Labconco Corporation

Fawn Engineering Corporation

Elmer B Offutt

Larry G Hambleton

Claude L Sears

William G Gillett

Edward Babich

Apparatus for washing and vacuum drying long necked laboratory flasks is presented. The apparatus includes a cabinet which presents a washing and drying compartment and a pump and rotary spray arm. A special rack which can be rolled into and out of the compartment includes a central manifold and a plurality of distribution arms extending radially from the manifold. Upright spindle tubes extend from the distribution arms to receive the inverted flasks such at that the tubes extend through the narrow necks of the flasks with the open ends of the tubes located within the bodies of the flasks. A diaphragm coupling allows water to be pumped to the manifold for delivery to the spindle tubes during washing and rinsing cycles. The tubes spray the water directly inside of the flask bodies for thorough washing and rinsing. A vacuum conduit extending from the manifold carries a seat which engages a gasket to couple the manifold with a vacuum blower when the rack is moved into the cabinet. During the drying cycle, the blower applies vacuum through the manifold to the spindle tubes to draw moist air out of the flasks and replace it with drier air from the compartment. The vacuum drying system recirculates and heats the air and mixes it with dry outside air for enhanced drying of the flasks.

Method and apparatus for drying glassware

A method for washing and vacuum drying long necked laboratory flasks. The apparatus includes a cabinet which presents a washing and drying compartment and a pump and rotary spray arm. A special rack which can be rolled into and out of the compartment includes a central manifold and a plurality of distribution arms extending radially from the manifold. Upright spindle tubes extend from the distribution arms to receive the inverted flasks such at that the tubes extend through the narrow necks of the flasks with the open ends of the tubes located within the bodies of the flasks. A diaphragm coupling allows water to be pumped to the manifold for delivery to the spindle tubes during washing and rinsing cycles. The tubes spray the water directly inside of the flask bodies for thorough washing and rinsing. A vacuum conduit extending from the manifold carries a seat which engages a gasket to couple the manifold with a vacuum blower when the rack is moved into the cabinet. During the drying cycle, the blower applies vacuum through the manifold to the spindle tubes to draw moist air out of the flasks and replace said moist air with drier air from the compartment. The vacuum drying system recirculates and heats the air and mixes said air with dry outside air for enhanced drying of the flasks.

Flask washer with vacuum dry

A method and apparatus for washing and vacuum drying long necked laboratory flasks. The apparatus includes a cabinet which presents a washing and drying compartment and a pump and rotary spray arm. A special rack which can be rolled into and out of the compartment includes a central manifold and a plurality of distribution arms extending radially from the manifold. Upright spindle tubes extend from the distribution arms to receive the inverted flasks such at that the tubes extend through the narrow necks of the flasks with the open ends of the tubes located within the bodies of the flasks. A diaphragm coupling allows water to be pumped to the manifold for delivery to the spindle tubes during washing and rinsing cycles. The tubes spray the water directly inside of the flask bodies for thorough washing and rinsing. A vacuum conduit extending from the manifold carries a seat which engages a gasket to couple the manifold with a vacuum blower when the rack is moved into the cabinet. During the drying cycle, the blower applies vacuum through the manifold to the spindle tubes to draw moist air out of the flasks and replace it with drier air from the compartment. The vacuum drying system recirculates and heats the air and mixes it with dry outside air for enhanced drying of the flasks.

Product storing and dispensing apparatus for the improved handling of products such as gum and mints is provided and especially suited for use in multi-product, selective vending machines of types that store and dispense a variety of products from compartmented drawers, which must be withdrawn for practical reloading with products. The improved apparatus conserves space and minimizes the weight of the structure to be moved during loading by substituting for the conventional drawer unit a lower assembly that carries the operating mechanism for selective product dispensing and may remain within the machine during loading and an upper assembly that merely receives products, is shiftably mounted on the lower assembly and alone need be withdrawn during loading. The loading operation is further improved by eliminating the conventional, overhanging, product hold-down flanges along the sides of the product compartments and substituting therefor a hinged, plate-like cover that is also rearwardly and forwardly shiftable to facilitate reliable latching and unlatching thereof. Loading is still further enhanced by a construction providing automatic removal of product pusher forces during withdrawal of the upper assembly for loading and automatic restoration thereof when the upper assembly is moved back into its normal operating position. Selective product ejector mechanisms of a new and simplified construction especially adapted for employment with the upper and lower assembly arrangement of the improved apparatus are also incorporated in the latter.

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Independence, MO, United States of America

Elmer B Offutt