WO2022250530A1

WO2022250530A1 - Mobile cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2022250530A1
Application number: PCT/NL2022/050270
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cornelis Wilhelmus VERSTIJNEN
Original assignee: Schippers Europe B.V.
Priority date: 2021-05-25
Filing date: 2022-05-19
Publication date: 2022-12-01
Also published as: NL2028278B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile cleaner for cleaning animal feeder lines, wherein the feeder lines comprise a food holder line having a feed tube, and food holders that are suspended from the feed tube, and wherein the mobile cleaner comprises a driving arrangement for driving the mobile cleaner along the food holder line, a cleaning device having a washing chamber, a food holder guide and a nozzle assembly inside the washing chamber, and a tilting guide, wherein in a first cleaning mode the food holder line extends through the washing chamber and along the tilting guide, and the tilting guide is configured to tilt the food holder from a first orientation in which the food holder is pending downwards, to a second position in which the food holder is tilted away from the first position, wherein the food holder guide maintains the second orientation inside the washing chamber.

Description

Mobile cleaner BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a cleaner, in particular to a cleaner for animal feeder lines in animal barns, more in particularly to a cleaner for food holder lines and water holder lines in chicken barns.

Chicken barns comprise rows of animal feeder lines comprising food holder lines and water holder lines to provide food and water to the chicken. The food holder lines and water holder lines respectively comprise feeder and water tubes and food and water holders that are suspended from the respective feed and water tubes. In use the food holder lines and water holder lines become dirty and therefore need to be regularly cleaned and disinfected.

Currently the feeder lines are cleaned manually, using water, soap, brushes and possibly a mobile pressure washer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A disadvantage of the known manual cleaning method is that it is labor intensive and time consuming to clean the many long lines that have many food holders and water holders. As the dirt can be stubborn it may require prolonged intensive scrubbing and jet washing to get the feeder lines sufficiently cleaned. As the food holders and water holders are suspended from the respective feed and water tubes, they can swivel during cleaning. This can make the cleaning less effective and adversely affect the cleaning result.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaner that is less labor intensive and time consuming to use and/or that provides increased reliability of the cleaning result.

According to a first aspect, the invention provides a mobile cleaner for cleaning animal feeder lines, wherein the feeder lines comprise a food holder line having a feed tube, and food holders that are suspended from the feed tube and that are swingable around the feed tube, and wherein the mobile cleaner comprises an undercarriage having a frame and a driving arrangement for driving the mobile cleaner along the feeder lines in a main driving direction, and a cleaning device on the frame, having plating that bounds a washing chamber, an entrance opening to the washing chamber, and a back opening that is in the main driving direction opposite to the entrance opening, wherein the cleaning device comprises a food holder guide that extends between the entrance opening and the back opening for supporting the food holder, a nozzle assembly that is arranged inside the washing chamber along the food holder guide for jet cleaning the feeder lines, and a tilting guide for the food holders at the entrance opening, wherein the mobile cleaner has a first cleaning mode for the food holder line in which the food holder line extends through the entrance opening, the washing chamber and the back opening, and along the tilting guide, and the tilting guide is configured to, as the mobile cleaner drives along the food holder line, tilt the food holder with respect to the feed tube from a first orientation in which the food holder is pending downwards from the feed tube, to a second orientation in which the food holder is tilted away from the first orientation, wherein the food holder guide maintains the second orientation inside the washing chamber.

The mobile cleaner can be moved through the animal barn by the driving arrangement, to move between the feeder lines that need to be cleaned. At the feeder line the driving arrangement can align the cleaning device with that feeder line such that feeder line extends or can be brought through the washing chamber. Subsequently the driving arrangement is used to move the cleaning device along the feeder line with the tilting guide towards the food holders. The food holders outside the washing room are in the first orientation in which a food tray of the food holder extends substantially horizontally as to hold food. While the mobile cleaner moves forward the tilting guide reaches the food holder and tilts it to the second orientation in which the food tray has an angle with respect to the horizontal first orientation thereof. Preferably the food tray of the food holder has a substantial vertical orientation at or near the entrance opening of the washing chamber. The food holder enters the washing chamber through the entrance opening in the second orientation. Inside the washing chamber the food holder guide support the food holder to keep the food holder in the second orientation while it moves along the nozzle assembly. The second orientation of the food holder and the configuration of the nozzle assembly are matched such that the food holders can be intensively cleaned and disinfected. The second orientation of the food holder is such that water, cleaning products and dirt easily drain from the surfaces thereof. The cleaned food holders exit the cleaning chamber through the back opening and return to the first orientation as they are not supported by the food holder guide anymore.

As the cleaning of the feed lines by the mobile cleaner is automated to a high degree, the cleaning process is less labor intensive and time consuming. As the food holders are maintained in the second orientation inside the cleaning chamber, the food holders can be effectively cleaned by the nozzle assembly and therefore the mobile cleaner provides increased reliability of the cleaning result.

In an embodiment the tilting guide comprises a guide wall having a proximal end that continuous into the food holder guide, and a receiving end opposite to the proximal end for receiving the food holders. In an embodiment thereof the guide wall of the tilting guide tapers from the receiving end towards the proximal end. In a further embodiment the guide wall has, at the receiving end, a quarter circular shape that covers the bottom right portion of a circle when viewed along the main driving direction. In an embodiment the guide wall is made from bended sheet metal and has straight bend lines that divide the guide wall in triangular or tapered portions. The tilting guide having the guide wall is very suitable for food holder lines used in chicken barns.

In an embodiment the feeder lines comprise a water holder line having a water tube, and water holders that are suspended from the water tube, wherein the mobile cleaner has a second cleaning mode for the water holder line in which the water holder line extends through the entrance opening, the washing chamber and the back opening, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a first set of nozzles and a second set of nozzles, wherein the cleaning device is configured to switch between the first cleaning mode and the second cleaning mode, and wherein in the first cleaning mode the first set of nozzles is operable, and in the second cleaning mode the second set of nozzles is operable.

In a further embodiment the nozzle assembly comprises a third set of nozzles, wherein the third set of nozzles is operable in both the first cleaning mode and in the second cleaning mode. In the second mode the tilting guide is not used to tilt the water holders. In the second mode the water holder line extends through the washing chamber along the nozzle assembly with the water holders pending downwards from the water tube. The second orientation of the food holder and the configuration of the first set of nozzles in combination with the third set of nozzles are matched such that the food holders can be intensively cleaned and disinfected. The orientation of the water holder and the configuration of the second set of nozzles in combination with the third set of nozzles are matched such that the water holders can be intensively cleaned and disinfected. The cleaning device of the mobile cleaner can easily switch between first and second cleaning modes without further need for adjustment of the mobile cleaner. This is convenient as animal barns, in particular chicken barns comprise both food holder lines and water holder lines. The two modes and the easy switching between the modes provide broad usability of the mobile cleaner.

In an embodiment the nozzle assembly comprises a rotational pair of nozzles that is arranged to rotate around a rotation axis. In an embodiment the nozzle assembly comprises a dirt blaster nozzle. In an embodiment the nozzle assembly is configured to supply water at a pressure of at least 100 bar. These features provide improved cleaning results for the feeder lines.

In an embodiment the cleaning device comprises an entrance brush for the water holder line that is arranged at the entrance opening. The entrance brush helps to keep the suspended water holder line in position with respect to the nozzle assembly. The entrance brush can furthermore remove loose dirt from the water holder line prior to entry thereof into the washing chamber. In these ways the entrance brush can improve the cleaning result of the mobile cleaner.

