Patent Publication Number: US-2010112180-A1

Title: Washing, sterilizing, dispensing and closing device for baby bottle and its components

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an automatic device for washing, sterilizing, dispensing metered doses of water and infant formula into a baby bottle body, and closing the baby bottle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Heretofore, a baby bottle and its related components (the nipple, the nipple cap and the bottle cap) have been manually washed. Upon completion, a sterilizing process has to be applied to all the components. Upon completion, boiled water has to be prepared and poured into the bottle, which then has to cool until the required dose of infant formula can be added. It is then necessary to assemble the bottle and its apparatus before starting to feed the baby. 
     During the first year of life of a baby, a caregiver will have to treat baby bottles and their components approximately 2700 times. Treating the bottles and its components will include, in the first half a year, washing, sterilizing, boiling water, adding doses and assembling the bottle and its components. In the second half of the year there is no need for sterilizing and it can be omitted from the process. 
     During the first year of life that caregiver will have to prepare a baby bottle for feeding during the night time approximately 550 times. The night time feeding process is often executed by the caregiver holding the baby in its arms and with dimmed or no lighting. During the first year of life a caregiver will have to prepare a baby bottle for day time feeding approximately 2200 times. These activities are based on the assumption that the caregiver has previously cleaned and sterilized the bottles and their components. 
     The time it takes a caregiver to clean the bottles and their components, sterilize, prepare boiled water, fill up the bottle with the required doses and amount of water and eventually close the bottle and its parts, is approximately 30-45 minutes per day, which adds to approximately 240 hours in the first year. In the second year the time and effort needed is approximately half that of the first year. 
     Furthermore, the kitchen environment is affected by many different containers and devices needed by the caregiver to perform its bottle-related activities, such as lukewarm water container, hot water container, infant formula container, and sterilizer. In addition there are areas allocated to clean and/ or dirty bottles, and to their related components. 
     In view of the needs, many solutions have been proposed. Cleaning equipment of the kind divulged in U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,060 by Lester, and in U.S. Pat. Appl. No. US20030188769 by Avi Wisenberg, and in U.S. Pat. Appl. No. US20040123885 by Myong, and in U.K. Pat No. GB2,260,483 by Angelle Caresse, are not considered relevant since they are intended for cleaning baby bottles and their components only, without consideration of dispending liquid and metered doses of formula, and no attention to assembling the bottle and its components. Some solutions have been proposed as regards devices for dispensing liquid and powder. Equipment of the kind divulged in U.K. Pat. No. GB2,364,994 by Brian Jones, and in International Appl. No. WO03/084377 by Cheong, and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,829,431 by Ken Haven, and in U.S. Pat. No. US20020127005, are not considered relevant since they are intended for devices for preparing infant formula only. 
     None of the abovementioned inventions are related to a device that cleans, sterilizes, dispenses formula, and closes baby bottles and their components. In addition, none of the mechanical solutions that have been offered in the abovementioned patents is similar in any way to the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention relates to a washing device for baby bottle body, nipple, nipple cap and baby bottle cap. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a device for sterilizing the baby bottle body and its related components. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a device or a mechanism to assemble a nipple, nipple cap and bottle cap. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a device for dispensing a set amount of water that has been cooled to a set temperature in a baby bottle body. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a device for dispensing a set amount of infant formula according to the requirements of the caregiver in a baby bottle body. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a device for closing the bottle body with the assembled bottle components. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a device that can contain up to three bottles concomitantly. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a working concept and working method applicable to at least four bottles concomitantly, which is mechanically similar to the invention described in this application. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a device whose main working space (i.e., working area number 1) is one open space under certain working conditions, and two or three separate spaces under different working conditions. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a concept of sliding doors located on both sides of the washing section, thereby effectively sealing said washing section from the other sections and consequently separating the washing and sterilizing process from the other sections. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a concept of a circular process that allows the bottle clips gripper to rotate by 180 degrees twice. During the first 180 degrees rotation the bottle body will rotate; together with the bottle clips gripper, from an upside down position to a position where its open side is facing upward. After the caretaker has taken the bottle, the bottle clips gripper will turn another 180 degrees, reaching to its original location in its original condition, thereby allowing the caretaker to insert another bottle (with its open side is facing down). 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a concept of assembling the bottle components, starting from the bottle cover, then the nipple cover and eventually the nipple itself. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the internal components of working area number  1   116  and working area number  2   117 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of addition components related to working area number  1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the core column, the bottles and their bases. 
         FIG. 4   a  is a sectional view taken along line G-G of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the internal column of the core column. In addition  FIG. 5  represents cut H-H, in the center of the internal column, representing the etchings in two halves of the column. 
         FIG. 5   a  is a sectional view of the internal column&#39;s etching, represented in relation to the location of the sections in working area number  1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the internal column, the core column and two of three bottle bases arms. In addition  FIG. 6  represents the location of the arm&#39;s pins inside the etching of the internal column. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional and top view of the bottle body, bottle base and the arm that connects the bottle base to the internal and core column. The sectional and top view represents the position of the bottle in sections  2  and  3  (working area number  1 ). 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional and top view of the bottle body, bottle base and the arm that connects the bottle base to the internal and core column. The sectional and top view represents the position of the bottle in sections  1  (working area number  1 ). 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the arm that connects the bottle base to the internal and core column.  FIG. 9  relates to  FIG. 8  position. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the arm that connects the bottle base to the internal and core column.  FIG. 10  relates to  FIG. 8  position. 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of  FIG. 7 , where the view is from the internal column outside. 
         FIG. 11   a  is a plan view of  FIG. 8 , where the view is from the internal column outside. 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view of  FIG. 7 , where the view is outside in. 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of cut D-D of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view of cut F-F of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 15  is a plan view of the internal and core column, the arms that connect the bottle bases to the columns, and the two sliding doors. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the washing column, the washing arms and the bottle&#39;s components bases.  FIG. 16  relates to  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 16   a  is a sectional view of cut B-B,  FIG. 16 , and C-C,  FIG. 16   a.    
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the sliding door, which represents the sliding door and its cover. Some of the internal mechanism is also shown.  FIG. 17  relates to  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 17   a  is the same sliding door as in  FIG. 17 , shown without the door cover. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the sliding door mechanism.  FIG. 18  relates to  FIG. 17   a.    
         FIG. 19  is a sectional view of the sliding doors. The drawing represents the doors in closed and open position. 
         FIG. 20  is a plan view of the mechanism of the sliding doors in both positions, open and closed. The figure represents cut A-A of  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 21  is a plan view of the sliding door in  FIG. 19 , where the view is inside-out. 
         FIG. 21   a  is a plan view of the sliding door in  FIG. 19 , where the view is outside-in. 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the left front door, working area number  1 . 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the left front door, the washing column and its related components. It shows the location of the bottle components relative to the supporting plastics connected to the internal side of the door. 
         FIG. 24  is a plan back view of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the telescopic arm  128  mechanism. 
         FIG. 26  is a front plan view of the telescopic arm  128  mechanism. 
         FIG. 27  is a plan side view of the telescopic arm mechanism. 
         FIG. 28  represents Cut M-M in  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 29  is a plan view of the gripper in two positions: closed and open. 
         FIG. 30  is a top plan view of cut N-N and Q-Q,  FIG. 29 . 
         FIG. 31  is a side view plan of the gripper in its closed position ( FIG. 29 ). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This detailed description starts with a general description of the device. 
     General Description 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 . The present invention is built of a core column  100 , a front cover with two doors  111 ,  112  and a back and sides covers  113  which contain water tanks  119 , dose tanks etc. The component in each one of the elements of the invention is described in detail further below. The space between the core column  100  and the covers is referred to as “working area number  1 ”  116 , and will be considered as forming one, two or three sections or spaces according to the spatial position of the elements of the invention at a specific moment. 
     In the current document, and in order to best describe the invention, the inventor will consider working space number  1   116  as three separate spaces:
     washing and sterilizing—section number  1   114 ,   waiting—section number  2   115 ,   filling and closing—section number  3   118 ,
 
which connect together into one working area which has in its center a core column  100  and has around it two doors in the front  111 ,  112  and machinery and containers area in the back  119 . In addition, on both sides of section number  1   114  there are two sliding doors  120  which seal the section during the cleaning and sterilizing process.
   

     Above working area number  1   116 , which is the horizontal level where the dirty bottle and its components are loaded, is located “working area number  2 ”  117 . The upper level which is allocated to storing the nipple  123 , nipple cap  122  and bottle cap  121 , after they are assembled will be described in detail further below. In addition, working area number  2   117  also contains, in its free space, a storage area for water, and/or doses of infant formula or additives  119 . It also contains engines and other elements which will be described further below. 
     Method of Work 
     A typical working cycle with the present invention is described below. 
     The caretaker, after feeding the baby, takes apart the baby bottle body  124 , nipple  123 , nipple cap  122  and bottle cap  121 , and inserts them in working area number  1 , in the washing and sterilizing section  114 , in their allocated places. The method of work and sequence of activities in the washing and sterilizing section will be described further below. The bottle is inserted with its open side facing down, and the bottle  124  components is inserted on three separate washing arms, one for each component  125 ,  126 ,  127 . Upon completion of the cleaning and sterilization process, a gap opens between working area number  1   116  and working area number  2   117 . A telescopic arm  128 , with an attached gripper  129  then moves down from working area number  2   117  to working area number  1   116 , to allow the gripper  129  to assemble the nipple  123 , nipple cap  122  and bottle cap  121 . After the bottle components has been assembled, the telescopic arm  128  and the gripper  129  holding the assembled components are transferred to working area number  2   117 . The upper plate  130  then rotates approximately 60 degrees clockwise, allowing the gripper  129  to lay down the assembled components on the sealed area  141 . 
     A full description of the washing, sterilizing, sealing and the way the nipple  123 , nipple cap  122  and bottle cap  121  are assembled will be described further below. 
     When the gripper  129  has set the assembled components on the upper tray, the core column  100  turns towards section number  2   115 , by moving approximately 120 degrees clockwise. The bottle, which is attached to the core column  100  by an arm  131 , is by now in section  2   115 . During the movement from section  1  to  2  the arm, which holds the bottle base  132 , rotates by 180 degrees. The full description of the movement and the mechanism which allows a rotation of 180 degrees will be described in detail further below. The upper tray  130  in working area number  2   117 , together with the assembled bottle components, also moves approximately 120 degrees together with the movement of the core column  100 , allowing the assembled bottle components to follow the bottle  124  movement. 
     When section number  3   118  is empty, the core column  100  automatically rotates approximately 120 degrees clockwise allowing the bottle body  124  to move from section  2   115  to section  3   118 . Together with the core column  100  movement the upper tray  130 , which is located in working area number  2 , also rotates approximately 120 degrees, allowing the bottle components to follow the bottle body. The present invention can contain three bottles concomitantly, one in each one of the three existing sections. When section number  3   118  is empty, i.e., after the caretaker takes out a bottle, the core column  100  automatically rotates approximately 120 degrees, allowing the bottle  124  from section  2   115  to reach section  3   118 , together with its components located in working area number  2   117 . At the same time the empty bottle base  132  (from which the bottle has been removed by the caretaker) moves from section  3   118  to section  1   114 , allowing the caretaker to insert another set of dirty bottle components. 
     During the movement of the bottle base  132  from section  3   118  to section  1   114 , the bottle base  132  rotates by 180 degrees, in order to allow it to reach section  1   114  in the same position as it was originally, i.e. allow the insertion of a dirty bottle with its open side facing down. 
