US3849820A

US3849820A - Pallet cleaner

Info

Publication number: US3849820A
Application number: US00322100A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Lang
Original assignee: Harsco Corp
Current assignee: Enviri Corp
Priority date: 1973-01-09
Filing date: 1973-01-09
Publication date: 1974-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-26
Also published as: GB1423757A; CA987862A; DE2352638A1; DE2352638C3; DE2352638B2

Abstract

A device for cleaning pallets employed in molding concrete pipe including a roller arranged to engage the inner rim of the pallet which may be lifted to engage the outer rim surfaces of the pallet with rotatable brushes to clean residue from the pallet after a concrete pipe has been molded therewith, and which roller may be lowered to the floor after cleaning the pallet to thereby efficiently clean the outer rim surfaces of the pallet without the necessity of manually lifting and supporting same.

Description

United States Patent [191 Lang [ Nov. 26, 1974 PALLET CLEANER Primary ExaminerEdward L. Roberts [75] Inventor: David Lang, Mineral Wells, Tex.

Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm-Cameron, Kerkam, Sutton, [73] Assignee: Harsco Corporation, Harrisburg, Pa. st w ll & Stowell g .m M 0 m .m d e y b P m e mm h x a p B m n a k. C r m e .m v 6 d 5A 3 7 9 0 m n. 2 22 J3 0 N D. FA 1 1 211 22 concrete pipe including a roller arranged to engage the inner rim of the pallet which may be lifted to engage the outer rim surfaces of the pallet with rotatable brushes to clean residue from the pallet after a con- Crete pipe has been molded therewith, and which roller may be lowered to the floor after cleaning the pallet to thereby efficiently clean the outer rim surfaces References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS of the pallet without the necessity of manually lifting and supporting same.

15/21 D 15/21 R X 12 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1,603,249 Stevensm. 2,986,849 Clark llllhhh lllj lute

PATENTEL 9V2 61974 SHEET 2 (IF 4 PATENTELHUYZBW 3.849.820 SHEET 30$ 4 PALLET CLEANER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION rolled about by one workman. After removal of the pallet from the concrete pipe, hardened residue remains on the inner surface thereof which contacts the concrete pipe, which must be removed prior to use of same in another molding operation.

Various means have been employed in the past for cleaning such pallets, including manual use of stiff brushes, and manually lifting same into contact with.

mechanically rotated brushes. However, no quick and satisfactory means has been employed to quickly and easily clean the surfaces of the pallet which contact the concrete in the molding operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I The present invention provides a machine comprised of a roller which may be lowered to engage the inner rim of a pallet so that the pallet may be lifted into engagement with rotatable brushes arranged so as to engage and clean all surfaces of the pallet which contact the concrete in the mold, and after cleaning the pallet may be lowered into engagement with the floor without the'necessity of manual handling or cleaning.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide a device for cleaning pallets employed in molding concrete pipe wherein the pallets may be moved into engagement with brushes arranged to clean all surfaces in contact with the concrete in a mold without manual handling or cleaning of such pallet.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for lifting a pallet into engagement with brushes arranged to be rotated into engagement with all surfaces of the pallet which contact the concrete in a molding operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the movement of the pallets into contact with the brushes so that the surfaces to be cleaned will uniformly contact the brushes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in such a pallet cleaner, means to adjust the position and pressure relationship of the brushes with the surfaces of the pallet so as to efficiently and uniformly clean same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine wherein the pallet is picked up and moved into engagement with rotatable brushes to clean same and which may be lowered into engagement with the floor after cleaning same.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a pickup roller which engages the inner surface of the pallet to pick same up and move the inner rim thereof into engagement with rotatable brushes and after such movement the said pickup roller may be rotated to rotate the pallet against the brushes by frictional engagement therewith.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means to guide the-pallet into engagement with the brushes upon the lifting thereof.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed specification hereinafter following and by referring to the drawings annexed hereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A suitable embodiment of the invention is shown in the attached drawings wherein;

FIG. I is a front elevational view of the pallet cleaning device, showing the pallet prior to being lifted into engagement with the brushes;

FIG. II is a side elevational view of the pallet cleaning device taken from the right side of FIG. I;

FIG. III is a front elevational view of the pallet cleaning device after a pallet has been lifted into engagement with the brushes;

