Patent GB-426025-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for washing bottles or the like
IPC: B08B9/44
Filed: 1934-04-18
Abstract: 426,025. Bottle - washing machines. U. D. ENGINEERING CO., Ltd., Cumberland Avenue, Abbey Road, and TAYLOR, H. C., 281, Lonsdale Road, Barnes, both in London. April 18, 1934, No. 11701. [Class 138 (i)] In a machine for washing bottles and like vessels, comprising a travelling conveyer for feeding the bottles through positions for washing, rinsing, and like operations to a discharging station, a fluid-operated reciprocating engine feeds the conveyer step-by-step, jetmechanism is actuated by a fluid-operated engine for movement into and out of engagement with the bottles on the conveyer, discharging mechanism is operated by another fluid-operated engine for removing bottles from the conveyer, and means are provided controlled by the jet mechanism in its inoperative position to initiate the working stroke of the reciprocating engine, further means controlled by the discharging mechanism at the end of its operative movement being provided for initiating the return stroke of the reciprocating engine. In the construction shown, an endless conveyer 10 with rows of bottle-carriers 11 is moved stepby-step through ratchet and pawl mechanism 17 operated by a reciprocating hydraulic engine 14, to convey bottles from a charging station 12 upwardly in an inclined direction, then horizontally for treatment by washing and rinsing liquids, and then downwardly to a discharging station 13. At the charging station 12 a drum 20, Fig. 4, provided with four rows of pockets 23 to receive the bottles is rotatably mounted and is driven from the endless conveyer 10 so that it makes a quarter of a revolution for each step in the movement of the conveyer. The bottles which are placed in the drum in positions indicated at 74, are thus turned over on their sides in inclined positions so that they slide down guides 26 into carriers 11. The bottles are then carried upwardly and when fully inverted discharge any residue into a tank 32. They then pass to position 33 where they are rinsed by jets of water. At the next stage 34 they are immersed in an alkaline solution and then move to a position where they are washed internally by solution fed through jets 35. The jets 35, Fig. 5, corresponding to one or more rows of bottle-carriers are mounted on one or more carriers supported at their ends in holders 38 to which the solution may be fed. The headers are connected through levers to the piston of a reciprocating hydraulic engine 44, the operation of which is adapted to bring the jets 35 together with centring cups 36 towards or away from the mouths of inverted bottles. The bottles after being sprayed pass through further stages where they are rinsed externally and are afterwards cooled with cold water. At the stage 50 they are rinsed internally by water fed through jets 61, Fig. 7, which are adapted to be introduced into the bottles. Associated centring cups 51 are carried by one or more cross-members 52 adapted to be raised or lowered by means of a reciprocating hydraulic engine 55. The jets 61 are mounted on a frame 62 supported by the piston rod 64 of a hydraulic engine 65. The piston rod 64 has guide members one of which 67 is connected through a bell-crank lever 67 to a pilot valve 70 adapted to control the operation of the main engine 14. The bottles are finally rinsed externally and are then carried down to the discharging station 13, past a retaining guide 100, Fig. 8. The bottles below the guide fall on to U- shaped guides 103 pivotally supported on a shaft 105 rotatably mounted in the machine frame. The guides are normally held fixed by means of a retaining stop 185 engaging a notch in a pivoted plate 107. The plate is urged into engagement with the stop by a spring-pressed plunger connected to a lever which is adapted to operate a control for the machine. The arrangement is such that if a bottle is jammed between the carriers 11 and the guides 103 the stop 185 is dis. engaged from the plate, releasing the plunger whereby the control becomes operative to stop the machine. The guides 103 are in line with guides 112 carried by arms 114, fixed to the shaft 105, which is adapted to be rotated to move the guides and raise the bottles over a curved ramp 116 to an upright position. The shaft 105 is operated by a hydraulic engine 122. The hydraulic control of the machine is indicated in Fig. 10. The main engine 14, which effects the step-by-step movement of the conveyer, at the end of its working stroke, opens through trip mechanism 132 a pilotvalve 158, whereby the pressure main 130 is placed into communication with a throttlevalve 49 through conduits 133, 134. The valve 49 is then moved to the right whereby fluid under pressure flows through conduit 135 to the engine 44. The engine operates to raise the jets 35 and centring cups 36 for the washing of the bottles as already described. The opening of the valve 158 also places the pressure main 130 in communication with one end of a throttle-valve 73 by means of conduits 133, 136, thus operating this valve to admit fluid through conduits 137, 71 to the lower end of the cylinders of the engines 55, 65, whereby the jets 51 and centring cups 61 are raised to effect the rinsing of the bottles internally. The opening of the pilot-valve 158 also places the main 130 into communication, through conduits 133, 136, 138 with one end of the throttle-valve 125 controlling the discharge engine 122. The valve 125 is thus operated to admit fluid through conduit 139 to the cylinder of the engine 122 whereby the engine is operated to discharge the bottles from a row of bottle-carriers. At the end of the working-stroke of the engine 122, trip mechanism 140 is operated to open a pilot valve 141 whereby the pressure main 130 is placed in communication through conduits 139, 143 with the right-hand end of the throttlevalve 60 controlling the main engine 14. The throttle-valve is thus operated whereby fluid under pressure is supplied through conduit 144 to cause the return stroke of the main engine. This stroke through trip mechanism 145 and pilot valve 159 effects the return strokes of the engines 44, 55, 65 and 122, whereby the associated operative parts of the machine are restored to their inoperative positions.