Apparatus for cleaning drinking utensils

Abstract

 Apparatus for cleaning drinking utensils such as glasses, cups, mugs etc. comprising an input station for receiving the drinking utensils to be cleaned, an output station for receiving the cleaned drinking utensils, spraying means for spraying fluid on the drinking utensil, at least one brush unit for mechanically cleaning of the drinking utensil, a conveyer for transporting the drinking utensil along the spraying means and along the brush unit from the input station to the output station. The conveyer is embodied for transporting the drinking utensils in a vertical plane from the input station, where the drinking utensils are received bottom down, to the output station where the drinking utensils are delivered bottom up.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning drinking utensils such as glasses, cups, mugs etc. comprising:

• an input station for receiving the drinking utensils to be cleaned,
• an output station for receiving the cleaned drinking utensils,
• spraying means for spraying fluid on the drinking utensils,
• at least one brush unit for mechanically cleaning the drinking utensils,
• a conveyer for transporting the drinking utensils along the fluid spraying means and along the brush unit from the input station to the output station.

[0002] Such an apparatus is described in the German Utility Model DE-G-9114338. The therein described apparatus comprises a conveyer which is embodied as a trolley able to run along a horizontal rail system. The trolley carries a downwards extending guiding rod along which a gripper mechanism is able to move in vertical direction. A cup can be moved from one station to another by the combined action of this gripper mechanism and the trolley. The gripper mechanism will get hold of a cup which is present in one station and move the cup upwards until a predetermined position, whereafter the trolley will take care of the transport between the one station and the next station. After reaching the next station the gripper mechanism will move downwards and release the cup in the next station.

[0003] The conveyer mechanism comprises a lot of different components and is rather complicated. Because of this complexness of the conveyer mechanism maintenance may cause problems and furthermore it is hard to fulfil normal hygienic requirements, in other words it is very difficult to maintain this whole apparatus in a clean, hygienic and properly functioning condition. Furthermore, this prior art apparatus requires a lot of space, which in the usual environments in which these apparatuses are used, is not always readily available.

[0004] The object of the invention is now to embody an apparatus of the type, mentioned in the first paragraph of this specification, such that the apparatus is less complex, more compact and rather easy to maintain.

[0005] In agreement with this object the invention now provides an apparatus which is characterized in that the conveyer is embodied for transporting the drinking utensils in a vertical plane from the input station, where the drinking utensils are received bottom down, to the output station where the drinking utensils are delivered bottom up.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment the conveyer comprises an endless belt with a number of holes movable in a vertical plane, the dimensions of said holes being selected such that in each hole a drinking utensil can be inserted, the endless belt being supported by a motor driven rotatable guiding element with horizontal axis and by further guiding elements such that in the input station a drinking utensil can be inserted bottom down in one of said holes whereafter said drinking utensil will be conveyed by said endless belt along the spraying means and along the brush unit to a position in which the drinking utensil leaves the endless belt bottom up under the influence of gravity. Preferably the drinking utensil falls on a sloping surface and will start moving along said surface until it reaches the output station.

[0007] In another preferred embodiment the conveyer comprises a rotatable drum with a number of holes in its drum surface, the diameter of said holes being selected such that in each hole a drinking utensil can be inserted.

[0008] In a further preferred embodiment the conveyer comprises a disc shaped element of which the outer rim carries a number of notches, the dimensions of which are selected such that in each notch a drinking utensil can be inserted, the disc shaped element being supported by a motor driven horizontal axis, and comprises further guiding elements parallel to said disc shaped element to guide the sides of the drinking utensils between the input station and the output station.

[0009] The use of a conveyer transporting the drinking utensils in a vertical plane along a number of handling stations results into a rather simple and compact construction which is very easy to maintain.

[0010] The invention will be explained in more detail with references to the attached drawings.

[0011] Figure 1 illustrates a schematical perspective view of a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention.

[0012] Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view through the embodiment of figure 1.

[0013] Figure 3 is a partial cross-section through the apparatus to show the use of stationary brushes for mechanically cleaning the outside of each drinking utensil.

[0014] Figure 4 illustrates the configuration of the various walls and of the water spraying means.

[0015] Figure 5 shows the shape of the holes in the conveyer belt for apparatuses destined to clean cups with ears.

[0016] Figure 6 shows a cross-section through a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention.

[0017] Figure 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view through a third embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention.

[0018] Figure 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view through the conveyer used in the apparatus illustrated in figure 7.

