Patent Description:
The term treatment can include "in their entirety" both operations to pre-treat the objects, such as pre-washing, with hot or cold water and/or with detergents or other chemical products, as well as washing operations proper, and also drying operations. The term "treatment" also includes thermal disinfection, sterilization, generally in autoclaves, and decontamination by means of particularly aggressive and dangerous decontamination substances, detergents and/or chemical agents such as for example peracetic acid.

By way of example, the objects that can be treated in the treatment machine in question can be instruments used in the medical field, in the laboratory, for analysis or research, instruments used in the pharmaceutical field, or medical instruments, surgical instruments or similar or comparable instruments, but does not exclude the application of the present invention to the treatment of objects in general.

Machines are known for treating objects, generally contained in one or more object-carrying containers such as racks or suchlike which are fed inside at least one suitable treatment chamber by feed means, for example a belt, where the desired treatment cycle is performed.

Normally, at least one door is provided, associated with an entrance aperture, which is mobile and driven by an opening and closing mechanism to assume a high or open position in which it allows the objects to be treated to enter into the treatment chamber, and a low or closed position, in which, in cooperation with fluidic sealing means, it seals the washing chamber from the outside.

In single-door treatment machines, the entrance and exit of the containers and the objects treated that are contained therein are carried out through the same door. In pass-through treatment machines, two doors are provided, that is, one door associated with an entrance aperture, and one door associated with an exit aperture, normally in the opposite position to the entrance aperture, respectively for the entrance and exit of containers and the treated objects contained therein.

As we said, one or more object-carrying containers can be inserted inside the treatment chamber of the machine. When several object-carrying containers are inserted, they are positioned sequentially one after the other in the chamber.

In the case of a "single-door" treatment machine, a roller is provided, on which to place the object-carrying container or containers and situated in correspondence with the door of the machine. From that door, then, the containers with the objects to be treated enter and the containers with the treated objects exit.

In the case of a "pass-through" treatment machine, generally two rollers are provided, positioned on diametrically opposite sides of the machine, of which one side has an entrance door for containers with objects to be treated and the other side has an exit door for the containers with treated objects.

A first disadvantage of known treatment machines is the need to carry out at least the action of loading the object-carrying container or containers in a manual way, that is, by substantially pushing the container or containers with the objects to be treated on a roller, until the latter have completely entered the treatment chamber of the machine.

Another disadvantage of known treatment machines, moreover, especially for pass-through machines, is the need to provide, in correspondence with the roller located on the exit side of the container or containers containing treated objects, another slider to collect the container or containers. The slider is generally positioned transversely with respect to the roller that supports the container or containers with treated objects, so it is obvious that the bulk required on the exit side of the machine is rather high, especially if a battery of "pass-through" machines is provided in parallel.

It should also be underlined that in certain machines for treating objects, for example thermal disinfection machines and even more so in sterilization machines, the operating conditions inside the object treatment chamber are rather difficult, for example because of very high temperatures, for example up to <NUM>, but also because of the working pressures and/or the substances used for the treatment. It is therefore a good rule that these sterilization machines should have, inside the treatment chamber, no motorized or automatic moving means of the object-carrying containers and/or sensors to detect their position. This constraint, therefore, involves considerable complications at least in the development of technical solutions for moving object-carrying containers from and to the treatment chambers.

Document <CIT> describes an apparatus to introduce and extract containers to/from a sterilization machine which provides attachment elements provided at one end of each of the racks and able to allow, if necessary, the reciprocal attachment of the racks.

Therefore, the apparatus does not describe an apparatus for moving object-carrying containers which provides attachment or joining means or elements that are activated alternately and allow the insertion and extraction of one or more containers to/from the treatment chamber.

Therefore, even the above apparatus, although it is advantageous if several containers located in sequence are used, to avoid, for example, jamming of the object-carrying containers, can have the disadvantages described above.

Document <CIT> concerns an apparatus which is provided with a rotating device to rotate the loading plane of a washing machine, in order to automatically discharge any residual water.

This document too does not describe a machine for treating objects provided with an effective movement apparatus for the containers inside it, provided in particular with attachment elements suitable to function alternately.

Other movement apparatuses which suffer from these disadvantages are also described in <CIT>, which describes the use of magnetic means for positioning pallets on a conveyor, <CIT>, which concerns another known washing machine, and <CIT>, which describes a known industrial washing system.

Other limitations and disadvantages of conventional solutions and technologies will be clear to a person of skill after reading the remaining part of the present description with reference to the drawings and the description of the embodiments that follow, although it is clear that the description of the state of the art connected to the present description must not be considered an admission that what is described here is already known from the state of the prior art.

There is therefore a need to obtain a machine for treating objects, in particular washing, thermal disinfection and/or sterilization of objects, which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is therefore to obtain a machine for treating objects provided with means to move one or more object-carrying containers, which means, in both the steps of insertion and extraction to/from the machine, eliminate or at least substantially limit manual operations.

It is another purpose of the present invention to obtain a treatment machine which has advantageously reduced bulk and which requires limited spaces, compared with known machines, in zones adjacent to the loading and/or unloading door or doors of one or more object-carrying containers.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a treatment machine, in particular a pass-through machine, which is provided with means to insert and extract one or more containers which allow it to load the one or more containers with the objects to be treated on one side of the machine and which allow to recover said one or more empty containers from the same side of the machine, once the treated objects have been unloaded on the opposite side of the machine, from which said one or more containers temporarily exit in order to pick up the treated objects.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain an effective and automatic apparatus to move one or more object-carrying containers that allows to insert and extract the one or more object-carrying containers to/from any machine for treating objects, which can be driven alternately for the insertion or extraction of said one or more containers.

Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect a fast, effective and safe method to move one or more object-carrying containers, both in the insertion step and in the extraction of said one or more containers from a machine for treating objects.

In accordance with the above purposes, a machine for treating objects in particular for washing, thermal disinfection and /or sterilization of objects is according to appended claims.

The invention also concerns a method to move one or more object-carrying containers in a treatment machine, in particular a machine for washing, thermal disinfection and/or sterilization of objects, according to appended claims.

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following description, drawings and attached claims. The drawings, which are integrated and form part of the present description, show some forms of embodiment of the present invention, and together with the description, are intended to describe the principles of the disclosure.

The various aspects and characteristics described in the present description can be applied individually where possible. These individual aspects, for example aspects and characteristics described in the attached dependent claims, can be the object of divisional applications.

It is understood that any aspect or characteristic that is discovered, during the patenting process, to be already known, shall not be claimed and shall be the object of a disclaimer.

We shall now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

With reference to the attached drawings, a treatment machine <NUM> comprises at least one treatment chamber <NUM> in which one or more object-carrying containers, for example the object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM>, can be positioned.

The object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> can be in the form of racks or suchlike.

Typically, the object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> are provided, substantially at the base, with a series of bars <NUM>.

The bars <NUM> are suitably located at an adequate reciprocal distance, generally to facilitate the passage of liquids and/or fluids, and are directed in a substantially transverse direction with respect to a direction for inserting and extracting the object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> into and out of the chamber <NUM>. The bars <NUM> can also be provided in cross-configuration, although portions of the bars <NUM> are provided that are transverse as specified above.

Alternately, it would be possible to provide only one object-carrying container, or more than two object-carrying containers located in sequence.

The fact that two or more object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> located in sequence are provided is useful, for example, if the user has problems of bulk for the operations of inserting and extracting the object-carrying containers from the treatment machine <NUM>, therefore providing a single object-carrying container could cause movement problems.

The length of the object-carrying container or the object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> located in sequence is normally such that substantially the whole length of the treatment chamber <NUM> is occupied.

Hereafter in the description, reference will be made, by way of non-restrictive example, to the example shown of two object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> located in sequence, and a pass-through <NUM> treatment machine. As will be easily appreciated, however, the present invention can also refer to a single-door treatment machine and/or the use of a single object-carrying container or the use of more than two object-carrying containers.

