Spray washer system

A spray washing system for garments including aspray station through which garments are transported in a generally vertical plane. The spray station has a set of vertically spaced pipes with parallel axes extending generally parallel to said plane. Each of the pipes forms an acute angle with the horizontal. A spray nozzle is mounted on each of the pipes and is arranged to direct a spray against garments in said plane. The pipes are rotatively oscillated about their axes to cause the spray area of the nozzles mounted thereon to oscillate. The vertically spaced pipes are interconnected so as to be simultaneously rotatively oscillated. Bars are rigidly connected to and extend from the pipes. Links are rotatively connected to the bars of two vertically spaced pipes on rotative axes parallel to the pipe axes, and provide for simultaneous movement of the interconnected bars. An arm is rotatively connected to a bar on one of the pipes on a rotative axis parallel to the axis of said one pipe for oscillating the pipes. A motor rotatively drives a drive wheel to which the arm is operatively connected. A connecting rod is rotatively connected to the drive wheel on one end and to a pivotally mounted lifter on the other end. The arm is connected to the lifter, and lifter is pivotally oscillated to actuate the arm for oscillating the pipes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to a spray washing system for garments, 
and for particularly to a system for rotatively oscillating pipes carrying 
nozzles in a spray station of a spray washing system. 
The mounting of pipes in a spray station so as to form an acute angle with 
the horizontal is known. U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,262 discloses the advantages 
of rotatively oscillating such nozzle-carrying pipes. Because spray 
washing systems are in continuous use it is important that the means for 
rotatively oscillating the pipes be both reliable and easy to maintain. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: 
The spray washing system for garments includes a means for rotatively 
oscillating the pipes which is both reliable and easy to maintain. 
The spray washing system includes a spray station through which garments 
are transported in a generally vertical plane. The spray wash station has 
a set of vertically spaced pipes with parallel axes extending generally 
parallel to the plane. Each of the pipes forms an acute angle with the 
horizontal. A spray nozzle is mounted on each of the pipes and is arranged 
to direct a spray against garments in the plane. Means are provided for 
rotatively oscillating the pipes about their axes to cause the spray area 
of the nozzles mounted on the pipes to oscillate. 
The vertically spaced pipes are interconnected to provide for simultaneous 
rotative oscillation of the pipes. The interconnecting means includes bars 
which are rigidly connected to and extend from the pipes, and links which 
are rotatively connected to the bars of two vertically spaced pipes to 
provide for simultaneous movement of the interconnected bars. Each link is 
rotatively connected to the bars on rotative axes that are parallel to the 
axes of the pipes. 
The means for rotatively oscillating the pipes comprises an arm which is 
rotatively connected to a bar on one of the pipes. The arm is rotatively 
connected to the bar on a rotative axis that is parallel to the axis of 
said one pipe. A motor means rotatively drives a drive wheel to which the 
arm is operatively connected to actuate the arm for oscillating the pipes. 
In one aspect of the invention, a base is mounted on the spray station, the 
base carrying the motor means and drive wheel. A connecting rod has one of 
its ends rotatively connected to the drive wheel. A lifter is pivotally 
mounted to the base and is rotatively connected to the opposite end of the 
connecting rod. The arm is also rotatively connected to the lifter in a 
manner such that the arm is oscillated when the lifter is pivotally 
oscillated. 
In another aspect of the invention, the base is adjustably mounted to the 
spray station with the plane of the base parallel to the axes of the 
pipes. The drive wheel, connecting rod and lifter are on rotative axes 
parallel to the plane of the base. 
In another aspect of the invention, two bars are attached to one pipe. The 
arm is connected to one of the bars while a link is connected to the other 
of the bars. A bar is attached to a vertically adjacent pipe and the 
aforesaid link is attached to this bar. In one aspect, the bars to which 
the aforesaid link is attached on the adjacent vertically spaced pipes, 
are in paralled relationship. The link provides for parallel movement of 
the bars. 
