Patent GB-781870-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for washing and drying table and kitchen ware
IPC: A47L15/20
Filed: 1953-12-09
Abstract: 781,870. Cleaning dishes, bottles, knives, &c. FOUQUET, E. Dec. 9, 1953 [Dec. 10, 1952], No. 34308/53. Class 138(1). Apparatus for washing and drying table and kitchen-ware comprises a cabinet 1, Fig. 8, containing a plurality of jet pipes 77 to 82 mounted so as to be capable of oscillation about their longitudinal axes, a distributer 96 which supplies water to the jet pipes in a predetermined order, means for adding liquid detergent to the water during a period commencing at the beginning of each washing operation and an extractor pump 52, Fig. 3, which extracts the water from and then creates a partial vacuum within the cabinet 1 to facilitate the drying of the articles therein wherein the articles are arranged in the cabinet 1 in predetermined positions and remain in these positions until they are next required for use. The cabinet 1, Figs. 2 and 3, is provided with a pair of inclined front doors of which only 122 is shown, removable openwork trays 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 for crockery, glassware and cutlery, wire racks carried by supports 22 and 23 for bowls 20 and plates 19, hooked brackets 27 for pots and pans 26 and a strap 28<SP>1</SP> for large dishes 28. The jet pipes in pairs 77, 78; 79, 80; 81, 82; 77A, 77A; and 77B, 77B extend horizontally from side to side of the cabinet 1; the distributer 96 which includes a chamber 97 is disposed in the left hand side and the mechanism for oscillating the jet pipes about their axes is disposed in the right hand side of the cabinet. A water basin 126 is provided near the bottom of the cabinet and communicates through a strainer 50 with the inlet conduit 521 of the extractor pump 52 the outlet 52B of which connects with a drain. An overflow pipe 126A connects with the inlet conduit 52<SP>1</SP> and the basin 126 may be filled to the overflow level by closing a valve 55 in the conduit 52<SP>1</SP> by a handle 53. Referring to Figs. 8 and 9 a motor 71 drives a reduction gear 72 at about 30 to 40 r.p.m. which gear drives a crank pin 75 engaging in a slot in an arm 74 pivoted at 73 and rocking an arm 76 connected by wire links 83, 84 to radial arms 771 to 821 on the jet pipes 77 to 82, of which the pipes 81, 82, are provided with radial arms 86, 87 connected together by a spring 85. The motor 71 also drives a reduction gear 91 which drives, at a slow speed of 1 revolution in 3 to 5 minutes, a shaft 92 carrying a crank 93 con. nected by a rod 94 to a shaft 95 connected through a portion 106, Fig. 8, to the distributor tube 96 slidable in the distributor, chamber 97. The tube has pairs of holes 99, 100 ; 991, 100<SP>1</SP>; 99<SP>11</SP>, 10011 and 99A, 100A which are adapted to selectively register with openings in the chamber 97 leading to the jet pipes 77 to 82. The jet pipes 77A and 77B are also controlled by the sliding tube 96 in a similar manner, but not shown. The chamber 97 is connected above the piston 106 with a water inlet pipe 88 controlled by a valve 89, Fig. 9, which also operates an electric switch 90 controlling the motor 71 and an electric time switch 115 which is operated by a cam 116 on the shaft 92. The bottom of the chamber 97 is connected by a non-return valve 107 and pipe 108 with a detergent container 110 controllable by a valve 109, Fig. 9. The arrangement is such that during the upward stroke of the piston 106 a flap valve on top of the piston covers an aperture 112 in the piston and thus detergent is drawn into the chamber 97 below the piston 106. During the downward stroke of the piston 106 the detergent passes through the aperture 112 past the flap valve and mixes with water from the pipe 88, the mixture passing through holes 98 in the bottom of the slide tube 96 for distribution to the jet pipes. Mounted in the bottom of the basin 126, Fig. 7, over the strainer 50 is a rotatable rubber or plastic wiper device 29 detachably mounted on the end of a tube 33 flexibly coupled to a tube 45 rotatable by a motor 65 through a worm 64, worm wheel 63, bevel gears 62, 61, a shaft 58 and bevel gears 57, 56. Hot water is supplied to the bottom of the tube 45 from a tube connected to the main water supply pipe 88, Fig. 9. the tube being controlled by a valve 67. When the valve 67 is opened it operates through a ratchet and pawl 135, 136 and electric switch 70 for the motor 65. When however the valve 67 is reclosed the switch 70 remains closed and the motor 65 continues to operate until stopped by the operation of the timer switch 115 by the arm 116 on the shaft 92, the complete rotation of which corresponds to the cycle of operation of the apparatus. The water passing through the tubes 45, 33 is conducted to the surfaces of the wiper 29 by passages 30 and by passages 30<SP>1</SP> to the spaces between the teeth of a circular comb 35 for on the wiper. The wiper and comb are used for washing and cleaning pots and cutlery and the wiper may be secured in either one of two inclined positions by means of a latch 41 engaging in either one of slots 42, 43 in a mounting bracket 40. Rotatable with the tube 45 through a key 54 is a shredder 49, to cut-up food debris at the strainer 50, the shredder being axially slidable against the urge of spring 47 when it encounters an obstacle. If desired the wiper 29 may be detached from the tube 33 and a jet tube may then be affixed thereto to facilitate the cleaning of bottles. The motor 65 also drives an auxiliary extractor 131, Fig. 7, which has an inlet tube 130 depending to near the bottom C of the cabinet to extract any leakage water therefrom and pass it to the drain via the conduit 52B, Fig. 9. In operation, articles are stacked in the cabinet and with the doors open a foldable table 128 is supported by the door and the bottom ledge of the doors opening as shown in Fig. 3. The valve 67 is then opened to start the motor 65 to rotate the wiper 29 and supply water thereto, whereafter heavy deposits on the articles may be removed, during which time water may be retained in the basin 126. Thereafter the valve 67 is closed, the table 128 folded up and the doors closed, the valve 89 then being operated to operate the distributor and oscillating mechanism. During this time the motor 65 continues to operate so that the extractor pump 52 and auxiliary extractor remove liquid from the apparatus. Finally when the valve 89 is closed the motor 65 operates until the time switch opens its circuit thus extracting water and steam from the apparatus and causing a partial vacuum therein. The crockery, cutlery and dishes remain in the cabinet after drying until required for further use. If desired the valves 67 and 89 may be operated by automatic means.