The treatment chamber <NUM> will be provided inside with means, not shown in the drawings, useful for performing a specific treatment of the objects put in the object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM>, for example washing, thermal disinfection, sterilization means or other.

The chamber <NUM> of the treatment machine <NUM>, in this case by way of example a "pass-through" machine, comprises an aperture <NUM> for inserting the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> with the objects to be treated and an aperture <NUM> for extracting the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> with the objects treated.

The apertures <NUM> and <NUM> are positioned on opposite sides of the chamber <NUM> and are opened or closed by means of corresponding doors, not shown in the drawings, which can be driven manually or automatically.

The opening and closing doors <NUM> and <NUM> are normally sliding doors, for example shutter doors or suchlike, and are able to ensure adequate sealing once the chamber <NUM> has been closed to treat objects located in the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM>.

Inside the treatment chamber <NUM>, the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> rest on a pair of supports <NUM>, for example a pair of parallel tracks.

The supports <NUM> are suitably raised with respect to the base <NUM> of the treatment chamber <NUM> and between them and the base <NUM> a compartment <NUM> is made, to temporarily house at least part of a mobile support <NUM>, <NUM>' of a movement apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' to move the object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM>.

The movement apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' is configured to assume a first active position in which it inserts the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> inside the chamber <NUM>, and at least a second active position in which it extracts the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> from the chamber <NUM>.

The first and second active positions of the apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' are obtained by means of suitable joining means <NUM>, <NUM> which can be selectively activated, alternately with respect to each other, in order to be associable on each occasion, depending on the operation of loading, unloading or transfer/return to be performed, to the object-carrying container or object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM>.

In possible implementations, there is a plurality of joining means <NUM>, <NUM>, that is, two or more, for each apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>'.

In possible implementations, the joining means <NUM>, <NUM> of each apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' include at least a first attachment element <NUM> and a second attachment element <NUM>. In specific implementations, each apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' comprises only two joining means <NUM>, <NUM>, that is, only a first attachment element <NUM> and a second attachment element <NUM>.

In some embodiments, it is possible to provide that the first attachment element <NUM> is distanced from the second attachment element <NUM> at least by the length of an object-carrying container <NUM> or <NUM>.

In the case shown by way of example, the first attachment element <NUM> is distanced from the second attachment element <NUM> for a segment equal to the length of two object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM>.

In some embodiments, which can be combined with all the embodiments and implementations described here, for each apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' the first active position of the apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' is obtained, as we will see, by activating a first attachment element <NUM> and by deactivating a second attachment element <NUM>.

In some embodiments, which can be combined with all the embodiments and implementations described here, for each apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' the second active position of the apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' is obtained by activating the second attachment element <NUM> and deactivating the first attachment element <NUM>.

In particular, the first active position includes an attachment position of one of said attachment elements <NUM>, <NUM> to the object-carrying container <NUM>, <NUM>, and the second inactive position comprises a release position of the other of the attachment elements <NUM>, <NUM> from the object-carrying container <NUM>, <NUM>.

It is understood that with the term attachment elements <NUM> and <NUM> we mean both mechanical joining means, for example attachment elements of the hook or anchor type, like those shown in the drawings, and also possibly magnetic joining means, able to be activated for the insertion and extraction of the object-carrying container, or a different kind of mechanical, electromechanical or magnetic or other means or elements.

In possible implementations, the attachment elements <NUM> and <NUM> can be activated in the sense that they are mobile to be selectively, and alternately, associable with the specific object-carrying container <NUM>, <NUM>.

Hereafter in the description, by way of non-restrictive example, reference will be made to the attachment elements <NUM> and <NUM> shown as selectively activated joining means.

The mobile support <NUM>, <NUM>' substantially comprises a box-like body that develops in the direction of insertion and extraction of the object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> to/from the treatment chamber <NUM>, and thus in a substantially longitudinal direction.

