US555598A - Bottle-washing machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

M. E. DONALLY. BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

No. 555,598. Patented Mar. 3, 1896.v f1'.,/,""" .z g (H2 ding f z l n a 1 ff I zf .5 /l a a T a l La.. M n /Z/ B l f y y fuman/Zar; @3726251966:- 7 :a f 9 am WU W@ www w Ma fm .m Y

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(N0 MGd-el.) M. E. poNALLY.

BTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

155555598. Patented Mar. s, 1895.

54.1. fw/J BOTTLE WASHING ISZIAGHIBTE.A

' NO. 555,598'. Patented Mar. 3;, .1896.

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` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVIN E. DONALLY, E BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BOTTLE-@WASHING MACHINE.

o SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,598, dated March 3, *18946.

Application filed June l, 1895. Serial No. 551,350. A(No model.)

This invention relates particularly -to ma chines for rapidly and effectively cleaning the exteriors of bottles, cans or other like articles, and incidentally also-to devices which may be used with such machines to clean the interiors of bottles or other like articles.

The object which I have had in view has been to produce' a machine in which the bottle or other article to be cleanedv shall be sub- 25. Y chine lwhich shall be capable'of operating.

the machine.

jected to a rubbing or scraping or brushing so-thorough as to remove from its surface any foreign matter, whether it be dirt or a label previously pasted thereon, and at the same time to accomplish this result without causing breakage or any other injury of the bottles or cans or other articles being. cleaned.v Furthermore, -l have sought te devise a maeiiciently upon bottles or other articles which vary 'more or less in size vwithout requiring adjustment or manipulation of the parts of releasing the bottles or other articles in suc'- cession, whereby the` capacity fof .the machine is increased and at the same time the danger of breakage is reduced.l The various features ofA improvement, however, will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The machine which I have represented hereinas an embodiment of my invention is particularly designed for the cleaning of bottles, but it will be readily understood that Y with certain obvious changes in form the machine will be equally well adapted for the cleaning of jarsor cans or other articles of like character. l

In the drawings, in which an vembodiment of my invention is illustrated, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a bottle-washing machine.

Fig. y2 is a vertical central section thereof,

. the transmitting-gears at the right being shown in elevation. v thereof, a portion of the upper ring of the bot- I have also in view means for.

Fig. 3 is a plan viewtlc-carrier being broken away to show paris beneath and many parts which would otherwise appear being omitted in order to avoid confusion. l the planeindicated by the line .fr :n of Fig. 2,

of the bottles removed and with many parts `below the plane of section omitted in order to avoid confusion.- Fig. iisa detail view, partly in section and partlyl in elevation, showing the devices for holding the bottle in the 1oarrier and other parts associated there- Wit In the machine represented in the drawings 'the supporting-framework comprises'a suitto said standards at a suitable height above the base, and a post or bracket Ai. cal shaft B (see Fig'. 2) hasa bearing aat its vlower end in the base A and another bearing in the head a of the post or bracket A4, which is erected upon thebase A, To the shaft B above the head or bearing a' is secured a drum or shell C, which, in the -particular mechanism shown', constitutes a carrier for one of .thetwo series of brushesor rubbing or scraping devices which act upon the exteriors of ,the bottles.

The bottles or other articles to be cleaned are received in the machine shown by a rotary the brush-carrier C before referred to. represented in the drawings, (see particularly Fig. 2,) the bottle-carrier D is supported inpart by arms d from a hub d', which has a bearing on the head a of the bracket A4, and

travel upon a track el supported by the vvbracket A4. An annular plate or table D', form ed with or carried by the arms LZ, has connected thereto by sleeves Z4 and tie-rods d an annular plate D2, this construction forming a 'rigid frame on which the bottles are car# ried. A third annular plate or bar D3 is supported by the sleeves d4 at a suitable height above the lower plate ort -ble D', andis preferably made adjustable fh reon according to the height of the bottles or other articles which are to be supported between it and the plate or table D'. Thebar Da is represented as able base A, posts or standards A A2 erected` thereon, an annular plate or table A3 secured Fig.v 4 is a horizontal section on 55 with the devices for holding the upper ends carrier D, which is supported concentric with in part by antifriction-rollers'd2 d2, which IOO connected by arms d to a hub d7, which reeeives the shaft B and as supported in part by an adjustable collar d8 011 said shaft.

Preferably the brush-carrier C and the bottle-carrier D are rotated in the same direction, but at diiferentvelocities. For this purpose the shaft 13VV in the construction shown has secured thereto a bevel-gear b, which is` engaged by a bevel-pinion ZJ carried by the main driving-shaft I5' which is supported in suitable bearings on the base A. (See Figs.v

1 and 2.) The carrier D, likewise in the construction shown, has secured thereto or formed therewith a bevel-gear D4, Awhich is engaged by a bevel-pinion b2 carried by a counter-shaft B2. 'The latter is supported in a suitable bracket A5 carried by the base A, and has fixed thereon a large gear b3 which is engaged and driven by a pinion b4 on the driving-shaft B.

The driving mechanism just described provides for a slow movement of the bottle-earrier and for a more rapid movement of the brush-carrier in the saine direction, and while I prefer that the relative movements of the bottle-carrier and of the movable brush-carrier shall be as described it is to be under each bottle may be rotated while it is' subjected to the action of the brushes in order that every portion of its surface maybe thoroughly cleaned. The particular construction whereby these results may be secured will now be described.

ln one of the ring-sor bars D' or D3, prefer ably the lower one, -so that the bottles may be supported mouth downward fora purpose to be referred to, are mounted bottomlcss cups or tubular socketsV E E, Figs. 1, 2, and 5, each of which is adapted toreceive and to hold from lateral displacement the head or extremity of a bottle introduced into it. As it is desirable that the bottles should rotate freely, each socket E is preferably mounted upon ball-bearings. As represented in Fig. 5, the bearing-balls e rest in a groove formed in a sleeve It" secured in the plate D', and the socket E is held in place by a ring c', threaded to engage the sleeve E'. The upper portion of the socket E is represented as having a lining of any suitable material, such as rubber, although such lining is not essential.

Corresponding to each socket E, and sup ported bythe ring or bar D3, is a holder F for the other end of the bottle, which is adapted to press with sufficient firmness against the end of the bottle to hold the bottle from displacement while it is being cleaned. This holder preferably comprises afiexible and elastic disk f, Figs. 2 and 5, carried by a stem f which slides freely through a suitable glride in the ring or bar D3, and a spring f? which operates to press the disk against the end of the bottle. This disk f is preferably made of some yielding orelastic material in order that it may conform to the bottom of the bottle held between it and the socket and may rub and clean the same as the bottle is rotated, the disk being held from rotation by any suitable means.

The holder F might be moved by hand to release the-bottle at the proper time, but that the operator maybe able to Work with greater rapidity I prefer to provide automatic means for withdrawing the holder and relcasin g the bottle. As represented in the drawings, Figs. l, 2, 3, and 5, the stemf is connected to an arm G, which is pivotcd to a hub G', and at its outer end is provided with an antifriction-roller g to bear upon a cam-track g', (see Fig. 1,) which is supported by the standards A2, whereby in the revolution of each arm with the bottle-carrier it is lifted at a certain point in its movement to withdraw the holder and release the bottle.

Any suitable connection between the sten.` f and the arm G may be provided, but I prefer that the stem shall be square and pass freely through a slot g2 in the end of the arm G, while a pin g3 is passed through the end of the stem and rests on the upper side of the arm, Figs. 3 and 5. This construction permits the holder to adapt itself to bottles of different heights without interfering with the movement of the lifting-arm G, and moreover holds' the stem and the disk f from rotation.

As it might happen through inattention on the part of the attendant that the bottle which has been released should fall over and be broken, I have provided an additional guard, which is moved into position to hold the bottle from falling when the latter is released, but does not interfere either witltthe action of the brushes upon the exterior of the bottle nor with the ready removal and introduction of bottles from and to the carrier. As represented, this guard consists of a light wire framework having parallel sides h h, (see Fig. 1,) which slide freely through apertures in the 'rings D' and D3, a cross-bar h', (see Figs, l and 8,) which rests upon the arm G, whereby the guard is moved with the holder F, and a guard-wire h2, (see Fig'sfl and 4,) which is carried by the sides h h and normally rests upon the lower ring or table D', but, when the holder F is raised to release the bottle, is lifted to substantially the position represented in Fig. 1,' in which position it will prevent the bottle from falling forward, but will not interfere with the removal of the bottle by the operator nor with the introduction of another in its place.

