US2244462A - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1941. o. P. KEYS WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE I Filed Sept. 27, 1938 Patented June 3, 1941 UNETED STATES PAT WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Opie P. Keys, Jonesboro, Tenn. Application September 27, 1938, Serial No. 231,863 4 Claims. ll ill) This invention relates to an improved cleaning machine more particularly adapted for cleaning the movements of watches, clocks and other delicate mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a cleaning machine wherein means are employed for permitting the cleaning of watch movements or the like in a cleaning fluid in a highly efficient manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character embodying means for effectively drying a watch movement or other delicate mechanism after it has been cleaned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning machine which will permit washing and drying of watch movements or the like without injury to any of the parts thereof.

As a still further object, the invention seeks to provide a machine embodying structure which will effect agitation of the cleaning fluid within the liquid carrying means so that effective cleaning of the parts of the watch movement or the like by said cleaning fluid will be assured.

As a further object, the invention provides a simple and highly effective machine whereby a watch movement may be cleaned without disassembling said movement other than to remove the dial and release the tension of the main spring so that the pivots will be free in the jewels or pivot bearings.

Other objects of the invention not mentioned hereinbefore will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing forming a part of my application:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved cleaning machine.

Figure 2 is a top partly broken away.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, wherein similarreference numerals will be seen to designate like parts throughout the views, the numeral I indicates the base of my improved cleaning machine. The base, preferably formed of heavy cast metal and is oblong in shape, being reduced toward its forward end. The base has a standard 2 rising from the larger end thereof and said standard is cast integral with said base. A bracket 3, preferably formed of cast metal, is riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the reduced end of the base and said bracket carries a socket 4 of conventional design. A light bulb 5, also conventional, is normally screwed in the socket 4.

Swingingly mounted on the upper end of the plan view of the machine,

standard 2 is a substantially circular motor mounting ring 6, said ring being formed of flat sheet metal and having ears 1 and 8 which straddle the upper end of the standard. A bolt 9 extends through the upper end of the standard and through said ears and said bolt has a wing nut i0 screwed thereon. It will be seen that, by tightening the wing nut on the bolt, the motor mounting ring will be rigidly secured in set position.

The motor mounting ring 6 rigidly mounts a motor II which is of any suitable construction. The motor would ordinarily be of the fractional horsepower, volt universal type. The motor includes a shaft 52.

Mounted on the upper face of the motor I i are pairs of table mounting brackets i3 and i i. As will be seen in Figure 2 of the drawing, the table mounting brackets of each pair of brackets have corresponding end portions fastened to the upper face of the motor by means of fastening devices I5. The brackets Hi and it are formed of semi-resilient sheet metal and are connected at their corresponding upper ends to a table to". More specifically, as best seen in Figure 2, the brackets of the pair of brackets it have corresponding upper ends attached to points on the opposite sides of one end of the table, while the corresponding upper ends of the brackets of the pair of brackets [6 are connected to points on the side portions of the opposite end of the table.

A vibratory shaft i? is carried by the table and has its upper end rotatably mounted in a bearing i8 which is secured to the under face of the table. The lower end of said shaft is fixedly mounted in a coupling l 9 which is formed of flexible material. The coupling 59, at its opposite end, receives the upper free end of the shaft I2. A bearing 2% journals the shaft il at substantially its midportion and said bearing is mounted on resilient brackets 2i and 22 which have their corresponding upper ends fastened to the under surface of the table. A vibratory collar 23 is mounted on the shaft ll between the bearings l8 and 2d and, of course, beneath the table, said collar serving to mount a vibratory weight 24 which is eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of said collar.

Mounted on theunder surface of the table and depending therefrom to surround the upper portion of the light bulb 5, is a heat deflecting hood 25, said hood having an open upper end which communicates with the under surface of a drying screen 26, said screen being mounted in an opening 27 in one corner of the table l6.

Mounted on the upper surface of the table, diagonally with respect to the opening 21 and drying screen 26, is a washing cup 28, said cup having a lid 29 provided with a handle 30. The lid 29 is normally held in closing position on the cup 28 by means of a spring clamp 3| which is preferably formed from a single strand of heavy wire bent upon itself to define a U-shaped bight portion 32, intermediate portions 33, and clamping fingers 34, which clamping fingers overlie the upper surface of the lid 29 in straddling relation with the handle 30.

The operation of the invention is as follows: Cleaning fluid is first placed in the washing cup 28. The watch movement or the like to be cleaned is then placed Within the cup and in the cleaning fluid, it being understood, of course, that the dial of the watch has been removed and the main spring released for freeing the pivots in the bearings or jewels. The lid is then placed upon the cup and is held in place by the clamp 3|. The electric motor is then started. Rotation of the shaft l2 of the motor will communicate rotative movement through the coupling iii to the shaft i'i. Said shaft ll will thus be caused to rotate for rotating the vibratory collar 23 with the vibratory weight 24 thereon. Inasmuch as the vibratory weight is eccentrically mounted with respect to the axis of the shaft H, the shaft i! will be unbalanced so as to cause it to vibrate. Vibration of the shaft I! will, of course, be transmitted to the table 16 and said table will be caused to vibrate very rapidly. The resilient brackets l3 and IA will, of course, permit vibratory movement of the table with respect to the motor. The brackets i3 and M will, however, be of sufflcient rigidity to mount the table effectively so that collapse thereof will not take place. It will be seen, also, that vibratory movement will be transmitted from the shaft ll through the bearing 28 and the brackets 21 and 22 to the table. As the table 3 is vibrated, the fluid Within the cup 28 will be agitated and caused to circulate back and forth through the elements of the mechanism being cleaned. In this manner, the elements will be effectively cleaned.

After the mechanism has been cleaned, the electric light bulb 5 is energized so that the heat therefrom will be caused to rise within the heat deflecting hood 25 and pass through the drying screen 23. The hood 25, as will be observed, is enlarged toward its lower end so that an air space will be defined between the lower end of said hood and the surface of the light bulb so that air will be permitted to pass upwardly past the bulb and through the screen. The mechanism to be dried is placed upon the screen so that heat passing from the bulb through the hood and screen will effectively dry said mechanism.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that it will be possible to clean a watch movement or other delicate mechanism without disassembling it, with the obvious advantage that much time and labor will be saved. The invention is characterized by the utmost simplicity and durability.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a cleaning machine, a base, a motor carried by the base, a table, means resiliently connecting the table with the motor, means mounted between the motor and table and being operable by rotation of the motor for vibrating the table, and means carried by the base and energizable for projecting heat to the table for drying articles on said table.

2. In a cleaning machine, a base having a standard, a motor on the standard, a table, brackets resiliently connecting the table with the motor, said motor having a shaft, a flexible coupling carried by the shaft, a vibratory shaft having one end mounted in the flexible coupling and the other end mounted on the table, a vibratory collar carried by the vibratory shaft, a vibratory weight carried by the vibratory collar, a bearing surrounding the vibratory shaft, brackets resiliently connecting the bearing with the table, and a liquid supporting means carried by the table, said motor being operable for rotating the shafts whereby the table will be vibrated for agitating fluid in the liquid supporting means for washing mechanism in said liquid supporting means.

3. In a cleaning machine, a table, said table having an opening therein, a drying screen mounted in the opening, a heat deflecting unit carried by the table beneath the drying screen, a base, means carried by the base for mounting the table for vibratory movement, heating means carried by the base, and article supporting means carried by the table, said article supporting means supporting an article to be cleaned and fluid for a cleaning operation upon vibration of the table, said drying screen and heating means cooperating for drying the article after cleaning thereof.

4. In a cleaning machine, a table, a washing cup carried by the table, said cup having a lid, a clamp normally retaining the lid in position on the cup, said clamp engaging the under surface of the table and the upper surface of said lid, said table having an opening, a drying screen in the opening, a heat deflecting hood carried by the drying screen, heating means beneath the deflecting hood, a base, a standard carried by the base, a motor on the standard, brackets resiliently connecting the table with the motor, a vibratory shaft carried by the table, flexible means operatively connecting the vibratory shaft with the motor shaft, 2. vibratory collar on the vibratory shaft, and a vibratory weight carried by the vibratory collar, rotation of the motor shaft imparting rotation to the vibratory shaft whereby said vibratory weight will cause vibration of said vibratory shaft and consequent vibration of, the table for agitating cleaning fluid in the washing cup whereby an article in the cup will be effectively cleaned, said article being adapted to be positioned on the drying screen for drying by'heat passing through the heat deflecting hood.

OPIE P. KEYS.

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