New or Improved Machinery for Washing Botties.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1898
New or Improved Machinery for Washing Botties.
I, GEORGE ALEXANDER CRAWFORD, of 4, Gosford Terrace, Belfast, Ireland,
Foreman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention has reference to new or improved machinery for washing and
rinsing bottles in an expeditious, effectual and economical manner.
In carrying out my invention I first construct suitable frame work in which I
arrange two rectangular water cisterns of suitable dimensions, preferably end
to end and one, which for convenience I call cistern No. 1 at a slightly lower
level than the second which I designate cistern No. 2.
I next arrange an endless travelling tray round a series of suitable wheels
or pulleys so mounted in relation to the framework as to carry the travelling
tray longitudinally through the two water cisterns, first passing through cistern
No. 1 thence through cistern No. 2.
On the outer surface of this travelling tray are arranged transverse rows of
suitable cups or sockets consisting of spring clips or grapplers which receive and
hold the bottles to be washed, as presently described.
In the upper or overhead portion of the frame work I next arrange a transverse
row of vertical revolving brushes corresponding in number with the number of
bottles carried transversely on the travelling tray, each of which is caused by
suitable cam action to dip into a bottle while the travelling tray is passing
underneath. To facilitate the entrance and withdrawal of these brushes a double
cone is arranged underneath each brush which is caused by suitable cam action
to approach and take up its position at the mouth of the bottle immediately in
advance of the brush. A second transverse row of brushes is also arranged to
descend between each row of bottles for the purpose of operating on their external
surface.
A suitable block or platform is fixed under the travelling tray where the brushes
descend in order to resist the pressure of the double cones acting against the mouth
of the bottles. An intermittent motion is imparted to the travelling tray by suitable
cam or eccentric gear so arranged as to cause each row of bottles to pause when
passing under the brushes to permit of same descending and operating
simultaneously on each bottle both internally and externally.
As thus constructed and arranged the action of my invention is briefly as
follows:-
Having first inserted a bottle in each of the cups or sockets fixed on the outer.
surface of the travelling tray, the machine is started, whereupon the travelling tray
is first conveyed through cistern No. 1 (bottles upwards) during which they are
completely immersed in water.
On the arrival of each tranverse row of bottles under the revolving brushes a
pause occurs whereupon the brushes descend and as above stated operate on the
bottles both internally and externally thus effectually washing same.
Upon the withdrawal, or rising of the brushes the travelling tray resumes its

page_text: motion carrying the washed bottles round the train of guiding wheels, whereby the
bottles are thrown into an inverted position thus emptying the soiled water (with
which they became charged while passing through cistern No. 1) and are conveyed
through cistern No. 2 during the passage through which the bottles are again
immersed in clean water.
From this cistern the travelling tray moves over certain guiding wheels whereby
the bottles are again thrown into a reversed position for the purpose of rejecting
the water with which they are rinsed, while passing through cistern No. 2.
The bottles having thus passed through cisterns Nos. 1 and 2, or in other words
having undergone the operations of washing and rinsing are now ready to be
removed from the travelling tray.
It is obvious that as the washed bottles are being removed, soiled bottles are
introduced and thus the machine is kept in continuous operation.
Dated this 28th day of April 1897.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
Agents for Applicant, 9, Westland Row, Dublin.
I, GEORGE ALEXANDER CRAWFORD, of 4, Gosford Terrace, Belfast, Ireland,
Foreman, 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 has reference to new or improved machinery for washing and
rinsing bottles in an expeditious, effectual, and economical manner.
In carrying out my invention I first construct suitable frame work in which. I
arrange two rectangular water cisterns of suitable dimensions, preferably end
to end-and one which for convenience I call cistern No. 1 at a slightly lower
level than the second which I designate cistern No. 2.
I next arrange an endless travelling tray round a series of suitable guiding wheels
or pulleys so mounted in relation to the frame work as to carry the travelling
tray longitudinally through the two water cisterns, first passing through No. 1
thence through No. 2.
On the outer surface of this travelling tray are arranged transverse rows of
suitable cups or sockets which receive and hold the bottles to be washed.
In the upper or overhead portion of the frame work I next arrange a transverse
row of vertical revolving brushes corresponding in number with the number of
bottles carried in each transverse row on the travelling tray, each of which is caused
by suitable cam action to dip into a bottle while the travelling tray is passing
underneath.
To facilitate the entrance and withdrawal of these brushes a double cone is
arranged underneath each brush which is caused by suitable cam action to approach.
and take up its position at the mouth of the bottle immediately in advance of the
brush.
A second transverse row of brushes is also arranged to descend between each row
of bottles for the purpose of operating on their external surface.
A suitable platform is fixed under the travelling tray where the brushes descend
in order to resist the pressure of the double cones acting against the mouth of the
bottles.
An intermittent motion is imparted to the travelling tray by suitable cam or

page_text: eccentric gear, so arranged as to cause each row of bottles to pause when passing
under the brushes to permit of same descending and operating simultaneously on
each bottle both internally and externally.
The accompanying drawings will enable my said invention to be more readily
understood and carried into practice.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the complete machine.
Fig. 2 a plan of same.
Fig. 3 an end view and
Fig. 4 an enlarged part transverse view on line X X of Fig. 1.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding part in each of the views.
A represents the frame work of the machine, B and B are the two water cisterns
which are rectangular in shape and of suitable dimensions according to the capacity
of the machine, a portion of cistern B is broken away to show the bottles and
brushes. C indicates the travelling tray which is carried round the system of
guiding wheels D, so mounted as to carry the tray through the cisterns as shewn.
The outer surface of the travelling tray is provided with transverse rows of cups
consisting of spring clips or grapplers E which hold the bottles F.
The tray receives intermittent motion from the pawl G acting on the ratchet
wheel H mounted on the shaft H¹.
The pawl is operated by the cam H2 mounted on the main driving shaft H³ which
latter is driven by suitable belting acting on the pulley H*.
The brushes for washing the bottles externally are indicated at K. These are
fixed to a suitable cross bar which is carried by the vertical rods K' suspended from
the levers K engaging the eccentric cams K³ whereby a reciprocating vertical
motion is imparted to the brushes causing them to rise and fall four times for each
revolution of the cam shaft, and thus thoroughly wash the exteriors of each row of
bottles. P. are the internal brushes mounted on a movable frame P¹ carried by
vertical rods P2 suspended from the levers P³ engaging the eccentric cams P
whereby one up and down movement is imparted to the brushes for each revolution
of the cam shaft. Rotary motion is imparted to these brushes by means of the
endless band R passing over the pulley R₁ thence over the pulleys R³ and round the
grooved pulleys R³ in a zig zag manner as shewn in Fig. 2.
By this means each brush is caused to rotate at about 500 revolutions per
minute.
S is the double cone which is carried by the vertical rods SI suspended from
the levers S3 engaging the cams S3 whereby the double cones are lowered so as to
embrace the nozzles of the bottles and bring same into position thus facilitating
the introduction of the brushes.
T is an arrangement for taking up the slack of the brush rotating band.
Y is the transverse platform arranged under the travelling tray for the purpose of
resisting the pressure of the double cones S as also of the brushes while operating
on the bottles.
As thus constructed and arranged the action of my invention is briefly as
follows:-
Having first inserted a bottle in each of the cups or sockets fixed on the outer
surface of the travelling tray, the machine is started, whereupon the travelling
tray is first conveyed through cistern B (bottles upwards) during which they are
completely immersed in water.
On the arrival of each transverse row of bottles under the brushes a pause
occurs, whereupon the brushes descend, and as above stated operate on the bottles
both internally and externally. thus effectually washing same.
Upon the rising of the brushes the travelling tray resumes its motion round the
train of guiding wheels, whereby the bottles are thrown into an inverted position
thus emptying the soiled water, and are conveyed through cistern B¹ during the
passage through which they are again immersed in an upright position in clean
water.

page_text: . From this cistern the travelling tray moves on until the bottles, being again
thrown into a reversed position are completely drained.
The bottles having thus passed through cisterns B and B¹; or in other words
having undergone the operations of washing and rinsing are now ready to be
removed from the travelling tray.
It is obvious that as the washed bottles are being removed, soiled bottles are
introduced and thus the machine is maintained in continuous automatic operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
First: In machinery for washing bottles the combination of parts consisting
of a travelling tray C moving over a system of guiding wheels D in an intermittent
manner through two or more cisterns of water as B and B whereby the bottles are
alternately and automatically filled and discharged in the manner substantially
as herein described and set forth.
Second: In machinery for washing bottles the combination of parts claimed
in Claim One, in addition to the series of brushes for operating on the bottles both
externally and internally, the said brushes being actuated by eccentric or cam
action in the manner substantially as herein specified and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Third: In the operation of washing and rinsing bottles the use and application
of machinery, constructed, arranged, and operating substantially in the manner
as herein specified and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
1
1000
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
Agents for Applicants, 9, Westland Row, Dublin.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
Agents for Applicants, 9, Westland Row, Dublin.