Reorientable device for cleaning and disinfecting conveyor belts

Abstract

The innovative cleaning and disinfecting device (10a, 10b) for a conveyor belt (200) can be easily integrated as an accessory into a support structure (201) and consists of two parallel spray bars (101, 102) with aligned atomizing nozzles (104) which are joined on one side only to a riser for the supply of fluids (103, 130) forming a tubular fork-like structure. The upper spray bar (101) has a pre-assembled fastening group (106) of the clamping type, which protrudes with an intervening flat bracket (110) and is fixed to the side rails (201, 204) near the belt (200) and which fixes the entire device (10a, 10b) integrally and reversibly after the insertion of the spray bars (101, 102) on one side. The lower spray bar (102) is free-standing in a swinging manner (133) and is connected to swivel connections (103, 105) for aiming the nozzles as needed.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a redirectable device for cleaning and disinfecting conveyor belts. In particular, the proposed device is of the spray type.

[0002] The invention is specific to, but not limited to, the industrial field of automated handling by conveyor belts, and more specifically refers to an integrated accessory for removing production residues and cleaning and sanitizing said belts in the process of processing food products. [Background technology]

[0003] Nowadays, modern automated handling systems with conveyor belts are widely used in industry, crafts and logistics to move finished products, semi-finished products and even raw materials in processing stages quickly and efficiently. In general, conveyor belts consist of rigid plastic or metal staves, interconnected chains or flexible bands or links, which are closed rings like continuous belts and rotate around pins and / or return cylinders placed at both ends to maintain tension. The belt rests on a plane or a series of sliding guides and is driven by at least one electric motor in combination with gears or other conventional actuating parts, suitably integrated by sensors and electronic control means. A metal frame structure supports the belt with associated rollers and various motion transmission means and maintains it in a horizontal or inclined position depending on the processing needs. Side and lateral containment spurs may also be included that prevent the transported material from slipping out and / or tipping over.

[0004] In more technical detail, the problem of cleaning and disinfecting conveyor belts is widely known in the food sector when they are used to move and process fresh and perishable foods such as meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, and in such cases, it is practically necessary to carefully clean the belt and all surfaces that come into contact with such foods at the end of each day or shift. As an example, in the case of fish processing, a complete cleaning and disinfecting cycle includes various stages in sequence, first spraying with pressurized water, then adding an agent that breaks down lipids and agglomerated substances, then adding more water, then adding a sprayed or foamed disinfectant, and finally a long rinse. In such cases, at industrial or craft level, a complete cleaning and disinfecting cycle by manual spraying means, carried out in accordance with the current regulations of the industry, lasts more than two hours for a straight 20-meter belt. Diversified cleaning cycles are included for each type of fresh food transported, but these are still time-consuming and difficult to carry out.

[0005] This cleaning and disinfection operation of conveyor belts, practically carried out in the conventional manner, turns out to involve a considerable use of time and resources, especially due to the rapid deterioration of fresh material that adheres and accumulates on the surface of the conveyor means and in any recesses and gaps. There is therefore a need for a cleaning device suitable for thoroughly cleaning various types of belts, including stave belts, mesh belts and smooth belts, suitable for removing any debris that may become lodged or fall off during handling and spread, and in fact the hygiene and health risks of possible contamination are well known. There is therefore a need among operators in this field to solve these problems by providing each conveyor belt with its own means for automatic cleaning, such as an auxiliary device integrated into the machine.

[0006] Recently, several companies operating in the field of conveyor belts have proposed innovative spray cleaning solutions of automatic or non-manual type with a fixing device integrated into the support structure of the handling equipment, similar to what is already done in other industrial fields of food production; one can refer for example to cleaning solutions with tube and ball nozzles integrated inside wine or beer fermentation tanks. In the specific field of conveyor belts, specific cleaning systems are already known with pressure distribution means of the tubular bar type fixed laterally above and / or below the belt and atomizing nozzles (also called sprayers) directed at the belt so as to hit the entire band of the belt over its entire width. Integrated solutions are also known that fix a dispenser inside the belt itself, between the upper forward and lower retracting parts, close to the end return roller, or that replace this roller with a multifunctional cylinder, coaxially integrating a spray device with multidirectional nozzles that hit only in one direction or in both directions on the inner surface of the belt. As just one example, see the advanced cleaning system called HyClean CIP by Habasit AG, Reinach BL, Switzerland (www2.habasit.com / it / habasit-hyclean.htm).

[0007] It has also been found that the most effective and easiest solution from an operational point of view is to leave the spray nozzles open or without fairings or other means of containment, allowing the water and detergent substances to flow freely over the installed parts and on the floor. Indeed, nowadays, handling equipment in the food sector is mainly made of stainless steel, or synthetic materials suitable for the purpose, and is furthermore installed in an environment suitable for cleaning as required by current regulations.

[0008] In particular, for the purposes of the present invention, it was found that integrated cleaning solutions are designed and custom-made each time, are expensive, leave room for improvement also in terms of structure and fixing, and are not substantially technically optimized. In fact, it is well known that conveyor belt handling installations cannot be standardized as finished products, since they are made to order according to the specific processing needs of the customer, and it can be seen for example that the same belt may have different sizes and / or usage. Therefore, the integrated automatic cleaning system also needs to be adapted to the specific structural configuration of the installation in which it is installed. There is also a demand to provide existing installations with a modern cleaning system of the integrated type with automatic spray cleaning function. However, despite the aforementioned needs, no suitable cleaning device or technically effective solution is available according to the various objectives described below.

[0009] To determine the state of the art relevant to the proposed solution, a conventional review was conducted by searching public archives, which led to the identification of several prior art, including US Pat. Nos. 5,213,333, 5,213,625, 5,213,797 ... and 5,316,033.

[0010] US Pat. No. 5,399,633 and US Pat. No. 5,499,663 propose a cleaning device configured as a roller integrating a straight tubular bar which simultaneously functions as cleaning means and rotation pin. It can be mounted transversely inside the conveyor belt like a conventional sliding roller, in which case this tubular bar is provided with a number of spacer elements of the belt between which nozzles are interposed for cleaning purposes. The bar has a closed end and an open end which projects outside the belt for connection to a means for continuously supplying a cleaning liquid, and can be circular or square in cross section.

[0011] US Pat. No. 5,399,433 describes a combined device, as for example in US Pat. No. 5,399,433 and US Pat. No. 5,499,433, in which a first, upper roller cleaning element is in contact with the conveyor belt and is also connected to a second, lower cleaning element of the spray bar type, which are parallel to each other and joined by a common duct for the cleaning liquid, the second element being arranged below the belt so as to simultaneously clean both sides of the belt. Both the upper roller and the lower spray bar are restrained on both sides to the support structure of the conveyor belt at a total of four fixing points, with external support brackets and other mechanical fixing means, which are custom-made and each time designed according to the size and construction characteristics of this support structure.

[0012] So ultimately, it is reasonable to consider the following known: Roller cleaning devices arranged in contact with the inside of the conveyor belt and integrating longitudinally spray bars with atomizing nozzles and / or atomizing nozzles as axially rotating pins. A combined device in which spray rollers are connected to a lower spray bar, parallel to each other and transverse to the conveyor belt, and both are restrained to the support structure of the conveyor belt. Mechanical support and fixing means such as spacers and / or intervening elements and / or moulded brackets which are custom manufactured according to the specific size and construction characteristics of the conveyor belt support structure. · A means for transporting and / or diverting pressurized liquids connected to a continuous flow network.

[0013] (Disadvantages) By spraying appropriately pressurized, atomized or misted water, possibly with the addition of detergent substances, the aforementioned solution makes it possible to clean and disinfect conveyor belts, but it has certain drawbacks known to operators in the field.

[0014] It is widely known to operators in the field that conventional solutions using spray rollers, for example of the type described in patent application US 2005 / 0133639 or US 2005 / 0133659, act only on one side of the conveyor belt and therefore do not achieve sufficient effectiveness from the point of view of disinfection. Moreover, this roller, like the sliding roller, is permanently integrated into the support structure of the belt, which requires significant operations to modify and / or replace structural parts of the installation. This integration must therefore be carried out at an early stage of the realization of the installation or by stopping production. Moreover, in practice, said integration requires structural modifications of the installation, which turn out to be necessarily complex and difficult to realize.

[0015] The advanced solution mentioned in the patent application WO 2005 / 023333 instead acts on both sides of the belt and is considered satisfactory in terms of cleaning and disinfecting effect of modern conveyor belts. However, this solution, like any combined cleaning device with various means diversified by type and function, turned out to be not very versatile, expensive and bulky. In particular, it turned out that combined solutions such as the one in the patent application WO 2005 / 0233333 are not structurally optimized for easy adaptation to various installation configurations, like universal components. In fact, in order to be properly assembled on the support structure of the conveyor belt, several support and / or fastening elements are required to be manufactured in each case tailor-made, which therefore involves lengthy and expensive operations that are difficult to carry out.

[0016] In general, conventional known solutions are not known to be easy to install and therefore are rarely taken into account by end users in the frequent cases of post-initial installation applications of conveyor belt handling equipment with known consequences and risks associated with manual types of disinfection. Therefore, for the aforementioned post-initial installation applications or retrofit applications, ancillary equipment that can be easily integrated is desirable. In contrast, conventional known solutions have to be redesigned each time depending on the specific realization. Moreover, it is well known to operators in this field that the proper installation of the equipment and / or its components requires significant and irreversible modifications to its support structures.

[0017] In more technical detail, the spray rollers and spray bar dispensers are mounted separately or combined on the same belt, all fixed to the installation's support structure by specially molded seats integrated on the structural elements supporting the slide rollers, or laterally mounted from the outside by molded and custom-made superstructures. These fixing systems are not versatile, adaptable, do not facilitate easy assembly operations, and also increase the size and overall installation costs.

[0018] Another drawback resulting from the various issues mentioned above is linked to the fact that currently existing conveyor belt handling equipment is generally not equipped with suitable automatic spray cleaning systems, resulting in high hygiene and health risks in the case of food processing where the necessary manual disinfection operations are not properly performed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0019] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 6,978,880 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 6,740,172 [Patent Document 3] European Patent No. 2603443 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0020] In light of the above, it becomes obvious that there is a need for companies in this sector to identify advantageous solutions that can at least overcome the above problems and achieve their intended objectives. [Means for solving the problem]

[0021] These and other objects are achieved according to the invention according to the features of the appended claims, which solves the problem presented by an innovative cleaning and disinfecting device (10a, 10b) for a conveyor belt (200), which can be easily integrated as an attachment to a support structure (201) and which consists of two parallel spray bars (101, 102) with aligned atomizing nozzles (104) which are joined only on one side of the supply riser of the fluid (103, 130) forming a tubular fork-like structure. The upper spray bar (101) has a pre-assembled fastening group (106) of the clamping type, which protrudes with an intervening flat bracket (110) and is fixed to the side rails (201, 204) near the belt (200), which fixes the whole device (10a, 10b) integrally and reversibly after the insertion of the spray bars (101, 102) on one side. The lower spray bar (102) is free-standing in a swinging manner (133) and is connected to swivel connections (103, 105) for aiming the nozzles as needed.

[0022] Various objectives are achieved through significant creative contributions, the effect of which is immediate technological advancement.

[0023] The first objective was to make available a compact, integrated and effective spray cleaning device for conveyor belts that is structurally optimized for ease of assembly in new as well as existing installations. Indeed, the invention can be easily adapted to various structural configurations with minimal effort and without significant and / or irreversible modifications to the support structure of the conveyor belt.

[0024] The second objective, directly related to the previous one, was to make available a spray cleaning device for conveyor belts that is extremely versatile, suitable for completing existing installations as an accessory and capable of industrial production at low cost and to high quality standards. It would thus be possible to quickly, easily and economically modernize existing installations and bring them into compliance with the latest hygiene and food safety standards, while, moreover, significantly reducing the time and recurring costs involved in disinfection.

[0025] The third objective was to make available a highly effective and safe spray cleaning device for conveyor belts for disinfection purposes, with at least two spray dispensers that can be combined in a variably directional manner. In particular, it is intended to combine a spray bar type dispenser mounted on the inside of the belt with a similar dispenser on the outside of the belt, which can be rotated around its own axis to change direction and, if necessary, can also swing together with the supply riser in a stable position on its own. Furthermore, it is intended to increase the hygiene of the fastening means by providing molded components and interconnecting them with intrusion-proof type sealing gaskets, in order to make disinfection easier and safer.

[0026] The fourth objective was to make available a spray cleaning device for conveyor belts that is structurally improved, optimizes the means of transporting and fastening fluids, and reduces production costs. Furthermore, the costs and time for assembling the device on the belt handling installation are significantly reduced, and in particular the time and cost of downtimes are reduced to a few minutes, both during the assembly and disassembly of the same device.

[0027] Another objective was to significantly limit modifications to the installation's support structure, requiring no intervening superstructure, only fixing holes.

