Device for cleaning a receptacle
Device ( 100 ) for cleaning a receptacle ( 80 ) comprising a receiving component for receiving and holding the receptacle, wherein the receiving component comprises a first rotating element ( 90 ) that is capable of rotating the receptacle. The device further comprises a cleaning component ( 110 ), preferably a nozzle, that is capable of cleaning at least part of the interior wall of the receptacle interior wherein the cleaning component comprises a cleaning element that is locatable within the interior space of the receptacle when the receptacle is held by the receiving component. The device ( 100 ) further comprises a rotation driving component ( 400 ) that is capable of driving rotation of the first rotating element ( 90 ), wherein the rotation driving component comprises a second rotating element ( 130 ). Further, the first rotating element ( 90 ) is magnetically coupled to the second rotating element ( 130 ) wherein the second rotating element is configured to cause rotation of the first rotating element on rotation of the second rotating element. Methods for cleaning a receptacle using the above mentioned device are also part of the present invention.
1 . A device ( 200 ) for cleaning a receptacle ( 80 ), wherein the device ( 200 ) comprises:
a receiving component for receiving and holding the receptacle ( 80 ), wherein the receiving component comprises a first rotating element ( 90 ) that is capable of rotating the receptacle ( 80 );
a nozzle ( 110 ) arranged to be directed at an interior of the receptacle ( 80 ) when the receptacle ( 80 ) is held by the receiving component; and
a rotation driving component ( 400 ) comprising a second rotating element ( 130 ), wherein the rotation driving component ( 400 ) is arranged to drive rotation of the second rotating element ( 130 );
wherein the second rotating element ( 130 ) is magnetically coupled to the first rotating element ( 90 ) such that rotation of the second rotating element ( 130 ) by the rotation driving component ( 400 ) drives rotation of the first rotating element ( 90 ).
2 . The device ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is at least partly open ended at one end ( 81 ) and having an interior space ( 82 ) defined by an interior wall ( 83 ); wherein the device is capable of cleaning at least a part of the interior wall of the receptacle ( 80 ), wherein the nozzle ( 80 ) is located within an interior space of the receptacle ( 80 ) when the receptacle ( 80 ) is held by the receiving component.
3 . The device ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the nozzle ( 80 ) is capable of delivering a cleaning medium to an interior wall of the receptacle ( 80 ) to clean at least a part of the interior wall of the receptacle ( 80 ).
4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first rotating element ( 90 ) comprises one or more magnets ( 315 ) and/or the second rotating element ( 130 ) comprises one or more magnets ( 460 ); wherein the one or more magnets ( 315 ), ( 460 ) is configured to cause rotation of the first rotating element ( 90 ) or rotation of the second rotating element ( 130 ).
5 . The device according to claim 4 , wherein the one or more magnets ( 315 ) of the first rotating element ( 90 ) and the one or more magnets ( 460 ) of the second rotating element ( 130 ) are disposed apart from each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the first rotating component ( 90 ).
6 . The device according to claim 4 , wherein the receiving component comprises a support element to support the first rotating element; wherein the support element extends into the receiving component by a distance smaller than a width of the one or more magnets of first rotating component ( 90 ) and/or the second rotating component ( 130 ).
7 . The device according to claim 4 , wherein the height of a coupling region containing the one or more magnets ( 315 ) of the first rotating component ( 90 ) and the one or more magnets ( 460 ) of the second rotating component ( 130 ) in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the first rotating component ( 90 ) is less than the combined height of a magnet of the one or more magnets ( 315 ) of the first rotating component ( 90 ) and a magnet of the one or more magnets ( 460 ) of the second rotating component ( 130 ).
8 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first rotating element ( 90 ) comprises one or more magnets ( 315 ) and the second rotating element ( 130 ) comprises one or more corresponding, reversed polarity magnets ( 460 ); wherein the one or more corresponding, reversed polarity magnets ( 315 ), ( 460 ) are configured to cause rotation of the first rotating element ( 90 ) on rotation of the second rotating element ( 130 ), wherein the one or more magnets ( 315 ) of the first rotating element ( 90 ) and the one or more magnets ( 460 ) of the second rotating element ( 130 ) are arranged coaxially with respect to an axis of rotation of the first rotating component ( 90 ).
9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first rotating element ( 90 ) is capable of disengaging and/or slipping from the second rotating element ( 130 );
wherein the first rotating element ( 90 ) disengages and/or slips from the second rotating element ( 130 ) when there is a force opposing the rotation of the first rotating element ( 90 ) that exceeds the force of the magnetic coupling between the first rotating element ( 90 ) and the second rotating element ( 130 ), and/or when a force of less than about 300 Newton-centimetres or more is applied at the pivot point of the first rotating element ( 90 ).
10 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device does not comprise a mechanical connection between the first rotating element ( 90 ) and the second rotating element ( 130 ) and/or any other part of the device ( 200 ).
11 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a watertight barrier between the first rotating element ( 90 ) and the second rotating element ( 130 ).
12 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving component of the device comprises a basin element ( 320 ) that is capable of capturing spent cleaning medium, wherein the second rotating element ( 130 ) is located outside of the basin element ( 320 ).
13 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first rotating element ( 90 ) comprises a turntable element that is capable of rotating the receptacle ( 80 ) and wherein the cleaning element ( 110 ) extends beyond the turntable element.
14 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation driving component ( 400 ) further comprises a means for driving the rotation of the second rotation element ( 130 ), wherein the means for driving the rotation of the second rotating element ( 130 ) comprises a motor ( 150 ).
15 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the basin element ( 320 ) comprises a drain outlet for removal of spent cleaning medium ( 95 ).
16 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning component comprises a cleaning medium preparation element ( 1 ) that is operably connected to the cleaning element ( 110 ).
17 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning medium comprises steam.
18 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a user interface module ( 200 ) to allow a user to use the device, wherein the user interface module ( 200 ) allows for the rotational speed of the first rotating device ( 90 ) to be altered.
19 . A device ( 200 ) for cleaning a receptacle ( 80 ) that is at least partly open-ended at one end ( 81 ) and having an interior space ( 82 ) defined by an interior wall ( 83 );
wherein the device is capable of cleaning at least a part of the interior wall of the receptacle ( 80 );
wherein the device comprises
(a) a receiving component for receiving and holding the receptacle ( 80 ) to allow for the cleaning of at least the part of the interior wall of the receptacle ( 80 ), wherein the receiving component comprises a first rotating element ( 90 ) that is capable of rotating the receptacle ( 80 );
(b) a cleaning component that is capable of cleaning at least part of the interior wall of the receptacle interior wherein the cleaning component comprises a cleaning element ( 110 ) that is locatable within the interior space of the receptacle ( 80 ) when the receptacle ( 80 ) is held by the receiving component; and
(c) a rotation driving component ( 400 ) that is capable of driving rotation of the first rotating element ( 90 ), wherein the rotation driving component comprises a second rotating element ( 130 );
wherein the cleaning element is capable of delivering a cleaning medium to the interior wall of the receptacle ( 80 ) to clean at least a part of the interior wall of the receptacle ( 80 );
further wherein the first rotating element ( 90 ) is magnetically coupled to the second rotating element ( 130 ), wherein the second rotating element ( 130 ) is configured to cause rotation of the first rotating element ( 90 ) on rotation of the second rotating element ( 130 ).
20 . A method of cleaning a receptacle comprising use of a device ( 200 ) for cleaning a receptacle ( 80 ), wherein the device ( 200 ) comprises:
a receiving component for receiving and holding the receptacle ( 80 ), wherein the receiving component comprises a first rotating element ( 90 ) that is capable of rotating the receptacle ( 80 );
a nozzle ( 110 ) arranged to be directed at an interior of the receptacle ( 80 ) when the receptacle ( 80 ) is held by the receiving component; and
a rotation driving component ( 400 ) comprising a second rotating element ( 130 ), wherein the rotation driving component ( 400 ) is arranged to drive rotation of the second rotating element ( 130 );
wherein the second rotating element ( 130 ) is magnetically coupled to the first rotating element ( 90 ) such that rotation of the second rotating element ( 130 ) by the rotation driving component ( 400 ) drives rotation of the first rotating element ( 90 ), the method comprising:
receiving the receptacle ( 80 ) at the receiving component of the device ( 200 );
rotating, by the rotation driving element ( 400 ), the second rotating element ( 130 ) to drive rotation of the first rotating element ( 90 ); and
delivering, via the nozzle ( 110 ) a cleaning medium to an interior wall of the receptacle ( 80 ) to clean at least a part of the interior wall of the receptacle ( 80 ).