It will be observed that the described provisions for holding the bottle permit it to be held firmly at both ends, whereby danger of breakage is prevented, permit the bottles to IOO IIO

j tionary, while the other brush or series supported by a carrier C, as represented, travels or rotates at such a speed or in such a direction with respect to the bottle-carrier'as that each bottle in being carried between the'two brushes or series of brushes shall-be compelled to rotate, whereby every portion `of its surface is brought into contact with the brushes.

I have referred to a series'of brushes on each side of the path of the bottles for the reason that the brushes may thereby be more conveniently arrangedto be movable toward and from the path`of the bottles and to adapt themselvesl to the bottles than if the brush on each side o f the path of the bottles were made in a` continuous piece.- Accordingly I have represented a series of independent brushes vll, mounted upon the movable carrier C,

and another series of independent brushes K' K', which are supported in a relatively stationary position.

The -brushes may be made of any suitable material and in any suitable form according to theparticular nature of the work to be performed; but I have represented them as .composedeach of a piece of card-clothing k,

mounted upon a rigid back la', which is shaped to conform to the path of the bottles and preferably has the end which meets the bottles in the relative movement rounded somewhat.

The brushes are made to conform somewhat to the general shape of the bottles by addi-y tional blocks k2 along their lower edges.y

. In order that the machine may be adapted for efficient operation upon bott-les of different sizes, and in order also that danger of breakage may be reduced, each brush is yield-- lingly supported upon its carrier, so that it .e may be pressed normally toward the path. of

v5othebottles and may be permitted to yield in the opposite direction. Various devices may be employed for supporting the brushes in thismanner. As represented in thedrawings, each brush is supported near one end, preferably the forward end, by a swinging arm k3, which, -in thecase of the inner brushes, is pivoted upon the shell or carrier C, and in the case of the outer brushes is pivoted upon a bar A6, supported upon adjustable collars 7a4 on the standards A A2. Each arm la is preferably provided with a stopeinger 71:5, which limits the movement of the brush toward the path of the bottles. The swinging arms are preferably arranged in pairs,-one above another,to maintain the brush in proper position. To cach brush are applied one or more springs k6, which press the brush normally .toward'the path of the bottles.

' The brushes might be supported by springs alone; but it is preferable to combine with them the swinging arms referred to and the springs are preferably applied near the end of each brush remote from the swinging arm. Obviously eachv brush will be pressedv toward its support by the bottle as it passes between the two opposite brushes and if the forward end of the next brush protruded abruptly into the path of the bottle it might happen `that breakage would be occasioned. Accordingly I provide a looseeonnection between the ends of adjacent brushes, so that as the rearward end of one brush is pressed back by the bottle the forward end of the next brush shall also be pressed back, the mode of supporting the brushes by swinging arms to which the brush is pivoted and by springs facilitating this connection of the brushes. The connection may be made in any convenient manner. I have represented the end of lonebrush 'as provided with a ixed finger k7, which enters freely an eye 7c carried by the next brush.

It 'is desirable that the bottles should be wet during the action of the brushes thereon, and I have therefore provided suitable nozzles L L', which are connected 4to a watersupply. l,

As I have lindicated previously my main object herein has been to provide for the thorough cleaning of the outer surfaces of bottles or other articles; but it is desirable alsoLto provide means for cleaning and rinsing the interiors of the bottles at the same time. iIn my machine this is easily provided vfor without adding materially to the mechanism. For this purpose the bearing block or head a of the bracket A4 has an 'annular channel a? formed therein, while the hub d? has suitable'packing-glands above and below the annular channeL- A Water-,supply pipe M is connected to'the bearing block or head a' and is adapted to furnish thereto a continuous supply of water. From the hub d2 and in line with the annular channel a2 radi-4 ate a series of pipes fm m, each one of which terminates in a nozzle fm in the side wall of thecorre g sleeve E' of the bottle-earrier and below the-rotatable socket E, whereby a stream of water is thrown into each bot- Vtlc during its passage between the'brushes.

The water maybe sufficient to rinse abettle which has been previously cleaned, but

it may be desired also to provide means for rubbing or brushing the inside'of the bottle.

e Accordingly the bottle-carrier D supports in line with each bottle a movable brush N,

which is carried by a suitable stem or spindle.

'n and is adapted to be moved into the bottle at a certain time, the brushing being eected not only by the longitudinal movement of theA brush, but by the relative rotation'of the brush and bottle. In the present machine the bottle is rotated by the means heretofore IOO IIO

referred to and it is therefore unnecessary that the brush N should be rotated. To eiiect the required longitudinal movement of the brush the stem o1, is xedto a sliding frame yn, which is guided in holes formed in the web of the gear D4, and is pressed normally upward to cause the brush to enter the bottle by springs n2. Each frame has a roller n, which is adapted to travel with the carrier in contact with a fixed cam-track n4, which may be so formed as to causeI each brush to move twice into and outof the corresponding bottle during each complete rotation of the earrler.

In the operation of the machine herein described the bottles are introduced by the attendant one by one into the bottle-carrier at the front of the machine. The bottles are at first held by the wire guard, but as the carrier continues its movement-thearm G descends' and the bottle is then held firmly in an upright position while heilig capable of r0- tating on its own axis. As the 'bottles are carried between the brushes they are coinpelled to rotate by the action of the` brushes and are. thoroughly scrubbed. During the passage between the brushes a stream of water-is thrown continuously into each bottle and at intervals the brush N is thrust into the bottle to assist in the cleaning of the interior. As each bottle passes from between the brushes, the arm G rises to release the bottle and at the same time the wire guard K rises to prevent the bottle from .falling over while permitting it to beremovcd readily by the attendant.

It will be obvious that the details of arrangement and construction of the machine shown in the drawings may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention, and it is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise meehanism shown.

lVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a carrier having upper and lower bars adapted to support a bottle or other like article at both ends with freedom for rotation and driving mechanism for said carrier, of brushes supported in proximity to the path of the bottle and on opposite sides thereof, and means to effect relative movement of one of said brushes with respect to the other and thereby to rotate the bottle as it is carried between the brushes.

2. The combination with a carrier having upper and lower bars adapted to support a bottle or other like article at both ends with freedom for rotation, and driving mechanism .for said carrier, of brushes supported in proximity to the path of the bottle and onopposite sides thereof, a movable carrier-for one of said brushes and means to drive said'brush'- carrier whereby theV bottle may lie-caused to rotate on its axis as it iscarried between the brushes.

n. The combination with a carrier having upper and lower bars adapted to support a bottle or other like article at both ends with freedom for rotation, and driving mechanism for said carrier of brushes supported in proximity to the path of the bottle and on opposite sides thereof, a stationary support for one oir' said brushes, a movable carrier for the other y said brushes concentric with the bottle-carri er and means to rotate said brush-carrier in the same direction as greater speed.

5. The combination with a carrier and means to hold a bottle at both ends in a vertical position7 with freedom for rotation, of a brush, a support for maintaining said brush in proximity to the path of the bottle, devices acting between said brush and its support to press the brush toward the bottle and to'permit it to yield in the opposite direction and means'to produce relative movement of the bottle-carrier and blush-support'.

6. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive a bottle, of a brush, a support for main taining the brush in proximity to the bottle, a swinging arm connecting the brush to its support and a spring to press the brush against the bottle and to permit it to yield in the opposite direction and means to produce relative movement of the bottle-carrier and brush-support.

7. The combinatmnwitn a carrier adapted to receive a bot-tle, of a brush, a support for maintaining the brush in proximity to the bottle, an arm pivoted upon said support and having the brush pivota-lly attached thereto, a spring interposed between the brush and said support and means to produce relative movement of the bottle-carrier and brush-support.

