FR2531694A1 - MACHINE FOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES - Google Patents

Abstract

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLEANING THE SURFACE OF DIRTY OBJECTS USING A WASHING APPARATUS PRODUCING HIGH PRESSURE JETS DIRECTED AGAINST THE DIRTY OBJECTS AND ALSO TOWARDS THE INSIDE OF THE BATH OF CLEANING FLUID TO SHAKE THE SAME. THE APPLIANCE ESSENTIALLY CONSISTS OF AN ELONGATED ENCLOSURE 11 WHICH CONTAINS A PRE-WASHING CHAMBER 30, A SOAKING CHAMBER 32 LOCATED AT A LOWER LEVEL AND A RINSING CHAMBER 34 AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THE PRE-WASHING CHAMBER 30, SOAKING 32 BEING DIVIDED INTO AN IMPREGNATION STATION 60 AND A RECOVERY STATION 62; A FLUID DISPENSER 74; MEANS OF GUIDANCE 96 AND A TRANSFER SYSTEM 54 WHICH DRIVES OBJECTS SUCCESSIVELY THROUGH SAID CHAMBERS; ADDITIONAL IRRIGATION MEANS 84 AGITATE THE FLUID BATH AT THE END OF THE ROUTE. APPLICATION IN PARTICULAR TO THE CLEANING OF RECEPTACLES USED IN THE BOTTLED BEVERAGE INDUSTRY.

Description

The present invention relates to improvements made to the

  an apparatus and a cleaning process.

  This invention relates to a method and an apipref for automatically cleaning

  impurities on the surfaces of dirty objects, thanks to a washing machine that uses spray jets

  high pressure to agitate the cleaning fluid in an immersion bath.

  if we. The detritus and its impact on our environment are the subject of increased attention in many countries To solve this problem,

  some States have legislation which prohibits the use of

  disposable plastic, glass and metal dyes Recent studies have shown that

  that this legislation reduces the amount of trash on the butts

  and other public places However, the legislation in question also

  caused other unforeseen problems with respect to storage

  and the return of refilled bottles for drinks.

  It is now common in the beverage industry to use

  receptacles made of plastic material to ship or deliver

  glass, plastic and beverage metal containers These receptacles normally comprise a plurality of stiffening flanges and ribs which

  form a large number of slots in which dirt can accumulate

  In some cases, the plastic containers are

  complex structures that include removable secondary speakers.

  For reasons of hygiene and aesthetics, it is desirable to clean

  such receptacles each time they are returned to the place of bottling.

  lage _ We now know the art of cleaning an object by dipping it

  in an acidic or basic cleaning solution, so that the chemical solution

  The process is economical and requires only the simplest possible equipment. However, it also takes time and does not always clean the cracks and cavities of the object being treated. , the cleaning solution often attacks the surface of the object luilfn & me and, after a significant number of cycles

  cleaning process, this may have a deleterious and permanent effect on the

pect of this surface.

  We also know the method of cleaning objects which consists of

  to place them in a liquid bath and to pass ultrasound through

  to the fluid that forms the bath, so that it strikes the surface of the object.

  A typical example of a cleaning apparatus using ultrasound is

  This ultrasonic method is more effective in removing dirt, compared with a simple immersion of the object in a chemical bath. Unfortunately, since the immersion time of a any object in the bath is reduced, the number

  transducers necessary for proper cleaning of this object.

  jet believes, if one wants the ultrasound to be effective, so that it takes at least one transducer element for four liters of fluid

  Although the batch cleaning or "oven cleaning" is well known

  "It is sometimes very expensive to adopt ultrasonic cleaning equipment to properly clean objects when it comes to a very large flow catcher. Moreover, the ultrasonic transducers only detach the dirt. but do not remove it unless there is sufficient exposure time and a sufficient amount of ultrasonic energy A complete rinse is therefore essential to remove impurities from the object Finally, all cleaning devices

  ultrasound systems have the disadvantage of being unable to

  to lift large fragments of waste from the cracks and

  of the object being cleaned Waste such as

  glass and bottle caps are frequently found in

  plastic receptacles used in the

  drinks when they return to the bottling unit.

  A method has already been used to increase the effectiveness of

  ultrasonic cleaning devices, by providing a pre-wash station where

  the object is scoured before being soaked in the ultrasonic wash bath.

  In this pre-wash station, the object may for example be exposed to

  One of the drawbacks that accompany the use of a pre-washing station is that the cleaning fluid leaving this station can not be allowed to run. flow directly into the immersion chamber to mix with the cleaning fluid that is there, because if we let the effluent from the pre-wash station to flow into the immersion chamber to mix with

  the cleaning fluid would greatly reduce the effectiveness of the transduc-

ultrasonic sensors.

  In the related patent application mentioned above, it was proposed

  a cleaning apparatus equipped with a liquid immersion bath which

  the chemical action and the mechanical action of cleaning the action of

  chemical cleaning is achieved by using a cleaning fluid that

  the surface tension of the dirty object and the dirt itself.

  The mechanical cleaning action is provided either by transducers or by a series of high-pressure spray jets which stir -3-

  the fluid in the bath Although this apparatus gave the result

  In order to reduce the number of transducers required to remove a given quantity of dirt, it still requires the use in the cleaning fluid of more caustic chemicals than the maximum desirable quantity. to link in this related application-does not suggest the possibility of mixing

  the fluid from the pre-washing station to the immersion bath fluid.

  The present invention provides a novel method of cleaning

  dirty objects and a new type of apparatus to apply this method.

  In the process according to the present invention, the dirty object is first subjected to a pre-washing using a jet under high pressure, able to strike directly the surface of the dirty object in order to remove some of the dirt Next, the object is dipped in an immersion chamber containing a heated cleaning fluid and this during a

  determined time After the object has been soaked in the fluid of net-

  in the immersion chamber during this determined time, the cleaning fluid is agitated using jets under high pressure These jets under high pressure are likely to create significant turbulence

  in the cleaning fluid, which makes it possible to detach a sup-

  and remove it from the surface of the object, so that bulky waste is removed from the object Finally, the object is removed from the soaking bath and rinsed with the aid of a jet under strong pressure of rinsing fluid able to strike directly the surface of

  the object in order to remove the cleaning fluid and the remaining impure-

  It may still be retained, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, this process is implemented in the form of a continuous process for cleaning several dirty objects. Thus, these dirty objects first pass through a pre-wash chamber oh they are exposed to the scrubbing action of

  several spray jets of a cleaning fluid under heavy pressure.

  This initial scrubbing effect detaches or removes part of the

  Then the objects are passed through an immersion chamber.

  in the longitudinal direction and which includes an impregnation station and a scouring station. In the impregnation station,

  an additional quantity of impurities is detached by the fluid of net-

  cleaning In the scouring station of the immersion chamber, a complementary quantity of impurities is detached and removed from the object thanks to the energetic scouring action produced by the turbulence generated by the fluid dispenser under high pressure. object 44- is freed from the remaining impurities by passing this object through the chamber of

  rinsing In this rinsing chamber, the surfaces of the objects are ex-

  applied to a jet under high pressure of a rinsing fluid or wetting agent which removes dirt from objects and also helps to ensure the drying thereof. The apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by an elongate casing at the inlet end of this casing.

  find a pre-wash chamber in which is arranged a first tun-

  nel spray to spray a cleaning fluid directly

  against the surfaces of dirty objects At the exit or exit end

  the casing is a flushing chamber in which is

  a second spray tunnel for spraying a flushing fluid

  directly against the surface of objects A soaking chamber is pre-

  seen in the envelope between the pre-wash chamber and the rinse chamber.

  A high-pressure fluid distributor is mounted in the

  of the dipping chamber closest to the rinsing chamber A transport apparatus for moving the objects successively through the prewash chamber, the dipping chamber and the rinsing chamber is provided. the envelope to guide the objects successively through the washing chamber, the chamber of

soaking and rinsing chamber.

  The cleaning apparatus further comprises a filtering apparatus connected to the part of the dipping chamber closest to the prewash chamber, in order to eliminate in this apparatus at least a part of the

  impurities dissolved in the cleaning fluid A first high-pressure pump

  pressure is provided to extract cleaning fluid from the filter apparatus, pressurize the fluid to a predetermined pressure level and then direct it to the first spray head. A second high-pressure pump is provided to extract fluid from the fluid. cleaning the filter chamber, pressurizing this cleaning fluid to a predetermined pressure level and delivering it to the fluid dispenser under high pressure. Therefore, the first object of the present invention is to

  provide a cleaning device capable of removing dirt from

  them and effectively clean a dirty object during a single pass to

  through this device To achieve this goal, the surface tension is reduced

  dirt and the object by the action of the cleaning fluid in the impregnation station of the soaking chamber Another part of the dirt is dissolved and this dissolved part is removed thanks to the action -5- energetic scrubbing produced by the turbulent cleaning fluid in the scrubbing station of the soaking chamber The remaining portion of the dirt and the residue of the cleaning fluid are removed from the object by the energetic scouring action exerted by the fluid rinse from the high pressure fluid dispenser. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device

  economical cleaning, designed to handle batches or "batches" of volume

me important.

  The invention also aims to provide a cleaning device

  1 o by fluid under high pressure, in which is arranged a system of trans-

  port that carries several dirty objects through the device in order to

  hold these dirty objects spaced longitudinally between them.

  Furthermore, the purpose of the invention is to provide a method of

  objects by a process of mechanical and chemical cleaning that minimizes the amount of caustic chemical

  obtain a satisfactory cleaning of dirty objects.

  Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus capable of

  mechanically and chemically lift dirt from dirty objects, and this in

  a single pass To achieve this object, some of the dirt is dis-

  bunker and removed by the vigorous action of mechanical scrubbing and by

  the cleaning fluid produced by jets under strong pressure.

  in the first spray tunnel Another part of the

  It is dissolved by soaking the object in the heated cleaning fluid at the impregnation station of the soaking chamber. Another portion of the dirt is dissolved and removed by the energetic scrubbing action of the turbulent cleaning fluid. The rest of the dirt and the residue of the cleaning fluid are removed by the vigorous mechanical scrubbing action produced by the rinsing fluid from the spray jets under the scrubber.

  high pressure in the second spray tunnel.

  Another particular object of the invention is to provide an

  it is able to mechanically and chemically remove dirt from dirty objects and also to remove relatively large fragments of waste

  of these objects It is obtained by the energetic action of the fluid of net-

  turbulent and agitated cleaning in the impregnation station of the soaking chamber.

  In addition, the object of the invention is to provide an apparatus capable of

  mechanically and chemically lift dirt from dirty objects

  wherein a transfer system is mounted in a pre-la-chamber.

