WO2011021949A1

WO2011021949A1 - Method and device for drying glasses, especially cinema glasses or safety glasses, by way of centrifuging and use of the method and device for drying glasses by way of centrifuging

Info

Publication number: WO2011021949A1
Application number: PCT/PL2010/000020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Waldemar Rogujski
Original assignee: Waldemar Rogujski
Priority date: 2009-08-16
Filing date: 2010-03-15
Publication date: 2011-02-24
Also published as: PL388809A1

Abstract

Subject of the invention is a method of drying glasses, especially cinema or safety glasses. After washing the glasses are placed in a fixed position in the impeller of the centrifuging device and then the glasses are centrifuged until dry. The invention also relates to a device to effect the method and the use of a centrifuging device.

Description

Method and device for drying glasses, especially cinema glasses or safety glasses, by way of centrifuging and use of the method and device for drying glasses by way of centrifuging. The subject of the invention is a method and device for drying glasses, especially cinema glasses or safety glasses, by way of centrifuging and use of the method and device for drying glasses by way of centrifuging.

Film projections, where by use of appropriate cinema glasses, the image seen by spectators is tri-dimensional - 3D, become more and more popular. The glasses are available as reusable ones as well as of the disposable kind. In case of reusable glasses there is a great demand for effective and simple methods for keeping them clean.

Presently, the glasses are either hand or machine washed. When typical industrial type washing machines are used for that purpose, the glasses are placed freely in the standard type washing machine drawers or they can be placed in the drawers specially adopted for that purpose. The main problem here is the process of drying of the washed glasses.

Known and so far used methods for drying glasses involve vaporizing liquid off the wet glasses, which results in the possibility of leaving on the dried glasses deposits created during the vaporizing process.

A use in the process of gas medium of the higher then ambient temperature requires large amounts of energy for heating the medium.

The time needed to dry glasses ranges from a dozen or so to tens of minutes, depending on the device used.

Another method involves manual removal of liquids from the surface of the glasses by use of absorptive materials. However, such process is long and unpredictable in terms of results, because the drying result is dependent on thoroughness of the personnel performing the drying. Furthermore, there is a risk of mechanical damage of glasses, for example in form of cracks or scratches.

It is known from state of the art that centrifugation causes removal of excess of water in fabrics during washing. Known are many different designs of impeller-type washing machines which aim at filtering off and removing water in the final stage of washing cycle by use of centrifugal force created during spinning the washed products at high rotational speed. Described process does not lead however to complete drying of clothes. Clothes driers need in addition an increase of air temperature during drying. Also it is known, that often delicate clothes get damaged when subjected to centrifugal force during spinning.

When considering use of centrifugation in order to dry glasses one would have to predict similar problems, especially considering susceptibility of glasses to mechanical damage. Therefore, it is not known in state of the art to use centrifugation as a method of drying glasses.

The aim of the invention is to provide fast and effective, energy efficient method of drying glasses, especially cinema or safety glasses, while ensuring protection of glasses from mechanical damage. The aim of the invention is also to provide device for that purpose.

The subject of the invention is a method for drying glasses, especially cinema or safety glasses, which is characterized in that after washing glasses are placed in a fixed position in the impeller of the centrifuging device and then the glasses are centrifuged until dry.

Preferably a method according to invention is characterized in that the glasses are placed in positioning means of at least one container, which is then fastened in locking means located in the impeller.

Preferably in the method according to invention, the position of glasses is further stabilized by use of a clamp, preferably elastic clamp.

Preferably in the method according to invention glasses are centrifuged for 1-4 minutes, at the rotational speed of 450 - 1200 rpm, preferably for 2 minutes at the rotational speed of 900 rpm.

Subject of the invention is also a centrifuging device for drying glasses, especially cinema or safety glasses, comprising an impeller set on shaft, a drum, a drum frame with vibration absorption system, drive mechanism, housing, liquid removal system and power and control electric circuit and said centrifuging device is characterized in that impeller is provided with, at least one, container for glasses.

