Patent GB-635587-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for washing drinking glasses and like articles or for immersing articles in a liquid
IPC: A47L15/00
Filed: 1947-07-04
Abstract: 635,587. Washing bottles. SHAPCOTT, P. G. July 4, 1947, No. 17625. [Class 138 (i)] [Also in Group XXX] In a machine for washing drinking glasses and the like or for immersing articles in a liquid, the glass is carried in a clamp comprising two arms forming gripping jaws, which arms are mounted on two concentric spindles, the spindles being relatively movable to open and close the jaws and adapted to be fixed together and rotated as a whole. As shown, the machine comprises a plurality of clamps P, Figs. 1 and 2, mounted on arms extending radially from and rotatable with a ring 5 driven by an electric motor (not shown). Each clamp, as it passes position A, Fig. 2, opens to allow a cleaned glass or other vessel to be removed therefrom and a dirty glass to be substituted for it. As the clamp passes to position B it closes and rotates bodily through 360 degrees, thus dipping the glass in a tank 30 at position C. The glass is rinsed by internal and external sprays as it passes through position D and the clamp is then given a second full rotation to dip the glass in a sterilizing tank at position E. As it passes through position F, the glass is allowed to drain and may be dried by passing through a drying chamber. In a modification, the clamps are mounted on a chain conveyor and the tanks &c. are arranged in line. Each clamp comprises a pair of heads 11, 16, Figs. 3 and 4, fitted with rubber cushions with studs 23 projecting therefrom, and mounted on arms 10, 15 extending from coaxial tubes 9, 13, rotatable in a bearing 8 on the rotating ring 5. The lower head 11, is mounted on its arm 10 by a tube 24 urged outwardly by a spring 26. The heads, covers and arms are all hollow to enable the flow of liquid from the tubes 9 ; 13, to the inside and outside of the glass held in the clamp. A passageway 21 in the bearing 8 is in communication with the bores of the tubes 9, 13, by means of perforations 22 therein. Liquid is supplied to the passageway 21 at position D, Fig. 2, as it passes over a slot 42 cut in a fixed annular platform 7 over which the ring 5 rotates. The clamp is rotated in the bearing 8 by a spur-wheel 40 on the tube 9 engaging with sets of teeth 41, 41a on the annular platform 7 and at the same time the clamp is kept closed by a spring-urged plunger 19 slidable in a disc 18 carried by the tube 13 and engaging with a notch 20 in a clutch-plate 17 carried by the tube 9. The plunger 19 carries a roller 34 which, on engagement with a cam 33, Fig. 2, on the fixed platform at position A, causes the plunger 19 to be released from the notch 20. As the clamp passes through position A, it opens, its arm 15 being rotated relative to the arm 10 by means of another roller fixed to the disc 18 engaging with a raised portion of the cam 33. As the clamp is carried towards position B a further roller on the disc 18 engages another cam also fixed to the annular platform and causes the arm 15 to rotate in the opposite direction to reclose the clamp. The clamps are prevented from rotating bodily as they pass through positions F and A and the middle part of position D by a projection 38 on the clutch-plate 17 riding over slides 39, 39a. In a modification the clamps may be oscillated instead of fully rotated.