Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
  • A47L15/0002—Washing processes, i.e. machine working principles characterised by phases or operational steps
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
  • A47L15/0094—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware cleaning with abrasive solid particles, e.g. by blasting the crockery with liquid containing granules
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L2601/00—Washing methods characterised by the use of a particular treatment
  • A47L2601/18—Liquid and granule

Definitions

• This invention relates to a method and a device in a cleaning machine to clean goods using as a cleaning fluid either a liquid mixed with granules or the liquid itself only.
• the granules have a density higher than that of the liquid.
• the liquid can be any liquid with cleaning properties but usually consist of water with various additives to enhance and improve the cleaning proper- ties.
• Goods in this context refer to the soiled objects that are to be cleaned. Goods could be any objects that require to be cleaned but usually refers to pots, pans and other kitchen and cooking utensils that are difficult to clean with traditional cleaning machines.
• the cleaning fluid is pumped from a tank and discharged under pressure against the goods disposed in a treatment chamber. If the goods are heavily soiled the cleaning fluid consists of a liquid mixed with granules. At the end of the cleaning operation it is necessary to flush the goods with a liquid without the granules in order to remove that granules from the goods. This calls for a separation method that can be activated in order to separate the granules from the cleaning fluid and de-activated when it is desirable to mix granules into the cleaning fluid. If the goods are less soiled, the separa- tion method is never de-activated which enables the cleaning of the goods using a cleaning fluid without granules.
• Cleaning machines functioning according to the principle described above exist, using various methods to separate the granules from the cleaning fluid. These methods include using sieves or letting the heavy granules sediment in a partition of the tank. 2
• a further object of the invention is to provide through the design of said apparatus, a simple method for removing the collected granules from the machine.
• a still further object is to provide a simple machine that can be produced at a low cost.
• a collector for granules is provided in the return flow of cleaning fluid including granules through the treatment chamber and the tank to a tank outlet to the pump.
• the collector may be detachable from the cleaning machine.
• a collect mode the collector will allow liquid to pass through and by the collector while retaining the granules.
• a release mode the collector will release previously collected granules into the cleaning fluid and also let the return flow of cleaning fluid to pass by or through the collector without retaining the granules from the liquid.
• FIG 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning machine with a cut of section according to one embodiment of the invention with collectors in the collect mode
• FIG 2 is a corresponding view with collectors in the release mode
• FIG 3 is a schematic side view of a first alternative embodiment of collectors according to the invention in the release mode
• FIG 4 is schematic view of the collectors of FIG 3 in the collect mode
• FIG 5 is a schematic side view of a second alternative embodiment of collectors according to the invention in the release mode
• FIG 6 is schematic view of the collectors of FIG 5 in the collect mode.
• a cleaning machine comprises of a treatment chamber 10 in which goods 11 are placed in a washing rack 12.
• Nozzles 13 in a discharge pipe 14 are provided through which the cleaning fluid including granules is discharged under pres- sure against the goods 11. After impacting the goods 11 the granules, together with liquid, form a return flow.
• a tank 15 receiving the return flow from the treatment chamber 10. From an outlet 21 of the tank 15 the cleaning fluid is taken by a pumping device 16 which discharges the cleaning fluid into a conduit 17 leading to a discharge pipe 18. 4
• One or more granule collectors 19 are provided in the return flow, either in the tank 15 as shown in FIG 1 or in the treatment chamber 10.
• the granule collectors 19 are formed as self-contained units, that is the collectors are separate from the walls of the treatment chamber 10 and the tank 15.
• FIG 1 shows an embodiment having two granule collectors 19 mounted side by side in the tank 15.
• the granule collectors shown comprise side walls 22, a bottom side wall 26, a rear gable end wall 24 and a front gable end wall 27, said walls forming together a box or container. Some or all of the walls may be perforated. In the shown embodiment the side walls 22 have been perforated.
• a net or similar device is used to collect the granules in the granule collectors while allowing the cleaning liquid to pass through openings therein.