FIG. IV is a view partially in section and partially in elevation taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. V is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. IV;

FIG. VI is a sectional .view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. II; FIG. VII is a fragmentized cross-sectional elevational view of a typical pipe mold with a conventional pallet disposed in the end thereof for forming the bell end of the pipe; and

FIG. VIII is a partially sectionalized elevational view showing the cleaning brushes as they would appear while in engagement with the inner surface of a pallet while cleaning same.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings numeral references are employed to indicate the various parts shown and like numerals indicate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

The numeral 1 indicates a general frame for the machine which is comprised of vertical members la and 1b, horizontal members Ic and 1d and reinforcing braces 1e and l f. The frame is supported on a suitable base 2 which is mounted on skids 2a for the purpose of transporting same.

A lifting and rotating roller 3 has a peripheral flange 3a thereon engageable with the inner rim of a pallet in the manner hereinafter described.

The roller 3 is secured to an axle 4 which extends between the spaced arms 6 and 6a and is rotatably mounted on

bearings

18 and 19 attached to said arms. The arms 6 and 6a are pivotally mounted to the frame by means of

bearings

7 and 7a secured to the inner side of the frame.

A hydraulically actuated lift cylinder 8 has an extendible rod 8a therein which is pivotally attached to a lug 10 secured to a plate 11 which extends between the arms 6 and 6a and secures same together so that they are moved in unison,

The hydraulic cylinder 8 is pivotally attached at 8b to the frame of the machine. Fluidis supplied to the hydraulic cylinder for expansion and contraction of the rod 8a therein from a reservoir 9 through a hose 9a.

An electric motor 12 is mounted on the plate 11 and the drive shaft thereof is attached to a flexible shaft 120 which extends into a gear box 13 through which the shaft 14 is rotated to thereby rotate the sprocket 140.

A drive chain 15 extends about the sprocket 14a and about a sprocket 16 which is secured to the shaft 4. Thus, upon the actuation of the motor 12 the shaft 4 is rotated through the drive chain 15 and thereby rotates the lifting and drive wheel 3.

The annular flange 3a on the drive wheel 3 is arranged to engage the inner flange 20a of a typical pallet 20 which is formed with a cylindrical portion 21 having inner and outer surfaces 21a and 21b, an inwardly extending flange 20a, and an outwardly extending flange 21 to form the bell end of a concrete pipe 65. The pa]- let 20 has a central passage 20b therethrough through which excess concrete slurry is discharged as the slurry is distributed on the inner surface of the jacket 64 by a conventional distributor head 64a to form the pipe 65. When the pallet is suspended on the lifting and rotating wheel 3 in the position shown in FIG. III the rotation of the roller 3 by actuation of the motor 12 causes the rotation of the pallet 20 against the brushes, hereinafter described, by frictional engagement therebetween.

A plurality of

rotatable brushes

23, 40, 45 and 50 are identically and adjustably mounted with reference to the frame, and a typical mounting and adjustment sleeve assembly is shown in FIG. IV in conjunction with the brush 23.

Referring to FIG. IV, the electric motor 24 is arranged to rotate the brush 23. The motor 24 is secured to a plate 25 by means of appropriate bolts 25a.

An arm 26, having a reinforcing rib 26a, thereon is secured to and extends from the mounting plate 25 and is secured to the tubular axle 29 of the adjustment sleeve assembly.

A sleeve 27 is secured to the frame of the machine by means of a weld 28 (FIG. V). The sleeve 27 is separated along a portion of the length thereof to provide the bifurcated edges and 30a. The axle 29 may be rotated in the sleeve 27 when the sleeve 31 is threaded outwardly upon the screw 32. However, after rotatable adjustment between the sleeve '27 and axle 29 in the manner hereinafter described the sleeve 31 may be rotated by the handle 31a inwardly to thread same upon the screw 32, thereby bringing the edges 30 and 30a together to tighten the sleeve 27 about the axle 29, to thereby secure the axle 29 and sleeve 27 together in adjusted non-rotatable position.

A turnbuckle 33 is pivotally engaged to the frame of the machine between the cars 34 on the pivot bolt 35, and is pivotally mounted at the other end to the arm 26 by means of a pivot bolt 36. Thereby when the sleeve 31 and screw 32 are in loosened position, the rotary po- I sition of the brush 23 may be adjusted by rotation of the turnbuckle 33 upon the screws 33a and 33b therein to thereby rotate the arm 26 and axle 29 attached thereto.

Lateral adjustment of the brush 23 is provided by means of a screw 38 which is threadedly engaged in a block 37 secured to the axle 29. A handle 39 rotatably extends through a plate 39a which is secured to the end of the sleeve 27 so that by rotation of the screw 38 the axle 29 will be caused to move inwardly and outwardly of the sleeve 27 to thereby adjust the horizontal position of the brush 23.

The brush 40 and motor 40a for driving same are mounted on an arm 41 which is adjustably mounted to an identical adjustment assembly previously described in connection with brush 23, and the arm 41 may be pivoted about such adjustment assembly by the turnbuckel 33 attached between the arm and the frame in the same manner as described with reference to the adjustment of brush 23.

Brushes 45 and are driven by motors 45a and 50a which are mounted on

adjustment arms

46 and 51 identical to adjustment arm 26 hereinbefore described, and are adjustable rotationally and horizontally by means of adjustment tube assemblies 52 and 47 which are constructed identically to that previously described in connection with adjustment tube assembly 29 (FIG. IV), such adjustment being made by means of the

turnbuckles

53 and 48 which are constructed and mounted in the same manner as turnbuckle 33 hereinbefore described.

The idler rollers 54 and 54a have grooved flanged peripheral edges 54b, and are rotatably mounted on ad justment arms 55 and 55a.

Lugs 56 and 56a are secured to the adjustment arms 55 and 55a and have

adjustment bolts

57 and 57a extending therethrough and through the

arcuate adjustment slots

59 and 59a provided through the frame members 58 and 58a so that the arms 55 and 55a may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly by moving the

bolts

57 and 57a along the

slots

59 and 59a, and then tightening the bolts down in adjusted position. Thereby the spacing between idler rollers 54 and 54a can be adjusted to accommodate different diameters of pallets 20.

The arms 55 and 55a are pivotally mounted to the frame member 1e by means of lugs 60 and 60a to which the ends of said arms are attached by suitable pivot bolts 61 and 61a.

The frame member also includes a screen guard on the side thereof to guard against contact with moving parts by workmen, and an arcuate deflector plate 63 is provided to extend outwardly over the brushes to prevent particles removed by the brushes from being thrown outwardly of the machine.

A typical mold assembly for making concrete pipe is shown in FIG. VII which includes an outer tubular shell 64 and an impeller assembly 64a. The pallet 20 is placed in the end of the form prior to depositing cement slurry into the form so as to provide a bell end on the pipe after the pipe 65 is set in the form.

After the concrete is set in the form, the pallet 20 is removed and the components making up the mold are removed from the concrete pipe so formed. The pallet normally has particles of cement and/or release agent adhering to the inner surface thereof which the machine of the present invention is intended to remove.

In operation the pallet 20 is normally rolled to a position in front of the machine as shown in FIG. I. The roller 3 is lowered by contracting the rod 8a into the hydraulic cylinder 8 and positioned so that the pallet can be engaged thereover with the flange 3a on the roller 3 engaging the offset flange 20a of the pallet, thereby suspending the pallet on the roller 3. The hydraulic cylinder 8 is then actuated to extend the rod 8a, thereby raising the roller 3, carrying pallet 20 thereon, to a position where the pallet engages the

brushes

23, 40, 45

and 50 in the manner shown in FIG. -VIII. The idler rollers 54 and 54a are adjusted so that they engage the edge of the pallet and limit the upward and lateral movement thereof. The brushes have previously been adjusted with relation to the idler rollers 54 and 54a and the diameter of the pallet to be cleaned so that upon engagement of the periphery of the pallet with the idler rollers 54 and 54a, brush 23 is in engagement with is in engagement with the bottom surface 22b of the flange 22, brush 40 is in engagement with the surface 22a of the flange 22, and brush 50 is in engagement .with the surface 20c of the flange 20a, so that all areas which have been exposed to the concrete in the mold are contacted by said brushes to clean same upon rotation of the brushes and the pallet.

inder 8 is actuated to withdraw the rod 8a thereinto,

thereby lowering the roller 3 and allowing the pallet 20 to be removed therefrom and deposited on the floor.

Thus, the pallet is efficiently and quickly cleaned with a minimum amount of labor and effort.

Having described my invention I claim: 1. In a device for cleaning the horizontal and vertical peripheral surfaces of concretepipe casting pallets,

said pallets having a central passage therethrough and a peripheral rim: a frame; a lifting roller having a peripheral rim thereabout arranged to pass through the passage in the pallet and engage the edge thereof to suspend the pallet thereon; first and second brushes rotatably supported by the frame arranged to engage surfaces of the pallet; bristles on said first brush engageable with horizontal surfaces on the pallet; bristles on said second brush engageable with vertical surfaces on the pallet; means to raise the lifting roller to move the pallet into engagement with the bristles on the first and second brushes; means to rotate the lifting roller about a horizontal axis; and means to rotate the brushes.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 with the addition of spaced stop means to limit the upward and lateral movement of the lifting roller to position surfaces of a pallet against bristles of the brushes.

' 3. The combination called for in claim 2 with the addition of means to adjust the position of the brushes with relation to the spaced stop means.

4. In a device for cleaning the peripheral surfaces of concrete pipe casting pallets, said pallets having a central passage therethrough and a peripheral rim: a frame; a lifting roller having a peripheral rim thereabout arranged to pass through the passage in the pallet and engage the edge thereof to suspend the pallet thereon; a plurality of brushes rotatably supported by ment with the brushes; means to rotate the lifting roller; and means to rotate the brushes.

5. The combination called for in claim 4 wherein the stop means comprises spaced rollers having grooves on the outer periphery thereof engageable with the rim of a pallet.

.the surface 21b of the cylindrical portion 21, brush 45 6. The combination called for in claim 4 wherein the adjustment means comprises spaced arms pivotally attached to the frame at one end with the stop means mounted on the other end; arcuate slots in a frame portion of the machine; a pin attached to each arm and slidably passing through one of the slots; and means to fix each pin in adjusted position.

7. In a pallet cleaning machine, a frame; lifting means mounted on the frame; means to move the lifting means up and down with reference to the frame; a plurality of brushes arranged to engage surfaces of a pallet when the pallet is supported by said lifting means; means to rotate the brushes; spaced stop elements arranged to engage the periphery of the pallet suspended on the lifting means to position surfaces on a pallet against the brushes; and means to adjust spacing between the stop elements to accommodate pallets of different diameters.

8. In a pallet cleaning machine, a frame; lifting means mounted on the frame; means to move the lifting means up and down with reference to the frame; a plurality of brushes arranged to engage surfaces of a pallet when the pallet is supported by said lifting means; means to rotate the brushes; spaced rollers arranged to engage the periphery of a pallet suspended on the lifting means to position surfaces on a pallet against the brushes; and a channel on the outer periphery of each of said rollers arrangedto engage the edge of the pallet.

9. In a device for cleaning the peripheral surfaces of concrete pipe casting pallets, said pallets having a central passage therethrough and a peripheral rim: a frame; a lifting roller having a peripheral rim thereabout arranged to pass through the passage in the'pallet and engage the edge thereof to suspend the pallet thereon; a plurality of brushes rotatably supported by the frame arranged to engage surfaces of the pallet; stop means to limit the upward and lateral movement of the lifting roller to position surfaces of a pallet against the brushes; means to adjust the position of the brushes with relation to the stop means; means to raise the lifting roller to move the pallet into engagement with the brushes; means to rotate the lifting rollers; and means to rotate the brushes, wherein the means to adjust each brush comprises an arm on which the brush is mounted; a tubular member secured to the frame adjacent the arm; an axle telescoped in the tubular member to which the arm is secured; means between the arm and the frame to adjustably rotate the axle in the sleeve; screw means between the axle and the sleeve to move the axle longitudinally of the tubular member;

' and means to secure the axle and tubular member the frame arranged to engage surfaces of the pallet;

stop means to limit upward and lateral movement of the lifting roller to position surfaces of the pallet against the brushes; means to adjust the position of the stop means with reference to the brushes; means to raise the lifting roller to move the pallet into engagesaid lifting roller is arranged to pass through the central 12. The combination called for in claim 11 wherein the means movably securing said lifting roller to the frame comprises: an arm; means securing said lifting roller to one end of said arm; means pivotally securing the other end of said arm to the frame; and wherein said means to raise the lifting roller comprises: means secured to the frame and t0 the arm to pivot the arm relative to the frame.

Claims

1. In a device for cleaning the horizontal and vertical peripheral surfaces of concrete pipe casting pallets, said pallets having a central passage therethrough and a peripheral rim: a frame; a lifting roller having a peripheral rim thereabout arranged to pass through the passage in the pallet and engage the edge thereof to suspend the pallet thereon; first and second brushes rotatably supported by the frame arrAnged to engage surfaces of the pallet; bristles on said first brush engageable with horizontal surfaces on the pallet; bristles on said second brush engageable with vertical surfaces on the pallet; means to raise the lifting roller to move the pallet into engagement with the bristles on the first and second brushes; means to rotate the lifting roller about a horizontal axis; and means to rotate the brushes.

3. The combination called for in claim 2 with the addition of means to adjust the position of the brushes with relation to the spaced stop means.

4. In a device for cleaning the peripheral surfaces of concrete pipe casting pallets, said pallets having a central passage therethrough and a peripheral rim: a frame; a lifting roller having a peripheral rim thereabout arranged to pass through the passage in the pallet and engage the edge thereof to suspend the pallet thereon; a plurality of brushes rotatably supported by the frame arranged to engage surfaces of the pallet; stop means to limit upward and lateral movement of the lifting roller to position surfaces of the pallet against the brushes; means to adjust the position of the stop means with reference to the brushes; means to raise the lifting roller to move the pallet into engagement with the brushes; means to rotate the lifting roller; and means to rotate the brushes.

6. The combination called for in claim 4 wherein the adjustment means comprises spaced arms pivotally attached to the frame at one end with the stop means mounted on the other end; arcuate slots in a frame portion of the machine; a pin attached to each arm and slidably passing through one of the slots; and means to fix each pin in adjusted position.

8. In a pallet cleaning machine, a frame; lifting means mounted on the frame; means to move the lifting means up and down with reference to the frame; a plurality of brushes arranged to engage surfaces of a pallet when the pallet is supported by said lifting means; means to rotate the brushes; spaced rollers arranged to engage the periphery of a pallet suspended on the lifting means to position surfaces on a pallet against the brushes; and a channel on the outer periphery of each of said rollers arranged to engage the edge of the pallet.

9. In a device for cleaning the peripheral surfaces of concrete pipe casting pallets, said pallets having a central passage therethrough and a peripheral rim: a frame; a lifting roller having a peripheral rim thereabout arranged to pass through the passage in the pallet and engage the edge thereof to suspend the pallet thereon; a plurality of brushes rotatably supported by the frame arranged to engage surfaces of the pallet; stop means to limit the upward and lateral movement of the lifting roller to position surfaces of a pallet against the brushes; means to adjust the position of the brushes with relation to the stop means; means to raise the lifting roller to move the pallet into engagement with the brushes; means to rotate the lifting rollers; and means to rotate the brushes, wherein the means to adjust each brush comprises an arm on whIch the brush is mounted; a tubular member secured to the frame adjacent the arm; an axle telescoped in the tubular member to which the arm is secured; means between the arm and the frame to adjustably rotate the axle in the sleeve; screw means between the axle and the sleeve to move the axle longitudinally of the tubular member; and means to secure the axle and tubular member against relative movement after adjustment.

10. The combination called for in claim 9 wherein the drive means for the brush is a motor mounted on the arm.

11. In a device for cleaning the horizontal and vertical peripheral surfaces of concrete pipe casting pallets, said pallets having a central passage therethrough and a peripheral rim: a frame; a lifting roller; means movably securing said lifting roller to the frame such that said lifting roller is arranged to pass through the central passage in the pallet to suspend the pallet on the lifting roller; first and second brushes rotatably supported by the frame arranged to engage surfaces of the pallet; bristles on said first brush engageable with horizontal surfaces on the pallet; bristles on said second brush engageable with vertical surfaces on the pallet; means to raise the lifting roller to move the pallet into engagement with the bristles on the first and second brushes; means to rotate the lifting roller about a horizontal axis; and means to rotate the brushes.

12. The combination called for in claim 11 wherein the means movably securing said lifting roller to the frame comprises: an arm; means securing said lifting roller to one end of said arm; means pivotally securing the other end of said arm to the frame; and wherein said means to raise the lifting roller comprises: means secured to the frame and to the arm to pivot the arm relative to the frame.