US1765996A - Dish-drying apparatus - Google Patents

Description

ffm MM s. oLsoN DISH DRYING APPARATUS Filed Jue 21.- 192s June 24, 1930.

I dishes,

Patented june Z4, 193@ SAMUEL OLSON, OF CHICAGO, SMITH, ONE-FIFTH TO ONE-FIFTH TO OWEN T. WEBER, ALL O ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO WILLIAM E. PHILIP 'VAN HORNE, ONE-FIFTH TO RAYNOR F. STARR, Iiy CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND ONE-FIFTH TO SAMUEL OLSON 8a COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS vlDISH-ZDR'YING APPARATUS Application led June 21,

The invention relates to apparatus for' drying dishes and other such articles.

The object of the inventionis to provide a drier ofthe type'that is adapted for association with a washer, which requires a minimum of space, is efficient in its opera-` In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a drier embodying the invention, and a washer with which the drier is adapted to be associated, a portion of the washer being omitted. Fig; 2 is a vertical section taken' on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig.'3 is a detail `of the presser member which -is adapted to hold the articles upon the conveyor belt. Fig. 4 is a detail vsection of the pivotal connection vbetween the delivery arm of one of 'the pipes for delivering jets of air to the top surfacev of the and the air delivery pipe,

The invention is exemplified in a drier for dishes which is adapted for association with a Washer W of the type whichcomprises a frame-work 9; a washing chamber 10; anendless conveyor belt 11 which is supported on the .frame-work and is -operable to convey the soiled dishes through the washing chamber; a plurality of pipes 12 extending transversely across the washing chamber and disposed below the conveyor belt and provided with openings for delivering jets of water onto the dishes as they lpass through the chamber to clean them;

drain 13 which is supported by the frame-work, is disposed elow th'e conveyor belt 11, and4 is adapted to receive the waste waterwhich is sprayed against the dishes in transit through the washingy chamber, as well understood inthe art.

The new and improved drier for .the dishes and other such articles comprises standards 20, cross beams 21, .and longitudi- 1926. serial No. 117,306.

nal beams 22,:all of which are rigidly sef cured together to form a frame-work for supporting lthe drying chamber, the drying apparatus, and an endless conveyor beit 23. The latter extends longitudinally across the top of the drier frame-work, is adapted to carry and propel the dishes and articles through the drying chamber, and

comprises links 24 which are pivotally connected to cross rods 25 and are spaced relatively to each other by sleeves 26 so as to form spaces therebetween. The receiving -end of conveyor 23 is adapted to be positioned adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor 11 of the washer to receive dishes and other articles from the washer after they have been washed. The receiving end'` j of the conveyor 23 is disposed at a lower level than the discharge end of the washer conveyor so that the dishes discharged ,from the latter will fall by gravity onto conveyor 23.4 A slideway 27 is disposed between the discharge end ofthe conveyor 11 and the receiving end of conveyor 23 to facilitate the delivery of the dishes. This slideway may be supported from either the washer .or drier frame-work in any suitable manner. Belt 23 is supportedat its ends by means .of drums 28 and 29. These drums are secured to shafts 30 and 31 respectively which are rotatably ymounted in bearings formed in lugs -20a which are integrally formed with standards 20. The mechanism for driving conveyorbelt 23 comprises an electricmot'or 32 which is mounted on a base 33 which extends between and isl secured to 4which extends transversely across the framework and is journalled in suitable 'bearings formed in a pair of lugs T201) which are A integrally formed with standards20; a gear 42 which is'mounted on the other end of' '90 34 by an endless belt 37 a pulshaft 41; and a gear 43 which meshes with gear 42 and is mounted on one end of shaft 30. l

. The drying chamber through which the dishes are propelled by conveyor belt' 23 is formed by a sheet metal housing or enclosure which comprises a .pair of side walls 44 and 45 which are secured to the sides of the fran1e-work and are provided at their top with portions 44a which extend outwardly of the receiving end of the conveyor 23 and overthe discharge end. of washer W; a top wall 46 which connects the side walls 44 and 45and portions 44a; anda front and rear wall 47 and 48 which terminate at a suflivcient distance above belts 23 and 11 respectively to form openings through which the dishes and. articles may pass.

l The apparatus for drying the dishes comprises a pair of air pipes 50 and 51 which extendv transversely across the drying chamber and are disposed normally adjacent the top surface of belts 11 and 23-respectively. Each of these pipes is provided with a series of jet openings 52 which extend downwardly toward the articles so` that the latter'will be subjectedto jets of air under lpressure to disperse and absorb the moisture ,thereon Pipe 50 is disposed adjacent the discharge end of washer conveyor 11 and the air discharged therefrom is adapted to disperse the water remaining on the dishes after the latter have been subjected to the jets of water frompipes 12. The ends of pipe are provided with upwardly extend-v lng arms 53 and 54, the distal ends of which are pivotally mounted so lthat pipe 50 may be swung upwardly by the dishes, to permit the latter to pass thereunder. Pipe 50 normally assumes a position which is in close proximity to the upper surface of the conveyor. The upper end -of arm 54 is connected by a screw-thread connection 55 to a fitting 56 which extends laterally. and is 'pivotally or rotatably mounted around the inner end of a branch -pipe 57. The lat.- ter extends through an opening 58 in the 'front end of portion 44et of side 44 and is connected to receive air under pressure from a su ply pipe 59. This pipe extends longitu inally of and adjacent the outer surface of portion 44a and is connected by a I pipe 60 to a fitting 61. .f The latter is connected by a pipe 62, a fitting 63, 'and a pipe 64 to a compressor 65 which'is mounted -on base 33 and is connected to be driven 'by shaft 36. A valve 66 is connected to pipe 5S? to control the amount of air delivered to plpe 50. Branch pipe 57 is suitably supported adjacent opening 58. Fitting 56 is inner end of pipe 57 wlth an annular integral an'ge 56a which is adapted to abut against the inner end of said plpe to limit the outward movement ofl the fitting. An annular groove 56"- is' formed in the fitting outwardly of flange 56EL and in which are disposed a plurality of balls 56c which form a suitable'bearing for the fitting. A cylindrical opening 56d is formed in the fitting and communicates with the groove to permit the balls 56c to be inserted or removed therefrom. A plug 56" is connected by a screw thread connection 56f tothe fitting and is adapted to close openings 56d. Arm 53 is solid and is `connected at its outer end by a screw-thread connection 67 to a laterally extending fitting 68 which is pivotally mounted on p0rtion 44a of side 45 by a suitable ball bearing.

Pipe 5l for absorbing any moisture which may remain on the dishes, extends across the central portion of conveyor belt 23 and is provided at its ends with arms 70 and 71.

The distal ends of arms 70 andv 71 are pivotally connected to fittings 72 and 73 respectively which are similar in construction to fittings 68 and 56. Fitting 73 is rotatably mounted around the inner end of a pipe 74 which extends through side wall 44 and is connected to fitting 61 to receive air under pressure therefrom. Connecting rods 75 extend between the fittings on the arms of the pipes 50 and 51 respectively to space them apart. Each rod is provided with a shaft 76 extending downwardly and in the opposite direction to the pipe arms. A weight 77 is slidably mounted on each shaft 76 and acts as a counter-balance for the pipe. Each weight is provided with a thumb screw whereby it may be secured in a fixed position. A strip 79 extends longitudinally of each pipe 50 and 51 and forms a surface against which the dishes will abut to swing the pipes into an elevated position. These strips are formed of resilient material such as rubber and are secured to the arms of pipes 50 and 51 respectively. A pipe 80 is disposed adjacent the under surface of the conveyor belt 23 adjacent pipe 5l and is provided with a plurality of jet openings 80a which are inclined upwardly and are adapted to deliver jets of air through the spaces in the conveyor belt 'to the under surfaces of the articles so as to labsorb the moisture thereon. Pipe 80 is suitably supported and connected by a fitting 82 to supply pipe 64. 4

In practice, it hasbeen found that the force of the jets of air discharged from pipe 80 is sufficient to raise the articles from the conveyor belt 23. To prevent this, pipe 51 is provided with a horizontally extending flexible strip or member 87 which is4 disposed in the path of the jets of air discharged from pipe 8O and is adapted to press. the dishes against the conveyor belt as they pass under pipe 51. This strip is provided with a plurality of slots which extend directly in the path of the jetsof air dischar ed from pipe 8O so that the air may pass uno structed strip or pipe 51 wh v to permit the articles charge end and without imparting movement to the en no dishes are passing thereunder.

The operation. of. the drier will be asfollows: After the dishes have been washed, they will be propelled by the conveyor belt of the washer into Contact with pipe 50 of the drier which will subject the articles to jets of vair under pressure'to disperse the water thereon. Upon reaching the end of belt 11 of the washer, the dishes will be discharged onto slideway 27 from which they willbe received'by the receivin end of: the conveyor belt 23 of the drier. This conveyor will then propel the dishes and articles through the drying chamber where they will 'ahum-against pipe 51 and cause the latter tfojbe swung upwardly a suiiicient distance to pass thereunder, during which movement their topsurfaces will be vsubjecte(V to 'jets of air under pressureA from pipe 51 and their lower surfaces will be subjected. to jets of air under pressure from pipe 80 These jets will absorb an moisture on the dishes, thereby completely drying them. The articles will then pass from the drying Ichamber to the disof the conveyor which they-'may be delivered able receiving member.

The invention exemplifies a dish drying apparatus-of new and improved construction in which provision is made for suspending an air pipe over the discharge end of a washer, whereby the dishes on the latter will be subjected to jets of air under presj vention is that sure to disperse the moisture thereon, and in which provision is madek for pressing the dishes against the conveyo-r belt of the drier so that they will-not be raised therefrom or displaced when subjected to jets of air from for absorbing the moisture Ion characteristic of the present inthe apparatus requires only a minimum of space, due to the arrangement thereof. The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these ma be modified within the scope of the apended claims,` without departing from the them. A

spirit and scope of the invention.

' to extend i over pressure to described the invention, what Having thus Let- 1 claim as new and desire to secure by ters Patent, is: f

1".' In combination with a dish washer comprising a conveyor, a drying apparatus comprising a frame, a conveyor supporte by the frame andv adapted to receive the n dishes discharged from the washer-conveyor,

means supported by the frame 'and adapted the discharge end ot `the for delivering air under washer-conveyor t l the dishes carried by said washerdisperse the water thereon, sai

conveyor to movably mounted andsliiftable means being belt 23 rom onto any suitby the articles carried by the washer-conveyor, and means supported by the frame for drying the dishes carried by the drierconveyor.

2. In combination With a dish washing apparatus embodying an endless conveyor, an independent drier yunit adapted to be used in conjunction with the washer apparatus comprising a frame having a portion thereof adapted to overhang the discharge end of the washer conveyor, an endless conveyor supported by the frame and adapted to receive the dishes discharged from said-washer conveyor, means supported by the overhanging portion of the trame and adapted to eX- tend transversely across the discharge end of the washer conveyor for delivering air under pressure to the dishes carried by said washer conveyor to disperse the water thereon, and means supported by the frame tor delivering air under pressure to the dishes carried bythe drier conveyor to dry them.

3. In combination with a dish washing apparatus comprising an conjunction with said washer apparatus and comprising a trame, an endless conveyor supported by the frame and adapted toreceive the dishes dischargedv from the washer a pipe supported by the frame and adapted to extend transversely across to the discharge end of the washer conveyor, said pipe being provided witha series of openings for deliverwasher conveyor to disperse the water thereon, a pipe supported by the frame and provided with a series of openings Jfor delivering jets of air to the dishes carried by the drier conveyor to dry them, and means Jfor delivering air under pressure to said pipes'.

4. In combination with a dish washer comprising a conveyor, prising a frame, la conveyor supported by the frame and adapted to receive the dishes discharged from the Washer-conveyor, a pipe adapted to extend across the discharge end of the washer-conveyor and provided with endless conveyor, an- 4 independent drier unit adapted to be used in a drying apparatus comopeningsV for delivering` jetso air to thev c dishes carried by said washer-conveyor to disperse the water'thereon, means mounted on said frame for pivotally supporting the y pipe to permit the latter tovbe swung upwardly by the articles carried by the washerconveyor, means Jfor delivering air under pressure to the dishes carried by thedrier-` conveyor to dry them, and means for delivering air under pressure to said pipe.

5, In combination with a dish washer comprising a conveyor, a

frame, a conveyor adapted to receive the vdishes discharged from the Washer-conveyor,

drying chamber, a

an enclosure formin -a portion o said enclosure projecting outwardly of the"recei'v.ing. end osaid drier-coni drier comprising a.v

openings to the under side veyor and adapted to extend over the discharge end of the washer-conveyor, means adapted to extend beneath said portion of the enclosure and across the discharge end ,of the washer-conveyor for delivering air under pressure to the dishes carried by said washer-conveyor to disperse the Water thereon, and means in said drying chamber for drying the dishes carried by the drierconveyor.

6. In combination with a dish washer comprising a conveyor, a drier comprising a frame, a conveyor adapted to receive the dishes discharged from the washer-conveyor, an enclosure forming a drying chamber, a portion of said enclosure projecting outvardly ot the receiving end of said drierconveyor and over the discharge end of the washer-conveyor, a pipe adapted to extend. across the discharge end ot' the washer-conveyor and provided with a series of openings for delivering` jets of air to the dishes carried by said washer-conveyor to disperse the water thereon, means secured to said portion of the enclosure for pivotally supporting said pipe to permit the latter to be swung upwardly by the articles on the washer-conveyor, a pipe in said chamber for delivering air under pressure to the dishes carried by the diier-coiiveyor, and means for delivering air under pressure to said pipes.

dishes, having openings therein, means disposed beneath said conveyor for delivering air under pressure through the openings to the under side of the dishes carried by the conveyor, and a resilient strip disposed adjacent the means and operative to press the dishes against the conveyor to prevent them from being displaced by the air delivered from said means.

8. In a drying apparatus of the character dcscribed,the combination of a frame, a conveyor for dishes mounted on the frame, said conveyor having openings therein, means disposed beneath the conveyor for delivering air under pressure through the of the dishes carried by the conveyor, a member supy ported by the'franie and mounted to swing,

said member extending across and being positioned ladjacent said means, and a strip secured to and co-extensive with said member, said strip being adapted to hold the dishes against the conveyor to prevent them from being displaced by the air from said means.

9. In a drying apparatus of the character described, the combinationl of a frame, a conveyor for the articles to be dried mounted on the frame, said `conveyor having openings therein, a pipe disposed beneath the conveyor and provided with a series of openings for delivering jets of air under ,means for delivering n a drying apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conveyor for pressure through the openings in the conveyor to the under side of the articles, a member supported by the frame and mounted to swing, said member' extendingV across the conveyor and being disposed adjacent the pipe, and a strip connected to the member and adapted to hold the articles against the conveyor to prevent them from being displaced by the jets of air, said strip aving a series of slots formed therein corresponding to the series of holes in the pipe and arranged in alignment therewith.

10. In combination with a dish washer comprising a conveyor, an independent drier unit adapted to be associated with the Washer and comprising a frame, a pipe-element supported by the frame and adapty to be positioned over and across the .d/charge end of the washer-conveyor, said pipeelement being provided with an opening for delivering a jet of air to the dishes carried by said water thereon, means for movabl'y supporting said pipe-element so that it will move when gaged by said dishes to permit the latter to vpass thereunder, and air under pressure to the .pipefelement 11. In combination with a dish washer comprising an endless conveyor, an independent drier unit adapted to be associated with the washer and comprising a frame, said frame having an extension for overlapping the discharge end of the washerconveyor, a pipe-element supported by said extension and adapted to extend over and transversely across the washer-conveyor said pipe-element having an opening for delivering a jet of air to disperse the lwater on the dishes carried by said washer-conveyor, a pivotal connection for supporting the pipe-element so that it may be swung upwardly when engaged by the dishes to permit the latter to pass thereunder, and means mounted onthe frame for delivering air under pressure to the pi pe-eleinent.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 8th day of February, 1926.

. SAMUEL OLSON.

Images