FR2806286A1 - Washing machine for medical articles has tub with liquid feed nozzles in sidewall controlled by sliding closures - Google Patents

Abstract

The washing machine has a tub with at least two liquid feed nozzles (18) in a side wall (2) of the tub. The nozzles are not used for one cycle of the tub and are selectively closed off by obturator valves (19,21,29) having a movable closure (21) movable axially in the nozzle mouth. The valve is moved to one position by the water pressure. The movable closure is fixed to an actuator (27) extending into the tub. The actuator has a cage mounted in the tub to move and hold the valve open.

Description

 The invention relates to a professional type washing machine as used in hospitals and clinics, laboratories and research centers and certain industries.

Since such washing machines are intended for washing objects of various sizes and shapes, they are designed to receive baskets having washing circuits, the supply connections of which can be located at different heights.

For this purpose, washing machines generally comprise a supply line opening into the washing tank by means of supply outlets situated at different heights, and shutter means making it possible to cut off the supply of the outlets not used.

Regarding washing machines with a single front door to access the tank, the supply outlets are conventionally placed against the bottom wall of the tank, and there are many solutions allowing only the outlets to be activated. required. Such solutions are described in particular in patents FR 2.544.606, EP 0.786.231, 0.401.767, 2.508.789, and generally consist in equipping each supply mouth with a valve maintained normally closed for example by means spring, and to provide each basket with a front connecting element capable of opening this valve when said basket is introduced into the tank.

On the other hand, none of these solutions is conceivable when the washing machine is of the double access type, that is to say has an opening at each of its front faces. In this, in fact, the supply outlets are arranged along one of the side walls of the tank, and their closure can therefore no longer be obtained by means of the devices described above.

For these reasons, at present, the only solution proposed for double-access washing machines consists in providing each supply mouth with a manually operated shutter, a solution obviously less efficient than those proposed for washing machines. with single access.

The present invention aims to overcome this drawback and has the essential objective of providing a washing machine provided with means for automatically closing the supply vents, usable for a single-access machine and a double-access machine.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a machine of the single or double access type provided with means for drying the interior of previously washed objects.

To this end, the invention relates to a professional type washing machine comprising - a washing tub delimited by side walls, and front walls of which at least one of said front walls forms an opening and / or removal of baskets washing,. a washing liquid supply line opening into the tank by at least two supply outlets arranged in the side wall of said tank.

- washing baskets adapted to be introduced into the tank provided with a washing circuit comprising washing nozzles and at least one lateral connection arranged so as to be positioned opposite a supply mouth, in order to allow supplying the washing nozzles, - and means for closing off each supply outlet.

According to the invention, the shutter means of each feed mouth comprise a valve system comprising a movable shutter capable of moving axially in said feed mouth so as to be urged towards a shutter position under the effect of the washing liquid supply pressure, said movable shutter being secured to a projecting actuating member inside the tank, arranged to be moved by a lateral connection of a basket introduced into said tank to cause the movable shutter to move and to be held in an open position allowing the flow of the washing liquid. According to the principle of the invention, each supply mouth is equipped with a valve system designed to be kept in the open position when a basket is positioned opposite this mouth.

On the other hand, the mouths not used during a washing cycle are automatically closed at the start of the washing under the effect of the pressure of the washing liquid, and this regardless of their initial position, open closed.

As a result, the management of the state of the supply vents obtained automatically without requiring any human intervention. In addition, it should be noted that the solution according to the invention can be implemented both for single-access machines and for double-access machines, which significantly facilitates the management of washing machine production units.

According to an advantageous embodiment, each supply mouth consists of a tubular connection secured on the external face of one of the side walls of the tank so as to extend orthogonally relative to the latter, in which the system is integrated. valve.

In addition, advantageously, the valve system comprises a tubular sleeve housed in the tubular connector and provided with a so-called rear end, forming a seat inside said tubular connector, and a movable shutter comprising a tubular body of section adapted to slide in the tubular sleeve, extended, on the one hand, at one of its ends, called rear, by a perforated extension forming an axial support for a closure plate of shape adapted to cooperate with the seat of the valve system, and on the other hand, at its other end, by an annular head projecting inside the tank forming an actuating member.

In addition, advantageously, the annular head has a front face having an oblique profile edge forming an access ramp for a conjugate element formed at the lateral connections of the baskets.

According to another advantageous principle of the invention, the washing machine comprises at least one air supply sheath attached internally against one of the side walls of the tank, said supply sheath being provided with a front wall pierced with 'a plurality of blowing orifices distributed over the height of the latter and being supplied by an air supply duct opening into the latter by means of at least supply outlet, in this case, and according to l invention, the washing machine comprises * at least one blowing mouth formed in the front wall supply duct opposite a supply outlet of said supply duct, said blowing mouth comprising - a valve system air inlet secured to an actuating element projecting inside the tank, and movable relative to the front wall of the ventilation duct between two positions # an active position corresponds ant to a positioning of the actuating element where the latter is attached to the front wall of the ventilation duct, in which it partially channels towards the blowing mouth, the air delivered at the supply outlet, # a passive position corresponding to positioning of the actuating element where the latter is detached from the front wall of the ventilation duct, in which the air delivered at the supply outlet is channeled into said ventilation duct.

- elastic means capable of urging the valve system towards the passive position.

* baskets with a drying duct communicating with the washing circuit and isolated from the latter by two valves capable of preventing the flow of liquid in said drying circuit, this washing circuit opening out at a side connection positioned so as to come opposite a blowing mouth, and of a shape adapted to move and maintain the valve system in its active position.

According to this principle, when a basket with a drying circuit is introduced into the tank, this drying circuit is automatically supplied with drying air allowing the interior of the objects to be dried using the washing circuit and the washing nozzles from the basket. The drying of the outside of the objects is ensured by the air not diverted to each blowing mouth, and delivered in each supply duct.

On the other hand, for baskets not provided with a drying circuit, the blowing outlets are inoperative, and all of the drying air delivered into the supply ducts.

It should be noted, moreover, that, as before, this air outlet system is designed to equip either a single access machine or a double access machine.

Furthermore, according to an advantageous embodiment, and for each blowing mouth - the elastic means comprise - a spring plate disposed in the supply sheath opposite the blowing mouth and pierced with the orifice of said mouth, said mouth spring plate being secured around the periphery of its orifice to the front wall of said supply sheath.

- Two transverse plates arranged in the supply sheath so as to frame the air outlet, said plates having a decreasing section surface forming a seat of concave shape for supporting the leaf spring when the latter is deformed.

- The valve system comprises, on the one hand, a tubular body integral with the actuating element and extending in the blowing mouth in the extension of an orifice formed in said actuating element, said tubular body having dimensions adapted to be able to penetrate between the two transverse plates in the active position of the valve system, and on the other hand, abutment members integral with the actuating element, extending through orifices provided in the front wall of the ventilation duct so as to be in contact with the spring plate.

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings which represent, by way of non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment. In these drawings - Figure 1 is a perspective view in profile of a washing machine tank according to the invention,. Figure 2 is a perspective view according to a second profile of this tank, - Figure 3 is a view, in exploded mode, of the various components of each connecting mouth of this tank, - Figure 4 is a perspective view of the valve of a connection mouth, - Figures 5 and 6 show, in longitudinal section, a connection mouth mounted in the tank, respectively in the closed position in the open position of said mouth, - Figure 7 is a perspective view , in exploded mode, of the various constituent elements of an air inlet valve assembly of the tank according to the invention, - Figures 8 and 9 show, in top view air inlet valve assembly mounted in the tank, respectively in the closed position and in the open position of said assembly, - Figure 10 is a detail perspective view partially showing an assembly of air inlet valve mounted in the tank, - and Figure 11 is a schematic section through a horizontal plane representing the interior of the tank and a basket arranged in the latter.

The washing machine according to the invention represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 is intended for the professional washing of objects in hospitals and clinics, laboratories and research centers and certain industries (pharmaceutical, cosmetological, agro-food, electronic, etc.). ).

This washing machine comprises a tank 1 of which at least two front faces is provided with an access door (not shown), said tank being delimited by two side walls 2, 3, an upper wall 4, communicating in the lower part. with a reservoir 5. Conventionally, this reservoir 5 equipped with a pipe 6 for connection to a pump (not shown) for circulation of the washing liquid as well as a drain pipe 7 provided with a shut-off valve 8, and / or a drain pump (not shown).

On the discharge side, the circulation pump communicates with a vertical column 9 attached externally to the side walls 2 of the tank 1, for supplying washing liquid. This column 9 comprises a first lower connector 10 for supplying a lower rotary washing arm (not shown), four intermediate connectors such as 11 for supplying the connection outlets described below. It is further extended by a horizontal pipe section 12 extending above the upper wall 4 of the tank 1, supplying an upper rotary washing arm (not shown).

Furthermore, in order to ensure the drying of objects after washing, the washing machine has two vertical parallel ducts, such as 13, for supplying drying air, attached externally to the side wall 3 of the opposite tank 1 to the washing liquid supply column 9.

Each of these conduits 13 comprises an air inlet 14 disposed above the upper wall 4 of the tank 1, and an air outlet 15 of rectangular section communicating with the interior of said tank, formed in the lower portion of the latter.

In addition, conventionally, the drying air delivered via each of the air outlets 15 is channeled inside a vertical ventilation duct such that 16 is attached internally to the side wall 3, and having a front wall pierced with blowing orifices such as 17 distributed over the entire surface of said wall.

In addition, conventionally, the tank 1 incorporates lateral rails such as 70 for guiding the baskets during the introduction and removal of the latter. In addition, the washing machine is also equipped with conventional means for controlling and automating the washing and drying cycles.

According to the invention, and firstly, each intermediate connection mouth 11 supplied by the column 9 comprises, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, a threaded cylindrical connection sleeve 18, welded at one of its ends to the side wall 2 of the tank 1, so as to extend outside of the latter.

Each mouth comprises, in addition, a threaded mouth nut 9 of diameter adapted to be screwed inside the connection sleeve 18, said mouth nut having a length shorter than that of said connection sleeve, and comprising a flange end 20 adapted to be pressed against the internal face of the side wall of the tank once this mouth nut 19 is screwed into this connection sleeve 18.

Each mouth also includes a mouth valve 21 comprising a cylindrical body 22 of external diameter adapted to slide inside the mouth nut 19. In one of the cylindrical body extensions 22, the valve 21 has an extension 23 longitudinally perforated having the general shape of a warhead made up of four curved legs such as connected to the right of their free end by an axial knot 25 pierced with a tapped longitudinal bore 26.

Side opposite this extension 23, the cylindrical body 22 includes an end flange 27 abutting against the flange 20 of the mouth nut 19, as explained below. In addition, this flange 27 has a front wall with an edge 28 with an oblique profile forming a ramp.

Each mouth valve 21 finally comprises a closure plate 29 pierced with an axial orifice and a diameter greater than the internal diameter of the mouth nut 19, said closure plate being secured to the extension 23 of the body 22 of said valve by means of a screw 30 screwed into the threaded bore 26 of said extension.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the assembly of the mouths consists in introducing the mouth valve 21 into the mouth nut 19, then then in securing the closure plate 29 on the extension 23. In this way, the mouth valve 21 can move longitudinally inside the mouth nut 19 between two stop positions - a position for closing the mouth in which the closure plate 29 is in contact with the face d end of the mouth nut 19 opposite the flange 20 of the latter.

a mouth opening position in which the flange 27 of the mouth valve 21 is pressed against that of the mouth nut 19.

The last operation finally consists in screwing the mouth nut 19 into the connection sleeve 18.

With a view to actuating these connection openings, and according to the invention, each basket comprises, as shown in FIG. 6, on the periphery of each supply pipe 31 for supplying the washing nozzles of said basket, a protrusion 32 having a front face 33 'oblique profile forming a ramp for pushing the valve 21 of the corresponding mouth to its open position, during the introduction of this basket.

According to this principle, during the introduction of a basket into the tank 1, each connection mouth located opposite a pipe 31 for supplying the washing nozzles of a basket is automatically brought and maintained in state opening hours.

On the other hand, the connection mouths not used for the basket considered, are automatically brought and maintained in their closed position, due to the liquid pressure in the column 9 and fittings 11 which results in moving and maintaining the mouth valve. 21 in the closed position.

