EP0559541A1 - Cleaning installation for containers such as dustbins - Google Patents

Abstract

Cleaning installation for containers in which household rubbish is collected, comprising a washing chamber (4) with an opening (5) through which the containers are to be passed, loading means (6) for introducing at leat one container into the chamber (4) and removing it at the end of the washing operation, means (6a, 7) for sealing said opening (5), and a plurality of washing heads (20, 32, 34) positioned inside said chamber (4), at least one of which washing heads 920) is so positioned that it sprays water at pressure into the container that has been introduced into the chamber, while at least one of the other washing heads (32, 34) is so positioned that it sprays the water at the external walls of said container. According to the invention, the central washing head (20) is attached to a mechanical drive device (40) enabling the head to move inside the container in the direction of its depth and also in the two perpendicular directions. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to an installation for cleaning various containers such as bins or bins of different kinds and dimensions intended to receive household or industrial, agricultural, public, etc. detritus or waste, this installation preferably being produced in the form self-propelled vehicle. According to a practical assignment which is more particularly advantageous, although in no way limiting, the self-propelled installation according to the invention is intended to allow fully automatic washing of the containers used for the mechanized collection of household waste and which must be frequently cleaned for obvious reasons of hygiene.

We know (FR-A-2,585,303), an automatic container washing vehicle comprising a washing box comprising a container introduction opening, loading means for introducing the containers inside said box through said opening, means for sealingly closing said opening, and a plurality of washing heads arranged in said box, at least one of said heads being arranged so as to spray water under pressure inside the opening (s) containers introduced into the box and at least one of the other washing heads being arranged so as to spray the water under pressure onto the external walls of the said container or containers. The different washing heads are rotary, but they occupy fixed positions, inside the box, during the washing of the containers.

The cleaning operations carried out using such installations are often very imperfect, due to the fact that the water jets generated by their static washing heads, although rotary, do not have the same effectiveness depending on the distance from the surfaces swept by said jets relative to the location of said washing heads. This drawback is aggravated by the fact that each bin has a particular state of filth. Indeed, the external surfaces and, above all, internal, of household refuse collection containers, are generally covered with various coagulated materials forming deposits of very variable thicknesses more or less glued to said surfaces and unevenly distributed over these, of a container to the other, so that a more or less significant part of these deposits is not disintegrated and remains attached to the walls of the containers, if the jets of water produced by the washing heads do not reach them with sufficient strength.

There is also known (EP-A-0.312.476), a self-propelled installation for semi-automatic cleaning of bins, or the like comprising a washing box, one of the side walls of which is equipped with a bellows carrying an adjustable washing lance. manually and passing through said bellows, the head or projection nozzle of this lance being placed inside said box, while its rear end provided with the control handle is located outside of the latter.

This self-propelled installation allows efficient cleaning of household waste containers, but it has the disadvantage of making it desirable to use at least three operators (one for driving the vehicle, one for hanging the containers at the rear of the vehicle and their replacement after washing, and one for the actual washing operation). In addition, the washing work is very tedious for the operator who has to spend several hours in the washing cabin.

The object of the present invention is in particular to remedy the drawbacks of known container washing installations.

According to the invention, this objective is achieved by means of a container washing installation, preferably self-propelled, of the type comprising a washing box comprising an opening for the passage of the containers, loading means for introducing at least one container into the container. inside the box and to exit it at the end of the washing operation, closing means sealed from said opening, and a plurality of washing heads arranged inside said box, at least one of these so-called "central" washing heads being arranged so as to spray a washing liquid such as liquid under pressure. water inside the container (s) introduced into the box, while at least one of the other so-called "peripheral" washing heads is arranged so as to spray the washing liquid onto the external walls of the container (s), this washing installation being notably remarkable in that at least one central washing head is subject to a mechanical drive device making it possible to move it inside said container, both in the depth direction and in the two perpendicular directions.

According to another characteristic arrangement of the invention, at least one of the peripheral washing heads intended to spray the washing liquid onto the external surface of the side wall of the containers, is subject to a drive device making it possible to move it along said wall from one end to the other thereof.

Thanks to the aforementioned provisions of the invention, the entire interior and exterior surfaces of the containers is effectively swept by the jets of liquid produced by the washing heads, so that a perfect cleaning of said containers is obtained. In addition, the various operations required by washing a container can easily be carried out by a single operator, who can also, if necessary, drive the vehicle from one washing place to another.

The aims, characteristics and advantages above, and others still, will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and from the appended drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a side view, in schematic nature, and with partial longitudinal section, of a self-propelled vehicle for cleaning containers according to the invention, shown in the position preceding the introduction of a container into the washing box.

Figure 2 is a side view, on a larger scale and schematic, of the washing device itself illustrated in the washing position of a container introduced into the washing box.

Figure 3 is a perspective view in schematic of the mechanical drive device for moving the washing head or heads inside the container (s).

Figure 4 is a top view of this device.

Figure 5 is a rear view and Figure 6 a side view.

Figure 7 is a detail view, on a larger scale, of Figure 6, showing more specifically the means ensuring the movements of forward and backward washing heads.

Figure 8 is a perspective view in schematic illustrating the position of the different washing heads of the installation, around the location occupied by the container or containers, during washing.

Reference is made to said drawings to describe an interesting, but non-limiting example of an embodiment of the cleaning installation according to the invention which, in this case, is produced in the form of a self-propelled installation, according to a preferred embodiment. .

This installation comprises a vehicle advantageously constituted by an automobile truck 1 on the chassis 2 of which is mounted the actual washing installation, the various active component parts of which are housed in a compartment or compartmentalized body 3 carried by said chassis.

• un caisson de lavage 4 aménagé à la partie postérieure de la caisse 3 et comportant, à l'arrière, une ouverture 5 pour l'introduction et la sortie des conteneurs C ;
• un dispositif de manutention 6 installé à l'arrière du caisson de lavage 4 et permettant, d'une part, l'accrochage des conteneurs C, leur soulèvement et leur introduction dans ledit caisson et, d'autre part, de les replacer au sol à la fin de'l'opération de lavage ;
• des moyens pour fermer de manière étanche, l'ouverture 5 du caisson, ces moyens comportant, d'une part, la plaque-support basculante 6a du dispositif de manutention 6 et, d'autre part, une porte pivotante 7 disposée à la partie supérieure de ladite ouverture dont le pourtour ou celui de la porte 7 et de la plaque-support 6a peut être équipé d'un joint périphérique d'étanchéité ;
• un réservoir 8 destinée à contenir de l'eau propre ou autre liquide de lavage (par exemple eau additionnée de produits détergents, ou déodorants, ou bactéricides) ;
• une pompe haute pression 9 pour amener le liquide de lavage j'usqu'aux têtes de lavage ; un filtre 10 pouvant être disposé sur le conduit reliant le réservoir 8 à la pompe 9 ;
• une cuve de récupération des eaux sales communiquant avec le fond du caisson de lavage et divisée en au moins deux parties séparées par un filtre vertical 11, la première de ces parties constituant un bac 12 de décantation des eaux sales recueillies, tandis que la seconde partie 13 remplit la fonction d'auge de récupération des déchets solides qui tombent dans le fond de ladite auge laquelle,.est pourvue d'un orifice de vidange équipée d'un organe d',obturation étanche ;
• des moyens pour le recyclage des eaux usées.

The washing installation proper comprises in particular, in a manner known per se:

• a washing box 4 arranged at the rear part of the box 3 and comprising, at the rear, an opening 5 for the introduction and the exit of the containers C;
• a handling device 6 installed at the rear of the washing box 4 and allowing, on the one hand, the attachment of the containers C, their lifting and their introduction into said box and, on the other hand, to replace them on the ground at the end of the washing operation;
• means for sealingly closing the opening 5 of the box, these means comprising, on the one hand, the tilting support plate 6a of the handling device 6 and, on the other hand, a pivoting door 7 disposed at the part upper of said opening, the periphery or that of the door 7 and the support plate 6a can be equipped with a peripheral seal;
• a reservoir 8 intended to contain clean water or other washing liquid (for example water containing detergents, or deodorants, or bactericides);
• a high pressure pump 9 for supplying the washing liquid to the washing heads; a filter 10 which can be arranged on the conduit connecting the reservoir 8 to the pump 9;
• a dirty water recovery tank communicating with the bottom of the washing box and divided into at least two parts separated by a vertical filter 11, the first of these parts constituting a tank 12 for decanting the collected dirty water, while the second part 13 fulfills the function of a trough for the recovery of solid waste which falls into the bottom of said trough which, .is provided with a drainage orifice equipped with a member, watertight closure;
• means for recycling wastewater.

