Patent GB-190210621-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Washing and Drying Plates, Disher, Cutlery & other Articles.
Inventor: RODDA HORACE WYNDHAM
Filed: 1902-05-08
Granted: 1903-05-07
Abstract: 10,621. Rodda, H. W. May 8. Plates, dishes, cups, &c., washing; knives, forks, and spoons, cleaning. - Relates to apparatus for washing and drying plates, dishes, cutlery, and other articles. Fig. 2 shows a sectional elevation, and Fig. 4 a sectional plan, of the machine. Fig. 5 is a detail. Plates X fed from a chamber H<1> are received two at a time by grippers A mounted on radial arms B pivoted to a rotary plate C<1>. Each gripper A consists of a stationary jaw A' and a movable jaw A<2> provided with a tailpiece A<3> by which they are united in pairs by links A<4>. Cam-pieces A<5> come into contact with projections on the frame H and open the grippers, against the pressure of springs A<6>. Each arm B is connected to a crank B<1> on a shaft B', which is rotated by means of a pinion B<3> and circular rack B<4>. The pivot pins B<5> pass through slots C<2> in the plate C<1>. The cranks B' rotate, and the arms B are extended and withdrawn, four times during one rotation of the shaft C. The plates carried by the grippers A are pushed into a well E between rotary brushes D, each formed of a metal spring D' wound spirally and provided with bristles attached to a rubber foundation, or of two or more wires wound spirally with the bristles held between them ; or the bristles may be mounted on spring-pressed flexible or elastic foundations. The outer brushes are mounted on independent shafts, the inner ones on a common axle. The brushes may be connected to their shafts by ball- and-slot or other suitable couplings to permit axial movement. The brushed plates are carried to a rinsing-jet F and afterwards are delivered upon a cradle J, eccentrically mounted on a shaft J<1>, which rocks and discharges them into a chamber H<4>, through which they are carried by a conveyer K while being dried by means of hot air supplied by a pipe L from a coil L'. The conveyer K for the cleaned plates, and a conveyer M for supplying the dirty plates to the machine, are constructed of end discs connected by rods K<1>, M<2> and carry spring-controlled detents K', M<4> adapted to engage the teeth of racks K<3>, M<5>. A lantern wheel O<6> on the shaft C operates a bell-crank lever O<1> by means of a spring-held link O<3>, so that the rack K<3> is moved through the space of one tooth by means of a cord O<13> at the same time that the rack M<5> is also moved through the space of a tooth by means of a link O<7>, lever O<8>, and cord O<9>. When the link O<3> is raised by the pressure of the next tooth of the lantern wheel O<6>, the racks K<3>, K<5> are returned to their first positions by springs K<6>, O<12>. The rack K<3> is provided with a projection K' having a pin K<5> engaging a slot in a lever O<19> pivoted on a bracket H<x>, and arranged to actuate a sliding block to move the plates X into the carrier as they are supplied from the cradle J. Plates fed to the machine by the conveyer M are guided to the grippers A<1> by means of a spring- held pivoted guide N. The grippers for cutlery consist of open rubber-covered frames Q<1>, Q' mounted in arms R, R<1>, as shown in section in Fig. 5. The arm R' carries a pin R<4>, which moves in slots P<1> in plates P attached to the shaft C, and is connected to a crank B<8> on the shaft B<2>. As the arm rotates, a rod R<7> engages inclined surfaces H<10> and causes the arms R, R<1> to open against the action of springs R<3>. The cutlery is fed into the machine on ribbons S. The cutlery brushes T, mounted on the main shaft G, can slide thereon, and are pressed together by springs T<1>. The end of the frame Q<2>, on coming into contact with a boss T' of one of the brushes T, moves parallel to the frame Q', compressing a spring R<6>, and reversing the position of the articles which are being cleaned. The articles are finally rinsed by a jet F<x> and delivered on to a band S', which carried them to a gauze table S'. The machine may be provided with arms carrying holders for cups, tumblers, &c,