Abstract:
In order to provide a process container for carrying out a cleaning process, a drying process, a deburring process, a coating process and/or a coating removal process on a workpiece in the interior of the process container, comprising a wall delimiting the interior of the process container, which is usable in a maintenance-friendly and flexible manner, it is proposed that the process container comprises at least one medium passage, by means of which a medium is guidable through the wall of the process container, at least two different process elements of different types being adaptable to at least one of the medium passages.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/EP2011/057226 filed on May 5, 2011, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2010 028 883.7, filed May 11, 2010, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a process container for carrying out a cleaning process, a drying process, a deburring process, a coating process and/or a coating removal process on a workpiece in the interior of the process container, the process container comprising a wall delimiting the interior of the process container. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Process containers of this type are known, in particular for carrying out a flood washing process or a spray cleaning process. 
         [0004]    The known process containers are not constructed in a maintenance-friendly manner and are in each case specially configured to carry out a single treatment process or a single sequence of treatment processes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is based on the object of providing a process container of the aforementioned type, which is usable in a maintenance-friendly and flexible manner. 
         [0006]    This object is achieved according to the invention with a process container having the features of the preamble of claim  1 , in that the process container comprises at least one medium passage, by means of which a medium is guidable through the wall of the process container, at least two different process elements of different types being adaptable to at least one of the medium passages. 
         [0007]    The term “medium” comprises here, in the context of this description and the accompanying claims, material whether in solid, liquid or gaseous form and also energy or information. 
         [0008]    The medium that is guidable through the wall of the process container may thus, for example, be fluid material, in particular a cleaning medium with or without contamination, which is transportable through the relevant medium passage from an exterior of the process container into the interior thereof or from an interior into the exterior of the process container. 
         [0009]    The medium may, however, also be energy, in particular electrical energy, which is introduced into the process container through the respective medium passage. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, the medium may be information, for example in the form of measuring data or control signals, which is transportable by means of a corresponding data or signal line from the exterior of the process container into its interior or from the interior into the exterior of the process container. 
         [0011]    A “process element” is basically to be taken to mean any element, which is used in a treatment process taking place in the process container. 
         [0012]    In particular, a process element may be a treatment unit, a closure lid, a tool mounting or a workpiece mounting or workpiece support. 
         [0013]    The process container can be easily and quickly configured to carry out different treatment processes owing to easy adaptation (connection) of process elements of different types to at least one of the medium passages of the process container. 
         [0014]    One and the same process container can therefore be used for the most varied treatment processes and can therefore be used particularly flexibly. 
         [0015]    By adapting suitable process elements, in each case, the process container according to the invention can be used, in particular, to carry out one or more of the following processes:
       for a spray cleaning process;   for an immersion cleaning process;   for an injection flood washing cleaning process (during such an injection flood washing cleaning process, the process container is at least partially filled with a bath of a cleaning liquid, in which the workpiece to be cleaned is at least partially immersed, and a nozzle system produces a turbulent flow or a pulsating turbulent flow in the cleaning liquid bath in the process container);   for an ultrasonic cleaning process;   for a high pressure deburring process;   for a brush deburring process; for a blow drying process;   for a vacuuming cleaning process; and/or   for a steam cleaning process.       
 
         [0024]    The process container according to the invention is usable, in particular in a treatment device, which comprises a plurality of such process containers, which are preferably constructed identically to one another and are preferably configured by adapting process elements of different types to carry out different treatment processes. 
         [0025]    A cleaning device of this type is therefore modularly constructed from a plurality of process containers and the respective process elements adapted to the medium passages of the process containers. 
         [0026]    The process container according to the invention can therefore also be designated as a process module. 
         [0027]    Furthermore, the process container according to the invention enables treatment devices to be produced for carrying out different treatment processes, in a simple manner saving assembly time and costs, from at least one respective process container according to the invention and at least one respective process element, which is adapted to a medium passage of at least one process container and is suitable to carry out the respective treatment process. 
         [0028]    A process element, which is adaptable to a medium passage of a process container according to the invention, may, in particular, be a nozzle system, a high pressure application, a blowing element, a vacuum element or a deburring system. 
         [0029]    The multi-functional process container according to the invention is suitable, in particular, for carrying out a cleaning process, a drying process, a deburring process, a coating process and/or a coating removal process. 
         [0030]    At least one dead space-free connection, by means of which a process medium required for the treatment process and/or the energy required for a treatment process can be fed to the interior of the process container and/or can be removed from the interior of the process container, is preferably integrated into the process container. 
         [0031]    It is preferably provided that at least one of the medium passages of the process container has a dead space-free adapter to adapt a process element. 
         [0032]    The process container according to the invention is configurable particularly flexibly if it comprises at least two medium passages, which have adapters that are identical to one another. In this case, a process element with an adapter fitting it can be selectively adapted to various medium passages of the process container. 
         [0033]    In order to also be able to carry out more complex treatment processes with a plurality of process elements, it is favourable if the process container comprises two or more medium passages. 
         [0034]    In particular, it may be provided that the process container comprises three or more, in particular preferably four or more, medium passages. 
         [0035]    In a preferred configuration of the process container, it is provided that at least two of the medium passages are arranged at substantially constant angular spacings with respect to a vertical centre axis of the process container. 
         [0036]    Furthermore, it is provided in a preferred configuration of the invention that one of the medium passages opens into the interior of the process container at a lowest point of the interior of the process container. As a result, the process container can be configured to be self-emptying, as a medium located in the interior of the process container can discharge through such a medium passage out of the interior of the process container. 
         [0037]    In a preferred configuration of the invention, the process container comprises a removable container upper part. After the removal of the container upper part, it is particularly easy to adapt a process element on the interior side to a medium passage of the process container, to maintain a process element of this type adapted on the interior side or to repair it or to exchange it for another process element. 
         [0038]    Furthermore, after removing the container upper part, one or more process elements, which are adapted to a respective medium passage of the process container, are particularly easily accessible for a so-called “teaching” process, in which the movements, which the handling apparatus is to carry out automatically during normal operation of the treatment device, are carried out manually on a handling apparatus holding a workpiece to be treated. 
         [0039]    The container upper part is preferably connected to a container lower part of the process container by means of a dead space-free sealing arrangement. 
         [0040]    To allow easy and rapid transportation of a workpiece to be treated between the interior and the exterior of the process container, it is favourable if the process container has an access opening, through which a workpiece held on a handling apparatus is introducible into the interior of the process container. 
         [0041]    An access opening of this type is preferably arranged on an upper side of the process container. 
         [0042]    The process container is preferably configured in such a way that a reliable removal of particles and solids from the interior of the process container is ensured during the treatment process and, in the case of a cleaning process, no recontamination of the product being washed takes place. 
         [0043]    The surfaces of the process container are preferably to be constituted in such a way that inclusions of particles and bacteria in the surfaces are prevented. 
         [0044]    It may, in particular, be provided that the surface of the process container is configured to be self-cleaning at least on its inside. 
         [0045]    To avoid inclusions on the wall of the process container, it is advantageous if the wall of the process container, at least on its inside, has a surface roughness of less than approximately 0.8 μm, at least in portions. 
         [0046]    It is particularly favourable if the wall of the process container, at least on its inside, has a surface roughness of less than approximately 0.8 μm substantially everywhere. 
         [0047]    The process container according to the invention is constructed in a particularly maintenance-friendly and inspection-friendly manner due to the ease of disassembly of the container upper part and/or other parts of the wall of the process container. 
         [0048]    In order to prevent an unintentional escape of a medium from the interior of the process container into its exterior, it may be provided that at least one of the medium passages is closable by means of a closure lid adapted to an adapter of the medium passage. 
         [0049]    Such a closure lid preferably has at least one upper delimiting face, which is inclined relative to the horizontal, so a deposition of media or contamination on the closure lid is avoided. 
         [0050]    At least one medium passage of the process container preferably has an interior-side adapter to adapt to a process element. 
         [0051]    Furthermore, at least one medium passage of the process container preferably has at least one exterior-side adapter to adapt to a process element. 
         [0052]    In a preferred configuration of the invention it is provided that at least one medium passage of the process container has both an interior-side adapter to adapt to a process element and an exterior-side adapter to adapt to a process element. 
         [0053]    In order to be able to deploy the process container particularly stably, it is favourable if the process container comprises a receiving element, by means of which the process container is supportable on an external bearing arrangement. 
         [0054]    A receiving element of this type may, in particular, be substantially plate-like. 
         [0055]    It is furthermore favourable if a receiving element of this type has at least one through-opening for the passage of a medium passage of the process container through the receiving element. 
         [0056]    It may furthermore be provided that a receiving element of this type has at least one through-opening for the passage of a medium through the receiving element to at least one medium passage of the process container. 
         [0057]    In order to securely connect the receiving element to the base body of the process container, it may be provided that at least one of the medium passages of the process container has an adapter arranged outside the interior of the process container to adapt the receiving element to the particular medium passage. 
         [0058]    In a preferred configuration of the process container according to the invention, at least one of the medium passages of the process container has at least one mounting arranged on an external wall of the medium passage and in the interior of the process container to hold a treatment unit and/or a workpiece receiver. 
         [0059]    Such a mounting is preferably arranged on a peripheral wall of a preferably tubular medium passage. 
         [0060]    The process container according to the invention is suitable, in particular, for use in a combination of at least one process container according to the invention and at least two process elements of different types, which are selectively adaptable to the same medium passage of the process container. As a result, the process container can easily be configured to carry out different treatment processes by exchanging the process elements. 
         [0061]    Furthermore, the process container according to the invention is suitable, in particular, for use in a combination of at least two process containers according to the invention and at least one process element, which is selectively adaptable to a medium passage of a first process container or to a medium passage of a second process container. A plurality of process containers according to the invention can thus be selectively configured by adapting the respectively required process element to carry out a desired treatment process. 
         [0062]    A combination of at least one process container according to the invention and at least one process element that is adaptable to a medium passage of a process container according to the invention furthermore preferably comprises at least one handling apparatus to introduce a workpiece to be treated into the interior of at least one of the process containers. 
         [0063]    A combination of this type of at least one process container, at least one process element and at least one handling apparatus forms a modularly constructed treatment device. 
         [0064]    A combination of at least one process container according to the invention and at least one process element that is adaptable to a medium passage of a process container of this type, preferably comprises, as the process element, a spray cleaning unit, an injection flood washing unit, an ultrasonic cleaning unit, a high pressure deburring unit, a brush deburring unit, a blow drying unit, a steam cleaning unit, a suction unit, a ventilation unit, a workpiece receiver, a workpiece movement unit and/or a liquid curtain generating unit. 
         [0065]    Furthermore, it may be provided that the process container according to the invention comprises at least one reflection surface for reflecting ultrasonic waves into the interior of the process container. 
         [0066]    It is favourable if the process container comprises a vacuum-tight lid for carrying out a treatment process under a vacuum. 
         [0067]    Such a vacuum-tight lid may, in particular, be pivotably mounted. 
         [0068]    It is furthermore favourable if the process container according to the invention comprises a guide element, for example a guide plate, which directs a process medium that does not reach a workpiece to be treated and/or a process medium (a so-called over-spray) rebounding from a workpiece to be treated at least partially into the interior of the process container. 
         [0069]    The handling apparatus may, in particular, be configured as a robot. 
         [0070]    The handling apparatus preferably has a gripping device for gripping the workpiece. 
         [0071]    The handling apparatus preferably has at least three, particularly preferably at least four, in particular at least five, for example at least six, degrees of freedom of movement. 
         [0072]    The handling apparatus preferably has a “teaching” mode, in which movements, which the handling apparatus is to carry out automatically during normal operation of the handling apparatus, are carried out manually on the handling apparatus and are thereby stored for subsequent implementation. 
         [0073]    Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the graphical presentation of embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0074]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic vertical section through a process container with a central medium passage, which opens into the process container at the lowest point of the interior of the process container, and with three further medium passages, which are equidistantly distributed above the central medium passage along the periphery of the process container (only two of these upper medium passages being visible in  FIG. 1 ); 
           [0075]      FIG. 2  shows an enlarged view of the region I from  FIG. 1 , which shows a connecting region between a lower part and a removable upper part of the process container; 
           [0076]      FIG. 3  shows a plan view from above of the process container from  FIG. 1  with the viewing direction in the direction of the arrow  3  in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0077]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic vertical section through the process container, once a container upper part has been removed; 
           [0078]      FIG. 5  shows a variant of the process container of  FIG. 1 , which additionally comprises a receiving plate, with which the process container is supported on an external bearing arrangement; 
           [0079]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic side view of a handling apparatus, which introduces a workpiece to be treated through an upper access opening of the process container into the interior of the process container; 
           [0080]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic vertical section through a process container with treatment units for carrying out an injection flood washing process, which may be a continuous injection flood washing process (with uninterrupted generation of a turbulent flow by means of nozzles) or a pulsating injection flood washing process (with intermittent generation of a turbulent flow by means of nozzles); 
           [0081]      FIG. 8  shows an enlarged view of the region II from  FIG. 7 , which shows the connection between an interior-side adapter of a medium passage of the process container and an adapter matched therewith of a treatment unit; 
           [0082]      FIG. 9  shows a schematic section through a process container with treatment units arranged therein for carrying out a blowing process; 
           [0083]      FIG. 10  shows a schematic section through a process container with treatment units arranged therein for carrying out an ultrasonic cleaning process; 
           [0084]      FIG. 11  shows an enlarged view of the region III from  FIG. 10 , which shows a twice used medium passage for feeding and removing a cleaning medium; 
           [0085]      FIG. 12  shows a schematic section through a process container with treatment units arranged therein for carrying out a spray cleaning process; 
           [0086]      FIG. 13  shows a schematic section through a process container with treatment units arranged therein for carrying out a high pressure deburring process, at least one medium passage being connected on the interior side by means of a closure lid; 
           [0087]      FIG. 14  shows an enlarged view of the region IV from  FIG. 13 , which shows an interior-side adapter of a medium passage and a closure lid connected thereto; 
           [0088]      FIG. 15  shows a schematic section through a process container with treatment units arranged therein for carrying out a brush deburring process; 
           [0089]      FIG. 16  shows a schematic section through a process container and a high pressure treatment unit with a plurality of high pressure tools, which is rotatable about a horizontal rotational axis and is selectively movable into a working position in the interior of the process container; 
           [0090]      FIG. 17  shows a schematic section through a process container and a high pressure treatment unit with a plurality of high pressure tools, which is rotatable about a vertical rotational axis and is selectively movable into a working position in the interior of the process container; 
           [0091]      FIG. 18  shows a schematic section through a process container with treatment units arranged therein for carrying out a spray cleaning process and with a workpiece locking device held on mountings of medium passages; 
           [0092]      FIG. 19  shows a schematic side view of an interior-side end region of a medium passage with an interior-side adapter, to which a closure lid is connected, and with a mounting arranged on the outer periphery of the medium passage to hold a treatment unit and/or a workpiece receiver; 
           [0093]      FIG. 20  shows a schematic front view of the mounting of the medium passage from  FIG. 19 , with the viewing direction in the direction of the arrow  20  in  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0094]      FIG. 21  shows a schematic section through a process container with a vacuum-tight lid for carrying out a vacuum drying process; 
           [0095]      FIG. 22  shows a schematic section through a process container with a plurality of workpiece receivers arranged in the interior of the process container for simultaneous treatment of a plurality of workpieces and with a treatment unit for carrying out an injection flood washing process; 
           [0096]      FIG. 23  shows a schematic section through a process container with a workpiece rotation mechanism arranged therein and a treatment unit for carrying out a spray cleaning process; 
           [0097]      FIG. 24  shows a schematic section through a process container with a workpiece lifting mechanism arranged therein and a treatment unit for carrying out an ultrasonic cleaning process; 
           [0098]      FIG. 25  shows a schematic section through a process container with treatment units for carrying out an ultrasonic cleaning process with targeted suction of contamination from a cleaning bath; 
           [0099]      FIG. 26  shows a schematic section through a process container with a treatment unit arranged therein for carrying out a spray cleaning process and with a guide plate for avoiding over-spray; and 
           [0100]      FIG. 27  shows a schematic section through a process container with treatment units arranged therein for carrying out a spray cleaning process with simultaneous generation of a water curtain to avoid over-spray. 
       
    
    
       [0101]    The same or functionally equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals in all the figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0102]    A process container designated  100  as a whole, shown separately in  FIG. 1  to and in  FIG. 6 to 27  in various configurations with treatment units, workpiece receivers and handling devices, comprises a container lower part  102  and a container upper part  104  removably placed on the container lower part  102  (see, in particular,  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0103]    The container lower part  102  comprises a substantially hollow cylindrical upper portion  106  and a substantially frusto-conical lower portion  108  tapering conically downward. 
