Cam latching mechanism for a parts washer

A tumbling-type parts washer comprising:

• a housing;
• a rotor assembly disposed within said housing, said rotor assembly being configured to receive for tumbling a basket for holding parts to be cleaned;
• and
• cam latching means for automatically securing the basket in said rotor assembly during at least a portion of rotation of said rotor assembly from a loading/unloading position, said cam latching means including:
• a cam plate mounted on an inner wall of said housing adjacent said rotor assembly;
• and
• a torsion bar assembly mounted on said rotor assembly for rotation therewith, said torsion bar assembly being operable between an open position that permits removal of the basket from the rotor assembly and a closed position that prevents removal of the basket from said rotor assembly, wherein cooperation between said torsion bar assembly and said cam plate prevents said torsion bar assembly from being moved to the open position during at least a portion of rotation of said rotor assembly from the loading/unloading position.

A tumbling-type part washer comprising:

• a housing;
• a rotor assembly disposed within said housing, said rotor assembly being configured to receive for tumbling a plurality of baskets for holding parts to be cleaned;
• and
• cam latching means for automatically securing the basket of baskets in said rotor assembly during at least a portion of rotation of said rotor assembly from a loading/unloading position,
• wherein said cam latching means comprises:
• a cam plate mounted on an inner wall of said housing adjacent said rotor assembly;
• and
• a torsion bar assembly for each basket received by said rotor assembly, each torsion bar assembly being mounted on said rotor assembly for rotation therewith, each torsion bar assembly being operable between an open position that permits removal of a corresponding basket from the rotor assembly and a closed position that prevents removal of the corresponding basket from said rotor assembly, wherein cooperation between each torsion bar assembly and said cam plate prevents each torsion bar assembly from being moved to the open position during at least a portion of rotation of said rotor assembly from the loading/unloading position for the corresponding basket.

An apparatus for automatically securing a removable basket in a rotor assembly of a tumbling-type parts washer comprising:

• cam path means for defining a cam path;
• a removable basket for holding parts to be washed;
• and
• cam follower means, mounted for rotation with the rotor assembly, for cooperating with said cam path means to automatically secure said removable basket in the rotor assembly during at least a portion of rotation of said rotor assembly from a loading/unloading position.

An apparatus for automatically securing a basket in a rotor assemble of a tumbling-type parts washer comprising:

• cam path means for defining a cam path and including a cam plate configured for mounting to a housing of the parts washer, said cam plate defining a substantially circular cam surface with an open portion;
• and
• cam follower means, mounted for rotation with the rotor assembly, for cooperating with said cam path means to automatically secure the basket in the rotor assembly during at least a portion of rotation of said rotor assembly from a loading/unloading position,
• wherein said cam follower means comprises:
• a torsion bar pivotally mounted on said rotor assembly, said torsion bar being operable between an open position and a closed position;
• basket retaining means, mounted on said torsion bar, for permitting the basket to be removed from the rotor assembly when said torsion bar is in the open position, and for preventing removal of the basket when said torsion bar is in the closed position;
• and
• a cam follower mounted on a crank arm portion of said torsion bar, said cam follower being configured
• to align with the open portion of the cam surface when the rotor assembly of the parts washer is in the loading/unloading position to permit said torsion bar to be pivoted between the open position and the closed position for removal of the basket, and
• to engage the cam surface of said cam plate during at least a portion of rotation of said rotor assembly when said torsion bar is in the closed position and the rotor assembly is rotated from the loading/unloading position, said engagement preventing said torsion bar from being moved to the open position.

A tumbling-type parts washer comprising:

• a housing;
• a removable basket for holding parts to be cleaned;
• a rotor assembly disposed within said housing, said rotor assembly being configured to receive said removable basket;
• and
• cam latching means for automatically securing said removable basket in said rotor assembly during at least a portion of rotation of said rotor assembly from a loading/unloading position.