NZ250101A - Transportable apparatus, for cleaning lighting diffuser panels, having cleaning and drying compartments - Google Patents

Description

2 5 0 10 1 ' FEB J3S5 ~ I : ^-€Zj Patents Form No 5 THE PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional: Number: 250101 Dated : 5 November 1993 CLEANING APPARATUS FOR STRIP LIGHTING DIFFPSER PANELS AND COVERS I, CALUM ANGUS FINLAYSON, a New Zealand citizen of 87 Wai-iti Crescent, Lower Hutt, New Zealand, hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: CLEANING APPARATUS FOR STRIP LIGHTING DIFFUSER PANELS AND COVERS Field of invention and Background 5 This invention relates to washing and drying apparatus, and more particularly to washing and drying apparatus for commercial application in the cleaning of strip lighting diffuser panels and like transparent or transluscent plastics covers commonly employed in such 10 as office buildings, factories and the like.

Generally strip lighting eg fluorescent lighting, fittings are very infrequently cleaned because this is conventionally a manual operation which is time 15 consuming and interuptive of business operations when carried out during normal working hours. As a consequence substantial effective light loss occurs over a period of time with unclean diffuser panels and/or fitting covers.

Objects of Invention An object of the present invention is to provide portable or transportable washing and drying apparatus which is simple for an operator to use and enables 25 relatively rapid and effective cleaning and drying of elongate strip lighting diffuser panels and fitting covers. The apparatus may also be usable for cleaning other similarly elongate articles or objects.

Other and more particular objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description.

Summary of Invention 35 According to one aspect of this invention therefore, there is provided apparatus for the cleaning of elongate objects such as strip lighting diffuser panels and/or covers comprising a transportable support unit defining or mounting an elongate table with an at least partially closed housing thereover, said housing defining a first cleaning compartment and a second drying compartment separated by divider means and having opposite outer 5 end parts of the cleaning and drying compartments being respectively substantially closed by entry means and exit means through which elongate objects to be cleaned can be passed, the divider means also providing for passage of the objects therethrough; said support unit 10 further mounting cleaning and rinsing fluid reservoirs and pressure pump means therefor arranged to direct the fluids under pressure to a plurality of spray jetting nozzles disposed within said cleaning compartment for directing such cleaning and rinsing 15 fluids onto exposed faces of an object passed through the cleaning compartment, said cleaning compartment further housing a plurality of co-operating rotatable and resilient cleaning heads between which the object faces are passed for removal of surface grime; and 20 there being hot air generating and/or fluid extraction means for drying of objects passed into and through the drying compartment from said cleaning compartment.

The Drawings Some preferred aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic open side view of one form 30 of the apparatus in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic end view of the apparatus of figure 1; and FIGURES 3 and 4 are diagrammatic illustrations of alternative cleaning head arrangements for particular diffuser panel or light fitting cover formations other than plain flat sheet panels or covers.

Description Referring firstly to figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the apparatus includes a main support unit (generally indicated by the arrow 1) which can be of box like 5 form to preferably define a substantially enclosed compartment within which a hot water reservoir 2, a second hot or cold water reservoir 3 and a connected electric pump unit 4 (one or two separate pumps can be employed) are housed. The figure 1 illustrates 10 a separately located single pump unit 4 but it is envisaged that each reservoir 2 and 3 can have its own submersible pump located therein. Preferably at least the base part of the support unit 1 containing the reservoirs and pumps or pump unit 4 is sealed 15 against leakage in case of any leakage or spillage of water or other cleaning fluid(s) employed from the respective reservoirs 2,3 and/or any connections to and from the pump unit 4, and castors la can be provided at the base of the support unit 1 to facilitate 20 positioning and transportation of the apparatus as a whole. Part of the base or main support unit 1 can also define or be provided with one or more storage drawers or cabinets.

The upper side of the support unit 1 defines or is provided with an elongate table or bench top 5 located at a convenient working height and on which panels or covers 6,6',6'' can be placed and moved over; and an elongate housing 7 is located thereover.

The housing 7 defines a tunnel with opposite ends substantially closed by entry/exit means, which in a first simple form of the invention can comprise flexible split or depending ribbon curtain doors 8 35 and 9 of rubber or plastics material; and a similar medial curtain door 10 can be provided to divide the interior of the housing 7 into a first washing compartment 11 and a second drying compartment 12. The arrangement providing for the passage longitudinally of a panel or cover 6,6' or 6'1 over the table 5 and through the washing or cleaning compartment 11 to and from the drying compartment 12 via the curtain doors 8,9,10. In the simplest form of the invention the panels or covers 6,6',6'' are arranged to be positioned or stacked on the table and passed manually through the housing; but it is envisaged that stacking and/or feed (eg belt or roller conveyor) mechanisms can be incorporated for automatic or semi-automatic substantially continuous positioning and passing through the housing washing and drying compartments 11,12 and/or stacking of the cleaned panels or covers 6,6' , 6'' at the outlet end of the table 5.

The washing or cleaning compartment 11 is provided with at least one pair of co-operating cleaning heads 13 or sets of cleaning heads 13 (such as brush, strip fabric or mop heads) which are disposed in juxtaposition and arranged for rotation counter to the direction of movement of a panel or cover 6,6',6'' passed therebetween. The exampled form of the invention according to figures 1 and 2 illustrates a single pair of cylindrical brush type cleaning heads 13, disposed in parallel relationship for rotation about vertical axes 13a, particularly intended for cleaning flat plate type light diffuser panels or covers 6. Each brush or other cleaning head 13 can be made up of two or more replacable or interchangable sections, so that brush or other parts subject to wear can be replaced without the need for full replacement of a whole cleaning head 13 when only part is worn; and/or so that cleaning heads 13 of alternative configuration (eg of corrugated or arcuate or other configuration) can be substituted according to the shape and configuration of the particular batch of panels or covers 6,6',6'' requiring to be cleaned at the time.

The brush or other cleaning heads positioning can also be made variable/adjustable to accommodate panels of different thicknesses and/or to provide variable degrees of panel surface contact pressure by the cleaning heads 5 13, as may be necessary or desirable for effective cleaning. Adjustable positioning may also be useful or desirable for panels or covers having a peripheral frame. Provision can also be made for additional rotary cleaning heads 13 to be incorporated for the 10 accommodation and cleaning of such as V and U-channel cross-section panels or covers 6' and 6'1 as illustrated by way of example in figures 3 and 4.

Rotation of the cleaning heads 13 can be arranged to 15 be effected by water pressure with the employment of appropriate turbine or like means and pressurised water from the pump unit 4, or such as electric motor drive means can be employed.

Part of the pump unit 4 is arranged to supply hot water and an appropriate detergent or like cleaning fluid from the supply reservoir 2 (the supply reservoir 2 can hold only water and a detergent injected into the system from a separate source) to a first set of jetting 25 spray nozzles 14 at the input side of the washing or cleaning compartment 10 beitween the first curtain door 8 and the cleaning heads 13 for saturation of each diffuser panel 6,6,,6,, with cleaning fluid prior to passage between and cleaning by the rotating cleaning 30 heads 13. Another part of the pump unit 4 is arranged to direct clean rinsing water from reservoir 3 to a second set of jetting spray nozzles 15 located within the inner part of the cleaning compartment 11 between the cleaning heads 13 and inner dividing curtain door 35 10 for rinsing of the cleaning fluid(s) and loosened grime from the panel or cover 6,6',6*' passing therethrough and prior to entry to the drying compartment 12. The jetting nozzles 14 and 15 are shown to be at the upper side of the cleaning compartment 11, but can of course be also or alternatively strategically placed at the opposite sides and at the base of such compartment 11. The base of the compartment 11 can include a mesh or grid arrangement and one or two drainage trays for the used cleaning and rinsing fluids; and filter means can be incorporated in the apparatus for re-cycling of the fluids or at least the water content thereof. In one modification the cleaning fluid reservoir 2 and rinsing fluid reservoir 3 can be positioned immediately below and open to grid or apertured floor parts of the cleaning compartment 11 for direct drainage of the fluids into the respective reservoirs 2,3.

The drying compartment 12 may be provided with one or more strategically positioned electric fan and element heater units 16 for directing heated air onto the panels or covers 6/6l,6'' passed therethrough, or hot air blast generating means can be located in the apparatus base support part 1 and appropriate ducting provided for directing hot air under pressure to the drying compartment.

In one modification of the invention, as an alternative to the inner divider means being of split or curtain door form a pair of similar foamed rubber or foamed plastics covered cylindrical rollers (as indicated in broken line 10 in figure 1) can be rotatably mounted at this medial position for rotation about vertical parallel axes and in alignment with the cleaning heads 13 so that flat panels 6 or like objects passing between the cleaning heads 13 can similarly be passed between the rollers 10' and be partially dried thereby. It is envisaged that the entry door 8 described can be similarly alternatively replaced by a pair of cylindrical rotatable and aligned resilient rollers (as indicated at broken line 8'), and in this arrangement rollers 81 and/or 10 • can be arranged to be driven (such as by electric motor or water turbine means to move the panels or like objects 6 through the housing 1 against the counter rotational force 5 of the cleaning heads 13. Appropriate conforming shape roller 10' and/or 8' would be required if these aspects of the invention are to be employed for the V and/or U-channel shapes of cover 61 and 61 ' described with reference to figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. < Any suitable materials can be utilised in the construction of the apparatus but preferably corrosion resistant materials such as stainless steel, aluminium alloys and appropriate plastics materials are employed.

Thus, by this invention there is provided a means enabling rapid and effective cleaning of large numbers of strip lighting diffuser panels and/or covers in an economical manner, with minimal effort by an operator 20 and with minimal disruption to any business operations ongoing at the time.

Some preferred aspects of the invention have been described and illustrated by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it will be appreciated that other variations of and modifications to the invention can take place without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (18)

-10- 250 1 WHAT I CLAIM IS;

1. Apparatus for the cleaning of elongate objects such as strip lighting diffuser panels and/or covers, said objects being of open ended substantially straight channel formation and of substantially uniform cross section throughout their length, said apparatus comprising a transportable support unit defining or mounting an elongate table with an at least partially closed housing thereover, said housing defining a first cleaning compartment and a second drying compartment separated by divider means and having opposite outer end parts of the cleaning and drying compartments being respectively substantially closed by entry means and exit means through which elongate objects to be cleaned can be passed, the divider means also providing for passage of the objects therethrough; said support unit further mounting cleaning and rinsing fluid reservoirs and pressure pump means therefor arranged to direct the fluids under pressure to a plurality of spray jetting nozzles disposed within said cleaning compartment for directing such cleaning and rinsing fluids onto exposed faces of an object passed through the cleaning compartment, said cleaning compartment further housing a plurality of co-operating rotatable and resilient cleaning heads between which the object faces are passed for removal of surface grime; and there being hot air generating and/or fluid extraction means for drying of objects passed into and through the drying compartment from said cleaning compartment.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said divider means is defined by or provided with a flexible split or depending ribbon curtain door of rubber or plastics material(s).

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said divider means is defined by or provided with a pair of resilient rollers aligned with the cleaning heads and between which the elongate objects can be passed. 250101

4. Appar tus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the divider r< ,iers are arranged to be driven and to grip and move v^ach object through the housing.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the exit means for the drying compartment is defined by or provided with a flexible split or depending ribbon curtain door of rubber or plastics material(s).

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the entry means for the cleaning compartment is defined by or provided with a flexible split or depending ribbon curtain door of rubber or plastics material(s).

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 inclusive, wherein the entry means for the cleaning compartment is defined by or provided with a pair of resilient rollers aligned with the cleaning heads and between which the elongate objects can be passed.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the entry means rollers are arranged to be driven and to grip and move each object through the housing.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein hot air generating means comprising an electric fan and element heating means is located within said drying compartment, or within a compartment or area of the apparatus in communication with said drying compartment.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 inclusive, wherein hot air generating means comprising a hot air blast generator is located within a part of the apparatus remote from the drying chamber, and hot air under pressure is directed to the drying chamber by way of communicating ducting. 25 0 1 0 -12-

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cleaning heads comprise at least one pair of brush or mop type cleaning heads disposed in juxtaposition for rotation about parallel axes counter to the direction of travel of the objects to be cleaned and passed therebetween.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said cleaning heads are of similar cylindrical form and arranged to receive a flat elongate object therebetween.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said cleaning heads have a similar contoured form conforming to the contours of an elongate object to be passed therebetween.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 inclusive, wherein- the cleaning heads are shaped and mounted for rotation in a manner conforming to V or U-channel cross-section objects or covers.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning heads are variably and/or adjustably mounted for the accommodation of differing cross-section objects, panels or covers, and for variable location relative thereto.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein (a)positioning and/or feed mechanisms(s )is/are provided to facilitate positioning and feed through of a plurality of similar objects, panels or covers.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a stacking mechanism is provided at the outlet end of the apparatus for receiving and 250101 -13- stacking similar objects, panels or covers, passed through and cleaned by the apparatus.

18. Apparatus for the cleaning of elongate objects such as strip lighting diffuser panels and/or covers, arranged, constructed and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. CALUM ANGUS FINLAYSON By His Authorised Attorneys^ JOHN A REMMINGTON & ASSOCIATE: