US2955304A

US2955304A - Machine for washing drinking glasses and the like

Info

Publication number: US2955304A
Application number: US661654A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold C Noe
Original assignee: Kidde Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Kidde Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1957-05-27
Filing date: 1957-05-27
Publication date: 1960-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 1977-10-11

Description

Oct. 11,1960 H. c. NOE

MACHINE FOR WASHING DRINKING GLASSES AND THE LIKE Filed May 27, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR Harold C. N06

ATTORNEY 06L 1960 H. c. NOE 2,955,304

MACHINE FOR WASHING DRINKING GLASSES AND THE LIKE Filed May 27, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HaroldCLNoe WI 0 all. BY

ATTORNEY H. C. NOE

MACHINE FOR WASHING DRINKING GLASSES AND THE LIKE Filed May 27, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 77 Harold C.Noe

ATTORN EY Oct. 11, 1960 H. c. NOE 2,955,304

MACHINE FOR WASHING DRINKING GLASSES AND THE LIKE Filed May 27, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR BY 9. WWW

ATTORNEY H. c. NOE 2,955,304

MACHINE FOR WASHING DRINKING GLASSES AND THE LIKE 5 Sheet 5 Filed may 1957 v'ENTo Hammad Cv oe BY 3- WM W ATTORNEY MACHINE FOR WASI HNG DRINKING GLASSES AND THE LIKE Harold C. Noe, Upper Montclair, NJ., assignor to Kidde Manufacturing Co., Inc., Bloomfield, N.J., a corporafion of New Jersey Filed May 27, 1957, Ser. No. 661,654

6 Claims. (Cl. 15-75) The present invention relates to brushing and scrubbing, and, more particularly, to an improved machine for washing drinking glasses and similar receptacles.

Establishments which serve beverages to a large number of'patrons during relatively short periods of time are faced with the problem of maintaining an adequate sup-' ply of clean drinking glasses. One way of attempting to solve this problem is to have available asuflicient number of clean glasses which are expected to be used during such periods and to wash the glasses between such periods of use. This requires a large investment in glassware and a great amount of storage space both for used and clean glasses which requirements are objectionable, particularly, where compactness of the establishment is necessitated. Another way of attempting to solve this problem is to serve the beverages in disposable receptacles such as paper cups. However, this does not provide a complete solution to the problem because not all beverages can be served in such receptacles. Also, it has been established that it is more economical to wash drinking glasses than to purchase paper cups.

With these economic factors in mind, machines for washing drinking glasses and the like have been proposed heretofore. These machines generally comprised a rotating central brush, rotating and revolving outer brushes, means for spraying water on the interior and exterior of the glasses, and means for introducing a liquid detergent into the wash water. However, such previously known machines have met with little or no success because of one or more various inherent disadvantages thereof which have been, for example, the bulk and weight of the machine whereby it occupied a considerable space and was difficult to be moved from one location to another, the requirement of excessive volumes of washing and rinsing water to assure proper cleaning together with the high cost of water used, difficulties encountered in holding the glass in the machine during the cleaning thereof, and contamination of the brushes upon prolonged use thereof.

4 Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved drinking glass washing machine of the aforementioned type which is not subject to the foregoing difficulties and disadvantages.

Another object is to provide such a machine which is light in weight and compact in construction and wherein certain components are so arranged that a simplified drive can be utilized.

Another object is to provide such a machine wherein the Washing and rinsing cycles are of a minimum duration to thereby economize in the volume of water required. V

' Another object is to provide'such a machine wherein the brushes are-arranged to reduce rotational thrust on the glass to minimum whereby the glasses can be conveniently held with one hand even if the hand of the operator is wet. Another object is to provide such a machine wherein the washing head is so arranged that the glasses can be ice.

inserted therein with maximum comfort and convenience to the operator.

Another object is to provide such a machinewherein Other and further objects of the invention will be obviousupon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various, advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposesof illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view with parts broken away for clearness, illustrating a glass washing machine in accordance with the present invention as seen from one side thereof.

. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the machine as seen from the opposite side thereof.

- Fig. 3 is a top view of the washing head with parts broken away to illustrate the arrangement of the brushes.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 4a is an enlarged fragmentary view of the central portion of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view taken substantially along the line 5-5 on Fig. 4, illustrating the gear system for driving the brushes.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a pump for injecting detergent into the wash water.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the water flow system of the machine.

Referring to the Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings in detail, a glass washing machine is shown which generally comprises a base 10, a frame 11 mounted on the base, a brush or washing head 12 and a motor 13 for driving the same supported by the frame in the manner about to'be described, a receptacle 14 for storing .a supply of liquid detergent, :a pump 15 for dispensing measured quantities of detergent from the receptacle and injecting the same into the wash water supplied to the brush head, a casing (not shown) for enclosing the motor, the tank and the pump, and a hood or shield 17 for the brush headmounted on a cup-shaped trough member 19.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the motor has a drive shaft 20 and the brush head has a driven shaft 21, and the motor and brush head are mounted so that the shafts 20 and 21 are parallel to each other and pass through a common plane perpendicular thereto, whereby means disposed in the common plane, such as

pulleys

22 and 23 on the respective shafts and a belt 24 place the shafts in driving connection. This is accomplished by providing the frame with a pair of connected sections 25 and 26' which are at right angles to each other and respectively support the motor and the brush head with pulley 22 being disposed upwardly of and beyond the upper endof the section 25 and the pulley 23 being adjacent the section .26. Preferably, the

sections

25 and 26 are each inclined at approximately 45 with respect to horizontal whereby the washing head 12 is also inclinedf'at a similar angle.

Some of the advantagesof the foregoing arrangement are that the brush head is at an angle which makes it readily accessible to and convenient for the operator in inserting, holding and removing the glassware, the motor and brush head are close to each other and comp'actly-an-anged whereby only a short length of belt is Patented Oct. 11, 1960 required to connect the same, and the machine has a 7 well balanced overall appearance.

As shown in Figs, 3 and 4, the brush head includes a central brush 27 and a plurality of outer brushes 28, wherein shown as three in number; structure for mounting and effecting rotation of the brushes; and-conduits, connections and "valving for supplying water to the brushesa-nd the glass to be'washed as about to be described.

The central :brush is mounted on the upper end of the brush head shaft 21 for rotation-therewith and is detachably connected thereto. To accomplish this, the central brush is provided with central tubular sleeve 29, and a ring 30 secured within the sleeve 29 adjacent the lower end thereof, and formed with a concentric upper bore 31 and .an offset lower bore 32 communicating with the upper bore; and the shaft 21 is provided at upperend with a circular offset formation 33 adapted to' fit into the lower bore 32 and lock the brush for rotation with the shaft. The lower end of the brushhead shaft 21 is journalled for rotation in a block 34 The block 34 has a circular boss 18 at its upper end which extends through a central aperture formed in the bottom of a cup-shaped trough member 19, and has a flange 3-9 to which the bottom of the member 19 is secured to provide a fluid-tight seal (Fig. 4). Suitable brackets 49 secured to the member 19 and frame section 26 at opposite sides (Figs. 1 and 2) serve to mount the block 34and the trough on the frame with the lower face of-the pulley 23 adjacent and parallel to the upper surface of the frame section 26. i

The central brush 27 includes a lower member 35, which is generally cylindrical and preferably is tapered upwardly slightly to facilitate insertion thereof into a drinking glass, and is mounted on the sleeve 29' which extends from top to bottom thereof. The central brush further includes a pair of upper members 36 or heads which have a generally semi-circular contour adapted to be flattened out to brush the inner bottom wall of the glass. The brush members 36 are on the knob ofa centrally bored element 37 which has a tubular yieldahle depending portion 38 press-fitted intothe upper end of the sleeve 29' to removably mount the brush members 36 for rotation with the brush member 35.

The outer brushes 28 are supported at equidistarrtly, circumferentially spaced points 'about the central brush 27 with the axes of rotation of all the brushes parallel to each other. This is accomplished bya combined brushhead platform and gear housing 40 comp rising circular upper and

lower members

41 and 42 which haveeentral bearings 43 formounting the platform for rotation with respect tothe: shaft 21 bearings 45 spaced circumferentially about the: central bearings for rotatably supporting outer brush shafts 46, and bearings 47 intermediate adjacent bearings. 45- .for rotatably supportingidler: gear shafts 48. The shafts 46 each have an offset formation 50 adapted to lit into an offset bore-44 of a ring 51 within the brush member supporting sleeve 52- of'the outer brushes, whereby the outer brushes are secured to their shafts for rotation therewith. Y i i shown in Figs. 4 and the gear system for effecting. rotation of the brush shafts 46 and rotation of the brush head platform and-gear housing 40, whereby the outer brushes revolve about the inner brush, comprises a drive gear 55 within the housing and secured "for rotation on the shaft 21, an idler gear 56 secured within the housing and secured on each of theshafts 48 andmeshing with the gear 55, an outer brush driving gear-5 7 withinfthe'housing and secured to each of the shafts 46 and each meshing with one of the. idler gears 56 adjacent thereto, a sunjgear 58rsecuredz to the" boss 18 of the block 34; with. a. central shaft bearing 59- extending through the center'- thereof, and a pinion gear 60, secured on -the lower end of theidler gear shafts 4. beneath thehousing. and meshing with the sun gear 58;.

(In. this; manner, when. the central shaft- 21 and the;

4 drive gear 55 rotate in a clockwise direction, the idler gears 56 rotate in a counterclockwise direction and the outer brush gears 57 rotatein a clockwise direction, whereby both the central brush 27 and the outer brushes 28 rotate in a clockwise direction. However, since the driving forces of these brushes by being in frictional engagement with a glass placed over the central brush and-within the outer brushes are applied atopposite sides ofthe glass, the forces tending to rotate the glass are applied in opposite directions and overcome each other, whereby praetieallyno rotational thrust is applied to the glass and the glass can be held by the band of the operator with ease and a minimum ofeffort.

- ship with the fixed sun gear 58.

As the central and'outer brushes rotate in. the foregoing manner, the pinion gears 60 on the idler gear shafts rotate in a counter-clockwise direction and cause the gear housing and platform 40 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction by reason of their meshing relation- In this manner, the outer brushes 28 revolve about the center wall of the glass and impart a scrubbing action on the entire periphcry of the outer wall.

The system for spraying water onto and within the glass while scrubbing the glass with the brushes includes vertical pipes 61 closed at the upper ends and mounted on the upper housing member 41 between adjacent outcrbrushesx28 and having perforations 62 facing the central.

brush 27 for spraying water against the outer wall of the. glass, and an arrangement whereby water is sprayed upwardly through the central aperture of the element 37 and against the inner bottom wall of the glass from which it flows onto, the central brush which directs it to the inner side wall of the glass. Provision is made in this system for supplying water in response to the insertion ofa glass between the central and outer brushes and to, supply water at a reduced rate of flow only to the central-'brush'between glass washing operations as about to be. described. The essential components. of this system are the shaft 21, the block 34, the upper. housing member 41, the sleeve 29 and the element 37.

To; accomplish the foregoing, the shaft 21 (Fig; 4a) has a bore 65 extending therethrough which is closed at its lower end. by a plug 64 and is divided into an upper discharge. section and a lower valve chamber by a p ar-. tition 66havingv a central aperture 67 therein.

