Device for opening/closing a door of a washing machine, particularly for washing equipment used in the field of pharmaceutical research and/or pharmaceutical production, and machine comprising said device

Abstract

A washing machine adapted for washing equipment used in the field of pharmaceutical research and/or pharmaceutical production is described, which includes an inner compartment and a front wall having a door allowing access to the inner compartment and a device for opening/closing the door, the device for opening/closing the door includes components for imparting a lateral rotational-translational motion to the door relative to the front wall, thereby effecting the opening/closing action.

Claims

1. A washing machine adapted for washing equipment used in the field of pharmaceutical research and/or pharmaceutical production, comprising: an inner compartment and a front wall comprising a door allowing access to the inner compartment through an access opening, the door having a front face and an opposing back face that extend between a first side and an opposing second side, the door covering the access opening when the door is in a closed position and at least partially uncovering the access opening when the door is in an open position; a device for opening/closing the door, the device for opening/closing the door comprising a system configured for imparting a lateral rotational-translational motion to the door relative to the front wall, thereby effecting an opening/closing action, the system for imparting a lateral rotational-translational motion being configured to rotate the first side of the door so that the first side is moved outward away from the front wall as the door is moved from the closed position to the open position, and is configured to translate the second side of the door laterally relative to the front wall as the door is moved from the closed position to the open position; and a handle for use in automated opening and closing of the door, the handle having a first portion hingedly coupled to the front wall and a second portion that is hingedly coupled to the first side of the door, the first portion being spaced apart from the second portion.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising an automated system for opening/closing the door, the automated system being connected to the handle.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the system configured for imparting a rotational-translational motion to the door comprises: the handle, the handle is U-shaped and comprises a central part forming the second portion and ends forming the first portion, the ends hinged to the front wall via a first hinge arranged in a laterally cantilevered position relative to the door; a second hinge providing a connection between the first side of the door and the central part of the handle; a third hinge arranged at an upper end of the door on the second side, the third hinge sliding in a horizontal guide parallel to the front wall of the machine and situated on an upper part of the door; wherein rotation of the handle about the first hinge causes the rotational-translational motion for opening/closing the door.

4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the second hinge comprises fasteners shaped as tube sections, fixedly connected to the handle and hingedly connected to the door.

5. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the automated system for opening/closing the door comprises a pneumatic cylinder connected to the handle via a fourth hinge and to the machine via a fifth hinge.

6. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the pneumatic cylinder is positioned above the inner compartment of the machine.

7. A device for opening/closing a door of a washing machine adapted for washing equipment used in the field of pharmaceutical research and/or pharmaceutical production, the washing machine comprising the inner compartment and the front wall comprising the door, the device comprising the system configured for imparting a lateral rotational-translational motion to the door, as claimed in claim 1.

8. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the door is between the handle and the access opening when the door is in the closed position.

9. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the handle is U-shaped.

10. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a pneumatic cylinder coupled to the handle.

11. A washing machine adapted for washing equipment used in the field of pharmaceutical research and/or pharmaceutical production, comprising: an inner compartment and a front wall comprising a door allowing access to the inner compartment through an access opening, the door having a front face and an opposing back face that extend between a first side and an opposing second side, the door covering the access opening when the door is in a closed position and at least partially uncovering the access opening when the door is in an open position; and a device for opening/closing the door comprising a system configured for imparting a lateral rotational-translational motion to the door relative to the front wall, the system comprising: a handle having a first portion hingedly coupled to the front wall and a second portion that is hingedly coupled to the first side of the door, the first portion being spaced apart from the second portion; and a hinge that hingedly couples the second side of the door to a guide disposed on the front wall, the hinge sliding laterally along the guide as the door is moved from the closed position to the open position.

12. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the door is between the handle and the access opening when the door is in the closed position.

13. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the handle is U-shaped.

14. The washing machine according to claim 11, further comprising a pneumatic cylinder coupled to the handle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment (and variants) thereof referring to the annexed drawings, which are only supplied by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show some schematic representations of prior-art door opening systems;

(3) FIGS. 4 and 5 highlight two perspective views of a washing machine comprising the door and the opening/closing system in accordance with the invention;

(4) FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show some schematic top-view representations of the door opening/closing system in accordance with the invention in three positions, i.e., with the door closed, partially open and fully open;

(5) FIG. 9 shows details, some of which magnified, of some elements of the front wall of the washing machine.

(6) In the drawings, the same reference numerals and letters identify the same items or components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example of embodiment of a washing machine 40 of the rack washer type, which comprises a front part with a door 41.

(8) On one side of the front part, e.g., the left one, beside the door, there is an extension of available space 42, e.g., for housing an electric cabinet.

(9) Beside the available space 42, in the part remote from the door side, there are two hinges 43 and 44 at the top and bottom ends, to which two corresponding ends of a U-shaped handle are hinged, which handle may be made, for example, from a circular tube section, and can be gripped by an operator in case of manual opening. The handle preferably extends throughout the width of the lateral space 42, so that its central part 45, which develops substantially vertically, is located in proximity to the near side of the door 41, and thus said ends are cantilevered relative to the door side. To both ends of the central part 45 two handle extensions 45, 45 are connected, which terminate at said top and bottom ends.

(10) In its upper part, the door 41 is hinged on the side opposite to the handle side by means of an additional hinge 46. The axis of rotation of the hinge 46 slides in a horizontal guide 47 parallel to the front side of the machine and situated in proximity to the upper part of the door, in particular above the door, so as to not interfere with the opening and closing movements of the latter.

(11) The door part on the side of the handle is connected and hinged to the latter by means of fastening elements, e.g., two round tube sections 48, 49.

(12) As can be seen in the details of FIG. 9 concerning the fastening element 48, the fastening elements comprise a hinge 91 on one side, to which the door is connected, while on the other side they are fixed to the handle, e.g., by a weld 92.

(13) In the kinematic schemes highlighted in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 one can see that the rotation of the handle causes the door to make a lateral rotational-translational movement, going from a closed position (FIG. 6) to a fully open position (FIG. 8) with a final angle in excess of 90, without occupying the space in front of the washing chamber. The lateral rotational-translational movement thus determines the translation of one side of the door along the front wall through the hinge 46 and the horizontal guide 47, and the rotation of the opposite side of the door as a consequence of the rotation of the handle connected thereto.

(14) FIG. 7 shows the maximum space occupation in front of the machine, which extends substantially laterally from the door, while the front area remains substantially clear.

(15) An automated system for opening/closing the door may be present, which can be implemented in different ways. In this specific case, it is preferable to use a pneumatic cylinder 50, the stem of which is fixed to the handle by means of a hinging system 51. The attachment point between the hinge and the handle may be located at the junction between the vertical central side 45 and the upper extension 45.

(16) The cylinder body is arranged horizontally on the roof of the chamber of the machine and is secured thereto by means of a hinge 93 placed in a suitable position. The movement thereof is so effected as to not interfere with the opening and closing movement of the door. In FIG. 8 it can be seen, for example, that when the door is fully open the cylinder is in a position beside the door wall external to the washing chamber. Moreover, the cylinder is located in the interspace between the top walls of the internal body 52 and of the external covering (not shown in the drawings) of the washing machine, so as to not interfere with the body of the machine (see FIG. 4).

(17) The advantages of the pneumatic cylinder in terms of costs and implementation over other systems, such as, for example, an electrically controlled ratiomotor placed on the axis of rotation of the handle, can be easily demonstrated.

(18) In view of the foregoing and as depicted in FIG. 5, it is understood that washing machine 40 includes a washing compartment or inner compartment and a front wall 60. Front wall 60 comprises door 41 that allows access to the inner compartment through an access opening 62. As best shown in FIG. 8, door 41 has a front face 64 and an opposing back face 66 that extend between a first side 68 and an opposing second side 70. Door 41 covers access opening 62 when door 41 is in the closed position (FIG. 5) and at least partially uncovers access opening 62 when door 41 is in the open position (FIG. 8).

(19) The washing chambers of the washing machines are usually equipped with devices for extracting, by means of centrifugal fans, the vapours and fumes generated during the washing phases.

(20) The extraction devices cause an internal pressure drop on the chamber walls, including the doors.

(21) In order to prevent vapours from leaking out of the washing chamber and saturating the environment, the vapour extraction phase is kept active also while opening the door.

(22) The internal depression in the chamber creates a force of as much as many kilograms, which can be easily overcome through the use of a pneumatic cylinder of acceptable size, whereas a ratiomotor to be applied to the axis of the handle would require a very high torque, resulting in an excessively large and expensive system.

(23) The above-described non-limiting example of embodiment may be subject to variations without departing from the protection scope of the present invention, including all equivalent designs known to a man skilled in the art.

(24) The elements and features shown in the various preferred embodiments may be combined together without however departing from the protection scope of the present invention.

(25) The advantages deriving from the application of the present invention are apparent, as described below by way of example.

(26) With this invention, in front of the door of the washing machine, room is available for parking the trolleys or, when an automated loading/unloading system is used, for parking the AGV automatic trolley with its presentation rack.

(27) The device can be used with traditional, non-automated machines, thus allowing the operator to open/close the door manually, or with machines automated by means of AGV devices.

(28) With automated machines, moreover, in case of emergency, the automatic management can be bypassed and the door can be opened/closed manually by the operator.

(29) The advantages of the present invention also include the fact that it allows the use of the hermetic sealing concepts of hinged doors as described above, while at the same time also permitting the translational motion without requiring the creation of a sliding channel in front of the door, as it happens for the washing machines of large dimensions.

(30) From the above description, those skilled in the art will be able to produce the object of the invention without introducing any further construction details.