253 '169 #

  6- vage, a soaking chamber and a rinsing chamber The transfer system is designed to carry dirty objects by keeping them

  at regular intervals throughout the device.

  the outer surface of the dirty object is exposed to the action of

  cleaning of sprays under high pressure in the pre-washing chamber, the action of the cleaning fluid at the impregnation station,

  the scrubbing action of the turbulent cleaning fluid at the scrub station

  ge, and to the scrubbing action of the spray jets under heavy pressure.

in the rinsing chamber.

  Finally, another object of the present invention is to provide a method of cleaning objects by combining mechanical cleaning and chemical cleaning by a process using high pressure spray jets with mechanical cleaning in a bath process. Soaking that contains a heated and agitated chemical fluid In addition, the process uses high pressure spray jets

  in a rinsing chamber to ensure thorough cleaning of the object.

  Many of the purposes, features and benefits of the present

  will be clear to any specialist in the art during the course of

  reading the detailed description which follows of the invention, made in

  referring to the attached drawing, in which

  FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing an example of

  cleaning fluid made according to the present invention and which comprises

  a pre-wash chamber, a soaking chamber and a rinse chamber

cage;

  FIGURE 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale,

  Partial tearing of the soaking chamber of the

  Figure 1, showing interior parts of the cleaning unit and a dirty object that can be cleaned with this unit; FIGURE 3 is a plan view, partially cut away, of the cleaning apparatus of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4 is a side elevation and partial sectional view of the cleaning apparatus of Figure 1; FIGURE 5 is a perspective side view on an enlarged scale of a spray tunnel and a portion of a conveyor

  provided in the prewash chamber of the net

cleaning of Figure 1;

  FIGURE 6 is a side view in perspective of the spray tunnel.

  provided inside the rinsing chamber of the

  cleaning of Figure 1; FIGS. 7 to 11 are sectional views of the cleaning apparatus

  of Figure 4, respectively along the lines VII VII to XI -

  XI of this Figure; FIGURE 12 is a perspective view similar to Figure 2 but showing a modified version of the cleaning apparatus according to the invention, and FIGURE 13 is a sectional view similar to Figure 10 showing the spray jets. under heavy pressure in the soaking chamber

  of the cleaning apparatus of Figure 12.

  Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4, it will be seen that an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for cleaning dirty objects is referred to generally as In the example shown, the dirty object to be cleaned is a receptacle or rack made of plastic material 12 (FIG.

  example for "soft" drinks bottles o This receptacle-in terms of

  The plastic container 12 has a bottom 14, four side walls 16a to 16d and two handles 18a and 18b. The receptacle 12 has an interior compartment for receiving the soft drink bottles.

  the art will note that the cleaning apparatus 10 also applies to the net.

  cleaning other dirty or polluted articles, for example plastic, wood, metal or other containers used in the milk, meat, pastry, bakery and other industries

  This invention also applies to the cleaning of arti-

  plastic sheeting, machine parts and other similar dirty objects As shown in Figure 1, the cleaning apparatus 10 is enclosed

  in an envelope 11 which comprises a ceiling 22 with a longitudinal orientation

  two side walls 22 which also extend in the longitudinal direction

  two end walls 26a and 26b, one of them, here the end wall 26a has an inlet passage 28a for the admission of receptacle E 12 into the envelope 11 The other end wall, here the

  wall 26b, has an outlet passage 28b through which the receptacles

  12 of the cleaning apparatus 10 is further provided with a floor 29 which will be described later. The walls of the casing 11 may be thermally insulated so that to reduce heat loss in fluids that

  in the rooms and to keep the energy expenditure to a minimum

  In that case, the inside of the envelope 11 of the cleaning apparatus 10 is divided into a pre-wash chamber 30, a soaking chamber 32 and a chamber Rinsing 34, arranged in series between the inlet passage 28a and the outlet passage 28b The details and the role of each of these chambers 32 and 34 inside the envelope of the cleaning apparatus 10 will be described later.

  As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the floor 29 pos-

  sede a central portion 36 in the intermediate portion of the chamber of

  This floor 29 further comprises horizontal end portions.

  38 a and 38 b located respectively in the prewash chamber 1 o and in the rinsing chamber The horizontal end portions 38 a and 38 b are each placed in a plane of level higher than the central portion 36 inclined intermediate portions of 40 a and 40 b, are provided in the soaking chamber 32 between the end portions 38 a and 38 b, on the one hand, and the central portion 36, on the other hand an additional vertical wall 42 is provided between the soaking chamber 32 and the rinsing chamber 34 A passage 43 is

  arranged through the wall 42 for the receptacles 12.

  The details of the pre-wash chamber 30 are further

  Figs 3 to 5 The pre-wash chamber 30 contains a first

  This first spray assembly 44 comprises two end or transverse frames 46a and 46b in sections.

  tubular, arranged to form an open rectangle

  terminal tubular slats 48, forming spars, are mounted in

  the longitudinal direction between the end tubular frames 46a and 46b.

  The first spray assembly 44 is fed by a high-pressure pump 50 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which receives cleaning fluid extracted from an apparatus 66 for recirculating and cleaning the cleaning fluid, which will be described later. pump 50 is pushing the cleaning fluid under

  a pressure of between 4.8 and 5.5 bar in the overall spraying

  The preferred delivery or supply pressure is 5.2

  Several watering nozzles 52 are mounted on the tubular crosspieces

  The spray nozzles 48 are directed to direct a plurality of cleaning liquid spray jets within the spray assembly 44 and directly against the surface of the receptacle 12. The spray nozzles 52 are selected to maintain a high pressure in the spray nozzle. jet over a distance

  important, and for this purpose they have an orifice of a diameter of

  2 mm in the preferred embodiment The high pressure spray jets produced by the nozzles 52 form high velocity circulating currents which mechanically scour the dirty objects at the same time.

  detach or remove some of the dirt that

  ceptacle The combination thus achieved between the scrubbing action of the fluid spray and the chemical action of the cleaning fluid dissolves or loosens part of the dirt that adheres to the receptacle. The cleaning fluid in the chamber of pre- washing 30 can flow

  freely between this pre-wash chamber and the soaking chamber.

  The details relating to the soaking chamber 32 stand out more

  Figs 2 to 4 The bath of the soaking chamber 32 is filled

  at a specific level with a chemical or cleaning fluid preferably containing a non-foaming agent The type and concentration of the fluid

  cleaning methods depend on the nature of the dirt to be removed and also the

  Cleaning Required Many of the proper cleaning fluids are

  well known in the art and commercially available.

  shown in the drawing, it has been found that the presence of pn at two for

  One percent of detergent in the cleaning fluid is acceptable.

  The soaking chamber is divided in a functional and com-

  takes an impregnation station 60 for a pre-impregnation of the receptacles

  12 and a scrubbing station 62 for scouring the receptacles 12.

  The impregnation station 60 of the soaking chamber 32 is located near the pre-wash chamber 30 The impregnation station 60

  of the soaking chamber 32 is located near the chamber of pre-

  The impregnating station 60 is designed to allow the flow of

  of cleaning to act to reduce the surface tension of receptacles

  Key 12 and dirt, which covers them A planned drainage passage 64

  in the side wall 24b of the envelope makes it possible to extract from the

  a fraction of the cleaning fluid - to direct it towards the ap-

  similar 66 recirculation of cleaning fluid This drainage passage

  64 will preferably be placed in the first third of the immersion chamber.

  ge 32 so as not to reduce fluid turbulence in the second half

  the first third of the soaking chamber.

  The device 66 for recirculating the fluid comprises a box 68 which

  constitutes a fluid reservoir 70 A filtering apparatus (not shown in FIG.

  tee) is provided inside the fluid reservoir 70 and serves to extract

  the impurities contained in the cleaning fluid passing through this tank.

  The scrubbing station 62 of the soaking chamber 32 is placed near the rinsing chamber 34 This scrubbing station 62 comprises a high pressure fluid dispenser 74 or 74 'capable of agitating the cleaning fluid in the last part of the soaking chamber 32 Two typical examples of structures for a distributor 74 or 74 'of -

  fluid under high pressure are shown in the drawing, one being visible

  sible in Figs 2 to 11 and the other in Figs 12 and 13.

  In the first exemplary structure, which is particularly seen in FIGS. 2 and 10, the fluid distributor 74 is composed of a long main tubular element 76 connected at one end to a pump

  This high-pressure pump 78 draws fluid from the net.

  recycled recycling in the fluid recirculation apparatus 66 and submits this

  fluid at a pressure between 3.1 and 3.45 bars.

  The fluid dispenser 74 further includes a series of coolant nozzles 80 which allow the pressurized fluid in the tubular member 76 to exit from the latter as a plurality of jets or high pressure streams. In the preferred embodiment, the nozzles have orifices of approximately 6.35 mm in diameter. In this embodiment, the nozzles are designed so that they can introduce a jet of high pressure and high flow into the soaking chamber. furthermore, the fluid dispenser 74 comprises a plurality of tubular arms 82a to 82d connected to the main tubular member 76 from which they extend

  radially additional watering nozzles 80 are provided to the ex-

  Each of these arms 82 to 82 d can be extracted with the cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid leaving the dispenser 74 can therefore stir the cleaning fluid that is in

  the soaking bath 32 The cleaning fluid thus agitated corrects the

  faces of the receptacles 12 in order to remove the dirt.

  The second structured example for a distributor 74 'is

  12 and 13 As in the dispenser described above, the distributor 74 'has a plurality of radial arms 82' to 82 'd connected by a long main member 76' Each of the arms 82 'has 82' d is provided a spray nozzle 80 'for agitating the cleaning fluid In addition, the distributor 74' has a plurality of arms angled at the bracket 83 a to 83 d, connected to the element 76 'and each provided with The different locations and orientation of these nozzles will depend on the size and shape of the article to be cleaned and also on the surfaces of the article that require such scrubbing.

  dirt which covers such receptacles 12 covers the side walls

  16 to 16 d The part of this dirt that is the most difficult to

  however, it is located on the underside of the bottom 14 A number

  As a result, large numbers of nozzles 80 'are placed below the receiver.

  The nozzles 80 'which are directed towards the bottom 14 of the receptacle 12 and which leave the dispenser 74' are situated upstream of the nozzles which the arms 83 a to 83 d bear, and consequently they create more

253 X 694

he -

  turbulence due to their higher pressure.

  A heater (not shown) may also be

  seen inside the soaking chamber 32 to heat the cleaning fluid to a predetermined temperature, preferably in the range of 650 C to 71 C suitable heating apparatus

  for this application are commercially available and are

nude specialists in the art.

