Plant for cleaning bins used for vegetable produce
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B08B-009/46
B08B-003/04
G01N-021/90
B08B-009/42
B08B-009/44
B08B-003/00
B08B-009/08
B08B-013/00
출원번호
US-0394616
(2010-11-09)
등록번호
US-9415429
(2016-08-16)
우선권정보
IT-PN2009A0068 (2009-11-19)
국제출원번호
PCT/EP2010/067131
(2010-11-09)
§371/§102 date
20120307
(20120307)
국제공개번호
WO2011/061097
(2011-05-26)
발명자
/ 주소
Benedetti, Luca
출원인 / 주소
UNITEC S.P.A.
대리인 / 주소
Davis & Bujold PLLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
4인용 특허 :
15
초록▼
A bin cleaning plant includes a bin destacking and overturning station, a plurality of bin washing stations, the whole being connected to a conveyor that transfers the bins in an orderly, continuous and sequential manner through the stations; and means that sense and measure the level of dirt presen
A bin cleaning plant includes a bin destacking and overturning station, a plurality of bin washing stations, the whole being connected to a conveyor that transfers the bins in an orderly, continuous and sequential manner through the stations; and means that sense and measure the level of dirt present in each of said bins and that modify the washing process selectively for each of said bins according to the level of dirtiness detected. Preferably, the measurement and control means are connected to optical devices oriented toward the internal surfaces of the bins, and detect the optical/luminous/chromatic image reflected from their internal surfaces. The image is converted into one or more electrical signals with representative characteristics, which signals are compared with corresponding levels selectively predetermined and previously memorized. The measuring and control means control actuators suitable to control/drive one or more of the operating parameters of the washing station.
대표청구항▼
1. An automated cleaning bin system for cleaning a continuous sequence of bins suitable for carrying vegetables and fruit produce, the system to carry out a tailored treatment appropriate for each individual bin of the continuous sequence of bins according to a degree of cleanliness for each individ
1. An automated cleaning bin system for cleaning a continuous sequence of bins suitable for carrying vegetables and fruit produce, the system to carry out a tailored treatment appropriate for each individual bin of the continuous sequence of bins according to a degree of cleanliness for each individual bin, said automated system comprising: an automated entry station configured for accepting into the system the continuous sequence of bins in a stacked configuration;an automated bin de-stacking station, configured for unstacking the stacked configuration of the continuous sequence of bins, the continuous sequence of bins;an automated bin overturning station, configured for inverting each bin;an automated restoring station, configured for again overturning the bins inverted by said overturning station;an automated bin re-stacking station, configured for re-stacking the continuous sequence of bins in a second stacked configuration; anda control device configured for storing specific reference characteristics, receiving signals relating to the degree of dirtiness of each individual bin, receiving signals of the position of each individual bin, indexing each individual bin, comparing the received signals with the stored specific reference characteristics, and sending instructions relating to the degree of dirtiness detected, to a remainder of the automated system, thus the control device is connected to the remainder of the automated system which further comprises: a plurality of automated sensor stations being configured for measuring the position and degree of dirtiness present on an internal surface of each individual bin, and configured for sending the signals of the degree of dirtiness and position to the control device;the plurality of sensor stations including a first sensor station being an optical sensor station, and a second sensor station being one of either an ultraviolet sensor and an infrared sensor;an automated plurality plurality of separate, independently operating bin washing stations arranged in series including at least a first bin washing station a second bin washing station, and a third bin washing station;a first operating actuator, of the first bin washing station, being configured for receiving signals of the degree of dirtiness and the position of the bin and initiating an operating condition of the first bin washing station for a working time-length having a duration of washing beginning when the bin enters and ending when the bin exits the first bin washing station thus operating independently with respect to a rest of the plurality of washing stations;a second operating actuator, of the second bin washing station, configured for receiving signals of ha degree of dirtiness and the position of the bin and initiating an operating condition of the second bin washing station for a working time-length beginning when the bin enters and ending when the bin exits the second bin washing station thus, operating independently with respect to the rest of the plurality of washing stations; anda third operating actuator, of the third bin washing station, configured for receiving signals of the degree of dirtiness and the position of the bin and initiating an operating condition of the third bin washing station for a working time-length beginning when the bin enters and ending when the bin exits the third bin washing station, thus operating independently with respect to the rest of the plurality of washing stations;each of the operating actuators of the plurality of bin washing stations independently sets the working time-length of each respective plurality of bin washing stations based on the degree of dirtiness according to the signals;an automated conveyor system configured for transferring each of the continuous sequence of bins to each station of the system, in a continuous, orderly and sequential manner, according to the received instructions relating to the degree of dirtiness detected, respectively;the first automated sensor station, upstream of the first bin washing station, being configured for measuring the degree of dirtiness present on the internal surface of each individual bin initially, and configured for sending the signals of the degree of dirtiness and position to the control device;a first automated shunting station, downstream of the first automated sensor station and upstream of the first bin washing station being configured for diverting bins according to the instructions relating to the degree of dirtiness detected, such that: when the degree of dirtiness is above a level of pre-definable data, the bin is conveyed upstream towards the first bin washing station, and when the respective dirt degree is below the level of pre-definable data, the bin is diverted downstream beyond the third bin washing station;the second automated sensor station, downstream of at least the third bin washing station, being configured for measuring the degree of dirtiness present on the internal surface of each individual bin residually, and configured for sending the signals of the degree of dirtiness and position to the control device; anda second automated shunting station, downstream of the second automated sensor station, being configured for diverting bins according to instructions relating to the degree of dirtiness detected, such that: when the degree of dirtiness is above the level of pre-definable data, the bin is diverted back upstream towards the first bin washing station, and when the respective dirt degree is below the level of pre-definable data, the bin is conveyed downstream. 2. The cleaning bin system according to claim 1, wherein each operating actuator of the plurality of bin washing stations further includes the following: a washing temperature actuator,a washing jet pressure actuator,a washing substances choice actuator, anda washing substances concentration actuator, and each operating actuator of the plurality of bin washing stations are further configured to independently control one or more working parameters in response to the signals, said working parameters further includes at least one of the following: a washing liquor temperature,a washing jet pressure,a concentration of the washing substances, anda kind of said substances, andsaid working parameters each operating actuator of the plurality of bin washing stations includes actuating elements of said conveyor system and said working parameters includes at least controlling and adjusting a moving speed of said bins through said washing stations. 3. The cleaning bin system according to claim 1, wherein said control device comprises at least one data storage device configured for storing pre-definable data corresponding to a pre-defined dirt degree of said bins. 4. The cleaning bin system according to claim 1, further comprising: a data storage device configured for storing pre-definable data corresponding to a pre-defined dirt degree of said bins, anda second conveyor configured to convey the bins diverted by the first automated shunting station downstream beyond the third bin washing station. 5. The cleaning bin system according to claim 4, further comprising a lining and re-entry station, arranged downstream of said bin washing stations, and said second conveyor conveys the bins up to and into said lining and re-entry station. 6. The cleaning bin system according to claim 1, further comprising a return-conveyor configured to convey the bins diverted by the second automated shunting station upstream towards the first bin washing station, whose residual dirt degree is still not acceptable. 7. The cleaning bin system according to claim 1, further comprising illuminating devices placed in correspondence with the plurality of automated sensor stations. 8. The cleaning bin system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of automated sensor stations and said control device being configured for detecting the existence of a prevailing color and of discriminating the amplitude and the color of a received optical image with respect to said prevailing color.
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