COME DULU Bottle Washing Machine.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1894
COME DULU
Bottle Washing Machine.
I, GEORGE BARKER of 77 Colmore Row Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
as communicated to me from abroad by Melvin Donally of 172 Chambers Street
New York City N.Y. U.S.A. Manufacturer and in what manner the same is to bo
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
This invention relates to bottle washing machines of that class in which the
cleansing of the interior of the bottle is effected by agitation of the bottle with
water and with shot or other like material. One object of the invention is to
provide a machine in which a number of bottles can be washed at the same time
and in which the agitation of each bottle in succession is stopped automatically
and the bottle released from its holder so that it can be replaced readily by another,
while the shaking of the other bottles continues uninterrupted. Another object is
to provide for the rotation of each bottle upon its own axis while it is being
shaken. Still another object is to provide for the throwing of a stream of water
continuously into each bottle while it is being shaken and after it has been tipped
forward to discharge the shot, to thoroughly rinse the same, and for the rapid
emptying of the bottle as soon as the shaking ceases. The form of machine in
which it has been found convenient to embody the several features of the invention
is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the machine on the line w-w of Figure 2,
looking toward the left:
Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine partly broken out and with some parts
removed to show the construction more clearly:
Figure 3 is a section of the upper part of the machine similar to Figure 1 but
showing the bottle holder thrown forward to release the bottle:
Figure 4 is a detail view in longitudinal section on the line - of Figure 5,
illustrating the construction of the shot receiving cup and the means for controlling
the water:
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line y-y of Figure 4:
Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line - of Figure 4:
Figure 7 is a detail view, partly in section, illustrating the means for releasing
the bottle from its holder:
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 4, but illustrating a modification of the
means for controlling the water :
Figure 9 is a transverse section of the upper part of the machine, illustrating a
modification of the means for agitating the bottles; and
Figure 10 is a plan view, with parts removed and partly broken out, of a
machine equipped with the bottle agitating means shown in Figure 9.
As represented in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings a suitable frame-work 10
supports a fixed shaft 11 upon which the bottle holders 12 are mounted to oscillate.
Any convenient number of holders may be employed according to the capacity
which it is desired the machine to have, six being a suitable number for on
attendant. The bottle holders will be described more in detail hereinafter but for
present purposes they may be described as adapted to receive and hold a bottle
and to be rocked or shaken to and fro upon the axis of the shaft 11 on which they
are mounted. Each holder is independent of the others and is adapted to be

page_text: connected to or disengaged from the means for shaking it to and fro independently
of the others. It is provided with a hub 13 which is sleeved loosely upon the
shaft 11 and, as represented in Figures 1, 3 and 7, has an arm 14 projecting below
the shaft 11 and bearing a pin 15 with which the actuating means engages. In
suitable bearings in the frame-work 10 a shaft 16 is mounted to rotate and may be
provided with a driving pulley 17. To the shaft 16 and in corresponding position
with the bottle holders are secured eccentrics 18, one for each bottle holder, the
several eccentrics being differentially disposed about the shaft. The strap 19 of
each eccentric bears a forwardly projecting arm 20 having a notch 21 to engage
the pin 15 and a rearwardly extending arm 22 to which is connected a spring 23
for the purpose of holding the arm 20 in engagement with the pin 15 while
permitting it to be disengaged therefrom for the purpose of disconnecting the
bottle holder from its actuating means.
The clutch which is interposed between the bottle holder and the means for
effecting its oscillation, may be, of the form just described or of any other suitable
form and might be disconnected by the attendant if desired, but in order that he
may devote his entire attention to the removal of the clean bottles and the
replacing of others in the holders it is desirable to provide means whereby the
clutch shall be automatically disconnected when the bottle has been shaken to and
fro a sufficient number of times to effect its cleansing. For this purpose I have
provided means which are actuated step by step with the oscillation of the bottle
holder and which effect the disengagement of the arm 20 from the pin 13 after
a predetermined number of oscillations. The means referred to comprise a cam
arm 24 carried by a sleeve 25 which is mounted on one end of the hub 13 of each
holder. The sleeve is formed with ratchet teeth 26 which are engaged by a push
pawl 27 pivoted on the holder 12 and a book pawl 28 pivoted on the frame-work of
the machine (see particularly Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7). The end of the cam arm 24,
in the course of its revolution, comes in contact with the arm 14 or with a web 29
which is formed thereon and depresses the arm, thereby releasing the holder 12
and allowing it to fall forward by its own weight. The sleeve. 25 is mounted
loosely on the hub 13 but in order that it may not move too freely a friction device
is interposed between the two parts consisting, as represented in Figure 7, of a flat
spring 30 which embraces the hub snugly and has one end fast to the sleeve.