• un filtre 14 à parois verticales logé verticalement dans le réservoir 8 et une pompe 15 disposée sur le circuit reliant le bac de décantation 12 et la partie supérieure du filtre 14 ; la base du filtre 14 communique avantageusement avec une tubulure de décolmatage 16 équipée d'un organe obturateur dont l'ouverture permet d'obtenir le décolmatage automatique du filtre et l'évacuation des particules solides détachées des parois de celui-ci, sous l'action de l'eau propre contenue dans le réservoir 8 ;
• éventuellement, un filtre 17 à paroi verticale, également logé verticalement dans le réservoir 8, avec son système de nettoyage comprenant une rampe 18 mobile verticalement et fixée à la tige d'un vérin 19, la base de ce filtre communiquant avec un conduit permettant d'acheminer l'eau filtrée en direction de la pompe haute pression 9.

According to the invention, the means for recycling the wastewater comprise, in addition to the settling tank or tanks 12:

• a filter 14 with vertical walls housed vertically in the tank 8 and a pump 15 disposed on the circuit connecting the settling tank 12 and the upper part of the filter 14; the base of the filter 14 advantageously communicates with an unclogging tube 16 equipped with a shutter member whose opening makes it possible to obtain the automatic unclogging of the filter and the evacuation of the solid particles detached from the walls thereof, under the water action clean contained in the tank 8;
• optionally, a filter 17 with a vertical wall, also housed vertically in the tank 8, with its cleaning system comprising a ramp 18 movable vertically and fixed to the rod of a jack 19, the base of this filter communicating with a conduit allowing '' filter the filtered water towards the high pressure pump 9.

As indicated above, this pump makes it possible to supply the various washing heads 20, 32, 34, 36, etc. of the installation, with water or other washing liquid under pressure.

According to an important characteristic arrangement of the invention, the washing head or each "central" washing head 20 intended to spray the water or other washing liquid under pressure inside the container or containers C introduced in the box 4, is subject to an advantageously automated drive device designated as a whole by the reference 40 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and making it possible to move the said washing head (s) inside said container, preferably, in three perpendicular directions, namely in the depth direction of the container and in the two perpendicular directions.

According to the illustrated embodiment, this device comprises a main frame 21 constituted by a robust frame fixed transversely in the box 3, in front of and at a distance from the washing box 4, this frame being, slightly inclined towards the rear.

On the main frame 21 is mounted, with an aptitude for horizontal transverse movement, a secondary frame 22 which comprises, for example, for this purpose, slides 22a which can move on two horizontal slides 21a of the main frame 21.

The horizontal movements of the secondary chassis are ensured by two hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders 23, 24 arranged, respectively, at the upper part and at the lower part of the chassis 21 and 22. The upper cylinder 23 connects the upper part 21b of the main chassis 21 to the upper part 22b of the secondary chassis 22, while the lower cylinder 24 connects the lower part 21c of said main chassis to the lower part 22c of said secondary chassis, the synchronized operation of these cylinders being controlled by hydraulic or pneumatic distributors, known per se.

On the secondary chassis 22 movable horizontally, is mounted with a possibility of displacement upwards or downwards, a support carriage 25 which comprises, for example, for this purpose, slides 25a which can slide on two rigidly spaced guide columns 22d integral with the secondary chassis 22. These guide columns are slightly inclined towards the front, their inclination being close to the vertical, for example of the order of 10 degrees relative to the vertical.

The upward or downward movements of the support trolley 25 are ensured by a central jack 26 connecting the secondary chassis 22 to said support trolley 25.

On the support carriage 25 is mounted at least one cleaning lance 27, with a possibility of displacement forwards and backwards, that is to say in the depth direction of the container in its cleaning position , the free end of this lance being provided with a washing head 20. Preferably, two spaced and parallel cleaning lances 27 constituted by rigid metal tubes and each provided with a washing head 20, are mounted with the possibility of advancing and retreating, on the support carriage 25, the washing heads 20 equipping the free end of these lances being aligned horizontally. According to the embodiment shown, the lances 27 are arranged with a slight inclination close to the horizontal, for example of the order of 10 degrees relative to the horizontal.

The use of two twin washing heads 20 has the advantage of making it possible to clean either a container of large dimensions or two containers of smaller dimensions introduced simultaneously into the container. washing 4 and into each of which can penetrate one of said washing heads.

Each washing head 20 is constituted by a rotary nozzle with multiple jets (two front jets and two side jets) and whose rotation is ensured by the pressure of the water.

The simultaneous forward or backward movements of the cleaning lances 27 are provided by a central cylinder 28 disposed between the latter and connecting, for example, an element of the support carriage 25 and a spacer 29 rigidly connecting said lances.

In its front part and at a distance from its end provided with a washing head 20, the cleaning lance or each cleaning lance 27 passes through a movable support plate 30 to which it is rigidly secured. This support plate 30 is carried by a flexible wall 31 advantageously constituted by a bellows, for example produced by means of a canvas provided with an impermeable coating.

This flexible wall 31 constitutes, in part or in whole, a partition forwardly delimiting the actual washing enclosure or washing box 4.

• dans une direction transversale, à gauche ou à droite, par l'intermédiaire du châssis secondaire 22 glissant sur les glissières 21a du châssis principal ;
• dans une direction perpendiculaire à la précédente, vers le haut ou vers le bas, par l'intermédiaire du chariot-support 25 coulissant sur les colonnes de guidage 22a du châssis secondaire 22 ;
• dans une troisième direction perpendiculaire aux précédentes, vers l'avant ou vers l'arrière, par l'intermédiaire du vérin 28 assurant les mouvements d'avance et de recul desdites lances de nettoyage selon la hauteur ou profondeur des conteneurs à laver.

It is understood that thanks to the construction described above, the washing head or heads 20 equipping the front end of the cleaning lance (s) 27 can or can be driven:

• in a transverse direction, to the left or to the right, via the secondary chassis 22 sliding on the slides 21a of the main chassis;
• in a direction perpendicular to the previous one, up or down, by means of the support carriage 25 sliding on the guide columns 22a of the secondary frame 22;
• in a third direction perpendicular to the previous ones, towards the front or towards the rear, by means of the jack 28 ensuring the movements of advance and retreat of said cleaning lances according to the height or depth of the containers to be washed.

The plate 30 supporting the cleaning arms 27 accompanies the latter in their different movements, thanks to the flexibility and the breadth of the wall 31 produced in the form of a bellows.

The container cleaning process may include one or more cycles of the various aforementioned movements, the succession and frequency of which can be regulated by an automatic control system or automaton programmed to control, as desired, the operation of the hydraulic equipment or pneumatic equipment ensuring the movement of the various mobile washing heads. There is no description of such an apparatus which is not, per se, within the scope of this patent, and which is well known to those skilled in the art.

It is understood that the movements of the washing heads 20 can take place in any order, separately or simultaneously, depending on the programming of the automatic device controlling the operation of the installation. In this way, the washing heads can have very varied trajectories inside the containers. These movements can also possibly be directed by an operator controlling the various actuating cylinders, if one passes from an automatic command to a manual command.

• deux rampes de lavage latérales mobiles 32, par exemple fixées, chacune, à l'extrémité de la tige d'un vérin 33 hydraulique ou pneumatique, pour le lavage des côtés du conteneur ;
• une rampe de lavage supérieure mobile 34, par exemple fixée à l'extrémité de la tige d'un vérin hydraulique ou pneumatique 35, pour le nettoyage du capot et de la partie haute du conteneur ;
• une rampe de lavage inférieure fixe 36 pour le nettoyage de la collerette supérieure des conteneurs ;
• une rampe de lavage fixe 37 pour le lavage du fond du conteneur.

In addition to the central washing heads 20 intended for cleaning the internal surfaces of the containers, the installation according to the invention also comprises various peripheral washing heads for cleaning the external surfaces of said containers and arranged around the location occupied by them, during their cleaning, these washing heads being for example constituted by projection ramps with multiple jets. More specifically, the installation includes:

• two movable lateral washing ramps 32, for example fixed, each at the end of the rod of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 33, for washing the sides of the container;
• a movable upper washing ramp 34, for example fixed to the end of the rod of a hydraulic cylinder or pneumatic 35, for cleaning the cover and the upper part of the container;
• a fixed lower washing ramp 36 for cleaning the upper flange of the containers;
• a fixed washing ramp 37 for washing the bottom of the container.

