EP1070554A1

EP1070554A1 - Automatic washing tunnel for cleaning and disinfecting externally and internally waste containers

Info

Publication number: EP1070554A1
Application number: EP98942687A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pedro José Ocana Pueyo; Juan Angel Platero Arlaban
Original assignee: Ocana Pueyo Pedro Jose; Platero Arlaban Juan Angel
Current assignee: OCANA PUEYO, PEDRO JOSE; PLATERO ARLABAN, JUAN ANGEL
Priority date: 1998-04-08
Filing date: 1998-09-08
Publication date: 2001-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2018-09-08
Also published as: EP1070554B1; DE69816343T2; ES2152806B1; WO1999052655A1; DE69816343D1; PT1070554E; ES2152806A1; AU9072898A

Abstract

Automatic washing tunnel for the internal and external cleaning and disinfecting of residue containers, which consists in the incorporation of the containers (1) onto a ramp (3), covered externally by a protection (10), in which is incorporated a device for hooking and transporting (8) and (8'), presenting lather and pressurised water emission towers (4), permitting their turning and internal and external cleaning by rollers (5), (6), (5') and (6').

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The descriptive memorandum refers to an automatic washing tunnel for the internal and external cleaning and disinfecting of residue containers, whose purpose deals with attaining, through gradual cleaning and complete disinfecting of containers of punctual application for incorporation into the same of bags and containers as well as constituent elements of urban residues, achieving the cleaning of these containers on a grand scale, presenting an elevated level of quality, fortifying the cleaning through the combined action of biodegradable chemicals, pressurised water and automated friction, optionally implemented with disinfectant products.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention has its application within the industry dedicated to the manufacture of automatic cleaning installations.

RELATED ART

The applicants are aware of the existence at present of a number of cleaning tunnels applicable to effecting the cleaning of vehicles of any type, whether they be automobiles, trucks, aeroplanes, trains, etc.
In said tunnels for the cleaning of vehicles in general, the use of cleaning rollers as well as that of detergent applicators or pressurised water is employed.
To effect the cleaning of urban residue containers, the applicants are only aware of the use of certain trucks which being provided with water tanks mounted onto their structures and at the back some elements for the fastening and later turning of the container, together with a device for holding the container above the truck, capable of moving it in an upward/downward vertical direction, achieving a position with the cover completely folded open, next obtain through the use of a jet of pressurised water, the cleaning of the treated container.
In order to optimise this labour, it would be of interest to dispose of an installation which, in reference to the cleaning of containers, permitted the treatment, both interior and exterior of the same, in a completely automatic manner, achieving that the cleaning of the container substantially surpass that of the cleaning trucks, which effect the treatment merely through their system of holding and applying a jet of water as their only means of cleaning, which operation presents a plurality of anomalies.
Nonetheless, up to the present time, no other invention is known possessing the characteristics previously described as being ideal for the intended purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The automatic washing tunnel for the internal and external cleaning and disinfecting of residue containers that the invention proposes, constitutes in itself an evident novelty within its specific field of application, since in having the characteristics of a washing tunnel, it achieves the availability of an installation capable of effecting the cleaning of residue containers in a totally automatic and simplified manner.
More precisely, the automatic washing tunnel for the internal and external cleaning and disinfecting of residue containers, object of the invention, is comprised of an installation in which the following stages are contemplated:

Feeding of the washing line or tunnel
Exterior lathering
Exterior scrubbing
Exterior rinsing
Interior lathering
Interior scrubbing
Interior rinsing
Exiting or evacuation of the cleaned container

