US2769516A

US2769516A - Cleaning depository

Info

Publication number: US2769516A
Application number: US331564A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Robert K Hensley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-01-16
Filing date: 1953-01-16
Publication date: 1956-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 1973-11-06

Description

Nov. 6, 1956 HENSLEY, JR 2,769,516

CLEANING DEPOSITORY Filed Jan. 16, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l Robert K. Hensley, Jr.

36 34 v INVENTOR.

I 7 BY Nov. 6, 1956 R. K. HENSLEY, JR

CLEANING DEPOSITORY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1953 r INVENTOR..

Robe/f K. Hensley, Jr.

Fig. 4

Nov. 6, 1956 Filed Jan. 16, 1955 R. K. HENSLEY, JR

CLEANING DEPOSITORY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q 8 h c5 1 g L:

Robert K. Hensley, Jr. v INVENTOR.

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United States Patent() CLEANIN G DEPOSITORY Robert K. Hensley, In, Silver Spring, Md. Application January 16, 1953, Serial No. 331,564

.9 Claims. (Cl. 194-4) This invention relates to a dry cleaning depository and has for its primary object the provision of a machine capable of receiving articles ofclotbing and the like to be dry cleaned which are deposited by a patron, the machine not requiring the, continuous surveillance .by personnel of the dry cleaning establishment thus substantially reducing the overhead of the dry cleaning establishment.

The construction of this invention enables .a patron previously provided "with keys to take soiled clothing to a depository and after inserting one ,of the keys, .a receiving drum can be actuated to discharge the soiled clothing within the depository. This machinefurther includes means for punching a ticket soas ltoretain aportion thereof for identification purposes while additionally providing a locker key for opening a locker in which the clothing will subsequently be placed afterit has been cleaned.

"One of the particular features of .thisinvention resides in the construction of the keyiused for initially permitting the. device to perform its functions. These keys are formed preferably from a molded plastic material such as cellulose acetate, Plexiglas, or the 'likewhich has a cam surface and which-also is provided with an insert of magnetic'material for engagement with amagnet carried by a key engaging member movable within an actuation tube and connected tothe rotating drum.

.Thismachine enables a cleaning establishment to conduct its business 'in a somewhat different manner which will provide a substantial saving in the cost of labor, ,While also providing an. added convenience to the patron thus stimulating tradewith the particular establishment employingthese devices.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the pro vision ofacleani'ng depository machine that is strong and durable, simple in construction and manufacture, and .capable of being manufactured at arrelatively low cost out of various conventional and readily availablemater'ials, While "being very easy to operate and service for;proper functioning.

These, together with the various .ancillary objects and features of the invention which willbecome apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by. this cleaning depository, a preferred embodiment ,of .which .has been illustrated in the accompanying .drawings,.by .wayof example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the cleaningdepository comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectionalview as .taken-alongthe plane of line 22 inv Figure illustrating ingreatest detail the construction of the actuation mechanism for-the cleaning depository;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as takenzalong the plane of.line-33 in Figure 5 showing'in detail theconstruction .of themeans for discharging the-soiled clothing; Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view'as taken along the planeof line 4-4 in Figure :5

Figure. 5. is:a vertical sectional view'as taken alongthe .plane of-.1ine:5-..-5 in Figure 2;

2 ,769,515 Fatented ,Nov. 5,1955

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view astaken along the plane of line 6-6 in Figure 2; V V

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional .detail viewjof the ticket punch comprising one of the elements of the invention;

Figure 8 is a sectional detail viewof'a'key inengagement with the key engaging member .prior to being disengaged from the key engaging member upon actuation of the latter stop cam;

Figure 9 is a sectional detail view of the latch means for preventing rotation of the drum if the accessdoor is open;

Figures 10 and 11 are sectional detailviewsof the key delivering mechanism and key magazine, the device being shown prior 'to delivery of a key'in Figure IO'and. being shown after delivery of a key in Figure 11;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of one of the locker keys used;

Figure 13 is .a perspective view of one of the actuation keys with parts thereof broken away for greater clarity; and,

Figure 14 is a perspective view of one of the tickets used with the machine comprising the present invention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generallydesignates the casing of this cleaning depository. The casing 10 is provided with a door 12 through which access maybe had to the soiled clothing which previously had been deposited within'this machine. The casing 10 is provided with an arcuate portion-within which an access opening is provided, the access opening being closedbya door 14 slidably supported by

guides

16 and 18 which depend from the casing 10. The outer surface of the casing 10 not otherwise employed may be used as a supporting surface for advertising placards 20. V

