US2644473A

US2644473A - Dishwasher

Info

Publication number: US2644473A
Application number: US162358A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerald B Fox; David A Meeker
Original assignee: Hobart Manfacturing Co
Current assignee: Hobart Manfacturing Co
Priority date: 1950-05-16
Filing date: 1950-05-16
Publication date: 1953-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1970-07-07
Also published as: NL161266B; GB717834A; NL85560C; DE975953C; FR1041774A

Description

6. B. FOX ET AL Jul 7, 1953 DISHWASHER Filed ma 16, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS GERALD B. FOX BY DAVID .MEEKER 2 ATT RNE'YS 4 l mm o ow Q y 1953, a. 8. FOX E TAL 2,

' DISHWASHER Filed May 16 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 9' ATTORNEYS y 7, 1953 G. B. Fox ETAL 2,644,473

' DISHWASHER Filed llay 16. 1950 a Sheets-Slieet s 441 I21 129 56 T efpxtz z zsi 6,

. BY DAVID A. MEEKER I2 129 ATTORNEYS Patented July 7, 1953 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISHWASHER Gerald B. Fox and David A.'Meeke r, Troy, Ohio,

assignors to The Hobart Manufacturing Company, Troy, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 16, 1950, Serial No. 162,358

19 Claims. 1

struction that the dishes may be positioned upon it directly, and conveyed through the machine while being held properly and with such yielding support as to prevent likelihood of damage or breakage. The position of the dishes during their travel through the machine is essentially upright, or somewhat inclined, thus assuring complete drainage of the wash fluids before the dishes leave the machine. Furthermore, the construction of the conveyor is essentially open throughout its entire extent so that the dishes maybe placed as desired directly upon the conveyor, and so that the wash sprays have full and complete access thereto, regardless of the particular location of the dishes thereon. It is likewise important that by reason of this essentially open construction of the conveyor, the wash arms are located above and below the conveyor and arranged to discharge their wash sprays directly upwardly and downwardly upon the dishes, through the conveyor in the case of the lower wash arms, the open construction making possible this free passage of the sprays through the conveyor without substantially reducing the eiiectiveness thereof. The conveyor is thus rapid and easy to load and unload, fully protects the dishes during their travel through theme-chine, and provides for a highly effective washing action from wash arms located conveniently above and below the conveyor with respect to both fiat ware and hollow ware as well as silver.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a continuous conveyor adapted to be driven through the washing and rinsing comessary for the operator or attendant to load the dishes into a rack, since they may be placed directly on the web and without requiring any special orientation thereon.

The separating members on the conveyor are of sufficiently resilient construction and are so arranged with respect to the structural members of the conveyor that they provide resilient support for the dishes and maintain them out of contact with the body of the conveyor. This further facilitates rapid loading and unloading of the dishes and provides protection against.

damage such as might result if a dish were accidentally dropped into direct contact with rigid structuralparts of the conveyor. Furthermore, the separating fingers of these supporting members are so arranged that if desired a rack of the usual type may be placed thereon, as may be desirable for handling silverware or otherwise, and the rack will be safely supported during travel with the conveyor through the washing and rinsing cycle.

It is accordingly one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a conveyor of essentially open construction which is adapted for continuous driving through the washingand rinsing sections or chambers of a dishwasher and which includesseparating members arranged to support the dishes in generally vertical position during washing and rinsing to facilitate access to the dishes by the generally vertically directed wash sprays for effective washing, rinsing and draining.

An additional object is to provide such a conveyor wherein the dish supporting and separating members are arranged to provide dish re ceiving recesses which extend both laterally and longitudinally of the direction of travel of the partments of the dishwashing machine, and this conveyor is equipped with dish supporting and separating members which include upwardly projecting finger portions arranged in spaced and aligned relation both laterally and longitudinally of the conveyor to define dish receiving recesses.

These members are of such construction that the dish receiving spaces or recesses defined by their finger portions provide adequate support for each dish, tray or like article during passage through the dishwashing machine in any position in which the article is mounted on the conveyor, 1. e., either laterally or longitudinally of its direction of movement, and it is accordingly not necconveyor for quick and easy loading and unloading.

Another object is to provide a continuous conveyor for a dishwasher which includes resiliently yieldable portions forming sup-ports for the dishes and other articles to be washed to maintain the dishes out of contact with the structural parts of the conveyor for protection against shock during loading and transporting of the dishes.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a conveyor wherein each of the dish supporting and separating members is formed of a single length of resilient wire formed to provide the desired dish separating and dish supporting portions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description,

claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view, partly broken away, showing a dishwashing machine embodying a continuous conveyor unit in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a fragment of the conveyor unit loaded with dishes and trays to be washed;

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail views in perspective and plan, respectively, showing one of the flight wires of the conveyor;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View in perspective showing one of the members which separate the flight wires transversely of the conveyor;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged and somewhat diagrammatic view in vertical section through the dishwasher of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view on the same scale as Fig. 6 looking downwardly on the conveyor;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating diagrammatically the action of the conveyor in passing over one of the sprockets at the loading end of the machine;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the operation of the conveyor in conjunction with a dish supporting tray;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary and somewhat diagrammatic view on a larger scale than Fig. 1 showing the loading end of the dishwasher;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing the unloading end of the dishwasher and illustrating the safety switch mechanism for stopping the dishwasher in the event of incomplete unloading of the conveyor; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section on the line l2l2 of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 shows an automatic dishwashing machine which includes a base frame indicated generally at l3, a casing 14 and a hood [5 located between the open loading end portion 18 and unloading end portion I! of the machine. Within the hood and adjacent the leading end I6 of the machine is a scrapping chamber 20 which includes a sump 21 provided with a pump 22 for recirculating the water from the sump to the upper spray headers 25 and lower discharge manifold 26 for discharge over the dishes as they pass through chamber 20 to wash off particles of food. These particles are washed down into the sump for subsequent removal, the pump being provided with a suitable easily removable filter 2! to prevent recirculation of the scraps.

The hood I5 also encloses the washing chamber 30 and rinsing chamber 3|, which are in continuous communication except for the usual deflector 32 and flexible curtain 33 positioned between the revolving wash arms 34 and rinse arms 35, and which are also shown as provided with

lower wash arms

36 and 31 and a final rinse header 38 and lower rinse manifold 39. In order to guard against access of particles from the scrapping chamber to the wash and rinse chambers, a space 40 is provided within the hood between

chambers

20 and 30, and the washing and rinsing chambers have sumps 4| and 42 separate with the sump 2| of the scrapping chamber.

A shaft 43 supporting a pair of sprockets 44 is mounted at the unloading end of the frame and is driven by a motor 45 and speed reducer 46 as indicated at 41. A similar shaft 48 provided with sprockets 49 is mounted at the loading end of the frame, and the conveyor 50 extends around these sprockets for driving continuously through the hood [5. The advancing flight of the conveyor is supported on a pair of tracks 51 carried by brackets 52 mounted in the frame, and it will be noted that these tracks are inclined upwardly from the loading end of the machine to a point just within the entering end of the washing chamber and then remain level to approximately the discharge end of the rinse chamber, from which point they are inclined downwardly to the unloading end of the machine. The return flight of the conveyor is similarly supported on tracks 55 carried by brackets 56 secured to the frame.

The construction of the conveyor 50 is shown in detail in Figs. 2 to 8. It includes a pair of continuous pintle chains 60 which form the side members of the conveyor and engage the

sprockets

44 and 49; Each of the individual links of the chain includes a bushing 6| (Fig. 6) riveted between the arm members 62 and forming a bearing for a roller 63 adapted to ride on the tracks 5! and 55. A plurality of cross rods 65 are secured to the chains 60 in spaced relation longitudinally of the conveyor to form the desired open framework for free passage of water. Each of the cross rods is shown as having its ends received in the bushing portions 6| in an opposite pair of links in the two chains and being secured in place by means such as cotter pins 66.

A plurality of individual flight wires indicated generally at J0 (Figs. 3 and 4) are mounted on the conveyor to form supporting andseparating members for the dishes and other articles to be washed. Each of the individual flight wires 78 is shown as formed from a single length of wire, and it includes a forward pair of loops H adapted to receive one of the cross rods 65, a rearward pair of loops 12 adapted to receive an adjacent cross rod, a pair of upwardli projecting fingers 15 which are inclined rearwardly with respect to a plane through the centers of the loop portions H and i2, and an up wardly inclined 100p portion I1 located between the flngers l5 and extending forwardly thereof from the loops 12 beyond the loops. II.

It will thus be seen that when these flight Wires are mounted on the cross rods 65 as shown in Fig. 8, the fingers l5 incline rearwardly with respect to the upper surface of the conveyor, and the loop 11 on each flight wire Hi extends forwardly beyond and in vertically spaced relation with the rod on which the loop portions H of the same flight wire are mounted. It will also be noted that the loops 12 are offset inwardly with respect to the loops H to provide for overlapping the loop portions 12 of each flight wire by the loop portions H of the next adjacent flight wire to the rear, and with each flight wire thus mounted on two of the cross rods 85, it is supported with its fingers I5 in proper upright position while advancing through the dishwasher but is still able to negotiate the turns at the ends of the machine as shown in Fig. 8.

Spacers 80 (Fig. 5) are provided between adjacent flight wires 10 laterally of the conveyor, and each of these spacers is shown as similarly formed from a single length of wire. It will be seen that each spacer includes a forward pair of loops 8| adapted to receive one of the cross rods 65, a

similar rearward pair of loops 82, a longitudinally These spacers arev mounted on each pair of'cross rods 65 between the flight wires Hi as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and they thus serve to maintain the flight wires in spaced relation laterally of the conveyor.

It will accordingly be seen that with the conveyor constructed as described andshown, the fingers on the flight wires are aligned in spaced relation both longitudinally and laterally. of the conveyor in such manner as to define a plurality of longitudinally extending recesses 81 and laterally extending recesses 88 for'receiving the articles to be washed. Thus as shown in Fig.2, the recesses 88 can be loaded with" dishes 90 of different sizes and shapes as well as with larger articles such as the trays 9|, and the fingers 15 are of sufficient height and suflicientlyclosely spaced to support these articles Properly during passage through the scrapping, washing and rinsing chambers. The longitudinally extending recesses 81 can be similarly employed for receiving articles to be, washed, particularly for large articles such as trays and the like which may be too long to be mounted crosswise of the conveyor.

With the flight wires and spacers 80 constructed and arranged as shown, positive protection is provided against contact between any of the dishes-and the relatively stiff or rigid cross rods 65. The loops IT on the flight wires interfit as shown in Fig. 7 in such manner that eachloop extends above one of the cross rods, and with the flight wires formed of resilient wire, the loops thus form resilient supports which act to cushion the dishes during loading and unloading of the conveyor, even if the dishes should be accidentally dropped into place. The loops 1! thus cushion all of the lateral recesses 88- as well as alternate longitudinal recesses 87, and in the longitudinal recesses which donot contain the loops, the portions 85 of the spacers 80 similarly act as resilient supports for the dishes. In addition, the fingers 15 may be provided as shown in Figs. 6 to. 8 with guard caps 95 of flat, thimble-like shape, 'formed of a suitable material such as nylon or other plastic, each of these guards being held on the finger by a rivet 96 and providing a cushion on the upper end of the finger.

The preferred manner of stacking the dishes is indicated in Fig.2, i. e., the dishes 90 and trays 9| being received upon the conveyor with their long dimensions extending crosswise thereof. In this position the flat sides of the articles. are engaged against the fingers 15 while the lower edges are supported upon the parts 1! which extend generally in the direction of travel of the conveyor. It will be evident by reference to the drawing that the parts 11 are arranged in rows with the loops on one cross bar overlapping those on the next adjacentbar. It will also be clear that the-spacing crosswise between the alternate rows of loops 1'! is such that whatever position is occupied by the dish, that is, whether it is directly above a loop, or whether it is positioned in or come into direct contact with the relatively rigid bars This is further assured by the provision of the spacer portions 85 which are arranged in the alternate rows between loops 11,

and which provide for receiving and supporting the edges of the dishes if they should be located in that position. I

Similarly, while not preferred, the dishes may be stacked with their long dimensions lengthwise of the travel of the conveyor. In this case the arrangement of the IOOps Ti and the spacer portions is likewise such that at no time are the dishes allowed to restdirectlyupon the cross bars 65.

This conveyor unit is particularly adapted for use in dishwashers employed in restaurants and like establishments utilizing large quantities of dishes and trays, and for such uses a satisfactory size for the conveyor is an overall width for the conveyor 50 of approximately twenty inches, with adjacent cross rods 65 having their centers approximately 2 inches apart. With the body of the conveyor of these proportions, adequate support for the dishes and trays is obtained with each of the fingers I5 inclined at approximately 70 to the plane of the conveyor and extending upwardly to a distance of approximately four inches above the centers of the rearward loop portions i2,- and with the loops portions 1! approximatelytwo inches in width and'inclined at approximately 15 upwardly from the plane of the conveyor. This arrangement provides for four rows of loops "with three rows of spacers 8E! alternating between them.

It should also be noted that this conveyor is adapted for use with dish racks of the type comin the

recesses

81 and 88 as described.

In order to prevent premature loading of the conveyor such as might cause dishes to be caught between adjacent lateral rows of flight wires as the conveyor passes around sprockets 49, the casing 1 4 is provided with a hood I90 '(Fig. 10) hinged at llll to casing I l at the loading end it of the machine which extends into the path of the flight wires and is provided with a down-turned flange having cutouts I02 through which the fingers E5 pass. This hood N10 is so proportioned, thatit prevents loading of the dishes onto the conveyor until the web has substantially completely passed around the sprockets 49 and started up the inclined portion of the tracks 5 I;

Additional protection is provided at the loading end of the dishwasher by a flange 15 (Fig. 6) at each side of the machine mounted on a downwardly extending bracket I06 secured to the casing [4. This flange H15 extends laterally inwardly to form a cover over the chains 60, and its inclined portion is provided with a longitudinally extending plate I08 of Bakelite or like hard plastic material which serves as a guide and support for any dishes or other articles which accidentally may overhang or extend beyond the sides of the conveyor. In the event that any of the articles to be washed do thus extend too far laterally, they are cammed back into proper position as they enter the scrapping chamber 20 by an angularly arranged flange H0 (Figs. 6 and 7) mounted at both sides of the entering end of the casing l5. Also with the fingers i5 inclined rearwardly at a substantial angle which is a sliding angle, for materials employed, such camming action will take place without damage to the fingers, since an improperly positioned tray, dish tote box or other article beingwashed will not jam as could occur if the fingers were vertical but instead will be able to slide upwardly as well as laterally to the extent necessary for movement to a proper position on the conveyor. Such upward movement of the articles is facilitated by the resilient construction of the fingers, which permits them to yield further as required, and also by the rounded corners I I I on the guard caps 95.

The open portion of the dishwasher at the unloading end I1 is provided with flanges H5 (Fig. 11) similar to the flange I65. In addition, provision is made for stopping movement of the conveyor in the event that any of the dishes are inadvertently not removed at the unloading end of the machine. I2I to the end of casing I4. An additional hood I25 is mounted forwardly of hood I within the casing, and it is hinged separately from hood I20 by means of the support bars I26, I21, I28 and I29 and pivots I30. The downwardly extending front fiange portion of this hood I is provided with slots I3I adapted to receive the fingers 15 of the fiight wires I0.

A switch I in the operating circuit to motor 45 is mounted on the side of casing I4 as shown in Fig. 12, and a switch bar I36 is secured to the side of hood I25 for operating this switch, the arrangement in the circuit being such that when the switch bar I36 is in position closing switch I35, the motor will operate when its starting switch is closed. Springs I31 are secured to the support bars I28 in position to draw the hood I25 forwardly and thus to cause switch bar I36 to close switch I35. The bars I28 also carry adjusting nuts I40 which receive the adjustable stop bolts MI for adjusting the normal position of the hood, ready access being provided to these bolts by way of the hood I20.

It will thus be seen that under normal conditions, the springs I3! hold the hood I25 in such position that the switch bar I36 closes switch I35 and thus maintains the dishwasher in operation. However, if a dish is inadvertently left in the conveyor and carried against the front portion of hood I25, the hood will tilt against springs I3I until switch bar I36 is out of contact with the switch I35, whereupon the switch will open to interrupt the operating circuits of motor and thus stop the machine until the dish is removed.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

A hood I20 is hinged at l. Acontinuous conveyor adapted for use in a a plurality of laterally arranged recesses for 1 receiving dishes to be washed injgenerallyupright position ror free access thereto by said wash sprayspassing through said conveyor, mean :or maintaining said fingers in spaced and aligned relation defining a plurality of similar dish receiving recesses arranged longitudinally of said conveyor, and means on said conveyor cooperating with said fingers to support said dishes in each said plurality of recesses out of contact with said cross members.

2. A continuous conveyor adapted for use in a dishwasher of the character described adapted to contain means for discharging wash sprays upon the dishes from above and below the same, comprising a pair of continuous side members movable through a wash chamber, a plurality of cross members secured to said side members in spaced relation longitudinally of said side members to provide an essentially open construction for free passage of said wash sprays therethrough, means forming a plurality of fingers extending upwardly from said cross members in aligned relation across said conveyor to define a plurality of laterally arranged recesses for receiving dishes to be washed in generally upright position for free access thereto by said wash sprays passingthrough said conveyor, means for maintaining said fingers in spaced and aligned relation defining a plurality of similar dish receiving recesses arranged longitudinally of said conveyor, and yieldable means in each of said recesses for resiliently supporting said dishes in spaced relation with said cross members.

3. A continuous conveyor adapted for use in a dishwasher of the character described comprising a pair of continuous side members movable through a wash chamber, a plurality of cross members secured to said side members in spaced relation longitudinally of said side members to provide an essentially open construction for free passage of Wash sprays therethrough, a plurality of yieldable wire separator members mounted on said cross bars to form guides and supports for receiving the dishes, said separator members including upwardly extending fingers arranged in predetermined spaced relation over the surface of said conveyor for receiving the dishes edgewise therebetween in generally upright position, and said separator members also including portions extending generally longitudinally of said conveyor in upwardly spaced relation with said cross members on which the dishes are adapted to rest.

l. A continuous conveyor for use in a dishwasher of the character described comprising a pair of continuous side members movable through a wash chamber, a plurality of cross members secured to said side members in spaced relation longitudinally of said side members to provide an essentially open construction for free passage of wash sprays therethrough, driving and supporting means for said conveyor at the ends of the dishwasher around which said conveyor is adapted to turn, and a plurality of separating members supported on said cross members, said separating members including upwardly extending fingers arranged in predetermined spaced relation over the surface of said conveyor for receiving the dishes edgewise therebetween to support said dishes in generally upright position for free access thereto by said wash sprays directed upon said dishes from above and below said conveyor, each of said separating members including portions mounted on two of said cross members to maintain said fingers in upwardly extending position during travel through said wash chamber while allowing free turning of said conveyor around said supporting and driving means.

5. A continuous conveyor'adapted for use in a dishwasher of the character described comprising a pair of continuous flexible side members, a

plurality of cross members secured to said side members in spaced relation longitudinally of said side members, a plurality of separating members for the articles to be washed each including an upwardly projecting finger and a longitudinally projecting resilient loop portion, means formounting said separating members on said conveyor withsaid fingers thereon in substantially aligned and spaced relation both laterally and longitudinally of said conveyor to define a plurality of recesses arranged both laterally and'longitudinally of said conveyor for receiving articles to be Washed in upright position, each of said loop portions-being located in one of said longitudinal recesses and being of sufficient length rality of cross members secured to said side members in spacedgrelation longitudinally of said side members to provide an essentially open construction for free passage of wash sprays there- 7 through, aplurality of wire separator members mounted on eachof said cross members, said separator members including upwardly extending fingers aligned laterally of said conveyor and cooperating to'form laterally arranged recesses for receiving dishes edgewise therein, said separator members including longitudinally extending portions forming resilient supports for the dishes placed in said lateral recesses, and wire said separator members in spaced and aligned relation with said fingers thereon defining longitudinally arranged recesses for receivingdishes,

said spacers including resilient portions'located above said cross members for resiliently supporting said dishes. V g

