US2601411A - Vegetable and fruit washer - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1952 A. B. MCLAUCHLAN 2,601,411

VEGETABLE AND FRUIT WASHER Filed Feb. 2a, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J20 IIH INVENTOR. ARTHUR MC LAUCHLAN l ATTORNEY June 24, 1952 A. B. M LAUCHLAN VEGETABLE AND FRUIT WASHER 5 Sheets-Sheet? INVENTOR. ARTHUR B. MCLAUCHLAN ATTORNEY Filed Feb. 28, 1948 June 24, 1952 A. B. MCLAUCHLAN 2,601,411

VEGETABLE AND FRUIT WASHER Filed Feb. 28, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. ARTHUR B. MC LAUCHLAN ATTORNEY June 24, 1952 A. B. M LAUCHLAN 2,601,411

VEGETABLE AND FRUIT WASHER Filed Feb. 28, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ARTH UR B. MC LAUCHLAN ATTORNEY June 24, 1952 Filed Feb. 28, 1948 A. B. MOLAUCHLAIN VEGETABLE AND FRUIT WASHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 N TOR INVE ARTHUR 5, MC LAUCHLAN ATTORN EY Patented June 24, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEGETABLE AND FRUIT WASHER Arthur B. McLauchlan, Salem, Oreg.

Application February 28, 1948, Serial No. 11,911

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to washers, such, for example, as Washers for vegetables and fruits and the like, in which the articles to be washed are required to be moved along the washer while being subjected to a washing action by water or other washing liquid.

This invention relates particularly to washers in which the articles to be washed are totally or partially submerged in the washing water during part of the time required for their passage through the washer.

This invention is also especially concerned with the washing of string beans or other articles in which, in addition to the actual washing, it is desirable to have the washed beans delivered from the washer in parallel alignment as an aid to the placing of the samein cans or jars, as hereinafter explained.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved washer in which the articles to be washed will be moved in predetermined direction through an agitated tank of water without necessitating any large or constant flow of water for the purpose of moving the articles. A related object is to provide an improved washer in which the movement of the articles will continue beyond the washing water and over a screen or grating so as to permit draining or rinsing or partial drying of the washed surfaces of the articles as a continuation of the washing process.

A further special object of this invention is to provide an improved washer for elongated articles, particularly string beans, in which they will automatically be delivered in parallel alignment to facilitate the placing of the same in containers, as is required in the ordinary canning of string beans.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a washer which will be relatively simple in construction and operation and in which a large quantity of string beans, for example, can be handled with a minimum amount of manual labor.

The manner in which these objects and other advantages are attained by means of my device will be explained in the course of the following description of the'construction and operation of the same, in which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the Washing pan with the associated supporting and actuating members, taken on line of Fig. 2, a portion of the side wall of the Washing pan being broken away to show the structure of the washing pan more clearly;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the washing pan and associated members, a portion ofthe top cover being shown broken away for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical section corresponding to lines 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary side elevations of the washing pan, partly in section, illustrating the position of the same at the beginning of each forward and rearward vibratory movement or stroke, respectively;

Fig. 6 is a more or less diagrammatic plan view of the washing pan, with the cover removed, illustrating the effect of the composite vibratory movement on string beans deposited in the washing pan;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal section of the rear end of the washing pan, corresponding approximately to the line l -T of Fig. 6, but drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 8 is a fore-shortened fragmentary, transverse section on line 8-8 of Fig. 1, being drawn to a larger scale, showing the operating mechanism for the washing pan and the supporting mounting for one end of the pan; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a complete washer and drier embodying my invention, this elevation being taken on the opposite side from which Figs. 1, 4 and 5 were taken.

Since my washer may or may not be used in combination with the companion drier shown in Fig. 9, I shall first describe the washer itself.

The washer includes a washing pan indicated in general by the reference character I@, which is mounted for special vibratory motion in a rigid frame structure indicated in general by the reference character H. The frame structure comprises vertical supports with longitudinal and lateral members joined in such a manner as to form ia suitably strong and rigid skeleton frame strucure.

