, removal of the labels from the bottles 1 and out of the
bottle cells 3 gets hindered, as already mentioned above.
In order to avoid these already mentioned disadvantages, a device 8 is pre-connected to
the cleaning machine 5, which exclusively serves the purpose of detaching the labels 2
from the bottles 1. The device 8 consists of mainly two sections, namely a section 8.1 for
separating the vertically standing bottles 1 over a conveying mechanism 9, i.e. bottles 1
oriented with their bottle axis in vertical direction, and a section 8.2 in which detaching
of the labels 2 takes place by heating and e.g. by splashing-off and/or sideways spraying-
off (even with high pressure water- and /or steam jets), so that the bottles 1 whose labels
2 have been removed then land through the conveying stretch 6 on to the bottle inlet 5.1
of the cleaning machine 5.
Figures 3 and 4 show the device 8 more in detail, and particularly its section 8.2. A
device-internal conveyor mechanism is denoted by 10, with which the bottles I are
moved standing upright through the section 8.1 and subsequently in the bottles stream
through the section 8.2, distanced from one another. The section 8.2 is composed of
several part-sections, in the depicted design form altogether four part-sections or
treatment zones 11-14.
In the treatment zones 11 and 12 respectively pre-heating or heating up of the bottles 1
(pre-treatment phase) takes place, especially in such a way that due to this heating up the
adhesive layer of the labels 2 is transformed to a soft condition for easy detachment
through heating. For heating, the bottles in the treatment zones 11 and 12 are treated from
above or even from the side with hot water. For this, in the treatment zones 11 and 12
above the movement path of the bottles I and also sideways from this movement path,

nozzle heads 15 or 16 each with several nozzle orifices are foreseen, from which the hot
water is brought out on to the bottles 1 passing by.
Below the conveying mechanism 10 in each treatment zone 11 or 12 a water collecting
tub 17 with a suitable drainage 18 is foreseen. Within the collecting tub 17 there is a
screen, for example a screen 19 formed by a circulating screen belt, with which alien
substances or solid components, e.g. labels 2 already detached in the treatment zones 11
and 12, are removed and taken away. The water collected in the collection chamber 20
through the drainage 18 is recycled through a screen 21, a pump 22 and a heating unit 23
to the nozzle heads 15 and 16. For supplementing the water dragged through the screen
19 while removing the alien substances, a valve-controlled water supply 17.1 is foreseen.
The bottles 1 heated in the treatment zones 11 and 12 in the pre-treatment phase are then
splashed over with hot water in the subsequent treatment zones 13 and 14 (main
treatment phase). For this, the treatment zones 13 and 14 in principle have the same
design structure as described for the treatment zones 11 and 12, however with the
difference that the quantity of water brought out during splashing over on the bottles 1 is
greater than the water quantity used during heating of the bottles I in the treatment zones
11 and 12, and the nozzle heads 15 and 16 have enlarged nozzle orifices. The water used
during splashing-over has a temperature just below boiling point, e.g. a temperature of
approximately 95°C. It has been seen that at this water temperature the labels 2 generally
get detached from a bottle in only a few seconds, e.g. in maximum 10 seconds, and then
can be removed by the screen 19 formed by circulating screen belts or similar removal
unit foreseen in the treatment zones 12 and 13.
The device 8 and particularly also its section 8.2 is designed as modular type, i.e. the
individual treatment zones 11 - 14 are designed identical or almost identical in the
already described manner and can be combined into the device 8 according to
requirement. In doing so, especially also the number modules or treatment zones used for
pre-treatment or pre-heating the bottles 1 and/or for removing the labels 2 (main
treatment can be selected according to the respective case of application.

