US2959043A

US2959043A - Automatic rinsing machine for diapers

Info

Publication number: US2959043A
Application number: US763687A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sheldon B Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-09-26
Filing date: 1958-09-26
Publication date: 1960-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1977-11-08

Description

NOV. 8, 1960 5, JOHNSON 2,959,043

AUTOMATIC RINSING MACHINE FOR DIAPERS Filed Sept. 26, 1958 a v INVENTOR.

ZHiL SHELDON B. JOHNSON I ll 0 I 34 3:3 "27 fzz t A ,1 32 3/ 28 W ATTORNEYS r United States Patent AUTOMATIC RINSING MACHINE FOR DIAPERS Sheldon B. Johnson, 83 N. 100 East, St. George, Utah Filed Sept. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 763,687

12 Claims. (CI. 6812) This invention relates to washing and rinsing machines, and especially to those designed for automatic operation. It is particularly concerned with providing an automatic machine for rinsing soiled diapers, although the novel features of the invention may be applied wherever found useful.

Diapers soiled by bowel movements present a difiicult and most disagreeable problem, both to those who must care for babies and to diaper laundries. Rinsing of wet solid matter, which tends to mat and cling tightly to the diaper fabric, is almost essential prior to the actual washing. Mothers have resorted to various ways of accomplishing this, and various devices have been developed to aid in the task, but no entirely satisfactory and sanitary procedure or device has heretofore been developed.

This invention is primarily concerned with providing a machine for solving the problem in a most expeditious, convenient, and sanitary manner.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a rinsing machine capable of being constructed compactly and at a cost which adapts it for domestic use; one which will be automatic in operation, requiring no handling of the soiled diapers to be washed or rinsed, except for tossing them into the machine; one which will be fast and positive in operation, resulting in soft cleanliness in an exceedingly short period of time prior to subsequent washing and sterilization in the customary manner and in customary equipment; and one which will, during each use of the machine, automatically and completely dispose of the waste matter rinsed off.

Outstanding features of the invention in the accomplishment of these objects are the provision of a rinsing container or tub having an open drain; jet means for introducing rinse water into the tub through the open drain in such a manner that drainage of liquid from the tub is largely prevented during introduction of water thereinto; a rotor in the tub for catching and twirling diapers or similar articles during introduction of rinse water into and drainage thereof from the tub; and timing means for controlling rinsing cycles.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. .1 represents a perspective view of the machine, with the cover of the rinsing container or tub swung back into open position and a minor portion thereof broken away to reveal otherwise hidden detail.

Fig. 2, a rear elevation drawn to an enlarged scale, the cover being shown in closed position and a portion of the tub wall being broken out to reveal the rotor;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4. a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3 and drawn to a more enlarged scale; and

2,959,043 Patented Nov. 8, 1960 Fig. 5, a wiring diagram of the electrical control circuit, including a schematic showing of the timing mechanism.

Referring to the drawings:

In this illustrated form of the machine, a rinsing container or tub 10 is supported by a box-like base structure 11, which serves to house the operating components.

The bottom of tub 10 is formed as a well 10a, Fig. 4, in the bottom of which is a drain opening 12 from which leads an open drain 13. Positioned over the drain opening 12 is a deflector 14, which is advantageously of the inverted conical formation shown, so as to deflect, laterally and circumferentially thereof, a high velocity jet of water directed toward it from within the drain piping 13.

For supplying the jet of water, a pipe 15, of relatively small cross-section compared with that of drain piping 13, is connected to such drain piping in any suitable manner, for example, by means of a depending nipple 13a, as shown in Fig. 4, so that its outlet is directed toward the depending apex 14a of deflector 14, its opposite end (not shown) being adapted for connection to a source of water under pressure, usually an ordinary water faucet. A solenoid valve 16, interposed in pipe 15, controls supply of the jet-forming water.

The jet of water issuing from pipe 15 supplies a body of rinse water in tub 10. Lateral and circumferential deflection of such jet of water as it enters at the bottom of the tub serves as a dynamic stopper against outflow of the accumulating body of water through the drain opening 12. Accordingly, for such time as the jet is flowing, practically no water drains from the container. Shutting off the jet by means of solenoid valve 16 enables the accumulated water in tub 10 to rapidly drain away through open drain piping 13.

