US2787151A - Rug cleaning machine - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent O RUG CLEANING MACHINE Clarence A. Ketchum, Cincinnati, Ohio, and William D. Kemp, Irondequoit, N. Y., assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a cor poration of Ohio Application September 1, 1954, Serial No. 453,556

S Claims. (Cl. 68-38) This invention relates to improvements in a rug cleaning machine and more particularly in a machine adapted to scrub and rinse rugs of varying thickness. j

One of the objects of the present invention is to pro vide a rotatable feed roll for feeding a rug through the machine, together with other devices acting upon a rug carried by the feed roll, and common mounting means supporting the feed roll and the other devices, this mounting means being adjustable on the frame so that as the feed roll and devices are adjusted for rugs of varying thickness, their operative relationship with the rug does not vary substantially.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a rug cleaning machine `of the type described, brush means mounted on the frame of the machine adjacent the feed roll in a position to brush a rug onrthe roll, and means mounting the roll on the frame for movement toward and away from the brush means generally in a direction along a radius of the roll.

A. further object of the invention is the provision of means for cleansing the back side of the rug, such as a cylindrical brush rotatably mounted on an axis substantially parallel to and below the axis of the feed roll, with the periphery of this brush extending laterally outside of a vertical plane tangent to the feed roll so that this rotatable brush is adapted to strip a rug from the feed roll and feed it to a discharge conveyor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a drag roll spaced from the feed roll and resiliently urged to hold the rug between the drag roll and the feed roll at a point near the zone where the rug leaves the feed roll so as to support the latter end portion of the rug after the trailing edge is free of the cleansing brushes to thereby prevent the end section of the rug from dropping down in a folded mass.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of conveyor means for carrying a cleaned rug away from the machine, this conveyor means having an upper run beginning at a point below and to the rear of the feed roll and moving therefrom rearwardly, together with spray means engaging that side of a rug toward the feed roll at a point above the upper run of the conveyor and adapted to push the leading edge of a rug in the ydirection of travel of the upper run of the conveyor means so that a rug coming oit' the feed roll is smoothly started up the conveyor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a rug cleaning machine, a rotatable feed roll for feeding a rug through the machine, means for scrubbing a rug on the feed roll and spaced from the roll by approximately the thickness of a rug, together with power means for moving the feed roll toward and away from the scrubbing means to adjust the machine for rugs of varying thickness. Preferably, this power means is controlled by a device readily accessible to the operator so that the machine may be adjusted for the thickness of the rug while the machine is operating. 4, j j A l V i r2,787,151 Patented Apr. 2, 1957 Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and description and the essential features will be set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a central sectional view taken through the machine intermediate the two parallel end frames thereof and looking toward one of the end frames;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental end elevational view taken below the plane of the paper of Fig. l from beyond the end frame of the machine and looking toward the end frame;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental front elevational view taken from the position of the line 3--3 of Fig. l; while Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic Wiring diagram illustrating the control of the motor which adjusts the device for rugs of varying thickness.

Referring to Fig. l, the path of the rug 10 through the machine is generally from right to left over the auxiliary feed roll 11, then over the main feed roll 12 in contact with the scrubbing means 13, then beneath a drag roll 14, over a back scrubbing brush 15 onto the upper run 16a of a conveyor means 15 which acts as a delivery conveyor when the scrubbing machine is used alone, or delivers the rug to wringer rolls when such a unit is joined to the one here shown.

As more fully described in our copendiug application Serial No. 453,878, tiled September 2, 1954, the rug is pre-wetted by spray 17, soaped by spray 18, then, after being scrubbed by the brush means i3, is given a iirst toprinse by spray i9, passes under the drag roll 14, the reverse side is then soaped by spray 2@ and scrubbed by the revolving brush 1.5 against a backing plate 21, then back rinsed by spray 22, after which the rug passes up the conveyor means lo and receives a nal top rinse from another spray not here shown.

It will be understood by those familiar with this art that the main frame of the machine comprises two end frames 23 parallel to each other and spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the rug to be operated upon. Directly inside of each of the end frames 23, there is found a curved lever arm 24 pivote-d to its associated end frame at 25. These two lever arms 24 comprise a commonmounting means supporting the main feed roll 12 and certain other devices which operate on the rug such as the drag roll 14, the rotatable back scrubbing brush 15 and the backing plate 2l.u At each end a central shaft 12a of feed roll 12 has a gudgeon journaled in a bearing 26 suitably mounted at the free end of one of the lever arms 24. Ou the inside of each .lever arm 24, and close to the lever arm, is mounted an L shape arm 27 having a pivotal mounting at 2S on its associated arm 24. The drag roll 14 is rotatably mounted in these two arms 27, the 4drag roll being slightly shorter than the distance from the inner face of one arm 24 to the other arm 24. The drag roll 14 is spring pressed toward the feed roll 12 by means of a spring 29 which embraces a rod 3i) pivotally connected at 31 with cach of the arms 27, the spring 29 being compressed between nuts 32 threaded on rod 30 and a bracket 33 which is rigidly fixed to another bracket 34 which in turn is rigidly attached to the end arm 24.

The back brushing roll 15 has two end bearings 15a, each of which is journaled in a lever 35 which has one end pivotally mounted at 28 on its associated end arm 24, and the free end of this lever has a clevis connection 36 with an adjustable block 37 which is threadedly mounted on a link 38 which is pivotally connected at 39 in a hollow portion inside of arm 24. The block 37 -is adjustably held by means of nuts 40. The brush 15 is of a length slightly less than the distance between the inner faces of the two arms 24.

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3 The backing plate 21 extends for the full length of the brush and""is"`supported on a hollow bar 41`Which in turn is fixed to two end armsfi each of which is secured top olne .ofI` the brackets. 34 previously mentioned, in such a position as to just clear the inner face .ofvtlhel..endlever arm 27. The b ackingpla'tel Iis preferably made of sheet metal or the like formed asA indicated in section irrFig. l and with its face toward the rug partially. bent to conformto the position of the rug as it passesover the rotating brush i5. The backing plate is resiliently urged toward the rotating brush 15 by means of a bracket 43 rigidly attached to the backing plate and having a clevs connection at pivot point 44 with a rod 45 which extends upwardly passing freely through an opening 46am a bracket 46 connected to the frame of the machine. A long helical spring/i7 surrounds the rod 45V and is held betweennuts 43 at the lower vend of the rod and bracket 46 at the upper end of thetrod. Nuts 49 on the end of the rod limit its downward movement under the urging ofspring 47. Although Ithe rod is exterior to theparts carried by the lever arms 24,*the small movement of the feed roll assembly in adjusting for rug thicknessY will have a very slight effectV on the location of the backing plate 2ll in relation to the brushing roll 15. VvThe relation of the centers'is such that any changeV would be in the direction of increasing the pressure very slightly on thicker rugs.

rfhe means for adjusting the feed roll 12 for the desired scrubbing pressure on rugs of different' thickness comprises two screw jacks Sil mounted, one on each side frame 23, just inside of each frame 23 and connected to the outer end of each lever arm Zdby means of link 51. The screw shaft of each jack is indicated `at 52 and passes through a housing lhaving top and bottom guide bore portions 53 and 54 respectively. The screw shaft 52 is threaded axially through worm gear 55 which seats on a thrust bearing 56 and coacts with a worm 57. The worm shafts 57a at the `two ends of the machine are coupled across the machine by a hollow shaft 58, so that both worm gears are rotated in unison. 57a extending through the end frame 23 to the outside of this end frame. This is clearly shown in Fig. 2. At lthat point, gear 59 secured to shaft 57a is `driven by a pinion. 6i? on a reversible motor 61. This motor 6l is controlled by a reversing switch 62 shown in Fig. 3, and diagranunatically in Fig. 4. The switch 62 is mounted on an end bracket 63 by means of a plate 64. The bracket 63 supports the soap and water header pipes 65 and 66. Switch 62 is of a known commercial cam type operated switch, diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4. contacts are moved from an open position to either forward or reverse circuit closing position by rotation of shaft v7. T his shaft is journaled in brackets 68 clamped to pipe 65, and may extend across all or part of the front of the machine, providing ya convenient means foran operator to control the adjustment of thefeed rollposition while he is engaged in operation of the machine. The circuits for the control of motor 6i are conventional, being vhere shown with circuit, say forward, completed through the lower set of contacts 69m Fig. 4 from line Li to motor terminal Tl., L2 to T2, and L3 to T3. When the controller is moved around to open position to carry the cams 5.7LY into engagement with the upper contacts 7@ of Fig. 4, the circuit, say backward, is completed through the upper set of contacts from Li to T2, L2 to Tl., ari-:lf3 to T3, the connections with electrical lines Li and L12 being reversed to cause reverse rotationV of the motor it will be noted in Fig. l that the dot-dash line A connecting the axis of feed roll l2 and the axis of pivot Z5 is substantially at right angles to the dot-dash line'B which extends centrally of the brushing means 13` and through the agi feed roll 12.` In other words, the movement of feed roll i2 is more, or' less pf-itself toward and away from the brushing means 13-to adjust One jack has its shaft for varying thicknesses of rug. Since this adjustment of feed rollll'Z isv very slight inthe usual range of positions from 4thin to thick rugs, the contact and pressure of the brushes on the rug is uniform and substantially radial, giving an even scrubbing action and increasing the useful life of the brushes.