• granule collectors 19 that have no openings. In such an embodiment the cleaning liquid will overflow the rim of the granule collectors. It should be noted that even for collectors with perforations or other openings to let the cleaning liquid through, some of the return flow may overflow the rim of the collector.
• the collectors 19 can be made to occupy different positions in relation to said flow, so as to change from the collect mode to the release mode and back as desired.
• the granule collectors may be hinged on at least one shaft 23, so as to rotate from one position to the other by means of the actuators. In other embodiments the granule collectors change the mode of operation through a sliding movement or a combination of a rotating and a sliding movement.
• the granule collectors 19 may be fitted to the actuating device in such a way that they can be lifted out of the machine together with the collected granules, thus leaving the interior of the machine free from granules and easily accessible for cleaning purposes and also to facilitate the cleaning of the granules. In this way also the measuring of the amount of granules will be facilitated and more granules can easily be added if needed.
• the granule collectors 19 capture all or a portion of the return flow, and granules will be retained therein 5 while the cleaning fluid is allowed to pass through or by the collectors. In this way the granules will be separated from the cleaning fluid.
• the granule collectors 19 will not receive the complete return flow. Some part thereof, this part also including granules, will pass by the granule collectors and will be re-circulated to the treatment chamber 10. However, only a few iterations will be required until all granules are collected.
• the return flow normally is very vigorous and granules already collected in the granule collectors 19 can be forced out thereof. It may be ap-storyte to include a flow director or a coarse screen or a similar device to protect the granule collectors from a direct impact of the return flow. An example of such a device is shown in FIG 3 and FIG 4.
• FIG 2 shows the collectors 19 in the release mode. After displacement into such a second position, the collectors 19 will release the granules into the cleaning fluid and will not collect any granules from the return flow of the cleaning fluid.
• FIG 3 shows a first alternative embodiment of granule collectors 19 in the release mode.
• two opposing side walls 22 of the granule collectors are arranged pivotable on a shaft 23.
• the side walls 22 are formed with through holes 25.
• the size of the through holes is smaller than the size of the granules.
• the granule collector also comprises a rear gable end wall 24 and an opposing front gable end wall (not shown). No granules are captured or retained in this position.
• a flow directing means 28 is arranged above the tank 15.
• the flow directing means 28 there is provided a plurality of granule openings 29. The size and location of the granule openings 29 will allow granules to pass through the flow directing means 28 and to enter into the granule collectors 19. Thus, the granule collectors 19 will be filled with granules faster and granules will not be washed away. 6
• the side walls 22 have been pivoted in opposite directions to form a V, and the granule collectors are in the collect mode.
• the granule collectors 19 are connected to actuators for rotating the side walls 22 in such a way that the granule collector 19 can be removed from the machine with the granules collected therein.
• FIG 5 shows a second alternative embodiment of granule collectors 19 in the release mode.
• a box like granule collector 19 arranged in the treatment chamber 10 comprises side walls 22, rear and front gable end walls 24, 27 and a pivotable bottom side wall 26.
• the bottom side wall 26 is pivoted to an open position allowing fluid and granules to pass through the granule collector.
• the bottom side wall 26 of the granule collectors in FIG 5 has been pivoted into a closed position and the granule collector is in the collect mode.
• the granule collectors 19 are connected to actuators for rotating the bottom side wall 26 in such a way that the granule collectors 19 can be removed from the machine with the granules collected therein.

Landscapes

• Separation Of Solids By Using Liquids Or Pneumatic Power (AREA)
• Washing And Drying Of Tableware (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=20410992

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (6)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 1998
  • 1998-04-17 SE SE9801343A patent/SE521117C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1999
  • 1999-04-13 AU AU41768/99A patent/AU4176899A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-04-13 DE DE69906521T patent/DE69906521T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-04-13 EP EP99925506A patent/EP1085833B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-04-13 WO PCT/SE1999/000590 patent/WO1999053822A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1999-04-13 CN CNB998049999A patent/CN100396226C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-04-13 JP JP2000544237A patent/JP4228067B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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