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WO2007051473A1 - A method for cleaning packaging items - Google Patents

A method for cleaning packaging items Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007051473A1
WO2007051473A1 PCT/DK2006/000605 DK2006000605W WO2007051473A1 WO 2007051473 A1 WO2007051473 A1 WO 2007051473A1 DK 2006000605 W DK2006000605 W DK 2006000605W WO 2007051473 A1 WO2007051473 A1 WO 2007051473A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cleaning
glass powder
pressure medium
pressure
packing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/DK2006/000605
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Knud Henning Saerkjaer
Original Assignee
Rbmc Holding Aps
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rbmc Holding Aps filed Critical Rbmc Holding Aps
Publication of WO2007051473A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007051473A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
    • B08B9/083—Removing scrap from containers, e.g. removing labels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
    • B24C—ABRASIVE OR RELATED BLASTING WITH PARTICULATE MATERIAL
    • B24C11/00—Selection of abrasive materials or additives for abrasive blasts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
    • B24C—ABRASIVE OR RELATED BLASTING WITH PARTICULATE MATERIAL
    • B24C7/00—Equipment for feeding abrasive material; Controlling the flowability, constitution, or other physical characteristics of abrasive blasts
    • B24C7/0007—Equipment for feeding abrasive material; Controlling the flowability, constitution, or other physical characteristics of abrasive blasts the abrasive material being fed in a liquid carrier

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a method for cleaning packing items, preferably glass bottles, by high-pressure cleaning with the application of a high-pressure medium containing an abrasive.
  • Packing items or containers will need a cleaning if they are to be reused. This is the case with containers of many types, e.g. containers for colouring materials, foodstuff, beverages and the like.
  • the invention has the possibility for application in connection with a returnable bottle system and may be used in recycling works, bottle cleaning facilities and the like, where packing items are collected with the object of reusing.
  • packing items are collected with the object of reusing.
  • cleaning packing items e.g. glass bottles
  • high-pressure cleaning is used alone or combined with traditional prior art methods where bottles are flushed internally and externally by using flushing vessels.
  • Examples of this are known from me following documents: US 5,322,532, US 6,113,478, DE 197 09 621 Al, WO Al-03/070391, JP 07013555 and JP 03321777.
  • packing items in the shape of bottles may be cleaned in an efficient way by high-pressure flushing with glass powder admixed in the high- pressure medium.
  • high-pressure medium water is preferably used, but other media may also be applied.
  • glass powder glass which is crushed so that it appears with a very small grain size, which preferably will be less than 100 micrometer, and preferably having a grain size between 30 and 50 micrometer.
  • the method may be performed in a sorting and cleaning facility in a recycling works. Packing items, which are preferably not sorted, may thus be introduced to a processing unit in which the method is performed.
  • the used glass powder can be recycled and reused many times.
  • the glass powder is to be discarded, it will be possible to send it to a glass works where it is remelted together with shards and other things for making new glass.
  • paper can be sorted off concurrently with the cleaning of the packing items. These waste products will be unavoidable, irrespectively of the method used for cleaning. These residual products may be sent to incineration as common combustible waste.
  • Water used as high-pressure medium may be reused many times.
  • the method may only require use of a small amount of water, as there may be applied a mixing ratio for high-pressure medium/water and glass powder between 1-10 and 4- 10, preferably between 1-10 and 2-10. This means that the method only requires use of a very limited amount of water.
  • the method will be performed by high-pressure cleaning, which is performed at a pressure between 100 and 180 bar, preferably between 130 and 150 bar. These pressures may be established in traditional equipment for high-pressure cleaning. The only special requirements to the used equipment will thus be wearing parts, such as nozzles and the like.
  • the glass powder containing high-pressure medium may be directed at right angles against the surface of a packing item, but it is preferred using an angle between 2° and 85°, preferably between 30° and 50°.
  • an angle between 2° and 85° preferably between 30° and 50°.
  • a relative movement between the packing item and the jet of glass powder containing high-pressure medium can e.g. be established by packing items being passed by a nozzle.
  • the packing items may possibly be rotated during such passage.
  • a unit may be displaced while the packing item is kept stationary.
  • the glass bottles which on a conveyor belt or similar are passed by/through a unit for the high-pressure cleaning.
  • the packing items are pre-flushed in a water bath or steam bath prior to the high- pressure cleaning, it will thus be possible to remove part of the particles on the surface of the packing item, so that the high-pressure cleaning can only be used for particles which are difficult or impossible to remove by traditional processing in water bath or steam bath.
  • a processing unit 1 for performing the method is shown in the drawing. Packing in the form of bottles 2 with different shapes are conveyed by a conveyor belt 3 in direction of the arrow 4 through a cleaning station 5.
  • the cleaning station 5 is connected to a source 6 of water and a source 7 of glass powder.
  • the sources 6, 7 are connected with a high-pressure unit 8 in the cleaning station 5.
  • the high-pressure unit 8 is connected with a flushing device 9 that contain a nozzle arrangement which may provide a jet 14 of glass powder containing high-pressure medium, which is directed against the bottles 2 when they pass through the cleaning station 5. More nozzles may be used for establishing a plurality of such jets 14.
  • the processing unit 1 is shown with a schematically drafted collecting box 10 disposed under the cleaning station 5 for collecting glass powder containing high-pressure medium and cleaned off material.
  • the collecting box 10 includes a filter unit 11 which may be used for sorting off larger particles and impurities.
  • the filtered high-pressure medium containing glass powder is returned via a return line 12 to the flushing device 9.
  • the treating unit 1 will primarily will function by recirculating glass powder containing high-pressure medium, and new water and glass powder will only be added to the extent in which it is necessary with regard to the wear occurring during use.
  • bottles 2 processed by the method may include labels 13 which are removed in the cleaning station 5. Bottles 2' leaving the cleaning unit 1 will hereby appear without label, glue residue and surface coating.
  • the bottles 2 Prior to passage through the processing unit, the bottles 2 can be flushed in a traditional way for internal cleaning. Alternatively, such flushing may be performed in a subsequent step.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)