In an embodiment the cleaning device comprises an exit brush for the water holder line that is arranged at the back opening. The exit brush helps to keep the suspended water holder line in position with respect to the nozzle assembly. The exit brush can furthermore remove any remaining dirt from the water holder line when exiting the washing chamber. In these ways the exit brush can improve the cleaning result of the mobile cleaner. In an embodiment the mobile cleaner comprises a step board that is pivotable connected to the frame to pivot with respect to the frame between a storage position and a working position, wherein the cleaning device is configured such that the nozzle assembly is operable when the step board is in the working position. This is a safety measure. The mobile cleaner is only operable when a human operator is standing on the step board.

In an embodiment the mobile cleaner comprises a pressure washer gun. In an embodiment the pressure washer gun and the step board are arranged near the back opening. The human operator can use the pressure washer gun to remove any remaining dirt from the feeder lines to further improve the cleaning result.

In an embodiment the cleaning device comprises a front plating, a left plating, a right plating, a back plating, a top plating and a bottom plating that bound the washing chamber, wherein the front plating bounds the entrance opening, the back plating bounds the back opening, and the top plating defines a top opening that continues into the entrance opening and the back opening. The feeder lines can be straightforwardly inserted into and removed from the washing chamber through the top opening.

In an embodiment the mobile cleaner comprises a lift mechanism to set the height of the cleaning device with respect to the frame. In this way the feeder lines can be inserted into and removed from the washing chamber by respectively increasing and decreasing the height of the cleaning device with respect to the frame. Furthermore the lift mechanism can accommodate for height variance along the length of the feeder lines during cleaning thereof.

In an embodiment the mobile cleaner comprises a slide mechanism to slide the cleaning device with respect to the frame in a horizontal direction transverse to the main driving direction. In this way the cleaning device can be more accurately aligned with the feeder lines by adjusting the position of the cleaning device with respect to the frame by the slide mechanism.

The various aspects and features described and shown in the specification can be applied, individually, wherever possible. These individual aspects, in particular the aspects and features described in the attached dependent claims, can be made subject of divisional patent applications. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which: Figures 1A and IB are an isometric side view and a front view of a chicken barn having suspended food holder lines and water holder lines, and a mobile cleaner according to the invention for cleaning the food holder lines and water holder lines; Figures 2A and 2B are an isometric top view and a front view of the mobile cleaner as shown in figures 1A and IB, wherein some top components have been removed to show the inner parts thereof;

Figures 3A and 3B show the mobile cleaner according to figures 2A and 2B during the cleaning of the food holder line;

Figure 4 shows the mobile cleaner according to figure 2B during the cleaning of the water holder line; and

Figure 5 shows a schematic of a nozzle assembly of the mobile cleaner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figures 1A and IB show a shed or barn 1 for livestock, in particular for poultry, more in particular for chicken. The chicken barn 1 has a flat floor 2 where chickens live on. The chicken barn 1 comprises multiple rows of animal feeder lines 9 that extend parallel to each other. The animal feeder lines 9 can have various embodiments, in the shown application for poultry, the feeder lines 9 comprise food holder lines 10 for holding solid dry or substantially dry food such as grain, corn, pellets and supplements, and water holder lines 20 for holding liquids, in particular water. For illustrative purposes figures 1A and IB show only one food holder line 10 and one water holder line 20.

The food holder line 10 comprises an elongate steel feed tube 11 that is suspended from the roof construction by means of multiple suspension cables 12. The food holder line 10 comprises multiple food holders 13 that are regularly distributed over the length of the feed tube 11. The food holders 13 each comprise a hollow carrier 14 with an inner channel 15 through which the feed tube 11 extends, and a wider food tray 16 below the hollow carrier 14. The food holder line 10 comprises a not shown feed screw inside the feed tube 11, and a feed outlet inside each hollow carrier 14. By rotation of the feed screw dry chicken food is fed through the feed tube 11 to be distributed over the food holders 13 via the feed outlets. The food holders 13 can swing around the feed tubes 11 in direction A around the centreline thereof while they remain positioned at their feed outlets. The suspension cables 12 can be hauled in or paid out to adjust the height of the food holders 13 with respect to the floor 2 in direction B, and to raise the food holder line 10 to a height where they can be cleaned and inspected, or to a higher height to clean the floor 2.

The water holder line 20 comprises an elongate steel water tube 21 that is suspended from the roof construction by means of multiple suspension cables 22. The water holder line 20 comprises multiple water holders 23 that are regularly distributed over the length of the water tube 21. The water holders 23 each comprise a water tray 26 and two arms 24 by which the water tray 26 is suspended from the water tube 21. The water holder line 20 comprises above each water tray 26 a water outlet or dripper 27 on the tube 21 that opens above a predetermined water pressure. The water holders 23 can swing around the water tubes 21 in direction C around the centreline thereof while they remain positioned at their drippers 27. The suspension cables 22 can be hauled in or paid out to adjust the height of the water holders 23 with respect to the floor 2 in direction D, and to raise the water holder line 20 to a height where they can be cleaned and inspected, or to a higher height to clean the floor 2.

The feeder lines 9 in the chicken barn 1 can be intensively cleaned and disinfected by means of a mobile cleaner 30 according to an embodiment of the invention.

The mobile cleaner 30 comprises an undercarriage 31 having a frame 32 and in this example two driven tracks 33 with a main driving direction T. The undercarriage 31 comprises a step board 37 that is at one side pivotable connected to the frame 32 to pivot or swing in direction E with respect to the frame 32 between the shown storage position and a horizontal working position. The step board 37 comprises a not shown step board sensor for detecting whether the step is in the storage position or in the working position where the human operator stands on it.

The mobile cleaner 30 comprises a rectangular first housing part 35 on the frame 32 that is at its upper side received in a rectangular second housing part 40. The first housing part 35 and the second housing part 40 together bound a machine chamber having an internal lift mechanism to set the height of the second housing part 40 with respect to the first housing part 35 in vertical direction F.

The mobile cleaner 30 comprises a cleaning device 50 having a frame 51 on slide shoes 52 that are slidable supported by two slide rails 53 on the second housing part 40 in horizontal direction G transverse to the main driving direction T. The cleaning device 50 comprises a front plating 55, left plating 56, right plating 57, back plating 58, top plating 59 and bottom plating 60 on the frame 51 that together bound a washing chamber 70. The front plating 55 bounds an entrance opening 71 towards the washing chamber 70. The back plating 58 bounds an exit or back opening 73 that is in the main driving direction opposite to the entrance opening 71. The top plating 59 defines a longitudinal top opening 72 that continues into the entrance opening 71 and the back opening 73 and that is partially covered with hingeably connected lids 61. A notional cleaning line X extends through the entrance opening 71, the washing chamber 70 and the back opening 73 parallel to the main driving direction T. The cleaning device 50 comprises a control panel 65 near the step board 37 of the undercarriage 31, for controlling or operating the mobile cleaner 30 by the human operator. From the control panel 65 the human operator can control, amongst others, driving the mobile cleaner 30, setting the height of the second housing part 40, sliding the cleaning device 50 with respect to the second housing part 40, and the cleaning of the feeder lines 9. The cleaning device 50 comprises a not shown pressure washer gun near the back opening 73, the step board 37 and the human operator.

In figures 2A and 2B the front plating 55, left plating 56, right plating 57, back plating 58 and top plating 59 have been removed from the frame 51 for illustration purposes to show the parts inside the washing chamber 70. The cleaning device 50 comprises an internal food holder chute or guide 80 that extends parallel to and below the cleaning line X from the bottom of the entrance opening 71 to the bottom of the back opening 73. The food holder guide 80 comprises a horizontal bottom wall 81, a back wall 82 that extends upwards from the bottom wall 81 parallel to the left plating 56, and an oblique open-work front wall 83 that extends upwards from the bottom wall 81 away from the back wall 82. In a first cleaning mode of the mobile cleaner 30, the cleaning device 50 comprises an external funnel shaped tilting plough or guide 85 for the food holders 13, at or near the entrance opening 71 of the cleaning device 50. The tilting guide 85 extends outside the washing chamber 70 in the main driving direction T. The tilting guide 85 comprises a guide wall 86 that has a proximal end 87, and a distal or receiving end 88. The guide wall 86 of the tilting guide 85 tapers in a direction from the receiving end 88 towards the proximal end 87, i.e. the distal receiving end 88 is wider than the proximal 87 end. The proximal end 87 is connected to, merges into or continuous into the bottom wall 81, back wall 82 and front wall 83 of the food holder guide 80. At the receiving end 88 the guide wall 86 has a substantially quarter circular shape that covers the bottom right portion of a circle when viewed along the main driving direction T. In this example the guide wall 86 is made from bended sheet metal having straight bend lines that divide the guide wall in triangular or tapered portions.

At least in a second cleaning mode of the mobile cleaner 30, the cleaning device 50 comprises a first set of entrance brushes 62 that are arranged at the entrance opening 71 and a second set of exit brushes 63 that are arranged at the back opening 73. The respective sets of brushes 62, 63 provide brush passages for the water holders

23 at the entrance opening 72 and the back opening 73 respectively. The brush passages are in the form of a vertical slit. The brushes 62, 63 are compliant to allow passage of the water holder line 20 through the brush passages.

The cleaning device 50 comprises a nozzle assembly 90 inside the washing chamber 70 for jet cleaning the feeder lines 9. The nozzle assembly 90 comprises a first set of nozzles SI for intensively cleaning and disinfecting the food holder line 10. The first set of nozzles SI comprises a rotational first pair of nozzles 95 at the left side of the food holder guide 80 when viewed along the main driving direction T, and a stationary second pair of nozzles 97 near the bottom of the washing chamber 70. The first pair of nozzles 95 is directed substantially horizontally towards the cleaning line X, and is rotationally connected to the frame 51 by a first rotary device 96 to rotate around a first rotation axis R1. The second pair of nozzles 97 is fixedly connected to the frame 51. The nozzles of the second pair of nozzles 97 are located at opposite sides of the food holder guide 80 and are directed obliquely upwards towards the cleaning line X.

The nozzle assembly 90 comprises a second set of nozzles S2 for intensively cleaning and disinfecting the water holder line 20. The second set of nozzles S2 has a rotational third pair of nozzles 93 at the left side of the food holder guide 80 when viewed along the main driving direction T. The third pair of nozzles 93 is directed obliquely downwards towards the cleaning line X, and is rotationally connected to the frame 51 by a second rotary device 94 to rotate around a second rotation axis R2.

The nozzle assembly 90 comprises a third set of nozzles S3 for intensively cleaning and disinfecting both the food holder line 10 and the water holder line 20. The third set of nozzles S3 has a rotational fourth pair of nozzles 91 at the right side of the food holder guide 80. The fourth pair of nozzles 91 is directed obliquely downwards towards the cleaning line X, and is rotationally connected to the frame 51 by a third rotary device 92 to rotate around a third rotation axis R3.

The nozzles 91, 93, 95, 97 in this example are dirt blaster nozzles or rotor nozzles that spray a high pressure rotating water jet towards the cleaning line. The dirt blaster nozzles provide a cone shaped high pressure water jet that efficiently and thoroughly removes dirt over a larger surface area as compared to stationary nozzles. The cone shaped water jets are indicated in the figures.

Figure 5 is a schematic of the nozzle assembly 90. The nozzle assembly 90 comprises a high pressure water pump 98 that is hydraulically connected to a water stock or supply 105. The water of the water supply 105 can be cold water, unheated water, or hot water, for example water having a temperature of more than 60 degrees Celsius. The water of the water supply 105 may comprise washing agents or other additives. The water pump 98 is hydraulically connected to the nozzles 91, 93, 95, 97 to supply high pressure water thereto at a pressure of at least 100 bar, preferably at least 250 bar.

The nozzle assembly 90 comprises a respective first supply line 102 and second supply line 103 between the water pump 98 and the respective first pair of nozzles 95 and second pair of nozzles 97 of the first set of nozzles SI. The nozzle assembly 90 comprises a third supply line 101 between the water pump 98 and the third pair of nozzles 93 of the second set of nozzles S2. The nozzle assembly 90 comprises a first valve 104 along the first, second and third supply line 102, 103, 101 to switch the supply of high pressure water between the first set of nozzles SI and the second set of nozzles S2, or to switch off the supply of high pressure water 91 to the first set SI and second set S2 of nozzles. The nozzle assembly 90 comprises a fourth supply line 99 between the water pump 98 and the fourth pair of nozzles 91 of the third set of nozzles S3. The nozzle assembly 90 comprises a second valve 100 along the fourth supply line 99 to switch the supply of high pressure water to the third set of nozzles S3 on or off.

The cleaning device 50 comprises a controller 66 for the nozzle assembly 90 that is operably connected to the control panel 65. The controller 66 is configured to control or operate the water pump 98, the first valve 104 and the second valve 100 to control the supply of high pressure water to the respective sets of nozzles SI, S2, S3. As a safety measure the controller 66 is connected to the step board sensor of the step board 37. The controller is configured such that it can only control the nozzle assembly 90 when the step board sensor detects that the step board 37 is in the horizontal working position, i.e. the cleaning device 50 is only operable when an operator is standing on the step board 37. The step board sensor can also be connected to the control panel 65 to disable and/or enable other functions or operations of the mobile cleaner 30, such as the operation of the driven tracks 33.

To intensively clean and disinfect the food holder line 10 in the chicken barn 1, it is raised in its entirety to a working height by hauling in the suspension cables 12 of the food holder line 10. The mobile cleaner 30 is then moved by the driven tracks 33 to a position near and/or along the food holder line 10 in which the food holder line 10 is parallel to and at least roughly aligned with the longitudinal top opening 72 of the cleaning device 50. Preferably the mobile cleaner 30 is positioned at one end of the food holder line 10 and/or at a portion of the food holder line 10 that does not comprise food holders 13. The lids 61 of the cleaning device 50 are in an opened position. The food holder line 10 is then inserted through the top opening 72 into the washing chamber 70 by locally near the cleaning device 50 raising, moving and lowering the food holder line 10 by hand, for instance by the human operator. When the food holder line 10 is inside the washing chamber 70 the lids 61 are closed to cover the top opening 72. The cleaning 50 device can be more accurately aligned with the food holder line 10 by adjusting the position of the cleaning device 50 with respect to the undercarriage 31 in direction G. Alternatively the food holder line 10 is raised in its entirety to a working height that is greater than the height of the mobile cleaner 30, and the food holder line 10 is inserted into the washing room by raising the cleaning device 50 of the mobile cleaner 30 in vertical direction F. Alternatively the food holder line 10 can be lowered into the washing chamber 70 by paying out the suspension cables 12 in direction B.

As best shown in figures 3A and 3B, the food holder line 10 extends substantially along the cleaning line X through the entrance opening 71, the washing chamber 70 and the back opening 73 parallel to the main driving direction T. The food holder 13 hangs from the feed tube 11 in front of the tilting guide 85 for the holders 13. To intensively clean and disinfect the food holder line 10 the nozzle assembly 90 is switched to the first cleaning mode in which the first set of nozzles SI and the third set of nozzles S3 are operable. Subsequently the mobile cleaner 30 moves in the main driving direction T along the food holder line 10 to move towards the food holder 13.

The food holder 13 is suspended from the feed tube 11 and it hangs freely, due to gravity, in a first orientation in which the food tray 16 is orientated substantially horizontally. In the first orientation the centre of gravity of the food holder 13 is located directly below the suspension point thereof at the feed tube 11 of the food holder line 10. When the mobile cleaner 30 moves towards the food holder 13, at some point the receiving end 88 of the guide wall 86 of the tilting guide 85 comes into contact with the food tray 16 of the food holder 13. The guide wall 86 of the tilting guide 85 first contacts the right side of the food tray 16 when seen along the main driving direction T. While the mobile cleaner 30 keeps moving forward the food tray 16 progresses along the guide wall 86 towards the entrance opening 71. As the guide wall 86 tapers towards the entrance opening 71 it forces, guides or tilts the food tray 16 and therewith the food holder 13 gradually out of its first orientation and into a tilted second orientation. In the second orientation the centre of gravity of the food holder 13 is tilted away, i.e. it is horizontally displaced with respect to the suspension point of the food holder 13 at the feed tube 11 of the food holder line 10. In this example, in the second orientation the food holder 13 is approximately tilted over 90 degrees with respect to the first orientation of the food holder 13. The guide wall 86 of the tilting guide 85 is shaped such that at or near the entrance opening 71 the food tray 16 is tilted substantially vertically and its centre of gravity is substantially at the same height as the feed tube 11. The food tray 16 enters the washing chamber 70 through the entrance opening 71 in this orientation.

Inside the washing chamber 70 the side or edge of the food tray 16 is supported and guided by the horizontal bottom wall 81 of the food holder guide 80 to maintain the food tray 13 in the vertical second orientation when it progresses inside the washing chamber 70 along the cleaning line X. In the first cleaning mode, as the food holder 13 progresses through the washing chamber 70 it passes the first set SI and third set S3 of nozzles which are configured and arranged to optimally remove dirt from the food holder 13 by spraying high pressure water jets at different angles against the vertically orientated food holder 13. The first set of nozzles SI is only used in the first cleaning mode. The food tray 16 leaves the washing chamber 70 through the back opening 73 in its vertical second orientation. When the food tray 16 of the food holder 13 has passed the back opening 73 it is not supported by the food holder guide 80 anymore and the food holder 13 swings back to the substantially horizontal first orientation. If any dirt or residues are still present on the food holder 13 it can be manually removed by the human operator with the use of the pressure washer gun7.

The water holder line 20 is intensely cleaned by the mobile cleaner 30 in a similar fashion as the food holder line 10. Hereafter, in particular the differences as compared to the cleaning of the food holder line 10 are discussed. As best shown in figure 4 the water holder line 20 extends substantially along the cleaning line X through the entrance opening 71, the washing chamber 70 and the back opening 73 parallel to the main driving direction T. The water holder 23 is suspended from the water tube 21 and it hangs, due to gravity, in an orientation in which the water tray 26 is orientated substantially horizontally. The water tray 26 and therewith the water holder 23 remains in this orientation during the cleaning thereof by the mobile cleaner 30. During cleaning the water holders 23 pass the first set of entrance brushes 62 and the second set of exit brushes 63. The entrance brush 62 and the exit brush 63 help to keep the water holder line 20 in position with respect to the nozzle assembly 90. The entrance brush 62 and the exit brush 63 can respectively remove loose dirt and remaining dirt from the water holder line 20. In the second cleaning mode the tilting guide is not used to tilt the water holder 23, and the food holder guide 80 is not used to guide the water holder 23 through the washing chamber 70.

To intensively clean and disinfect the water holder line 20 the nozzle assembly 90 is switched to the second cleaning mode in which the second set S2 and third set S3 of nozzles are operable. Subsequently the mobile cleaner 30 moves in the main driving direction T along the water holder line 20 to move towards the water holder 23. In the second cleaning mode, as the water holder 23 progresses through the washing chamber 70 it passes the second set S2 and third set S3 of nozzles which are configured and arranged to optimally remove dirt from the water holder 23 by spraying high pressure water jets at different angles against the water holder 23. The second set of nozzles S2 is only used in the second cleaning mode while the third set of nozzles S3 is used in both the first cleaning mode and the second cleaning mode.

The cleaning device 50 of the mobile cleaner 30 is configured to switch the nozzle assembly 90 between the first cleaning mode and the second cleaning mode by controlling, by the controller 66, the first valve 104 to switch the supply of high pressure water from the first set pair of nozzles SI to the second set of nozzles S2.

