US3083388A

US3083388A - Machine for cleaning and reconditioning concrete wall form panels

Info

Publication number: US3083388A
Application number: US96182A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kort Roman
Original assignee: Symons Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1961-03-16
Filing date: 1961-03-16
Publication date: 1963-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1980-04-02

Description

April 2, 1963 R. KORT 3,083,388

MACHINE FOR CLEANING AND RECONDITIONING CONCRETE WALL FORM PANELS' 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1961 it INVENTOR. ROMAN KORT ATT'Y Apnl 2, 1963 R. KORT 3,083,388

MACHINE FOR CLEANING AND RECONDITIONING CONCRETE WALL FORM PANELS Filed March 16, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: R0 MA N KO RT 'ATT 'Y' Aprll 2, 1963

R. KORT

3, 3, 8

MACHINE FOR CLEANING AND RECONDITIONING CONCRETE WALL FORM PANELS Filed March 16, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ill INV EN TOR:

. ROMAN KORTv MACHENE FOR CLEAR NG AND RECONDITION- ING CONCRETE WALL .FGRM PANELS: Roman Kort, River Forest, Ill assignor to Symons Mfg. Company, a corporation of Delaware FiledMar. 16, 1%1, Ser. No. 96,182 '7 Qlaims. (Cl; 15-93) The present invention relates to a machine for cleaning and reconditioning concrete wall form panels after-they have been in service and preparatory to reusing them ina subsequent concrete wall form or other installation. More specifically, the invention is concerned with a panel-cleaning machine by means of which concrete form panels of the type commonly known as Steel-Ply? panels may be divested of any concrete which may adhere to'the' plywood panel facings and to the marginal steel frame members associated therewith. The invention is, however, by no means limited to such use and a panel-scru'bbingmachine constructed in accordance with the principles of-the present invention my be found useful in connection with concrete form panels other than Steel-Ply panels, for-example, panels having metal panel facings, panels having wooden frame members, or'filler panels, filler strips and a wide variety of other special make-up units. Irrespective of-the particular use he put, the essential times preserved.

Steel-Ply panels are widely used in industry and are tallic rectangular reinforcing frame including longitudinal.

and transverse frame. members. Such a panel is adapted to be set up in edge-to-edge relationship with similarpanels to provide one of two opposed form structures wherein the facings of the panels oppose each other in spaced relationship and wet concrete is adapted to be poured between the two structures.

a common horizontal plane so thatthe-concrete may be poured on the continuous unbroken upwardly presented slab-supporting surface offered thereby.

Steel-Ply panels of this type under consideration are manufactured in sizes which vary both asto length and width, the latter dimensionbeing a factor of particular importance to the present invention. Such panels are manufactured in widthsranging from four inches upto twenty-four inches. Regardless of the size of the panels, the marginal steel frame members remain substantially the same in cross-sectional configuration, each of these frame members being generally of shallow channel shape and presenting marginal ribs and an interconnecting web.

The ribs are notched at various distances so that when adjacent edge relationship,

along their length tion therethrough of tie rods. Additionally, the web portions of the frame members are formed with rectangular slots therein so that fastening devices in the form of T-bolts which are passed through'the slots may be employed for anchoring the ends of the tie rods'in to which the present invention mayfeatures of'the invention are at all filed on November 23, 1959, now Patent No;

Such panels also find use in connection with the formation of horizontal floor and ceil-' ing slabs and, in such an instance, they are arrangedin. edge-to-edge relationship with the panel, facings lyingzin panels are positioned in 'edge#to-. adjacent notches move into register and define therebet-ween rectangular openings forthe recepposition,

facingsforfutureuse in'that'it affords 2: all'in 'a manner that has been set forth inthe aforementioned patent application.

The notched marginal ribs and the slotted webs in the marginal frame members of Steel-Ply panels render the outside surfaces of these frame members irregular in contour and thus it is an extremely difficult task to clean such panels by manual operations. There is a tendency for concrete to adhere to the marginal frame members and collect in the various notches and slots so that extraordinary measures must be'resorted to in order to'dis-' lodge the accumulated or deposited concrete. Frequently, it is necessaryin'stubborn'cases to resortto the use of impact tools such-as hammer and chisel. Less difiic'ulty is encountered in-cleaning the-plywood facingsof such panels inasmuch as it has long been customary to treat these facingswith a suitable oil that not only preserves the wood structure of thefacings, but also conditions-the antifriction or antiadherent coatings for the facings which greatly lessens the tendency for the concrete to adhere to the facings at the time that the panels are pulled from concrete wall or other structure. Usually any concrete which does-adhere to a plywood facingwhich'has been properly lubricated or coated with oil may readily be dislodged bya simple brushing operation.

Heretofore panel-cleaning and lubricating operations have been entirely manual and thus attendedby the timeconsuming and laborious operations outlined above, hammers, chi'sels aud -Wire brushes of varying types being required for the cleaning operation, and oil-soaked waste being-required for the lubricating or coating operation. Not only are such operations time-consuming but they are ofan'untidy nature, requiring, as they do, quantities of-waste1 material andcontainers for oil-rinsing purposes.

The: present invention is designed to overcome the above noted limitations that are attendant upon present-day manual methods oflcleaning. and reconditioning concrete form pauelsiand,.toward this end, it contemplates the provision of a substantially fully automatic machine which will receive the panels one. at a time. at a loading station; then pass-the panels'successively through a frame-cleaning stationwvhere the marginal frame members are effectively divested .of any concrete which may have adhered thereto from a previous use.

The provision of a concrete Wall form panel-cleaning.

and-reconditioning machine of the character briefiy outlined .above being among the principal objects of the invention, it is-another and important object to provide such a machine wherein the mechanism employed for divesting the marginal steel frame concrete. will accommodate the irregularities of contour alfordedbythe above-mentionedmarginal ribs, notches, slots, etc., and dislodge the concrete-from these frame members wherever it may. occur.

A stillfurther object-of the invention is to provide in a panel-cleaningmachine of the character under considerationmans. whereby panels of varyingwidths may readily be accommodated without requiring extensivemachine adjustments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel-' cleaning machine. wherein, after an initial feeding of .a panel into the machine at the receiving station, the panel is automatically impelled through the'machineat the proper speed for the most effective thereupon by the cleaning instrumenta-lities of the machine.

Still'anotherobjcct of 'the invention is to provide a panelscleaning and reconditioning machine wherein a given runof panels may be effectively operated uponby the machine under the control of a single operator.

Theprovisionofa machine-which is-relatively simple in its construction and which, therefore,- may be manuthe hardened members-of the panels from cleaning operation factured at a low cost; one which is rugged and durable and which, therefore, will withstand rough usage; one which is capable of ease of assembly and dismantlement for purposes of inspection, replacement of parts or repair thereof; one which is compact and which, therefore, ccupies but little floor space, one which is smooth and silent in its operation; and one which otherwise is well-adapted to perform the services required of it, are further desiderata which have been and development of the present invention.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a concrete wall form cleaning and reconditioning machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the angle or position represented by the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional'view taken substantially on the vertical plane indicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the angle or position represented by the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a concreteborne in mind in the production dislodging scraper assembly employed in connection with the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, somewhat schematic in its representation, illustrating the manner in which the scraper assembly of FIG. 6 operates upon a panel frame member; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the operation of the principal moving component parts of the machine.

The Machine Framework Referring now to the drawings in detail, and in particular to FIG. 1, the concrete wall form panel-cleaning and reconditioning machine of the present invention has been designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10 and it involves in its general organization a stationary frame work including a pair of elongated, horizontal, spaced apart longitudinally extending parallel side bars 12 and 14 which are maintained in their spaced relationship by Crossbars 16 and which are supported upon legs 18. The side bars 12 and 14 are inrthe form of lengths of channel stock while the crossbars 16 and legs 18 may be in the form of lengths of'angle stock, the various members being suitably welded together.

Spaced inwards from the side bars 12 and 14 are two

guide rails

26 and 22, each of which is generally Z-sha-pe in transverse cross section and includes an upwardly extending flange 24, a downwardly extending flange 26, and

a horizontal intermediate connecting web 28. The inside face of the upwardly extending flange 24 of the guide rail constitutes a vertical guide surface for one marginal side edge of each concrete wall form panel undergoing treatment in the machine while the other marginal side edges of the panel is guided by the vertical surface which is presented by the web portion 3% of an elongated channel member 32 which has its lower flange 34 supported on and welded to the horizontal connecting web 28 of-the guide rail 22. The channel member 32 is substantally coextensive with the guide rail 22 and the upper flange 36 of the channel member 32 is connected to the side bar 14 by a spacer strut 38. The upper edge of the vertical flange 24 of the guide rail 20 is similarly connected to the side bar 12 by a spacer strut 4&9.

The'machine framework further includes four upstand ing posts 42, 44, 46 and 48 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) which are secured to the frame side bars 12 and i4 and project upwardly thereabove. The posts 42 and as are connected together by an elongated transversely extending inverted channelsh'aped rail housing 5K while a similar rail housing 52 extends between the upper ends of the posts 44 and 43. Longitudinally extending straps 54 extend between the

posts

42 and 44 and the

posts

46 and 48, respectively. The four

posts

42, 44, 46 and 48, together with the rail housings 5t? and S2 and the straps 54, provide, in effect, a superstructure by means of which a motor-supporting carriage 60 is slidable transversely of the machine in a manner and for a purpose that will be made clear presently.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 9, a plurality of transversely extending horizontal roller supports 62 extend between the lower downwardly extending flanges 26 of the guide rails 20 and 22 and have their ends provided with pivot pins or trunnions whereby they are rotatably journalied in the rails. The roller supports 62 are substantially equidistantly spaced from each other insofar as adjacent supports are concerned and the series of supports extends from the front end of the machine to the rear end thereof. The roller supports 62 are adapted to receive thereon successive form panels, such as the panel shown at 64 in FIG. 9, at a receiving station R adjacent to the front end of the machine, and afford an antifriction traction support for the panels so that the latter may be conducted rearwardly through the machine between the guide rails and discharged at the rear end of the machine at a discharge station D.

T he Steel-Ply" Panel 64 In the schematic illustration of FIG. 9, the principal functional machine elements are clearly shown and reference to this view will disclose the manner in which a given panel 64 is operated upon by the machine for panelcleaning and reconditioning purposes. However, before entering into a description of the operative machine elements, it is deemed pertinent to point out that the panel 64 in this view is a Steel-Ply panel of the type which is shown and described in aforementioned pending United States patent application Serial No. 854,967, such a panel being currently manufactured and sold by said Symons Clamp & Mfg. Co. as aforesaid. Reference may be had to such patent application for a full understanding of the construction and use of a Steel-Ply panel and it is sufiicient for an understanding of the operation of the resent panel-cleaning and reconditioning machine to point out that such a panel consists essentially of a plywood dacing 79, together with a marginal rectangular steel reinforcing frame including longitudinal frame members 72 and transverse frame members 74. The frame members '72 and 7d are in the form of structural steel bars which are channel-shaped in cross section, and each bar comprises a pair of marginal ribs 75 and a connecting base or web portion 78. On the side of the web portion 73 that is opposite .to the ribs '76, is a lateral flange or enlargement 8b which is spaced inwardly a slight distance from the inside edge of the frame member and affords a right angle recess =82 in which the adjacent edge of the plywood facing 70 seats with its outside face flush with said inside edge of the frame member. The ribs 76 are formed with spaced pairs of transversely registering notches 84. Rectangular slots 86 are formed in each web portion 7 S and they register with each pair of notches 84- respectively. The notches 84 afford clearance regions for passage of tie rods between adjacent panels when the panels are arranged in edge-to-edge relationship in a concrete wall form installation, and the slots 36 are provided for the purpose of receiving T-bolts to hold the ends of the tie rods in place, all in a manner which has been disclosed in the aforementioned patent application. The notched ribs 76 and the rectangular slots do are significant to the present invention only in, that they illustrate theirregularity of the surface contour, of the longi; tudinal and. transverse frame members '72 and 7'4 and-the problem which such irregularity presents when cleaning operations are eifected upc-nthese longitudinal and transverse members.

T he Operating S rations Still referringto FIG. 1 and FIG. 9, invpassingfronr.

the receiving station R to the discharge station D, the various panels 64- are conducted through a side cleaning station S where the panel sides, i.e., the longitudinal and transverse frame members72 and '74, may be operated upon by a pair of rotary concrete-dislodging scraper as-s semblies 90 and 92'on opposite sidesof the machine.

From the side cleaning station S, the panels are conducted j series orgroup of the roller supports-62. Said series of roller supports is positively drivenby the belt 95'with the resultthatthe panels areforcibly conducted through the side cleaning station S. The longitudinal extent'of the panels 64- is sufiiciently great thatcontrol of forward movement of the panels is not relinquished by the belt until such time as the panels have been projected Well into the brushing station E. Where a single panel 64 is. undergoing treatment, it may be induced to complete its passage through the brushing station B by manual urging, thereof, but Where. successive panels are undergoing. treatment, the forward or leading edge region of a ,suc:

ceedingpanel willengage the rear or trailing edge region ofaprecedingpanel andcause it to be pushed forwardly through the lubricating station and from. thence to. the.

discharge station where it will automatically, be ejected from the machine.

The Receiving Station R The receiving station. R is devoid of operatinginstrm roller supports 62... This station is at the extreme forwardend region ofthementalities other than the antifriction machine and the various panels 64 may be upon the roller supports62 ment through the machine,

placed directly ofthe channel member 32 ,andithen move the panel for? wardly along the series of roller supportsfiz so that upon release of the panel by the operator, the-inherent mo-. mentum of. the panel will cause-the panel tocoast. to. a point whereits forward edge will beb lgagcd by the belt 9 5'and by the roller supports 62 thatsare driven thereby for subsequent forcible impelling movement through the machine.

A control. box 1%, including its associated control panel 152, switches H24 and other electrical control instrumentalities, is shown as. beingmountedon the side, bar 12 at the receivingstation Rwhere it is accessible, to

the operator of the machine. are associated withthe control the presentginvention and it is. that the four electric switches wall of the control box liltl-andare collectivelydesignatedby thereference numeral 104 serve to control the energizationand deenergization of the four electric motors which areassociatedwith the, machine and the functions of which willbe described subsequently.

The control devices which box llidiform no part of deemedsufiicient to state of roller supports. 62, arepicked up, so to speak, by a drive belt 95 and a for subsequent forward move It ismerely necessary forthe operator to position one longitudinal-side edgeof the panel against the vertical inside face of theweb portion 3i) which appear on the top.

6 The Side Cleaning Station S Referring-now to FIGS.- 1,3, 4 and-5,the previously described superstructure which is formed by the four vertical

upstanding posts

42, 44; 46'and-48 is disposed at the side cleaning station 8 and is for the purpose. oftractionally supporting the previously-mentioned carriage 60. Such carriage consists of a horizontal plate-v (FIGS. 4 and. 5). and a vertical'plate 112.; The, plate -110ziisprovided with upstanding marginal side .flanges ll t-which carry suspension links having traction rollers ltd. mounted: on their upper ends; The traction rollers 1116 are adapted to travel on railsllfl inassociated relation With the railhousingsSO and-52'at the top ofthesuperl structure. The vertical plate eral trapezoidal flange 112 is provided-with a lat- 12lto which there is attached a handle 122 by means of which the carriage 60 asa whole I may be shifted transversely of the machine =in either direction.

The vertical plate 112 of the-carriage 60 has-secured thereto a motor support or mount 124 for-arr electric motor M which'isarranged so that-its axis extends vertically and its armature shaft 126 depends from the motor housing 128. thereof. The-verticalplate 112 has mounted thereon adjacent to the supporting bracket 130 which carriesa pair of vertically spaced bearlngsupports 13?; for a vertical shaft 134. The-latteris associated with, and serves as a-supporting lower endthereof a and driving medium for, the scraper assembly 90: The shaft 13-4 is in axial alignment with the'motor-shaft 126 and is operatively connected thereto byaicoupling assembly l36.-

As shown in FIGS. 1 and-9,"two.guide rails 'Mllhnd 142 aremounted on the supporting "bracket 13(3- and are movable bodily therewith. The guide-rail ""leads the rotatable scraper assembly 96-with respecttion-of travel of'the while the guide rail 142 trails the'scraper assembly; The

guide rails Bit and 142 are provided for the purposeof tov the direc-- panels 64 through the machine,

guiding the forward end of-the panel 64'into proper reg-1 ister with'the scraper assembly 90 so that the adjacent" longitudinal-edge of the panel ,will assume a substanv' tially tangential position with respect to the scraper in strumentalities as willbe described'in detailhereafter.

The scraper assembly 92 is rotatable about-a fixed ver-' tical' axis at in FIG. 1.

the right-hand side-of the machine as viewed- The twoscraper assemblies -9fl'and 92 are identical in construction so that a description of one will suffice for the other;

The scraper assembly 9 2 hasits. central shaft .134 drivably connected by a coupling 144 to.

the motor shaft Moot an electric motor M The motor M; is supported adjacent to the lower end ofa downward extensionid (FIG. 1) of the vertical post 46.".

The Scraper Assemblies 90- and 92 As previously' stated, .thescraper. assemblies 9tl-xand 92;. are; identical so that :a description "of the. assembly .90..

which is shown in sembly 92.. The assembly '90 :includes. the previously.- rnentioned central; rotary shaft 134,- this shaft having fixedly mounted thereon for rotation therewith spaced circularcarrier disks 'and.152.-: An annular rods F154 extends between the disks 150; arranged in circurnferentially spaced relationship. Each rod has loosely mounted thereon. a series of individually rotatable scraper elements 156 which are in the form of se ies of verti l. and 152 and are detail in FIG. 6 will sufiice for the ag-;.

toothed disks: of generally stanshaped c nfiguration and:

theperipheral-zteeth 158 of which areof relatively sharp 1 configuration-y. As :shoWnin FIG'. 7, each-scraperclement 156 is provided with a central holed-6t through which-its associated'rod 154.'1oosely extends. The diam? eter of the hole; 169' issomewhatzgreater than the'diameter of the --ro d- 154 so that the-scraper. elementcmayi .float loosely onwthe rod and, unden-theyinfiuence: of centrifu-gal.-.7

force duringrotation of the assembly, 90,? assumeian eccen-- trio position relatively to the axis of therod; The various scraper elements 156, being independently movable, may thus follow the irregular or notched contour of the panel side or longitudinal frame members 72 during passage of the panels '64 through the side cleaning station S.

T he Panel Guiding and Impelling lnstrlcmentalitz'es As best shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 9, the carriage is normally and yieldingly biased inwardly of the machine framework by means of a counterweight 17% which is attached to the free end of a cable 172. The latter passes over a pulley 1'74 and has its other end attached to a lug 176 (see FIG. 4) on a block 178 which, in turn, is mounted on the horizontal plate of the carriage 60. A second block is formed with a socket :182 for reception therein of a pin 184. The socket 132 is designed for selective vertical register with a series of elongated slots 186 in a fixed transversely extending bar 188 which extends between the two straps 54 of the superstructure.

The pin 184 is adapted-to be selectively passed through the various slots 186 and received in the socket 182 to lock the carriage in approximate positions transversely of the framework so that the distance between the two scraper assemblies 90 and 92 will roughly approximate the width of a given group of identical panels 64 which are successively to be fed to the machine.

The weight of the counterweight 173 is such that it will pull the carriage 60 bodily inwardly of the framework and cause the scraper assembly 9% to approach the scraper assembly 92 to the end that the two assemblies will confine a panel 64 therebetween with each assembly exerting the necessary pressure upon the longitudinal frame members 72 to properly clean the same.

Inasmuch as the various scraper elements I156 are loosely and floatingly mounted on their respective rods 154, and inasmuch as they are individually shiftable in a radial direction relatively to the central axis of the assem blies 90 and 92 with which they are associated, these scraper elements will follow the irregular contour of the a longitudinal frame members 72 at the respective elevations .at which they operate. For example, in FIG. 8, the scraper assembly 9t? is shown in operative relationship with respect to a longitudinal frame member 72 during a concrete dislodging operation. It is to be noted that the uppermost scraper elements 152 on the adjacent rod 154 operate .upon the uppermost marginal rib 76 of the frame member 72 while the lowermost scraper elements operate upon the lower marginal rib. Certain intermediate scraper elements will be projected into the rectangular slot -86 to dislodge concrete therefrom. Still other scraper elements will operate upon the web portion 73 of the frame member. The action of the various scraper elements 152 is an impact one due to the fact that these elements are floatingly or loosely mounted on the rods 154 and are slammed" against the outer surface of the longitudinal frame member 72 as the scraper assembly 9% as a whole is rotated under the driving influence of the motor As each panel 64 approaches the side cleaning station S, the adjacent leading corner of the panel moves against the guide rail 140 with the result that the panel is forced against the web portion 30 of the channel member 32 and confined bet-ween such channel member and the guide rail 140. A hold-down wheel 19% is rotatably mounted on a horizontal shaft 192. The latter is suitably jour nailed in bearings 194 (see FIG. 3) which are mounted on the machine framework. The hold-down wheel engages the upper face of the panel facing 76 and stabilizes the panel as the same slides or moves therebeneath on the roller supports 62. V

The drive belt 96 (see FIGS. 3 and 7) has a horizontal reach section which passes over four of the roller supports 62 and the belt also passes beneath a drive pulley 195 which is mounted on the output shaft 196 of a gear reduction device 198 the input shaft of which is operativ'ely connected through a suitable coupling (not shown) to the drive shaft (also not shown) of an electric motor M The motor M and gear reduction device 198 are mounted on a-supporting bracket 206 which is suitably carried by the machine framework.

motor shaft 234 of an electric motor M The Brushing Station B Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, the rotary brush as sembly 94 includes a rotary brush proper 210 which is mounted on a brush shaft 2-12, the ends of which are rotatably journalled adjacent to the distal ends of a pair of tiltable arms 214 (see FIG. 2). The inner or proximate end of each arm 214 is pivoted as at 216 to a bracket 213 which is mounted on the machine framework. Each arm 214 carries a block 220' through which there loosely extends a threaded rod 222. The lower end of such rod is pivoted as at 22s to the bracket 218 and two nuts 226 and 223, above and below the block respectively, are threadedly received on the rod 222 so that the elevation of the block, as well as the associate arm 214, may be adjusted to raise or lower brush, as the case may be, and effect the desired degree of pressure of the brush on the panel facing '71 as a panel 64- passes beneath the brush.

One end of the brush shaft 212 carries a pulley 230 which is adapted to be driven from a pulley 232 on the A belt 236 passes over both pulleys and connects the same in driving and driven relationship. The motor M is mounted on a floating motor support 2% which is pivoted as at 242 to the machine framework so that it may swing downwardly and compensate for any lost motion arising due to lowering of the brush shaft 212.

T he Lubricating Station L As the panels 64 emerge from the brushing station B and enter the lubricating station L, they are adapted to pass beneath the lubricating roller :95. The roller 95 is a floating roller by reason of the fact that it is carried at the outer ends of a pair of arms 2 34 the inner ends of which are pivoted as at 246 in blocks 248 on the machine framework. The lowermost position of the lubricating roller 95 is determined by means of pins 249 which are carried by the arms 244 and are engageable with the

longitudinal frame members

20 and 32, respectively. The roller 95 includes a roller body 250 and a covering 252 of an absorbent material such as felt or the like. A supply of a suitable lubricating and conditioning oil is adapted to be fed to the roller 95 from an overlying horizontal tubular drip pipe 254 having a series of perforations 256 in the lower side thereof. From such perforations, oil is adapted to drip onto the absorbent covering 252 of the underlying roller 95. Oil is fed to one end of the pipe 254 through a conduit 258 leading from an oil reservoir 26%. The latter is supported on standards 262 which are mounted on the side bar 12. A shut-off valve 264 is interposed in the conduit 258.

In its lowermost position, the lubricating roller 95 is spaced above the general plane of the series of roller supports 62 a distance slightly less than the vertical thickness of the panels 64 passing through the machine so that when any given panel encounters the roller 95, the latter will ride up on the panel and traverse the upper face of the panel facing 70 as the panel passes through the lubrieating station L. The roller 95 deposits a film or thin coating of oil on the adjacent or inner surfaces of the panel facings 743 to the end that the facings are maintained in proper condition and do not permit concrete to The discharge station D is devoid of operating instrumentalities other than the roller supports 62 which lie within the zone defined by this station. As previously described, the panels 64 arriving at the discharge station D move under the impetus of succeeding panels in the series of panels undergoing treatment. The panels 64 leaving the lubricating station L move onto the rollers 62 at the discharge station D and remain thereuntil such'time as a succeeding panel issuing from the lubricating station engages the panel andforces the same from the machine.