7. A continuous conveyor for usein a dish-, washer comprising a pair of continuous 'side members at either side of the conveyor, a: series of cross bars extending across the'conveyor from one of said side members to the other, yieldable wire separator members mounted on said cross bars forming guides and supports for'receiving the dishes thereon and therebetween, said separator members including upwardly extending and rearwardly inclined fingers arranged in predetermined spaced relation over the surface of said conveyor for receiving the dishes edgewise therebetween, and said separator members also including parts extending generally longitudinal are ' spacers arranged on said'cross members-between I adjacent said separator members to maintain 10 rator -members including upwardly extending fingers arranged in predetermined spaced relation over the surface of said conveyor for receiving the dishes edgewise therebetween, said separator members also including parts extending generally longitudinally of said conveyor and arranged in rows with the spaces between the rows being such that the dishes when supported edgewise' on said parts are held in position above and substantially out of contact with said bars.

9. A continuous conveyor for use in a dishwasher which comprises a pair of continuous side members at either side of the conveyor, a series of oross bars extending across the conveyor from one of said side members to the other, yieldable 7 wire separator members mounted on said cross bars forming guides a'ndsupports for receiving the dishes thereon and therebetween, said separator members including upwardly extending fingers arranged in pr determined spaced relation over the surface of said conveyor for receiving the dishes edgewise therebetween, said separator members also including parts extending generally longitudinally of said conveyor on which the dishes. are adaptedto rest, said parts being in the ,form of loops arranged in rows longitudinally of the conveyor with'the loops on one bar overlappingthose of the next adjacent bar.

10. A continuous conveyor foruse in a dishwasher which comprises a pairof continuous side dishes are adapted to rest, said parts being'in' the form of loops located in rows between alter- 'nate pairs of said fingers, the space between said rows being such that the dishes when positioned edgewise on the loops of two spaced rows will be supported above the bars between said rows.

11. A continuous conveyor for use in a dishwasher which comprises a pair of continuous side members at either side of the conveyor, 2, series of cross bars extending across the conveyor from one of said side members to the other, yieldable wire separator members mounted on said cross bars forming guides and supports for receiving the dishes thereon and therebetween, said separator members including upwardly extending fingers arranged in predetermined spaced relation over the surface of said conveyor-for receiving the dishes edgewise therebetween, said separator members also including-parts extending generally longitudinally of said conveyor and arranged in rows with the space between; the rows being such that dishes supported edgewise on said parts are heldin position above and substantially out of contact with said bars, and yieldable means on thebars betweensaid rows of loops for preventing direct contact of the dishes with said bars.

12. In a continuous conveyor of the character described for use infa dishwasher, a plurality of flight wires for supporting and separating the articles to be washed, each of said flight wires being formed'to provide 'a pair of upwardly pro- J'ecting -fingers,- an open conveyor framework,

means for mounting said flight Wires on said framework, and means for maintaining said flight wires in predetermined spaced relation along said framework with said fingers thereon aligned both longitudinally andlaterally of said framework to define a plurality of dish receiving recesses arranged both laterally and longitudinally thereof.

13. In a continuous conveyor of the character described for use in a dishwasher, a plurality of flight wires for supporting and separating the articles to be washed, an open conveyor framework, each of said flight wires including a pair of upwardly projecting and laterally spaced finger portions and a forward pair of foot portions adapted to be secured to said framework, each of said flight wires alsoincluding a rearward pair "of foot portions and a resilient loop portion extending longitudinally from one of said pairs of foot portions, and means for maintaining said flight wires in laterally and longitudinally spaced relation of said framework with said fingers thereon defining a plurality of recesses for receiving articles to be Washed and with said. loop portions thereof forming resilient supports for the articles received in said recesses.