An arcuate slot 22 is formed, in one side wall of the casing 10 and an actuating 'lever24 extends therethr ough. The actuating lever 24 extends through a slot 26 in an arcuate tube 28 which is attached to the casing 10 by brackets 30. The lever 24 further extends ,through slot 32 in the tube 28 and an extension34 of the lever24 is secured to the rotatable drum 36. Securedto the actuating 'lever24 and within the tube '28 is a key engaging member 38 which is formed from any suitable non-magnetic material such as Plexiglas, cellulose acetate, or polystyrene.

This key engaging member 38 is provided with magnet v40 which is partially embedded therein. A slot 42, is,providedin the key engaging member 38 for a purpose to be henceforth defined. 50

Communicating with the tube, 28 is-a chute 44 which is adapted to permit keys 46 to be inserted into the tube. The keys 46 are formed with a cam surface 48 at the forwardportions thereof and suitable indicia 50 are provided on the front portion for indicating the patron using the cleaning depository. The key 46 isformed from asuitable non-magnetic material and'has embeddedjtherein'a disk 52 ct -magnetic material adapted to be attracted by the magnet 40.

There is provided'on the tube28 a bracket 54io which a stop=cam 56 is'pivota'lly attached, A spring; 58 is provided for:continuously-urging-the stop-cam '56 inwardly throughslit 60 in the tube 28, the pring 58 being mounted on the bracket 54. Upon actuation of the lever 24 the stop :carn56, will prevent themovement of the keyengaging 'member'38 past-the stop ;cam-.56 unlessakey 46has been inserted. The cam surface 48 :of the key -'46,;provides means foraurging the-cami56 upwardlythrough theislitr60 to permit the. passageof the keyengaging;anemher 38. Thestop cam 56 thereforelimitsthe rotation qf-the drum .36 since .the portion. 3 4 ofthefietuation lever is attached to the drum 36. The drum 36 has ahopper portion 62 formed by

sheets

64 and 66 which interconnect the disk-shaped sides of the druin 36. The drum 36 is mounted on a hollow shaft 7 engaging member 134 is provided with a slanted cam 36. The cross-rod ,78 extends through aligned slots 84 in' the'side disks of the drum 36 and is adapted to ride the inner surface 86 of cam plate 88 welded or otherwise secured to the casing -10. A push plate 90 is attached to. the end portions of the pistons 76 which extend through the cylinders 74. Hence, upon rotation of the drum 36 the cross-rod 78 will ride on the inwardly converging helical cam surface 86 until the plate 90 is pushed outward from the center of the drum so as to insure that all clothing will be discharged from the hopper 62. V

, The door 14 is raised by lifting the handle 92 secured thereto. Means are provided to prevent the drum '36 from being rotated when the door 14 is open. This means includes a plurality of teeth 94 which are mounted on the drum 36, which are adapted to be engaged by a detent 96 mounted on an arm 98 which is pivoted on a pin 100 attached to the front Wall of the casing 10. An arm 102 is connected to the arm 98 and is adapted to be engaged by a plunger 104 attached to the door 14. Hence, when the door'1-4 is closed the plunger 104 contacts the arm 102 which withdraws the detent 96 from engagement'with the teeth 94 and permits the drum 36 to rotate. Upon rotation of the drum 36 an elongated carn 106 having a plurality'of notches 103 therein will contact means for discharging one locker key 110 intothe receptacle 112 mounted on'the front wall of the casing 10.

This key delivering mechanism includes a magazine 114 for the keys which may be opened by means of lock 116. The magazine is provided with an opening 118 at the bottom thereof in alignment with the receptacle 112. A

key delivering plunger 120 is adapted to extend through V the slot 118 but is held outwardly from the slot 118 by means of a 'coil spring 122 concentric thereabout.

