GB2155770A - Method and apparatus for cleaning dusty bags - Google Patents

Abstract

Dusty bags are cleaned by introducing the bag (11) with its dusty surface outermost into a chamber (12) to be cleaned by rotary brushes (14). The dust removed may be collected in a bag (24). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for cleaning dust collecting bags This invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning dust collecting bags.

Although disposable dust collecting bags have found widespread acceptance in some applications, for example in domestic vacuum cleaners, there are other applications where the requirement is for heavy duty woven fabric bags, which are not disposable not only on account of the high cost but also because they are perhaps more securely fastened in place and less readily exchanged.

Such bags, however, must be emptied and cleaned. This is a manual operation involving the use of a handbrush to remove dust and fluff accretions on the everted dust collecting surface of the bag. It is an unpleasantly dusty task and on that account not infrequently "overlooked" by operators, say, of dry cleaning machines, in which, however, it is necessary to clean the bag frequently -say every three or four loads, or twice a day-if the operation of the machine is not to be impaired, which entails usually removing the bag from the frame.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for cleaning dust collecting bags which is quick and effective in operation and which avoids the unpleasant nature of the task.

The invention comprises a method for cleaning a dust collecting bag comprising introducing the bag with its dusty surface outermost into a chamber through an inlet and brushing the dusty surface at said inlet so as to throw the removed dust into the chamber.

Apparatus according to the invention for cleaning a dust collecting bag comprises a chamber having an inlet through which the bag can be introduced with its dusty surface outermost into the chamber, and brush means at said inlet adapted to brush said dusty surface so as to throw the removed dust into the chamber.

The apparatus may comprise rotary brush means, which may comprise two rotary brushes, one each side of the inlet so as to contact the bag from opposite sides at the same time. Electric motor means may be provided driving said brush means, and automatic switch means, for example a proximity switch or a switch actuated by a hinged flap normally closing off the inlet, may be provided to start said motor means when a bag is introduced.

The said chamber may itself include or even comprise a removable, disposable dust collecting bag.

The method and apparatus are adapted from a machine used by dry cleaners for removing fluff from the turnups of trousers, mostly long since discarded, turnups not having been in vogue for some years now.

Two embodiments of apparatus and a method for cleaning dust collecting bags according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a part sectional side elevation of one embodiment, and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of another embodiment.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 for cleaning a dust collecting bag 11 comprises a chamber 12 having an inlet 13 through which the bag 11 can be introduced with its dusty surface lia outermost, which is to say, usually, everted, into the chamber 12, and brush means 14 at said inlet 13 adapted to brush said dusty surface 1 lea so as to throw the removed dust into the chamber 12.

Said brush means 14 of the embodiment of Figure 1 comprise rotary brushes of which one, 14a, is driven by a drive band 15 from an electric motor 16 in the direction of the arrow, and the other, 14b, is driven through endwise-disposed gear or friction wheels 17.

The inlet 13 is normally closed by a flap 18 which is spring loaded and which has a contact arm 19 for a switch 21 for the motor so as to activate the motor to drive the brushes when the bag 11 is introduced.

A panel 22 of the chamber is hinged at 23 to facilitate access to a dispensable dust collecting bag 24 hung on a support 25 mounted in the chamber 12 below the brush means 14.

Figure 2 illustrates an arrangement in which the brush means 14 and the motor 16 are associated with a chamber 12 which is open to below and is adapted to sit on a refuse bin 31 that takes the usual plastic liner 32. In this case, the drive from the motor is shown as two bands 15.

The location of the brushes 14 is preferably adjustable as indicated by the arrows on Figure 2 to compensate for wear of the bristles.

1. A method for cleaning a dust-collecting bag comprising introducing the bag with its dusty surface outermost into a chamber through an inlet and brushing said dusty surface at said inlet so as to throw the removed dust into the chamber.

2. Apparatus for cleaning a dust-collecting bag comprising a chamber having an inlet through which the bag can be introduced with its dusty surface outermost into the chamber, and brush means at said inlet adapted to brush said dusty surface so as to throw the removed dust into the chamber.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, said brush means comprising rotary brush means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising two rotary brushes one each side of the inlet so that the brushes contact the bag from opposite sides at the same time.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising electric motor means driving said brush means in rotation.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for cleaning dust collecting bags This invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning dust collecting bags. Although disposable dust collecting bags have found widespread acceptance in some applications, for example in domestic vacuum cleaners, there are other applications where the requirement is for heavy duty woven fabric bags, which are not disposable not only on account of the high cost but also because they are perhaps more securely fastened in place and less readily exchanged. Such bags, however, must be emptied and cleaned. This is a manual operation involving the use of a handbrush to remove dust and fluff accretions on the everted dust collecting surface of the bag. It is an unpleasantly dusty task and on that account not infrequently "overlooked" by operators, say, of dry cleaning machines, in which, however, it is necessary to clean the bag frequently -say every three or four loads, or twice a day-if the operation of the machine is not to be impaired, which entails usually removing the bag from the frame. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for cleaning dust collecting bags which is quick and effective in operation and which avoids the unpleasant nature of the task. The invention comprises a method for cleaning a dust collecting bag comprising introducing the bag with its dusty surface outermost into a chamber through an inlet and brushing the dusty surface at said inlet so as to throw the removed dust into the chamber. Apparatus according to the invention for cleaning a dust collecting bag comprises a chamber having an inlet through which the bag can be introduced with its dusty surface outermost into the chamber, and brush means at said inlet adapted to brush said dusty surface so as to throw the removed dust into the chamber. The apparatus may comprise rotary brush means, which may comprise two rotary brushes, one each side of the inlet so as to contact the bag from opposite sides at the same time. Electric motor means may be provided driving said brush means, and automatic switch means, for example a proximity switch or a switch actuated by a hinged flap normally closing off the inlet, may be provided to start said motor means when a bag is introduced. The said chamber may itself include or even comprise a removable, disposable dust collecting bag. The method and apparatus are adapted from a machine used by dry cleaners for removing fluff from the turnups of trousers, mostly long since discarded, turnups not having been in vogue for some years now. Two embodiments of apparatus and a method for cleaning dust collecting bags according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a part sectional side elevation of one embodiment, and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of another embodiment. The apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 for cleaning a dust collecting bag 11 comprises a chamber 12 having an inlet 13 through which the bag 11 can be introduced with its dusty surface lia outermost, which is to say, usually, everted, into the chamber 12, and brush means 14 at said inlet 13 adapted to brush said dusty surface 1 lea so as to throw the removed dust into the chamber 12. Said brush means 14 of the embodiment of Figure 1 comprise rotary brushes of which one, 14a, is driven by a drive band 15 from an electric motor 16 in the direction of the arrow, and the other, 14b, is driven through endwise-disposed gear or friction wheels 17. The inlet 13 is normally closed by a flap 18 which is spring loaded and which has a contact arm 19 for a switch 21 for the motor so as to activate the motor to drive the brushes when the bag 11 is introduced. A panel 22 of the chamber is hinged at 23 to facilitate access to a dispensable dust collecting bag 24 hung on a support 25 mounted in the chamber 12 below the brush means 14. Figure 2 illustrates an arrangement in which the brush means 14 and the motor 16 are associated with a chamber 12 which is open to below and is adapted to sit on a refuse bin 31 that takes the usual plastic liner 32. In this case, the drive from the motor is shown as two bands 15. The location of the brushes 14 is preferably adjustable as indicated by the arrows on Figure 2 to compensate for wear of the bristles. CLAIMS

1. A method for cleaning a dust-collecting bag comprising introducing the bag with its dusty surface outermost into a chamber through an inlet and brushing said dusty surface at said inlet so as to throw the removed dust into the chamber.

2. Apparatus for cleaning a dust-collecting bag comprising a chamber having an inlet through which the bag can be introduced with its dusty surface outermost into the chamber, and brush means at said inlet adapted to brush said dusty surface so as to throw the removed dust into the chamber.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, said brush means comprising rotary brush means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising two rotary brushes one each side of the inlet so that the brushes contact the bag from opposite sides at the same time.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising electric motor means driving said brush means in rotation.

6. Apparatus according to any ore of claims 2 to 5, comprising a removable, disposable dust collecting bag.

7. Apparatus for cleaning a dust collecting bag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.