Patent Application
20100206331
The present invention generally relates to sanitizing systems for waste containers and is more particularly directed to a mobile system for onsite cleaning of emptied containers.
The handling of residential and commercial waste containers is often performed through the use of an automated collection truck that engages the container and lifts it to dump its contents into a contained refuse again aboard the truck.
After a period of time, the trash containers normally collect wastes which depends upon the nature of the trash deposited in the container.
It is apparent that unless this residue is cleaned from the container, it continues to accumulate and may become a potential health hazard.
It should also be appreciated that the large size of the trash containers typically utilized in both residential and commercial areas provides problem for the cleaning thereof.
While an operator can utilize a hand held spray gun to clean the container, this operation is time consuming and further may present health problems.
Systems have been developed for inverting a trash container over a spray nozzle, however these systems are not contained and thus spray airborne from the powerful spray nozzles enters into the atmosphere carrying unknown contaminants.
The present invention provides for a mobile trash container cleaning system which provides for cleaning of trash containers in a closed compartment and further handling of solids washed from the container by compaction thus enabling a greater number of containers to be washed during a single excursion of the mobile cleaning system.
A mobile trash container cleaning system in accordance with the present invention generally includes a vehicle along with a spray booth disposed on the vehicle.
A movable access door is provided for enclosing the spray booth and a manipulating arm is provided for engaging and lifting a container disposed outside a vehicle and inverting the container inside the spray booth.
A sprayer disposed for spraying fluid onto inside surfaces of the inverted container is provided to clean the container and dislodge solids.
A stationary platform receives a dislodged solids washed from the inverted container and a ram packer moves the dislodged solids from the platform and into a storage chamber within the vehicle.
More particularly, a system in accordance with the present invention provides for a platform which includes perforations enabling the sprayed fluid to pass therethrough.
A ramp disposed in the spray booth beneath the inverted container enables the direction of dislodged solids and spray fluids onto the platform.
A sprayed fluid capturing apparatus is disposed, in part, under the platform, for storage on the vehicle or reuse in spraying waste containers.
A movable panel is also provided for covering a stationary platform during operation of the ram packer to more efficiency transfer the dislodged and compacted solids into a storage chamber within the vehicle.
A method in accordance with the present invention for cleaning a trash container generally includes picking up a container outside of the vehicle, moving the container to an inverted orientation within a spray booth disposed in the vehicle and enclosing the spray booth.
Thereafter, fluid is sprayed on the inside surfaces of the inverted container to clean surfaces and dislodge solids. The dislodged solids are separated from the spray fluid and compacted.
The present invention will be more clearly understood with reference to the following detailed description, and connection with the appended drawings, in which:
With reference to
With particular reference to
As best shown in
A stationary platform 44 shown in
The ram packer 54 may be of conventional hydraulic design.
As shown in
Sprayed fluid capturing apparatus including a pan 76 disposed beneath the platform 44 along with a pump 80 and a tank 82 recover the sprayed fluid for separate disposal thereof or recirculation after treatment through the sprayer 28.
The cleaning system 10 facilitates a method in accordance with the present invention of cleaning a trash container which includes picking up the container 26 outside the vehicle 12 and moving the container 26 to an inverted orientation within a spray booth 16 disposed within the vehicle 12, enclosing the spray booth 16 by way of the access door 20 and thereafter spraying fluid onto surfaces of the container 26.
Simultaneously, separating solids from the sprayed fluid and thereafter packing the separated solids completes the method in accordance with the present invention.
Although there has been hereinabove described a specific splint assembly in accordance with the present invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the recited elements. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