Preferably device according to invention is characterized in that container for glasses is fixed separably in locking means located in the impeller. Preferably device comprises an impeller having an impeller frame on which locking means in the form of two rectangular frames and a strip are fixed and on one of the frames a blocking provided with a lock is attached.

Preferably device is characterized in that the container for glasses is in the form of a drawer made of mesh, preferably a metal mesh and said drawer is provided with at least one set of positioning means.

Preferably device according to invention is characterized in that container is provided with clamp for glasses.

Subject of the invention is also a use of a method of drying by way of centrifuging for drying glasses, especially cinema or safety glasses.

Subject of the invention is also a use of a centrifuging device for drying glasses, especially cinema or safety glasses.

Invention allows overcoming problems linked with time consuming drying of glasses. At the same time, positioning of glasses during drying eliminates the risk of their damage, for example by scratching. Also a method, a device and use according to invention improves the process of washing glasses, especially in large facilities (multiplexes) where in short time glasses are needed in large quantities. A solution according to invention allows shortening the drying time from five to twenty times while using the same electric energy. Because the liquid is removed from the surface of the glasses with the omission of vaporizing process, on the dried glasses there are no deposits left. No direct contact of optical parts of glasses with other solid objects eliminates mechanical damages, for example scratches. Parameters of running the process according to invention depend on the level of moistness of the glasses. The main variable parameters of the process are: rotational speed of impeller and centrifugation time. Effectiveness of the process is directly related of these parameters. In presented below description of the process according to one example embodiment of the invention, the main parameters i.e. rotational speed of impeller and time of drying cycle are contained in the following values, respectively: 450 rpm to 1200 rpm and 1 minute to 4 minutes.

A method and device according to invention in an example embodiment is presented based on the drawing showing device according to invention, where Fig. 1 presents device in sectional perspective view, Fig. 2. presents schematically a way of placing glasses in positioning means of the container, Fig. 3 presents container with glasses arranged, Fig. 4 shows schematically the way of fitting the containers in locking means of the impeller, Fig. 5. presents containers fitted in the locking means of the impeller, Fig. 6 shows locking of the container blocking, Fig. 7-10 present different ways of placing containers in the impeller, Fig. 1 1 shows schematically impeller with containers fixed inseparably.

Device according to invention in example embodiment as presented on Fig 1. includes impeller 1 , drum 2 with a closable two-wing cover 2' provided in upper part of the drum, drum frame with vibration absorptive system 3, power and control electric circuit 4, drive mechanism 5, housing 6 provided in its upper part with a safety cover 6', liquid removal system 7. Impeller 1, better shown on Fig 4 and Fig. 5 includes containers 8, impeller frame 9 on which fixed are the locking means in form of rectangular frame 10 and 1 1 and strip 12, while on frame 10 blocking 13 provided with lock 14 is fixed. Container 8 presented on Fig. 2 comprises positioning means 15. Impeller 1 is set on shaft 16. Fig 5 presents clamp 17.

Opening of the safety cover 6' allows inserting glasses containers 8 in the impeller 1, while closing the cover and initiating the drying process cause locking the cover in the position by means of safety key, while release of interlocking occurs when the process ends and rotation of impeller stops.

In presented example embodiment glasses 18 are placed in the container 8 in positioning means 15 in form of profiles as shown on Fig. 2 and Fig. 1 1. The shape of profiles depends on the shape and size of glasses, angle in relation to rotation axis, and distance between the pairs of glasses. For the purpose of present description the term container should be construed to mean a part inseparably or separably linked with impeller and provided with positioning means allowing for placing glasses in a position fixed in relation to rotation axis. In order to protect glasses from accidental fallout and displacement in relation to fixed position, glasses can be additionally hold down by means of a clamp 17 as shown on Fig. 3. This can be effected in various ways. In an example embodiment the clamp is an elastic silicon tape having on its ends holders hooked to the structure of the container. As shown on Fig. 4. containers 8 with glasses are placed in the impeller 1 by way of sliding into the locking frames 10 and 11 and resting against the locking strip 12. In order to protect container with glasses from falling out of impeller during centrifuging process, container 1 is hold by container blocking 13. Locking of the container blocking can be effected for example by use of lock 14, as presented in the solution shown on Fig. 6. Rotary motion of the impeller 1 in the drum 2 of the device is effected through placing the shaft 16 of impeller 1 in bearings (not shown on the drawing). Rotary motion of the engine is transmitted to the shaft 16 of the impeller 1 by V-belt. In order to absorb drum vibrations generated during centrifugation, drum frame is provided with vibration absorptive system 3. The drum is provided with cover 2' ensuring that the centrifuged liquid does not get outside. The centrifuged liquid accumulates on the drum walls and subsequently it flows down to outlet channel located in the bottom part of the drum. Then it accumulates in the receptacle of the liquid removal system 7 located in the base of the device, from where it is removed to the outside of the device by a pump. Power and control electric circuit 4 consists of elements allowing connecting electric power and necessary protection, elements facilitating smooth and independent control of impeller rotation, time of centrifugation and elements controlling the safety key.

