EP2414112A2

EP2414112A2 - Multi-chamber degreasing machine and method

Info

Publication number: EP2414112A2
Application number: EP10726213A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roberto Beguin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-31
Filing date: 2010-03-31
Publication date: 2012-02-08
Also published as: WO2010113126A2; US20120031437A1; WO2010113126A3; BRPI1009991A2

Abstract

The invention relates to machine for treating parts, for example for cleaning metal parts with solvents, transported in a basket in a treatment station, said machine including a plurality of treatment stations and a cylinder including a number of chambers at least equal to the number of stations, said chambers receiving at least one basket with said parts, the cylinder including sealing means and transporting the baskets into the chambers in the consecutive treatment stations of the machine.

Description

MULTI-ROOM DEGREASING MACHINE

The present application claims the priority of the earlier European application No. 09157007.7 of March 31, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety in the present application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to machines for washing parts, for example metal parts used in industry.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a degreasing machine parts by means of solvent and / or hydrocarbons that allow the washing, degreasing and drying of said parts while respecting the environment.

STATE OF THE ART

Such machines are known in the state of the art and are marketed for example by the companies UNION SPA, TEKNOX, ROLL, FIRBIMATIC SPA, ECOBOME INDUSTRY or DURR for example. Typically, these machines use a washing chamber in which a basket carrying the parts to be cleaned is introduced, for example in a suitable housing.

In some cases, in this housing, there is a basket door structure that allows washing in static mode or rotation. The chamber is connected to a solvent spraying circuit on the parts to be washed, the circuit being connected to a pump. Washing can be done by spraying and / or immersion.

At the outlet of the chamber, there are filters and drain valves for the washing liquid used.

Parts wash cycles typically include the following steps:

-) introduction of the basket into the chamber, -) prewash with a solvent by spraying;

-) rinsing with a solvent; -) final wash -) drying

-) deodorization of the chamber, for example by passage of air on the filter, for example activated carbon and -) extraction of the basket from the chamber.

Such cycles and the machines implementing them are not efficient in that it must wait until all the steps have been completed to remove the basket from the room. The total processing time of a basket is therefore equal to the total sum of the time required for the completion of all the chosen steps, moreover the large volume of the chamber forces to treat (distillate) also large amounts of solvent and air volume (vacuum, deodorization) The efficiency of such machines is not optimized and depending on the number of steps chosen, the cycle can be particularly long.

PRINCIPLE OF THE INVENTION

The basic principle of the present invention differs, (compared to what is currently done by the manufacturers as indicated above), by the presence of several independent working chambers (for example five chambers instead of one ) mounted on a rotating barrel and which each pass in turn in front of the various positions described below.

As a result, all the stations work in parallel at the same time as long as there is a basket at the corresponding station, otherwise the latter will preferably standby. As for the rest of the machine, all devices (distiller, vacuum pump, solvent pump, tanks, separator, chiller, activated carbon, filters etc.) are standard compared to what is currently, but dimensions and consumptions reduced. This concept involves the use of a cylindrical basket provided with an identification (optical, bar code etc.) specific to each different program that one wants to have (usually 3 are enough).

The cycle time is thus reduced to a duration corresponding to that of the operation or the longest step and no longer the sum of the duration of all the operations or steps performed as in the state of the art.

Such a machine therefore has a much better performance than known machines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be better understood by the description of the embodiment thereof and the figures relating thereto, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a machine according to the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the machine according to the invention;

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a top view of the machine in two different situations;

Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view and partial section of the machine;

Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view and partial section of the machine;

Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view and partial section of the barrel;

Figure 8 schematically illustrates an active seal of the barrel;

Figure 9 illustrates a partial view of active joint; Figure 10 illustrates a perspective view of a basket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A general diagram illustrating the machine according to the invention is shown in Figure 1. In the center of the figure, there is the cylinder B according to the invention which will be described in more detail later in the present application.

Around said barrel B, there is shown by way of illustrative example, the different stages of the coin processing cycle in the machine, each position corresponding to a rotation pitch of the barrel.

For example, starting from the empty position that allows the discharge and the feeding of the barrel B in baskets, in the direction of clockwise, the chamber arrives at the first stage which is formed by a prewash station. In the circuit necessary for this step, there is therefore at least one reservoir 1 comprising a liquid (typically a solvent) and a pump 2 for circulating the solvent in the prewash circuit. Preferably, a filter 3 is added to the circuit to filter the liquid that has been used.