     Once the caretaker sets the amount of infant formula or water to be dispensed, the gripper  129  in working area number  2   117 , seizes the assembled components. In parallel, the required amount of water and formula is poured into the empty bottle. When the bottle body  124  has been filled with the required amount, the telescopic arm  128 , the gripper  129  and the bottle components are lowered from working area number  2   117  to working area number  1   116 , to be positioned above the bottle body. The telescopic arm  124  then rotates clockwise until the bottle body  124  and the bottle components are firmly attached one to the other and the bottle is ready to be taken by the caretaker. The telescopic arm  128 , together with the empty gripper  129 , now moves upward back to working area number  2 . A signal indicating that the bottle is ready is then given to the caretaker, which is now able to open the door  112  to section number  3   118 , take the bottle, shake it and feed the baby. 
     Working Area No. 1-.Section  1 : Washing and Sterilizing 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  16 . A washing and sterilizing chamber, section  1   114  according to the present invention, is capable of accommodating baby bottle body  124 , nipple  123 , nipple cap  122  and bottle cap  121 . The bottle  124  and its components are inserted in specific locations in the chamber. The bottle is inserted upside down, in the bottle base  132 , while the nipple  123 , nipple cap  122  and the bottle cap  121  are inserted in three silicon bases  133 ,  134 ,  135  which are located in three separate washing arms  125 ,  126 ,  127  that are supported by a washing column  136 . The washing and sterilizing is done in three stages as follows: in the first stage water and soap are pressure-injected into nozzles located under the bottle body  124  and in the center of each one of the silicon bases  121 ,  122 ,  123 . Additional nozzles are located on the washing column  136  and on the fixed parts of the sliding doors  120 . These additional nozzles will be detailed further below. Additional nozzles are located on the fixed ceiling  137  and on the fixed floor  138  of section  1   114 . The location of the nozzles is determined to allow full cleaning process of the inside and outside of the bottle body and all its components. 
     The second washing stage is the same as the first stage but without soap. Clean hot water is pressure-injected into the nozzles and directed towards the bottle body  124  and its components. In both the first and second cleaning stages the water temperature is approximately 80-90° C., to allow thorough cleaning of the bottle body and its components. 
     The third stage is sterilizing. During this stage water at 100° C. is pressure-injected through the nozzles to sterilize the area with the bottle and its components. Another option for sterilization is by ultrasonic or ultraviolet radiation emitted from an appropriate device which would be located in section  1   114 . 
     The silicon bases  133 ,  134 ,  135 , upon which the components of the bottle components are placed, are fitted as shown in  FIG. 16  into holes in the washing arms  125 ,  126 ,  127  which are connected to the washing column  136 . This design allows the caretaker to change the silicon bases  133 ,  134 ,  135  according to the type of bottle  124  in use. In addition, the bottle base  132 , which holds the bottle can also be changed and will be selected by the caretaker according to the type of bottle in use. 
     To avoid unwarranted movements of the bottle components during the pressure washes, the washing arms  125 ,  126 ,  127  connected to the washing column  136  will be located in the small gap next to the front door  111 . 
     The left front door  111 , which is made of a transparent material, has three sets of supporting plastics  154 ,  155 ,  156  in  FIG. 22 . The caretaker can adjust the angle of each set, as shown in the arrows  157 ,  158 ,  159 , in  FIG. 24 , to the angle that maximizes the stability of the element of the bottle components  FIG. 23   121 ,  122 ,  123 , during the washing and sterilizing stages. The left door  111  cannot close, unless the plastic supports  FIG. 22   154 ,  155 ,  156  are correctly placed and support the bottle components  FIG. 23   121 ,  122 ,  123  from above. 
     The three sets of supporting plastics  154 ,  155 ,  156  are connected to the internal part of the left front door  160  via hinges  161 ,  162 ,  163 , in order to allow the caretaker to change their angles easily. 
     Working Area Number  1 -Section  1 : Sealing the Section. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  13 ,  14 ,  19 . Section number  1   114 , in working area number  1   116 , should be sealed before and during the washing and sterilization process. The section will be sealed in the front, back, two sides and from the ceiling in order to avoid spilling of water and soap. There is no need for sealing the floor  138  of the section due to the fact that under section number  1   114  there is a drain pool for easy draining of washing liquid. The floor  138  in section  1   114  is slightly inclined to set the direction to the drain pool. 
     The front of section number  1   114  is sealed by the front door  111 , which will have to be locked after the caretaker has positioned the bottle  124  and its components  121 ,  122 ,  123  in their places. 
     The back side of section number  1  is sealed by the core column  100 . 
     The two sides of section number  1  are sealed by two sliding doors  120 , one on each side. The doors, when closed ( FIG. 19 ) reach the core column  100  and allow water drainage to drain downward. When the sliding doors are open ( FIG. 19 ), there is enough space for the bottle base  132  and a bottle  124  to pass from one section to the other. The full description of the sliding doors is given in detail further below. 
     Before explaining how the ceiling of section  1   137  is sealed, it is necessary to make clear that the ceiling of section  1  is fixed and connected to the top of each sliding door  120 . In addition, the top part of the core column  100  is fixed and does not turn around with the bottom part. The hole  139  in the fixed ceiling  137  above section number  1   114  is the hole that allows the gripper  129  and its arm  128  to move from working area  2   117  to working area  1   116 . The upper tray  130  which is located in working area number  2   117  is a few millimeters up from the fixed ceiling  137  of working area number  1   116 . In addition, the upper tray  130  has three holes  140  and three sealed spaces  141  in order to allow the assembled components to be laid down and move clockwise together with the upper tray  130  and the bottle body  124 , which is located in working area number  1   116 . 
     During the washing and sterilizing process, the sealed area  141  in the upper tray  130  is above the hole  139  in the fixed ceiling  137  of section number  1   114 . In addition there are silicon strips, or some flexible plastic strips, between the fixed ceiling  137  and the upper plate  130 , which create a sealed area and avoid water or moisture leaving section number  1   114  from the fixed ceiling  137 . 
     Working Area Number  1 -Section  1 : Washing Column 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  14 ,  16 . The washing column  136  supports three washing arms  125 ,  126 ,  127 . The upper washing arm  127  is intended for the bottle cap  121 , the middle washing arm  126  for the nipple cap  122  and the lower washing arm  125  for the nipple  123 . Each arm has a hole next to its edge  FIG. 16 , to which the caretaker fits a silicon base  133 ,  134 ,  135  that suits the type of bottle components in use. In addition, in the hole of each washing arm  125 ,  126 ,  127 , there is a nozzle for cleaning the inside of each component. The nozzle head is replaceable as well. The water pipes to the nozzles lead from inside, or outside, of the washing column  136 . 
     The washing column  136  is connected to an engine or sensor  FIG. 14   142  that allows the washing column  136 , the washing arm and the bottle components  121 ,  122 ,  123  to move approximately 80 degrees clockwise in order to allow the bottle to move to a position where they are beneath the gripper  129 , and the hole  139  in the top fixed ceiling  137 . During the process of assembling the bottle components, the washing column  136  and the washing arms  125 ,  126 ,  127  move from their original position, (which is where the bottle components elements are very close to the front door and located under the plastic sets that support the components in the washing process), to a position where the components elements are located under the gripper  129  and the hole  139  in the fixed ceiling  130  and back to their original position. This movement, backward and forward, i.e. ±80 degrees occurs 3 times and is part of the process of assembling the bottle components. A full explanation of the movements of the washing column, the washing arms and the bottle components will be given in detail further below. 
     Working Area Number  1 -Section  1 : Assembling the Bottle Components. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  1 ,  16 . When the washing and sterilization is over the bottle components elements are located next to the front door  111 . The section ceiling  137  is sealed by the upper tray  130 . The process of assembling the bottle components is as follows: 
     The upper tray  130 , in working area number  2   117  rotates 60 degrees anticlockwise, which causes one of the holes  140  in the upper tray  130  to be above the hole  139  in the fixed ceiling  137 . The washing column  136  then rotates 80 degrees clockwise, which places the washings arms  125 ,  126 ,  127  and the bottle components elements  121 ,  122 ,  123  under the hole  139  in the ceiling and under the gripper  129  and the hole  140  in the upper tray  130 . The gripper then moves to working area  1   116  and grabs the bottle cap  121 . A full explanation of the gripper and its telescopic arm will be given further below. After grabbing the bottle cap  121 , the gripper moves upward, pulling the bottle cap  121  from its silicon base  135 . The washing column  136  then moves 80 degrees anticlockwise. The gripper  129  then moves downward to a position where it is placed below the washing arm  127  of the bottle cap, and on top of the nipple cap  122 . The washing column then moves 80 degrees clockwise to a position where the nipple cap  122  and the nipple  123  are below the gripper  129 , which is still holding the bottle cap  121 . The washing arm  127  of the bottle cap moves with the washing column  136  but is stopped by the telescopic arm  128  after a turn of approximately 60 degrees, and does not allow it to progress with the washing column  136  and the other two other washing arms  125 ,  126 . Upon completion, the gripper  129 , and the bottle cap  121 , are lowered down to a position where the nipple cap  122  is firmly attached to the bottle cap  121 . The telescopic arm  128  then takes the gripper  129  up, the bottle cap  121  and the nipple cap  122 , until the nipple cap  122  is released from its silicon base  134 . The washing column  136  then moves 80 degrees anticlockwise to its original position. Now the only component that remains on its base is the nipple  123 . The telescopic arm  128  now lowers the gripper  129 , holding the two assembled caps  121 ,  122  where it is placed below the nipple cap washing arm  126 , and on top of the nipple  123 . The washing column  136  then moves 80 degrees clockwise to bring the nipple  123  under the gripper  129  and the assembled components. The two washing arms of the bottle cap  127  and the nipple cap  126  are stopped by the telescopic arm  128  after a turn of approximately 60 degrees, not being allowed an 80 degrees turn. The telescopic arm  128  then lowers the gripper  129  until the nipple  123  is firmly attached to the nipple cap  122 . Upon completion of the assembly of the bottle components, the telescopic arm  128  pulls up the gripper with the attached components, releasing the nipple from its silicon base  133 . The washing column  136  then moves 80 degrees anticlockwise, to its original position, ready to be reloaded. The telescopic arm  128  then moves the gripper with the assembled components from the first working area  116  to the second working area  117 . Upon completion, the upper tray  130 , which before moved approximately 60 degrees anticlockwise to allow the gripper  129  to move from working area  2   117  to working area  1   116 , will now move 60 degrees clockwise to a position where the sealed area  141  is below the gripper. The gripper  129  then releases the bottle components on the upper tray  130 , ready to follow the bottle body movement, which will be to the second section  115  in working area number  1   116 . The full description of the gripper and the telescopic arm will be given further below. 
     Working Area Number  1 -section  1 : Summary. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 ,  6 . The cycle starts in Section  1   114  with an empty bottle base  132 , a washing column  136  and washing arms  125 ,  126 ,  127  ready to be loaded. After the caretaker loads the bottle body and its components, and presses the control panel  143  to start the cleaning, sterilizing and the building up process, the device washes and sterilizes the bottle body  124  and its components  121 ,  122 ,  123 . Upon completion the invention automatically assembles the bottle components and deposits it on the upper tray  130  in working area  2   117 . The sliding doors  120  then open and the core column  100  and the upper tray  130  rotate by approximately 120 degrees clockwise, allowing the bottle  124  and its assembled components to move to section  2   115 , which is in a position of waiting until section number  3   118  is empty. In case section  3   118  has a bottle in it and section  1   114  has finished its work, the core column  100  will not move. Only after section  3   118  is emptied there will be movement of the bottle and its components  121 ,  122 ,  123  from section  2   115  to section  3   118  and from section  1   114  to section  2   115 . The empty bottle base  132  in section  3   118  will move to section  1   114  ready to be reloaded. 
     Working Area Number  1 -Section  2 : General 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  4 . In section  1   114  the bottle body  124  is upside down, with its open side facing down. During the movement of the bottle  114 , the bottle base  132  and the core column  100  from section  1  to section  2 , the bottle base  132  performs a 180 degrees turn around its axis, causing the bottle body  124  to reverse to an upright position, meaning that the bottle body leaves section number  1   114  with open side facing down and reaching section number  2   115  with open side facing up. 
     Section number  2   115 , as described before, is a waiting area where an empty bottle, open side facing up, and its related components  121 ,  122 ,  123 , that has been assembled and waiting in working area number  2   117 , are waiting for section number  3   118  to be cleared. The moment area number  3   118  has been cleared, both the core column  100  and the upper tray  130  rotate approximately 120 degrees clockwise and transfer the bottle body  124  and its components  121 ,  122 ,  123  in section number  3   118 . The empty bottle base  132  that was in section  3   118 , then moves back to section  1   114  waiting to be reloaded. 
     During the movement of the bottle base  132  from section  3   118  to section  1   114 , the bottle base  132  performs an 180 degrees rotation around its axis, in order for the bottle base to reach section  1   114  in a position where it is possible to insert a new bottle body with its open side facing down, i.e. the bottle base  132  reaches section  1   114  in its original state. How the bottle base  132  performs the 180 degrees rotation is described in detail further below. 
     Working Area Number  1 -Section  3 : General 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  16 . Section number  3   118  has two purposes. The first is to fill the bottle body  124  with water and infant formula, and the second is to close the bottle body  124  with its assembled components  121 ,  122 ,  123 . Upon completion, the caretaker will open the second front door  112 , take the full, closed bottle, mix it and feed the baby. After the caretaker retrieves the bottle and closes the front door  112 , the core column  100  rotates approximately 120 degrees clockwise, and the bottle base  132  moves back from section  3   118  to its original position in section  1   114 . During the movement of the clips gripper from section  3   118  to section  1   114 , the bottle base  132  rotate 180 degrees around its axis, allowing re-loading of a new bottle with the open side facing downward. The new bottle is reloaded as described previously, in section  1   114 . 
     The caretaker must give an order for the start of the process of filling and closing the bottle to occur. The bottle body  124  wait in section  3   118  with its open side facing up and the bottle body  124  is empty. The assembled components  121 ,  122 ,  123  will be waiting as well on the upper tray  130 . 
     Working Area Number  1 -Section  3 : Dispensing Water and Infant Formula 
     When the caretaker wishes to retrieve a bottle  124 , he taps his request on the control board  FIG. 1 :  143 . Water and the required amount of infant formula is then poured in the bottle. The full description of the water and doses mechanism will be given in detail further below. 
     Working Area Number  1 -Section  3 : Closing the Bottle 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 ,  13 ,  14 . After the bottle  124  has been filled up with the required amount of water and infant formula, the process of closing the bottle starts. 
     Before explaining the process of closing the bottle, the current position of the bottle body  124 , the gripper and the bottle components  121 ,  122 ,  123 , that has been assembled in section  1   114  will be clarified. 
     The bottle body  124  is located below the gripper. The ceiling  137  of the section  3   118  is sealed and has one hole  139 , located above the bottle  124 , allowing the gripper  129  to move from working area  2   117  to working area  1   116 . Above the top fixed ceiling  137  is the upper tray  130 , which has a hole  140  and a sealed area  141 , on which the assembled bottle components  121 ,  122 ,  123  is resting. 
     The location of the bottle components  121 ,  122 ,  123  relative to the bottle body  124 , if one considers the core column  100  as the center of a circle, is approximately 60 degrees, i.e. 60 degrees anticlockwise. And the open hole  140  in the upper tray  130  is located above the hole  139  in the top fixed ceiling  137  and above the bottle body  124 . 
     The process of building the baby bottle  124  starts with a request by the caretaker and proceeds in parallel with the filling of the water and the infant formula in the bottle body. On request the upper tray  130  rotates approximately 60 degrees clockwise, placing the bottle components  121 ,  122 ,  123  below the gripper  129  and above the bottle body  124 . The gripper  129  is then moved by the telescopic arm  128  until the gripper  129  grabs the bottle components  121 ,  122 ,  123 . The telescopic arm  128  then lifts the gripper  129  and the components and the upper tray  130  rotates approximately 60 degrees anticlockwise, placing the hole  140  in the upper tray  130  below the gripper  139  and creating an open space between working area number  2   117  and working area number  1   116 . When the bottle body has been filled with water and infant formula, the telescopic arm  128  lowers the gripper  129  and the components  121 ,  122 ,  123 , until they are on top of the bottle body  124 . The telescopic arm  128 , and/or the gripper  129 , then rotate clockwise until the bottle is closed. The gripper  129  then opens, and the telescopic arm  128  lifts the gripper without the bottle components, which is now attached to the bottle body. When the gripper  129  reaches its original position, the caretaker receives a notice that the bottle is ready to be taken. The caretaker will now be able to open the second front door  112  and take the closed bottle. 
     Upon completion, and after the caretaker has taken the filled, closed bottle, the second front door  112  will be locked again. Only then the empty bottle base  132  automatically moves from section  3   118  back to section  1   114 , where it will be ready to be reloaded with a new dirty bottle, to be inserted upside down. The movement of the core column  100 , which causes the bottle base  132  to move from section  3   118  to section  1   114 , is followed by the upper tray  130 , which returns to the same position as it was in the beginning of the process. 
     When the bottle base  132  moves from section  3   118  to section  1   114 , the bottle base  132  in section  2   115  moves to section  3   118  to allow the caretaker to receive another bottle on request. In parallel, the bottle base  132  and the bottle  124  from section  1   114  move to section  2   115 . The upper tray  130  follows the movement of the core column  100  and keeps the components  121 ,  122 ,  123  of each bottle at approximately 60 degrees anticlockwise from the bottle body. 
     Working Area Number  2 : Upper Plate 
     The upper tray  130 , as described before, is located above the fixed ceiling  137  of working area number  1   116 . The tray  130  has three holes  140  and three areas between the holes  141 , which has specific places for the bottle components. When the gripper has finished assembling the bottle cap  121 , the nipple cap  122  and the nipple  123 , it lays down the components on the upper tray  130  in the area between the holes  141 . The tray  130  rotates with the core column  100 , to allow the bottle components  121 ,  122 ,  123  to follow the bottle body  124 . In addition, in order to allow the gripper to function, the upper tray  130  is free to rotate independently by approximately 60 degrees clockwise or anticlockwise, depending on the work being done. 
     Water System 
     The water system is divided into two systems. The first system supplies the washing and sterilization chamber. The second system supplies the drinking water dispensing system. Both systems are fed from a main water container which stores tap water. A heater container is connected to the main water container. The supply of water from the main container to the heater container is controlled by an electric tap. An electric pump is connected to the heater container and a two way valve is connected to the electric pump. From there the water either flows to the washing system, or to the dispensing system, depending on the current requirements. The main container has minimum and maximum level indicators, which inform the caretaker when refilling is required. Container refill is done either by direct connection to the kitchen tap, or manually. The heater container has a maximum level indicator and a temperature indicator. The heater boils or heats water according to current needs. 
     The water system that supplies the drinking water will have a clean water container, which stores boiled water that has been cooled and reached room temperature. The clean water container has minimum and maximum level indicators. When the water level in the clean water container has fallen below the maximum level, the heater container boils water and stores it until it reaches room temperature. When this occurs, the pump passes water to the clean water container until the water level reaches the maximum level. Upon a request to dispense drinking water, an electric tap is opened and water flows out of the clean water tank, passes though a coiled spring which heats it to the desired temperature. A temperature sensor is placed after the coiled spring to control the water temperature. 
     The water system that supplies the cleaning and sterilizing process is also connected to the electric valve and will be pressurized with water upon request of cleaning and/or sterilizing. Upon request, the heating container heats the water to 80-90 degrees, which is then pumped into a mixing chamber, which is then pressurized with washing liquid. The washing liquid is mixed with the hot water in the mixing chamber and will continue to the nozzles in the washing chamber, i.e. section number  1   114  in working area number  1   116 . Upon completion, clean hot water will continue to flow under pressure through the nozzles to wash all the washing liquid from the bottle body and its components. The sterilizing process will be by boiling water in the heating chamber and passing it through the nozzles in the cleaning chamber. Other possible sterilizing processes include the use of ultrasonic or ultraviolet radiation. A detailed description of the water system, and its related drawings, will be omitted from this application. 
     Infant Formula and Additives System 
     The system for dispensing infant formula and additives is comprised of two doses containers. The first is the main container for infant formula and will be the bigger container, and the second container is for additives that the caretaker can optionally add to the bottle. The full description of the infant formula and additives system will be omitted from this application. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of a device for washing, sterilizing, dispensing liquid and infant formula into, and closing a baby bottle according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1 , but with holes in the two front doors  111 ,  112  in working area  1   116 , and the control board  143  in working area  2   117 . The holes reveal the internal components of the invention, where in working area number  2   117  it is possible to identify the upper tray  130 , the gripper  128  and telescopic arm  128  and the upper tray engine  144 . In working area number  1   116  it is possible to identify the core column  100 , sliding doors  120  and the bottle bases  132 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the core column  100 , internal column  101 , bottle bases  132 , connecting arms  131  (that connect the bottle bases  132  to the internal column  101 ) and the fixed plates  102 . The position of the bottle body  124  is shown in each one of the sections, i.e. in the section  1   FIG. 2   114  the bottle body  124  is facing down and in sections  2   FIG. 2   115  and  3   FIG. 2   118  the bottle body  124  is facing up (open side is facing up).  FIG. 4  is an embodiment of the core column, which has three fixed plates  102  (only two fixed plates can be seen in  FIG. 4 ). The fixed plates  102  are affixed to the core column  100 . Each couple of connecting arms  131  form an angle of 120 degrees between them and each connecting arm can rotate freely around its axis. The connecting arm  131  is connected to the bottle bases  132  and rotates twice by 180 degrees during one cycle, the first time during the transition between section  1   114  and section  2   115 , and the second time during the transition between section  3   118  and section  1   114 . In addition three etchings  103  can be seen in the core column  100   FIG. 15 . Each couple of etchings  103  in the core column form an angle of 120 degrees, in order to let the two plastic edges  108  of the sliding doors  120  fit inside the core column etchings  103  when the sliding doors  120  are closed  FIGS. 15 and 19 , thereby sealing section number  1   114  from both sides. Another element shown in  FIG. 4  is the bottle base weight  104  next to the bottle base  132 , whose role is to displace the center of gravity of the base. This displaced center of gravity causes the bottle base  132  to rotate 180 degrees during the movement from section  1   114  to  2   115 . 
       FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view of cut G-G in  FIG. 4 . The cut is from the edges of the internal column  101  through section  1   114  and  3   118 , i.e. the center of the fixed plates  102 , connecting arms  131 , the bottles bases  132  and the bottles  124 . From cut G-G it is possible to identify the internal column etching  105 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the internal column etching  105  and the location of the connecting arms  131  from section  1   114  and  3   118  relative to the internal column  101 . The connecting arms  131  are attached to the connecting arm plate  106  in the center of the plate, while on the other side of the plate  106  there is a pin  107 , which is attached on one of its sides to the plate  106  and on the other side the pin runs in the internal column etching  105 .  FIG. 11  is a plan view from the internal column  101  outside, where the pin  107 , which is attached to the plate  106  on one of its sides, and the location of the connecting arm  131  in the center of the plate  106 , are shown. It can be seen that plate  106  can turn around in the internal side of the fixed plate  102 , which is fixed to the core column  100 . The other side of the pin  107  runs in the internal column etching  105   FIG. 6  and causes the connecting arm plate  106  to rotate according to the shape of the internal column etching  105 . The connecting  131  arm rotates together with the plate  106  and causes the bottle base  132  to rotate with it, which causes the bottle  124  to turn around. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the internal column  101  and its etching  105 . Also shown in  FIG. 5  a cut H-H that shows the two halves of the internal column  101  and the shape and location of the etchings  105  in each one of the halves.  FIG. 5   a  is a sliced plain view of the etching  105  in the internal column  101  with reference to the three sections  114 ,  115 ,  118  in working area number  1 . 
     Before describing the location of the connecting arm pin  107  in the internal column etching  105 , in each one of the sections  114 ,  115 ,  118 , note that the internal column  101  is fixed and not moving, while the core column  100  is the one that rotates around its center, the rotation being clockwise only. In addition, the explanation of how the bottle base rotates by 180 degrees in two different locations will be given for one bottle base  132  only. 
     The explanation of the movement of the pin  107  with reference to the etching  105  in the internal column  101 , will be done using  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  5   a ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 ,  11   a . In addition, the explanation will be with reference to the latin numbering appearing in  FIG. 5   a . Even though the latin numbering appears only in  FIG. 5   a , it is relevant to the rest of the figures. 
     When the caretaker inserts a dirty bottle  124 , it is positioned in section  1   114  at point number I  FIG. 5   a . The position of the bottle base  132  forces the caretaker to fit a bottle body  124  with its open side facing down  FIGS. 4 and 8 . The location of the pin  107 , relative to the connecting arm plate  106 , is as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 11   a ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 , i.e. the pin  107  is at the back side of the plate  106   FIG. 8  Top view and  FIG. 11   a . The other side of the pin  107  is located inside the internal column etching  105 , at point number I in  FIG. 5   a . The bottle base weight  104   FIGS. 4 and 8 , tends to pull the bottle base  132  downwards, but due to the fact that the pin  107  is inside the internal column etching  105  and being bound by the top side of the etching, no movement can take place. 
     After all the processes in section  1   114  are finished, and in case where in section  3   118  there is an empty base  132 , the core column  100  rotates 120 degrees clockwise. When the pin  107  reaches point number II  FIG. 5   a , the etching  105  widens, allowing the pin  107  to move freely upwards. Thus, the bottle base weight  104  can now pull the bottle base  132  downwards from a position where the open side of the bottle is facing down  FIG. 8 , to a position where the open side of the bottle  124  is facing up  FIG. 7 . As a consequence of this movement, the connecting arm  131 , together with the plate  106  and the pin  107 , rotate 180 degrees (which is the first rotation of 180 degrees). This causes the bottle base  132  to reach to point III  FIG. 5   a , in a position shown in  FIG. 7 , i.e. the open side of the bottle body  124  is facing up and the pin  107  has changed its location from the back side of the plate  106   FIG. 8  Top view and  FIG. 11   a  to a position where it is in the front of the plate  106   FIG. 7  Top view and  FIG. 11 . The core column  100  then stops its 120 degrees rotation in a position where the bottle base is located at point number IV  FIG. 5   a , which is in section number  2   115 . In this position the pin  107  is again bound by the top and bottom of the internal column etching  105 . The movement of the bottle base from section  2   115 , point IV  FIG. 5   a , to section  3   118 , point V  FIG. 5   a , is by another movement, of 120 degrees clockwise, of the core column  100 . i.e. the bottle body  124  open side still facing up, the pin  107  is located as described in  FIGS. 7 and 11 . After the caretaker has taken the bottle body  124  and its components from section  3   118 , and after closing the right front door  112 , the core column  100  automatically rotates another 120 degrees clockwise. During the movement the bottle base  132  the connecting arm  131  the plate  106  and the pin  107  move as well. When the pin  107  reaches point VI  FIG. 5   a , and due to the fact that it is the core column  100  that causes the movement, the pin  107  is forced up the slope until reaching point VII. During this movement, the core column  100  continues to rotate, causing the pin  107  to reach point VIII  FIG. 5   a  when it is at the back side of the plate  106 , i.e. at point VI  FIG. 5   a  the bottle body  124 , the bottle base  132 , and the pin  107  are as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 11 , while at point VIII the bottle base  132  and the pin  107  are as shown in  FIG. 8 and 11   a . i.e. the bottle base  132  is rotating by 180 degrees for the second time. 
     After the second movement of 180 degrees the bottle base  132  reaches section  1   114  in its original position, i.e. allowing the caretaker to reload another bottle body  124 , with its open side facing down. 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of one of the two sliding doors  120  that are located on both sides of section  1   114 , in working area number  1   116 .  FIG. 17   a  is a perspective view of  FIG. 17 , but without the external cover  109  of the sliding door  120 .  FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the bottom of the internal parts of the sliding door  120 . 
     When the caretaker has put the bottle body and its components in their allocated places in section  1   114 , the washing and sterilizing process begins. The sliding door&#39;s engine  110  turns the wheel&#39;s column  150  that turns the wheels  146  and the belts  147  and  148 . The leading column  149 , which is connected to the top belt  148  and bottom belt  147 , moves with the belts. The leading column  149  is connected on one side to a curtain  151  and on the other side to a plastic edge  108 . The movement of the leading column  149  pulls the curtain  151  and pushes the plastic edge  108  until the plastic edge  108  slides inside the core column etching  103 . When the plastic edge  108  slides in the core column etching  103  it prevents water or moisture from crossing the gap between the sliding door  120  and the core column  100 . In addition, a spring  153  connected to the curtain column  152  tightly seals the curtain  151  at all times. At the end of the processes in section  1   114 , both curtains  151  open. The sliding doors  120  open, as before, by a movement of the engine  110 , the wheels  146  and the top and bottom belts  147  and  148 . When the opening process begins, the leading column  149  is pulled back, together with the plastic edge  108  and the curtain  151 . During the backward movement of the leading column the spring  153 , which is connected to the curtain column  152 , pulls the curtain  151  to its original position, i.e. around the curtain column  152 . In addition, the plastic edge  108  is pulled back, allowing the bottle bases  132  to move through the gap in the sliding doors  120 . This gap is wide enough to allow the bottle body  124  and its base  132  to pass through. 
     The movement of the sliding doors  120  seals section  1   114  on both sides during the washing and sterilization process.  FIG. 19  is a side view of the sliding door  120  in a closed and open position. When closed, the plastic edge  108  is in front of the sliding door internal edge  145 . When open, the sliding door  120  has an open gap, through which the bottle  124  and its base  132  will pass. 
       FIG. 20  is a top view through cut A-A,  FIG. 19 . The position of each one of the components in the open and closed position is shown. 
       FIGS. 21 and 21   a  are an inside-out view and an outside-in view, respectively, of the sliding door  120 . In  FIG. 21  the engine  110 , the top and bottom wheel  146 , the leading column  149 , and the plastic edge  108  are shown. 
     In  FIG. 21   a  the curtain  151 , the curtain column  152 , the engine  110  and the spring  153  are shown. 
       FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the telescopic arm  128  mechanism.  FIG. 26  is a front plan view of the telescopic arm  128  mechanism.  FIG. 27  is a plan side view of the telescopic arm mechanism.  FIG. 28  represents Cut M-M in  FIG. 26 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 25 ,  26 ,  27  and  28 . When an order has been given to move the gripper  128  downward (or upward), the telescopic arm engine  164   FIG. 25  rotates the right wheel  165 , which then transfers the movement through the belt  166  to the left wheel  167 . 
     The extended arm is built of four parts: a square bar  168 , an internal screw  169 , a middle screw  170  and the left wheel  167 . The square bar  168 , which passes through the top plate  174  square hole, is attached to the top side of the internal screw  169  and does not rotate clockwise or anticlockwise, but allows the square bar  168  and the internal screw  169  to move upward or downward. 
     The internal screw  169  passes through the middle screw  170 , which has internal etchings that fit the internal screw. The internal part of the left wheel  167  also has etchings that fit the external side of the middle screw  170 . 
     When the left wheel turns  167 , the movement is transferred to the middle screw  170 , which in turn transfers the movement to the internal screw  169 . Because the internal screw is attached to the square bar  168 , which does not rotate but allows vertical movement, the rotation force is transferred to vertical movement. 
     When the left wheel  167  starts rotating, the middle screw  170  and the internal screw  169  start moving downward, until reaching a position where the top side of the middle screw  170  reaches the top side of the middle plate  171 . The middle screw  170  cannot continue downward, and the vertical movement is carried out by the internal screw  169  only. The internal screw  169  moves downward until its top part reaches the bottom of the middle screw  170 . The same mechanism applies for upward vertical movement, but in this case the bottom part of the middle screw  170  reaches the bottom plate  172 , and then starts to rotate together with the right wheel  167 . This causes the rotation movement to pass through to the internal screw  169 , which will continue moving upward until its bottom part will reach the bottom part of the middle screw  170 . 
     Owing to the square bar  168 , the internal screw  169  will only move upward or downward (i.e. vertical movement only). On the contrary, the middle screw  170  will move downward or upward, until it reaches a position where it can&#39;t continue its vertical movement, and will start rotating with the right wheel  167 , allowing movement to pass through to the internal screw  169 , and allowing it to continue in its vertical movement. The bottom part of the internal screw  169  is connected to the top side of the gripper engine  FIG. 29   173 . 
       FIG. 29  is a plan view of the gripper  129  in two positions: closed and open.  FIG. 30  is a top plan view of cut N-N and Q-Q,  FIG. 29 .  FIG. 31  is a side view of the gripper  129  in the closed position ( FIG. 29 ). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 29 ,  30 , and  31 . The gripper is lowered down by the telescopic arm  128  when it is in an open position ( FIG. 29  open position). When the gripper  129  is lowered on the bottle cap  121 , the top of the bottle cap presses the internal bar  175 , which pushes the stopper  176  upward until the bottom part of the stopper bottom plate  177  is above the bottom of the gripper top arms  178  ( FIG. 29  closed position). As a consequence the main spring  179  pulls both top arms  178 , allowing the gripper bottom arms  180  to grab the bottle cap  121 . 
     In order to enable the movement, the gripper bottom arms  180  are attached to the gripper top arms  178 , which are attached to the middle plate  181  via hinges  182 . The hinges  182 , as shown in  FIG. 29 , are located above the main spring  179 , to allow the main spring  179  to pull the top arms  178  efficiently. 
     In order to open the gripper  129 , the caretaker presses both sloped areas  183  on the top sides of the gripper top arms  178 . This stretches the main spring  179 , allowing the top springs  184  to push the stopper top plate  185  downward. This causes the stopper bottom plate  177  to move downward (from its closed position to its open position in  FIG. 29 ). By doing so, the bottom part of the gripper top arms  178  are stopped by the stopper bottom plate  177 , allowing the bottle cap  121  to be released and leaving the gripper  129  in an open position. 
     The gripper top plate  186  is attached at the bottom to the gripper middle plate  181  and at the top to the gripper engine  173 . The gripper engine rotates clockwise, transmitting the clockwise rotation to the gripper  129 , in order to close the bottle components on the bottle body  124  after it has been filled with the required amount of water and infant formula and optional additives. Before the caretaker takes the closed bottle he must press the sloped areas  183  on the top arms  178  in order to release the bottle cap  121  from the gripper. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.