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EP 0 585 704 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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06.11.1996 Bulletin 1996/45 |
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Date of filing: 16.08.1993 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)6: B08B 3/04 |
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Work station for the cleaning with liquid
Arbeitsplatz zum Reinigen mit Flüssigkeiten
Poste de travail pour le nettoyage avec un liquide
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Designated Contracting States: |
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BE CH DE DK FR GB IT LI NL SE |
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Priority: |
29.08.1992 GB 9218470
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Date of publication of application: |
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09.03.1994 Bulletin 1994/10 |
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Proprietor: AFOS LIMITED |
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Hull HU10 6RL (GB) |
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Inventor: |
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- Wilson, Leonard Edward
Driffield,
York YO25 7ER (GB)
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Representative: Vinsome, Rex Martin et al |
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Urquhart-Dykes & Lord,
Tower House,
Merrion Way Leeds LS2 8PA Leeds LS2 8PA (GB) |
(56) |
References cited: :
CH-A- 107 864 US-A- 4 051 858 US-A- 5 107 876
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DE-A- 3 438 651 US-A- 4 832 753
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] This invention relates to work stations and, more particularly, to washing and cleaning
work stations.
[0002] It is well known in the art to wash and cleanse articles at a work station including
a sink or sump, hereinafter called a sink, for containing washing and cleansing liquids.
US-A-4 051 858 describes a work station including a sink with a lid arrangement which
is open during use of the sink In many uses the washing and/or cleansing liquids can
emit volatiles which are obnoxious and, in many examples, harmful.
[0003] Thus, for example, in the medical profession many of the washing, cleansing and/or
disinfecting liquids used for surgical tools and apparatus emit obnoxious, and often
harmful, emissions.
[0004] It is known to overcome this problem by arranging the sink in which the washing,
cleansing or disinfecting operation is to be performed in a specially built cabinet
but with such an arrangement the cabinet takes up substantial floor space and there
are problems in ventilating the cabinet after use to allow personnel to enter the
cabinet.
[0005] In another well known arrangement the sink is arranged adjacent a ventilated wall,
a low pressure is generated adjacent the wall and the emissions from the treatment
liquids are drawn through the ventilated wall. This system suffers from the disadvantage
that the ventilated wall must be operated continuously whilst the sink is in use and
the evacuating air currents above the sink can be disrupted by, for example, opening
or closing a door in the room within which the washing arrangement is located allowing,
the emissions to escape into the atmosphere.
[0006] Thus, in the practising of the prior art methods, it is difficult to avoid the escape
of emissions into the atmosphere, to the detriment of personnel in the area.
[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a work station, including a
sink, a lid arrangement, means for supplying liquids to said sink, and a drain for
draining liquids from the sink, characterised by the lid arrangement being adapted
to be sealed over the open top of the sink to avoid the escape of volatile emissions
therefrom whilst the work station is in use, an air filter means arranged to extract
volatiles from the air passed therethrough and an air circulating means arranged to
circulate air from the sink through the said filter means and to return cleaned air
from said filter to said sink.
[0008] Preferably the work station is characterised by a control unit programmable to control
a washing and air circulating cycle for the work station.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment the control unit is programmable to effect a washing, rinsing,
disinfecting and second rinse cycle for the sink before initiating the air circulating
cycle.
[0010] Preferably the work station includes means for locking the lid in its sealing condition
whilst a programme cycle is being effect.
[0011] Preferably the work station is characterised by containers for liquids to be supplied
to said sink, means for supplying liquids from said containers to said sink, an outlet
in the lower regions of said sink and means for selectively ducting liquids drained
from said sink to mains drain or back to aid containers for re-use.
[0012] In one embodiment the work station includes a plenum chamber beneath the sink and
the said sink drains into said plenum chamber.
[0013] In such an embodiment the plenum chamber includes an air evacuation outlet whereupon,
when the air circulating arrangement is operating, air flows from said sink to said
plenum chamber and therefrom through said filter means before being returned to said
sink.
[0014] Preferably the work station is characterised by a plurality of air outlets in the
upper regions of the sink and means for ducting filtered air from said air circulating
arrangement into the sink through said outlets.
[0015] Preferably the work station is characterised by an air pressurising means and duct
means for circulating air withdrawn from said sink through said filter means and through
aid pressurising means before being returned to the sink.
[0016] Preferably the work station is characterised by an air drying means in the air circulating
arrangement.
[0017] In another embodiment the work station is characterised by air outlets for extracting
air from the upper regions of the sink and duct means for directing the extracted
air through said filter, through an air pump means and through a non-return valve
before releasing said air back into the sink via the liquid drain outlet for the sink.
[0018] The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to
the accompanying drawings in which;
Fig 1 shows a front view of two work stations in accordance with the present invention,
in a common cabinet,
Fig 2 shows a plan view of the work stations shown in Fig 1.
Fig 3 shows a side view of part of the work station shown in Figs 1 and 2, and
Fig 4 shows, diagrammatically, a cross-section through part of a work station on the
line II-II in Fig 2.
The embodiment illustrated in Fig 1 is intended for washing, rinsing and disinfecting
surgical apparatus and defines two work stations 11 and 12, arranged in side by side
relationship in a common cabinet 13.
[0019] The work station 11 generally comprises a sink 14, surrounded by an inclined wall
15 upstanding from the otherwise plane surface 16 of the cabinet 13. The sink 14 is
closeable by a lid 17, including a surrounding downwardly and outwardly inclined side
wall 17
a, and the slope of the side wall 17
a of the lid 17 substantially matches the slope of the wall 15, whereupon a sealing
of the lid 17 to the side wall 15 and the top 16 of the cabinet 13 is facilitated
to isolate the volume within the sink 14 from the surrounding atmosphere.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment a resilient seal may be positioned between inclined wall
15 and the inclined side wall 17
a, and/or the lid 17 and the top 16, to seal the sink against the surrounding atmosphere.
[0021] In similar manner the work station 12 is defined by a sink 18, surrounded by an upstanding
inclined wall 19, and the open top of the sink 18 is closeable by a lid 20 including
inclined side walls 20
a, in identical manner to the lid 17, and again having a substantially identical slope
to the slope of the surround 19 to facilitate a sealing of the lid 20 with the surround
19 and the top 16 of the cabinet 13, whereupon to isolate the atmosphere within the
sink 18 from the surrounding atmosphere.
[0022] The lids 17 and 20 have handle elements 21 and 22 respectively to facilitate the
lifting and lowering of said lids 17 and 20.
[0023] The lids 17 and 20 each present a locking element 23 and 24, respectively, and each
said locking element 23 and 24 is engaged in a recess, not shown, in the top 16 when
the respective lid 17 and 20 is in it's sink closure condition. The said locking elements
23 and 24 are engageable by locking mechanisms (not shown) when the respective work
station 11, 12, is operating.
[0024] The sink 14 is made from sheet material and is defined by a relatively flat bottom
25 with a surrounding upstanding side wall 26. The vertical corners of the sink 14
are rounded and the unit includes a plenum chamber 27 formed below the bottom 25 of
the sink 14.
[0025] The sink unit 14 receives liquid via a duct 28, which discharges liquid contents
through an outlet 29 opening into the sink 14 through an upper side wall region of
the sink 14. The sink unit 14 above bottom 25 drains via a drain duct 30 to the plenum
chamber 27. The plenum chamber 27 includes a bottom wall 31, which slopes downwardly
to a liquid exhaust duct 32 through the bottom 31 of the said plenum chamber 27.
[0026] The liquid supply duct 28 is conveniently arranged to supply a washing liquid from
a container 33, via a duct 33
a including a pump 33
b, fresh water for rinsing via a link to mains (not shown) or a disinfectant liquid
from a container 34, via a duct 34
a including a pump 34
b. The liquid exhaust duct 32 from the plenum chamber 27 is conveniently arranged to
duct liquid flowing therethrough back to the washing container 33, via a drain duct
33
c, back to the disinfecting liquid container 34, via a drain duct 34
c, or direct to the mains outlet, depending upon the condition of the liquid being
exhausted from the plenum chamber 27.
[0027] The operation cycle for the work station 11, is conveniently controlled by a control
unit 35 behind a display panel 36, which can visually display the programme being
operated and the progression therethrough. Thus, for one cleaning cycle, the control
unit 35 may effect the following operations in order;
(a) A plug (not shown) for sink unit 14, is brought to a position closing the outlet
30,
(b) The sink unit 14 is charged with articles to be cleaned, the lid 17 is manually
lowered to it's sealing condition and said lid 17 is locked in said sealing condition
by the locking means (not shown) engaging the locking element 23.
(c) The duct 28 is connected to the duct 33a whereupon, on operation of the pump 33b by the control means 35, washing liquid is pumped from the container 33 into the
sink unit 14 to a predetermined level above the bottom 25. On reaching the predetermined
level the supply of washing liquid is terminated by stopping the pump 33b.
(d) Means (not shown), provided for agitating the washing liquid in the sink unit
14 are operated for a fixed period of time to effect a through washing of the articles
in the sink 14.
(e) On completion of the wash cycle the control unit 35 is caused to connect the outlet
duct 32 to the drain duct 33c and to displace the plug (not shown) to open the duct 30 to allow the washing liquid
to drain from the sink 14 into the plenum chamber 27 and therefrom back to the washing
liquid container 33.
(f) After a predetermined time, sufficient to allow the washing liquid to drain fully
from the sink unit 14, the control unit 35 connects the duct 28 to the mains water
supply, whereupon water flows from the outlet 29 into the sink unit 14 above bottom
25.
At this stage the control unit 35 may cause the plug closure member for outlet 30
to close the outlet 30, thus to effectually fill the sink unit 14 with rinsing water,
whereupon the control unit 35 then opens the duct 30 to allow the rinsing water to
flow through the plenum chamber 27 and through the outlet 32 to exhaust. In another
embodiment the outlet 29 may comprise a spray outlet 29, which causes the rinsing
water to be sprayed over all the articles within the sink unit 14 and the duct 30
may be left open to allow the rinsing water to drain readily therefrom (to mains drain).
(g) After the rinsing cycle the control unit 35 connects the duct 28 to the duct 34a and, by operating the pump 34b, disinfectant from the container 34 is pumped through the outlet 29 and into the
sink unit 14.
During this operation the plug closure for outlet 30 may close outlet 30, allowing
the sink unit 14 to charge with disinfectant liquid, or the outlet 30 may be left
open and the disinfectant liquid simply sprayed from the outlet 29.
(h) After a predetermined period the supply of disinfectant liquid is terminated,
the duct 32 is connected to the drain duct 34c and the disinfectant liquid is allowed to drain from the sink unit 14 through duct
32 and duct 34c back to the disinfectant liquid container 34.
(i) The control unit then causes a second rinsing operation, with water from the main
supply, to be effected within the sink unit 14 to cleanse the articles in sink 14
of disinfectant.
After the second rinsing cycle has been completed there may still be droplets of liquid
in the sink unit 14 containing volatile contaminates in solution and which contaminates
would be released into the atmosphere if the lid was opened.
To overcome this problem the control unit 35 initiates programme step
(j) and wherein the ducts 28 and 32 are closed by valve means (not shown) in said
ducts 28 and 32 and air is drawn from the plenum chamber 27 via a duct 37, the extracted
air is passed through a molecular filter 38 in the duct 37 and which filter 38 removes
the greater part of the volatile contents from the air passing therethrough, and the
air from the filter 38 is pumped, via a pump 39 in the duct 37, through a plenum chamber
40 and back into the sink 14 through small holes 41 in the wall of the plenum chamber
40.
Thus, by the air circulating arrangement described above, air is circulated from the
sink unit 14, through the plenum chamber 27 into the duct 37 and through the filter
38, pump 39 and the plenum chamber 40 back to the sink unit 14 and the filter 38 works
continuously on the circulating air removing contaminates therefrom.
(k) The air circulation system is allowed to run for a period sufficient to ensure
that all the liquid droplets in the air circulation system have been evaporated and
only after said period has expired is the lid released by the locking mechanism to
allow the lid to be safely lifted to allow the cleaned and disinfected articles to
be removed from the sink.
[0028] Preferably such an arrangement includes an air dryer, conveniently defined by a heating
element 42 in the duct 37, so that dry air is released through the holes 41 into the
sink unit 14 to rapidly evaporate any residual liquid in said sink unit 14.
[0029] The supply of air through the duct 37 may be terminated by closing a valve 43 in
the duct 37.
[0030] The sink unit 14 may also include a nozzle (not shown) connectable to the duct 28
and whereupon hollow surgical apparatus, such as endoscopes, may be attached to the
nozzle to have their bores thoroughly washed, cleansed, and disinfected.
[0031] It will be appreciated that the control unit 36 allows the programme to be performed
to be set and adjusted, as desired.
