Cleaning device for metal surfaces treated with dry lubricant or Anti-corrosion oil

Abstract

Proposed is a cleaning device (1) for metal surfaces treated with dry lubricant or anti-corrosion oil, comprising at least two cleaning belts (2) which are arranged in a housing (3) at the belt extremity, wherein a heating element (4) is formed in the housing (3).

Description

[0001] Cleaning device for metal surfaces treated with dry lubricant or corrosion protection oil

[0002] The invention relates to a cleaning device for metal surfaces treated with dry lubricant or corrosion protection oil, comprising at least two cleaning belts arranged at the head end of a housing. Such a cleaning device is widely used in practice.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of increasing the cleaning quality and cleaning capabilities of a cleaning device. This objective is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0004] The cleaning device described here is particularly suitable for cleaning metal surfaces. In the processing of metals, especially strip-shaped ones, it is common practice in the prior art to coat the metallic surfaces with a lubricant in order to prevent corrosion, for example in the case of steel, or to improve formability, for example in the case of aluminum.

[0005] It should be noted that the features listed individually in the dependent claims can be combined with one another in any technologically meaningful way and define further embodiments of the invention, as long as these combinations include the features of at least one independent claim. Furthermore, the features specified in the claims are further detailed and explained in the description, which also presents further preferred embodiments of the invention. To solve this problem, the invention proposes the features of claim 1. In particular, according to the invention, it is proposed that, in a cleaning device of the type described above, a heating element is formed in the housing to solve the aforementioned problem. Preferably, the heating element is designed as a heating foil.This allows viscous lubricants located in the cleaning device to be made fluid, thereby increasing the cleaning quality and cleaning properties of the cleaning device.

[0006] During cleaning, the lubricants, which can be oil-like (especially as corrosion protection for steel strips) or wax-like (especially for the workability of aluminium), mix with dirt particles that are on the surface to be cleaned.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described below, which can be combined alone or in combination with the features of other embodiments, optionally together with the features according to claim 1.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment, the heating element can be in contact with thermal insulation and additionally or alternatively thermally shielded to the outside by, for example, the aforementioned thermal insulation. Preferably, the thermal insulation is arranged between a housing wall and the heating element. This allows the heating element to be positioned precisely within the housing, minimizing heat loss. The thermal insulation prevents the housing wall from heating up and thus prevents energy loss.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment, a cover can be provided between the at least two cleaning belts and the heating element. This cover is in contact with the heating element and additionally or alternatively prevents contamination of the heating element. This ensures the heating performance of the heating element, as contamination would negatively affect it. The cover prevents viscous lubricants from adhering to the heating element, allowing them to rebound off and flow away. The cover and / or the heating element can be planar, curved around an axis, or three-dimensionally curved (concave or convex). Alternatively, the cover and / or the heating element can be corrugated. This allows for more efficient and uniform heating.

[0010] Dirt particles, for example, can be cleaned from the metal surface along with excess lubricant. The mixture of lubricant and particles should then be removed from the brush belt. Above a certain temperature, the viscous lubricants become thinner and flow more easily. Therefore, constant heating of the cleaning device, provided by the heating elements, is helpful for better cleaning of the belt.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment, the housing may incorporate a reversal of the direction of travel of the at least two cleaning belts. This reversal facilitates the removal of the lubricant-dirt particle mixture from the cleaning belts, thus improving and simplifying the cleaning process. The reversal of the direction of travel occurs at rollers arranged on the at least two cleaning belts. In an advantageous embodiment, the cleaning belts may also be equipped with movable filaments (bristles). These movable filaments improve the cleaning quality of the surface being cleaned. The filaments compensate for minor irregularities in the surface, enabling them to reach even hard-to-access areas.The filaments can be made of natural hair or of a synthetic material, especially polyamide. The filaments are arranged in filament bundles.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one squeegee can be provided that scrapes through the movable filaments. Preferably, several squeegees are provided that scrape through the movable filaments. The squeegees comb through the movable filaments and thereby help to remove and wipe off the lubricant-dirt particle mixture from the movable filaments. The squeegees are typically made of a metallic material and exhibit temperature resistance. Alternatively, the squeegees can also be made of another material, for example, a ceramic material or plastic. The squeegees can also be heated independently. This can improve the wiping of the filaments.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least two cleaning belts can be arranged to rotate in opposite directions. This increases the cleaning capability of the cleaning device.

