Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
273 words
In an apparatus of the character described, a combination comprising elongated carrier means mounted for advancement in a predetermined at least substantially horizontal path and adapted to carry a plurality of longitudinally spaced objects, said carrier means having abutment portions spaced in longitudinal direction thereof; support means extending below said carrier means along a portion of said path and being mounted for free swinging movement in the direction of said path from a rest position to a deflected position; nozzle means provided on said support means and operative for spraying a cleaning fluid against such of said objects with which it is in substantial registry; and engagement means provided on said support means operative for effecting swinging movement of said support means in direction of advancement of said carrier means by a predetermined distance whereby to maintain said nozzle means in registry with respective ones of said objects, said engagement means including a stationary detent, an arm extending from said support means towards said carrier means, and a contact member turnably mounted on a free end of said arm and having pairs of projections each including two adjacent projections extending at an angle to one another and one of which engages said detent whereby said contact member is prevented from rotation and the other of which engages one of said abutment portions whereby said support means is constrained to move to said deflected position in response to advancement of said carrier means, said two projections disengaging from said detent and abutment portion, respectively, when said support means reaches said deflected position whereby said support means returns freely swingably to said rest position thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
273 words
In an apparatus of the character described, a combination comprising elongated carrier means mounted for advancement in a predetermined at least substantially horizontal path and adapted to carry a plurality of longitudinally spaced objects, said carrier means having abutment portions spaced in longitudinal direction thereof; support means extending below said carrier means along a portion of said path and being mounted for free swinging movement in the direction of said path from a rest position to a deflected position; nozzle means provided on said support means and operative for spraying a cleaning fluid against such of said objects with which it is in substantial registry; and engagement means provided on said support means operative for effecting swinging movement of said support means in direction of advancement of said carrier means by a predetermined distance whereby to maintain said nozzle means in registry with respective ones of said objects, said engagement means including a stationary detent, an arm extending from said support means towards said carrier means, and a contact member turnably mounted on a free end of said arm and having pairs of projections each including two adjacent projections extending at an angle to one another and one of which engages said detent whereby said contact member is prevented from rotation and the other of which engages one of said abutment portions whereby said support means is constrained to move to said deflected position in response to advancement of said carrier means, said two projections disengaging from said detent and abutment portion, respectively, when said support means reaches said deflected position whereby said support means returns freely swingably to said rest position thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier means comprise a chain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said contact member is substantially X-shaped.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said contact member is mounted for turning movement about a substantially horizontal axis normal to the elongation of said path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the respectively upwardly directed projection of said contact member engages one of said abutments when said chain moves in said path, and wherein one of the respectively horizontally directed projections of said contact member engages said detent.