A tarpaulin cleaning machine

Abstract

 A tarpaulin cleaning machine comprises over the machine a rotatable roller (A, B, C) for transferring a tarpaulin (1) from one side of the machine, into the machine for cleaning, and out thereof to the other side of the machine. The machine has a roller set comprising at least two rollers (A, B), each of which is rotatably mounted on an arm (3), pivotable - together with the arms for the other rollers - around a common shaft (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tarpaulin cleaning machine, comprising over the machine a rotatable roller for transferring a tarpaulin from one side of the machine, into the machine for cleaning, and out thereof to the other side of the machine.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Tarpaulins are used for a variety of purposes, where they are exposed to wear, tear and dirty environments. Tarpaulins are often very big and heavy, and a tendency towards even bigger sizes may be noted, for example tarpaulins with a width of 8 m or more and a length of 20 m or more.

[0003] Dirty tarpaulins need to be cleaned, and tarpaulin washing or cleaning machines for this purpose are known, for example through SE-C-7809863 and SE-C-9303518. In such a machine the dirty tarpaulin supplied to one side of the machine is rolled up on a roller. During this operation the tarpaulin may be dampened by spraying with a liquid. From this roller it is rolled down into the machine, where it is washed and dried, and then again rolled up on the roller. From the roller the cleaned and substantially dry tarpaulin is rolled down on the other side of the machine for folding. Inspection of the tarpaulin is preferably performed during this final rolling down.

[0004] This construction means that only one tarpaulin at the time can be treated in the machine; when a cleaned tarpaulin has finally been released from the roller, it is possible to connect a new, dirty tarpaulin to the roller.

[0005] For several reasons it is desirable to improve the capacity of a tarpaulin cleaning machine.

The Invention

[0006] This may according to the invention be attained in that the machine - instead of just one roller - has a roller set comprising at least two rollers, each of which is rotatably mounted on an arm, pivotable - together with the arms for the other rollers - around a common shaft.

[0007] It is preferred to have three rollers in the roller set, whereby three tarpaulins may be concurrently handled in the machine. However, also two rollers - enabling concurrent handling of two tarpaulins - provide a great advantage over just one roller.

[0008] With three rollers in the roller set a first tarpaulin can be rolled up on a first roller, whereas a second tarpaulin concurrently therewith can be rolled down into and up from the machine by the second roller and a third tarpaulin can be rolled down for possible drying, for inspection and for folding from a third roller.

[0009] A disadvantage with having just one roller over the machine is that guiding means have to be provided, especially for guiding the treated tarpaulin down from the roller to the folding (instead of into the machine). This problem is obviated by the pivotable roller set, where a roller is in proper position for receiving a tarpaulin, for bringing it down and up, and for bringing it down for folding, respectively.

[0010] A special advantage with the roller set having three rollers is that if the tarpaulin is dampened on its way up on the first roller, the dampening liquid can be evenly distributed in the tarpaulin during the time until this roller is pivoted into position for rolling down the tarpaulin into the machine.

[0011] On its way down for folding, the tarpaulin may pass through a drying channel provided also with back-lighting and an inspection window.

[0012] By means of a dehumidifying system arranged in a sound-adsorbing casing over the machine, moisture-laden and heated air can be collected from the machine, dried, and returned thereto for assisting in drying tarpaulins therein.

The Drawings

[0013] The invention will be described in further detail below under reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figs 1-5 are schematic side views of a first embodiment of a tarpaulin cleaning machine according to the invention in five working positions, and

Figs 6-13 are schematic side views of a second embodiment of a tarpaulin cleaning machine according to the invention in eight working positions.

Detailed Description of Two Embodiments

[0014] Tarpaulins are often exposed to dirty environments and need to be cleaned or washed frequently. Tarpaulin cleaning or washing machines are accordingly known in the art.

[0015] The washing machine with which the present invention is concerned is generally of a vertical type, where the tarpaulin is rolled up on a roller above the machine, brought down into the machine for washing and drying and then rolled up on the roller again and finally brought down for assembly and collecting on the other side of the machine. Machines of this type are for example shown and described in SE-C-7809863-9 and SE-C-9303518-6.

[0016] As the machine per se is well known, it is only shown in a schematic side view in all the Figures. Each of the different Figures is in principle only provided with reference numerals for enabling understanding of this Figure with its associated description.

A first embodiment according to Figs 1-5

[0017] In Fig 1 a tarpaulin 1A to be cleaned has been brought up and attached to a first roller A in a set of three rollers A-C, the roller set being rotatable about a common shaft 2 and each roller being supported by an arm 3.

[0018] The roller A (like the two other rollers B and C) is provided with drive means (not shown) for fully rolling up the tarpaulin 1A thereon (and subsequently for rolling down the tarpaulin therefrom).

[0019] During the rolling-up movement of the tarpaulin 1A it is exposed to spraying of a 15-20% detergent solution from spray means 4.

[0020] In Fig 2 the roller set A-C has been pivoted or rotated, so that a new tarpaulin 1B is rolled up on roller B and sprayed by the spray means 4. At the same time the first tarpaulin 1A is brought down between two sidewalls 5 of the machine. The tarpaulin passes down between rotating brushes 7 under spraying of process water from nozzles 8. The tarpaulin 1A is collected on a bottom wall 9 of the machine (preferably in two piles as shown for increasing the capacity for handling long tarpaulins).

[0021] In Fig 3 the second tarpaulin 1B is fully rolled up on roller B, whereas the first tarpaulin 1A is being rolled up again on roller A. Hereby the tarpaulin is sprayed by a foggy spray of 8-10% detergent solution from nozzles 10. Rubber scrapers 11 are applied - by means not shown or described - against the tarpaulin 1A for removing liquid therefrom. Also so called air knifes 12, which are further described in the patents mentioned above, are applied (by means not shown) against the tarpaulin 1A for drying it by blowing. Concurrently herewith the tarpaulin side edges are dried by separate drying means 12'.

[0022] In Fig 4 the roller set has been further rotated, so that roller C receives and rolls up a third tarpaulin 1C, whereas the second tarpaulin 1B is treated in the washing machine in the way descibed above with reference to Figs 2 and 3. The first tarpaulin 1A is fed down into a drying channel 13 through a funnel 14. For this purpose an upper portion 13' of the channel 13, which at other times is folded down in order to be out of the way, is folded up (by means not shown) to the roller A. Heat may be provided in the channel 13 by means of hot air tubes 16. The tarpaulin 1A may be lighted up from the rear side by fluorescent tubes 17 and may be inspected through an inspection window 18 in the front wall of the channel 13. A lower portion 19 of the channel 13 may be movable back and forth (by means not shown) for accomplishing a folding as illustrated of the tarpaulin on a trolley 20, in a box, or on a table.

[0023] In Fig 5 a later stage of the same procedure is shown. The third tarpaulin 1C is fully rolled up on roller C, the second tarpaulin 1B is on its way up on roller B, and the first tarpaulin 1A is nearly folded down on its trolley.

[0024] Hereafter, the above sequence can be repeated.

[0025] It appears that three tarpaulins can be under concurrent processing in the machine. The most obvious effect hereof is that the capacity is greatly improved. Another positive effect is that the time spent by the tarpaulin on the roller after the spraying by means of the spray means 4 and before the tarpaulin is introduced into the machine for washing improves the washing effect.

[0026] A special feature of the washing machine according to the invention is now described under reference to Fig 5.

[0027] A sound-absorbing casing 21 is arranged above the machine and catches the moisture-laden and heated air resulting from the two described heating systems 12 and 16. This casing contains a dehumidifying system, which delivers warm and dry air, that is used in the machine for drying purposes. The dehumidifying by this system also improves the working environment in the building where the machine is situated.

[0028] In a first drying stage as shown in Fig 3 the dry air from the dehumidifying system is delivered to the air knifes 12, and the then moisture-laden air is returned to the casing 21. In a second drying stage as shown in Figs 4 and 5 the dry air is delivered to the air tubes 16 for blowing hot air along the two sides of the tarpaulin and to the channel 13 for distributing hot air to the side edges of the tarpaulin, and again the moisture-laden air is returned to the casing 21.

A second embodiment according to Figs 6-13

[0029] A second embodiment of a machine according to the invention is shown in Figs 6-13. The difference in relation to the first embodiment according to Figs 1-5 is mainly that the roller set has only two rollers A and B (for two tarpaulins 1A and 1B). In practically all other respects the two embodiments are similar, and accordingly Figs 6-13 are only provided with a minimal number of reference numerals. A guide roller 22 is provided for guiding the tarpaulin up through the air knifes 12 for rolling-up on its roller A or B.

[0030] A brief description of the operation sequence is now being made under reference to Figs 6-13. As the machine per se is the same, the washing and drying operations are not repeated.

[0031] In Fig 6 a first tarpaulin 1A is rolled up on a first roller A.

[0032] In Fig 7 the roller set has been pivoted or rotated in counter-clockwise direction, and the tarpaulin is rolled off from the roller A into the machine.

[0033] In Fig 8 the roller set has been further rotated in the counter-clockwise direction, and the rolling-up again of the first tarpaulin 1A on the roller A has begun.

[0034] In Fig 9 the roller set has been further rotated, so that roller B is in position to roll down the second tarpaulin 1B into the machine and roller A in position to roll down the first tarpaulin 1A through the drying channel.

[0035] In Fig 10 a new tarpaulin 1A (a third one) is rolled up on the now empty roller A, whereas the second tarpaulin 1B is rolled up on roller B.

[0036] In Fig 11 a similar procedure as in Fig 9 occurs, where the third or new tarpaulin 1A is rolled down into the machine and the second tarpaulin 1B is rolled down through the drying channel.

[0037] Fig 12 corresponds to Fig 10 and Fig 13 to Fig 11, a new or fourth tarpaulin 1B being treated together with the third tarpaulin 1A.

Claims

1. A tarpaulin cleaning machine, comprising over the machine a rotatable roller (A, B, C) for transferring a tarpaulin (1) from one side of the machine, into the machine for cleaning, and out thereof to the other side of the machine, characterized by a roller set comprising at least two rollers (A, B), each of which is rotatably mounted on an arm (3), pivotable - together with the arms for the other rollers - around a common shaft (2).

2. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the roller set comprises three rollers (A, B, C).

3. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the roller set comprises two rollers (A, B).

4. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by spray means (4) for dampening a tarpaulin (1) on its way up to the roller set.

5. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by

a) nozzles (8) in the machine for spraying process water on and

b) rotating brushes (7) for mechanically treating a tarpaulin (1) passing down into the machine.

6. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by

a) nozzles (10) for spraying detergent solution on and

b) rubber scrapers (11) for removing liquid from a tarpaulin (1) passing up from the machine.

7. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by air knifes (12) for blowing dry air against a tarpaulin (1) passing up from the machine.

8. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by a drying channel (13) for drying a tarpaulin (1) passing down from the roller set.

9. A machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by a dehumidifying system in a sound-absorbing casing (21), the system receiving moisture-laden and heated air from the machine and delivering it back in a dried condition to the air knifes (12) and to air tubes (16) in the drying channel (13).

Drawing