Improvements in Bottle Washing Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as allowed by the
decision of the Chief Examiner of the 18th day of August 1897.
Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1896-Accepted, 9th May, 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Bottle Washing Machines.
I, MELVIN DONALLY, of No. 22 Cornelia Street, in the City of Brooklyn,
County of Kings, State of New York, 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:-
This invention relates particularly to machines for rapidly and effectively cleaning
the exteriors of bottles, cans or other like articles, and incidentally also to devices
which may be used with such machines to clean the interiors of bottles or other like
articles. The object which I have had in view has been to produce a machine in
which the bottle or other article to be cleaned shall be subjected to a rubbing or
scraping or brushing so thorough as to remove from its surface any foreign matter,
whether it be dirt or a label previously pasted thereon, and at the same time to
accomplish this result, without causing breakage or any other injury of the bottles
or cans or other articles being cleaned. Furthermore I have sought to devise a
machine which shall be capable of operating efficiently upon bottles or other
articles which vary more or less in size, without requiring adjustment or inanipulation
of the parts of the machine. I have also in view incans for releasing the bottles or
other articles in succession, whereby the capacity of the machine is increased and
at the same time the danger of breakage is reduced. The various features of
improvement, however, will be more fully explained hereinafter.
The machine which I have represented herein as an embodiment of my invention
is particularly designed for the cleaning of bottles, but it will be readily understood
that with certain obvious changes in form the machine will be equally well adapted
for the cleaning of jars or cans or other articles of like character.
In the drawings, in which an embodiment of my invention is illustrated,
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a bottle washing machine;
Figure 2 is a vertical, central section thereof, the transmitting gears at the right
being shown in elevation;
Figure 3 is a plan view thereof, a portion of the upper ring of the bottle carrier
being broken away to show parts beneath, and many parts which would otherwise
appear being omitted in order to avoid confusion;
Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the plane indicated by the line x-x of
Figure 2, with the devices for holding the upper ends of the bottles removed and
with many parts below the plane of section omitted in order to avoid confusion;
Figure 5 is a detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing
the devices for holding the bottle in the carrier and other parts associated
therewith.
In the machine represented in the drawings, the supporting framework comprises
a suitable base A, posts or standards A' A' erected thereon, an annular plate or

page_text: table A secured to said standard at a suitable height above the base, and a post or
bracket A. A vertical shaft B (see Fig. 2) has a bearing a at its lower end in the
base A and another bearing in the head a of the post or bracket A' which is erected
upon the base A. To the shaft B above the head or bearing a is secured a druni or
shell C which, in the particular mechanism shown, constitutes a carrier for one of the
two series of brushes or rubbing or scraping devices which act upon the exteriors of
the bottles.
The bottles or other articles to be cleaned are received, in the machine shown, by
as rotary carrier D which is supported concentric with the brush carrier C before
referred to. As represented in the drawings (see particularly Fig. 2) the bottle
carrier D is supported in part by arms d from a hub d which has a bearing on the
head a' of the bracket. A and in part by anti-friction rollers d which travel upon
a track supported by the bracket A'. An annular plate or table D', formed
with or carried by the arins d, has connected thereto by sleeves and tie-rods d
an annular plate D, this construction forming a rigid frame on which the bottles are
carried. A third annular plate or bar D' is supported by the sleeves d' at a suitable
height above the lower plate or table and is preferably made adjustable thereon
according to the height of the bottles or other articles which are to be supported
between it and the plate or table D. The bar 1 is represented as connected by
arms d to a hub dwhich receives the shaft B and as supported in part by an
adjustable collar d' on said shaft. Preferably the brush carrier C and the bottle
carrier are rotated in the same direction but at different velocities. For this
purpose the shaft B, in the construction shown, has secured thereto n bevel gear b
which is engaged by a bevel pinion carried by the main driving shaft B which
is supported in suitable bearings on the hase A (see Figs. 1 and 2). The carrier D,
likewise in the construction shown, has secured thereto or formed therewith a bevel
gear D' which is engaged by a bevel pinion b' carried hy a counter shaft. 13. The
fatter is supported in a suitable bracket A' carried by the base A and has fixed thereon
a large gear & which is engaged and driven by a pinion on the driving shaft B'.
