Basket washer

Abstract

To sufficiently wash a handle of a basket.SOLUTION: A basket washing machine (1) includes a rail (10) arranged in a washing part (9) which is brought into contact with a body part (3) of a basket (2) conveyed by a conveyor (7) and thereby supports the body part (3) at a position separated from an endless conveyance body (8).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a basket washer. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a technique is known in which a container is transported to a washing section and washed with a liquid in the washing section (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-57634 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In some cases, the container to be cleaned is a basket having a main body and a handle rotatably connected to the main body. In this case, in the prior art, it is difficult for the liquid to reach the back side of the handle (the part facing the main body in the flat state described below), and there is a risk that the handle will not be cleaned sufficiently. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A basket washer according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a basket washer for washing baskets having a main body and a handle rotatably connected to the main body, and includes a conveyor having an endless transport body on which the basket to be transported is placed, a washing unit that washes the basket using a liquid, and a rail arranged in the washing unit that abuts against the main body of the basket transported by the conveyor, thereby supporting the main body at a position away from the endless transport body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the basket handle can be thoroughly cleaned. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a basket washer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cleaning system for cleaning the entire basket. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cleaning system for cleaning the entire basket. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cleaning system for cleaning the entire basket. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cleaning system for cleaning the entire basket. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cleaning system specialized for cleaning handles. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cleaning system specialized for cleaning handles. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cleaning system specialized for cleaning handles. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cleaning system specialized for cleaning handles. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the flat state of the basket. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following describes an embodiment of the present disclosure. For convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals are used to designate components having the same functions as those previously described, and the description thereof may not be repeated.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a basket washer 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 2 to 5 are each a schematic diagram of a cleaning system that cleans the entire basket 2. FIGS. 6 to 9 are each a schematic diagram of a cleaning system specialized for cleaning the handle 4. FIGS. 2 and 6 are each a perspective view of the basket 2 as seen from the downstream side of the conveyance path. FIGS. 3 and 7 are each a perspective view of the basket 2 as seen from the upstream side of the conveyance path. FIGS. 4 and 8 are each a side view. FIGS. 5 and 9 are each a front view of the basket 2 as seen from the downstream side of the conveyance path.

[0010] The basket washer 1 is for washing the basket 2.

[0011] The basket 2 has a main body 3 and a handle 4 rotatably connected to the main body 3. The basket 2 is a basket that can take a flat state (see FIG. 10 ) in which the handle 4 rotates so that the handle 4 fits along the edge 6 of the opening 5 of the main body 3. Multiple baskets 2 in this flat state may be stacked. The basket 2 has two handles 4. An example of a basket 2 is a shopping basket that is mainly used in stores.

[0012] The basket washer 1 includes a conveyor 7, a washer 9, and a rail 10.

[0013] The conveyor 7 has an endless carrier 8. The baskets 2 to be transported in the basket washing machine 1 are placed on the endless carrier 8. The conveyor 7 transports the baskets 2 in a flat position with the handles 4 facing downwards. Examples of the endless carrier 8 include a belt and a chain.

[0014] In addition to the basket washer 1, a pre-cleaning treatment device may be provided upstream of the basket washer 1 on the transport path for the baskets 2, performing specific treatment on the baskets 2 before they are washed by the basket washer 1. The conveyor 7 may extend from the pre-cleaning treatment device to the basket washer 1, and transport the baskets 2 that have been treated by the pre-cleaning treatment device to the basket washer 1. Examples of such pre-cleaning treatment devices include a basket disassembly device that removes individual baskets 2 from a group of stacked baskets 2 and sends them sequentially to the conveyor 7, and a basket inversion device that inverts the baskets 2 upside down.

[0015] In addition to the basket washer 1, a post-cleaning treatment device that performs specific treatment on the baskets 2 after they have been cleaned by the basket washer 1 may be provided downstream of the basket washer 1 on the transport path for the baskets 2. The conveyor 7 may extend from the basket washer 1 to the post-cleaning treatment device, and the baskets 2 that have been cleaned by the basket washer 1 may be transported to the post-cleaning treatment device. An example of such a post-cleaning treatment device is a basket dryer that dries the baskets 2.

[0016] The cleaning unit 9 uses a liquid to clean the basket 2. Examples of the liquid include water and cleaning liquid for the basket 2.

[0017] The cleaning unit 9 includes a first arch 12 and a second arch 13. Each of the first arch 12 and the second arch 13 is formed with, for example, a nozzle, and is configured so that the liquid can be sprayed through this nozzle. Each of the first arch 12 and the second arch 13 straddles the endless conveyor 8, and is configured so that the basket 2 being transported in the basket washer 1 can pass through the cleaning unit 9. According to this configuration, the liquid is sprayed from the cleaning unit 9 onto the outer surface of the basket 2 as it passes through the cleaning unit 9, thereby cleaning the basket 2 from the outside.

[0018] The first arch 12 is located upstream of the rail 10 in the transport path of the car 2, and is responsible for cleaning the entire car 2. The second arch 13 is located across the rail 10, and is specialized for cleaning the handle 4.

[0019] The cleaning unit 9 may include, instead of the first arch 12 and the second arch 13, a single arch that combines the functions of the first arch 12 and the second arch 13. The single arch may be movable along the transport path of the basket 2.

[0020] The rail 10 is disposed in the cleaning unit 9. The rail 10 abuts against the main body 3 of the basket 2 transported by the conveyor 7, thereby supporting the main body 3 at a position separated from the endless transport body 8. By supporting the main body 3 at a position separated from the endless transport body 8, the rail 10 causes the handle 4 to be released from its flat position by its own weight. In other words, as the rail 10 supports the main body 3 of the transported basket 2, the handle 4 of the basket 2 rotates due to gravity, transitioning from a stored state to a state in which it can function as a handle. The rail 10 supports the main body 3 between the two handles 4, which allows the rail 10 to be positioned in a way that is not too strained with respect to the arrangement of the endless transport body 8, the cleaning unit 9, etc.

[0021] The rail 10 has an upward slope at the start end 16 and a downward slope at the end end 17 relative to the main body 3 of the car 2 transported by the conveyor 7. It is preferable that there is at least no step between the upward slope and the downward slope, and it is more preferable that the rail 10 is flat. The lack of steps in the rail 10 reduces the risk of the transported car 2 getting caught on the rail 10 and disrupting its behavior, or of the transported car 2 colliding with the rail 10.

[0022] It is not essential that the handle 4 be released from the flat position by the weight of the handle 4. For example, the basket washer 1 may be provided with a structure for releasing the handle 4 from the flat position when the main body 3 is supported at a position away from the endless conveyor 8, and the handle 4 may be released from the flat position by this structure.

[0023] The handle 4 is cleaned using the following mechanism. The rail 10 supports the main body 3 at a position away from the endless conveyor 8. At this time, the handle 4 rotates from its flat position relative to the main body 3 around the handle 4's rotation axis 14. As a result, the part of the handle 4 that faced the main body 3 when it was flat (the back side 15 of the handle) moves away from the main body 3, making it easier for the liquid used to clean the basket 2 to reach this part. Therefore, the basket washer 1 can thoroughly clean the handle 4 of the basket 2.

[0024] The locking portion 11 is provided on the conveyor 7. The locking portion 11 is fixed to the endless transport body 8. The locking portion 11 can be locked to the basket 2 in a state where the main body 3 is supported on the rail 10. The locking portion 11 is locked to the handle 4.

[0025] The locking portion 11 works in conjunction with the endless conveying body 8. Here, the locking portion 11 is fixed to the endless conveying body 8, achieving the interlocking. Outside of the rail 10, the endless conveying body 8 conveys the car 2. The locking portion 11 may or may not be locked to the car 2 (because it is the endless conveying body 8 that provides the driving force for the car 2). On the rail 10, the main body 3 of the conveyed car 2 rides up onto the rail 10, causing the car 2 to separate from the endless conveying body 8. At this time, the locking portion 11 locks onto the handle 4 from the upstream side of the conveying path of the car 2, and works in conjunction with the endless conveying body 8 to push the car 2 downstream of the conveying path of the car 2 so that the car 2 can move forward on the flat rail 10.

[0026] When the rail 10 supports the main body 3 at a position away from the endless conveyance body 8, it is difficult for the endless conveyance body 8 to convey the car 2 alone. Therefore, in this state, the locking portion 11 pushes the car 2 downstream in the conveyance path of the car 2. This makes it possible to convey the car 2 in this state.

[0027] The basket washer 1 is specialized for washing baskets 2. However, the technology according to the present disclosure may also be applied to, for example, a device specialized for drying handles 4. For example, if the rails 10 are extended to a basket drying device (post-washing treatment device), the basket 2 can be dried with the handles 4 kept released from the flat position, and the backsides 15 of the handles can be sufficiently dried.

[0028] 〔summary〕 The basket washing machine according to aspect 1 of the present disclosure is a basket washing machine for washing baskets having a main body and a handle rotatably connected to the main body, and includes a conveyor having an endless transport body on which the basket to be transported is placed, a washing unit for washing the basket using a liquid, and a rail arranged in the washing unit that abuts against the main body of the basket transported by the conveyor, thereby supporting the main body at a position away from the endless transport body.

[0029] A basket washing machine according to aspect 2 of the present disclosure is a basket in aspect 1, in which the basket can be placed in a flat state by rotating the handle so that the handle is aligned with the edge of the opening of the main body, and the rail supports the main body at a position away from the endless conveying body, thereby releasing the handle from the flat state.

[0030] In the basket washing machine according to aspect 3 of the present disclosure, in the above-mentioned aspect 2, the conveyor transports the basket in the flat state with the handle facing downwards, and the rail supports the main body at a position away from the endless conveying body, thereby releasing the handle from the flat state position by the weight of the handle.

[0031] In a basket washing machine according to aspect 4 of the present disclosure, in any of aspects 1 to 3, the conveyor is provided with a locking portion fixed to the endless transport body, which can lock onto the basket when the main body is supported on the rail.

[0032] A basket washer according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is the same as the fourth aspect, wherein the locking portion is locked to the handle.

[0033] In a basket washing machine according to aspect 6 of the present disclosure, in any of aspects 1 to 5, the rail has an upward slope at the beginning and a downward slope at the end relative to the main body of the basket transported by the conveyor.

[0034] A basket washer according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure is the basket washer of any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the basket has two handles, and the rail supports the main body between the two handles.

[0035] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 Basket washer 2 baskets 3 Main body 4 Handle 5 Opening of the main body 6 Edge of the opening of the main body 7 Conveyor 8. Endless conveyor 9 Cleaning section 10 Rail 11 Locking part 12 First Arch 13 Second Arch 14 Handle rotation axis 15 Back of the handle 16 Rail start point 17 Rail End

Claims

1. A basket washer for washing a basket having a main body and a handle rotatably connected to the main body, a conveyor having an endless carrier on which the basket to be transported is placed; a cleaning unit that cleans the basket using a liquid; a rail disposed in the cleaning section, the rail abutting against the main body of the basket transported by the conveyor to support the main body at a position separated from the endless transport body; The basket is a basket that can take a flat state in which the handle is aligned with the edge of the opening of the main body portion by rotating the handle, The rail supports the main body at a position spaced apart from the endless transport body, thereby releasing the handle from the flat position.

2. The conveyor transports the basket in the flat state with the handle facing downward, The basket washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the rail supports the main body at a position spaced apart from the endless transport body, thereby releasing the handle from the flat position by the weight of the handle.

3. 2. The basket washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor is provided with a locking portion fixed to the endless transport body, the locking portion being capable of locking the basket when the main body is supported on the rail.

4. The basket washing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the locking portion is adapted to lock onto the handle.

5. 2. The basket washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the rail has a starting end that slopes upward and a terminal end that slopes downward relative to the main body of the basket transported by the conveyor.

6. The basket has two handles, The basket washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the rail supports the main body between two handles.

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