US1945059A - Washing machine for milk cans - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 30, 1934. J, P. YMCKINLEY 1,945,059-

WASHING MACHINE FOR MILK CANS Filed May 16, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 30, J. p MCK|NLEY WASHING MACHINE FOR MILK CAN'S Filed May 16, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Jan. 39, 1934 UNITED STATES FATE FFlCE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to washing machines for milk cans and the like, and particularly to the handling of the cans and the inverting of the same during the washing operation.

a An object of the invention is to provide an improved washing machine for milk cans or similar articles, and particularly to improve and simplify the mechanism for upending or inverting the cans after washing so that the covers may be placed thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for inverting or upending cans as the cans are being conveyed along a prescribed course; which will handle the cans and invert them with a minimum of noise and with a minimum of inertia or momentum in the cans as they are discharged; which will upend or invert the cans in synchronized relation to the means for conveying the cans thereto and therefrom; which will be exceptionally quiet and rapid in operation, and simple, compact and inexpensive.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one end of a milk can washing machine, having associated therewith a can upending or inverting mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation of the can upending mechanism, but with the parts in different operative positions;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of the cradle of the upending mechanism, the section being taken approximately along line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the cradle and its operating mechanism, illustrating the cradle in can discharging position, and with certain parts removed or broken better to show other details of construction;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the crank and connecting rod mechanism for operating the cradle, the section being taken approximately along the line 5-5, Fig. 2, but when the cradle is in a slightly different position;

6 is an elevation similar to Fig. 1, but from 50 the opposite side of the machine;

Fig. 7 is a transverse, sectional elevation of the same, with the section taken approximately along line 7-7 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the cradle and its oscil- 55 lating mechanism illustrating the movement of the crank and connecting rod while the cradle remains temporarily in can receiving position.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the milk cans A, which are to be washed, are conveyed through a suitable housing 10 by propelling them along a guide or track 11 in the housing in any suitable manner, such as by dogs or pawls 12 which engage the cans and push them step by step along the track 11 in the housing. The cans are conveyed in this manner in a definite path through the housing 10 while in an inverted position, so that jets or streams of cleansing, rinsing and drying fluids may be directed into the same in succession and drained immediately. The covers 13 are similarly conveyed through the upper part of the housing by pawls or dogs 14, but the covers are rolled on edge along the guide or track 15 and when discharged, roll down an inclined track 16 to a point where they are stopped by a suitable gate1'7, and held by the latter usually until the corresponding can arrives in a position to receive the cover.

The can upending mechanism for receiving and inverting the washed cans that are discharged from the track or guide 11, is mounted upon a suitable base or frame 18, and includes a cradle 19 which is pivoted by pins 20 in suitable bearings 21 provided on upstanding brackets 22 at opposite sides of the frame 18. The cradle has a relatively broad, can receiving and supporting platform or base 23 at one end which, when the cradle is in the position shown in Fig. 1, is disposed in proximity to, or slightly below, the track 11 at the discharge end of the housing 10, so that as the cans are discharged from the housing 10 by horizontal movement of the cans, they will be received upon the base 23 of the cradle. The base 23 may be slightly inclined, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the can will tip by gravity into an inclined position and lie along the cradle, as shown in Fig. 1. When the cradle is rotated about the axis of the pins 20, such as into the position shown in Fig. 4, the can will be inverted or upended.

During the upending, the can is held against sliding out of the cradle by a lip 24 at the end of the cradle opposite to the base 23, but as the can closely approaches its upright position, as shown in Fig. 4, it will tip by gravity slightly and descend upon the track 25 of the frame or base 18 of the upending mechanism. The lip 24 may move downward y through an opening or slot in the track 25 of the base or frame 18 and allow the can to rest fully upon the track 25. The can is positively propelled along the track 25 out of the path of the cradle, while the cradle is returning to can receiving position by means of a reciprocating carriage 26 mounted to move along the track 25 and carrying a pawl 27 which engages with the depending flange at the base of the upright can, and pushes it along the track 25 and out of the path of the returning cradle.

