Sole cleaning machine

Abstract

A machine for cleaning the soles of shoes, in particular for personnel locks (entries) in hygienic exclusion areas such as clean rooms, includes a wiping grid ( 4 ) composed of grate bars ( 5 ) as well as a trough ( 2 ) which is arranged below the wiping grid ( 4 ) and inside which two rotatably driven roller brushes ( 3 ) are arranged that reach between the grate bars ( 5 ) of the wiping grid ( 4 ) with the top circumferential areas ( 3.1 ) thereof to wipe the soles of shoes. The machine is equipped with a wetting apparatus ( 7, 8 ) in the area of the trough ( 2 ) in order to apply water and liquid cleaners in order to clean soles of shoes and is also equipped with a liquid discharging device ( 15 ) at the bottom area of the trough ( 2 ). A cleaning device ( 12 ) for the roller brushes ( 3 ) and the interior of the trough is additionally arranged in the area of the trough ( 2 ) that automatically cleans the interior of the trough including the roller brushes. A control device ( 22 ) is provided that controls the operation of the cleaning device ( 12 ) and of the wetting apparatus ( 7, 8 ).

1 . A machine to clean the soles of shoes, in particular for personnel locks (entries) in hygienic exclusion areas, comprising:
 a wiping grid ( 4 ) composed of grate bars ( 5 ) as well as a trough ( 2 ), which is arranged below the wiping grid ( 4 ), and inside which two rotatably driven roller brushes ( 3 ) are mounted that reach between the grate bars ( 5 ) of the wiping grid ( 4 ) with a top circumferential areas ( 3 . 1 ) thereof for each roller brush ( 3 ), and additionally comprising a wetting apparatus ( 7 ,  8 ) in the area of the trough ( 2 ) in order to apply water and liquid cleaners to clean the soles as well as a liquid discharging device ( 15 ) in the bottom area of the trough ( 2 ), whereby additionally in the area of the trough ( 2 ) a cleaning device ( 12 ) for roller brushes ( 3 ) and the inside of the trough is arranged and furthermore a control device is provided that controls the operation of the cleaning device ( 12 ) and of the wetting apparatus ( 7 ,  8 ), characterized in that the cleaning device ( 12 ) is also designed for the cleaning of the inside of the trough and can be connected with a foam system.   
   
   
       2 . A sole cleaning machine as defined in  claim 1  characterized in that the control device is configured to can be programmed to specify the duration and number of operating cycles of the cleaning device ( 12 ) in accordance with the operating time of the wetting device ( 7 ,  8 ). 
   
   
       3 . A sole cleaning machine as defined in  claim 1 , characterized in that the control device controls the supply of the cleaning device ( 12 ) alternatingly with rinse water and with cleaning foam in programmable intervals. 
   
   
       4 . A sole cleaning machine as defined in one of the  claims 1 , characterized in that the control device is programmed such that the roller brushes ( 3 ) are rotatably driven during the operating cycles of the cleaning device ( 12 ). 
   
   
       5 . A sole cleaning machine as defined in one of the  claims 1 , characterized in that the cleaning device ( 12 ) includes nozzle fittings ( 13 ) that are arranged parallel to the roller brush ( 3 ) closest to them and include nozzles ( 14 ) that are directed in the direction of the roller brushes ( 3 ). 
   
   
       6 . A sole cleaning machine as defined in  claim 5 , characterized in that the nozzle fittings ( 13 ) are integrated in the walls ( 10 ) of a housing ( 1 ) enclosing the trough ( 2 ), said walls extending on both sides of the roller brushes ( 3 ) at a distance from each other and on opposite sides. 
   
   
       7 . A sole cleaning machine as defined in one of the  claims 1 , characterized in that the wetting apparatus exhibits at least one tube ( 7 ,  8 ) in the area of the trough ( 2 ), said tube extending along each roller brush ( 3 ) and having nozzle openings that are directed toward the associated roller brush ( 3 ) and are located adjacent to that circumferential area ( 3 . 2 ) of the roller brush ( 3 ) which moves upwards and is located above the horizontal diametric plane (E) of the roller brush ( 3 ) associated with it. 
   
   
       8 . A sole cleaning machine as defined in  claim 7 , characterized in that arranged adjacent to each roller brush ( 3 ) is a first tube ( 7 ) for the sole cleaning agent and a second tube ( 8 ) for water. 
   
   
       9 . A sole cleaning machine as defined in  claim 8 , characterized in that the two tubes ( 7 ,  8 ) are arranged above one another and adjacent to the respective roller brush ( 3 ), whereby the respective upper tube is provided as the first tube ( 7 ) namely as a cleaning agent line and the lower tube as the second tube ( 8 ) namely as a water line. 
   
   
       10 . A sole cleaning machine as defined in one of the  claims 7 , characterized in that the tubes ( 7 ,  8 ) are arranged at the wiping grid ( 4 ) and are attached thereupon.