According to another principle of the invention, the washing machine adapted to allow the interior of previously washed objects to be dried, such as for example the anesthesia pipes in the medical field.

To this end, and firstly, each vertical ventilation duct 16 is provided, opposite the air outlet orifice 15 of the associated duct 13, with an air inlet valve assembly shown in FIGS. 7 to 10.

In view of the deflections of this air inlet valve assembly, the front wall of each ventilation duct 16 is firstly pierced with a circular orifice 40 coaxial with the air outlet orifice 15. L the air inlet valve assembly comprises, in the first place, spring plate 41 of combined length of the width of the ventilation duct 16 and of combined width of the height of the air outlet 15. This spring plate 41 is, moreover, pierced with a circular orifice 42 conjugated with orifice 40. This spring plate 41 is positioned inside the ventilation duct 16 so that the orifices 40, 42 are coaxial, and secured , on the periphery of its orifice 42, at the front wall of said ventilation duct so as to be pressed against the latter in the absence of stress.

The air inlet valve assembly also includes two stop plates 43, 44 arranged transversely in each ventilation duct 16, and adapted to form a seat limiting the deformation of the spring plate 41.

These two abutment plates 43, 44 coplanar respectively with the lower and upper edges of the air outlet 15 have, seen in plan, a trapezoidal shape the largest base of which has a length combined with that of said air outlet, and is extended by a perpendicular wing 46 for fixing said plate to the side wall 3 of the tank 1.

The smallest base of each of the abutment plates 43, 44 is itself extended by a perpendicular wing 45 of abutment and of holding the central part of the spring plate 41 against the front wall of the ventilation duct 16.

Each air inlet valve assembly further comprises an air valve 47 projecting from the tank 1 relative to the front wall of the ventilation duct 16. This air valve 47 is located under the shape of a hollow housing of trapezoidal longitudinal section, closed at its rear face by a support plate 49, said housing and support plate being axially pierced with a bore 48.

This air valve 47 further comprises a tube 50 secured to the support plate 49 so as to extend in the extension of the bore 48 and to penetrate into the orifice 41 of the front wall of the ventilation duct. 16. Each air inlet valve assembly comprises, finally, four studs such as 51 secured to the support plate 49, and extending through orifices formed in the front wall of the ventilation duct 16, said said studs being provided with a head 51a at their free end while limiting the deflections of the air valve 47.

Furthermore, with a view to actuating the air valves and according to the invention, each basket comprises, as shown in FIG. 9, on the periphery of each drying duct 52, a protrusion 53 having a front face with an oblique profile 54 forming a ramp.

As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the principle of operation of this drying system is as follows.

When a basket of conventional type not provided for allowing the interior of the washed objects to be dried is placed in the tank, the air valve 47 does not act on the leaf spring 41 which is therefore pressed against the front wall of the ventilation duct. 16 (Figure 8). The drying air supplied at the air outlet 15 is therefore for the most part supplied in the ventilation duct 16 and blown into the tank 1 through the orifices 17.

On the other hand, when a basket provided with protrusions 53 introduced into the tank, the air valve 47 is pushed against the front wall of the ventilation duct and causes a deformation of the leaf spring 41 by means of the studs 51. The drying air is then delivered into drying duct 52 via the tube 50. It should however be noted that the spring plate 41 is never pressed hermetically against the stop plates 43, in practice, only about 50% of the air flow is delivered in the drying pipe 52, the other half being delivered in the ventilation duct 16. Thus, the objects are dried internally and externally.

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates, from above, a basket 60 having a washing circuit 61 and a drying circuit 63.

As shown in this figure, these two circuits 61 63 form a single nozzle supply loop 62 comprising two valves 64, 65 preventing the liquid from flowing in the drying circuit.

Claims (1)

 CLAIMS 1 / - Professional type washing machine comprising - a washing tub (1) bounded by side walls (2, 3), and front walls of which at least one of said front walls forms an opening opening and / or washing basket removal (60), - a pipe (9) for supplying washing liquid opening into the tank (1) by at least two supply outlets (11) arranged in a side wall (2) of said tank. - washing baskets) adapted to be introduced into the tank (1) and provided with a washing circuit (61) comprising washing nozzles (62) and at least one lateral connection (31) arranged so as to be positioned opposite a supply mouth (11), to allow the supply of the washing nozzles (61), and means for closing each supply mouth (11), said washing machine being characterized in that the means for closing each supply mouth (11) comprise a valve system (19, 21, 29) comprising movable shutter (21) capable of moving axially in said supply mouth so as to be acted upon towards a closed position under the pressure of the washing liquid supply pressure, said movable shutter being secured 'an actuating member (27) projecting inside the tank (1), arranged to be moved by a lateral connection (31) of a basket (60) inserted in ladi te tank so as to cause movement and maintenance of the movable shutter (21) in an open position allowing the flow of washing liquid. 2 / - Washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each supply mouth (1) consists of a tubular connection (18) secured to the external face of one of the side walls (2) of the tank (1 ) so as to extend orthogonally to the latter, in which the valve system (19, 21, 29) is integrated. 3 / - Washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the valve system comprises tubular sleeve (19) housed in the tubular connector (18) and endowed with a so-called rear end, forming a seat inside of said tubular connector, and a movable obturator (21) comprising a tubular body of section adapted to slide in the tubular sleeve (19), extended, on the one hand, at one of its ends, called rear, by an extension perforated (23) forming an axial support for a closure plate (29) of a shape adapted to cooperate with the seat of the valve system, and on the other hand, at its other end, by an annular head (27) in projection inside the tank (1) forming an actuating member. 4 / - Washing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the annular head (27) has a front face having edge (28) with oblique profile forming an access ramp for a conjugate element (32) formed at the connections side (31) of the baskets (60). 5 / - Washing machine according to one of claims 1 to 4 comprising at least one air supply sheath (16) attached internally against one of the side walls (3) of the tank (1), said sheath supply being provided with a front wall pierced with a plurality of blowing orifices (17) distributed over the height of the latter and being supplied by air supply duct (opening into the latter by means of at least one supply outlet (15), said washing machine being characterized in that it comprises * at least one blowing mouth (40) formed in the front wall of a supply duct (16) facing a supply outlet (15) from said supply duct, said blowing mouth comprising - an air inlet valve system (50, 51) secured to an actuating element (47) projecting from the inside of the tank (1), and movable relative to the front wall of the ventilation duct (1 6) between two positions # an active position corresponding to a positioning of the actuating element (47) where the latter is attached to the front wall of the ventilation duct (16), in which it partially channels towards the mouth of blowing (40, the air delivered at the supply outlet (15), # a passive position corresponding to a positioning of the actuating element (47) where the latter is detached from the front wall of the sheath ventilation (16), in which the air supplied at the supply outlet (15) is channeled in said ventilation duct. elastic means (41) able to urge the valve system towards its passive position. * baskets (60) provided with a drying duct (63) communicating with the washing circuit (61) and isolated from the latter by two valves (64, 65) capable of preventing the flow of liquid in said circuit drying, this washing circuit (63) opening out at a lateral connection (52) positioned so as to come opposite a blowing mouth (40), and of a shape adapted to move and maintain the valve system ( 50, 51) in its active position. 6 / - Washing machine according to claim 5, characterized in that, for each blowing mouth - the elastic means comprise - a spring plate (41) disposed in the supply sheath (16) opposite the blowing mouth (40) and pierced with an orifice () conjugated with that of said mouth, said spring plate being secured around the periphery of its orifice to the front wall of said supply sheath. - two transverse plates (43, 44) arranged in the supply sheath (16) so as to frame the air outlet (15), said plates having a surface of decreasing section forming a seat of concave form of support of the leaf spring (41) during deformation of the latter. - The valve system comprises, of a tubular body (50) integral with the actuating element (47) and extending in the blowing mouth (40) in the extension of an orifice (48) formed in said actuating element, said tubular body having dimensions adapted to be able to penetrate between the two transverse plates (44) in the active position of the valve system, and on the other hand, abutment members (51) integral with the actuation element (47), extending through orifices in the front wall of the ventilation duct so as to be in contact with the spring plate (41).