The driving mechanism just described provides for a slow movement of the bottle
carrier and for a more rapid inovement of the brush carrier in the same direction and
while I prefer that the relative movements of the bottle carrier and of the movable
brush carrier shall be as described it is to be understood that it is not essential that
the movements shall be so related.
The bottle carrier is adapted to receive the hottles to hold them while they are
operated upon by the brushes and to permit their removal as they are brought in
succession to or near the point at which they are supplied to the carrier. Provision
is also made whereby each bottle may be rotated while it is subjected to the action
of the brushes in order that every portion of its surface may be thoroughly
cleaned. The particular construction wherely these results may be secured will
now be described.
In one of the rings or bars D or D, preferably the lower one, so that the bottles
may be supported mouth downward for a purpose to he referred to, are mounted
bottomless cups or tubeless sockets RE (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) each of which is adapted
to receive and to hold from lateral displacement the head or extremity of a bottle
introduced into it. As it is desirable that the bottles should rotate freely, each
socket E is preferably mounted upon hall bearings; as represented in Figure 5 the
bearing balls e rest in a groove formed in a sleeve El secured in the plate D¹ and
the socket E is held in place by a ring e', threaded to engage the sleeve E. The
upper portion of the socket E is represented as having a lining of any suitable
material such as rubber, although such lining is not essential. Corresponding to
each socket E and supported by the ring or bar D' is a holder F for the other end
of the bottle which is adapted to press with sufficient firmness against the end of
the bottle to hold the hottle from displacement while it is being cleaned. This
holder preferably comprises a flexible and elastic disc f (Figures 1. 2. and 5) carried
by a stem which slides freely through a saitable guide in the ring or har 1 and
a spring which operates to press the dise against the end of the bottle. The

page_text: disc f is preferably made of some yielding or elastic material in order that it may
conform to the bottom of the bottle held between it and the socket and may rub
and clean the same as the bottle is rotated, the disc being held from rotation by any
suitable means. The holder F might be moved by hand to release the bottle at the
proper time, but that the operator may be able to work with greater rapidity I prefer
to provide automatic means for withdrawing the holder and releasing the bottle. As
represented in the drawings (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5,) the stem f is connected to an
arm G which is pivoted to a hub G¹ and at its outer end is provided with an anti-
friction roller g to bear upon a cam track g¹ (see Figure 1) which is supported by
the standards A2, whereby in the revolution of each arun with the bottle carrier it
is lifted at a certain point in its movement to withdraw the holder and release the
bottle. Any suitable connection between the stem and the arin G may be
provided, but I prefer that the stem shall be square aud pass freely through a
slot g' in the end of the arm G, while a piu g is passed through the end of the stem
and rests on the upper side of the arm (Figures 3 and 5). This construction
permits the holder to adapt itself to bottles of different heights without interfering
with the movement of the lifting arm G, and moreover holds the stem and the
disc f from rotation. As it might happen through inattention on the part of the
attendant that the bottle which has been released should fall over and be broken
I have provided an additional guard which is moved into position to hold the bottle
from falling when the latter is released, but does not interfero cither with the
action of the brushes upon tho exterior of the bottle nor with the ready removal
and intro:iuction of bottles from and to the carrier. As represented, this guard
consists of a light wire framework having parallel sides à A (see Figure 1) which
slido freely through apertures in the rings and D³, a cross-bar h¹ (see Figures 1
and 3)which rests upon the arm G whereby the guard is movod with the holder F
and a guard wire 2 (see Figures 1 and 4) which is carried by the sides h h and
normally rests upon the lower ring or table D', but, when the holder F is raised to
release the bottle, is lifted to substantially the position represented in Figure 1, in
which position it will prevent the bottle from falling forward but will not interfero
with the removal of the bottle by the operater nor with the introduction of another
in its place. It will be observed that the described provisions for holding the bottle
permit it to be beld firmly at both ends, whereby danger of breakage is prevented,
permit the bottles to rotate upon their own axes and enable them to be removed and
replaced readily.