         [0104]    The container lower part  102  and the container upper part  104  are substantially rotationally symmetrical with respect to the process container&#39;s central centre axis  110 , which is substantially vertically oriented in the operating state of the process container  100 . 
         [0105]    The container lower part  102  and the container upper part  104  together surround an interior  112  of the process container  100 , which is accessible by means of an access opening  114  at the upper edge  260  of the container upper part  104  from an exterior  116  of the process container  100 . 
         [0106]    At the lowest point of the interior  112 , a lower medium passage  118  opens at a mouth opening  120  into the interior  112 . 
         [0107]    The lower medium passage  118  is, for example, substantially tubular and comprises a hollow cylindrical wall  122 , which merges at the mouth opening  120 , preferably seamlessly, into the wall  124  of the container lower part  102 , and an exterior-side adapter  126  arranged at the lower edge of the hollow cylindrical wall  122  for adapting (connecting) process elements, in particular feed or discharge lines. 
         [0108]    Furthermore, the process container  100  comprises a plurality of, for example three, upper medium passages  128 , which in each case extend through the wall  124  of the lower portion  108  of the container lower part  102 . 
         [0109]    Each of the upper medium passages  128  is, for example, substantially tubular and comprises a hollow cylindrical wall  130 , an exterior-side adapter  132  arranged at the lower edge of the hollow cylindrical wall  130  for adapting (connecting) process elements, in particular feed or discharge lines, or for adapting a receiving plate, and an interior-side adapter  134  arranged on an upper edge of the hollow cylindrical wall  130  for adapting (connecting) process elements, in particular treatment units or a closure lid. 
         [0110]    The longitudinal centre axes  136  of the upper medium passages  128  and the longitudinal centre axis  138  of the lower medium passage  118 , which preferably coincides with the centre axis  110  of the process container  100 , are preferably oriented substantially parallel to one another and preferably substantially vertically. 
         [0111]    The container lower part  102 , the container upper part  104 , the lower medium passage  118  and/or the upper medium passages  128  of the process container  100  are preferably formed from a metallic material, in particular from a steel material, preferably from a high-grade steel material. 
         [0112]    The upper medium passages  128  are integrally connected at their outside, in particular by welding, preferably by laser welding, to the wall  124  of the container lower part  102  where they pass through the wall  124 . 
         [0113]    It may, in particular, be provided that the outside of each upper medium passage  128  is integrally connected to the wall  124  along an inner weld seam  140  running round the relevant upper medium passage  128  on the inside of the wall  124  and by an outer weld seam  142  running round the respective upper medium passage  128  on the outside of the wall  124 . 
         [0114]    At least the surfaces, which face the interior  112  of the process container  100 , of the container lower part  102 , the container upper part  104  and the upper medium passages  128  as well as the internal faces of the upper medium passages  128  and the lower medium passage  118 , preferably have a surface composition such that inclusions of particles and bacteria in these surfaces are prevented. 
         [0115]    In particular, it may be provided that these surfaces have a surface roughness (also called roughness depth) of less than 0.8 μm. 
         [0116]    The container lower part  102  and the removable container upper part  104  are connected to one another by a dead space-free and gap-free sealing arrangement  144 , which is designated  144  as a whole and is shown in detail in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0117]    The sealing arrangement  144  comprises a stepped support flange  146 , which is arranged at the upper edge  145  of the container lower part  102 , with an upwardly projecting radially inner portion  148  and a lower radially outer portion  150  and a bearing flange  152 , which is stepped in a manner complementary to the support flange  146 , is arranged at a lower edge  153  of the container upper part  104  and comprises a shorter radially inner portion  154  and a longer radially outer portion  156  projecting downwardly toward the container lower part  102 . 
         [0118]    The radially inner portion  154  of the bearing flange  152  abuts with its lower side, which forms an upper sealing face  158  of the sealing arrangement  144 , flat on an upper side of the radially inner portion  148  of the support flange  146 , which forms a lower sealing face  160  of the sealing arrangement  144 . 
         [0119]    Toward the interior  112  of the process container  100 , the support flange  146  and the bearing flange  152  are configured substantially with the surfaces flush so no dead space in the form of a radially outwardly extending recess or a radially outwardly extending gap, in which contaminants could settle, is formed in the sealing arrangement  144 . 
         [0120]    On the other hand, a gap  166  is preferably formed between the lower side  162  of the radially outer portion  156  of the bearing flange  152  and the upper side  164  of the radially outer portion  150  of the support flange  146 , in order to allow a tolerance compensation at this point, which no contaminants from the interior  112  can reach. 
         [0121]    The support flange  146  and the bearing flange  152  are clamped against one another by means of a clamping element  168  annularly surrounding the process container  100  and positively held against one another. 
         [0122]    The clamping element  168  may comprise a central centre portion  172  oriented substantially parallel to the wall  124  of the upper portion  106  of the container lower part  102  and parallel to the wall  170  of the container upper part  104 , as well as an upper portion  174 , which is preferably oriented obliquely with respect to the vertical and obliquely with respect to the horizontal and which abuts on a contact slope  176  of the radially outer portion  156  of the bearing flange  152 , and a lower portion  178 , which is also preferably oriented obliquely with respect to the horizontal and obliquely with respect to the vertical and which abuts on a contact slope  180  of the radially outer portion  150  of the support flange  146 . 
         [0123]    In order to stably deploy the process container  100 , said process container may be provided with a receiving element  182 , by means of which the process container  100  is supportable on an external mounting arrangement  184  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0124]    The receiving element  182  may, in particular, be configured as a substantially annular receiving plate  186 , which has a central through-opening  188  for the passage of the lower portion  108  of the container lower part  102  through the receiving plate  186  and a number of medium through-openings  190  corresponding to the number of upper medium passages  128 . 
         [0125]    The medium through-openings  190  are arranged here on the receiving plate  186  in such a way that they align with the interiors of the respectively associated upper medium passages  128  of the process container  100  when the receiving plate  186  is adapted (connected) to the exterior-side adapter  132  of the upper medium passages  128  of the process container  100 . 
         [0126]    The bearing arrangements  184  may basically be of any desired type; for example, these may be bearing elements of a treatment device, of which the process container  100  forms a component. 
         [0127]      FIG. 6  schematically shows a treatment device, which, in addition to the process container  100 , comprises a handling apparatus  192 , for example in the form of a robot  194 , by means of which a workpiece  196  to be treated is introducible into the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0128]    The handling apparatus  192  has a gripping device  198  for gripping and fixing the workpiece  196  and a robot arm  200  with a plurality of rotary joints  202 , for example with six rotary joints  202 . 
         [0129]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the robot arm  200  is fastened to a wall of the treatment device, for example to a cover wall  204 , so the number of rotary joints  202  of the robot arm  200  corresponds to the number of degrees of freedom of movement of the handling apparatus  192 . 
         [0130]    In the embodiment shown, the number of degrees of freedom of movement of the handling apparatus  192  is six. 
         [0131]    The number of degrees of freedom of movement of the handling apparatus  192  is preferably at least three, particularly preferably at least four, in particular at least five. 
         [0132]    By means of the handling apparatus  192 , a workpiece  196  can be received in the exterior  116  of the process container  100 , introduced for a treatment process into the interior  112  of the process container  100  and removed from the process container  100  after the completed treatment. 
         [0133]    After removal from the process container  100 , the workpiece  196  can be introduced into one or more further process containers  100  of the treatment device for further treatment processes. 
         [0134]    After completion of the last treatment process, the workpiece  196  can be deposited by the handling device  192  on a workpiece placement area or on a workpiece transporting device (not shown). 
         [0135]    It is also possible for the treatment device to comprise a plurality of handling apparatuses  192 , which pick up the workpiece  196  one after the other, introduce said workpiece into the interior  112  of at least one process container  100  and, after a treatment process in the interior  112  of a process container  100 , move it out from the process container  100  again. 
         [0136]    The above-described process container  100  may be used multi-functionally, in that other process elements  205 , for example treatment units  206  (see, for example,  FIG. 7 ), are in each case arranged in the interior  112  of the respective process container  100  in order to carry out a respective specific treatment on a workpiece  196 . 
         [0137]    Thus, for example, the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 7  is, for example, equipped to carry out an injection flood washing process. 
         [0138]    For this purpose, a treatment unit  206  in the form of a movable nozzle system  208  is adapted to the interior-side adapter  134  of one of the upper medium passages  128  of the process container  100 , for example a first upper medium passage  128   a , as the process element  205 . 
