Patent GB-190517003-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Bottle Washing Machines.
Inventor: BOULT ALFRED JULIUS
Filed: 1905-08-22
Granted: 1906-06-21
Abstract: 17,003. Boult, A. J., [Goldman & Co., E.]. Aug. 22. Cleaning bottles.-A bottle-washing machine of the rotary-rack type is provided with mechanism for automatically transferring the bottles from the rack to an endless conveyer or vice versa. An improved form of clamp socket for the mouths of the bottles is also claimed, and means for supporting the clamp sockets and for preventing the spreading of the brushes before entering the bottles are described but not claimed. Figs. 1 and 5 are the sectional elevation and plan of the entire apparatus embodying the several improvements. The rack, consisting of the upper and lower disks d, e with an outer and an inner ring of connecting- rods e', is mounted on a sleeve a and rotated intermittently by the projection j<1> on the disk j, revolved by spur gearing from the main shaft D, coming into contact with teeth on the circum. ference of the disk d. The shaft D is driven by the belt c<2> through the friction pulleys c, c<1>, the latter being adapted to be thrown into or out of action by levers c', c<5>. The lower clamping- sockets g have a retaining lip i, and are carried by sleeves g<2> on the rods e'. The sleeves carry guide-rollers running on the rods e<1>, and rollers g<4> which bear on the cam surface of the central sleeve H. The latter, supporting the sleeves g<2> by means of the springs shown, can be adjusted in position by a set-screw, in order that too much strain may not be thrown upon the springs when bottles of large size are being washed. The exterior brushes N are driven through spur-wheels r, r<1>, and their rotation causes also the turning of the upper clamps f by friction, thus ensuring the cleansing of the entire outer surfaces. The water-supplying device consists of an arcuate piece K, provided with chambers o, o<1>, Fig. 23, and capable of being reciprocated along the guide-rods A<1> by connexion with the revolving disk l. The movements of the piece K control the supply of water to the chambers o, o<1>, and three brush spindles communicate with the larger chamber and a rinsing-tube with the smaller. Referring to Fig. 26, which shows the brush mechanism, the spindle p<5> is feathered to a sleeve p<3>, which is provided with a head p<4> for registering with the clamp g and is also keyed in turn to a sleeve p driven from the shaft D by spurwheels. The brushes and sleeves p<3> rise and fall with the piece K, the water-supply valve being so arranged as to cut off the supply as the blushes leave the bottles. To prevent the brushes from emerging from the sleeves p<3> before reaching the bottles, two hollow standards u are provided, each containing a spring tending to raise a sleeve v, which has an arm embracing the spindle sleeve p<3>. A rod passing through ears on the piece K is furnished with projections so arranged that, as the brushes rise, the springs cause the simultaneous ascent of the sleeves p<3> until they encounter the lower clamps g, and as they descend the sleeves do not move until the piece K acts on the sleeves v through the rod and its projecting buttons. Each brush is furnished with a separate standard, in order that the action may not be interrupted when bottles of varying lengths are being washed. For automatically removing the bottles from the rack, there are provided a conveyer and a gripping- device, shown in plan in Fig. 5. The conveyer 0 comprises sockets P carried by a chain 9, which is given a motion corresponding to that of the rack by means of spur gearing and a rod Q. The rod is connected with an adjustable loop free to slide along a bar under the track 8 and provided with a resiliently-held projection 25 adapted to engage the chain links successively. The gripping-device consists of a pair of jaws 39 on the end of a bar 38, which is free to slide in a shoe 50 attached by a universal joint to the extension 36 of a disk 27, Fig. 10, provided with a cam-shaped groove 28 having a cam-base. The disk 29, fixed on the shaft I', has a groove on its under surface in which registers a bar 32 terminating in a roller 33. A slotted clip attached to the bar 38 passes over the head of the pin 60 traversing the roller 33 and bearing on the cam-surface. Slidingly attached to the bar 38 is a bar 43, the end of which is adapted to operate the jaws 39 by being moved longitudinally by means of the bell-crank lever 46 and the cam - edge of the shoe 50. The resulting motions are, firstly, the lowering of the jaws by the action of the pin 60 on the cam-surface to free the bottle from the flange of the upper clamp, and, secondly, the horizontal motion due to the roller 33 running in the cam-groove, thus transferring the bott!e to the conveyer. The operation of the conveyer and gripping-mechanism may be adapted, if desired, to feed the rack instead of stripping it.