Improvements in and relating to Machines for Washing Bottles
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1895-Accepted, 29th June, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Washing Bottles
1, SCHUYLER LIDDIARD GILLETT, of Lima, in the County of Livingston,
State of New York, United States of America, Inventor, 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 to bottle washing machines. It has for its object to
simplify the construction and increase the efficiency of the machine and insure the
ready feeding of water to the bottles A further object is to relieve the frame as
much as possible of the jairing or concussion occasioned by the vibratory action of
the reel-supporting carriage, insure proper agitation of the cleansing medium; aud
to permit the carnage to be easily manipulated.
To these ends the invention comprises the novel features of construction, and also
the detail arrangement and combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully
set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing :-
Figures 1 and 2 are views in perspective of my improved bottle washing machine,
the former showing the carriage lowered, and the latter with the saine raised.
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through one end of the reel-supporting
carriage. Figure 4 is a sectional view on the liner, Figure 3. Figure 5 18 AD
enlarged longitudinal sectional view of one of the shot-cups.
1
Referi ing to the diawing, A designates the main-frame, which is preferably com-
posed of upper horizontal bars a, end vertical bars a', and diagonal brace-bars a*
which serve to strengthen the frame. To the two vertical bars at the rear of the
frame are secured ight-angular brackets a' designed to support a box or receptacle a
for holding the bottles to be washed. This box is indicated in dotted hues, as is
also the V-shape trough a for catching the drippings from the bottles after the
lattor have been cleaned. This trough is supported by the diagonal binces at the
ends of the frame. To the tides of the frame are secured the lower ends of two
pants of mehned bars b, between the upper ends of which is firmly held a cross-bar bl.
To the forward cross-bar of frame A are secured lower depending portions d of
angular bars d' having each a lower horizontal flanged portion, forming guide-
ways, an upwardly inclined portion, and an upper horizontal portion. These
latter portions d, form bearings for a drive-shaft D upon which, at the centre, are
two pulleys and d, one fast, the other loose, while at the ends of said shaft are
cranked wheels to projecting pins of which are secured the forward ends of two
pitinans E To the inclined portions d³ of these gunde-bats are connected the lower
ends of uprights e, through openings in the upper ends of which is passed a rod e',
carrying parallel arms e, the same constituting a belt shifter. A locking bar e
loosely held to one side of the frame A is connected at one end to this shifting tod,
ats other end being convenient to the hand of the operator
F is the shaker of camage cauying a bottle-supporting reel which is given a
rotary movement concurrent with a back and forth or reciprocating movement of
the carnage. This carriage has its two parallel sides and forward cud preferably
composed of hollow tubes or pipes, and, respectively, the pipe being
connected to the ends of the side-pipes, by elbow joints. To a T-coupling f
projecting from the centre of pipe is connected a hollow shaft by a stuffing
box. This shaft extends parallel with the side-pipes and, and is supported

page_text: by two corresponding cross-pieces connected at their ends to said side-pipes.
From the side-pipes of the carriage, near the rear end of the latter, project tw
short hubs or shafts g, g', the former being made hollow and designed to communicate
with the pipe f' to which seemed These hubs or shafts are encircled by the
lower ends of spring banget straps depending from cross-bar b', the ends of
said straps being held by nutted bolts g. The pipes are plugged, respectively,
at g, and g, so that water fed through hollow hub g will travel through pipes,
to the hollon shalt 1, the supply to said hub being preferably effected through
a flexible hose leading from a water-supply pipe . In the end of the latter is
a Eutable valve which is opened and closed by a hand-lever g', the movement of
which is limited by an adjustable screw go working in a rigid aim g
18
The inner ends of the side pipes of the shaker or carriage suport a transversely
disposed shaft Hupon which is keyed a disk h carrying thiee sping-pressed
pals constantly held in engagement with the toothed on ratchet hub of
beveled pinion Alouse on said shaft This beveled pinion is constantly in engage-
inent with a beveled gear-wheel whose hub is keyed fast on the rear end of the
hollow shaft. The object of the plurality of spring-pressed pawls camed by
the disk is to insure engagement with the toothed or ratchet hub and prevent any
back movement Upon this shaft H is a sprocket wheel around which and
a second sprocket wheel ' on a short shaft g* fitted in hub or shaft a', is passed
a chain. On the other end of this short shaft g* is a third sprocket wheel ³
which is engaged by chain passed around a fourth sprocket-wheel gully
mounted ou the wist pin of one of the crank-wheels d' The pitmans E aro
loosely connected at then rear ends to these hubs or shafts 9. g. When the
shaker or cautage is lowered the forward corners thereof rest in the guide-bare d'.
1 is the bottle supporting reel The same comprises a encular disk rigidly
mounted on shaft and supporting the shot cups J, and the series of holding
cups ¹ con esponding to said shot-cups, said holling cups having then arms' pro-
jecting from a hub adjustable on and shalt ^ The shot-cups consist each of an
outer cup open at both ends and having a reduced cylindrical portion which is
inserted though a corresponding opening in the disk 1, and an inner cup, which
1s normally held pressed outward by a coil spring . From the closed end of this
inner cup projects a screw-rod which works in an opening there, and is pro
vided at its outer end with an elongated head which is designed to engage the
end of the outer cup By adjusting this screw-1od the extent of outward movement
of the inner cup can be regulated, the head of said screw-rod acting as a stop for
said inner cup
In the outer enlarged end of this inner cup is packing, preferably
of rubber, forming a bearing for the mouth of the bottle Adjacent to this enlarged
end of the cup is an iner web or enlargement & having an angular hole or passage-
way therein, coincident with the outer end of which is a short tube which is
screwed into the thickened wall of the cup. This tube extends through a slot
the outer cup and is connected by a flexible tube to a corresponding short tube l
projecting from the hollow shaft. The angular hole or passage-way duects the
Hon of water into the neck of the bottle. lleretofore considerable difficulty has
been experienced in supplying water to the bottles in that the air in the latter had
no free escape at the month of the bottle. To overcome this difficulty I provide
each of the mer cups with an air-vent, which consists of a short tube m of
tapening form, htted in an opening in the wall of the cup, or it may be made
integral therewith, and having its inner end extending to about the centre of the
bore of the cup.
This vent-tube permits the an in the bottle to readily escape and
prevents splattering of the water around the neck of the bottle By extending this
vent tube to about half across the bore of the cup very little, if any, water will pass
therethrough before a sufhcient supply has been had to the botties. A jairing 18
given to the bottles by a soft mallet secured to side pipe by a spring-aum.
one bottle passes beyond the mallet the latter flies back and strikes the next
following bottle.
in
As
The shaker or carriage can be raised or lowered by a suitable handle-bar L

page_text: connected to one of the side-pipes thereof When placed in a vertical position the
cross-pipe of the carriage is engaged by a spring-held hook M pivoted on
a plate depending from the bar 61 N, N, designate two sping-bars which at
their upper ends are secured to the lower ends of the hanger straps g³ by the nutted
bolts g, said bars at their lower ends being held by nutted bolts n between
two corresponding horizontal clamping bars n', between which latter, at their
centres, are firmly seemed the inner, eo ends of two straps n². These straps
are preferably of helt o sole leather, and their secured ends are attached to
a board O, which 18 heid fast by being fastened to the floor
In practice, each cup is supplied with a sufficient quantity of shot, which when
the cage is in perpendiculai position will rest at the bottom of the inner cups.
The bottles are positioned in the reel by depressing on toicing inward the inner
spring-pressed cups When the reel has been supplied with its quota of bottles,
the operator disengages the ping-pressed look and allows the forward end of the
carage to lower onto the grooved guide-bais at the same tune gradually opening
the water-inlet valve allowing each battle to be about, or nearly, one half filled,
after which the valve is closed As the bottles are thus being supplied with water
and the shot is falling into said bottles the operator moves the belt-shuter on to
the fast pulley, causing the revolution of the operating shaft and with it the
turning of the crank-wheel, which through the agency of the pitmans will effect
a back and forth movement of the cauage as against the action of the sping-bats
of the tension mechanism, the operation of said shaft also effecting the revolution
of the reel through the agency of the sprocket-wheels and cham and the described
bevel-gem connection. Thus as the bottles ate made to travel back and forth with
a jethy movement and also to he gradually revolved the shot in the bottles will
be constantly in contact with the interior surfaces of the latter and caused to move
from end to end thereof, thus resulting in a thorough cleaning of the bottles.
When this has been accomplished the cage is thrown into a perpendicular
position as the belt is shifted onto the loose pulley The operator then removes
the bottles allowing the water to fall into the lower V-shape frough, the shot
having previously fallen brck into then respective cups The operator can freely
turn the reel without interfering with the operating incchanisin, the pawl and
atchet connection between the fast disk and loose pinion permitting the feel to be
revolved without turning the shaft 11
The advantages of my invention are apparent A bottle-washing machine
constructed as here-described is extremely simple, is strong and durable, effective
in operation and not liable to readily get out of order or be deranged
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1
1. In a bottle washing machine, a pivoted bottle-supporting reel, and means for
imparting reciprocal and rotary movements thereto, said feel being expable of
being tuined on its pivots, as set forth.
2. In a bottle-washing machine, a bottle supporting reel, a cantiage therefor,
means for imparting a reciprocal movement to said caninge, and yielding con-
nections for said carriage, substantially as set forth
3 In a bottle washing machine, the combination with the fame, of the shake
or caliage, means for imparting a reciprocating movement thereto, depending
banger straps supporting said caringe, and perpendiculai sping-bais held at their
lower ends and secured at then upper ends to said hanger straps, substantially as
set forth.
4 In a bottle washing machine, the combination with the frame, of the shaker
on carriage, means for unpaiting a reciprocating movement thereto, depending
hanger straps supporting said carriage, spring-bars secured to said hange straps,
and a yieldingly secured rockar to which sail spring-bars are connected at their
lower ends, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 5 In a bottle-washing machine, a carriage formed of hollow pic, a cential
hollow shaft comunumeating with sand pipe, a reel supported by sud shaft having
shot-cups, a series of coresponding holding cups, connections between said hollow
shalt and sand shot-cups, and feed-water connections with the hollow pipe of one
side of said cariage, substantially as set 'orth
6. In a bottle washing machine a cartage having one of its sides and end
inade hollow, a coupling extending from said hallow end, a hollow shaft fitted in
said coupling, a reel carried by said shaft having a series of shot cups and a
correspon❜ling series of bottle-holding cups, connections between said shot cups
and said shaft, hubs or shafts extending from said carriage, one of which is hollow
and communicating with said hollow side of said cariage, and a flexible supply-
pipe connected to said hollow hub or shaft, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination with the frame, of the carriage having hubs or shafts
pejecting therefrom, depending hanger straps supporting said hubs or shafts,
angular aims secured to said frame having guide-ways for the forward end of
said camage, an operating shaft mounted on said as having crank-wheels at
its ends, pitmans connected to said crank-wheels and also to said hubs or shafts,
and upught straps fast at then lower ends and secured at their upper ends to the
lower ends of said hangers, substantially as set forth.
8. The combination with the frame, of the caringe having a transverse shaft at
its inner end, a longitudinal shaft having the bottle-supporting reel, a beveled
gear-wheel on the inner end of said longitudinal shaft, a bevel piuion loose on
said transverse shaft and having a toothed hub, a disk fast on said latter shaft
Laving one or more spring-pressed pawls engaging said toothed hub, the main
operating shaft having crank-wheels, and the described sees of sprocket wheels
and chains connecting one of said crank-wheels to said trausveise shaft, sub-
stantially as set forth.
9 The combination with the main frame, of the carriage having hubs or shafts
projecting from its sides, hai gers holding saia hubs or shafts, two sprocket-wheels
on one of said hubs or shafts, a transverse shaft at the inner end of said
carunge having a sprocket-wheel thereon, a chain encompassing said latter wheel
and one of said wheels on said hub or shaft, a bevel pinion on said transverse
shaft, a longitudinally disposed shalt canying the bottle-supporting reel, a berol
gear-wheel on said longitudinal shaft engaging said bevel pinion, the operating
shaft having canh-wheels, pitmans connecting said crank-wheels to said hubs or
shafts, a sprocket-wheel carried by one of said crank-wheels, and a cham
encompassing said latter sprocket-wheel and the other one of said wheels on said
hub or shaft, substantially as set forth
10. In a bottle washing machine, a bottle support having cups comprising each
an outer stationary cup, au nei sping-pressed cup, and an adjustable stop carried
by said inner cup and engaging one end of sand outer cup through which it is
passed, substantially as set forth.
11. In a bottle-washing machine, a bottle support having cups provided, each,
with an angular water passage for directing the How of the water into the bottles,
substantially as set forth.
12. In a bottle washing machine, a bottle support having cups provided with
water inlets and air vents, substantially as set forth
13. In a bottle washing machine, a bottle-support having cups consisting, each,
of an outer stationary cup open at its ends, an inner spring-pressed cup having a
water inlet and an air-vent, and a threaded rod extending from said spring-pressed
cup though one end of said stationary cup and having an olongated heau bearing
against said latter end of said cup, substantially as set forth.
14. The combination with the reciprocating carriage having a water way
therein, of the hollow shalt supported by said carriage carrying the bottle-
supporting reel having a disk, the series of shot cups consisting of outer stationary
cups secured to said disk, an inner sping-pressed cup having a water inlet at one
side, an air vent at the other side, and a tube coincident with said water inlet,

page_text: tubular connections between said coincident tubes and said hollow shaft, and the
series of circularly-arranged cups mounted on said shaft and designed to receive
the closed ends of the bottles, substantially as set forth.
Dated the 14th day of Max 1895
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.