Inside the mobile support <NUM>, <NUM>' a shaft <NUM>, <NUM>' is housed, on which at least one pair of cams <NUM> and <NUM> are positioned.

The shaft <NUM>, <NUM>' can be rotated in one direction or the other by an actuator <NUM> associated with one end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM>, <NUM>' that emerges from the mobile support <NUM>, <NUM>'.

The actuator <NUM> is associated with the end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM>, <NUM>' by means of suitable motion transmission means <NUM>, <NUM>'.

The actuator <NUM>, by lifting and lowering the corresponding rod <NUM>, can allow a certain rotation of the shaft <NUM>, <NUM>' in one direction or the other. Such rotation can be, for example, about <NUM>°.

The actuator <NUM>, the shaft <NUM>, <NUM>' and the cams <NUM>, <NUM> thus represent a drive unit of the attachment elements <NUM> and <NUM>, configured to automatically change the active and inactive position, so that when one of the attachment elements <NUM>, <NUM> is driven in the active position, the other attachment element <NUM>, <NUM> automatically moves to the inactive position, and vice versa.

The drive unit <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>, <NUM>, which essentially allows to convert or transform the rotational motion of the shaft <NUM>, <NUM>' into a lifting or lowering motion of the attachment elements <NUM>, <NUM> could also be made in a different way to that shown, therefore it could provide actuation means, in particular mechanical motion conversion or transformation means, different from the cams <NUM> and <NUM> cooperating with the corresponding attachment elements <NUM> and <NUM>.

The drive unit could therefore also be selected, for example, from a group comprising: screw actuators such as a screw jack, ball screw actuators and roller screw actuators, or a wheel and axle, for example a drum, gear, pulley or shaft, actuators such as a lifting cable, a winch, a rack and a pinion group, a chain transmission, a belt or strap transmission, rigid chain actuators and rigid belt or strap actuators, or others.

Therefore, returning to the description, as shown by way of non-restrictive example, each of the cams <NUM> and <NUM> of the shaft <NUM>, <NUM>' is connected, by means of a corresponding lever mechanism <NUM> and <NUM>, to an end <NUM> and <NUM> of an attachment element <NUM> and <NUM>, see in particular <FIG>, in which the box-like body of the mobile support <NUM> is shown without the upper part, so as to observe the inside.

The end <NUM> of the attachment element <NUM> is connected to the lever mechanism <NUM> by means of a rotation pin <NUM>. The rotation pin <NUM> is raised and lowered along with the lever mechanism <NUM> and the end <NUM> of the attachment element <NUM>.

Each of the attachment elements <NUM> and <NUM> is connected to a fixed rotation pin <NUM> and <NUM>. The rotation pin <NUM>, <NUM> is supported by the box-like body of the mobile support <NUM>, <NUM>'.

The attachment element <NUM> is able to allow an insertion movement in direction I of the object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> inside the chamber <NUM>, <FIG>, while the attachment element <NUM> is able to allow an extraction movement in direction E of the object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> from the treatment chamber <NUM>, <FIG>.

To this end, the attachment element <NUM> can have a concavity facing in direction I and the attachment element <NUM> can have a concavity facing in direction E.

The cams <NUM> and <NUM> and hence their corresponding lever mechanisms <NUM> and <NUM> are disposed in positions offset with respect to the shaft <NUM>, <NUM>', for example in diametrically opposite positions, see in particular <FIG>.

The attachment elements <NUM> and <NUM> protrude alternately from suitable slits <NUM> and <NUM> made on the surface of the mobile support <NUM>, <NUM>'.

The drive of the actuator <NUM>, as will be seen below, automatically allows to lift and lower the attachment elements <NUM> and <NUM> alternately: therefore, by rotating the shaft <NUM>, <NUM>' in a first direction, following a first travel of the actuator <NUM>, there will be a lifting of the attachment element <NUM> into an active position and a lowering of the attachment element <NUM> into an inactive position; on the contrary, by rotating the shaft <NUM>, <NUM>' in the other direction, following a second travel of the actuator <NUM>, in the opposite direction to the first travel, there will be a lowering of the attachment element <NUM> into an inactive position and a lifting of the attachment element <NUM> into an active position.

