US2250238A - Industrial washing machine - Google Patents

Description

July 22', 1941. 'D, P, SWTH 2,250,238

INDUSTRIAL WASHING MACHINE v Filed Jan. 17, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENTOR.

A TT JRNEY.

D. P. SMITH 1 INDUSTRIAL WASHING MACHINE.

Filed Jan. 17, 194

n n m July 22, 1941.

July 225?, 1M1.

D. P. SMITH INDUSTRIAL WASHING MACHiNE Filed Jan. 17, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

D. P. SMITH INDUSTRIAL WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

am/Z PA/ BY w ATTORNEY.-

July 22, 1941. D. P. SMITH 2,250,238

INDUSTRIAL WASHING MACHINE I Filed Jan. 17, 1940 e' Sheets-Sheets INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

July z z, 1941. s rn- 2,250,238

- INDUSTRIAL WASHING MACHINE ATTORNEY.

I Patented July 22, 1941 INDUSTRIAL WASHING MACHINE Donald r. Smith, Norwood, Ohio, asaignor'to m AlveyFerguson Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application January 17, 1940, Serial No. 314,285

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in industrial washing machines for cleaning, rinsing, drying, and treating parts and. .products while conveyor dispatched. v

The washing and cleansing is preferably performed by sprays of liquid having a high coeillclent of turbulence and powerful stripping ac-' tion directed from adjustable fan shaped nozzles upon the moving and advancing articles from various directions and angles to insure flooding of comers and crevices of the articles. Successful cleaning results largely depend upon the proper solution, proper volume, and proper pressure of sprays. Large volume and powerful wash sprays are highly desirable for cleaning bake pans and the like articles. Thepowerful sprays, however, will dispel articles of the class of bake pans from the conveyor when loosely disposed and set at random thereon, which would result in a jamming of the machine and injury to the parts.

Forte economy and simplicity in operation, it is advantageous in loading the articles upon a continuously advancing conveyor that'an attend- 'ant be merely required to place the same at random thereon. Therefore, the present inventionis directed to means which, after the pans or articles of that class have been loosely and at random loaded upon the conveyor, will hold the same thereon while subjected to high pressure sprays.

One method practiced is to hold the pans to the conveyor by heavy pressure sprays directed downwardly from above the conveyor to prevail over the spray pressures directed upwardly. It, however, is more pertinent for articles as baking pans that the inside of the pans receive the most effective cleansing, and consequently the inside of the pan should have all the forces available, and also should be placed in an inverted position upon the conveyor to drain the liquid and washed of! particles immediately therefrom.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a washing machine with an adjustable grid .to extend completely over the conveyor to prevent the pans, placed loosely in an inverted position upon the conveyor, from being dispelled or rising oil the conveyor by the heavier force available against the inner or lower side of the pans, and without regard to the force of a counter spray.

The spray solution, following a conventional practice, is pumped to the spray nozzles from a reservoir supply in the bottom of the machine into which it is drained for reuse. Iii the present instance the solution from the sprayers is drained into a screen or sediment collecting compartm'ent, stationed to be accessible from the exterior of the machine butleading back into the. reservoir. Another object of the invention is to provide the washing machine with a solution .screening and sediment collecting compartment accessible from the exterior of the machine, and to have the compartment subdivided into cells by relatively different height and readily individually removable screens, permitting the solution to overflow from one cell into the next adjoining as they become sediment filled, normal- 1y providing for a multiple screening before the solution is redrained into the supply reservoir for reuse,'and to adapt removal of the sediment and cleaning of the screens while the machine is in service and without interruption to the screening operation.

After the articles have been treated with a wash spray, they generally are successively subjected or treated with a rinse spray following with the continuous travel of the conveyors through a successive section or chamber of the machine. The operation and'apparatus employed may be substantiallyv the a duplicate of that employed for-washing. The advance of articles upon the conveyor, as for the washing stage or period, likewise are held to the conveyor against displacement, or from being dispelled therefrom by theforce or pressure of therinse sprays, by an adjustable grid extending lengthwise of the conveyor. I

Following the rinsing stage or period, the articles in their continued travel with the conveyor pass through a heating chamber for drying. Initially upon entry into the heating chamber, the articles are subjected to opposing hot air blasts. For this purpose the grid from the rinsing chamber extends into the drying chamber to serve correspondingly, as when the articles on the conveyor are subjected to the liquid sprays, andto carry the hot air delivery nozzle or nozzles discharging from one side or above the conveyor for adjustment unitarily with the grid.

'I'he drying chamber or section of the washer is heated in any suitable manner, as for ex-' ample, by a plurality of gas burners disposed beneath the conveyor in its forward course. The heated air is drawn from a rearward end of the chamber, preferably by a rotary orcentrifugal blower, for forcible delivery to and discharge from a transverse row of nozzles onto the conveyor transported articles, and also to provide for a forcible and continuous circulation of the air through the drying chamber.

It is therefore another object of the invention to providea drying section or chamber of a washer with opposing hot air delivery .nozzles discharging against the articles, on the conveyor and into the chamber, and in conduit supply connection .with the chamber remotely from the nozzles and having interposed air pumping means for circulating or recirculating the air through the chamber.

' Further features and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in a description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

.Figure 1 is a perspective view of the industrial washing machine, embodying the improvements.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line 2-4, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section on line 4-4, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5, ure 2. n

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-8, Figure 1, through the solution screening and sediment collecting compartment.

. Figure 'l is a section on line '!-1, Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevation of the machine by a suitable type of conveyor for a continuous operation and the handling of the large volume. In the present instance, for the purpose of exemplification, the description of the machine will be confined to its use for cleaning all types of bakery pans.

The operation of the machine being continuous, the pans are received into the machine on 'a conveyor at one end and delivered by the conveyor from an opposite end clean and dry, ready for reuse. -The washing machine therefore coordinates with a system of baking and eliminates an excessive 'stock of pans aside from the cleansing advantages,

For bread pans the washing is not generally necessary after each baking, while it is necessary for pieand pastry pans and the magnitude. of the pan washing problem can berealized when one is informed that many bakeries average for one day's use twenty-five thousand to thirty thousand pans. The machine for pan washing provides for four stages of operation, namely,-

power washing, power rinsing, blower where the excess water is removed by hot air stream and drier.

The ,machine for the cleaning stage provides a large reservoir for a supply of solution, a high volume strong pressure centrifugal pump which delivers the solution from the reservoirto the wash pipes that direct powerful stripping sprays screened or settled to remove foreign matter, and

returned to the reservoir for reuse; The same principle is employed in the power rinsing stage with clear water. I

Referring to the drawings,-l indicates the washer casing fabricated from sheet and bar metal stock, and interiorly is provisioned for the various stages of operation and service for the 'individual needs of the work, continuously conveyed in a longitudinal course through the casing. Various types of conveyors may be mgrid for holding orkeeping the pans on the conveyor.

ployed, as gravity roller, trolley, chain, etc.', de-

pending upon the nature or character of the articles or work. v

The conveyor admirablefor the various types of bakery pans comprises a pair of spaced conveyor chains 2, 2, each engaged over a pair of sprocketsat relative opposite ends of the casing and constituting an idler sprocket I and adriving sprocket 4. The idler sprockets 3 for each chain are floating upon a common shaft 5, journailed in bearings movable or slidably mounted in the relative opposite sides of a snout 6 projected from the forward end of the casing. The receiving endof the conveyor therefore extends beyond the entrance of the casing for loading the work upon the conveyor exterior of the casing. The slidable bearings for the shaft 5 carrying the idler sprocket wheels are each engaged by a spring to urge the bearings forwardly, and thus provide a spring loaded take-up to compensate for the expansion and contraction of the chain due to changes in temperature.

The driving sprockets l are fixed upon a common drive shaft I iournalled in bearings mounted in the opposite sides of a snout'extension at the rear or delivery end of the casing for unloading on the parts or products. The solution is then 7 support on one side of the casing. The driving" means for the conveyor is conventional, and may be of any other type as a-variable speed pulley.

The forward and return runs of the conveyor chains between the sprockets are supported and tracked by rails l3, J4, preferably of angle iron ,form, and mounted upon cross ties or other means of support as components of the machine casing. The conveyor chains 2, 2, ar connected by parallel cross rods It, the spacing of the rods for the instance illustrated in Figure 5 corresponding to the joint distances of the chain links, so that the rods serve for pivotally connecting the links of the chains.

The rods, between the chains at determined spacing, and for each adjacent pair of=rods, are

. connected by links l8 combining to form a flexpermit freedom for vertical rise when subjected to a spray .pressure directed thereagainst from beneath, and avoid the pans from being dispelled from the conveyor or release from it conveying influence. The conveyor traverses the casing approximately midway or central of its height to furnish ample reservoir or compartment space I sum therebeneath and within the casing for some of the divisions of the machine.

Therefore, the washer division of the machine, located at the forward end of the casing, is provided with a solution reservoir it, built in with the casing and closed by a cover or drain plate I. The cover or drain plate is collects the solution delivered from the spray nozzles after drenching the articles upon the conveyor, and drains the same together with any sediment 7 or foreign matter washed oif of the conveyed articles into a straining or screening tank 20, located at the front end of one exterior side of the casing.

The tank 20 is provided with a hinged 'top cover 2i, which, when open, exposes the full area of the tank interior for removal of the screening frames and sediment while the machine is in operation, and without interruption to the operation.

The drainage from the reservoir cover plate I! flows into the tank 20 through an opening 22 in the wall of the casing and located at the top of the tank. The tank 20 is provided with a false bottom 23, subdividing its interior into an upper receiving compartment 24 and a lower delivery compartment 25, the compartments intercommunicating through an opening 28 in the false bottom 23. The delivery compartment communicates with the reservoir it! through an opening 21 in the casing wall partitioning the tank and reservoir.

The opening 26 in the false bottom 23 is protected by a screen 28, removably disposedand resting'upon the bottom. The receiving compartment 24 of the solution screening tank is vide complete coverage of the parts and are 'adiustable as to position They are of commercial type and form no. part of the present invention, so detail description thereof is heresubdivided into cells by a plurality of relatively spaced and parallel screens 29, each having its opposite ends slidably engaged respectively in a channel guide 30 on the opposite end walls of the tank. The screens are of relatively different height, thereby. forming relatively different depths of cells with the first in order to receive the solution from the washer of ashallower depth than the next adjoining cell, and so on for the series. Thus, upon the first cell filling with sediment, the solution will overflow into the second cell, and so on'for the series.

The plurality of screens normally provides for a multiple screening of the solution before .it returns to or re-enters the reservoir, and bythe differential height of screens the machine is capable of operation for long periods before all of thecells would be filled, and allow overflow into the last of the series of cells in direct communication with the delivery'chamber or compartment 25.

As the screens are individually removable, they may be separately cleaned and the sediment removed from either of the cells while the washer is in operation, as the screens need only be removed one at a, time, leaving the others in place for straining the solution during the below the conveyor and equipped with discharge nozzles 34 for delivery of a fan-shaped spray that directs powerful strippingsprays on the pans or products to insurecomplete cleaning. r

lo at d to pro- As in the instance shown in Figure 2, a second The nozzles are arranged and "thin, and together with the moisture on the in omitted.

For heating the solution in the reservoir, a suitable steam coil 35 is employed. As it is preferable for drainage to place the pans in an inverted position upon the conveyor, the'inside of the pans are exposed to the lower seriesof spray nozzles, and as the inside of the pans require the most cleaning, the lower sprayers should have all the force available. The force of the water tends to lift the pans off of the conveyor, and therefore a grid disposed-above the conveyor is provided for holding the pans down.

