WO1996036444A1 - Process for cleaning surfaces soiled with remains of chewing-gum and device for carrying out this process - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a process and device for cleaning a surface (S) soiled with remains (1) of chewing-gum, the device comprising means (6) for softening the remains (1), at least one breakage device (12) for breaking their outer crust, and means (14) which can raise these remains by adhesion and comprise a material (10) having affinity for the remains in the softened state. The device further comprises a support (15) for the material, which support is oriented at an angle υ relative to the surface (S). The breakage means (12) and means (14) for raising the remains by adhesion are subjected to a translation movement (F1) substantially parallel to the surface (S). In addition, when it contacts the softened remains, the material (10) is subjected to an advance movement (F2) at an advance speed (vd) which is faster than the translation speed (vt) such that contact between the remains adhering to the material having affinity therefor and the surface (S) cannot be re-established.

Description

 PROCESS FOR CLEANING SURFACES STAINED BY REMAINS OF CHEWING GUMS AND DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING SAME

The present invention is in the field of cleaning surfaces, in particular the surfaces of places open to the public such as sidewalks, public transport platforms, parking areas, floors, walls, furniture, decorations, etc. , made or coated with materials such as cement, tar, marble, carpets, wood, fabrics, etc.

 It relates more particularly to a method and a device for eliminating the residues of crushed chewing gum and more or less encrusted in the roughness of these surfaces.

 Chewing gums are often thrown to the ground or placed on walls, by unscrupulous consumers, after chewing them. The remnants of these gums stick to the surface, forming pellets that dry out and harden so that they cannot be removed.

 These residues are resistant to detergents and can not be removed by washing or brushing.

Furthermore, they dissolve only very difficultly in certain solvents, these solvents being most of the time dangerous for people and often aggressive with respect to the soiled support surface. Solvents can be well suited in the case of cleaning clothes or carpets, for example, but, in particular because of their toxicity and their flammable nature, their use is very limited and can only concern occasional cleanings. One cannot, for example, foresee the use of solvents for the cleaning of parking lots in particular underground, because explosion risks, no more than for the sidewalks because of the pollution they would generate and their evaporation in the atmosphere which would require the implementation of large quantities leading to very high costs and aggravating the pollution factor.

 Consequently, the most currently used means consists in breaking down the soiling after embrittling freezing at very low temperature carried out by means of liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide snow and then in eliminating the debris thus produced by conventional methods such as brushing, sweeping, etc. . This method has the disadvantage of involving task-by-task processing, which requires a great deal of time and often causes deterioration of the support. In addition, it is expensive and often insufficient.

 It follows from these facts that many organizations and public and private companies are concerned about this important problem and are looking for simple, effective and acceptable cost means to clean the soiled surfaces which can be of the most diverse nature.

 The object of the invention is therefore to provide a method for cleaning surfaces soiled with remnants of chewing gum which is effective and easy to use regardless of the nature and extent of the soiled surface, without damaging or deteriorating this surface, which is neither dangerous nor polluting while being of acceptable cost.

 The invention also aims to provide a device for the implementation of this method.

These and other objectives are achieved using the method according to the present invention, for cleaning a surface soiled with chewing gum residues, characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in softening said residues, in breaking up their outer crust, pushing them in translation substantially parallel to the support surface and taking them simultaneously by adhesion to an affine material for said softened residues, and in that said affine material is oriented at an angle a with respect to said support surface and it is subjected both to the above-mentioned translational movement and to a sliding movement, in contact with the residues softened, with a running speed greater than the translation speed, so that the residues adhering to the affine material cannot return to contact with the support surface.

 The invention also has for its object a device for cleaning a surface soiled with chewing gum residues, characterized in that it comprises means for softening said residues, breaking means for breaking their external crust and sampling means by adhesion of said softened residues comprising an affine material for the residues in the softened state as well as a support for said material which is oriented at an angle θ with respect to the support surface, the means of breaking and sampling by adhesion being subjected to a translational movement substantially parallel to the support surface and said affine material being further subjected to a scrolling movement at a speed greater than that of the translational movement, such that the residues adhering to the affine material cannot not return to contact with the support surface.

 It is known that the residues of chewing gum consist essentially of rubber and latex and that they adhere to certain materials (for example constituting the soles of shoes) when these are applied to the residues. However, this knowledge has not so far made it possible to obtain the separation of said residues from their support and therefore to eliminate them completely.

However, the inventors have shown that it was possible, in a new and unexpected way, to use the adhesive properties of chewing gum residues and to remove them from the ground. pellets which they form on its surface, by simple removal and entrainment by adhesion, under defined conditions, on an affine material for the residues in the softened state, these residues having in fact less affinity for their support or the constituents of this support, only for the affine material.

 The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of illustration and not limitation, in which:

 - Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention;

 - Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

 - Figure 3 is a partial schematic view of gripping means by adhesion according to another alternative embodiment of the invention.

 The method according to the invention will be described below in the case of chewing gum residues forming pellets bonded to the surface of the ground as is shown schematically in Figures 1 and 2 but, of course, this method applies also to residues present on other supports such as walls, decorations, furniture, etc., which may be vertical, inclined, etc.

 The method according to the invention firstly comprises a softening operation of the pellets 1 which it is said to be eliminated. These pellets 1 generally have an outer crust 2 which is hard relative to the materials 4 located under this crust and. in contact with the ground S, the outer crust 2 being all the harder as the pastille is old and has been trampled. The softening is advantageously carried out homogeneously over the whole of the tablet.

This can be done by heating. In this case, any means can be used to heat to a temperature sufficient to make the pellet soft and sticky without reaching the decomposition temperature of the residues treated. Also, it is heated to temperatures comprised between 25 and 80ºC, preferably between 30 and 45ºC. The temperature chosen must not deteriorate the support surface or its coating (cement, tar, wood, marble, fabric, etc.)

The softening means 10 advantageously consist of a heating device such as a r ad iat eur or other heating surface (tarpaulin for example), a radiation device in particular infrared or, more preferably still, in a hot air jel device 8 as shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2.

 According to the invention, softening can also be carried out using solvents. It is thus possible to apply to the pellets, small quantities of solvent or mixture of solvents capable of partially dissolving the residues and of making the mass sticky, by any known means chosen according to the conditions for implementing the process and the requirements to be respected. . T1 may be, for example, a simple sprinkling or else the application to the tablet, of an absorbent material previously soaked in solvent (s) and possibly provided, except on the face intended to come into contact with the tablet, with a impermeable wall to avoid or limit the evaporation of the solvent (s) used.

 The method according to the invention then comprises the fact of breaking the external crust 2 of the pellet and of removing by adhesion the residues in the softened state, on a material 10 affine for these residues.

Provision is made for this for breaking means 12 of the external crust and means for gripping by adhesion 14. The means 12 and 14 are advantageously subjected simultaneously and in the same direction to a translational movement substantially parallel to the ground as shown schematically by the arrow F ₁ in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the example under consideration, this is a forward movement relative to the operator, at the speed of a man walking. According to the invention, the operations of softening, rupture and removal by adhesion can be independent or combined with one another.

The breaking means 12 may consist of any element making it possible to pierce the outer crust and push the residues forward according to the translational movement (arrow F ₁ ). It may for example be a brush, a crusher, disconnector or rotating device, possibly provided on its surface with projecting elements such as teeth, points, bristles (of any diameter), blades, scrapers, etc. These means are made of flexible or rigid material depending on the case. In FIGS. 1 and 2, a planing wedge 12 is shown diagrammatically.

 The adhesion sampling means 14 comprise an affine material 10 for the chewing gum residues in the softened state as well as a support 15 for said material.

 According to the present invention, by affine material is meant any material, adhesive or not, on which the softened residues considered can adhere in a sufficient manner to allow their separation from the support and their routing towards a receptacle, a recovery or treatment, the softened residues having a better affinity for this material than for their support.

 The use of a non-adhesive affine material avoids the removal of other waste or dirt (dust, for example) than chewing gum residue.

 As the affine material 10, a flexible polyethylene or latex film is preferably used, the polyethylene film being particularly preferred.

 The softening temperature of the residues is set so as not to affect affine disease 10.

 The support 15 for the affine material consists of any means allowing this material to pass through in the vicinity of the pellets to be treated.

Figure 1 illustrates the case where the support for the material affine 10 is a simple roll of rope.

 The affine material 10 is given an orientation at an angle θ, not zero, relative to the support S. This angle θ is advantageously less than 90º. It is preferable to choose a small angle of inclination, less than or equal to 45º. This orientation can be obtained using the support 15.

Furthermore, the affine material is subjected to the translational movement along the arrow F ₁ (in the same direction as the breaking means) but also to a scrolling movement in the direction of the arrows F ₂ .

If we consider a fixed reference, the running speed (v _d ) is greater than the translation speed (v _t ) so that the affine material 10 is movable relative to the planing wedge 12. This speed ratio allows constantly have clean and effective affine material in contact with softened residues throughout the treatment process.

Furthermore, the running speed (v _d ) must not be excessive relative to the translation speed (v _t ) so as not to run too much affine material which would remain, for the most part, unused.

Consequently, the values (v _t and v _d ) of these speeds are fixed as a function of the intended application and of the device used (translation speed) taking into account both the efficiency limit (minimum scrolling speed ) and the economic limit (maximum scrolling speed) mentioned above. The translation speed is adapted to local circumstances (nature and temperature of the support, degree of pollution, etc.).

One can advantageously choose a scrolling speed value which is double compared to the translation speed, that is to say v _d = 2v _t (relative to a fixed reference), in particular in the case of a translation at the speed of a man walking.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the means of rupture 12 are advantageously located at the rear of the affine material 10, relative to the pellet 1. But the rupture means can also be located in front of the affine material. As soon as the outer crust 2 is broken, the softened residues 4 are immediately in contact with the affine material 10.

Also, according to the invention, as the movement forwards (F ₁ ), the external crust 2 of the pellet 1 is broken or sectioned by one or more of the abovementioned breaking means, the affine material 10 is presented in the vicinity internal residues 4 and these which are in the softened state, leave their support, come to stick on the affine material 10 and are entrained thereon towards a receptacle so that the residues can no longer return to the ground contact S.

 According to the invention, the used affine material carrying the residues removed can be either eliminated or recycled.

 FIG. 1 illustrates the case where the affine material 10 is in the form of a flexible film wound on a roll 20 "ready for use". As it is used, the film is wound up and stored on another roll, the take-up roll.

22, intended to be eliminated and treated elsewhere.

 FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the invention according to which the affine material is in the form of an endless film 24 which, as it is processed, rotates around the planer wedge 12 and a wheel d drive 26. In this case, a device 30 can be used for treating the used affine material 10. This material is then recycled as the treatment progresses, to collect other residues.

The recycling treatment using a suitable device 30 can consist of washing with solvent (s) and / or scraping and / or any other treatment making it possible to remove the sticky gum residues. . According to another embodiment of the invention, an endless band is provided as a support for the affine material, on the surface of which the affine material can be applied in a thin layer. The endless belt then only has a mechanical transport role. An affine material is then available, for example in the form of a store roll which, as it unfolds, adapts itself to the endless strip so as to be presented in contact with the softened residues and is then recovered, once used, on a take-up roller.

 One can also provide a support in the form of an endless band on which the affine material is applied in a thin layer, then after use, is removed by peeling and replaced by another.

 According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the support for the affine material 10 can also constitute the means of rupture 12 of the external crust 2. The means 12 and 14 are then combined.

 In accordance with this variant, use is made, for example, of a roller 25 provided with projecting elements 26 on its surface such as teeth, points, bristles (of any diameter), blades, scrapers, etc.

 These projecting elements, or at least part of them, can either be made of an affine material for the softened residues as defined above, or covered, at least partially, with such a material.

 Figure 3 shows schematically a roller 25 with barbs 26 made of affine material, for example polyethylene or latex, or filled with such a material.

 Generally, a support is chosen for the affine material which is suitable for the surface treated as well as for the reliefs and other roughness that it may have.

According to yet another alternative embodiment of the invention, an affine material supported by an endless band. This strip advantageously has a certain thickness making it possible to define an irregular external surface intended to facilitate the removal of the same softened residues embedded in the roughness of the support.

 Depending on the sampling means chosen, a presentation of the affine material 10 is obtained in the vicinity of the softened residues which is carried out either continuously (film, endless strip) or discontinuously (barbed roller).

 In the case where a beard roller or a thick endless strip is used, for example, as described above, provision may also be made for another complementary breaking means, which would be due to roughness or the strip, such as a planing wedge or other means mentioned above.

 The device according to the invention may comprise a rolling chassis advantageously supporting the softening means, the breaking means and the means for taking off by adhesion as well as a receptacle for the used affine material. The operator then moves the chassis on the ground (support surface) forwards, to clean it. It may especially be a rolling cart or a self-propelled cart depending on the applications envisaged. But it can also be a simple handle similar to a broom.

 According to an alternative embodiment, it is also possible to provide, on the one hand, independent softening means and, on the other hand, a frame supporting the breaking and sampling means by adhesion, or alternatively provide each of these means independent of each other. other.

