How To Clean The Internal Parts Of A Vertical Glass Washer?

Glasses are one of the most difficult surfaces to clean. A small streak or smudge is easily seen with the naked eye. Vertical glass washer machines make sure they are producing superior quality glass with almost zero contaminants. We can prolong the operational life of these washers through routine internal parts cleaning. Regular maintenance and correct cleaning technique are the keys to a long life for your equipment.

Especially for machines for washing specialized material such as Low-E coated glass or safety laminated glass. A clean machine ensures these sensitive surfaces are not degraded. If we don't keep the vertical glass washing and drying machine clean from the inside, it can lead to bacteria buildup. There is also a risk of mineral deposition and mechanical failures. Eventually, they can lead to disruption of high-volume production workflows.

As these vertical glass washing machines stand upright, they have a natural advantage. The gravity helps the water flow towards the drainage. However, the same design also makes them vulnerable to the accumulation of dirt and debris. They can settle in the specific internal zones if not cleaned regularly. This guide is all about providing methods to clean the internal parts of a vertical glass washer to make sure that there are no build-ups in the machine parts.

Quick Glance at Recommended Cleaning Routines

For more details on how to perform these actions and their cleaning nuances, continue reading to the next section.

Preparing the Machine for Internal Access

Before starting the cleaning process, it's important to ensure safe and suitable working conditions.

✔Shutting Down and Draining

It's important to de-energize the vertical glass washer equipment before starting work. It helps protect personnel from unwanted component startup. These can be rotating parts or heaters, which can cause an injury in case of inadvertent startup. The unwanted state of the heater can lead to thermal injury. This also requires letting the machine cool down until all the parts reach atmospheric temperature. The process can take 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the atmospheric temperature.

Drain the standpipes completely. Wash and rinse the tanks. It will help get rid of old water, which prevents bacteria from growing. Allow some time for the device to dry.

✔Inspection and Organization

Open all the stainless steel covers and windows to check for any broken glass or trash left over. If you remove the screens or filters, label them. It will help you put them back at the exact spot later. It will ensure that the multi-stage filtration setup works properly after the cleaning process is complete.

These devices are highly energized equipment. It is important to use a static elimination bar to neutralize or ground the device. It will protect the maintenance person or operator from getting a sudden shock.

Sanitizing Wash and Rinse Tanks

Once the machine is properly prepared for access, we can move to the water tanks to make sure the glass comes out clean.

◇Grime Removal and Filter Maintenance

It is vital to develop a daily routine to ensure consistent performance from the vertical glass washing and drying machine. We don't want the sludge build-up to circulate back to the clean glass. It requires cleaning the drain, vacuum, and rinse tanks daily. Use a mild soap and a soft cloth to wipe the internal stainless steel surface. Aim to remove the slime or algae growth

Thorologically clean all the removal mesh stainers/screens. It ensures that the water can move across the screen without restricting its optimal flow rate. It also helps keep the pump running free from any debris. Once a week, use a strong detergent through the system for a few hours to dissolve any stubborn residues.

◇Managing Heaters and Hard Water

Pay close attention to the devices that are submerged in water at all times. Particularly, the heaters can build up a hard water crust layer called scale. It's important to clean the blades so that they do not overheat and fail. If your building uses hard water, you may need to actually grind the mineral deposits off the tank walls. It's vital as we don't want them to break off and cause scratches on the glass if it finds its way to the glass.

Maintaining Brushes and Transport Rollers

Ensuring that the parts that come in contact with the glass are clean is vital. Otherwise, they can damage the glass or wear out before MTBF.

◆Inspect for Damage and Wear

Once a week, carefully check the vertical glass washing equipments, brushes and rollers for any embedded glass chips. These are the primary reasons why glasses get scratched. In busy businesses that run a lot of glasses through these devices need to watch out for uneven wear. If the middle brush is more worn down than the ends, it may need to be trimmed or replaced. Also, check the top pinch rolls for deep sketches or cuts. It may leave annoying water streaks on your finished glass.

◆Adjustments and Cleaning Warnings

It is critical to adjust the brushes so that their bristles press against the glass by exactly 0.7mm. The precision adjustment of these internal parts helps create the mopping action. If they press harder, they may just drag water around instead of actually performing the dirt away. Precise adjustment actually improves scrubbing efficiency.

Note: Never clean your bristles by blasting them with a highly pressurized stream of water, as it may cause permanent deformation and matting.

◆Chemicals and Lubrication

Always make sure the detergent used is safe for plastic brush hairs. These are made using nylon bristles. Ensure they are also compatible with the rubber roll coverings. Using the wrong soap can lead to premature component failure of the vertical glass washer. When greasing brushes and wheel spin bearings, lubricate with a little grease. Using too much will cause grease to drop in the tank and contaminate the washing solutions. Too much grease is also bad for the system, as it may cause the operating temperature of the bearing to increase.

De-clogging Spray Tubes and Nozzles

Consistent water pressure and stable flow rate are directly proportional to the cleaning results. If the water sprays properly and is aligned, it can help blast away dirt that the brushes loosen.

▶Clearing Out Clogs

To physically clean the pipes or perform mechanical cleaning, remove the plugs at the end of each spray pipe. Use a wire brush or a drill bit to scrape out any mineral deposits and debris stuck inside. To ensure smooth soap delivery and prevent internal clogs following a weekly routine. Clean the detergent dispensing system with clean water every single week.

▶Water Flow, Pressure and Alignment

Check the pipes to ensure water is moving through them at the rated flow rate. You need 1 gallon per minute (1 GPM) for every foot of brush. These are the basic requirements to wash away dirt using a vertical glass washing and drying machine. Inspect the pumps for leaks. Look for any signs of deposits that give way to leaking seals or packing. It's important that we also analyze them in working conditions for any vibration or abnormality, as it may indicate equipment failure. While it de-energizes, we can check for seal damage. Finally, check the pipes are properly aligned so that the water hits the glass at the exact angle the manufacturer designed the system. Check their specification manual for details.

▶Filters and Temperature

Every 500 hours of operation, you must clean out the internal parts like small screen mechanisms. These are located inside the water lines, typically referred to as a line strainer in the pump filters. This stops particulate matter from travelling up and clogging up the spray head nozzles. If your machine has an initial hot-water pre-wash spray zone, make sure the temperature is set precisely between 110°F and 140°F. The heat helps melt away the sticking manufacturing lubricants and packing materials.

Deep Cleaning the Drying Section: Air Knives and Blowers

The drying section of the vertical glass washer uses pressurized air to clear the glass of any water. These air systems need to be clean so that they don't just blow dust or debris onto the freshly washed glass.

●Clearing the Air Pathways

There should be no blockage in the patch of air knives for them to work efficiently. The easy method is sliding a thin piece of metal back and forth through the narrow air knife slots. IT will help knock loose any trapped dirt or minerals. If you use untreated water, you may need to actually grind harders to get the mineral deposits off the slits.

●Filter and Duct Maintenance

Replace the blower filters as soon as they get dirty. You should be able to see the light through them. Otherwise, air cannot get through. If the suction is blocked, the airflow is reduced, which impacts the drying efficiency. You may also need to clean the air tuning and the blower housings to stop dust from transferring onto the clean glass. Ensure the air suction path of the vertical glass washing equipment is clear of any paint spray or oil mists.

●Fan and Motor Inspections

Operators working on the floor should be trained to inspect the nozzles daily. They need to be spotless to create a laminar air curtain. It ensures that the water effectively shears off the glass. Double-check the motor rotational directions. Unintentional inter-switching of the motor power connection can happen after replacements or long maintenance shutdowns.

Managing Bacteria and "Slime" in the Water System

The buildup of bacteria and algae can reduce the efficiency of the vertical glass washers. Clean waters are highly susceptible to contamination. It's important that we get rid of them in our routine internal parts cleaning process.

○Purified Water Issue

Facilities use deionized (DI) or reverse osmosing (RO) water to achieve the clean glass. But the purification process also takes out chlorine from the water, which can encourage the growth of bacteria and algae. You can mount UV light right on the plumbing systems to safely kill the bacteria while the water is circulating. A number of vertical glass washing and drying machine manufacturers have the UV unit as a pre-treatment to help with the build-ups.

○Temperature and Pipe Management

Keep washing the water with 130°F or higher temperature water. The heat mixed with soap inhibits some of the microbial growth. You must also check your plumbing to ensure there are no dead legs. These are areas where the water remains stagnant. These can become breeding grounds for microbial growth.

○Daily and Periodic Sanitisation

At the end of every single day, operators should wipe down the internal metal surfaces and tanks. Using mild soap, flush them with clean water. Periodically, you should flush the entire system with a 5% solution of household bleach. Follow that with strict rinsing steps to ensure that every trace of the chlorine is washed away after the sanitization process.

Conclusion

Following a rigorous internal cleaning schedule keeps the internal parts of the vertical glass washing machine clean. It also increases the efficiency of the factory by increasing production. It also prevents halting of the production line due to machine failure and maintenance requirements.

If you are looking for their top their PLC controlled vertical glass washing machine, then consider Eworld Machine. We offer models like the E-LD1800 that are built with high-grade stainless steel. It is designed to offer operators easy access to the parts. The machine itself allows deep cleaning of the internal parts with its intelligent design. To explore all our options, visit product category or contact us.

FAQs

Q: Why does purified water cause bacterial growth in vertical glass washers?

The purification of water by using reverse osmosis plants or the deionization process gives ultra-pure water without any chlorine. Bacteria can grow free without chlorine. It can cause contamination of the plumbing system and finally affect the glass cleaning. We need to have a routine in place for cleaning the inside parts of the vertical glass washing equipment.

Q: How often should the wash and rinse tanks of a vertical glass washer be cleaned?

Clean process water of the vertical glass washing machine is vital for its efficiency. Particularly, the wash and rinse tanks are the most vulnerable points when it comes to contamination. Cleaning them on a daily basis is the best way to prevent malfunctioning.

Q: What is the correct way to adjust the vertical glass washing machine's brushes?

Precision adjustments of the washers are key to ensuring proper rubbing motions. It requires the bristles to make exactly 1/32” or 0.7mm of contact with the glass. Pressing harder may result in useless mopping action. We need the effective scrubbing action to move away dirt, which can only happen with precise adjustment.