A pair of vertical members or tubular posts i2 and 13 (Fig. 1) are secured to each side of the frame structure and a bracket [4 is adjustably mounted on each of these four posts and is retained at the desired height thereon by set screws. The brackets 14 support transverse shafts I5 and IS. A pair of arms ii are rockably mounted on the forward shaft IS, the arms being located at opposite sides of the frame II, and a similar pair of arms 18 are mounted on the rear shaft 16. The mounting for these arms will be described in more detail later.

The washing pan [0 has a flat bottom [9,

respectively.

which slopes upwardly from the rear to the front end of the pan, a pair of vertical side walls 20, and a rear wall 2!. Near the forward end of the washing pan the upwardly sloping bottom I!) joins a transversely extending trough portion 22, and the side walls 20 are extended downwardly so as to provide end Walls for this trough portion. Beyond the trough portion 22 a final bottom -section 23 continues for a short distance in the same upwardly sloping plane as the main bottom Ill. The side walls 2!! preferably of the main bottom I9 and the final bottom-section 23, Thus the main bottom wall t9, the

grating 24 and the final bottom section '23 constitute together a continuous upwardly sloping surface from the rear end-of the washing pan to the forward or discharging end. This 'upwardly sloping bottom'surface in the washing pan 'is an importantelement i n my -device. A discharging drainpipe-25 leads from the bottom of the trough portion 22.

A stationary tubular section 26 of a telescoping fixture is rigidly secured to the outside of each of the side walls 20 of the washing pan (see Fig. 1). The rockable arms I! have their upper ends pivotally connected to these tubular sections 26 A telescoping member 21 is mounted in each-tubular section 26 and the rockable arins l8 arepivotally connected to these telescoping members 21 respectively. The telescoping members 2'lare-heldin fixed position in the tubular sections 26 by 'suitable 'set screws. Thus the entire washing pan including the trough-portion 22 and thefinal bottom section 23, is supported on the two pairs of rockable arms l1 and I8. The arms of each pair are parallel but, as will be observed from Fig. 1,

the twopairs of arms'l'land; are not parallel to each other, and the-rear pair-of arms [8 are inclined rearwardly at a a greater angle from; the vertical than the-forward pair of arms H. This particular and nonparallel positioning of the two pairs of rockable suppprting arms performs a most important function to be-hereinafter explained.

' arms I! are rigidly secured to the ends of the hol- -low shaft or sleeve '29. A-metal washer 3!, freely mounted on the shaft [5, bears against the outer end of the resilient bearing '38. A metal sleeve 32, which is splitlongitudinally, is placed on the end of the shaft and extends slightly beyond theend of the shaft. A screw 33, threaded in the end of theshaft l5, has a head which bears against the outer end of the-split sleeve 32. Thus tightening of the screw '33 results in axial compression and radial expansion of the resilient bearing 30. The resilient bearing 30 is prevented, under such axial compression, from rotating on the shaft l5 and the hollow shaft or sleeve 29 is similarly prevented from rotating on the resilient bearing 30, but, due to the resiliency of the bearing 30, the hollow shaft or sleeve 29, andwith it the arms ll, can be given a limited oscillating motion while the supporting "shaft remains stationary. The split sleeve is clamped in the "bracket M by a pair of clamping bolts, thus holding the shaft I5 against rotation. When it is desired to adjust the screw 33, the clamping bolts are first loosened to periiiit the's'plit'sleeve 32 to slide on the shaft l5. Similar mounting elements are provided at both ends of the shaft 15, as apparent'from Fig. 8.