Theivalve chamber includes a plurality of circumfer entially spaced lower side inlets 68 to the bore adapted to, communicate with a gland 69 in the block 34 which is connectcd'to'asupply of fresh water by a passageway- 70, a plurality of circumferentially spaced upper side outlets71- to the bore adapted to communicate with a. gland 72 which is connected for discharging the water through a passageway 74 leading to detergent pump 15, and a downwardly facing valve seat 75, between the inlets.-

tition 66 adapted to communicate with a gland 8'1 which is connected forreceiving water through a passageway 82 coming from the detergent pump 15, and has a plurality of circumferentially spaced upper side. outlets, 83 adapted to communicate with a gland 84 in the upper. housing member 41 to which the lower ends of the spray pipes 61 are connected. The diameter of the valve stem 78 is much less than that of the shaft'bore whereby water: can; fiow freely from the inlets; 80,

to the outlets 83 and into the sleeve 29 above its ring.30. The valve stern 78 is controlled to unseatthevalve mrmbe by an, a se b y. wh is u es n e 3.5;

in the sleeve 29 just above the ring 30 having a tubular section 86 for slidably supporting the upper end of the valve stem, a second tubular valve stem 87 connected to the stem 78 as about to be described and having its lower end slidabl'y supported by the spider section 86, an operating member 89 extending through the aperture of the element 37 of smaller diameter than the aperture and having an enlargement 90 at its upper end for supporting a yieldable plug 91 adapted to be engaged by the inner bottom wall of the glass to effect opening of the -valve and having a lower tubular section 92 into which the upper end of the stem 87 extends, and a spring- 94 biased between a flange-95 on the member 89 and the spider 85 for returning the member 89 to its upper position.

' Provision is made for supplying fresh water at a reduced rate of flow by utilizing tubular valve stems 78 and 87 with the lower stem 78 communicating with a passageway 96 extending through the valve member 76 to the inlet side of the valve chamber and with the upper portion of the tubular section 92 of the member 89 having side outlets 97 for discharging the water leaving the upper end of the valve stem 87 onto the central brush. The upper end of the lower valve stem 78 and the lower end of the upper valve stem 87 abut against shoulders formed within the tubular section 86 which forms a seal about the abutting ends of the stems and provides for direct fluid flow communication between the stems. Thus, while the machine idles momentarily between washing operations, the spray of water directed onto the central brush wets the same and in turn wets the outer brushes so that, while the outer brushes are in contact with the central brush they scrub each other and the spray efiects cleaning thereof; Preferably, the outer brushes mesh or interengage with the central brush to provide for vigorously scrubbing each other and both sides of the glass when pushed apart upon insertion of the glass. j

The water which is discharged during the glass washing and the brushscrubbing operation is collected in the lower end of the cup or trough 19 and is drained therefrom through an outlet 98 at the front or lowermost point having a drainage tube 99 attached thereto for conducting the used water to a sink or drain pipe (not shown).

Fig. 6 illustrates the'detergent pump 15 in detail, and Fig. 7 illustrates the manner in which the pump is connected in the water system "of the washing machine. The pump includes an inlet 104 connected by a tube 105 to the source of liquid detergent 14, a water inlet 106 con-' nected by a tube 107 to the valve outlet passageway 74, and a water outlet 109 connected by a tube 110 to the inlet passageway 82. The pump further includes a mixing-chamber 111 between the water inlet and the water outlet, a compression chamber 112, into which detergent enters by way of the inlet-104, and valving for establishing fiow communication between the detergent inlet and the compression chamber and between the compression I chamber and the mixing chamber.

As shown in Fig. 6, such valving includes a valve seatl113'in the compression chamberl surrounding the detergent inlet and facing downstream of the detergent inlet, a valve member 1 14 including a sealing element 115, and a spring 116 for urging the valve member on its seat. Such valving further includes a piston assembly 117 having its upper end in the mixing chamber and its lower end in the compression chamber and having a central bore 118 for establishing fluid flow communication between the chambers which has a valve seat 119 facing downstream of the bore, a valve member 120 including a sealing element 21, and a spring 122 for urging the valve member on its seat.

The piston assembly extends through a stepped bore 124 formed in the body of the pump between the chambers in which a spring 125 is arranged for urging the pistonassembly upwardly towards the mixing chamber, with the upper surface of the piston assembly 117 abutting an adjustable stop 126 which determines the uppermost position thereof. The piston assembly includes a flange which is engaged by the spring 125 and is adaptedto engage a shoulder 101 which determines the lowermost position of the piston assembly. The piston assembly is supported for movement in the bore 124' by a pair of

flexible diaphragms

127 and 128. The dia-' phragm 127 is secured at the upper end of the piston assembly and provides a sealing wall between the mixing chamber and the bore 124. The diaphragm 128 is secured to the lower end of the piston assembly and provides 'a sealing wall between the compression chamber and the bore 124. The bore 124 is vented to the atmosphere by passageway 129.

In operation of the pump, the valving is normally positioned as shown in Fig. 6 with the compression chamber 112 and the central bore 118 of the piston assembly containing liquid detergent and the mixing chamber 111 con taining water at rest because the flow control valve mem-' ber 76 is on its seat 75. Upon unseating of the valve member 76, water surges through the mixing chamber and this surge exerts pressure on the upper end of the piston assembly 117 and the diaphragm 127 which drives the piston'assembly downwardly as view in opposition to the spring 125.

As this occurs, the lower end of the piston assembly enters the compression chamber to decrease the volumetric capacity thereof, whereby the liquid detergent is displaced due to the pressurethereon and is caused to unseat the valve member and to be injected into the mixing chamber.

After the surge subsides, the spring returns the piston assembly to its normal position and the spring 122 reseats the valve member 120 at the instance return movement commences, whereby a partial vacuum is created in the compression chamber 112 which overcomes the force of the spring 116 and enables the valve member 114 to unseat so that liquid detergent is sucked into the compression chamber to refill the same.

The pump not only injects detergent into the stream of wash water when a glass first engages the valve unseating plug 91 and then automatically stops the addition of detergent to supply fresh rinse water without any concern by the operator but also accurately measures the amount of liquid detergent injected in response to each surge so that the amount is maintained uniform and can be adjusted to the minimum requirement and thereby conserve detergent. Such adjustment is effected by varying the bias on the spring 125 and the normal position of the piston assembly which is accomplished by positioning the adjustable stop 126. For example, the further downwardly the stop positions the piston assembly, the shorter will be its downward stroke in response to surges, whereby the valve member 120 will be unseated for a shorter duration and less detergent will be caused to be injected into the mixing chamber.

In the embodiment of the pump illustrated herein, the pump body comprises an upper, a lower and an intermediate plate-like section. The upper section is formed with the water inlet 106, the water outlet 109, the mixing chamber 111 and supports the adjustable stop. The intermediate section is formed with the stepped bore 124 and the vent 129. The lower section is formed with the compression chamber 112 and the detergent inlet 104. The peripheral edges of the

diaphragms

127 and 128 are respectively sealed between the upper and intermediate sections and the intermediate and lower section. The three sections are secured in juxtaposition to provide the pump body by bolts having nuts removably attached thereon to facilitate taking the pump apart to periodically clean and inspect the same.

While the present invention has been described in connection with glassware or drinking glasses and the brushes have been illustrated as having ashape adapted to accommodate a generally cylindrical tumber or slightly flared glass, it will be understood that the brushescould. have other shapes designed to accommodate sharply flared glasses including the receptacle section of stem ware and that the articles to be washed need not necessarily be formed of glass but could be formed of synthetic resin or ceramic material. It is thereforeintended that the term glass as used herein is not to restrict the shape of the articles capable of being washed by the present machine or the material of which the articles are constructed.

From the foregoing description, it will beseen that the present invention provides an improved glass washing machine which is simple, practical and economical in construction, conserves water and detergent and effects cleaning of the brushes between glass washing operations.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention'and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is tov be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a glass washing machine, the combination of a brush assembly including a rotatable support and a central brush on said support and a plurality of outer brushes in contact with said central brush, means for mounting said brushes on said support for rotation about substantially parallel axes, and means for effecting rotation of all of said brushes in the same direction about their axis of rotation, whereby, upon insertion of the side wall of a glass between said central brush and said outer brushes, the inner brush and outer brushes, tend to rotate. the glass in opposite directions to thereby eliminate rotation of the glass and provide for maximum relative movement between said brushes and the side wall of. the glass.

2. A glass washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said last mentioned means comprise, a central drive shaft for directly effecting rotation of said central brush, a drive shaft for each of said outer brushes, a gear on each of said drive shafts, and an idler gear for each outer gear meshingwithits outer gear and with said central gear to place said gears in planetary assembly, the gear assembly being carried by said rotatable support.

3. A glass washing machine according to. claim 2, including a fixed gear having an opening through which said central drive shaft extends in concentric alignment therewith, and pinion means on said gear assembly support meshing with said; fixed gear and connected for rotation with an idler gear, whereby said outer brushes are caused to revolve about saidcentral brush.

4'. In a glass washing machine, the combination of a brush, a tubular shaft having said: brush mounted thereon for effecting rotation thereof and having an. inlet and an outlet adjacent the lower end thereof and a valve seat between said inlet and said outletandhaving a second inlet above said outlet and partition. means between said outlet and said second inlet having means at the upper endthereof for discharging fluid entering said second inlet, a valve member for said valve seat-having a by-pass aperture, tubular valvestem means for unseating saidvalve member having its: lower end in communication with said by-pass aperture and extending through said partition means and through said shaft'outwardly beyond the upper end thereof and having means at its upper end thereof for discharging the by-passed fluid, means for urging said valve stem means in a direction to cause said valve member to engage its seat, .fluid transferring gland means for said'inlets and said outlet, and conduit means between said outlet and said second inlet.

5., A glass washing machine according to claim 4, including detergent injection means in said conduit means.

6. In a glass washing machine, the combination of a centrally arranged brush having means for rotatably mounting the same including a tubular element having an outlet at its upper end for directing washing liquid onto the interior; of the glass, a plurality of circumferentially spaced outer brushes having means for rotatably mounting the same and being in contact with said central brush and arranged to enable a glass to be inserted between said central brush and said outer brushes, means 'for efiecting rotation of all of said brush mounting means, a plurality of cireumferentially spaced elements each between adjacent outer means for directing washing liquid onto the exterior of the glass, means for supplying Washing liquid to said elements, and a valve for controlling the flowof washing liquid to said elements including an inlet connected to. said supply means, an outlet connected to. said elements, a valve seat between said inlet and said outlet, a valve member for said seat having a by-pass passageway extending therethr ough, and a tubular means connected to said valve member in fluid flow communication with said passageway and being movably mounted in said tubular centralbru sh element and extending outwardly of the outlet thereof to cause said valve member to be unseated by the engagement of a glass with said tubular means upon the insertion of the glass between said central brush and said outer brushes and to direct Washing liquid onto said central brush at a low rate when said valve member is on its seat to close said valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,192,904 Jung Aug. 1, 1916 1,206,273 Veek Now-28, 1916 1,662,205 Parry Mar. 13, 1928. 1,959,842 Schnee May 22, "1934 2,002,337 Bullum May-'21; 1935 2,024,812 Bachelis 'Dcc. 17, 1935 2,075,010 Angelus Mar. 30, 1937 2,153,303 Fielding Apr. 4, 1939' 2,268,721 Ossowsky Jan. 6, 1942' 2,274,309 Velton- Feb. 24, 1942 2,516,223 Lowe July 25, 1950 2,631,313 Webber Mar. 17, 1953 2,636,199- Stanton Apr. 28, 1953 2,707,480 Klosse May 3, 1955 FOREIGN: PATENTS 380,258 GreatBritain Sept. 15, 19.32