US748584A

US748584A - A firm

Info

Publication number: US748584A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1904-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1921-01-05

Description

No. 748,584.. l PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904.

J. J. CLIFFORD.

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED P EB. 24, 1903. N0 MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1N: mams Pneus no. Puodumo.. wAsNmaroN. u4 c No. 748,584. PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904.

J. J. CLIFFORD.

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED rma. 24. 1903.

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.WWNEEEE m: Nosms PUcns oo.. PHoTaLwo., wAsnmGroN. n r.

PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904.

J. J. cLIFFoRD.

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 24. 1903.

6 `SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No nonni..

yNo. 748,584.

PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904.

J. J. CLIFFORD. BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 24, 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

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Tru: Nonals PETERS oo., Puowurnm wAsmNmoN. u. c.

PATNNTBD JAN. 5, 1904.

J.4 J. CLIFFORD. BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLIATIOF FILED FEB. 24. 1903.

'6 SHEETS-SHEET 5. I/a

' No MODEL.

PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904; J. J. CLIFFORD. BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 190s. 6 SHEETSHET 6.

NO MoDEL.

| :ns coy wormlmo.. WASHINGTON. u u

No. 748,584. l Patented January 5, 1904.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JAMES CLIFFORD, OF GREEN ISLAND, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES J. CLIFFORD da CO., OF GREEN ISLAND, NEW YORK, A FIRM.

BOTTLE-WASHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,584, dated January 5, 1904.

Application filed February 24, 1903. Serial No. 144.904. (I lo model.)

ATo all whom, it may concern: elevation. Fig. 10 is a view in end elevation Be it known that I, JAMES J. CLIFFORD, a of the lower end of the inclined delivery-bed citizen of the United States, residing at Green and the bottle delivering mechanism and Island, county of Albany, and State of `New switch-restoring mechanism adjacent ihere- 55 5 York, have invented certain new and useful to. Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the bed Improvements in Bottle-Washing Machines, provided with wells over which the bottleof which the following is a specification. conveyer passes, the delivery-bed adapted The invention relates to such improveto receive bottles from the wells and the ments; and it consists of the novel construcbottle distributing and delivering mechan- 6o lo tion and combination of parts hereinafter deism mounted upon and adjacent to the lower scribed and subsequently claimed. end of said bed, the internal bottle-washing Reference may be had to the accompanymechanism being removedfor convenience A ing drawings, and the reference characters in illustration. Fig. l2 is a horizontal secmarked thereon, which form a part of this tion taken on the broken line 12 12 in Fig. 65

I5 specification. 8, showing in cross-section the slideway for Similar characters refer to similar parts in the stop-board at the bottom of the inclined the several figures. l delivery-bed. Fig. 13 is a view in front ele- Figure1isaview,partlyinsideelevationand vation of the trip and latchfor controlling partly in vertical longitudinal section, of the the action of the well closing and opening 7o 2o improved bottle-washing machine, the vat mechanism. Fig. 14 is'a vertical cross-secand bottle-conveyer being shown in central tion taken on the broken line 14 14 in Fig.

vertical longitudinal section and the feed* 6 centrally through a well and the internal chute and apparatus for cleaning the interior cleaning mechanism in connect-ion therewith,

of the bottles in elevation. Fig. 2is acentral showing a bottle in position within the well. 75 25 vertical section taken on the broken line 22in Fig. l5 is a vertical longitudinal section of Fig. 1l through the bed provided with wells the feed-chute and neighboring end of the over which the bottle-conveyor passes. Fig. vat. Fig. 16 is a view in side elevation of 3 is a vertical cross -section taken on the the end of the vat adjacent to the feed-chute,

broken line 3 3 in Fig. 2, showing in side showing the mechanism whereby power is 8o 3o elevation the mechanism for operating the transmitted tothe bottle-conveyer. Fig. 17

internal bottle-Washing mechanism and for is a top plan view of the-same. Fig. 18 is a automatically opening and closing the well. central vertical 4longitudinal section of the Fig. 4 is a View in elevation of said mechaninternal bottle-cleaningmechanism. Fig. 19

ism, as shown in Fig. 3, as seen from the opis a top plan view of a portion of the slatted 85 35 posite side. Fig. 5 is a view in cross-section bottle-conveyor.