[0019] Figure 1 illustrates schematically a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus, indicated in general by reference number 1, comprises a housing with two parallel and vertical extending side walls 2 and 3. The housing furthermore comprises a bottom wall 4 (not visible in figure 1), a back wall 5 (also not visible in figure 1), a bent top wall 6 and an arcuated front wall 7. As is illustrated in figure 1 there is a space left between the front edge of the top wall 6 and the upper edge of the front wall 7 and furthermore there is a space left between the downwards edge of the front wall 7 and the bottom wall 4. A conveyer system, which will be described in more detail with reference to the further figures is installed within the housing. In this embodiment the conveyer system comprises an endless belt with holes, each hole being destined to receive one drinking utensil. In figure 1 a part of the endless belt, indicated by 10, is visible in the space between the upper edge of the front wall 7 and the top wall 6. As schematically illustrated a drinking utensil such as a cup 8a can be inserted bottom down in one of the holes in the conveyer belt 10. As will be explained in more detail hereinafter during operation of the apparatus the conveyer belt 10 conveys the cup 8a along various handling stations in the course of which the cup is cleaned, rinsed and turned over. At the end of the whole cleaning process the cup will under the influence of gravity fall out of the respective hole in the conveyer belt 10 onto a sloping surface, part of which is visible in figure 1 and indicated by 9, will start gliding along said sloping surface 9 and will reach the output station down at the front of the apparatus. In figure 1 a cup 8b is present in the output station and is ready to be used again.

[0020] Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view through the embodiment of the apparatus shown schematically in figure 1. The apparatus comprises the endless conveyer belt 10 which is supported at the left-hand side of figure 2 by a drum 12 which is able to rotate around an horizontal axis 14. At the right-hand side of figure 1 the endless conveyer belt 10 is supported by two parallel discs 16a and 16b, one of which is visible in figure 2. Both discs are shown in phantom lines in figure 1. Both discs 16a and 16b are able to rotate around an axle 18. Preferably only one of the axles 14 or 18 is driven such that, seen in figure 2, the endless conveyer belt 10 is able to rotate in a clockwise direction. The therewith corresponding clockwise rotation of the drum 12 and of the discs 16a and 16b is schematically represented by the arrows 20 and 22.

[0021] As is shown in figures 1 and 2 both discs 16a and 16b are provided with edge sections of larger diameters such that the conveyer belt during operation is restricted between said edge sections. The drum 12 could be replaced by two disc sections which have a similar shape and configuration as the discs 16a and 16b. As clearly indicated in both figures 1 and 2 the endless conveyer belt 10 comprises a series of equidistant holes 24a, 24b, 24c....., which in the illustrated embodiment have a circular shape and of which the diameter corresponds to the outer diameter of the cups or glasses to be transported by means of the conveyer belt 10.

[0022] Between the two discs 16a and 16b a drum 26 is installed, preferably in such a manner that said drum 26 is able to rotate together with the discs 16a and 16b in the clockwise direction as indicated in figure 2. The diameter of this drum 26 is smaller than the diameter of both discs 16a, 16b and selected especially such that this drum will act as supporting surface for the bottom of the drinking utensils to be cleaned during their movement along the various stations as will be explained hereinafter.

[0023] Both figures 1 and 2 illustrates furthermore very schematically the drive motor 13 for driving the shaft 14 of the drum 12. In this embodiment the motor 13 is installed inside the hollow drum 12, however, it will be clear that any other suitable position inside the apparatus can be used whereby eventually transmission means should be added between the motor 13 and the shaft 14.

[0024] As shown in figure 2 a supporting platform 28 is mounted underneath the upper section of the endless conveyer belt 10 at a distance from the conveyer belt corresponding with the difference in radius between the drum 26 and the belt supporting rim of the discs 16a/16b. As will be clear from figure 2 the purpose of this supporting platform 28 is to support the bottom of the drinking utensils to be cleaned during their movement from left to right in figure 2, until the supporting task is taken over by the drum 26.

[0025] The apparatus comprises furthermore a number of mechanical cleaning devices, one of which in the illustrated embodiment is formed by a brush 30. The brush 30, which can be a brush of a generally known form and shape, can be brought into rotation by an electromotor 32 trough a gearbox 34. The combination of brush 30, motor 32 and gearbox 34 is mounted to one end of a lever rod 36, the other end of which is attached to a shaft 38. Through this shaft 38 the lever rod 36 can move between an upper position, shown in full lines in figure 2, in which the brush 30 is out of reach of the cups or glasses to be cleaned and a downwards position, shown in phantom lines in figure 2, in which the brush 30 is inserted in one of the glasses or cups to be cleaned. The movement between the upwards position and the downwards position is controlled by a short crank rod 40 mounted on a horizontal axle 42.

[0026] At a distance from the conveyer belt and approximately above the centre line of the belt a number of spraying nozzles 42a, 42b, 42c.... is installed. These spraying nozzles are connected to a water supply conduit 44 through which water is supplied to the spraying nozzles. Although in principal the spraying nozzles are positioned in a regular pattern above the centre line of the conveyer belt 10, it will be clear that near the brush 30 the spraying nozzles are installed outside the path of movement of the brush 30. Furthermore, the shape of the supply conduit 44 is selected such that there will be no interference with the movement of the brush 30. Optionally detergents or other additives could be added to the spraying water. The distance between the spraying nozzles 42 and the conveyer belt 10 is selected such that cups, glasses etc. which are conveyed by the conveyer belt are able to pass just underneath the spraying nozzles such, that during their movement water (eventually with added detergents) can be sprayed not only inside the glass, but also on the rim thereof and over the outside surface of the glass.

[0027] In a further embodiment the spraying nozzles are subdivided in two groups, one group located between the input station and the brush unit 30, the other group located between said brush unit 30 and the point where the drinking utensils start to leave the endless conveyer. In such an embodiment the first group of nozzles could be used for spraying water with detergents or other additives to assist in the cleaning operation, whereas the second group of spraying nozzles could be used for spraying only clean water just for rinsing purposes.

[0028] Preferably further brush units are installed alongside the path of movement of the cups especially between the input station and the rotatable brush unit 30. Figure 3 illustrates schematically a cross-section through that area showing the glass 8e positioned in one of the holes in the conveyer belt 10 and supported at the bottom by the supporting plate 28. Stationary brush units 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d are installed alongside the path of movement of the glass 8e for mechanically cleaning the outside of said glass. The mechanical cleaning action is supported by water supplied through conduit 44 to the spraying nozzles, one of which, indicated by 42y is illustrated schematically in figure 3.

[0029] The housing comprises some further plates, the purpose of which is to collect the water which is sprayed by the spraying nozzles 42 and to guide this water to an accumulator tank 50 near the bottom of the housing or to a drain pipe 52, which can be installed in approximately the same position. Figure 4 illustrates in a cross-sectional view of the apparatus only the various walls and plates which take part in the draining of the water which is sprayed into or onto the drinking utensils. The top wall 6, the back wall 5 and the bottom wall 4 including the upstanding edge 48 are connected to each other in a water tight manner. Water sprayed by the various spraying heads 42a, 42b, 42c .... falls down either on the sloping inner surface of the front wall 7 or onto the sloping surface section of the supporting plate 46. In any case the water will be accumulated on the central part of the supporting plate 46. Because this supporting plate 46 is made of perforated material the water will flow through this plate and will be received on an additional sloping plate 56 from where it is drained through the opening 54 into the accumulator tank 50. As already remarked above, instead of the accumulator tank 50 also a direct connection with a drain pipe 52 can be established. Any water, which drips from the drinking utensils as they are standing on the lower section of the sloping plate 46 will be received within the space 58. Because in the normal circumstances only a very small amount of water will reach the space 58, this water can be removed during the regular maintenance of the apparatus.

[0030] In the above description of the apparatus it is presumed that the drinking utensils were shaped as illustrated schematically in figures 1 and 2. However, drinking utensils with various other shapes can be cleaned by using the apparatus. Any drinking utensil, such as a glass or mug having a (nearly) cylindrical shape can be cleaned in the machine as long as the dimension of the holes in the endless belt is sufficient for receiving the drinking utensils. Even none circular drinking utensils could be cleaned if the shape of the holes in the endless belt are adapted accordingly. It is also possible to clean cups with ears or glasses with ears, if the shape of the holes in the endless belt is adapted. Figure 5 illustrates the shape of the holes which would allow the cleaning of cups with ears.

[0031] Preferably the apparatus comprises some means for blowing air, preferably heated air, onto the drinking utensils in the area just before the receiving station. Figure 2 illustrates very schematically in which way for instance the warm air generated by a cooling ventilator coupled with the drive motor 13 of the shaft 14 can be guided through a channel 62 along the front plate 7 to the section where the drinking utensils are out of reach of the water spraying nozzles and where they gradually leave the conveyer belt 10 and start gliding along the sloping surface into the direction of the receiving station.

