EP0341184A2 - Machines for washing work pieces - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaner for machined workpieces incorporates containers (7,8) of a cleaning fluid in which the workpieces (22) are plunged. The workpieces are fed into the containers by supporting frames (1,2), which plunge them successively into the containers and lift them out again. Each of the containers has a side aperture, and a hollow shell which surrounds the supporting frame and has its own aperture and can perform a reciprocating motion. During loading/unloading the shell is moved towards the side aperture in the container, and the aperture is sealed between operations.

Description

The present invention relates to improvements in machines for washing machined parts.

More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in machines of the type of those which on a common bench include bars for transferring the parts to be washed, at least one washing station where the part is completely or partially immersed in a tank which contains a washing liquid which is preferably subjected to riddling, this washing liquid having its origin from the pressure organs which take it in turn from a filtering system, washing liquid which is collected beforehand, dirty, below the station washing and then leads to the mentioned filtering system; at least one compressed air blowing station; at least one drying station; stations at the end for loading the parts to be washed and for discharging the washed parts, respectively; finally intermediate waiting stations, so that the parts intended for washing are supplied by the transfer bars, equipped with a movement of "no pilgrim", on the relevant elements of transverse transport comprising support frames held by a vertical retaining wall, by successively introducing them into the tanks or envelopes of the side washing, blowing and / or drying stations, then removing them from the stations mentioned.

Although the mechanisms or devices described in the present invention are applicable to machines of various types, they prove to be advantageously applicable to the type of machine described in Patent Application No. 549,405 by the same applicant, who is provided with a device linear transfer and lateral operating stations to which the parts are pushed in one direction perpendicular to the advance of the machine transfer system. Thus the parts are engaged in side cabins where washing or drying operations take place. In this type of machine, the transfer system does not push the part towards the lateral cabins but conveys it, being at the same time this transfer system the one suitable for transferring or conveying the part laterally, enclosing it or introducing it into a closed tank or enclosure for washing or drying operations.

Various washing machine operations are well known in which the washing of the machined parts is done by immersion inside a bath of bathing liquid. However, all of this type of machine has the serious disadvantage of swallowing up a considerable amount of washing liquid, which is wasted during the introduction or removal of the part from the washing tub.

In addition, the dimensions of the washing tanks mean that the emptying and filling, necessary for each washing operation, turns out to be operations whose completion time is relatively long, which turns to the disadvantage of the performance of the machine.

It is by implementing the improvements which are the subject of the present invention that the abovementioned drawbacks are completely eliminated and a machine is obtained which consumes very little washing liquid and which makes it possible to considerably reduce the dead filling times. and emptying the washing tanks.

Essentially, the improvements in question are characterized by the fact that each tank is provided a side opening adapted to allow the entry and exit of the relevant support frame carrying a part, being arranged inside the tank, in the washing liquid, a hollow shell intended to wrap, without a excessive play, the part-support assembly, this hollow shell comprising a single lateral opening, the mouth of which has a contour slightly greater than that of the lateral opening of the tank, the hollow shell mentioned being provided with a reciprocating movement -and comes in horizontal alignment with the movement of movement of the corresponding support frame in the transverse direction relative to that of the advance of the parts, so that during the transverse movement of discharge / load of a part the hollow shell is moved towards the lateral opening of the tank and the edge of the mouth tightens firmly against the inside rim of the mentioned opening of the tank, by closing it tightly and preventing it from leaving the outside washing liquid between the outer surface of the shell and the inner surface of the tank, while during the washing operation the shell remains recessed towards the inside of the tank, ensuring that the part has access to all washing liquid contained in the tank, this lateral opening of the tank being additionally provided with an outward-facing mouthpiece the purpose of which is to bear against the vertical retaining wall mentioned during the washing operation, achieving a hermetic closure of the lateral opening of the tank during this washing operation, all adapted so that in a complete operating cycle of a machine washing station, starting from the starting position in which there is no there is no part in the tank and the hollow shell hermetically closes inside the side opening of the tank, a part is inserted into the latter through the opening lateral with which it is provided by means of the transverse displacement of the relevant support frame, the hermetic closure being effected from the outside of the lateral opening of the tank by means of the support of the retaining wall mentioned on the external mouth of this lateral opening, the shell then goes back towards the interior of the tank, the washing operation is carried out and, once finished, the shell is reapplied against the lateral opening of the tank, hermetically closing the latter by its internal part, is then separated the retaining wall of the external mouth of the lateral opening of the tank, which causes the emptying of the interior of the shell and the support frame is then removed to the transfer bars the washing station is then ready to receive a new room and to start another washing cycle.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the aforementioned hollow shell is provided with a drive mechanism, external to the tank, which preferably acts on an arm which is integrally attached to it and which emerges from the tank through an opening from which it is provided on its upper part.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the mouth of the lateral opening of the hollow shell is provided with a seal.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the external mouth of the lateral opening of the tank is provided with a seal.

According to another characteristic of the invention, lateral deflector screens are fixed, integral with the vertical retaining wall mentioned and / or the tank, adapted to avoid side splashes when draining the washing water contained in the hollow shell.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the vertical retaining wall is preferably constituted by two independent half-walls, each of which is associated with a respective support frame and is facing a corresponding washing station.

• La fig. 1 est une vue perspective d'une station de lavage à deux bâtis-support;
• la fig. 2 est une vue schématique, en coupe transversale, d'une machine conformément aux perfectionnements de l'invention, avec une pièce dans une station de lavage, en position opératoire de lavage;
• la fig. 3 est une vue semblable à celle de la fig. 2, mais illustrant le moment où la pièce est sur le point d'être enlevée de la station de lavage immédiatement après son lavage; et
• la fig. 2 est une vue en plan correspondant à la posi­tion illustrée dans la fig. 3.

The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of the improvements which are the subject of the present invention.

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a washing station with two support frames;
• fig. 2 is a schematic view, in cross section, of a machine in accordance with the improvements of the invention, with a part in a washing station, in the washing operating position;
• fig. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but illustrating the moment when the part is about to be removed from the washing station immediately after its washing; and
• fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding to the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

In these drawings it can be appreciated that the machine shown there is of the type called transfer cage, where the parts are deposited in support frames (1,2) which move laterally with a part (22) in introducing it into a tank (7,8) full of a washing liquid up to a level (9).

The arrangement of the support frames (1,2) is integral with a vertical retaining wall (3) connected to a carriage (4) driven by a hydraulic cylinder (5) or by any other mechanism capable of imparting a movement of va- back and forth. The transfer bars (6) convey the parts (22) to be washed to the relevant support frames (1,2) which take them at the appropriate time by unloading them after washing on the transfer bars themselves (6) .

It should be emphasized that the mechanisms or devices described in this embodiment can be applicable to other machines by suitably adapting the designs.

In the type of machine described in the present invention, where the parts (22) are washed by total or partial immersion of these in a washing liquid, to introduce the part supported by a support frame (1,2 ) in a tank (7,8), the problem arises that this tank must necessarily be drained, since if one wants to introduce laterally into a tank (7,8) full of washing liquid a part (22), the simple fact of the existence of an opening on a side wall of the tank makes it impossible to fill the latter. However, when the vertical retaining wall (3) is applied against the opening of the tank, it can close it, being therefore obvious that it can be filled with washing liquid. But by removing the part with its relevant support frame, a violent overflow of the liquid occurs which can only be avoided if the tank has been drained beforehand. Performing this whole series of opera tions at each work cycle, this would represent a significant loss of time, which would result in a serious reduction in machine performance.

To avoid this serious problem and to be able to properly close an opening (15) with which each tank (7,8) is provided, which is adapted to allow the entry / exit of the respective support frame (1,2) carrying a part (22), the invention provides the arrangement inside the tank (8), in the washing liquid, of a hollow shell (10) intended to wrap without excessive play the assembly formed by the part (22) and the support frame (2), this hollow shell (10) comprising a single lateral opening (16) whose contour of the mouth is slightly greater than that of the lateral opening (15) of the tank ( 8].

This hollow shell (10) mentioned has a back and forth movement in horizontal alignment with the movement of movement of the relevant support frame (2) in the transverse direction relative to that of the advance of the parts ( 22).

Thus, during the transverse displacement / discharge movement of a part (22), the hollow shell (10) is moved towards the lateral opening (15) of the tank (8) and the edge of the mouth ( 17) does it apply firmly against the internal rim of the side opening (15) mentioned of the tank, achieving a hermetic closure of the latter and preventing the exit outside of the washing liquid between the surface external of the hollow shell (10) and the internal surface of the tank (8) (fig. 3 and 4).

During the washing operation, the hollow shell (10) remains recessed towards the inside of the tank (8) (fig. 2), ensuring that the part (22) is accessible to all of the washing liquid contained in the tank (8), this lateral opening (15) mentioned of the tank being provided with a mouth (18) oriented towards the outside and the purpose of which is its application against the vertical retaining wall (3) during the washing operation, achieving a hermetic closure of the lateral opening (15) of the tank during this washing operation.

In a complete operating cycle of a machine washing station, starting from the starting position where there are no parts in the tank and the hollow shell (10) hermetically closes the side opening from the inside (15) of the tank, a part (22) is introduced into the tank (8) through the lateral opening (15) of the latter by means of the transverse displacement of the relevant support frame (2), achieving the hermetic closure outside the lateral opening (15) of the tank by means of the support of the vertical retaining wall (3) on the external mouth (18) of this lateral opening (15), the hollow shell (10) then taking a withdrawal position towards the inside of the tank (8), the washing operation being carried out and once this has been completed, the hollow shell (10) is again applied against the lateral opening (15) of the tank, closing it hermetically inside, the vertical retaining wall (3) of the external mouth (18) of the opening side wall (15) moves away, which causes the interior of the hollow shell (10) to drain, also moves the support frame (2) to the transfer bars, the washing station then being ready to receive a new part (22) and start a new washing cycle.

The hollow shell (10) is constructed in such a way that it conforms most closely to the configuration of the support frame (1,2), in order to minimize the volume and to minimize the emptying and filling with washing liquid. This means that this hollow shell (10) can take irregular shapes to achieve the stated purpose.

The hollow shell (3) is provided with a drive mechanism, external to the tank (8), which preferably acts on an arm (19) being integrally connected to it and which emerges from the tank (8) through an opening ( 20) which it has on its upper part. The arm (19) is integral with a carriage (11) which slides on the rollers (12), driven by the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder (13). This drive mechanism is that which provides the mentioned back-and-forth movement with which the hollow shell (10) is provided.

The mouth (17) of the lateral opening (16) of the hollow shell (10) is provided with a seal (14). Likewise, the external mouth (18) of the lateral opening (15) of the tank (8) is provided with a seal (21).

In fig. 4 it can be appreciated that lateral deflector screens (23, 24), integral with the vertical retaining wall (3) mentioned and with the tank (8), adapted to avoid lateral splashes when draining the water from washing contained in the hollow shell (10). In fact, when the wall (3) is moved towards the interior of the machine and the seal (21) is slightly moved aside, the washing liquid contained in the hollow shell (10) falls vertically through the hollow defined by the wall of the tank (8), the wall (3) and the screens (23,24). The screen (24) is internal and integral with the tank (8), the lateral deflector screens (23,24) mentioned remaining on the 2 sides of the wall (3). On the upper part there is no need to fix a screen, by the lower part the washing water falling to a collector of dirty water.

In an optimal embodiment of this invention, the vertical retaining wall (3) mentioned is preferably constituted by two independent half-walls (3a, 3b), each of them being associated with a respective support frame (1,2 ) and being next to a corresponding washing station (fig. 2).