Each bottle holder is adapted to receive and hold a bottle in such manner that it
may be shaken to and fro, and means for provided whereby, when the holder has
been disconnected from its actuating means, the bottle shall be released auto-
matically so that the attendant has simply to lift it from its place without
exertion. In a bearing 31 on the rear end of the holder 12 is mounted a short
shaft 32 having on one end a cup 33 which forins a rotatable but longitudinally
immovable support for the bottom of the bottle. The other end of the shaft 32
has a ratchet wheel 34 which is engaged, as the holder swings backward, by a
spring-pressed pawl 35 pivoted on the frame of the machine, whereby the shaft 32
and cup 33 are rotated step by step during the shaking of the bottle. The forward
end of the holder 12 supports a slide 36 which may be held in adjusted position
by a set screw 37. The slide carries a sleeve 38 within which is mounted a cup 39
free to slide in the sleeve 38 to a limited extent and held normally toward the
cup 33 by a spring 40, whereby every bottle, notwithstanding a slight difference in
length, may be properly seated and held securely between the longitudinally
immovable support 33 and the longitudinally movable support 39. The cup 39 is
not rotatable within its bearing but in order that the bottle may rotate upon its
own axis with the cup 33, a ring 41, having an inwardly tapering mouth, is seated
within the end of the cup with as little friction as possible and is provided with a
rubber or other elastic lining 42 for contact with the mouth of the bottle. Upon
one side of the slide 36 is pivoted a lever 43, one end of which is adapted to bear
against a plate 44 fixed to the outer end of the cup 38 while the other end bears
upon a rod or bar 45 when the holder 12 is released and falls forward. The
movement of the lever draws the cup 39 back against the tension of the spring 40

page_text: and thereby releases the bottle from the holder, leaving it standing free, as
represented in Figure 3, so that it can be readily removed by the attendant, the
bottle being kept from falling off on one side or the other by arms 46.
The cup 39 not only serves as a longitudinally movable support for, the top of
the bottle but it receives the shot from the bottle when the holder is thrown forward
in the position represented in Figure 3, returns the shot to the bottle which replaces
the one removed when the holder is again connected operatively with its actuating
means, and conducts to and away from the bottle the water which is used with the
shot to effect the cleansing of the bottle. For the latter purpose the cup is
provided with a nozzle 47 which is connected by a channel 48 with a suitable
coupling 49 to which may be attached a pipe 50. As represented in the drawings
the several pipes 50 are connected to a common beader 51 to which water is
supplied under suitable pressure. The nozzle 47 is so disposed within the cup 38
as to direct a stream of water continuously into a bottle while the latter is
supported by the holder. While the bottle is being shaken the quantity of water
is constantly increased, its outflow being prevented meanwhile by means herein-
after referred to. As soon as the holder is disconnected from its actuating means
and drops forward to effect the release of the bottle by the movement of the
cup 39 against the tension of the spring 40 the water in the bottle is permitted to
escape
while the stream of clean water continues to be thrown into the bottle so
long as the latter stands in the position shown in Figure 3, and effects a thorough
rinsing thereof. This result, namely, the rinsing of the bottle before it leaves the
machine, is extremely desirable and, so far as I am aware, has not been attained in
other bottle washing machines. The means for permitting the water to escape
from the cup and bottle as soon as the holder falls forward comprises a valve
which normally closes the outlet 52 but is opened automatically as the holder
falls forward. As represented in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings a valve 53 is
mounted upon a stem 54 and is normally pressed by a spring 55 against its seat 56
to close the outlet 52. To the slide 36 is fixed a bent rod 57 against the end of
which, as shown clearly in Figure 4, the valve 53 strikes as the cup 39 is pushed
back by the lever 43 and the continued movement of the cup further effects the
opening of the valve and permits the water to escape. In order that the bottle
and cup may be emptied quickly it is necessary that an air inlet should be provided
through which the air may enter to take the place of the escaping water, while at
the same time the vent must be closed during the shaking of the bottle in order
to prevent the escape of water at that time. For this purpose I form one or
more holes 58 in the upper side of the cup 39 in such position with reference to
the length of the cup that they just clear the sleeve 38 when the cup is thrust
back to its extreme position, as in Figure 4. Through this inlet the air enters
