Patent GB-679293-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to washing apparatus for bottles, jars and other hollow-ware and hollow cylindrical vessels and articles
Inventor: WHITE FRANK
IPC: B08B9/28
Filed: 1950-06-14
Abstract: 679,293. Washing bottles and the like. BOOTS PURE DRUG CO., Ltd. June 13, 1951 [June 14, 1950], No. 14866/50. Class 138 (i). Relates to washing apparatus for bottles and the like in which a washing tank is subjected to an oscillating or swinging movement by an accumu- Jation of water first on one side and then on the other side externally of the tank, the water first entering the tank. A tank unit, Fig. 1, comprising the washing tank 1 and ballast tanks 3 and 4 on opposite sides of the tank 1 is pivoted at 18 within uprights 11 of a stand comprising, a base 9 provided with wheels 31, uprights 12 and inclined members 10. The uprights 11 and 12 are joined by crossbars while the members 10 are joined by a roller 17. The tank 3 communicates with the tank 1 by apertures 3a while the tank 1 is connected to the tank 4 by a syphon 5. The tank 4 has a drain pipe 7 connected to a sink or as shown, communicating with a tank 8 carried by the base 9. A pipe 24 is provided over the drain pipe 7. The pipe 24 is provided around its base with small holes 25, above its base with a hole 26 while its upper end 27 is open and of such a size so that its rate of discharge is the same as the rate at which the syphon discharges. The tank unit is balanced when empty so as to be in a vertical position. Hot water is supplied from an overhead pipe 14 through apertures 14a, Fig. 2, into the tank 1 and is suitably controlled to allow a sequence of operations. A drip cup 15 with outlet 16 is provided above the tank 1 for any cleansing liquid which may be used. In operation when water is supplied to the tank 1 the level therein rises so that water enters the tank 3 through the apertures 3a. The water in the tank 3 then causes the balance of the tank unit to be upset and so the unit swings to the right of Fig. 1. The water rises in both tanks 1 and 3 to cover bottles positioned normally in .horizontal positions in wire mesh holders within the tank 1. Owing to the swing of the unit to the right the bottles are inclined so that they are filled as the water rises in the tanks 1 and 3. When the level rises to the top of the syphon 5 syphoning of the water occurs and the tanks 1 and 3 are gradually emptied into the tank 4. Water begins to build up in the tank 4 owing to the smallness of the holes 25. When the water level reaches the hole 26 it escapes more quickly but still at a slower rate than the syphoning rate. When the level reaches the opening 27 the water discharges at the same rate as the syphoning rate. In time the water in the tank 4 will cause the tank unit to overbalance and swing to the left of Fig. 1. The water then flows out of the now oppositely inclined bottles. Finally when the tank 4 is completely emptied the tank unit returns to the vertical position and the sequence of operations again commences if the water supply is still running. During this sequence of operations the water serves also to wash the outsides of the bottles and to remove labels and foil therefrom. The swinging movement of the tank unit is limited by hinged stops 6. In order to load or unload the bottle holders the stops are swung out of the way and the tank unit swung to a substantially horizontal position in which it rests on the crossbar of the uprights 12. The holder may then be loaded or unloaded over the roller 17. Balancing correction for the tank unit is provided. One example is by means of a receptacle 23 to contain sand. The time of swinging can be controlled by varying the length of the fitting. An alternative loading and unloading means is also disclosed.