Patent Publication Number: US-2011067978-A1

Title: Apparatus for cleaning conveyor belt

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to cleaning apparatuses, and more particularly, to an apparatus for cleaning a conveyor belt. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Retail stores may have a series of checkout stations including cash registers used to record a transaction for each good that a consumer purchases from the store. Each checkout station may include a conveyor belt that may carry the goods from one end of the station to the other end adjacent to the cash register. Examples of these goods may include packaged raw meat, poultry, fish, fruit, vegetables, toiletries, clothing and children&#39;s toys. The goods may carry microorganisms, such as viruses or bacteria, that may contaminate the conveyor belt and then transfer to the goods of other consumers. By way of example, a consumer, who is infected with the H1N1 virus, may transfer the virus to the goods that he places onto the conveyor belt, thereby contaminating the conveyor belt and requiring an employee to spend a significant amount of time repeatedly sanitizing the conveyor belt. This may also lead to somewhat lengthy waiting times for other consumers using the same checkout station. 
     The goods, such as produce, may be placed in plastic bags before being loaded onto the conveyor belt in order to block the transfer of contaminants between the goods and the conveyor belt. However, contaminants may still transfer between the plastic bags and the conveyor belt thereby still spreading the contaminants between the consumers. In addition, the mass production of plastic bags may lead to significant carbon emissions. Further, the plastic bags may not biodegrade but rather pollute coastal lines and harm marine animal life, which perceive the bags as food and subsequently ingest the same. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     One embodiment of an apparatus for cleaning a conveyor belt may include a container, which may have a chamber adapted to store a fluid therein. The chamber terminates in an opening. The apparatus may also include a fluid distributing member that may extend from the chamber and through the opening. Moreover, the fluid distributing member may be rotatable with respect to the container. Additionally, the fluid distributing member may be capable of receiving the fluid from the chamber and distributing the fluid onto the conveyor belt to clean the conveyor belt. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus for cleaning a conveyor belt; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  depicts the apparatus of  FIG. 1  being utilized for cleaning the conveyor belt. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The exemplary embodiments described herein provide detail for illustrative purposes only and are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to a particular apparatus for cleaning a conveyor belt, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 
     Unless limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “coupled,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect attachments and arrangements. 
     The present disclosure provides an apparatus for cleaning a conveyor belt. The term “cleaning” as used herein relates to a process of sanitizing and/or removing the contaminants, such as microorganisms, and the like from the conveyor belt. 
     Further, the conveyor belt may be configured to move around a pair of spaced apart rollers so that various items, such as grocery items may be placed on the conveyor belt. The apparatus of the present disclosure is explained in detail in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wherein  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an apparatus  1000  and  FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the apparatus  1000 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of the apparatus  1000  may include a container  100  that may include a base member  110  and a plurality of peripheral walls that may extend upwards from the base member  110 . The peripheral walls may include a front wall  120 , a rear wall  130 , and a pair of sidewalls  140  and  150 . The base member  110  and the peripheral walls may collectively configure a chamber  160 . The chamber  160  may be adapted to store a fluid  170  therein. The fluid  170  may be a quick drying anti-bacterial fluid or any other suitable disinfectant fluid. Further, the chamber  160  may terminate with an opening  180  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
     The apparatus  1000  may also have a fluid distributing member  200  that may extend from the chamber  160  and through the opening  180 . Further, the fluid distributing member  200  in this form may be a roller, which may be rotatably carried by the container  100  and may have nubs for gripping the conveyor belt. Specifically, the fluid distributing member  200  may be rotatably carried by a spring-loaded spindle  210 . The spindle  210  may extend throughout a length of the fluid distributing member  200 . Furthermore, opposing end portions of the spindle  210  may be carried by spring-loaded fittings  220  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). The fittings  220  may be disposed on the base member  110  of the container  100  by means of any suitable mechanical fasteners known in the art. The fittings  220  may move the fluid distributing member  200  upwards against the conveyor belt such that the fluid distributing member  200  is in contact with the conveyor belt. The fluid distributing member  200  may rotate such that the fluid distributing member  200  may receive the fluid  170  from the chamber  160  and distribute the fluid  170  onto the conveyor belt to clean the conveyor belt. Of course, the fluid distributing member  200  may instead be other suitable devices for receiving the fluid  170  from the chamber  160  and distributing the fluid  170  onto the conveyor belt. 
     The apparatus  1000  may also include a level detector  300  disposed within the container  100 . Specifically, the level detector  300  may be carried by the base member  110  of the container  100 . The level detector  300  in this form may be a flotation device capable of measuring a level of the fluid  170  in the chamber  160 . The level detector  300  may be made of a stainless steel material. Alternatively, the level detector  300  may have a housing that may be made of a suitable non-corrosive material other than the stainless steel material. 
     Further, the apparatus  1000  may include an indicator  400  operatively coupled to the level detector  300 . In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the indicator  400  may be connected to the level detector  300  through electrical wires, such as electrical wires  310 . The electrical wires  310  may be enclosed in a waterproof covering, such as a covering  320 . The indicator  400  is adapted to provide an indication when the level of the fluid  170  is detected to be less than a predetermined threshold level of the fluid  170 . Specifically, the level detector  300  may be preset to activate the indicator  400  when the level of the fluid  170  falls below the predetermined threshold level. In an exemplary embodiment, the predetermined threshold level of the fluid  170  may be related to a minimum fluid level necessary for functioning of the fluid distributing member  200 . In the present embodiment, the indicator  400  is an indicator light which may turn red when the level of the fluid  170  falls below the predetermined threshold level. However, the indicator  400  may be any other suitable indicating means known in the art, such as an alarm and the like. In an alternate embodiment, the indicator  400  may be two indicator lights, such as a red light for providing indication when the level of the fluid  170  falls below the predetermined threshold level, and a green light for providing indication when the level of the fluid  170  is at an optimum level. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  1000  may also include a fastener  510 , a fastener  520 , a fastener  530  and a fastener  540  (hereinafter collectively referred to as the fasteners  510 ,  520 ,  530 , and  540 ) disposed on an outer surface of the container  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the fasteners  510 ,  520 ,  530 , and  540  may be carried by a respective one of top edge portions  122 ,  132 ,  142  and  152  of the peripheral walls  120 ,  130 ,  140 , and  150 . Alternatively, the fasteners may be disposed on one of the front wall  120 , the rear wall  130 , and the sidewalls  140  and  150 , or any combination thereof. Further, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the fasteners  510 ,  520 ,  530 , and  540  may be disposed on the outer surface of the container  100  by any suitable means known in the art, such as an adhesive strip, and the like 
     The fasteners  510 ,  520 ,  530  and  540  are configured to removably attach the container  100  with a support member of the conveyor belt. Moreover, the fasteners  510 ,  520 ,  530  and  540  in this form may be clip fasteners. Specifically, the fastener  510  may include an elongated vertical member  512  and an elongated horizontal member  514  extending upwardly and inwardly from the elongated vertical member  512 . Similarly, the fasteners  520 ,  530  and  540  may include vertical members  522 ,  532  and  542 , and horizontal members  524 ,  534  and  544 , respectively. 
     In addition, the apparatus  1000  may include a light source attachment  600  coupled to the container  100  such that the light source may disinfect the conveyer belt. The light source attachment  600  may be carried by the rear wall  130  of the container  100 . However, the light source attachment  600  may instead be carried by any other peripheral wall. Further, the light source attachment  600  may be coupled to the container  100  by any suitable fastener. The light source attachment  600  may also include an arm extension  610 , and a housing  620  coupled to the arm extension  610 . The housing  620  may be coupled to the arm extension  610  by means of welding and/or mechanical fasteners. The arm extension  610  may be carried by the container  100 . The housing  620  includes a light source  630  that may be capable of producing UV light for disinfecting the conveyor belt, thereby cleaning the conveyor belt. 
     In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the light source  630  may be activated when the level of the fluid  170  in the container  100  is less than the predetermined threshold level of the fluid  170 . In an alternative embodiment, the light source  630  may be activated whenever the conveyer belt is being cleaned and disinfected by the fluid  170  contained in the container  100 . In other words, the disinfecting fluid and the UV light may work in conjunction for disinfecting the conveyer belt. The light source attachment  600  may be made of a water resistant material. Specifically, the housing  620  enclosing the light source  630  may be made of a water resistant material. The water resistant material may guard the light source attachment  600  from getting damaged by the fluid  170 . Of course, though  FIGS. 1 and 2  depict particular shapes and sizes of the apparatus  1000  and various components thereof; the apparatus  1000  and the various components thereof may be any other suitable shapes and sizes. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , the conveyor belt  700  may be configured to move along a pair of spaced apart rollers, such as a roller  710 . Further, the conveyor belt  700  includes a support member  720  that may be carried by an end portion of the conveyor belt  700  such that the conveyor belt  700  remains exposed for cleaning thereof. The fasteners  510 ,  520 ,  530  and  540  may removably coupled to the support members, such as the support member  720 , such that the container  100  is removably attached to the support members. Specifically, the horizontal members  514 ,  524 ,  534 , and  544  of a respective one of the fasteners  510 ,  520 ,  530  and  540  may engage the support members, such as the support member  720 . It will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the support member  720  is designed to completely receive the horizontal members  514 ,  524 ,  534 , and  544  of the fasteners  510 ,  520 ,  530  and  540 . 
     After the container  100  is attached to the support member  720  of the conveyor belt  700 , the fluid distributing member  200  may rotate so as to maintain a contact with the conveyor belt  700 . The fluid distributing member  200  may receive the fluid  170  from the chamber  160  and distribute the received fluid onto the conveyor belt  700 . Accordingly, the contaminants present on the conveyor belt  700  are removed, thereby cleaning the conveyor belt  700 . The light source  630  of the light source attachment  600  may scatter UV light onto the conveyor belt to further disinfect the conveyor belt  700 . 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the level detector  300  may continuously measure the level of the fluid  170  in the chamber  160 . When the level of the fluid  170  is detected to be below the predetermined threshold level of the fluid  170 , the level detector  300  may activate the indicator  400 . The indicator  400  may then provide an indication for refilling of the chamber  160  with the fluid  170 . Moreover, when the level of the fluid  170  in the container  100  is less than the predetermined threshold level, the light source attachment  600  may get activated. Once the light source attachment  600  is activated, the light source  630  may produce UV light for disinfecting the conveyor belt  700 , thereby cleaning the conveyor belt  700 . After the chamber  160  is being refilled with the fluid  170 , the light source attachment  600  may get deactivated, and the fluid distributing member  200  may facilitate cleaning of the conveyor belt  700 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the apparatus  1000  may be utilized in conjunction with a conveyor belt having a length of about 69 inches, and a width of about 18 inches. However, the apparatus  1000  may be utilized with a conveyor belt of varying dimensions. 
     The present disclosure provides an apparatus, such as the apparatus  1000  for cleaning the conveyor belt. The fluid distributing member and the fluid utilized for cleaning the conveyor belt provide a continuous and an easy way of removing the contaminants from the conveyor belt, thereby cleaning the conveyor belt. Accordingly, the apparatus prevents various items placed on the conveyor belt from getting contaminated. Further, the apparatus facilitates cleaning of the conveyor belt after every use and thereby, precludes the use of plastic bags for packaging the various items before placing the items on the conveyor belt. Furthermore, when the level of the fluid contained in the container of the disclosed apparatus falls below the predetermined threshold level of the fluid, the light source attachment may be utilized for cleaning the conveyor belt. Alternatively, the fluid contained in the container and the light source attachment may simultaneously be utilized for cleaning and disinfecting the conveyer belt, thereby enabling a continuous cleaning of the conveyor belt. Moreover, use of the quick drying anti-bacterial fluid leaves the conveyor belt dry after cleaning thereof. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure.