EP2688455B1

EP2688455B1 - Cleaning device for drinking glasses and corresponding method

Info

Publication number: EP2688455B1
Application number: EP12725532.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gerardus Jan Maria TIMMERMANS
Original assignee: Cooperatieve Vereniging Speedy Glass Cleaner UA; Cooperatieve Vereniging Speedy Glass Cleaner U A
Current assignee: Cooeperatieve Vereniging Speedy Glass Cleaner Ua
Priority date: 2011-03-20
Filing date: 2012-03-20
Publication date: 2016-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-20
Also published as: EP2688455A1; WO2012134270A1; NL2006432C2

Description

This invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning containers, such as drinking glasses, which is suitable to be immersed partially or fully in a cleaning solution, with a plurality of vertical cylindrical brushes, over which a drinking glass and the like can be placed to be scrubbed on the inside and outside. This device comprises a basic housing with an essentially complementary upper section and lower section, surrounding a hollow space in which a plurality of engaging, horizontally mounted rotatable gearwheels are positioned, whereupon each time an axially extending socket is installed for a cylindrical brush, as well as a tube-shaped housing, which is positioned essentially vertically at the end of the basic housing, wherein the tube-shaped housing houses an electric motor and a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is connected at one end to the electric motor and extends at the other end into the basic housing, wherein at this other end a driving pinion is positioned which is connected optionally through an idler gear with one of the rotatable gears, and wherein the cylindrical brushes are detachably connected with the respective sockets.
A device of this type is known from GB 1,142,607 and is used in particular in hotels and restaurants and in mass catering. Such a device is activated by means of an electric switch or by pressing one of the brushes when placing a glass for cleaning.
Published patent application DE 26 14 572 discloses a cleaning device for glasses and the like which comprises electrically driven movable brushes, wherein the power is switched on and off by means of a light barrier such as a sensor, which is positioned on either side of a rinsing-tube which houses the cleaning device.
US 3,638,268 discloses a device for cleaning and polishing drinking glasses with a submersible motor and heating means, wherein the water supply is connected directly to the device, and wherein the housing and gears are made of synthetic material and the rinse water provides lubrication of the gearwheels. The axes of the brushes are fixed on the driving sockets by means of a bayonet joint.
NL 1020423 discloses a rinsing device for the manual cleaning of drinking glasses with a small number of fixed cylindrical brushes, which are positioned vertically side by side, wherein the water supply is regulated automatically by means of an electronic switch which is controlled by detecting the movements or actions made during the cleaning of the drinking glasses.
EP-A-0 674 871 discloses rinsing brushes, with slightly tapered axes to allow effective cleaning of glasses of various sizes.
Rinsing and polishing devices for drinking containers, in particular drinking glasses, have been known for a long time and are being used on a large scale in many ways. One of the problems in the state of the art which has not, or insufficiently, been solved is that the glasses need to be cleaned properly on the inside and outside, so that no lipstick, greasy edges and the like remain. In order to solve this problem a rinsing device is effectively provided with a variety of rotating brushes, with a glass placed on the first rotating brush to clean the inside, while the other rotating brushes which surround the first brush scrub the outside at the same time. A drawback of the rotating brushing systems of the state of the art is that the electric drive of the brushes needs to be either operated manually, or by pressing one of the brushes when placing a glass. In the former case the brushes will rotate almost permanently, because the switch cannot be turned on and off again and again by the operator during the job. In the latter case the version with a pressure switch in the water under a brush is considerably more expensive and the risk of mechanical failure is much larger.
The purpose of the present invention is to solve this problem by providing an improved device for cleaning drinking glasses and the like which is semi-automatic, durable, easy to clean and cost effective.
According to the invention this objective is achieved by providing a cleaning device for cleaning drinking glasses and the like of the aforementioned type, wherein the electric motor which drives the brushes is activated and deactivated by means of a sensor, wherein the sensor is fitted on the upper side of or on the tube-shaped housing.
In a first preferred embodiment the sensor also activates and deactivates a water-metering system, which can be used in combination with the said device. Such a water-metering system with sensor activation is described in great detail in NL1020423 .
It is effective and therefore preferred if deactivation of the electric motor and, optionally, the water-metering system takes place with a variable lag time.
The sensor is fitted on or at the tube-shaped housing of the cleaning device so that it detects the movements of the operator at the rinsing-tub, when the operator comes close to the brushes of the device with glasses.
According to a preferred embodiment the electric motor during each activation is driven such that it rotates in opposite direction as compared to the preceding activation. In this way the brushes will keep their original shape as much as possible and will wear out evenly. As a motor, usually a suitable and for this purpose common power source is used, preferably of a type which works on a 12 or 24 V voltage, driven by a transformer which is connected to the mains. Preferably a 'slow start' is implemented on the motor, as well as a run-out, so that the brushes will not start or stop abruptly, which is much more comfortable when in use. The motor is preferably equipped with a device which prevents overloading.
