Patent GB-1158483-A (GB)
Title: A method and Apparatus for Cleaning Soiled Materials
Inventor: GLENN JOHN DAVIS
IPC: D06F31/00
Filed: 1966-08-15
Abstract: 1,158,483. Endless conveyers. JET STREAM PRODUCTS Inc. 15 Aug., 1966, No. 36470/66. Heading B8A. [Also in Divisions D1 and F4] Soiled articles, e.g. sheets to be washed are placed between two foraminous belts 35, 36 which carry them through a wash tank 31, where streams of washing solution from nozzles 38, 39, 53, 54 impinge on opposite sides of the couveyers above the level of the washing solution in the tank which supplies the nozzles and then through a rinse tank or tanks 32, 33 where liquid is similarly directed from the tank on to the conveyer. The aqueous wash solution in tank 31 comprises active agents, e.g. an alkali, a detergent, a surfactant and a bleaching agent. Adjacent the nozzles, the belts are held by pairs of support rollers 41, 42; 44, 45; 55, 56; 57, 58 and plates 600, 601 if necessary. From the tank 31, the wash solution passes through a tubular strainer pipe 81, a manifold 62 and conduits 60, 72 incorporating pumps 68, 76 respectively to pairs of branch conduits 63, 64; 74, 75 leading to the nozzles 38, 39; 53, 54. During washing, the solution is continuously circulated through a filter 90 by a pump 92 connected by a conduit 91 to tank 31 below strainer 81 and also near its top. Water is supplied through valve 98 to tank 31 which has an overflow pipe 110 and the active agents are supplied from one or more reservoirs 100 with a pump or pumps 102. A conduit 105 connecting conduit 91 to tank 31 includes one or more sensing devices 103 for determining pH and the like which may be connected to recording, indicating or control devices 107. The tank heating unit 112 may be electric or steam and may be thermostatically controlled. When leaving tank 31, belts 35, 36 pass through a wringer 120 comprising rollers 121, 122, roller 122 being movable, and enter tank 32 where nozzle assemblies 126, 132 are provided identical to those provided in tank 31. The rinse solution passes from tank 32 through strainer 144 and pump 147 to nozzles 126, 132 and is also circulated through a filter. Rinse solution from tank 33 overflows into tank 32 and rinse solution from tank 32 overflows to waste through a heat exchanger 170 which heats water being fed to tank 33. When leaving tank 32 conveyer belts, 35, 36 pass through a wringer 133 and enter tank 33 where the nozzles 184, 194 are identical with those of tank 31. The liquid from tank 33 is circulated to nozzles 184, 194 through tubular filter 201 and tank 207. A pH or like sensing device 211 in tank 33 is connected to a recording, indicating or control device 212, e.g. for pump 214 which delivers a chemical from reservoir 215 to maintain the required pH. Belts 35, 36 pass from tank 33 through a wringer 190 and then separate, belt 36 passing downwardly about its drier roller 222 to stripper assembly 223 and round to the start of the machine where it has a loading area between rollers 230 and 37. Stripper assembly 223 comprises rollers 241 having bristles 242 and carried on an adjustable shaft 240. A stripper assembly 231 above belt 35 ensures that when the belts separate, the washed articles remain on belt 36. The articles are then stripped from belt 36 and pass to the wringer rollers 224, 225 moving slightly faster than belt 36, roller 225 is spring biased towards roller 224 and rinse solution is removed therefrom by squeegee 300. Stripper assembly 278 removes the articles from roller 225. Each tank is made of a bent sheet of metal (364a) to which end walls (365), (Fig. 7 (not shown)), 366, Fig. 4, are connected and has a cover member 370 with slots for the conveyers. The top roller of each wringer 120, 133 and 190 is spring biased away from the lower roller and is moved towards it by a piston and cylinder during operation. Each wringer roller comprises an inner cylinder 440 whose ends are secured to the discs 441 on end shafts 406 and an outer cylinder 442 spaced from cylinder 440 by rings 444, 445 and covered with a thin layer 449 of rubber. The belt drive rollers 222, 232, the wringer rollers 224, 225 and stripper 278 are rotated by motor (500) Fig. 12 (not shown), through gearing. Roller 225 and stripper 278 are mounted together and are pushed upwardly to press roller 225 against roller 224 by pneumatic or hydraulic rams. The dryer 352 comprises a housing 565 in which air is circulated by blower 567 through the foraminous conveyer belt 350 past burner 567a and back through conveyer belt 350. Between the blower and the burner is a vent duct 568 controlled by a damper 569 which maintains the dryer pressure slightly above atmospheric. A by-pass valve (570), Fig. 15 (not shown), hinged to the housing down stream of the burner opens beneath the upper run of belt 350 and thus controls the amount of air passing therethrough. Articles from rollers 224, 225 are received on conveyer belt 350 which is moving slightly faster and has a smooth surface to impart a good finish. The dried articles fall off belt 350 on to transfer conveyer 627. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 1,047,712.