Cleaning device for belt type conveying mechanism and meal cabinet

Abstract

The utility model discloses a cleaning device for a belt type conveying mechanism and a meal cabinet. The cleaning device comprises at least one cleaning unit arranged below the belt type conveying mechanism. The cleaning module comprises a cleaning agent assembly for spraying a cleaning agent towards the surface of a conveying belt of the belt type conveying mechanism and a circulating cleaning assembly with the rotating direction the same as that of the conveying belt; and the recycling module is arranged below the cleaning module and is used for recycling the stain mixed liquid generated by the circulating cleaning assembly. According to the utility model, the secondary pollution caused by the stain mixed liquid is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of cleaning devices, and in particular to a cleaning device capable of removing dirt from the surface of a belt conveyor mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] Belt conveyors are a common type of transport mechanism used in many devices. Existing belt conveyor structures typically include a roller assembly, a conveyor belt wrapped around the roller assembly, and items placed on the conveyor belt to be transported to a predetermined location. During operation, the conveyor belt, due to the structure of the belt conveyor, is constantly in a looping motion, meaning the conveyor belt surface remains in continuous contact with the transported items, making it relatively easy for dirt to accumulate.

[0003] Existing technologies employ cleaning devices to clean dirt from conveyor belt surfaces. However, these devices do not treat the resulting dirt mixture after cleaning, leading to limited cleaning effectiveness.

[0004] Taking food delivery lockers as an example, these lockers currently use belt conveyors to transport food, meeting consumers' needs for receiving takeout in a contactless, safe, and convenient environment. Their hygiene and safety features have gained wider attention and application, especially during the pandemic. However, due to insufficient sealing of some takeout containers, soup and oil from the food can easily spill onto the conveyor belt, soiling it. If the conveyor belt is not cleaned, these stains can easily mold and breed bacteria, affecting subsequent use. Even if existing cleaning equipment is used to clean the conveyor belt, the resulting mixture of stains during cleaning will also contaminate the food delivery locker. Therefore, current food delivery lockers mainly rely on manual cleaning. This method requires cleaning only after all goods have been sold, making it inconvenient to clean the dirt promptly and resulting in a poor dining experience for users. Utility Model Content

[0005] In order to solve the technical problem that the cleaning device in the prior art is not thorough due to the mixture of dirt and grime, this utility model proposes a cleaning device and a food cabinet for belt conveyor mechanisms.

[0006] The cleaning device for a belt conveyor mechanism proposed in this utility model includes at least one cleaning unit disposed below the belt conveyor mechanism.

[0007] The cleaning unit includes:

[0008] The cleaning module includes a cleaning agent assembly that sprays cleaning agent toward the surface of the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor mechanism, and a circulating cleaning assembly that rotates in the same direction as the conveyor belt.

[0009] A recycling module, located below the cleaning module, is used to recycle the mixture of dirt and grime generated by the circulating cleaning components.

[0010] Furthermore, the circulating cleaning assembly includes a cleaning wheel, or the circulating cleaning assembly includes a cleaning belt with bristles on its surface, and a drive unit that drives the cleaning belt to rotate cyclically.

[0011] Furthermore, the recycling module includes: a scraper that abuts against the surface of the cleaning wheel or cleaning belt of the circulating cleaning assembly, and a tray for holding the mixture of stains flowing down the scraper.

[0012] Furthermore, the scraper is vertically disposed at the lower part of the cleaning wheel or cleaning belt, with its upper end abutting against the surface of the cleaning wheel or cleaning belt and its lower end fixedly connected to the tray.

[0013] Furthermore, the bottom of the tray is equipped with a drain pipe connected to a one-way valve.

[0014] Furthermore, the cleaning agent assembly includes a nozzle, a hydraulic pump connected to the nozzle via a spray pipe, and a cleaning tank.

[0015] Furthermore, the cleaning tank contains water or degreasing agent.

[0016] Furthermore, the cleaning unit is provided in multiple ways; or, when the circulating cleaning assembly includes a cleaning belt, the cleaning agent assembly is provided in multiple ways.

[0017] Furthermore, when multiple cleaning agent components are provided, the cleaning tank of at least one cleaning agent component located upstream in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt contains degreasing agent, and the cleaning tank of at least one cleaning agent component located downstream in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt contains water.

[0018] Furthermore, at least one cleaning unit located upstream of the conveyor belt in the direction of movement also includes a detection module for sensing the location of dirt on the surface of the conveyor belt.

[0019] The food cabinet of this utility model includes a belt conveyor mechanism for transporting meals, and the belt conveyor mechanism is equipped with the cleaning device for the belt conveyor mechanism described in the above technical solution.

[0020] This utility model discloses a cleaning device for belt conveyor mechanisms. It recycles the stain mixture during the cleaning process, avoiding secondary pollution caused by the stain mixture. Moreover, the cleaning device of this utility model can be equipped with multiple cleaning units, and each cleaning unit can be equipped with multiple cleaning agent components as needed. This not only achieves thorough cleaning of the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor structure, but also avoids secondary pollution caused by the stain mixture. This allows the belt conveyor mechanism to better meet the corresponding hygiene requirements when used in equipment with high environmental requirements, such as food cabinets. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0022] Figure 1 This is a partial structural diagram of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Side view.

[0024] Figure 3 This is a simplified structural diagram of a cleaning unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a simplified structural diagram of the cleaning unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a simplified structural diagram of multiple cleaning units according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 6 This is a control flowchart of a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0029] 1. Equipment; 2. Belt conveyor mechanism; 3. Conveyor belt; 4. Cleaning wheel; 5. Nozzle; 6. Detection module; 7. Pallet; 8. Scraper. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the technical problem to be solved, the technical solution, and the beneficial effects of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain this utility model and are not intended to limit this utility model.

[0031] Therefore, a feature pointed out in this specification is used to describe one feature of one embodiment of the present invention, and does not imply that every embodiment of the present invention must have the described feature. Furthermore, it should be noted that this specification describes many features. Although certain features may be combined to illustrate possible system designs, these features may also be used in other combinations not explicitly stated. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, the described combinations are not intended to be limiting.

[0032] This invention proposes a new cleaning device for belt conveyor mechanisms, addressing the issue of the mixture of dirt and grime generated during the cleaning process of the conveyor belt surface.

[0033] This utility model discloses a cleaning device for belt conveyor mechanisms, which can be used in a variety of devices that include belt conveyor mechanisms, such as... Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, device 1 has multiple belt conveyor mechanisms 2. Each belt conveyor mechanism can be equipped with a cleaning device corresponding to this invention.

[0034] The present invention provides a cleaning device for a belt conveyor mechanism, the structure of which includes at least one cleaning unit disposed below the belt conveyor mechanism.

[0035] In a basic embodiment, the cleaning unit includes a cleaning module and a recycling module.

[0036] The cleaning module includes a cleaning agent component and a circulating cleaning component.

[0037] After the conveyor belt 3 of the belt conveyor mechanism 2 has finished transporting the transported items, the surface of the conveyor belt 3 will move to the bottom surface of the belt conveyor mechanism 2. Since the cleaning agent component is located below the belt conveyor mechanism 2, it can spray cleaning agent toward the surface of the conveyor belt 3 of the belt conveyor mechanism 2 to clean the conveyor belt 3.

[0038] The rotation direction of the circulating cleaning component is the same as that of the conveyor belt 3. Since the circulating cleaning component is located below the belt conveyor mechanism 2, the movement direction of the upper circulating cleaning component is opposite to that of the lower conveyor belt 3. This allows the surface of the circulating cleaning component to rub against the surface of the conveyor belt 3 to clean the conveyor belt 3.

[0039] The recycling module is located below the cleaning module and is used to recycle the mixture of dirt and grime produced by the circulating cleaning components.

[0040] This invention incorporates a recycling module below the cleaning module, allowing the mixture of stains produced by the cleaning module to be recycled, thus avoiding incomplete cleaning.

[0041] In one embodiment, the circulating cleaning assembly includes a cleaning wheel 4, which is fixed below the belt conveyor 2 by a rotating shaft. The radius of the cleaning wheel 4 is slightly larger than the distance between the rotating shaft and the conveyor belt 3. The motor drives the cleaning wheel 4 to rotate, and the surface of the conveyor belt 3 is cleaned by the bristles on the surface of the cleaning wheel 4.

[0042] In another embodiment, the circulating cleaning assembly includes a cleaning belt and a drive unit that drives the cleaning belt to rotate cyclically. The cleaning belt can be a strip with a cleaning surface such as bristles. The drive unit has a structure similar to the drive unit corresponding to the belt conveyor mechanism 2. It can support the cleaning belt through a roller assembly, so that the cleaning belt wraps around the roller assembly. Under the drive of the motor, the roller assembly rotates, which can drive the cleaning belt to move. Since the rotation direction of the motor output shaft is the same as the rotation direction of the motor output shaft of the belt conveyor mechanism 2, the movement direction of the lower conveyor belt 3 is exactly opposite to the movement direction of the upper cleaning belt. The upper cleaning belt can clean the surface of the lower conveyor belt 3.

[0043] In the embodiments of the two circulating cleaning components described above, the cleaning wheel 4 has a simpler structure, smaller size, and is easier to install; however, its contact area with the conveyor belt 3 is smaller, resulting in a less effective cleaning compared to the cleaning belt. The cleaning belt embodiment, on the other hand, has more structural components and a larger size, making it more limited by installation space; however, its larger contact area with the conveyor belt 3 leads to a better cleaning effect. Besides these two circulating cleaning components, many other existing circulating cleaning components exist in the art, and those skilled in the art can select the most suitable circulating cleaning component based on specific application scenarios.

[0044] In one embodiment, the recycling module includes a scraper 8 and a tray 7.

[0045] The scraper 8 abuts against the surface of the cleaning wheel 4 or cleaning belt of the circulating cleaning component, thereby scraping off the dirt mixture from the surface of the cleaning wheel 4 or cleaning belt and letting it flow into the tray 7. The tray 7 is used to hold the dirt mixture flowing down along the scraper 8, preventing the dirt mixture generated by the circulating cleaning component from flowing around and causing secondary pollution.

[0046] In a further embodiment, the scraper 8 is vertically disposed below the cleaning wheel 4 or the cleaning belt, with the upper end of the scraper 8 abutting against the surface of the cleaning wheel 4 or the cleaning belt, and the lower end fixedly connected to the tray 7.

[0047] This invention does not limit the specific position of the scraper 8 below the cleaning wheel 4 and the cleaning belt. For example, the scraper 8 can be located directly below the cleaning wheel 4 or the cleaning belt. Figure 3 One embodiment is provided in which the scraper 8 is located directly below the cleaning wheel 4.

[0048] In other embodiments, the scraper 8 may also be located to the side and below the cleaning wheel 4, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the scraper 8 is tilted to scrape the stain mixture on the moving cleaning wheel 4, so that the stain mixture can flow into the tray 7 along the tilted scraper 8.

[0049] In a further embodiment, a drain pipe can be provided at the bottom of the tray 7, and a one-way valve can be provided on the drain pipe or between the tray 7 and the drain pipe. The one-way valve can prevent the backflow of the sewage mixture, and the drain pipe and the one-way valve can also realize automatic sewage discharge due to gravity, preventing the sewage mixture from accumulating in the tray 7 and breeding bacteria.

[0050] In other embodiments, a sludge pump can be installed on the drain pipe to extract the sludge mixture in the tray 7, thus preventing the drain pipe from being unable to automatically discharge sludge by gravity due to structural installation limitations.

