Patent GB-713252-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for cleaning watch and like small machine parts
IPC: G04D3/08
Filed: 1951-03-09
Abstract: 713,252. Pickling metals. DU GAL, S. June 9, 1952 [March 9, 1951], No. 5811/51: Class 82 (2) [Also in Group XVIII]  In a machine of the kind for cleaning parts of watches and like small parts in which the parts are placed in a basket and immersed in a container of cleaning liquid and a rotary impeller is associated with the basket to maintain the liquid in motion over the parts, the basket may rotate with the impeller or alternatively remain static during impeller rotation. The machine Fig. 1, comprises a turntable 21 mounted on a base 20, for rotation in one direction only, four jars 29 for various cleaning liquids and a drying container 31, mounted in holes 28 in the top of the table 21, a central telescopic column 22 having an arm 23 supporting an electric motor 24 drivably connected to a basket assembly 26, and an air blower motor 85 for passing air over an electric heater and into the container 31. The shaft of the motor 24, Fig. 2, is connected by a sleeve 61 to a shaft 48 rotatably mounted in a basket cover 32. The lower end of the spindle 48 has a one-way clutch 49 to allow rotation of the spindle relative to the cover in one direction of rotation of the motor 24 or to cause the spindle and cover to be rotated together for the other direction of rotation of the motor. The hollow lower end of the spindle 48 fits over and drivably connects with the shaft 46 of an impeller 47 mounted for rotation in a housing 33. The housing 33 is carried by an inner flange of the cover through a bayonet connection and a fine mesh filter 34 is supported on the top of the housing by means of spider 54 urged downwardly by a spring 53. Also mounted in the housing 33 below the impeller 47 is a coarse mesh screen 35. A locking ring 41 having a bayonet connection with the housing 33 encloses an upper basket 38 composed of an outer sheet metal wall, a bottom of wire mesh gauze and gauze partitions 59 radiating from a central tubular member 60. The ring 41 has a bayonet connection with a lower basket 39 composed of wire gauze and the basket 38 is maintained in spaced relation thereto by a locking ring 42 within the ring 41. Cleaning liquid can enter the basket assembly between the outer and inner flanges of the cover 32 and slots in the inner flange situated above the filter 34. The cover 32 is provided with two flap valves 55 spring-loaded to a closed position which prevent air from remaining trapped in the top of the cover when the assembly is immersed in a liquid. The motor 24 is controlled by a switch 62, Fig. 6 which includes means for reversing the rotation of the motor and incorporates a cylindrical cam 64. The cam surface on the lower edge of the cam engages the upper end of a rod 65, spring-urged upwardly, the lower end of the rod being able to contact a hook 66 on the cover 32 and thus positively prevent its rotation. When the switch 62 is rotated from the "OFF" to a "CLEANING" position, by means of a handle 63, the rod is retained by the rotated cam surface, in its lower position to co-operate with the hook 66 and the motor is rotated in such a direction that the impeller will force liquid down through the baskets and the clutch 49 will be inoperative so that the basket assembly is stationary. When the handle is rotated further to a "SPINNING-OFF" position (in this case the basket would be lifted to a position above the level of the liquid in a jar but would still be within the jar) the cam surface is so arranged that it allows the rod 65 to rise by the action of its spring and thus free the hook 66 and thereby free the basket assembly.. At the same time the rotation of the motor 24 will be reversed by the action of the switch 62. The particular operations are indicated in a window on the arm 23 adjacent the cam 64. The column 22 is vertically slidable and rotatable in a sleeve 72, secured to the table 21, and on a tube 82 secured to the base 20. Mounted inside the column and fixed to the upper end thereof are contact tubes 67, 69 which co-operate with contact tubes 68, 70, respectively, secured to the base 20. The pairs of contact tubes are insulated from each other by material 71. An electrical circuit is therefore maintained between the pairs of contact tubes for any vertical position of the column. A sleeve 75 keyed in a slot 76 in the column 22 -can slide thereon and within the sleeve 72, and is normally urged upwardly by a spring 77. The sleeve 75 has at its lower end teeth 74 which can engage in teeth 73 formed in the sleeve 72. When the column is pushed downwardly after being positioned over a jar 29 a shoulder 78 thereon engages the sleeve 75 and pushes it downwardly until the teeth 74, 73 engage. The sleeve is then clamped against the column 22 and the column against the upper bifurcated end 81 of the tube 82, by means of a thumb-screw 80 fitted in lugs 79 on the sleeve 75. Thereby the column 22 is locked to tube 82 and the table 21 is locked by the teeth 74, 73 to the column. The machine is so arranged that when the basket assembly is over the drying container 31 a tube 91 on the arm 23 is axially aligned with a tube 89 on the turntable. When the column 22 is depressed the tube 91 enters the tube 89, and a contact rod 92 in the tube 91 and a contact rod 96 in the tube 89 automatically connect one line of the electric supply to the blower motor and electric heater. At the same time a contact rod 97 is made to contact a ring 101 on the base 20 through the agency of an insulated rod 99 and thus connect the other supply line to the blower motor and heater. The table 21 can only rotate in one direction since a ratchet on the table engages a ratchet wheel 107 fixed to the base 20. The electrical circuit of the machine is shown in Fig. 11 and it will be seen that the whole circuit is controlled by a master switch 103, the blower motor 85 and the heater are controlled by a switch 105 and the heater is further controlled by a switch 108. Also the speed of rotation of the motor 24 can be controlled by a variable resistance 104 operable from a handle 110, Fig. 1. In this connection the cam 64 has a position "SLOW" marked thereon after the position "SPINNING-OFF". In use, the basket is immersed successively in each jar 29, the impeller rotating and the basket being stationary. Before leaving a jar 29 the basket is raised therein above the liquid level and spun to free the watch parts and like small articles from liquid. Finally on reaching the drying container the parts are dried by hot air or cold air according to the position of the switch 108. The blower motor 85 supplies the air through a casing 87 and down a tube 88 which has a cut-away lower end communicating with the container 31.