[0028] These and other advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawings in which details of implementation are by way of example only and not by way of limitation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a general axonometric view of a conveyor belt handling installation with the cleaning device, the subject of the present invention, attached thereto as an attachment, a first spray bar inserted on the inside of the belt and a second spray bar on the underside of the outside of the belt. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an axonometric view of the cleaning device that is the subject of the present invention, in the same position as in the previous figure, but showing a first variant embodiment in which the first spray bar has two fixed groups and is joined in series to the supply riser as an integral element. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the cleaning device that is the subject of the present invention, showing a second variant embodiment in which the first spray bar, like the second bar, is joined to a swivel connection to the supply riser. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an axonometric view of the cleaning device of the previous figure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 3 is an exploded axonometric view of a first variant embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is an exploded axonometric view of the second variant embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is another exploded axonometric view of the second variant embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, shown from a different angle than in the previous view, the fixing group represented in the next view being highlighted with a dashed circle. [Figure 8]FIG. 2 is an exploded, enlarged, axonometric view of the components that make up the fixing group shown in the previous figure, as provided by the present invention. [Figure 9] Here is an axonometric view of this fixed group assembled and without the spray bars, shown from the opposite angle to the previous view. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is an orthogonal top view of the fixed group of the previous figure. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a front view of the fixed group referred to in the previous figure, including part of the spray bar, with the XX cross-sectional plane shown in the next figure highlighted. [Figure 12] 1 is an orthogonal cross-sectional view of the fixed group relative to the XX cross-sectional plane. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is an axonometric view of a swivel connection for joining a spraybar to a supply riser as provided by the present invention. [Figure 14] As in the previous figure, this is an orthogonal cross-sectional view of the swivel connection relative to the vertical centerline plane, with the flange end of the spraybar included at the bottom and a threaded element at the top for connecting the supply riser. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is an axonometric view of an atomizing nozzle for a spray bar with a threaded connector and molded gasket as provided by the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a front view of the atomizing nozzle referenced in the previous figure, highlighting the concave mating surface of the gasket for mating to a spray bar of circular cross section, represented diagrammatically in dashed lines; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] With reference also to the drawings (Figs. 1 to 16), the subject of the invention relates to an advantageous cleaning and disinfecting device (10a, 10b) for conveyor belts (200), which is particularly efficient and convenient to use, configured as an attachment with a single open fork-like structure (Figs. 2, 3, 4) and which can be easily integrated into any belt handling installation (20) (Fig. 1). The proposed device can be inserted sideways and quickly restrained in an integral and removable manner to the support structure of the installation (201, 204) by its own fastening means (106), and can also be reoriented as required, as will be explained below. In the following, for the sake of brevity, it is made clear that this cleaning and disinfecting device will be referred to as the cleaning device (10a, 10b).

[0031] More specifically from a construction point of view, this cleaning device (10a, 10b) consists of a pair of tubular, mutually parallel spray bars (101, 102), a first upper bar (101) and a second lower bar (102), relative to their assembly position on the belt (20, 200, 204) (Figure 1). On one side, the two spray bars (101, 102) are joined to a common riser (103) for the supply of water and / or cleaning fluids, arranged perpendicular to them. Conversely, on the other side, they are individually closed and terminate without connection. Considering the assembled position on the belt (Figures 1, 2, 3), this supply riser (103) has its inlet (130, 131) located at its lower end for easy connection to the flow network (205), while the opposite end is bent like an elbow (132) and butt-joined horizontally to this first spray bar (101) with one-way flow, and the second spray bar (102) is connected perpendicularly to this riser (103, 105) below the first spray bar (101), so that the cleaning flow enters perpendicular (103, 131) to the spray bars (101, 102) and continues inside, exiting through the atomizing nozzle (104) and acting with a balanced spray from above and below the belt when the devices (10a, 10b) are attached thereto (Figure 1). The incoming streams can be combined according to the needs of the various wash cycles, for example by adjusting or mixing streams containing detergents or degraders, or streams containing other specific substances, in accordance with current regulations or operational practices.

[0032] The spray bars are provided with individual atomizing nozzles (104) that are aligned and spaced to direct the cleaning spray over the entire width (L) of the belt (200) and onto all parts or bands of the belt (200) and simultaneously hit it from above and below. The length of both bars therefore corresponds at least to the width (L) of the belt (200). Preferably, the lengths are equal between the two bars, but they can be different if necessary. In general, the nozzles (104) are revealed to be interchangeable specific perforation means suitable for spraying liquid under pressure or any cleaning fluid with adequate control of the jet angle and droplet size, and they are selected depending on the type of spray required and the intended application. Conventionally, these nozzles are called atomizing nozzles or spray nozzles, since this liquid is converted into very small droplets and is forcedly directed or atomized according to the needs of various applications. In this specification, the expression atomizing nozzles (104) is intended to include any type of spray nozzle.

[0033] More specifically from a technical point of view regarding the connection of the nozzles (104) with the spray bars (101, 102), they are screwed or engaged into corresponding holes with an intervening sealing gasket. Preferably, the invention provides a spray bar with a circular tubular cross section, to which all the atomizing nozzles (104) are individually attached by means of an intervening molded support and sealing gasket (127), in particular, which is flat (128) towards the nozzles and concave (129) towards the bar, so that it is connected in a continuous and formally matching manner to the curved outer surface of the bar and seals all gaps and connection holes (Figures 15 and 16). For these purposes, and to enhance the flowability of the cleaning liquid, it is preferable that the side of this gasket is also concave and / or has a tangential profile. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this molded gasket (127) is colored in a contrasting shade to the atomizing element, which is made, for example, of food-grade stainless steel, and more generally, in order to distinguish and highlight the stainless steel parts from the deformable parts, the invention provides that all gaskets, including the gaskets of the fixed group (106) and the swivel connection (105), are colored equally in a contrasting color.

[0034] The proposed fork-shaped (101, 102, 103) cleaning device (10a, 10b) can be easily and quickly integrated into the support structure (201) of a typical automated conveyor belt handling installation (20, 200), with the slide rollers mounted on the side rails (204) and the two spray bars (101, 102) inserted sideways as independent attachments not touching the belt (200), so that the belt (200) is interposed between them and the feed riser (103) is completely outside on one side (Figure 1). In particular, only the first spray bar (101, 106, 110) is fixed to the support structure (201, 204) after being inserted horizontally between the forward belt (200a) and the reverse belt (200b). For this purpose, the first spray bar (101) is provided with at least one preassembled fastening group (106) of the bracket type with clamps, which is suitable for supporting and fastening the corresponding side rails (204), so that the whole device (10) is fixed in the correct operating position in an integral and removable manner. The second spray bar (102) is instead suspended and self-supporting by a common supply riser (103), preferably joined by a swivel connection (105), as will be explained in more detail below (Figures 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14).

[0035] The aforementioned fork configuration (figures 2, 3, 4) in combination with an innovative pre-assembled fastening system (106) allows the cleaning device (10a, 10b) to be easily integrated as a universal accessory into any conveyor belt (20, 200), even if the handling equipment (20, 201) is not designed or prepared for this integration. A fastening system using a flat bracket with clamps (106, 110) is proposed, which allows the final positioning relative to the belt and also the spray direction to be varied, thus facilitating the assembly process and providing sufficient adaptability.

[0036] More specifically, with regard to ease of assembly, it is noted that the devices (10a, 10b) have a fork structure that opens on opposite sides to the supply riser (103), so that the first spray bar (101) can be inserted and fixed without interfering with the support structure of the belt on one side between the upper forward and lower reverse parts (200a, 200b). The other spray bar (102) is instead below the belt (200) and is adapted to impinge on both sides thereof simultaneously and in a directional manner (Figures 1, 2, 3). It should be noted that the second spray bar (102) is connected to this riser (103, 121) by a swivel connection (105) preferably provided with a flange (119) and with a conical thread (122), which is optionally tightened from the outside by a nut-shaped metal ring (120) to fix the second spray bar (102) in the desired orientation of the sprays (104, 124, 125), but is not limited thereto. A ring seal (123) is interposed between the connected parts and has an anti-intrusion effect (FIGS. 13, 14). The invention also includes, although not shown in the figures, a variant of the embodiment simplified from a structural point of view, in which the spray bar is fixed or firmly joined to the riser in a predetermined manner, thus abandoning the customizable orientation of this swivel connection. In particular, the proposed innovative fastening system (106) allows the cleaning device (10, 103) to partially swing before being fully fastened and rotate about the longitudinal axis of the first bar (101, 125, 133, 134) to precisely adapt the position, distance and direction of the sprays (101, 102, 104) relative to the belt (200) (Figures 1, 5, 6). These combined features of the configuration (101, 102, 103) and fastening (105, 106) make the proposed device redirectable in an effective and widely customizable manner.

[0037] More specifically from a technical point of view with regard to the fastening group (106) of the first bar (101) (figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12), it consists of two opposing perforated discs (107a, 107b) with a central hole for this bar (101, 109) and a cross hole for the fastening screw (115), which acts by clamping an intermediate element comprising at least one flat bracket (110) protruding from this disc and fixed to the support structure, and a number of waterproof gaskets (111). This gasket is ingress-proof, i.e. has the function of preventing the ingress of liquids and / or organic substances that may cause bacterial growth inside. Preferably, the fastening is obtained by the fastening screw (115) on a threaded seat of the external coupling disc (108, 109). This flat bracket (110) has an elongated configuration relative to this disk, preferably asymmetrical, and has a main hole (113) into which it is inserted and rotates in its bar (101) until it reaches the correct mounting position relative to the belt and thus corresponds to the clamping position of the entire group (106). In fact, this position is defined each time during the installation phase of the device on the conveyor belt, depending on the support structure and / or the width (200, L) of the conveyor belt. Furthermore, this bracket (110) comprises, at the remote ends, at least two fastening holes (114) located opposite to the main hole (113) to block this group (106) relative to the support structure of the belts (201, 204) and stably fix it in the most suitable operating position. For this purpose, these two fastening holes (114) overlap corresponding holes and / or screw seats obtained simultaneously or beforehand in the side rails (201, 204) adjacent to the belt, as will be described below.

[0038] The cleaning device (10a, 10b) is then obtained (FIGS. 5, 6) with the upper bar (101, 106, 125) acting as a restraining and rotation pin, with the lower spray bar swinging (102, 133, 134), i.e. rocking, before the brackets (101, 110, 115) are fully tightened and stably fixed (114, 116) to the support structure of the belt (200, 201). The final tilt of the attached device (10, 103, 20) (FIG. 1), or the positioning of the lower bar relative to the belt (102, 200) and upper bar (101), is determined by the final tightening position (106). It is pointed out that for this purpose the flat bracket (110) can slide (113) and rotate in its own plane and can be clamped (108, 109, 115) in each case in a more suitable operating position, depending on the desired cleaning and / or type of belt and / or product to be conveyed, so as to adjust as required the inclination of the supply riser (103) and / or the direction of the sprays (101, 102, 104) and / or the distance of the spray bars relative to the belt. Thus, from an operational point of view, once the fixing group (106) is correctly positioned and the flat bracket (110) is oriented, the operator can simply perform this tightening (108, 109), insert the upper bar into the belt (101, 200), align the fixing holes of the brackets (110, 114) with the aforementioned holes and / or screw seats previously provided in the side rails (204), join them with the through screws (116) or equivalent connecting elements, and thus integrally and reversibly fix the entire cleaning device (10a, 10b).

[0039] More specifically in terms of the operation of fastening the flat brackets (110, 114) to this side rail (204), it is noted that conveyor belts generally have sliding or return rollers (202) mounted along the path of the belt, butted symmetrically corresponding to central pins on both sides, and are conventionally fastened to transverse continuous elements of the support structure (201), also called rails (204) or boards. The cleaning device (10, 106) proposed by the present invention provides for fastening this upper spray bar (101, 106, 110, 116) to one or both of these rails (204) in a manner similar to that of a sliding roller, but without contacting the belt (Figure 1). In most cases, this side rail (204) consists of a rectangular or circular steel tube arranged longitudinally along the belt, or is a continuous band with a height equal to the distance between the forward and reverse parts of the belt, or alternatively, it has an equivalent grid or frame construction. In either case, the lateral insertion of the inner bar (101) of the belt between the forward and reverse sections (200a, 200b) is easily accomplished by directly inserting it into the gap if the rail is tubular or frame-like, or, if the rail is a rigid band, by making a conventional hole (203) of larger diameter for the same bar inside and then inserting it through it.

[0040] In practice, the aforementioned fastenings (106, 110, 204) can be provided only on one side of the belt where there is a protruding spray bar (101) or symmetrically on both sides of the belt, thus fastening to both opposing side rails where greater stability is required during use. In practice, when the width (L) of the belt (200) is limited and / or the pressure of the cleaning fluid is minimal, only one fastening group (106) is provided, located on this bar (101) near the supply riser (103), and instead, when the width (L) of the belt (200) is very wide and / or this pressure is high, the same fastening groups (106) are mounted symmetrically on both sides of the belt, one on each side (Figure 1), in order to avoid vibrations and excessive noise and to increase safety and durability.

[0041] Instead of a pair of opposing fasteners (106), an economical type composite solution is also provided, suitable for mounting the cleaning device on a continuous band rail that crosses through conventionally made holes: near the supply riser (103) only one fixing group (101, 106, 112, 201) is provided and fixed, while on the opposite side, the same bar (101) is simply inserted with rotational restraint in a hole of a diameter suitable for this purpose, thus limiting misalignment and excessive vibrations.

[0042] In the first embodiment variant (10a) (figures 2, 5), the proposed cleaning device is made of a steel tube of circular cross section, in which a first continuous tube with a 90 degree bend, like an upturned L, forms a first spray bar (101, 104) already joined to a riser (103) for the supply of cleaning fluid. Structurally, it can be made in one piece using a single curved tube or two butt-welded tubes. Then, the male threaded elements of the swivel connections (105, 106) are welded to this riser (103) for the second spray bar (102).

[0043] In the second embodiment variant (10b) (figures 3, 4, 6, 7), which is equivalent to the above solution in terms of construction and fastening to the belt, the upper spray bar (101) and the supply riser (103) are discontinuously and butt-jointed by a swivel connection (105) with a conical thread similar to that provided on the lower bar (102), so that the upper bar (101) can also rotate 360 ​​degrees around its own axis to change its orientation, allowing the atomizing nozzles (104) to be aimed with greater freedom and precision. Thus, in this case, the joint butt of the upper bar (101) is, for the purposes of this connection, flanged (119) like the lower bar (102) and is similar or equal in functionality, construction and length to each other (101, 102). It is noted that in this variation of the second embodiment, the supply riser (103) is a truncated pipe with one inlet (130) at the bottom and two parallel outlets, with the top head bent like a manifold to connect both spray bars at 90 degrees.

[0044] Finally, the proposed devices (10a, 10b) for spray cleaning of conveyor belts (20, 200) have been experimentally verified to be extremely effective and safe in disinfecting, fast and convenient even for frequent use as an accessory that can be easily attached or detached in multiple installations as needed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10a, 10b Cleaning and disinfecting device for conveyor belts according to the invention, which can be easily integrated as an accessory. In the first embodiment variant (10a), the upper spray bar is connected continuously to the supply riser as an integral element, whereas in the second embodiment variant (10b), the upper spray bar is connected with a swivel connection as an internal spray bar and is structurally discontinuous. 101 1st Upper Spray Bar 102 Second Lower Spray Bar 103 Riser for supplying cleaning fluid 104 Atomizing nozzle 105 Swivel connection 106 Groups for fastening to the supporting structure of conveyor belts, of a reversible and sanitary type for disinfection purposes 107a, 107b Opposing perforated disks 108 External Coupling Disc 109 Screw seat for clamp 110 Flat bracket 111 Ingress-proof seal gasket with consideration for safety and hygiene 112 Self-locking gasket 113 Spray bar hole 114 Holes for fastening to supporting structure 115 Component Fastening Screw 116 Screws for fastening to supporting structure 117 External Plate 118 Spacer 119 Circular End Flange 120 Threaded Ring Nut 121 Threaded connection element in supply riser 122 conical thread 123 Ring gasket with intrusion prevention function for safety and hygiene 124 Axial rotation of the bar to direct the spray 125 Bar Longitudinal Axis 126 Nozzle threaded connector with internal channel 127 Molded Nozzle Gasket 128 Flat connecting surface towards the atomizing nozzle 129 Concave joint surface towards the bar 130 Cleaning fluid inlet 131 Flow direction 132 Elbow bend 133 Riser and lower bar swing 134 Riser Longitudinal Axis 20 Automatic handling equipment 200 Conveyor Belt 200a upper forward belt 200b Lower Retract Belt 201 Support structure 202 Roller 203 Bar insertion hole 204 Side Rail 205 External flow path network for continuously flowing water and / or cleaning fluids L conveyor belt width

Claims

1. A cleaning device (10a, 10b) of the spray and redirectable type, also for disinfecting, for a conveyor belt (200) of an automated handling installation (20) having a support structure (201) with side rails (204), comprising: The cleaning device (10) has two integrated, parallel, tubular spray bars with atomizing nozzles; the spray bars can be positioned horizontally above and below the conveyor belt (200) without contacting the conveyor belt (200), so that the sprays of the atomizing nozzles simultaneously hit a portion of both the outer and inner surfaces of the conveyor belt across the entire width (200, L); said washing device (10a, 10b) having a single inlet (130) for washing fluid for connection to a continuous flow external flow network (205); The cleaning device (10a, 10b) can be integrally joined to the support structure (20, 201) of the installation by mechanical fastening means, The cleaning device (10a, 10b) is composed of a single tubular and coplanar structure, open on one side like a fork, with a first upper spray bar (101) and a second lower spray bar (102), which are parallel and joined on one side to a common supply riser (103) of the cleaning fluid arranged perpendicular to the first upper spray bar (101) and the second lower spray bar (102), and on the other side the first upper spray bar (101) and the second lower spray bar (102) are individually closed and terminate without any connection, The supply riser (103) has a unidirectional flow from the bottom upwards, the inlet (130) corresponds to a lower end, the opposite end is curved like an elbow (132) and is joined horizontally butt to the first spray bar (101), and the second spray bar (102) is connected perpendicularly to the riser (103) by a connector; The wash flow enters the spray bars (101, 102) vertically (103, 130, 131) from the bottom and continues through the interior, exiting through a series of atomizing nozzles (104); said fork-shaped (101, 102) cleaning device (10a, 10b) can be joined to said support structure (201) by inserting it sideways and fixing only said first spray bar (101, 106, 110), said first spray bar (101, 106, 110) comprising at least one fixing group (106) of the clamp-and-bracket type, supporting and fixing said first spray bar (101, 106, 110) to the side of said conveyor belt (200) corresponding to a side rail (204), thus fixing the whole cleaning device (10a, 10b) in an operating position in an integral and removable manner, A cleaning device (10a, 10b), characterized in that the second spray bar (102) is free-standing and is joined at one side to the supply riser (103) by the connection.

2. The cleaning device (10a, 10b) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning device (10a, 10b) is capable of changing the direction of positioning of the cleaning device (10a, 10b) relative to the belt (200) and is swung (102, 103, 133) around the longitudinal axis of the first spray bar (101, 125) until the fixing group (106) is fully tightened to fix the supply riser (103, 134) and the second spray bar (102) in the desired position.

3. 3. A cleaning device (10a, 10b) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least the second spray bar (102) can be oriented independently of said positioning relative to the belt (133, 134, 200) and is connected to the supply riser (103) by a swivel connection (105) which allows the second spray bar to rotate about its own axis (102, 123, 124) and to orient the atomizing nozzles (104) as required.

4. The fixing assembly (101, 106) comprises: Opposing perforated discs (107a, 107b); a coupling disc (108) acting by clamping; an intrusion prevention seal gasket (111) and at least one self-locking gasket (112); a flat bracket (110) interposed between the perforated discs (107a, 107b) and projecting from the perforated discs (107a, 107b), the flat bracket (110) being provided with a main hole (113) coaxial with the discs for the first bar (101) and holes for fastening screws (115), the projecting part of the flat bracket (110) being arranged with at least two fastening holes (114) for fixing the flat bracket (110) without rotation to the support structure (20, 201), the support structure (20, 201) engaging with screws (116) in corresponding fastening holes of a side rail (204) made as through holes and / or screw seats at least on the side of the supply riser (103) in the vicinity of the belt (200); 4. A cleaning device (10a, 10b) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises

5. The cleaning device (10a, 10b) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that within the same first spray bar (101) there are two identical but oppositely located fixing groups (106), located symmetrically at opposite ends of the bar (101) fixed to the support structures (201, 204) on either side of the conveyor belt (200).

6. The cleaning device (10a, 10b) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first bar (101) is fixed by the fixing group (106, 204) only on the side of the supply riser (103) and its opposite end is restrained on the support structure (201) only by insertion inside a hole for centering.

7. The fastening device (10a, 10b) according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the swivel connection (105) comprises a ring gasket (123), a circular flange (119) protruding from the end of the spray bar and a fastening threaded ring nut (120) with a conical thread (122) corresponding to the end of the connecting element (121) protruding from the supply riser (103).

8. The fastening device (10a) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the supply riser (103) is joined to the first spray bar (101) in structural and fluidic continuity as an integral element.

9. The fixing device (10b) according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the supply riser (103) is joined to the first spray bar (101) in a fluidic but structurally non-continuous manner and is discontinuous at a swivel connection (105) as is the second spray bar (102, 105) and is butt-connected.

10. 10. The fixing device (10b) according to claim 9, characterized in that the first and second spray bars (101, 102) are identical, have the same overall length, have the same flanges (105, 119) of the swivel connections, and have the same number of atomizing nozzles (104).

11. 11. The fixing device (10a, 10b) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the spray bar (101, 102) has a circular tubular cross section with the atomizing nozzle (104), the atomizing nozzle (104) being screwed onto the spray bar (101, 102) by means of an intervening molded support and sealing gasket (127) which is flat (128) towards the atomizing nozzle and concave (129) towards the bar, thereby connecting in a continuous and formally aligned manner with the curved outer surface of the bar and sealing all gaps.

12. 12. The fastening device (10a, 10b) according to claim 11, characterized in that the molded support and sealing gasket (127) is colored.

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