[0051] In one embodiment, the cleaning agent assembly includes a nozzle 5, a hydraulic pump connected to the nozzle 5 via a spray pipe, and a cleaning tank. When the circulating cleaning assembly uses a cleaning wheel 4, the nozzle 5 can be positioned in front of the cleaning wheel 4 in the cleaning unit. Relative to the direction of movement of the cleaning wheel 4, the nozzle 5 can be positioned in front of the contact point between the cleaning wheel 4 and the conveyor belt 3. That is, after the nozzle 5 sprays cleaning agent onto the corresponding position on the conveyor belt 3, a portion of the sprayed cleaning agent will pass over the cleaning wheel 4. Alternatively, the nozzle 5 can be positioned at the contact point between the cleaning wheel 4 and the conveyor belt 3. That is, while the nozzle 5 sprays cleaning agent onto the corresponding position on the conveyor belt 3, the cleaning wheel 4 and the conveyor belt 3 also contact the position where the sprayed cleaning agent is applied. The same principle applies when a cleaning belt is used in the circulating cleaning component. There are two options, but because the contact area between the cleaning belt and the conveyor belt 3 is larger, multiple sets of cleaning agent components can be set. For example, after the nozzle 5 of the first set of cleaning agent components sprays cleaning agent at a position on the conveyor belt 3 and is brushed and rubbed by the cleaning belt, the nozzle 5 of the second set of cleaning agent components continues to spray cleaning agent at the same position on the conveyor belt 3. The subsequent cleaning belt continues to brush and rub the position, which can effectively remove stubborn stains on the conveyor belt 3.

[0052] This invention does not limit the specific type of cleaning agent. In one embodiment, the cleaning tank contains water or a degreasing agent. Those skilled in the art can also select a suitable cleaning agent based on the characteristics of the items transported by the conveyor belt 3, so that the stains on the conveyor belt 3 can be removed in a targeted manner.

[0053] In one embodiment, multiple cleaning units can be provided, such as... Figure 5As shown. For example, when a cleaning unit uses one cleaning wheel 4 and one nozzle 5 as a group, multiple cleaning units can be set up, resulting in multiple groups of cleaning wheels 4 and nozzles 5. As another example, when a cleaning unit uses multiple cleaning wheels 4 and one nozzle 5 as a group, multiple cleaning units can be set up. In each group, one nozzle 5 specifically sprays the stains, and then multiple cleaning wheels 4 clean multiple times. The same principle applies when the cleaning unit uses a cleaning belt.

[0054] In another embodiment, when the circulating cleaning assembly includes a cleaning belt, multiple cleaning agent components can be configured on a single circulating cleaning assembly because the contact area between the cleaning belt and the conveyor belt 3 is large. This allows for multiple cleaning cycles for a single stain, thereby thoroughly removing the stain from the conveyor belt 3.

[0055] In a further embodiment based on the above embodiments, when multiple cleaning agent components are provided, this includes both cases where multiple simple cleaning agent components are provided and cases where multiple cleaning units are provided. In this case, the cleaning tank of at least one cleaning unit located upstream in the direction of conveyor belt movement contains degreasing agent, and the cleaning tank of at least one cleaning unit located downstream in the direction of conveyor belt movement contains water. When the items conveyed by the conveyor belt easily cause the conveyor belt to become contaminated with oil, ordinary degreasing agents also have a certain degree of polluting properties. Therefore, placing the degreasing agent upstream and the water downstream can achieve the functions of cleaning and rinsing.

[0056] The system contains several cleaning tanks filled with degreaser and several filled with water, allowing for flexibility in use depending on the cleaning needs.

[0057] In one embodiment, the embodiment can be further configured based on any of the above embodiments. In this embodiment, at least one cleaning unit located upstream of the conveyor belt in the direction of movement further includes a detection module. The detection module is used to sense the location of dirt on the surface of the conveyor belt. The detection module can be an existing detection module, which typically includes a camera and a controller. The detection module can locate the location of dirt to facilitate precise spraying by the nozzle. In this embodiment, those skilled in the art can combine it with appropriate algorithms to achieve precise dirt removal, reduce the use of cleaning agents, and achieve a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technical effect.