NOTE

Sufficiently describes the nature of the invention as well as the manner of implementing it, it is noted that anything which does not alter, change or modify the fundamental principle, may be subject to variations in detail, the essential and the reason for the patent application, for a period of 20 years, being what is summarized in the following claims:

Claims (6)

1 ^st .- Improvements in machines for washing machined parts of the type of those which on a common bench include bars for transferring parts intended for washing; at least one washing station where the part is completely or partially immersed in a tank which contains a washing liquid which is preferably subjected to riddling, this washing liquid having its origin from the pressure members which in turn take it from a filtering system, washing liquid which is picked up, dirty, below the washing station and then leads to the mentioned filtering system; at least one compressed air blowing station; at least one drying station; stations at the end for loading the parts to be washed and for discharging the washed parts, respectively; finally, intermediate waiting stations, so that the parts intended for washing are supplied by the transfer bars, fitted with a "no pilgrim" movement, on the respective transverse transport elements comprising support frames held by a vertical retaining wall, by successively introducing them into the tanks or enveloping of the side washing, blowing and / or drying stations, then removing them from the stations mentioned, characterized in that each tank has a suitable lateral opening to allow entry and exit of the respective support frame, carrying a part, being arranged inside the tank, in the washing liquid, a hollow shell intended to envelop, without excessive play, the assembly of the part and the support frame, this hollow shell comprising a single lateral opening whose mouth has a contour slightly greater than that of the lateral opening of the tank, the shell mentio born with a movement ment back and forth in horizontal alignment with the movement of movement of the support frame corresponding in the transverse direction to that of the advance of the parts, so that during the transverse movement of discharge / load of a part the shell hollow is moved towards the lateral opening of the tank and the edge of the mouth tightens firmly against the inside rim of the mentioned opening of the tank, making a hermetic closure and preventing the exit to the outside of the liquid washer included between the outer surface of the shell and the inner surface of the tank, while during the washing operation the shell remains recessed towards the inside of the tank so that the part has access to all of the liquid washer contained in the tank, this lateral opening of the tank being additionally provided with an outward-facing mouthpiece the purpose of which is to lean against the vertical retaining wall mentioned during the operation washing, achieving a hermetic closure of the side opening of the tank during this washing operation, all adapted so that in a complete operating cycle of a machine washing station, starting from the starting position in which there is no part in the tank and that the hollow shell hermetically closes from the inside the side opening of the tank, a part is introduced into the latter by the side opening which it is endowed by means of displacement transverse of the relevant support frame, the hermetic closure being effected from the outside of the lateral opening of the tank by means of the support of the retaining wall mentioned on the external mouth of this lateral opening of the tank, the shell leaves then set back towards the inside of the tank, the washing operation is carried out and, once finished, the shell is reapplied against the lateral opening of the tank, hermetically closing the latter by its internal part, the retaining wall of the external mouth is then removed from the lateral opening of the tank, which causes the interior of the shell to be emptied; the support frame is then removed to the transfer bars, the washing station then being ready to receive a new part and to start another washing cycle. 2 ^e .- Improvements according to claim 1 ^re , characterized in that the hollow shell mentioned is provided with a drive mechanism, external to the tank, which preferably acts on an arm which is integrally attached to it and which emerges from the tank through an opening which is provided on its upper part. 3 ^e .- Improvements according to claim 1 ^re , characterized in that the mouth of the lateral opening of the hollow shell is provided with a seal. 4 ^e .- Improvements according to claim 1 ^re , characterized in that the external mouth of the lateral opening of the tank is provided with a seal. 5 ^e .- Improvements according to claim 1 ^re , characterized in that the lateral deflector screens are arranged, integral with the vertical retaining wall mentioned and / or the tank, adapted to avoid lateral splashes at the time of emptying of the wash water contained in the hollow shell. 6 ^e .- Improvements according to claim 1 ^re , characterized in that the vertical retaining wall mentioned is preferably constituted by two independent half-walls each of which is associated with a respective support frame and facing a corresponding washing station.

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