Above, one started on the premise that heating of the bottles 1 in the treatment zones 11
and 12 takes place with hot water. Even other methods are possible. Thus the bottles 1 or
the self-adhesive layer of the labels 2 can also be heated by other gaseous, vaporous
and/or fluid mediums, particularly also with steam or hot air, in order to ultimately
achieve detachment of the labels in the treatment zones 13 and 14. One can also think of
other possibilities of pre-heating the bottles 1, e.g. with infrared-radiation and/or through
treatment with electromagnetic waves (microwaves), the last mentioned especially if the
adhesive layer of the self-adhesive labels 2 contains an electrically conductive additive or
filling substance, so that during pre-heating with microwave radiation mostly only this
adhesive layer is heated for fluidisation or softening of the adhesive.
It was also assumed above that removal of the labels in the treatment zones 13 and 14
takes place by splashing off with hot water. Here too there are other possibilities, e.g.
sideways spraying-off or peeling-off of the labels 2 by means of high pressure water jets,
e.g. with the help of hot high pressure water jets etc.
Figure 5 shows a'device 8a that is different from the device 8 mainly in that the pre-
treatment or pre-heating of bottles 1 moved distanced from another by the conveying
mechanism 10 through the treatment zones 24 - 27 takes place in a controlled manner in
the treatment zones 24 and 25 and similarly also removal of the labels 2 by splashing-
over and/or sideways spraying-off in the treatment zones 26 and 27, i.e. through
controlled release of the respective treatment medium. Tor this, a sensor unit 28 is
foreseen at the outlet of the treatment zone 25, i.e. at the transition from this treatment
zone to the treatment zone 26, e.g. a sensor unit that determines the temperature of the
passing bottles 1, so that through a control unit 29 allocated to the sensor unit 28 and by
controlling the valves 30 and 31 the quantity of hot water brought out through the nozzle
heads 15 can be regulated to achieve the most optimum pre-heating of the bottles 1 with
optimum energy consumption.

If pre-heating of the bottles 1 in the treatment zones 24 and 25 does not take place with
hot water, but as described above, with another medium, e.g. steam, hot air, infrared- or
microwave energy etc., then the quantum of energy fed to the bottles 1 through this
medium is accordingly controlled by the sensor unit 28 and the control unit 29. The
sensor unit 28 has, for example, additionally a camera system that is a component of an
image processing and/or evaluation unit, with which the ratio of bottles 1 with and
without labels 2 is determined and then accordingly through the control 29 and valves 33
the quantity of hot water brought out of the nozzles 34 for splashing-off the bottles is
controlled.
Another sensor unit 35 is foreseen at the transition between the treatment zones 26 and
27. This sensor unit is also a camera system of an image processing or image evaluation
unit 36, with which again the portion of bottles 1 with and without label 2 is determined.
Then through the control 29 and by corresponding controlled activation of valves 37
splashing-off of the bottles 1 takes place through the nozzles 38, and by controlled
activation of the valves 39 sideways spraying-off of the bottles 1 and/or peel ing-off of the
labels 2 takes place through nozzles 40, and that too always controlled according to the
ration of number of bottles I with and without labels 2.
The functions of the central control unit 29 and the image processing and/or image
evaluation unit 32 and 36 are preferably combined in a common control, e.g. in a
common control formed at least partially by a computer.
Figures 6 and 7 show as another design form a treatment zone 41, which like the
treatment zones 11 - 14 or 24 - 27 can be combined together with additional treatment
zones into a device for detaching the labels 2 from the bottles I. The treatment zone 41
again includes the device-internal conveying mechanism 10, on which the bottles 1
standing upright are moved through the treatment zone 41 on the conveying stretch 42
formed by this conveying mechanism. On both sides of the conveying stretch 42 two
clamping jaws conveyors 33 and 34 are foreseen that are respectively formed by two
endless circulating driven belts 45 that border the conveying stretch 42 sideways with

their inner-lying lengths 45.1 and lie sideways against the bottles I, and that too against
their circumference surface outside the labels 2 to be detached. In the depicted design
example, the lower belt 45 of each clamp-jaw conveyor 43 or 44 lies with its length 45.1
against the bottles 1 in the region of the bottle base or a little above this bottle base, and
the upper belt 45 lies with its length 45.1 against the bottles 1 at the bottle body,
somewhat at the transition to the tapering bottle neck.
Each belt forms a closed loop that is arranged with its loop plane in a horizontal or almost
horizontal plane. Furthermore, each belt 45 is guided over at least two rollers 46 and 47
and slide rollers or guides (not shown). Out of the rollers, at least the rollers 47 of each
clamp-jaw conveyor 43 or 44 are arranged on a common shaft driven by a drive 48. The
distance between both the clamp-jaw conveyors 43 and 44 or the inner lying lengths 45.1
is selected in such a way that the bottles I distanced from one another and passing the
treatment zone 41 are held clamped between the clamp-jaw conveyors 42 and 44.
The belts 45 of the clamp-jaw conveyor 43 and the belts 45 of the clamp-jaw conveyor 44
are driven with different speeds, as indicated in figure 6 by arrows B and C, so that while
passing the conveying stretch 42 the bottles 1 get rotated around their vertical bottle axis.
Above the conveying stretch 42 again nozzle heads are foreseen, e.g. spray pipes 49 with
nozzles 49.1 for bringing out the respective treatment medium, i.e. while using the
treatment zone 41 for the pre-treatment phase for bringing out the pre-treatment medium
heating the bottles I, or while using the treatment zone 41 for the main treatment phase
for bringing out the fluid treatment medium (e.g. hot water) for final removal of the
labels 2. Against the conveying stretch 42, additionally spraying pipes 50 with nozzles
50.1 are arranged on the side, with which the bottles I moving past are treated sideways.
Especially while using the transport zone 41 for the main treatment phase, the spray
nozzles are oriented in such a way that the jets (e.g. fan-like jets) of the fluid treatment
medium coming out of these are oriented tangentially or almost tangentially on to the
circumference of the passing by bottles 1. An additional spray pipe 51 with several

nozzles 51.1 is foreseen below the conveying stretch 42 or the movement path of the
bottles.
By using the clamp-jaw conveyors 43 and 44 there is especially also the possibility of
designing the conveying stretch 42 at least for a part of it length without the conveying
mechanism 10 forming the stand surface for the bottles 1, so that the nozzles 51.1
foreseen below the conveying stretch 42 can have its full impact.
The invention was described above on the basis design examples. It is obvious that
alterations or deviations are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the
invention.
Thus, for example, it is also possible that in relation to the signals delivered by the sensor
units 28 and 35 not only the individual treatment zones 24 - 27 is controlled but the
entire plant, in which case then instead of two sensor units 28 and 35 only one sensor unit
is foreseen at the container outlet of the device 8a.
There is also the possibility of providing suitable sensors or sensor units before each
treatment zone in such a way that for each bottle 1 it is individually checked, whether on
the bottle 1 still one or more labels 2 are stuck. In relation to this checking, the capacity
of the subsequent treatment zone is then controlled or regulated in total and/or even the
capacity of only individual function elements, e.g. nozzles. This regulation can also take
place in such a way that the respective treatment medium is given off by only such
nozzles, in whose influence range the concerned container finds itself.
The invention was described above for devices for treating bottles. It is obvious that these
devices can also be similarly suited for other containers for removal of self-adhesive
labels. Furthermore, the device according to the invention is not only suitable for
detaching self-adhesive labels but also for detaching labels that have been applied with
another adhesive or glue application on the respective bottle or on the respective
container.

In the above described design forms, the containers or bottles I were moved as single-
track contain flow through the various treatment zones 11- 14 or 24 - 27 or 41. It is
obviously also possible to design the device in such a way that the containers or bottles 1
are moved in a multi-track container flow or bottle flow through the device, whereby then
through corresponding guide landings several parallel lanes are formed for respectively
one container flow and the individual nozzles are foreseen in corresponding distribution
above and/or sideways and/or below these lanes.
List of reference signs
1 bottle
2 label
3 bottle cell
4 bottle crate
5 cleaning machine
5.1 container inlet
5.2 container outlet
6, 7 conveying stretch
8, 8a device
8.1, 8.2 section of the device
9 conveying stretch
10 device-internal conveying mechanism
11, 12, 13, 14 treatment zone
15, 16 nozzle head
17 collecting tub
17.1 water supply to collecting tub 17
18 drainage
19 screen
20 collection chamber
21 screen
22 pump

23 heating system
24, 25, 26, 27 treatment zone
28 sensor unit
29 control unit
30, 31 control valve
32 image processing
33 control valve
34 nozzle
35 sensor unit
36 image processing
37 control valve
38 nozzle
39 control valve
40 nozzle
41 treatment zone
42 conveying stretch
43, 44 clamp-jaw conveyor
45 belt
45.1 length
46, 47 roller
48 drive
49 nozzle head or spray pipe
49.1 nozzles
50 spray pipe
51.1 nozzles
A conveying direction of the bottles 1 by the device 8 or 8a
B, C circulating direction of the belts of the clamp-jaw conveyor 43 or 44

Patent Claims
1. Method for treating bottles or similar containers (1), in which the containers are
treated in at least one treatment zone (13, 14, 26, 27) at least on their outer surface
with a treatment medium,
having the distinctive feature that
the bottles, for detaching the labels stuck on to them, particularly self-adhesive
labels, before treatment in a bottle cleaning machine of known type are warmed
up or heated with a treatment medium in an independent treatment phase.
2. Method as per claim 1,
having the distinctive feature that
the independent treatment phase is divided into a pre-treatment phase and a main
treatment phase.
3. Method as per claim 2,
having the distinctive feature that
the bottles (1) are warmed up or heated in the pre-treatment phase with a fluid
treatment medium or through radiation energy.
4. Method as per one of the previous claims,,
having the distinctive feature that
the bottles (1) in the main treatment phase are treated by splashing-off with the
heated fluid treatment medium, e.g. with heated water.
5. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the bottles in the main treatment phase are treated by high pressure spraying with
the fluid treatment medium, e.g. water.

6. Method as per claim 5.
having the distinctive feature that
the high pressure spraying-offtakes place with the heated fluid medium, e.g. with
heated water.
7. Method as per claims 2 to 6,
having the distinctive feature that
the heated treatment medium has a temperature in the range between 90 and
100°C, e.g. a temperature of about 95°C.
8. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the bottles (1) in the pre-treatment phase and main treatment phase are treated
standing upright from above and/or from the side with the treatment medium.
9. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the treatment medium is brought out at least partly tangentially or at an acute
angle on to the container outer surface for peeling off the labels (2).
10. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the bottles (I) in the pre-treatment phase are warmed up by a fluid heated
medium, e.g. by heated water.
11. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the bottles (I) in the pre-treatment phase are heated by a hot gaseous medium, e.g.
by hot air and/or steam.

12. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the heating of the containers in the pre-treatment phase takes place through
radiation energy, e.g. through infrared or electromagnetic radiation, particularly in
the microwave range.
13. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the pre-treatment phase and the subsequent main treatment phase take place
respectively in treatment zones (11 - 14; 24 - 27; 41), and the bottles (1) are
moved by means of a conveying element (10) through the treatment zones
(11 - 14; 24-27; 41).
14. Method as per claim 13,
having the distinctive feature that
for the pre-treatment phase and/or the main treatment phase at least two treatment
zones (11,12, 24, 25; 13, 14, 26, 27; 41) are used.
15. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
pre-heating of the bottles (1) is carried out in the pre-treatment phase in a
temperature-controlled manner.
16. Method as per claim 15,
having the distinctive feature that
subsequent to the at least one treatment zone (24, 25) for the pre-treatment phase,
at least one sensor (28) determining the temperature of the containers (1) is
foreseen for temperature regulation.
17. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that

the quantity of treatment medium used in the main treatment phase is controlled
in relation to the ratio "containers (1) with labels (2) / containers (1) without
labels (2)".
18. Method as per claim 17,
having the distinctive feature that
in conveying direction (A) of the bottles (I) before the at least one treatment zone
(26. 27) for the main treatment phase, at least one sensor unit is foreseen, e.g. at
least one camera of an image processing or detection system (32, 36), in order to
determine the ratio "containers (1) with labels (2) / containers (1) without
labels (2)".
19. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the bottles (I) fed through a conveying stretch (9) in a single or multi-track
container flow get distanced from one another in a section of the conveying
stretch (9) or the device preceding the at least one treatment zone (11, 24) for the
pre-treatmenl phase in such a way that during the pre-treatment phase and the
main treatment phase each container (I) has a distance from the adjacent
containers.
20. Method as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the containers (1) in the treatment zone for the pre-treatment phase and/or in the
treatment zone for the main treatment phase are held between at least two clamp-
jaw conveyors (43, 44), especially for treatment with a treatment medium from
below.
21. Device for treating bottles or similar containers (1) with a treatment medium on
their outer surface, with at least one treatment zone (13, 14; 26, 27; 41), through
which the containers (I) are moved on a conveying mechanism (10),

having the distinctive feature that
the device is foreseen for detaching labels (2), particularly self-adhesive labels,
and is designed as independent unit.
22. Device as per claim 21,
having the distinctive feature that
the within the device on the conveying stretch formed by the conveying
mechanism (10) in a conveying direction (A) at least one pre-treatment zone (11,
12; 24, 25; 41) for heating the containers (1) and at least one main treatment zone
(13,14; 26, 27; 41) are designed.
23. Device as per claim 22,
having the distinctive feature that
the at least one main treatment zone (13, 14; 26, 27; 41) has agents (15, 16, 34,
40) for bringing out a heated fluid treatment medium on to the containers (I), e.g.
for brining out heated water.
24. Device as per claim 22 or 23,
having the distinctive feature that
in the at least one main treatment zone (13, 14; 26, 27; 41) nozzles (15, 16; 34,
40; 49.1, 50.1, 51.1) are foreseen for high pressure spraying of the containers (I)
with a treatment medium, e.g. with water, preferably with heated treatment
medium or water.
25. Device as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
in the at least one main treatment zone nozzles (16, 40, 50.1) are foreseen for
bringing out the fluid treatment medium tangentially or almost tangentially or at
an acute angle on to the container outer surface for peeling off the labels (2) from
the containers (1).