Operation of the Machine In view of the previous description of the handling and treatment of successive panels 64 which are fed to the machine at the receiving stationRand-pass successively through the side cleaning station S, the brushing station B, and the lubricating station L, a detailed description of the operation of the machine is notnecessary. It is deemed sufiicient to state that the machine is operable under the controlof a single operator, who, at the commencement of any givenrun of panels through the machine, will select the proper slot 186 (see FIG. 4) for placement of the pin 184 so as to locate the carriage 60 at an approximate transverse position relatively to the machine frameworkwhere the distance between the two scraper assemblies is .slightlyless than-the minimum overalljwidthof theparticularsizeof panels involvedinthe run. It will be understood, of course, that for economy of operation, a given run of panels will include a group of panels of the same width.

After the pin 184 has been passed through the proper slot 186 and into the socket 182 in the block 181), the carriage 60 will be free to move transversely of the machine framework throughout a limited range as determined by the length of the slot. This range of movement is sufficient to permit the guide rail 140, which moves bodily with the carriage, to exert a camming action on the adjacent panel frame member 72 and shift the carriage to a position wherein the two scraper assemblies 90 and 92 engage the sides of the panel therebetween, while at the same time, the pin 184 has freedom of movement in the selected slot 186.

Due to the looseness of the various scraper elements or disks 156 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) on their respective vertical rods 5, what may be described as a hammering or impacting operation will take place each time one of the elements makes a complete revolution about the axis of the rod 154 on which it is mounted. As previously de scribed, the individual scraper elements will follow the contour of the adjacent panel side and effectively remove concrete therefrom by a combined impacting and scraping operation.

The brushing action which takes place at the brushing station B requires but little description. The brush assembly is adjustable for bristle wear by manipulation of the adjusting nuts 226 and 228 on the threaded rod 222. The direction of rotation of the brush is preferably, but not necessarily, in such a direction that the loosened concrete or other material issuing from the panel facing 70 will be fiung rearwardly of the machine toward the discharge station so that this loosened material will not collect on oncoming panels and require more than one encounter with the brush assembly.

The lubricating action which takes place at the lubricating station under the influence of the absorbent oilsoaked roller covering 252 serves to seal any pores in the panel facing 70, as well as to otherwise preserve this facing. The application of oil to the panel facing also serves to facilitate loosening the panel from the concrete bond which exists during actual use of the panel after the concrete of a given installation has become hardened or set. Various oils which are suitable for this purpose are available on the present market, one such oil which has given excellent service being known as Kleen-Crete, the trademark name of the Union Petroleum Refining Company of Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrange ment of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, only in- 1d sofar as the; invention has particularly been pointed out in the accompanying claims isthe, same to be limited.

Having thus described the, invention-what I claim. as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for reconditioningconcrete wall form..

of the path of travelof the panels, a second scraper device mounted on said carriagefor movement bodily therewith and for independent-rotation about-a vertical axis,

and constant. tension means yieldinglybiasing-said carriage in the direction of said first scraper device, said panel being adapted upon entering said zone to pass between said scraper devices so that the second scraper device engages the other frame member and forces the panel bodily into operative engagement with said first scraper device.

2. A machine for reconditioning concrete wall form panels as set forth in claim 1 and including, additionally, a hold-down roller mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis above the level of said roller supports and adapted tractionally to engage the upper face of said panel facing during passage of the panel through said zone.

3. A machine for reconditioning concrete wall form panels as set forth in claim 1 and wherein said constant tension biasing means comprises a cable having one end attached to the carriage, a pulley mounted on the framework and over which the cable passes, and a Weight on the free end of the cable.

4. A machine for reconditioning concrete wall form panels as set forth in claim 1 and including, additionally, motor-driven means for forcibly impelling the panels forwardly on said roller supports through said zone.

