Wash chamber for automated appendage-washing apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of at least partially cleaning at least a portion of at least one object using an automated cleaning station, comprising:
- initiating a flow of a first fluid through a fluid inlet disposed on a wash chamber of the automated cleaning station, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, at least one of the first end and the second end connected to the automated cleaning station, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation, the wash chamber including an object receiving cavity, the object receiving cavity being accessible through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber and being adapted to receive the at least a portion of the object for washing;
projecting the first fluid through a plurality of nozzles and into the object receiving cavity, the plurality of nozzles being disposed on the wash chamber, wherein the nozzles comprise a first and a second set of nozzles;
wherein the first set of nozzles is disposed on the wash chamber in a ring proximate to the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the first set nozzles produces a spray that is projected at a pitch angle of between 15 and 35 degrees and at a roll angle of substantially 0 degrees;
wherein the second set of nozzles disposed along a length of the wash chamber, the second set of nozzles including a first nozzle located proximate to the opening in the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the second set of nozzles is adapted to produce a spray pattern that is projected at a pitch angle of substantially 0 degrees, wherein a first spray pattern associated with the first nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a first roll angle, wherein a second spray pattern associated with a second nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a second roll angle, the second roll angle steeper than the first roll angle, and wherein a remainder of the second set of nozzles each have a corresponding spray pattern oriented at progressively steeper roll angles; and
wherein the wash chamber is rotated about the axis of rotation at least during the step of projecting the fluid.
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.
256 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of at least partially cleaning at least a portion of at least one object using an automated cleaning station, comprising:
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initiating a flow of a first fluid through a fluid inlet disposed on a wash chamber of the automated cleaning station, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, at least one of the first end and the second end connected to the automated cleaning station, the wash chamber including an axis of rotation, the wash chamber including an object receiving cavity, the object receiving cavity being accessible through an opening in the first end of the wash chamber and being adapted to receive the at least a portion of the object for washing; projecting the first fluid through a plurality of nozzles and into the object receiving cavity, the plurality of nozzles being disposed on the wash chamber, wherein the nozzles comprise a first and a second set of nozzles; wherein the first set of nozzles is disposed on the wash chamber in a ring proximate to the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the first set nozzles produces a spray that is projected at a pitch angle of between 15 and 35 degrees and at a roll angle of substantially 0 degrees; wherein the second set of nozzles disposed along a length of the wash chamber, the second set of nozzles including a first nozzle located proximate to the opening in the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the second set of nozzles is adapted to produce a spray pattern that is projected at a pitch angle of substantially 0 degrees, wherein a first spray pattern associated with the first nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a first roll angle, wherein a second spray pattern associated with a second nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a second roll angle, the second roll angle steeper than the first roll angle, and wherein a remainder of the second set of nozzles each have a corresponding spray pattern oriented at progressively steeper roll angles; and wherein the wash chamber is rotated about the axis of rotation at least during the step of projecting the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method, comprising:
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providing a cleaning station, comprising; a body; a rotatable wash chamber associated with the body, the wash chamber including a first end and a second end, the wash chamber having an axis of rotation; an appendage receiving cavity located within the wash chamber, 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; a first set of nozzles disposed on the wash chamber in a ring configuration, the first set of nozzles located proximate to the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the first set nozzles is adapted to produce a spray that is projected at a pitch angle of between 15 and 35 degrees and at a roll angle of substantially 0 degrees; a second set of nozzles disposed on the wash chamber in a helical pattern along a length of the wash chamber, the second set of nozzles including a first nozzle located proximate to the opening in the first end of the wash chamber, wherein each nozzle of the second set of nozzles is adapted to produce a spray pattern that is projected at a pitch angle of substantially 0 degrees, wherein a first spray pattern associated with the first nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a first roll angle, wherein a second spray pattern associated with a second nozzle of the second set of nozzles is projected at a second roll angle, the second roll angle being different from the first roll angle, and wherein a remainder of the second set of nozzles each have a corresponding spray pattern oriented at progressively greater roll angles; and at least one off-helix nozzle disposed on the wash chamber; initiating a flow of at least one fluid through a fluid inlet; receiving, by the first set of nozzles, the second set of nozzles, and the at least one off-helix nozzle, the at least one fluid; and projecting, by the first set of nozzles, the second set of nozzles, and the at least one off-helix nozzle, the at least one fluid into the appendage receiving cavity. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A method, comprising:
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providing a cleaning station, comprising; (a) a body; (b) a rotatable wash chamber associated with the body, the wash chamber including first and second ends, the rotatable wash chamber including an axis of rotation; (c) an appendage receiving cavity located within the wash chamber; (d) a plurality of nozzles positioned along a length of the wash chamber; wherein at least one of the following is true of the plurality of nozzles; (i) the nozzles have differing pitch angles, wherein, for a selected nozzle, a pitch angle is an angle of intersection between a nozzle plane defined by a nozzle orifice and a first plane normal to at least a portion of an adjacent surface of the wash chamber; (ii) the nozzles have differing roll angles, wherein, for a selected nozzle, a roll angle is an angle between a nozzle orifice and a selected second plane and wherein the roll angle is measured in a third plane defined by to at least a portion of an adjacent surface of the wash chamber receiving, in the appendage receiving cavity, at least a portion of at least one appendage of a person; and spraying at least one cleaning fluid, through the plurality of nozzles, into the wash chamber to contact the at least a portion of the at least one appendage; whereby, the at least a portion of the at least one appendage is contacted with the at least one cleaning fluid. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification