Claims:1. A scraping apparatus comprising:
• at least one support structure defining a first axis;
• a plurality of brushes pivotably mounted on each support structure and configured to move laterally relative to said support structure between an operative upper position and an operative lower position defined along a plane passing through said first axis; and
• at least one actuator operatively coupled with said plurality of brushes to facilitate the lateral movement of said plurality of brushes, wherein the lateral movement of said plurality of brushes facilitates the cleaning of a component that is proximal to said plurality of brushes.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each brush of said plurality of brushes comprises:
• a base; and
• a plurality of bristles mounted on said base, wherein each bristle has:
- a coiled spring base; and
- a resilient straight portion extending from said coiled spring base.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said resilient straight portion is a wire extending from said coiled spring base.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, which includes a securing element extending from said support structure and defining a second axis, wherein said securing element is configured to receive said base.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 4, wherein said second axis and said first axis are co-planar in said plane.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said component is configured to move relative to said support structures.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support structures are configured to move relative to said component.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support structures and said component configured to move relative to each other.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said securing element is configured to perform the lateral motion along the first axis, thereby imparting the lateral motion to said plurality of brushes.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said plurality of bristles is of a material selected from a group consisting of music wire, spring steel, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, monel, inconel, elgiloy, and hastelloy. , Description:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of mechanical engineering. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the field of scraping mechanisms.
BACKGROUND
In some processes, the items involved in the processes are needed to be cleaned before performing any further operations thereon. For example, a component manufactured by the process of sand casting has to be scraped to remove any kind of depositions, before performing any kind of surface finishing operation thereon. Conventionally, the scraping of these components is performed by a human operator with the help of a device such as a scraper or a rake or a cleaning brush. But cleaning the component with the help of cleaning brushes or scrapers by operator generally consumes a lot of time and is also a tedious process.
In another application, during harvesting of some crops, the crops are cleaned to remove dead leaves, dirt, and husk therefrom. Conventionally, this operation is also performed manually. Performing this operation manually requires a lot of time and effort.
Hence, in order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, there is need for a scraping apparatus that can be configured to perform cleaning of components in various processes.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows.
It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide scraping apparatus for cleaning of different components that reduces the time and effort required in cleaning operations.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a scraping apparatus that can be configured to perform cleaning of components in various processes.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a scrapping apparatus that comprises at least one support structure defining a first axis. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of brushes pivotably mounted on each support structure and configured to move laterally relative to the support structure between an operative upper position and an operative lower position defined along a plane passing through the first axis. The apparatus further comprises at least one actuator operatively coupled with the plurality of brushes. The actuator facilitates the lateral movement of the plurality of brushes, wherein the lateral movement of the plurality of brushes causes cleaning of a component.
In an embodiment, each brush of the plurality of brushes comprises a base, and a plurality of bristles mounted on the base. Each bristle has a coiled spring base, and a resilient straight portion extending from the base.
Typically, the resilient straight portion is a wire extending from the base.
In an embodiment, a securing element extends from the support structure and defines a second axis, wherein the securing element is configured to receive the base. The second axis and the first axis are co-planar.
In an embodiment, the component is configured to move relative to the support structures. In another embodiment, the support structure is configured to move relative to the component. In yet another embodiment, both, the component and the support structures move relative to each other.
Typically, the securing element is configured to perform the lateral motion along the first axis, thereby imparting the lateral motion to the plurality of brushes.
Preferably, the plurality of bristles is of a material selected from a group consisting of music wire, spring steel, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, monel, inconel, elgiloy, and hastelloy.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
The scraping apparatus of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the non-limiting accompanying drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a scraping apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Fig. 2 illustrates an isometric view of a brush used in the scraping apparatus of Fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Conventionally, cleaning operation on different components is carried out by human operators. Generally, a device such as a brush is used to clean different components. However, the time taken by a single human operator to clean a component of a larger size, e.g., a sand casted component of a larger size, the time and effort required to clean the component is high. In another application, during harvesting of some crops, the crops are cleaned to remove dead leaves, dirt, and husk therefrom. Conventionally, this operation is also performed manually. Performing this operation manually requires a lot of time and effort. The present disclosure envisages a scraping apparatus having a simple configuration, and which can be easily customized to suit different applications.
Fig. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a scraping apparatus 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 illustrates an isometric view of a brush used in the scraping apparatus 100. The scraping apparatus of the present disclosure is now described with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The scraping apparatus 100 comprises at least one support structure 102 that defines a first axis 104. A plurality of brushes 106 is pivotably mounted on each support structure 102 and is configured to move laterally relative to the support structure 102 between an operative upper position 108 and an operative lower position 110 defined along a plane 112 passing through the first axis 104. The extent of the movement of the plurality of brushes 106 is defined by the operative upper position 108 and the operative lower position 110. The operative upper and lower positions 108, 110 are configured depending on the application requirements.
The scraping apparatus 100 further comprises at least one actuator 114 operatively coupled with said plurality of brushes 106 to facilitate the lateral movement of the plurality of brushes 106, wherein the lateral movement of the plurality of brushes 106 facilitates the cleaning of a component 116. In an embodiment, the component 116 is configured to move relative to the support structures 102. In an embodiment, the lateral movement of the plurality of brushes 106 is an oscillatory movement, wherein the plurality of brushes 106 is moving with a pre-defined frequency. In another embodiment, the motion of the component 116 is facilitated by a conveyor arrangement 117. The feed rate of the conveyor arrangement 117 can be configured in accordance with the frequency of the oscillatory motion of the plurality of brushes 106. In yet another embodiment, the component 116 is stationary, and the support structures 102 are configured to move along a pre-defined path proximal to the component 116 to clean the component 116 efficiently. In still another embodiment, the component 116 and the support structures 102 move relative to each other to perform the cleaning of the component 116.
In the present embodiment, each brush of the plurality of brushes 106 comprises a base 118 and a plurality of bristles 120 mounted on the base 118. Each bristle of the plurality of bristles 120 has a coiled spring base 122, and a resilient straight portion 124 extending from the coiled spring base 122. In an embodiment, the resilient straight portion 124 is a wire extending from the coiled spring base 122. In an embodiment, the plurality of bristles 120 is of a material selected from a group consisting of music wire, spring steel, phosphor bronze alloy, beryllium copper alloy, monel, inconel, elgiloy, and hastelloy. The configuration and the resilient nature of the bristles 120 provide the bristles 120 with high flexibility. The flexibility of the bristles 120 allows the bristles to move in a manner that complements the shape of the component 116 that is being cleaned, thereby facilitating a better cleaning of the component 116. In an embodiment, the component 116 is a crop such as sugarcane or bamboo from which the dead leaves are being scraped off by the scraping apparatus 100. In another embodiment, the component 116 is a sand casted component that is being cleaned before performing any further operations thereon.
In an embodiment, the scraping apparatus 100 further comprises a securing element 126 extending from the support structure 102 and defining a second axis 128. The securing element 126 is configured to receive the base 118 of the brush 106. In an embodiment, the second axis 128 and the first axis 104 are co-planar in the plane 112. The securing element 126 is configured to perform the lateral motion along the first axis 104, thereby imparting the lateral movement to the plurality of brushes 106. The drive for the lateral movement is supplied to the securing element 126 by the actuator 114. In an embodiment the actuator 114 is a hydraulic actuator involving the use hydraulic cylinders. In yet another embodiment, the actuator 114 is a pneumatic actuator. In still another embodiment, the actuator 114 involves the use of electrically operated motors to impart the lateral motion to the plurality of brushes 106.
The scraping apparatus 100 of the present disclosure can be easily customized to suit different applications. In one application, the scraping apparatus 100 can be used to brush off dead leaves/husk from a crop such as sugarcane or bamboo. In another application, the scraping apparatus 100 can be configured for use in manufacturing processes for cleaning of various components.
TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The scraping apparatus of the present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including but not limited to the realization of a scraping apparatus:
- for cleaning of different components that reduces the time and effort required in cleaning operation.
- that can be configured to perform cleaning of components in various processes.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.