Then, the next station joined by the chamber by the hourly rotation of the cylinder and that of the washing. In this circuit, there is therefore at least one reservoir containing the washing liquid, a pump 5 for supplying the station and a filter 6.

The next station in the clockwise direction is for example a combined vapor phase station and drying of the washed parts. At this station, solvent vapors are first circulated directly from distiller 7 (rinsing and temperature rise of the parts), then absolute vacuum is evacuated by a vacuum pump 9 (drying by evaporation) via a condenser 8 . Finally, the last station of the machine rotating in the clockwise direction, in this example, is a deodorization phase and the circuit comprises at least one condenser 8, a vacuum pump 9, an activated carbon filter 10 and a fan 11 .

Once the barrel B has performed another clockwise rotation, the chamber that has passed through all the successive stations is left in the initial loading / unloading position of the basket and the treated basket can be evacuated and a new one. shopping cart loaded.

As according to the system operates in a parallel mode, all the chambers of the cylinder B are loaded with a basket, so all the stages of the successive stations are carried out in parallel on a different basket and the example given above relates to the steps successive applied to a basket in a given room.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the unloading / loading of baskets step in a chamber and Figures 3 and 4 are top view illustrations.

As seen in these figures, baskets 20, 21, 22 to be processed in the machine 30 arrive on a gutter 26 (for example formed of rails). These baskets (which will be described in more detail below) contain parts to be treated, for example to clean. The basket 22 is illustrated in a position in which it is grasped by a loading / unloading means 27, for example a rotating means, which is used to remove the basket which has been processed (basket 23 in FIGS. 2 to 4) and bring a new basket to treat (basket 22) above the room that will receive it. The illustrated position of the loading / unloading means 27 is that in which it has grasped the treated basket 23 coming out of the machine 30 and the new basket to be treated 22 at the end of the gutter 26. In FIG. rotated about 90 ° counterclockwise, so that the treated basket 23 is now on an outlet / discharge gutter 28 (for example rails) and the new basket to be treated 22 is in position to be fed into the machine 30. As can be understood from the foregoing, the baskets 24 and 25 are also baskets which have been processed and which leave the machine on the unloading line 28.

Of course, the loading / unloading means 27 is given by way of example and other equivalent means for loading and unloading the machine in baskets are conceivable.

Figure 5 illustrates the means used to load and unload a basket in a chamber 31 of the machine 30. The identical elements (baskets, loading gutter or unloading) corresponding to Figures 2 to 4 are referenced by the same numbers. The loading / unloading means comprise, for example, a cylinder 80 and a piston 81 which allow, on the one hand, to push the treated basket 23 (or the following baskets) out of the chamber 31 (situation illustrated in FIG. ) and then to bring the new basket to be treated (in this case the basket 22) in the chamber 31 when the loading / unloading means 27 has moved them to their new position (as in Figure 4).

Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view in partial section of the machine. Parts and elements identical to those described above are identified with the same reference numerals. In this figure, in addition to said elements already described (gutters or rails 26, 28, baskets 20-25, machine 30) is illustrated in more detail the cylinder 31 comprising the chambers 32, 33 (sectional views) containing baskets 20 ' , 21 '. As is understood from the present description, the machine 30 comprises several stations, in the embodiment illustrated five stations, including one loading / unloading baskets, which are distributed regularly along a circle which has Consequently, the rotation of the barrel 31 allows each chamber (in particular the chambers 32, 33) thereof to pass to each station provided.

The successive positions are illustrated by the entries 40/41 for the first position, 42/43 for the second position, 44/45 for the third position and 46/47 for the fourth position.

Typically, these stations may correspond to those described with reference to FIG. In variants, it is of course possible to provide different items (for example to the frequency converter).

In this illustrative example, there are four stations and consequently five chambers in the barrel 31, a station being provided for the feeding and unloading of the barrel in baskets. One can of course provide other numbers of positions (more or less) than the number illustrated in this example which is not limiting.

As previously described, the barrel 31 rotates about an axis 48 (for example mounted on ball bearings), driven by appropriate means (for example a motor or a gear system or other equivalent means) not shown and passes each room from one station to another successively so that the station can perform the operation provided on the baskets brought successively by the rotation of the barrel 31.

The barrel 31 and the chambers are shown in greater detail in FIG. 7, in which elements identical to those previously described are identified with the same reference numerals. More particularly, the barrel 31 is formed for example of two disk-shaped trays 31 'and 32' which are joined to each other by uprights 34, 34 'distributed around the circumference of the disks. These amounts are for example formed of rods with screws 35,35 'at each end. The barrel 31 also includes closed chambers 32, 33, 36 and 37 which are intended to contain the baskets.

