(19)
(11) EP 1 800 766 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
27.06.2007 Bulletin 2007/26

(21) Application number: 06127189.6

(22) Date of filing: 25.12.2006
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B08B 9/08(2006.01)
B44D 3/16(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK YU

(30) Priority: 23.12.2005 NL 1030769

(71) Applicant: Machinefabriek Sonder B.V.
7554 TH Hengelo (NL)

(72) Inventor:
  • Sonder, Herbert Laurentius Maria
    7622 DB, Borne (NL)

(74) Representative: Schumann, Bernard Herman Johan 
Schumann Patent Consultancy B.V., Kerkedennen 43
7621 EB Borne
7621 EB Borne (NL)

   


(54) Device for cleaning paint buckets


(57) The invention relates to the automated cleaning of paint buckets (2).
In a device intended for this purpose the curled mouth rims (6) of the buckets are pushed slidingly one by one into the teeth (22,23) of a lifting fork (21), tilted and positioned in upside down position at the location of a scraping station (12), where paint residues are removed from the inner surface by scraping. A thus cleaned bucket is then transported in upside down position to a flushing station (17) where the last paint residues are removed by flushing and spraying clean. The thus cleaned buckets are finally tilted back to their upright position and stacked onto each other in nested form.




Description


[0001] The invention relates to the cleaning of paint buckets. The invention relates particularly to the cleaning of large paint buckets for professional and industrial use, with a volume in the order of magnitude of 100-500 litres.

[0002] In the prior art such buckets are handled manually by one or more members of staff for the purpose of placing them in a cleaning device, where they are scraped as empty as possible by a scraper device and the paint residues present on the inner surface of the buckets are thus removed, and are then positioned at a flushing station where they are flushed clean with force by means of one or more spray nozzles.

[0003] The buckets are relatively large and have a weight in the order of 10 kg. In some circumstances the paint residues can have a weight of several tens of kilograms, whereby the lifting and turning-over of the buckets necessary for the cleaning operations is heavy work, which is therefore normally carried out by two members of staff together.

[0004] Such a method of handling the paint buckets is impractical, is in some countries contrary to official regulations relating to working conditions, and can easily result in disruptions of equipment and accidents.

[0005] It is an object of the invention to obviate the described inconvenience and limitations of the prior art. In this respect the invention provides a device for automatically cleaning used and emptied paint buckets, each comprising a bottom, a body with a mouth opening and a curled mouth rim extending around this mouth opening, which device comprises:

optional supply means for successively supplying one upright bucket at a time;

a first lifting column which connects with a first side to the optional supply means and along which a first gripper is displaceable up and downward on both sides and is pivotable over the upper end of the first lifting column from the one side to the other and in reverse direction;

first positioning means connecting to the second side of the first lifting column for temporarily carrying one bucket at a time in upside down position and holding it in position with some force;

scraper means present under the first positioning means for removing by means of a scraping operation at least a part of paint residues present on the inner surface of the bucket;

transport means connecting to the first positioning means;

a second lifting column which connects with a first side to the transport means and along which a second gripper is displaceable up and downward on both sides and is pivotable over the upper end of the second lifting column from the one side to the other and in reverse direction;

second positioning means present on the first side of the second lifting column for carrying one bucket at a time in upside down position and holding it in position with some force;

flushing means present under the second positioning means for removing by means of a flushing operation the last paint residues present on the inner surface of the bucket; and

carrying means connecting to the second side of the second lifting column for carrying one or a number of upright buckets stacked onto each other in nested relation;

wherein successive buckets supplied in upright position by the supply means are gripped one at a time by the first gripper, displaced upward on the first side of the first lifting column, tilted over the upper end of the first lifting column, displaced downward on the second side of the first lifting column, placed on the first positioning means, subjected by the scraper means to a scraping operation, displaced upward by the first gripper to a chosen height, gripped by the transport means, displaced by these transport means to the second gripper, gripped by this second gripper and displaced downward and placed on the second positioning means, subjected to a flushing operation by the flushing means, displaced upward along the first side of the second lifting column by the second gripper, tilted over the upper end of the second lifting column, displaced downward on the second side of the second lifting column, and placed on the carrying means or in nested relation on a bucket already placed on these carrying means such as to form a stack of cleaned, upright buckets in nested relation.

[0006] In a determined embodiment the device has the special feature that the supply means comprise an endless conveyor.

[0007] Very simple and inexpensive to manufacture is an embodiment in which the first gripper comprises a fork with two teeth, which teeth have straight mutually parallel grooves on their sides directed toward each other such that the mouth rim of a bucket supplied by the supply means is pushed into these grooves and is thus gripped by the first gripper.

[0008] It will be apparent that the dimensioning of the grooves and the mutual distance between the teeth must be chosen in accordance with the dimensions of the mouth rims of the buckets to be handled.

[0009] A very practical embodiment has the special feature that the transport means can support the mouth rim of a bucket and can remove the mouth rim by a sliding displacement from the grooves. This variant can have the special feature that the transport means comprise a platform which is displaceable reciprocally between the first lifting column and the second lifting column and which is provided with holding means for fixedly holding the mouth rim of one bucket at a time.

[0010] This latter embodiment can be embodied such that the holding means comprise a number of spring-loaded tongues extending out of the plane of the platform.

[0011] According to yet another aspect of the invention, the device has the special feature that the second gripper comprises two clamping jaws movable toward and away from each other such that a bucket supplied by the transport means can be engaged in each case on its body or its mouth rim by the two clamping jaws being moved toward each other, and can be released at the position of the carrying means by moving the clamping jaws apart.

[0012] An important aspect of the invention lies in the fact that the driving of the first gripper and the driving of the second gripper is of the type which comprises a carriage which bears the relevant gripper and which is guided along both sides and over the upper end of the relevant lifting column, and is driven by means of at least one cable, chain, belt or toothed belt by a motor with a reduction gear. Such a driving ensures a very readily controllable and smooth handling of the buckets. This control and smooth movement of the handling is less likely to be ensured with the use of hydraulic cylinders.

[0013] According to a final, though nevertheless important aspect of the invention, the device comprises a central control unit for controlling, with chosen mutual coordination and timing, the supply means, the driving of the first gripper, the scraper means, the transport means, the flushing means and the driving of the second gripper.

[0014] The invention will now be elucidated on the basis of the accompanying drawings of a random exemplary embodiment, to which the invention is not limited. In the drawings:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device according to the invention; and

figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the device according to the invention.



[0015] The two figures show a device 1 for automatically cleaning used and emptied paint buckets 2, each comprising a bottom 3, a body 4 with a mouth opening 5 and a curled mouth rim 6 extending around this mouth opening. Device 1 comprises:

an endless supply conveyor 7 for successively supplying one upright bucket 2 at a time;

a first lifting column 8 which connects with a first side to conveyor 7 and along which a first gripper 9 is displaceable up and downward on both sides and pivotable over the upper end 10 of first lifting column 8 from the one side to the other, and in reverse direction;

first positioning means 11 connecting to the second side of lifting column 8 for temporarily carrying one bucket 2 at a time in upside down position and holding it in position with some force;

scraper means 12 present under the first positioning means 11 for removing by means of a scraping operation at least a part of paint residues present on the inner surface of bucket 2;

a transport platform 13 connecting to the first positioning means 11;

a second lifting column 14 which connects with a first side to transport platform 13 and along which a second gripper 15 is displaceable up and downward on both sides and pivotable over the upper end 19 of second lifting column 14 from the one side to the other, and in reverse direction;

second positioning means 16 present on the first side of second lifting column 14 for carrying one bucket 2 at a time in upside down position and holding it in position with some force;

flushing means 17 present under the second positioning means 16 for removing by means of a flushing operation the last paint residues present on the inner surface of bucket 2; and

carrying means 18 connecting to the second side of the second lifting column for carrying one or a number of upright buckets 2 stacked onto each other in nested relation;

wherein successive buckets 2 supplied in upright position by supply conveyor 7 are gripped one at a time by the first gripper 9, displaced upward on the first side of first lifting column 8, tilted over the upper end 10 of first lifting column 8, displaced downward on the second side of first lifting column 8, placed on first positioning means 11 and there held fast by clamps 39, 40, subjected by scraper means 12 to a scraping operation, displaced upward by first gripper 9 to a chosen height, gripped by transport platform 13, displaced by this transport platform 13 to second gripper 15, gripped by this second gripper 15 and displaced downward and placed on second positioning means 16 and there held fast by clamps 41, 42, subjected to a flushing operation by flushing means 17, displaced upward along the first side of second lifting column 14 by second gripper 15, tilted over upper end 19 of second lifting column 14, displaced downward on the second side of second lifting column 14, and placed on carrying means 18 or in nested relation on a bucket 2 already placed on these carrying means 18 such as to form a stack 20 of cleaned, upright buckets 2 in nested relation.

[0016] Figure 1 shows that first gripper 9 comprises a fork 21 with two teeth 22, 23, which teeth have straight mutually parallel grooves 24, 25 on their surfaces directed toward each other such that mouth rim 6 of a bucket supplied by supply means 7 is pushed into these grooves 24, 25 and is thus gripped by first gripper 9.

[0017] Device 1 is further embodied such that transport platform 13 can support mouth rim 6 of a bucket 2 and can remove mouth rim 6 by a sliding displacement from grooves 24, 25.

[0018] The transport platform is provided for this purpose with holding means for holding fast the mouth rim 6 of one bucket at a time. As the figures show, holding means 26 comprise four spring-loaded tongues 26 which extend out of the plane of platform 13 and together block the mouth rim 6 against displacement.

[0019] Figure 1 shows that in the shown exemplary embodiment the second gripper 15 comprises two clamping jaws 27, 28 movable toward and away from each other such that a bucket 2 supplied by transport means 13 can be engaged in each case on its body 4 or its mouth rim 6 by the two clamping jaws 27, 28 being moved towards each other, and can be released at the position of carrying means 18 by moving the clamping jaws 27, 28 apart. The displaceability of clamping jaws 27, 28 is indicated with arrows 36, 37.

[0020] The drawings further show that in the shown random exemplary embodiment the driving of first gripper 9 and/or the driving of second gripper 15 is of the type which comprises a carriage 29; 30 which bears the relevant gripper 9; 15 and which is guided along both sides and over the upper end of the relevant lifting column 8; 14, and is driven by means of at least one cable, chain, belt or toothed belt by a motor 31; 32 with a reduction gear 33; 34.

[0021] The drawings do not show that the device is preferably provided with a central control unit for controlling, with chosen mutual coordination and timing, the supply means 7, the driving 31 of first gripper 9, scraper means 12, transport means 13, flushing means 17 and the driving 32 of second gripper 15.

[0022] Attention is drawn to the fact that figure 2 shows a schematic representation of device 1. The displacement of a bucket 2 through device 1 is shown with arrows, all designated 38 for the sake of convenience.

[0023] Figure 2 shows that in this exemplary embodiment the carrying means 18 are embodied as a pallet, which can for instance be lifted by a forklift truck for the purpose of displacing the stack 20 of buckets 2 carried thereby.

[0024] Attention is drawn to the fact that scraper means 12 and flushing means 17 are only shown schematically. These are per se generally known and do not as such form part of the invention, which is after all related to a device which is designed to perform a specific, systematic sequential treatment of paint buckets for the purpose of cleaning thereof in very simple and effective manner.

[0025] With a view to safety, the device is preferably provided with a housing. This is not shown in the drawings.


Claims

1. Device (1) for automatically cleaning used and emptied paint buckets (2), each comprising a bottom (3), a body (4) with a mouth opening (5)and a curled mouth rim (6) extending around this mouth opening, which device (1) comprises:

optional supply means (7) for successively supplying one upright bucket (2) at a time;

a first lifting column (8) which connects with a first side to the optional supply means (7) and along which a first gripper (9) is displaceable up and downward on both sides and is pivotable over the upper end (10) of the first lifting column (8) from the one side to the other and in reverse direction;

first positioning means (11) connecting to the second side of the lifting column (8) for temporarily carrying one bucket (2) at a time in upside down position and holding it in position with some force;

scraper means (12) present under the first positioning means (11) for removing by means of a scraping operation at least a part of paint residues present on the inner surface of the bucket (2);

transport means (13) connecting to the first positioning means (11);

a second lifting column (14) which connects with a first side to the transport means (13) and along which a second gripper (15) is displaceable up and downward on both sides and is pivotable over the upper end (19) of the second lifting column (14) from the one side to the other and in reverse direction;

second positioning means (16) present on the first side of the second lifting column (14) for carrying one bucket (2) at a time in upside down position and holding it in position with some force;

flushing means (17) present under the second positioning means (16) for removing by means of a flushing operation the last paint residues present on the inner surface of the bucket (2); and

carrying means (18) connecting to the second side of the second lifting column for carrying one or a number of upright buckets (2) stacked onto each other in nested relation;

wherein successive buckets (2) supplied in upright position by the supply means (7) are gripped one at a time by the first gripper (9), displaced upward on the first side of the first lifting column (8), tilted over the upper end (10) of the first lifting column (8), displaced downward on the second side of the first lifting column (8), placed on the first positioning means (11), subjected by the scraper means (12) to a scraping operation, displaced upward by the first gripper (9) to a chosen height, gripped by the transport means (13), displaced by these transport means (13) to the second gripper (15), gripped by this second gripper (15) and displaced downward and placed on the second positioning means (16), subjected to a flushing operation by the flushing means (17), displaced upward along the first side of the second lifting column (14) by the second gripper (15), tilted over the upper end (19) of the second lifting column (14), displaced downward on the second side of the second lifting column (14), and placed on the carrying means (18) or in nested relation on a bucket (2) already placed on these carrying means (18) such as to form a stack (20) of cleaned, upright buckets (2) in nested relation.
 
2. Device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supply means comprise an endless conveyor (7).
 
3. Device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first gripper (9) comprises a fork (21) with two teeth (22, 23), which teeth have straight mutually parallel grooves (24, 25) on their sides directed toward each other such that the mouth rim (6) of a bucket supplied by the supply means (7) is pushed into these grooves (24, 25) and is thus gripped by the first gripper (9).
 
4. Device (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the transport means (13) can support the mouth rim (6) of a bucket (2) and can remove the mouth rim (6) by a sliding displacement from the grooves (24, 25).
 
5. Device (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the transport means (13) comprise a platform (13) which is displaceable reciprocally between the first lifting column (5) and the second lifting column (14) and which is provided with holding means (26) for fixedly holding the mouth rim (6) of one bucket (2) at a time.
 
6. Device (1) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the holding means (26) comprise a number of spring-loaded tongues (26) extending out of the plane of the platform (13).
 
7. Device (1) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the second gripper (15) comprises two clamping jaws (27, 28) movable toward and away from each other such that a bucket (2) supplied by the transport means (13) can be engaged in each case on its body (4) or its mouth rim (6) by the two clamping jaws (27, 28) being moved toward each other, and can be released at the position of the carrying means (18) by moving the clamping jaws (27, 28) apart.
 
8. Device (1) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the driving of the first gripper (9) and/or the driving of the second gripper (15) is of the type which comprises a carriage (29; 30) which bears the relevant gripper (9; 15) and which is guided along both sides and over the upper end of the relevant lifting column (8; 14), and is driven by means of at least one cable, chain, belt or toothed belt by a motor (31; 32) with a reduction gear (33; 34).
 
9. Device (1) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising a central control unit for controlling, with chosen mutual coordination and timing, the supply means (7), the driving (31) of the first gripper (9), the scraper means (12), the transport means (13), the flushing means (17) and the driving (32) of the second gripper (15).
 




Drawing










Search report