More precisely, the automatic washing tunnel for the internal and external cleaning and disinfecting of residue containers, object of the invention, is comprised of an installation which consists of a fairly elongated platform in the lower area, with the unit protected by a structure which, in the form of a semicircular arch, covers both the upper area as well as the sides, permitting the free sliding or movement of the containers in its interior, incorporating a chain with suitable hooks placed for directly holding the handles emerging from the sides of the containers so that the containers to be treated, both during treatment and their posterior emission to the exterior, are properly held, with such holding permitting the corresponding turning and cleaning of the same as well as their mobilisation for incorporation onto the transport platform.
First of all, the tunnel containing the transport chain in its interior will be directly fed by operators who will be in charge, at the same time, of supervising the physical state of the containers to be treated in order to remove and repair those presenting anomalies of any type, such as changing wheels and covers, replacing handles, etc., thus achieving that before the containers are cleaned in the washing tunnel, they present characteristics in accordance with the end to which they are to be used, without anomalies of any type with reference to the parts that constitute them and being properly checked which check will be repeated in the final stage of the tunnel's action, achieving containers that are completely clean, and at the same time, in perfect working order.
Containers in proper condition are introduced into the washing assembly line and with all the containers to be washed in series and having similar characteristics with the object of adapting the automatically activated elements to certain dimensions, measures and activities.
The dirty containers, once their state has been supervised, are introduced into the washing assembly line so that the posterior application of detergent and disinfectant products for their exterior areas starts automatically, with the external area being completely covered in lather, which is applied as the containers pass underneath the lathering arch, maintaining contact with the support during a pre-established time period considered to be optimum for obtaining the efficient result required in reference to their cleaning.
The foam applicator is connected to a central powered proportional dosing unit, which performs a precise and consistent dosing of the lathering product, producing a fine foam with a high performance level.
Next, and also within the cleaning or washing tunnel, three brushes will go into operation, two of which act as lateral brushes for cleaning the sides of the containers, and a third, positioned horizontally, performs the vertical cleaning of the front, horizontal cleaning of the top, and vertical cleaning of the back, all of which is completely automated, with the auto-cleaning cycles of the brushes coming into operation periodically in order to increase their efficiency.
Once the action of the brushes is completed, the containers are exteriorly rinsed, using a fixed arch with sprayer heads using pressurised water.
Next, once the containers are left with their lids open through a turning operation, the lather, using the same criterion applied to the exterior lathering, will remain in contact with the support for a predetermined time.
Following the same line of internal cleaning, after the internal lathering, the interior scrubbing will go into operation using an exterior horizontal brush and another internal vertical brush, with the horizontal brush automated in order to clean the loading side and the upper perimeter in the horizontal position and the cleaning of the back of the interior of the cover.
The cleaning of the loading side is considered fundamental as considerable residue accumulates as consequence of the turning operations during the stages of the emptying of the container in the collection of garbage and besides being the possible point of physical contact with the user when the cover is lifted for depositing trash, which could give way to possible contagion and infections.
The interior scrubbing is automated through a vertical brush with horizontal bristles on the trunk and vertical ones on the lower part which penetrate the interior of the container, its function being to scrub the interior of the lateral sides and the bottom of the container, with the necessary turning movements appropriate for the purpose for which it is specifically designed.
Once the scrubbing of the interior of the container is completed using the elements previously described, the interior rinsing ensues, which operation is performed by turning the container 130º in respect to the vertical axis, and using a high pressure water-dispensing robot, equally automated, for the purpose of achieving a homogenous action over the entire internal surface of the container.
After rinsing the interior, the washing conveyor automatically expels the treated container, placing it on an exit ramp from which an operator removes it, re-checking its condition and, providing it is acceptable in respect to hygiene and maintenance, stores it for posterior expeditions.
The invention provides for use, in case of necessity, a high-pressure hose issuing a water jet for eliminating any existing remains of filth on the internal or external surfaces of the containers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description being made, and for the purpose of allowing greater comprehension of the characteristics of the invention, the present memorandum is accompanied, in the concept of an integral part of the same, by two sheets of plans, which, in an illustrative and non-limitative character, the following has been represented:
Figure number 1. Corresponds to a lateral view of the automated washing tunnel for the internal and external cleaning and disinfecting of residue containers, object of the invention.
Figure number 2. Shows a raised frontal view of the object represented in figure number 1.
Figure number 3. Corresponds to a raised frontal view, completely synthesised, of the system for hooking and pulling.
Figure number 4. Finally shows a detail of the pulling chain through which the gradual motion and posterior turning of the containers submitted to the cleaning operation is achieved.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

