U.S. patent application number 15/809354 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-22 for industrial washer door locking mechanism and system.
This patent application is currently assigned to G.A. Braun, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is G.A. Braun, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ryan J. Blair, Matthew D. Fenn, Diedrich D. Willers, Mark W. Zimmerman.
Application Number | 20180080163 15/809354 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57221799 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180080163 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zimmerman; Mark W. ; et
al. |
March 22, 2018 |
Industrial Washer Door Locking Mechanism and System
Abstract
This disclosure is directed to an industrial washer permitting
operation only when secured. In exemplary embodiment, a body
including a cylinder is located inside a stationary tub weldment,
the cylinder defines a plurality of inner compartments and
including a plurality loading openings, each loading opening is
dimensioned to permit the placement of laundry within a respective
inner compartment of the plurality of inner compartments; a
cylinder door is configured to move between an open position and a
closed position within the stationary tub weldment, the cylinder
door covering at least one the plurality of loading openings in the
closed position; a sensor is disposed on the stationary tub
weldment; a sensor target bracket is mounted on the cylinder door;
and a sensor target is positioned on the sensor target bracket such
that the sensor only detects the sensor target when the cylinder
door is in the closed position.
Inventors: |
Zimmerman; Mark W.;
(Syracuse, NY) ; Fenn; Matthew D.; (Syracuse,
NY) ; Blair; Ryan J.; (Camillus, NY) ;
Willers; Diedrich D.; (Syracuse, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
G.A. Braun, Inc. |
North Syracuse |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
G.A. Braun, Inc.
North Syracuse
NY
|
Family ID: |
57221799 |
Appl. No.: |
15/809354 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15644170 |
Jul 7, 2017 |
9840802 |
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15809354 |
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15614103 |
Jun 5, 2017 |
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15644170 |
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14795222 |
Jul 9, 2015 |
9689103 |
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15614103 |
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62158895 |
May 8, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 37/42 20130101;
D06F 37/28 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/28 20060101
D06F037/28 |
Claims
1. An industrial washer permitting operation only when secured,
comprising: a body comprising a cylinder located inside a
stationary tub weldment, the cylinder defining a plurality of inner
compartments and including a plurality loading openings, each
loading opening being dimensioned to permit the placement of
laundry within a respective inner compartment of the plurality of
inner compartments; a cylinder door being configured to move
between an open position and a closed position within the
stationary tub weldment, the cylinder door covering at least one
the plurality of loading openings in the closed position; a sensor
disposed on the stationary tub weldment; a sensor target bracket
mounted on the cylinder door; and a sensor target positioned on the
sensor target bracket such that the sensor only detects the sensor
target when the cylinder door is in the closed position.
2. The industrial washer of claim 1, further comprising a
controller in communication with the sensor located on the
stationary tub weldment, the controller being configured to permit
operation only if the sensor detects the sensor target, wherein the
sensor target is located on the cylinder door.
3. The industrial washer of claim 1, further comprising a plurality
of cylinder doors, a plurality of sensor targets, and a plurality
of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensor targets are each
positioned on a respective cylinder door of the plurality of
cylinder doors, wherein the plurality of sensor targets are each
detectable by a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors when
the respective cylinder door is in the closed position.
4. The industrial washer of claim 3, further comprising a
controller in communication with each sensor of the plurality of
sensors and configured to permit operation only if each sensor of
the plurality of sensors detects a respective sensor target of the
plurality of sensor targets.
5. The industrial washer of claim 1, further comprising an outer
tub weldment door, being separate from the plurality of cylinder
doors, wherein the outer tub weldment door is only closeable when
each of the plurality of sensors detects each of the plurality of
sensor targets.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of and claims priority to
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/644,170 and entitled
"Industrial Washer Door Locking Mechanism and System," which claims
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/614,103 and entitled
"Industrial Washer Door Locking Mechanism and System," which claims
priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/795,222, now issued
as U.S. Pat. No. 9,689,103, and entitled "Industrial Washer Door
Locking Mechanism and System," which claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/158,895, filed on May 8,
2015, and entitled "Industrial Washer Door Locking Mechanism and
System," the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is generally directed to industrial
washers, and, more particularly, to industrial washer safety
mechanisms.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Industrial Side and End Loading Washer Extractors utilize
two types of doors. These types of washer extractors utilize a
stationary outer weldment (tub) with an inner divided cylinder that
rotates within this tub. The outer tub has a door that opens to
give access to the inner cylinder. The inner cylinder has multiple
doors providing access to the individual compartments within the
divided cylinder. The cylinder may have one, two, three or four
compartments, each with an access door. To load this type of washer
extractor, the outer tub door must be opened first and then the
inner cylinder compartment door(s) is opened allowing the goods to
be placed into each compartment.
[0004] If the washer is started before the inner doors are
completely shut, or if the inner doors open during operation
because they were not securely fastened, the washer could be
severely damaged, and any user could be injured. Many current
designs do not require that the inner doors be completely shut and
secured before the washing sequence is initiated. These washers are
liable to come open during rotation. Accordingly, there exists a
need in the art for a washer that will not begin the wash sequence
until each door is securely fastened shut.
SUMMARY
[0005] This disclosure is directed to a washer that will not start
a wash sequence until each door is securely fastened shut. In
exemplary embodiment, the washer may include a door having a
locking mechanism that has at least one locking pin. The locking
pin may be moveable from an unlocked position to a locked position.
When the door is shut, the locking pin may be received in a locking
pin slot that is disposed in the body of the washer, securely
fastening shut the door of the washer. The locking mechanism may
also include a locking bracket that may be engaged with a locking
hasp only when the locking pin is in the locked position. The
washer may also include a sensor in communication with a
controller. The controller in an advantageous embodiment only
permits the operation of the washer when the sensor detects the
locking bracket is engaged with the locking hasp when the door is
closed.
[0006] Furthermore, in the embodiments where there are multiple
doors, each door may be outfitted with a similar locking mechanism
and paired with a single shared or a dedicated sensor to determine
whether the door is shut. In those embodiments, the controller may
be configured to require that each sensor detect that the door is
shut before the washing sequence is permitted.
[0007] Using the various embodiments and implementations herein the
locking mechanism may provide a safer washer/extractor that will
not open during operation, damaging itself or injuring a user.
[0008] In a general aspect, an industrial washer is provided that
permits operation only when securely shut, and includes but is not
limited to: a body defining an inner compartment and a loading
opening dimensioned to permit the placement of laundry within the
inner compartment; a door, hinged to move between an open position
and a closed position, wherein the door is positioned to cover the
loading opening; a sensor disposed on the body; a controller in
communication with the sensor; a locking mechanism disposed on the
door and comprising: at least one locking pin moveable between a
locked position and an unlocked position and configured to engage
with a locking pin receiving slot when the door is in the closed
position and the locking pin is in the locked position, wherein the
locking pin receiving slot is disposed in the body; a locking hasp;
a locking bracket engageable with the locking hasp when the locking
pin is in the locked position; and a sensor target positioned on
the locking bracket such that the sensor only detects the sensor
target when the door is in the closed position and the locking
bracket is engaged with the locking hasp, wherein the controller is
configured to permit a washing action only if the sensor target is
detected by the sensor.
[0009] In accordance with an embodiment, the sensor is an optical
sensor and the sensor target is an optical reflector.
[0010] In accordance with an embodiment, the sensor is a proximity
switch and the sensor target is a conductive member perceivable by
the proximity switch.
[0011] In accordance with an embodiment, the locking bracket
prevents the locking pin from moving into the unlocked position
when the locking bracket is engaged with the locking hasp.
[0012] In accordance with an embodiment, the locking bracket is
coupled to the locking pin, and is dimensioned and spaced from the
locking hasp such that it may only be engaged with the hasp when
the locking pin is in the locked position.
[0013] In accordance with an embodiment, the locking bracket
includes an engaging tab and is hinged to move from a first
position to a second position.
[0014] In accordance with an embodiment, the locking hasp includes
a receiving tab, positioned to engage the engaging tab when the
locking bracket is in the second position.
[0015] In accordance with an embodiment, the hasp is positioned to
prevent the locking bracket from moving to the second position when
the locking pin is in the unlocked position.
[0016] In accordance with an embodiment, the controller is further
configured to permit a washing action only if a second sensor
target disposed on a second door is detected by a second
sensor.
[0017] In accordance with an embodiment, the controller is a
program logic controller having an internal memory register.
[0018] In accordance with an embodiment, the at least one locking
pin includes a handle.
[0019] In accordance with an embodiment, the locking pin is biased
with a spring in the locked position.
[0020] In accordance with an embodiment, the locking bracket is
biased away from the locking hasp with a spring.
[0021] In accordance with an embodiment, the locking pin receiving
slot is in communication with the loading opening.
[0022] In accordance with an embodiment, the industrial washer
further comprises an inner cylinder adapted to rotate with respect
to the body.
[0023] According to another aspect, an industrial washer permitting
operation only when securely shut, includes but is not limited to:
a body defining an inner compartment and a first loading opening
dimensioned to permit the placement of laundry within the inner
compartment; a door, hinged to move between an open position and a
closed position, wherein the door is positioned to cover the
loading opening; a sensor disposed on the body; a controller in
communication with the sensor; a locking mechanism disposed on the
door and comprising: at least one locking pin moveable between a
locked position and an unlocked position and configured to engage
with a locking pin receiving slot when the door is in the closed
position and the locking pin is in the locked position, wherein the
locking pin receiving slot is disposed in the body; a locking hasp;
a locking bracket engageable with the locking hasp when the locking
pin is in the locked position, wherein the locking bracket prevents
the locking pin from moving into the unlocked position when the
locking bracket is engaged with the locking hasp; and a sensor
target positioned on the locking bracket such that the sensor only
detects the sensor target when the door is in the closed position
and the locking bracket is engaged with the locking hasp, wherein
the controller is configured to permit a washing action only if the
sensor target is detected by the sensor and if a second sensor
target disposed on a second door is detected by a second
sensor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The present invention will be more fully understood and
appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washer, according to an
embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a washer
according to an embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a washer
according to an embodiment; and
[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a washer
according to an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference
numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 a
perspective view of a washer that permits operation only when
securely shut. FIG. 1 shows an industrial washer/extractor 10, that
has an outer tub door 12, and a plurality of inner tub doors 14.
The inner tub doors may hinge between an open position (not shown)
and a closed position. In an exemplary embodiment, the washer 10
will not operate unless each of the inner tub doors 14 are secured
in the closed position.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 2, each inner tub door 14 may have a
locking assembly 16 (alternately referred to as a locking
mechanism), which is designed to securely fasten shut each inner
tub door 14. Furthermore, washer 10 may have a plurality of sensors
18 each configured to determine if a respective door is in a closed
position (this process will be discussed in depth below). Although
an optical sensor is depicted in FIG. 2, one of ordinary skill in
the art will appreciate in conjunction with a review of this
disclosure that any sensor suitable for detecting the position of
the door, as described below, may be used.
[0031] FIG. 3 shows a locking assembly 16 in more detail. As shown,
locking assembly 16 may comprise locking pins 20. Locking pins 20
are moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position.
(The locking pins 20 may be fashioned, for example, out of 1.25''
diameter stainless steel rods. Although, different material
(preferably containing a metal) and sizes are contemplated as
should be appreciated by those of skill in the art in conjunction
with a review of this disclosure.). Although two locking pins 20
per locking assembly are shown, one of ordinary skill in the art
will appreciate that one or more pins may be used. When locking
pins 20 are moved in the locked position when the inner tub door 14
is in the closed position, the locking pins are received in locking
pin receiving slots 22, which, in an exemplary embodiment, are
defined in the body of the washer 10. When locking pins 20 are
engaged in the locking pin receiving slots 22, the inner tub door
14 is fastened shut as the door may not be opened without first
retracting the locking pins 20 into an unlocked position. To retain
the locking pins 20 in the locked position, they may be biased with
a spring 24, such as a compression spring (although other kinds of
springs may be used), into the locked position.
[0032] It should also be noted that the spring will require that
the locking pins 20 be manually moved into the unlocked position
before the inner tub door 14 may be shut, whereupon releasing the
locking pins 20 will allow them to automatically engage in the
locking pin receiving slots 22. Thus, to close inner tub door 14,
locking pins must be first slid into the unlocked position.
[0033] As further shown in FIG. 3, locking assembly 16 may include
a locking bracket 26, and locking hasp 28. Locking bracket 26 may
be coupled to locking pins 20, such that the locking bracket 26
will slide up and down with locking pins 20 as locking pins 20 are
moved between the unlocked and locked positions. As shown in FIG.
4, locking bracket 26 may be coupled to the locking pins via a
connecting rod 30. (In an exemplary embodiment, the connecting rod
may be fashioned out of 1/2' stainless steel, and may taper at
either end). Connecting rod 30 may also provide a convenient
handhold to lower locking pins 20 into the unlocked or locked
position. Locking bracket 26 may be further hinged between a first
position and a second position. In the second position, locking
bracket 26 may be engaged with locking hasp 28. It should be noted
that, in an exemplary embodiment, locking bracket 26 and locking
hasp 28 are dimensioned and spaced such that the locking bracket
may only move into the second position, when spaced sufficiently
apart from locking hasp 28. In other words, locking bracket 26 may
only engage with locking hasp 28 when the locking bracket 26 is
slid away from the locking hasp 28, when locking pins 20 are in the
locked position. If the locking pins are in the unlocked position,
locking bracket 26 is positioned too near to locking hasp 28 and
will be prevented from moving into the second position by locking
hasp 28. Furthermore, when engaged with locking hasp 28, locking
bracket 26 may be configured to abut locking hasp 28 such that the
locking pins 20 may not be slid into the unlocked position. Thus,
locking bracket 26 may only be engaged with locking hasp 28 when
locking pins 20 are in the locked position, and locking pins 20 may
not be slid back into the unlocked position until locking bracket
26 has been disengaged from locking hasp 28.
[0034] FIG. 4 shows the locking bracket 26 in the first,
disengaged, position, while FIG. 3 shows the locking bracket in the
second, engaged, position. It should be noted that locking bracket
26 may be biased in the first position, using a spring 31 (here
shown as a coiled metal spring, although other springs may be
used).
[0035] Returning back to FIG. 3, a sensor target 32, may be
disposed upon locking bracket 26. Sensor target, here an optical
reflector, may be any material that is capable of being sensed by
sensor 18 when the inner tub door 14 is in the closed position and
locking bracket 26 is engaged with locking hasp 28. In an exemplary
embodiment, sensor 18 is an optical sensor (for example, a
polarized photoeye sensor) and sensor target 28 is an optical
reflector disposed on the top surface of locking bracket 26, such
that a signal is reflected off of sensor target 32 only when the
inner tub door 14 is closed and locking bracket 26 is engaged with
locking hasp 28. Of course, as described above, this will also
require that locking pins 20 be engaged in the locking pin
receiving slots 22 and the inner tub door 14, consequently, is
fastened shut. Thus, in a preferable embodiment, sensor 18 only
detects sensor target 32 when the tub door 14 is fastened in the
closed position (although, other sensing positions are
contemplated).
[0036] As noted, FIG. 4 shows the locking bracket 26 in the open
position, as shown when the inner tub door 14 is open. In this
position, the spring 31 holds the locking bracket 26 toward the top
of the cylinder compartment door and prevents the sensor 18 located
on the Tub outer door 12 from receiving the reflected light
beam.
[0037] One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that sensor
18 and sensor target 32 need not be an optical sensor and an
optical reflector, respectively. Rather, any sensor 18 capable of
detecting when sensor target 32 is properly positioned (i.e. inner
tub door 14 is fastened shut and locking bracket 26 is engaged).
Thus, alternatively, sensor 18 may be a proximity switch and sensor
target 32 a conductor that may be detected by the proximity switch
when properly positioned. Other sensors 18 and sensor targets 32
may be used according to the requirements described herein as will
be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art.
[0038] Washer 10 may further comprise a controller 34 (not shown)
in communication with sensor 18. Controller 34 may be configured to
prevent washer 10 from operating unless sensor 18 detects the
presence (or, alternatively, no longer detects the presence) of
sensor target 32 (and, necessarily, that inner tub door 14 is in
the closed position). In the embodiment where there are multiple
inner tub doors 14, controller may require that each sensor 10,
respectively associated with an inner tub door 14, detect the
presence of the respective sensor target 32 before it will allow
operation of washer 10. In this way, each inner tub door 14 must be
in securely fastened in the closed position before washer 10 may be
operated.
[0039] For example, once the sensor 18 receives the reflected
signal from the sensor target 32 (or, alternatively, no longer
detects a signal from the sensor target 32), the sensor's internal
contact may closed, sending a 24v digital signal back to an
input/output (I/O) rack located in the low voltage control box (not
shown). This input signal sets a flag in the internal memory
register of the controller 34, in this example a Program Logic
Controller (PLC), memory, which is interrupted by the PLC software
as proving the door is locked. Once this signal is received, the
PLC software allows for operation of the outer Tub door and all
other wash functions to occur via manual inputs from a person
operating the PLC touchscreen controller.
[0040] One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that
although a controller is described herein, a dedicated computer,
FGPA, ASIC, or other computing device having a nontransitory
storage medium and capable of receiving a signal from a sensor and
controlling the operation of washer 10, may be used. Alternatively,
a combination of computing devices, such as the ones described
above, may be used in concert to receive the signal from sensor 18
and control the functioning of washer 10. The computing devices may
be local or remote and operated over the cloud or through some
other wireless communication medium.
[0041] While various embodiments have been described and
illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily
envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing
the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the
advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or
modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments
described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will
readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and
configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that
the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations
will depend upon the specific application or applications for which
the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize,
or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation,
many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It
is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are
presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the
appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may be
practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each
individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method
described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such
features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if
such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods
are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the
present disclosure.
[0042] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of
the present invention may be embodied/implemented as a computer
system, method or computer program product. The computer program
product can have a computer processor or neural network, for
example that carries out the instructions of a computer program.
Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of
an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment,
and entirely firmware embodiment, or an embodiment combining
software/firmware and hardware aspects that may all generally be
referred to herein as a "circuit," "module," "system," or an
"engine." Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take
the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more
computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code
embodied thereon.
[0043] Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s)
may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer
readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A
computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not
limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,
infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any
suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a
non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would
include the following: an electrical connection having one or more
wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access
memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable
read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a
portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage
device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of
the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable
storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or
store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction
performance system, apparatus, or device.
[0044] The program code may perform entirely on the user's
computer, partly on the user's computer, completely or partly on
the thermal printer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on
the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on
the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote
computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type
of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area
network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external
computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet
Service Provider).
[0045] The flowcharts/block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the
architecture, functionality, and operation of possible
implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products
according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this
regard, each block in the flowcharts/block diagrams may represent a
module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises instructions
for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also
be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions
noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures.
For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be
performed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes
be performed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality
involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block
diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks
in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be
implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform
the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose
hardware and computer instructions.
[0046] While several embodiments of the invention have been
discussed, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
various modifications and variations of the present invention are
possible. Such modifications do not depart from the spirit and
scope of the present invention.
* * * * *