The brushes which are adapted to scrape and clean the exterior of the bottles
aro arranged ou opposite sides of the path of the bottles so that they may contact
with each bottle on opposite sides thereof. If the bottle carrier travels or rotates
as described it is preferable that one of the brusbes or series of brushes should bo
relatively fixed or stationary while the other brash or series, supported by a
carrier C, as represented, travels or rotates at such a speed or in such a direction
with respect to the bottle carrier as that each bottle, in being carried between the
two brushes or series of brushes, shall be compelled to rotate, whereby every
portion of its surface is brought into contact with the brushes. I have referred to
series of brushes on each side of the path of the bottles for the reason that the
brushes may thereby be more conveniently arranged to be movable toward and from
the path of the bottles, and to adapt themselves to the bottles, than if the brush ou
cach side of the path of the bottles were made in a continuous piece. Accordingly I
have represented a series of independent brushes K K mounted upon the movable
carrier Cand another series of independent brushes K K which are supported in a
relatively stationary position. The brushes may be made of any suitable material and
in any suitable form according to the particular nature of the work to be performed,
but I bave represented them as composed each of a piece of card clothing k mounted
upon a rigid back & which is shaped to conform to the path of tho bottles and prefer-
ably has the end which meets the bottles in the relative movement rounded somewhat.
The brushes are made to conform somewhat to the general shape of the bottles by
additional blocks along their lower edges. In order that the machine may bu

page_text: adapted for ellicient operation upon bottles of different sizes, and in order also that
danger of breakage ny bo reduced, each brush is yieldingly supported upon its
carrier so that it may be pressed normally toward the path of the bottles and may
be permitted to yield in the opposite direction. Varions duvices may be employeil
for supporting the brushes in this manner. As represented in the drawings, each
brush is supported near one end, preferably tho forward end, by n swinging arm &,
which in the case of the inner brushes, is pivoted upon the shell or carrier C, and
in the case of the outer brushes, is pivoted upon a bar A supported upon adjustable
collars on tho standards A¹ A*. Each ann is preferably provided with a
stop finger which limits the movement of the brush toward the path of the
bottles. The swinging arms are preferably arranged in pairs, one above another,
to maintain the brush in proper position. To each brush are applied one or more
springs which press the brush normally toward the path of the botiles. The
brushes might be supported by strings nlone, but it is preferable to combine with
them the swinging arms referred to and the springs are preferably applied near the
end of each brush remote from the swinging arın. Obviously each brush will be
pressed towards its support by the bottle as it passes hetween the two opposite
brushes and if the forward end of the next brush protruded abruptly into the path
of the bottle it might happen that breakage would be occasioned. Accordingly I
provido a loose connection between the ends of adjacent brushes so that as the
rearward end of one brush is pressed back by the bottlo the forward end of the
next brush shall also be pressed back, the mode of supporting the brushes by
swinging arms to which the brush is pivoted and by springs facilitating this
connection of the brushes. The connection may be made in any convenient
manner. I have represented the end of one brush as provided with a fixed finger k
which enters freely an eye k carried by the next brush.
It is desirable that the bottles should be wet during tho action of the brushes
thereou and I have therefore provided suitablo nozzles which are connected
to a water supply.
As I have indicated previously, my main object herein has been to provide for
the thorough cleaning of the outer surfaces of bottles or other articles, but it is
desirable also to provide means for cleaning and rinsing the interiors of the bottles
at the same time. In my mncl ine this is easily provided for without adding
materially to the mechanism. For this purpose the bearing block or head a' of
the bracket A has an annular channel formed therein, while the hab has
suitable packing glands above and below the annular channel. A water supply
pipe M is connected to the bearing block or head and is adapted to furnish
thereto a continuous supply of water. From the hub and in line with the
annular channel a radiate a series of pipes m m each one of which terminates in a
nozzle m' in the side wall of the corresponding sleure of the bottle carrier and
below the rotatable socket E, whoroby a stream of water is thrown into each bottle
during its passage between the brushes. The water may be sufficient to rinse a
bottle which has been previously cleaned but it may be desired also to provide
menus for rubbing or brushing the insiile of the bottle. Accordingly the bottle
carrier D supports in line with ench bottle a movable brush N which is carried by
a suitable stem or spindle n and is adapted to be moved into the bottle at a certain
time, the brushing being effected not only by the longitudinal movement of the
brush, but by the relativo rotation of the brush and bottle. In the present machine
the bottle is rotated by the moans heretoforo referred to and it is therefore
unnecessary that the brush N should be rotated. To effect the required longitudinal
movement of the brush the stem n is fixed to a sliding frame n which is guided in
holos formed in the web of the gear D', and is pressed normally upward to canno
the brush to enter the bottle by springs n. Each frame has a roller n which is
adapted to travel with the carrier in contact with a fixed cam track n' which may be
80 formed as to cause each brush to move twice into and out of the corresponding
bottle during each complete rotation of the carrier.
In the operation of the machine borcin described the bottles are introduced by

page_text: the attendant one by one into the bottle-carrier at the front of the machine; the
bottles are at first held by the wire guard, but as the carrier continues its movement
the arm G descends and the bottle is then held firmly in an upright position while
being capable of rotating on its own axis. As the bottles are carried between the
brushes they are compelled to rotate by the action of the brushes and are thoroughly
scrubbed. During the passage between the brushes a stream of water is thrown
continuously into each bottle and at intervals the brush N is thrust into the
bottle to assist in the cleaning of the interior. As each bottle passes from between
he brushes, the arm G rises to release the bottle and at the same time the wire
guard K rises to prevent the bottle from falling over while permitting it to be
removed readily by the attendant.
It will be obvious that the details of arrangement and construction of the machine
shown in the drawings may be varied without departing from the spirit of my
invention, and it is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to
the precise mechanism shown.
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..The combination with a rotary carrier having upper and lower bars adapted
to support a bottle or other like article at both ends with freedom for rotation, and
means to rotate said carrier, of brushes supported in proximity to the path of the
bottle and on opposite sides thereof, a rotary carrier for one of said brushes
concentric with the bottle carrier and means to rotate said brush carrier in the
same direction as the bottle carrier but at a greater speed substantially as described
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with a carrier and means to hold a bottle at both ends in a
vertical position, with freedom for rotation, of a brush, a support for maintaining
said brush in proximity to the path of the bottle, devices acting between said
brush and its support to press the brush towards the bottle and to permit it to
yield in the opposite direction and means to produce relative movement of the
bottle carrier and brush support substantially as described and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive a bottle, of a brush, a
support for maintaining the brush in proximity to the bottle, a swinging arm
connecting the brush to its support and a spring to press the brush against the
bottle and to permit it to yield in the opposite direction and means to produce relative
movement of the bottle carrier and brush support substantially as described and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive a bottle, of a brush, a
support for maintaining the brush in proximity to the bottle, an arm pivoted upon
said support and having the brush pivotally attached thereto, a spring interposed
between the brush and said support and means to produce relative movement of
the bottle carrier and brush support substantially as described and as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive a bottle, of a series of
brushes, a support for maintaining said brushes in proximity to the bottle, devices
between each brush and the support to press the brush towards the bottle and to
permit it to yield in the opposite direction, a loose connection from each brush to
the next whereby the proximate ends of adjacent brushes are caused to move
together and means to produce relative movement of the bottle carrier and the
brush support substantially as described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
6. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive a bottle, of a series of
brushes, a support for maintaining said brushes in proximity to the bottle, a spring
interposed between each brush and its support to press the brush toward the
bottle and to permit it to yield in the opposite diréction, a loose connection from.

