US2223578A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 3, 1940. 1 RUDE ETYAL 2,223,578

WASHING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 3, 1940. s. RUDE El'AL 2.223578 WASHING MACHINE Filed July 19, 19:57 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hlll I Dec. 3, 1940. s. IIQUDE ETAL 2,223,578

wAsHI'NG MACHINE Filed July 19, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 w zg WASHING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1957 6 Sheecs-Sheet 4 Dec. 3, 1940.

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Dec. 3, 1940. s. RUDE ETAL WASHING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ga /2w Patented Dec. 3, 1940 WASHING Sylvester assignors to American poi-ation of Illinois Application July 19, 1

i 3 Claims.

Our invention relates'to apparatus for washingpots, pans, pails and similar utensils.

Our invention relates more particularly to apparatus for washing open-ended vessels such as pails or similar vessels of the type that are used inlarge numbers in canning factories and similar'places.

In the canning and handling of food products in canning factories, a large number of openended Vessels such as pails or buckets are ordi-' narily used to handle the materials being canned or preserved. In view of the sanitary conditions under which food products must be canned or preserved, it is both necessary and desirable at all times to have food handling vessels that are spotlessly clean and sanitary. Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved mechanism for washing and sterilizing open-ended vessels such as kettles or pails.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a' mechanism of the type described whereby a large number of open-ended vessels maybe washed by being passed through the washing machine in a continuous line.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved mechanism of the type described capable of acting upon a plurality of open-ended vessels simultaneously and provided with a supply of steam and cold water so distributed in the washing machine that each individual vessel, as it is passing through the machine, receives individual attention from the various jets at the various stations throughout the machine. 7

A further object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement of supplies of steam and cold water so arranged that individual open-ended containers that are passed through the machine are subjected to a series of washing and scalding operations whereby each vessel is completely washed both on the inside and the outside, completely sterilized by a bath of steam, 'and then subjected to a cold, final rinsing operation whereby any and all types of bacteria which may be associated with the container, will be killed during the above mentioned process.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the class described that is easily and simply'constructed, that is comparatively small in size so that it takes up as little room as necessary in a canningf-actory and yet is highly efiicient in operation and capable of washing a maximum number of open-ended ves- MACHiNE Rude and Pearl L. Miller, Kokomo, Ind,

Utensil Company, a cor- 937, Serial No. 154,434 (01. 141-7 sels in a continuous operationat a comparatively fast rate of speed.

' A further object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement of supplies of cold water and steam whereby at various stations throughout the machine-a supply of cold water, hot water or steam is provided, as desired. 7

. A further object of theinvention is to provide an improved mechanism of the class described, so constructed that only two operators are required to operate the same, these operators being a person to feed the open-ended vessels in a continuous stream into theopen end of the machine, and a second person to remove the completely washed, scaldedand rinsed vessels.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying six sheets of drawings upon which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of our improved washing machine, taken from the side upon which the water and steam supply is located;

Fig. 2 is' a fragmentary plan sectional view taken generally on the lines 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is'an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of one of the spray nozzles employed in our machine;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the outlet disk provided for each nozzle;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan sectional view through our improved machine, taken directly above the horizontal rack upon which the containers are placed, and is taken generally on the lines 5-5 of Fig. 1 t

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the spray nozzles used upon the outside of the container to wash the bracket to which the bale of the container is connected, and is taken generally on the line 6-45 of Fig. 7;

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view through the washing machine, taken generally on the line 1- 1ofFig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a similar sectional line 8-8 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 9 is alongitudinal sectional view through the machine taken generally on the line9 -9 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment of our improved washing machine which we have illustrated, we provide a supporting structure formed generally of the four corner posts I0 which extend upwardly to a point adiacentthe top of the housing, 12. The housing [2 supports thereabove a cover member l4 adapted to rest upon suitable cross-angle members l6 connected to the top of the uprights l0.

view taken on the The cover member I4 may have upwardly tapering walls I8 which connect with a vent pipe 28 located centrally of the machine and through which excess steam and other vapors may escape. The housing I2 is adapted to be formed of sheet metal and includes the front and rear end walls 22 and 24 and the side walls 26 and 28. The housing may be generally divided into connecting compartments 3.8, 32 and 34 and have the reinforcing angle members 36 to rigidly support the same.

The bottom of the housing is formed with a drain pan 38 provided with a downwardly-sloping dished-bottom which is pipe 40 centrally of the same The drain pan 38 may have the extensions #2 and '44 extending a considerable distance beyond each end of the housing I2. Suitable cross-braces 46, connected to the uprights I0, extend diagonally to, a point below the pan 38 and are rigidly connected to supporting angle members 48. The end walls 22 and 24 of the housing I2 are each provided with a similarly shaped opening 58 adapted to generally conform to the outline of the open-ended vessel which it is desired to wash. In the embodiment shown, this takes the shape of a common form of open-ended vessel, such as an ordinary pail.

Within the housing I2 and extending in both directions through the openings 58 in the end walls .22 and 24, we provide a pair of parallelly disposed rod members 52 supported at the ends of the housing by suitable rod portions 54 connected to horizontal angle members 56 secured on the outside of the end Walls-22 and 24. We also provide a pair of parallel spaced side rod members 58 fastened in a generally similar manner to the end walls 22 and 24. Directly below the upper edge of the openings 58 in the end walls, we provide a pair of parallel guide rods 60 supported from the horizontal angle members 62 and 84, secured to the end walls 22 and 24.

With the three sets of support and guide rods thus disposed in a parallel relation and extending through the housing I2, it will be apparent that a supporting and guiding rack has been provided so that the pails P placed thereon may be moved forward and passed through the machine in a straight and continuous line.

As thus far explained, we have provided a mechanism including a closed housing with an inlet and an outlet opening, with guide rods therethrough, with a top including a vent and a bottom pan portion including a drain. It will thus be apparent that by introducing pails through the inlete opening and pushing them along in a row they will pass over and between a plurality of fixed jets located within the housing I2.

The cleansing medium which we employ for the purpose of washing vessels passing through the machine, is water and steam. For this purpose we provide a supply conduit 66 extending from a source of cold water. A conduit may be provided with a manually operated valve 68 and a T-mernber 18 by means of which a'smaller conduit I2 may be connected to the same. The conduit 12 may be provided with a hand valve I4 and extend downwardly to a point adjacent the lower part of the housing I2 where it connects with a horizontal pipe I4 that extends to a longitudinal pipe 16 extending from the rear to the front of the machine. A T 18 is provided adjacent the front of the machine to connect a conduit which extends to a point centrally of the provided with a drain machine between the lower support bars 52. A vertically positioned spray nozzle 82 is connected to the pipe 80. We provide an elbow 84 at the rear end of conduit 16 to connect a pipe 86 that is provided with a similar vertically disposed spray nozzle 82.

We provide a steam conduit 98 connected to a suitable source of steam under pressure. The conduit 90 is provided with a hand valve 92, a T 94, and a smaller conduitffifi extending at right ,angles from the T 94 and passing into the housing I2 at a point generally near the bottom of the same and adjacent the rear or outlet end of the machine. The conduit 96 is provided with a hand valve 98 and is connected at its lower end to a horizontal pipe 99 which extends to a point centrally between the lower guide and support rods 52. The conduit '91 is provided with a vertically disposed spray nozzle I08 positioned below and centrally between the guide rods 52. 1

Water conduit 86 and the steam conduit 90 are adapted to be connected below the conduits-I2 and 96 respectively to a suitable mixing chamber I02. The mixing chamber may be of any :suitable or desirable constructionyso provided that cold water and steam can be mixed together under pressure with the result that hot water is formed thereby. The hot water thus formed may travel downwardly through a suitable hot water conduit I84 to a point adjacent the lower end ofthe housing I2 and pass through a horizontal conduit IIIIi to a T member I08. The T member I88 is located centrally below the guide rods 52 and has the oppositely directed conduits I I II andI I2 extending therefrom. Each of the conduits is provided with a vertically disposed spray nozzle between the lower guiderods 52.

Conduits H8 and H8 may continue outwardly in both directions and be connected with suitable cross-conduits I20 and I22 which extend toa point adjacent the side walls of the housing I2 and connect with vertical conduits I24 and I26 that are provided with spray nozzles I 28 at their upper ends.

With the construction and arrangement of cold and hot water, and steam pipes described, it will be obvious that the interior of the pails P that are passing through the machine will be first sub-' jected to a cold water spray, and then, at a plurality of spaced stations, to a hot water bath, followed by a spray of steam, and 'a final cold water rinsing as'the' pails/pass out of the machine.

Means are also provided for washing the pail bottom and outside surfaces. These means include the nozzles I28 which are so located that same will be directed upon the pail handle brackets I38, and will thus effectively rinse these parts which are usually exceedingly dirty and difiicult to wash in any other manner.

A conduit I32 may extend horizontally on the outside of the machine from a T-member I34 in the conduit a short pipe member I36. to a horizontal pipe I38 which lies within the washing housing. The pipe I84. The pipe I32 is connected byv I38 is provided with a plurality of horizontal members I42 to which similar nozzles 82 are connected. In order to provide similarly'disposed nozzles 82 adjacent the opposite wall of the inachine, we provide the cross-pipe I connected to a horizontal pipe I46 which carries similar nozzles 82 directly across the machine from the previously mentioned nozzles in the pipeline I38.

From'the description of the foregoing mechanism, it' will be apparent that applicants thus provide a plurality of nozzles located at spaced stations above the path of the pails so that the bottom and sides thereof will receive a thorough hot water drenching while the pails are passing through the machine.

In Figs. 3 and 4, we have shown enlarged views of the nozzle members 82. Each of these nozzles may comprise a flared housing 82:]. connected by a suitable threaded portion upon the end of a conduit. We provide a fiat closure member 82b positioned in the end of the nozzle and held in place by a screwed 0n collar member 830. The closure member is provided with a plurality of openings 83d of an escape so that as water or steam is forced outwardly through the openings under pressure, it will have a swirling motion and tend to cover a greater area and with a finer mist than if the nozzle werenot so constructed.

In Fig. 6, we have shown one of the nozzles I28. These nozzles may be formed with a cylindrical body portion |28a provided with a threaded end to e gage in a suitable elbow or the conduit to which the same is attached. We provide a comparatively small outlet passageway [28b connecting with a triangularly-shaped opening I280. The purpose of makingthis particular nozzle in the manner shown, is to provide a direct spray of considerable force at the handle hinges I30 of the pail, as previously mentioned. By thus directing the spray in the manner sought, the handle and the side of the pail is given a very thorough washing with the cleaning medium.

From the above and foregoing description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a comparatively simple, yet highly efficient washing machine of the type described has been provided. It will be obvious that with the cleaning fluid passing through the cleaning nozzles in the manner described, the only necessity of operators is to place the pails into the end of the machine in the desired position and to take them out as they are pushed out of the outlet end of the machine. It will be apparent that a large number of utensils may be washed in a continuous stream and with a minimum of waste of the cleaning medium.

While we have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of our invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown and we do not wish to limit ourselves in any particular. Rather, what we desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for washing open-ended buckets comprising a longitudinal horizontally disposed box-shaped housing having .a drain pan therebeneath, an inlet opening at one end of said housing. an outlet opening at the other end, parallel horizontally disposed pairs of upper, lower and side rods extending through said housing defining a space through which buckets may pass, a cold water pipe and a steam pipe extending to said housing, extension pipes from said cold water pipe, nozzles in said extensions, one located between and below said lower rods adjacent the inlet opening and one located between and below the lower rods adjacent the outlet opening of the housing, an extension pipe from said steam pipe, a nozzle in said extension located between and below said lower rods spaced from the outlet opening of the housing, a pipe line connecting said steam and water pipes beyond the extensions therein, a mixing chamber in said pipe line wherein the steam and cold water form hot water, a pipe leading from said chamber into said housing, branch pipes leading therefrom and nozzles positioned in'said branch pipes at spaced intervals between and below said lower rods, above said upper rods and on the sides of said upper rods whereby an open ended inverted bucket passing through the housing will be sprayed inside with cold water and then inside and outside with hot water, the inside being additionally sprayed with steam and lastly with cold water.

2. Apparatus for washing open-ended buckets having bale brackets upon opposite sides, comprising a longitudinal box-shaped housing having a drain pan therebeneath, an inlet opening at one end of said housing, an outlet opening at the other end, parallel horizontally disposed pairs of upper, lower and side rods extending through said housing defining a space through which buckets may pass, a cold water pipe and a steam pipe extending to said housing, extension pipes from said cold water pipe, nozzles in said extensions, one located between and below said lower rods adjacent the inlet opening and one located between and below the lower rods adjacent the outlet opening of the housing, an extension pipe from said steam pipe, a nozzle in said extension located between and below said lower rodsspaced from the outlet opening of the housing, a pipe line connecting said steam and water pipes beyond the extensions therein, a mixing chamber in said pipe line wherein the steam and cold water form hot water, a pipe leading from said chamber into said housing, branch pipes leading therefrom and nozzles positioned in said branch pipes at spaced intervals between and below said lower rods, above said upper rods and on the sides of said upper rods with other nozzles positioned on the sides of said side rods directed against the path of the bale brackets on the buckets whereby an open ended inverted bucket passing through the housing will be sprayed inside with cold water and then inside and outside with hot water, the inside being additionally sprayed with steam and lastly with cold water.

3. Apparatus for washing open-ended buckets comprising a longitudinal box-shaped housing having a drain pan therebeneath, an inlet opening at one end of said housing, an outlet opening at the other end, both openings defining a space slightly larger than the buckets to be washed, parallel horizontally disposed pairs. of upper, lower and side rods extending through said housing defining a space through which buckets may pass, a cold water pipe and a steam pipe extending to said housing, extension pipes from said cold water pipe, nozzles in said extensions, one located between and below said lower rods adjacent the inlet opening and one located between and below the lower rods adjacent the outlet opening of the housing, an extension pipe from said steam pipe, a nozzle in said extension located between and below said lower rods spaced from the outlet opening of the housing, a pipe line connecting said steam and water pipes beyond the extensions therein, a mixing chamber in said pipe line wherein the steam and cold water form hot water, a pipe leading from said ing will bespray edinside with cold water and chamber into said housing, branch pipes leading then inside and outside with hot water, the 'intherefrom and nozzles positioned in said branch side being additionally sprayed with steam and pipes at spaced intervals between and below lastly With'cold water. said lower rods, above said upper rods and on ,SYLVESTER RUDE. 6 the sides of said upper rods whereby an open PEARL L. MILLER; ended inverted bucket passing through the hous- I I on

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