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US 12,485,454 B2Granted
Bin cleaning systems and methods of use
OwnerLorin Reed, Jim Moshierinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to apparatuses, machines, systems and methods for periodically washing and/or disinfecting the interior of individual containers having a polygonal base (e.g., rectangular), such as bins of the type used for the used for agricultural commodity collection, storage, and transport (agricultural bins), as well as other types of bins and containers. The systems of the present invention may be operable to automatically and thoroughly clean the interior of such bins.
Claims20
A stationary apparatus for washing the interior of a polygonal agricultural bin placed over the apparatus, comprising:
- a. at least one articulating arm mechanically engaged with a parallel motion linkage operable to extend and retract said at least one articulating arm;
- b. a central rotating member having at least one fixed arm attached to the central rotating member, wherein the parallel motion linkage is pivotally connected to the at least one fixed arm, the central rotating member being operable to rotate the at least one fixed arm with respect to a central axis, wherein said at least one articulating arm extends and retracts in a radial orientation to said central axis and comprises a longitudinal axis that is maintained in a parallel orientation to a longitudinal axis of said at least one fixed arm as said at least one fixed arm rotates, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the articulating arm is offset from the longitudinal axis of the fixed arm;
- and
- c. a spraying member attached to said at least one articulating arm, the spraying member positioned to spray in a direction that is parallel to the rotational plane of the at least one fixed arm, wherein said spraying member is maintained at a constant distance from sidewalls of said polygonal bin as the at least one fixed arm rotates around the central rotating member.
1 more element
An agricultural bin washing system comprising:
- a. a wash station having a rotating spraying apparatus for cleaning an interior of said agricultural bin including
- i. a rotating arm having a fixed portion having a longitudinal axis and an extendable portion having a second longitudinal axis, said extendable portion connected to said fixed portion by a parallel motion linkage allowing for extension and retraction of the extendable portion in which said second longitudinal axis of said extendable portion and said longitudinal axis of said fixed portion remain substantially parallel to each other, and wherein the second longitudinal axis of said extendable portion is offset from said longitudinal axis of said fixed portion,
- ii. a central rotating member attached to the fixed portion of the rotating arm, said rotating member being operable to rotate the rotating arm thereby moving said extendable portion around the interior of a bin removably placed over the washing station, and
- iii. an extendable spraying member attached to said extendable portion, wherein as the central rotating member rotates and rotates the rotating arm around the interior of said bin, the radial distance of the extendable spraying member from the central rotating member changes and said extendable spraying member is maintained at a constant distance from sidewall surfaces in said bin.
1 more element
A stationary apparatus for washing the interior of a polygonal agricultural bin, comprising:
- a. at least one articulating arm mechanically engaged with a fixed arm by a parallel motion linkage operable to extend and retract said at least one articulating arm with to varying radial distances into corners of said polygonal bin, wherein said at least one articulating arm comprises a longitudinal axis that remains parallel to a second longitudinal axis of said fixed arm as said at least one articulating arm extends and retracts, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the articulating arm is offset from the second longitudinal axis of the fixed arm;
- b. a central rotating member connected to said fixed arm that rotates with respect to a central axis;
- and
- c. a spraying member attached to said at least one articulating arm and having a spray emitter directed radially outward from said at least one articulating arm, wherein said spraying member is maintained at a constant distance from sidewalls of said polygonal bin as the central rotating member rotates, wherein the polygonal bin is removably placed over the stationary apparatus.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.