The grid comprises a plurality of light uniformly spaced rectangular bars 36 extending longitudinally of the conveyor or washer division of the machine assembled into a unit and adjustable as to height. Each grid bar at several points in its length is suspendingly pivotally connected to one end of a series of links 31. The opposite end of the links, each is provided with a hub 38 pivotally mounted upon a cross rod 39, having its opposite ends fixed within a frame 4|) adjustably mounted within the easing. The hub ends of the links control the spacing of the grid bars, and being abuttingly in contact with one another on the crossrod, each is free to swing and sustained against lateral displacement.

Each grid bar is spring-urged by a spring 41, having one end fixed to the bar at an end link connection thereof, and the opposite end of the spring is fixed to a limb of a U-shaped clip 42 dependingly fixed on an end bar of the grid bar supporting frame 40. ;'The stationary end of the spring is adapted I to be engaged through one of several apertures in the limb of the clip for regulating the tension of the spring. Each contacting surface of the pan, offers but a slight resistance to the advance of the pans, insufiicient to mar or injure the surface of the pans with which they contact. The grid bars extend completely over the pressure points, and will prevent the pans from rising oil the conveyor.

The grid frame 40 at each of its opposite sides is provided with a pair of perpendicular rack bars 43, each bar slidably supported by a pair of guide brackets 44 fixed to a side wall of the casing. Each rack bar of an opposing pair is in mesh with a pinion 45 fixed upon a common cross shaft 46, journalled in bearings and mounted upon the side walls of the casing. The cross shafts 46, each at one end, exterior of the casing, has a worm wheel 41 fixed thereon in mesh with a worm fixed upon a counter shaft 48 extending longitudinally of and exterior of one side of the machine casing. The forward end of the counter shaft 48 carriesa bevel gear chamber. jet form, and positioned to jet relatively intermedivision within the machine is .utilized for power rinsing, and thus duplicates a washer division and may be considered a secondary wash with clear water since the mechanical stripping action of the sprays is present. For the second division, a second grid is employed, in structure substantially as described for the first division, and transmittingly connecting with the counter shaft 48 for adjusment by the hand wheel 52 simulta neously with the grid in the first division.

The power rinsing division, similarly as the washer division, is provided with a centrifugal electric motor driven pump 53, which takes its clear water supply from a reservoir within the washer casing and delivers the rinse water to pipes disposed above and below the conveyor and equipped with suitable sprayernozzles.

The washer and rinsing divisions both are provided for making the necessary steam and water service connections controlled by valves 54 exterior. of the casing. In the present instance three valves are disclosed for each of said divisions, one for the steam supply to the solution heating steam coil, a second for .the water or liquid supply to the reservoir, and the third for injectors employed for initially quickly heating the solution. The forward upper end of the casing has a vent hood 55 extending therefrom and over the extruding loading end of 'the conveyor for carrying off any heat or vapors emitting from I the entrance of the casing.

After washing and rinsing, the pans continue in their advance by means of the conveyor through a drier or other divisions of the machine to administer whatever further progressive treatment may be necessary or desired.

In the present instance, the articles on leaving the rinsing section or chamber are transported by the conveyor through a drying section or chamber 51 as shown in Figure 13. A plurality of gas burners 58 extend transversely of the chamber or conveyor, and are interposed between the forward and return portions or runs .of the conveyor for heating the interior of the drying chamber. Various other methods and means may be employed for heating.

The rearward end of the grid within the rinsing chamber is extended to project into the receiving end of the drying chamber for holding the articles to the conveyor while passing between a set of blow-ofi or hot air spray nozzles 59, 60. The lower nozzles 59 are rigidly mounted directly beneath the forward course of the conveyor and diate of the lower nozzles. The upper nozzles are fixed to the rear end of the grid frame 40 thereby unitarily adjustable with the-grid for always jetting the same distance'from the pans and at an angle of 90 degrees.' The nozzles telescopically engage into the manifold 52 to accommodate for adjustment.

As it is'desirableto partition the drying chamber from the rinsing chamber, and to close and seal as much of the ends of said chamber as possible without interference to the conveyor and material transported thereon, a rear end wall section 53 is provided for the rinsing chamber, and correspondingly a front wall section 64 for the drying chamber. The walls 63 and 64 are supported upon and fixed to the grid frame 40 to move unitariiy therewith in a grid adjustment.

The hot air duct or manifold 62 is in conduit connection with a blower 55, which in turn by a conduit 66 connects and communicates with the upper side of the drying chamber 51. The hot air supply for the nozzles is thereby taken from approximately the rear end of the drying chamber and forcibly delivered to the nozzles jetting the hot air upon the transported articles or pans at the forward or receiving end of the drying chamber. Consequently, the air in its return to the drying chamber is forced through the chamber.

The circulating air increases the drying efficiency, reducing the drying period, which accordingly permits a reduction in the length of the drying Qiamber and correspondingly tothe length of the conveyor, effecting economy in construction costs. The jetting of heated air against the articles blows off the water from the pans as they enter the drying chamber, so that they can be completely dried in a comparatively short length of conveyor travel through the drying chamber so that they are completely cleaned and dried as they emerge from the drying chamber.

A baflie or shield plate 61 is disposed longitudinally within the drying chamber to intermedially partition the interior of the chamber for directing the air flow longitudinally of the conveyor. and deflect the same from direct communication with the blower intake conduit 66 to which a stack connection is also made.

While the invention has been exemplified for cleansing bakery pans, it is obvious that the machine is susceptible for washing or treating many other products. The wash or treatment solutions differ for various kinds and types of work, and are of a character to meet the particular requirements. Different problems require different solutions. This also follows for the number and kinds of treatment and the order of administration.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A washing machine of the character described, a casing, an endless conveyor extending longitudinally through the casing, sprayer means within the casing directing wash sprays of liquid on 'the article deposited upon and advanced by the conveyor, and a grid, comprising, a plurality of parallel link suspended spaced bars extending longitudinally of the conveyor for contacting the articles on said conveyor, each bar independently movable and yieldingly urged toward the conveyor to hold the article from rising therefrom by the force of the spray administered thereagainst, said bars as a unit adjustable toward and from the plane of the conveyor.

2. A washing machine of the character described, a casing, an endless conveyor extending a longitudinally through the casing, sprayer means within the casing directing wash sprays of liquid on the article deposited upon and advanced by the conveyor, a grid, comprising, a plurality of parallel spaced bars extending longitudinally of I the conveyor for contacting the articles on said conveyor, each bar, independently movable and adjust the bars as a unit toward and from the.

plane of the conveyor.-

3. A washing machine of the character described, a casing, an endless conveyor extending longitudinally through the casing, sprayer means within the casing directing wash sprays oi liquid on the article deposited upon and advanced by the conveyor, a grid, comprising, a plurality of parallel spaced bars extending longitudinally of the conveyor for contacting the articles on said conveyor, each bar independently movable and yieldingly urged toward the conveyor to hold the tinuously advancing articles deposited thereon. an adjustable grid suspended above the conveyor for yielding linear contact with the advancing articles to hold the same on the conveyor while administering a liquid Jetted thereagainst, an enclosure for a section of the conveyor to provide a drying chamber for the conveyor transported articles, meansfor withdrawing air from said chamber and forcibly letting the same against the articles on the conveyor, said grid means extending into said chamber to hold the articles upon the conveyor while subjected to the pressure of the air jetted thereagainst, and nozzles within the chamber for letting the air against the articles upon entrance into said chamber, said nozzles mounted upon said grid for unitary adjustment therewith.

' DONALD P. SMITH.

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