WO2014003649A1

WO2014003649A1 - Dustbin washing unit

Info

Publication number: WO2014003649A1
Application number: PCT/SE2013/050764
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roger Eriksson
Original assignee: PRODEMA AB
Current assignee: PRODEMA AB
Priority date: 2012-06-25
Filing date: 2013-06-25
Publication date: 2014-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2014-12-25
Also published as: EP2867145A1; SE538204C2; EP2867145A4; SE1330079A1

Description

DUSTBIN WASHING UNIT

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a mobile device for automatic cleaning of dustbins and a method for automatic cleaning of dustbins in the mobile device.

PRIOR ART

[0002] When using dustbins of plastic and the like instead of disposable plastic bags in residential properties, it is necessary for these dustbins to be recurrently cleaned. It may be the duty of the property owner to wash his dustbin(s), for example two or three times a year. It may also happen that the local authorities perform this cleaning to ensure that the washing is carried out.

[0003] Mobile equipment for cleaning dustbins is available on the market. An example of such equipment is shown in the document DK200301060. The device according to this document discloses a mobile installation, in which a dustbin is swung into a washing space with flushing heads. Before the dustbins are swung in, residual waste in the dustbin is emptied into one or more containers. In this device, dustbins, which have already been emptied of their contents of refuse by a refuse-collection company, are washed, which means that only any residual waste has to be taken care of. After completed washing of the dustbins residual waste is returned to the dustbin by being thrown back from a container where the residual waste is stored during an intermediate period. It is not clear whether there are devices making possible a mechanical return of the residual waste. Carrying out the various steps in the process in a fully automatic manner is not discussed at all.

A further document, SE516839, discloses a method and a device for cleaning of dustbins. Also this document shows how a dustbin is washed in a mobile washing installation. In this case, the dustbin is first brought to a first station, where the dustbin is emptied of refuse into an intermediate storage during the washing time. After this, the dustbin is pushed manually to a second station, the washing installation, where cleaning is carried out. When the dustbin has been washed clean, the dustbin is pushed to a third station, where the refuse from the intermediate storage is returned to the dustbin. The method at this mobile installation is thus associated with a number of manually performed movements of the dustbin between different stations on the mobile unit and is thus relatively work-demanding and time-consuming. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention discloses a mobile washing device for dustbins, that is, a dustbin washing unit. The dustbins may contain refuse prior to the cleaning. For this reason, this invention describes a dustbin washing unit that exhibits fully automatic emptying of refuse to an intermediate storage in a container while the dustbin is being cleaned. After cleaning of the dustbin, the intermediately stored refuse is returned in a fully automatic manner to the cleaned dustbin. [0005] According to one aspect of the invention, a method for cleaning of dustbins in a mobile washing device is presented, specified in the independent claim 1.

[0006] According to a further aspect of the invention, the independent claims 6 discloses a device for carrying out the method according to claim 1.

[0007] Further embodiments of the invention are presented in the dependent claims.

[0008] One advantage of the method and the device according to the present invention is that the process is fully automated. The whole process from applying the dustbin onto the dustbin hoist on the mobile unit up to returning the refuse to the cleaned dustbin and placing it back on the dustbin hoist takes place without the need of manual handling. No corresponding fully automated process is known from any prior art documents. The above-mentioned document DK200301060 does not show any solution to the return emptying of intermediately stored refuse in a mechanical or automated manner. Nor is there any disclosure as to how dustbins are washed with any mechanical method integrated with the other steps in a washing process. Thus, measures according to the present invention are required to achieve a fully automated washing process without the intervention of manual operations.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0009] In the following, a number of embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show only schematically the principle of the invention and do not claim to show any proportions between different elements thereof according to scale. [0010] The figures below with the associated descriptions show a washing room 1 and a dustbin hoist 2 integrated with said washing room. The washing room with the dustbin hoist is intended to be mobile by being mounted on a small truck 10, as schematically shown in Figure 12. Since the washing room 1 is minimized by accommodating also a container 3 for intermediate storage of refuse inside the washing room, a small truck (e.g. 3.5 tons) may be used for the dustbin washing unit, which is not possible with prior art mobile dustbin washing units, where considerably larger trucks are required. A process for washing of dustbins step by step will be described below by means of figures which represent the various steps. A brief description of the drawings is therefore not considered necessary.

