Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
  • A47L15/0065—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware specially adapted for drinking glasses
  • A47L15/0068—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware specially adapted for drinking glasses with brushes or similar scraping members
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L17/00—Apparatus or implements used in manual washing or cleaning of crockery, table-ware, cooking-ware or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L2401/00—Automatic detection in controlling methods of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, e.g. information provided by sensors entered into controlling devices
  • A47L2401/04—Crockery or tableware details, e.g. material, quantity, condition
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L2401/00—Automatic detection in controlling methods of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, e.g. information provided by sensors entered into controlling devices
  • A47L2401/34—Other automatic detections
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L2501/00—Output in controlling method of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, i.e. quantities or components controlled, or actions performed by the controlling device executing the controlling method
  • A47L2501/20—Spray nozzles or spray arms
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L2501/00—Output in controlling method of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, i.e. quantities or components controlled, or actions performed by the controlling device executing the controlling method
  • A47L2501/28—Machine starting, e.g. normal start, restart after electricity cut-off or start scheduling
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L2501/00—Output in controlling method of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, i.e. quantities or components controlled, or actions performed by the controlling device executing the controlling method
  • A47L2501/36—Other output

Definitions

• This invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning containers, such as drinking glasses, which is suitable to be immersed fully or partially in a cleaning solution, with a plurality of vertical cylindrical brushes, over which a drinking glass and the like can be placed to be scrubbed on the inside and outside.
• This device comprises a basic housing with a complementary upper section and lower section, surrounding a hollow space in which a multiple number of gearing into each other, horizontally installed rotatable gearwheels Is positioned, on which every time an axially stretching cylinder socket is installed for a cylindrical brush, as well as a tube-shaped housing, which essentially has been installed vertically on the end of the basic housing, where the tube-shaped housing contains an electric motor and drive shaft, where the drive shaft has been connected to one end of the electric motor, stretching at the other end into the basic housing and where at this other end a driving pinion has been installed, which, if desired, via an idler gear has been connected to one of the rotatable gears and where the cylindrical brushes have been detachable connected to the respective sockets.
• a device of this type is known from GB 1,142,607 and is being used particularly in hotels and restaurants and in mass catering. Such a device is turned on by means of an electric switch or by pressing one of the brushes when placing a glass to be cleaned. .
• US 3,638,268 discloses a device for cleaning and polishing drinking glasses with a submersible motor and heating means, with the water supply connected directly to the device and the housing and gears made of synthetic material and rinse water that provides lubrication of the gearwheels.
• the brush axles are installed onto the driving sockets by means of a bayonet catch.
• NL 1020423 discloses a rinsing device for manual cleaning of drinking glasses with a plurality of fixed cylindrical brushes, which are vertically coupled side by side, with the water supply controlled by means of an electronic switch. This is controlled by detecting the movements made when cleaning the drinking glasses or actions done.
• EP-A-0 674 871 discloses rinsing brushes, with slightly tapered brush axles to allow cleaning glasses of various sizes.
• Rinsing and polishing devices for drinking containers, in particular drinking glasses have been known for a long time and are being used on a large scale in many ways.
• One of the problems in the state of the art which has not, or insufficiently been solved, is that the glasses need to be cleaned properly on the inside and outside, so that no lipstick, greasy edges and the like remains on the glass.
• a rinsing device is effectively provided with a variety of rotating brushes, with a glass placed on the first rotating brush to clean the inside, while the other rotating brushes, which surround the first brush, scrub the outside at the same time.
• a disadvantage of the rotating brush systems according to the state of the ait is that the electric drive of the brushes needs to be either operated manually, or by pressing one of the brushes when placing a glass.
• the purpose of the present invention is to solve this problem by providing an Improved device for cleaning drinking glasses and such, which is semi-automatic, durable, easy to clean and cost effective.
• this objective is reached by providing a cleaning device for cleaning drinking glasses and the like of the afore-mentioned type, of which the electric motor which drives the brushes is activated and deactivated via a sensor.
• the senor also activates and deactivates a water metering system, which can be used in combination with the said device.
• a water metering system with sensor activation has been described elaborately in NL1020423, which is incorporated herein by reference.
• the sensor can be installed anywhere desired nearby the rinsing-tub, so that it detects the movements of the operator at the nnsingrtub, when it nears the brushes of the device with glasses.
• the sensor has to be installed on the tube-shaped housing of the cleaning device according to the invention.
• the drive of the electric motor during each activation will be done in such a way that it will be rotating in the opposite direction to which H went during the preceding activation. This way the brushes will keep their original shape as much as possible and will wear out evenly.
• a motor usually a suitable and for this purpose common power source will be used, preferably of a type which works on a 12 or 24 V voltage, driven by a transformer which is connected to the mains.
• a 'slow start 1 is implemented on the motor, as well as a run-out, so that the brushes will not start or stop abruptly, which is much more comfortable when being used.
• the motor should preferably be equipped with a device which prevents overloading.
• the device according to the invention preferably holds five to eight brushes, of which one or two brushes are placed centrally and surrounded by the other brushes. This way the operator can clean one or two glasses at the same time. It is effective if at least the axles of one of the central brushes or of both central brushes are tapered towards the free end, so that glasses of various shapes will be cleaned effectively at all times.
• the top part of the brushes, which are at the free end have softer bristles than the rest of the brushes.
• brushes of a type which can be cleaned in an industrial dishwasher will be used.
• the brushes will be attached by means of a bayonet joint with corresponding sockets on the driving gears.
• one or more radial projections turned inwards have been installed in the sockets for the brushes, and the brush axles at the end, which are connected with the sockets, have one or more grooves which have been formed in such a way that the projections will grab in the corresponding grooves of the brushes and will be secured by means of a bayonet joint, leftwards as well as rightwards.
• the device according to the invention is made of synthetic material for the greater part, which is durable and easy to be cleaned.
• the upper and lower section can be joined together in various ways, and that preferably those joints have been chosen in such a way that both parts can easily be separated to clean the gears and sockets for the brushes contained in there and, if necessary, to replace them and after that to join them together again.
• both sections e.g. nuts and bolts can be used, but also e.g.
• locking elements of the key type provided with a pivoted handle, which are inserted at the top of both sections held together and after that turned a quarter turn to lock, after which the pivoted handle will be folded in.
• the bottom of the basic housing usually has been provided with suction cups or feet etc. on the edges or comers.
• the tube-shaped housing contains at least a bottom section and connecting upper section, which have been glued together.
• the upper section can consist of several parts, e.g. a part in which the motor has been placed and, on top of that, a separately installed part for the sensor and control electronics.
• the bottom part of the tube-shaped housing and the top section of the basic housing have been made as one piece.
• To reinforce this construction usually several extra ribs are applied at the foot-end of the tube-shaped housing.
• the gearwheels and sockets for holding the brush axles are also made as one piece. Furthermore, the gearwheels should be open, so that as little as possible water, detergent and/or impurities remain on the gearwheels, when the device and/or the water from the rinsing-tub have been removed.
• the gearwheels are usually made of nylon or similar synthetic material and do not require extra lubrication when used.
• the gearwheels rotate preferably on pins of synthetic material or stainless steel, which have been placed through or on the lower section of the basic housing.
• the gearwheels are being driven by a driving pinion, which has been placed at the end of the drive shaft, of which the other end usually has been connected to the motor via a connection element
• the driving pinion usually also rotates on a pin on the lower section of the basic housing and has been connected effectively via an idler gear, which has been placed in a similar way, with the gearwheels of the brushes.
• the driving pinion and idler gear are usually made in such a way that they will reduce the number of revolutions of the motor to the desired value for the rotation of the brushes.
• the gearwheels of the brushes and the idler gear can, if desired, be secured on pins, e.g. by means of lock rings.
• the invention also relates to a method for cleaning the holders of drinks, like drinking glasses, to which one in the main applies a device with rotating cylindrical brushes, as defined here above, if desired combined with a water metering system, which device during operation is positioned in a rinsing-tub completely or partially filled with water, where you place one or two glasses onto the brushes for cleaning and the rotating brushes' drive and possibly the water metering system will be activated and deactivated by means of a sensor during placing and removing the glasses, which has been positioned on or near the device.
• Figure 1 is a perspective front view of the device according to the nvention, with only 3 brushes shown;
• Figure 2 is a perspective front view of Figure 1, with the basic housing and tube-shaped housing in see-through display;
• Figure 3 is a perspective rear view of the device according to the nvention, with only 3 brushes shown;
• Figure 4 is a perspective rear view of Figure 3, with the basic housing and tube-shaped housing in see-through display;
• Figure 5 is a graphic top view of the device according to the invention.
• Figure 6 is a graphic top view of Figure 5 with the basic housing and ube-shaped housing in see-through display,
• Figure 7 is a graphic top view of the lower section of the basic housing of the device according to the invention with the gearwheels;
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of the lower section of the baste housing of the device with the gearwheels and the sockets for the brush axles;
• Figure 9 is a perspective view of the bottom of the top section of the basic housing and the bottom part integrated with that of the tube-shaped housing of the motor and drive shaft;
• Figure 10 is a perspective view of the top section of the basic housing and the lower part integrated with that of the tube-shaped housing for the motor and drive shaft;
• Figure 11 A and B show a rinsing-tub in perspective view, or the side view with in there the device according to invention.
• device 1 according to the invention is shown with a basic housing 2 and a tube-shaped housing 4, 5 at the end of the basic housing.
• the basic housing includes an upper section 15 and a lower section 18, which can be seen more detailed in Figures 7-10, which sections are complementary to each other and together form a hollow space in which the gearwheels connected to each other 17, the driving pinion 13 and the idle gear 16 have been included.
• the sockets 7 On the gearwheels 17 the sockets 7 have been placed, which stretch via the holes 20 up to above the top surface of the basic housing 2, in which sockets the brushes 3 will be secured.
• the complementary top section 15 and the lower section 18 of the basic housing 2 are being connected with each other and then locked by means of locking elements 8.
• the illustrated locking elements are of the key type and after inserting are turned one quarter to lock them, after which the pivoted handle, which serves as a grip, is folded away.
• the tube-shaped housing preferably comprises a lower section 4 and a separate upper section 5, which has been installed on the lower section with an adequate locking.
• the electric motor 10 has been positioned, as well as a sensor 6 and the control electronics 14.
• a power cable (not shown) which is lead via hole 21 in the upper section 5 to the control electronics and the motor, will provide power.
• an internal or external (storage) battery can be used for power.
• the top section 5 can, if desired, consist of several separate parts which join together, in which in one part e.g. the motor 10 has been installed and in the other part the sensor 6 and the control electronics 14.
• the senor 6 has been placed in the upper section 5 of the tube-shaped housing, which means that movements over the rinsing-tub, made by the person cleaning the drinking glasses, are detected immediately. This activates the switch to turn on motor 10, after which the motor starts rotating- The rotation power is being transferred via the drive shaft 12, which by means of connection part 11 is connected to motor 10, to driving pinion 13 which has been affixed to drive shaft 12, e.g. by bonding.

Landscapes

• Cleaning In General (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=46208130

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (10)

• 2011
  • 2011-03-20 NL NL2006432A patent/NL2006432C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2012
  • 2012-03-20 EP EP12725532.1A patent/EP2688455B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2012-03-20 WO PCT/NL2012/050173 patent/WO2012134270A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (10)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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