As we said above, therefore, the rotational movement of the shaft <NUM>, <NUM>' is converted into an alternate lifting or lowering movement of the attachment elements <NUM>, <NUM>.

When one of the attachment elements <NUM>, <NUM> is raised and hence in an active position, it is able to engage with one of the bars <NUM> of the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM>, while the other attachment element <NUM>, <NUM> is lowered and in the inactive position, thus substantially housed retracted inside the mobile support <NUM>, <NUM>' and thus in a non-interfering position with the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM>.

In <FIG>, by way of example, it has been assumed that the attachment element <NUM> is raised and in the active position, while the attachment element <NUM> is lowered and in the inactive position.

The mobile support <NUM>, <NUM>' of the movement apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' is housed on a slider <NUM>, <NUM>'.

On each side the slider <NUM>, <NUM>' comprises rollers or wheels <NUM>, resting on corresponding sliding guides <NUM>.

The slider <NUM>, <NUM>' can be translated along the sliding guides <NUM>, in one direction or the other, and by any suitable drive mean, for example an electric motor or other.

The slider <NUM>, <NUM>', in this example, is associated with a branch of a flexible motion transmission element <NUM>, for example a chain, belt, or suchlike, wound at least around one pair of return wheels, one of which will be connected to said suitable drive mean.

The mobile support <NUM>, <NUM>', near the aperture <NUM>, <NUM> of the treatment chamber <NUM>, can rest on a support <NUM>.

On the support <NUM>, a ramp <NUM> can be made, for inserting the mobile support <NUM>, <NUM>' of the movement apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' into the compartment <NUM> made between the supports <NUM>.

The apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' for moving the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM>, can therefore be moved substantially bi-directionally along the guides <NUM>, so that at least part of it, and in particular the mobile support <NUM>, <NUM>', is housed in the compartment <NUM> and in such a way that the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> are correctly positioned resting on the supports <NUM>.

The object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> outside the treatment chamber <NUM> rest on corresponding rollers <NUM>, <NUM>': a first roller <NUM>, located in correspondence with the entrance aperture <NUM> of the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> with the objects to be treated in the treatment room <NUM>; and a second roller <NUM>', located in correspondence with the exit aperture <NUM> of the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM>, with the objects treated in the treatment chamber <NUM>.

Each roller <NUM>, <NUM>' comprises at least one pair of guides <NUM> provided with rollers <NUM>: the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> are supported and can slide on said rollers <NUM>.

The object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM>, for example racks, in which the objects to be treated are disposed, are positioned on the roller <NUM> which is located near the entrance aperture <NUM> of the treatment chamber <NUM>. The door associated with the aperture <NUM> in this case will be open. On the contrary, it can be assumed that the door associated with the aperture <NUM> is closed.

The object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> are positioned on the roller <NUM> in sequence and so that one of the transverse bars <NUM> of the first object-carrying container, that is, the object-carrying container <NUM>, rests against the first attachment element <NUM>, positioned in the raised position, see <FIG>. The bar that cooperates with the attachment element <NUM> can be, for example, the first bar 14a. The attachment element <NUM>, on the other hand, is in a lowered position and therefore does not interfere with the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM>.

Lifting the attachment element <NUM> and lowering the attachment element <NUM> has been carried out, preferably prior to positioning the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> on the roller <NUM>, by means of the actuator <NUM>.

In particular, to pass for example from the configuration shown in <FIG> to that in <FIG>, hence to activate the attachment element <NUM> and deactivate the attachment element <NUM>, the actuator <NUM> is driven, for example, so as to recall the rod <NUM> and to cause a certain lowering of the transmission elements <NUM>; this lowering of the transmission elements <NUM> causes a rotation of the shaft <NUM>, with a consequent rotation of the cam <NUM> by a certain angle and a lowering of the lever mechanism <NUM>. The lowering of the lever mechanism <NUM> determines the rotation of the attachment element <NUM> around the fixed pin <NUM>, so as to rise and become active, as in <FIG>. Also, the cam <NUM> associated with the attachment element <NUM> rotates by a certain angle, but being suitably offset with respect to the cam <NUM>, the rotation of the shaft <NUM> will result in a lifting of the lever mechanism <NUM>. The lifting of the lever mechanism <NUM> determines the rotation of the attachment element <NUM> around the fixed pin <NUM>, so as to lower and become inactive, as in <FIG>.

The actuator <NUM>, as we said, can cause the shaft <NUM> to rotate in the opposite direction to the one described above, so that the actuator <NUM>, for example, by removing the rod <NUM>, could again cause the lifting and the active configuration of the attachment element <NUM> and the consequent lowering and the inactive configuration of the attachment element <NUM>, so as to pass from the configuration shown in <FIG> to the configuration in <FIG>.

Let us therefore suppose that we are in the situation of <FIG>, with the bar 14a of the object-carrying container <NUM> engaged with the attachment element <NUM> in the active position.

The slider <NUM> is driven in direction I so that it slides along the guides <NUM> and so that the mobile support <NUM> is at least partly inserted between the two supports <NUM>, that is, in the compartment <NUM> of <FIG>. The attachment element <NUM> is substantially configured to thrust and move the first object-carrying container <NUM> inside the chamber <NUM> through the aperture <NUM>.

The object-carrying container <NUM> slides along the roller <NUM> and pushes the object-carrying container <NUM>, which also slides on the roller <NUM>.

The slider <NUM> of the drive apparatus <NUM> is stopped when, substantially, the attachment element <NUM> is located in correspondence with the entrance aperture <NUM> of the chamber <NUM>, or has just gone past it, see <FIG>.

In this situation, both the object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> are correctly positioned inside the chamber <NUM> and resting on the corresponding supports <NUM>.

The mobile support <NUM> of the movement apparatus <NUM> can then be extracted from the chamber <NUM>: the slider <NUM> is in this case translated in direction E, <FIG>, so that it comes out completely from the chamber <NUM> and it is thus possible to close the door of the aperture <NUM>.

In the step of extracting the mobile support <NUM> and hence the movement apparatus <NUM>, the attachment element <NUM> is kept in the active position, as it does not interfere with the bars <NUM> and 14a of the object-carrying container <NUM>. The other attachment element <NUM> is therefore kept in the inactive position.

Once the mobile support <NUM> of the movement apparatus <NUM> has been completely removed and the door of the aperture <NUM> has been closed, the treatment of the objects contained in the object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> is performed inside the chamber <NUM>. Of course, the door of the aperture <NUM> will also be closed.

At the end of the treatment of the objects inside the chamber <NUM>, the door of the exit aperture <NUM> of the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> is opened, with the objects treated.

The movement apparatus <NUM>' is driven so that the slider <NUM>' takes the mobile support <NUM>' inside the chamber <NUM>. In this step, the attachment element <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>' will be in the inactive position, therefore lowered, while the attachment element <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>' will be in the active position, therefore raised.

When the mobile support <NUM>' has been properly inserted into the compartment made between the supports <NUM> of the chamber <NUM> through the aperture <NUM>, the slider <NUM>' is stopped and then the actuator associated with the transmission elements <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>' is driven. The actuator can be totally similar to the actuator <NUM> shown in <FIG> and associated with the apparatus <NUM>.

By means of this actuator, the shaft <NUM>' disposed inside the mobile support <NUM>', <FIG>, is rotated so that the attachment element <NUM> assumes an active position and the attachment element <NUM> assumes an inactive position.

The attachment element <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>' thus cooperates with one of the transverse bars <NUM> of the object-carrying container <NUM>, for example the bar 14a: by driving the slider <NUM>' in direction E, the movement apparatus <NUM>' extracts the object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> from the chamber <NUM>. This extraction takes place thanks to the attachment element <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>' which engages with the object-carrying container <NUM> which in turn thrusts the object-carrying container <NUM> out of the chamber <NUM>.