Pivotally attached to the plunger 120 is a connecting rod 123 which is also pivotally mounted upon a pin 124. An actuating link 126 having a V-shaped projection 128 ispivotally'secured on the pin 124 and held in its lowermost position by support spring 130. When the cam 106 engages the cam surface 1320f the actuating link 126 the projection 128 will abut against the connecting lever 123 to rotate the connecting lever 1'23 and urge the plunger inwardly of the slot 118 so that it will abut against thelowermost key and finally discharge it into the receptacle 1'12. Once the cam surface 132 is on top-of the cam 126 the plunger 120 will be held in position beneath the keys 110 thus preventing the discharge of any additional keys. The notches 108 will prevent the backward rotation of the drum and the subsequent discharge of additional keys since the actuating link 126 will be lockingly engaged within one of the notches 108 when any backward motion is attempted. I

When the drum 36 has been rotated soLthatthe' clothing deposited in the hopper 62 has been. discharged, the:

key engaging member 38 arrives at the position as is shown in Figure 8. At that point a key disengaging 'member 134 enters the slot 42 in the key' engaging member 38 and upon subsequent reverse rotation of the drum 36 the flat surface 136 of the key disengaging member 134 will engage the key 46 and urge it out of engagement 'Wlth the key engaging member 38 so as to deposit the key with the clothing which has fallen into the interior of the cleaning depository. The key disengaging member 134 is continuously pressed inwardly through the slit 138 in the tube 28 by means of a spring 140 mounted. on

the bracket 142 to which the key disengaging member 134 15 pivotally attached. The under surface of the key disclothes into the bottom of the casing 10.-

surface. a

At the last stages of rotation of the drum in the initial direction, the handle being moved to the rear, a cam 144 attached to the drum 36 engages a ticket puncher plunger 146 which has a knife edge 148 at its free end. A pin 150 extends through the plunger 146 and the coil spring 152 extends between the'pin 150 and the edge 154 of the ticket punch chute 156. The ticket punch chute 156 has a slot 158 therein for reception of the tickets 160. The tickets 160 as is shown in Figure 14 are provided with numerals 162 thereon or otherindicia and a central portion 164 is likewise provided with similar indicia.. This central portion 164 is adapted to be punched out of the ticket 160 upon actuation of the plunger 146 by the cam 144 and this portion will be discharged through the opening 162 and into the conduit 164 at the bottom of which a receptacle or container may be placed. 7

When a patron desires to use the facilities incorporated in this cleaning depository machine he notifies the estab- .which the patron will .mark. on one of thej'duplicate halves of the ticket 160. This ticket will be then secured within the clothing to be cleaned andthe door 14 will be opened using the handle 92 and the cleaning deposited in the hopper 62. After the door has been closed, the

i drum will be rotated, the other half of the-ticket having been inserted in the slot 156. The furtherljrota-tionfof the drum will cause the ticket 160 to be punched. Furthermore, the pistons 76 will have been actuated. so as to ,drive the push plate 90 outwardly 'thus, forcing the The cam engaging link 126 will ride on the cam 106 and will engage in one of the notches 108 thus preventing the return o f the drum once the cycle has been started; However,

when the cyclehas been completed the cam engaging link 126 willride against the end of. the cam and will assume the position as is shown in Figure 10. Then, on the return ofthe drum the cam 106 will press against the upper portion of the cam engaging link 126 and will, depress such member against'the spring .130 thus permitting the return of the drum. Then the patron may depart. A messenger or collecting agent for the cleaning establishment will then collect the soiled clothes using the door 12 for access. 7 He will at that timeobtain both the key 46 deposited and the soiled clothes together with the half of the ticket 160. In addition from within the receptacle at the base of the conduit 164 he. may remove the portion of the ticket which has been punched whichwill provide a safeguard against any mistake'being committed. After the soiled clothes have' been cleaned they may then be deposited in a locker adjacent the depository which may then be opened bythe patron and the cleaning which'has been packaged can then beremoved.

patron. This will provide a substantial saving amounting to a considerable financial advantage to the cleaning establ shment while 'providingian added facility for the patron since the cleaning depositories can be used twentyfour hours a day. H

Since from'the 'foregoing the construction and advantag'es of this 'machine. are readily apparent, further de scription is believed 'to'be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification; and accompanying drawings,

his not intended to limit the invention to the precise embodiment shown and described but all suitable modifications and equivalents nny be readily resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A cleaning depository comprising an elongated arcuate tube, a key engaging member movable in said tube, a slot in said tube, and an actuation lever secured to said keyengaging member extending through said slot, said lever being secured to a rotatable receiving drum, said drum being rotated upon actuation of said lever, said drum being mounted on a shaft, said shaft being journalled in a casing, said tube being secured to said casing, said actuation lever extending through said casing, said casing having an access door in alignment with said drum, a latch for preventing rotation of said drum when saiddoor is open, a latch releasing plunger secured to said door, a stop cam for limiting rotation of said drum without a key, said key engaging said stop cam upon movement of said actuation lever, said key engaging member moving said key in said tube against said stop cam to move the stop cam from operative position.

2. A cleaning depository comprising an elongated arcuate tube, 'a key engaging member movable in said tube, a slot in said tube, an actuation-lever secured to said key engaging member extending through said slot, a cam key receivable in said tube, and a magnet locking said 'key to said key engaging member, said lever being secured to a rotatable receiving drum, said drum being rotated upon actuation of said lever, said drum being mounted on 'a shaft,- said shaft being journalled in a casing, said tube being secured to said casing, said actuation lever extending through said casing, said casing having an access door in alignment with said drum, a latch for preventing rotation of said drum when said door is open, a latch releasing plunger secured to said door, a stop cam for limiting rotation of said drum without a key, said key engaging said stop cam upon movement of said actuation lever, said'keyengaging member moving said key in said tube against-said stop cam to'move the stop cam from operative position,

3. A cleaning depository comprising an elongated arcuate tube, a key engaging member movable in said tube, a slot in said tube, an actuation lever secured to said key engaging member extending through said slot, a cam key receivable in said tube, and a magnet locking said key to said key engaging member, said key including a portion of non-magnetic material having a cam surface on the forward portion thereof, said lever being secured to a rotatable receiving drum, said drum being rotated upon actuation of said lever, said drum being mounted on a shaft, said shaft being journalled in a casing, said tube being secured to said casing, said actuation lever extending through said casing, said casing having an access door in alignment with said drum, a latch for preventing rotation of said drum when said door is open, a latch releasing plunger secured to said door, a stop cam for limiting rotation of said drum without a key, said key engaging said stop cam upon movement of said actuation lever, said key engaging member moving said key in said tube against said stop cam to move the stop cam from operative position.

4. A cleaning depository comprising an elongated arcuate tube, a key engaging member movable in said tube, a slot in said tube, an actuation lever secured to said key engaging member extending through said slot, a cam key receivable in said tube, and magnetic means locking said key to said key engaging member, said lever being secured to a rotatable receiving drum, said drum being rotated upon actuation of said lever, said drum be ing mounted on a shaft, said shaft being journalled in a casing, said tube being secured to said casing, said actuation lever extending through said casing, said casing having an access door in alignment with said drum, a latch for preventing rotation of said drum when said door is open, a latch releasing plunger secured to said door, a

stop cam for limiting rotation of said drum without a key, said key engaging said stop cam upon movement of said actuation lever, said stop cam being mounted on said tube, a ticket punch on said casing, a ticket punch actuation cam on said drum, said ticket punch actuation cam engaging said ticket punch upon rotation ofsaid drum, said key engaging member moving said key in said tube against said stop cam to move the stop cam from operative position.

5. A cleaning depository comprising an elongated arcuate tube, a key engaging member movable in said tube, a slot in said tube, an actuation lever secured to said key engagingmember extending through said slot, a cam key receivabie in said tube, and magnetic means locking said key to said key engaging member, said key including a portion of non-magnetic material having a cam surface on the forward portion thereof, said lever being secured to a rotatable receiving drum, said drum being rotated upon actuation of said lever, said drum being mounted on a shaft, said shaft being journalled in'a casing, saidtube being secured to said casing, said actuation lever extending throughsaid casing, said casing having an access door normally in alignment with said drum, a latch I'br preventing rotation of said drum when said door is open, a latch releasing plunger secured to said door, a stop cam for limiting rotation of said drum without a key, said key engagingsaid stop cam upon move ment of said actuation lever, said stop cam beingmounted on said tube, a ticket punch on said casing, a ticket punch actuation cam on said drum, said ticket punch actuation cam engaging said ticket punch upon rotation of said drum, said key engaging member moving said key in said tube against said stop cam to move the stop earn from operative position.

6. A cleaningdeposit'ory comprising an elongated arcuate tube, a keyengaging member movable in said tube, 'a slot in said tube, and an actuation lever secured to said key engaging member extending through said slot, said 'lev'er being secured to 'a rotatable receiving drum, said drum being rotated'upon actuation of said lever, said 'drum being mounted'on -a shaft, said shaft being journalled in a casing, said tube being secured to said casing, said actuation lever extending through said casing, said drum having a cleaning receiving hopper, a push plate in said hopper, at least one cam plate in said casing, a rod engaging said cam plate secured to said push plate to urge said push plate outwardly from the center portion of said drum, and resilient means for returning said push plate to its initial position, said casing having an access door normally in alignment with said hopper in said drum, a latch for preventing rotation of said drum when said door is open, a latch releasing plunger secured to said door, a stop cam for limiting rotation of said drum without a key, said key engaging said stop cam upon movement of said actuation lever, said key engaging member moving said key in said tube against said stop cam to move the stop cam from operative position.

7. A cleaning depository comprising an elongated arcuate tube, a key engaging member movable in said tube, a slot in said tube, an actuation lever secured to said key engaging member extending through said slot, a cam key receivable in said tube, and magnetic means locking said key to said key engaging member, said lever being secured to a rotatable receiving drum, said drum being rotated upon actuation of said lever, said drum being mounted on a shaft, said shaft being journalled in a casing, said tube being secured to said casing, said actuation lever extending through said casing, said casing having an access door normally in alignment with said drum, a latch for preventing rotation of said drum when said door is open, a latch releasing plunger secured to said door, a stop cam for limiting rotation of said drum without a key, said key engaging said stop cam upon movement of said actuation lever, said stop cam being 7 mounted on said tube, a ticket punch on said casing, a ticket punch actuation cam on said drum, said ticket punch actuation cam engaging said ticket punch upon rotation of said drum, said drum having a cleaning receiving hopper, a push plate in said hopper, at least one cam plate in said casing, a rod engaging said cam plate secured to said push plate to urge said push plate outwardly from the centerportion of said drum, and resilient key receivable in said tube, and magnetic means locking said key to said key engaging member said lever being secured to a rotatable receiving drum, said drum being rotated upon actuation of said lever, said drum being mounted on a shaft, said shaft being journalled in a casing, said tube being secured to said casing, said actuation lever extending through said casing, said casing having an access door normally in alignment with said drum, a latch for preventing rotation of said drum when said door is open, a latch releasing plunger secured to said door, a stop cam for limiting rotation of said drum with out a key, said key engaging said stop cam uponmovement of said actuation lever, said stop cam being mounted on said tube, a ticket punch on said casing, a ticket punch actuation cam on said drum, said ticket punch actuation cam engaging said ticket punch upon rotation of said drum, said drum having a cleaning receiving hopper, a 7

push plate in said hopper, at least one cam plate in said casing, -a rod engaging said cam plate secured to said push plate to urge said push plate outwardly'from the center portion of said drum, and resilient means for rekey delivering mechanism to deliver a locker key, said key engaging member moving said key in said tube against turning said push plate to its initial position, a locker key delivering mechanism associatedwith said drum and a magazine for locker keys on said casing engaged by said '8 said stop cam to move the stop camfrom operative position. 7 V I 9 A cleaning depository comprising a casing, a drum rotatably mounted in said casing, at' least one camplate in said casing, a clothing receiving hopper in said drum, said casing having an access opening therin nonnally in alignment with said hopper in said drum, a push plate in said hopper, a rod engaging said cam plate secured to said push plate to urge said push plate outwardly from the center portion of said drumon'rotation of said drum, and resilient means for returning said push plate to its initial position, an elongated arcuate slotted tube secured to said casing, a key engaging member in said tube, an

actuation lever secured to said key engaging member and said drum, said access opening having an access door, a

latch forpreventing rotation of said drum when said door is open, a latch releasing plunger secured to said door, a stop cam for limiting rotation of said drum Without a key, said key engaging said stop cam upon movement of said actuation lever, said key engaging member moving said key insaid tube against said stop cam to move the stop cam from operative position. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 689,106 Mills Dec.- 17, 1901' 912,397 Miller Feb. 16, 1909 1,070,901 Lines- Aug. 19, 1913 1,217,649 Snapp ,'Feb. 27, 1917 1,509,249 Miles et al. Sept. 23, 1924 1,688,443 Wessman Oct.'23,-1928 1,853,485 Yeo Apr. 12,1932 1,982,274 Vogel' Nov. 27, 1934 2,613,009 Cranorig. n Oct. 7, 1952 2,667,394 Goetz et a1. Jan. 26, 1954 2,682,328 Birr June 29, 1954 2,698,478 'Heisterkamp et al. Jan, 4, 1955 I FOREIGN PATENTS 228,198 Great Britain Feb. 4, 1925 7 322,070

Great Britain Nov. 28, 1929 a i