US3693382A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuous washing apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-04
•
Granted: 1972-09-26
•
Expires: 1990-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A washing unit, or a series of similar washing units for different stages of washing such as washing, rinsing, bleaching, etc; each washing unit including a flexible tube containing the water, and the goods are propelled through the tube; the propelling action is produced by a peristaltic action which also produces an agitating and washing action; it also includes a pusher to aid in starting the goods into the tube, and means for removing them from the exit end, such as a conveyor or gripper or both; the apparatus additionally includes an extracting unit continuously receiving the goods from the final washing unit and continuously extracting the water from the goods, and a drying unit continuously receiving the goods from the extracting unit and continuously drying them.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick W Grantham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:12
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06B; D06B3/00; D06B3/30; D01; D01B; D01B3/00; D01B3/04; D01B3/08; D06F; D06F31/00; D06F58/00; D06F58/10; D06F58/12; D06F95/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A washing unit having an entrance tank at an entrance end and an exit tank at an exit end and a flexible tube secured to and between the tanks in sealing relation thereto, whereby wash water therein forms a continuous body from the entrance tank through the flexible tube to the exit tank, the entrance tank being adapted for receiving goods to be laundered in the form of separate and detached pieces, and means external to the tube for flexiNg the tube for moving the goods from the entrance tank through the water in the tube and to the exit tank, and for agitating the water in the unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A washing unit having an entrance tank at an entrance end and an exit tank at an exit end and a flexible tube secured to and between the tanks in sealing relation thereto, whereby wash water therein forms a continuous body from the entrance tank through the flexible tube to the exit tank, the entrance tank being adapted for receiving goods to be laundered in the form of separate and detached pieces, and means external to the tube for flexiNg the tube for moving the goods from the entrance tank through the water in the tube and to the exit tank, and for agitating the water in the unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
A washing unit according to claim 1 wherein the entrance tank has a bottom opening and the exit tank has a side opening, and the flexible tube has an upwardly directed entrance end opening communicating with the bottom opening in the entrance tank, and a main section extending from the entrance section and extending horizontally and having a horizontally directed open exit end communicating with the side opening in the exit tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A washing unit according to claim 2 wherein the agitation means includes a plurality of agitators distributed along a substantial portion of the length of the flexible tube whereby to provide agitation of the water and goods effectively continuously throughout the length of the flexible tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A washing unit according to claim 2 wherein the agitators produce a wave action on the flexible tube such that the flexing motion progresses linearly along the flexible tube in direction from the entrance end to the exit end, thereby working the goods in the tube therealong in that direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A washing unit according to claim 3 and including agitators operating continuously as to time and thereby agitating the water and goods also continuously as to time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A washing unit according to claim 5 in which the agitators constitute a series leading from adjacent the entrance end to adjacent the exit end and operating in sequential order from the entrance end toward the exit end, whereby the agitation produced thereby is a wave motion progressing in said direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A washing unit comprising an entrance receptacle for receiving goods to be washed, and an exit receptacle, a flexible tube interconnecting the receptacles and together with the receptacles forming a chamber for containing water and the goods, and means forming a peristaltic action in the flexible tube for thereby moving goods from the entrance receptacle through the flexible tube and into the exit receptacle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A washing unit comprising an entrance receptacle for receiving goods to be washed, and an exit receptacle, a flexible tube interconnecting the receptacles and together with the receptacles forming a chamber for containing water and the goods, and means forming a peristaltic action in the flexible tube for thereby moving goods from the entrance receptacle through the flexible tube and into the exit receptacle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A washing unit according to claim 7 and including a second flexible tube interconnecting the receptacles, and means forming a peristaltic action in the second flexible tube for thereby moving water from the exit receptacle through the second flexible tube and into the entrance receptacle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
A washing unit according to claim 1 in which the entrance tank and flexible tube together form a chamber, and in which the unit includes a mechanical pusher in said chamber operative for positively physically initiating movement of the goods in the entrance tank and the adjacent portion of the flexible tube further into the tube at least into the region of a first agitator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
119 words
A washing unit according to claim 9 wherein the pusher is a reciprocating arm movable between a retracted position effectively out of the tube and positioned in the entrance tank, and in extended position extending into the tube into the region of the first agitator, and first agitator reciprocates between an extended position in which the tube at the region is in full dimension, and a contracted position in which the tube at that region is contracted, and the pusher and first agitator are synchronized in movement so that the pusher is moved into the tube to the region of the first agitator only when that agitator is in extended position and the tube is in full dimension position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A washing unit according to claim 1 and including means for raising the goods and removing them from the exit tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A washing unit according to claim 11 wherein the means for removing the goods includes a gripper extendible into the tank for gripping the goods and retractable therefrom for releasing the goods onto a conveyor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A washing unit according to claim 11 in which the goods removal means includes a conveyor receiving the goods directly from the flexible tube and carrying them out of the tank.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A washing unit according to claim 13 and including a pressure shield above the conveyor means in the exit tank for cooperating with the conveyor means and thereby aiding in moving the goods along the conveyor means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
94 words
A washing unit according to claim 11 in which the exit tank has an exit opening and includes means at that opening for controlling the movement of the goods, said goods controlling means including a lower element and upper flexible leaves engaging the lower element and normally forming a seal therebetween against the exit of water, but the leaves being sufficiently resilient to enable goods to be moved between the leaves and the block, and the unit also including means for moving the goods from the bottom of the tank toward the exit opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A washing unit according to claim 15 wherein the lower element is in the form of a resilient block.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A washing unit according to claim 13 and including a mechanical pusher for positively physically moving goods from the exit tank through the exit opening between said leaves and block.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
97 words
A washing unit according to claim 12 in which the gripper means includes three or more levers pivoted together and movable between a mutually closed position in which they are effective for gripping goods between each pair of adjacent levers, and a mutually open position for releasing the goods, and including means for quickly moving them to closed position for correspondingly gripping the quantity of goods, and for slowly opening them in a sequential movement for releasing the goods individually from between successive pairs of adjacent levers for thereby gradually releasing the goods from the gripper means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
A washing unit according to claim 18 wherein the gripper means includes an air cylinder operative for quickly moving the levers to closed position, and is released slowly, a series of progressively stronger to weaker springs are interposed between adjacent levers, and ties interconnect the levers of each adjacent pair.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
A washing unit according to claim 1 and in which the agitators include cross bars under the tube which support the tube, and crank means for raising and lowering the cross bars and flexing the tube and producing agitation of the water and goods in the tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
A washing unit according to claim 20 and including a linear strip interposed between the cross bars of the agitators and tube, and secured at its ends to a fixed element of the unit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
A washing unit according to claim 21 and including means interconnecting the endmost cross bars and fixed elements of the washing unit whereby to confine the movement of those cross bars endwise of the washing unit independently of the strip underlying the tube whereby to relieve that strip of any stress caused by tendency of those end cross bars to drift lengthwise of the washing unit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
80 words
A washing unit according to claim 1 wherein the flexible tube is disposed generally horizontally, the agitating means including a plurality of agitators distributed along the flexible tube and including cross bars under the flexible tube and reciprocable vertically against the flexible tube for thereby flexing it and agitating the contents therein, the flexible tube having a longitudinal upwardly extending fin, and the unit including means securing the fin to the frame for minimizing lateral displacement of the flexible tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
A washing unit according to claim 23 and including resilient blocks on opposite sides of the fin and interposed between the upper side of the flexible tube and a fixed portion of the washing unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |