Disposable shoe cover removal machine

Abstract

In the environment where sanitary and safe pollution prevention is required, the wearing of disposable sanitary shoe covers on the foot is crucial. After the shoe cover is used, the shoe cover should be manually or automatically removed in a sanitary mode. The invention relates to the technical field of machinery, comprising a machine (1) having a disposable shoe cover collector (10), provided with a platform (2) for supporting the feet wearing the disposable shoe covers, the platform (2) being located on an upper conveyor belt (3.1), the direction of the upper conveyor belt (3.1) being opposite to the direction of a lower conveyor belt (3.2), the upper conveyor belt (3.1) and the lower conveyor belt (3.2) together forming a traction mechanism (3) of the disposable shoe covers. The machine (1) is provided with a traction motor (5) which is activated by a switch (7) or an inductive sensor (8). The machine (1) is provided with deflection rollers (5.2, 5.3 and 5.4) for defining the direction of extension of the conveyor belt forming an 'L' shape. The lower conveyor belt (3.2) has a mechanism comprising a hinged roller (5.5) mounted to a mover (5.6) pushed by a spring and mounted onto a guide (5.7) for adjusting the passage of the shoe covers inside the machine, said passage leading to the upper part of said conveyor belt to reach the height of a collector (10) collecting the shoe covers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of machinery and comprises a machine for removing disposable overshoes for protecting footwear, said machine having a platform for positioning the foot and provided with a traction mechanism for removing and guiding the overshoes via a pair of conveyor belts, so as to enable controlled transport of the overshoes to a disposal receptacle. Background Art

[0002] Disposable hygienic shoe covers are common in the prior art. Their purpose is to protect the environment from contaminated shoes and to protect footwear from the environment and are mainly used in hospitals, clinics, laboratories, medical centers, clean rooms, pharmaceutical industries, electronic and cosmetic industries and many other applications where there is a risk of contamination. Although these shoe covers provide a way to protect the feet and the environment, there is a risk of contaminating the hands when they need to be changed or removed. This problem is particularly significant in environments where hygiene is of paramount importance.

[0003] Furthermore, for people with limited mobility, such as the elderly, obese people, or pregnant women, squatting or sitting down to remove the shoe covers may be uncomfortable or even impossible.

[0004] There are devices on the market to assist disposable shoe cover users in removing shoe covers without squatting or sitting down, which use a vacuum machine system to suck out the shoe covers, which produces a lot of noise, which may be inconvenient in quiet environments such as hospitals or laboratories. In addition, the use of high-speed motors that require 110 or 220 volts of AC to create a vacuum may cause the possibility of electric shock, especially in a humid environment, where the risk of conduction is greater.

[0005] Patent document US2011272440 relates to an automated device for removing shoe covers, consisting of a chute for accommodating shoes, a vacuum system, a main chamber and an actuator. When the user places the shoe wrapped in the shoe cover on the chute, the actuator is triggered, activating the vacuum of the system. This causes the shoe cover to be sucked away through the vacuum suction tubular opening and guided to the main chamber. The chamber located remotely collects the removed shoe cover to prevent dirt and contaminants from being spread into the environment. The document aims to simplify and automate the removal of shoe covers. However, as is known, the suction system relies on the use of high-speed electric motors, the characteristics of which make them inconvenient in certain types of environments, such as:

[0006] - The motor and the suction system generate noise that is higher than what is tolerated in environments such as hospitals, laboratories, clinics, etc.

[0007] - Depending on the humidity level in the environment, and because the system is directly connected to the grid, without any type of power supply or protector between the grid and the motor; the motor used in this system presents a risk of electric shock to the user.

[0008] - The motor generates sparks when it is started, which prohibits its use in explosive gas environments.

[0009] -The system requires the use of high efficiency filters to retain pollutants before the air is discharged into the atmosphere. Summary of the invention

[0010] Novelty and Purpose of the Invention

[0011] The present invention relates to a machine for removing disposable sanitary shoe covers from the user's feet, without having to touch them with hands, squat or sit down, and also avoiding the use of devices that use electric motor suction for removal.

[0012] The working of the machine is based on a pair of conveyor belts located at the base of the system and below a platform specially designed for placing the foot wearing the hygienic shoe cover. The direction of these conveyor belts is arranged so that they move in opposite directions. When the user places her or his foot on the platform, the hygienic shoe cover rests on the conveyor belts.

[0013] This arrangement of opposite directions creates the effect of "pulling" the shoe cover into the system. Initially, this movement occurs in low areas. The machine, in conjunction with its conveyor belt, establishes a specific angle for pulling the shoe cover to the top of the collector inlet.

[0014] When the shoe cover moves into the machine through the initial conveyor belt, its trajectory is controlled by a coordinated and synchronized movement, leaving small gaps between the conveyor belts. This control enables the shoe cover to be guided by the continuous pulling movement of these conveyor belts to the upper part of the machine, where it is conveyed and released into a receiver designated for disposal.

[0015] The movement of the conveyor belt is driven by a motor and can be mechanically started by an electronic button on the safety bar or automatically started by an inductive sensor located on the platform. When a pneumatic motor is required, it is manually started by a pneumatic switch on the safety bar.

[0016] In addition, the machine includes a safety bar at the upper part for providing support when she or he lifts the foot and places it on the platform, preventing the person from losing balance during use, which facilitates the subsequent removal of the sanitary shoe cover.

[0017] Advantages and technical effects of the invention

[0018] Unlike the solutions existing in the prior art that use noisy suction systems and high-speed electric motors with high power requirements, the present invention is based on an extraction system provided by the friction generated by the movement of a conveyor belt in contact with the bottom of the disposable shoe cover worn on the user's foot. Noise emissions are low due to the absence of a suction motor. In addition, its motor runs on low-speed direct current derived from the power supply, eliminating motor noise and any risk of electric shock in humid environments.

[0019] In safety-critical environments with explosion risks, also known as "Explosive Atmospheres", the selection of pneumatic motors is necessary. Such locations require equipment that does not generate sparks or excessive heat, thereby reducing the risk of igniting combustible materials. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to enable any person skilled in the art to fully understand and implement the present invention, a clear, accurate and sufficient description is now given based on the following drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 - Left side perspective view of the machine;

[0022] Figure 2 - a right perspective view of the machine with the right structural wall hidden;

[0023] Figure 3 -Hide the right side view of the right structural wall;

[0024] Figure 4 - Right side perspective view detailing the articulation mechanism of the lower conveyor belt. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Figure 1 The machine 1 is shown from a perspective view on the left side, with a residue collector 10 at its rear. The machine 1 is provided with a platform 2 to support the foot wearing the disposable shoe cover. The platform 2 is mounted between the structural walls 4 and is located above an upper conveyor belt 3.1, which is in the opposite direction to a lower conveyor belt 3.2, which together constitute a drag mechanism 3 for the disposable shoe cover to enter the machine 1.

[0026] The machine 1 is equipped with a traction motor 5 powered by a VDC power supply 6, which is manually activated by a switch 7 mounted on a safety lever 9 or automatically activated by an inductive sensor 8 located on the side of the foot support platform 2.

[0027] Figure 2 and Figure 3The machine 1 is shown hiding one of the structural walls 4 to illustrate in detail the construction arrangement adopted between the steering roller 5.2, the pair of steering rollers 5.3 and the trio of steering rollers 5.4, which is used to define the extension direction of the conveyor belt forming an "L" shape and establish a specific angle for pulling the shoe cover to the top of the collector inlet. The purpose of arranging the pair of steering rollers 5.3 and the trio of steering rollers 5.4 is to prevent the disposable shoe cover from being introduced between the conveyor belt and the steering rollers during the passage between the conveyor belts. The conveyor belts 3.1 and 3.2 are equipped with stretching rollers 5.8 at the ends of the highest part of the machine 1 located on the collector 10.

[0028] The rotation direction of the conveyor belts 3.1 and 3.2 is Figure 3 Indicated by directional arrows, and its movement is achieved by the rotation of the drive roller 5.1 driven by the traction motor 5. The position of the inductive sensor 8 on the structural wall 4 relative to the platform 2 can be seen in these figures.

[0029] Figure 4 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the traction mechanism 3, wherein the upper conveyor belt 3.1 and the lower conveyor belt 3.2 meet to pull the shoe cover into the machine 1. The lower conveyor belt 3.2 has a mechanism comprising an articulated roller 5.5, the end of the axis of which is mounted to a moving member 5.6 pushed by a spring, the moving member 5.6 being mounted on a guide 5.7. The mechanism enables the articulated roller 5.5 to move adaptively to adjust the passage of the disposable shoe cover between itself and the driving roller 5.1.

Claims

1. A disposable shoe cover removal machine, comprising a platform (2) for supporting the foot mounted between structural walls (4) and provided with a receiving collector (10), characterized in that: The platform (2) is located above an upper conveyor belt (3.1), the displacement direction of the upper conveyor belt (3.1) is opposite to that of the lower conveyor belt (3.2), wherein the drive belts (3.1 and 3.2) constitute a traction mechanism (3) for dragging the shoe cover into the free space between the drive belts (3.1 and 3.2); the machine (1) is equipped with a traction motor (5), the traction motor (5) drives the driving roller (5.1) of the upper drive belt (3.1), the upper drive belt (3.1) drives the lower conveyor belt (3.2) equipped with an articulated roller (5.5) through friction, and the receiving collector (10) is located at the upper end of the conveyor belts (3.1 and 3.2).

2. The disposable shoe cover removal machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper transmission belt (3.1) is driven to rotate by the driving roller (5.1) and is installed on a steering roller (5.2), three steering rollers (5.4) and a stretching roller (5.8).

3. The disposable shoe cover removal machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower conveyor belt (3.2) is installed on the steering roller (5.2), the counter roller (5.3), the three steering rollers (5.4) and the stretching roller (5.8); the articulated roller (5.5) is installed between the moving parts (5.6), and the moving parts (5.6) are pressed by springs and move axially on the guide (5.7).

4. The disposable shoe cover removal machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The traction motor (5) is powered by a VDC power supply (6) and is activated by a switch (7) on a safety rod (9) or an induction sensor (8) located on the side of the platform (2).

5. The disposable shoe cover removal machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The traction motor (5) is driven by a pneumatic circuit.

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