Improvements in Apparatus for Washing or Cleaning Bottles and the like Vessels.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Washing or Cleaning Bottles and
the like Vessels.
I, ALBERT JULES THEODORE WILD of Phoenix Works, Collingwood Street,
Blackfriars Road, London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature 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:-
This invention relates firstly to improvements in machinery used for washing or
cleaning bottles jars and the like vessels more especially for champagne bottles and
the like having a punt" or "kick-up" formed therein and my invention has for one of
its objects to facilitate the cleaning of the narrow part at the bottom of such bottles
around such kick-up, and also has other advantages which assist the washing or cleaning
of such bottles by machinery.
A further part of my present invention relates to an improved "tuft" for attach-
ment to brushes when used in accordance with the foregoing machine or for use with
other brushes used in any other desired manner for bottle washing or bottle cleaning
purposes generally.
For the first named purpose I form any suitable flexible joint in the spindle (which
latter is revolved by any suitable motive power) to which spindle is attached the brush and
is revolved thereby the bottle to be cleaned is put on the brush and the joint in the
spindle is then inside the bottle so that the brush can turn to any angle in the bottle
(out of a straight line with the main part of the spindle) and the revolving of the
brush will cause same to travel all round the inner contour of the bottle and without
fear of breaking same as heretofore.
And in order that my present invention may be easily understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to describe same with reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal exterior view of the spindle with spring and sliding socket
thereon and brush mounted on said spindle-the joint on the spindle being covered by
the socket and consequently not shown in this Figure.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view or diagram partly in section showing the
joint and the position of the parts when in operation and the brush inside a bottle.
Figs. 3 and 4 show the improved "tufts" for brushes.
a is a shaft revolved by manual or other suitable motive power to which shaft a one
end of the spindle b is attached or forms part-said shaft a revolving in any suitable
bearings or supports.
On the opposite end of the spindle a suitable joint is formed so that the other
part d of the spindle will be revolved but at the same time is free to move in all
directions laterally-in the case illustrated such joint is formed by an eye c on spindle b
and a hook formed on the separate piece d which hook passes through the eye c so that
the part d can move freely laterally at its outer end d' but is always revolved with the
spindle b.
At the outer end d¹ is mounted the brush e (of any suitable construction and having
any suitable tuft thereon) by screwing or otherwise securing it into or onto the said
end d¹.
A spiral spring fis mounted on the spindle band normally keeps the tube or sliding
socket g pressed outwards so that the cap h fixed or formed on said socket is pressed
against the shoulder i provided for that purpose on the jointed end d of the spindle b-
thus normally keeping said loose end in a direct straight line with the spindle b and so
that the brush thereon is held firmly out to receive the bottle thereon, the operation
being as hereinafter described.

page_text: Fig. 3 is an improved construction of "tuft" for brushes for use with the foregoing
machinery or for brushes used in any other manner for the purposes set forth the
"tuft" being formed as follows:-A piece of metal tube m open at both ends has a
slot cut or formed down each side and the end thus slotted or divided opened so as to
allow the bristles n to be drawn into the tube part of the bristles expanding through
the slot at both sides, the divided ends are then forced together and thus nip and firmly
secure the bristles in the form shown.
Fig. 4 is another arrangement in which a spiral slot is formed in the tube m, the
bristles n drawn in as before and the slotted parts forced together whereupon the
bristles n in this tuft take a form somewhat of the shape of an archimedian
screw.
The operation is as follows; referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings annexed.
The bottle to be cleaned is put over the brush e, (which is shown hel ont in its normal
position in Figure 1) until the mouth of the bottle comes in contact with the enlarged
end h of the slide g Fig. 1 which latter is then pushed back along the spindle clear
of the flexible joint and compresses the spring until the parts are about in the
position shown in Fig. 2-the said joint being now free allows the brush e to take the
position shown in Fig. 2 and the revolutions of the brush cause same to work round
and round the bottle without necessarily moving the bottle at all until it is sufficiently
brushed when it is removed from off the brush, whereupon the slide g is pushed out-
wards towards the brush e by the spring f into the position shown in Fig. 1 and thus
again supporting the brush in a straight line with the spindle and ready to receive
the next bottle to be cleaned.
I wish it to be clearly understood that I do not confine myself to the particular
form of "hook" joint shown in the drawings annexed as any suitable flexible joint
may be used between the spindle b and the part d to which latter the brush is attached
so long as the latter part is revolved and has the desired lateral movement imparted
thereto by such flexible joint.
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 jointed spindle such as b, d to which the brush is secured and thereby revolved
such joint allowing the brush to follow round the shape of the bottle, jar or like
vessel being washed or cleaned without having to move said vessel, substantially
as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
2. In machinery or apparatus used in washing or cleaning bottles jars or the like
vessels 1 claim the use and application of a flexible joint in the revolving spindle
which latter carries and revolves the brush substantially in the manner and for the
purposes hereinbefore set forth.
3. In brushes for washing or cleaning bottles and the like vessels, I claim the
improved arrangement and construction of the tufts therefor substantially in the
manner and for the purposes hereinhefore described and represented in Figs. 3 and 4
of the drawings hereunto annexed.
4. The improved arrangement construction and combination of apparatus for
operating brushes in washing or cleaning hottles, jars, and the like vessels substantially
in the manner and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in the
drawings hereunto annexed.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.