  The details of the rinsing chamber 34 are more apparent in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 6. As shown in Fig. 4, the rinsing chamber 34 contains a second tunnel or spray assembly 84 similar to

  the spray assembly 44 described in the case of the chamber of pre-

  The spray assembly 84, as shown in FIG.

  comprises two end frames 86 formed of tubular elements and dis-

  laid to form an open rectangle, as well as several sleepers

  tubulars 87 mounted longitudinally between the two tubular frames -

  The second spray assembly 84 is supplied with fluid by means of a high-pressure pump 88 which draws rinsing fluid, for example water, into a tank 90. Several watering nozzles 92 are mounted on the [0009] Tubular sleepers 87 so as to direct several jets under strong rinsing fluid pressure into the interior of the second spray assembly. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the rinse water contained in the tank 90 must be separated by The rinsing fluid from the second spray assembly 84 is sprayed and directed to the receptacles in the rinsing chamber 34 at a pressure of between 4.8 and 5. 5 bars, by the pump 88, to remove the remaining dirt and cleaning fluid residue of this receptacle The preferred pressure will be about 5.15 bar Thus,

  the rinsing fluid spray jets under strong pressure

  high velocity currents which mechanically scour the remaining dirt on the objects and ensure the rinsing of any residual fluid adhering to the objects. The fluid contained in the reservoir 90 may

  heated by any known means of conventional and practical heating,

  elimination of the liquid remaining on the objects after their passage through the rinsing tank 34 can be provided by driving by the air flow produced by a fan 94 (Figs 3 and 4) which blows air,

  optionally heated, on the receptacles.

  The receptacles 12 to be cleaned must be totally immersed in the cleaning fluid of the soaking bath in order to dissolve any impurity which adheres to the surface of the object to be cleaned. To obtain this result with objects whose density is lower than that of water, for example in the case of plastic containers or bins 12,

  41 is provided a mechanical guidance system whose r 8 is to s'as-

  to ensure that the objects to be cleaned are fully immersed, that is,

* ie below the surface of the cleaning fluid, during their

  The receptacles can be passed through the apparatus 10 along a guide assembly 96 (which is further shown in FIG. 2). The guide assembly 96 passes through the chamber end-to-end. pre-wash 30, then the soaking chamber 32 and

end the rinsing chamber 34.

  The guide assembly 96 comprises two lower rails 98a and 98b spaced apart from one another and located near the opposite sides of the set of

  guide 96 (Figs 2 and 4) The lower guide rails 98a and 98b are

  first tend horizontally in the pre-wash chamber 30, then slope down to the inlet of the soaking chamber 32 to

  to point the objects down below the level of the cleaning fluid

  age which is in this soaking chamber 32 near the bottom of the soaking chamber 32 the lower guide rails 98 a and 98 b

  first extend horizontally, then tilt upward

  to the passage 44 provided in the partition 42 Finally, the lower guide rails 98a and 98b follow a horizontal path through the chamber

rinsing 34.

  The guide assembly 96 further comprises two support rails la-

  100 a and 100 b opposed to one another and placed above the lower guide rails 98a and 98b and on both sides, laterally,

  receptacles 12 These lateral support rails 100a and 100b pass through

  terminally the pre-wash chamber 30, the soaking chamber 32 and the rinsing chamber 34, in a manner similar to the path followed by the rails

  lower guide 98a and 98b The guide assembly 96 also includes

  two upper guide rails 102a and 102b disposed opposite one another above the lateral support rails 100a and 100b and on either side of the guide assembly 96 The upper guide rails

  102a and 102b pass through the pre-wash chamber 30, the trench chamber

  page 32 and the rinse chamber 34, in a manner similar to what is

  provided for lateral support rails 100a and 100b.

  A transfer or transport system 54 is also mounted in the envelope. This system 54 extends horizontally to and through the

  prewash chamber 30, the soaking chamber 32 and the rinse chamber

  The guide assembly 96 receives the dirty receptacles 12 placed on this transfer system by the operator or by another conveyor device (not shown). The transfer assembly 54 pushes each receptacle 12 along the conveyor. guide assembly 96 and maintains them at an appropriate longitudinal distance.

  12 allows spraying jets under heavy pressure of

  in the rinsing chamber 34 to strike the front and rear walls 16A and 16B of each receptacle In addition, the angular spacing between adjacent receptacles (see Fig 4) allows these to cross the scrub station, and to the turbulent cleaning fluid to scour the front and rear walls more effectively 16 A

and 16 B receptacles.

  Details of this transfer system 54 are particularly apparent

  This type of conveyor, as shown in the drawing, is well known in the art and commercially available although other means of transporting the receptacles 12 through the casing 10 can be used.

  the transfer system 54 is preferred for the purpose of pre-

  This system 54 comprises two tracks 55 A and 55 B which pass through

  each of which the pre-wash chamber 30, the soaking chamber 32 and the rinsing chamber 34, are placed on either side of the guide assembly 96

  transfer system 54 further comprises two endless wagons 56:

  55 A and 55 B Each string 56 (only one of which is

  partly in the drawing) extends from a mechanism of

  trailing (not shown) along the entire length of one of the channels 55 A or 55 B through the envelope 11, to return in a manner well known in the art, but not shown in the drawing, to the mechanism of The transfer system 54 comprises several thrust rods 58 arranged

  between the two sets of chains 56 The rods 58 are separated

  The latter are brought to the transfer system 54 so that only one receptacle is received between each pair of adjacent thrust rods 58, in order to be effective. pushed by the rod 58

  which is close to the rear wall 168 of the receptacle.

  Operation During the operation of the installation, a batch of containers

  12 is delivered to the inlet passage 28a of the cleaning apparatus 10.

  the transfer system 54 serves to space the dirty objects between them so as to make it possible to apply a watering under high pressure from the

  first spray assembly 44 directly to the entire sur-

  14 - face of each receptacle 12, including the front wall (designated 16a in Figure 2) and the rear wall (designated 16c in Figure 2) of this receptacle Therefore, the scouring action produced by the high-pressure watering jets which strike the surface of the receptacles, in combination with the chemical action produced by the cleaning fluid,

  dissolves some of the dirt covering the receptacles.

  The receptacles 12 are transferred by the transfer system 54 between the pre-wash chamber 30 and the inside of the soaking chamber

  32, then guided along the guide assembly 96 through this chamber.

  In the impregnation station 60 of the quenching chamber

  page 32, the heated cleaning fluid decreases the surface tension

  dirt and clogged receptacle The cleaning fluid that is

  ve in this initial part of the soaking chamber 32 is not agitated

  and for reasons which will become clear below.

  The receptacles 12 are directed by the transfer system 54

  be the impregnation station 60 and the interior of the scrub station 62 of

  the soaking chamber 32 In the scrubbing station 62, the fluid of net-

  cleaning is agitated to scour the surfaces of the receptacle 12 The fluid

  cleaning agent can be sufficiently shaken to ensure that

  large breakages such as straw, broken glass and capsules are detached

receptacles.

  Preferably, the nozzles 80 of the fluid dispenser which equates

  the scrubbing station of the soaking chamber 32 are arranged so as to produce agitation only in the second half or the third

third of this soaking chamber.

  This is achieved by the fact that the scrubbing action produced by the turbulent fluid in the initial part of the soaking chamber 32 is less effective than the scrubbing action produced by the turbulent fluid in the final part of this chamber. the time when the receptacle 12 is in the impregnation station of the soaking chamber, the cleaning fluid operates in such a way as to reduce the surface tension which

  causes the impurities to adhere to the receptacle.

  mentioned above, by a heating device fitted to the room

  32, contributes to the success of this phase and reduces the time required for the cleaning fluid can act effectively

  on the dirt and on the surface of the receptacle As soon as the super-

  As a result, the turbulent cleaning fluid quickly and efficiently scours this dirt away from the receptacle.

  mnd ie the amount of flow and pressure produced by the pump 78, we ob-

253 1694

  - keeps cleaning more efficient if watering nozzles are available

  only in the end part of the soaking chamber 32.

  The receptacles 12 are finally transferred by the transfer system 54 between the soaking chamber 32 and the rinsing chamber 34 which they pass through and o the entire surface of each receptacle 12

  is rinsed by the strong pressure jets produced by the

  spraying or watering 84.

  It is therefore clear that the present invention provides a cost-effective method and apparatus for cleaning fouled articles. The method and apparatus disclosed are of particular interest when dealing with large volumes or high volumes. Dirty objects must be cleaned quickly and in a way that is both reliable and economical. The method and apparatus according to the invention combine

  chemical and mechanical cleaning techniques, and this in a way

  which reduces the amount of caustic chemical that we -

  must use to clean these objects Therefore, the process and the ap-

  According to the invention, they are suitable for cleaning dirty objects and which comprise substances which can not withstand the use of cleaning fluids that are too harsh or corrosive. Finally, the method and apparatus according to the invention constitute an effective means for clean all surfaces of dirty objects and to extract-fragments and wastes that are

inside these objects.

  The above description of the preferred embodiment of the invention

  tion is given only as an example, not a limitation.

  above refers to the best embodiment envisaged in the context of the invention for the implementation thereof at the time of filing the patent application Of course, variants can be 9

  contemplated for the above description by any specialist in the art

  without however departing from the basic principles of the invention.

16 -

R EV E N D I C A T IO N S

  1 Apparatus for removing dirt from a dirty object by using a

  cleaning fluid and a rinsing fluid, characterized in that

  take. a) A first high pressure spraying means (44) mounted near the inlet of the apparatus for the purpose of cleaning by

  the projection of cleaning fluid directly on the surface of the ob-

  dirty so that some of the dirt is dissolved and removed from the

  jet; b) a longitudinally oriented soaking chamber (32) filled with cleaning fluid and provided with an inlet for introduction

  of the dirty object at one of its ends and an exit for the evacuation

  the object at the other end, such that the dirty object is soaked in the cleaning fluid as it passes through said soaking chamber (32) and the cleaning fluid can act on the dirt and the surface of the dirty object to dissolve some of this dirt; c) a second high pressure spraying means (74) within the quench chamber (32) for spraying cleaning fluid into the quench chamber and agitating the cleaning fluid which

  a soaking bath is formed, so that the cleaning fluid and

  if agitated can act on the surface of the dirty object and dissolve an additional portion of said dirt and remove some of the dirt

  dissolved from the dirty object as it passes through the said chamber.

  dipping; d) a third means of spraying under high pressure

  (84) near said outlet for spraying rinse fluid

  directly against the surface of the dirty object after the object has

  through said soaking chamber so as to rid it of

  both dirt and cleaning fluid that adheres to this object, and e) a transfer system (54) that moves gradually

  the dirty object through the first means of spraying under heavy pressure.

  the inlet, the soaking chamber (32), the outlet and the third

  means of spraying under high pressure.

Claims (17)

Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that   second means for spraying under high pressure (74) is mounted to the   the apparatus of claim 2, characterized by the fact that -17 o.   said determined distance represents at least two-thirds of the distance   measured between said input and said output.   Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said transfer system (54) further comprises conveyor means extending through said first high pressure spraying means   (44), said soaking chamber (32) and said second spraying means   high pressure (74), so as to continuously drive multiple   dirty objects along this room and to maintain these objects   dirty at fixed longitudinal intervals.   The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by   said first high pressure spraying means (44) further comprises a prewash chamber (30) a spraying tunnel mounted in said prewash chamber (30) and including a plurality of spraying nozzles (52). ); fluid transport means for conveying cleaning fluid between said pre-wash chamber (30) and said soaking chamber (32); and a high-pressure pump (50) connected to said spray tunnel so as to establishing a communication by the fluid between these chambers (30, 32), said pump (50) sucking fluid   in the soaking chamber (32) to put it under pressure.   up to a determined value, and directing this cleaning fluid into the coolant nozzles (52), so that these nozzles (52) together direct a plurality of high pressure spray jets against the surface of the dirty objects and provide a mechanical scrubbing of the dirty object with the cleaning fluid, to remove part of the dirt that covers it.   Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first high pressure spraying means (44) further comprises a filter interposed between the soaking chamber (32) and the high pressure pump (50) in order to remove the dirt that contains this fluid from cleaning.   Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact   it further comprises a means for heating the cleaning fluid up to   at a specific temperature and to maintain this fluid at this temperature.   temperature. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the transfer system (54) further comprises guide means (96)   mounted in the first high-pressure spraying means (44),   said soaking chamber (32) and the second high-pressure spraying means   pressure (74) to successively guide several dirty objects through 253 t 69-4 18 - these elements.   Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said quenching chamber (32) is generally disposed in a plane below said first high-pressure spraying means (44) and said third high-pressure spraying means (84), and said transfer system (54) first extends horizontally through the first high-pressure spraying means (44) and then down   along an inclined plane through an initial part of the tremor chamber.   page (32), then horizontally through an intermediate part of a   end section of said soaking chamber (32), and finally horizontal-   through the said outlet, so that the front and rear surfaces   of a dirty object are exposed to increased scrubbing action   caused by the agitated fluid due to the angular variations produced   be the back and front surfaces of adjacent dirty objects as   these pass through said immersion chamber.   Apparatus according to Claim 10, characterized by the fact   it comprises a passage for the fluid between said first pulse means   high-pressure actuator (44) and said dipping chamber (32) for   that the cleaning fluid which was sprayed by the said   high-pressure actuation (44) on said dirty object can flow into said soaking chamber.   Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that   said second high pressure spraying means (74) further comprises   a) a distributor means (74) for high pressure fluid,   mounted in said soaking chamber (32) and having at least one step   wise for the fluid, this passage being equipped with spray nozzles (80), and   b) a high pressure pump (78) which sucks the fluid from the   in said soaking chamber (32), presses it and directs it to said passage of the spray tunnel, so that this fluid under   pressure exits said passage through said nozzles in the form of several   high-pressure spray jets that agitate the fluid in this soaking chamber.   Apparatus according to Claim 11, characterized in that   said second high pressure spray means (74) comprises a thread   be mounted between the pre-wash chamber (30) and the high-pressure pump (78) in order to extract from the cleaning fluid the impurities removed on the dirty object.   Apparatus according to Claim 11, characterized in that each of said nozzles is located at least at a predetermined distance from said inlet and said high pressure pump (78) draws cleaning fluid into at least a portion of said dipping chamber (32) which is located between said inlet and outlet openings 14 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the second spray means (74) further comprises a chamber   flushing (34), a spray tunnel mounted in this flushing chamber.   and comprising a plurality of coolant nozzles and a rinse fluid pressure supply for said spraying tunnel; apparatus for removing dirt from dirty objects using a cleaning fluid and a flushing fluid, characterized by it comprises: a) a first spraying tunnel (44); b) at least one spray nozzle (52) in said first spray tunnel for mechanically scouring dirty objects with   cleaning fluid as the dirty objects pass through this   first tunnel (44) spraying; c) a first fluid supply means (50) which supplies   pressure cleaning fluid to said nozzle (52) of said first tunnel. spraying apparatus (44);   d) a soaking chamber (32) oriented longitudinally = -   dinal and having two ends, one of which is connected to and from the first spray tunnel, said chamber (32) containing cleaning fluid to allow the immersion of dirty objects into the fluid as these objects become move through said soaking chamber; e) an agitator (80) disposed along said soaking chamber (32) opposite said first spray tunnel (44);   f) at least one watering nozzle provided on said stirring member   (80) for agitating the cleaning fluid in a portion of the chamber.   soaking away from a certain distance from the first tun-   spraying apparatus (44); g) a medium supply medium (74) which supplies pressurized cleaning fluid to said nozzle of said agitator (80);   h) a second spray tunnel (84) connected to the other ex-   tremity of said soaking chamber (32); i) at least one watering nozzle in the second tunnel (84) for scouring dirty objects with rinsing fluid as these objects pass through the second spray tunnel (84);   j) third fluid supply means (88) for supplying   containing pressurized flushing fluid at said nozzle of said second spray tunnel, and k) a transfer system (54) for successively moving   the dirty objects through the first spray tunnel (44), la-   said soaking chamber (32) and said second spray tunnel (84).   Apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized in that said first spray tunnel (44) and said second spray tunnel (84) are disposed in a plane higher than the soak chamber (32), and that said cleaning fluid that is in the first spray tunnel can flow between this first   tunnel and the interior of said soaking chamber (32).   