Improvements in Machines for the Simultaneous Washing Internally and Externally of Bottles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 17th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONANTICATION.
Improvements in Machines for the Simultaneous Washing Internally
and Externally of Bottles.
.
I, ROBERT MERCER FLINT, of 9 Belmont Road, in the City and County of
the City of Exeter, Beer Bottler and Brewers Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
At a slight elevation from the floor I place on a wooden framework tubs or other
vessels for the reception of bottles to be soaked and washed.
On these vessels a long trough is fixed, and fitted thereto is piping for the supply
of water to a number of rinsers which are on both sides of the trough.
To the centre of this trough I fix my machines by means of screws or bolts.
It comprises in a small space standards with gun metal-bearings for three spindles
placed laterally.
The two outside spindles working in two bearings each, are bored at both ends
for the insertion of a small brush cleaning the inside of the bottle, while the
centre spindle with two (or four) bearings and standards is longer, and is fitted at
both ends with a heavy brush head which reaches out to the end of the bottles
when placed on the small brushes.
The shape of this brush-head is converse to that of the bottles and is such, that
filled with best hair, (or other substance), a great amount of friction can be applied
to the whole of the exterior of the bottles.
The operator holding a bottle in each hand places the mouths of them to the
small brushes in front of him, and while they cleause the inside, the larger brush-
head scrubs the outside; the operator at the time twisting the bottles round, his
thumb keeps them to the brushes and his fingers holding them in position clear of
the brush head.
On the opposite front of the machine another operator may be stationed to do
similar work.
The centre spindle being the heaviest, is the one where I fix my nine inch driving
and loose pulleys, these are in the centre of the spindle, and two small, five inch
(or six inch) pulleys are employed to work the outside spindles, one working one
and the other the other spindle.
By means of a small gas-engine (or other motive power) I drive one machine
with celerity, and with greater power I work with shafting a number of these
machines.
I protect the bearings from the wet by the use of brass lubricators; and the
working parts generally by an arched covering which immediately behind the large
brush-head (on both fronts) allows a wooden (or sheet iron) protection completely
encasing them. But the brushes can be taken out and replaced, or tightened
up, without the necessity of removing the covering, though the same is not a
fixture.
This arched covering projects to the ends of the brushes, and inside it, is a water-
pipe (with an union to dis connect) having perforations to throw the water obliquely
on the brush-head in the directions of its revolutions. The operator is protected,
and the water flying off from the brushes is confined; and falling to the tray or
shute immediately under is carried to where it may be required.
This machine is invented and adapted for the use of the beer and wine and
spirit trade, but it is applicable to all trades where a round shaped bottle is used.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for the Simultaneous Washing Internally
and Externally of Bottles.
I, ROBERT MERCER FLINT, of 9 Belmont Road, Exeter, Beer Bottler and
Brewers Agent, 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 has for its object the washing of a number of bottles simultaneously,
cleaning them internally and externally at the same time, generally facilitating the
process and enabling it to be performed in an effective manner.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus shewn partly in section, and
Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof.
In carrying my invention into effect, employ a frame or bed plate of suitable
construction and shape, and affix thereto two casings A A' Figures 1 and 2 through
both of which passes a central spindle a supported in suitable bearings. Fast and
loose pulleys c, c' may be fixed to a, or any other method or means for transmitting 1
motive power may be adopted. Upon each side and also at various points around
the central spindle a, and driven by it are other spindles 66', which are duplicated
at the other end of the machine as shewn. A wheel or roller d¹ upon a presses
upon or gears with other wheels d and d" upon each of the spindles 6 6¹ causing
these to revolve in opposite directions. These may be driven by frictional contact, 2
toothed wheels, or any other suitable means for transmission. The outer ends of
the spindles 661 are bored, and provided with a suitable chuck or holding device
for attaching a brush f to each for the purpose of cleansing the interior of the
bottles as shewn by Figure 1. The central spindle a is extended beyond the
casings A A' so as to carry at both ends a brush or rubber B, the surface of which
is shaped conversely to that of the bottles to be cleansed, and of such dimensions
as to allow the whole of the exterior surface of the bottles when placed upon the
brushes to be in contact therewith, several of such brushes or rubbers B being
provided to suit the external conformation of various types of bottles.
The whole apparatus is fixed over, or within, a suitable trough, or vessel, with a
proper water supply to effect the necessary process of cleansing.
I
I may use one single set of brushes, as represented by A or A' separately, or
may use a single or a double series of any number, the shafts a being coupled
together by any means which may ensure simultaneous rotation.
The mode of operation is, that the operator, taking a bottle in each hand or a
number of bottles in a frame places them upon the revolving brushes f on the
spindles b, and while the action of these is cleansing the interior the external
surface of each bottle may be similarly cleansed at the same time by the operator
allowing the bottles to turn or pressing them against the revolving brush or
rubber B.
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. In a bottle washing machine the combination of interior revolving brushes f
with an exterior revolving brush or rubber B in such a manner that the interior
and exterior surfaces of two or more bottles on either side of the machine may be
washed at the same time, substantially as herein described with reference to the
drawings.
1

page_text: 2. In a bottle washing machine, the combination of three or more spindles,
simultaneously rotated, with suitable brushes, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described, with reference to the appended drawings.
Dated this 17th day of January 1893.
FREDK. WALKER,
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.