takenon thebrokenlinein Fig. 4ofthe belt- The object of my invention is to provide shifter shaft and detent mechanism therefor for eiectively washing and cleansing bottles with the detent-releasing mechanism shown preparatory to filling the same wirh springin elevation. Fig. 6`is"a top plan View of the water or other liquid. 9o 4o parts as shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7isavertical The objects and nature of the invention cross-section taken on the broken line 7 7 in will appear fully in connection lwith the fol- Fig. 6 through one of the wells and showing in lowing description.

elevation the mechanism whereby the intro- I have shown in the drawings and will deduction of the bottle int-o the Well induces scribe in connection therewith my invention 95 45 action of the belt-shifting mechanism. Fig. in its preferred form adapted to wash the bot.-

8 is a vertical cross-section of the bortle-detles both exteriorly and interiorly and lo delivering mechanism, taken on the broken line liver the washed bottles in inverted position 8 8 in Fig. 1l. Fig. 9 isa crosssection taken adapted for transference to a rinsing or [illon the broken line 9 9 in Fig. 10 through the ing apparatus. 10Q 5o handle of the bottle-delivering mechanism, The apparatus for washing the exterior of showing the switch-restoring mechanism in the bottles comprises a vat l, adapted to com` tain water or other washing liquid, into contact with which the bottles are carried by means of an endless conveyer comprising the parallel chains 2 2, passing over sprocketwheels 3 3, and connected at intervals by cross bars or slats 4, separated one from another by a space sufficient to freely receive therebetween a bottle of the size for the washing of which the apparatus is adapted. Certain of the sprocket-wheels over which the chains pass are so arranged that the con veyer is supported and caused to traverse a path just above the surface of the Water in the vat, as shown in the right-hand portion of the vat in Fig. 1, which portion of the vat is provided beneath said conveyer with longitudinal guide-slats 5, adapted to engage and prevent the too-deep immersion of the bottles 5 6, occupying the spaces between the slats of the carrier. As the bottles are moved by the conveyer along and above the slats 5 the engagement of the cross-slats Liwith the upper portion of the bottles which occupy horizontal positions and theretardation caused by engagement of the lower portion of the bottles with the wash-water or the slats 5, or both, cause a rotary motion to be imparted to the bottles, subjecting all parts of the exterior thereof to the action of the wash-water. This rotary motion of the bottles is preferably accelerated by engagement with the upper sides thereof of a rotary brush 7, fixed upon a shaft S, rapidly rotated by means of a belt 9 and pulley 10, which brush also serves to scrub the exterior of the bottles as they are carried past the same in passing through the vat. The conveyer being supported adjacent to the surface of the liquid in the vat and the bottles being loosely contained in the openings in the conveyer, the bottles are supported partly by dotation when presented to the brush 7. The slats 5 prevent too-deep immersion and escape from the conveyer of the bottles when forced down by the brush and of such bottles as are returned to the vat in a partly-filled condition.

Certain of the sprocket-wheels for the chains 2 are soarranged that after passing the rotary brush 7 and during the latter part of the passage through the vat the conveyer is depressed beneath the surface of the wash-water, as shown at the left-hand end of Fig. 1. Within that portion of the vat where the conveyer is thus depressed are located down- Wardly-inclined guide-slats A11, located just above the path traversed by the conveyer and in position to depress below the surface of the water the bottles moved by the conveyer into engagement therewith, thereby causing complete immersion of the bottles and permitting the Wash-water to enter the same through the submerged mouths thereof. Downward displacement of the bottles in this portion of the vat is prevented by the longitudinal slats 12, which extend parallel with and just below the path traversed by the con- .veyer and terminate in upwardly curved ends 13, adapted to prevent the downward and outward escape of the bottles from'the` slatted conveyer as they are carried thereby around the neighboring sprocket-Wheels 3 at the exit end of the vat. Having been thus thoroughly washed exteriorly and supplied with water for washing the interior thereof, the bottles are moved by the endless conveyer along the upwardly-inclined slatted ways 15 to an elevated framework or platform 16, over which the endless conveyer passes,upon which framework is supported mechanism for automatically distributing the bottles and washing the interior thereof.