         [0139]    The movable nozzle system  208 , for example, comprises a slit nozzle  210 , through which a liquid washing medium can be directed in a targeted manner onto a workpiece  196 , which is held by means of a handling apparatus  192  (not shown in  FIG. 7 ) in the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0140]    The slit nozzle  210  is rotatable by means of a motor, pneumatic or hydraulic rotary drive  212  about a rotational axis  204 , which preferably coincides with the longitudinal centre axis  136  of the relevant upper medium passage  128   a.    
         [0141]    The treatment unit  206 , for connection to the interior-side adapter  134  of the upper medium passage  128 , comprises an adapter  216  arranged on the lower side of the treatment unit  206 . 
         [0142]    In  FIG. 8 , the adapter  216  and the interior-side adapter  134  of the upper medium passage  128  on the interior side cooperating with the latter is shown in detail. 
         [0143]    The interior-side adapter  134  of the upper medium passage  128  comprises a radially inner, annular support portion  218 , the upper side of which forms a lower sealing face  220  of the sealing arrangement  222  formed by the two adapters  134  and  216 . 
         [0144]    A radially outer, annular fastening portion  224  of the interior-side adapter  134 , which projects outwardly in the radial direction from the support portion  218 , is arranged spaced apart downwardly from the lower sealing face  220  in the direction of the longitudinal centre axis  136  of the upper medium passage  136 . 
         [0145]    A plurality of, for example at least three, through-bores  226  for the passage of one respective fastening means  228  (shown only purely schematically by its longitudinal axis in  FIG. 8 ), for example a respective fastening screw, are provided in the fastening portion  224 , substantially parallel to the longitudinal centre axis  136  of the upper medium passage  128 . 
         [0146]    The through-bores  226  are preferably arranged along the periphery of the fastening portion  224  at constant angular spacings with respect to the longitudinal centre axis  136 . 
         [0147]    An annular groove  230 , in which an annular sealing element  232 , preferably made of elastomeric material, is arranged, opens at the lower sealing face  220  of the support portion  218 . 
         [0148]    The adapter  216  of the treatment unit  206  comprises a radially inner, annular bearing portion  234 , the lower side of which forms an upper sealing face  236  of the sealing arrangement  222  and abuts flat on the lower sealing face  220 , the annular sealing element  232  being pressed with resilient bias against the upper sealing face  236  and therefore forming an annular sealing line. 
         [0149]    The radially inner delimiting walls of the bearing portion  234  of the adapter  216  and the support portion  218  of the interior-side adapter  134  substantially align with one another, so the interior  238  of the upper medium passage  128  and the interior  240  of the treatment unit  206  merge smoothly and steplessly into one another at their edges and the sealing arrangement  222  is dead space-free and gap-free. 
         [0150]    The adapter  216  of the treatment unit  206  furthermore comprises a radially outer, annular fastening portion  242 , which is upwardly offset in relation to the upper sealing face  236  in the direction of the longitudinal centre axis  136  and projects outwardly from the bearing portion  234  of the adapter  216  in the radial direction and is provided with a plurality of, for example with at least three, through-bores  244  for the passage of a respective fastening means  228  through the fastening portion  242 . 
         [0151]    The through-bores  244  in the fastening portion  242  of the adapter  216  of the treatment unit  206 , in the assembled state of the treatment unit  206 , are arranged substantially aligned with the through-bores  226  in the fastening portion  224  of the interior-side adapter  134  of the respectively associated upper medium passage  128 , so a respective fastening means  228  extends through a through-bore  244  in the adapter  216  and a through-bore  226  in the adapter  134 . 
         [0152]    Each of the fastening means  228  may be locked by a locking means, for example by means of a fastening nut (not shown), in its position on the fastening portions  224  and  242  and secured against moving out of the through-bores  226  and  244 . 
         [0153]    The adapter  216  of the treatment unit  206  and the adapter  134  of the medium passage  128  can therefore be clamped against one another by the fastening means  228  and the respectively associated locking means. 
         [0154]    As the interior-side adapters  134  of all the upper medium passages  128  of the process container  100  are identical to one another, the treatment unit  206  can be adapted (connected) by the adapter  216  to any of the above medium passages  128 . 
         [0155]    A treatment device preferably has a plurality of process containers  100  with upper medium passages  128 , the interior-side adapters  134  of which are identical to one another, so one and the same treatment unit  206  are adaptable to the upper medium passages  128  of various process containers  100 . 
         [0156]    Various process elements  205 , in particular treatment units  206 , preferably furthermore have adapters  216  that are identical to one another, so these various process elements  205 , in particular treatment units  206 , can be selectively adapted to the same upper medium passage  128  of the process container  100 . 
         [0157]    These process elements  205 , in particular treatment units  206 , may preferably be configured differently, so different types of treatments can be carried out with the various process elements  205 , in particular treatment units  206 , on a workpiece  196 . 
         [0158]    In the configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 7  for an injection flood washing process, a rigid nozzle system  246  can be adapted to a second upper medium passage  128   b , as a process element  205  and treatment unit  206 . 
         [0159]    In this case, the rigid nozzle system  246 , as the process element  205 , has an adapter  216 , which is identical to the adapter  216 , already described above, of the movable nozzle system  208 , so this adapter  216  is adaptable to the interior-side adapter  134  of the second upper medium passage  128   b , which is identical to the interior-side adapter  134  of the first upper medium passage  128   a.    
         [0160]    The rigid nozzle system  246  has a plurality of, for example five, washing medium nozzles  248 , by means of which there is producible a respective washing medium jet directed onto the workpiece  196 . 
         [0161]    The washing medium nozzles  248  are preferably spaced apart from one another in the direction of the longitudinal centre axis  136  of the upper medium passage  128   b.    
         [0162]    The third upper medium passage  128   c  (see  FIG. 3 ), (which is not shown in  FIG. 7 ), can be provided with a further movable nozzle system  208  or a further rigid nozzle system  246 . 
         [0163]    A washing medium feed line  249  is adapted, in each case, to the exterior-side adapter  132  of all the three upper medium passages  128  of the process container  100  in the configuration shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0164]    In this case, each exterior-side adapter  132  of an upper medium passage  128  is, for example, configured mirror symmetrically with respect to the interior-side adapter  134  shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0165]    The adapter (not shown) of each washing medium feed line  249  is preferably substantially mirror symmetrical with respect to the adapter  216 , shown in  FIG. 8 , of the treatment unit  206 . 
         [0166]    A washing medium discharge large  250  is adapted, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 7 , to the exterior-side adapter  126  of the lower medium passage  118  of the process container  100 . 
         [0167]    In this case, the (exterior-side) adapter  126  of the lower medium passage  118  can be configured substantially the same as the exterior-side adapter  132  of the upper medium passages  128  and the adapter  252  of the washing medium discharge line  250  is preferably configured substantially the same as the adapter of the washing medium feed lines  249 . 
         [0168]    A check valve  254  with an adjustable flow cross-section can be arranged in the washing medium discharge line  250 . 
         [0169]    By closing the check valve  254 , the interior  112  of the process container  100  can firstly be filled with the washing medium by feeding the washing medium by means of the washing medium feed lines  249  and the nozzle systems  208  and  246  until the bath level  256  of a washing medium bath  258  in the interior  112  of the process container  100  reaches the upper edge  260  of the container upper part  104  and with further feeding of washing medium to the interior  112  or upon immersion of a workpiece  196  in the washing medium bath  258 , excess washing medium passes over the upper edge  260  serving as an overflow  262  and flows away into a washing medium collecting basin (not shown). 
         [0170]    Floating particles and oils having a lower density than the washing medium can be removed from the interior  112  of the process container  100  by this overflow of the washing medium over the upper edge  260  of the process container  100 . 
         [0171]    Heavy dirt particles, on the other hand, sink downwardly in the washing medium bath  258  and are discharged through the lower medium passage  118  and the washing medium discharge line  250 , once the check valve  254  has been opened. 
         [0172]    The workpiece  196  immersed in the washing medium bath  258  (preferably substantially completely) is subjected to an injection flood washing process by means of the generation of washing medium jets directed onto the workpiece  196  within the washing medium bath  258 . 
         [0173]    In an alternative configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 9 , the latter is used to carry out a blowing process on a workpiece  196 . 
         [0174]    For this purpose, a movable blow nozzle system  264 , as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 , is adapted on the interior side to the first upper medium passage  128   a  and a blow air feed line  266  is adapted, as the process element  205 , on the exterior side. 
         [0175]    A rigid blow nozzle system  268 , as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 , is adapted ion the interior side to the second upper medium passage  128   b  and a blow air feed line  226 , as the process element  205 , is also adapted on the exterior side. 
         [0176]    The third upper medium passage  128  (not shown) may be provided with a movable blow nozzle system  264  or with a rigid blow nozzle system  268 . 
         [0177]    The lower medium passage  118  is connected on the exterior side to a discharge line  270  for dirt particles and liquid blown off from the workpiece  196 , as the process element  205 . 
         [0178]    The movable blow nozzles  264  may have a slit nozzle  272 , by means of which there is producible a blow air jet directed against the workpiece  196  and by means of which a motor rotary drive  274  is rotatable about a rotational axis  276  preferably running parallel to the longitudinal centre axis  136  of the upper medium passage  128   a.    
         [0179]    The rigid blow nozzle system  268  is provided with a plurality of, for example five, blow air nozzles  278 , with which there is producible a respective blow air jet directed against the workpiece  196 . 
         [0180]    The blow air nozzles  278  are preferably arranged spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal centre axis  136  of the respectively associated upper medium passage  128 . 
         [0181]    In an alternative configuration shown in  FIG. 10 , the process container  100  is used to carry out an ultrasonic cleaning process on a workpiece  196 . 
         [0182]    For this purpose, a respective ultrasonic oscillator  280  is adapted on the interior side to each of the upper medium passages  128  of the process container  100 , as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 . 
         [0183]    An energy feed line  282  extends, in each case, in this embodiment through each of the upper medium passages  128  to the respectively associated ultrasonic oscillator  280 . 
         [0184]    In this configuration of the process container  100 , electrical energy therefore forms the medium, which is guided through the upper medium passages  128  from the exterior  116  into the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0185]    The workpiece  196  arranged in the region between the ultrasonic oscillators  280  is preferably moved up and down and/or rotated, preferably by means of the handling apparatus  192  in this use of the process container  100  so that all the surfaces of the workpiece  196  are acted upon by the ultrasonic waves, which are generated by means of the ultrasonic oscillators  280 . 
         [0186]    So that ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic oscillators  280  and firstly directed away from the workpiece  196  are also reflected toward the workpiece  196 , the process container  100  in this configuration is provided with an annular reflection screen  284 , which is placed on the container upper part  104 , the inside of said screen (which is, for example, substantially frusto-conical) forming a reflection surface  286  for the ultrasonic waves. 
         [0187]    A cleaning medium bath  288 , with which the process container  100  is filled up to the upper edge  290  of the reflection screen  284 , which forms an overflow for the cleaning medium, is used in this configuration as the medium for transmitting the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic oscillator  280  to the workpiece  196 . 
         [0188]    Floating substances and oils (designated  291  schematically in  FIG. 10 ), which have a lower density than the cleaning medium, are discharged by means of this overflow from the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0189]    The feeding of the cleaning medium into the interior  112  of the process container  100  and the discharge of cleaning medium with floating dirt particles contained therein take place in the configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 10  by means of the combined discharge and feed connection  292  shown in detail in  FIG. 11 , which is connected as the process element  205  to the exterior-side adapter  126  of the lower medium passage  118 . 
         [0190]    The discharge and feed connection  292  comprises a substantially central discharge bore  294 , which widens in a funnel shape toward the upper side  296  of the discharge and feed connection  292 , so the diameter of the mouth opening  298  of the discharge bore  294  on the upper side  296  of the discharge and feed connection  292  substantially corresponds to the internal diameter of the lower medium passage  118 . 
         [0191]    A discharge line  298  is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the end of the discharge bore  294  remote from the lower medium passage  118 . 
         [0192]    Furthermore, the discharge and feed connection  292  comprises a through-bore  300 , into which a feed line  302  is inserted in fluid-tight manner. 
         [0193]    The feed line  302  extends through the lower medium passage  118  into the interior  112  of the lower portion  108  of the container lower part  102  of the process container  100  and preferably runs substantially parallel to the centre axis  110  of the process container  100 . 
         [0194]    The feed line  302  may, in particular, run through the funnel-shaped portion of the feed bore  294 . 
         [0195]    The discharge line  298  is preferably dimensioned such that at most 70% of the cleaning medium fed through the feed line  302  into the interior  112  of the process container  100  discharges through the discharge line  298 , while at least 30% of the fed cleaning medium gets over the upper edge  290  of the reflection screen  284  forming an overflow out of the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0196]    An alternative configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 12  serves to carry out a spray cleaning process on a workpiece  196 . 
         [0197]    A spray nozzle system  304  adapted to the outer contour of the workpiece  196  to be treated is in each case adapted, as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 , for this purpose, to at least two of the upper medium passages  128  of the process container  100 . 
         [0198]    Each of the spray nozzle systems  304  comprises a plurality of spray nozzles  306 , by means of which a spray jet of a cleaning medium directed onto the workpiece  196  is producible in each case. 
         [0199]    In connection therewith, at least one spray nozzle  306  may be arranged below the workpiece  196  in the washing position thereof, in order to generate a spray jet directed from below against the workpiece  196 , and at least one spray nozzle can be arranged laterally next to the workpiece  196  in the washing position thereof, in order to generate a spray jet directed substantially horizontally from the side against the workpiece  196 . 
         [0200]    The spray nozzles  306  of the spray nozzle system  304  have a fluid connection to a cavity  308  in the interior of the spray nozzle system  304 , through which the cleaning medium to be sprayed onto the workpiece  196  is flowable. 
         [0201]    A cleaning medium feed line  310 , as the process element  205 , is in each case adapted on the exterior side to each of the upper medium passages  128 , to which a spray nozzle system  304  is connected. 
         [0202]    A cleaning medium discharge line  312 , as the process element  205 , is adapted to the lower medium passage  118  of the process container  100  in this configuration, on the exterior side. 
         [0203]    The workpiece  196  to be treated by means of a spray cleaning process can be held during the treatment by the handling device  192  in the washing position in the interior  112  near the spray nozzle systems  304  or deposited on a workpiece placement area (not shown). 
         [0204]    The cleaning medium is supplied to the spray nozzles  306  by means of the cleaning medium feed lines  310  and is discharged, once it has acted on the workpiece  196 , together with the dirt detached from the workpiece  196  through the lower medium passage  118  and the cleaning medium discharge line  312  out of the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0205]    An alternative configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 13  is used to carry out a high pressure deburring process on a workpiece  196 . 
         [0206]    For this purpose, one of the upper medium passages  128  of the process container  100 , for example the first upper medium passage  128   a , is provided on the interior side with a high pressure tool  314 , as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 . 
         [0207]    The high pressure tool  314  preferably comprises a nozzle lance  316 , with which there is producible a high pressure medium jet directed onto burrs of the workpiece  196  to be deburred. 
         [0208]    The nozzle lance  316  can be rotatably held by means of a rotation drive  318 , in particular about the lance axis  320 . 
         [0209]    The rotary drive  318  is preferably connected by means of a suitable adapter to the interior-side adapter  134  of the first upper medium passage  128   a.    
         [0210]    A high pressure medium feed line  322 , which feeds the high pressure medium from a high pressure medium source (not shown) to the high pressure tool  314 , runs through the upper medium passage  128   a  in this configuration. 
         [0211]    The high pressure medium is preferably under a pressure of at least 50 bar and preferably of at most 3000 bar. 
         [0212]    The high pressure medium may, for example, be high pressure water. 
         [0213]    The remaining upper medium passages  128   b  and  128   c  are connected on the interior side by means of a closure lid  324 , as the process element  205 , in this configuration of the process container  100 , in order to prevent the medium used for the high pressure deburring arriving through the unused upper medium passages  128   b  and  128   c  into the exterior  116  of the process container  100 . 
         [0214]    As can be seen in detail from  FIG. 14 , the closure lid  324 , like a treatment unit  206 , is connected to the interior-side adapter  134  of the particular upper medium passage  128 . 
         [0215]    For this purpose, the closure lid  324  is provided along its periphery with a plurality of, for example three, blind thread holes  326 , which align with a respective through-bore  226  in the fastening portion  254  of the interior-side adapter  134  of the upper medium passage  128 , so a suitable fastening means  228 , in particular a fastening screw, can be introduced through the through-bore  226  into the thread bind hole  326  and can be screwed in there, in order to clamp the closure lid  324  and the interior-side adapter  134  against one another. 
         [0216]    A seal between the closure lid  324  and the interior-side adapter  134  is achieved here by the annular sealing element  232 , which is arranged in the annular groove  230  of the interior-side adapter  134  and is pressed against the lower side  328  of the closure lid  324 . 
         [0217]    The closure lid  324  may comprise a substantially cylindrical lower portion  330 , in which the blind thread holes  326  are arranged, and a pyramidical or conical upper portion  332 , which upwardly adjoins the lower portion  330  and of which the external face  334  that is inclined toward the horizontal ensures that neither a liquid media nor dirt particles can be deposited on the closure lid  324 . 
         [0218]    As the lower side  328  of the closure lid  324  abuts flat on the lower sealing face  220  of the interior-side adapter  134  of the upper medium passage  128 , a dead space-free and gap-free seal is achieved between the closure lid  324  and the upper medium passage  128 . 
         [0219]    As the medium passages  128   b  and  128   c  not fitted with a high pressure tool  314  are closed by a respective closure lid  324 , the medium used for the high pressure deburring of the workpiece  196  with the particles arranged therein, in particular deburring residues, only flows through the lower medium passage  118  and a medium discharge line  336  adapted thereto on the outside, as the process element  205 , out of the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0220]    The workpiece  196  is brought by means of the handling apparatus  192  into the working region of the high pressure tool  314  and moved, in particular rotated and/or moved up and down, by means of the handling device  192  relative to the high pressure tool  314  during the high pressure deburring treatment. 
         [0221]    In connection therewith, the interior  112  of the process container  100  may be substantially emptied or else partially or completely filled with a liquid medium, in particular with the medium used for the high pressure deburring. 
         [0222]    An alternative configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 15  is used for carrying out a brush deburring on a workpiece  196 . 
         [0223]    For this purpose, a brush system  338 , as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 , is adapted on the interior side to the first upper medium passage  128   a.    
         [0224]    The brush system  338  has a plurality of deburring brushes  340 , which can be made to move by means of a movement device (not shown), in order to remove burrs on the workpiece  196  by brushing them off. 
         [0225]    An energy feed  342  to this movement device, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 15 , runs through the first upper medium passage  128   a . In this configuration, the energy to be fed to the movement device is therefore the medium, which is guided through the upper medium passage  128   a.    
         [0226]    A flushing system  334 , as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 , is adapted to a second upper medium passage  128   b  on the interior side. 
         [0227]    The flushing system  344  has one or more flushing nozzles  346 , by means of which a flushing medium jet directed onto the workpiece  196  and/or onto a deburring brush  340  is producible in each case. 
         [0228]    A flushing medium feed line  348  as the process element  205 , is adapted on the exterior side to the second upper medium passage  128   b.    
         [0229]    A discharge line  354 , by means of which abraded brushed material and flushing medium is dischargeable from the interior  112  of the process container  100 , is connected to the lower medium passage  118  of the process container  100  on the exterior side in this configuration. 
         [0230]    The workpiece  196  to be deburred, in order to carry out a brush deburring process, is brought by means of the handling apparatus  192  into the working region of the brush system  338  and moved relative to the deburring brushes  340  during the brush deburring process by means of the handling device  192 , and, specifically, in particular rotated and/or moved toward or away from the deburring brushes  340  and/or moved in a longitudinal direction of the deburring brushes  340 . 
         [0231]    An alternative configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 16 , like the configuration shown in  FIG. 13 , serves to carry out a high pressure deburring process on a workpiece  196 , a high pressure tool turret  356  with a base body  358 , which carries a plurality of different high pressure tools  360 , being provided in this case instead of a single high pressure tool. 
         [0232]    The base body  358  is rotatable by means of a motor rotary drive  362  about a, for example, substantially horizontal rotational axis  364 , so one of the high pressure tools  360  is, in each case, selectively pivotable into the interior  112  of the process container  100  through a gap  366  formed in the wall  170  of the container upper part  104  of the process container  100 , in order to carry out a high pressure deburring treatment on a workpiece  196  arranged at least partly in the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0233]    A discharge line  368 , through which the medium used for the high pressure deburring with the particles contained therein, in particular deburring residues, is dischargable from the interior  112  of the process container  100 , is adapted to the lower medium passage  118  in this configuration of the process container  100 , on the exterior side, as the process element  205 . 
         [0234]    The upper medium passages  128  are connected in this configuration by means of a respective closure lid  324  adapted, as the process element  205 , to the upper medium passages  128  on the interior side. 
         [0235]    The workpiece  196  to be deburred is brought by means of the handling apparatus  192  into the working region of the respective high pressure tool  360  introduced into the interior  112  of the process container  100  and moved relative to the high pressure tool  360  during the deburring process, in particular rotated and/or moved in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the high pressure tool  360  and/or moved up and down. 
         [0236]    The same medium as in the configuration of  FIG. 13  can be used as the high pressure medium in this configuration, in other words, for example water, which is under a pressure of preferably at least about 50 bar and preferably at most about 3000 bar. 
         [0237]    A variant shown in  FIG. 17  of the configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 16  differs from the configuration shown in  FIG. 16  only in that the rotational axis  364 , about which the base body  358  of the high pressure tool revolver  356  is rotatable by means of the motor rotary drive  362 , is not oriented substantially horizontally but is instead substantially vertically oriented. 
         [0238]    Otherwise, the configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 17  coincides with respect to structure and function with the configuration shown in  FIG. 16  for high pressure deburring, to the above description of which reference is to this extent made. 
         [0239]    An alternative configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 18  serves to carry out a spray cleaning process of a workpiece  196 , which is locked by means of a locking system  370  in a treatment position in the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0240]    A spray nozzle system  304  with a plurality of spray nozzles  306  is adapted for this purpose to the second upper medium passage  128   b , as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 , on the interior side. 
         [0241]    A process fluid feed line  372 , by means of which a process fluid is feedable to the spray nozzles  306  of the spray nozzle system  304 , from which process fluid the spray nozzle system  304  generates spray jets directed onto the workpiece  196 , is adapted on the exterior side to the second upper medium passage  128   b , as the process element  205 . 
         [0242]    A process fluid discharge line  374 , by means of which process fluid, which has acted on the workpiece  196 , together with dirt particles detached from the workpiece  196 , is dischargable from the interior  112  of the process container  100 , is adapted to the lower medium passage  118  in this configuration of the process container  100  on the exterior side, as the process element  205 . 
         [0243]    The locking system  370  for locking the workpiece  196  in a treatment position in the interior  112  of the process container  100  comprises a stationary clamping element  376 , which is arranged on a holding angle bracket  380  with a vertical leg  378  and a horizontal leg  382 . 
         [0244]    Provided on the free end of the horizontal leg  382  of the holding angle bracket  378  is a mounting receiver  384 , which is pushable onto a mounting  386 , which projects from an outer peripheral wall  388  of the second upper medium passage  128   b  radially with respect to the longitudinal centre axis  136  of the upper medium passage  128   b  into the interior  112  of the process container  100 . This mounting  386  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 19 and 20 . 
         [0245]    The mounting  386  comprises a substantially cuboidal holding body  390 , which is integrally connected, for example by welding, to the outer peripheral wall  388  of the upper medium passage  128  and tapers in a wedge shape at its upper end, so the mounting  386  is upwardly limited by two external faces  392  inclined with respect to the horizontal. 
         [0246]    The slope of the external faces  392  relative to the horizontal means that neither liquids nor particles deposit on the external faces  392  when the mounting  386  is not used and is therefore freely accessibly arranged in the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0247]    Furthermore, the holding body  390  has one or more, preferably substantially horizontally oriented, through-bores  394 , which align with respective associated through-bores in the mounting receiver  384  of the holding angle bracket  378  when the mounting receiver  384  is pushed onto the mounting  386 . 
         [0248]    Suitable fastening means  396 , which are shown only purely schematically with their longitudinal axes as broken lines in  FIG. 20 , can then be guided through the through-bores that align with one another in the mounting receiver  384  and in the holding body  390  and be locked with suitable locking means, for example fastening nuts, in their position on the mounting  386  and on the mounting receiver  384 , so the mounting receiver  384  is fastened on the mounting  386 . 
         [0249]    As shown schematically in  FIG. 19 , a closure lid  324 , as the process element  205 , may also be adapted to the upper medium passage  128  provided with the mounting  386 , instead of a treatment unit  206 . 