14. In a continuous conveyor adapted for use 1 in a dishwasher of the character described, an open conveyor framework, a plurality of flight wires mounted on said framework and each including a pair of upwardly projecting fingers and a longitudinallyarranged resilient loop portion, a plurality of spacer members positioned between adjacent said flight wires laterally of said web to maintain said flight Wires in spaced and aligned relation with said fingers forming a plurality of laterally and longitudinally arranged recesses for receiving articles to be washed, said loop portions of said'flight wires being arranged in certain of said recesses toform resilient supports for said articl s, and said spacers including resilient portions forming resilient supports for said articles in the others of said recesses.

15. In a continuous conveyor of the character described for use in a dishwasher, a plurality of flight wires for supporting and separating the articles to be washed, said flight wires being formed to provide upwardly projecting fingers, an open conveyor framework, means for mounting said flight wires on 'said'framework, means for maintainingsaid flight wires in predetermined spaced relation along said framework with said fingers thereon aligned both longitudinally and laterally of said framework to define a plurality of dish receiving recesses arranged both laterally and longitudinally thereof, and a guard cap secured to the upper end of each said finger to form a cushion preventing direct contact between the upper ends of said fingers and the dishes being loaded in said recesses.

16. In a continuous conveyor adapted for use in a dishwasher of the character described, an open conveyor framework, a plurality of flight wires mounted on said framework and each including a pair of upwardly projecting elongated loops forming fingers and a longitudinally arranged resilient loop portion, a generally thimble shaped cap mounted on the upper end of each said finger, means extending laterally through said cap and said fingers to secure said cap in place, a plurality of spacer members positioned between adjacent said flight wires laterally of said web to maintain said flight wires in spaced and aligned relation with said fingers forming a plurality of laterally and longitudinallyarranged recesses for receiving articles to be washed, said loop portions of said flight wires being arranged in certain of said recesses to form resilient supports for said articles, and said spacers including resilient portions forming resilient supports. for said articles in the others of said recesses.

17. A dishwasher of the character described comprising a continuous conveyor, a plurality of spaced generally upwardly extending fingers on said conveyor for receiving therebetween and supporting dishes and other articles to be washed, and means for driving said conveyor forwardly to carry the articles thereon through wash sprays, said fingers being inclined rearwardly at a sliding angle with relation to the path of travel of said conveyor to effect upward camming motion thereon of an article supported therebetween in the event of contact between said article and a stationary obstruction adjacent the path of said conveyor for release of said fingers and continuance of said forward travel of said conveyor.

18. In a dishwasher including a housing form ing a wash chamber opening at both ends thereof, the combination of a cont nuous conveyor, a plurality of spaced generally upwardly extending fingers on said conveyor for receiving therebetween and supporting dishes and other articles to be washed,-means for driving said conveyor forwardly to carry the articles thereonthrough said wash chamber, and means at the entering end of said housing for engaging an article on said conveyor extending laterally beyond said conveyor to force said article laterally inwardly for proper passage through said housing, said fingers being inclined rearwardly at a sliding angle with relation to the path of travel of said conveyor to effect upward camming motion thereon of said laterally projecting article upon contact between said article and said engaging means on said housing for release of said fingers and continuance of said forward travel of said conveyor.

19. In a dishwasher of thecharacter described having awash chamber adapted to contain means for discharging wash and rinse sprays therein, the combination of a plurality of links and a plurality of cross members secured together in spaced relation forming a continuous conveyor of substantial width movable through said chamber past said sprays andhaving an essentially open construction for free passage of said sprays therethrough, means forming 'a plurality of spaced fingers extending upwardly from said conveyor, means on said conveyor maintaining said fingers inspaced-and aligned relation both laterally and longitudinally of said conveyor to cooperate in defining a plurality of dish receiving recesses arranged both laterally and longitudinally of said conveyor, and means on said conveyor below said fingers for supporting said dishes out of contact with said cross members and cooperating with said fingers to maintain said dishes in generally upright position for free access thereto by said sprays directed through said conveyor.

GERALD B. FOX. DAVID A. MEEKER.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,045,079 Prunier Nov. 19, 1912 2,302,730 Woolford Nov. 24, 1942 2,316,177 Melzer Apr. 13, 1943 2,390,075 Dawn Dec. 4, 1945 2,539,432 Jones Jan. 30, 1951