GB518523A - Improvements in apparatus for cleaning small articles such as watch parts and other small parts of machinery - Google Patents

Abstract

518,523. Cleaning metals. LANZETTER, S. Aug. 24, 1938, No. 24859. [Class 82 (ii)] [Also in Group XVIII] In apparatus for cleaning small articles of the type in which the articles are carried in a wire basket mounted on the end of a spindle driven by an electric motor and the apparatus is adapted to be inserted in turn in a number of receptacles containing the cleaning liquid, the motor spindle or a sleeve surrounding this spindle slides through a cover for the receptacle to enable the basket to be raised above the surface of the liquid without removing the lid or cover from the receptacle. In Fig. 1 the motor B that rotates the basket A is mounted on a bracket B<1> sliding on the pillar D fixed on the lid E. A spring pin d secures the bracket in the raised position and a keyway d<5> prevents rotation thereof. The basket A containing the articles is spun in the cleaning liquid, then raised and spun above the liquid so as to dry the articles without splashing. Baffles may be attached to the bottom of the motor casing and pass through slots in the lid, to depend into the liquid and promote turbulence when the basket is rotated. In Figs. 5 and 6 the bracket B<1> is raised by a pulley b<2> and cable b<1>. The pulley is provided with a catch so that by one revolution of the pulley the basket is raised and fixed at the " spinning-off " position and by a second revolution the basket is raised above the receptacle C together with the lid by means of the rod e<4>. Then the turntable E2 turns round the central pillar D and another receptacle comes beneath the raised basket. One of the receptacles C<1> may contain a heater for drying the articles. The rod d<4> engages with the bracket B<1> and prevents it from rotating. The blades c<2> mounted loosely on the spindle act as baffles and are prevented from rotation; by the rod c<3> attached to the motor casing, a spring catch e<6> engaging in notches e<5> maintains the turntable in one of the fixed positions. A switch e<8> is provided for the motor so that the direction of rotation of the basket may be reversed after a given number of revolutions. The basket may have several compartments which may be nested one within another or may be segmental in shape. In another form the spindle is surrounded by a sleeve attached to the motor casing and sliding through the lid of the receptacle. A felt pad is provided between the sleeve and spindle to prevent loss of liquid up the sleeve. In a further form rods depend from the motor casing and pass through the receptacle lid having nuts on the end of them. A spring surrounds each rod and maintains the motor and basket normally in position for spinning off. Nuts on the ends of the rods enable the lid to be lifted off when the motor casing is raised.