Abstract:
A treatment system for use with conveyor apparatus that allows for the uninterrupted use of the conveyor apparatus system while simultaneously treating the conveyor belt. The system employs of a sump basin and various spray bars that can sanitize, clean or lubricate a conveyor belt in conjunction with the processing of various products. The treatment system allows for the effective reduction of the down time in the manufacturing possess using conveyor apparatus.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a formal application which claims priority of U.S. Serial No. 60/148,960, filed Oct. 15, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The field of the invention is a treatment system for a conveyor apparatus used in manufacturing environments and the method of applying a solution to a rotating conveyor belt. The invention discloses an apparatus which simultaneously treats the conveyor belt while processing products.  
           [0004]    2. Background  
           [0005]    The protection of products from contamination during use of conveyor apparatus have plagued the manufacturing industry. The current invention solves the dilemma of having to shut the system down to treat the system with a sanitizer, a washing solution or a lubricant between product runs. The present invention treats the conveyor belt during the part of the system when the conveyor belt contains no products and is returning to the beginning of the production line to pick up the next batch of products. The invention allows for the continuous running of the conveyor belt while still providing proper conditions.  
           [0006]    The issue of sanitized production conditions is most prevalent in the food manufacturing industry in which any contamination of the product can harm the health of the end user of the product. The current system would safeguard the food manufacturing industry from any contamination of product or cross-contamination of separate products run on a single conveyor belt. The invention further includes a method in which a sanitizer is constantly diluted, dispensed, and applied to a conveyor belt sanitizing the conveyor belt surface for contact with product which allows for constant production runs which eliminate costly shut-downs for sanitizing purposes.  
           [0007]    The invention further allows for the use of a cleaning solution, a sanitizer and/or application of a lubricant alone or in any combination in the various steps of the treatment process. The invention solves the two main problems of the existing technology in which there is the use of brushes that can slow a line or stop a line and can damage the conveyor belt itself or require the shutting down of the line in order to treat the conveyor belt. The current invention uses a wash spray bar to effectively clean the conveyor belt as it is passed through the solution of the sump basin that allows for the effective cleaning or sanitizing of the conveyor belt while not interrupting the line.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,616 discloses a conveyor belt washing system in which the conveyor belt is continuously cleaned during use. The aforementioned patent diverts the conveyor belt through a series of brushes to clean the conveyor belt during processing in order to properly clean the conveyor belt.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,321 discloses a conveyor belt system that uses wash rollers and a fluid wash basin to clean the conveyor belt. The &#39;321 patent uses wash rollers in contact with the top surface of the conveyor belt prior and after the conveyor belt is passed through the wash basin to clean the conveyor belt effectively.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0010]    The treatment system utilizes the continuous rotation of the conveyor belt to apply a lubricating, cleaning and/or sanitizing process.  
           [0011]    As the conveyor belt travels to the end of the frame, it travels under the conveyor apparatus frame and into the treatment system.  
           [0012]    As the conveyor belt enters the system, the product contact surface is positioned face down. Inside the system is a cascading sump basin of residual solution, here the conveyor belt is submerged for an initial rinse. As the conveyor belt moves through the sump it travels between at least one recirculating wash spray bars. The preferred embodiment has two wash spray bars a top bar floods the underside of the conveyor belt; the bottom bar rinses the topside surface of the conveyor belt. Once the conveyor belt leaves the recirculating spray bars it is moved to a vertical position and passed in front of a rinse spray bar. This spray bar is not only used to spray the sanitizer on the topside of the conveyor belt which is the product contact area, but also may be used for application of a lubricant or other treatment product. As the conveyor belt leaves the treatment system, it allows the sanitizer or lubricant the proper drying and contact time to achieve its purpose. This extended time not only allows the chemistry to work longer, it also allows the process to use a lower concentration of product such as the sanitizer. The system also incorporates a system check function which allows the monitoring and recording of treatment use and function. The check system further allows for the automatic stopping and starting of the treatment system directly relating to the conveyor belts operation.  
           [0013]    The ultimate goal of the sanitation process disclosed in this invention is to combine the product manufacturing process with the treatment process providing for an efficient, safe, and sanitary production process and final product. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 a side view showing the components of the treatment system in conjunction with the conveyor apparatus.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 a side view of the treatment system integrating with the conveyor belt.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 a side view of the treatment system integrating with the conveyor belt with multiple rinse spray bars.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 a top view of the treatment system with the conveyor belt engaged and the sump basin shown in phantom.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 a top view of the conveyor belt system with the treatment system show in a cut away. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 5 , one embodiment of the treatment system generally  22  is system for treatment of a conveyor apparatus generally  21  comprised of a sump basin  3  containing a solution  8 . The solution  8  is in the sump basin  3  at a level to submerse a portion of a conveyor belt  15 . The conveyor apparatus  21  has the treatment system  22  attached to it and the conveyor belt  15  is guided by at least one conveyor belt guide  4  into the treatment system  22 . Once the conveyor belt  15  is engaged with the treatment system  22  the conveyor belt  15  enters the sump basin  3  containing a solution  8  there is at least one wash spray bar  1  submersed below the solution  8 .  
         [0020]    Additional embodiments may further include one or more of the following items. The invention may include a circulation pump  7  that is located below the sump basin  3  and regulates the amount and flow of the solution in the sump basin  3 . The invention may include one or more rinse spray bars  2  which can be located prior to the wash rinse bars  1  or after the wash rinse bars  1 . The invention also may include a cascade drain keeps the solution  8  level consistent in the sump basin and/or a skimmer drain  10  which allows for debris from the conveyor belt  15  which is floating to be removed with out having to empty the entire sump basin  3  and/or a drain  11  which is located in the lower section of the sump basin  3  allowing for the complete draining of the solution  8  from the sump basin  3 . The invention may further include a shedding pan  14  which is connected to the sump basin, collects, and returns any excess solution  8  on the conveyor belt  15  to be returned to the sump basin  3 .  
         [0021]    The invention allows for the use of various solutions with the treatment system including, but not limited to, sanitizers, washing compositions and lubricants. The solution  8  in the sump basin and the solutions from the rinse bars may be the same solution or may be different solutions for various applications and purposes including the application of lubricants. In addition, the solution that is emitted from the wash spray bar  1  may be drawn from the solution  8  in the sump basin.  
         [0022]    The invention in addition to all the other features includes two or more wash spray bars  1  at least one submersed below the solution which sprays the topside  16  of the conveyor belt  15  and at least one wash spray bar  1  above the solution which sprays the underside  17  of the conveyer as it passes through the solution  8 . The invention may also have multiple rinse spray bars  2  that can be located below the conveyor belt  15  to spray the topside  16  of the conveyor belt  15  and/or located above the conveyor belt  15  to spray the underside  17  of the conveyer  15 . The rinse spray bars  2  and the wash spray bars  1  can be in of varying length and size but must emit enough of whatever solution and cover enough surface area to reach all of the surface area of the conveyor belt  15 .  
         [0023]    As seen in FIG. 1, the invention may further include a standard monitoring system  18  wherein the monitoring system  18  starts and stops the treatment system  22  at required intervals to limit unnecessary excess treatment. The monitoring system  22  can also track and control solution  8  levels in the sump basin  3  and amount of solutions to be emitted from the wash  1  and rinse spray bars  2 .  
         [0024]    The invention includes a method of cleaning a conveyor belt  15  wherein once the conveyor belt  15  is free of any product it is diverted into a treatment system  22  comprised of a sump basin  3  containing a solution  8  and at least one wash spray bar  1  which is submersed in the solution  8  and sprays the conveyor belt  15  as it passes through the sump basin  3 .  
         [0025]    The method also includes placing at least one wash spray bar submersed in the solution and spraying the topside of the conveyor belt as it passes through the sump basin solution and at least one wash spray bar above the solution and spraying the underside of the conveyor belt  15  as it passes through the sump basin solution. The method further including a rinse spray bar  2  wherein after the conveyor belt  15  leaves the sump basin  3  solution  8  there is at least one rinse spray bar  2  that emits a solution to the conveyor belt  15 . The method where there is at least one rinse spray bar  2  positioned to emit a solution to the top side  16  of the conveyor belt  15  and at least one rinse spray bar  2  positioned to emit a solution on the underside  17  of the conveyor belt  15  as the conveyor belt  15  exits the sump basin  3  solution  8 . The method further including at least one rinse spray bar  2  prior to the sump basin  3  to rinse the conveyor belt  15 .