The spray station has opposed side end walls which include vertically 
spaced holes, the ends of the vertically spaced pipes extending through 
the holes. Brackets are attached to the end walls adjacent to the holes, 
and have portions inclined perpendicularly to the axes of the pipes. The 
brackets receive the pipes extending through the holes for supporting the 
pipes. 
The spray station includes a second set of nozzle-carrying, rotatively 
oscillating pipes mounted on the opposite side of the vertical plane. The 
second set of pipes includes links and bars connected to a second arm and 
a second lifter. A second connecting rod is rotatively connected to the 
drive wheel at the same eccentric point as that of the connecting rod 
which drives the first set of oscillating pipes. This drive assembly 
oscillates the pipes of the two sets out of phase such that when the pipes 
of one set are rotating in one direction the pipes of the other set are 
rotating in the relatively opposite direction. In one aspect, the two sets 
of pipes rotate one hundred eighty (180) degrees out of phase.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, and first to FIG. 
1, the spray washing system for garments includes a spray station 
indicated generally by 10. The spray station 10 includes a top wall 11, 
end walls 12, side walls 13 and a base 14. The spray station 10 includes 
two sets of vertically spaced pipes 15 and 16 respectively. The axes of 
the pipes 15 and 16 are parallel, while each of the pipes 15 and 16 forms 
an acute angle with the horizontal. The planes of the two sets of pipes 15 
and 16 are parallel each of the pipes 15 being horizontally spaced from a 
corresponding pipe 16. As can be most clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a 
vertical plane exists between the two sets of pipes 15 and 16 in which 
garments (not shown) are transported. 
Mounted on each of the pipes 15 and 16 are a plurality of nozzles 17. The 
nozzles 17 are arranged to direct a spray of liquid against garments in 
the vertical plane. The nozzles 17 mounted on horizontally spaced pipes 15 
and 16 are directly opposite each other. 
The pipes 15 and 16 extend through vertically spaced holes 20 in the end 
walls 12. Brackets 21 are attached to the end walls 12 adjacent to the 
holes 20. The brackets 21 have portions 22 inclined perpendicularly to the 
axes of the pipes 15 and 16. The pipes 15 and 16 extending through the 
holes 20, are received and supported by the bracket portions 22. 
The base 14 includes a tank 19. Make-up liquid is introduced into the tank 
19 through an intake line 23. A pump 24 draws liquid from the tank 19, 
through filter screen 25 and pump inlet 26. An overflow line 27 draws off 
excess liquid from the tank 19. The pump 24 has its outlet connected by 
pipes 30 to headers 31. One header 31 is connected to each of the sets of 
pipes 15 and 16. Rotative couplers 32 are used to connect the headers 31 
to one end of each of the pipes 15 and 16. The opposite ends of the pipes 
15 and 16 are closed by caps 33. 
Means, indicated generally by 34, for rotatively oscillating the pipes 15 
and 16, are provided. The oscillating means 34 includes means for 
interconnecting each set of the vertically spaced pipes 15 and 16. The 
interconnecting means includes bars 35 which are rigidly connected to and 
extend from the pipes 15 and 16. Links 36 are rotatively connected to bars 
35 on vertically spaced pipes 15 and 16 on rotative axes parallel to the 
pipe axes. The links 36 provide for simultaneous movement of the 
interconnected bars 35. The links 36 are each mounted in a plane which is 
perpendicular to the axes of the pipes 15 and 16. The bars 35 which are 
interconnected by a link 36, are parallel. The links 36 provide for 
parallel movement of the interconnected bars 35. 
Each set of vertically spaced pipes 15 and 16 has one pipe which is 
connected to an arm 37 by a bar 38. The arms 37 are rotatively connected 
to the bars 38 on rotative axes that are parallel to the axes of said one 
pipes. The arms 37 are oscillated in planes which are perpendicular to the 
axes of the pipes 15 and 16 to oscillate the interconnected pipes 15 and 
16. 
