IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTTLE WASHERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOTTLE WASHERS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
"
This Invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
Drawings in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bottle-washing machine embodying the present
improvements.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line y y Figure 2, through the support
for the bottom of the bottle.
Figure 4 represents the device for supporting and cleaning the bottom of the
bottle, as seen from its rear side.
Figure 4 is a front view of the same.
Figure 5 is a front view of the device for cleaning the outer surface of the
bottles.
Figure 6 is a front view of the same.
Figure 7 represents one of the sliding scrapers and its support on an enlarged
scale.
Figure S is a section on the line x x Figure 7.
Figure 9 represents the cleaning device for the bottom of champagne or similarly
shaped bottles.
Figure 10 represents the same as applied to the support for the lower ends of the
bottles while being cleaned.
Figures 11 and 12 are respectively front and rear views of the same.
Figure 13 is a side view of the brush for cleaning the interior of the bottles.
Figure 14 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 15 is an end view of the same.
In the accompanying Drawings representing these improvements in machines for
washing bottles, A A A A represent the frame of the machine which consists
of, suitable uprights or standards adapted to support the working parts, and

page_text: connected together by suitable longitudinal bracing. B is the revolving hollow
shaft or mandrel, carrying a brush which enters and cleans the interior of the
bottle, C is the device for cleaning the outside of the bottle, and D the support for
the end of the bottle during the cleaning operation, and which may also be provided
with the device for cleaning the bottom of the bottle.
The
The hollow mandrel B is arranged to rotate in suitable bearings on the frame A A¹
being provided with a pulley E or tight and loose pulleys by which rotary motion
is imparted to the mandrel under the control of the operator from a belt.
mandrel is arranged to have end play through its bearings so as to introduce the
brush F at its front end within the bottle, the pulley E shifting to a position
indicated by E¹ and the belt traversing on a wide driving pulley. At its rear end
the hollow mandrel B is provided with a coupling G, which permits it to revolve
while forming a tight joint with the water supply pipe H. The supply pipe H is
provided with a cock I which controls the flow of water through the mandrel into
the interior of the bottle. The cock I is controlled by the lever J;
the arrange-
ment being such that the water is shut off from the hollow mandrel, except at the
time the brush F is inserted within the neck of the bottle; the position of which
during the cleaning operation is represented by the dotted lines in Figure. 2. K. is a
water-tank, which receives the excess of water.
There is a sliding frame L L' which supports the rest D for the end of the bottle
and is so connected with the revolving hollow mandrel B that when the frame L L¹
is pushed from left to right in Figures 1 and 2, this motion forcing the bottle
through the exterior cleaning device C, the hollow mandrel B moves from right to
left, thereby protruding the brush F from within the sheath or guard N into the
bottle, while at the same time the cock I is turned so as to permit water to pass
through the hollow mandrel into the bottle. The pipe H is connected with the
source of supply of water by a flexible tube. The frame L carries an adjustable
bar or pusher O which strikes against the lower end of the lever P as it is moved
from left to right and causes the other end of the lever to move in the opposite
direction, which motion is transmitted to the hollow mandrel by a suitable joint, Q,
between the upper end of the lever and the mandrel. The movements of the
various parts are indicated by full and dotted lines in the Drawings. The lever P
is pivoted to an arm j projecting from the frame A¹. The joint Q between the
upper end of the lever and the mandrel consists of a collar provided with trunnions
fitted to slots in the fork with which the lever terminates, said collar being
prevented from siiding endways on the hollow mandrel by collars fastened thereto
on each side of it. The end of the rod O is flattened or made wide to ensure its
coming in contact with the lower end of the lever. Provision is made for adjusting
the position of the rod O on the frame by means of a set screw k, or other
equivalent device, so as to adapt the machine to bottles of different sizes.
The sliding frame consists of one or more rods L L' arranged to slide freely in
ways or guides on the machine, and connected together by suitable crossbars m m,
which support the end rest D. A spring z Fig. 1 serves to draw the upper end
of the lever and the mandrel towards the right hand. The outside cleaning
device C is fastened to the frame of the machine, and the bottle slips through it,
while undergoing the cleaning operation on the inside from the operation of the
brush F. The brush F consists of a piece of ordinary rubber tubing, fastened to
the end of the revolving hollow mandrel B in any suitable manner, the free end
of the tube being split or divided lengthways for a certain distance, so as to leave
the split portions u u Figs. 13, 14 and 15, free to expand outwards from centrifugal
force, as shown by the dotted lines in Figs. 14 and 15, when the brush revolves.
When the bottle is placed in position to be cleaned by the machine, its neck resting
against the funnel mouth of the shield F, and its bottom against the rest D, the
frame L L is pushed from left to right and the brush F is caused to enter the neck
of the bottle, the split portions u u of the brush spread outwards by centrifugal
force owing to the revolution of the mandrel B, and come in contact with the
entire interior surface of the bottle, thereby effectively cleaning or removing any

