339,477. L³tolf, J. Nov. 28, 1929. Washing plates &c. - In a machine for rinsing and sterilizing crockery, the crockery is carried in holders on tables immersed in tanks and subsequently put in a spraying chamber, the whole of the operation being hydraulically controlled viz. the reciprocation of the tables in the tanks, the raising of the tables to operative position for loading or discharge and also the operation of the doors of the spraying chamber and the admission of water or steam for spraying. As shown in Fig. 2, lifting cylinders 8, 9 are provided with pistons connected respectively to the tables 3, 4 which support the crockery holders. Cylinders 11, 12 with respective pistons 17, 18 make or break connection between the lifting cylinders and the inlet or outlet pipe systems. A cock 13 controls the inlet supply pipe 10 and cocks 14, 15, 16 the outflow pipes. A hand lever 20 operates the cocks by linkage and has three principal positions I, II, III. Assuming that the lever is in the position III, and the tables in the lowermost positions A', B' the cock 13 is closed and the cocks 14, 15, and 16 are opened. By moving the lever into the position I the supply cock is opened and the outflow cocks closed. Thereupon water flows along the pipe 10 and if the pistons 17, 18 are in the left hand position shown in Fig. 2, the water passes by means of a pipe 22 and a groove in piston 17 to the pipe 23 leading to the bottom of cylinder 8. The piston 6 commences to rise moving also with the table 3. A pipe 25 is exposed to the pressure when the piston has moved up sufficiently and pressure is thereby admitted behind the piston 18 moving it to the right. Thereupon communication is established between the pipe 10, pipe 26, piston 18 and pipe 27 leading therefrom behind the piston 17 which moves to the right and establishes connection between the pipe 10, pipe 29, piston 17 and pipe 30 leading to the cylinder 9. The crockery support table 4 moves into the position B<2> under the action of the upward movement of the piston 7. A pipe 31 is now exposed to the pressure in the cylinder 9 and moves the piston 18 to the left to be followed by the piston 17 moving to the left as connection is established for the purpose. Water now passes from the pipe 10 through the pipe 22, distributing cylinder 11, pipe 23 to the under side of the piston 6 to raise the table 3 to the position A<3>. The table 4 move also in sequence to the position B<3>, both the controlling pistons 17, 18 being moved to the right by the water pressure, and the tables may be loaded with crockery. After loading the operating lever 20 is moved into the position II, the cocks 13 and 16 being open and the cocks 14, 15 closed. The loaded table 3 falls and forces the water in its cylinder through the pipe 23 into the cylinder 11 through a groove in the piston 17 into the pipe 33 on to the outlet cock 16. At the bottom of the stroke the water can pass from the left hand side of the piston 18 through the pipe 25 and the pressure of the loaded table 4 results in the piston 18 moving to the left. The water in the cylinder 9 passes into the outflow pipe and the table comes to its bottom position B<1>. Movement of the piston 18 establishes connection for the pressure to be applied to the piston 17 to move it also to the left. The piston 6 is now moved for the table 3 to take up the position A<2> and water passes through the pipe 25 behind the piston 18 to force it to the right. The piston 17 follows it. The water in the cylinder 8 passes through the pipe 23, cylinder 11, annular groove or piston 17, pipe 33 and outlet cock 16. Also water from the supply pipe 10 passes through the pipe 29 into the cylinder 11, through the piston 17 to the pipe 30 and under the piston 7. The table 4 is thus raised to the position B<2> and during this the table 3 descends to the position A'. The reciprocating movement of the two tables continues automatically as long as the lever 20 is in the position II. When the crockery is washed sufficiently by the hot water in the immersing tanks, to which hot water grease solvents may be added, the operating lever 20 is moved into the position I for bringing the tables to their upper positions whereupon the lever 20 is moved into the position III to open the outlet cocks 14, 15 for the water to flow out. Preferably each crockery basket is first rinsed in the container 2, then in cleaner liquid in the container 1 and from there it passes to the spraying chamber 35, Fig. 1. By placing the operating lever 20 midway between position II and III adjustment of pressure is obtained for treating a light load of crockery. The doors of the spraying chamber are opened and closed by means of water pressure control obtained by the apparatus shown in Fig. 4. A lever 45 serves to open both doors 41, 42 by means of a piston rod 47 working in a control cylinder 49 connected by a pipe 50 to a three-way cock 51 in the pressure supply pipe 52. A pipe 54 also connects the other end of the cylinder 49 to the cock 51. A second three-way cock 55 also connects with the pipe 54, the pipe 50, and a pipe 70 which is connected to the outflow. Cocks 58, 59 are connected to the pipe 70, to the pipe 50, and by pipes 60, 61 with the two sides of the piston of an auxiliary control cylinder 62. The bodies of the cocks 58 are linked together and to that of a cock 75. The bodies of the cocks 51, 55 are also linked. The cock 75 is in a hot water supply pipe 77 and leads the water to the pipe 79 of a spraying apparatus. It also leads to a cock 82 in a steam supply pipe 81. Springs act on the levers linking the valves together and there are also certain trip mechanisms. The arrangement is such that after opening the pressure water supply pipe to the control cylinder 62, the doors 42 are locked and the rinsing is performed. After the rinsing water is shut off the steam cock is opened. The speed of the piston in the cylinder 62, and with it the duration of the rinsing and steaming, is adjustable.