Process and apparatus for cleaning and making conveyor belts more hygienic, in particular in the food industry

Abstract: A belt (3) to be cleaned is inserted into a box-type container (1) with spraying chamber (13) and vacuum chamber (15) separated by bristles (25); steam (17) and water (19) or a detergent mixture sprayed on the belt (3) dissolve dirt particles that are detached (25) and transported into the vacuum chamber (15) where a duct (27) sucks them together with steam and liquid. The cycle is repeated several times until a satisfactory result is reached. After this series of cycles, the step of making the belt more hygienic can be carried out, that is sending only steam (17) on the belt (3) to be treated and heating it till it is possible to operate in deep on the surface thereof.

Description: The present invention refers to a process and related apparatus for cleaning and making conveyor belts more hygienic, in particular in the food industry. A method for cleaning conveyor belts is disclosed in US 5,333,724. According to the teaching of US 5,333,724, a conveyor belt is cleaned by applying firstly a washing step, in which a cleaning solution or heated water is sprayed close to the belt surface, followed by an abrading step, in which dirt is detached from the belt surface through brushes, and then a dirt removing step, in which dirt is sucked by vacuum. An apparatus for cleaning conveyor belts is disclosed in FR 2674457 which teaches of an apparatus comprising a box-type container equipped with flat bands and brushes in order to create together with the surface of the belt a spaying chamber and a vacuum chamber communicating, respectively, with jetting and intake ducts provided on the rear portion of the container. According to FR 2674457 the belt surface is cleaned by ejecting water or a detergent mixture in the spraying chamber while dirt is removed by suction. A cleaning apparatus incorporating a suction unit, a steam generator and a cleaning head equiped with a first opening communicating with said suction unit and a second opening communicating with said steam generator is disclosed in Italian Patent No.01264355. According to Italian Patent No.01264355 a cleaning liquid delivered by means of a pump or through Venturi effect is heated by means of steam mixed upstream of the cleaning head and thus delivered against the surface to be cleaned via a duct or nozzle provided in the cleaning head. It is known how the problem of cleaning conveyor belts, and foodstuffs in particular, is very important nowadays, both due to the current hygienic and sanitary needs, and due to the increasing complexity of the automatized and mechanized plants that use a belt to handle foodstuffs. The purpose of the present invention is to solve this problem by providing a process and related apparatus that allow an optimal and quick cleaning of the conveyor belt in addition to making it more hygienic after having performed the cleaning. The process and apparatus of the present invention are applied to any type of conveyor belt and in spite of the working conditions of the belt itself and of the type of treated product. The purpose of the present invention is achieved by means of a method and apparatus as claimed in claims 1 and 3 respectively. The apparatus through which the above process can be carried out can substantially be of two types: manual or automatic; a manual one is generally used for alternate cleanings through an operator, an automatic one is used for continuous cleanings and in hard conditions, managed by an operator but with autonomous functionalities. Both apparata, obviously, must be connected to a steam generator and to a liquid and/or aeriform substances aspirator, sized depending on the type of plant. Moreover, the steam generator must be equipped with a delivering plant for water and/or detergent mixture, that is necessary for a good apparatus efficiency. The major features of the embodiments of the apparata through which the above process can be carried out will appear from the enclosed claims. Two embodiments of the apparata through which the process of the present invention can be carried out will now be described. Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of an automatic apparatus, suitable for cleaning both faces of a belt; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of a manual apparatus. As apparent from Figure 1, the first embodiment of the apparatus to clean and make conveyor belts more hygienic according to the present invention is substantially composed of a box-type container 1, of a light and strong material, inside which the belt 3 to be cleaned and made more hygienic runs. This box-type container 1 has an inlet mouth 5 and an outlet mouth 7 through which the belt 3 will run; suitable flat bands 9 and 11 are provided next to said mouths 5 and 7 to seal the recesses 13 and 15 formed inside the box-type container 1. On the upper and lower walls of the recess 13, two ducts 17 and 19 are provided, above and below the conveyor belt 3 to be cleaned, one of said ducts being the steam duct 17, the other one being the water or detergent mixture duct 19; both steam and water or detergent mixture are sprayed on the belt 3 through respective delivering devices 21, 23. Downstream of said spraying chamber 13, two abrading bristles 25 are provided, that operate above and below the belt 3 to detach the dirt removed from the belt by the above-said steam jet 17 and water or mixture jet 19. Downstream of said abrading bristles 25, the vacuum recess 15 is provided, said recess being connected, on both sides of the belt, to two intake ducts 27, adapted to suck the dirt removed from the belt 3 in addition to the direct and remaining steam sent to said chamber and coming from the chamber 13. Said intake ducts 27 operate in said chamber 15 through two intake mouths 29. In the second embodiment shown in Figure 2, the apparatus of the invention is substantially composed of a box-type container 31, equipped with suitable flat bands 33 in order to create, together with the surface 35 to which the apparatus is applied, a spraying chamber 37 and a vacuum chamber 39, separated by suitable bristles 41 similarly to the first above-described embodiment. On the rear part of the box-type container 31 a pipe 43 is provided to support the container and house jetting and intake ducts connected to spraying chamber 37 and vacuum chamber 39. Steam and water or detergent mixture are ejected in the spraying chamber 37 through the delivering devices 45 and 47 to remove, as in the first case, dirt from the surface 35. In the vacuum chamber 39 there occurs, through the intake duct 43, the suction of steam and dirt residuals removed from the surface 35, similarly to what is done in the first embodiment. The operations are obvious: the belt 3, after being inserted in the apparatus 1, gets in contact, in 13, with a steam jet 17 and a water and/or detergent mixture jet 19; in this way, the belt 3 is heated and the action of the two jets starts removing dirt particles. Afterwards, the belt passes through the bristles 25 of a brush that brushes the belt 3 and removes the particles detached from the belt; these particles pass through said bristles 25 and settle into the vacuum chamber 15. In the vacuum chamber 15 these particles, together with steam and water or mixture sent to the belt in the spraying chamber 13, are sucked and taken away by the intake ducts 27. The belt 3 is then again subjected to the above-mentioned cycle for the number of times that is deemed necessary in order to reach a satisfactory cleaning thereof. Now, in order to further clean the belt, the third step is carried out, that is the step of making the belt more hygienic: the water and/or detergent mixture duct 19 is closed and usually steam 17 is sent to the belt 3, till it is heated, said steam being again sucked by the intake ducts 27 that are connected to the vacuum chamber 15; the process goes on until the film that normally protects bacteria on the belt is broken, so that operations are performed at a depth on the surface of said belt, making it clean in a way not obtainable so far. With the apparatus in Figure 2 the cycle is substantially the same; the only difference is that the surface 35 to be cleaned can be not only a belt but any type of surface and the apparatus is handled manually or is applied to a frame (not shown) suitable for the surface to be cleaned. It is obvious that the embodiments described are provided simply as a non-limiting example, as embodiments of apparata through which the process of the invention is applied, the scope of the invention being defined by the following claims.

Claims: Process for washing and making conveyor belts more hygienic, in particular in the food industry, comprising two steps that can be carried out cyclically and precisely: a first, or washing, step, that consists in sending to the belt surface; a water jet (19) a detergent solution being usable instead of the water jet (19) in order to improve the washing operation; a second, or dirt removing, step, that firstly consists in abrading the belt (3) through brush bristles (25) made of a material that depends on the belt type, said abrading operation comprising a first removal operation of the dirt made detachable by the first step, followed by a second dirt removing operation, carried out by sucking said dirt residuals in a vacuum chamber (15) through an intake duct (27) connected to said vacuum chamber (15); this second operation being followed by the evaporation of the remaining belt (3) humidity being carried out through heat, so that the belt surface drys; characterized in that in said washing step a steam jet (17) is mixed with said water jet whereby belt heating or overheating occurs depending on the jets' (17,19) temperature and treatment time, such temperature being adapted to enable the detachment and removal of the belt dirt. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a third step or step to make the surface more hygienic, that can be carried out after a certain number of cycles of the first and second steps and when it is deemed adequate, said third step consisting in again circulating steam (17) on the belt (3) to be made more hygienic, heating it and sucking the waste thus generated, making said belt surface completely free from bacteria. Apparatus for washing and making surfaces in general more hygienic comprising a box-type container (31), equipped with suitable flat bands (33) in order to create, together with the surface (35) to which the apparatus is applied, a spraying chamber (37) and a vacuum chamber (39), separated by suitable bristles (41); on the rear part of the box-type container (31) a pipe (43) being provided to support the box-type container (31) and house jetting and intake ducts connected to spraying chamber (37) and vacuum chamber (39); water or detergent mixture being ejected in the spraying chamber (37) through a first delivering device (47) to remove dirt from the surface (35); in the vacuum chamber (39), dirt and residuals being removed from the surface (35) through the intake duct (43) by suction, characterized in that a steam jet (17) is injected into the spraying chamber through a second delivering device (45). Apparatus for washing and making conveyor belt surfaces more hygienic according to claim 3, characterized in that said container (1), inside which the belt (3) to be cleaned and made more hygienic runs; comprises an inlet mouth (5) and an outlet mouth (7) through which the belt (3) will run; suitable flat bands (9) and (11) being provided next to said mouths (5, 7) to seal the recesses (13, 15) formed inside the box-type container (1); on the upper and lower walls of the recess (13), two ducts (17, 19) being provided, above and below the conveyor belt (3) to be cleaned, one of said ducts being the steam duct (17), the other one being the water or detergent mixture duct (19); both steam and water or detergent mixture being sprayed on the belt (3) through respective delivering devices (21), (23); downstream of said spraying chamber (13), two abrading bristles (25) being provided, that operate above and below the belt (3) to detach the dirt removed from the belt by the above-said steam jet (17) and water or mixture jet (19); downstream of said abrading bristles (25), the vacuum recess (15) being provided, said recess being connected, on both sides of the belt (3), to two intake ducts (27), adapted to suck the dirt removed from the belt (3) in addition to the direct and remaining steam sent to said chamber (15) and coming from the chamber (13), said intake ducts (27) operating in said chamber (15) through two intake mouths (29).

Inventors: SASSI STEFANO, SASSI VIRGINIO, SASSI, STEFANO, SASSI, VIRGINIO
Applicants: R E A S N C DI SASSI E BAUDIN, R.E.A. S.N.C. DI SASSI E BAUDIN & C.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65G45
IPC codes: B65G45