METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVAL OF CHEWING GUM

Description

[0001] The removal of used pieces of chewing gum from surfaces is a difficult problem. Efforts have been made heretofore to remove pieces of chewing gum by means of for instance freezing. This method does not however work wholly satisfactorily, while it is moreover expensive because it requires freezing equipment.

[0002] From WO-A-01/07719 is known a method for removing used pieces of chewing gum from surfaces which comprises of feeding steam to the piece of chewing gum to be removed and acting mechanically on the piece of chewing gum.

[0003] From GB-A-1.449.483 the closest prior art in relation to the present invention, as reflected in the preamble of claim 1, is known for removing unwanted things from for instance a pavement.

[0004] It has been found in practice that the prior art apparatuses do not remove especially chewing gum properly, or require a lot of time to remove chewing gum.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a more effective apparatus which can be performed more rapidly and is thus cheaper.

[0006] The inventor has found that heating of the piece of chewing gum to be removed, followed by mechanical action thereon, whereby the surface area of the piece of chewing gum is enlarged, and subsequently feeding an agent removing the adhesive property of the chewing gum, brings about good results. The piece of chewing gum to be removed is here initially heated, whereby it becomes soft, so that the mechanical action can take place more easily.

[0007] This heating is carried out in a more effective manner in that a liquid is supplied in addition to steam. It has after all been found in the prior art method and apparatus that heating of the chewing gum does not take place quickly enough. This is caused by the small heat capacity of steam. The heat capacity of liquids is much greater owing to their density, so that they result in more rapid heating of the chewing gum. The invention makes use of this property by supplying liquid and steam.

[0008] The use of water as liquid has the first advantage that it is inexpensive. Another advantage is the fact that the water can be used not only for the liquid but also for generating steam. Because of this measure use can be made of a single supply tank for liquid, from both heated water and steam can be generated. Thus executing the method is made easier and the apparatus according to the invention is made simpler.

[0009] A further shortening of the time for heating the chewing gum is obtained when the steam and the liquid are at least partly supplied simultaneously.

[0010] The use of a surface tension reducer results in a more intimate contact between liquid and chewing gum.

[0011] The chewing gum is dissolved by applying a cleaning agent.

[0012] The use of a metal brush enlarges the surface area of the chewing gum. The effect of the cleaning agent is hereby enhanced. The adhesive property of the chewing gum is herein removed by the cleaning agent, so that the mechanical action can be more effective. The whole piece of chewing gum is finally removed in this manner.

[0013] Essential to the invention is the fact that use is made of hot water, which is optionally provided with a cleaning agent, and of steam. While it is known to even use a combination of water and steam for cleaning, the invention is distinguished herefrom in a preferred embodiment by the use of a solvent dissolved in the water. The chewing gum residue is hereby limited such that it releases from the surface to which it is adhered. The mechanical action may then be formed only by a kind of scraping action for removal of the detached piece of chewing gum. It is however recommended to use a brush, since a quicker action is hereby achieved; the brush increases the surface area so that the cleaning agent can do its work better.

[0014] The invention thus relates to an apparatus for performing a method according to any of the foregoing claims, comprising a steam generator and a hot water source which can both be connected by a hose to a spray lance provided with a brush. This apparatus forms a good tool for performing the method according to the invention, in that the same heatable tank is usable for generating steam and heated liquid.

[0015] In order to limit the amount of liquid to be supplied, a restriction is preferably arranged between the connection to the tank for supplying liquid and the connection for the coupling to the spray lance.

[0016] Other attractive preferred embodiments of the invention are stated in the remaining sub-claims.

[0017] The present invention will now be elucidated with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for generating steam and hot water which is used in the present invention; and

Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a nozzle used in the present invention.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a trolley 1 in which a tank 2 is arranged. Such an apparatus is usually applied for generating steam for steam-cleaning, and an example of such a cleaning apparatus is the "Robby 5000" type.

[0019] Trolley 1 is provided with wheels 3 on which the trolley rests. Tank 2 can withstand a pressure of about 5 atm. On the top there is provided a filling opening 4 which can be closed pressure-tightly with a cap 5. A heating element 6 is further arranged in tank 2 and, under the permissible water level, i.e. below the upper level of heating element 6, there is arranged an outlet connection 7 on which is placed an electrically operated valve 8.