The elevated framework 16 is provided with a slatted bed 18, above which the endless conveyer passes and along and upon which the bottles are moved by said conveyer. This slatted bed is interrupted at intervals by openings or wells 19, each adapted when open to receive a bottle and adapted to be closed at certain times by means ofa movable bridge 20, over which the bottles are adapted to be moved by the conveyer. The bottom of each of said wells is adapted to be closed at certain times by means of a trap-door 21. In connection with each of said wells is provided an apparatus for scrubbing the interior of the bottle during the interval that the bottle is retained in the well. This scrubbing apparatus comprises an expansible and contractible spring-fork 22, fixed upon the end of a rotary and reciprocatory spindle 23 and adapted when contracted to freely pass through the mouth of a bottle and when inserted within the bottle to automatically eX- pand to the full diameter of the interior thereof and by engagement with the interior surface of the bottle during its rotary and reciprocating movements to scrape or scrub the same. The ends of the fork may be covered and connected by a rubber 24, if desired.

Rotary movements are imparted to the spindle 23 bythe sleeve 23 by means of a Worm 31, xed upon said sleeve invengagement with the worm-gear 32, provided with a crank-pin 33, connected by pitman 34 with a lever 35, fulcrumed at one end upon the frame of the machine and having its other end connected with the spindle 23 by the cable 36.

The outer end of the spindle 23 rotates in a bearing-box 37, fixed upon a slide-carriage 38, capable of reciprocating movements along a slideway 39, to which carriage are connected the opposite ends of/a cable 36, passing over guide-pulleys 40 at opposite ends of the path of slide movement of said carriage and with a portion of which cable between said pulleys the swinging end of the lever 35 is connected. Each to-and-fro movement of the lever 35 thus causes a complete reciprocating movement of the spindle 23, throughout which said spindle is constantly rotated under the influence of the rotating sleeve 28,

The fork end of the spindle 23 is adapted to reciprocate through and rotate within a sleeve 26, having fixed to one end thereof a IOO bell 27, adapted by engagement with the neck of the well-contained bottle to center the `mouth of the bottle relatively to said sleeve and spindle to facilitate the entrance of the scrubbing-fork therethroughand within the opposite end thereof a bushing 14, containing a bearing for the spindle 23. Loosely confined within said sleeve between saidbpshing 14 and the bell 27 is a bushing-sleeve 17 of an internal diameter corresponding with that of the contracted portion of the bell. Said bushing-sleeve is adapted to maintain the fork when the latter is withdrawn therewithin closely contracted and adapted to pass through the contracted portion of the bell which registers with the neighboring open end of said bushing-sleeve.

The sleeve 26 is permitted a sufficient reciprocating movement in the bearings 41 and 43, through which it passes, to enable the bell to be moved into and out of contact with the neck of the well-inclosed bottle. A spring 42, inclosing said sleeve and interposed between a flange 25 thereon and the fixed bearing 43, tends to force said sleeve into the well to cause the bell to engage and center the neck of the well-contained bottle. The sleeve and bell are withdrawn against the force of the spring 42 by means of a link 44, connected with the sleeve and having a loop or odset located in the path of the slide-carriage 38 during the latter part of the return movement of the spindle 23, with which said carriage is connected. When said spindle is projected into the well to enter the mouth o'f the well-contained bottle,` the sleeve 26 accompanies said spindle in its forward movement until the movement of said sleeve is arrested by engagement of the bell with the neck of the bottle, against which it is held by the force of the spring 42 during the remainder of the forward movement of the spindle and until its forcible withdrawal is induced by the return movement of the spindle, `as above described. When the fork While rotating is located within the bushingsleeve 17, the frictional engagement therebetween causes the bushing-sleeve to rotate Within the sleeve 26 in unison with the fork, thus preventing wear upon the fork and rubber 24.

Rotary movements are intermittently imparted to the sleeve 28 through the drivingpulley 29 by means of the belt 30 and beltshifting mechanism, which is caused to al1- tomatically operate at certain times to transfer the belt to said pulley from the idle pulley 5l.

The belt-shifter 47 is fixed upon a sliding rock-shaft 48, mountedin bearings 49 and provided with an actuating-spring 50, which tends to move the shaft endwise in a direction to transfer the belt from the idle to the fixed pulley. The belt-shifter shaft is held against the force of the spring 50 inposition to maintain the belt upon the idle pulley by means of the detent 52, pivoted at one end at 53 upon the upper end of the lever 54, fulcrumed at its lower end at 55 upon a fixed support. The swinging end of the detent 52 is engageable with a stop-disk 56, fixed upon the belt-shifter shaft and provided with a flattened peripheral portion 57 and having the pin`58 projecting from one side thereof. The disk-engaging end of the detent 52 is flattened and of a width equal to the length of the path through which the pin 58 is caused to travel by the rocking movement of the shaft 48 and the stop-disk. The pin is solocated as to be adapted to engage and sup- 'port the swinging end of the detent 52 at all times when the parts are in position to maintain the belt upon the idle pulley, and when the detent is so supported its endwill abut upon the face of the disk to form a stop for the shifting mechanism as long as the iattened edge portion of the disk occupies a position at an angle to the neighboring flattened end of the detent. The location of said pin relatively to said attened edge surface is such that the detent is held above the plane occupied by said flattened surface when brought by rotative movement of the disk into parallelism with said flattened end of the detent, in which case the disk is released from the stop action 0f the detent, leaving the shaft 48 free to be actuated by the spring 50 to shift the belt to the fixed pulley.

The frictional engagement of the belt 30 with the inclosing loop of the'belt-shifter, aided by the weight of said loop, tends to induce a rotative movement of the shaft 48 and to yieldingly hold the same with the stop-arm 60, fixed thereon, in engagement with the bearing 49, in which position the stop-disk is in locking position, with its plane peripheral port-ion 57 at an angle to the liattened end ofthe detent 52. A `rocking movement can be imparted to the shaft 48 by means of an offset arm 61, fixed thereon, adapted to be engaged by a dog 62, pivot-ed upon an arm 45, Xed upon the rock-shaft 63, which extends along one edge of a well 19 and is provided with fingers 64, projecting therefrom across the -top of the well when the latter is open to receive a bottle and adapted to be depressed by the weight of the bottle entering the well and to thereby impart to their supportingshaft arock movement adapted to force the dog 62 against and past the offset arm 61 to actuate therethrough the belt-shifting shaft and rock the same sufficiently to bring the liattened portion of the stop-disk 56 into parallelism with the disk-engaging end of the detent 52 to cause the release of the belt-shifting mechanism. The fingers 64 are held in a depressed position as long as the bottle remains in the well, and when the fingers-engaging bottle leaves the Well the fingers are automatically returned to a position across the mouth of the well by a rock movement of their supporting-shaft induced by the weighted arm 65 fixed thereupon,l which returns the dog to position to again engage the arm 61, when IOO IIO

the shaft is again operated by the entry of a bottle into the well. It will thus be seen that 'the depositing of a bottle in a well 19 automatically serves, through the mechanism just described, to transfer the driving-belt to the fixed pulley, and thereby set in operation the mechanism whereby the interior of the bottle is scrubbed and cleansed.

rlhe lever 54 is formed with an offset 66, which projects into the path of the lever 35 and is connected with a spring 67, when released to the action of which it causes the detent 52 to follow and overtake the released stop-disk 56. The spring-induced movement of the lever 54 is limited by a stop 68. The stop-disk having been released from the detent 52 in the manner above described, with the resultant shifting of the belt to the fixed pulley, the belt-driven mechanism causes the reciprocating movement of the lever 35 in the manner above described, during the rst part of which movement the lever 54 is released to the action of its controlling-spring, causing the detent 52 to overtake and pass the stop-disk, and during the latter part of its return movement the lever 35 engages the offset end of lever 54 to operate the same and through engagement of the detent 52 with the stop-disk, which has been rotatively returned to locking position, causing an endwise movement of the belt-shifting shaft to transfer the belt to the idle pulley. Each of the bridges 20 is provided with a slideway 70 inthe bed, over which the bottles are moved by the endless conveyer, and is adapted to be operated in one direction to uncover the adjacent well by means of a cord 71, connected therewith, passing over the pulley 72 and connected with a weight 73. The bridge is operated in the opposite direction to close the well and is maintained in a closed position against the force of the weight by means of a cord 74 passing over pulley 75 and connecting with one end of a lever 76, fulcrumed at 77 upon a stationary support and having its other end adapted to interlock with a latch 7 8, adapted to hold the lever against the pull exerted thereupon by the weight 73 through the cord connections. The lever 76 is operated to close the bridge over the well during l the first part of the reciprocating movement of the spindle 23 by means of a vibratory arm 79, having a lateral offset engageable with said lever, said arm being connected by a link 80 with the lever 35. The lever 76 serves to close the trap-door 21 prior tothe depositingof a bottle in the well by means of an angle-lever 81, having an end offset beneath said trap-door and its opposite end connected by link 82 with the lever 76. The trap-door being hinged at 83 is permitted to open downwardly by gravity when the offset end of the angle-lever 81 is moved downardly away from the same,when a movement of said lever is ind uced by the positive operation of the lever 76 by engagement therewith of the arm 79, which opening movement does not occur until after the neck of the bottle has been engaged by the bell 27, which forces the bottle firmly against the opposite wall 84 of the well, thus supporting the bottle during the scrubbing operation independently of the trap-door. At the conclusion of the scrubbing operation when the sleeve 26 is retracted the bottle is released and permitted to slide by gravity down the opened trapdoor, from which it is deposited upon the inclined bed 85, down which it slides into engagement with the trip-lever 86, which is by the passage of the bottle thereunder lifted sufciently to cause an offset 87 thereon to engage and operate the latch 78, and'thereby release the lever 76 to the action of the weight 7 3, which immediately acts to operate the bridge to open the well and to operate the lever 81 to close the trap-door through the connecting mechanism above described. The bottle deposited upon the inclined bed slides by gravity down the same until its movement is arrested at the bottom thereof by engagement with the stop-board 88, where it is temporarily retained.

To permit the accumulation of a number of bottles at the bottom end of the inclined bed without contact of one bottle with another, a rack 89 is arranged to receive the bottles from the bed, which rack is provided with channels 90, adapted to receive the several bottles, and switches 91 are mounted on the bed, adapted to divert the bottles into the respective channels. Anydesired number of such switches may be employed in connection with each wel119 and an appropriate number of channels 90. As shown, the switches are pivotally mounted intermediately of their ends upon the bed at 92 and are normally so arranged that their upper ends are in contact with each other, so that the rst of a series of bottles delivered from the well will be deposited upon the switch which will divert it into the channel farthest removed from the well. As the bottle slides down the switch and engages the lower end thereof below the pivot it automatically operates the switch to move the upper end thereof out of the path of the next bottle delivered from the well, which next bottle will be deposited upon the next switch and delivered thereby into the next channel 90, and so on until all the switches have been operated, after which the next bottle delivered from the well will slide directly down the inclined bed into the last channel 90 of the series employed in connection with said well. The trip-lever 86 is located out of the path of the bottle sliding directly from the well down the inclined bed into the last channel 90, but is in position to be engaged by each of the switch-diverted bottles. The latch 78 is thus not released by the last-mentioned bottle, but remains in a locked position, maintaining the well closed to prevent the passage therethrough of other bottles.

When it is desired to continue the operation of the internal washing mechanism, the

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latch 78 is released by engagement therewith of a finger 94 on the rock-shaft 95, provided with an operating-handle 96. The bottles deposited in the channels 90 are delivered therefrom upon the notched shelf 97 by swinging to a vertical position said rack, which is fixed upon the rock-shaft `98, provided with an operating-handle 99. As thus deposited upon the shelf 97 the bottlesoccupy an upright inveted position with their necks located in the respective notchesI 100, formed in said shelf, permitting all of the wash-water to drain therefrom. Theshelf 97 is hinged along its outer edge to the stop-board 88, which is capable of vertical slide movements along the slideway 101 on the frame of the machine. Said stop-board is connected with the swinging end of said shelf by a cable 102, which passes around the shaft 103, provided with an operating hand-wheel 104.

When it is desired to deliver the drained bottles from the shelf 97, the hand-wheel 104 is operated in a direction to wind upon the shaft 103 the end of the cable connected with the stop-board 88 and to unwind the end connected with the hinged shelf 97, whereby the sto p-board is moved upwardly in its slideway and the shelf is permitted to swing downwardly until it occupies a vertical plane and its notched edge is withdrawn from the path of the bottles which are deposited by gravity upon asuitable subjacent su pport,which may be part of a rinsing and filling machine, to the action of which the bottles are subsequently subjected. After the bottles are delivered from the shelf 97 in this manner said shelf and stop-board are restored to their former position by a reverse movement of the hand-wheel 104. After the bottles have been delivered and before the subsequent settingin operation of the internal washing apparatus the switches 91 are restored to position to divert a new supply of bottles into the respective channels 90 by means of a slide-rod 121,provided with fingers 122,engageable with the lower ends of the respective switches. Reciprocating movements are imparted to the slide-rod 121 through link` 110 by means of an angle-lever 111, the arms of which project into the path of the vibratory handle 99, whereby the operation of the hinged rack S9 to deliver its supply of bottles upon the notched shelf 97 automatically causes the operation of the switches.

The conveyer-chains 2 are operated by means of sprocket-wheels 3 fixed upon a shaft 107, upon which is also fixed the gear-wheel 105, driven by pinion 106 on the counter-shaft 120, provided with the belt-pulley 108, adapted to receive a driving-belt 109.

The bed 18 is shown provided with three wells 19, in connection with each of which is provided mechanism for the treatment of bottles to wash the interior thereof, as above described, the rack 89 being provided with four channels 90, adapted to receive bottles passing through one of said wells, and with three of such channels adapted to receive bottles passing through each of the other wells.

It will be seen that in the operation of the machine, as above described, as the bottles are moved by the endless conveyer along the bed 18 the first bottle which is brought toan open well will be deposited therein, causing said well to be automatically closed and the subsequent bottles to pass thereover. In this manner the respective wells will be supplied with bottles, and when the operation of the endless conveyer is continued while the wells are all occupied other bottles occupying the spaces between the slats of the conveyer will be carried past the closed wells down the inclined slats 112 and again passed through the vat.

Bottles to be washed may be placed in the spaces in the conveyer to rest upon the guideslats 112, downwardly-inclined toward theinlet end of the vat.

As a means for automatically supplying uuwashed bottles to the open spaces in the conveyer a downwardly-inclined feed-chute 113 is provided, into which the unwashed bottles may be deposited, the lower end of said chute overhanging the path of the conveyer above the inclined ways 112 and being provided with a bottom opening 114, through which the bottles separately descend by gravity intoV respective open spaces in the conveyer when brought beneath said opening. An apron 115, of rubber or other flexible material, depends from an abutment 116 at the lower end of the chute into the path of a bottle moved by the conveyer down the incline 112 and is adapted` to be forced by engagement therewith beneath and against the lowermost bottle in the feed-chute, thereby retaining the last-mentioned bottle in the feedchute and preventing injurious contact between said bottles. The bottle is thus retained in the chute until au unoccupied space in the conveyer is brought beneath the bottom opening 114 to receive it. The spaces in the conveyer can thus be automatically maintained supplied with bottles in the vat and between the vat and the internal washing apparatus.

The rock-shaft 95 may be extended beneath the several latches 78 in connection with the internal bottle-washing mechanism of the respective wells 19 and` provided with a separate finger 94 for each latch, whereby all the latches can be simultaneously operated.

The stop-board 88, notched shelf 97, and channeled rack 89 are all extended throughout the width of the inclined delivery-bed 85, which is common to all the wells, and are adapted to receive and deliver bottles from all the wells.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

1. In a machine of the class described, and iu combinatiorna vat; an endless conveyer provided with openings severally adapted to freely receive a horizontally-disposed bottle;

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means for guiding and supporting said conveyer adjacent to the surface of the liquid in the vat; and guideways supported in submerged position beneath the conveyer whereby the conveyed bottles are supported partly by flotation.

2. In a machine of the class described and inv combination, a vat; an endless conveyer provided with openings severally adapted to receive a horizontally-disposed bottle; guiding and supporting mechanisms for the conveyer within and at opposite ends of the vat over which said conveyer passes; bottle-supporting ways extending within the vat beneath the conveyer, and part way around said conveyer guiding and supporting mechanisms at the ends of the vat whereby the bottles are supported in the spaces in the conveyer during their passage through and while entering and leaving the vat; and bottle-supporting ways over which the conveyer passes to and from the vat.

3. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a vat; a rotatory brush supported above `the liquid in the vat and means for conveying bottles past the brush, and into engagement therewith partly by flotation.

4. In a machine of the class described and in combination, avat; a bottle-conveyer movable therethrough; mechanism for automatically deliveringr bottles from the conveyer; an inclined way leading from the exit end of the vat to the bottle-delivering mechanism over which the bottles are adapted to be moved by said conveyer; an inclined way leading downwardly to the inlet end of the vat over which bottles are adapted to be moved by the conveyer; and means for automatically delivering bottles to the conveyer upon said downwardly-inclined way.

5. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a vat; a bottle-conveyer provided with an opening adapted to receive a bottle; means for supporting a bottle in the opening in the conveyer; a feed-chute having its lower end overhanging said conveyer and provided with a bottom opening and a flexible apron depending adjacent to the end of the chute into the path of a bottle contained in the conveyer-opening and adapted to be deliected by said bottle beneath a bottle 1ocated in the bottom opening in the chute.

6. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a vat; a bed provided with a delivery-well; a conveyer movable through said vat and over said bed, provided with openings severally adapted to receive a bottle, and adapted to permit the bottle to drop in said well when brought into vertical line therewith; and means for supporting the conveyercontained bottles in their passage through the vat, andfrom the vat to said bed.

7. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a conveyer provided with a plurality of openings severally adapted to receive a bottle; a bottle-supporting bed over which said conveyer passes provided with a well adapted to receive a bottle from an opening in the conveyer when brought into line therewith; and means for closing the well at certain times.

8. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a bottle-conveyer provided with a plurality of openings severally adapted to receive a bottle; a bottle-supporting bed over `which said conveyer passes provided with a well adapted to receive a bottle from an opening in the conveyer when brought into line therewith; means for closing the well at certain times; means for washing a well-contained bottle; means for holding a bottle in the well during the washing operation; and means for releasing the bottle from the well.

9. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a bottle-con veyer; a bed over which the conveyer passes; provided with a well adapted to receive a bottle from the conveyer; a movable cover for the well; and means whereby the introduction of a bottle into the well automatically induces a closing movement of the cover thereof.

10. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a bottle-conveyer; a bed over which the conveyer passes provided with a well adapted to receive a bottle from the conveyer; a movable cover for the well; a movable bottom for the well; means whereby the introduction of a bottle into the well induces a closing movement of the cover thereof; means for opening the bottom of the well and delivering the bottle therefrom; and means whereby the passage of the bottle from the well induces an opening movement of the cover thereof, and a closing movement of the bottom thereof.

l1. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a bottle-conveyer; a bed over which the conveyer passes, provided with a Well adapted to receive a bottle from the conveyer; a movable cover for the well; a movable bottom for the well; means whereby the introduction of a bottle into the well induces a closing movement of the cover thereof; means foropening the bottom of the well and delivering the bottle therefrom 'means whereby the 'passage of the bottle from the well induces an opening movement of the cover thereof, and a closing movement of the bottom thereof; means for washing the well-contained bottle and means for holding the bottle against the wall of the well during the washing operation.

12. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a bell adapted to receive and center the neck of a bottle; a spring for causing the bell to engage the neck of the bottle; means for supporting the bottle in opposition to the thrust of the bell;| internal bottlecleaning mechanism reciprocatory through the bell and mouth of the bell-supported bottle; and a link connection between the bell and said reciprocatory mechanism whereby the bell is automatically withdrawn against IOO IIO

the force of the spring at the conclusion of a `reciprocating movement of said mechanism.

13. Ina machine of the class described and in combination, a bed provided with a well adapted to receive a bottle; internal bottlecleaning mechanism adapted to be intermittently operated; means whereby the introduction of a bottle into the well automatically induces operation of said cleaning mechanism; and means whereby the operation of said mechanism is automatically discontinued after a determinate interval.

14. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a bed provided with a well adapted to receive a bottle; a spindle capable of rotary and reciprocating slide movements; an internal bottle-scrubber mounted upon said spindle; means for supporting a bottle within the well with its mouth in line with said spindle; means whereby the introduction of a bottle into the well automatically induces operation of said spindle; and means whereby the operation of the spindle is automatically discontinued at the conclusion of a reciprocating movement thereof.

15. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a bed provided with a well adapted to receive a bottle; a spindle capable of reciprocating slide movement; an expansible and contract-ible bottle-scrubber mounted on the spindle; means for supporting a Well-contained bottle with its mouth in line with the spindle; means whereby the expansion and contraction respectively of the scrubber are induced by the reciprocating movement thereof; means whereby the introduction of a bottle into the well automatically induces the operation of said spindle; and means whereby the operation of the spindle is automatically discontinued at the conclusion of a reciprocating movement thereof.

16. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a conveyer provided with a plurality of openings severally adapted to receive a bottle; a bed over which the conveyer passes provided with a plurality of wells severally adapted to receive a bottle from either of the conveyer-openings; movable covers for the respective wells; and means whereby the introduction of abottle into a well automatically induces a closing movement of the cover thereof.-

17. In a machine of the class described and in combination, an endless conveyer provided with a plurality of openings severally adapted to receive a bottle; a bed over which the conveyer passes provided with a well adapted to receive a bottle from either of the conveyeropenings; a cover for the well; and means whereby the introduction of a bottle into the well automatically induces a closing movement of the cover thereof.

18. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a vat; a bed provided with a well; an endless conveyer movableA through the vat and over said bed, and provided with openings severally adapted to receive a bottle and deliver the same into the Well-opening; a movable cover for the well; means whereby the introduction of a bottle into the well automaticaily induces a closing movement of the cover thereof whereby subsequent bottles `are conveyed past the closed well and returned through the vat; and means for supporting the bottles conveyed to and from said bed.

19. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a vat; a bed provided with a plurality of wells; an endless conveyer movable through the vat and over said bed and provided with openings severally adapted to receive a bottle and deliver the same into either of said well-openings; movable covers for the respective wells; separate bottlecleaning mechanism for each well; means for operating the several bottle-cleaningmechanisms; means whereby the introduction of a bottle into either of said wells automatically induces a closing movement of the cover thereof and operation of the cleaning mechanism in connection therewith; and means for supporting the bottles conveyed to and from said bed.

20. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a vat; a bed provided with a plurality of wells; an endless conveyer movable through the vat and over said bed and provided with openings severally adapted to receive a bottle and deliver the same into either of said well-openings; movable covers for the respective wells; separate bottlecleaning mechanism for each well; means for operating the several bottle-cleaning mechanisms; means whereby the introduction of `a bottle into either of said wells automatically induces a closing movement of the cover thereof and. operation of the cleaning mechanism in connection therewith; automatic means whereby after a determinate interval the operation of the cleaning mechanism is discontinued, the bottle delivered from the well and the well opened for the reception of another bottle from the carrier; and means for supporting the bottles conveyed to and from said bed.

21. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a vat; a bed provided with a plurality of wells; an endless conveyer movable through the vat and over said bed, and provided with openings severally adapted to receive a bottle and deliver the same into either of said well-openings; movable covers for the respective wells; a reciprocatory internal bottle-scrubber for each well; means for reciprocating the several scrubbers; means whereby the introduction of a bottle into the well automaticallyinduces a closing movement of the cover thereof and operation of the scrubber reciprocating mechanism in connection therewith; automatic means whereby the operation of the scrubber mechanism is discontinued at the conclusion of a reciprocating movement thereof, the bottle delivered from the well and the well opened roo4 TIO

for the reception of another bottle; and means for supporting the bottles conveyed to and from said bed.

22. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a downwardly-inclined delivseparate bottle-receivin g channels at the bot-V tom of said bed; means for depositing bottles at a denitepointupon said bed; and aswitch normally occupying an open position in the path of bottles deposited upon the bed and adapted to guide a bottle passing thereover into one of said channels and be automatically operated by said bottle to occupy a closed position out of the path of a deposited bottle delivered over said bed into another of said channels.

24. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a bed provided with a well; means for automatically depositing bottles into the well-opening; a movable cover for the well; a downwardly -inclined deliverybed; means for delivering bottles from the well upon said bed; a switch normally occupying an open position in the path of bottles deposited upon the delivery-bed and adapted to be automatically closed by the switch-diverted bottle out of the path of a subsequent bottle; means whereby the introduction of a bottle into the well automatically induces a closing movement of the cover thereof; means for opening the Well; and a trip for inducing operation of the well-opening mechanism located in the path of the switch-diverted bottles only.

25. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a bed provided with a well; a movable cover for the well; a movable bottom for the well; means for automatically delivering the bottles to the well; a bell adapted to receive and center the neck of a well-contained bottle; means for causing the bell to engage the neck of the bottle; means for supporting the bottle in opposition to the thrust of the bell; internal bottle-cleaning mechanism reciprocatory through the bell; means for operating the cover of the well; means for operating the bottom of the well; means for reciprocating the internal cleaning mechanism; means whereby the introduction of a bottle into the well automatically induces a closing movement of the cover thereof; a reciprocating movement of the cleaning mechanism and an opening movement of the bottom of the well; and means whereby the passage of the bottle from the well automaticallyv induces an opening movement of the cover and a closing movement of the bottom thereof.

26. In a machine of the class described and in combination, a vat; internal bottle-scrubbing mechanism; a conveyer movable through the Vat and from the vat to the internal scrubbing mechanism, said conveyer being provided with openings severally adapted to receive a bottle in horizontal position; and means for submerging the conveyed bottles in the vat whereby they are supplied with washing liquid for the subsequent internal scrubbing operation and means for supporting the bottles conveyed from the vat to the scrubbing mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of February, 1903.

JAMES J. CLIFFORD.

Witnesses:

GEO. A. MosHER, E. M. OREILLY.