WASH CHAMBER FOR AUTOMATED APPENDAGE-WASHING APPARATUS
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wash cylinder or chamber for an automated cleaning station to clean an object or a person'"'"'s body part includes nozzles on the interior of the cylinder, the nozzles of one embodiment comprising an increasing roll angle providing a novel spray pattern. Additionally, embodiments of the invention include fluid guidance and conveyance structures, angled nozzles, sealing structures, finger guards, nozzle ribs, wash chamber seating mechanisms and drains, and nozzle inlays having a plurality of nozzles. Also disclosed are methods of washing an object or body part using a wash cylinder or chamber and methods of assembling a wash cylinder or chamber.
70 Citations
23 Claims
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1-5. -5. (canceled)
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6. An automated cleaning station to at least partially clean at least a portion of at least one appendage of a person using at least one fluid, comprising:
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a body; a rotatable wash chamber associated with the body, the wash chamber including an inner member and an outer member, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation; an appendage receiving cavity located within the inner member, the appendage receiving cavity adapted for being accessible by the portion of the at least one appendage through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber; an annular cavity located between the inner member and the outer member, the inner member including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the appendage receiving cavity and the second surface facing the annular cavity; and a plurality of nozzles disposed on the inner member, the plurality of nozzles adapted to receive the at least one fluid from the annular cavity and to project the at least one fluid into the appendage receiving cavity, wherein at least one nozzle of said plurality of nozzles includes at least one rib adapted to engage a surface of the outer member to at least prevent the nozzle from being dislodged during the operation of the automated cleaning station whereby during operation of the wash chamber, the at least one fluid flows in from the fluid inlet, into the annular cavity, and through the plurality of nozzles into the appendage receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11-15. -15. (canceled)
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16. A chamber for use in an automated fluid dispensing station for application of a fluid to at least a portion of one object using at least one fluid, comprising:
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means for at least partially enclosing adapted for receiving the at least a portion of the at least one object; means for receiving the at least one fluid into an end of the means for at least partially enclosing; means for redirecting the at least one fluid within the means for receiving, the means for redirecting comprising at least one sloped protrusion located proximate a longitudinal end of an inner surface of the means for at least partially enclosing, wherein the sloped protrusion comprises a slope surface oriented at an angle of less than 90 degrees as measured between a rotational axis of the means for at least partially enclosing and the slope surface of the sloped protrusion; means for containing the at least one fluid from the means for redirecting; and means for projecting the at least one fluid from the means for containing, wherein the means for projecting is adapted to direct a spray of the at least one fluid into the means for at least partially enclosing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification