Patent US3792503A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3792503A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic sheet cleaning machine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-10-26
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Granted: 1974-02-19
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Expires: 1991-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A plastic sheet cleaning machine for cleaning and drying plastic sheets, such as bowling score sheets. The machine has two pairs of rollers adapted to receive a plastic sheet and propel it past a counter-rotating cleaning roller disposed so as to be partially immersed in a cleaning fluid, a pair of oppositely disposed squeegee devices to remove the excess moisture from the sheet, and two pairs of soft absorbent rollers to further dry the cleaning sheet. A motor drive is adapted to be actuated by the insertion of a plastic sheet to be cleaned and a time delay mechanism is adapted to continue the operation of the mechanism until a plastic sheet passes completely therethrough.
Inventors
- 👤 G Brock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:01
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63D; A63D5/00; A63D5/10; A63D5/04; A63D2005/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
412 words
A plastic sheet cleaning apparatus comprised of: means for receiving a plastic sheet; drive means; means for starting said drive means upon insertion of the end of a plastic sheet into said means for receiving a plastic sheet; a first pair of rollers driven by said drive means and disposed and rotated in opposite directions so as to grasp said plastic sheet therebetween and propel it onward through said machine; a scrubbing roller driven by said drive means; means for retaining a cleaning solution so that said scrubbing roller is moistened thereby; guide means for receiving said plastic sheet from said first pair of rollers and directing it toward said scrubbing roller in a generally tangential direction, said guide means having one surface extending past said scrubbing roller so as to direct the passage of said plastic sheet therebetween, said surface of said guide means and the surface of said roller being yieldably urged toward each other; a second pair of rollers driven by said drive means and disposed and rotated in opposite directions at the same speed as said first pair of rollers so as to grasp said plastic sheet therebetween as it moves past said scrubbing roller and to propel said plastic sheet onward; a squeegee means disposed to receive said plastic sheet from said second pair of rollers, said squeegee means having a flexible member disposed toward each surface of a plastic sheet passing therebetween and operative to remove excess moisture therefrom; a third pair of rollers having soft, absorbent surfaces driven by said drive means and disposed and rotated in the sAme direction as said first and second pairs of rollers so as to receive said plastic sheet from said squeegee means and operative to dry said plastic sheet; a fourth pair of rollers having soft absorbent surfaces driven by said drive means and disposed and rotated in the same direction as said first, second and third rollers so as to receive said plastic sheet from said third pair of rollers and operative to further dry said plastic sheet, said third and fourth pair of rollers further being operative to encourage said plastic sheet onward through said apparatus; and means coupled to said drive means operative to continue operation of said drive means after the end of said plastic sheet has passed said means for starting said drive means for a length of time at least sufficient for said plastic sheet to pass said fourth pair of rollers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
412 words
A plastic sheet cleaning apparatus comprised of: means for receiving a plastic sheet; drive means; means for starting said drive means upon insertion of the end of a plastic sheet into said means for receiving a plastic sheet; a first pair of rollers driven by said drive means and disposed and rotated in opposite directions so as to grasp said plastic sheet therebetween and propel it onward through said machine; a scrubbing roller driven by said drive means; means for retaining a cleaning solution so that said scrubbing roller is moistened thereby; guide means for receiving said plastic sheet from said first pair of rollers and directing it toward said scrubbing roller in a generally tangential direction, said guide means having one surface extending past said scrubbing roller so as to direct the passage of said plastic sheet therebetween, said surface of said guide means and the surface of said roller being yieldably urged toward each other; a second pair of rollers driven by said drive means and disposed and rotated in opposite directions at the same speed as said first pair of rollers so as to grasp said plastic sheet therebetween as it moves past said scrubbing roller and to propel said plastic sheet onward; a squeegee means disposed to receive said plastic sheet from said second pair of rollers, said squeegee means having a flexible member disposed toward each surface of a plastic sheet passing therebetween and operative to remove excess moisture therefrom; a third pair of rollers having soft, absorbent surfaces driven by said drive means and disposed and rotated in the sAme direction as said first and second pairs of rollers so as to receive said plastic sheet from said squeegee means and operative to dry said plastic sheet; a fourth pair of rollers having soft absorbent surfaces driven by said drive means and disposed and rotated in the same direction as said first, second and third rollers so as to receive said plastic sheet from said third pair of rollers and operative to further dry said plastic sheet, said third and fourth pair of rollers further being operative to encourage said plastic sheet onward through said apparatus; and means coupled to said drive means operative to continue operation of said drive means after the end of said plastic sheet has passed said means for starting said drive means for a length of time at least sufficient for said plastic sheet to pass said fourth pair of rollers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The plastic sheet cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the axis of each of said rollers is substantially horizontal and said means for retaining a cleaning solution comprises a pan disposable so that said scrubbing roller may be partially immersed in a cleaning solution in said pan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said scrubbing roller is driven in rotation in a direction so as to oppose the normal direction of the motion of said plastic sheet through said apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said third and fourth pairs of rollers are driven at a higher angular velocity than said first and second pairs of rollers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein all of said rollers are approximately the same size, said first and second pairs of rollers are adapted to propel said plastic sheet through said apparatus at approximately 1 1/2 inches per second, said scrubbing roller is driven at approximately eight times the angular velocity of said first and second pairs of rollers, said fourth pair of rollers is driven at approximately twice the angular velocity of said third pair of rollers, and said third pair of rollers is driven at approximately twice the angular velocity of said first and second pair of rollers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises an electric motor, said means for starting said drive means is a mechanical means for sensing insertion of the end of a plastic sheet into said means for receiving the end of a plastic sheet and is coupled to a switch, and said means coupled to said drive means operative to continue operation of said drive means is a mechanical means operative to delay the turning off of said switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
305 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said mechanical means for sensing insertion of the end of a plastic sheet and said mechanical means operative to delay the turning off of said switch comprises: first and second switch members disposed on the frame of said apparatus and connected in series with said motor so as to operate said motor when said first and second switch members are in contact, said first and second switch members being elastically urged into contact; a first member adapted to be driven in rotation about an axis in a first angular direction by said drive means; a second member adjacent to and adapted for rotation about the same axis as said first member, said second member being elastically encouraged in rotation in said first angular direction with respect to said second member, angular rotation of said first and second members with respect to each other being limited to less than one full turn by the interference of members on said first and second members; a sensing member extending to said means for receiving the end of a plastic sheet and operative to stop said second member when said second member reaches a first angular position and when said sensing member is not sensing the presence of a plastic sheet; and a switch actuating member mounted on said second member and adapted for motion generally parallel to the axis of said second member, said switch actuating member being disposed adjacent said first swiTch member when said second member is in said first angular position, said first member being adapted to force said switch actuating member outward to deflect said first switch member away from contact with said second switch member as said first member approaches the end of its angular freedom in siad first angular direction with respect to said second member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said switch actuating member is a ball.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-18 | 1977-08-20 | 1978-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-18 | 1981-08-20 | 1982-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-18 | 1985-08-20 | 1986-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |