Improvements in Bottle Washers.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
Improvements in Bottle Washers.
I, WILLIAM JOHN CUNNINGHAM, of 518, Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsyl
vania, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
My invention relates to an improved construction of bottle washing machine,
which is adjustable to different sizes of bottles, the novel features being herein-
after fully set forth and described.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying draw-
ing, in which:-
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a bottle washing machine embodying
my invention, the tank thereof being shown in section.
Figure 2 represents on a smaller scale a side elevation of Figure 1, showing the
tank in section.
Figures 3 and 4 represent, on an enlarged scale, sectional views of a portion of
the device viewed from the right and left of Figure 1, respectively, showing the
supports for the bottles during the act of washing the same, and the different
positions said supports assume.
Figure 5 represents an end view of Figure 4.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.
Referring to the drawings:
A designates a bottle washing machine, the same consisting of a tank B, which
is adapted for the reception of the liquid employed for washing the bottles, said
tank being provided with an inlet B and outlet D².
D designates a shaft engaging V, or other suitably shaped, bearings C, upon
the plate C, secured to the sides of the tank by bolts C3, or other suitable means,
which serve the additional purposes of preventing the said tank from bulging
or collapsing.
Upon this shaft is mounted the wheel or disc D¹ preferably so arranged that
it will revolve independent of its shaft, and be longitudinally movable thereon for
the purpose of placing said wheel at any desired point on the shaft to accommodate
the different lengths of bottles.
The wheel can be made in one or more sections and of any suitable material;
as shown it is constructed in two sections and of wood, the grain of which runs
in opposite directions to prevent warping.
•
The shaft-bearings C are so located as to allow of the greater portion of the
wheel being submerged, thereby allowing the bottle to be longer immersed during
the revolutions of the disc.
E designates collars mounted on the shaft D on either side of the disc D¹, said
collars being adjustable on said shaft and held in position by means of set screws
or similar fastening devices, for the purpose of keeping the wheel in place when set
for the particular size bottle.
F designates a lever which is fulcrumed to any suitably fixed point G and has
a latch or hook H pivotally attached thereto, said hook engaging an eye J
1
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page_text: K designates the supports or holders for the bottles, the same having a suitable
body portion, which is provided with the concave or trough-shaped recess L, which
is adapted to contact with the bottle, said supports or holders having the flange M,
from which projects the threaded stem N, the latter passing through the wheel D¹
and being held in proper position. by means of the nut P or similar device, said
stem being off-set and out of alignment with the holder K. They are so arranged
that said bottles are kept from coming in contact with each other, thus pre-
venting breakage.
S designates a head on the extremity of the holder K, the same being separated
from the body of the latter by means of a reduced neck R carrving the washer T.
The wheel D has in it the openings D³, between the holders K thereon to
allow the neck of the respective bottles to pass through and present their mouths
to the opposite side thereof in order to enable, as the bottles emerge from the
bath, the insertion in said bottles, while they are discharging the water, of a
revolving brush on a flexible shaft (not shown) thereby more thoroughly cleansing
the said bottles.
1
The general arrangement and location of the holders K will be understood from
Figure 2, in which it will be seen that said holders are preferably arranged
in groups of three, which hold a single bottle, only one holder being shown in
Figure 1 for the sake of clearness of illustration, although it will of course be
apparent that the entire surface of the disc can be provided with the holder arranged
. substantially as indicated in Figure 2.
The operation is as follows;
The disc D can be shifted longitudinally upon the shaft D, after loosening the
collars E by properly manipulating the lever F, this adjustment being necessary
in adapting the device for bottles of different lengths.
When the disc D' has reached the desired position, the hook H is, disengaged
therefrom and the collars E tightened. The bottles are placed in position on
their holders in the manner indicated in Figure 2, and upon the disc being
rotated it will be seen that by reason of the inclination of the hottles their interior
will be thoroughly washed and substantially every portion of both the exterior
and interior will be subjected to the action of the fluid in the tank B.
By arranging the holders at an angle to the disc as illustrated in the detailed
views in Figures 3 and 4, which it will be understood are viewed from the right
and left of Figure 2, respectively, it will he apparent that every portion of the
bottle will be effectively washed, since by reason of the inclination given to the
holders the bottle will automatically be filled when placed upon the former, and
as the wheel revolves, carrying the latter to the opposite side of the tank, the
inclination of the bottle is reversed, allowing the water to run therefrom.
When the bottles have been placed on the holders with their necks inserted
in the openings D³, when they emerge from the tank, brushes can be readily
introduced through said openings into the bottle and the inside thereof properly
cleansed.
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:-
1st. A bottle washing machine consisting of a tank, a wheel or disc rotatably
mounted therein and holders projecting at an angle from a side of said wheel,
said holders being adapted to retain the bottles in position and said wheel having
openings therein between said holders.
2nd. A bottle washing machine consisting of a tank, a shaft mounted therein,
a wheel mounted on said shaft, a lever suitably fulcrumed, connections from said
lever to said wheel for shifting the latter longitudinally on said shaft, means for
holding said wheel in the desired position and holders mounted in said wheel
and projecting at an acute angle therefrom.
3rd. A bottle washing machine consisting of a tank and a shaft rotatably

page_text: mounted therein, a wheel supported on said shaft and holders carried by said
wheel, said holders having a trough-shaped body portion, a flange at one extremity
thereof, and a threaded stem projecting from said flange out of alignment with
said body, the other extremity of said holder having a head projecting therefrom
and a washer supported adjacent to said head.
4th. In a bottle washing machine, a tank, a disc or wheel rotatably supported
therein, and holders supported on said wheel and inclined at an angle thereto,
said holders being arranged in groups of three which are adapted to support a
single bottle, and said wheel having openings therein intermediate said holders.
5th. A bottle washing machine consisting of a tank, a shaft mounted thereon, a
wheel adjustable longitudinally on said shaft and inclined holders secured to said
wheel, the latter having openings therein permitting the insertion therein of
the necks of the bottles on said holders.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1898
HASELTINE LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.