US2696216A - Apparatus for washing venetian blinds - Google Patents

Description

1954 G. MEYER 2,695,216

APPARATUS FOR WASHING VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Aug. 6, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l BLIND JUPPORTING FRA ME INVENTOR.

GOTTFR/ED MEYER Ii BY ATTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1954 G. MEYER APPARATUS FOR WASHING VENETIAN BLINDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 6, 1953 OPERATING UNIT s R w w N m m a 2 E w w A H- m 7 a E 4 2 n/ L a m M n "H M OV-p B 06 "Z n Zane q/IQ.-- ii m u M w 3 o w z I w Z 9: 4 j M m L115 m Z H E #6 3 3 4 9 2. 2 H 4! M m 6 Z 7 b 2/ 7. a z u 21 2 w ted States Patent This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus or machines for washing and cleaning Venetian blinds,- whereby suchblinds may be thoroughly and expeditiously cleaned at very low cost.

Machines have heretofore been developed for washing and cleaning Venetian blinds, but such known machines have not been entirely satisfactory because they require that the Venetian blinds to be washed be taken apart or disassembled to position them in. the machine for washing, which obviously adds materially to the cost of cleaning the blinds.

An important object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a' machine of this general type whereinall of the objectionable features now inherent in such machines of known construction have been completely eliminated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine for washing, drying and cleaning Venetian blinds, which is so constructed that one or more blinds may be positioned within the machine without requiring the blinds to be disassembled, and means being provided for spacing apart the slats of each blind when said blinds are secured in position in the machine, thereby to permit free circulation of thewater or cleaning fluid between the slats, when the machine is operated.

A further object of the invention isto provide a machine for washing and cleaning Venetian blinds, which comprises a tank adapted'to contain a suitable cleaning. fluid, and a shaft being mounted. for rotation in said tank, and having a plurality of blind supporting frames secured thereto in alignment lengthwise of the shaft, each pair of said frames being adapted to' support one or more Venetian blinds. so that when the shaft is rotated, said blinds are passed through the cleaning fluid in the lower portion of the tank, whereby the cleaning fluid may readily pass between the slats of each blind and thus eflect a thorough cleaning of the opposed surfaces thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class describedv comprisinga shaft having two or more blind-supporting hubs adjustably mounted thereon, whereby they may be axially adjusted-on the shaft to adapt the machine for washing Venetian blinds of various lengths, and means being provided for rotating the shaft in opposite directions, first in one direction, and thenthe other direction, thereby to effect more thorough and completev cleaning of the opposed surfaces ofthe slots in a comparatively short interval of time, whereby the apparatus readily lends itself for commercial use for washing, cleaning, and drying Venetian blinds in large quantities.

A further object of the invention resides in the unique construction of the blind supporting frames secured to the hubs on the shaft, which frames are so constructed that one or two blinds may be quickly inserted into each frame and secured in position therein with the slats of each blind uniformly spaced apart to permit free circulation of the cleaning fluid between the slats when the machine is operated.

A further and more specificobject of the invention resides in the unique construction of the individual blind supporting frames, each such frame comprising opposed rails disposed in fixedparallel relation, and having inwardly facing grooves therein adapted to removably receive a pair ofbars in back to back relation, said bars each having a serrated edge for engaging the edges of the slats at one side of a given blind, the opposed edges of said-slats being received between the serrations of a "ice similar bar fixed to the blind supporting frame, whereby such blind is supported between two serrated bars which cooperate to retain the slats of each blind in spaced relation, and each such frame also including a pivoted frame member which may be swung outwardly to an open position to permit insertion of the blinds and serrated bars into the frame, or the removal of the blinds therefrom, said pivoted frame member being adapted to be swung into locking engagement with one of the other frame members, thereby to secure the Venetian blinds in proper spaced relation in said frames, two or more such frames usually being required to support one or more such blinds.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for washing and drying Venetian blinds comprising an operating mechanism for rotating the shaft so that the Venetian blinds secured in position in the blind supporting frames thereof pass through the cleaning fluid in the lower portion of the tank, first in one direction, for two or more revolutions, and then in the opposite direction, whereby the turbulent action of the cleaning fluid between the slats of each blind quickly and thoroughly dissolves and removes all grime and foreign matter adhering thereto, after which the cleaning fluid may be quickly drained from the tank, and a supply of warm air circulated lengthwise through the tank, while rotating the blinds therein, thereby to effect thorough and complete cleaning and dry? ing of the blinds in a comparatively short interval of time, and without requiring that the blinds be disassembled, as is now common practice when using conventional machines of this general type.

Other objects of the invention reside in the simple and inexpensive construction of the machine, as a whole, whereby it may be manufactured in quantity production at very low cost; and in the unique construction of the blind supporting means, whereby an inexperienced, unskilled attendant may readily operate the machine.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the. claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved machine for Washing Venetian blinds, partially broken away to more clearly illustrate the positions of the blinds in the tank, and with the operating mechanism omitted;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1, on a larger scale, with the cover removed to show the adjustability of the blind supporting frames on the shaft;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, on a still larger scale, showing the arrangement of the blind supporting frames on the shaft;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing one of the split hubs for supporting the blind supporting frames on the shaft;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating the method ofinserting. or removing the blinds from the blind supporting frames; and

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on the linev 66 of Figure 4.

The novel machine herein disclosed is shown comprising a suitable elongated tank, generally designated by the numeral 2, preferably supported upon a plurality of legs 3 which may be secured thereto by such means as welding, although it is to be understood that they may be otherwise secured, if desired. The tank has a semi-cylindrical bottom, and its side and end walls extend upwardly and cooperate to provide the open top 4 of the tank. A suitable flanged cover 5 provides a closure for the open top of the tank to prevent splashing of the cleaning fluid from the tank, when the Venetian blinds are rotated therein, as will subsequently be described.

A shaft 6'extends longitudinally through the tank, and is shown mounted in suitablebearings secured to the end walls of the tank, as indicated at 77 in Figure 2. These bearings may be of any desired construction suitable for the purpose, and should be leak-proof to prevent leakage of the cleaning fluid therethrough.

One of the important features of the invention resides in the means provided within the tank for removably supporting the Venetian blinds therein during the cleaning and drying operation. Such means is shown comprising a plurality of open blind supporting frames, generally designated by the numeral 8. Each frame 8 comprises a rail 9 which is suitably secured to one side of a square hub 10 by such means as bolts 11. The hub 18 is split, as indicated at 12, and the two parts thereof are adjustably clamped or secured to the shaft by clamping bolts 13 received in suitable apertures provided in spaced lugs 14 provided in the two halves of each hub 10.

Each frame 8 further comprises a rail 15 which is secured in spaced parallel relation to its complemental rail 9 by an elongated connecting rail 16, to the ends of which the adjacent ends of rails 9 and 15 are welded or otherwise secured, so as to prevent relative movement of the rails 9 and 15 with respect thereto. For the sake of clarity, the rails 9 and 15 will hereinafter be referred to as the inner and outer rails, respectively.

Disposed in opposed relation to the elongated rail 16, is a similar rail 17 which has its inner end pivoted to the adjacent end of the inner rail 9, as indicated at 18. The opposite or outer end of rail 17 is shown having a mitered connection with the adjacent end of the outer rail 15, and is secured in closed position, as shown in Figure 4, by a spring biased latch 19 secured to the outer rail 15.

Rails 9, 15, 16 and 17 of each blind supporting frame 8 are preferably channel-shaped in cross-section, as will be understood by reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6. Fixedly secured within the opposed rails 16 and 17 of each frame 8 are a pair of serrated bars 21 and 22, respectively, having their serrated edges facing inwardly with the bottoms or roots of the serrations disposed outwardly beyond the adjacent edges of the flanges of the rails 16 and 17 to permit the edges of the slats supported between said serrations to readily clear the flanges of the rails 16 and 17, as shown in Figure 4. The bars 21 and 22 may be secured in fixed position within their respective rails 16 and 17 by suitable means as, for example, welding.

Removably mounted in each blind supporting frame 8, in back to back relation, are a pair of relatively wider serrated bars 23 and 24 having their inner and outer ends slidably supported in rails 9 and 15, respectively, as will be understood by reference to Figure 4. The outwardly directed edges of bars 23 and 24 are serrated in a manner similar to the inwardly directed serrated edges of the fixed bars 21 and 22, whereby the serrations of the bar 23 may cooperate with the serrations of fixed bar 21 to support the slats 25 of a Venetian blind, generally designated by the numeral 26, and the bar 24 similarly cooperates with the fixed bar 22 to support a blind 27, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

When inserting the Venetian blinds into two or more aligned frames 8, the pivoted bar 17 of each frame is swung into open position, as shown in Figure 5, whereby it may be supported upon the fixed rail 16 of an adjacent frame 8, as shown in Figure 5.

To insert the Venetian blinds 26 and 27 into aligned rails 8, the serrated bars 24 and 23 of each blind supporting frame are removed, as will be understood by reference to Figure 5. Blind 26 is then inserted into the aligned frames with the adjacent edges of its slats received between the serrations of the bars 21. Next, the movable serrated bars 23 are inserted into their respective frames 8 with their serrations entering between the adjacent edges of the slats at the opposite sides of the blind, as shown in Figure 4. The slats may be tilted to any desired angle to control the circulation of the cleaning fluid between the slats of the blind.

Next, the movable serrated bars 24 are slid into their respective blind supporting frames 8 with their backs engaging the backs of their complemental bars 23, after which the blind 27 is inserted into the aligned frames 8 with the forward edges of its slats entering between the serrations of bars 24. Thereafter, the pivoted bars 17 of the several blind supporting frames 8 are swung upwardly into interlocking engagement with their latches 19, whereby the serrations of the bars 22 of the pivoted rails 17 will engage the adjacent edges of the slats of Venetian blind 27, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4.

When the blinds are thus secured in the frames 8, the slats of each blind are retained in spaced relation, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, thereby to assure free circulation of the cleaning fluid therebetween, with the assurance that the entire surfaces of all slats are thoroughly and completely subjected to the cleaning and scouring action of the cleaning fluid passing therebetween, when the shaft is rotated, as will subsequently be described. The bars 21, 22, 23 and 24 may be constructed of any suitable material applicable for the purpose. Aluminum has been found a desirable metal, as it is rustproof and light in weight, and the serrations may readily be formed therein without costly machine work.

The supporting hubs 10 are slidably secured to the shaft 6 so that they may be axially adjusted thereon to adapt the apparatus for washing Venetian blinds of various lengths. The hubs 10 are prevented from relative rotation on the shaft 6 by such means as a feather key 20 shown in Figures 3 and 4. This feather key may extend substantially the length of shaft 6, and is secured in fixed relation thereto so that it serves as a spline for non-rotatably supporting the hubs on the shaft.

In Figure 2, two relatively short Venetian blinds are shown secured in position in adjacent supporting frames 8. If relatively longer blinds are to be washed, as indicated by the dotted lines 28 in Figure 2, the frame member 8 is moved inwardly to the dotted line position 29, and if still longer blinds are to be washed, it may be necessary to utilize three blind supporting frames, as indicated by the reference characters a, b and c.

In Figure 3 it will noted, four blind supporting frames 8 are secured to the shaft 6, whereby eight complete Venetian blinds may be cleaned at one time. When four ,such frames are utilized, two, four, six, or eight complete blinds may be cleaned at one time, it being understood that the blinds to be washed should be so mounted on the shaft that the shaft is always in proper balance. If only two blind supporting frames are utilized, they are disposed in diametrically opposed relation.

The means for operating the shaft 6 is schematically illustrated in Figure 2, and, as here shown, comprises a motor 31 having a chain drive 32 operatively connecting it to a suitable speed reducer 33 of conventional design. The speed reducer 33 may be operatively connected to an operating unit, generally designated by the numeral 34, having a chain drive 35 operatively connecting it to the shaft 6. The chain drive 35 includes a Sprocket wheel 36, which is keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to the shaft 6, as will be understood. The operating unit 34 is of the type embodying a reversing mechanism so that the shaft 6 is alternately rotated, first in one direction, and then in the other, which alternate rotary movements may continue throughout each cycle of operation, thereby to obtain maximum cleaning action of the Water or cleaning fluid on the blinds.

In some instances, it may be desired to completely dry the blinds before removing them from the tank. This is accomplished by circulating Warm air through the tank 2 after the cleaning fluid or water has been drained therefrom through a suitable drain 37, shown in Figure 3. The cleaning fluid may be delivered into a suitable reservoir or receiving means not shown, from which it may later be pumped back into the tank 2 for further use, if so desired. After the blinds have been thoroughly subjected to the scrubbing action of the cleaning fluid in the tank, and the cleaning fluid has been drained from the tank, warm clean water may be sprayed over the blinds in the tank to rinse the dirty cleaning fluid therefrom, before introducing the warm drying air into the tank. Such rinsing water may readily be applied to the blinds while slowly rotating them in the tank.

T0 circulate air through the tank, an inlet conduit 38 is secured to one end wall of the tank which is connected to a suitable source of warm or hot air, under pressure, not shown in the drawings. At the opposite end of the tank there is provided an air outlet conduit 39 which may exhaust directly to the atmosphere or into a suitable receiving means, not shown.

The novel apparatus herein disclosed has been found to be extremely practical and eflicient in actual use, because of the fact that the Venetian blinds may be quickly inserted into or removed from the blind supporting .frames 8 without in any way disassembling the blinds.

The capacity of the machine for washing and drying Venetian blinds is almost unlimited, as compared to apparatus now in common use for this purpose. It provides an ideal apparatus for quickly and economically washing blinds utilized in hotels and numerous other public buildings Where a large number of such blinds are frequently utilized.

The cleaning action of the fluid on the surfaces of the slats may be controlled to a large degree by the angle at which the slats are supported between the serrated bars 21-23 and 2224. The construction of the apparatus is also extremely simple and inexpensive, as the serrated bars 21 and 22 are all alike in configuration, and are therefore interchangeable, and, in like manner, the bars 23 and 24 are of like construction.

When mounting Venetian blinds in the supporting frames 8, the usual operating cords thereof are preferably wound around the upper horizontal supporting members 41 and 42 of each blind, whereby they are subjected to the cleaning action of the cleaning fluid or water, when the machine is operated, with the result that the operating cords are simultaneously cleaned when cleaning the blinds.

In the drawings I have shown the ends of the blinds positioned adjacent to the hubs 10, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. If desired, they may readily be inverted in the frames 8 by simply inverting the serrated bars 21, 22, 23 and 24 therein.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a tank having a cleaning fluid therein, a shaft rotatable in said tank, a pair of blind supporting members mounted upon and rotatable with said shaft, each blind supporting member including a pair of clamping bars cooperable to receive and support a complete Venetian blind in fixed relation on said members, means for driving said shaft to cause said members and the blind supported thereon to pass through the cleaning fluid in said tank, and at least one of said blind supporting members being mounted for axial adjustment on said shaft relative to the other of said members, thereby to adapt the apparatus for washing blinds of different lengths.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means is provided for spacing apart the slats of each blind, thereby to permit free circulation of the cleaning fluid therebetween, when the blinds are passed through the cleaning fluid by rotation of the shaft.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means provided in said members for spacing apart the slats of each blind comprises a pair of opposed bars having their inwardly directed edges serrated and arranged to clampingly engage the opposed edges of the slats of a given blind, thereby to separate said slats from one another and simultaneously retain the blinds in position on said members.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the driving means for said shaft includes an operating unit adapted to alternately rotate the shaft in opposite direetions.

5. In an apparatus for washing Venetian blinds, an elongated tank having a cleaning fluid therein, a shaft rotatable in said tank, a plurality of blind supporting members non-rotatably secured to said shaft, and each including a hub having opposed flat faces, an open frame secured to each of said flat faces and comprising inner and outer frame elements of channel cross-section and opposed side elements, one of said side elements being mounted for pivotal movement, whereby it may be swung in an open position to permit insertion of a blind into each frame, the non-pivoted side frame elements of each blind supporting frame having a plurality of longitudinally spaced inwardly directed teeth or serrations for receiving the edges of the slats at one side of a blind inserted into said frame, a movable bar inserted into said frame and having an inwardly directed serrated edge adapted to engage the edges at the opposite sides of the slats and cooperating with the serrations on said non-pivoted side frame element to support a blind in said frame with its slats spaced apart to provide fluid circulating passages therebetween, said pivoted side frame elements, when in closed position, retaining said blind and movable serrated bar in operative position in the blind supporting frame.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each blind supporting frame is adapted to support two Venetian blinds in spaced parallel relation with the slats of each blind spaced apart to provide fluid circulating passages therebetween.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein means is provided for circulating air through the tank to dry the blinds, subsequent to draining the cleaning fiuid from the tank, whereby the blinds may be thoroughly washed, cleaned, and dried without changing the positions of the blinds in their supporting frames.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for driving the shaft includes a motor-driven speed reducer and an operating unit for alternately driving the shaft, first in one direction, and then in the opposite direction, thereby to cause the cleaning fluid to impart -*a scouring action on the surfaces of the slats of the blinds to quickly and positively remove all foreign matter therefrom.

9. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the limbs of the blind supporting members are axially adjustable on the shaft to adapt the apparatus for washing (blinds of different lengths.

Name Date Krehbiel Apr. 9, 1907 Number

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