[0032] To avoid jamming of the mechanism because for instance a drinking utensil of too large dimension is inserted in the conveyer belt and to avoid injury to for instance the hand of a user of detector 61 is installed at the edge of the input station as is illustrated in figure 2. This detector scans the input opening of the input station and provides a signal in case an element is passing said opening of which the shape does not correspond to the predetermined shape of the drinking utensils. Detectors of this kind are known to the expert in this field and do not require further explanation.

[0033] The apparatus may comprise further detectors, for instance to detect the presence of a drinking utensil in the input station. Further control elements are necessary to operate the drive motor 13 of the conveyer belt such that the conveyer belt is moved stepwise and is stopped with regular intervals such that each time a drinking utensil to be cleaned can be treated with the brush unit 30.

[0034] Furthermore preferably detectors are installed in the lower section of the apparatus to detect the number of drinking utensils present in the output station. If too much drinking utensils are accumulated in the output station the operation of the conveyer belt is prevented to avoid jamming by drinking utensils which tend to leave the conveyer belt but for which there is no space in the output station.

[0035] During operation a user inserts a used drinking utensil in the input station in one of the free holes of the conveyer belt. The respective detector system in the input station detects the presence of a drinking utensil in the input station and provides a signal to the motor 13 to activate said motor. Simultaneously the water supply system is activated. The drinking utensil is transported along the detector 61 in which the shape of the drinking utensil is scanned and compared with a reference shape and passes thereafter a number of spraying nozzles and a number of stationary brush units by means of which the cup is cleaned from the outside. The conveyer belt is stopped in a position in which the brush 30 can be inserted into said drinking utensil. The (not illustrated) actuation mechanism of the shaft 42 is switched on causing a slow rotation thereof so that the crank rod 40 will start moving in a clockwise direction. Simultaneously the drive motor 32 of the brush unit 30 is switched on and it will be clear that the rotating brush 30 will gradually move downwards and will gradually clean up the whole inside of the drinking utensil. Initially because of the rotation of the brush 30 also the drinking utensil will start rotating improving thereby the outside cleaning action of the stationary brushes, which are present in that position. However, if the brush unit 30 is lowered further this rotation of the drinking utensil will stop because of the increasing pressure on the bottom thereof and the rotation of the brush 30 will have its full effect in cleaning the inside of the drinking utensil.

[0036] After a predetermined period the actuation mechanism of the shaft 42 is switched on again to move the crank rod 40 in the counter clockwise direction and to lift thereby the whole brush 30 upwards until the brush 30 does not hamper any further movement of the drinking utensils. Then the drive motor 13 of the shaft 14 is switched on again and the drinking utensil is moved along the argued path determined by the drum 26 and by the right-hand section of the conveyer belt to the position in which the drinking utensil starts falling out of the conveyer belt. During this movement the drinking utensil is rinsed inside and outside by water sprayed through the further spaying nozzles 42a.....42c.

[0037] As soon as the drinking utensil is out of reach of the last spraying nozzle the hot air supplied through the hot air conduit 62 starts to dry the now clean drinking utensil. Finally the clean drinking utensil glides down the sloping surface of the plate 46 and is received in the output station.

[0038] Although a very specific embodiment is illustrated in the figures 1-5 the invention is certainly not restricted to this specific embodiment.

[0039] Figure 6 illustrates a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention. The conveyer in this apparatus is embodied as a drum 70 with a number of holes, each destined to receive a drinking utensil to be cleaned. Inside the drum 70 preferably a second smaller drum 72 is installed for supporting the bottom of each drinking utensil during the cleaning process. Both drums 70 and 72 are able to rotate around the central shaft 18a which is connected to a drive motor 74, which is not shown separately in this figure.

[0040] The apparatus illustrated in figure 6 comprises a lot of components which are also used in the embodiment illustrated in figure 2. All these components which have the same function and are not changed fundamentally are indicated by the same reference numbers. Adapted are in figure 6 the top wall 6a which is rounded off at the front side and the front wall 7a which has a more flat vertical shape with a rounded off top. Between the top wall 6a and the front wall 7a an opening is created through which a cup or glass 8f, which has to be cleaned, can be inserted in the apparatus, especially in one of the holes in the drum 70. The whole functioning of this apparatus is furthermore equivalent to the function of the apparatus illustrated in figures 1 and 2.

[0041] A third embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention is illustrated very schematically in figures 7 and 8. Therein the conveyer is embodied as a disc shaped element 80 of which the outer rim carries a number of notches, one of which is indicated by 81. The dimensions of each of these notches 81.... is selected such that in each notch a drinking utensil can be inserted as is schematically illustrated by drinking utensil 8g. The disc 80 is supported on a horizontal shaft 18b which can be rotated through a drive motor 82. It will be clear that also in this embodiment the shape of the top wall 6 and of the front wall 7 are adapted in a similar manner as shown in figure 6 to fit around the conveyer.

[0042] Figure 8 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view through the conveyer in the apparatus according to figure 7. As shown therein two flat plates 84 and 86 are installed at short distance each on one side of the central disc 80 such, that these plates 84 and 86 support the drinking utensils such as 8h during their movement from the input station along the various cleaning stations to the output station. Preferably stationary brushes are mounted on these flat plates 84 and 86 to clean the outside and upper rim of each drinking utensil. As will be clear from figure 8 one of the advantages of this embodiment is the fact that the volume of the conveyer is drastically reduced and the whole conveyer is very well accessible for maintenance purposes.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cleaning drinking utensils such as glasses, cups, mugs etc. comprising:

- an input station for receiving the drinking utensils to be cleaned,

- an output station for receiving the cleaned drinking utensils,

- spraying means for spraying fluid on the drinking utensil,

- at least one brush unit for mechanically cleaning of the drinking utensil,

- a conveyer for transporting the drinking utensil along the spraying means and along the brush unit from the input station to the output station,

characterized in that
the conveyer is embodied for transporting the drinking utensils in a vertical plane from the input station, where the drinking utensils are received bottom down, to the output station where the drinking utensils are delivered bottom up.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveyer comprises an endless belt with a number of holes movable in a vertical plane, the dimensions of said holes being selected such that in each hole a drinking utensil can be inserted, the endless belt being supported by a motor driven rotatable guiding element with horizontal axis and by further guiding elements such that in the input station a drinking utensil can be inserted bottom down in one of said holes whereafter said drinking utensil will be conveyed by said endless belt along the spraying means and along the brush unit to a position in which the drinking utensil leaves the endless belt bottom up under the influence of gravity.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, the apparatus comprises a sloping surface element onto which the drinking utensil falls as it leaves the endless belt, and along which the drinking utensils will move downwards until it is free from the endless belt into the output station.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the further guiding elements are embodied as arcuated surfaces supporting the edges of the endless belt but not the central part of the belt in which the holes are made.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said arcuated surfaces are the rim surfaces of two rotatable wheels mounted on a horizontal axis.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that a supporting surface is positioned at a predetermined distance from the endless belt to support the bottom of each drinking utensil between the input station and the position in which the drinking utensil starts to leave the endless belt under the influence of gravity.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveyer comprises a rotatable drum with a number of holes in its drum surface, the dimensions of said holes being selected such that in each hole a drinking utensil can be inserted.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveyer comprises a disc shaped element of which the outer rim carries a number of notches, the dimensions of which are selected such that in each notch a drinking utensil can be inserted, the disc shaped element being supported by a motor driven horizontal axis, and comprises further guiding elements parallel to said disc shaped element to guide the sides of the drinking utensils between the input station and the output station.

9. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the apparatus comprises at least one brush unit, having a rotatable brush of which the outer shape corresponds at least approximately to the inner shape of a drinking utensil, the axis of said brush being attached to a lever arm which is movable between two positions, whereby in the one ultimate position of said lever arm the brush unit is completely inserted into one of the drinking utensils whereas in the other ultimate position the brush unit is completely retracted free from said drinking utensil.

10. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the apparatus comprises one or more stationary brush units, installed alongside the path of movement of the drinking utensils between the input station and the output station.

11. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spraying means comprise a number of spraying nozzles positioned alongside the path of movement of the drinking utensils, and a conduit system through which fluid can be supplied to said nozzles.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the conduit system is on the one hand connected to a water supply reservoir or to the water means, and is on the other hand connected to a detergent reservoir from which controlled amounts of detergent can be added to the water in the conduit system.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the conduit system is connected to a water reservoir from which hot water with a predetermined temperature can be delivered into the conduit system.

14. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the apparatus comprises means for blowing air into and along the drinking utensils in the area in which the drinking utensils are out of reach of the spraying means.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that heater means are present to heat up the air before blowing the air into and/or along the drinking utensils.

Drawing