Abstract

There is disclosed a method for cleaning packing items 2, preferably glass bottles. The cleaning is effected by high-pressure cleaning, while using a high-pressure medium containing an abrasive. In order to provide a particularly environmentally friendly and efficient cleaning, where labels 13, glue residue and surface coating are removed, a glass powder is applied which is injected into a high-pressure medium. A jet 14 of glass powder containing high-pressure medium is directed towards the packing item. The glass powder will be pulverized to a grain size which is preferably between 30 and 50 micrometer.

Description

A Method for Cleaning Packaging Items
Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a method for cleaning packing items, preferably glass bottles, by high-pressure cleaning with the application of a high-pressure medium containing an abrasive.
Packing items or containers will need a cleaning if they are to be reused. This is the case with containers of many types, e.g. containers for colouring materials, foodstuff, beverages and the like.
Methods for cleaning packing items with the purpose of recycling are known.
The prior art methods have been associated with problems with regard to depositing waste in the form of worn out high-pressure medium and abrasive.
In particular, the invention has the possibility for application in connection with a returnable bottle system and may be used in recycling works, bottle cleaning facilities and the like, where packing items are collected with the object of reusing. Here, there is a possibility of central cleaning of the packing items while at the same time effecting sorting of collected bottles/packing items.
Initially, reuse of packing was introduced with the intent of saving resources for the packing. However, there is an increased focus on the environment and a regard to the disposition of cleaning agents used at the cleaning. Also, the water consumption by flushing/cleaning of packing/bottles is a resource which is desirable to reduce.
Previously, there are examples of cleaning packing items, e.g. glass bottles, where high-pressure cleaning is used alone or combined with traditional prior art methods where bottles are flushed internally and externally by using flushing vessels. Examples of this are known from me following documents: US 5,322,532, US 6,113,478, DE 197 09 621 Al, WO Al-03/070391, JP 07013555 and JP 03321777. Through many years, a great effort has thus been made in order to find alternative methods for cleaning packing items for removing paint, labels, glue residue and the like.
As an alternative to the high-pressure cleaning, experiments with mechanical cleaning with brushes and the like have been performed for removing glue remains and surface coatings which are difficult to remove by high-pressure cleaning/chemical treatment. However, it has appeared that such mechanical cleaning gives rise to scratches, causing that the packing items cannot be reused.
It is thus desirable to indicate a method whereby the packaging items can be cleaned efficiently without any risk of damaging the packing items, where the amount of waste produced by the cleaning can be reduced. This is achieved according to the present invention with a method of the kind mentioned in the introduction, which is peculiar in that glass powder is injected into the high-pressure medium and that a jet of glass powder containing high-pressure medium is directed towards the packing item.
It has appeared possible that packing items in the shape of bottles may be cleaned in an efficient way by high-pressure flushing with glass powder admixed in the high- pressure medium. As high-pressure medium water is preferably used, but other media may also be applied.
By the word "glass powder" is meant glass which is crushed so that it appears with a very small grain size, which preferably will be less than 100 micrometer, and preferably having a grain size between 30 and 50 micrometer.
In practice, the method may be performed in a sorting and cleaning facility in a recycling works. Packing items, which are preferably not sorted, may thus be introduced to a processing unit in which the method is performed.
In connection with removing labels, it is particularly glue that is difficult to remove. It is particularly difficult to remove glue from self-adhesive labels. As these labels are the cheapest to use for a consumer, these labels will be most widely applied on bottles.
By performing a high-pressure cleaning with a mixture of water and glass powder, it has appeared possible to remove labels and glue residues. Furthermore, it has appeared that removal of surface coating on the bottles is also effected. By the previous use of chemicals in the form of leaching agents and other, the bottles have been provided a bluish tinge which has hitherto been removed by mechanical cleaning. This surface coating is cleaned by the method according to the invention. It would thus be possible to perform a considerable reduction in the consumption of the chemicals used, or- which are to be used, in the cleaning of bottles. In practice it has appeared feasible that a saving of up to 5% of the used chemicals can be obtained, with a corresponding saving of water used for applying the chemicals. This entails a significant reduction in the environmental load.
Furthermore, the used glass powder can be recycled and reused many times. When the glass powder is to be discarded, it will be possible to send it to a glass works where it is remelted together with shards and other things for making new glass.
In connection with recycling, paper can be sorted off concurrently with the cleaning of the packing items. These waste products will be unavoidable, irrespectively of the method used for cleaning. These residual products may be sent to incineration as common combustible waste.
Water used as high-pressure medium may be reused many times. In practice, the method may only require use of a small amount of water, as there may be applied a mixing ratio for high-pressure medium/water and glass powder between 1-10 and 4- 10, preferably between 1-10 and 2-10. This means that the method only requires use of a very limited amount of water.
The method will be performed by high-pressure cleaning, which is performed at a pressure between 100 and 180 bar, preferably between 130 and 150 bar. These pressures may be established in traditional equipment for high-pressure cleaning. The only special requirements to the used equipment will thus be wearing parts, such as nozzles and the like.
During the cleaning, the glass powder containing high-pressure medium may be directed at right angles against the surface of a packing item, but it is preferred using an angle between 2° and 85°, preferably between 30° and 50°. Hereby may be obtained combined high-pressure cleaning and "peeling off of material from the surface of the packing item.
By the method is provided a relative movement between the packing item and the jet of glass powder containing high-pressure medium. This relative movement can e.g. be established by packing items being passed by a nozzle. The packing items may possibly be rotated during such passage. Alternatively, a unit may be displaced while the packing item is kept stationary.
By cleaning glass bottles it is preferred that it is the glass bottles which on a conveyor belt or similar are passed by/through a unit for the high-pressure cleaning.
If the packing items are pre-flushed in a water bath or steam bath prior to the high- pressure cleaning, it will thus be possible to remove part of the particles on the surface of the packing item, so that the high-pressure cleaning can only be used for particles which are difficult or impossible to remove by traditional processing in water bath or steam bath.
Description of the Drawing The invention will now be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing that shows a schematic view of a unit for use in performing the method according to the invention.
Detailed description of the invention
A processing unit 1 for performing the method is shown in the drawing. Packing in the form of bottles 2 with different shapes are conveyed by a conveyor belt 3 in direction of the arrow 4 through a cleaning station 5. The cleaning station 5 is connected to a source 6 of water and a source 7 of glass powder. The sources 6, 7 are connected with a high-pressure unit 8 in the cleaning station 5. The high-pressure unit 8 is connected with a flushing device 9 that contain a nozzle arrangement which may provide a jet 14 of glass powder containing high-pressure medium, which is directed against the bottles 2 when they pass through the cleaning station 5. More nozzles may be used for establishing a plurality of such jets 14. The processing unit 1 is shown with a schematically drafted collecting box 10 disposed under the cleaning station 5 for collecting glass powder containing high-pressure medium and cleaned off material. The collecting box 10 includes a filter unit 11 which may be used for sorting off larger particles and impurities. The filtered high-pressure medium containing glass powder is returned via a return line 12 to the flushing device 9. In practice, the treating unit 1 will primarily will function by recirculating glass powder containing high-pressure medium, and new water and glass powder will only be added to the extent in which it is necessary with regard to the wear occurring during use.
As it appears, bottles 2 processed by the method may include labels 13 which are removed in the cleaning station 5. Bottles 2' leaving the cleaning unit 1 will hereby appear without label, glue residue and surface coating.
Prior to passage through the processing unit, the bottles 2 can be flushed in a traditional way for internal cleaning. Alternatively, such flushing may be performed in a subsequent step.

Claims

Claims
1. A method for cleaning packing items, preferably glass bottles, by high-pressure cleaning with the application of a high-pressure medium containing an abrasive, characterised in that glass powder is injected into the high-pressure medium and that a jet of glass powder containing high-pressure medium is directed towards the packing item.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the glass powder is pulverized down to a grain size of less than 100 micrometer, preferably to a grain size between 30 and 50 micrometer.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the high-pressure medium is water.
4. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the high-pressure cleaning is performed at a pressure between 100 and 180 bar, preferably between 130 and 150 bar.
5. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the glass powder containing high-pressure medium is directed towards the surface of the packing item under an angle between 2° and 85°, preferably between 30° and 50°.
6. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that a relative movement between the packing item and the jet of glass powder containing high- pressure medium is provided during the cleaning.
7. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised hi that the packing items are pre-flushed in a water bath or vapour bath preceding the high-pressure cleaning.
8. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised hi that the glass powder containing high-pressure medium is recirculated and reused, as larger particles removed at the cleaning are preferably sorted off.
9. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that labels, glue and surface coating are removed from the packing item.
10. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that a mixing ratio for the high-pressure medium and the glass powder between 1 - 10 and 4 - 10, preferably between 1 - 10 and 2 - 10, is used.
PCT/DK2006/000605 2005-11-01 2006-11-01 A method for cleaning packaging items WO2007051473A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK200501505A DK200501505A (en) 2005-11-01 2005-11-01 Method of cleaning packaging items
DKPA200501505 2005-11-01

Publications (1)

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WO2007051473A1 true WO2007051473A1 (en) 2007-05-10

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009018929A1 (en) * 2007-08-06 2009-02-12 Khs Ag Method for separating labels
EP2292340A1 (en) 2009-09-02 2011-03-09 Krones AG Method for cleaning containers and cleaning machine
US9133426B2 (en) 2012-05-14 2015-09-15 Ecolab Usa Inc. Label removal solution for returnable beverage bottles
US9487735B2 (en) 2012-05-14 2016-11-08 Ecolab Usa Inc. Label removal solution for low temperature and low alkaline conditions
CN109201663A (en) * 2018-09-26 2019-01-15 张冰冰 A kind of two-sided labeling substandard products correct automation equipment except glue
WO2024126560A1 (en) 2022-12-14 2024-06-20 BASF Agro B.V. Liquid agricultural formulations of ppo-inhibitor herbicides