Figure 1 shows the washing room 1 and a dustbin 4 that is placed in the dustbin hoist 2 for washing. The dustbin hoist 2, in this embodiment, engages the dustbin 4 along one side thereof. An operator has collected the dustbin 4 from its stationing point.

Figure 2 illustrates how the dustbin 4 is lifted and rotated towards an opening in the upper part of the washing room 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a position in the process where the dustbin 4 has reached its highest point during the lifting process and where the opening of the dustbin 4 is turned downwards and inwards in the washing room 1. Any refuse present in the dustbin 4 is emptied down into the container 3, where this refuse is stored while the washing of the dustbin 4 is in progress. The container 3 may, at this stage of the process, be somewhat inclined towards the opening of the dustbin to allow the refuse to fall down accurately. The movement or inclination of the container 3 may be performed by means of working cylinder 5 (or corresponding means), which at their lower parts are rotatably attached to the bottom part of the washing room, one on each side of the container 3.

Figure 4 shows how the container 3 for intermediate storage starts to incline backwards (or be moved backwards) (by backwards is meant here: away from the side wall of the washing room with the dustbin hoist). In this way, the opening of the dustbin 4 is rendered free for washing. The intention is to make the dustbin accessible to washing equipment. Figure 5 shows that the container 3 has been inclined away from the dustbin 4 to its outermost end position. In this way, the washing equipment, in this case a rotating flushing nozzle 6 (which may also be equipped with a rotating brush) on an arm 7, may be swung into the opening of the dustbin 4 so that flushing water may reach the inner walls and the bottom of the dustbin 4 for cleaning. Further, the movement of the opening of the container 3 away from its proximity to the opening of the dustbin has been completed, which constitutes a means of reducing the risk of waste water from the washing of the dustbin 4 running down into the container 3 for intermediate storage. Figure 6 illustrates that the arm 7 holding the flushing nozzle 6 has been rotated completely into the dustbin 4, whereby the washing of the dustbin 4 may be started. At this stage, hot water is used which is supplied from a tank 1 1 onboard the mobile truck 10 that

accommodates the washing room 1. The hot water is flushed over the inner walls of the dustbin 4 by means of the rotating flushing nozzle 6. The consumed hot water runs down onto the washing room, is collected and returned to the tank 11.

Figure 7 illustrates how the flushing nozzle 6 returns to its initial position and how the working cylinders 5 return the container 3 to its first position, that is, the same position as when receiving refuse from a dustbin 4.

Figure 8 shows the steps in the process where the cleaned dustbin 4 is in the process of being returned to its initial position when starting the washing process.

Figure 9 shows the position where the dustbin 4 has been returned in full to its initial position. At the same time, a lift of the container 3 is started, the container 3 being turned at least partially upside-down and out over the opening in the washing room 1 , so that the refuse which has been in intermediate storage may fall down into and be returned to the cleaned dustbin 4. This is feasible by the container 3 being articulately connected to an arm connected to the dustbin hoist 2 at the joint 8 and where at the same time the working cylinders 5 rotate the container 3 around the joint 8.

Figure 10 shows the container 3 in its uppermost position, where refuse is tipped down into the cleaned dustbin 4. Figure 11 illustrates the lowering of the container 3 back to its initial position for receiving refuse for intermediate storage in a subsequent washing of dustbins.

At the last stage of the washing process, the dustbin hoist 2 has brought down the cleaned dustbin 4 to its final position and the container 3 for intermediate storage has been returned to its initial position with the aid of the working cylinders 5. This is illustrated in the same way as in Figure 1 , but where in this position the dustbin 4 has been cleaned and may be run back by an operator to its stationing point. Figure 12 shows schematically a vehicle 10 equipped with a washing room 1 that operates according to the process described above.

[001 1] All the steps in the washing process according to the description of the figures are carried out automatically and sequentially, whereby the process is started by the operator after he has placed a dustbin 4 for washing in the dustbin hoist 2. A control member (not shown) that monitors all the mechanical components carrying out operations in the washing process ensures that the described steps are performed in the proper order and sequentially.

[0012] In the mobile unit, that is, in the embodiment shown, a tank 1 1 is used for waste water. The water tank accommodates up to 1 ,000 litres of water that is filtered, cleaned and reused. A diesel-powered hot- water boiler 12 provides the system with warm water. Thus, the water that is stored in the tank 11 is hot water, which strengthens the cleaning effect during the flushing of dustbins.

[0013] The washing device according to the invention is powered by the power take off (PTO) of the vehicle 10 itself. A high-pressure pump of 80 bars provides the flushing nozzle 6 with high-pressure water.

Claims

1. A method for fully automatic cleaning of dustbins (4) in a washing room (1) in a

mobile washing device, wherein the method is characterized by the following steps:

the dustbin (4) is placed in an initial position in a dustbin hoist (2) externally of the washing room (1),

- the dustbin hoist (2) is swung up so that the opening of the dustbin (4) faces

inwards towards the washing room (1),

- refuse in the dustbin (4) is brought to fall down into a container (3) inside the washing room (1),

- the container (3) is swung away from the opening of the dustbin (4),

- the dustbin (4) is cleaned by cleaning equipment (6, 7) that is swung inwards towards the opening of the dustbin (4),

- the dustbin (4) is swung back to its initial position with the aid of the dustbin hoist (2),

a mechanism (5, 8) raises the container (3) inside the washing room (1) and empties back refuse from the container (3) into the cleaned dustbin (4),

- the different steps are controlled to be carried out sequentially and fully

automatically by a control member.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the following step:

when lifting the dustbin (4) by means of the dustbin hoist (2), the dustbin (4) is brought to rotate and to be inserted with an upper part through an opening in the washing room (1), and where the rotation of the dustbin (4) partially turns the opening of the dustbin (4) downwards so that refuse in the dustbin falls down into the container (3) by its own force.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the following step:

- the opening of the container (3) is moved away from the opening of the dustbin (4).

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the following step: a flushing nozzle (6) in the cleaning equipment flushes the inner walls of the dustbin (4) with hot water.

The method according to claim 4, further comprising the following step:

- the container (3) is turned by the mechanism (5, 8) at least partially upside-down and out over the opening in the washing room (1), so that the refuse which has been kept in intermediate storage in the container (3) may fall down into and be returned to the cleaned dustbin (4) 6. A mobile washing device for dustbins comprising a washing room (1) with cleaning equipment (6, 7) and a dustbin hoist (2), arranged externally of the washing room (1), for receiving a dustbin (4), characterized in that:

the washing room (1) houses a container (3) for intermediate storage of refuse that is emptied from the dustbin (4) down into the container (3) when the dustbin (4) is swung into the washing room (1) by the dustbin hoist (2),

the cleaning equipment (6, 7) comprises a flushing nozzle

(6) for flushing of the inner walls of the dustbin,

the washing room (1) houses a mechanism (5, 8) which raises the container (3) and rotates it so that the intermediately stored refuse may fall down into and be returned to the dustbin (4) when this has been cleaned and returned to its initial position.

7. The mobile washing device according to claim 6, wherein the washing room (1)

comprises a device (5) for moving the container (3) so that this does not obstruct the washing equipment (6, 7) when this is being swung into the dustbin (4).

8. The mobile washing device according to claim 6, wherein said device is provided with a water tank (1 1) for hot water for use in the cleaning equipment (6, 7) and where waste water from the flushing process is returned to the water tank, filtered and cleaned.