Improvements in Machines for Washing Bottles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 30th Jan.. 1892-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Washing Bottles.
I, ERNEST ARTHUR WADSWORTH, of Wellington Street, Cambridge, in the
County of Cambridge, Mineral Water Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in machines for washing bottles.
In carrying out my invention provide a suitable tank having in it rollers
around which an endless platform or band is arranged to travel. In practice I
prefer to form my platform of sprocket chains, running in connection with suitable
sprocket wheels or teeth on the rollers and connected by wires, slats of wood
or the like upon which the bottles to be washed are placed. Or I may arrange
a series of trays upon the chains, each of which is designed to carry several
bottles.
The rollers carrying the travelling platform are advantageously driven by worm
gearing. Brushes are arranged for brushing the bottles as each trayful or series
of bottles is presented at the required position.
Tad the 20th dow of Al 1901
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Washing Bottles.
I, ERNEST ARTHUR WADSWORTH, of Wellington Street, Cambridge, in the
County of Cambridge, Mineral Water Manufacturer, do hereby declare the naturė
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in machines for washing bottles.
In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable tank having in it wheels or
rollers around which a slack endless platform or band is arranged to travel.
In practice I prefer to form my platform of sprocket chains, running in connec-
tion with suitable sprocket wheels or with teeth on rollers, and connected by a
series of trays, each of which is designed to carry several bottles. Or the sprocket
chains may be connected by wires, slats of wood or the like upon which the
bottles to be washed are placed.
The wheels or the rollers carrying the travelling platform are driven by suitable
gearing. Rotary brushes are arranged for brushing the bottles as each trayful
or series of bottles is presented at the required position.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can be
carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
-:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a machine for washing bottles constructed
according to my invention:
Figure 2 is a right hand end elevation of the same; and,
Figure 3 is a transverse section on line A B of Figure 1:
Figure 4 is an elevation; and,
Figure 5 is a plan of part of one of the trays for carrying the bottles.
a is the tank which is designed to contain water or other suitable washing fluid
and is fitted with a supply cock b and an overflow pipe c.
d, d are the sprocket wheels which I mount in bearings in the tank a, the shaft
of one of the wheels carrying outside the tank a gear-wheel e connected with any
suitable driving mechanism adapted to impart a slow movement to the sprocket

page_text: wheels. The said mechanism is preferably provided with change-gear whereby
three different speeds can be imparted to the sprocket wheels d without altering
the speed of the engine or stopping the same.
9,9,
fare the sprocket chains which travel around the sprocket wheels d, d, and
Figure 1, are the series of trays which connect the sprocket chains and form
the endless platform or band
Each of the trays is advantageously constructed (as shewn in Figures 4 and 5)
of a longitudinal strip and transverse strips of hoop iron bent to form a
supporting frame for a number of hoop iron rings j rivetted or otherwise connected
together and to the frame and serving to hold a row of bottles, as clearly illustrated
in Figures 1 and 3.
k, k are the rotary brushes mounted in brackets 1, 1 secured to a bar m placed
across the tank a, the said rotary brushes being provided for brushing the bottles
as each trayful or series of bottles emerges from the water.
The tank is fitted with a guiding grid n whereby the empty bottles are forced
under the surface of the water in order that they may become filled directly after
they have been placed in the tank. The tank is also provided with a skimming
trough o whereby any grease or dirt, floating on the surface of the water, can be
collected and carried away through the overflow pipe c, it being only necessary for
this purpose to turn on the supply tap b. It is therefore seldom necessary to empty
the tank except to cleanse it.
Suitable rinsing troughs not shewn in the drawing are placed at the sides or
ends of the tank a to allow the washing of the bottles to be completed.
An apparatus of this construction is worked by one or more persons placed at
the left hand end of the machine, who place the bottles p in the trays 9, 9, and a
sufficient number of persons at the right hand end of the machine to brush and
rinse the bottles as they emerge from the tank a and, as the action of the machine
is continuous, the work-people are practically compelled to keep on washing the
bottles without interruption because, should they stop, the bottles would be carried
round under the endless platform and would block t'ie machine and this fact would
immediately become known to the overlooker. The bottles directly they are
placed in the trays are carried down by the guiding-grid with their mouths
upwards beneath the surface of the water and, as in their progress from one end
of the tank a to the other they are immersed for a considerable time, they become
sufficiently soaked to effectually remove any labels or dirt therefrom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A machine for washing bottles consisting essentially of a tank designed to
contain the washing fluid and having in it wheels or rollers around which a slack
endless platform or band, adapted to carry the bottles, is arranged to travel in such
a manner as to immerse the bottles during their passage from one end to the other
of the tank, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
2. In a machine for washing bottles the combination with a tank for containing
the washing fluid, of sprocket wheels mounted therein, sprocket chains travelling
around the said wheels, and a series of trays connecting the sprocket chains and
adapted to hold the bottles to be washed substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
3. The improved machine for washing bottles hereinbefore described with.
reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 30th day of January 1900
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.