Apparatus according to Claim 16, characterized by the fact   said first fluid supply means comprises a high-pressure pump   pressure (50) connected to a portion of the soaking chamber (32) between said first end of said chamber and said stirring member (80), said high pressure pump (50) being arranged to suck cleaning fluid in said part of the dipping chamber, compressing said fluid to a determined pressure value and sending this fluid   under pressure at said nozzle of the first spray tunnel (44).   Apparatus according to Claim 17, characterized in that Wil further comprises a filtering means interposed between the soaking chamber (32) and said high-pressure pump (50) for extracting at least a portion of the impurities from the cleaning fluid. that were removed of the dirty object.   Apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized by comprising means for heating the fluid in said soaking chamber (32) to increase the temperature of said cleaning fluid to a predetermined level and maintain said fluid temperature cleaning level audit.   Apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized in that said second fluid supply means (74) comprises a high pressure pump (50) connected to a portion of said soaking chamber (32)   between said end and said stirring member, this high-pressure pump   sion (50) being arranged so as to suck cleaning fluid into said part of the dipping chamber, compressing said fluid to a pressure of a predetermined level and discharging said fluid under pressure in said nozzle.   -21 - 21 Apparatus according to Claim 20, characterized in that it further comprises a filtering means interposed between the chamber of   dipping and said high-pressure pump for extracting cleaning fluid   impurities which have been removed from said dirty objects.   Apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized by the fact   it further comprises a heating means for increasing the temperature   rinse fluid which feeds the second spray tunnel.   (84) up to a certain degree -   Apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized by the fact   said transfer system (54) further comprises trans-   carriers passing through said first spraying tunnel (44), said quench chamber (32) and said second spraying tunnel (84), and continuously conveying dirty objects along said path, maintaining them at appropriate intervals between them , and guide means (96) mounted in the first spray tunnel (44), the soak chamber (32) and the second spray tunnel (84), so   to guide dirty objects through these elements.   Apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized in that said determined intervals each represent two-thirds of   the length of the soaking chamber (32).   Apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized in that said stirring member (80) comprises a high pressure fluid dispensing means (74) mounted in said soaking chamber (32), said dispensing means (74) having a plurality of passages for the fluid,   each passage being provided with at least one watering nozzle.   Method for removing dirt which covers a dirty object, using a cleaning fluid and a rinsing fluid, characterized in that it comprises the successive phases consisting of a) spraying the object dirtying the cleaning fluid from high pressure spraying means so as to remove a portion of the dirt which covers said object;   b) soaking the dirty object in a soaking chamber (32)   cleaning fluid in order to dissolve an additional part   of dirt that covers this object due to the action of said cleaning fluid.   age; c) agitating the cleaning fluid in the soaking chamber (32) to remove the portion of the dirt that has been loosened by the action of the cleaning fluid and dissolve and discharge an additional portion 22 - dirt by the mechanical action produced by said agitated cleaning fluid, and   d) rinse the dirty object with flushing fluid to remove   worm the remaining dirt from the object and remove any cleaning fluid that would still adhere to the object. Process according to Claim 26, characterized in that it comprises, before the immersion phase, the additional phase of heating the cleaning fluid to a high temperature,   as well as the phase of keeping the cleaning fluid   said high temperature during the immersion phase and the spraying stage   authorization. Continuous method of removing dirt covering a series of dirty objects using a cleaning fluid and a rinsing fluid, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:   a) successively moving these dirty objects through a first   first spray tunnel <44); b) continuously spraying each dirty object in said first tunnel (44) with a high pressure stream of cleaning fluid, thereby dissolving a portion of the dirt and removing it from the object; c) continuously advancing these dirty objects between the first spray tunnel (44) and an impregnation station (60) of a   dipping chamber (32) containing said cleaning fluid to dispense   weld some of the dirt that covers the dirty object; d) to continually advance these dirty objects through the   dipping chamber (32) between an impregnation station (60) of this chamber   and a scrubbing station (62) of the same chamber; e) continuously agitating the cleaning fluid in said scrubbing station (62) of said soaking chamber (32) with jets   high pressure fluid so that some of the dirt is dissolved   mechanically and removed from each dirty object within said scrubbing station (62) by the scrubbing action of said agitated fluid; f) continuously advancing dirty objects between the scrubber (62) of the soaking chamber (32) and the interior of a second high pressure spray tunnel (84);   g) continuously watering the dirty object in said second tunnel;   spraying agent (84) with high cleaning fluid pressure streams so that the remaining dirt is detached from the dirty object and the 23 -   cleaning fluid that still adheres to this object is mechanically distant- of it, and   h) to continually advance dirty objects beyond   said second spray tunnel :( 84) o 29 Process according to Claim 28, characterized in that   the dirty object stays in the scrubbing station (62) of the trash chamber.   page (32) for about one-third of the total time that this object   stay in the room-soaking.   A method as claimed in Claim 28, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of a) directing a portion of the cleaning fluid from the impregnating station (60) of the soaking chamber (32) to a chamber of wire = trage (70); b) filter the impurities contained in the cleaning fluid   in said filter chamber (70) and which have been removed from said objects   jets dirty, and c) replenish said soaking chamber (32) with at least a portion of the filtered cleaning fluid and from said filter chamber 31 Method according to Claim 30, characterized in that it comprises, between the filtering and the recharge phase, the   phases of directing said portion of the filter cleaning fluid   from the said filter chamber, and which feed this   the soaking chamber (32) to a high pressure pump (78) which   prime this cleaning fluid and feed compressed cleaning fluid from said pump said jets of fluid under high pressure in   the scrubbing station (62) of said soaking chamber (32).