[0020] Arranged on the tank above the highest permissible water level is a connection 9 which connects to an electrically operated valve 10. The outlet connections of both valves 8, 10 lead to a connection 11 to which a flexible hose can be coupled. This hose is connected to a lance, the underside of which is shown in figure 2. It is pointed out here that it is possible with the above stated apparatus to generate both water and steam. The water is herein taken off through connection 7, while steam is taken off via connection 9. Both media are brought together in the external connection 11. The steam will herein entrain the outflowing water.

[0021] In order to limit the amount of water supplied to the spray lance, a restriction 20 is arranged between the connection 7 for supplying water and the controllable valve 8. It is however also possible to arrange the restriction between the controllable valve 8 and the connection 11 for connecting to the coupling to the spray lance. The diameter of the restriction lies in the order of magnitude of one millimetre.

[0022] Except for the restriction, such an apparatus is otherwise per se known; the elucidation relates only to the components which are significant for the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 shows the end 12 of a spray lance 13. The end 12 of spray lance 13 narrows so that the flow speed of the medium travelling therein increases. Placed connecting thereto is a curved part 14 which leads to a brush holder 15. The bottom 16 of the brush holder is provided with bristles 17 manufactured from metal, preferably brass, while holes 18 are arranged in the bottom 16 for passage of the water-steam mixture. The brush holder is easy to replace in the case of for instance wear of the bristles.

[0024] There will now follow an elucidation of how the method according to the invention can be applied using the apparatus according to the invention.

[0025] Tank 2 is first filled with a special liquid which consists for the major part of water, but wherein an agent is added which is suitable for decreasing the surface tension of the water and which also dissolves the chewing gum. Use is made here of an agent that is also used as washing-up liquid. About 6% of the liquid fed into the tank preferably consists of this washing-up liquid. It is otherwise also possible to apply other concentrations, such as smaller than 8%, than 10% or 12%, and greater than 2%, 3%, 4% or 5%.

[0026] The heating is then switched on and the spray lance is coupled by means of the connecting hose to the relevant connection 11.

[0027] When the pressure has risen to a sufficiently high value, which can be read by means of a manometer, valve 10 is opened by means of remote control, whereafter steam is supplied to the spray lance. The electrically operated valve 8 can then be opened immediately thereafter in order to supply water.

[0028] The outflow opening 18 of the nozzle is herein placed on a piece of chewing gum 19 to be removed, whereby the chewing gum 19 is heated so that the chewing gum 19 becomes soft.

[0029] Through the action of the brush the surface area of the chewing gum will subsequently be increased, whereby all steam and all liquid is able to act on the chewing gum, whereby the chewing gum is gradually dissolved. This is of course supported by the brushing action of the brush. The piece of chewing gum can thus be removed within a very short time.

Claims

1. An apparatus for removing used pieces of chewing gum from surfaces using a heated gaseous steam part and a liquid part; and to feed the gaseous steam part to the piece of chewing gum to be removed while adding the liquid part to the gaseous steam part and feeding the combined gaseous steam part and the liquid part simultaneously for at least a part of the time to the piece of chewing gum to be removed, while
acting mechanically on the piece of chewing gum, the apparatus comprising a steam generator (2, 9) and a hot water source (2, 7) which can both be connected by a hose (13) to a spray lance (12) provided with a brush (17),
characterized in that
the steam generator and the hot water source are formed by the same heatable tank (2).

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the heatable tank is provided with two outlets (7; 9) which are arranged at different levels and which are each connected to the spray lance by means of a controllable valve (8; 10).

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that a restriction (20) is arranged between the lower outlet and the connection for the spray lance.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 1-3, characterized in that the spray lance comprises only one channel which is adapted for guiding both the liquid and the steam.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the valves (8; 10) are each separately controllable from the spray lance.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 1-5,
wherein the steam generator comprises an electrical heating element (6).

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 1-6, comprising a first connection (7) and a second connection (9), which are arranged on the tank so as to guide respectively the gaseous steam part and the liquid part to the spray lance (12).

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, comprising an external connection (11) for bringing together the gaseous steam part from the second connection (9) and the liquid part from the first connection (7).

