Continuous washing system
First Claim
1. A process for cleaning an object with a continuous wash system comprising the steps of:
- providing an apparatus for cleaning the object, the apparatus having a wash chamber with a floor and an opening;
moving the object through the wash chamber, wherein the object travels in a relatively horizontal curved path, further wherein the object enters and exits the wash chamber through said opening;
spraying water from a water source onto the object, wherein foreign materials are removed from the object; and
draining water through one or more outlets in the floor while the object is in the wash chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a low-cost and practical method for cleaning objects such as wheelchairs on a continuous basis. In one embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention is a mobile, self-contained system in which objects are cleaned and sanitized as they travel in a U-shaped path within a wash chamber. As the objects enter the first side of the wash chamber, suitably located water jets spray the objects with a mixture of detergent and water to remove associated foreign materials until shortly after the objects make a U-turn. At this point, the objects are first sprayed with a mixture containing a rinse agent and water, then with a spray containing disinfectant and water. The objects are thereafter dried by suitable drying means such as a high velocity air curtain system. The continuous washing system of the present invention preferably has a self-contained water heater to pre-heat the water prior to its being sprayed onto the objects. The system preferably also has a recycling path wherein water which has been sprayed onto the objects is collected and filtered in a water reservoir prior to being used again in the system.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A process for cleaning an object with a continuous wash system comprising the steps of:
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providing an apparatus for cleaning the object, the apparatus having a wash chamber with a floor and an opening; moving the object through the wash chamber, wherein the object travels in a relatively horizontal curved path, further wherein the object enters and exits the wash chamber through said opening; spraying water from a water source onto the object, wherein foreign materials are removed from the object; and draining water through one or more outlets in the floor while the object is in the wash chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A process for cleaning an object with a multi-component wash system comprising the steps of:
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providing an apparatus for cleaning the object, the apparatus having a wash chamber with a floor and an opening, the apparatus further having a source of mechanical energy proximate to the wash chamber for drawing water from a water source into an intake line and releasing the water through water jets located inside the wash chamber; guiding the object with guiding means along a relatively horizontal curved path inside the wash chamber, wherein the object enters and exits the wash chamber through said opening; draining water through one or more outlets in the floor while the object is in the wash chamber; placing an electronic sensing device in a location within the wash system for sensing at least one measurable process variable; receiving an input signal from the electronic sensing device in a machine, the input signal being representative of the measurable process variable; and opening a flow path within the wash system when the input signal is received by the machine.
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17. An apparatus for cleaning an object comprising:
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a wash chamber with a floor and an opening, the wash chamber connected to a water source and a power supply a source of mechanical energy connected to the power supply for using water which has been drawn from the water source; at least one sprayer connected to the source of mechanical energy for spraying water onto the object as it travels through the wash chamber; one or more outlets in the floor for draining water while the object is in the wash chamber; and a relatively horizontal curved path inside the wash chamber along which the object travels, wherein the object enters and exits the wash chamber through said opening. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification