US2907059A

US2907059A - Cleaning and polishing machine

Info

Publication number: US2907059A
Application number: US619843A
Authority: US
Inventors: Boyd D Cornett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-11-01
Filing date: 1956-11-01
Publication date: 1959-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 1976-10-06

Description

Oct. 6, 1959 Filed Nov. 1, 1956 B. D. CQRNETT CLEANING AND POLISHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

v gOYD CORNETT Oct. 6, 1959 B. D. CORNETT CLEANING AND POLISHING MAcHmE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.

VI IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII WIIIIIIIflI/IIIIIIIIIL FIG. 7. I

FIG. 4.

INVENTOR.

BOYD CO ETT 2,907,059 CLEANING AND POLISHING MACHINE Boyd D. Cornett, Bartlesville, Okla. Application November 1, '1956, Serial No. 619,843

17 Claims. c1. PIS-21) This invention relates to a machine for cleaning and/ or polishing articles of non-cylindrical generally symmetrical shape about an elongated axis, such as bowling pins. or bottles.

The task of cleaning bowling pins is frequent and is generally done by hand. An average sized bowling establishment having a dozen alleys operates with at least two sets of 120 pins each which requires cleaning frequently. A machinewhich does this work is obviously a time saver and of considerable economic advantage.

Cleaning machinesare available for cleaning generally cylindrical articles but these machines do not compensate for the extreme variations in contour and diameter characteristic of a bowling or ten pin. The brushes in cleaning machines for bottles are fixed and are not adjustable to the shape of the pin. Consequently, if the brushes are spaced apart far enough to permit insertion of the body of the pin, the machine is not effective in cleaning the entire bodyof the pin.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a machine for cleaning non-cylindrical articles which are symmetrical about a longitudinal axis. Another object is to provide a machine for cleaning bowling pins, which compensates for the large diameter of the body of the pin upon insertion of the pin in the machine and during cleaning. A further object is to provide a cleaning and/or polishing machine for bowling pins which applies liquid cleaner on the pins simultaneously with brushing. It is also an object of the invention to provide a flexible brush assembly for a cleaning machine. Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying disclosure.

I have devised a machine for cleaning and/or polishing bowling pins and the like, which utilizes a flexible brush assembly to permit displacement of one end of one of the brushes to facilitate insertion of the pin into the pin pocket surrounded by the brushes. This feature of the machine permits shaping and arranging the brushes so that they substantially uniformly contact the entire body section of the pin during rotation and cleaning. Another aspect of the invention comprises a liquid dispersion system which sprays cleaning and/or polishing liquid onto the brushes during the cleaning operation. A further aspect of the invention lies in the adjustment of bristle length at the insertion or front end of the brushes so that they are shorter than the bristles at the opposite end, whereby excessive gripping of the pin is avoided with attendant choking down of the machine power or rate of rotation.

A more complete understanding of the invention may be had from a consideration of the accompanying schematic drawing of which Figure 1 is a side elevation partially in section of a pin cleaning machine constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the brush assembly and cleaning drum of Figure 1 taken parallel with the axis of the housing and assembly with the cover removed; Figure 3 is a rear view of the the cleaning drum along its axis, showing the pulley nited States Patent i 7 2,907,059 Patented Oct. e, was

ice

and belt arrangement; Figure 4 is an elevation of" a deinvention; Figure 6 is an elevation of a detail of the flexible support coupling and drive shaft assembly of Figure 1; and Figure'7 is an elevation of a detail ofanother embodiment of a flexible support coupling suitable for use in the machine of Figure 1. Corresponding parts in the various figures are correspondingly numbered or designated.

Referring to Figure 1, a support frame 10, having four legs 12 supported by castors 14 and a motor platform 16, supports a cylindrical cleaning drum or hous-- ing 18 in oblique position. Drum 18 is provided witha removable cover 20 having an axial opening 22 for insertion and removal of bowling pin 24, and with a sealed bottom closure 26. Three

cleaning brushes

28, 29, and 30 aresupported in symmetrical arrangement in the housing. fixed front bearings 32 and fixed rear bearings 34.

A flexible bearing assembly 36 supports the front end of brush 29, spring biased in normal operating position. The rear end of brush 29 is supported by a flexible support coupling 3'7 which couples the spindle 38 of brush 2? and with drive shaft 40. An outer fixed bearing 34 and an inner fixed bearing 42 support shaft 40 in alignment with spindle 38 of brush 29. The opposite end of spindle 38 is supported in bearing 36.

Brushes

28 and 30 are provided with

spindles

44 and 46, respectively, which extend thru front bearings 32 and rear bearings 34. Shaft 40 and

spindles

44 and 46 are sealed by means of retainers 48 Where they pass thru bottom 26 of drum 18. A pin stop 50 is attached to bottom 26 by nuts 52 at the axis of the drum.

Each brush comprises a spindle which may run entirely thru the brush or may extend only from each end section of cylindrical core of body member 54. A plate 56 fixed on the brush spindle firmly against body section 54 prevents movement of the body section axially on the spindle and adds stability to the brush. Each brush is provided with radially extending bristles 58 which are of progressively shorter length from each end to the center so as to impart a concave contour to the brush corresponding with the contour of the body section of the pin to be cleaned. The spindle of the brush is preferably steel and body section 54 may be of wood, or of synthetic composition such as plastic. Bristles 58 may be made of genuine bristle, or of nylon, or of other suitable synthetic material. Practically all bristle ma terials commonly used in brushes will function satisfactorily.

A liquid dispersion system shown in Figure 1 comprises a spray line 60 disposed radially outside of each brush and having sprays 62 which may consist of fine orifices in the line directed toward their respective brush. Lines 60 are connected with a manifold line 64 which in turn connects with a liquid supply line 66. This supply line connects with the bottom section of a supply reservoir 68. A pump in line 66, operated by a motor 72, pumps liquid cleaner to the sprays 62. A return line 74 connects an outlet 76 (Fig. 2) in drum 18 with reservoir 68. Line 74 is provided with a sediment bulb 78.

The propelling means for the brushes includes a motor 80 having a drive pulley 82, together with

pulleys

84, 85, and 86 on the blush spindles and belt 88. These pulleys and belt are preferably of the V-type. Motor 80 is supported by bracket 0 at an oblique angle so that its shaft is parallel with the axis of the drum and brush assembly and with its pulley in alignment with the spindle drive pulleys.

Brushes

28 and 29 are supported by means of v Figure 2 shows the preferred brush assembly of Figure 1 in end perspective. The axis of the brushes are disposed 120 apart on an imaginary cylinder concentric with housing 18 and positioned inside thereof to provide clearance for spray lines 60 between the brushes and housing. The front end bearings are attached by means of brackets 90 to the inside of housing 18 by suitable means such as spot welds, bolts, or rivets.

Figure 3 shows the rear end of the drum 18, and, particularly, the belt arrangement which rotates one brush, preferably brush 29, rotated by shaft 40, in an opposite direction to the other twobrushes.

The flexible support bearing 36 of Figure 4 comprises a base 92'having a receptacle 93 into which a guide shaft 94, rigidly attached to a bearing member 95, slides upon displacement of the bearing member and shaft radially outwardly from its normal operating posi tion.. A spring 96 urges the bearing member into operating position in alignment with shaft 40. A stop screw 97 operates in a slot 98 in shaft 94 to limit the innermost position of member 95.

Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of flexible bearing 36 in which guide shaft 94 is threaded on its free end to receive nut 99, which engages the under side of base 92 to limit the innermost position of bearing member 95. Of course, other types of flexible supports for hearing member 95 may be used so long as they hold the bearing in alignment when not forced out by insertion of the bowling pin.

In Figure 6, bearing 34 is attached by a bracket 100 to bottom 26 of the housing 18 and bearing 42 is attached through its base 102 by suitable means tohousing 18. Coupling 37 comprises two

identical members

104 and 106 which interlock in flexible engagement thru teeth 108. Set screws 110 fix one of these coupling members to shaft 40 and the other to spindle 38. It is also feasible to utilize a conventional universal joint as coupling 37.

Sealing assembly 48 comprises a pair of seal rings 112 enclosed in a housing including a flange 114 which is attached to bottom 26 by screws (not shown). A fiber, rubber, or felt washer 116 is positioned between flange 114 and bottom 26. A similar seal 18 is provided on the outer surface of bottom 26;

Theshaft assembly of Figure 7 comprises a single bearing assembly 120 with sealing means therein (not shown) and including an outer bearing member 122 and an inner bearing member 124. Any of the bearings of the machine may include-roller bearings or ball bearings for smoother operation and greater life.

While the arrangement shown includes only three brushes four ormore may be utilized, depending upon the articles to be cleanned and other factors. It is also feasible to include more than one flexible brush assembly in the device, preferably on adjacent brushes.

A bowling pin cleaning machine was constructed in accordance with the device shown in Figures l,-2,'and 3 of the drawing. The brushes were made of 8" wood cylinders 2" in diameter and provided with /2" spindles. The cylinder in which the brush axes were located was 13 /2 in diameter. The bristles were 1%" long on the rear end of each brush, 1%" long on the front end, and long at the center of the brush. This made the brushes 4 /2" x 2%" by 4%" in diameter. It is advantageous to make the brushes of slightly smaller diameter at the front end so as to avoid gripping of the pin and choking down of brush speed.

The machine is operated continuously during cleaning and each pin was inserted during rotation of the brushes. A liquid hydrocarbon cleaner was continuously pumped onto the brusheswhile' the: brushes were-turning. During'one'hour of operation, 140 pins were cleaned satisfactorily after being used for approximately 300 lines of bowling. It takes the average worker approxiinvention,it being understood that modifications in the device may be made within the ambit or scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A machine for cleaning and polishing irregularly shaped articles comprising several elongated rotary brushes disposed in spaced-apart relation around an imaginary cylinder with their axes parallel to the axis of said cylinder so as to encircle an article being cleaned; a housing for said brushes having an opening -in one end for inserting an article to be cleaned; a support bearing at each end of each' brush attached to said housing, one of'said bearings being flexible to' permit displacement of its supported brush end away from said axis; a flexible support coupling on the end of said brush opposite said flexiblebearing and means for rotating said brushes, one in opposite direction to the others.

2. The machine of claim 1 having three brushes spaced apart.

3. The machine of claim 2 including means for spraying a cleansing fluid onto said brushes.

4. Themachine of claim 2 including at least one fluid dispersal line within said housing having spray orifices directed toward saidbrushes; a fluid reservoir connected by a supply line to said dispersal line; and a drain from said housing.

5. The'machine of claim 2 including at least one fluid dispersal line within said housing having spray orifices directed toward said brushes; a fluid reservoir connected by a supply line to said dispersal line; a pump in said supply line; a drain line connecting a lower section of. said housing withsaid reservoir; and means in said drain li'nefor removal of solids fromsaid fluid.

6. A machine for cleaning a bowling pin comprising a' cylindrical housing having a closed end and an axial opening in the opposite end for insertion of said bowling pin; several brushes, each comprising a cylindrical body member, an axially extending spindle at each end of said body member, and bristles extending radially from said body member, said brushes being-disposed parallel to the axis of said housing and equidistant there from'at regular angular intervals to form a space at said axis smaller than said pin providing'con'tact of said pin' with all of said'brus'hes; support bearings at each end of said housing for said brushes, the bearing for one of 7. The machine of claim 6 having three brushes spaced 120 apart. p

8. The machine ofclaim 7 'having fluid spraying means within said housing directed toward said brushes; a supply'rese'rvoir for said spraying means; means for passing fluid from said reservoir to said spraying meansj and a drain in said housing;

9. The machine of claim 6 wherein the flexible hearing comprises a bearing member surrounding the spindle of its respective brush; a base for saidbearing attached to said housing; a guide shaft fixed to said member and slidablylextending into a receptacle in said base"; a compressionspring surrounding saidshaft and engaging said a e and said memberso as to urge said member radially.

inwardly toward the axis of said cylinder; and means for limiting the inward movement of said member at its normal operating position.

10. The machine of claim 7 wherein the flexible bearing comprises a bearing member surrounding the spindle of its respective brush, said member being spring biased radially inwardly in its normal operating position and having a guide shaft slidably engaging a support body on said housing.

11. The machine of claim 7 supported obliquely in a frame with said axial opening up; aligned V-type driving pulleys on said exterior section of said spindles for driving said brushes; a motor mounted in said frame having its drive shaft parallel with said spindles; a V-type drive pulley on said drive shaft aligned with aforesaid pulleys; a V-belt in driving engagement with each of said pulleys so as to rotate two of said driving pulleys in one direction and the third in the opposite direction. 12. The machine of claim 11 including liquid sprays in said housing directed toward at least one of said brushes; a reservoir on said frame for a cleaning liquid; a supply line connected with said sprays; a return line from a lower section of said housing to said reservoir; and means for circulating liquid from said reservoir to said sprays and back to said reservoir.

13. The machine of claim 7 wherein the contour of the outer surface of said brushes is arcuate from end to endto correspond substantially with the contour of the body section of a bowling pin.

14. The machine of claim 13 wherein said brushes are spaced to provide a space at the axis of said housing slightly smaller than said body section.

15. The machine of claim 13 wherein the bristles on the insertion ends of the brushes are shorter than the bristles on the opposite ends to minimize gripping of the pin by the brushes during cleaning with resultant choking of machine speed.

16. A cleaning machine comprising several rotary brushes, each having bn'stles positioned along its axis of rotation and extending transversely thereof, the bristles of each brush defining a concave brushing surface around the periphery and from end to end thereof, said brushes being rotatable on spindles clustered about a common axis substantially parallel therewith and uniformly spaced therefrom to provide an enclosure expanded intermediate the brush ends for an article to be cleaned and partial space for inserting and withdrawing said article from said enclosure at said common axis adjacent one end of the brushes; bearing means at each end of each brush including a flexibly supported hearing on the insertion end of one brush, making said end displaceable away from said common axis; a flexible coupling on the opposite end of said one brush, said coupling and said flexibly supported bearing providing for displacement of said one brush to facilitate insertion of an article shaped symmetrically about an extended axis and expanded intermediate its ends to fit the general contour of said enclosure; driving means on the ends of said brushes opposite the insertion end; and support means for said bearings and driving means.

17. The machine of claim 16 including a housing around said brushes providing said support means and having an opening therein at the insertion end of said brushes larger in diameter than the maximum diameter of said enclosure, said enclosure having the contour of the expanded section of a bowling pin and being slightly smaller in diameter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,058,460 Porter Apr. 8, 1913 2,637,054 Holmes May 5, 1953 2,671,916 Zipperlin Mar. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 674,645 Germany Apr. 19, 1939 802,200 Germany Feb. 5, 1951