[0014] The cleaning belts are characterized by their continuous, endless cleaning strips. The cleaning belts feature movable filaments. In an advantageous embodiment, a collection container can be arranged below the housing, which can collect lubricant-dirt particle mixtures. This allows the lubricant-dirt particle mixtures to be removed from the cleaning device, thus improving its cleaning performance. The collection container can be cleaned manually, and the lubricant-dirt particle mixtures can be removed from it. Alternatively, the collection container can be emptied and cleaned by an automatic device.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment, the collection container can be provided with an air outlet. This allows for pressure relief and temperature reduction via the air outlet. The air outlet can prevent pressure from building up in the collection container.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment, the air outlet may be provided with a filter. This allows contaminated mixtures of lubricant and dirt particles, especially aerosols or the like, to be filtered out, thus preventing environmental pollution from the contaminated mixtures.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the heating element can be designed to heat the housing to a temperature greater than 35°C. This allows the typically viscous lubricant-dirt particle mixture to be liquefied, flow more easily, and be removed by the scraper(s). The change in the flow behavior of this mixture occurs at a temperature of approximately 35°C.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least two cleaning belts can be spaced apart from the heating element. This ensures that the heating power is directed primarily at the cover where the lubricant-dirt particle mixture accumulates, and throughout the entire housing, rather than at the cleaning belts. This is essential for the flow behavior of the lubricant-dirt particle mixture.

[0019] In an advantageous design, the housing can be heated by convection. This keeps the energy consumption of the cleaning device low, which also reduces operating costs.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment, a surface to be cleaned can be located between the at least two cleaning belts. This allows the surface to be cleaned efficiently. Preferably, the surface to be cleaned is a metal surface.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least two cleaning belts can be designed as sword brushes. Sword brushes are linear brushes that have the shape of a sword. This allows for a high level of cleaning quality.

[0022] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least two cleaning belts can have identical permeability. Permeability refers to the flow capacity of fluids or solids, especially dirt particles and lubricants, through the filaments. This ensures good cleaning quality of the surface to be cleaned. Furthermore, operating costs can be kept low, as maintenance of the at least two cleaning belts can be performed jointly, or identical spare parts can be used. In an advantageous embodiment, the cover can be made of a metal or plastic plate. This allows for easy manufacturing with advantageous material properties.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment, the cover can be designed to have a higher thermal conductivity than the heating element. This allows heat to be optimally transferred from the heating element to the cover, which can improve the cover's functionality by more effectively heating the adhering lubricant-dirt particle mixture. Thermal conductivity is a material property that determines the heat flow through a material due to heat conduction.

[0024] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment, but is not limited to this embodiment. Further exemplary embodiments result from combining the features of one or more claims with each other and / or with one or more features of the exemplary embodiment and / or the previously described variants of the devices according to the invention.

[0025] It shows:

[0026] Fig. 1 a cleaning device according to the invention.

[0027] In the following description of various embodiments of the invention, elements that are identical in function are given identical reference numbers even if their design or shape differs.

[0028] For clarity, not all reference symbols are shown in the figures, even though the elements may well be present in the figure(s). However, identical reference symbols denote functionally and / or structurally identical components and functional units.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a cleaning device 1 according to the invention.

[0030] The cleaning device 1 comprises at least two cleaning belts 2. The cleaning belts 2 are arranged at their ends (e.g., at each deflection end) in a housing 3. A heating element 4 is formed in the housing 3. The heating element 4 can, for example, be a heating film.

[0031] In Fig. 1, the heating element 4 is in contact with a thermal insulation 5 and is thermally shielded from the outside by the thermal insulation 5. In an alternative embodiment, the thermal insulation 5 is positioned at a distance from the heating element 4. In any case, the thermal insulation 5 is located between a housing wall 6 and the heating element 4 or is integrated into the housing wall 6.

[0032] The thermal insulation 5 ensures that the heating power of the heating element 4 can be precisely directed within the housing 3 and towards the cleaning belts 2, which can keep electricity and maintenance costs low. A material with low thermal conductivity, particularly an insulator, can be used as thermal insulation 5.

[0033] This thermal shielding makes it possible to establish a required temperature at the cleaning belts 2 in a stable manner over time and independent of environmental influences. This results in favorable properties of the material picked up by the cleaning belts 2.

[0034] A cover 7 is formed between the at least two cleaning belts 2 and the heating element 4, which is in contact with the heating element 4 and additionally or alternatively prevents the heating element 4 from becoming dirty.

[0035] The cover 7 can alternatively be designed to be spaced apart from the heating element 4. This spacing between the cover 7 and the heating element 4 can be provided to prevent unnecessary heating of the cover 7 and to maintain a high overall heating output.

[0036] Heating element 4 can be designed as a heating film.

[0037] In the housing 3, the direction of travel of the at least two cleaning belts 2 is reversed. The at least two cleaning belts 2 have rollers 15 on which the direction of travel is reversed.

[0038] The at least two cleaning belts 2 have movable filaments 8. The movable filaments 8 are arranged in filament tufts. The movable filaments 8 can be made of natural hair or a plastic, in particular polyamide.