While the present invention will cooperate with a wide range of scrubbing means l, it is herey shown for use with two parallel rows of scrubbing brushes similar to the brushesf described yin United States PatentNo. 2,334,592, yrented December 8, 1942, to Robert C. Pauly. These brushes are mounted on parallel arms 71 extending entirely across the machine like the `arms 13 of the abovementioned Paulyvpatnt'f'These armstogether with .the brushes mountedthereonalre reciprocated crosswise of the rug as it lies Yon"the"f`ed r0ll"12 by means similar to the rod Z3 and crankshaft 24 of the above-mentioned Pauly patent. F lhe -scrubbing means is supportedrby a tubular erossfrnei'ri ber72fwhich` is secured to the frameV ofthe machine.

The feed roll 1 2 and the brushing roll 15 are rotated by a conventional chain drive', not shown, but of a type permitting` the :adjustment lof arms 24 above described without interferingV withthe driving action.

.A chain di'ivefisiindicfated at' 73 between a sprocket 74 rotatable ,withthe shaft of feed roll 12 and a sprocket 75 rotatablewi't'li the lshaft of brushing roll i5. This causes thesetworollsto rotate counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. l ivith'the brush'lS Vrotating faster than the feed roll. lt willbe noted that fthe generally cylindrical brush 15 isrotatablyA mounted f'on'a'n axis substantially parallel to and belowtheixiscf the l'feed roll 12, with the periphery of the bushiiSeXtending laterally outside of a vertical plane tangent to the feed roll 12. it results from this "c` yruitior`ti1`at thebrush 1S acts as a stripper to disengage the'fron't' edgey ofa rug from the surfaceof the tine studded feed roll, so as 4to carry it around to the backing plteZ'l. It will be notedthat the spray 20 acts on 'the leading edge ofa rug to aid in moving it away fromthe feedproll 'intoproper position lying on the brush IS-a'sfclearlyyvis'ible in Fig. l.

Theconveyor means 16 is preferably made up of a number ofi separate, comparatively ynarrow belts spaced across the entirewidth of the rug, each belt beingprovided with cleats 16h -to aid in gripping the rug.' The upper run 16a of the conveyor means preferably traveis at a speed slightly greater than the peripheral speed of the feed roll 12 VThis assures a positive pick-up of the leading edge ofthe rug and also pulls slightly on the rug Ito smooth it. vThe back. rinse spray 2'2 is directed in such a way-esto push the leading edg ofthe rug along the upper run of the conveyor@ meansfas the edge of the rug clears the backing plate 21.

