WO2002028265A1

WO2002028265A1 - Drying and polishing machine, in particular for cutlery and the like

Info

Publication number: WO2002028265A1
Application number: PCT/IT2001/000504
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Andreoni; Antonio Alunni
Original assignee: Marcantonio S.R.L.
Priority date: 2000-10-03
Filing date: 2001-10-02
Publication date: 2002-04-11
Also published as: ITRM20000526A1; AU2001295894A1; WO2002028265A9; ITRM20000526A0; IT1316227B1

Abstract

Drying and polishing machine (1), in particular for polishing and sanitizing cutlery (P) and the like, comprises: a vibrating container (29); apt to house polishing granulated material (30) and to receive the cutlery (P); a perforated wall (31) in said container defining therein an accessible first compartment (32) for housing the cutlery (P), and a closed second compartment (33), said perforated wall (31) allowing the transit of the granulated material (30) holding the cutlery (P); and actuating means (18), connected to said container, apt to arrange said container in a first position, wherein the granulated material and the cutlery (P) stay in said first compartment (32), and in a second position wherein the granulated material moves in said second compartment (33) allowing an automated cycle in a simple machine structure which employs a reduced quantity of granulated material.

Description

"DRYING AND POLISHING MACHINE, IN PARTICULAR FOR CUTLERY AND THE LIKE"

DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a drying and polishing machine of a type apt to dry, polish and then sanitize cutlery, as forks, knives, spoons and the like, etc.

The demand for such a machine originates from the need to dry, polish and sanitize cutlery items upon having subjected them to a washing cycle, e.g., in a dishwasher. In fact, despite the customary air drying and the use of rinse-aid substances, upon being washed such cutlery happen to retain an opaque glaze, spots, or even halos.

These defects could be considered by a user of the washed cutlery as a sign of a lack of hygiene. Therefore, in order to avoid this inconvenience, it is required that the cutlery, upon being washed, be dried and polished, an operation which is often carried out manually. The problem is particularly felt when there is a remarkable quantity of cutlery, e.g., in restaurants, cafeterias and the like.

In order to eliminate this cumbersome task, which anyway does not warrant a sufficient sanitation, suitable machines generally exploiting the polishing properties of a granulated material in which the cutlery is immersed were arranged. The container containing material and cutlery is agitated, in particular it is vibrated, causing the friction between the granules of the material and the surface to be polished.

The employed material should not be too rough nor hard, in order to leave the metal of the cutlery unscathed, and it should be water-absorbent. A known material having these requisites is an organic granulate, corn cob. Best performances are attained heating the corn cob to a temperature higher than the room temperature, e.g., to 60°C, in order to keep it dry, curbing the natural hygroscopicity thereof, and fostering the elimination of the absorbed water therefrom.

Machines substantially as hereto outlined, e.g., a vibrating container, filled with corn cob, inside which a mesh frame housing a certain number of cutlery items is inserted, are known. At the end of the polishing and drying cycle, the frame is extracted and shaken in order to allow the fall of the cutlery-held corn cob through the mesh.

Therefore, this type of machine requires continual operator's assistance. An improved model of machine has a large container filled with corn cob and guides defining a course therein which, by virtue of the vibrations, is followed by the cutlery items until the latter emerge at the end of the cycle.

This improved version allows a simplified operation, yet it entails a remarkable structural complexity, implying heavier weights and greater power in order to generate the required vibrations, as well as a remarkable mass of corn cob, further entailing a greater quantity of thermal power to bring it to an appropriate temperature. The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a polishing machine allowing to overcome the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the known art.

This problem is solved by a machine, as disclosed above, characterised in that it comprises: * a perforated wall in said container, defining therein a first accessible compartment, for housing said items to be polished, and a second closed compartment, said perforated wall allowing the transit of the granulated material holding the items to be polished; and

* actuating means, connected to said container, apt to arrange said container in a first position, wherein the granulated material and the items to be polished stay in said first compartment, and in a second position, wherein the granulated material is transferred into said second compartment.

The main advantage of the drying and polishing machine according to the present invention lies in allowing a rapid automated drying, polishing and sanitizing cycle, from the insertion of the cutlery items to the ejection thereof, freed from the corn cob, implying however a remarkable structural simplicity and a reduced amount of corn cob.

Moreover, said machine entails a low energy consumption for generating the vibrations and for heating the corn cob, allowing a substantial and significant reduction of the machine start times for bringing the corn cob to the appropriate operative temperature.

The present invention will hereinafter be disclosed according to a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example and without limitative purposes, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: * figure 1 shows a top perspective view of a drying and polishing machine according to the invention;

* figure 2 shows a partially sectional rear perspective view, depicting the inside of the machine of figure 1;

* figure 3 shows a partially sectional side perspective view, further depicting the inside of the machine of figure 1 ;

* figure 4 shows a partially sectional perspective view of a first internal detail of the machine of figure 1 ; * figure 5 shows a partially sectional perspective view of a second internal detail of the machine of figure 1; and

* figures 6 to 9 schematically depict the operation of the machine of figure 1.

With reference to the figures, a drying and polishing machine for cutlery and the like is generally indicated with 1. It has a parallelepipedic-shaped boxed casing 2 which comprises: a top wall 3, for the insertion of cutlery items P through a loading port 4 closeable by a hinged door 5; a front wall 6 for extracting the cutlery items P, through an unloading port 7 facing bottomwise and provided with an oblique screen 8 directing the cutlery items in the appropriate direction; a bottom wall 9 provided with handles 10 and with anti- vibration feet, conventional and therefore not shown; side walls 11 and a rear wall 12.

Inside the casing 2, the machine 1 comprises a fixed frame 13, integral to the casing 2, to which the hereinafter described movable components of the machine 1 are jointed. The fixed frame 13 comprises a pair of opposed fixed posts 14, located near said side walls 11, to which, at a respective top end 15, by respective pins 16, a movable frame 17 is rotatably jointed.

Moreover, the fixed frame 13 and the movable frame 17 are jointed by an extensible actuator 18, conventionally connected to a motor 19. Said actuator 18, of electric type and having a linear motor, implements actuating means whose function will hereinafter be made apparent. Said actuating means may be implemented by mechanisms of equivalent functionality, like cylinder-piston systems, articulated mechanical systems and the like.

Said actuator 18, shaped as an extensible arm, joins two distal ends, indicated with 20 and 21, respectively, of the fixed frame 13 and of the movable frame 17, in positions such that a variation in the length of the extensible actuator 18 entails a rotation of the movable frame 17 about the pins 16.

The machine 1 comprises a supporting frame 22, mounted, on springs 23, onto the movable frame 17. The springs 23 allow a limited race of the supporting frame 22 with respect to the movable frame 17, independently of the position of the latter.

Moreover, onto the movable frame 17 a vibration generating system, generally indicated with 24, is mounted. The latter is connected to the supporting frame 22 and comprises a first motor 25 apt to drive in rotation a cam, not shown, yet of a nature readily apparent from the present context, so as to generate a vibration of the supporting frame 22.

It is understood that the springs 23, illustrated here as helical springs, should be construed as any one elastic support apt to the aim of allowing a vibration of the supporting frame 22 without transmitting the same vibration to the other components of the machine 1.

In order to synchronize the motion of the movable frame 17, the starting of the generator system 24 and the operation of the other components which will hereinafter be described, the machine 1 comprises a suitable timer 26 and a control panel 27 with suitably illuminated push buttons 28.

To the supporting frame 22, a vibrating container 29, apt to house a quantity of polishing granulated material and to receive items to be polished, i.e., said cutlery items P, is jointed. Said granulated material, according to the present embodiment, is corn cob, referenced with 30.

In the machine 1 according to the invention, the vibrating container comprises a perforated wall 31, defining therein an accessible opened first compartment 32, for housing said cutlery items P, and a second closed compartment 33. The opened compartment 32 forms a cavity 34 facing upwards, with a top mouth 35 and a round- contoured first bottom 36.

Instead, the closed compartment 33 is defined by fixed walls. The perforated wall 31 is such as to allow the transit of the corn cob 30, holding the cutlery items P. The rounded wall of the bottom 36 is partially void of holes and it is staggered with respect to the second compartment 33, whereas the holes, referenced with 37, of the perforated wall 31 extend over the entire wall section which partitions the first and the second compartment 31, 33 and also therebeyond, towards the bottom apex of the former.

The machine 1 further comprises means for heating said corn cob 30 which, in the present embodiment of the machine according to the invention, comprises a fan 38, of which the casing housing the fan wheel is illustrated, driven by a second motor 39, whose operation is regulated by said timer 26.

The whole system consisting of fan 38 and respective second motor 39 is integral to the movable frame 17 and it moves therewith. The fan 38 is connected to an air suction duct 40, optionally via suitable filters. This duct 40 has a first duct section 41, of rigid type, projecting above the movable frame 17 and housing therein a resistor 42, suitably fixed and electrically connected by cables 43, which carries out the function of heating the suction air.

Also the operation of the resistor 42 is regulated by the timer 26, as is the case for the second motor 39 driving the fan 38.