[0039] At least one squeegee 9 is provided, which scrapes through the movable filaments 8. Alternatively, several squeegees 9 can be provided, which scrape through the movable filaments 8. The squeegees 9 are designed to scrape the lubricant-dirt particle mixture from the movable filaments 8. The squeegees 9 are arranged in the housing 3 and are thus indirectly heated. However, the squeegees 9 can also be heated directly. The at least two cleaning belts 2 rotate in opposite directions relative to the rotation of drive pulleys that drive the cleaning belts. The directions of rotation of the belts relative to a top 16 and a bottom 17 of the workpiece 13 to be cleaned are therefore the same. This can increase the cleaning performance and cleaning quality.

[0040] Below the housing 3 is a collection container 10 in which the resulting lubricant-dirt particle mixture can be collected. The collection container 10 can be emptied manually or automatically by means of a device not specified in more detail.

[0041] The collection container 10 has an air outlet 11, which is intended to prevent an unwanted pressure build-up in the collection container 10.

[0042] The air outlet 11 has a filter 12 which is intended to prevent contamination of the environment with the lubricant-dirt particle mixture by filtering out any aerosols or the like that may be produced.

[0043] The heating element 4 preferentially heats the cover and the housing 3 to a temperature greater than 35 °C. This temperature is necessary to make the otherwise viscous lubricants flowable.

[0044] The at least two cleaning belts 2 are spaced apart from the heating element 4. Contact between the cleaning belts 2 and the heating element 4 is not recommended, as the cleaning belts 2, contaminated with the lubricant-dirt particle mixture, could foul the heating element 4, negatively impacting its heating performance. The housing 3 is heated by convection. A workpiece 13 with a top 16 and bottom 17 to be cleaned is located between the at least two cleaning belts 2. The at least two cleaning belts 2 are designed as sword brushes 14. The at least two cleaning belts 2 have identical permeability. Permeability refers to the passage of fluids and solids through the cleaning belts 2, in particular the movable filaments 8.

[0045] The cover 7 can be made of either a metal or plastic plate. Ideally, the cover 7 has a higher thermal conductivity than the heating element 4 in order to conduct the heat to the soiled surface of the cover.

[0046] In a cleaning device 1 for metal surfaces treated with dry lubricant or corrosion protection oil, comprising at least two cleaning belts 2 arranged at the head end in a housing 3, it is proposed that a heating element 4 be formed in the housing 3.

[0047] Reference list Cleaning device Cleaning belts Housing Heating element Thermal insulation Housing wall Cover Movable filaments Squeegee Collection container Air outlet Filter Workpiece Sword brushes Rollers Surface of workpiece to be cleaned 13 (Top) Surface of workpiece to be cleaned 13 (Bottom)

Claims

Claims 1. Cleaning device (1) for metal surfaces treated with dry lubricant or corrosion protection oil, comprising at least two cleaning belts (2) which are arranged at the head end in a housing (3), characterized in that a heating element (4) , in particular a heating film , is formed in the housing (3).

2. Cleaning device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating element (4) is in contact with a thermal insulation (5) and / or is thermally shielded from the outside by a thermal insulation (5), in particular wherein the thermal insulation (5) is arranged between a housing wall (6) and the heating element (4).

3. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the at least two cleaning belts (2) and the heating element (4) a cover (7) is formed which is in contact with the heating element (4) and / or which prevents contamination of the heating element (4).

4. Cleaning device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cover and / or the heating element has / have a shape bent about an axis or three-dimensionally curved.

5. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the direction of travel of the at least two cleaning belts (2) is reversed in the housing (3).

6. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the cleaning belts (2) have movable filaments (8).

7. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one squeegee (9), in particular several squeegees (9), is / are formed which sweeps / sweeps through the movable filaments (8).

8. Cleaning device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the squeegee(s) (9) is / are independently heatable.

9. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two cleaning belts (2) rotate in opposite directions.

10. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a collection container (10) is arranged below the housing (3), which can receive lubricant-dirt particle mixtures.

11. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collection container (10) has an air outlet (11).

12. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air outlet (11) has a filter (12).

13. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating element (4) heats the cover (7) and the housing (3) to a temperature heated to more than 35°C.

14. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two cleaning belts (2) are spaced apart from the heating element (4).

15. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (3) is heated by convection.

16. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a workpiece (13) with surfaces (16, 17) to be cleaned is located between the at least two cleaning belts (2).

17. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two cleaning belts (2) are designed as sword brushes (14).

18. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two cleaning belts (2) have an identical permeability .

19. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (7) is designed as a metal plate or a plastic plate.

20. Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (7) has a higher thermal conductivity than the heating element (4) .

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