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung zum Entfernen benutzter Stücke aus Kaugummi von Oberflächen unter Verwendung eines erhitzten gasförmigen Dampfteils und eines Flüssigkeitsteils; und Zuführen des gasförmigen Dampfteils zu dem Stück aus Kaugummi, das entfernt werden soll, während der Flüssigkeitsteil dem gasförmigen Dampfteil hinzugefügt wird und Zuführen des kombinierten gasförmigen Dampfteils und des Flüssigkeitsteils gleichzeitig für mindestens einen Teil der Zeit zu dem Stück aus Kaugummi, das entfernt werden soll, während mechanisch auf das Stück aus Kaugummi eingewirkt wird, wobei die Vorrichtung einen Dampferzeuger (2, 9) und eine Heißwasserquelle (2, 7) umfasst, die beide durch einen Schlauch (13) mit einer Sprühlanze (12), die mit einer Bürste (17) versehen ist, verbunden werden können,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
der Dampfgenerator und die Heißwasserquelle durch denselben beheizbaren Tank (2) gebildet sind.

2. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der beheizbare Tank mit zwei Auslässen (7; 9) versehen ist, die auf unterschiedlichen Niveaus angeordnet sind und die jeder mittels eines steuerbaren Ventils (8; 10) mit der Sprühlanze verbunden sind.

3. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Verengung (20) zwischen dem unteren Auslass und der Verbindung für die Sprühlanze angeordnet ist.

4. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Sprühlanze nur einen Kanal umfasst, der zum Leiten sowohl der Flüssigkeit als auch des Dampfes geeignet ist.

5. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 3 oder 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Ventile (8, 10) jedes separat von der Sprühlanze steuerbar sind.

6. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei der Dampferzeuger ein elektrisches Heizelement (6) umfasst.

7. Vorrichtung gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, die eine erste Verbindung (7) und eine zweite Verbindung (9) umfasst, die auf dem Tank so angeordnet sind, dass sie jeweils den gasförmigen Dampfteil und den Flüssigkeitsteil zu der Sprühlanze (12) leiten.

8. Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 7, die eine äußere Verbindung (11) zum Zusammenbringen des gasförmigen Dampfteils von der zweiten Verbindung (9) und des Flüssigkeitsteils von der ersten Verbindung (7) umfasst.

Revendications

1. Appareil pour enlever des morceaux usagés de chewing-gum des surfaces, en utilisant une partie de vapeur gazeuse chaude et une partie de liquide ; et pour amener la partie de vapeur gazeuse sur le morceau de chewing-gum à enlever, tout en ajoutant la partie de liquide à la partie de vapeur gazeuse et amener la partie de vapeur gazeuse et la partie de liquide combinées simultanément pendant au moins une partie du temps sur le morceau de chewing-gum à enlever, tout en agissant mécaniquement sur le morceau de chewing-gum, l'appareil comprenant un générateur de vapeur (2, 9) et une source d'eau chaude (2, 7) qui peuvent tous deux être raccordés par un tuyau flexible (13) à une lance de pulvérisation (12) dotée d'une brosse (17),
caractérisé en ce que :

le générateur de vapeur et la source d'eau chaude sont formés par le même réservoir (2) pouvant être chauffé.

2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le réservoir pouvant être chauffé est prévu avec deux sorties (7 ; 9) qui sont agencées à différents niveaux et qui sont chacune raccordées à la lance de pulvérisation au moyen d'une soupape réglable (8 ; 10).

3. Appareil selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce qu'une restriction (20) est agencée entre la sortie inférieure et le raccordement pour la lance de pulvérisation.

4. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que la lance de pulvérisation comprend uniquement un canal qui est adapté pour guider à la fois le liquide et la vapeur.

5. Appareil selon la revendication 3 ou 4, caractérisé en ce que les soupapes (8 ; 10) sont chacune séparément réglables à partir de la lance de pulvérisation.

6. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel le générateur de vapeur comprend un élément de chauffage électrique (6).

7. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, comprenant un premier raccordement (7) et un deuxième raccordement (9), qui sont agencés sur le réservoir afin de guider respectivement la partie de vapeur gazeuse et la partie de liquide jusqu'à la lance de pulvérisation (12).

8. Appareil selon la revendication 7, comprenant un raccordement externe (11) pour réunir la partie de vapeur gazeuse provenant du deuxième raccordement (9) et la partie de liquide provenant du premier raccordement (7).

Drawing