[0032] The unit 18 has it bottom 25 contoured, to facilitate the cleansing of specially
shaped articles, but otherwise the work station 12 is substantially identically arranged
and can operate in the manner described above for the work station 11. Thus, the work
station 12 will include a plenum chamber 27, ducts and outlets identical to ducts
and outlets 28, 29, 30, 31 and 37, and with an air circulating system including a
filter 38, air pump 39, plenum chamber 40, and air dryer 42, together with containers
33 and 34 with their respective ducts 33a 34a, pumps 33b, 34b and return ducts 33c,
34c, all identical with and arranged to operate in identical manner to the work station
11, under the control of a control unit 44 individual thereto.
[0033] The work station 11 and its associated apparatus may all be contained in the right
side of the cabinet 13, as viewed in Fig. 1, and the work station 12 with its associated
apparatus may be contained in the left side of said cabinet 13.
[0034] Thus the work stations 11 and 12 may be operated in complete independence of one
another.
[0035] In another embodiment the work stations 11 and 12 may share common liquid containers
33 and 34.
[0036] In another embodiment the inclined walls 15 and 19 may be omitted and the lids 17
and 20 may seal directly against the top surface 16, or against the top edge regions
of the sinks 14 and 18.
[0037] In a further embodiment the washing liquid or detergent and/or the disinfectant may
be charged directly into the sinks 14 and 18 by hand or via a dispensing means, preferably
a dosing dispensing means. In such an embodiment the storage containers 33 and/or
34 may be omitted and the washing liquid or detergent and/or the disinfectant liquid
may be ducted direct to mains draining or to a waste disposal container, which may
be remote from the work stations.
[0038] In a further embodiment the plenum chamber 27, may be omitted from the work station
and with such an embodiment, during the air circulating cycle, air is extracted from
the upper regions of the respective sink, the extracted air is passed through a filter
for removing contaminates from the air said cleaned air is then passed through an
air pump and through a non-return valve before being returned to the respective sink
14 or 18, via the liquid outlet 30 from the sink 14 or 18.
1. A work station, including a sink (14, 18), a lid arrangement, means for supplying
liquids to said sink (14, 18), and a drain (30) for draining liquids from the sink
(14, 18), characterised by the lid arrangement (17, 20) being adapted to be sealed
over the open top of the sink (14, 18) to avoid the escape of volatile emissions therefrom
whilst the work station (11, 12) is in use, an air filter means (38) arranged to extract
volatiles from the air passed therethrough and an air circulating means (37, 38, 39)
arranged to circulate air from the sink (14, 18) through the said filter means (38)
and to return cleaned air from said filter means (38) to said sink (14, 18).
2. A work station according to claim 1, characterised by a control unit (35) programmable
to control a washing and air circulating cycle for the work station (11, 12).
3. A work station according to claim 2, characterised in that the control unit (35) is
programmable to effect a washing, rinsing, disinfecting and second rinse cycle for
the sink (14, 18) before initiating the air circulating cycle.
4. A work station according to claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the work station
includes means (23, 24) for locking the lid (17, 20) in its sealing condition whilst
a programme cycle is being effect.
5. A work station according to claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterised by containers (33,
34) for liquids to be supplied to said sink( 14, 18), means (33a, 33b or 34a, 34b)
for supplying liquids from said containers (33, 34) to said sink (14, 18), an outlet
(30) in the lower regions of said sink (14, 18) and means (33c, 34c) for selectively
ducting liquids drained from said sink (14, 18) to mains drain or back to said containers
(33, 34) for re-use.
6. A work station according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
the work station (11, 12) includes a plenum chamber (27) beneath the sink (14, 18)
and the said sink (14, 18) drains into said plenum chamber (27).
7. A work station according to claim 6, characterised in that the plenum chamber (27)
includes an air evacuation outlet (37) whereupon, when the air circulating arrangement
is operating, air flows from said sink (14, 18) to said plenum chamber (27) and therefrom
through said filter means (38) before being returned to said sink (14, 18).
8. A work station according to claims 6 or 7, characterised by a plurality of air outlets
(41) in the upper regions of the sink (14, 18), and means (40) for ducting filtered
air from said air circulating arrangement (37) into the sink (14, 18) through said
outlets (41).
9. A work station according to any one of the preceding claims characterised by an air
pressurising means (39) and duct means (37) for circulating air withdrawn from said
sink through said filter means (38) and through said pressurising means (39) before
being returned to the sink (14, 18).
10. A work station according to any one of the preceding claims characterised by an air
drying means (42) in the air circulating arrangement (37).
11. A work station according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 characterised by air outlets for
extracting air from the upper regions of the sink (14, 18) and duct means for directing
the extracted air through said filter means (38), through a air pump means (39) and
through a non-return valve before releasing said air back into the sink (14, 18) via
the liquid drain outlet (30) for the sink.
1. Arbeitsstation, die folgendes aufweist:
- ein Bassin (14, 18),
- eine Deckelanordnung (17, 20),
- eine Einrichtung zum Einleiten von Flüssigkeiten in das Bassin (14, 18), und
- einen Auslaß (30), um Flüssigkeiten aus dem Bassin (14, 18) abzulassen,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Deckelanordnung (17, 20) so ausgelegt ist, daß sie über der offenen Oberseite
des Bassins (14, 18) abgedichtet werden kann, um das Austreten von flüchtigen Emissionen
aus diesem zu vermeiden, während die Arbeitsstation (11, 12) in Betrieb ist,
daß eine Luftfiltereinrichtung (38) angeordnet ist, um flüchtige Stoffe aus der sie
durchströmenden Luft zu extrahieren,
und daß eine Luftzirkulationseinrichtung (37, 38, 39) vorgesehen ist, um die Luft
aus dem Bassin (14, 18) durch die Filtereinrichtung (38) zirkulieren zu lassen und
die gereinigte Luft aus der Filtereinrichtung (38) zu dem Bassin (14, 18) zurückzuführen.
2. Arbeitsstation nach Anspruch 1,
gekennzeichnet durch
eine programmierbare Steuereinheit (35), um einen Wasch- und Luftzirkulationszyklus
für die Arbeitsstation (11, 12) zu steuern.
3. Arbeitsstation nach Anspruch 2,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Steuereinheit (35) derart programmierbar ist, daß ein Wasch-, Spül- und Desinfektionszyklus
sowie ein zweiter Spülzyklus für das Bassin (14, 18) durchgeführt werden, bevor der
Luftzirkulationszyklus eingeleitet wird.
4. Arbeitsstation nach Anspruch 2 oder 3,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Arbeitsstation eine Einrichtung (23, 24) aufweist, um den Deckel (17, 20)
in seinem dichtenden Zustand zu verriegeln, während ein Programmzyklus durchgeführt
wird.
5. Arbeitsstation nach Anspruch 1, 2, 3 oder 4,
gekennzeichnet durch
Behälter (33, 34) für Flüssigkeiten, die dem Bassin (14, 18) zuzuführen sind,
eine Einrichtung (33a, 33b oder 34a, 34b), um die Flüssigkeiten aus den Behältern
(33, 34) dem Bassin (14, 18) zuzuführen,
einen Auslaß (30) in den unteren Bereichen des Bassins (14, 18) und
eine Einrichtung (33c, 34c), um Flüssigkeiten, die aus dem Bassin (14, 18) abgelassen
werden, selektiv dem Hauptentwässerungskanal oder zurück in die Behälter (33, 34)
zur Wiederverwendung zuzuleiten.
6. Arbeitsstation nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Arbeitsstation (11, 12) eine Sammelkammer (27) unterhalb des Bassins (14,
18) aufweist,
und daß das Bassin (14, 18) einen Auslaß in die Sammelkammer (27) besitzt.
7. Arbeitsstation nach Anspruch 6,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Sammelkammer (27) einen Luftabführungsauslaß (37) aufweist, derart, daß dann,
wenn die Luftzirkulationseinrichtung arbeitet, die Luft aus dem Bassin (14, 18) in
die Sammelkammer (27) und von dort durch die Filtereinrichtung (38) strömt, bevor
sie zu dem Bassin (14, 18) zurückgeführt wird.
8. Arbeitsstation nach Anspruch 6 oder 7,
gekennzeichnet durch
eine Vielzahl von Luftauslässen in den oberen Bereichen des Bassins (14, 18) und
eine Einrichtung (40) zum Einleiten der gefilterten Luft aus der Luftzirkulationseinrichtung
(37) durch die Auslässe (41) in das Bassin (14, 18).
9. Arbeitsstation nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
eine Luft-Druckbeaufschlagungseinricntung (39) und eine Leitungseinrichtung (37),
um Luft, die aus dem Bassin abgezogen wird, durch die Filtereinrichtung (38) und durch
die Druckbeaufschlagungseinrichtung (39) zirkulieren zu lassen, bevor sie zu dem Bassin
(14, 18) zurückgeführt wird.
10. Arbeitsstation nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
gekennzeichnet durch
eine Lufttrocknungseinrichtung (42) in der Luftzirkulationseinrichtung (37).
11. Arbeitsstation nach Anspruch 1, 2, 3, 4 oder 5,
gekennzeichnet durch
Luftauslässe zum Abziehen von Luft aus den oberen Bereichen des Bassins (14, 18) und
Leitungseinrichtungen, um die abgezogene Luft durch die Filtereinrichtung (38), durch
eine Luftpumpeneinrichtung (39) und durch ein Rückschlagventil zu leiten, bevor die
Luft über den Flüssigkeits-Abführungsauslaß (30) für das Bassin in das Bassin (14,
18) abgegeben wird.
1. Un poste de travail, incluant un évier (14, 18), un agencement de couvercle, des moyens
pour fournir des liquides audit évier (14, 18) et un vidage (30) pour vider des liquides
de l'évier (14, 18), caractérisé en ce que l'agencement de couvercle (17, 20) est
adapté pour être fermé hermétiquement au-dessus du haut ouvert de l'évier (14, 18)
afin d'éviter l'échappement d'émissions volatiles de celui-ci pendant que le poste
de travail (11, 12) est utilisé, un moyen de filtre à air (38) agencé pour extraire
des matières volatiles de l'air passé à travers celui-ci et un moyen de circulation
d'air (37, 38, 39) agencé pour faire circuler de l'air provenant de l'évier (14, 18)
à travers ledit moyen de filtre (38) et retourner de l'air nettoyé depuis ledit moyen
de filtre (38) vers ledit évier (14, 18).
2. Un poste de travail selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par une unité de commande
(35) programmable pour commander un cycle de lavage et de circulation d'air pour le
poste de travail (11, 12).
3. Un poste de travail selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que l'unité de commande
(35) est programmable pour effectuer un cycle de lavage, de rinçage, de désinfection
et de deuxième rinçage pour l'évier (14, 18) avant de commencer le cycle de circulation
d'air.
4. Un poste de travail selon la revendication 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que le poste
de travail inclut un moyen (23, 24) pour verrouiller le couvercle (17, 20) dans son
état fermé hermétiquement pendant qu'un cycle de programme est effectué.
5. Un poste de travail selon la revendication 1, 2, 3 ou 4, caractérisé par des conteneurs
(33, 34) pour des liquides à fournir audit évier (14, 18), un moyen (33a, 33b ou 34a,
34b) pour fournir des liquides depuis lesdits conteneurs (33, 34) vers ledit évier
(14, 18), une sortie (30) dans les zones inférieures dudit évier (14, 18) et un moyen
(33c, 34c) pour canaliser sélectivement des liquides vidés dudit évier (14, 18) à
l'égout principal ou les renvoyer auxdits conteneurs (33, 34) pour réutilisation.
6. Un poste de travail selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé
en ce que le poste de travail (11, 12) inclut un plénum (27) au-dessous de l'évier
(14, 18) et ledit évier (14, 18) des vidages dans ledit plénum (27).
7. Un poste de travail selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que le plénum (27)
inclut une sortie d'évacuation d'air (37) par laquelle, lorsque le moyen de circulation
d'air fonctionne, de l'air s'écoule depuis ledit évier (14, 18) vers ledit plénum
(27) et de celui-ci à travers ledit moyen de filtre (38) avant de retourner audit
évier (14, 18).
8. Un poste de travail selon les revendications 6 ou 7, caractérisé par une pluralité
de sorties d'air (41) dans les zones supérieures de l'évier (14, 18), et un moyen
(40) pour canaliser de l'air filtré dudit moyen de circulation d'air (37) dans l'évier
(14, 18) à travers lesdites sorties (41).
9. Un poste de travail selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé
par un moyen de pressurisation d'air (39) et un moyen de canalisation (37) pour faire
circuler de l'air retiré dudit évier à travers ledit moyen de filtre (38) et à travers
ledit moyen de pressurisation (39) avant qu'il soit retourné à l'évier (14, 18).
10. Un poste de travail selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé
par un moyen de séchage d'air (42) dans le moyen de circulation d'air (37).
11. Un poste de travail selon les revendications 1, 2, 3, 4 ou 5, caractérisé par des
sorties d'air pour extraire de l'air des zones supérieures de l'évier (14, 18) et
un moyen de canalisation pour diriger l'air extrait à travers ledit moyen de filtre
(38) à travers un moyen de pompe d'air (39) et à travers un clapet anti-retour avant
de libérer à nouveau ledit air dans l'évier (14, 18) via la sortie de vidage de liquides
(30) pour l'évier.