US3096125A

US3096125A - Slide out mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3096125A
Application number: US146106A
Authority: US
Inventors: Norman L Kendt
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1961-10-19
Filing date: 1961-10-19
Publication date: 1963-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 1980-07-02
Also published as: CH395453A; NL284507A; BE623760A; GB1015441A; DE1428402A1

Description

Judy 2, 1963 N. n... KENDT 3,096,125

SLIDE OUT MECHANISM Filed Oct. 19, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. Noam/m L. KENDT [gl/www -HS ATTORNEY July E963 N. L. KENDT SLIDE ouT MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19. 1961 MT M o EN Vm m. L N A M R O N www@ H l5 ATTORNEY United States Patent Gn ice 3,096,125 SLIDE OUT MECHANISM Norman L. Kendt, Louisvilie, Ky., assiguor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Get. 19, 1961, Ser. No. 146,106 2 Claims. (Cl. 30S- 3.3)

This invention relates to slide-out mechanisms, and more particularly to such mechanisms formed for use in dishwashing machines.

It is an object of my invention to provide a slide-out mechanism which is formed so as to provide a surface area of a shape unlikely to retain food particles slung against it.

A more particular object of my invention is to provide such a mechanism for use in connection with a dish rack in a dishwashing machine.

In one aspect of my invention, I provide a support system, or slide-out mechanism, for an article-holding member which may conventionally be a dish rack in a dishwasher. Secured to each of the parallel side walls of the dishwasher are two pairs of rollers, a top pair and a bottom pair; all the rollers which are secured to any one wall are positioned in the same plane, with the -front rollers spaced from the back rollers. In addition, the front rollers of each pair and the .back rollers of each pair on any one wall are equally vertically spaced from each other, in track-receiving relation, so as to receive a track member which is positioned between the two pairs of rollers so as to be supported by them and so as to be horizontally movable parallel :to the wall. Each of the two track members has an elongated slot formed extending entirely therethrough, the slot being elongated in the direction of movement of the track member. Two additional pairs of spaced rollers are respectively secured on opposite sides of the article-holding member; each pair of the additional rollers is positioned in a -slot of a track member. Both of the additional rollers which are positioned within the slot of a track member lie in the same plane as the two pairs of rollers which support that track member.

In addition to the foregoing structural aspects, an important feature of my invention comprises the forming of the rollers so that each roller has its periphery formed with a substantially V-shaped annular recess. Also, each track member has its upper and lower surfaces, and the upper and lower surfaces of the slot formed therein, arranged in cross-section) with convergently sloping sides. With this structure, `the track member surfaces are received within the roller recesses in supporting and movable relation. This structure eliminates all food retaining recesses and surfaces on the track member and thus eliminates the undesirable requirement of having `to clean the track member of food particles in order to insure continued sanitary conditions lwi-thin the dishwasher.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly Ipointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specication. My invention, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction Vwith the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

FIGURE l is a side elevational view, with some of the parts broken away, of a dishwasher embodying my invention;

FIGURE 2 is `an enlarged view of the upper portion of the dishwasher wherein my invention is incorporated; and FIGURE 3 is a view along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

While my invention is, of course, not restricted to the particular associated structure shown, in order to illustrate the invention and its advantages I have shown in the 3,096,125 Patented July 2, 1963 drawings a dishwasher, generally indicated by the numeral 1, of the type wherein a cabinet 2 is provided, the cabinet including a stationary back 3 and the

conventional side walls

4 and 5. The back and walls .together with a front door section 6 form the vertical walls of the enclosure 7 within which are positioned a pair of racks 8 and 9 formed to receive and hold dishes to be washed.

The enclosure -s conventionally closed .by a top section 10, and in order to gain access to the enclosure, the door section 6 is grasped by an upper handle portion 11 and pivoted downwardly about pivot members such as that shown at 12 until it lies substantially horizontally. In its horizontal position the door forms a guide on which the lower rack 9 may be slid out -for ready access and loading; it will be understood that the particular cooperative conguration of the door and rack 9 does not form part of this invention and is, therefore, not further described herein.

Briefly continuing the description of the dishwasher 1, it may incorporate suitable washing means such as a lower rotatable water ejecting member V13 Iand an upper rotatable 'water ejecting member .14, together with a rotatable telescoping spraying member l15, all three members 'being fed from -a pumping assembly structure 16 so that ywater is ejected against the dishes with considerable force so as to clean them. The pumping assembly 16 receives its water through an inlet 17 at the very bottom of the enclosure 7, and is normally driven by a motor 18 in the conventional manner. Motor 18 may, for instance, be of the type which, Iwhen rotated in one direction, causes the pumping assembly 16 to force liquid up through

members

13, 14 and 15 for diswashing purpoes, and which, when reversed, causes the pumping assembly to pass liquid out to a drain (not shown).

It will be understood that with such a structure a dish washing operation may readily be provided by means of ya conventional sequence control assembly (not shown) which controls in suitable sequence the entry of water and washing materials, lthe spraying of the dishes, and the removal of the water. In addition, for drying the dishes after they have :been clean-sed, a suitable electric heating element 19 may be provided in the conventional manner, with the intent being that element 19 also be under the control of the sequence control assembly so as to -be energized at the end of the washing operation, and during the washing operation if so desired to assist in heating water.

It will be apparent that while the lower rack 9 may readily be slid out using door 11 as a track, no such solution is present with the upper rack 8. Nonetheless, it is necessary that the upper rack be mounted so that it will slide out to a position where the entire rack is outside the dishwasher, substantially as shown in FIGURE 2, to facilitate the loading of the rack. In this connection, it is a known expedient to use rollers mounted on the stationary inner wall of the dishwasher, with a track member being mounted to slide on the rollers and the rack then being mounted to slide on the track member. With such an arrangement, the track member may slide partly out of the enclosure 7 and the rack 8 may slide partly over the end of the track member, the combination of the two factors providing complete removal of the rack member from within the enclosure 7. In the past, however, such structures have acted as food catchers, in that particles of food remaining on dirty dishes inserted into the dishwasher would, under the inil'uence of the strong jets of water playing on the dishes, be flung against the track and retained there by the shape of the track. It is desirable to avoid this situation and it is toward this goal that the present struct-ure, now to be described, is aimed. It will understood that while structure associated with wall 4 is featured throughout the following description, an

identical opposing structure is cooperatively provided in connection with wall 5 to as to cooperate therewith.

`Rotatably mounted on wall 4 is a .first upper pair of rollers including a front roller and a back roller 21, and a second lower pair of rollers including a front roller 22 and a back roller 23. The

back rollers

21 and 23 are spaced from the front rollers 20 and 22 a lsuticient amount to provide the support function to be described hereinafter. The

rollers

20 and 22 and the

rollers

21 and 23 are spaced vertically an equal amount from each other so as to receive therebetween a track member, generally indicated by the numeral 24, so that the track member may be moved forward and backward horizontally in a plane parallel to the wall 4, being guided and supported rby the

rollers

20, 21, 22 and 23. The ends of the track may be enlarged, as shown at 25 at the back end and at 26 at the front end, so as to act as stops. In other Words, forward motion of the track necessarily stops when portion 25 reaches the back roller 21 and backward motion of the track necessarily stops when portion 26 reaches the

rollers

20 and 22.

A slot which is divided into two aligned

portions

27 and 28 is formed in the track member 24. 'I'he slot portions extend entirely through the track member, i.e., they form holes therein rather than recesses. In addition, the lengthwise dimension of the slots extends in the direction of movement of the track member. The slot portions 27 Jand 28 are separated by a solid section 29 of track mem- Rotatably secured to each side of the rack S is a pair of

rollers

30 and 31 which are respectively positioned within

slot portions

27 and 28 so as to roll back and forth therein. By virtue of the engagement of

rollers

30 and 31 within the slot portions -27 and 28 of track 24, the rack is supported for horizontal sliding motion relative to the track. Thus, when the track has reached its forwardmost position, as shown in FIGURE 2, the

rollers

30 and 31 may then roll Within the

slot portions

27 and 28 to permit rack 8 to move forward to the position shown where it is entirely out of the enclosure 7. The front (or left) end of slot portion 27 acts, in this case, as a stop member. When the rack is pushed back, the

rollers

30 and 31 slide back in the slot portions 27 and 2S and the track 24, as previously mentioned, slides back relative to

rollers

20, 21, 22 and 23. These movements continue until the movement of the track is stopped, as previously mentioned, by engagement of

rollers

20 and 22 with portion 26 of the track member, and movement of the rack is stopped by engagement of roller 31 with the rear end of the slot portion 28.

As an important feature of my invention, I cause all of the rollers on each side, that is,

rollers

20, 21, 22, 23, 30 and 31 to be formed with a peripheral V-shaped groove 32 therein, it being understood that V-shaped is used here in the same context as when referring to V belts; for instance, the V may be truncated and still come within the meaning of the term. Also, the sides of the V, While they are preferably straight, as shown, to facilitate manufacture, may be somewhat curved Without departing from the invention.

All of the r-oller engaging portions of the track 24 are formed in substantially the same manner in accordance with my invention. These portions include the top portion 33 which is engaged -by

rollers

20 and 21, the -bottom portion 34 which is engaged by

rollers

22 and 23, the top 35 of the

slot portions

27 and 28 which is engaged by

rollers

30 and 31, and the bottom 36 of the slot portion-s which is also engaged by

rollers

30 and 31. In each case, the track portion is formed by `convergently sloping sides which terminate in relatively

narrow areas

37, 38, 39 and 40 respectively. In other words, in cross section the track portions which enga-ge the rollers are also in the shape of generally truncated Vs; the sides, in this case,

are bowed by manufacturing preference ber 24 is generally a molded part.

It will be seen that the track member 24 includes virtually all non-vertical surfaces, with only the very outer ends, which engage the rollers, being horizontal, and these horizontal surfaces are limited as much as is possible consistent with the loads they are required to bear. By the provision of recessed rollers and protruding track portions of the shape described, there are no track portions which are formed so as to tend to catch food particles and retain them.

Where so desired, in order to strengthen the track, between each two roller engaging portions the track may be strengthened by a thickened section such as those shown by the numerals 41 and 42 in FIGURE 3. It is important in connection with these strengthening portions, when provided, that they too be formed so as to include no horizontally extending surfaces which might tend to retain food particles flung against them, and it will be observed that portions 41 and 42 slope smoothly from their tops to their bottoms so as to have no horizontal portions whatsoever.

A further advantageous feature of my invention lies in the provision, lin each roller, of a small groove 43 extending peripherally thcrearound at the center of the groove 32. This small groove 43 is of particular advantage Where the track member 34 is a molded part. This advantage results because the track member is normally formed in a mold made up of two like sections which come together at the top and bottom, and in the slot of the track member. Bec-anse this is the junction line of the two mold sections, it sometimes occurs that there is a narrow film of molded material left extending along the center of each of the

surfaces

37, 38, 39, and 40. When this occurs, its presence may, unless taken care of, harm the proper engagement of these surfaces with the rollers. However, where groove 43 is provided, the additional film, when it exists, is crushed into groove 43 and thus does not affect the manner in which the remainder of the roller surface engages the track member surface. Thus, groove 43 represents a further improvement lin my improved construction.

It will readily be understood that with an assembly of the type described provided on each s-ide of rack 8, the desired in and out motion of the rack relative to enclosure 7 is obtained while at the sarne time the mechanism provided does not trap food particles as has been a possibility in previous mechanisms of this type.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not desire the invention to be limited to the precise construction disclosed, and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modications which fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A support system comprising:

(a) -at least one roller rotatably secured to a stationary structure,

(b) `a substantially V-shaped truncated. annular recess in the periphery of said roller with the plane of truncation providing a contact surface,

(c) a track member asociated `wit-h said. roller and having convergently sloping sides received within said recess,

(d) said convergently sloping sides terminating at a flat portion 'arranged to bear against the Contact surface of said roller,

(e) said track member being formed of molded material made up of two sections which come together at the top and bottom and are subjected to irregular flashing along said flat portion rat their junction line and in the line of movement of said track member as a result of the molding process, yand (j) a small peripheral groove in` said contact sur-face since track mem- -of said roller adapted to receive the irregular flashing along said at portion of said track member. 2. A -support system comprising:

I(a) a structure havin-g at least one side Wall,

(b) an article-holding member,

(c) a top pair of rollers rotatably secured to said side wall including a front roller and a back roller in spaced relation,

(d) a bottom pair of rollers rotatably secured to said side wall including a front roller and a back roller in spaced relation,

(e) a track member supported by said top pair and said bottom pair of rollers for horizontal movement parallel to said side Wall,

(f) an elongated slot formed in said track member and extending in the direction of movement of said track member,

(g) an -additional pair of spaced rollers rotatably secured to the article-holding member and received by said elongated slot,

(h) said additional pair of spaced rollers, said top pair of rollers and said bottom pair of rollers all being positioned in the same plane,

(i) -a substantially V-shaped truncated annular recess in the periphery of each of :all said rollers with the plane of truncation providing a contact surface,

(j) said track member having its upper and lower surfaces formed with convergently sloping sid-es received within said recess -in said top pair of rollers and said bottom pair of rollers respectively,

(k) said elongated slot having its upper and lower surfaces formed with convergently sloping sides received within said recesses in said additional pair of rollers,

(l) said upper and lower surfaces of said track member and said upper and lower surfaces of said elongated slot each having a flat portion arranged to bear against the contact surfaces of its respective said annular recess,

(m) said track member being formed of molded material made up of two like sections which come together at the top and bottom and lare subjected to irregular flashing along said at portion of said track member at their junction -line at their center, and

(n) a small peripheral groove provided at the center of the contact surface of each of said rollers adapted to receive said irregular ashing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 573,461 Hamilton Dec. 22, 1896 686,777 Snook Nov. 19, 1901 FOREIGN PATENTS 410,069 France May 10, 1910

Claims

1. A SUPPORT SYSTEM COMPRISING: (A) AT LEAST ROLLER ROTATABLY SECURED TO A STATIONARY STRUCTURE, (B) A SUBSTANTIALLY V-SHAPED TRUNCATED ANNULAR RECESS IN THE PERIPHERY OF SAID ROLLER WITH THE PLANE OF TRUNCATION PROVIDING A CONTACT SURFACE, (C) A TRACK MEMBER ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ROLLER AND HAVING CONVERGENTLY SLOPING SIDES RECEIVED WITHIN SAID RECESS, (D) SAID CONVERGENTLY SLOPING SIDES TERMINATING AT A FLAT PORTION ARRANGED TO BEAR AGAINST THE CONTACT SURFACE OF SAID ROLLER, (E) SAID TRACK MEMBER BEING FORMED OF MOLDED MATERIAL MADE UP OF TWO SECTIONS WHICH COME TOGETHER AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM AND ARE SUBJECTED TO IRREGULAR FLASHING ALONG SAID FLAT PORTION AT THEIR JUNCTION LINE AND IN THE LINE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID TRACK MEMBER AS A RESULT OF THE MOLDING PROCESS, AND (F) A SMALL PERIPHERAL GROOVE IN SAID CONTACT SURFACE OF SAID ROLLER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE IRREGULAR FLASHING ALONG SAID FLAT PORTION OF SAID TRACK MEMBER.