In another example embodiment container 8 is a structural component of the impeller and is a part permanently linked with the device (example of so designed impeller is shown on Fig. 11). Glasses 18 are placed in positioning means 15 ensuring their appropriate positioning, i.e. along the circle in relation to axis of rotation and preferably hold down by clamping element in order to secure their unique and stable position.

The used solution is one of the many possibilities, which effect the drying by use of centrifugation. Known are for the person skilled in the art various types of locking means which allow fixing the containers in the impeller (clamps, guides, holders, clips etc.). The number of glasses containers in the impeller is in principle limited only by the size of the device, which depends on the size of the impeller and which has to stay reasonable. Glasses can be placed in the impeller in any configuration. The limitation is preserving position that is unique and the same for all dried glasses in relation to axis of rotation. Fig. 7-10 show other possible configurations and numbers of containers in the impeller. The number of glasses placed in the device relates to multiplication of the number of containers or geometrical configuration of their arrangement.

Example

In the manner shown on Fig 1 -6 pairs of glasses were placed in the containers and stabilized by the clamp and then the containers were fixed in impeller of the device and secured with blocking. Performed was centrifugation of four complete batches of washed glasses using the following centrifugation parameters:

In all cases complete drying of glasses was achieved.

Index:

1. impeller

2. drum

2'. drum cover

3. drum frame with vibration absorptive system

4. power and control electric circuit

5. drive mechanism

6. housing

6'. housing cover

7. liquid removal system

8. container 9. impeller frame

10. frame

1 1. frame

12. strip

13. blocking

14. lock

15. positioning means

16. shaft

17. clamp

18. glasses

Claims

1. Method of drying glasses, especially cinema or safety glasses characterized in that after washing glasses are placed in a fixed position in the impeller of the centrifuging device and then the glasses are centrifuged until dry.

2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that glasses are placed in positioning means of at least one container, which is then fastened in locking means located in the impeller.

3. Method according to claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the position of glasses is further stabilized by use of a clamp, preferably elastic clamp.

4. Method according to any of claims 1 -3 characterized in that glasses are centrifuged for 1-4 minutes at the rotational speed of 450 - 1200 rpm, preferably for 2 minutes at the rotational speed of 900 rpm.

5. Centrifuging device for drying glasses, especially cinema or safety glasses, comprising impeller set on shaft, a drum, drum frame with vibration absorption system, drive mechanism, housing, liquid removal system and power and control electric circuit, characterized in that impeller is provided with, at least one, container for glasses.

6. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that container for glasses is fixed separably in locking means located in the impeller.

7. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that impeller includes impeller frame (9) on which locking means in the form of two rectangular frames (10) and (11) and a strip (12) are fixed and on frame (10) a blocking (13) provided with a lock (13) is installed.

8. Device according to claim 7 characterized in that container (8) for glasses is in the form of a drawer made of mesh, preferably a metal mesh and said drawer is provided with at least one set of positioning means (15).

9. Device according to any of claims 5-8 characterized in that container is provided with a clamp for glasses.

10. Use of a method of drying by way of centrifuging for drying glasses, especially cinema or safety glasses.

11. Use of a centrifuging device for drying glasses, especially cinema or safety glasses.