Said duct 40 further comprises a strainable second duct section 44, e.g., made of strengthened heat-resistant corrugate. The second section 44, which constitutes the continuation of the first portion 41, outlets in correspondence of the vibrating container 29 with a suction port 45 which, in turn, is connected to an air space 46 which involves the bottom walls defining the second compartment 33 and a portion of the cavity 34 of the first compartment 32, so that the hot air be vented through the holes 37 formed in correspondence of said cavity, allowing a direct air flow in the corn cob. Retracing the course of the hot air, the air space 46, the air suction duct 40, the resistor 42, and the fan 38 implement said means for heating the com cob 30.

The strainable second duct section 44 allows the container 29 and the supporting frame 22 to vibrate, for the race allowed by the springs 23. The location of said means for heating 38, 40, 42, 46 is optimal, as they are vibration-dampened by virtue of the second duct section 44, yet concomitantly follow the motion of the vibrating container 29, thus being capable of operating independently of the operative position selected for the container 29.

It is understood that a different implementation of the means for heating falls anyhow within the same inventive concept.

According to a preferred variant of the present embodiment, resistors located at the walls of the first compartment 32, optionally buried in the walls defining the container or externally thereto, may be provided.

Alternatively, heat-radiating devices, etc., anyhow anchored to the movable frame 17, may be provided.

The same holds true also for the vibration generating system 24 which may impart to the container 29, via the supporting frame 22, a vibratory motion independently from the operative position selected for the container 29.

Also for the generating system described above variants may be provided, exploiting, e.g., a piezoelectric member subjected to a variable voltage.

The machine 1 further comprises sterilizing means which, in the present embodiment, are implemented by a sterilizing lamp 47 anchored to the fixed frame

13 at the top wall 3 of the casing 2. Also the turning on and off of the sterilizing lamp

47 causes the radiation of electromagnetic waves having a high frequency with respect to the visible light, apt to carry out a germicidal action.

For the sake of clarity, before describing an entire operation cycle of the machine 1, with reference to figures 6 to 9 the two main operative positions assumed in particular by the vibrating container 29 will have to be described.

In a first operative position, corresponding to the maximum extension of the extensible actuator 18, the container 29 lies in a substantially vertical configuration wherein the top mouth 35 corresponds to the loading port 4 (figure 1) so that, at opened door 5, the cutlery P and the like to be polished may be put in the hollow of the first opened compartment 32.

In this position, the corn cob entirely or almost entirely lies in the cavity 34. For this purpose, it should be pointed out that the second closed compartment 33 has in turn a second chute-shaped bottom 48 facing the cavity 34 of the first compartment 32, of course via the holes 37 of the perforated wall 31.

Hence, in the first operative position, the vibratory motion is capable of transferring the corn cob 30 contained in the second compartment 33 into the first compartment 32.

Arranging cutlery items P inside the first compartment 32, they remain held in the cavity 34. The vibratory motion, combined with the rounded contour of the first bottom, implement a substantially rotary motion of the cutlery P. The friction between the corn cob 30 and the cutlery P carries out the drying and the polishing.

During the drying and the polishing, the fan 38 and the resistor 42 hold the temperature of the corn cob 30. According to a variant of the machine 30, the latter is provided with sensors sensing the temperature of the corn cob 30. The consensus to an operation of the means for heating the corn cob 30 is provided or not on the basis of the sensed temperature.

Remarkably, by virtue of the peculiar configuration of the compartments 32, 33 of the container 29, all the corn cob 30 is employable for the drying and the polishing. Therefore, available spaces being equal, the utmost effectiveness in exploiting the corn cob is attained. Moreover, the heating of the corn cob, which is indirectly carried out, requires a smaller thermal energy due to the reduced thermal inertia of the corn cob volume.

In a second operative position, corresponding to the minimum extension of the extensible actuator 18, the container 29 lies in a substantially 90°-tilted configuration, and the top mouth 35 thereof lies in correspondence of the unloading port 7.

In this configuration, the vibrations induce the transit of the com cob 30 from the first compartment 32 to the second compartment 33 via the perforated wall 31, provided that in this configuration the second compartment 33 lie below the first compartment 32.

While the vibrations eliminate the corn cob 30 in order to render a subsequent shaking step superfluous, the cutlery items P are exposed to the light of the sterilizing lamp and are unloaded via the port 7, a collecting container being arrangeable therebelow.