The cans are propelled through the housing 10, upended in the cradle 19, and then moved along the track 25 by power from any suitable source. The illustrated example of this source is an electric motor 28, Fig. 1, which, through a belt 29, drives a shaft 30, and this shaft through a gear box 31 drives a shaft 32, Fig. 6, which extends crosswise of the base 18. At the opposite side of the washer from the gear box 31, the shaft 32. carries a pinion 33 which meshes with and drives a gear 34 which is mounted ona shaft 35 that also extends crosswise of the frame or base 18, and isrotatably supported by suitable bearings thereon.

The gear 34 carries a cam 36 having an eccentrio cam groove 37, Figs. 6' and '7, in a face thereof. Anv arm 38, Figs. 2'and 6, is pivoted on a shaft 39 which extends crosswise of the frame 18; A cam follower or roller 40 on the free end of the arm 38 runs in the; cam; groove 37, and since the cam groove is eccentric to the shaft 35, the rotation of the. gear 34 and the cam 36 will cause an oscillation of the arm 38- and through it of the shaft 39. An arm 41:, Figs. 1, 3, 6- and '7, is fixed on the shaft. 39 intermediate the sides of the frame or base 18, Fig. "I, and is pivotally connected at its upperend to one. end of the link 42, and the latter at its other or; opposite end is pivotally connected by a pin: 43to an, arm 44 which is in turn pivoted onthe bearing stud or shaft 45 of the frame 18.

The arm 44, at its upper and free end, is pivoted by a pin46to one end of a link 47, and the latter at its opposite end is pivoted by a pin 48' to the carriage 26. which carries the pawl 27 and moves the can away from the cradle. The carriage 26 is suitably mounted for reciprocation in the upper part of the frame 18, such as by having rollers 49 at. its opposite ends which. run: in channels 50, Fig; 7,.facing one another at the topof the frame 18. Thus, as the gear wheel 34 rotates, the carriage 26 willbe-reciprocated-back and forth along the track 25.

An arm 51 is mounted on a shaft 52, Figs.v 6 and, '7', and intermediate of its ends it mounts a cam follower or roller 53 which also runs in the cam groove 37: at a point approximately opposite from the cam follower 40, asshown in Fig. 6. The arm 51 is upstanding and'at its upper end is pivoted by a pin. 54 to one end of a link 55 which extends into the housing 10,. and is therein connected to'the' mechanism which reciprocates the pawlst12 that propel the cans through the housing by step by step movements.

The shaft 35, on. which the gear 34 is mounted, extends across the frame 18 and at the side of theframe opposite the gear 34, carriesa crank arm 56. A crank pin 5'7 isprovided upon the free end of the crank arm 56, and is received within a slot 58 provided in one end of a link or connecting rod 59. The slot 58-is elongated in shape and extends in a direction lengthwise of the link or rod 59.. The other end of the link or rod 59 is pivoted on a stud 60 carried by an arm 61. The arm 61' is connected to the cradle so'that rocking of the arm 61' will cause rocking of the cradle, and this connection may conveniently be made 'by' fixing the arm 61 on the projecting end of oneof the bearing studs 20 which mounts the cradle for oscillation. The slot 58 and pin 57 form a lost motion connection between the crank arm 56 and the link 59 for giving the cradle a short period of rest in can receiving position, as will be explained presently.

From this foregoing description, it will be observed that through the gear wheel 34, synchronous operation will be caused of the conveying means by which the cans are moved through the housing 10 of the cradle which rocks or oscillates to upend the cans, and of the carriage 26 which removes the cans from the path of the returning cradle. Since the gear 34 is continuously rotating, the crank arm 56, which is fixed on the same shaft, will, of course, be continuously rotating, and through it and the link or rod- 59 the cradle will be rocked from the can receiving position shown in Figs. 1, 6, l and 8, through the intermediate position shown in Fig. 2, and. into the can discharging position shown in Fig.4. The can receiving and discharging positions of the cradle are at the opposite dead center positions of movement of the crank arm 56, with respect to the connecting rod or link, and hence the cradle will be approximately quiet for a short interval at each limit of its movement while the crank arm moves through dead center positions.

Thestarting and stopping of the cradle in its movements in both directions will be relatively easy, because of the dead center connections to the crank arm, and the movement of the cradle will be accelerated during the first half of its oscillation in each direction, and then will be gradually and increasingly checked by the same crank action as the cradle approaches the end of its oscillation in each direction. A can A received in the cradle, asshown in Fig. 1, will be inverted or upended, and then discharged, as shown in Fig. 4, by the slowing up of the movement of the cradle due to the dead center action of the crank as the cradle approaches its discharge position shown in Fig. 4. This decreases the inertia of the can and prevents it from being discharged with material momentum. The

action is therefore especially quiet, yet rapid, and

the can will remain upright in the-position where it is discharged until it is moved by the reciprocating carriage 26 out of the path of the returning cradle.

As the cradle moves from the can receiving position shown in Fig. 1 to the discharge position shown in Fig. 4, the carriage 26 will be reciprocatecl toward the housing 10, so that when the can is discharged upon the track 25, the base of the can will be over the pawl 2'? of the carriage 26, and the latter will engage the can at its base and move it away from the cradle while the cradle is approximately quiet in the dead center position of the crank, as shown in Fig. 4. Thus the can will be removed from the path of the.

cradle before the cradle has progressed materially in its return movement to receive a new can.

It is sometimes desirable to have the cradle remain stationary for a short interval of time while in can receiving position, and the lost motion connection provided by the pin 5'? and slot 53 makes this possible. The can receiving position of the cradle is determined by the engagement of lugs 62 provided upon each side of the cradle and which engage with the upright bearing brackets 22, on which the cradle is mounted, when the cradle is in the desired can receiving position, shown in Fig. 1. While the cradle may be held in this receiving position shown in Fig. 1 by the overbalancing of one end of the cradle, there is a tend-v ency for the cradle to rebound when the lugs 62 hit the bearing frames 22, especially if sound absorbing means or a resilient pad is interposed between the lugs 62 and the bearing frames 22.

To overcome this tendency, a helical spring 63 may be connected at its ends to plates 64 and 65 which fit over the projecting ends of the crank pin 57 and the stud respectively, with the spring 63 under tension. Suitable cotter pins 66 confine the plates 64 and to the pins or studs on which they are mounted, and thus also confine the link 59 to the crank pin 57 and cradle stud 60. The spring 63 urges the link 59 toward the crank pin 57, and thus will yieldingly hold the crank pin 5'7 at the upper or inner end of the slot 58. This movement of the link 59 is possible because the spring pulls the arm 61, and through it the cradle, sufiiciently to place the inner or upper end of the slot 58 against the crank pin 5'7, and hence the spring acts as a resilient member which. connects the crank pin 5'7 with the cradle arm 51. When the cradle reaches its can receiving position during its returning or empty movement, it will assume the position shown in Fig. 8 which is determined by the engagement of the lugs'62 with the bearing frames 22.

This engagement of the lugs 62 with the frame occurs when the crank arm 56 is in the position shown by the right hand set of dash lines in Fig. 8, and at that time the link 59 will also be in the position shown in dash lines at the right of the full line position shown in Fig. 8. It will be noted at this time, when the crank arm 56 is in this right hand position shown in dash lines in Fig. 8, the crank pin 57 is s'ill at the upper or inner end of the slot 58, and the crank arm is moving in a clockwise direction in Fig. 8. Since the cradle is now held against further movement in the same direction, the continued movement of the crank arm 46 will cause the crank pin 5'7 to move along the slot 58, thereby further stretching spring 63 as the crank pin swings the link into the fuil line or dead center position shown in Fig. 8.

As the crank arm continues to move further in the same direction, because of its continuous rotation, the crank pin 58, after passing the dead center position, will move in the opposite direction along the slot 58 until it engages the inner or upper end of the slot 58, which is the position shown by the dash lines at the left in Fig. 8. During this movement of the crank arm and link 59 from the full line position to the dash line posi ion at the left in Fig. 8, the spring 63 continues to hold the cradle in the can receiving position, but soon as the crank pin reengages the inner end of the slot 58, the crank pin will positively more the link 59 and start the oscillation of the cradle from the can receiving position of Figs. 1, 6 and 8 into the discharge position of ig. a.

It will thus be seen that the cradle is held for a short period of time absolutely quite in the can receiving position, while the crank continues to rotate through a fraction of a revolution and past dead center position, which gives ample time for movement of a can from the housing 10 into the cradle, and there is no danger of the cradle being moved by vibration or other sources out of proper receiving positions since it will be held yieldingly in proper position by the spring 63 and the lugs 62. The covers held by the gate 17 are released to fall upon the upended can, by the upward movement of the gate 17 which is caused by the engagement of a roller 67, Fig. 2, of the gate within an inclined cam 68 provided on the reciprocating carriage 26. The release of the cover, however, per se, forms no part of the present invention, and any suitable cover releasing or placing mechanism may be employed, or the covers may be placed upon the upended cans manually.

The cradle may be formed in any desired manner, but preferably I provide an arcuate or partially cylindrical shell or plate 00, Figs. 1 and 3, inclined or oblique at its side edges. This plate a nestles, midway of is ends, in the concavity of an arcuate bar or strip b which at its ends is fixed on the inner ends of the studs 20 that provide the rocking or pivotal support for the cradle. The shell'a is held to the bar or strip 5 by welding, rivets or other suitable means. With this construction, the cradle may be formed largely by rolling and bending sheet metal, and yet it has the desired rigidity and strength.

The operation of this can handling mechanism should be obvious from the foregoing description of one embodiment of the invention but it will be briefly summarized. Assuming that the mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the motor 28 is started in operation, and this will also cause operation of an air blower B which delivers a stream of hot drying air into the cans just before their discharge from the housing 10. The motor also, through the shaft 30, gear box 31, and shaft 32, drives the gear 3% and the latter through the cam 36. The arm 51, and link 55, cause a step by step movement of the cans through the housing 10 where they are cleansed, sterilized and dried, and pushed horizontally into the cradle, as shown in Fig. 1. crank arm 56 causes an oscillation of the cradle in a clockwise direction in 1 to invert or upend the can, and discharge it when the cradle reaches the position shown in Fig. 4.

During this movement of the cradle for upending the can, the carriage 26 is reciprocated by the same cam into a position to place its driving pawl 2'? ready for engagement with the can which is upended assoon as the can is deposited on the track 25, as shown in Fig. 4.. While the cradle is comparatively idle by reason of the dead center position of the crank arm 56, as shown in Fig. 4, the continued movement of the cam 36 will cause the pawl 27 of the carriage 26 to move the can, through its engagement with the bottom thereof, along the track 25 and out of the path of the cradle as the cradle begins its return movement to receive a new can. The means for conveying the cans to the cradle and away from the cradle are thus, by the arrangement described, operated in properly timed or synchronized relation to the operation of the can upenoling mechanism, and a smooth, rapid and continuous handlihg orf the cans possible.

It will be obvious that various changes in the details which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a washing machine for milk cans and the like, a track along which inverted cans may travel, positively actuated means associated with the track for propelling the inverted cans step by step along said track, a can receiving cradle disposed in a position to receive a can from said track, a continuously rotating member, a crank and connecting rod connection between said-member and said cradle for oscillating the cradle about a The concomitant rotation of the 1 single axis to fully invert the can, and then return to can receiving position said connection having its dead center positions when the cradle is in can receiving and discharging positions, means disposed to receive the inverted cans and convey them away from the cradle, and means connecting said rotating member and said positively actuated means for causing their movements in timed relation to one another, whereby said cradle will always be in proper position to receive a can advanced along said track by said propelling means and delivered to said cradle.

2. In a washing machine for milk cans and the like, means for conveying cans in a prescribed path at specified intervals apart and by positive movements, a cradle disposed in a position to receive the cans from said conveying means and oscillatable about a single axis, a continuously rotating member, a crank pin carried by said member, link means connecting said cradle and crank pin, whereby rotation of said member will cause rocking movement of the cradle in a direction to fully invert the can and then discharge it, said crank pin and link having their dead ceni ter positions when said cradle is in can receiving or discharging positions, means disposed in a position to receive the discharged can from said cradle and convey it to another location, and means connecting said first conveying means and said member for causing their movements in timed relation to one another, whereby said cradle will always be in receiving position when a can is delivered to it.

3. in a washing machine for milk cans and the like, means for conveying cans in a prescribed path at specified intervals apart and by positive movements, a cradle disposed in a position to receive the cans from said conveying means and mounted for oscillation about a single axis to fully invert the can and then discharge it, a rotating member, a link pivotally connected to said cradle and member, at points materially distant from the axes of rotation of said cradle and member, whereby the cradle will be oscillated by the rotation of said'member sufiiciently to fully invert a can, means for receiving the inverted cans from said cradle and conveying them to another location, and means connecting said first conveying means and member for causing their movements in timed relation to one another, whereby said cradle will always be in receiving position when a can is delivered to it, said member and link having their dead center positions when said cradle is in can receiving and discharging positions to give the time dwell for the receipt and discharge of the cans.

4. In a washing machine for milk cans and the like, means for conveying cans in a prescribed path, a cradle disposed in a position to receive the cans from said conveying means and mounted for oscillation about a single axis to fully invert the can and then discharge it, a rotating member, a link pivotally connected to said cradle and member eccentrically of their axes of rotation, whereby rotation of said member will cause oscillation of said cradle between can-receiving and can-discharging positions, said cradle being positioned to be in can receiving and discharging positions at the dead center positions of said member and link, stop means for limiting the oscillation of said cradle beyond said receivposition, the connection between said link and one of said members being a lost motion connection, whereby when said cradle reaches canreceiving position on its return .to that position, said rotating member may continue to move past dead center position of the link for a limited extent without further movementof the cradle andthus provide an interval in which the cradle is stationary while receiving the can, and means disposed to receive the cans inverted by said cradle and discharged therefrom and to convey them to another location.

5. In awashing machine for milk cans and the like, means for conveying the cans in a prescribed path and discharging them, a cradle member disposed in a position to receive the discharged cans and mounted for oscillation about a single axis in a direction to fully invert the cans and discharge them, a rotating member, a link articulately connected at one end tosaid cradle member and its other end to said rotating memben'both pivotal connections being eccentrically of the axes of rotation of said members, whereby rotation of said rotary member will cause oscillation of said crade member, said member and link having dead center positions while said cradle is in can receiving and discharging positions, the pivotal connection between said link and one of said members being a pin and slot connection enabling limited relative movement between a member and the end of the link to which it is pivotally connected at their dead centerpositions, whereby as said cradle member approaches one limit position, the pin and slot connection will enable the cradle to remain stationary for a fractional portion of the rotation of said rotary member, and means disposed in a position to receive an inverted can discharged by said cradle member, and to convey it to a different location.

6.: In a washing machine for milk cans and the like, means for conveying the cans in a prescribed-path and. discharging them, a cradle member disposed in a position to receive the discharged cans and mounted for oscillation in a direction to invert the cans and discharge them, a rotating member, a link articulately connected at one end to said cradle member and its other end to said rotating member, both pivotal connections being eccentrically of the axes of rotation of said members, whereby rotation of said rotary member will cause oscillation of said cradle member, the pivotal'connection between said link and one of said members being a pin and slot connection enabling limited relative movement between a member and the end of the link to which .it is pivotally connected, whereby as said cradle member approaches one limit position, the pin and slot connection will enable the cradle to remain stationary for .a fractional portion of the rotation of said rotary member, a spring connecting the link and the pin running in said slot, and urging said pin yieldingly into one end of said slot, whereby the pin and slot connection will normally move as a unit, but may yield when said cradle member is stopped, a stop limiting the movement of said cradle member in one direction as said cradle member closely approaches the limit of its oscillation in that direction, while said pin and slot connection permits continued movement of said member past dead center position, and means disposed in a position to receive an inverted can discharged by said cradle mem- 7 ber, and to convey it to a different location. ing position while returning to can-receiving '7..In a washing machine for milk cans and the like, means for conveying cans along a prescribed path, and discharging them by horizontal movement of the cans, a cradle disposed in a position to receive a can discharged by said conveying means, and rockably supported for oscillation in a direction to invert the can, a link pivoted at one end to said cradle at a distance from the axis of oscillation of the cradle, a rotating member, a crank carried by said member at a distance from the axis of rotation of said member, said link at the other end thereof having a slot fitting over said pin with the slot running in a direction endwise of the link, a spring connected between said link and said pin, so as to hold said pin yieldingly in one end of said slot, and means disposed in a position to receive a can inverted by the oscillation of said cradle.

8. In a washing machine for milk cans and the like, means for conveying cans along a prescribed path, and discharging them by horizontal movement of the cans, a cradle disposed in a position to receive a can discharged by said conveying means, and rockably supported for oscillation in a direction to invert the can, a link pivoted at one end to said cradle at a distance from the axis of oscillation of the cradle, a rotating member, a crank carried by said member at a distance from the axis of rotation of said member, said link at the other end thereof having a slot fitting over said pin with the slot runnin in a direction endwise of the link, a spring urging said pin yieldingly into the end of said slot nearest the end of the link which is connected to the cradle, a stop against which said cradle abuts when it reaches can-receiving position just prior to the dead center position of said pin as it returns the cradle to can-receiving position, whereby when said cradle reaches can-receiving position, it will be stopped and continued movement of said member and pin will cause said pin to move along said slot, tension said spring and hold the cradle against return movement until said link passes dead center position with respect to said rotating member, and again reaches the end of the slot into which it is urged by said spring, whereupon the cradle is started in its oscillation to invert the can, and means for receiving and conveying away the cans inverted by said cradle.

9. In a machine for washing milk cans and the like, means for conveying said cans in a prescribed path and discharging them by horizontal movement of the can, a cradle disposed in an inclined position to receive a can when so discharged from said means, a member rotating in synchronized relation to the movement of said conveying means, a crank pin carried by said member at a distance from the axis of rotation of said member, a link having a slot extending in a direction endwise thereof, and fitting said pin so as to have a limited 10st motion connection therewith, said link being connected at its other end to said cradle at a distance from the axis of oscillation from said cradle, a spring acting upon said pin and urging it yieldingly against that end of said slot which is nearest to the end connected to said cradle, whereby when said crank pin is returning said cradle to can-receiving position, it will do so through the action of said spring, a stop limiting the movement of said cradle in said returning direction to can-receiving position and just before the maximum movement which would otherwise be given said cradle by said crank pin, whereby said cradle will remain momentarily stationary in can-receiving position While said spring yields to movement of said pin along said slot until said link passes dead center position with respect to the axis of rotation of said member, and the pin returns along said slot until it again rigidly engages said link and causes movement of said cradle in an inverting direction, and means for receiving, and conveying away, a can inverted by said cradle.

10. In a machine for washing milk cans and the like, means for conveying said cans positively in a prescribed path at definitely spaced intervals and discharging them by a horizontal movement of the can, a cradle disposed in a position to receive a can discharged by said means through such horizontal movement, said cradle being mounted for movement about a single axis in a direction to fully invert the can so received, a member rotating continuously and in synchronism with the movement of said conveying means, and a crank and connecting rod connection between said member and said cradle and having dead center positions in can receiving and dis charging position of said cradle, whereby said cradle will be moved to invert said cans by movement synchronized with respect to said can conveying means, and means for receiving and conveying away the cans inverted by said cradle.

11. In an upending mechanism for milk cans and the like, a segment of a cylinder of sheet metal, an arcuate metal plate fitting the curvature of said segment, and secured thereto and extending transversely thereof at a point approximately midway between its ends, bearing pins carried by the ends of said plate and extending in directions transversely of the segment and away from one another, bearing means for said pins with one of the pins extending beyond its bearing, and an operating arm connected to said extending pin at its free end.

JOHN P. MCIGNLEY.

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