A fixed washing ramp and / or a mobile washing ramp can also be installed on the tilting support plate 6a of the handling device 6.

The fixed body of the jacks 33 and 35 carrying the mobile washing ramps 32 and 34 is fixed on the rear side of the flexible wall 31, outside the washing enclosure for example by means of supports integral with the wall of the box 3, and their movable rod 33a, 35a, is extended by an arm which crosses, in a sealed manner, said flexible wall 31 or the rigid wall surrounding the latter. The movable rods 33a, 35a can also pass through bellows 41 similar to bellows 31 and to which said rods are fixed.

As indicated above, the box 3 is compartmentalized.

One of the compartments constitutes a machine cabin 38 in which the various machines necessary for the operation of the installation are grouped together such as a high pressure pump, heat engine, boiler, hydraulic power station, etc. In another compartment 39 disposed at the front of the flexible wall 31, are installed the devices ensuring the movements of the mobile washing heads. The third compartment constitutes the actual washing enclosure 4, below which are the enclosures for recovering dirty water and detritus.

At the rear of the vehicle, there is a control console on which the various controls of the washing installation are grouped, such as: opening the washing enclosure, inserting the container into said enclosure, closing the latter control of the automaton which ensures the start-up of the high pressure pump and the movements of the different lifting heads, return to zero point, stop the high pressure pump, open the enclosure, unload the cleaned container, close the washing enclosure.

It is understood that a single operator can ensure the driving of the vehicle and the execution of the different phases of the cleaning of a container.

Claims (9)

1. - Installation for the automatic cleaning of containers such as trash cans or containers arranged for the collection of household waste, comprising a washing box (4) comprising an opening (5) for the passage of the containers, loading means (6 ) to introduce at least one container inside the box (4) and to get out of it at the end of the washing operation, sealing means (6a, 7) of said opening (5) , and a plurality of washing heads (20, 32, 34, 36, 37) arranged inside said box (4), at least one of these so-called "central" washing heads (20) being arranged so as to spray under pressure a washing liquid such as water inside the container or containers introduced into the box, while at least one of the other washing heads (32, 34, 36, 37) say "peripherals" is arranged so as to spray the washing liquid on the external walls of the said con (s) contents, characterized in that at least one central washing head (20) is subject to a mechanical drive device (40) making it possible to move it inside said container both in the depth direction and in the two perpendicular directions and according to combinations of these three movements. 2. - Cleaning installation according to claim 1 characterized in that the drive device for the central washing head (s) (20) comprises: - a fixed main frame (21) arranged transversely; - a secondary chassis (22) mounted with a capacity for transverse horizontal movement on said fixed chassis (21); - A support trolley (25) mounted, with the ability to move up and down, on the secondary chassis (22); - at least one rigid cleaning lance (27) provided with a washing head (20) and mounted with an aptitute for axial movement in depth forward and backward on said support carriage (25); - Means (23, 24, 26, 28) ensuring the movements of the secondary chassis (22), the support carriage (25) and the cleaning lances (27). 3. - Cleaning installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the cleaning lance (s) (27) are supported, in their front part, by a flexible and ample wall (31) waterproof in the form of a bellows separating the box from wash (4) and the compartment (39) in which the drive device (40) is installed. 4. - Cleaning installation according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one of the peripheral washing heads (32, 34) is mounted with the ability to move along the lateral surface containers (C) introduced into the washing box (4). 5. - Cleaning installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the mobile peripheral washing heads comprise: an upper washing head (32) disposed above the space reserved for the containers (C) and two washing heads lateral (34) arranged on each side of said location. 6. - Cleaning installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the washing head (20) fitted to the free end of the cleaning lance (s) (27) consists of a rotating nozzle with several jets , known per se. 7. - Cleaning installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral washing heads (32, 34) are carried by the movable rod (33a, 35a) of jacks (33, 35), which passes through an impermeable bellows wall (41) to which it is fixed and which separates the bodies of the cylinders from the washing compartment. 8. - Cleaning installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a filter vertical walls (14) is housed in the water tank (8), the base of this filter (14) communicating with an unclogging tube (16) on which a shutter is mounted. 9. - Cleaning installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a filter with vertical walls (17) communicating with the high pressure pump (9) ensuring the supply of the washing heads (20, 32, 34 , 36) is housed in the water tank (8), this filter being equipped with a cleaning system (18, 19).

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