freely while the water escapes through the outlet 52, the inlet being higher than
the outlet. In order that the shot used may not clog the outlet from the cup 39
and may not interfere with the free flow of the water from the cup I dispose within
the cup a perforated shell or sieve 59, which is preferably placed somewhat out of
the center, as shown in Figure 6, and receives the shot as they are discharged
from the bottle while. permitting the water to escape readily. It will be obvious
that the stream of water continues to issue from the nozzle 47 after the bottle has
been lifted from the holder, but as the attendant will remove the clean bottle with
one hand and substitute an unwashed bottle with the other hand the operation
'will be performed very quickly and the waste of water will.be slight.
The operation of the machine already described will be readily understood. In
beginning operations all of the holders are disconnected and are dropped forward
to the position represented in Figure 3. The water is then admitted. to the
header 51 and a bottle is placed in the first holder in the position shown in
Figure 3. This holder is then thrown back into the position represented in
5 Figure 1 in which movement the connection of the holder with its actuator,
that is to say, the eccentric arm. 20, is automatically effected and the shaking
of the bottle to and fro immediately commences, the bottle being held firmly

page_text: between the two cups 33 and 39. by reason of the release of the cup 39 from
the pressure of the lever 43 as soon as the holder is thrown up. As already
described the step by step rotation of the bottle commences as soon as the shaking
commences. The bottles are then placed in the remaining holders in succession
and the connection of each to its actuator effected in succession in a similar manner.
By the time the last holder has received its bottle the cam arm 24 will have
completed its rotation to disconnect the first holder from its actuator, permitting
the holder to fall forward to release the bottle, so that it can be removed readily
by hand, and to open the valve for the escape of the water from the cup 39. The
clean bottle in this holder is then replaced by an unwashed bottle, the holder is
thrown up to effect its connection with the actuator and the attendant devotes his
attention to the next holder which meanwhile has been disconnected from its
actuator and has fallen forward. The water which may escape during the substitu-
tion of an unwashed bottle for a clean one and which runs from the cup 39 is
directed by shields or pans 60, 61, into a gutter 62 by which it is conducted from
the machine.
Various modifications may be made in the construction of the machine without
departing from the spirit of the invention. One such modification is presented in
Figures 9 and 10 and will be briefly described. The holders 12 are mounted as
before upon a shaft 63 but this shaft, instead of being fixed in the frame-work as
before, is mounted loosely in bearings and is oscillated to and fro by any suitable
means which are indicated in Figures 9 and 10 by a crank 64 and connecting rod 65.
To this oscillating shaft the holders are coupled or connected by independent
clutches so that they can be released independently of each other. The hub 13 of
each holder 12 is notched, as at 66 in Figure 10, to form one member of a clutch
while the other member of the clutch is a sleeve 67 having teeth 68 to engage the
notches in the hub 13* and bearing a feather 69 which enters a groove 70 in the
shaft 63, whereby the clutch member 67 oscillates with the shaft 63 but is free to
move longitudinally thereon. The movement of the clutch member 67 for the
purpose of disconnecting the holder from its actuator might be effected by the
attendant but I prefer to effect the movement automatically. For this purpose I
pivot to the frame of the machine a spring-pressed arm 71 which engages a
circumferential groove 72 in the sleeve 67 and normally holds said sleeve or clutch
member in engagement with the hub 13; the sleeve 25%, which is in all respects
similar to the sleeve 25 shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7, is likewise provided with
ratchet teeth 26* and is actuated by pawls 27 and 28 to effect the rotation of a
cam arm 24ª which, at the completion of its revolution, strikes the arm 71 and
thrusts it aside, effecting the necessary movement of the sleeve 67 to disengage it
from the hub 13". The mode of operation of a machine constructed in this manner
is altogether similar to the mode of operation described above and need not be
referred to in detail herein. In point of simplicity the construction shown in
Figures 9 and 10 is superior to that shown in Figure 1, but in other respects is less
desirable, particularly because the bottle holders all move to and fro together,
whereas in the construction shown in Figure 1 the eccentrics are so arranged upon
their shaft that the holders do not move in the same direction at the same time,
whereby the action of the machine is easier and the wear and tear upon the machine
is less.
In Figure 8 is illustrated a modification of the means for controlling, the escape
of water from the cup 39 and the ingress of air. In this construction the outlet 52ª
is connected to a flexible discharge pipe 73. The air inlet is a tube 74 which
is fixed in the closed end of the cup 39 and terminates near the other end
thereof. A flexible pipe 75-is attached. to the outer end of the tube 74 and
both pipes 73 and 75 are led over a shoulder 43* of the lever 43. When the
bottle is being shaken the weight of the. long arm of the lever 43 causes the
shoulder 43 to compress the pipes 73 and 75 between itself and the under side
of the sleeve 38, thereby closing the. outlet like. a. valve and closing also the:air
inlet, and preventing the escape of water either from the outlet or from the. vent.

page_text: When the holder falls forward and the lever 43 is rocked on its pivot the pipes are
released, permitting the water to escape and the air to enter.
Various other changes of construction will suggest themselves as within the scope
of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination of a series of bottle holders, means for shaking them and an
independent clutch for each holder whereby any one holder may be disconnected
from its actuating means without stopping the rest, substantially as shown and
described.
2. The combination of a series of bottle holders, means for shaking them, an
independent clutch for each holder whereby any one holder can be disconnected
without stopping the rest, and means to automatically release each bottle from its
holder as the latter is disconnected from the actuating means, substantially as
shown and described.
3. The combination of a series of bottle holders, means for shaking them, an
independent clutch for each holder and means actuated step by step with the
movements of the holder to disconnect said clutch after a determined number of
movements of the holder, substantially as shown and described.
4. The combination of a bottle holder, a support for the bottom of the bottle
mounted at one end of the holder, a longitudinally movable support for the top of
the bottle mounted at the other end of the holder, means for shaking said holder, a
clutch to disconnect the holder from the actuating means, and means actuated as
the holder is disconnected whereby the movable support is shifted to release the
bottle, substantially as shown and described.
5. The combination of a bottle holder, mounted to oscillate on an axis, means to
shake said holder to and fro, a rotatable support for one end of the bottle mounted
on said holder, a toothed wheel carried by said rotatable support, and a pawl
supported in position to engage said wheel as the holder reaches the end of its
movement, substantially as shown and described.
6. The combination of a bottle holder, means to shake the same, a support for the
bottom of the bottle mounted on said holder, a cup to receive the top of the bottle,
a nozzle carried by said cup and adapted to direct a stream of water into the bottle,
said cup having also in its lower side an outlet for the water and in its upper side
an air inlet, means to close said outlet when the holder is being shaken and means
to open the same as the holder comes to rest, substantially as shown and
described.
7. The combination of a bottle holder, means to shake the same, a support for
the bottom of the bottle mounted on said holder, a sleeve fixed on said holder, a
cup longitudinally movable in said sleeve and adapted to receive the top of a
bottle, a nozzle carried by said cup and adapted to direct a stream of water into
the bottle, said cup being provided with an outlet on its lower side and on its upper
side with an air inlet which is covered by said sleeve while the holder is being
shaken and is uncovered as the cup is moved back to release the bottle, substantially
as shown and described.
8. The combination of a bottle holder mounted to oscillate upon an axis, an arm
held in engagement with said holder by a spring, means to actuate said arm to rock
said holder, and means to move said arm against the tension of the spring to
disengage the same from the holder, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 16th day of December 1893.
GEORGE BARKER.