The operation by displacement in the direction (F ₁ ), towards the front, which has just been described, is preferably chosen but it is possible to reverse this operation, that is to say to provide a displacement towards the operator, by reversing the direction of the breaking means (planer corner) and the direction of travel (F ₂ ) of the affine material 10.

 The method according to the invention can be implemented continuously or discontinuously depending on the medium to be treated and the sampling means chosen.

 According to the invention, one can provide "ready to use" kits comprising the affine material and possibly its support such as for example those which have been described previously, allowing a simple and rapid exchange on the chassis when they have become ineffective.

 The method and the device in accordance with the invention can be adapted to any type of surface whatever their nature, extent and irregularity.

Claims

1. Method for cleaning a surface soiled with chewing gum residues, characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in softening said residues, in breaking their external crust, in pushing them in translation (F ₂ ) substantially parallel to the support surface and to collect them simultaneously by adhesion to an affine material for said softened residues, and in that said affine material is oriented at an angle a relative to said support surface and is subjected to both aforementioned translational movement and a scrolling movement (F ₂ ), in contact with the softened residues, with a traveling speed (v _d ) greater than the translation speed (v _t ), so that the residues adhering to the affine material cannot return to contact with the support surface.  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the chewing gum residues are softened by heating.  3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that it is heated to a temperature between 25 and 80 ° C, preferably between 30 and 45ºC  4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the chewing gum residues are softened by impregnating said residues with a solvent or a mixture of solvent (s) capable of partially dissolving them.  5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the angle θ is less than or equal to 90 °, preferably less than 45 °.  6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that provision is made for continuous scrolling of the affine material.  7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a discontinuous movement of the affine material is provided. 8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the affine material comprises a flexible film of polyethylene or latex.  9. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the affine material is adhesive.  10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that one eliminates the residues of chewing gum adhering to the ma t i èi e a f f i ne e l we recyc l e l ad i t e ma t i era. 11. Device for cleaning a surface (S) soiled with chewing gum residues (1), characterized in that it comprises softening means (6) of said residues (1), at least one breaking means (12 ) to break their outer crust and means (14) for adhering the said softened residues comprising a material (10) refined for the residues in the softened state as well as a support (15) for the said material which is oriented according to a angle θ with respect to the support surface (S), the breaking means (12) and of adhesion removal (14) being subjected to a translational movement (F ₁ ) substantially parallel to the support surface (S) and said affine material (10) being further subjected to a running movement (F ₂ ) at a higher speed (v _d ) than that of the translational movement (v _t ), so that the residues adhering to the affine material do not cannot return to contact with the support surface (S).  12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the softening means (6) are constituted by heating means (8) at a temperature between 25 and 80ºC, preferably between 30 and 45 ° C.  13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the heating means consist of a hot air jet device, naked infrared in a heating surface. 14. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the softening means (6) comprise a ma tér i au absorbent soaked in a solvent or a mixture of solvents capable of partially dissolving residues of game gum.  15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the absorbent material soaked in solvent (s) is provided, except on the face intended to come into contact with the pellet, with an impermeable wall to prevent or limit their evaporation.  16. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the rupture means (12) are at the rear of the affine material (10) relative to the chewing gum residues.  17. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that the rupture means (12) comprise a planing wedge, a brush, a crusher, disconnector or rotating device, of flexible or rigid material, optionally provided with its surface of projecting elements such as teeth, tips, bristles (of any diameter), blades, squeegees, etc.  18. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 17, characterized in that the angle 9 is less than or equal to 90º, preferably less than 45º.  19. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the rupture means (12) constitute a support (15) for the affine material (10).  20. Device according to any one of the resells i cat i ons 11 to 19, characterized in that said support for the affine material comprises a roller (25) provided on its surface with projecting elements (26). 21. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that at least part of the projecting elements (26) are made of an affine material for softened chewing gum residues, or covered, at least partially, of affine material. 22. Device according to any one of claims 20 and 21, characterized in that the projecting elements (26) consist of teeth, points, bristles (of any diameter), blades or scrapers.  23. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 19, characterized in that the support (15) for the affine material (10) consists of an endless strip possibly having an irregular surface.  24. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 23, characterized in that the affine material (10) is adhesive.  25. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 24, characterized in that the affine material (10) comprises a flexible film of polyethylene or latex.  26. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 25, characterized in that it further comprises a device (30) for treating the used affine material (10) intended to be recycled.  27. Necessary for the device according to any one of claims 11 to 26, characterized in that it comprises the affine material (10) and possibly its support (15).