[0058] Figure 6 Taking the belt conveyor mechanism of a food cabinet as an example, a flowchart of the control cleaning unit is given.

[0059] When a user retrieves food from the conveyor belt of the food locker, the conveyor belt moves to the detection module. The camera in the detection module identifies any stains. If stains are found, the stepper motor of the circulating cleaning component is activated, and the cleaning wheels or belt of the circulating cleaning component begin to rotate and scrub the conveyor belt. At the same time, the hydraulic pump of the cleaning unit is activated, and the nozzles spray cleaning fluid, allowing the stains on the conveyor belt to be cleaned specifically.

[0060] If the camera in the detection module does not detect any stains, the stepper motor and hydraulic pump must be kept in a stopped state. For example, if the stepper motor and hydraulic pump are normally stopped, they should remain stopped. If the stepper motor and hydraulic pump are normally running, they should be stopped.

[0061] The above-mentioned technical solution of this utility model can be applied to equipment with belt conveyor mechanisms, such as food cabinets. Taking a food cabinet as an example, the food cabinet includes a belt conveyor mechanism for transporting food, and the belt conveyor mechanism is equipped with the cleaning device for the belt conveyor mechanism described in the above-mentioned technical solution.

[0062] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that directional terms such as "front, back, up, down, left, right," "horizontal, vertical, horizontal," and "top, bottom," indicating directions or positional relationships, are generally based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this utility model. The directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner or outer contours relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0063] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0064] Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is merely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning and therefore cannot be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0065] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps described in these embodiments do not limit the scope of this invention. It should also be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Techniques, methods, and devices known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and devices should be considered part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following drawings denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it need not be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

[0066] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A cleaning device for a belt conveyor, characterized in that The cleaning unit is arranged below the belt conveying mechanism. The cleaning unit comprises: The cleaning module comprises a cleaning agent assembly for spraying cleaning agent towards the surface of the conveying belt of the belt conveying mechanism, and a circulating cleaning assembly rotating in the same direction as the conveying belt; the circulating cleaning assembly comprises a cleaning belt with bristles on the surface, and a driving member for driving the cleaning belt to rotate circularly. The recycling module is arranged below the cleaning module, and is used for recycling the dirt mixture generated by the circulating cleaning assembly; the recycling module comprises an inclined scraper abutting against the surface of the cleaning belt at the upper end, and a tray fixedly connected with the bottom end of the scraper and used for containing the dirt mixture flowing along the scraper.

2. The cleaning device for a belt conveyor as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that The bottom of the tray is provided with a drain pipe connected with a one-way valve.

3. The cleaning device for a belt conveyor as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that The cleaning agent assembly comprises a spray head, a hydraulic pump connected with the spray head through a spray pipe, and a cleaning tank.

4. The cleaning device for a belt conveyor as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that The cleaning tank contains water or oil removing agent.

5. The cleaning device for a belt conveyor as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that The cleaning unit is provided with a plurality of cleaning units; or when the circulating cleaning assembly comprises a cleaning belt, the cleaning agent assembly is provided with a plurality of cleaning agent assemblies.

6. The cleaning device for a belt conveyor as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that When the cleaning agent assembly is provided with a plurality of cleaning agent assemblies, the cleaning tank of at least one cleaning agent assembly located upstream of the conveying belt in the movement direction contains oil removing agent, and the cleaning tank of at least one cleaning agent assembly located downstream of the conveying belt in the movement direction contains water.

7. The cleaning device for a belt conveyor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that At least one cleaning unit located upstream of the conveying belt in the movement direction further comprises a detection module for sensing the location of dirt on the surface of the conveying belt.

8. A servery comprising a belt conveyor for transporting food, characterized by, The belt conveying mechanism is provided with the cleaning device for the belt conveying mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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