System for cleaning agricultural bins

A system for cleaning agricultural bins including a conveyer belt assembly and a water jet assembly is disclosed herein. The conveyer belt includes bin rollers configured to automatically transport bins mounted thereon. The bin rollers roll bins along the conveyer assembly to the flat surface of the second end of the first section and then the bins are transferred to the cleaner section via the grapple mechanism and the pivot point to the cleaner section arranged below the bin rollers within the first section. The water jet sprays then thoroughly clean the interior and exterior of the bins. The system for cleaning agricultural bins allows a user to clean an agricultural bin in less than one minute. Furthermore, the amount of time using a water hose is reduced thereby saving money and conserving water for a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to system for cleaning bins and, more particularly, to a system for cleaning agricultural bins that aids a user in cleaning big agricultural bins in under one minute.

2. Description of the Related Art

Several designs for a system for cleaning agricultural bins have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include an agricultural bin cleaning system comprising a bin transporting conveyor and water jet sprayer system wherein the bins are loaded onto the conveyor which transports the bins through the water spray jets for cleaning the interior of the bins. It is known that individuals who work in farms often regularly use large agricultural bins. It is also known that these bins must often be cleaned regular as to not contaminate the food held within the bins. The cleaning process for these bins is often done using a water hose and having an individual hose down the dirty bin. This process is often time consuming taking up to ten minutes to clean a single bin. Therefore, there is a need for a system for cleaning agricultural bins that allows a user to clean a bin effortlessly and efficiently.

Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to (published application) U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,017 for a method and apparatus for moving and packing freshly harvested agricultural products in such a way as to minimize the damage to agricultural products from bruising and breakage resulting from falling into storage bins. This invention uses a hydraulic-driven conveyor belt to move smaller transport containers which are physically closer to the actual point where the agricultural products are discharged into the waiting transport containers. However, it differs from the present invention because the U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,017 reference fails to provide a method to effortlessly and efficiently clean an agricultural bin. The present invention addresses this issue by providing a conveyer belt assembly that feeds agricultural bins into a water jet assembly to clean the bins. The present invention is capable of cleaning a large agricultural bin in under one minute.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a system for cleaning agricultural bins that allow a user to effortlessly clean an agricultural bin in under one minute.

It is another object of this invention to provide a system for cleaning agricultural bins that reduces the workload of cleaning agricultural bins thereby saving money.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a system for cleaning agricultural bins that reduces the time spent using a water hose thereby saving money and conserving water for a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral10, it can be observed a system for cleaning agricultural bins10that basically includes a conveyer belt assembly20and a water jet assembly40, a truck52, a forklift72, and an agricultural bin92.

Conveyer belt assembly20includes a first section22and a second section23. In one embodiment first section22and second section23are sections of a conveyer belt. Furthermore, first section22and second section23may be of a suitable size to hold agricultural bin92thereon. Additionally, first section22and second section23may be made of any suitable material such as but not limited to metal and carbon fiber. First section22and second section23may represent a configuration of a conveyer belt. It should be understood, that any configuration of a conveyer belt may be used for first section22and second section23. In one embodiment, first section22and second section23further include a rectangular base24and sidewalls25. Rectangular base24and sidewalls25represents the base floor and sidewalls of first section22and second section23. It should be understood that rectangular base24and sidewalls25may be made of the same material as first section22and second section23. In one embodiment, first section22and second section23may be placed on a ground floor for operation and use. In another embodiment, first section22and second section23may be mounted on top of a truck52for operation and use. Truck52allows for the system for cleaning agricultural bins10to be easily portable between locations. This may be helpful in situations wherein a famer has various agricultural bins in need of cleaning. The fanner may transport the present invention10to any desired location. Additionally, first section22and second section23may include bin rollers26mounted in a horizontal position on a top end of first section22and second section23. Bin rollers26may be any suitable bin rollers that are found on conveyer belts. They may be cylindrical in shape and be made of a material to easily allow any object to easily be transported thereon. In one embodiment, first section22and second section23may be mounted adjacently next to each other. Though, it should be understood, other embodiments may include different sections mounted in other configurations. First section22may include a first end having a first decline22A. First decline22A aids an object such as agricultural bin92to easily be received and rolled down first section22. First section22further includes an incline positioned after first decline22A. In one embodiment, this first incline includes rubber grip rollers28mounted on a horizontal position thereon. Rubber grip rollers28allows agricultural bin92to be securely gripped onto first section22. Additionally, rubber grip rollers28provide the necessary grip needed for agricultural bin to be raised on the incline. First section22further includes a second decline22B located after the incline having rubber grip rollers28thereon. Second decline22B allows agricultural bin92to be eased into a second end of first section22. In one embodiment, the second end of first section22is a flat surface. Agricultural bin92then rests on the flat surface and is then ready to be engaged by water jet assembly40. Once agricultural bin92has been washed thoroughly by water jet assembly40it is then transported to second section23. Second section23then may include a second section decline23A. Second section decline23A may be a steeper decline than the declines of first section22. Additionally, second section decline23A allows agricultural bin92to easily travel down second section23to be ready for pickup. Second section decline23A then leads into a curved portion23B of second section23. In one embodiment, curved portion23B is a curved section of the conveyer belt that is second section23. Curved portion23B then leads into an exit where a user may remove agricultural bin92from conveyer assembly20. Conveyer assembly20provides a user the needed configuration for transporting an agricultural bin92for cleaning.

Water jet assembly40includes a grapple mechanism42located at the second end of first section22. In one embodiment, grapple mechanism42includes two grapple bars42A mounted on a pivot point44. Grapple bars42A may be elongated rods having a grappling member located on a top end. It should be understood that the grapple members used may be any suitable grapple members that can latch onto agricultural bin92. The tip of grapple bars42A then clamp down on a side of agricultural bin92to create a secure attachment. Furthermore, pivot point44may be a circular member having grappling bars42A attached thereon. In one embodiment, pivot point44may be attached to a motor. The motor can then actuate grapple mechanism42to then rotate grapple mechanism42to then latch onto agricultural bin92. In one embodiment, this motor may be an existing motor on truck52or it may be an external motor used to power water jet assembly40. Grapple mechanism42then rotates and transports agricultural bin92into a cleaner section46located within first section22of conveyer assembly20. In one embodiment, cleaner section46is a rectangular housing extending a predetermined amount therein first section22. Cleaner section46further includes water jets48that are mounted therein. Water jets48may be of a high-pressure variety suitable to thoroughly clean out agricultural bin92. It should be understood, that any suitable water jet may be used for water jet48. Additionally, the water being supplied to water jets48may be an external water supply which a user then mounts thereon to water jets48. Additionally, water jets48may be located on a bottom end of cleaner section46. Water jets48may additionally mounted along a sidewall or sidewalls of cleaner section46. It should be understood, that any configuration of water jets48may be mounted within cleaner section46in order to have the optimal clean results for agricultural bin92. Additionally, water jets48may be modified as needed. A user may modify such features as the spray pattern, intensity, and location to best suit the cleaning of the agricultural bin. Water jets48may be located on all sides of the internal component if need be. Additionally, the interior portion of the conveyer assembly20may be closed of so the water used to clean the bins may be recycled for further use. In one embodiment, a user utilizes a forklift72to then mount agricultural bin thereon conveyer assembly20. Agricultural bin92is then transported to water jet assembly40where it is thoroughly cleaned out and sanitized. Additionally, the agricultural bin92is then returned to the conveyer assembly20where it is transported for removal for a user. System for cleaning agricultural bin10provides a user with the most efficient method and system for cleaning agricultural bin92.