FR2688203A1 - INSTALLATION FOR AUTOMATIC CLEANING OF CONTAINERS SUCH AS BINS. - 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.

Description

1 - Installation for automatic cleaning of containers

such as Poube L Les.

  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, industrial, agricultural, public, etc. detritus or waste, this installation preferably being carried out under form of self-propelled vehicle According to a more particularly interesting practical assignment, although in no way limiting, the self-propelled installation according to the invention is intended to allow the fully automatic washing of the containers used for the mechanized collection of household waste and which must be

  frequently cleaned for obvious hygienic reasons.

  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 outer walls of the said container (s) The different washing heads are rotary, but they occupy fixed positions, inside of

  box, during container washing.

  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 with respect to the location of said washing heads This drawback is aggravated by the fact that each bin has a particular state of dirtiness. Indeed, the external surfaces and, above all, internal, of the containers of neck reads household waste, 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, from one container to the other, so that a part p Read or less significant 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 not

with enough force.

  There is also known (EP-A-0 312 476), a self-propelled installation for semi-automatic cleaning of trash cans or the like comprising a washing box, one of the side walls of which is equipped with a bellows carrying a manually adjustable washing lance. 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

  arranged 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 pass

  several hours in the washing booth.

  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 L container. inside the box and to get it out at the end of the washing operation, closing means 3 - sealed from said opening, and a p Lura Lity of washing heads arranged inside said box, At least one of these washing heads 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 are arranged so as to spray the washing liquid onto the outer walls of the container or containers, this washing installation being notably remarkable for the fact that the washing head or each lavag head e centra The intended to spray the washing liquid under pressure inside the container or containers introduced in the box, is subject to a mechanical drive device allowing to place it automatically place inside said container , preferably according to three

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 along said wall, preferably one

  end to the other of this L this one.

  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. various interventions required by the washing of a container can easily be carried out by a single operator, who can also ensure, if necessary,

  driving the vehicle from one Wash Location to another.

  The above purposes, features and benefits, and

  still others will emerge more clearly from the description which

  follows and attached drawings, in which -

  Figure 1 is a side view, schematic, and with partial longitudinal section, of a self-propelled container cleaning vehicle according to the invention, shown in the previous position

  The introduction of a container in the washing box.

  FIG. 2 is a side view, with a larger scale L Le and of a schematic nature, of the washing device proper illustrated in the washing position of a container

  introduced in the washing box.

  Figure 3 is a perspective view in schematic of the mechanical drive device for moving the washing head or heads to

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.

  FIG. 7 is a detail view, on a larger scale, of FIG. 6, showing more especially the means ensuring the movements of advance and retreat of the

Washing heads.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the position of the various washing heads of the installation, around the location occupied by

  The container (s) during washing.

  Reference is made to said drawings to describe an example of an interesting, but not limiting, execution 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.

  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 exit of the containers VS; a handling device 6 installed at the rear of the washing box 4 and allowing, on the one hand, the hanging of the containers C, their lifting and their introduction into the said box and, on the other hand, the rep Lacer at so L 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 lacquer-support 6 a of the handling device 6 and, on the other hand, a pivoting door 7 disposed at The upper part of said opening including the periphery or that of the door 7 and of the lacquer-support 6 a can be fitted with a peripheral seal; a tank 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 fi lter 10 which can be placed on the duct 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 filter L 11 vertica L 11, the first of these parts constituting a tank 12 for decanting water sa The reciei L Lies, while the second part 13 fills the function of the waste recovery trough so Lides which fall into the bottom of the said lacquer trough L Le is provided with a drainage orifice equipped with a sealed closure member;

  means for recycling wastewater.

  According to the invention, the means for recycling the wastewater include, in addition to or the settling tanks

12:

  a fi lter 14 with vertical walls housed vertically in the reservoir 8 and a pump 15 disposed on the circuit linking the settling tank 12 and the upper part of the fi lter 14; The base of the fi lter 14 advantageously communicates with a tubing Lure deco lmatage 16 equipped with a shutter member whose opening provides the deco Automatic lmatage of the filter and the evacuation of particles so Lides detached from the walls of this Him -this, under the action of Water 6 - clean contained in the tank 8; optionally, a filter 17 with a vertical wall, also housed vertically in the reservoir 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 '' water

  filtered towards the high pressure pump 9.

  As indicated previously, 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 feature 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 into the box 4, is subject to an automatic drive device designated as a whole by the reference 40 in Figures 1 and 2 and for moving the or said washing heads inside said container, preferably in three

perpendicular directions.

  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

  chassis being, Slightly tilted backwards.

  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, sliders 22 a which can move on two slides

  horizontal 21a of the main chassis 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 21 b of the main chassis 21 to The upper part 22 b of the secondary chassis 22, while the lower cylinder 24 connects the lower part 21 c of said main chassis to The lower part 22 c of said secondary chassis, the synchronized operation of these cylinders being controlled by hydraulic distributors or

tires, known per se.

  On the secondary chassis 22 movable horizontally, is mounted, with a possibility of movement up or down, a support trolley 25 which comprises, for example, for this purpose, slides 25 a which can slide on two spaced guide columns 22 d rigidly secured to 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 from the vertical.

  The upward or downward movements of the support carriage 25 are provided by a central cylinder 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, 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 20 fitted to 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

  about 10 degrees from the horizontal.

  The use of two twin washing heads 20 has the advantage of allowing the cleaning either of a container of large dimensions, or of two containers of smaller dimensions introduced simultaneously into the washing box 4 and into each of which can penetrate the a

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. 8 - The simultaneous forward or backward movements of the cleaning lances 27 are ensured 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 fixed. 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 delimiting the washing enclosure

proper.

  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, by means of the secondary chassis 22 sliding on the slides 21 a of the main chassis; in a direction perpendicular to the previous one, upwards or downwards, by means of the support carriage 25 sliding on the guide columns 22a of the secondary chassis 22; in a third direction perpendicular to the previous two, forwards or backwards, by means of the jack 28 ensuring the forward movements

  and backward movement of said cleaning lances.

  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 can include one or more cycles of the various aforementioned movements, the succession and frequency of which can be 9 - regulated by an automatic control system or PLC programmed to control, as desired, the operation of the device. Lage hydraulics or pneumatic equipment ensuring the movements of different washing heads mobi Les We do not describe a te Lage device which does not, in itself, within the scope of

  present 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 automaton controlling the operation of the installation. In this way, the washing heads can have very trajectories

  varied inside containers.

  In addition to the central washing heads 20 intended for cleaning the interior surfaces of the containers, The installation also relates to various washing heads which are peripheral for cleaning the exterior surfaces of said containers and arranged around the space occupied by the latter, during their cleaning, these washing heads being for example constituted by projection ramps with mu jets Ltip Les P Lus precisely, The installation comprises: two mobile lateral washing ramps 32, for example fixed, each to the end of the rod of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 33, for washing the sides of the container; an upper washing ramp mobi Le 34, for example fixed to the end of the rod of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 35, for cleaning the cover and the upper part of the container; a fixed lower washing ramp 36 for cleaning the upper bin 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

  p Tilting support lacquer 6 a of the handling device 6.

  The fixed body of the jacks 33 and 35 carrying the ramps of - Mobi washing The 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 body 3, and their movable rod 33 a, 35 a, is extended by an arm which crosses, in a sealed manner, the said flexible wall 31 or the rigid wall surrounding the latter The mobile rods 33 a, 35 a can also pass through bellows 41 similar to the 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 center, etc. In another compartment 39 arranged at the before the soup wall Le 31, the devices ensuring the movements of the mobile washing heads are installed. The third compartment constitutes the actual washing enclosure 4 below which are the water recovery enclosures

dirty and trash.

  At the rear of the vehicle Le, there is a control console on which L are placed the various commands of the insta L Washing station te L Les that: opening of the washing enclosure, introduction of the container into said enclosure , closing of this L Le-ci, 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 of the high pressure pump, opening of L ' enclosure, unloading of the cleaned container,

closing the washing chamber.

  It is understood that a single operator can drive the vehicle and execute the different phases

cleaning a container.

he -

Claims (9)

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S   1 Instal Lation for the automatic cleaning of containers such as, for example, trash cans or containers arranged for the mechanized collection of household waste, comprising a washing box (4) having an opening (5) for the passage of the containers, means of loading (6) for inserting at least one container inside the box (4) and for removing it from the latter at the end of the washing operation, sealing means (6 a, 7) of said container opening (5), and a plurality of washing heads (20, 32, 34, 36, 37) disposed inside said box (4), at least one of these washing heads (20) being arranged so as to spray a washing liquid such as water under pressure inside the container or containers introduced into the box, while at least one of the other washing heads (32, 34, 36, 37) is arranged so as to spray the washing liquid on the outer walls of the container or containers, because operated in that the central washing head (20) or each central washing head (20) intended to spray the washing liquid under pressure inside the container or containers introduced into the box is subject to a mechanical automatic drive device (40)   allowing it to be moved inside said container.   2 cleaning installation according to claim 1, characterized in that said mechanical drive device (40), is arranged to move the central washing head (s) (20) in three perpendicular directions or in combinations of these three movements. 3 Cleaning installation according to one of   claims 1 or 2, characterized in that The device   automatic drive of the central washing head (s) (20) comprises: a fixed main frame (21) arranged transversely; 12 a secondary chassis (22) mounted with an ability to move horizontally on said fixed chassis (21); a support carriage (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 a capacity for axial movement forwards and backwards on said support carriage (25); means (23, 24, 26, 28) ensuring the movements of the secondary chassis (22), of the support carriage (25) and of the cleaning lances (27).   4 cleaning installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the cleaning lance (s) (27) are supported, in their front part, by a flexible and ample wall (31) for example constituted by a bellows disposed between the box washing machine (4) and the compartment (39) in which the automatic drive device is installed (40).   5 Cleaning installation according to any one of   Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one   peripheral wash heads (32, 34) is mounted with ability to move along the side surface   containers (C) introduced into the washing box (4).   6 Cleaning installation according to claim 5, 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 lateral washing heads ( 34) arranged each side of said location.   7 Cleaning installation according to any one of   claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the head   washing (20) equipping the free end of the cleaning lance (s) (27) is constituted by a rotating nozzle at 13 - several jets, known per se.   8 Cleaning installation according to any one of   Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the heads of   washing devices (32, 34), are carried by the movable rod (33 a, 35 a) of cylinders (33, 35), which passes through a   bellows (41) to which it is fixed.   9 cleaning installation according to claim 1, characterized in that a filter with vertical walls (14) is housed in the water tank (8), the base of this filter (14) communicating with an unclogging pipe (16 ) sure which is fitted with a shutter.   Cleaning installation according to one of   Claims 1 or 9, 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).