GB211968A - Improvements in and relating to bottle washing machines - Google Patents

Abstract

211,968. Parry, J. Dec. 1, 1922. Bottles, washing.-A bottle soaking and rinsing machine comprises a soaking-tank with conveyers and a rotary rinsing conveyer which delivers the botles to a syruping device all driven from a single shaft. Within the tank a are arranged a number of vertical chain conveyers b, Fig. 2, with trays g for the reception of the bottles, driven by wheels c, geared to rotate similarly at the same speed, and passing over jockey rollers e mounted in slotted guides fat the base of the tank so that their weight keeps the conveyers in tension. Curved metal sheets j and partitions k retain the bottles in the trays, which have inclined sides so that at the top of each partition k the bottles roll over into a tray on the next conveyer. From the last conveyer each bottle is discharged on to an inclined tray l on which it is stopped by a vertically-reciprocating gate m operated by a cam p; in this position it rests upon a rubber-covered roller s driven at a high speed from the wheel r so that the bottle is rotated, while washing fluid is sprayed upon it from a perforated pipe t. When the gate falls, the bottle rolls down the tray, and its base strikes a stop w, which is adjustable for various sizes of bottles, so that it is turned with its mouth downwards and is delivered in an inverted position into a cup 11 of the washing and rinsing device, a guard x serving to align the bottle correctly. The cups 11 are pivoted between lugs 12 on the arms of an eight-armed spider 5 rotatably mounted on a table 1 so that the cups pass over an annular trough 8, Fig. 3, cut away at one - side and having its ends closed by partitions 10. A further partition 10' divides the trough into two parts, the left-hand part having a spray nozzle, 23 for washing fluid and the other part having nozzles 30, 31 for rinsing water. The spider 5 is intermittently rotated through angles of 45‹ to bring the bottles over the nozzles and over drain apertures 29, 32 and to bring empty cups into position to receive further bottles. This is accomplished by having a horizontal shaft 33 driven by chain gearing from the wheel rand carrying a disc 34 on which is mounted an arm 35 adapted to strike successively rollers 36 mounted below each arm of the spider. To ensure that the spider shall not move more than 45‹ catches of the spring-ball type are arranged at suitable positions on the trough, and the arm 35 may have a limited pivotal movement relatively to the disc 34 and be kept in the forward position by a spring so that it may slide over the rollers when the catches engage. The spider is supported by rollers 6 mounted below each arm and rolling on a track 7 through which project plungers 25 which are depressed as each roller passes over them, so as to open valves 24 supplying the corresponding spray nozzles. Each of these spraying devices comprises an outer tube 26 having a gland at its upper end through which passes an inner tube 27 carrying the nozzle 28 at its outer end and a piston at its inner end sliding in the tube 26. The pressure of the liquid admitted to the tube 26 forces the tube 27 upwards so that the nozzle enters the bottle, and as soon as the liquid is cut off by the roller 6 moving off the plunger 25 the tube 27 falls by gravity leaving the bottle free to move on. Projections 18 on the cups engage a track 19 to retain the bottles inverted while over the trough, and on leaving the trough the bottles strike an arm 21 and are rocked over to the upright position, and are guided by members 42, 43, 43<1> on to the conveyer 41 of a syruping machine. The empty cups are struck by an arm 22 into position to receive further bottles and the projections 18 again ride over a slope 20 on the track 19. Cams on a shaft 47 operate a feed-arm 45 and a raising-arm 50 to push the bottles under, and lift it respectively to, a syrup-delivering device. In a modification, a chain conveyer may be employed instead of the spider for the rinsing. operation.