When extraction is completed, see <FIG>, the object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> with the treated objects are both on the roller <NUM>'.

Once the object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> have been emptied of the treated objects, it is possible, thanks to the apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>', to return the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM>, this time empty, to the roller <NUM>, from where they started with the objects to be treated.

The treatment chamber <NUM> in this step can thus be used as a container-passing apparatus to return the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> to the side from which they started.

This aspect can be extremely advantageous when, in the proximity of the exit roller <NUM>' of the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> there is a limited space and in any case not suitable to maneuver the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM>.

To allow the return of the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> to the roller <NUM> from which they started, as can easily be understood, it is necessary to operate in the opposite way to what has just been described.

In particular, assuming that the door of the aperture <NUM> is still open after the extraction shown in <FIG>, it can be assumed, as we said, that the object-carrying containers have been emptied of the treated objects.

At this point, by activating the attachment element <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>' and deactivating the attachment element <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>', it is possible to push the empty object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> inside the chamber <NUM>.

After the insertion of the empty object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> inside the chamber <NUM> is completed, the mobile support <NUM>' of the movement apparatus <NUM>' is extracted from the aperture <NUM>.

It should be noted that, preferably, when the empty object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> have been inserted inside the chamber <NUM>, it is best to first close the door associated with the aperture <NUM> and then to open the door associated with the aperture <NUM>, so as to prevent any possible contamination of the atmosphere of the "clean" side of the treatment machine <NUM> by the "dirty" side of the treatment machine <NUM>, or respectively, the side where the roller <NUM>' facing toward the aperture <NUM> and the side where the roller <NUM> is positioned facing the aperture <NUM>.

In general, therefore, when the door associated with the aperture <NUM> is open, the door associated with the aperture <NUM> should remain closed, or vice versa, in order to prevent the "clean" side of the treatment machine <NUM> from entering into communication in any way with the "dirty" side of the treatment machine.

Once the empty object-carrying containers <NUM> and <NUM> have been inserted into the chamber <NUM>, the door associated with the aperture <NUM> is closed.

At this point, the movement apparatus <NUM> located on the roller <NUM> near the aperture <NUM> again intervenes, the door of which can be opened because the door of the aperture <NUM> has been closed.

The movement apparatus <NUM> has the attachment element <NUM> active and the attachment element <NUM> deactivated, so the mobile support <NUM> is inserted under the empty object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> so that the attachment element <NUM>, in the inactive position, moves under one of the bars <NUM> of the empty object-carrying container <NUM>.

At this point, thanks to the actuator <NUM> and as explained above, the attachment element <NUM> of the movement apparatus <NUM> is taken to the active position while the attachment element <NUM> is taken to the inactive position, passing substantially from the situation shown in <FIG> to the situation in <FIG>.

Thanks to the subsequent drive of the slider <NUM> in direction E, it is possible to extract the two empty object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> and position them correctly on the roller <NUM>.

Thanks to the movement apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' with a double attachment element <NUM> and <NUM>, it is therefore possible to introduce object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> with objects to be treated on one side of a pass-through treatment machine <NUM> and extract them, once emptied, from the same side from which they were introduced, for example the side of the aperture <NUM> with its corresponding roller <NUM>. The treated objects will instead be suitably removed from the opposite side of the machine, in this example the side of the aperture <NUM> with corresponding roller <NUM>'.

It is obvious that the present movement apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' can advantageously be used also for "single-door" type machines, that is, machines by means of which the object-carrying containers are loaded with objects to be treated on the same side as the unloading of the object-carrying containers with treated objects.

Assuming that a "single-door" treatment machine is being used, provided for example only with the aperture <NUM>, it is easily understood that the apparatus <NUM> would allow, in an automated manner, both the insertion and the extraction of one or more object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> into/from the treatment chamber <NUM>.