A motor means comprises a motor 40. The motor 40 rotatively drives a drive 
wheel 41. Connecting rods 42 are rotatively connected to the drive wheel 
41 at an eccentric point on the drive wheel 41. The motor 40 is mounted on 
a base 43. Two lifters 44 are pivotally mounted on the base 43. One of the 
arms 37 is rotatively connected to one of the lifters 44, and the other 
arm 37 is rotatively connected to the other lifter 44. One of the 
connecting rods 42 is rotatively connected to one of the lifters 44, and 
the other rod 42 is rotatively connected to the other lifter 44 so as to 
pivotally oscillate the lifters 44 when the drive wheel 41 is rotated. The 
lifters 44 thereby cause the arms 37 to oscillate, which oscillates the 
interconnected bars 35 and 38, and the pipes 15 and 16. 
Adjustable mounting brackets 45 attach the base 43 to the top wall 11 of 
the spray station 10. The adjustable brackets 45 ae adjusted so that the 
plane of the base 43 is parallel to the axes of the pipes 15 and 16. The 
lifters 44, connecting rods 42 and drive wheel 41 are mounted on rotative 
axes parallel to the plane of the base 43. 
The connection of the connecting rods 42 to the same eccentric point on the 
drive wheel 41 provides for out-of-phase oscillation of the opposed sets 
of pipes 15 and 16. When the pipes 15 are rotating in one direction, the 
pipes 16 are rotating in the opposite direction. 
It is thought that the structural features and functional advantages of 
this device have become fully apparent from the foregoing description of 
parts, but for completeness of disclosure the operation of the device will 
be briefly discussed. 
Make-up liquid is introduced into the spray station 10 through pipe 23 into 
tank 19. Excess liquid from the tank 19 is drained off through the pipe 
27. Pump 24 pumps liquid from the tank 19 through the pipes 30 to the 
headers 31. The liquid is pumped through the rotative couplers 32 into the 
pipes 15 and 16. The liquid sprays out of the nozzles 17 which are mounted 
on the pipes 15 and 16 to spray garments in the plane between the sets of 
pipes 15 and 16. The sprayed liquid is collected in the tank 19 to be 
re-pumped through the system or overflow out the overflow pipe 27. 
The pipes 15 and 16 are oscillated to oscillate the spray area of the 
nozzles 17 on the garments. The motor 40 turns the drive wheel 41, while 
the connecting rods 42 pivotally oscillate the lifters 44. The arms 37 are 
oscillated by the lifters 44. Because of the connection of the connecting 
rods 42 to the drive wheel 41 and the lifters 44, it is apparent that as 
the arm 37 which is connected to one of the pipes 15, is moving in a 
generally upward direction, the arm 37 which is connected to one of the 
pipes 16, is moving in a generally downward direction, and vice versa. 
The arms 37 are connected to the bars 38 which are rigidly connected to the 
pipes 15 and 16. The generally up-and-down oscillation of the arms 37 move 
the bars 38 causing the pipes 15 and 16 to rotatively oscillate. Bars 35 
are attached to the pipes to which the bars 38 are connected. Links 36 
connected to the bars 35 are oscillated by the turning of the pipes 15 and 
16. The links 36 are connected to bars 35 attached to adjacent vertically 
spaced pipes 15 and 16. The vertically spaced pipes 15 and 16 are thereby 
rotatively oscillated. Additional vertically spaced pipes 15 and 16 are 
connected in a similar manner by bars 35 and links 36. The last set of 
vertically spaced pipes 15 and 16 each has only the one bar 35 attached. 
Horizontally spaced pipes 15 and 16 oscillate out-of-phase because of the 
connection of the connecting rods 42 to the drive wheel 41 and lifters 44, 
to provide washing and rinsing action from the liquid spray of the nozzles 
17. 
In the preferred embodiment, the horizontally spaced pipes 15 and 16 
oscillate one hudred eighty (180) degrees out of phase, to prevent 
garments from being lifted by the liquid spray of the nozzles 17.