WO2024154021A1

WO2024154021A1 - Apparatus and method for cleaning containers

Info

Publication number: WO2024154021A1
Application number: PCT/IB2024/050289
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oscar Da Re; Ottorino Vendramelli
Original assignee: Lamec Cablaggi Srl
Current assignee: Lamec Cablaggi Srl
Priority date: 2023-01-16
Filing date: 2024-01-11
Publication date: 2024-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-16
Also published as: EP4651785A1; IT202300000465A1

Abstract

An apparatus (1) and method for cleaning containers (2), comprising a washing chamber (3) equipped with nozzles (4, 4') suitable for washing the inside and outside of the said containers (2) through the use of steam, which is supplied by means of a boiler (5) connected to the washing chamber (3) by means of at least one duct (8, 8') terminating with at least one nozzle (4, 4') and which is condensed by means of a condensing unit (6), which in turn is connected to the said washing chamber (3) by means of at least two other ducts (9, 10).

Description

DESCRIPTION

“APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CLEANING CONTAINERS"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention concerns an apparatus and method for cleaning containers, to be used mainly in the professional sphere, in the vending and OCS (Office Coffee Service) market, in the Ho.Re.Ca. (hotellerie, restaurant, cafe/catering) sector, but also for domestic use, wherein the said containers are cleaned by washing and sterilisation in a specific chamber, sealed, by means of steam at the least, in which the steam generated and used for cleaning is extracted from the said chamber and condensed inside a specific condensation unit.

BACKGROUND ART:

In the professional sphere, but also in the domestic sphere, the use of disposable containers for the use of food is commonly known, especially for drinks such as coffee, tea, juices, and the like. This type of use has certainly been common for many years, as the cost of these containers, combined with that of the preparation and service of their contents, has made this use very practical and economically worthwhile.

However, the ecological impact that this use has generated has gradually become more significant, given that every day, especially in crowded environments, multiple garbage bags are filled with dirty disposable containers, which are composed partly of paper and partly of plastic and often require specific processing in order to be recycled.

These containers, which can be defined as 'single-use containers', are identifiable as any container which is used for serving food or drinks and thrown away afterwards.

In order to reduce environmental impact and given the importance of promoting responsible use, it is essential to identify more respectful food containment methods: in the domestic sphere, use of multi-purpose containers is relatively simple, although not without problems, given that the said containers are washed by hand or using a dishwasher, which is known to have considerable dimensions and requires connection to the water supply. Furthermore, often, washing cycles do not allow for rapid operations and it is certainly not worthwhile to wash a few small items, such as a few cups.

However, in the professional sphere, the matter is decidedly more complex. Indeed, in companies especially, but also in public places such as offices, hospitals, and others, there is currently no way of consuming drinks that allows reusability of the containers holding them, which therefore, as stated, are thrown away after each use. Furthermore, commonly known automatic beverage dispensing devices are often not equipped with connections to a water supply which could also allow the installation of washing systems such as, for example, dishwashers.

For the reasons stated above, there is a need therefore for a new system that allows containers suitable for serving drinks to be cleaned, sterilised, and then reused.

It is essential that this system is simple for users to use, easy to handle, and compact, that it does not require connections to water loading and draining ducts and that the cleaning cycle is fast so as to facilitate rapid reuse of the container.

It is also necessary that the cleaning system is safe in terms of both sterilisation of the object and the temperature thereof at the end of the operations, so that users do not find themselves handling high temperature containers, and risking bums.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is expressed and characterised in the independent claims. The dependent claims set out other characteristics of the present invention or variations of the idea constituting the main solution.

In accordance with the aforesaid purposes and to solve the aforesaid technical problem in a new and original way while also obtaining notable advantages with respect to the state of the art, the subject of the present invention is an apparatus for cleaning containers, comprising or consisting of a washing chamber equipped with nozzles suitable for washing the inside and outside of the said containers, a boiler suitable for producing steam, a condensation unit, and fluid loading and draining containers; the boiler is connected to the washing chamber by means of at least one duct terminating with at least one nozzle and that the washing chamber is in turn connected to the condensation unit by means of at least two other ducts, which are in turn connected with fans.

The present invention also concerns a method for cleaning containers, in which the washing chamber is opened and the container to be cleaned is then inserted thereinto in a concave direction, coaxially with a nozzle. The washing chamber is closed and the at least one regulating valve delivers washing fluid to at least one of the nozzles. The method is characterised by the fact that during the cleaning step, fans operate to create a pressure inside one of the at least two other ducts and a depression (also referred as vacuum) inside another duct of the at least two other ducts, which connect the condensation unit to the washing chamber.

By producing steam which is used to wash and sterilise the containers, the boiler allows for effective and safe cleaning of the containers, which can be of any size, but particularly small ones, which are useful for serving drinks in public places and offices. Furthermore, advantageously, the boiler filling and the waste water drainage from the cleaning apparatus can be carried out periodically by an operator, therefore there is no need to have a connection to the water supply, which makes the subject of the invention particularly suitable for installation in any place.

The use of steam and consequently the possibility of extracting the said steam, according to the method envisaged in the invention, i.e. through the action of the fans connected to the ducts that connect the washing chamber to the condensation unit, also allows the container to be cooled, which can then be handled by the user safely following cleaning. The steam taken is then, in turn, condensed in the condensing unit so as to prevent the said steam from accumulating and leaking out from the machine, with consequences for users' safety. Furthermore, thanks to the use of steam, container cleaning and sterilisation can be carried out very rapidly. Advantageously, in addition to steam, detergent can also be delivered into the washing chamber, further aiding cleaning, and then, in turn, be removed by subsequent jets of steam.

Any liquid that may form during the cleaning step can be easily recovered using an additional container.

Therefore, the apparatus envisaged in the present invention is effective in terms of cleaning the containers processed and is safe to use for users needing to implement the cleaning method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES:

These and further aspects, characteristics, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the description of an embodiment, illustrated - by way of a non-limiting example - in the drawings attached hereto, in which:

Figure 1 is an exemplary diagram of the apparatus envisaged in the invention; Figure 2 is an exemplary diagram of an operating cycle according to the method for cleaning containers envisaged in the present invention.

It must be noted that in the present description the phraseology and terminology used, as well as the figures in the attached drawings as described, have the sole function of illustrating and better explaining the present invention and exemplifying, in a non-limiting way, the function of the said invention, as the scope of protection is determined by the claims.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical elements common to both figures. It must be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be appropriately combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to Figure 1 , the apparatus 1 is a device for cleaning containers 2, which may be, for example, glasses, cups, mugs, or other similar tableware, the said device comprising a washing chamber 3 equipped with nozzles 4, 4', a boiler 5 suitable for producing steam, a condensation unit 6, and containers 7, 7', 7" for loading and draining cleaning fluids and detergents.

The boiler 5 is connected to the washing chamber 3 by means of at least one duct 8, 8' terminating with at least one of the nozzles 4, 4', possibly with both the nozzles, and the washing chamber 3 is in turn connected to the condensation unit 6 by means of at least two other ducts 9, 10 which are in turn connected to fans 14.

The boiler 5 can heat a volume of water, in a commonly known way, by means of heating elements such as resistors or similar elements which are well known in the industry. Since the said container is suitable for working under pressure, the temperature of the steam can easily exceed 100 °C, as the said steam can be delivered to the washing chamber 3 at, for example, around 1 10-170 °C, preferably at around 135 °C.

The washing chamber 3 is preferably formed by at least two elements, a fixed lower part 3' and a mobile upper part, called the mobile cap 3", the latter being hinged to the fixed part and selectively openable, manually or automatically depending on the user's needs, to either carry out cleaning or take the cleaned container, at the end of the cycle. The opening of the mobile cap 3" can be carried out using mechanically or electronically controlled drives, for example buttons or proximity sensors, such as photocells, or other means.

By sealedly joining these two components 3', 3" a space is obtained within which at least two different nozzles 4, 4' are housed; at least a first nozzle 4 is positioned so as to clean the inside the container 2, while the second nozzle 4' is positioned to clean the outside of the container 2.

Indeed, the container 2 is inserted by the user with its concavity facing the first nozzle 4, preferably coaxial with the first nozzle 4, and preferably arranged in a substantially central space in the washing chamber 3 with a vertical axis.

Preferably, the container 2 rests on a support 20 so as not to come into contact with the first nozzle 4 and in this way can be hit by the washing flow therewithin.

The said first nozzle 4 can have a column conformation, terminating with a dome, endowed with holes for the washing liquid to flow though.

However, it is also possible for the body of the column to be endowed with holes or nozzles suitable for spraying the inside of the container.

The at least one other nozzle 4' (second nozzle) is instead positioned apart from the first nozzle 4 and is preferentially arranged facing the outside of the container 2 to be cleaned.

The said second nozzle 4' can extend totally vertically and/or be inclined in some or all sections, and can be endowed with a plurality of holes or nozzles suitable for delivering the washing flow.

As mentioned, during the cleaning step, the container 2 is resting on a support 20, which is preferably arranged on a guide or slide, which is preferably circular, so as to allow rotation of the container 2 as described below.

The washing chamber 3 also envisages, at the bottom thereof, the supply of the at least two nozzles 4, 4' (namely the first nozzle 4 and the second nozzle 4’) by means of at least one duct 8, 8' connected with the boiler 5, which in turn is connected on one side to the clean water container 7 so as to be refilled periodically.

It is possible for there to be a single duct 8, 8' that supplies both the first and second nozzles 4, 4' present in the washing chamber 3. However, to increase the efficiency of the system and improve the regulation thereof, it is advantageous to have two separate ducts 8, 8', each one of which terminates with a respective nozzle 4, 4'.

Furthermore, also in order to provide high regulation capacity, it is advisable for both ducts 8, 8' to be equipped with a respective regulation solenoid valve 15, 15', although it is still possible to use one or more valves which are common to multiple flows.

The present invention envisages that there is a direct correspondence between the number of nozzles 4, 4n and ducts 8, 8n connected to the boiler 5, or that multiple nozzles 4, 4n can be supplied in parallel by fewer ducts 8, 8n, in which case this is enabled by one or more control valves which can be of the on/off type or proportional type or both.

As already stated, the washing chamber 3 is also connected to a condensation unit 6 by means of at least two other ducts 9, 10.

The lower fixed part 3' may be perforated, for example laterally, so as to communicate with the two further ducts 9, 10, which, in turn, curve so as to run underneath the said chamber 3 and communicate with the condensation unit 6.

The condensation unit 6 may comprise a chamber 1 1 suitable for containing a cooling fluid 12, preferably water, inside which a condenser 13 is arranged, below the level of the cooling fluid 12.

One of the at least two other ducts 9 may be connected, on one side, to the washing chamber 3 and, on the other side, to the chamber 1 1 containing the cooling fluid 12 (above the fluid level), while the other of the at least two other ducts 10 may be connected, on one side, to the washing chamber 3, while on the other side, the said other of the at least two other ducts defines or delimits the condenser 13.

The condenser 13 is preferably made in the form of a perforated plate or tube, determining a cavity connected or being formed by the duct 10.

The condenser is preferably arranged near the bottom of the chamber 1 1 of the condensation unit 6, immersed beneath the volume of cooling water (below the liquid level).

Since both of the at least two other ducts 9, 10 are coupled with fans 14, when - during the cleaning step - the boiler 5 delivers steam to the nozzles 4, 4', possibly by means of the adjustment valves 15, 15', in order to be able to extract the steam from the washing chamber 3, the said fans 14 are activated, which are designed to produce periods of pressure or vacuum (depression) inside the said ducts. In particular, if the at least one duct 9 - thanks to the fan 14 to which the said duct is connected - works under pressure and therefore drives a flow of air into the washing chamber 3, resulting in the other at least one duct 10, thanks to the fan 14 to which the said duct is connected, works under a depression (also referred as vacuum) to draw in the volume of air and steam contained in the washing chamber 3 and drag the said volume up to the condensation unit 6, in particular making it flow through the condenser 13 and causing it to condense upon flowing out of the perforated plate and through the volume of cooling water 12.

Therefore, at least one duct 10 delivers the steam to be condensed, while at least another duct 9 delivers air to the washing chamber 3, allowing the container 2 to cool in order to be taken by the user at the end of the cleaning cycle.

It is possible to provide a single fan 14, which causes the at least two other ducts 9, 10 to work under, respectively, pressure and depression (vacuum), or to provide a dedicated fan 14 for each duct.

It is also possible to provide multiple ducts 9, 10, n, to perform multiple filling and draining actions from the washing chamber 3.

Advantageously, it is possible to provide one further fan 30 to deliver fresh air from the external environment into the chamber 11 of the condensing unit 6, so as to cool the volume of cooling water 12; it should be noted that the flow of generated by the further fan 30, may be circled through the at least one duct 9.

The chamber 1 1 can also be equipped with vents, in case the internal temperatures and pressures become excessive.

As mentioned earlier, at least during the cleaning step, the container 2 is designed to rotate, driven by an actuator 16 located outside the washing chamber 3.

Indeed, the said container 2, during this step it is resting, as already stated, on a support 20 so as not to come into contact with the nozzle 4, so as to be washed properly.

The support 20 is in turn positioned in direct contact, for example by means of a shaft or commonly known system similar to an actuator which is externally powered and imparts rotation thereto.

The said actuator can be, for example, an electric motor.

In a preferred variant, to simplify the construction of the lower fixed part 3' of the washing chamber 3, the support 20 can be equipped with a magnetic coupling with a rotation plate 21 or disc, which is in turn coupled with/driven by the actuator 16 and positioned outside the fixed part 3’.

In this way, rotation of the container 2 during washing becomes easier.

The invention also envisages that the apparatus 1 may be equipped with a plurality of containers for delivering and draining operating fluids, in particular, it is envisaged that there are at least two fluid loading and draining containers, one 7 dedicated to delivering clean water to the boiler 5, and one 7" for draining the washing water directly from the washing chamber 3.

In this case, it is advisable to envisage the possibility of delivering descaler into the clean water container 7 in order to help the apparatus function.

In a further preferred embodiment, there are at least three fluid loading and draining containers 7, 7', 7" envisaged, one 7 of which, as already stated, is suitable for delivering clean water to the boiler 5, one 7' is suitable for sending detergent to the washing chamber 3 through, for example, the at least one duct 8, 8' - but could also communicate directly with the washing chamber 3 - and one 7" is suitable for draining the washing water directly from the washing chamber 3.

It is advisable to equip the delivery ducts to the containers 7, 7' with pumps 40, while conversely the draining duct 41 can also operate by gravity, as the said duct is preferably connected, on one side, to the bottom of the washing chamber 3 and, on the other, to the tank 7", the latter being located beneath than the said chamber.

It is furthermore advisable to supply the detergent in particular to the nozzle 4 designed to clean the inside of the container 2, as the said nozzle is normally the dirtiest part.

Thanks to the coordinated action of the fans 14, 30, at the end of the cleaning step, the container 2 reaches such a temperature as to be removable from the washing chamber 3 and handleable by the user; preferably, a cleaning cycle lasts less than two minutes, more preferably less than a minute, and by carrying out the various steps of the method together, it is possible to keep the said cycle below 30 seconds, as exemplified in Fig. 2, which summarises a possible combination of cleaning steps which, all together, do not exceed 30 seconds, making the device suitable for professional use.

All the steps comprising movement, from the automatic opening and closing of the washing chamber, to the heating of the water in the boiler 5 to the opening of at least one valve 15, 15', the operation of the fans 14, 30, and the action of the pumps 40 and the actuator 16, can be implemented using commonly known electronics not shown and which can regulate the machine during operation not only in response to controls operated by the user but also on the basis of thermal control signals or boiler 5 pressure or level signals, thanks, for example, to level sensors fitted in the chamber 1 1 or in the tanks 7, 7', 7". Clearly, the actuator 16, fans 14, 30, and pumps 40 can be made to work at fixed or variable speeds of between 0% and 100%.

A further part of the invention is a method for cleaning containers 2, with the apparatus described so far, in which the washing chamber 3 is opened by the user (manually or by means of electric/electronic controls) and the container 2 to be cleaned is then inserted therein in a concave direction, coaxially with a nozzle 4.

The washing chamber 3 is subsequently closed and the at least one regulating valve 15, 15' delivers a washing fluid, preferably, as stated above, steam, towards each of the two nozzles 4, 4'.

During the cleaning step, fans 14 operate to create a pressure inside one duct 9 of the at least two other ducts and a vacuum (depression) inside another duct 10 of the at least two other ducts, which connect the condensation unit 6 to the washing chamber 3.

Advantageously, when the machine is connected to the electrical power supply, the boiler 5 is kept in a thermal and pressure condition which is suitable for delivering the washing fluids.

When the cleaning cycle starts, the boiler 5 delivers steam to the washing chamber 3 via at least one duct 8, 8' by at least partially opening the at least one regulation valve 15 , 15' with which the at least one duct 8, 8' is equipped and which, again in this step, envisages that the container 2 rotates, driven by an actuator 16 positioned outside the washing chamber 3.

Furthermore, the method according to the present invention envisages that the vacuum (depression) generated inside the at least one duct 10 of the respective at least two other ducts 9,10 which connect the condensation unit 6 to the washing chamber 3 draws the steam from the washing chamber 3 through the said duct 10 to condense inside the condenser 13. As already stated, it is preferable to deliver detergent to the washing chamber 3 and this can be performed for example during the first step of the cleaning cycle together with the supply of steam, for example at the beginning of the supply of steam or together with the steam for approximately 1 -2 seconds, which is sufficient time to clean and sterilise the surfaces of the container 2. At the same time, the cycle wherein steam is extracted from the chamber and air is added by means of the fans 14 can be performed for part of or for the entire cleaning cycle; therefore, for example for approximately 20-40 seconds and in particular during at least the terminal step of the cycle, it is advisable to activate a further fan 30, where envisaged, to cool the volume of cooling water 12 and the air flowing through the at least one duct 9 and therefore the container 2 down to a safe temperature, which is preferably below 40 °C.

This step can last about 20-30 seconds and can be carried out at high speed so as to leave the glass not only cold but also dry. These steps can be carried out in sequence or, preferably, simultaneously in order to reduce the cleaning cycle times.

Once the cleaning cycle is finished, the washing chamber 3 can be opened again to remove the container 2, now properly cleaned and sterilised.

Clearly, modifications and/or additions can be made to the apparatus 1 and the method described so far, while remaining within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to certain specific examples, a person skilled in the art will be able to create other equivalent forms of apparatus and method for cleaning containers 2 with the characteristics expressed in the claims and therefore falling within the scope of protection defined thereby.

In the claims that follow, the references in brackets have the sole purpose of facilitating reading and must not be considered as limiting the scope of protection defined by the said claims.

Claims

1) Apparatus (1 ) for cleaning containers (2), comprising a washing chamber (3) equipped with nozzles (4, 4') configured to wash the inside and outside of said containers (2), a boiler (5) to produce steam, a condensing unit (6) and containers (7, 7', 7") for loading and unloading fluids, the boiler (5) being connected to the washing chamber (3) by means of at least one duct (8, 8') ending with at least one of the nozzles (4, 4'), the washing chamber (3) being in turn connected to the condensing unit (6) by means of at least two other ducts (9,10) in turn connected with fans (14), characterized in that the condensing unit (6) is composed of a chamber (1 1 ) able to contain a cooling fluid (12), preferably water, inside which, below the level of the cooling fluid (12) there is a condenser (13).

2) Apparatus (1) for cleaning containers (2), according to claim 1 , wherein respectively one of the at least two other ducts (9) is connected on one side to the washing chamber (3) and on the other side is connected to the chamber (1 1 ) containing the cooling fluid (12), while the other of the at least two other ducts (10) is connected on one side to the washing chamber (3), while on the other side it defines the condenser (13).

3) Apparatus (1 ) for cleaning containers (2), according to claim 1 , in which both at least two other ducts (9, 10) are associated with fans (14), suitable for producing pressures or depressions inside of the ducts themselves.

4) Apparatus (1) for cleaning containers (2), according to claim 1 , wherein the loading and unloading containers for fluids are at least two, a first one (7) dedicated to sending clean water to the boiler (5), and a second one (7") suitable for discharging the washing water directly from the washing chamber (3).

5) Apparatus (1 ) for cleaning containers (2), according to claim 4, wherein there are at least three fluid loading and unloading containers (7, 7', 7"), a first one (7) suitable for sending clean water to the boiler (5), a second one (7') suitable for sending detergent to the washing chamber (3) by means of at least one duct (8, 8') and a third one (7") suitable for discharging the wash water directly from the washing chamber (3).

6) Apparatus (1 ) for cleaning containers (2), according to claim 1 , wherein the boiler (5) is connected on one side to the clean water container (7), and on the other side to two separate ducts (8, 8'), each of which ends in a nozzle (4, 4'), wherein both ducts (8, 8') are equipped with a respective regulating valve (15, 15').

7) Apparatus (1 ) for cleaning containers (2), according to claim 1 , wherein the container (2), at least during the cleaning phase, is able to be set in rotation by means of the action of an actuator (16) arranged outside the washing chamber (3).

8) Apparatus (1 ) for cleaning containers (2), according to claim 1 , wherein at least one nozzle (4) is suitable for cleaning the inside of the container (2), while the at least one other nozzle (4 ') is suitable for cleaning the outside of the container (2).

9) Method for cleaning containers (2) with the apparatus of claim 1 , in which the washing chamber (3) is opened, then the container (2) which have to be cleaned is inserted with a concave direction, coaxially to the nozzle (4), the washing chamber (3) is closed and the at least one regulating valve (15, 15') delivers a washing fluid towards each of the two nozzles (4, 4'), the method being characterized in that, during the cleaning phase, fans (14) operate to create a pressure inside a duct (9) of the at least two other ducts and a depression inside another duct (10) of the at least two other ducts, which connect the condensing unit (6) to the washing chamber (3).

10) Method for cleaning containers (2), according to claim 9, wherein during the cleaning phase, the boiler (5) delivers steam to the washing chamber (3) by means of at least one duct (8, 8'), by the at least partial opening of the at least one regulating valve (15, 15') with which the at least one duct (8, 8') is equipped and which, again in this phase, provides that the container (2) is placed in rotation by means of the action of an actuator (16) arranged outside the washing chamber (3).

12) Method for cleaning containers (2), according to claim 9, wherein the depression generated inside the at least one duct (10) of the respective at least two other ducts (9,10) which connect the condensing unit (6) to the washing chamber (3) sucks the steam from the washing chamber (3) bringing it through said duct (10) to condense inside the condenser (13).