In this Figure 7, the machine 30 is shown partially disassembled in that, in addition to the fact that the outer cover has been removed in the figure, it has been shown that the bottom wall 30 'and uprights 30 "and 30'". The top wall is not shown and is fixed with the bottom wall 30 'by the uprights 30 "and 30'" and screws 38, 39. The uprights 30 "and 30 '" are not limited to two and are distributed on the circumference of the bottom wall 30 'and the top wall.

In order to seal the chambers when the treatment of the station is carried out, each chamber of the barrel 31 comprises at each end an active joint which will be described in more detail later. In FIG. 7, these seals are referenced 50. To activate these seals, one uses, for example, a compressed air system whose arrival is done by the axis 48 of the cylinder 31. In the cylinder, one connects a circuit pneumatic device comprising a supply 60 which is connected to a distributor 61. The dispenser comprises a ring-shaped part and side branches 62 which open into the trays 31 ', 32' at the joints in order to activate them and close the chambers tightly when the treatment is done.

Figure 8 illustrates in detail the connection of a branch 62 of the dispenser in the plate 32 'of the barrel, the seal being provided by a seal 63 type O-ring. This detail in section is for example taken in the chamber 36 when it is at the first station 40. The seal 50 comprises a washer 51 cut (for example metal) with two internal seals 52, 53 and an outer seal 54. The internal seals 52, 53 make it possible to close the chamber 55 which will be filled with air under pressure. This pressure will move the seal (upwards in Figure 8) which will compress the seal 54 against the upper part which is the wall of the top of the machine 30 which hermetically closes the chamber 36 since the seal 50 does all the turn of the chamber 36 and that there is another identical seal on the other side of the chamber (downwards in the figure, but not shown, with identical activation).

Thus by a suitable pneumatic control, by increasing the pressure it is possible to close all the chambers hermetically by means of the active joint when the treatment of the parts must be carried out and then, by releasing a little the pressure, one can rotate the barrel of a step while maintaining a certain tightness.

Figure 9 illustrates a half-seal 50 in section and in perspective. As indicated, each end of the chamber has such a seal which makes it possible to seal each chamber during treatment and to prevent liquid, for example, used for the treatment from being released into the atmosphere.

Figure 10 schematically illustrates a basket as used in the present invention. This basket 70 is identical to the baskets 20-25 described in the previous figures and the This description applies to these. The basket 70 therefore has a preferably cylindrical shape and comprises an outer wall 71 perforated to allow the passage of treatment liquids. Preferably, this basket is made of stainless steel or other equivalent material. At each end, the basket is closed by walls 72, 73 openwork also for the same reasons. Such a basket is designed and adapted to contain the parts to be treated, for example to clean, and the size of the openings must of course be adapted to the size of the objects contained so that they remain in the basket 70. At each end of the basket 70 there is a flange 74, 75 which includes grooves 76 oriented laterally. These grooves make it possible to turn the basket 70 in its chamber during the treatment, for example when a liquid is injected through the chamber. This rotation makes it possible to improve the cleaning of the parts by stirring them in the basket 70 during the treatment.

Preferably, the machine 30 is kept in a vacuum so as to prevent leakage of treatment liquid from occurring to the outside of the machine 30.

In the method according to the invention, it is first necessary to load the barrel which is supposedly empty at the start. Thus, a first basket is loaded into the first chamber, then the barrel is rotated one step (so that the first chamber is at the first treatment station and an empty chamber is at the loading / unloading station. a second basket in the second chamber and the barrel is rotated one step so that the second basket and the second chamber are now at the first treatment station while the first chamber and the first basket have passed to the second station. treatment.

Similarly, the third chamber that arrived at the loading / unloading station is loaded with a third basket and the barrel is turned one step. Thus, all rooms and baskets go to the next station and so on as long as there are free rooms arriving at the loading / unloading station. As soon as the barrel has been filled, that is to say that the last free chamber has received a basket, the following rotation brings to the loading station the first basket which had been loaded into the basket. first room initially. This cart has now completed a full treatment cycle and can be evacuated. As described above, this unloading is carried out by a cylinder piston which pushes the treatment basket out of the chamber and by a transfer means (27, see FIGS. 2 and 3). This means moves the treated basket and brings a new basket to be treated. . Then the cycle continues with the rotation of a step of the barrel that allows each room to pass to the new station and the exchange of baskets at the loading / unloading station.

As a result, one is with a parallel processing system of each basket in each successive position which allows a significant time saving.

Of course, when loading (from a fully empty cylinder), as long as rooms are empty, the treatment is preferably not carried out in these rooms because it is useless. Similarly, when it is desired to completely empty the barrel, it is not necessary either to operate the positions for which the rooms are empty and without a basket.

Production rate :

Basket dimensions: diameter 80mm. x length 150mm. Useful volume of baskets 0.51. x 8 (average density of the steel) = 4kg / basket.

Each function is done in 2 minutes, sufficient in view of the small volume of rooms, which gives a rate of 120kg / hour of cleaned parts.

Consumption: • Total electric power: approx. 5.6 kw

• Cooling water: 50l./hour

• Kwh / kg ratio = 0.033

Main advantages: • 4x more economical (solvent, electric, cooling water)

• Overall dimensions of the machine approx. 2 m ³ (current 8m ³ ). • Low cost in construction, transportation, material.

• Easy to double the pace, for example, just build a barrel size with baskets of diameter 90mm.x length 200mm. What passes the bulk of the barrel only diam. 350mm (instead of 300mm for 80mmm baskets).

• The system is fully automated, the operator does not have to be present at the end of the cycle to reload the machine and restart a program.

• Easily made of stainless steel for the medical field.

Preferred dimensions of the machine:

Width 1400 mm

Depth 1000 mm

^• Height 1200 mm

Volume of the tanks:

^• Prewashing tank 30 L

^• 20 L wash tank

Distiller: • Volume 30 L

Favorite powers:

Drum motor 0.1O kW

^• 0.2O kW solvent pump ^• 0.8O kW refrigeration compressor

^• 3 kW distiller resistor

^• 0.50 kW fan

^• Vacuum pump 1 kW

Dimensions of baskets

^• Diameter 80mm Depth 150 mm

• Volume 0.77 L

• Useful volume 0,50 L Max. 4 kg

Productivity and cycle time

• 4 Kg / 2minutes

• 120 Kg per hour • Kwh / Kg ratio = 0.033

Other advantages:

Reduced manufacturing cost (no drying tunnel, door, flapper)

• Simple construction and maintenance • Transportable for demonstration

• Quick setup

• Little mass to heat or cool

• Saving electrical energy

^• Solvent saving • Washing flexibility, baskets in relation to the quantities to be cleaned

Less handling on the load

^• No loss of waiting time to restart and choose the program

• Continuous operation and automatically

• Ability to add an "express" basket without stopping the machine • Flexibility to adapt to productivity rates

^• Each basket (identification) can have its specific program

• The injection of air or solvent can be combined or not with the rotation of the baskets and the high speed of the current (solvent)

No mechanized basket transporter • Simplicity for construction to pass another size All the embodiments indicated above are given as non-limiting examples and variations are possible within the scope of the present invention, in particular by equivalent means.

The machine according to the invention can be used in all types of industry and to treat all types of products.

As indicated, the number of chambers of the barrel and the number of positions can be varied compared to the examples indicated in the present application.

Claims

claims

1. Machine for the treatment of parts, for example the cleaning of metal parts with solvents, transported in a basket in a treatment station, said machine comprising a plurality of treatment stations and a barrel comprising a number of chambers at least equal to the number positions, said chambers being intended to receive at least one basket carrying said parts, the barrel comprising sealing means and carrying the baskets in the rooms in the successive processing stations of the machine.

2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein one of the stations is a basket loading / unloading station in a chamber.

3. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cylinder carries the baskets in the rooms by rotation from one station to another.

4. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing means comprise two active seals per chamber.

Machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the active seal is actuated by pressurized air.

6. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the active seal comprises at least one washer, two O-ring type seals and a wiper seal.

7. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, comprising loading / unloading means for the baskets in the rooms.

8. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading means comprise at least one cylinder and a piston for pulling a basket in a chamber, respectively push a basket out of a room.

9. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least five positions with a barrel comprising an equal number of chambers.

10. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one station is a prewash station, a station is a washing station, a station is a drying station and a station is a deodorization station.

11. A transport basket of workpieces for a machine according to one of the preceding claims, said basket having a cylindrical shape.

12. The basket of claim 11, said basket comprising at least one flange with laterally oriented grooves, said grooves for rotating the basket in its chamber during processing in said machine.

13. A method of processing baskets carrying parts in a machine having processing stations, wherein said baskets pass successively in the different processing stations and all the baskets in the machine undergo the treatment of its respective station in parallel.