Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1887
Complete Left, 24th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 29th Mar., 1888
1 CHARLES BOTTOMLEY INMAN Manufacturing Chemist & Aerated Water Manu-
facturer Stafford Street Hunslet Leeds do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
A round or square Vat having affixed therein an arrangement in which Bottles are
placed in Divisions, propelled under water, and made to pass through Brushes in
order to clean the outsides of adhesive matter & which shall have an elevated division
with a sliding tray to facilitate the filling of the divisions below the surface water.
In connection with the apparatus there shall be an overflow & emptying pipe, Brush
Heads for cleaning the inside of Bottles together with rinsers, having covers thereon
which turn over on Hinges.

page_text: I, CHARLES BOTTOMLEY INMAN of Stafford Street, Hunslet, Leeds in the County
of York, Manufacturing Chemist and Aerated Water Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 a bottle washing and brushing machine and consists of a
round or square vat having affixed therein an arrangement in which bottles are placed
in divisions, propelled under water, and made to pass through brushes in order to
clear the outsides of adhesive matter, and which shall have an elevated division with
a sliding tray to facilitate the filling of the divisions below the surface water. Iu
connection with the apparatus there shall be an overflow and emptying pipe; brush
heads for cleaning the inside of the bottles, together with rinsers having covers
thereon which turn over on hinges.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my circular bottle washing and brushing machine
and Fig. 2 is a plan of same.
A is a circular vat or tub of wood or other suitable materials provided with the
bottom B to gravitate to the centre to ensure emptying when requisite. In the
centre of the vat or tub A is disposed the stand pipe with the openings D and
feet E to bolt the same to the bottom B as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a
section of same, through line A¹ B'. On the outside of the standpipe C is mounted
the boss or centre F with the arms G to carry the sections H with the divisions I to
hold the bottles J in a vertical position. If desired the arms G can be made separate
from the boss or centre F and secured thereto in any suitable manner. The bottom H
and the division boxes I are loose, being secured to the arms G by the bolts or set
screws a and the handles b, the latter being screwed onto the screw a as shown in
Fig. 3. The bottom H and the divisions I can be secured together in any convenient
manner and made of wood or of cast metal, in the latter case the bottom H may be
cast thereto if desired. The divisions I can be of the form shown in Figs. 2 and 11,
or circular as in Fig. 7 A.
The bottom end of the stand pipe C is provided internally with the taper hole L in
which fits the overflow and emptying centre tube M, the latter being ground in the
said taper hole to make a water tight joint. The top of the centre tube M is the
working water level, down which the overflow water runs and out by the hole L to a
suitable drain. An important feature is the fixing of the tube M in the centre or
thereabouts of the vat or tub by which all refuse is drawn to the centre and away
from the point or points at which the bottles are being handled by the attendants.
The top end of the stand pipe C is fitted with the boss N to which is attached the

page_text: uprights O for carrying the framework P of the ordinary revolving brushes Qfor
brushing and cleaning the inside of the bottles. The brushes Q are fixed in the
centres S provided with the fast and loose pulleys R and T, and are driven in the
usual manner by straps. Above the revolving divisions I are fixed the segmental
brushes U, carried by the arms W from the framework P and the side of the vat or
tub A. These brushes are disposed so as to allow the bottles to pass, during which
they are brushed automatically as the sections are revolved or propelled with the
arms Ground the stand pipe C by the handles b. The object of brushing the outside
of the bottles is to ensure the adhesive matter, such as labels, being removed, which
then float on the top of the water and flow down the centre tube M with the over-
flow water.
The rinsers X are fixed to the top side of the vat or tub A in any convenient
manner and are provided with the inlet taps Y to supply the rinsers with water for
injecting the same into the bottles Z when placed thereon as shown in Fig. 1. On
the rinsers is placed the cover C having holes to hold the bottles in an inverted
position over the rinsers X: the said cover is attached to the hinge D¹ on the side
of the vat or tub A. To the hinge D is attached the arms E¹ carrying the box
stand G¹ to receive the box of washed and rinsed bottles.
The vat or tub A is supplied with water from the pipe and tap H¹, the water being
delivered by the copper or other perforated pipe J¹. After a sufficient quantity of
water has been supplied and the tap H is closed the water is heated to the desired
temperature by admitting steam through the perforated pipe J' from the tap and
pipe K¹.
When it is desired to empty the vat or tub A of water the centre tube M is raised
by means of the lever I connected thereto by the link M' as shown in Fig. 3; the
lever L being supported on the centre N' attached to the uprights O. The lever L'
and the centre tube M can be left suspended by placing the catch O' over the top
side of the lever L', by which the attendant is at liberty to perform other work while
the vat or tub is emptying. The catch 0¹ is pivoted to the side of the frame P and
is more clearly represented in Fig. 5. After the centre tube M has been lifted, as in
Fig. 3, the water and other refuse flows away through the openings D and the outlet L
to a suitable drain. The gravitating bottom of the vat or tub A ensures all the
liquid being drained to the centre and away to the drain.
Fig. 6 is a part sectional elevation of the vat or tub A with my improved method
of filling the divisions I with empty bottles from an elevated position. On a section
of the divisions I is placed the frame A² provided with the sliding tray B². The
bottles Jare placed in the upper divisions on the tray B2, which when filled the
tray B is slid out as indicated in dotted lines, by which the bottles fall down through
the divisions into the divisions I on the revolving frame, after which the frame A²
is removed to the next empty section of the revolving frame and so on, being filled
without the attendant placing his hands in the water. The frame A2 is fitted at each
corner or otherwise with the metallic eye rods B³ to which are attached the chains
or cords B. To the latter is attached the chain or cords B passing over the
pulleys B; the opposite end of the chain or cord B' being provided with the weight B'
by which the frame A is held out of the way when raised from the vat A by the
operator. The employment of the frame A and the sliding tray B2 allows of them
being filled in the bottle rooms or otherwise and transferred bodily onto the sections
to be filled, whereby the latter are more expeditiously filled than hitherto.
Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of another modification of my circular bottle
washing and brushing machine-Fig. 8 is a part sectional elevation of the same
modification, and Fig. 9 is a part plan showing the circular carrying frame and its
supporting wheels.
In this modification the sections H with the divisions I to hold the hottles J in a
vertical position are mounted on the circular frame G composed of two rings of angle
or other iron or other equivalents. The circular frame G is fitted with the crossbars B'
to which are attached the fixings C7 provided with the pins or cen res D7 on which
the pulleys or flanged wheels E' arc mounted. The pulleys or flanged wheels E'

page_text: travel round the stand pipe C on the rail G', by which the bottles are propelled under
water in a circular manner and at one uniform height in a vertical position to enable
filling, soaking, washing, and rinsing to be performed in the manner herein-after
described. The vat A is fitted with the gravitating bottom B; stand pipe C; centre
tube M; brushes U and Q; rinsers ✗; hinged covers C"; hinges D', and other
parts as shown on the drawings.
Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of my invention applied to a square or oblong vat
or tub Fig. 11 is a part plan, and Fig. 12 is a transverse section of same.
A is the vat or tub of wood or other suitable materials provided with the bottom B
to gravitate to the centre to ensure emptying when the centre pipe M is removed.
The bottom is fitted with the taper bush A² to receive the taper end of the centre
overflow pipe M, which are ground together to make a water tight joint. The vat A
is provided with the rinsers X; taps Y; hinged covers C₁; hinges D¹; arms E', and
box stands G¹ as before described and shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The framework P
and the ordinary revolving brushes Q are carried on the supports B³ extending across
the vat or tub A. The bottle boxes or frames I for carrying the bottles to be soaked
and washed are placed on the carriages C³ with the wheels D³. The carriages C³ are
mounted on the tram-lines E3 on which they are propelled under water. The tram-
lines E3 are secured to the blocks F, which also carry the standards G³ to which are
secured the top rails H³ fixed slightly above the top side of the wheels D³ to prevent
the latter being lifted off the tram-lines E3 by the buoyancy of the boxes I when
immersed in water. The underside of the carriages C³ are provided with the
swivelling axles 13 to enable the same to be propelled round the semi-circular ends of
the tram-lines, at the same time allowing of a swivelling movement to the bottle
boxes or frames I, as shown in the enlarged plan in Fig. 13, which is a plan of the
underside of the carriage 03. The sides J of the carriage C³ are fitted with the
double segmental fixings K' in which the axles I slide as shown in dotted lines.
The top rails H³ are provided with the slots L³ to enable the carriages to be removed
or replaced at will.
The frame A2 of empty bottles is placed on the bottle boxes or frames I when in
the position shown on plan Fig. 11, which, after the former is removed, is propelled
on the tram-lines E3 and allowed to soak in a vertical position, after which they are
pushed on until within reach of the person performing the operation of brushing
inside by the brushes Q.
My invention operates in the following manner :-The vat or tub A is filled with
water to the height of the top end of the overflow pipe M; the water is then heated
to the desired temperature by means of steam from the perforated pipe J. The
boxes I are filled with bottles in a vertical position, either by hand or from the
frame A2 as before described. As the bottles fill with water flies and other light
substances float to the top of the water in the vat and are carried away down the
centre tube M. After the boxes I comprising the sections on the revolving frame are
filled with bottles they are propelled by the attendant taking hold of the handles b on
the arms G, until the next empty section takes the place of the one just filled when
the operation is repeated until the soaking sections or boxes I are full of bottles.
The bottles in the boxes I are, by the revolving action of the frame, passed through
the brushes U which cleans the outside of the bottles above the divisions of the
soaking sections or boxes I. The attendants at the brushes Q take the bottles out of
the soaking sections or boxes I and places them in the usual manner on the revolving
brushes for brushing the inside of the bottles and from thence places them in the
holes in the hinged covers C₁ over the usual rinsers X for the purpose of injecting
clean cold water into them before transferring them to the cases 0³. When the
rinsers are filled with bottles and have been drained of the rinsing water the attendant
places the ordinary bottle case or box 0³ over them, after which the hinged box
stand G is turned over until the latter rests on the bottom of the box or case 0³, as
shown in the right hand upper corner of Fig. 1, when the whole are turned over
bodily as shown in the left hand corner in Fig. 1, which places the washed bottles in
the case or box O³ without handling them, after which it is removed; the hinged