It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the scope of the present invention.

Claims

C LA IM S

1. Mobile cleaner for cleaning animal feeder lines, wherein the feeder lines comprise a food holder line having a feed tube, and food holders that are suspended from the feed tube and that are swingable around the feed tube, and wherein the mobile cleaner comprises an undercarriage having a frame and a driving arrangement for driving the mobile cleaner along the feeder lines in a main driving direction, and a cleaning device on the frame, having plating that bounds a washing chamber, an entrance opening to the washing chamber, and a back opening that is in the main driving direction opposite to the entrance opening, wherein the cleaning device comprises a food holder guide that extends between the entrance opening and the back opening for supporting the food holder, a nozzle assembly that is arranged inside the washing chamber along the food holder guide for jet cleaning the feeder lines, and a tilting guide for the food holders at the entrance opening, wherein the mobile cleaner has a first cleaning mode for the food holder line in which the food holder line extends through the entrance opening, the washing chamber and the back opening, and along the tilting guide, and the tilting guide is configured to, as the mobile cleaner drives along the food holder line, tilt the food holder with respect to the feed tube from a first orientation in which the food holder is pending downwards from the feed tube, to a second orientation in which the food holder is tilted away from the first orientation, wherein the food holder guide maintains the second orientation inside the washing chamber.

2. Mobile cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the tilting guide comprises a guide wall having a proximal end that continuous into the food holder guide, and a receiving end opposite to the proximal end for receiving the food holders.

3. Mobile cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the guide wall of the tilting guide tapers from the receiving end towards the proximal end.

4. Mobile cleaner according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the guide wall has, at the receiving end, a quarter circular shape that covers the bottom right portion of a circle when viewed along the main driving direction.

5. Mobile cleaner according to any one of claims 2-4, wherein the guide wall is made from bended sheet metal and has straight bend lines that divide the guide wall in triangular or tapered portions.

6. Mobile cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feeder lines comprise a water holder line having a water tube, and water holders that are suspended from the water tube, wherein the mobile cleaner has a second cleaning mode for the water holder line in which the water holder line extends through the entrance opening, the washing chamber and the back opening, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a first set of nozzles and a second set of nozzles, wherein the cleaning device is configured to switch between the first cleaning mode and the second cleaning mode, and wherein in the first cleaning mode the first set of nozzles is operable, and in the second cleaning mode the second set of nozzles is operable.

7. Mobile cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a third set of nozzles, wherein the third set of nozzles is operable in both the first cleaning mode and in the second cleaning mode.

8. Mobile cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a rotational pair of nozzles that is arranged to rotate around a rotation axis.

9. Mobile cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a dirt blaster nozzle.

10. Mobile cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nozzle assembly is configured to supply water at a pressure of at least 100 bar.

11. Mobile cleaner according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the cleaning device comprises an entrance brush that is arranged at the entrance opening.

12. Mobile cleaner according to claim 6, 7 or 11, wherein the cleaning device comprises an exit brush that is arranged at the back opening.

13. Mobile cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile cleaner comprises a step board that is pivotable connected to the frame to pivot with respect to the frame between a storage position and a working position, wherein the cleaning device is configured such that the nozzle assembly is operable when the step board is in the working position.

14. Mobile cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile cleaner comprises a pressure washer gun.

15. Mobile cleaner according to claims 13 and 14, wherein the pressure washer gun and the step board are arranged near the back opening.

16. Mobile cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning device comprises a front plating, a left plating, a right plating, a back plating, a top plating and a bottom plating that bound the washing chamber, wherein the front plating bounds the entrance opening, the back plating bounds the back opening, and the top plating defines a top opening that continues into the entrance opening and the back opening.

17. Mobile cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile cleaner comprises a lift mechanism to set the height of the cleaning device with respect to the frame.

18. Mobile cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mobile cleaner comprises a slide mechanism to slide the cleaning device with respect to the frame in a horizontal direction transverse to the main driving direction.

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