` The drag"roll`-14 isnotdrivenA but acts to support the end portion. offtherug after the trailing edge leaves the brushing. means l'l-irso .asto prevent this end section from dropping` down into a', .folded i mass onto the brushing roll'lS.` VA

The..operationvof..r themachine should now be appar ent. lA'rugisfplaced' .byfhandover the auxiliary feed roll 11v and moved until its forward edge comes into contactwith the tiues. of the main feed roll 1.2. This roll is `driveninthe usual manner `and carries the rug past the wetting spray 17, and the Soaping spray 18 and beneath thevscrubbing means 13. it is then subjected totl`1e.,t.op. rinsespray 12 and passes over the drag roll 1.4. ,Asl the.Y leading .edge clearsthe drag roll, the back i's.-.soa15.ed-by-.thelsprayand the edgel is carried over "the brushing.4 roll 15 into engagement with the backing plate 21. xThe,periphery of brush 15 moves at a speed greaterxthan `the lineal speed of movement of the rug 1.0 so yas to. scrubthe back ofthe rug against the spring pressedplate 21. `As. the leading edge clears this plate, it-eissback rinsedeby the`spray .22 and fed. onto the conveyor means 16 to be carried away.

The operator may grasp the knurled grip 67b on the rod 67 at the front of the machine to adjust the feed roll 12 toward or away from the brushing means 13 by means of motor 16 and screw jack-s 50 while lthe machine is operating. This adjustment for varying thickness of rug carries with it the drag roll 14, the brushing roll l' and the backing plate 21 so that the relative position of these parts remains substantially the same for every thickness of rug.

What we claim is:

1. In a rug cleaning machine, a frame, a feed roll rotatably mounted in said frame, means on said frame for cleaning a rug, endless belt conveyor means for carrying a cleaned rug away from said machine, said conveyor means having a lower run and having an upper run beginning `at a point below and to the rear of said feed roll and moving toward the rear, and spray means below a. horizontal diameter of said feed roll and forward of a vertical plane tangent to the rear side of said feed roll for engaging that side of a rug toward said feed roll at ya point above said upper run `and adapted to push the leading edge of a rug in the direction 'of travel of said upper run of said conveyor means.

2. lIn a rug cleaning machine, a frame, `a rotatable feed roll for feeding a rug through the machine, means for scurbbing a rug on -said roll and normally spaced away from said roll by approximately the thickness of a rug, power means including a reversible motor for moving said feed roll toward and away from said scrubbing means, and control means for said power means including a reversible switch and va control member therefor extending across the rug-feeding side of said machine and above said feed roll.

3. In la rug cleaning machine, a frame, rug cleaning means mounted on said frame, a rotatable feed roll for feeding a rug through the machine past said cleaning means, a generally cylindrical brush rotatably mounted on an axis substantially parallel to said feed roll and positioned to act upon a rug carried by said feed roll, common mounting means supporting said roll and said brush, and said mounting means having an adjustable connection with said frame.

4. In a rug cleaning machine, a frame, rug cleaning means mounted on said frame, a rotatable feed roll for feeding a rug through the machine past said cleaning means, a generally cylindrical brush rotatably mounted on an Iaxis substantially parallel to and below the axis of said feed roll, the periphery lof said brush extending laterally outside of a vertical plane tangent to said feed roll, whereby said brush is adapted to strip a rug from said feed roll, common mounting means supporting said roll and said brush, and said mounting means having an adjustable connection with said frame.

5. The combination of claim 4 including `a backing plate carried by said mounting means and positioned to lie on the opposite side of, and in engagement with, a rug passing over said brush.

6. vIn a rug cleaning machine, a frame, rug cleaning means mounted on said frame, a rotatable feed roll for feeding a rug through the machine past `said cleaning means, 'a drag roll positioned to frictionally engage that face of a rug on said feed roll opposite the face in engagement with said roll, common mounting means supporting said feed roll and said drag roll, Iand said mounting means having an adjustable connection with said frame.

7. In a rug cleaning machine, a frame, a rotatable feed roll for feeding a rug through the machine, brush means mounted on said frame adjacent said feed roll in position to brush a rug on said roll, means mounting said roll on said frame for movement toward and away from said brush means generally in a direction along a radius of said roll, said mounting means comprising lever means on which said feed roll is rotatably mounted on an axle of rotation, said lever means being pivotally mounted on said frame on Ian axis, and said brush means positioned rapproximately on a line at right angles to a line connecting said axes.

8. The combination of claim 7 including power actuated means supported on said frame and operatively connected with said lever means for moving said feed roll toward and away from said brush means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,063,062 Sparklin Dec. 8, 1936 2,278,944 Quigley Apr. 7, 1942 2,304,592 Pauly Dec. 8, 1942 2,657,045 Wilson Oct. 27, 1953

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