page_text: cover C being turned back to receive other bottles on the rinsers, and the operation
is repeated. As the divisions I in the sections are emptied they are revolved by the
attendant to a suitable position to be filled either by hand or by the frame A2, by
which time is saved; one section being filled and the bottles allowed to soak to keep
up a constant supply of bottles for the attendants at the brushes Q.
In the case of square or oblong vats the boxes of bottles are moved from one point
to another by the carriages on the tram-lines.
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
1. In a bottle washing machine the method of propelling bottles under water in a
circular manner and at one uniform height in a vertical position, to enable filling,
soaking, washing, and rinsing to be performed in their successive order without
interfering with each other, substantially as herein set forth and shown.
2. For carrying out the method described in the preceding claim the combination
and arrangement of apparatus consisting of the stand pipe C; boss or centre F;
arms G; sections H, and the divisions or boxes I, applied and operating substantially
as described and as shown on the drawings in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6.
3. For carrying out the method described in claim 1 the combination and arrange-
ment of apparatus consisting of the stand pipe C; circular frame G; crossbars B';
fixings C; centres D'; pulleys or flanged wheels E7; rails G7; sections H, and the
divisions or boxes I, applied and operating substantially as described and as shown
on the drawings in Figs. 7, 8, and 9.
4. The use and construction of the centre tube M with the taper end in combination
with the stand pipe C, and the means for raising and lowering the same, substantially
as described and as shown on the drawings.
5. The use of the openings D in the stand pipe C for emptying water and other
refuse from a bottle washing machine when the centre tube M is lifted, substantially
as described and as shown on the drawings in Figs. 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8.
6. Mounting or placing the overflow tube M in the centre of a bottle washing
machine, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
7. In a bottle washing machine the use of the perforated pipe J' for the double
purpose of supplying water and steam to heat the same, substantially as described
and shown on the drawings.
8. The use and construction of the boss N mounted on the stand pipe C, and the
uprights for carrying the revolving brushes Q in a central position, substantially
as described and as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 7.
9. The use and construction of the screws a and handles b for securing the
sections H and the division boxes I to the arms G of the revolving frame, also for
propelling the latter round its centre, substantially as described and as shown on the
drawings.
10. Constructing the sections H and divisions I of cast metal, substantially as
described and shown on the drawings.
11. In a bottle washing machine the use of the gravitating bottom B to expedite
cleaning and to ensure the water and other refuse being emptied, substantially as
described and as shown on the drawings.
12. The use of the stationary brushes U for partially brushing the outside of the
bottles by the revolving action of the carrying frame, substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth and as shown on the drawings.
13. For transferring a box of empty bottles from the rinsers the construction and
arrangement of apparatus consisting of the hinged cover C₁; hinge D¹; hinged
box stand G¹, and the arms E¹, applied and operating substantially as described and
as shown on the drawings.
14. The use and construction of the filling box or frame A' with the sliding tray B²,
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and as shown on the drawings.
15. For transferring boxes of bottles in a bottle washing machine and subjecting

page_text: them to filling, soaking, washing, and rinsing in their successive order, the construction
and arrangement of apparatus consisting of the tram-rails E³; rails H³; standards G³,
and the carriages C with the swivelling arrangements, substantially as herein
described and illustrated by the drawings.
16. The respective combinations and arrangements of the combined bottle washing,
brushing, soaking, and rinsing machinery, applied and operating substantially as
described and as shown on the drawings.