Scrubbing apparatus for pottery greenware

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for removal of debris and excess material from pottery greenware. The apparatus includes a vertically disposed spindle which is rotatably driven and carries surface abrading means secured to the uppermost end thereof. This abrading means comprises a body of resiliently flexible material such as a sponge which has a substantial number of pores or open spaces and voids distributed throughout its entirety. The abrading means projects radially outward from diamatrically composed sides of the spindle as well as extending a distance above the upper end thereof, thereby forming a surface which, when revolved about the vertical axis, defines a surface that readily conforms to that of the greenware to be scrubbed or cleaned. A water dispensing nozzle is also situated in close proximately to the upper end of the spindle and continuously ejects a stream of water onto or in the direction of the abrading means during operation of the apparatus. The method of utilization of this apparatus is that an article of greenware is temporarily positioned by the operator on the upper end of the spindle in contacting engagement with the surface of the abrading means and then removed for inspection. During the times that the article is removed from the spindle, the water supply is directed onto the abrading means and concurrently removes particles of greenware that have adhered to the surface or trapped in the pores and replenishes the supply of fluid carried by the abrading means for subsequent operations.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.