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3090392A (en) * 1960-12-19 1963-05-21 Hugh H Libby Label removing apparatus
US4716690A (en) * 1984-08-14 1988-01-05 Szuecs Johan Apparatus and method for cleaning stone and metal surfaces
DE4003324A1 (en) * 1990-02-05 1991-08-08 Behas Sandstrahlsysteme Gmbh Stone surface cleaning method - uses micron size spherical particles as blasting agent
US5364474A (en) * 1993-07-23 1994-11-15 Williford Jr John F Method for removing particulate matter
JPH08202269A (en) * 1995-01-31 1996-08-09 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Method for removing paper material sticking to solid surface and apparatus therefor
DE19709621A1 (en) * 1997-03-08 1998-09-17 Jarmers Henning Method of pounding plastic bottles with dry ice granules blasted by compressed air from jets to remove thermally-adhered decorations and labels

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3090392A (en) * 1960-12-19 1963-05-21 Hugh H Libby Label removing apparatus
US4716690A (en) * 1984-08-14 1988-01-05 Szuecs Johan Apparatus and method for cleaning stone and metal surfaces
DE4003324A1 (en) * 1990-02-05 1991-08-08 Behas Sandstrahlsysteme Gmbh Stone surface cleaning method - uses micron size spherical particles as blasting agent
US5364474A (en) * 1993-07-23 1994-11-15 Williford Jr John F Method for removing particulate matter
JPH08202269A (en) * 1995-01-31 1996-08-09 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Method for removing paper material sticking to solid surface and apparatus therefor
DE19709621A1 (en) * 1997-03-08 1998-09-17 Jarmers Henning Method of pounding plastic bottles with dry ice granules blasted by compressed air from jets to remove thermally-adhered decorations and labels

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
DATABASE WPI Derwent World Patents Index; Class G03, AN 1996-416516 *

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009018929A1 (en) * 2007-08-06 2009-02-12 Khs Ag Method for separating labels
EP2292340A1 (en) 2009-09-02 2011-03-09 Krones AG Method for cleaning containers and cleaning machine
EP2394750A1 (en) 2009-09-02 2011-12-14 Krones AG Method for cleaning containers and cleaning machine
EP2394751A1 (en) 2009-09-02 2011-12-14 Krones AG Method for cleaning containers and cleaning machine
US8574371B2 (en) 2009-09-02 2013-11-05 Krones Ag Method for cleaning containers and cleaning machine
US9487735B2 (en) 2012-05-14 2016-11-08 Ecolab Usa Inc. Label removal solution for low temperature and low alkaline conditions
US9133426B2 (en) 2012-05-14 2015-09-15 Ecolab Usa Inc. Label removal solution for returnable beverage bottles
US9856434B2 (en) 2012-05-14 2018-01-02 Ecolab Usa Inc. Label removal solution for returnable beverage bottles
US9951302B2 (en) 2012-05-14 2018-04-24 Ecolab Usa Inc. Label removal solution for low temperature and low alkaline conditions
US10597615B2 (en) 2012-05-14 2020-03-24 Ecolab Usa Inc. Label removal solution for low temperature and low alkaline conditions
CN109201663A (en) * 2018-09-26 2019-01-15 张冰冰 A kind of two-sided labeling substandard products correct automation equipment except glue
CN109201663B (en) * 2018-09-26 2021-05-14 苏州知云创宇信息科技有限公司 Two-sided subsides mark substandard product removes glues and corrects automation equipment
WO2024126560A1 (en) 2022-12-14 2024-06-20 BASF Agro B.V. Liquid agricultural formulations of ppo-inhibitor herbicides

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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