By viewing these figures, it can be seen how the automatic washing tunnel for the internal and external cleaning and disinfecting of residue containers is consists of a structure (10) through the interior of which containers (1) move gradually from one end to the other. After a revision of their physical state, the containers, being positioned using a mechanism (2) onto a horizontal structure (3), powered by a traction device (8), implemented by a secondary traction device (8') which attaches a pulling chain in collaboration with the handles emerging from the central upper area of the lesser sides, which, as shown in figure number 4, are position between the protuberances (24) and (24'), provided with openings (25) and (25') that retain the handles and with the part (23) holding the protuberances (24) and (24') being connected to links (21) provided with cylindrical stiffening elements (22), effect that these elements gradually move and position the containers (1), which are first subjected to an external lathering by a device for generating and applying lather (4), completely covering the exterior of the container (1) with the emissions of lather generated by the lathering arch, remaining in contact with this lather cleaner for a determined time period, with the lather applicator (4) being connected to a central powered proportional doser, achieving a consistent and precise dosage of the lathering product, producing a fine later highly capable of removing grit and fixed particles.
Next, the container (1), covered with lather is submitted to a scrubbing operation using transversal (5) and vertical (6) rollers which are activated automatically and in cycles of auto-cleaning to obtain greater efficiency, achieving the cleaning of the surface so that later the container (1), lathered and properly scrubbed, will be submitted to the action of an arch of pressurised water (4'), after which, it is submitted to a mobilisation operation using the transport elements (8) and (8'), with its cover left open, and the performance of an internal lathering for the later treatment of the internal surface of the exteriorly clean containers (1) using externally (5') and internally (6') activated brushes after application in their interior of the corresponding lather by the doser (4' '), and once cleaned by the rollers (5') and (6') and submitted to the action of a jet of pressurised water (4 ' ' '), are freed of the traction elements, (8) and (8'), and evacuated to the exterior where they undergo a second check of their cleanliness and physical condition.

Claims

Automatic washing tunnel for the internal and external cleaning and disinfecting of residue containers, characterised by consisting of a support structure positioned horizontally (3), which has an entrance ramp (2) at one of its ends activated by a conventional automatic mechanism positioning the containers (1) onto the horizontal surface (3) which are hooked by the lateral handles using a pulling mechanism (8) horizontally situated and parallel to the platform (3), aided by a second pulling device (8') with the pulling devices (8') being formed by a chain consisting of links (21) united with transversal stiffening elements (22) to which are affixed bodies (23) with a "U" form, presenting parallel protuberances (24) and (24'), possessing a hollow internal surface (25) and (25') which elements (23) couple with the handles emerging from the containers (1), which are submitted to an external lathering stage with detergents and disinfectants, by a doser (4), activated by a central dosing unit, equipped with a powered proportional doser, followed by an external scrubbing of the containers (1) using vertical (6) and transversal (5) rollers, afterwards being sprayed exteriorly by a water doser (4'), then submitted using the pulling device (8) in collaboration with the pulling element (8') after external rinsing with spray heads of pressurised water (4'), to a turning operation, being internally lathered by dosing applicators (4 ' '), similar to the spray heads (4) and equally activated by a central unit, later effecting the incorporation of lather in the interior of the containers (1), an internally scrubbing by horizontal (5') and vertical (6') brushes, the latter being provided with mobility at its axis, then turned again and submitted to an internal rinsing by a pressurised water spray (4 ' ' '), next exiting to the transport surface (3) toward the exterior.
Automatic washing tunnel for the internal and external cleaning and disinfecting of residue containers, according to the first claim, characterised by the brushes (5) and (6) of external action and (5') and (6') of internal action, perform auto-cleaning cycles.
Automatic washing tunnel for the internal and external cleaning and disinfecting of residue containers, according to the first claim, characterised because the internal scrubbing is automated by a vertical brush (6') using horizontal bristles on the trunk and vertical ones on the lower part.
Automatic washing tunnel for the internal and external cleaning and disinfecting of residue containers, according to the first claim, characterised because optionally the internal rinsing may be effected by a robot dispensing water at high pressure, automated to achieve a homogenous action on the internal surface of the container after positioning the container (1) in a 135º turn in relation to the vertical axis.