A REVOLVING HEAD FOR THE SUPPORT OF CONTAINERS OR ITEMS IN MACHINES FOR WASHING AND/OR DRYING METAL AND NON-METAL PRODUCTS

Abstract: The revolving head comprises compartments (1), each provided with at least one articulated quadrilateral mechanism (4) designed to move at least one presser shoe (7) into a position whereby a container (2) or loose item occupying the compartment can be clamped firmly during rotation; the quadrilateral mechanism is operated by a lever (5) capable of assuming two stable positions: a first, in which the entrance to the compartment (1) remains unobstructed, and a second, in which the entrance is blocked by the lever and the presser shoe (7) is in the clamping position.

Description: The invention relates to a revolving head for the support of containers, or of items, in machines for washing and/or drying metal and non-metal products. The machines in question are of known type designed essentially to wash manufactured items internally of a fluid-tight drum; solvent used in the drum is recovered and regenerated, and the items are blown dry, likewise inside the drum, utilizing hot air supplied through a closed circuit. A machine of the above mentioned type is shown in UK-A-2 113 719 in the name of the same inventor designed as per this European application. Other machines or equipments for cleaning metal or plastic parts by immersion in a cleaning solution are illustrated in US-A-2 865 145 and US-A-3 952 756. Such machines (see UK-A-2 113 719 and US-A-3 952 756) substantially comprise a sealed drum accomodating a revolving assembly with containers that are suspended from the revolving element itself and therefore capable of rotating about the axis of the assembly. The containers are suspended from a counterpoised frame mounted pivotably to the main revolving element, or from a second rotary element carried by the counterpoised frame. In this second instance (see UK-A-2 113 719), the machine will incorporate a mechanism capable of rotating the second element and the container supported thereby in harmony with the movement of the main revolving element, in such a way that the items in the container are subjected to a mixing, or reshuffling action. The main object of the invention is to provide a revolving head that can be inserted and fastened in the washing drum and affords compartments internally of which it is possible to position and retain items for washing and/or drying, in a swift, simple and secure fashion; such items can either be carried in commonplace containers with or without covers, of the type designed to contain metal and non-metal articles, or inserted in the compartments direct. The advantage of the invention is that it becomes possible to use a number of containers of different shapes and sizes in which to position the items for washing, which can be positioned in and removed from the compartments of the revolving head as required, or alternatively, to position and lock the items in the compartments in direct fashion. An additional advantage is that the items in the containers are subjected to a reshuffling action without suspending the containers from a counterpoised frame. The invention wiff now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which: fig 1 is a perspective showing a container inserted into one of the compartments of the revolving head disclosed, and illustrating the articulated parallelogram mechanism and presser shoes by which it is clamped against the bottom of the compartment; fig 1a is the side elevation of one presser shoe, shown with certain parts cut away better to reveal others; figs 2 and 3 are side elevations of the compartment showing the articulated parallelogram mechanism with its positioning lever raised and lowered, respectively; fig 4 is a perspective showing the entire revolving head assembly occupying its position internally of the drum of the machine, with a container located in each compartment; fig 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the revolving head and the containers. With reference to figs 1, 1a, 2 and 3, the revolving head according to the invention consists in a set of compartments 1, three in the example illustrated, spaced apart 120° one from the next, each capable of accommodating a removable container 2 suitable for metal or non-metal items, or indeed of accommodating such items in direct fashion; the entire assembly is insertable in the drum 3 of a machine for washing and drying the aforementioned items. 4 denotes an articulated parallelogram mechanism with which each compartment 1, in a preferred embodiment, is provided at least on its top side, viewed (in fig 4) in an at-rest position that enables a container 2 or an item to be put into or withdrawn from the drum 3 of the machine. The articulated parallelogram mechanism 4 comprises first and second rods, denoted 8 and 9 respectively, which constitute rocker fevers and are connected pivotably by one of their ends to respective first and second brackets 10 and 11 that form an integral part of the compartment and constitute the permanent frame to which the mechanism 4 is anchored. Each of the first and second rods 8, 9 is pivotably attached by its remaining end to a rail 12, which constitutes the connecting rod of the mechanism; the top edge of the rail 12 is integral with a cross member 13 carrying a set of presser shoes denoted 7, which will shortly be described in detail. The mechanism 4 is operated by way of a positioning lever 5 rigidly associated with the second rod 9 and connected to one end of a return spring 6, the remaining end of which is anchored to a further bracket integral with and projecting from the structure of the compartment 1; the lever 5 is therefore able to assume two stable positions: raised, offering no obstruction to the entrance of the compartment (fig 3); or lowered and blocking the entrance. The two stable positions of the fever 5 are obtained by installing the spring 6 in such a way that its two ends are anchored one at either side of the pivot axis 9a of the second rod 9; the positions of the spring above and below this self-same axis 9a thus correspond to the two stable positions of the lever 5. Returning now to the presser shoes, 7 denotes the single shoe, which consists in a suspended spring-loaded cylinder 7c the sleeve of which is connected to the cross member 13, and the plunger 7p connected to a plate 7b by way of a pair of webs 7f. Whenever the positioning fever 5 is lowered in the direction of the arrow F1 toward the stable position whereby it blocks the entrance to the compartment 1, the mechanism 4 will shift nearer to the compartment, urging the rail 12 downward in the direction of the arrow denoted F2. As a result of this lowering movement, the rail 12 will also lower the presser shoes 7, bringing their respective plates 7b down onto the container 2 or item occupying the compartment 1, and clamping it against the bottom of the compartment itself. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the shoes might be arranged in a number of ranks and/or files, and the relative plates 7b made independently adjustable for height to match the dimensions of the container 2 or item occupying the compartment 1. The need for this independent height adjustment of the presser shoe plates 7b is dictated by the fact that the compartment might accommodate a plurality of containers dissimilar in size one from the other, instead of one container 2 only. Moreover, the shoes 7 might be embodied differently, for example, as rubber pads capable of adapting to various shapes and sizes of container or item. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the mechanism 4 might be applied not only to the top of the compartment, but to its other sides also. Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the revolving head, each compartment 1 of which is designed to accommodate, a cylindrical container 20 with a relative lid 21, this in turn provided with at least two first catches denoted A, which locate in corresponding sockets A′ offered by the edge of the container to the end of securing the lid, and at feast two second catches denoted B which occupy diametrically opposed positions and locate in corresponding sockets B′ offered by the structure of the compartment 1. The second catches B serve to restrain the container axially and prevent it rotating about its own axis when the revolving head is set in motion inside the drum of the machine. To this same end, the single compartment 1 might be provided with at least two runners 1a preferably of triangular cross section, situated internally of the space that it encompasses, extending parallel with its longitudinal axis, and designed to slide in corresponding longitudinal slots 1b formed in the cylindrical wall of the container 20. In an embodiment of the revolving head such as this, i.e. featuring the use of cylindrical containers and of means by which to retain them in their respective compartments 1, the mechanism 4 performs no more than an auxiliary role in assisting the action of the catches A, B and runners 1a, and as such, is omitted from fig 5 in the interests of simplicity.

Claims: 1. A revolving head for the support of containers or of items in machines for washing and/or drying metal and non-metal products, comprising at least one compartment (1) for the accomodation of the said metal and non-metal products characterized in that it comprises: at least one compartment (1) for the accomodation of at least one container (2) or at least one item in removable fashion provided at least on its top side, viewed in an at-rest postion such as enables insertion or withdrawal of a container (2) or an item into or from the drum (3) of the machine, with an articulated parallelogram mechanism (4) capable of movement toward and away from the compartment (1); means (5), associated with and serving to position the said mechanism (4) in at least two stable configurations; a first, in which the positioning means (5) are raised and constitutes no obtstruction to the entrance of the compartment (1), and a second in which the means (5) are lowered, blocking the entrance; and tensioning means (6), connected to one end of the positioning means associated with the mechanism (4) and serving to ensure that such means (5) remain stably positioned in both of the two configurations. 2. A revolving head as in claim 1, comprising means (5) for positioning the articulated parallelogram mechanism (4) that consist in at least one lever (5) associated with the said mechanism (4) and connected to one end of a spring (6), comprising the tensioning means, the remaining end of which is anchored permanently to the structure of the compartment in such a way as to permit of maintaining the lever (5) in either one of two stable positions: raised and constituting no obstruction to the entrance of the compartment (1), or lowered and blocking the entrance; and further comprising at least one presser element (7) embodied and disposed in such a way as to impinge upon a container (2) or item occupying the compartment (1) whenever the lever (5) is moved into the lowered position, and clamp it against the bottom of the compartment. 3. A revolving head as in claim 1, wherein the mechanism (4) comprises a first and a second rod (8, 9), each pivotably attached at one end to a respective first and second bracket (10, 11) integral with the structure of the compartment, and connected at the remaining end with a rail (12) constituting the connecting rod of the mechanism and carrying the presser shoe (7); and wherein the positioning lever (5) is integral with the second rod (9) and connected to one end of the tensioning means (6), the remaining end of which is anchored to the structure of the compartment (1), and the two ends of the tensioning means are anchored one at either side of the pivot axis (9a) of the second rod (9) in such a way as to assume positions above and below the same axis (9a) that correspond to the two stable positions of the positioning lever (5). 4. A revolving head as in claim 2, wherein the presser element (7) consists in at least one spring-loaded suspended component (7a) exhibiting a plate (7b) at bottom. 5. A revolving head as in claim 4, wherein the presser elements (7) are arranged in a plurality of ranks and/or files, and the height of each relative plate (7b) is adjustable independently so as to match the dimensions of containers (2) or items occupying the compartment (1).

Inventors: ZUCCHINI, GUIDO
Applicants: AMA UNIVERSAL S.P.A.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B08B3
IPC codes: B08B3