         [0250]    As can be seen, in particular from  FIG. 3 , the mountings  386  of the upper medium passages  128  are preferably oriented such that they are directed towards the centre axis  110  of the process container  100 . 
         [0251]    The locking system  370  furthermore has a movable clamping element  396 , which is arranged on a further holding angle bracket  398  with a vertical leg  400  and a horizontal leg  402 . 
         [0252]    Arranged at the free end of the horizontal leg  402  of the further holding angle bracket  398  is a mounting receiver  404 , which is also configured like the above-described mounting receiver  384  of the first holding angle bracket  378  and cooperates with a mounting  386  on the outer peripheral wall  388  of the first upper medium passage  128   a  in such a way that the further holding angle bracket  398  is held by means of the mounting  386  on the first upper medium passage  128   a.    
         [0253]    The further holding angle bracket  398  furthermore carries a drive device  406 , by means of which the movable clamping element  396  is movable from a clamping position shown in  FIG. 18  relative to the stationary clamping element  376  and the workpiece  196  into a release position (not shown) and from the release position into the clamping position. 
         [0254]    Electrical energy is suppliable to the drive device  406  by means of two energy feed lines  408 , which are guided through the interior of the first upper medium passage  128   a.    
         [0255]    The energy feed lines  408  run through a guide plate  410 , which, as the process element  205 , is adapted to the interior-side adapter  134  of the first upper medium passage  128   a.    
         [0256]    The workpiece  196  to be treated is brought by means of the handling apparatus  192  into the treatment position in the interior  112  of the process container  100  and arranged, in particular, between the stationary clamping element  376  and the movable clamping element  396  located in the release position. 
         [0257]    The drive device  406  is thereupon actuated by a control device (not shown) of the treatment device, which comprises the process container  100 , in order to move the movable clamping element  396  from the release position into the clamping position, in which the workpiece  196  to be treated is clamped between the movable clamping element  396  and the stationary clamping element  376  and is thereby locked, preferably positively, in the treatment position. 
         [0258]    Instead of being actuated by a control device of the treatment device, the drive device  406  can also be actuated by the handling apparatus  192 , once the handling apparatus  192  has deposited the workpiece  196  in the treatment position. 
         [0259]    In this case, the drive device  406  preferably has an actuating element (not shown), which is actuable by the handling apparatus  192 , for example a pushbutton switch or a proximity sensor, which reacts to the presence of the handling apparatus  192 . 
         [0260]    An alternative configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 21  serves to carry out a vacuum drying process on a workpiece  196 . 
         [0261]    In order to be able to close the interior  112  of the process container  100  in a fluid-tight manner for this purpose, the process container  100  in this configuration is provided with a vacuum-tight lid  412 , by means of which the upper access opening  114  of the process container  100  is closable. 
         [0262]    In order to be able to introduce the workpiece  196  by means of the handling apparatus  192  through the access opening  114  into the interior  112  of the process container  100 , the lid  412  is pivotably mounted about a, preferably substantially horizontal, pivot axis  414 . 
         [0263]    In order to be able to evacuate the interior  112  of the process container  100 , a suction line  416  of a vacuum pump  418  is adapted, as the process element  205 , to the second upper medium passage  128   b  in this configuration of the process container  100 , on the exterior side. 
         [0264]    A workpiece receiver  418 , in particular in the form of a workpiece support, is held on the mounting  386  of the second upper medium passage  128   b  in the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0265]    The workpiece  196 , which is to be vacuum dried, can be introduced by means of the handling apparatus  192  into the interior  112  of the process container  100  and deposited on the workpiece receiver  418 . 
         [0266]    A ventilation unit  420  is adapted to the first upper medium passage  128   a  in this configuration on the interior side, as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 . 
         [0267]    The ventilation unit  420  is similarly constructed to a closure lid  324  to close the interior of the upper medium passage  128  relative to the interior  112  of the process container  100 , but is provided with a ventilation channel  422 , which passes through the ventilation unit  420  and is connected to a ventilation line  424 , which extends through the interior of the first upper medium passage  128   a  and leads to a ventilation valve  426 . 
         [0268]    By opening the ventilation valve  426 , the interior  112  of the process container  100  can be ventilated, for example with ambient air, before the lid  412  is opened in order to remove the workpiece  196  on conclusion of the vacuum drying process from the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0269]    A condensate outlet line  428  with a condensate outlet valve  430  arranged therein is adapted to the lower medium passage  118  in this configuration on the exterior side, as the process element  205 . 
         [0270]    By opening the condensate outlet valve  430 , condensate, which has collected at the base of the interior  112  of the process container  100 , can be discharged from the interior  112 , when the interior  112  has been ventilated by means of the ventilation line  424 . 
         [0271]    An alternative configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 22  serves to simultaneously carry out an injection flood washing process on a plurality of workpieces  196 , which are simultaneously arranged in the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0272]    For this purpose, as in the configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 7 , a movable nozzle system  208 , which has a slit nozzle  210  serving to generate a cleaning medium jet, is adapted to the first upper medium passage  128   a  on the interior side, as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 . 
         [0273]    The slit nozzle  210  is rotatable by means of a motor rotary drive  212  about a, preferably vertically oriented, rotary axis  214 , which may coincide with the longitudinal centre axis  136  of the upper medium passage  128 . 
         [0274]    Held on the mounting  386  of the first upper medium passage  128   a  is a workpiece receiver  418 , on which the first workpiece  196   a  is placeable by the handling apparatus  192  for a cleaning process. 
         [0275]    Held on the mounting  386  of the second upper medium passage  128   b  is a further workpiece receiver  418 , on which a second workpiece  196   b  to be treated is placeable by the handling apparatus  192 . 
         [0276]    The interior  112  of the process container  100  is filled with the cleaning medium bath  432  up to the upper edge  260  thereof. 
         [0277]    The upper edge  260  of the process container  100  serves as an overflow, over which excess cleaning medium (together with light dirt particles and optionally oils, which have a lower density than the cleaning medium) discharges from the interior  112  of the process container  100 , when additional cleaning medium is fed into the interior  112  of the process container by means of the slit nozzle  210 . 
         [0278]    By rotating the slit nozzle  210  about the rotary axis  214 , the two workpieces  196   a  and  196   b  can be alternately acted upon by a jet of the cleaning medium within the cleaning medium bath  432 . 
         [0279]    It is also conceivable to swap the treatment positions of the two workpieces  196   a  and  196   b  after a certain cleaning time by means of the handling apparatus  192  or to remove one of the workpieces  196   a  and  196   b  completely from interior  112  and to bring the respective other workpiece  196   b  or  196   a  by means of the handling device  192  to the treatment position of the workpiece  196   a  or  196   b  removed from the interior  112 . 
         [0280]    The second upper medium passage  128   b  and optionally also the third upper medium passage  128   c  (not shown in  FIG. 22 ) are preferably closed in this configuration by means of a closure lid  324 , as the process element  205 . 
         [0281]    A cleaning medium discharge line  434 , which is adapted on the exterior side, as the process element  205 , to the lower medium passage  118  and is closable by means of a check valve  436 , serves to empty the process container  100 . 
         [0282]    An alternative configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 23  serves to carry out a spray cleaning process on a workpiece  196 , which is rotated by means of a rotary mechanism  438  during the spraying process. 
         [0283]    The workpiece rotary mechanism  438  is adapted for this purpose to the first upper medium passage  128   a  on the interior side, as a process element  205  and treatment unit  206 . 
         [0284]    The workpiece rotary mechanism  438  comprises a rotatable workpiece receiver  440 , on which the workpiece  196  is placeable by means of the handling apparatus  196 , and a rotary drive device  442 , which may comprise a drive motor  444  to drive a first pinion  446 , a second pinion  448  non-rotatably connected to the rotatable workpiece receiver  440  and a coupling belt  450  to couple the first pinion  446  and the second pinion  448 . 
         [0285]    The feeding of energy to the drive motor  444  takes place by means of an energy feed line  452 , which extends through the interior of the first upper medium passage  128   a.    
         [0286]    A spray nozzle system  454  is adapted to the second upper medium passage  128   b  in this configuration of the process container  100  on the interior side, as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 . 
         [0287]    The spray nozzle system  454  has a plurality of spray nozzles  456 , by means of which a spray jet of a liquid cleaning medium directed toward the workpiece  196  is producible in each case. 
         [0288]    The spray nozzles  456  are arranged consecutively in a longitudinal direction of the spray nozzle system  454 . 
         [0289]    On the exterior side, the second upper medium passage  128   b  is connected to a cleaning medium feed line  458 , as the process element  205 . 
         [0290]    The third upper medium passage  128   c  (not shown in  FIG. 23 ) may also be provided with a spray nozzle system  454  in this configuration or be closed by means of a closure lid  324 . 
         [0291]    A cleaning agent discharge line  460  is adapted to the lower medium passage  118  in this configuration of the process container  100  on the exterior side, as the process element  205 . 
         [0292]    The workpiece rotary mechanism  438  may also be combined with other treatment units  206 , for example to carry out an injection flood washing process, a blowing process, an ultrasonic cleaning process or a deburring process. 
         [0293]    An alternative configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 24  serves to carry out an ultrasonic cleaning process on a workpiece  196 , which is movable relative to an ultrasonic oscillator  280  by means of a workpiece lifting mechanism  462  in the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0294]    The workpiece lifting mechanism  462  is adapted for this purpose to the first upper medium passage  128   a  on the interior side, as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 . 
         [0295]    The workpiece lifting mechanism  462  comprises a movable workpiece receiver  462 , on which the workpiece  196  can be placed by means of the handling apparatus  192 . 
         [0296]    Furthermore, the workpiece lifting mechanism  462  comprises a movement mechanism  466 , by means of which a lifting rod  468 , which carries the workpiece receiver  464 , can be moved up and down in the vertical longitudinal direction of the lifting rod  468 . 
         [0297]    As also in the configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the interior  112  of the process container  100  is filled to the upper edge  290  of a reflection screen  284  placed on the container upper part  104  with a cleaning medium bath  288 , which serves to transmit ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic oscillator  280  to the workpiece  196 . 
         [0298]    The ultrasonic oscillator  280  is adapted, as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 , on the interior side to the second upper medium passage  128   b.    
         [0299]    An energy feed line  282  of the ultrasonic oscillator  280  extends through the interior of the second upper medium passage  128   b  into the exterior  116  of the process container  100 . 
         [0300]    An energy feed line  486 , which serves to feed the required electrical energy to the movement mechanism  466  of the workpiece lifting mechanism  462 , extends through the interior of the first upper medium passage  128   a  into the exterior  116  of the process container  100 . 
         [0301]    A combined discharge and feed connection  292  is adapted to the lower medium passage  118  in this configuration of the process container  100 , as also in the configuration shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , in order to feed cleaning medium into the interior  112  of the process container  100  and to be able to discharge excess cleaning medium and dirt particles out of the interior  112  of the process container  100 . 
         [0302]    In the configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 24 , the workpiece  196  deposited on the workpiece lifting mechanism  462  can be linearly moved by means of the workpiece lifting mechanism  462  relative to the ultrasonic oscillator  280  during the ultrasonic cleaning process, in particular be moved up and down, in order to consecutively act on different points of the surface of the workpiece  196  with ultrasound of different intensity. 
         [0303]    An alternative configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 25  serves to carry out an ultrasonic cleaning process on a workpiece  196 , which is arranged in the interior  112  of the process container  100 , contamination detached from the workpiece  196  by the ultrasonic cleaning process being extracted by suction in a targeted manner. 
         [0304]    For this purpose, an ultrasonic oscillator  280  is adapted to the first upper medium passage  128   a , as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 , on the interior side. 
         [0305]    A suction hood  470  is adapted to the second upper medium passage  128   b  on the interior side, as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 , and a suction line  472  is adapted on the exterior side as the process element  205 . 
         [0306]    As shown in  FIG. 25 , a Venturi nozzle  474  or a discharge nozzle may be arranged in the discharge line  472 . 
         [0307]    As an alternative or in addition to this, a suction pump may be arranged in the discharge line  472 . 
         [0308]    Furthermore, it is possible for the discharge line  472  to form a free outlet, in which the liquid entering the suction hood  470  flows downward out of the interior  112  of the process container  100  purely because of the effect of gravitational force. 
         [0309]    A combined discharge and feed connection  292  is adapted to the lower medium passage  118  in this configuration, just as in the configurations from  FIGS. 10 and 24 . 
         [0310]    A reflection screen  284 , the upper edge  290  of which forms an overflow, over which excess cleaning medium can discharge from the interior  112  of the process container  100 , is placed on the container upper part  104  of the process container  100 . 
         [0311]    In the configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 25 , contamination detached from the workpiece  196  by means of the ultrasound generated by the ultrasonic oscillator  280  is extracted by suction from the interior  112  of the process container  100  by the suction hood  470 , which is preferably arranged on the side of the workpiece  196  remote from the ultrasonic oscillator  280 , said process container being filled with a cleaning medium bath  432 , so contamination of the cleaning medium bath  432  and a recontamination of the workpiece  196  caused thereby is avoided. 
         [0312]    The workpiece  196  may be held during the ultrasonic cleaning process by means of the handling apparatus  192  in the interior  112  of the process container  100  and optionally moved, for example rotated and/or moved up and down, by means of the handling apparatus  192  relative to the ultrasound oscillator  280 . 
         [0313]    An alternative configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 26  serves to carry out a spray cleaning process on a workpiece  196 , which is arranged in the interior  112  of the process container  100 , an escape of fluid (for example an aqueous cleaning agent, an oil, a cooling lubricant, a hydrocarbon etc.) being prevented in a region above the process container  100  by a guide plate  476 . 
         [0314]    For this purpose, a movable nozzle system  208  is adapted to the first upper medium passage  128   a , as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 , on the interior side. 
         [0315]    The movable nozzle system  208  comprises a slit nozzle  210 , which is rotatable by means of a motor, pneumatic or hydraulic rotary drive  212  about a rotational axis  214  preferably coinciding with the longitudinal centre axis  136  of the upper medium passage  128   a.    
         [0316]    A cleaning medium jet directed onto the workpiece  196  is producible in the process container  100  filled with a bath of the cleaning medium by means of the slit nozzle  210 . 
         [0317]    Cleaning medium overflowing at the upper edge  260  of the process container  100 , optionally with contamination contained therein, is reflected back from the guide plate  476  into the interior  112  of the process container  100  or downwardly against the external wall of the process container  100 , so that this cleaning medium does not reach the region above the guide plate  476 . 
         [0318]    The guide plate  476  is annular and has, viewed from the interior  112  of the process container  100 , a concave curvature. 
         [0319]    The guide plate  476  surrounds a central through-opening  478 , through which the workpiece  196  is introducible into the interior  112  of the process container  100  by means of the handling apparatus  192 . 
         [0320]    An alternative configuration of the process container  100  shown in  FIG. 27  serves to carry out a spray cleaning process on a workpiece  196 , which is arranged in the interior  112  of the process container  100 , a liquid curtain  480  being generated, which prevents cleaning medium over-spray arriving from the interior  112  of the process container  100  through the access opening  114  at the outside. 
         [0321]    For this purpose, a spray nozzle system  304  with a plurality of spray nozzles  306  is adapted to the second upper medium passage  128   b , as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 , on the interior side. 
         [0322]    On the exterior side, a process fluid feed line  372  is adapted to the second upper medium passage  128   b  as the process element  205 . 
         [0323]    Process fluid jets directed from the process fluid against the workpiece  196  are producible by means of the spray nozzles  306  of the spray nozzle system  304 . 
         [0324]    A liquid curtain generator  482  is adapted to the first upper medium passage  128   a  in this configuration of the process container  100  on the interior side, as the process element  205  and treatment unit  206 . 
         [0325]    On the exterior side, a liquid feed line  484  is adapted to the first upper medium passage  128   a , as the process element  205 . 
         [0326]    The liquid curtain generator  482  comprises a slit nozzle  486  on its upper end, by means of which a liquid curtain  480  is producible from the liquid fed, said liquid curtain extending from the slit nozzle  486  over the workpiece  196  located in the treatment position and over the spray nozzle system  304 , so that the workpiece  196  is separated by the liquid curtain  480  from the access opening  114  at the upper edge  260  of the process container  100 . 
         [0327]    By atomising the process fluid jets on the surface of the workpiece  196 , process fluid overspray being produced is held back by the liquid curtain  480  in the interior  112  of the process container  100  and therefore does not reach the exterior  116  of the process container  100 . 
         [0328]    Rather, the entire excess process fluid, together with the liquid used for the liquid curtain  480 , discharges through the lower medium passage  118  from the interior  112  of the process container  100 .