The device according to the invention preferably comprises five to eight brushes, wherein one or two brushes are placed centrally and are surrounded by the other brushes. In this way the operator will be able to clean one or two glasses at the same time. It is effective if at least the axes of one of the central brushes or of both central brushes are tapered towards the free end, so that glasses of various shapes are cleaned effectively at all times. Preferably, the top part of the brushes which are at the free end have softer bristles than the remaining part of the brushes. Preferably, brushes of a type which can be cleaned in an industrial dishwasher are used.
For cleaning and possibly replacing brushes it is desirable that these brushes can be easily detached and reinstalled in the device. Preferably, the brushes are attached by means of a bayonet joint with corresponding sockets on the driving gears. According to a special embodiment, one or more radial projections turned inwards are mounted in the sockets for the brushes, whereas the brush axes are provided at the end which is connected with the sockets with one or more grooves which are formed in such a way that the projections are fitted into the corresponding grooves of the brushes and then secured by means of a bayonet joint, clockwise as well as anti-clockwise.
Preferably, the device according to the invention is made of synthetic material for the greater part, which is durable and easy to clean. This applies particularly to the upper and lower section of the basic housing as well as to the tube-shaped housing of the motor and the gears. The upper and lower section may be joined in various ways, and preferably those joints are selected in such a way that both parts may be easily separated to clean the gears and sockets for the brushes and, if necessary, to replace and to rejoin them. For the connection of both sections e.g. nuts and bolts may be used, but also e.g. locking elements of the key type, provided with a pivoted handle, which are inserted at the top of both sections held together and then turned a quarter turn to lock, after which the pivoted handle will be folded in. The bottom of the basic housing usually is provided at the edges or corners with suction cups or feet and the like.
The tube-shaped housing comprises at least a bottom section and a connecting upper section, which are glued together. The upper section may consist of several parts, e.g. a part which houses the motor and, on top of that, a separate part for the sensor and control electronics.
In a preferred embodiment, the bottom part of the tube-shaped housing and the top section of the basic housing are made of one piece. To reinforce this construction usually several extra ribs are applied at the foot-end of the tube-shaped housing.
The gearwheels and sockets for holding the brush axes are also made of one piece. Furthermore, the gearwheels are preferably open, so that as little as possible water, detergent and/or impurities remain on the gearwheels, when the device and/or the water is removed from the rinsing-tub.
The gearwheels are usually made of nylon or similar synthetic material and do not require extra lubrication when used. The gearwheels preferably rotate on pins of synthetic material or stainless steel, which are mounted through or on the lower section of the basic housing. The gearwheels are driven by a driving pinion, which is positioned at the one end of the drive shaft, whereas the other end usually is connected to the motor via a connection element. The driving pinion usually also rotates on a pin on the lower section of the basic housing and is connected effectively via an idler gear, which is mounted in a similar way, with the gearwheels of the brushes. The driving pinion and idler gear are usually effected in such a way that they reduce the number of revolutions of the motor to the desired value for rotation of the brushes. If desired, the gearwheels of the brushes and the idler gear are locked on the pins, e.g. by means of locking rings.
The invention also relates to a method for cleaning containers for drinks, such as drinking glasses, wherein essentially a device is used as defined hereinbefore, which device is positioned in a rinsing-tub fully or partially filled with water, wherein each time one or two glasses are placed on the brushes in order to be cleaned, during which the electric motor and optionally the water-metering system are activated and deactivated by means of a sensor when placing or removing the glasses on/from the brushes, wherein the sensor is positioned on the upper side of or on the device so that the sensor detects the movements of the operator at the rinsing-tub, when the operator nears the brushes of the device with glasses.
The invention will now be described and explained in more detail based with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective front view of the device according to the invention, with only 3 brushes shown;
Figure 2 is a perspective front view of Figure 1, with the basic housing and tube-shaped housing in see-through display;
Figure 3 is a perspective rear view of the device according to the invention, with only 3 brushes shown;
Figure 4 is a perspective rear view of Figure 3, with the basic housing and tube-shaped housing in see-through display;
Figure 5 is a schematic top view of the device according to the invention;
Figure 6 is a schematic top view of Figure 5 with the basic housing and tube-shaped housing in see-through display;
Figure 7 is a schematic top view of the lower section of the basic housing of the device according to the invention with the gearwheels;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the lower section of the basic housing of the device with the gearwheels and the sockets for the brush axles;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the bottom of the upper section of the basic housing and the bottom part integrated with the tube-shaped housing of the motor and drive shaft;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the top section of the basic housing and the lower part integrated with the tube-shaped housing of the motor and drive shaft; and
Figure 11A and B show a rinsing-tub in perspective view and side view, respectively, in which the device according to the invention is contained.

In Figures 1-4, device 1 according to the invention is shown with a basic housing 2 and a tube- shaped housing 4, 5 at the end of the basic housing. The basic housing includes an upper section 15 and a lower section 18, which can be seen in more detail in Figures 7-10, which sections are complementary and together form a hollow space wherein the engaging gearwheels 17, the driving pinion 13 and the idle gear 16 are positioned. On the gearwheels 17 the sockets 7 are positioned, which extend through the holes 20 up to above the upper surface of the basic housing 2, in which sockets the brushes 3 are secured. The complementary upper section 15 and the lower section 18 of the basic housing 2 are interconnected and then locked by means of locking elements 8. The locking elements shown are of the key type and after inserting they are turned one quarter to lock them, whereafter the pivoted handle which serves as a grip is folded away.
The tube-shaped housing preferably comprises a lower section 4 and a separate upper section 5, which is mounted to the lower section with an adequate locking. In the upper section 5 of the embodiment shown the electric motor 10 is positioned, as well as a sensor 6 and the control electronics 14. A power cable (not shown) which is led through hole 21 into the upper section 5 to the control electronics and the motor, will provide power. Optionally, an internal or external (storage) battery may be used for power supply. Optionally, the top section 5 may comprise several separate parts which fit together, wherein in one part e.g. the motor 10 is mounted and in the other part the sensor 6 and the control electronics 14. These embodiments all form part of this invention.
According to the preferred embodiment as illustrated here the sensor 6 is positioned in the upper section 5 of the tube-shaped housing, which means that movements over the rinsing-tub, made by the operator cleaning the drinking glasses are detected immediately. It activates the switch to turn on motor 10, then the motor starts rotating. The rotation power is transferred via the drive shaft 12, which by means of joint 11 is connected to motor 10, to driving pinion 13 which is fixed to drive shaft 12, e.g. by gluing.
In Figures 5 and 6 an embodiment is shown, wherein the gearwheels 17 with the sockets 7 are secured onto the pins by means of locking rings. Figure 6 also illustrates that the gearwheels 17 are open, which is a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figures 7-11 are more detailed drawings which need no further explanation.
It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that modifications and adjustments may be implemented in the cleaning device as described herein.
These modifications and adjustments therefore all fall within the scope of this invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

List of illustrated parts:

1. Cleaning device.
2. Basis, with an upper section 17 and a bottom section 15, wherein the driving unit of the brushes is placed.
3. Cylindrical brushes.
4. Bottom section of the tube-shaped housing for the driving motor and spacer shaft between the motor and gearwheels.
5. Protective cap, also upper section of the tube-shaped housing.
6. Sensor.
7. Socket for inserting brush axes.
8. Locking element for the upper and lower section of the basic housing.
9. Reinforcement rib.
10. Electric motor.
11. Joint between the motor and drive shaft for gearwheels.
12. Drive shaft.
13. Driving pinion.
14. Control electronics.
15. Upper section of the basic housing.
16. Idler gear for reducing the number of revolutions
17. Gearwheels for rotating brushes 3.
18. Lower section of the basic housing.
19. Mounting groove for locking the upper and lower section of the basic housing.
20. Holes for socket 7.
21. Socket for power cable.
22. Reinforcement rib.

Claims

A device (1) for cleaning drinking glasses which is suitable to be immersed partially or fully in a cleaning solution in a rinsing-tub, with a plurality of vertical cylindrical brushes (3), over which a drinking glass can be placed to be scrubbed on the inside and outside, said device comprising:
a basic housing (2) with an essentially complementary upper section (15) and lower section (18), which enclose a hollow space, in which a plurality of engaging, horizontally installed rotatable gearwheels (17) are positioned, whereupon each time an axially extending socket (7) is installed for a cylindrical brush (3), as well as a tube-shaped housing (4, 5) which is positioned essentially vertically at the end of the basic housing (2),

wherein the tube-shaped housing (4, 5) houses an electric motor (10) and a drive shaft (12), wherein the drive shaft (12) is connected at one end (11) to the electric motor (10) and extends at the other end into the basic housing (2), wherein at this other end a driving pinion (13) is positioned which is connected, optionally through an idler gear (16), with one of the rotatable gearwheels (17), and

wherein the cylindrical brushes (3) are detachably connected with the corresponding sockets (7),

wherein the electric motor (10) which drives the brushes (3) is activated and deactivated by means of a sensor (6) and wherein the sensor (6) is fitted on the upper side of or on the tube-shaped housing (5) so that the sensor (6) is able to detect the movement of the operator at the rinsing-tub, when the operator nears the brushes of the device (1) with glasses.
The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor (6) also activates and deactivates a water-metering system, which can be used in combination with the said device.
The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the deactivation of the electric motor (10) and, optionally, the water-metering system takes place with a variable lag time.
The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electric motor (10) during each activation is driven such that it rotates in opposite direction as compared to the preceding activation.
The device of any one of the preceding claims, which comprises five to eight brushes (3), wherein one or two brushes are placed centrally and are surrounded by the other brushes.
The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the axles of one of the central brushes or of both central brushes are tapered towards the free end.
The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the top part of the brushes (3), which are at the free end, have softer bristles than the remaining part of the brushes (3).
The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the brushes (3) can be fixed to the corresponding sockets (7) by means of a bayonet joint.
The device of claim 8, wherein in the sockets (7) for the brushes one or more radial projections turned inwards are mounted, and that at the end of the brush axles which is connected with the sockets, one or more grooves are provided which are formed in such a way that the projections are fitted into the corresponding grooves of the brushes, when inserting the brushes (3) into the sockets (7) and then secured by means of the bayonet joint.
The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper section (15) and lower section (18) of the basic housing (2), as well as the tube-shaped housing (4,5) and gearwheels (13, 16, 17) are made of synthetic material.
The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tube-shaped housing (4,5) comprises at least a lower section (4) and a part joined on top of that (5), of which the lower section (4) of the tube-shaped housing (4,5) and the upper section (15) of the basic housing (2) are made of one piece.
The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gearwheels (17) and the sockets (7) are made of one piece.
The device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gearwheels (17) are open.
A method for cleaning drinking glasses, wherein essentially a device (1) according to any one of claims 1-13 is used, which device (1) is positioned in a rinsing-tub fully or partially filled with water,
wherein each time one or two drinking glasses are placed on the brushes (3) in order to be cleaned, during which the electric motor (10) is activated and deactivated by means of the sensor (6) when placing resp. removing the glasses on/from the brushes, wherein the sensor (6) is fitted on the upper side of or on the device (1) so that the sensor (6) detects the movements of the operator at the rinsing-tub, when the operator nears the brushes of the device (1) with glasses.
A method according to claim 14 and dependent at least on claim 2, wherein the sensor (6) also activates and deactivates the water-metering system.