page_text: adhering deposit or dirt therefrom, which is carried off by the current of water
passing through the mandrel. The rest for the end of the bottle consists of a stem o
Fig. 3 arranged to slide through a sleeve l, attached to one of the crossbars of the
frame, and provided at one end with a handle or hand piece n, and at the other
with a curved disc p, corresponding in shape more or less closely with the bottom
of the bottle. A spiral spring t forces the rest against the bottom of the bottle.
The curved disc p has one or more slots cut across its face, into which are inserted*
strips of rubber q, the edges of which are cut to the shape of the bottom of the
bottle, so that by revolving the disc p by means of the handle n, the bottom of
the bottle may be cleaned. Metallic strips may be applied to the sides of the
rubbers gq to afford them sufficient stiffness to retain the pins s 8 by which they
are fastened in the disc, but the bearing surface against the bottom of the bottle
should be of rubber.
A spring R arranged in any convenient way draws the frame L back after a
bottle has been washed.
In Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are represented enlarged views of this improved device for
cleaning the outside of bottles simultaneously with the cleaning operation which
goes on in the inside by means of the rotating brush. The exterior cleaning
device C is attached to the frame of the machine, as represented in the Drawings,
Figs. 1 and 2, so that the bottle when placed on the sliding frame, moves through
it. The exterior cleaning device consists of a divided ring S, provided with a
series of sockets through which the radial rods T T slide, which carry at their
inner ends the cleaners or scrapers E". The parts of the ring S are preferably
hinged together, as represented at V, so that the upper portion, carrying some of
the radial rods and scrapers may be opened or thrown upward as shown by the
dotted lines S' for the purpose of introducing the bottle. After the bottle has been
fixed in position on the sliding frame the ring is closed (any suitable spring catch,
hook or other fastening device being used to secure the parts together) bringing the
scrapers in contact with the neck or smaller part of the botile. As the bottle is
pushed forward through the exterior cleaning device, the rods slide outwards the
scrapers being separated from each other by the enlarged portion of the bottle. In
this way the entire exterior surface of the bottle is cleaned at a single operation
with great rapidity, a strean of water being, if desired directed onto the bottle
through the pipe x, Figs. 1 and 2 connected with the cock y operated by a lever w
connected with the sliding frame. The scraper E" consists of a suitably shaped piece
of rubber or rubber cloth having metallic strips U U rivetted to it, and pivotted
in jaws on the inner end of the radial sliding rod T. The pivotal connection
allows the scraper to adjust itself to the surface of the bottle. Fig. 5 represents
the relative positions of the scrapers when closed together, their positions when
fully opened being shown by the dotted lines in that Figure. As represented in
the Drawings and in particular in Fig. 6, the scrapers E" are set at an angle with
the plane of the ring or support S, the end of one scraper lapping by the next
adjoining scraper so that the scrapers may be closed up near enough together to
form a circle somewhat smaller than the neck of the Bottle to be cleaned, see Fig. 5.
Provision is made for giving the sliding rods T a partial rotation as they move
outwards, by means of a pin h moving in a spiral slot a Fig. 7 in the sleeve b
secured in the ring S. By this means as the scrapers E" move outward they are
caused to swing slightly about the longitudinal axis of the radial rod T so as to
render the entire curved surface of the scrapers E" effective in cleaning the largest
part of the bottle. The rods and scrapers are pressed inwards by the spiral spring c
enclosed within the sleeve b and secured in place by the screw-cap d, which also
fastens on the tube or cylinder q Fig. 8 which surrounds the sleeve b. The sleeve b
is held in place by a set screw e or other equivalent device on the ring S. It will
be observed that the rods T are set at an angle with the plane of the ring S an
arrangement which facilitates the opening or separation of the scrapers by the
bottle.

page_text: In Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 is represented a device which may be attached to the
rest for the ends of the bottles, by, which the machine is adapted to cleaning the
bottoms of bottles having deep recesses at this point-as for instance such bottles
as are ordinarily used for champagne. This device consists of a peculiarly shaped
cleaner or scraper W, formed of a strip of rubber cloth or other suitable fabric,
strengthened by metallic strips a¹ and pivotted to a sliding rod X' passing through
the cleaning disc p. The scraper W is made of a shape corresponding to that of
the bottles to be cleaned on their bottoms. Its operation will be readily understood
from an inspection of Fig. 9 which shows a portion of the bottom of a bottle in
dotted lines. Its capacity for adjusting itself into different positions is indicated
by the dotted lines in Fig. 10. The rod X slides through a tube or guide attached
to the disc p being pressed forward by means of a spring see Fig. 10 and arranged
so that it can be readily removed if desired.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is,
1. The herein described revolving scraper for cleaning the interior of bottles,
consisting of a tube of flexible india rubber divided longitudinally for a portion of
its length, and affixed at its end to a revolving hollow spindle arranged to permit
the discharge of a current of water there through into the interior of the bottle,
substantially as described.
2. The herein described device for cleaning the outer surface of bottles, consisting
of a series of radially movable scrapers E substantially as described.
3. The herein-described device for cleaning the outer surface of bottles, consisting
of a series of radially movable scrapers E" mounted in a suitable divided support S,
which permits the introduction of the bottles substantially as described.
4. The herein-described device for cleaning the outer surface of bottles consisting
of a series of radially arranged sliding rods T, provided with scrapers E" at their
inner ends substantially as described.
5. The combination with a rotating brush adapted to clean the interior of bottles,
of the herein described external cleaning device, consisting of radially movable
scrapers, substantially as described.
G. The revolving pivoted yielding scraper W, adapted to cleaning the recessed
bottoms of bottles substantially as described.
7. The combination with the sliding frame L arranged to support the bottles, of
the revolving hollow mandrel B, provided with scraper F and lever P and arm O,
substantially as described.
8. The combination with the sliding frame L, rest D, sleeve N revolving
mandrel B, and scraper F, of the exterior cleaning device C, consisting of a series
of radially moving scrapers substantially as described.
9. The rotating rest D for the bottoms of the bottles, provided with disc p and
one or more scrapers 9 substantially as described.
10. The combination with the scraper E" of the sliding rod T pin / spirally
grooved tube band spring c substantially as described.
11. The combination with a suitable support of the series of radially arranged
sliding rods T provided at their inner ends with the scrapers E" and placed at
an angle with the length of the bottle, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
DL1 1
1001