An Improved Internal and External Bottle Brushing and Washing Machine.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1890-Accepted, 14th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Internal and External Bottle Brushing and Washing
Machine.
We, WILLIAM SAMSON, and JAMES ROBERTSON BENVIE, both of 154 Seagate,
Dundee, in the County of Forfar, Aürated Water Manufacturers, do hereby declaro
the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The object of our invention is to brush and wash bottles, with water or other liquid,
in an improved manner and by means of improved apparatus. Our improved
apparatus may be used for brushing and washing bottles to contain aërated waters,
alcoholic liquids, and the like.
In carrying out our invention, according to one modification, we employ an endless
band of cotton or other suitable material running upon two pulleys, one of which is
driven by power. The endless band is constrained to run between guide pulleys, so
that a certain distance may be maintained between each part of the endless band, in
order that the bottle which is being cleaned may be made to rotate. These guide
pulleys are made adjustable for different sizes of bottles.
Fixed to the frame of the machine is a two sided brush, the hairs or bristles of
which are parallel to the endless band, the length of the brush being greater than the
tallest bottle, which may have to be cleaned. Said duplex brush projects between the
two parts of the endless band, and is supported at the one end only. It is for
the purpose of cleaning the outside of the bottle.
Alongside the duplex brush, one on each side, are two others, which are fixed to
the frame of the machine in a similar manner. The brushes may have the hair or
bristles on the side facing the duplex brush, or on both sides, or all round, as may
be found advisable. They also project between the two parts of the endless band, and
are only supported at the one end, each brush being used to clean the interior of a
bottle. The internal brushes are of such a length as to be able to clean the tallest
bottle which may have to be washed. Although we prefer to have the brushes
projecting horizontally, yet we may place them at any other suitable angle.
We make the internal brushes with a cap or point to protect them from injury,
when cleaning the bottles. The distance between the external and internal brushes is
such, that when the bottle is being cleaned, the external and internal surfaces of same.
are brushed, simultaneously.
When the apparatus is in operation, and one or more bottles are on the internal
brushes, the endless band causes the said bottles to rotate about the internal brushes,
and thus present their whole surface to the action of the brushes.
We may employ apparatus to keep the bottles in position, when being cleaned.
Dated this 97th day of Santember 1889
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
41, Reform Street, Dundee, Applicants' Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Internal and External Bottle Brushing and Washing
Machine.
We, WILLIAM SAMSON, and JAMES ROBERTSON BENVIE, both of 154 Seagate,
Dundee, in the County of Forfar, Aërated Water Manufacturers, 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:
:-
The object of our invention is to brush and wash bottles, with water or other liquid,

page_text: in an improved manner and by means of improved apparatus. Our improved
apparatus may be used for brushing and washing bottles to contain aërated waters,
alcoholic liquids, and the like.
The accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings illustrate the method of carrying
out our invention, according to one modification.
Figs. 1. and 2. (Sheet No. 1.) represent a plan and a side view of the machine, and
Figs. 3. 4. 5. and 6. (Sheet No. 2.) a plan and a section at A. A. and a plan and a
section at B. B. respectively of the external and internal brushes.
In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
In this modification which shows a duplex machine, being designed for two
operators one at either side, we employ endless bands 1. made of canvas hose or of
cotton belting which we find to be the two most suitable materials-each running
upon two pulleys 2. and 3., 2. being driven by power by means of the belt 4. and
pulley 5. Each endless band 1. is constrained to run between guide pulleys 6. so
that a certain distance may be maintained between each part of the endless band in
order that the bottles 7. which are being cleaned may be made to rotate.
In these drawings which represent an eight bottle machine, we show three bottles
being operated upon and five empty sets of brushes. One endless band is shown
broken at C. C. to give a better view of the bottles and the brushes. The guide
pulleys 6. may be made adjustable for different sizes of bottles, although we find it
more convenient to allow the brackets 8. which support the pulleys 3. to slide
backwards and forwards in the slots 9. and thus slacken or tighten the endless
bands 1. as may be desired. 10. are bolts with thumb screws for holding the
brackets 8. in position.
Fixed to the frame of the machine at 11. are the external duplex brushes 12. the
hairs or bristles 13. of which by preference are nearly parallel to the endless band-
that is at an angle-so that the said bristles may tend to lie tangentially on the
bottles and thus avoid the possibility of being caught in the interstices which
generally are on the surface of glass ball stoppered bottles. Said duplex brushes 12.
project between the endless bands 1. and are supported at 11.-in the duplex
machine and are for the purpose of cleaning the outside of the bottles.
Alongside each duplex brush 12., one on each side, are two others 15. fixed to the
frame of the machine at 16. We find it preferable to have the hair or bristles 17. on
the side facing the duplex brush. They also project between the endless bands, each
brush being used to clean the interior of a bottle.
These external and internal brushes are made of a suitable length for-the bottles
being cleaned and are roughly shaped to suit their surfaces and although we prefer
to have the brushes projecting horizontally, yet we may place them at any other
suitable angle. We make the internal brushes 15. with points 18. to protect them
from injury when within the bottles. The distance between the external and internal
brushes is such, that when the bottle is being cleaned, the external and internal
surfaces of same are brushed simultaneously. 19. are pipes which permit water to
drop upon the bottles while they are being brushed by the external brushes and as the
said bottles are filled with water when taken from the soaking tank, a further supply
is not required for the internal brushes.
When the apparatus is in operation and one or more bottles are on the internal
brushes 15. the endless bands 1. cause the said bottles to rotate about the internal
brushes and thus present their whole surface to the action of the brushes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1) In an internal and external bottle brushing and washing machine the use of an
endless belt or band for rotating the bottles which are being cleaned, substantially as
described..
(2) In an internal and external bottle brushing and washing, machine, the

page_text: combination of the endless belt or band with the fixed external and internal
brushes, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
(3) In an internal and external bottle brushing and washing machine, the
combination of the endless belt or band and the fixed external and internal brushes,
with the adjustable brackets 8. and pulleys 3., substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
(4) In an internal and external bottle brushing and washing machine, the
combination of the endless belt or band, the fixed external and internal brushes, and
the adjustable brackets 8. and pulleys 3. with the guide pulleys 6., substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
(5) In an internal and external bottle brushing and washing machine, the general
construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth, together with any mere modification or modifications
thereof.
(6) The external brushes 12. with reference to Figs. 3. and 4., substantially as
described.
(7) The internal brushes 15. with reference to Figs. 5. and 6. substantially as
described.
Dated this 8th day of May 1890.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
Applicants' Agents.