8. The combination with a carrier adapted to receive a bottle, of a series of brushes, a' support for maintaining said brushes in proximity to the bottle, devices between eacli brush and the support to press the brush toA ward the bottle and to permit it to yield in the opposite direction, a loose connection from each brush to the next whereby the proximate ends of adjacent brushes are caused to move together and means to produce relative movement of thebottle-carrier and the brushsupport.

9. The combinationv with a carrier adapted' to receive a bottle, of a series'of brushes, a support for maintaining said brushes in proximity to the bottle, a spring interposed between each brush and its support to press the brush toward the bottle and to, permit it to yield in the opposite direction, a loose con the bottle-carrier but at am IOO ,neetion from each brush to the next whereby the proximate ends of adjacent brushes are caused to move together and means to pro- ,duce relative movement of the bottle-carrier' each side of the path of the bottle and.' in

.Aframe,'a spring-pressed holder mounted thereon and adapted to bear against one end of the and brush-support.

' 10. The combination with a rotary carrier .A adapted to receive a bottle and means to rotate said carrier, of' a series of brushes, a support for maintaining said brushes concentric with the bottle-carrier and in proximity to thepath of'the bottle, a spring interposed between each brush and the support to press thebrush toward the bottle and to permit it to yield in the opposite direction and a loose connection .from each brush to the next whereby the proximate ends of adjacent brushes` are caused to move together.

11. lThe combination with a carrier-adapted to receive a bottle, and vdriving mechanism therefor, of a series of brushes supported at proximity thereto, a support for each of said series of brushes, devices between each brush and its support to pressthe brush toward the path of the bottle and to permitit to yield in the opposite direction, and a loose connection from each brushof a series to the next whereby' the proximate ends of adjacent brushes are caused to move together.

12. The combination with a bottle-carrying bottle, a movable guard-frame supported by said bottle-carrying frame and connected to said holder to move therewith and means to withdraw said holder to release the bottle and at the same time to move said guard-frame into position to support the bottle. y 13. The combination with abottle-carrying frame a spring-pressed holder mounted thereon and adapted to bear against one end of the bottle, a movable guard-frame supported by said bottle-carrying frame and connected to said holder to 'move therewith and means to drive said bottle-carrying frame, of an arm mounted upon said bottle-carrying frame and having said holder and guard frame connected thereto and a cam adapted toact upon said arm and thereby to withdraw the holder to release the bottle and at the same time to move the guard-frame into position to support the bottle.

14. The combination with a bottle-carrier and means to drive the same continuously,

of a brush supported by said carrier to move therewith in line with the -bottle and means to move said brush longitudinally into the bottle and to withdraw the same at a predetermined time while the carrier continues its movement.

- 15.` The combination with a bottle-carrier, of arbrush supported by said carrier to move therewith in line with the bottle, means to drive said carrier continuously and a cam adapted to co-operate with a brush-holder to .move the brush longitudinallyinto the bottle while the carrier continues its movement.

16. -The combination with a bottle-carrier and means to drive the same continuously, of a'brush supported by said carrier to move therewith inA line with the bottle, devices to move said brush longitudinally into 'the bottle and to withdraw the same at a predeter- 'mined time, while the carrier continues its movement and means to produce relative rotation of the bottle and the brush.

17. The combination with a bottle-carrier and means to drive the same continuously, of a brush supported by said carrier to move therewith in line with the bottle, devices to move said brush longitudinall'yinto the bottle and to withdraw the same at a predetermined'time while the carrier continues its movement and means to rotate the bottle in the carrier.

18. The combination with a supportingframe, of a shaft mounted therein, a brushcarrier secured to said shaft to rotate therewith, a bottle-carrier mounted to rotate coneentrically with the brush-carrier'and having upper and lower bars to .support a bottle at both ends with freedom for rotation, means to rotate said bottle-carrier and brush-carriers in the same direction but at different speeds, and stationary brushes supported by said frame on the opposite side of the path of the bottle, whereby the bottles are compelled to rotate as they move with the carrier and are scraped by the brushes at opposite points.

This speeiiication signed and witnessed this 1st day of May, A. D. 1895.

MELVIN E. DONALLY In presence of- W. B. GREELEY, S. H. IRISH.

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