In order to properly rinse diapers placing in rinsing tub 10 when its top cover 17 is opened as shown in Fig. 1, a rotor 18 is provided in the lower part of the tub, preferably within the opening of well 10a, as illustrated.

Such rotor 18 is advantageously constructed as an open framework, so as to catch hold of the diapers and drag them through the body of water accumulating in the tub. In the construction illustrated, rotor 18 has a hub 18a secured to the drive shaft 20a of a reversible electric motor 20, the open framework being provided by a plurality of. radial arms 18b made up from stiff wire bent to form upstanding loops for each of the arms. These loops are advantageously of acute angle formation at their. outer ends 180, so there will be no danger of wedging diapers between such outer ends and the inner wall faces of the tub as the rotor rotates.

Motor 20 is secured below the tub 10 within base structure 11, as by means of a suspension bracket 2i)-1,

its drive shaft 20a projecting up through the bottom of the tub. Leakage is prevented by conventional gaskets and packing glands (not shown). a

In operation, the diapers catch on the rotor arms 18b and are vigorously swirled around in the rinse water within tub 10. As the water rises in the tub, the rotor imparts vortexial motion to it, causing it to climb up against the sides of the tub and leaving the center depressed.

A screen or grating 21 is advantageously interposed between the rotor and the well opening. In this illustrated construction, such screen 21 is a part of the rotor itself, forming a bottom plate which is secured to and rotates with hub 18a and the radial arms 18b.

Once the machine is started, the rinsing and draining cycle is carried through and repeated automatically. For this purpose, there is provided an electrical control circuit, Fig. 5, embodying a timing mechanism. While the timing mechanism may be of any suitable type, very satisfactory results are obtained with the cam timer 22, Fig. 2, which has four switch-actuating cams 23 through 26, respective ly, Fig. 5, secured to a common cam shaft 27, Fig. 2, which is driven by a motor 28.

Cam 23 actuates switch 31, which controls timer motor 28; cam 24 actuates switch 32, which controls both the rotor motor 29 and the solenoid valve 16;

cams

25 and 26

actuate switches

33 and 34, respectively, which serve to reverse the leads to rotor motor 21). The switches have sprmg arms 31a, 32a, 33a, and 34a, respectively, which are electrically conducting and provided with opposed contacts at their free ends operable between pairs of opposed stationary contacts, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Such switches are readily obtainable commercially.

?ower is taken from a customary electric outlet by 'means of a usual electric plug 35, and operation is commenced by pressing a push button 36. The electrical circuit and the several timer cams are so arranged that the push button energizes timer motor 28 long enough to cause cam 23 to close its switch 31, which closes the timer motor circuit independently of the push button. Continued operation of the timer motor causes cam 24 to almost immediately close its switch 32 and thereby open the normally closed solenoid valve 16, as well as energize rotor motor 20 in a given direction determined by the setting of

cams

25 and 26.

in this illustrated construction, cam 24 is configurated to retain its Switch 32 closed and then open, alternately, for respective given time periods during each revolution or the cam, so that drainage takes place during a limited period of time at each half cycle of cam revolution.

Cams

25 and 26 are configurated to reverse the leads to rotor motor 20 during each drainage period, so that there will be a reversal of the direction of rotation of rotor 18 during each cycle of operation. Each operative cycle includes two fillings of tub and two drainings, with the direction of rotor rotation reversed from filling to filling.

A preferred timing is one minute for a complete rotation of the cam shaft and cams, the length of each period of rotor rotation being eighteen seconds and the length of each drainage period being twelve seconds.

it soiled diaper is usually bunched together in more or less of a ball when thrown into the rinsing container or tub 10. As the rinsing water is introduced to such container or tub through jet supply pipe 15, rotation of rotor 18 tends to scrub and spread the diaper until it is floated by the accumulating body of water, which enables the arms 18b of the rotor to catch hold of and to drag the diaper through the rinse water. Upon completion of the operative cycle, the diaper is spread out substantially full length around the inner walls of the tub in exception- 'ally clean and soft condition ready to be subjected to either the customary washing or sterilization, or both. As indicated previously, the entire rinsing operation consumes only one minute of time. If desired, a small quantity of some detergent may be applied to the diaper before tossing it into the rinsing tub.

During the rinsing action, the vortexial motion of water and diaper produces air pressure within the container or tub 10. which is relieved by the provision of a perforate area 37, Fig. l, centrally of the cover 17. a depending annular wall 17a being provided in surrounding relationship to such area to largely prevent spraying of Water texteriorly of the tub.

The container or tub 10 is preferably square in' crosssection, to enhance the agitating and scrubbing action exterted on the diaper.

The machine is most easily used by setting it close to a :toilet bowl, advantageously on top of the flush tank. drainage being accomplished directly into such bowl by means of a suitable length of hose forming the outer reach of drain pipe 13. Fig. 1. jet pipe is also preferably a hose which may be con- ;nected to any convenient Water faucet.

The outer reach of water supply Whereas this invention is hereillust-rated and described with respect to a presently preferred specific embodiment thereof, it should be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the essential inventive concepts.

I claim:

1. An automatic rinsing machine for diapers and like articles, comprising a rinsing container having an opening for receiving soiled articles to be rinsed; a rotor within said container, said rotor being provided with means for catching and holding said articles; means for actuating said rotor; an open drain leading from the bottom of the container; means for introducing a jet of rinse water from an outside source into said container through said drain to serve both for supplying rinse Water to the container and as a dynamic stopper for the drain; means positioned over said drain for intercepting and laterally deflecting said jet of rinse water, so that drainage from the container is largely prevented during flow of rinse water thereinto; means for starting and stopping said jet of rinse water; and timing means for controlling the rotor-actuating means and the jet starting and stopping means.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the means for actuating the rotor is an electric motor; the means for introducing a jet of rinse water is a pressure supply line; and the means for starting and stopping said jet include a normally closed solenoid valve controlling flow of pressure water through said supply line; and electric circuits for supplying electricity to the rotor motor and the solenoid, the timing means being operative to open and close said circuits.

3. The machine of claim 2, wherein the rotor motor is of reversing type, and the timing means is constructed and arranged to shut off the switch motor at the end of one complete cycle of operation, to actuate the rotor motor and solenoid valve twice during each cycle of operation, and to reverse the direction of rotation of said rotor motor for each actuation thereof.

4. The machine of claim 2, wherein the rotor is positioned for rotation in a horizontal plane immediately above the drain opening.

5. The machine of claim 4, wherein means at the bottom of the container defines a well whose opening is encompassed by the rotor, the jet intercepting and deflecting means being positioned within said well; and wherein a screen is interposed between said rotor and said jet intercepting and deflecting means.

6. The machine of claim 5, wherein the top of the container is open and provided with a cover; and wherein said cover is provided with an opening centrallv thereof for the exit of air during operation of the machine.

7. The machine of claim 6, wherein a depending ridge is provided about the opening in the cover and at the underside of said cover.

8. The machine of claim 7, wherein the container is substantially square in internal cross-section about and above the rotor.

9. The machine of claim 1, wherein the rotor is constructed as an open framework for catching the articles placed within the container and for holding them during rotation.

10. The machine of claim 9, wherein the rotor has a plurality of radial arms formed as upstanding loops.

11. In combination with a container for liquids, an open drain leading from said container; means for introducing a jet of liquid from an outside source into said container through said open drain to serve both for supplying rinse water to the container and as a dynamic stopper for the drain; means positioned over said open drain for intercepting and laterally deflecting said jet of liquid, so that drainage is largely prevented during flow of liquid into said container; and means for starting and stopping said jet of liquid.

12. An automatic rinsing machine for diapers and like articles, comprising a rinsing container having an open drain; jet means for introducing rinse water into the con- 5 tainer through the open drain; means positioned over said References Cited in the file of this patent open drain for intercepting and laterally deflecting the UNITED STATES PATENTS rinse water, so that drainage of liquid from the container is largely prevented during introduction of water lvgiooks g 3 thereinto' a rotor in the container for catching and twirl- 5 egmore 2,775,975 Andrews Jan. 1, 1957 ing the diapers or like articles during introduction of rinse Water into and drainage thereof from the container; and FOREIGN PATENTS timing means for controlling rinsing cycles. 685,495 Great Britain I an. 7, 1953