RO119987B1 - Process and device for recycling and decontaminating bag-type objects such as disposable gloves for rooms with controlled atmosphere - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a process and a device for recycling and decontaminating bag-type objects such as disposable gloves for rooms with controlled atmosphere, for objects made up of natural material (latex) or plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, or non-porous or microporous polymers. The recycling and decontaminating process consists in sorting indelebly marked objects (2), and also in numbering and using a computerized surveying, in washing and decontaminating the objects (2) using treated washing and rising water and also non-polluting tools for transferring the washed objects (2) through a conditioned and sealed enclosure (9) towards a dryer (10) provided with some devices limiting the contamination of objects, in transferring the dried objects (2) towards a packing station (13) located inside the enclosure (9) wherein they are introduced into the bags and in directing the packaged objects outside the enclosure (9). In order to apply said process, the recycling and decontaminating device of bag-type objects, such as disposable gloves for rooms with controlled atmosphere, comprises downstream of a sorting station (1), a washer (3) supplied by a unit producing highly purified water (5) which is provided with an exit-door (8) which opens towards a sealed enclosure (9) wherein the air is conditioned and through which the objects (2) are fowarded towards a dryer (10) provided with an access door (11) from and towards the enclosure (9) and also a packaging station (13), also placed in the enclosure (9).

Description

The invention relates to a process and device for recycling and decontamination of bag-type objects, such as consumable gloves for rooms with controlled atmosphere.

The invention relates generally to the decontamination of bags made of natural (latex) or plastic material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene or non-porous or microporous polymers, bags which are usually unrecoverable after use and which are used, Specifically, in a controlled atmosphere environment.

More specifically, the invention relates to a process and a device for recycling and decontaminating consumable bags in rooms with controlled atmosphere. The articles to which the invention relates may be both plastic bags, gloves made of synthetic or natural latex, vinyl, or any other type of polymer. Also included are all bag-shaped items with very low water porosity, almost zero.

There are a few exceptions, water-permeable items, such as textiles and any ordinary items, that can be efficiently washed and dried in household and industrial washing machines and dryers.

Drying the non-permeable bags is difficult to achieve, due to the water that is introduced inside the bags, when they are washed, being very difficult to remove. Therefore, the major factors affecting the drying are, in particular, the surface tensions between the two thin coatings that hold the water between them and the water vapor, which cannot pass through the bag, due to the non-porosity of the materials.

This happens in the case of gloves that are used in rooms with controlled atmosphere and which are removed every time, when the users leave the room, ie about every two hours.

A process for recycling and decontamination of bags, such as disposable gloves, is known from DE 1642128. The process according to the invention allows the recycling of gloves several times and they can be reused as new and non-degraded, for second use, thus reducing their costs and scrap.

It can be seen that the process and device according to the invention refer to products, in particular, for areas with controlled atmosphere and for this reason, the characteristics of the decontamination bath, as well as the detergents used are very important. As a result, certain decontamination liquids may cause degradation of the material and the detergents used may be the cause of residual pollution, in articles, incompatible with their use in processes taking place in the controlled atmosphere area.

At that time, the decontamination was carried out in industrial machines with deionized and filtered water and a detergent containing nonionic, cationic or anionic surfactants. The washing parameters, such as duration, temperature, drying speed and number of cycles are variable depending on the volume of water and the amount of detergents used.

In addition, to prevent water from entering the bags, which may cause problems with drying, the bags are tied in packages for the purpose of sealing.

The drying, for this part, is carried out in classic industrial dryers. The factors that determine the drying temperature are only the temperature and volume of the material loaded in the dryer.

These treatments are directly derived from the decontamination of textiles in areas with controlled atmosphere and are appreciated to allow decontamination on the outer surfaces of the bags.

For gloves or bags already used in areas with a controlled atmosphere, washing a single face is not sufficient, because on one of the two sides it is necessary to remove the perspiration of the operator, as well as other dirt due to the operations

RO 119987 Β1 made, since the gloves were restored to the original configuration, both physical and bacteriological. The invention allows to eliminate these disadvantages, proposing a process and device by which a bag or glove can be washed on both internal and external sides, and a recycled and / or decontaminated product can be obtained at a lower price than the same. new product, which allows, at the same time, to limit the scrap of used materials. 5

A first object of the invention therefore consists in a process of recycling and decontamination of bag-type objects, such as consumable gloves, for rooms with 7 controlled atmosphere, a process consisting of:

- sorting the indelibly marked objects, as well as counting and applying a computer-monitored 9;

- performing the washing and decontamination of the objects, using treated washing water and rinse water 11, as well as the non-polluting utensils;

- the transfer of the objects through the inside of a tight and conditioned enclosure of the objects13 washed to a dryer equipped with devices that limit the contamination of the objects;

- transferring the dry items to a packing station, located inside the 15 watertight enclosure, where they are placed in bags;

- directing packaged objects, outside the watertight enclosure.17

Another main object of the invention is a device for recycling and decontamination of bag-type objects, such as consumable gloves for rooms with controlled atmosphere, 19 for applying the process, which comprises downstream of a sorting station, a washer fed by a unit. for the production of ultrapure water, which is provided with an exit door that opens in a sealed enclosure, in which the air is conditioned and through which the bag-like objects are sent to a dryer provided with an access door to and from the enclosure watertight, such as 23 and a packing station also placed in the watertight enclosure. The washer is equipped with a non-return flap, on the waste water outlet, having a filter cartridge of at least 25 pm, located on the outlet channels of the washer drum. The circulation of hot, clean air through the dryer comes from a power supply, outside the watertight enclosure. 27

The following is an example of embodiment of the invention, in connection with the figure which schematically represents a device for recycling and decontamination of bag-type objects, 29 such as consumable gloves for rooms with controlled atmosphere.

In a sorting station 1, bag type 2 items, such as consumable gloves 31, indelibly marked with water and solvents are received. Items 2 are delivered and sorted manually or automatically, depending on the size, in case they are not stained indelibly, 33 cut or broken. They are considered non-recyclable and are disposed of. Thanks to the application of computerized surveillance, there are counted articles by size, number of 35 rejected items and number of recycled items sorted and considered satisfactory. 37

Computerized monitoring also allows the real knowledge of the user base of time and the evolution of the sizes used, allowing the manufacturer to adjust the productive campaigns according to the actual consumption. Also, it allows the management of the documents of the sales chain, as well as the automatic readjustment of the new articles to each 41 customers, allowing to answer his industrial needs, as well as the control in the fixed or mobile way, of the set of necessary parameters indispensable for the good operation. of the module, permitting the stopping of the assembly of operations, when one of the parameters no longer corresponds to the specifications that allow a decontamination, which responds to the industrial needs of destination of the recyclable products.

RO 119987 Β1

Upon exit from the sorting station 1, the objects 2 are directed (the dashed arrow) to a washer 3 inside which they are inserted through a door 4. The washer 3 disposed down the sorting station 1 is fed by a water production unit. ultrapure 5. This water is obtained by filtration with activated carbon, at least 5 μ. To the washing water, a washing agent with at least one quaternary ammonium or cationic nonionic surfactant or a mixture of these surfactants is added. Also, at least one disinfectant with bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal and oxidizing properties is added. The water is deionized or osmosis.

Rinse water introduced into the washer 3 is preferably filtered to at least one micron. The decontaminated water is deionized and filtered to at least 0.45 μ.

The washer 3 is equipped with a non-return flap 6 on the waste water outlet 7, so that at least one filter cartridge, not shown, of at least one micron, is located on the drain channels of the washer drum 3. The assembly of intended elements fluid flow is made of non-polluting materials, ie only a minimum emission of metal particles or ions in water is allowed, due to the different parts in contact with water.

The washer has an exit door 8, which opens to the enclosure 9, thus limiting the particular contamination generated in the ambient air.

Objects 2, such as consumable gloves, placed in the washer, are subjected to at least one wash, at least one rinse, at least one decontamination and at least one drying operation.

After the objects 2 have been recovered through the exit door 8, they are moved through the sealed enclosure 9, as shown by the continuous line arrow, to a dryer 10, whose access door 11 is inside the enclosure 9.

In the dryer 10 a hermetic device is placed, which allows the mechanical agitation of the products. This ensures a clean hot air circulation, filtered at least 1pm, from a power source 12, creating a depression of at least 50 mbar. Thus, it is possible to dry the bag type objects, of zero or very small porosity in a time that will keep the products competitive. Also, a complementary device for ionizing the air is provided, allowing, according to the expressed industrial requirements, to reduce the residual contamination with particles, present on bag-type 2 objects, such as gloves and, in particular, significantly reduce particles smaller than 1pm, potentially modifying their electrostatic charges.

After this drying operation, the objects 2 are directed (the dashed arrow), and in the enclosure 9, to a packing station 13 inside the enclosure 9, downstream of the dryer 3. The objects 2 are then packed under partial vacuum, in bags or blisters. , for example, made of polyethylene or propylene, which are particularly clean and made as a single or double pack, with a tight seam.

Once packed, the objects 2 are taken out of the enclosure 9.

inside the enclosure 9, in which the operations of washing, drying and packing, the transfers between the stations, where the materials and the personnel necessary to perform the various tasks and manual operations are found, the air is conditioned and controlled with a supply of fresh and clean air at an hourly rate of Renewal of at least 10. This environment, commonly referred to as the "controlled room" must ensure a high purity for the products treated by this device. Therefore, operators responsible for these operations wear at least gloves, a special hat and a combination of features similar to those used in rooms with controlled atmosphere, according to the norms in force. should certain operations be provided by automated systems, they should also be adapted to be non-polluting.

RO 119987 Β1

The process subject to the invention thus brings a technical and competitive solution 1 industrially, for recycling bags or gloves of zero or low porosity, allowing really, compared to other processes used so far, effective washing 3 of both sides of the type objects bag, referred to, in particular, due to the specific drying which allows the liquid to evaporate from inside the bag-type objects, while reducing, through the recycling operation, the cost price of the product in relation to a new product.

The process also reduces waste when unloading or incinerating bag 7 items, such as consumable gloves for controlled atmosphere rooms, allowing them to be reused at a reduced cost, which is currently being made industrially 9 for materials high porosity, textile type, unprofitable for the products referred to in the above process. 11

Claims (10)

1. Process for recycling and decontamination of bag type objects (2), such as consumable gloves, for rooms with controlled atmosphere, characterized in that it consists in sorting the objects (2) marked indelibly, as well as counting and applying 17 of a computer surveillance, in the washing and decontamination of the objects (2), using washing, treated and rinsing water, as well as the non-polluting utensils, in the transfer of 19 objects (2), through a sealed and conditioned room (9). the objects (2) washed, to a dryer (10) equipped with devices, which limit the contamination of the objects, in transferring the objects (2) dried, to a packing station (13), located inside the enclosure (9), where they are placed in bags and in the handling of objects (2) packed outside the enclosure (9). 2. 3 2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the objects (2) are delivered and sorted, according to their size, after their individual and indelible marking with water and 25 solvents. Process according to Claim 1, characterized in that a washing agent with at least one nonionic or cationic surfactant, or a mixture of surfactants and at least one disinfectant having bacterial properties is added to the washing water. - 29 cides, virucides, fungicides and oxidants. 4. Process according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the objects (2) 31 are subjected to at least one wash, at least one rinse, at least one decontamination and at least one drying operation. 33 5. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the dryer (10), a hot air circulation is filtered, filtered at least 1 pm and a depression of at least 35 50 mbar. 6. Process according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the particle contamination of the objects (2) is reduced by 37, potentially modifying their electrostatic charges. 39 7. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the objects (2) are packaged under partial vacuum, in bags made as single or double packing, with a tight seam. 41 8. Device for recycling and decontamination of bag-type objects, such as consumable gloves, for rooms with controlled atmosphere, for applying the process of 43 claims 1 ... 7, characterized in that it comprises, downstream of a station sorting (1), a washer (3) supplied by an ultrapure water production unit (5), which is 45 provided with an outlet door (8), which opens into a sealed enclosure (9), in which the air is RO 119987 Β1 1 provided and through which the items (2) are sent to a dryer (10) provided with an access door (11) from and to the enclosure (9), as well as a packing station (13), also 3 placed in pregnant (9). Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the washer (3) is 5 equipped with a non-return valve (6), on the waste water drainage valve (7), having a filter cartridge, not shown, of at least 1 pm, located on the drainage channels of the washer drum 7 (3). Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the circulation of clean hot air 9, through the dryer (10), comes from a power supply (12), outside the enclosure.