HEAD-TYPE DEVICE FOR THE DRY CLEANING AND SANITISATION OF FLAT SANITARY CONVEYOR BELTS

Abstract

The invention relates to a head-type device for continuous cleaning and sanitization in conveyor belts, mainly flat sanitary conveyor belts. The head-type device comprises a profile extruded as a single piece that defines the length of the cleaning area and comprises a W-shaped cross section, containing, longitudinally, a plurality of polymer scrapers, a pair of polymer seals being disposed on the left and right ends of said W-shaped extended profile, wherein said pair of seals is also protected and sealed by a pair of polymer caps that limit the length of the extended profile.

Claims

1. A head-type device (7) for continuous cleaning and sanitization of conveyor belts, mainly of the flat sanitary type, characterized in that it comprises: a W-shaped extruded profile (1) which defines the length of the belt width to be cleaned, wherein a plurality of scrapers (2) are arranged in each upper slope of the W profile and make contact with the conveyor belt; wherein, in addition, in said W-shaped profile, two compartments are formed in each of its lower central slopes that house a pair of heating and cleaning chambers (G), which receive the removed product and runoff from the surface of the belt, connected in turn with a channel (E) for suction of solids and fluid which acts as a collector for accumulated dirt; a pair of internal dry steam connection channels (D) arranged in the upper part of the two slopes of the W-shaped extruded profile, which are projected longitudinally along the head, and at the same time communicate with the surface through a plurality of perforations (J) through which the dry steam is transported and injected in a uniform manner, wherein said quantity of perforations are located and adapted according to the type of dirt that needs to be removed; a plurality of channels (B) configured to receive a plurality of scrapers (2) designed to provide a sweeping effect of the material that needs to be removed from the conveyor belt, a pair of channels (A) designed to couple a head holder; and a pair of gaskets (4) and caps (3) with a cross section similar to the extruded profile (1), are found at the left and right lateral ends that serve as total or partial lateral seals, as well as supports of the W-shaped extruded profile (1).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has fastening points (A) that allow the device to be used manually or to make the connection to a pneumatic system and use it automatically.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it must be complemented with a piece or plate with a smooth and flat surface (8) placed below and transversely to the movement path of the belt (9) to encapsulate that section of belt and clean up in its path.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the location of 3 polymer scrapers (2) placed in the upper part of the profile (1) transversely to the belt to be treated, which in conjunction with the polymer seals (4) and/or polymer caps (3) allow to achieve a seal against the conveyor belt (9).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a pair of rails (F) in the lower part of the device, designed as a fastening point, which allows to place handles mainly and/or future adaptations to the device.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the W-shaped extruded profile (1) also comprises a window-type cavity (C) where is housed a plurality of hoses that transport the steam, wherein there is access to said hoses through a pair of lateral gates (6) that serve as caps, thus allowing easy access to provide maintenance or repair to said hoses.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the W-shaped extruded profile (1) is coupled to a clamping shaft (5) by means of the pair of channels (A) so that said extruded profile hangs down and uses a rocking motion, being released downwards to clear the hard-to-reach areas.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the W-shaped extruded profile (1) is coupled to a clamping shaft (5) by means of the pair of channels (A) so that said extruded profile also performs a linear movement to immobilize the head device and achieve partial assembly and disassembly.

9. A process for dry cleaning and sanitizing flat sanitary conveyor belts, by means of a head-type device characterized in that it comprises the steps of: receiving the contaminated belt through an inlet, entering sequentially making partial or complete contact with a plurality of scrapers to later detach the external layer of dirt adhered to the belt; injecting the dry steam accumulated by the steam generator through the channels (D) which have a plurality of perforations (J) directed to the surface of the belt, thus creating a temperature greater than 80 C. inside the chamber (G), and causing a drastic change in temperature on the surface of the belt (9), a thermal shock of more than 60 C. being generated thereon, thereby breaking the adherence of the most difficult and less superficial products and/or dirt on the belt, and at the same time eliminating germs, bacteria and disinfecting the surface by means of a thermal method instead of a chemical one; passing through with a second sweeper, making contact to detach the layer of dirt that has been weakened by the first chamber (G), where later all the detached residues are directed to the lower part of the first chamber (G) where a plurality of perforations (K) that are connected to the channel (E) are located, which, by means of a pressure difference, pumps out the waste and/or steam contained in the first chamber, this being achieved through a suction system which is connected to the device (7) in the channel (E), which gives the device (7) the ability to remove the dirt residues, whether solid or fluid, from the belt, as well as the excess steam and the little water condensate generated, all this with the help of the seal (4) and/or cover (3) and the vacuum generated by the suction system; passing through a third sweeper, which helps to detach the layer of dirt that has been weakened by the second chamber, so that later all the detached waste and/or steam are directed to the lower part of the second chamber (G) where a plurality of perforations (K) that connect with the channel (E) is located and that pumps out the residues contained in the second chamber by means of a pressure difference, thus ending with a clean, dry and sanitized belt that comes out through an outlet (12).

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] The present invention will be further explained with reference to the figures of the drawings listed below, wherein through various views, references are made structurally by means of numerals.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a front elevation view of the extruded W-shaped profile of the head device.

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a projection view of the channels of the W profile that corresponds to the polymer seal of the extruded profile of the head device.

[0018] FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the main components of the head-type device.

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of a sectional section of the gates and additional connections of the head-type device.

[0020] FIG. 5 shows a view of a sectional section of the extruded profile with an interior detail of the gates of the head-type device.

[0021] FIG. 6 shows a right and left side view of the extruded profile of the head device limited in both cases by the polymers that delimit the device on each side and allow it to be leak-proof.

[0022] FIG. 7 shows a perspective of the head-type device mounted on an equipment with a conveyor belt.

[0023] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of the cleaning process of a conveyor belt through a head-type device.

[0024] While the figures of the drawings identified above establish various modalities of the invention, other modalities are also contemplated as noted in the arguments. In all cases, this description presents the current invention by way of representation and not limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] In accordance with what is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a head-type device that comprises a W-shaped extruded profile (1) which defines the length of the belt width to be cleaned, where a plurality of scrapers (2) that make contact with the conveyor belt are arranged in each upper slope of the W profile. Together, a pair of joints (4) and caps (3) with a cross section similar to the extruded profile (1), are found at the left and right lateral ends that serve as total or partial lateral seals, as well as supports of the W-shaped extruded profile (1) of FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0026] FIGS. 1 and 2 show the details of the W-shaped extruded profile (1), where each of its lower central slopes forms two compartments that house a pair of heating and cleaning chambers (G), which receive the removed product and runoff from the surface of the belt reaching a plurality of perforations (K) connected in turn to a channel (E) for suction of solids and fluid which functions as a collector of accumulated dirt.

[0027] Additionally, in the upper part of the two slopes of the W-shaped extruded profile (1), a pair of internal channels (D) for dry steam connection are continuously arranged, with the option of using the 4 channels, which are projected longitudinally along the head, and in turn communicate with the surface through a plurality of perforations (J) through which the dry steam is transported and injected uniformly, where said quantity of perforations are located and adapted according to the type of dirt that needs to be removed.

[0028] In the same upper part of the two slopes of the extruded profile (1) in the shape of a W, there is a plurality of channels (B) configured to receive a plurality of scrapers (2) that are designed to provide a sweeping effect of the material that needs to be removed from the conveyor belt, continuously having a pair of circular channels (A) that are designed to couple a head holder.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the W-shaped extruded profile (1) comprises, in its lower central part, a plurality of notch-type geometries (F) and (I) that serve for the direct mounting and dismounting of the head-type device on a conveyor structure (not shown) in a versatile and ergonomic way, allowing it to operate automatically or semi-automatically.

[0030] According to what is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an embodiment of the W-shaped extruded profile (1) is shown comprising at an internal end a window-like cavity (C) where it houses a plurality of hoses that transport the steam, where said hoses are accessed through a pair of lateral gates (6) that serve as caps, thus allowing easy access to provide maintenance or service to these hoses.

[0031] In a more preferred embodiment and according to FIG. 6, the W-shaped extruded profile (1) is designed to allow an easy partial or total assembly and disassembly, which allows a clamping shaft (5) to be coupled by means of the pair of channels (A) to allow said extruded profile to hang down and perform a reciprocating movement and thus be released downwards to be able to clean the hard-to-reach areas. Likewise, a linear movement is also possible to immobilize the head device and achieve partial assembly and disassembly.

[0032] Assembly and Operation of the Head-Type Device

[0033] The device receives the contaminated belt (9) through the inlet (11) and delivers a clean, dry and sanitized belt through the outlet (12).

[0034] When entering the belt through the inlet (11), it may or may not make contact with the first line of scrapers (2); when making physical contact, the sweeper detaches the external dirt layer adhered to the belt, where the dimensions and hardness of the scrapers (2) are selected according to the cleaning needs.

[0035] Once the moving belt passes the first sweeper, it reaches the area of the first chamber (G) of the head, where the dry steam applied by the steam generator to the channels (D) is encapsulated, which have a plurality of perforations (J) directed to the surface of the belt. This creates a temperature higher than 80 C. inside the chamber (G), and by causing a drastic change in temperature on the surface of the belt (9), a thermal shock of more than 60 C. is generated thereon, which breaks the adherence of the most difficult and less superficial layers of product and/or dirt on the belt, and, at the same time, germs and bacteria are eliminated and the surface is disinfected thanks to a thermal method instead of a chemical one.

[0036] Immediately after this, the belt makes physical contact with a second sweeper, which helps to detach the layer of dirt that has been weakened by the first chamber (G), where later all the detached residues are directed to the lower part of the first chamber (G) where there is a plurality of perforations (K) that are connected to the channel (E), which, by means of a pressure difference, pumps out the waste and/or steam contained in the first chamber. To that end, the equipment consists of a suction system which is connected to the device (7) in the channel (E), which gives the device (7) the ability to remove the dirt residues from the belt, whether solids or fluids, as well as the excess steam and the little water condensate generated, all this with the help of the seal (4) and/or the cap (3) and the vacuum generated by the suction system.

[0037] After the belt passes the second sweeper, it enters the second cleaning chamber (G), under conditions similar to those of the first chamber (G), where the dry steam is encapsulated and applied by the steam generator to the channels (D) which are connected to a plurality of perforations (J) directed to the surface of the belt, breaking the adherence of the following less superficial layers of product and/or dirt on the belt to eliminate germs and bacteria and disinfect the surface by means of a thermal method instead of a chemical one.

[0038] Immediately after this, the belt makes physical contact with the third sweeper, which helps to detach the layer of dirt that has been weakened by the second chamber, so that later all the detached residues and/or steam are directed to the lower part of the second chamber (G) where there are a plurality of perforations (K) that connect with the channel (E) and where, by means of a pressure difference, the residues contained in the second chamber are pumped out. At the end of this process, the device delivers a clean, dry and sanitized belt through the outlet (12).

[0039] A variant to the steam connection consists in that it can be made directly in the channels (D) and/or by machining the profile to make a transverse connection with the channels (D) and apply steam to the lower part (D1, Figure IV).

[0040] A variant of the suction channel is that it can be connected directly with a connector that is assembled in the channel (E) or by machining the profile (FIG. 1) in the position (E1) and thus place a connector that is linked to the channel (E).