A pair of arms 34 and 35 (Fig. 8) are firmly clamped on the hollow shaft or sleeve 29 and these arms in turn carry a knuckle joint composed of a pair of T-shaped sleeve members 36 and 3 1. The T-shaped sleeve member 36 and SIaresecured onth'e arms 34 and 35 respectively by set screws. The T-shaped sleeve member 36 has a stem 36 which is threaded on its'oute'r cylindrical surface and which engages the threads in a corresponding recess formed'in the stem 31 of the other T-shaped sleeve member 31. A tubular bearing 38of resilient material is carried on the stem 3.? and'is encompassed by a clamping member 33. The clamping member 39 has an integral lower portion inth'e form of a sleeve 39' which is adapted to be secured by means of a set screw'to a pitman rod 40 (Fig. 1). The pitman rod 48 is attached to an annular bearing ring 51 which is mounted on an eccentric disc '42 and the eccentric disc '42 is The rear pair of arms I8 of the washing "pan are mounted on the shaft 16 in the same manner in which the forward arms H are mounted on the shaft l5.

A pair of overlapping spaced baffle plates "44 and 45 (Fig. 7) extendacrossthewashingpan at the rear or intake end, 'oneplate being securedto the rear wall 2| and the otherplate being secured to the bottom wall, and both plates secured'at their ends -tothe side walls 29 of the washing pan. These two'baflle plates form "a transversely extending louvre 'opening'through which the water, delivered" into the Washihgp'an through the inlet'dii; passes.

A hose 48 is detachably connected to the bottom end of the inlet pipe 46 The re'arwall 2| of'the washing pan terminatesat'thetop'in a flange 49 exte'ndiiiga slight distance inwardly.

A conveyor, indicated in general'bytherefere'nce'character '50 (Figs. "land '9) has its discharging end "supported at the "top of therear end of the frame II. The conveyor includes "a motor-driven endless belt fififproviderl with suitable cleat's which "operate to convey the beans,

or other articles to be passed through the washer, from the bottom of a hopper 5| to the discharging end ofthe conveyor'abov'e the rear 'end of the washing pan [0 so that the beans are delivered into the washing 'pan as they drop'from the top of the'conveyorbelt. The hopper "5| is preferably formedwith a screen bottom wall 52 through which'bits of trash, 'graveLetc, can

pass and thus be eliminated before the washing process. The conveyor has a removable cover 53 which, at the upper discharging-end of the 'conveyorf-iitsagainst-"a hood 54 extending over supporting members 55 which in turn ha've their ends removably secured along the top of the frame II at the sides. The hood 54 has no direct contact with the washing pan itself, and thus the vibratory movement of the washing pan is not transmitted to the hood 54 orto any portion of the conveyor 50.

A plurality of shower pipes 55 (Fig. 2) are arranged transversely across the frame I I above the grating 2d. These pipes are provided on their under side with perforations or small nozzles by means of which water delivered into the pipes can be sprayed onto the beans or other objects passing over the grating 24. Preferably the shower pipes 56 are connected at their ends through rotatable bearings with the supporting connecting pipes 51, and handles are provided so that each shower pipe can be turned to cause the sprays or showers to be directed downwardly at any desired angle on the beans or other objects traveling over the grating 24. One of the end connecting pipes 51 is attached to a hose 5!] which in turn is connected to a suitable source of rinsing water.

In explainin the operation of the washer as thus far described, let it be assumed that the washer is to be used for string beans. Water is delivered into the washing pan Ill through the hose 58 and inlet 46 until the washing pan is filled up to the level of the lower end of the grating 24. As further water is delivered into the pan the overflow then passes into the trough 22 and is discharged through the drain 25. When the motor 43 is turned on a rapid oscillating motion is imparted to the hollow shaft or sleeve 29 on the shaft IS. The arms l1 oscillate with the sleeve 29 through a small arc and in turn impart oscillatory or vibratory movement to the washing pan l5 and thus to the rear pair of rockable arms 18. The beans are delivered from the hopper 5! by means of the conveyor 55 into the rear end of the washing pan Ill and the washing process begins.

Due to the fact that the two pairs of rockable arms I! and [8, on which the washing pan I0 is mounted, are not parallel and to the fact that the rear pair of arms 18 is inclined at a greater angle from the vertical than the forward pair of arms I1, a special composite vibratory movement will be imparted to the pan [0, producing a particular predetermined effect which can be best explained with reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Fig. 4 illustrates the position of the pairs of arms I7 and I8 and of the pan II] at the beginning of each oscillatory movement towards the right. Fig. 5 correspondingly illustrates their positions at the beginning of each return oscillatory movement towards the left. The arms I! and IB, as previously indicated, oscillate in comparatively small arcs. Due to the fact that the rear pair of arms 18 slope rearwardly at a greater angle fom the vertical than the arms l1, each movement of the washing pan to the right results in a greater upward movement being imparted to the rear end of the pan than to the forward end, and correspondingly with each return movement of the pan to the left, the rear end of the pan moves the same greater distance downwardly. The upward and downward movement of the rear end of the pan would be represented by the difference in the lengths of the two lines B, B of Figs. 4 and 5, and the upward and downward movement of the forward end of the pan would likewise be represented by the almost negligible difference in the lengths of the lines A, A.

When this particular composite vibratory movement is imparted to the washing pan Ill, three interesting effects occur which can clearly be observed, namely:

(a) Pyramids of water, oscillating up and down, cover the surface of the water in the pan, the pyramids being highest at the rear end of the pan and gradually decreasing in height towards the front end. The resulting water turbulence causes the beans to be turned over and over and thus causes them all to be submerged at least part of the time, which insures thorough washing of the beans in the pan.

(b) The beans will travel from the rear end of the pan to the forward end, regardless of whether there is a continuous flow of water through the pan or not and will continue this forward travel along the inclined bottom l9, thence along the inclined grating 24, and finally along the inclined final bottom section 23 until they are discharged from the forward end of the pan.

(0) All the beans, as they travel along the washing pan, will take positions parallel to the line of travel, as indicated in Fig. 6, and will remain in such position constantly, even while traveling over the grating 24 and over the final bottom section 23. Thus, when delivered from the washer, the beans will all be parallel.

Dirt and foreign matter removed from the beans or other articles during the washing of the same in the washin pan l0 passes out through the grating 24 and the trough drain 25 as a result of both the flow of washing water through the washing pan and the composite vibratory movement of the pan. Consequently the pan is continually being cleared of the dirt, etc., washed from the beans or other articles during the operation of my device.

As the beans pass over the grating 24 the washing water will be drained from them and, if desired, they can at the same time be subjeoted to sprays of rinsing water from the shower pipes 56. I prefer to have the showers or sprays from the shower pipes 55 directed obliquely downwardly in the opposite direction from that in which the beans are traveling to insure thorough rinsing and draining of the beans as they pass over the grating 24. As long as the water sprays from the shower pipes 56 are not strong enough to move the individual beans the travel of the beans over the grating 24 will not be impeded by having the beans subjected to the rinsing sprays.

A transversely moving conveyor belt can be stationed under the discharging end of the final bottom section 23 of the washing pan, if desired, in order that the washed and rinsed and parallelly arranged beans can be conveyed to any convenient place; or a drier, indicated in general by the reference character 6|, can be positioned beyond the washer, as illustrated in Fig. 9, so that the beans will pass from the discharge end of the washer on to the rear end of the drier.

The drier 6| resembles the washer in that a vibrating draining and drying pan 62, mounted and vibrated in the same manner as the washing pan ID, has an upwardly sloping bottom 63 along which the beans travel. The bottom 53, however, consists of a screen or perforated plate in order to permit any further water remaining on the beans to drain off and pass down into a stationary collecting pan 64, which in turn is provided with a drain 65. Air pipes 66 extend transversely across the frame of the drier above the vibrating screen pan and warm air under beans.

pressure, obtained from any :suitablelasource, "is

discharged from 381118511 :orifices along the loot-tom of these pipes to facilitate the drying 20f the Upon leaving the drier the beans then pass ;on to a conveyor (108E161.

[Since the edrierxscreen gpan "receives substantially "the same composite vibratory movement as :described with reference to the washing pan 1.0, the :beans will continue to travel along the drier in :the' same manner as previously explained, and when "discha fg ed zf-rom the drier will all be substantially oarallel tothelrdineof-travel. In the canning of string beans, as well known, unless the beans :are to be cut up before canning,

-it.is necessary to arrange thebeansiparallelto ieachsother andpto place them in the can or jarso that they extend up rand -.d0wn; :otherwise it is impossible to fill :the can or .jar properly with whole string beans. vention, the beans are-automatically arranged The fact that, .with ;-my inparallel to each other greatly reduces theimanual work required in placing the rbeans in :the .cans vor jars.

Although Lhave zdescribedmy invention as .em

.ployed specifically for the .washing .of string :beans, obviously .-it can :be employed .in similar [manner in the washing of other small vegetables,

fruits, berries, or other articles. :Howeverthus far I have found thetgreatestfield of ...utility for -myinventionto beinthe .washingof string beans, .since with my invention, ,the beans arenot only washed. so satisfactorily. and quickly .withso. little scare and supervision, but also because .of the unique feature asa result of :which'the beansare automatically delivered 'in parallel arrangement.

'It is.onlyfairlyrecently that washing has been considered necessary ..in .the processing or canning of stringlbeans. ,However, .due .to themcreased ..use.of sprays .andspray fertilizer inithe growing of .string'lbeans, satisfactory "means for washing the; beans. are..required tomeet a. rapidly developing .need for the same.

I In all .other fruit vand vegetable washers of which I have. any knowledge, a constant .fiow of .the water is. necessary to-keep the objects moving properly through .the washer. .One of the main "features of my invention, as previously mentioned, is that the 'forwardimovement of the articles through'the washer takes place entirely independently of ,anyfiow ofthe washing liquid. This "incidentally makes ,possible a certain economy iin the .use of the washing water .or

' ing upon thesslope-edf lthe'inclinefd bottom .of "the washing panfan'rl also upon.thespcedwithwhich it? is desired to.have=,the objects passl throughjthe washing pan. .The volume and .rate. of .the [flow of washingiwater. fromioneend of the, pan, to..the other, in :case a substantial. continuous... flow of "washing water isemployed, may also; Joe-a factor 1 in influencing the speed of travel. of the objects to be washed. -Adjustmentsishould be! made for different fruits: or vegetables,-.for example; if; ripe raspberries are to be washed it isbetterwtorhave the shower sprays fIOmT-thEJShOWGI;P13388555;510pring; inzthezdirection:ofztravel:ofw therraspberries .775 waiddntakeaendr-b ing t v13mm; that-10f. the

rather than a ainst their direction of travel since there w ul be :a stronger iten enoyifor ther sp iberries to roll 'backwa'rds on 'the ,grating-und er the shower :sprays. Qther adjustments, depending upon the nature of the vegetablesor fruit to Joe washed will readily suggest themselves. In carrying out my invention -,it -is necessary that the "two pairs vof-rooking arms for the washing pan should :never be parallel, that the pan be subjected to -a composite vibrationinvolving yertical and horizontal movement, that the com- ;parative 'vertical movement be greater at the intake end of the pan than at the dischargeend, and that the panbottom should slope upwardly towards the discharge "end. .With such arrangement the composite vibration imparted to the :pan will produce the desired controlled travel through-the pan of the articles to lee washed.

I claim:

1. In a-vegetable and fruitwasher of thecharact-er described, a washing pan having v abottom extending in a, single plane andaslopingrcontinuously upwardly from the intake rend to ;the :;dis- :charge 1end,;;means:ior delivering water, into the intake ,end of said pan, the water overflowing :slowlyat .sa-idadischar eend, sa d nan support d 3011 two pairs :of pivotally-mounted rocker arms located ,near the intake and discharge ;ends of *s i xpan riiespectively, said arms mo nted to swing fin substantially .parallel' vertical qplanes .parallelzto the longitudinal center line of said an, :the arms :in each pair being .1 parallel .to

seachcotherand located ,on opposite sides .of said span respectively, all of said arms being inclined from :the vertical in similar direction hot :the angle "or" zinclination of the a-rms at :said intake :end being greater :than :that gof "the .arms at. said discharge :end, and means .for imparting.- a-rapid .oscillatory :movement to said :pan and arms. thereby causin zsaid pan 3'00 :be oscillated: simultaneously in horizontal;and ;vertical directions :with the amount of vertical oscillation ofusaid :panzbeing greatenatithe intake .end than at the .:discharge rend, said pairs 'of arms being so larranged cthat they will raise usaid ,pan .with i their .LfOIWQIITdESWlHELiIl the L direction of :said.;diseh a-rge -end and51owersaid pan .with their return rear-- :ward; swing 111 each :oscillation, whereby the aresuiting composite oscillator-y ;vibra.tion :of (said .IlilfilllWlll .:cause :the 1' food :articleslto be :washed, iwhen deposited atsaidintake ;en'cl, :toqbe re- -peatedlydmmersedin;.the water in :said pan and :to travel to saiddischargelend in paths=parallel rte-the longitudinal center: line of said; pan.

1-". In...-a vegetablevwasher of rithercharacteri-de- 1 scribed adapted particularly sforstringbeans, a washing ;pan shaving 11a smooth =bottom ,-.sloping l-rcontinuously upwardly ."from the .--intake end 2 to :the discharge end, ;:means forxide'livering water zati-thel intake end .ofsaid pan; the waterv overflow- -ing.- slowly at :said. discharge end, a: grating near the f'discharge. end of .said pan, tsaid; gratingeir i'tendingzintheisame upward sloping plane-as the bottomof said pan-andsecured to said pan, said pan supported on two pairs of pivotally-mounted --roeker warms located near the. intake and discharge: ends of said pan: respectively, said arms amounted :to swing: in substantially parallel-verti- 103.1 planes 'wpara'llel to the longitudinal center -line.zof..said-pan, the arms in each pairbeing .parallel :to eachootheriand locatedon opposite --.sidesof: said panrespectively,:-all ot-said arms be- :ing ;:inclined from: the verticals-in similar direction but the angle of inclination .ofathearmsat rearward swing in each oscillation, whereby the resulting composite oscillatory vibration of said pan will cause the string beans to be washed, when deposited at said intake end, to be repeatedly immersed in the water in said pan and to travel to said discharge end and thence over said grating in paths parallel to the longitudinal center line of said pan and to arrange themselves in parallel alignment during such travel.

3. A vegetable and fruit washer of the character described including a washing pan having a bottom sloping continuously upwardly from the intake end to the discharge end, a grating near the discharge end of said pan, said grating extending in the same upward sloping plane as the bottom of said pan and secured to said pan, means for delivering water into the intake end of said pan, the water in said pan overflowing slowly through said grating, means below said grating for carrying off the overflow water from said pan, said pan supported on two pairs of pivotally-mounted rocker arms located near the intake and discharge ends of said pan respectively, said arms mounted to swing in substantially parallel vertical planes parallel to the longitudinal center line of said pan, the arms in each pair being parallel to each other and 10- cated on opposite sides of said pan respectively,

all of said arms being inclined from the vertical in similar direction but the angle of inclination of the arms at said intake end being greater than that of the arms at said discharge end, and means for imparting a rapid oscillatory movement to said pan and arms, thereby causing said pan to be oscillated simultaneously in horizontal and vertical directions with the amount of vertical oscillation of said pan being greater at the intake end than at the discharge end, said pairs of arms being so arranged that they will raise said pan with their forward swing in the direction of said discharge end and lower said pan with their return rearward swing in each 0scillation, whereby the resulting composite oscillatory vibration of said pan will cause the food articles to be washed, when deposited at said intake end, to be repeatedly immersed inthe water in said pan and to travel to said discharge end and thence over said grating in paths parallel to the longitudinal center line of said pan.

ARTHUR B. McLAUCI-ILAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 370,822 Sage Oct. 4, 1887 941,862 Dibert Nov. 30, 1909 1,010,239 Cox Nov. 28, 1911 1,188,817 Outlaw June 27, 1916 1,573,387 French Feb. 16, 1926 1,772,466 Popper Aug. 12, 1930 1,823,744 Kin Sept. 15, 1931 2,195,371 Moore Mar. 26, 1940 2,380,881 Trostler July 31, 1945

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