GB2352703A

GB2352703A - Steam cleaning system for conveyors

Info

Publication number: GB2352703A
Application number: GB9918107A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Handy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-08-02
Filing date: 1999-08-02
Publication date: 2001-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 2019-08-02
Also published as: GB9918107D0; GB2352703B

Abstract

An oscillating steam cleaning system for conveyors comprises a fixed chassis 1 that is secured on or relative to the conveyor assembly 7, and steam nozzles 4 mounted onto a sliding body 2 that is cycled in a reciprocating motion provided by a connection to a motor 11. With a steam supply attached to a connector 12 the individual steam nozzles 4 locally concentrate steam on the conveyor 7 and the oscillating motion provided by the motor 11 moves the steam nozzles across the width of the moving conveyor sweeping the whole surface in either one or several passes. The motor 11 may provide the oscillating motion by either an offset shaft 10 acting in a slot on the sliding body 2 or by a rotating gear acting on a matching linear shaft. Alternatively, the motor 11 may be a linear acting motor or ram. The position and orientation of the nozzles 4 may be variable to provide different levels of surface coverage. The system may further include a scraper or brush (3, Figure 1, not shown), an air dryer (8) a receptacle (9) for collecting debris from the conveyor and cover (5) surrounding the system above and below the conveyor.

Description

1 2352703 STEAM CLEANING SYSTEM FOR CONVEYORS This invention relates to a

device for cleaning conveyors and the like using the power of concentrated steam jets oscillating across the moving surface of a conveyor.

Conveyors are widely used in the food and manufacturing industries to move items through various stages of production. They are normally arranged in a continuous loop so that as each part of the conveyor deposits ifs item it returns to move another, and so on.

Many conveyor designs have a mesh or inter-linked structure that is difficult to clean. Any spilt product and the like collects within the conveyor and builds-up as the conveyor continues it's cycle. This presents a problem for maintaining hygiene and cleanliness, requiring the frequent and time consuming dismantling and manual cleaning of the conveyor.

Conventional moving conveyor cleaners use static high-pressure water jets mounted on the conveyor structure to blast the conveyor clean using relatively high volumes of water. Water jets are effective, but to avoid stray water affecting the production this is usually carried out when production is stopped. Pressurised steam cleans in a different way to water, in that the steam cleaning power is close to the steam jets, making it difficult to clean large surfaces such as conveyors.

According to the present invention there is provided an oscillating steam cleaning system, comprising a fixed chassis secured on or relative to the conveyor assembly, a sliding or lateral moving body or manifold onto which is mounted steam jets directed at the conveyor and connecting means for attaching a steam supply, a motor means having been adapted to oscillate the sliding body or manifold relative to the fixed chassis, and a cover means above and below the conveyor having been adapted to connect to an extracting means for removing steam away from the machine. Individual steam jets are positioned 2 across the conveyor locally concentrating steam power on the conveyor and when combined with the lateral oscillating motion of the assembly the steam jets pass over the full surface of the moving conveyor.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure I shows a simplified section showing a side view where the conveyor is moving in a right to left direction; Figure 2 shows an end view with the sliding body moved to the left; and Figure 3 shows an end view with the sliding body moved to the fight.

Referring to the drawings the conveyor cleaner comprises a fixed chassis 1 secured on or relative to the conveyor structure, a sliding or lateral moving body or manifold 2 onto which is mounted any number of steam jets 4 directed at the conveyor and connecting means 12 for attaching a steam supply, a motor means I I which having been adapted to oscillate the sliding or lateral moving body or manifold 2 relative to the fixed chassis I by, for example, a rotating cam or offset shaft 10 acting in a slot on the sliding or lateral moving body or manifold 2, a cover means above and below the conveyor 7 having been adapted to connect 6 to an extracting means, for example a vacuum device, to remove steam from the machine.

With a steam supply attached to the connecting means 12 the individual steam jets 4 locally concentrate steam power effectively on the conveyor 7 and the oscillating motion provided by the motor means I I moves the concentrated steam jets across the width of the moving conveyor sweeping the full surface in either one pass or several passes.

In order to accommodate differing cleaning conditions the oscillation stroke, oscillation frequency, and the number and orientation of steam jets 4 are variable. An in-line scraper 3 or brush or spraying means 3 is used to loosen debris and waste matter prior to steam cleaning, and an in-line air-dryer 8 is used to remove any condensation following the steam cleaning. A removable receptacle means 9 is provided to collect debris or waste material.

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Claims

1. An oscillating steam cleaning system for conveyors and the like, comprising a fixed chassis secured on or relative to the conveyor assembly, a sliding or lateral moving body or manifold onto which is mounted steam jets directed at the conveyor and connecting means for attaching to a steam supply, a motor means having been adapted to oscillate the sliding or lateral moving body or manifold relative to the fixed chassis

2. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in claim I wherein cover means above and below the conveyor are provided having been adapted to connect to a vacuum means for removing steam from the machine,

3. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in any preceding claim where the motor means provides the oscillation by a rotating cam or offset shaft acting in a slot on the sliding means.

4. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2 where the motor means provides the oscillation by a rotating gear or wheel acting on a matching linear shaft.

5. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2 where the motor means is a linear acting motor or ram.

6. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in any preceding claim where the system cleans both surfaces of the conveyor at the same time.

7. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in any preceding claim where the system can be mounted in any orientation relative to the conveyor belt.

8. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in any preceding claim where the oscillation speed is variable to provide different levels of cleaning power.

9. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in any preceding claim where the oscillation stroke is variable to provide different levels of surface coverage.

10. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in any preceding claim where the jet positions are variable to provide different levels of surface coverage.

11. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in any preceding claim where the jet orientations are variable to provide different levels of surface coverage.

12. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in any preceding claim with means for spraying water or chemicals to loosen or remove waste or debris, or to sanitise to conveyor, in conjunction with the steam cleaning.

13. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in any preceding claim with mechanical means for scraping or brushing the conveyor to loosen or remove waste or debris in conjunction with the steam cleaning.

14. An oscillating stearn cleaning system as claimed in any preceding claim with the provision of a means for drying the conveyor of condensation, for example by an air dryer, following the steam cleaning.

15. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in any preceding claim where the device is portable or detachable from the conveyor.

16. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in any preceding claim where the device can be moved away from the surface of the conveyor to allow conveyed goods to pass through.

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17. An oscillating steam cleaning system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a removable receptacle means above or below the conveyor is provided to collect debris or waste material.

18. An oscillating steam cleaning system for conveyors and the like substantially as described herein with reference to Figures I to 3 of the accompanying drawings.