Concerning instead the operation cycle, it comprises the steps of: (a) preheating the corn cob with the vibrating container 29; in the first operative position, the preheating time may be preset or set by the operator and depends on the mass of the corn cob to be heated and on the starting temperature - it may be provided that this step end automatically upon attaining a desirable temperature; (b) inserting, via the loading port 4, cutlery inletted from the washing and therefore wet, to be dried and polished (figure 6); (c) actual drying and polishing, in which the cutlery items, housed in the cavity 34 of the container 29, follow a circular route and are intimately admixed to the corn cob (figure 7); (d) at the end of the drying and of the polishing, after a preset time, the container reaches the second operative position (figure 8) and the unloading of the corn cob from the first compartment 32 to the second closed compartment 33 is carried out- in this step, the heating contributes to re-dry the com cob imbibed with the water from the polished cutlery items, whereas the vibrations carry out this transfer and free the latter from the com cob granules;

(e) in this second operative position, the sterilizing lamp illuminates the cutlery in the first compartment 32, wherein it is suitably mixed and turned by the vibrations;

(f) the tilt of the first compartment 32 and of the perforated wall 31 in said second operative position is such that the dried and polished cutlery falls by itself through the port 7, as hereto disclosed. In fact, the tilt of the wall 31, onto which the cutlery runs and slides returning the held com cob, is such as to induce the fall of the cutlery subjected to illumination, thus determining a substantial overlapping of the steps (d), (e) and (f); (g) spent corn cob may easily be extracted from the second compartment 33 via a suitable opening, not shown; and (h) for restarting with a new cycle, the container is brought back to a first operative position with the vibrations allowing the return of the com cob from the second compartment 33 to the first compartment 32 via the perforated wall 31 - in this position the spent com cob may be replenished with new and suitably graded corn cob. Complementary steps will allow the extraction and the replacement of the corn cob. In the steps described above, the heating may be discontinued or not.

Remarkably, in the sole first operative position, a complete cycle of drying, polishing, cutlery sterilization and com cob reconditioning is carried out.

The structure disclosed above allows to keep the machine according to the invention within reasonable dimensions, acceptable also for non-industrial uses. Moreover, the required amounts of com cob are reduced to less than the 50%, as well as the com cob consumption, and the power required to impart vibrations and to heat the corn cob. Conveyability is enhanced, making the present machine ideal also for catering situations, and the continual presence of an operator trained to the use of the machine, use which has been greatly simplified, is not required.

To the polishing machine disclosed above a person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy further and contingent needs, may effect several further modifications and variants, all however falling within the protective scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A drying and polishing machine (1), in particular for polishing items like cutlery (P) and the like, comprising a vibrating container (29) apt to house a quantity of polishing granulated material (30) and to receive said items to be polished, characterised in that it comprises:

* a perforated wall (31) in said vibrating container (29), defining therein an accessible first compartment (32), for housing said items to be polished (P), and a closed second compartment (33), said perforated wall (31) allowing the transit of the polishing granulated material (30) and holding the items to be polished (P); and

* actuating means (18), connected to said vibrating container (29), apt to arrange said vibrating container in a first operative position, wherein the polishing granulated material (30) and the items to be polished (P) stay in said first compartment (32), and in a second operative position wherein the polishing granulated material (30) is transferred into said second compartment (33).

2. The drying and polishing machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein, at said second operative position, said vibrating container (29) has a tilted configuration with the second compartment (33) below the first compartment (32).

3. The drying and polishing machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprises at least one linear actuator (18), said vibrating container

(29) being associated to a movable frame (17) in turn rotatably jointed to a fixed frame (13), and said linear actuator (18) being jointed to two respective distal ends (20, 21).

4. The drying and polishing machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first and second compartment (32, 33) are staggered therebetween, with the second compartment (33) raised with respect to the first compartment (32) in said first operative position.

5. The drying and polishing machine (1) according to claim 4, wherein said second compartment (33) has a respective chute-shaped bottom (48) facing the first compartment (32).

6. The drying and polishing machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first compartment (32) has a hollow (34) and a respective round-contoured bottom (35).

7. The drying and polishing machine (1) according to claim 1, comprising: a fixed frame (13); a movable frame (17) rotatably jointed to the fixed frame (13); a supporting frame (22), associated to the movable frame (17) by elastic supports (23), jointed to the vibrating container; and a vibration generating system (24) which is connected to said supporting frame (22).

8. The drying and polishing machine (1) according to claim 1, comprising: a fixed frame (13); a movable frame (17) rotatably jointed to the fixed frame (13); a supporting frame (22), associated to the movable frame (17) by elastic supports (23), which is jointed to the vibrating container; and means (38, 40, 42, 46) for heating the granulated material (30) integral to the movable frame (17).

9. The drying and polishing machine (1) according to claim 8, wherein said means for heating comprises: at least one fan (38) and one air suction duct (40) jointed to the vibrating container (29); and at least one resistor (42) in said duct (40).

10. The drying and polishing machine according to claim 8, wherein said means for heating comprises resistors associated to the container (29).

11. The drying and polishing machine (1) according to claim 1, comprising sterilizing means.

12. The drying and polishing machine (1) according to claim 10, wherein said sterilizing means comprises a sterilizing lamp illuminating the items to be polished (P) in the first compartment (32) in said second operative position.