Tote cleaning system
US5601102A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 1995 |
| Grant date | Feb 11, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB08B9/0936
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A system for cleaning totes is disclosed in which each tote has a fill opening at its top and a dispensing valve, both of which are open to an interior chamber of the tote. The system includes a conveyor line having a receiving end and a discharge end and which is adapted to transport the totes from the receiving and to the discharge end. At a first station along the conveyor, the tote is initially drained of any remaining fluid within its interior and the tote is then moved to a second station. At the second station, a wash solution is cycled through the tote in order to clean the interior of the tote. The wash solution is recycled and appropriate fillers are used to remove the impurities from the wash solution. The tote then progressively moves through three rinse stations along the conveyor line in which each rinse station includes a lid attachable to the fill opening of the tote and which progressively rinses the interior of the tote. Thereafter, a dry station forces heated and filtered air through the interior of the tote thus completely drying the entire interior of the tote. Thereafter, a cleaned lid for the tote is replaced onto the fill opening together with the cleaned va…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.