IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SOAKING, BRUSHING, AND RINSING BOTTLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, FREDERICK Cook, of 2 Stamford Terrace Road, Stamford Hill, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SOAKING, BRUSHING, AND RINSING BOTTLES" to
be as follows :—
By this invention I provide an apparatus for soaking, brushing, and rinsing
bottles, which apparatus soaks, brushes, and rinses said bottles more effectually
than any apparatus now in use, and at the same time costs less to manufacture,
and is more economically worked. By this apparatus the bottles aro brushed and
rinsed externally and internally at one operation, and the risk of accidental
breakage is reduced to a minimum by the bottles not touching one another all
through the process.
My improved apparatus for soaking, brushing, and rinsing bottles is constructed
as follows:-
I have a tank containg potass water; and revolving in this tank is a cylinder
baving its boarings in, or on the sides of said tank. Upon the outer circumference
of revolving cylinder I place shelves or racks for containing the bottles to be
soaked. Each shelf or ruck has divisions so that the bottles may be kept apart
and separate. A bar, or guard is placed across each rack, extending from end to
end of cylinder, and pivotted at each end; a counterbalance weight is attached to
an arm on each bar, or guard. The said bar, or guard is for the purpose of
preventing the bottles falling out of cylinder when, upon said cylinder being
revolved, the bottles assume a vertical position. To the outerside of aforesaid tank
I fix a bracket, and upon such bracket I fix my brushing and rinsing apparatus
which is constructed in the following manner:-
I have an ordinary bottle-cleansing brush which I place in a vertical position.
To the stem, or spindle of such brush I affix a tube for the passage of water;
I carry the said water tube slightly higher than the level of sides of brush so that
the bottom of the bottle (when placed upon the brush) rests upon such tube and
the end of brush is thereby protected, and not forced down by the weight of bottle.
The lower end of stem, or spindle of brush with water tube attached is fixed in
a tube or cylinder, at the lower end of which tube, or cylinder is a valve for
en

page_text: admitting, or shutting off the water for rinsing. The aforesaid tube, or cylinder,
with valve, is contained in a cast iron, or other metal casing. To an arm at lower
end of said metal casing is pinioned a lever which takes into the spindle of
aforesaid valve, and at its other end has an attachment to a second lever
pinioned upon an arm at top of casing, said second lever taking at its inner end,
into spindle of brush. The weight of bottle, when placed upon the brush, depresses
said brush, and with it the inner end of the lever fulcrummed on the top of casing;
the outer end of said lever is consequently raised, and with it the lever fulcrummed
at lower end of casing aforesaid, which takes into spindle of valve is raised, and
the valve thereby opened. Water then flows through the tube attached to stem,
or spindle of brush, and enters the bottle. The brush aforesaid may be caused to
revolve either by steam, or foot power.
A stationary brush for cleansing the outside of bottles is also fitted to my
brushing apparatus, in a vertical position, so that upon a bottle being placed on
the bottle cleansing brush just described, the outside of bottle is in contact with
the stationary brush, and is consequently cleansed at the same time as inside of
bottle. A tube for the passage of water is also affixed to this stationary brush
and takes its supply from the valve aforesaid.
The action of my improved apparatus for soaking, brushing, and rinsing bottles
is as follows:-
The racks of the revolving cylinder are filled with bottles, which are then
passed through the potass water, and afterwards withdrawn from cylinder and
placed upon the revolving brush and thoroughly brushed, and rinsed inside and
out; the brush and bottle heing in a vertical position all dirt passes through the
neck of the bottle and leaves same perfectly clean.
In the apparatus for soaking, brushing and rinsing bottles, at present in use,
three men are generally required to tend same. One to place bottles in soaking
apparatus, a second to withdraw same and place them on the brushing apparatus,
and a third to remove same from the brush. With apparatus constructed according
to this my invention, all this may be done by one man, thereby a great saving of
labor is effected; and by the brushing and rinsing apparatus being in a vertical
position in this my invention, the bottles are cleaned more effectually than by any
other soaking, brushing, and rinsing apparatus hitherto introduced.
Dated thie 23rd day of October 1884

page_text: Bottles.
"
I, FREDERICK COOK, of 2 Stamford Terrace Road, Stamford Hill, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SOAKING, BRUSHING, AND RINSING BOTTLES
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
By this invention I provide an apparatus for soaking brushing and rinsing
bottles, which apparatus soaks, brushes and rinses bottles more effectually than any
apparatus now in use, and at the same time costs less to manufacture, and is more
economically worked. By this apparatus the bottles are brushed and rinsed
externally and internally at one operation, and the risk of accidental breakage is
reduced to a minimum by the bottles not touching one another all through the
process.
My improved apparatus for soaking brushing and rinsing bottles is constructed
as follows.
I have a tank containing Potash water and revolving in this tank is a cylinder
having its bearings in or on the sides of said tank, and upon the outer circum-
ference of revolving cylinder I place shelves or racks for containing the bottles to
be soaked, each shelf or rack has divisions so that the bottles may be kept apart
and separate. A bar or guard is placed across each rack oxtending from end to
end of cylinder and pivotted at each end. A Counterbalance weight is attached to
an arm on each bar or guard. The said bar or guard is for the purpose of
preventing the bottles falling out of cylinder when, upon said cylinder being
revolved, the bottles assumo a vertical position. To the outerside of aforesaid
tank I affix a bracket and upon such bracket I fix my brushing and rinsing
apparatus which is constructed in the following manner.
I have an ordinary bottle cleansing brush which I place in a vertical position.
To the stem or spindle of such brush I affix a tube for the passage of water.
carry the said water tube slightly higher than the level of sides of brush so that
the bottom of the bottle when placed upon the brush rests upon such tube, and the
end of brush is thereby protected, and not forced down by the weight of bottle.
The lower end of stem or spindle of brush with water tube attached is fixed in a
tube or cylinder, at the lower end of which tube or cylinder is a valve for
admitting or shutting off the water for rinsing. The aforesaid tube or cylinder
with valve is contained in a cast iron or other metal casing.
To an arm at lower end of said metal casing is pivotted a lever which takes into
the spindle of aforesaid valve, and at its other end has an attachment to a second
lever pinioned upon an arm at top of casing said second lever taking at its inner
end into spindle of brush. The weight of bottle when placed upon the brush
depresses said brush and with it the inner end of the lever fulcrumed on the top of
casing, the outer end of said lever is consequently raised and with it the lever
fulcrumed at lower end of casing aforesaid which takes into spindle of valve is
raised and the valve thereby opened. Water then flows through the tube attached
to stem or spindle of brush and enters the bottle.
The brush aforesaid may be caused to revolve either by steam or foot power.

page_text: A stationary brush for cleansing the outside of bottles is also fitted to my
brushing apparatus. In a vertical position to said stationary brush I fix a tube
for admitting water to top of said brush with holes towards revolving brush which
takes its water from same valve as revolving brush or bottle cleansing brush, so
that upon a bottle being placed on the bottle cleansing brush just described, the
outside of bottle is in contact with the stationary brush and is consequently
cleansed at the same time as inside of bottle. The action of my improved
apparatus for soaking, brushing and rinsing bottles is as follows:-
The racks of the revolving cylinder are filled with bottles which are then passed
through the potash water and afterwards withdrawn from cylinder and placed
upon the revolving brush and thoroughly brushed and rinsed inside and out, and
the brush and bottle being in a vertical position all dirt passes through the neck of
bottle and leaves same perfectly clean.
In the apparatus for soaking, brushing and rinsing bottles at present in use threo
inen are generally required to tend same, one to place bottles in soaking apparatus,
a second to withdraw same and place them on the brushing apparatus, and a
third to remove same from the brush. With apparatus constructed according to
this my invention, all this may be done by one man, thereby a great saving of
labor is effected, and by the brushing and rinsing apparatus being in a vertical
position in this my invention the bottles are cleansed more effectually than by any
other soaking, brushing and rinsing apparatus hitherto introduced.
I also provide a means whereby the bracket supporting the vertical circular
brush, the segmental brush for outside of bottle and their attendant parts may be
moved from a vertical to a horizontal position. I also provide a means by which
the vertical circular brush may be driven by foot as well as by steam power.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
The vertical brush as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 may be driven by steam or foot
power as shewn in Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1. having the
cross bars dotted in, and shewing the weights attached and the curve against
which the said weights knock or lean against, so as to throw the said cross bars 3
into their respective notches, and permit the bottles to be taken from the rack.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a bracket
which holds the bar extending from one sido of the circular rack to the other and
is free to vibrate at the end where it is attached to the said circular rack at the
centre of its length and also at one end thereof. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same. 3
Fig. 6 is a side view of the bracket attached to the outer end of the bar, shewing
the piece or "lug" to which the weight is attached, which said weight actuates the
position of the cross bars, and causing them to rise and fall as requisite. Fig. 7 is
a side view of the same. Fig. 8 is a front view shewing the manner in which the
vertical brush may be worked either by foot or steam power. Fig. 9 is an end 4
view of the same shewing more plainly the fast and loose pulleys. Fig. 10 is a
vertical section shewing valve with casing for admitting water to inside of bottle
through the small tube or pipe which is attached to the spindle of the vertical
brush, the said valve at the same time admitting water to the top of the outside
or segmental brush for cleaning the outside of the bottle, by a tube which is 4
attached to the said outside or segmental brush. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the
same. Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the bracket which is attached to the front
side of the tank, which said bracket holds the vertical circular brush for cleaning
the inside of bottle, and the segmental brush for cleaning the outside of bottle in
their respective positions and which is so arranged that it may be used in a 5
vertical or horizontal position, shewing vertical position in full lines, and the
horizontal position in dotted lines. Fig. 13 is an end view of the same.
In Fig. 1. a is the tank to contain the potash water or its equivalent. b is the
circular rack revolving on centres 6' containing spaces c running in longitudinal
and transverse directions for holding the inverted bottles, d are strips or laths of 5

page_text: wood of sufficient size extending from end to end of the said circular rack, which
prevent the bottles falling through into the inside of the said circular rack, e are
shelves of wood or other suitable material divided lengthways as shewn into
spaces c (see Fig. 3.) is the vertical brush for inside of bottle, g the segmental
brush for outside of bottle, h. is the casing containing the valve admitting water
through the tube h¹ attached to the spindle of the vertical circular brush f. In
Fig. 2. are the brackets holding the cross bars j regulated in their positions by.
the weights k, the said brackets i being free to vibrate on their centres where
attached to the aforesaid circular rack b, the cross bars; during the rotation of the
circular rack are caused to fall into a position so as to prevent the bottles falling
out from their spaces and when in a position to allow of the bottles being taken
out from their space for cleansing by the aforementioned brushes, the said cross
bar is caused to sink or fall into a slot or recess / so lying away clear and
permitting the bottles to be removed from their spaces, the other letters of reference
remaining the same as in Fig. 1 In Fig. 3. the same letters of reference apply as
in Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 4. m is the centre on which the bracket is free to rotate,
and n is the case or cover which supports the cross bar j. In Fig. 5. the same
letters of reference apply to corresponding parts. In Fig. 6. m is the centre of
rotation, n the case or cover holding the cross bar j. o is the piece of metal or
“lug" to which the weight k is attached for regulating the position of the aforesaid
cross bars j. In Fig. 7. the same letters of reference apply as in Fig. 6. In
Fig. 8. a is the tank containing the potash water or its equivalent, b is the spindle
which holds the vertical circular brush and on which the V grooved pulley or
wheel c is fixed and which is driven by a cord passing round a grooved fly wheel d
fixed on a shaft and revolving in a bracket attached to the side of the tank or
casing a the said fly wheel d being driven in this case through the medium of an
ordinary treadle e. In Fig. 9. f is the fast and g the loose pulleys respectively
It is the bracket or bearing attached to the side of the tank, the other letters of
reference being the same as in Fig. 8. In Fig. 10 a is the bracket or casing
attached to the side of the tank containing the potash water or its equivalent for
disinfecting and cleansing the bottles, b is the V grooved wheel attached to the
vertical circular brush, the said brush being caused to rotate by means of a cord,
band or its equivalent passing round the said V grooved wheel, c is the lever
which on being pressed down by the neck of the bottle, causes the end of the
lever & to rise and lift the end of the lever e to which it is attached by a cord or
its equivalent e¹ to rise and force the valve f from its seat, so allowing clean water
to flow through the hollow spindle g through the small tube h attached to the
spindle of the vertical circular brush i into the bottle. In Fig. 11 the same letters
of reference apply to corresponding parts. In Fig. 12 a is the spindle which holds
the vertical circular brush, shewn in a vertical position b the reversible or movable
bracket attached to the side of the tank and secured thereto by bolts c and c' when
it is required to move the bracket supporting the brushes from the vertical to the
horizontal position, the bolts care are taken out, the nut c¹ is eased or unscrewed
and the bracket with its accessories is swung round on its centre c² into a
horizontal position as shewn by the dotted lines immediately over a metal plate
attached to the side of the tank, in which are tapped or screwed holes for the
reception of the screwed bolts o to secure the said bracket b¹ in position, d are the
grooved wheels by which the vertical circular brush is driven. Fig. 13 is an end
view of the same, the letters of reference remaining the same on corresponding
parts.
0
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st The circular rack revolving in a casing containing potash water or its
equivalent with attendant parts constructed in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein described

page_text: 2nd The bottle brushes having a small pipe or tube attached to conduct water to
the inside and outside of bottles when cleansing same.
3rd The method of reversing the brushes from a horizontal to a vertical position
or vice versa.
4th The bracket supporting the brushes the vertical circular brush with lever,
and case containing valve or valves for supplying water for cleansing purposes in
the manner substantially as herein described.
5th The construction and general arrangement of apparatus for soaking rinsing
and brushing bottles substantially and for the purposes hereinbefore described, set
forth and fully illustrated in the drawings annexed.