Abstract:
A machine for automating manual labor has a motor portion, transmission portion, and a head portion which may all be interchanged with alternates for different applications. The machine is driven by an electric motor that can perform different motions and actions, one at a time or simultaneously, depending on the transmission and head portions. Two such motions are rotary and linear reciprocating motion. Applications include cleaning surfaces, cleaning vessels, mixer, blender, chopper, slicer, shredder, vibrator, massager, semi and fully automatic milk cream maker.

Description:
[0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/824,331, filed Jul. 2, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD of the INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention is in the field of tools and household appliances. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There is a lack in the known art of a compact hand-held device that can both rotate, and provide linear reciprocating motion; generally either one or the other type of motion is possible when using a single tool. 
         [0004]    For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,646 to McHugh provides an electrically rotating brush. However this apparatus enables only rotation movement of the brush attachment. 
         [0005]    On the other hand reciprocating tools such as sanders are known, which provide only linear reciprocating motion. The invention comes to remedy the fact that only one or the other motion is delivered from a given tool. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments of the invention and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention but the not to limit the invention to these descriptions only. 
         [0007]    The object of the present invention is to overcome the shortcoming of prior art cleaning devices by allowing for both rotational and linear reciprocal motions from the same motor. These various motions are of use for rubbing, polishing, sanding, and brushing operations. 
         [0008]    The device comprises two or three sections. In those embodiments utilizing three sections these are a motor section, a transmission section, and a head section. These sections are modular and easily replaceable, allowing fast and simple switching of head, transmission, or motor depending on the necessary task (i.e. either for rotary motion or linear reciprocating motion). 
         [0009]    The head may comprise various materials like “Scotch”™ or others abrasive materials, polishing materials, cutting elements such as disks or blades, and the like. 
         [0010]    The device can be operated without electric power in the manner of a simple cleaning brush or may be operated using the electric motor with either battery or external power supply. The apparatus can be used to scrape whitewash or paint signs from pavements, walls or other home utensils. 
         [0011]    Another application of the present invention relates to the preparation of whipped milk. The present known method of producing milk foam is based on the heating of the milk and producing bubbles by using hot steam—this process is controlled manually and the quality of the milk foam is very much affected by the proficiency of the user. This process requires a specific combination of adequate heating process and specialized usage of the steam. 
         [0012]    The inventive process uses an embodiment of the device for production of high quality consistent milk foam with a manual or automated procedure. 
         [0013]    An additional application of the present invention is for kitchen use (as a mixer, blender, chopper, and other food processor roles). The interchangeable head equipped with a rotary blade or with a rotary disk for instance allows slicing, shredding, or chopping/mixing. 
         [0014]    A further application could be a vibrator/massager that is based on a reciprocating and rotating movement. 
         [0015]    A key element of the invention is that it allows for changing the motion of the machine by exchanging the head portion. Possible motions include circular motion, eccentric motion, linear reciprocating motion, and combinations of these. 
         [0016]    In a semi-automatic milk-foaming embodiment, one uses a whipping head attached to the motor and a linear movement combined with rotational motion is obtained. At one stage in the process the milk is heated, which is accomplished externally from the machine of this invention. 
         [0017]    In an automatic milk-foaming embodiment, a free standing machine with a program and microprocessor is used along with a heating element and temperature sensors in addition to the basic machine of this invention. This embodiment produces the end product by whipping, heating, and subsequent further whipping of the milk according to a predetermined series of actions controlled by the microcontroller. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain by way of example only, the principles of the invention: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  shows cleaning apparatus with the main portion and a replaceable cleaning head in accordance with one the preferred embodiments. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows the main portion of the apparatus together with the transmission means. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show respectively the main portion with mounted thereon cleaning head in its forward most and rearmost position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows exploded view of the cleaning apparatus with the main portion and rotary replaceable cleaning head in accordance with the second embodiment. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows the cleaning apparatus equipped with the rotary cleaning head. 
           [0024]    FIGS.  6 , 7  show respectively an enlarged view in cross-section of a portion of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  shows an enlarged view of the two-way threaded screw. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  shows an application as a vibrator. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  shows an application as a hand held semi-automatic whipped milk maker. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  depict an application as a sander. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  show an application for a rotary tool. 
           [0030]      FIGS. 13   a ,  14   b ,  14   c ,  14   d ,  14   e ,  14   f  show different applications using the main portion with the set of interchangeable heads, one at a time. 
           [0031]      FIGS. 13   c,d,e,f  show an embodiment of this invention where the oscillation motion is caused by a two-way threaded screw and the rotating movement is achieved by a screw connection to the motor shaft. 
       
    
    
     LEGEND FOR FIGURES 
       [0000]    
       
           1  a main portion 
           2  an interchangeable head 
           3  a housing 
           4  a motor 
           5  an on/off knob 
           6 ′ electrical cord 
           6  appropriate plug 
           7  transmission means 
           8  motor&#39;s shaft 
           9  screw 
           9 ′ screw 
           10  spiral 
           11  reciprocating (oscillating) shaft 
           12  a sleeve portion 
           13  pin 
           16  spring 
           17  forward most portion 
           18  rough pad 
           19  forward cylindrical portion 
           20  ball bearing 
           21  ball bearing 
           22  rear-most portion 
           23  disposable cleaning roughened attachments 
           24  an internal driven cup 
           25  interchangeable head for rotation 
           26  a torque transmission pin 
           27  a plane for transmitting torque 
           28  disk 
           30  a left and right screw 
           32  a leaf or rider 
           34  cylindrical transmission 
           35  length of protrusion 
           36  housing of embodiments 
           37  a rotating head 
           38  oscillating head 
           39  the end of the working rotating shaft 
           40  the end of working reciprocating shaft 
           41  rotating shaft 
           42  working reciprocating shaft 
           43  oscillating and rotating head 
           50  massage device 
           51  switch 
           52  center 
           53  motor massage 
           54  double screw massage 
           55  applicator 
           60  handle 
           61  protecting disk 
           62  section 
           63  whipping shaft 
           64  plate with many holes 
           65  container 
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0084]    As will be appreciated the present invention is capable of other and different embodiments than those discussed above and described in more detail below, and its several details are capable of modifications in various aspects, all without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the embodiments set forth below are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
         [0085]      FIG. 1  shows a cleaning apparatus suitable for example, for cleaning a baking pan. The apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention includes a main portion  1  and an interchangeable head  2  with a reciprocating (oscillating) shaft  12  seen in  FIG. 3 . Main portion  1  consists of a housing  3  and a motor  4  seen in  FIG. 2  mounted therein. 
         [0086]    The motor residing in housing  3  is operated from an internal source or an external one. An on/off knob  5  is supplied for controlling electrical power to the motor  4  seen in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0087]      FIG. 2  shows the motor and transmission parts. For convenience cordless rechargeable battery could be used and in this case the apparatus could be equipped with appropriate plug  6  or it can be provided with an electrical cord  6 ′ connected to a wall mounted unit. The removable transmission means  7  is connected to motor&#39;s shaft  8  via screws  9  and  9 ′. The removable transmission means  7  is removed when an interchangeable head (for example from  FIG. 13 ) is attached to the main portion  1 . Rotational motion of the shaft effected by the motor is transferred to spiral surface  10  of the transmission. The spiral surface  10  cooperates with pin  15  seen in  FIG. 3  of the reciprocating sliding shaft  12  of the head and causes a reciprocating (oscillating) motion thereof. 
         [0088]    The transmission portion  7  may consist of a cam as seen in FIGS.  1 , 2 . This cam may in fact be adapted to impart a linear reciprocating motion of arbitrary time dependence to said head portion; since the linear position of the head portion depends on the rotational position of the cam, the height profile of the cam will determine the time dependence of the linear position of the head portion. Thus unusual and arbitrary time dependences may be obtained, for example extreme accelerations, minimized jerk, and the like. 
         [0089]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show the main portion  1  with the interchangeable head  2  with oscillating shaft  12  connected for lateral insertion and retention. 
         [0090]      FIG. 3   a  shows the position of the shaft  12  as it is pushed to its extremity in a forward direction the pin  15  being pushed by the spiral transmission  7  as the transmission  7  turns. In this position the spring  16  is compressed. 
         [0091]      FIG. 3   b  shows the position of the shaft  12  is in its extreme back position as the spiral transmission  7  continues to turn and the pin  15  is no longer pushed by the transmission  7 . The spring  16  is free to expand and push the pin  15  and shaft  12  to a rear most position. As the transmission  7  continues to turn, the above movement is repeated many times a minute thereby imparting a reciprocating motion to shaft  12  and all that is attached thereto. 
         [0092]    Interchangeable head  2  includes in its forward part a sleeve portion  13  seen in  FIG. 1  in which sliding shaft  12  reciprocates. The forward end of the reciprocating shaft  12  seen in  FIG. 3  carries the forward most portion  17  comprising a rough pad  18  as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0093]    A sliding shaft is provided with adjusting means  14  as seen in  FIG. 1  having a pin  15  as seen in  FIG. 1  at its rear end. The shaft slides within the head  2 . 
         [0094]    The reciprocating motion thereof can be adjusted via pin  15 . 
         [0095]    Transmission  7  could be made of hardened steel and is used for coupling motor&#39;s shaft to both interchangeable heads and for submitting to them either the reciprocating linear motion or rotating motion. 
         [0096]    The transmission  7  can push the sliding shaft  12  forward and backward within the sleeve against a retaining spring  16  bearing against a stop in head&#39;s housing. 
         [0097]    The forward most portion  17  as seen in  FIG. 1  of cleaning head  2  is coated partially with rough pad  18  which cleans a desired surface. 
         [0098]    The connection of the main portion  1  with interchangeable head  2  causes the pin  15  to touch coupling&#39;s spiral surface  10 , so producing linear oscillation at the head from rotary movement of the motor. The forward linear displacement is reversed on the down stroke due to retaining spring  16  which forces sliding shaft  12  back. 
         [0099]      FIG. 3   a  shows the sliding shaft at its forward position and  FIG. 3   b  at its backward position according to previous description. 
         [0100]    The given description leads to the understanding that adjusting means  14  seen in  FIG. 1  attached to the sliding shaft  12  ( FIG. 3 ) can be adjusted via a screw in order to establish the sliding amplitude of the forward part of sliding shaft equipped with rough pad  18 . 
         [0101]      FIGS. 4-6  show the cleaning apparatus according to a second embodiment implementing rotary movement of the interchangeable head. 
         [0102]      FIG. 4  shows interchangeable head  25  with rotary shaft  11  seen in  FIG. 5  mounted within the head. Disk  28  is mounted on the forward cylindrical portion  19  of the head, which can rotate together with the rotary shaft  11  seen in  FIG. 5 . The shaft is mounted by virtue of two ball bearings  20  and  21  seen in  FIG. 5  within the head and it goes there through from the rear-most portion  22  seen in  FIG. 4  of the cleaning head to the forward most portion thereof. 
         [0103]    In some embodiments a disposable cleaning attachment  23  may be attached to the disk for instance by use of adherent material, the cleaning attachment in some embodiments comprising abrasive elements such as sandpaper. 
         [0104]      FIG. 5  shows the main portion  1  with interchangeable head  25  for rotation carrying rotating shaft  11 . 
         [0105]    The rotating shaft  11  is centrally mounted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the head  25  by virtue of an internal driven cup  24  seen in  FIG. 6  and bearings  20  and  21 . When coupled to the main portion the cup is rotated by the transmission  7 , it in turn rotates the rotating shaft  11 . Given that the rear-most portion of the shaft  11  is provided with a thread, the cup  24  can be fixed thereon and thus rotation can be transferred from the cup  24  to the shaft  11 . The inwardly facing cylindrical surface of the cup  24  is provided with a torque transmission pin  26  seen in  FIG. 6 , directed radially respect thereto. The transmission  26  is provided with a plane  27  seen in  FIG. 6   a  for transmitting torque. By virtue of interaction between the pin  26  and plane  27  seen in  FIG. 7 , rotation is transmitted from the transmission means to the shaft. 
         [0106]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show sectional views of the transmission  7  cooperating with a plane  27  for transmitting torque via pin  26  to the driven cup  24  which in turn transmits torque to rotary shaft  11  seen in  FIG. 5 . The shaft may include a variety of tools attached to the end, such as a holding plate  23  that holds a sanding disk  28 . 
         [0107]    Motor portion  1  can be mated with various working heads either for linear or rotary motion, or combinations, allowing significant improvement to for example cleaning work. By virtue of the above design the apparatus is efficient, compact, easy in use and cheap. Disposable working attachment pads can be attached e.g. via glued paper on one surface thereof, Velcro fitted both to working heads and cleaning device, or the like. This arrangement allows fast and easy replacement of worn working pads for effective cleaning work. 
         [0108]      FIG. 13  shows embodiments for reciprocating movement while rotating also within provision of the invention. Such embodiments can be built for example as follows. Attaching simultaneously two shafts, one to the screw  30  the rotating shaft  41  and the second to the cylindrical transmission the working reciprocating shaft  42  causes simultaneously rotating and oscillating movements of the shafts. The electrical cord  6  could be attached to a battery source or to an isolated transformer connected to line voltage. 
         [0109]    The transmission means in certain embodiments are based on a unique doubly threaded screw component  30  seen in  FIG. 8 . This is a threaded rod or cylinder having two threads along its length, one of right handed helicity and the other left handed. A leaf or rider  32  is located on the screw  30  (that is fastened to the housing  3  ( FIG. 13   c ) that includes motor  4  (seen in  FIG. 1 ) between the screw  30  and the cylindrical transmission  34 . 
         [0110]    This unique screw allows direct transfer of rotational motion from motor to head in one mode, transformation of rotary motion of the motor shaft to linear reciprocating motion of the cylindrical transmission in another mode, and both linear and rotational motion in a third mode. Eccentric motion is provided in a fourth mode, and combinations of the above motions are further possible simply by allowing or preventing certain degrees of freedom between rider and head portions of the device, and depending on where the head portion attaches to the rider. 
         [0111]    Circular motion is obtained when a leaf or rider  32  ( FIG. 8 ) serving as coupling between the doubly-threaded screw and the head section is clamped to the screw (allowing no relative motion between rider and screw) such that it rotates therewith. Eccentric motion of the head is obtained using the same clamped screw if the head section is attached to the rider not at the center of rotation of the screw but at some nonzero radius away from the center of rotation. 
         [0112]    This unique screw allows transformation of rotary motion of the motor&#39;s shaft to linear reciprocating motion of the cylindrical transmission in certain modes, and both linear and rotational motion in other modes. Reciprocating motion is obtained when the cylindrical transmission  34  is prevented from rotating while being allowed to move along a predetermined path inside the housing  36  by means of limiting its degrees of freedom as is known in the art (see  FIGS. 13   d,e,f ). 
         [0113]    Reciprocating motion is obtained when the cylindrical transmission  34  is prevented from rotating while being allowed to move along a predetermined path inside the housing  36  by means of limiting its degrees of freedom as is known in the art. 
         [0114]    Alternatively in order to achieve reciprocating motion the cylindrical transmission  34  is moved by a length of protrusion  35  that reciprocates within the inner part of the housing  36  while preventing the rotary motion of the cylindrical transmission  34 . The protrusion  35  sits in a matching groove on the inside of housing  36 . 
         [0115]    The leaf or rider  32  may move from one end (start point) of the screw  30  to the opposite end (end point). The leaf or rider&#39;s  32  change of direction happens upon reaching the end of its travel along one helix of the double screw  30 ; it begins travel in the opposite direction along the second oppositely-handed helix (from left handed to right handed screw or vice versa) since the ends of the screw thread grooves are coupled at each end, thus allowing an oscillating motion of the cylinder transmission  34  moving inside the housing  36 . 
         [0116]      FIG. 8  shows an enlarged view of the two way screw  30 . The leaf or rider  32  rides on one side of the double threaded screw. The motor turns the shaft and the shaft turns the screw  30 . When the leaf or rider  32  reaches the end of the thread of screw  30 , the leaf or rider  32  automatically is guided to the other thread side, since the thread groove is so cut to connect the right-hand thread to the left-hand thread at both ends of the screw. Thus as the motor turns the shaft, the leaf or rider  32  reciprocates, changing direction each time the leaf or rider  32  reaches the end of the thread of screw  30 . The leaf or rider  32  is attached to the cylindrical transmission  FIG. 13   c  and thereby the reciprocating motion is transferred to the head that is desired to reciprocate. 
         [0117]    As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art the rider may also be in direct mechanical communication with the head portion thereby providing both rotational and linear reciprocating motions to the head. 
         [0118]    As will further be appreciated by one skilled in the art the rider may also be put in solely linear mechanical communication with the head portion, thereby imparting linear reciprocating motion only. This may be done by utilizing a coupling between the rider and head portion that allows rotational slippage but not translational slippage, for example by means of a slip ring. 
         [0119]    As will be still further appreciated by one skilled in the art, the rider may also be put in rotational mechanical communication with the head portion thereby imparting rotational motion to the head portion. This may be accomplished by using a coupling between rider and head portion that allows translational slippage but not rotational slippage, for example by means of a grooved shaft in which the rider travels. 
         [0120]    It will be still further appreciated by one skilled in the art that the rider may be put in eccentric rotational mechanical communication with the head portion thereby providing eccentric rotational motion to the head portion, by means of a suitable coupling between rider and head portion. 
         [0121]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of an embodiment of this invention as a massage device  50  or vibrator where the user could choose to utilize rotational motion, linear oscillating motion, or both motions at the same time. These different effects could be operated using the switch  51 . The rotation motion could be turned into a vibration by the connection between the motor shaft and the applicator  55  to be off center  52  in the applicator. The motor  53  provides the rotational force. 
         [0122]    The housing of the motor  53  would also act as the handle for the device. The double screw  54  would turn the rotational force of the motor  53  into a linear back and forth reciprocating motion as described in relation to the embodiments in  FIG. 13 . The applicator  55  could be made for example, hard and smooth or somewhat flexible material as is necessary to provide the desired effect for the user. 
         [0123]      FIG. 10  shows the application of this invention as a semi-automatic hand-held milk whipping machine. The mechanical operation of this embodiment is as described in  FIG. 13  where the device produces a reciprocating motion. The motor is housed in the handle  60 . A splash protecting disc  61  prevents milk splashing onto the handle  60  or outside container  65 . The double threaded screw could be housed in section  62 . At the distal end of the shaft  63  is at least one plate  64  with many holes therein. The sectional shape of container  65  would preferably be like the shape of the holed plate  64  and a little larger in size to facilitate the plate  64  moving up and down in the container  65 . 
         [0124]    When the motor is switched on the holed plate  64  would move up and down in pre-heated milk and that motion would create whipped milk. As mentioned there is also provision for rotational motion in addition to linear reciprocating motion, simultaneously. 
         [0125]    The milk could be heated again to produce a higher quality milk foam product. 
         [0126]      FIG. 11  and  FIG. 1  depict an application as a sander.  FIG. 1  shows transmission mechanism  7  attached to the motor, while  FIG. 11  shows it removed, allowing a different transmission mechanism (for example rotary vs. linear) to be substituted. 
         [0127]      FIG. 12  and  FIG. 4  show an application for a rotary tool.  FIG. 4  shows transmission mechanism  7  attached to the motor, while  FIG. 12  shows it removed, allowing a different transmission mechanism (for example linear vs. rotary) to be substituted. 
         [0128]      FIGS. 13   a,b,c,d,e,f  show various applications using the main portion with a set of interchangeable heads for rotary or linear or both linear and rotational motion in a third mode, one interchangeable head at a time. 
         [0129]    Examples of rotating and reciprocating heads are seen in  FIGS. 13   d  and  13   e  respectively. 
         [0130]    In  FIG. 13   d , a rotating head  37  contains the rotating shaft that is connected to the screw  30  that causes rotary motion of the shaft. Velcro material could cover the end  39  of the working rotating shaft. 
         [0131]    In  FIG. 13   e , the oscillating head  38  contains the oscillating shaft. Velcro material could cover the end  40  of the working reciprocating shaft. 
         [0132]    The reciprocating shaft  42  seen in  FIG. 13   e  is attached to the cylinder transmission that causes the reciprocating movement of that shaft. Hence the amplitude of the reciprocating shaft depends on the screw&#39;s  30  length. 
         [0133]      FIG. 13   f  shows the oscillating and rotating head  43 . Attaching simultaneously two shafts, one to the screw  30  the rotating shaft  41  and the second to the cylindrical transmission the working reciprocating shaft  42  causes simultaneously rotating and oscillating movements of the shafts. The electrical cord  6  could be attached to a battery source or to an isolated transformer connected to line.