In the insertion step of the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> into the chamber <NUM>, the attachment element <NUM> is activated and the attachment element <NUM> is deactivated, see <FIG>, so that the mobile support <NUM> introduces the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> into the chamber <NUM>. The mobile support <NUM> would then be extracted and the door associated with the aperture <NUM> would be closed for treatment.

Upon completion of the treatment, the door associated with the aperture <NUM> would be opened again and the mobile support <NUM> would be introduced again into the compartment <NUM> under the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM>, with the attachment element <NUM> always in the active position and the attachment element <NUM> always in the inactive position.

When the insertion of the mobile support <NUM> is complete, and thanks to the actuator <NUM>, the attachment element <NUM> would be taken to the active position and the attachment element <NUM> would be taken to the inactive position, <FIG>, so as to engage the object-carrying container <NUM> and take both the object-carrying containers <NUM>, <NUM> outside by extracting the device <NUM> from the chamber <NUM>.

As we have seen, the extraction of the mobile support <NUM> is performed by driving the slider <NUM> in direction E, while the insertion of the mobile support is performed by driving the slider in direction I.

As previously mentioned and as easily understood, the movement apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' described could also be used in the case of a single object-carrying container of suitable length.

Furthermore, by varying the number and/or positioning of the attachment elements <NUM> and <NUM> on the removably connected mobile support <NUM>, <NUM>', it would be possible to provide object-carrying containers of different lengths or object-carrying containers which do not substantially occupy the entire extension of the treatment chamber <NUM>.

Since it is provided with a substantially mechanical movement apparatus <NUM>, <NUM>' and is able to be inserted and disengaged from the chamber <NUM>, the present treatment machine can also operate under difficult and complex operating conditions, for example those of a sterilization machine, where the working temperatures can be rather high, even up to <NUM>, and therefore, where it is not advisable to use motorized means for moving the object-carrying containers inside the chamber.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of treatment machine, in particular for sterilization, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claim 1:
Machine for washing, thermal disinfection and/or sterilization of objects, comprising at least one treatment chamber (<NUM>) configured to house at least one object-carrying container (<NUM>, <NUM>), the machine comprising at least one movement apparatus (<NUM>, <NUM>') to move the object-carrying container (<NUM>, <NUM>) provided with at least a first and a second attachment element (<NUM>, <NUM>) which can be selectively activated, alternately one to the other, in order to be attached to the object-carrying container (<NUM>, <NUM>) and configured to make said apparatus (<NUM>, <NUM>') assume at least a first active position of insertion of the object-carrying container (<NUM>, <NUM>) inside the chamber (<NUM>) and at least a second active position of extraction of the object-carrying container (<NUM>, <NUM>) from the chamber (<NUM>), said attachment elements (<NUM>, <NUM>) cooperating with a corresponding drive unit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>, <NUM>), configured to automatically alternate the active and inactive position, so that, when one of said attachment elements (<NUM>, <NUM>) is driven in the active position, the other attachment element (<NUM>, <NUM>) automatically moves into the inactive position, and vice versa, the machine being characterized in that said attachment elements (<NUM>, <NUM>) cooperate with a shaft (<NUM>, <NUM>') housed in the movement apparatus (<NUM>, <NUM>') and provided with at least a first cam (<NUM>) configured to activate/deactivate said first attachment element (<NUM>) and with at least a second cam (<NUM>) configured to deactivate/activate said second attachment element (<NUM>), or vice versa, said shaft (<NUM>, <NUM>') being made to rotate in one direction or the other by means of a corresponding actuator (<NUM>), wherein the apparatus further comprises at least a mobile support (<NUM>, <NUM>') housing said shaft (<NUM>, <NUM>') and comprising a box-like body that develops in the direction of insertion and extraction of the object-carrying containers (<NUM>, <NUM>) to/from the treatment chamber (<NUM>), and wherein each of the attachment elements (<NUM>, <NUM>) is connected to a fixed rotation pin (<NUM>, <NUM>) supported by the box-like body of the mobile support (<NUM>, <NUM>').