Apparatus and method of cleaning conveyor belts

Apparatus for cleaning a conveyor belt, the conveyor belt having at least one surface, the apparatus being responsive to a source of cleaning fluid and a source of pressurized air and the apparatus being electrically powered by a source of electric power, the apparatus comprising:

• a washer head assembly, the washer head assembly being removably mountable above the conveyor belt, the washer head assembly including:
• a cleaning fluid union;
• a dual spray arm member, the dual spray arm member being coupled to the cleaning fluid union, the dual spray arm member having two spray arms, each spray arm extending radially outward from the coupling with the cleaning fluid union, each spray arm having an outer end with a nozzle attached thereto, the nozzle of each spray arm pointing in a direction substantially toward the at least one surface of the conveyor belt, the dual spray arm member further having a first sprocket attached thereto;
• an air-driven motor, the air-driven motor being responsive to the source of pressurized air and providing a rotational driving force, the air-driven motor further having a second sprocket attached thereto;
• a selectively adjustable air flow control valve for controlling the rotational driving force of the air-driven motor, the air flow control valve being operatively coupled between the source of pressurized air and the air-driven motor;
• a chain, the chain engaging the first sprocket of the dual spray arm member and the second sprocket of the air-driven motor, whereby the rotational driving force of the air-driven motor causes the second sprocket to rotate, in turn rotating the chain, in turn rotating the first sprocket, in turn causing the dual spray arm member to correspondingly rotate;
• and
• a tilt-level sensor, the tilt-level sensor being operatively connected to the source of electric power, the tilt-level sensor being responsive to the washer head assembly being in one of a level position and an unlevel position, the tilt-level sensor automatically disconnecting the source of electric power to the apparatus when the washer head assembly is in the unlevel position;
• cart-based equipment, the cart-based equipment including:
• a control panel assembly, the control panel assembly being releasably connected to the source of electric power, the control panel assembly controlling the operation of the apparatus and including:
• a disconnect switch, the disconnect switch being electrically connected to the source of electric power, the disconnect switch selectively applying electric power to the apparatus;
• a start pushbutton switch, the start pushbutton being operatively connected to the disconnect switch, the start pushbutton switch selectively starting the cleaning operation of the apparatus, the start pushbutton switch also including a lamp, the lamp being lit when electric power is applied to the apparatus and the apparatus is currently operating;
• a stop pushbutton switch, the stop pushbutton being operatively connected to the disconnect switch, the stop pushbutton switch selectively stopping the cleaning operation of the apparatus;
• and
• a selectively adjustable operation timer, the operation timer being operatively connected to the disconnect switch, the operation timer allowing a maximum operation time, corresponding to the operation of the apparatus, to be set, the operation timer automatically disconnecting electric power to the apparatus when the maximum operation time has been reached;
• a set of diagnostic indicator lights, the lights being mounted on the control panel assembly and providing an operation status of the apparatus;
• the cart-based equipment further including:
• an electric motor, the electric motor being operatively connected to the control panel assembly and being responsive to the electric power provided therefrom;
• a pressure pump, the pump being operatively coupled to, and driven by, the electric motor, the pressure pump having at least a first input port and at least a first output port, the at least a first input port being releasably coupled to the source of cleaning fluid, the pump pressurizing the cleaning fluid, as the cleaning fluid passes therethrough, the pressure pump also including a pressure switch, the pressure switch being operatively coupled to the at least a first input port and automatically disconnecting the source of electric power to the apparatus when the pressure switch detects the absence of cleaning fluid being supplied by the source;
• a regulator assembly, the regulator assembly having at least one input port and at least one output port, the at least one input port being releasably coupled to the source of pressurized air, the regulator assembly being responsive to the source of electric power, the regulator assembly being in one of an operating state and a non-operating state, the operating state and the non-operating state occurring in respective response to the presence and absence of electric power at the regulator assembly, the regulator assembly allowing pressurized air to pass therethrough while in the operating state and preventing pressurized air from passing therethrough while in the non-operating state;
• a first flexible hose for carrying the pressurized cleaning fluid, the first flexible hose having a first end and a second end and connectors, fitted at each end, the connector fitted at the first end being releasably coupled to the at least first output port of the pressure pump of the cart-based equipment, the connector fitted at the second end being releasably coupled to the cleaning fluid union of the washer head assembly;
• a second flexible hose for carrying the pressurized air, the second flexible hose having a first end and a second end and connectors, fitted at each end, the connector fitted at the first end being releasably coupled to the at least one output port of the regulator assembly of the cart-based equipment, the connector fitted at the second end being releasably coupled to the air-driven motor of the washer head assembly;
• and
• an electric cable, the electric cable having a first end and a second end, the first end being releasably connected to the control panel assembly of the cart-based equipment and the second end being releasably connected to the tilt-level sensor of the washer head assembly;
• and
• a cart, the cart portably supporting the cart-based equipment;
• wherein the washer head assembly is removably mounted above the conveyor belt, electric power is applied to the apparatus via the disconnect switch and the apparatus is placed in an operating condition via the start pushbutton switch thereby allowing the pressure pump to provide pressurized cleaning fluid to the dual spray arm member of the washer head assembly and placing the regulator assembly in an operating state allowing pressurized air to pass therethrough to the air-driven motor of the washer head assembly, the air-driven motor causing the dual spray arm member to rotate, the nozzles of the dual spray arm member delivering the pressurized cleaning fluid to the at least one surface of the conveyor belt, and the selectively adjustable air flow control valve being selectively adjusted in order to control the rotational driving force of the air-driven motor thereby adjusting the rotational speed of the dual spray arm member.

A method of cleaning a conveyor belt, the conveyor belt having at least one surface, the method utilizing a conveyor belt cleaning apparatus, the apparatus being responsive to a source of cleaning fluid and a source of pressurized air and the apparatus being electrically powered by a source of electric power, the apparatus including a washer head assembly, cart-based equipment and a cart, the washer head assembly including means for spraying the cleaning fluid onto the at least one surface of the conveyor belt, the washer head assembly also including means for rotating the spraying means, the cart-based equipment including means for pressurizing the cleaning fluid prior to the cleaning fluid being supplied to the spraying means, the cart portably transporting the cart-based equipment and the washer head assembly being removably mounted above the conveyor belt, the method comprising:

• supplying cleaning fluid to the pressurizing means of the cart-based equipment;
• pressurizing the cleaning fluid via the pressurizing means of the cart-based equipment;
• supplying the pressurized cleaning fluid to the spraying means of the washer head assembly;
• supplying pressurized air to the rotating means of the washer head assembly in order to generate a rotational driving force;
• translating the rotational driving force of the rotating means to the spraying means of the washer head assembly thereby causing the spraying means to correspondingly rotate;
• spraying the pressurized cleaning fluid onto the at least one surface of the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt moves therebeneath;
• and
• adjusting the rotational speed of the spraying means.