Patent ES-291797-A1 (ES)
Title: Cleaning apparatus
IPC: A01K43/00
Filed: 1963-09-18
Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning articles capable of rotating about an axis comprises means for traversing the articles in succession along a substantially horizontal path, the articles being caused to rotate during traverse, a cleaning surface arranged vertically above the rotating axis of the articles and engaging a portion of the surface of the rotating articles, whilst the articles traverse the path, the cleaning surface consisting of a plurality of blocks of flexible resilient material being a portion shaped to conform with the shape of the article above the axis of rotation thereof and coated with an abrasive material. Cleaning includes the removal of foreign matter from the surface of an article and also the removal of material from the surface of the article to polish or reduce the size of the article. An egg-cleaning machine comprises endless chain 11 driven, through chain 16 and infinitely variable speed gear 19, by electric motor 20. Arms 21 extend outwardly from chain 11, those on the upper run projecting upwardly between parallel rails 22, 23 whose surfaces forming the bearing surfaces for eggs E passing through the machine are formed of, or coated with, rubber. Each arm 21 has, on the rear of that portion which will extend above the rails, a pad 21a of felt, rubber or plastic. Above the rails is an abrasive band driver, through endless chain 31, by electric motor 33 so that its lower run travels in the same direction as, but faster than, the upper run of chain 11. The abrasive band comprises an endless band 34 to which are attached resilient blocks 35, e.g. of foamed rubber or rubber substitute, in side-by-side relationship to present a substantially continuous block formation on the upper and lower runs. The sides of the blocks may be partially tapered so that the thickness of the outer part of the block is less than that at the base, whereby a more flexible outer edge is obtained. Each block 35 has a cut-out in its outer surface, the cut-outs on all the blocks being identical so that they form a continuous depression in the surface of the block formation on the upper and lower runs, the section of the depression conforming substantially with the section of an egg over that part of the egg section above the longitudinal axis of the egg. The surface of each cut-out is given an abrasive coating, e.g. by applying adhesive thereto, covering the adhesive with non-toxic granular abrasive, flexing the block so that part of the adhesive and abrasive becomes worked into the surface, and allowing the adhesive to set alternatively, adhesive is applied, then abrasive and finally a making coat of adhesive. There is pressure contact between the eggs and the band, and to maintain this for batches of slightly different sizes, rails 22, 23 are mounted on arms 37, 38 and 39, 40 respectively, arms 37, 39 being secured on shaft 41 and arms 38, 40 on shaft 42. Friction clutch means are associated with shafts 41, 42 and arm 37 has a handle 43 for effecting adjustment. For batches of widely different sizes interchangeable bands are used, e.g. one for pullet eggs and another for hen eggs. In operation, gate 36 releases one egg from downwardly inclined entry portion of rails 22, 23 each time an arm 21 enters between rails 22, 23. The downwardly inclined exit end of rails 22, 23 may lead to a conveyer band. Each egg preferably completes at least three revolutions in passing beneath the abrasive band. A sheet iron cover arranged directly beneath the upper run of chain 11 and extending almost the entire length of the run has sloping sides 60a, 60b with horizontal feet 60c, 60d carrying insulated bases 53, 53. Electrical conductors 50, 50, 52, 52 are connected to one side of a circuit containing an electrical power source and a relay winding conductors 51, 51 are connected to the other side of the circuit. If an egg breaks, it falls between rails 22, 23 and the liquid contents slide down at least one well 60a, 60b, to bridge the gap between at least one conductor 51 and an adjacent conductor 50 or 52, whereby the relay is energized to stop the machine. The pads 21a may be located on the leading faces of the arms 21 so as to push the eggs through the machine, the direction of movement of the band being reversed. In a modification, a machine comprises two endless chains 111, 112 driven by chain wheels 114, 116 secured on a shaft 118 driven, through endless chain 122, by an electric motor 119. Shafts 111a project inwardly from chain 111 in axial alignment with shafts 112a projecting inwardly from chain 112. Each pair of shafts 11a 112a carries a roller assembly comprising a spindle 124 having at one end a gear-cut section 125 and at the other end a bearing 126 keyed to the spindle and urged outwardly by a spring 127. Gear section 125 and bearing 126 are recessed to receive the shafts 111a, 112a and by displacing bearing 126 against the spring a roller assembly can be readily removed from or replaced between the chains. Each spindle 124 carries s shaped rubber roller 128, an egg E being supported by adjacent rollers. The gear sections 125 engage a fixed rack 129 as the roller assemblies traverse the upper runs of chains 111, 112, whereby the roller assemblies are rotated. A hollow reactangular frame 130 positioned above chains 111, 112 supports flexible resilient blocks 131. Each block has bonded to its forward upper edge a bar 132 the ends of which are supported in recesses 130c, 130d in the frame side members 130a, 130b a bar 133 bonded to the rear upper edge of the block is connected by a spring 135 to a bar 134 having its end supported in frame recesses 130c, 130d. The blocks are formed of a foam material, e.g. a polyester foam. Each block has in its under face an arcuate recess 131a extending throughout the length of the block and having granular abrasive secured thereto by adhesive. Finer abrasive may be used for the last blocks. At the exit end of chains 111, 112 or spider 140 secured on shaft 118 has arms 140a projecting upwardly between adjacent roller assemblies. Each arm 140b lies closer to the trailing assembly so that as each egg moves through the vertical plane through the axis of shaft 118 the egg is supported by the arm 140a and the leading roller assembly, enabling the egg to roll more easily to a delivery shoot 141. In a modification, the cleaning block comprises cleaning members 150 held in spaced parallel relationship between upper clamp members 151, 152 supported in the recesses 130c, 130d of the frame 130. Each cleaning member is a flexible sheet with slots 150a extending from a recess in its lower edge to form flaps 150b the recess is smaller than the outline of an egg above its axis. The forward faces of the flaps 150b have abrasive adhesively secured thereon. The first block may be of this construction the remaining blocks being a previously described.