5. In a machine for reconditioning concrete wall form panels having rectangular panel facings and parallel side frame members, a machine framework establishing a side cleaning zone, a plurality of horizontally disposed roller supports for conducting the panels successively through said station horizontally and end-wise with the operative faces of the panel facings presented upwardly, a first rotary scraper device mounted for rotation about a fixed vertical axis and positioned to engage one of the frame members of a panel passing through said zone, a carriage mounted for transverse shifting movement toward and away from the first rotary scraper device and transversely of the path of travel of the panels, a second scraper device mounted on the carriage for movement bodily therewith and for independent rotation about a vertical axis, means yieldingly biasing said carriage in the direction of said first scraper device whereby the panel, upon entering between the scraper devices, will have the other frame member thereof engaged by the second scraper device so that the panel will be forced bodily into operative engagement with the first scraper device, and a series of limit stops on said framework designed for selective engagement with an element on the carriage for limiting the extent to which said carriage may move in the direction of said first scraper device.

6. A machine for reconditioning concrete wall form panels as set forth in claim 5 and including, additionally, a guide rail mounted on the carriage and positioned in the path of movement of the panel and designed for engagement with the panel as the latter approaches said zone for causing deflection of the carriage to a position wherein the second scraper device carried thereby is moved panels successively through. ,endwise with the operative; presented upwardly, a firstv to engage, one, of the frame; members of a panel passingthrough-saidzone, a carriage. mounted for transverse. shifting ,movement toward and away from the first rotary scraper device and transversely 11 to a position of approximate longitudinal register with said other side frame member.

7. In a machine for reconditioning concrete wall form panels having rectangular panelfacings and parallel side frame members, a machine framework establishing a side cleaning zone, a plurality of horizontally disposed roller supports for conducting the panels successively through said station horizontally and endwise with the operative faces of the panel facings presented upwardly, a first rotary scraper device mounted for rotation about a fixed vertical axis and positioned to engage one of the frame members of a panel passing through said Zone, a carriage mounted for transverse shifting movement toward and away from the first rotary scraper device and transversely of the path of travel of the panels, a second scraper device mounted on the carriage for movement bodily therewith and for independent rotation about a vertical axis, means yieldingly biasing said carriage in the direction of said first scraper device whereby the panel, upon entering between the scraper devices, will have the other frame member thereof engaged by the second scraper device so that the panel will be forced bodily into operative engagement with the first scraper device, said framework including a transversely extending frame bar having a series of spaced elongated aligned slots therein, and a limit stop pin selectively receivable through said slots and designed for engagement with a shoulder on the carriage for limiting the extent to which thelatter may be moved toward said first scraper device. I

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,758,647 Burrell et al. May 13, 1930 2,333,285 \VellnitZ Nov. 2, 1943 2,835,909 Carlstrorn May 27, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 297,240 Switzerland May 17, 1954 305,418 Great Britain Feb. 7, 1929 839,119 Great Britain June 29, 1960

Claims

1. IN A MACHINE FOR RECONDITIONING CONCRETE WALL FORM PANELS HAVING RECTANGULAR PANEL FACINGS AND PARALLEL SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, A MACHINE FRAMEWORK ESTABLISHING A SIDE CLEANING ZONE, A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED ROLLER SUPPORTS FOR CONDUCTING THE PANELS SUCCESSIVELY THROUGH SAID ZONE HORIZONTALLY AND ENDWISE WITH THE OPERATIVE FACES OF THE PANEL FACINGS PRESENTED UPWARDLY, A FIRST ROTARY SCRAPER DEVICE MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT A FIXED VERTICAL AXIS AND POSITIONED TO ENGAGE ONE OF THE FRAME MEMBERS OF A PANEL PASSING THROUGH SAID ZONE, A CARRIAGE MOUNTED FOR TRANSVERSE SHIFTING MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE FIRST ROTARY SCRAPER DEVICE AND TRANSVERSELY OF THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE PANELS, A SECOND SCRAPER DEVICE MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE FOR MOVEMENT BODILY THEREWITH AND FOR INDEPENDENT ROTATION ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, AND CONSTANT TENSION MEANS YIELDINGLY BIASING SAID CARRIAGE IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID FIRST SCRAPER DEVICE, SAID PANEL BEING ADAPTED UPON ENTERING SAID ZONE TO PASS BETWEEN SAID SCRAPER DEVICES SO THAT THE SECOND SCRAPER DEVICE ENGAGES THE OTHER FRAME MEMBER AND FORCES THE PANEL BODILY INTO OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST SCRAPER DEVICE.