26. Device as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the at least one pre-treatment zone (11, 12; 24, 25; 41) has agents (15, 16, 49.1,
50.1, 51.1) for bringing out a heated fluid and/or gaseous medium, e.g. for
bringing out hot water and/or hot air and/or steam on to the containers (1).
27. Device as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the at least one pre-treatment zone (11, 12; 24, 25; 41) has agents for heating the
containers (1) through radiation energy, e.g. through infrared and/or
electromagnetic waves, particularly in the microwave range.
28. Device as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
there are at least two pre-treatment zones (11, 12; 24, 25) and/or at least two main
treatment zones (13, 14; 26, 27).
29. Device as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
there is a temperature control for temperature-controlled heating of the containers
in the at least one pre-treatment zone (11,12; 24, 25).
30. Device as per claim 30,
having the distinctive feature that
connected subsequent to the at least one pre-treatment zone (24, 25), at least one
sensor (28) determining the temperature of the containers (1) is foreseen for
temperature regulation of the pre-treatment.
31. Device as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
there are agents for controlling the quantity of treatment medium brought out in

the at least one pre-treatment zone (11,12, 24, 25) and/or in the at least one main
treatment zone (13, 14; 26,27) on to the containers (1), in relationship to the ratio
"containers (1) with labels (2) / containers (1) without labels (2)".
32. Device as per claim 31,
having the distinctive feature that
in conveying direction (A) of the containers (1) before the at least one main
treatment zone (26, 27) at least one sensor unit is foreseen, e.g. at least one
camera of an image processing or detection system (32, 36), in order to determine
the ratio "containers (1) with labels (2) / containers (1) without labels (2)".
33. Device as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the conveying stretch formed by the at least one conveying mechanism (10, 43,
44) is designed for a single-track container flow.
34. Device as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the conveying stretch formed by the at least one conveying mechanism (10, 43,
44) is designed for a multi-track container flow.
35. Device as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
in conveying direction (A) of the containers (I) before the at least one pre-
treatment zone (11, 12; 24, 25) agents are foreseen in order to distance the
containers (1) from one another in conveying direction (A).
36. Device as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
below the conveying stretch (42) for the containers (1) in the at least one pre-

treatment zone and/or in the at least one main treatment zone, agents (51,51.1)
are foreseen for bringing out a treatment medium on to the containers (1).
37. Device as per one of the previous claims,
having the distinctive feature that
the conveying stretch (42) for the containers (1) is formed by clamp-jaw
conveyors (43, 44) at least over a partial length of the at least one pre-treatment
zone and/or the at least one main treatment zone.

The invention relates to a method for treating bottles or similar containers, wherein the container is treated in at least one treatment zone, at least on the outer surface there
of , with a cleaning fluid with a pre-treatment
warming phase before treatment with the liquid
tretment agent, for the removal of labels, in
particular, self-adhesive labels.

Documents:

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Patent Number

269396

Indian Patent Application Number

4219/KOLNP/2008

PG Journal Number

44/2015

Publication Date

30-Oct-2015

Grant Date

19-Oct-2015

Date of Filing

17-Oct-2008

Name of Patentee

KHS GMBH

Applicant Address

JUCHOSTRASSE 20, 44143 DORTMUND

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	NIELEBOCK, JAN	AM BENTENSKAMP 5, 44143 DORTMUND
2	SCHILLER, IRISH	HAUPTSTRASSE 85 59439 HOLZWICKEDE
3	MOLITOR, BERND	IN DEN NEUNMORGEN 31 67551 WORMS
4	DITTRICH, FALK	HARKORTSTRASSE 18 45145 ESSEN

PCT International Classification Number

B08B 5/02, B08B 7/00

PCT International Application Number

PCT/EP2007/002994

PCT International Filing date

2007-04-03

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	102006017407.0	2006-04-13	Germany