page_text: cach brush to the next whereby the proximate ends of adjacent brushes are
caused to move together and means to produce relative movement of the bottle
carrier and brush support substantially as described and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
7. The combination with a rotary carrier adapted to receive a bottle and menus
to rotate said carrier, of a series of brushes, a support for maintaining said brushes
concentric with the bottle carrier and in proximity to the path of the bottle, a
spring interposed between each brush and the support to press the brush toward
the bottle and to permit it to yield in the opposite direction and a loose connection
from each brush to the next whereby the proximate ends of adjacent brushes are
caused to move together substantially as described and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
8. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive a bottle, and driving
mechanism therefor, of brushes supported in proximity to the path of the bottle
and on opposite sides thereof, supports for said brushes, an arm for each brush
pivoted on said support and having the brush pivotally attached thereto, and a
spring between each brush and its support to press the brush toward the path of
the bottle and to permit it to yield in the opposite direction substantially as described
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive a bottle, and driving
mechanism therefor, of a series of brushes supported at each side of the path of the
bottle and in proximity thereto, a support for each of said series of brushes, devices
between each brush and its support to press the brush toward the path of the
bottle and to permit it to yield in the opposite direction, and a loose connection
from each hrush of a series to the next, whereby the proximate ends of adjacent
brushes are enused to move together substantially as described and as illustrated in
the acompanying drawings.
10. A carrier for bottle washing machines having upper and lower lars
connected together, a rotable holder to receive the mouth end of the bottle
and a flexible, diac-like holder carried by the other bar and pressed yieldingly
against the bottom of the bottle to which it is adapted to conform, and held
from rotation, whereby as the bottle is rotated its bottom is rubbed by said
flexible holder substantially as described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
11. The combination with a bottle carrying fraine, a spring pressed holder
mounted thereon and adapted to bear against one end of the bottle, a movable
guard frame supported by said bottle carrying frame and connected to said holder
to move therewith and means to withdraw said holder to release the bottle and at
the same time to move said guard frame into position to support the bottle
substantially as described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
12. The combination with a bottle carrying frame, a spring pressed holder
mounted thereon and adapted to hear against one end of the bottle, a movable
guard frame supported by said bottle carrying frame and connected to anid holder
to move therewith and means to drive said bottle carrying frame, of an arm mounted
upon said bottle carrying fmme and having said holder and gunnd frame connected
thereto and a cam adapted to act upon said arm and thereby to withdraw the holder
to release the bottle and at the same time to move the guard frame into position to
support the bottle substantially as described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
13. The combination with a bottle carrier, of a brush supported by said carrier
to move therewith in line with the bottle, incans to drive said carrier continuously
and a cam adapted to co-operate with a brush holder to move the brush
longitudinally into the bottle while the carrier continues its movement substantially
as described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
14. The combination with a bottle carrier and means to drive the same
continuously, of a brush supported by said carrier to move therewith in line with
the bottle, devices to move said brual longitudinally into the bottle and to withdraw

page_text: the same at a predetermined time while the carrier continues its movement, and
means to rotate the bottle in the carrier substantially as described and as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
15. The combination with a supporting frame, of a shaft mounted therein, a
brush carrier secured to said shaft to rotate therewith, a bottle carrier mounted to
rotate concentrically with the brush carrier and having upper and lower bars to
support a bottle at both ends with freedom for rotation, means to rotate said bottle
carrier and brush carriers in the same direction but at different speeds, and stationary
brushes supported by said frame on the opposite side of the path of the bottle,
whereby the bottles are compelled to rotate as they move with the carrier and are
scraped by the brushes at opposite points substantially as described and as illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
Ma 190
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London,
For the Applicant.