US3443568A - Dishwashing machine spray box mounting means - Google Patents

Description

3,4433568 DISHWASHING MACHINESPRAY BOX MOUNTING MEANS Filed Ngv. 1e, 196e of 2 Sheet May 13, 1969 c. JANlszEwsKl Casime nf@ y @uw /WW/ MN. N* W DISHWASHING MACHINE SPRAY BOX MOUNTING MEANS Filed Nov. 1e, 196s Z of 2 Sheet May 13, 1969 c: JANlszEwsKl -@Q C Q Q c J Q 3,443,568 DISHWASHING MACHINE SPRAY BOX MOUNTING MEANS Casimer Janiszewski, Chicago, Ill., assignor to G. S.

Blakeslee & Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 594,783 Int. Cl. B08b 3/02 U.S. Cl. 134-199 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dishwashing machine comprising a housing, upper and lower spray boxes in the housing, a riser at the outer face of the housing, and adaptors respectively connecting the spray boxes to the riser.

This invention relates to dishwashing and analogous machines and has to do with spray boxes and mounting means therefor, and associated features, for use in such machines.

The dishwashing machine shown, by way of example, is similar to the machine disclosed in the copending applic-ation of John Cumming for Sectional Dishwashing Machine and Structural Units, Ser. No. 574,427, filed Aug. 23, 1966, and a brief description thereof will suice except as to those features having to do with my present invention. The above application and the instant application are commonly owned by the same assignee. In its broader aspects my invention may be applied to any suitable machine, as will be understood.

In commercial dishwashing machines the dishes and other articles to be washed are moved through the machine by conveyor means and during their travel are subjected to successive washing and rinsing operations. The washing and rinsing liquids, a detergent solution and water, as the case m-ay be, are sprayed downwardly onto the dishes from above and upwardly from beneath the dishes, by spray boxes to which the liquid is supplied under appropriate pressure. It is important that ready access be had to the interior parts of the machine, in order that they be kept in a clean and sanitary condition. It is also desirable that the successive spray areas through which the dishes pass be of substantial extent and that the dishes be sprayed from above in advance of being sprayed from beneath. The advantage of that is that the downwardly directed sprays flush off food particles and scraps which may be adhered to the dishes and direct them into the underlying scrap trays, so that the sprays projected upwardly against the dishes act thereon to best advantage.

My invention is `directed to spray boxes and mounting means therefor, and associated features, whereby the desirable results stated are attained. One of the objects of my invention is the provision of spray boxes and mounting means therefor such that the spray boxes may readily be removed to render the interior of the machine accessible for cleaning, and may as readily be replaced. It is also an object of my invention to provide spray box mounting means which assures accurate positioning of the spray boxes and liquid tight closures between them and associated liquid supply conduits or risers. A further important object of my invention is the provision of spray box mounting means whereby the upper spray boxes may be offset lengthwise of the machine relative to the lower boxes, thereby increasing the spray area through which the dishes travel. Further objects and ladvantages of my invention will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a dishwashing machine embodying my invention, with parts broken away;

nited States Patent O ICC FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, on `an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, of one of the upper spray boxes and associated parts.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the upper housing and tank portion of one section or module of the machine of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale and looking downward, of the inner end portion of one of the lower spray boxes and associated parts; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, of the outer end portion of one of the lower spray boxes and associated parts, the outer of front wall of the housing being shown fragmentarily in end elevation.

The machine shown in FIGURE 1 is formed of a plurality of similar sections or modules s respectively comprising a base frame 1, an upwardly opening tank 2 and an open ended housing 3 overlying and secured to tank 2. The housings 3 have inwardly extending side and top anges and one side of each housing is provided with a door opening and a door 4 therefor vertically slidable between vertical end panels 5 of channel cross section having inwardly extending side flanges, one of which is shown at 6 in FIGURE 6. The sections s of the machine are secured together end to end, by welding together the abutting end llanges thereof, providing a machine of the desired length.

Each of the -housings 3 has mounted therein, at each side thereof, upper and lower track sections 6 of substantially Z-shape in cross section, preferably supported on the side end flanges of the section as in the above identitied Cumming application, though the track sections may be mounted in any suitable manner Within the broader aspects of my invention. An endless flight conveyor 7, similar to that disclosed in Patent 3,086,641, issued Apr. 23, 1963, to John Cumming, travels upon the track sections. The conveyor comprises cross rods 8 extending through side chains 9 and carrying rollers 10 which travel -upon the tracks 6. As will be understood, the track sections of the modules of sections s 4are accurately aligned and the upper run of the conveyor 7 travels upon the upper track sections 6, the lower run thereof travelling upon the lower track sections. As viewed in FIGURE 1, the upper run of the conveyor travels from left to right. The cross rods -8 of conveyor 7 are connected by flights 11 of substantially U-shape which extend inwardly between the runs of conveyor 7. Plates and other tlat ware to be washed are inserted edgewise into the conveyor flights, at the feed end of the machine, and lare removed therefrom at the delivery end. Small articles, such as cups, glasses, cutlery and the like, are placed in open work baskets or racks which are set upon the upper run of the conveyor 7 for travel therewith.

A spray box mounting frame comprising two spaced apart parallel channel members 14, one of which is shown in FIGURES 4 and 6, is secured in the lower portion of each section or module s transversely thereof and midway of the door opening. The channel members 14 are disposed with their web elements facing each other and their open sides directed away from each other. An angle strip 15 is secured to the inner face of each channel member 14 with its upper ange projecting inwardly therefrom. The angle strips 1S provide guide and support means for a lower spray box 16, to be described more fully presently. The spray box 16 is provided at its outer end and at each side thereof with a headed stud or button 17. When the spray box 16 is in its fully inserted normal position, the heads of the buttons 17 engage beneath the flanges of angle strips 15 effective therewith for restraining the outer end of spray box 16 against upward movement. The channel members 14 and associated parts provide a substantially H-shaped frame similar to that disclosed in the above identified Cumming application. While such a spray box mounting frame is preferred, it is not essential to my invention, and any suitable means may be provided for supporting and guiding the spray box. Suffice it to state the lower spray box 16 is supported and guided by suitable means such that it may readily be removed and replaced through the door opening.

The spray box 16 is formed of stainless steel and is of rectangular form both transversely and lengthwise. The top wall of box 16 is provided with accurately positioned openings punched therein. The punched openings receive plastic spray nozzles 20, to be described more fully later. The outer end wall of spray box 16 is provided with a central cylindrical opening (FIGURES 4 and 6). Such opening snugly receives a shouldered taper plug 21 secured on the inner end of a stem 21a threaded through the upwardly extending arm of a substantially L-shaped latch member 22 pivoted at its outer end, at 23, on a bracket 24. The bracket 24 is secured to and extends inwardly from an outer bracket 25 fixed to and extending inwardly from a flange 26 extending inwardly from the front wall of tank 2. The other or inner end wall 27 of spray box 16 is provided with a central elongated rectangular or oblong opening which snugly receives the correspondingly formed and slightly tapered inner end fiange 28 of an adaptor 29 (FIGURE 5). A sealing gasket 30 of rubber or other suitable compressible material is mounted on an outwardly extending rib 31 at the outer or base end of fiange 28. The outer end portion of adaptor 29 is of cylindrical shape interiorly and fits snugly about a fitting or collar 32 threaded tightly onto a flanged nipple 33 extending through an Opening in wall 34 of tank 2. The openuing in wall 34 is in register with an opening in the fiat inner wall 35a of a riser 35 mounted on the outer face of wall 34 of tank 2 and the outer face of wall 36 of housing 3. Wall 34 is aligned with and is in fact an extension of wall 36. The nipple 33 fits snugly through the openings in the walls 34 and 35a with its flange 37 seating on the inner face of wall 35a of riser 35. The inner end portion of collar 32 is slightly tapered to facilitate its entry into adaptor 29 and it is provided, adjacent such tapered portion with a circumferential groove which receives an O-sealing ring 38. The collar 32 is further provided adjacent its outer end with a circumferential groove 39 of V-cross section which receives the tapered inner ends of screws 40 threaded into the outer end portion of adaptor 29. The screws 40 force the accurately finished outer end of adaptor 29 into contact with the inner face of wall 34 thereby assuring accurate location of adaptor 29 on wall 34 with ange 28 of adaptor 29 disposed horizontally lengthwise.

With latch member 22 swung to its outer releasing position, shown in broken lines in FIGURE 6, spray box 16 is slid inwardly along angle strips until fiange 28 of adaptor 29 has fully entered the opening in end wall 27 of box 16 so as to fit snugly therein. The latch member 22 is then swung to its operative position, and stem 21a, the outer portion of which is of increased diameter and threaded through member 22, is rotated by means of its hand wheel 2lb so as to move stem 21a inwardly toward the adjacent end wall of spray box 16. In the inward movement of stem 21a the tapered plug-21 enters the opening in the end wall of spray box 16, properly centering that end of the box, after which the shoulder of the plug is moved into pressure contact with the end wall that is effective for forcing the other end wall 27 of box 16 into pressure contact with gasket 27, assuring a pressure resistant fluid tight closure about the opening in that wall. The flange 28 of adaptor 29 then fits tightly in the oblong opening in wall 27 effectively restraining spray box 16 against turning movement, as will appear more fully in connection with the upper spray box, to be desrcibed in detail presently. Also, the shoulder plug 21 is then in pressure contact with the corresponding end wall of box 16 assuring a fluid tight pressure resistant closure of the opening in that wall. The buttons 17 cooperate with the angle strips 15 to restrain the outer end of box 16 against upward movement during the pressure applying operation, upon completion of which box 16 is tightly and accurately held properly positioned. To remove spray box 16, the stern 21a is threaded outwardly until plug 21 clears the adjacent end wall of box 16, after which member 22 is swung outwardly and downwardly to position permitting ready withdrawal of box 16 through the door opening. With member 22 in its outer inoperative position, indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 6, box 16 may readily be reinserted and secured in position. A small drainage opening 41 is provided in the bottom wall 42 of box 16, and the openings in the end walls thereof give access to the interior of the box for thorough cleaning thereof.

An upper spray box 45 is mounted in housing 3 at the top thereof. It is similar in construction to the lower box 16 but is reversed relative thereto. The bottom wall 46 of box 45 is provided with three lengthwise rows of openings punched therein, each row preferably comprising four openings though the number of openings may be varied. Each opening receives the reduced neck 47 of a plastic spray nozzle 48 of generally oblong shape in plan and provided with a lengthwise slot 49 (FIGURES 2 and 3). Each nozzle is also provided with an outwardly extending circumferential flange 50 seating on the under face of wall 46 and secured thereto by rivets 51. The slots of the nozzles of the two outer rows are disposed lengthwise of box 45 and those of the middle row are disposed at a. slight angle transversely of box 45, as shown more clearly in FIGURE 2. That is desirable as assuring complete spray coverage of the area underlying box '45. The spray nozzles 20 of the lower spray box 16 are similar to those of the upper box 45 and are arranged and secured in the same manner as in the upper box and need not be further described. The necks 47 of the nozzles 48 of the upper box 45 are provided with notches 52 extending to the upper face of bottom wall 46 of box 45. When the supply of liquid is cut off, when the machine is not in operation, the notches 52 assure complete drainage of box 45 through nozzles 48 and the opening 41 in bottom wall 42 of the lower spray box 16 assures drainage of the latter, which is desirable for obvious reasons.

The inner end wall 55 of spray box 45 is provided with a centrally located elongated rectangular opening 56 of the same dimensions as the opening in the inner end wall 27 of the lower box 16. The opening 56 in end wall 55 of box 45 snugly receives a similarly shaped inner end fiange 56a of an adaptor 57. The outer end of adaptor 57 receives snugly therein a tubular fitting or collar 58 threaded tightly onto a fianged nipple 59 fitting snugly through registering openings in wall 36 and the inner wall 35a of riser 35. The opening 56 in end wall 55 of box 45 and the flange 56a of adaptor 57 are disposed horizontally lengthwise, as are the openings in the end wall 27 of box 16 and flange 28 of adaptor 29. The lower and upper boxes 16 and 45 are thus interchangeable and each thereof is held against turning movement by its associated adaptor. The inner end of collar 58 is slightly tapered at 60 to facilitate entry thereof into the outer end of adaptor 57. The collar 58 is provided with a circumferential groove 61 which receives an O-sealing ring 62 and is further provided, adjacent its outer end, with a circumferential groove 63 of V-shape in cross section. The groove 63 receives the tapered inner ends of screws 64 threaded in the outer end of adaptor 57 and effective for forcing the accurately finished outer end surface thereof into pressure contact with the inner face of wall 36. Flange 65 of nipple 59 seats against the outer face of the inner wall 35a of riser 35 in the same manner as the flange 37 of nipple 33 associated with adaptor 29 of the lower spray box 16.

The adaptor 57 is provided at its outer end with an upwardly extending boss 68 having a flat upper face which seats against the flat under face of a reinforcing channel member 69 underlying and secured to top wall 70 of housing 3. The end Wall of upper spray box 45, adjacent the door 4, is provided with a central circular opening similar to that in the corresponding end wall of lower spray box 16. A short rod or stem 71 (FIGURE 4), provided with a hand wheel 72, is threaded through the downwardly extending arm of an angle bracket 73 secured to channel member 69 adjacent door 4. The stem 71 carries at its inner end a shouldered tapered plug similar to plug 21 of stem 21a associated with the lower spray box 16. In mounting the upper spray box 45 it is positioned upon the inner end flange 56a of adaptor 57, as above described. The stem 71 is then threaded through bracket 73 inwardly so that the plug enters the opening in the end wall of spray box 45. In the continued inward movement of stem 71 the base flange of the plug is forced into pressure contact with the end wall of the box. Further inward movement of stem 71 compresses a sealing gasket 74 mounted on a rib 75 extending about adaptor 57 at the outer end of flange 56a thereof, similar to the gasket 30 and rib 31 of the adaptor 29 for the lower spray box 16. The upper box 45 is then tightly and accurately secured in operative position and the openings in the end walls thereof are effectively sealed. The seating of the flat upper face of boss 68 of adaptor 57 against the under face of channel member, in cooperation with the close fit of the oblong flange 56a of adaptor 57 in the opening 56 in end wall 55 of spray box 45 effectively assures that the latter will be maintained in its proper horizontal position. The spray box 45 may readily be removed by threading stem 71 outwardly until the plug thereof is spaced an appropriate distance from the end wall of the box, which may then be moved toward the door opening and withdrawn from the adaptor 57. The box may readily be replaced by reversing the operation, as will be understood. Should it be desired to reverse the offset position of the upper spray box 45 and its adaptor 57 when the direction of travel of the conveyor 7 is reversed, the mounting means of the upper pilot carrier bracket 73 is so arranged that the bracket 73 may be shifted lengthwise of the machine.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the body portion of adaptor 57 is disposed at an angle horizontally relative to the end portions thereof so that flange 56a is offset to the left relative to the collar 58 and nipple 59. Accordingly, the upper spray box 45 is offset to the left relative to the lower spray box 16, the adaptor 29 of the latter box being straight lengthwise, as shown in FIGURE 5. As will be understood from what has been said, the riser 35 extends from the top housing 3 downwardly along wall 36 thereof and wall 34 of tank 2. The base frame 1 of each of the sections s has mounted thereon a motorpump unit comprising a centrifugal pump 78 driven by an electric motor 79. The motor-pump unit preferably is similar to that disclosed in Patent 3,108,607, issued Oct. 29, 1963, to David G. Blakeslee, though any suitable motor and pump means may be used. In the operation of the machine, the pump 78 withdraws liquid, a detergent solution or rinse water, as the case may be, from tank 2 delivers it under appropriate pressure to the lower and upper spray boxes 16 and 45. The liquid is projected upwardly against the dishes and other articles from beneath the upper run of conveyor 7 by the lower spray box 16, and downward against the dishes and other articles by the upper spray box 45. As previously noted, the upper spray box 45 is offset to the left, counter to the direction of travel of the upper run of the conveyor, relative to the lower spray box 16. Consequently, the dishes will be subjected to spray from the upper box 45 before they enter the spray zone of the lower box 16, and then subjected to spray from both boxes. That is advantageous in removing food particles from the dishes prior to their being subjected to spray from the lower box,

which expedites the washing operation, and has the further advantage that the spray area through which the dishes pass is of materially greater extent than it would be if the upper spray box were not offset relative to the lower one. Such advantages are of practical value and are attained by mounting the spray boxes in the manner shown and described. A further advantage of such mounting means is that the flanged nipples and collars 33 and 32, and 59 and 58, also provide simple and efficient means for mounting the riser 35 on the tank 2 and housing 3 of the respective sections s of the machine.

As above indicated, it will be understood that changes in detail may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope of my invention, and I intend to include all such variation, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in which the preferred form only of my invention has been disclosed.

I claim:

1. A dishwashing machine comprising a housing having a top and side walls, an upper and a lower spray box in said housing, said spray boxes being respectively of box form with top and bottom and side and end walls and disposed with one end wall in proximity to one side Wall of said housing, said one end wall of the respective boxes being provided with an oblong opening disposed horizontally lengthwise, said upper spray box being offset laterally of said lower spray box and in part overlying the latter, a riser at the outer face of said one side wall and being straight lengthwise, adaptors respectively connecting said spray boxes to said riser, said adaptor for said upper spray box being offset laterally of said lower spray box, and said adaptors respectively opening at their outer ends through said one side wall into said riser and being provided at their inner ends with oblong flanges conforming to and fitting in said end wall openings of said boxes.

2. In a dishwashing machine including a housing having a top and side walls, an upper and a lower spray box in said housing, said spray boxes being respectively of box form with top and bottom and side and end walls and disposed with one end wall in proximity to one side wall of said housing, said one end wall of the respective boxes being provided with an oblong opening disposed horizontally lengthwise, a riser at the outer face of said one side Wall, and adaptors respectively connecting said spray boxes to said riser, the improvement in which said adaptors respectively open at their outer ends through said one side wall into said riser and are provided at their inner ends with oblong flanges conforming to and fitting in said end wall openings of said boxes, said adaptors are respectively provided with an exterior rib at the base of said flange, a sealing gasket is mounted on said rib, and means is provided effective for exerting pressure on the other end of the respective boxes and thereby holding said one end wall thereof in pressure contact with said sealing gaskets.

3. A dishwashing machine substantially as defined in claim 2 and in which said other end wall of the respective boxes is pro-vided with a central circular opening, and the means for exerting pressure on said other end wall comprises a screw mounted shouldered taper plug of a diameter to fit snugly in said circular opening and effective in cooperation with the respective adaptors for accurately positioning the respective spray boxes.

4. A dishwashing machine substantially as defined in claim 3 and in which said tapered plug for said lower box is carried by a pivoted latch member movable to a position clear of said lower box and to an operative position rendering said plug effective.

5. In a dishwashing machine including a housing having a top and side walls, an upper and a lower spray box in said housing, a riser at the outer face of one of said side walls, and adaptors respectively connecting said spray boxes to said riser, the improvement in which said riser has a flat inner wall seating on the outer face of said side wall, flanged nipples extend through registering open- 7 8 ings in said side wall and said inner wall of said riser with 1,846,703 2/ 1932 Wiener 134--72 their anges seating on the inner face of the latter Walls, 2,207,697 7/ 1940 Kendall 134-129 XR collars are screwed tightly onto said nipples effective 2,271,436 1/ 1942 Lathrop. therewith for clamping said riser to said side Wall, and 2,900,992 8/ 1959 Johnson 134-199 XR the ends of said adaptors adjacent said side wall snugly 5 receive said collars and are secured thereon. ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Primary Examiner- References Cited U.S. Cl. X.R. UNITED STATES PATENTS 239-557 1,624,026 4/1927 Utz -..134-199XR 10

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