US935261A - Bottle-washing machine. - Google Patents

Description

G. W. KOCH.

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION IILBD 123.2, 1908.

Patented Sept.28,1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l/vihwooeo G. W, KDGH.

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED Amm, 1908.

935,261; I Patented; Sept. 28, 1909.

wit" eon:

G. W. KOCH.

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APE.2, 190s.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

6 SHEETS-*SHBET 3.

latenteqi fiept, 28, 196 9.

attozneqo G. W. KOCH,

BOTTLE WASHING momma 4 APPLICATION FILED APR.2, 1908. 935 ,26}; Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

avweni oz Witnesses G. W. KOCH. BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

' 'APPLIGATION FILED APR.2, 1908.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

' SHEETS-SHEET 6.

avweutoz HEW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICF.

GEORGE V]. KOCH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOTTLE-WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed April 2, 1908.

To all 1127mm it may concern:

lie itknown that l, (tnonon W. Keen. a citizen of the United States, residing at lhihutelphia in the county of Philadelphia and State ot Pemisylvania, have invented a new and usel'ul Bottle-fishing .\lachine, ol which the tollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to llliltllllltS tor washinggj bottles and more particularly to machines \x'herelry the bottles al'ter being:

conveyed from a solution tanlc can be thori;-' conveyed above a drain tank to the point ot use. all of said mechanisms being operated intermittently front a common source of power,

With these and other objects in View the invention consists of certain novel features ot c:.n1struction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed on in the claims.

in the aecompanrin drawings is shown the prcterred torn] ot the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a side etc ation of the bottle washing. niechanisnf therinsing-f and draining apparatus being disclosed as an attachment"for a bottle soaher ot ordinary constriwtion. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on line .-l Fig. 1. Fig. i is an enlarged sideeleration of the rinsing mechanism. Fig. 4 'is a horir-ioiltal section through the motor of the rinsing; mechanism, the hub being shown partlj in plan. I

through. Fig. (3 is a side elevation showing the rinsing mechanisnras a part of a HOttlitl' of special construction. Fig. 7 is a section through one of the racks of the soaker and showing the positions of the parts when a bottle is first placed within the rack. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a rack and showing the .manner of locking a bottle therein as it passes into a solution ta .k. view of a portion of the Fig. 9 is an end rack and showing Fig. 5 is a central vertical section there Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28,1909.

Serial No. 424,828.

the lock in closed position. Fig. 10 is a lace view of a portion of the rack. Fig. 11 is an elevation of a rack and the means emj ployed for unlocking the same to release the bottle or bottles therein. Fig. 1:? is an eleration of the parts shown in Fig. ll. Fig. 13 is a perspectiw riew ot a portion oi the head and the parts connected thereto.

As heretofore stated, the present invention is designed for use either as an attachment for bottle soakers already on the market or can be embodied in a bottle soaker of special form. i i

in Fig. 1' A designates a bottle soaker of a well known type. having a solution tank 1 above which are arranged standards 2 carrying the shafts 3 on which are mounted sprockets t carrying endless chains 5, which chains extend downward into the tank and under idler sprockets (i... That portion of the chain within the tank is paralleled by rails T for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

ltigidly secured to the chains at regular intervals are 'aeks 8 each of which is designed to hold a desired number of bottles, the necks of which project beyond the outer ends of the racks, there being ningedly mounted retaining strips 9 upon the racks for holding the bottles in place therein. These strips are so located that when the racks are drawn downward into the tank the strips will bear upon the 'ails T and be held in closed positions thereby. As shown in Fig. l the rails 7 extend upwardly above the tank adjacent one end and to an inclined board or chute 10 so that the closures or retaining strips 9 will be held shut until the racks are brought into position above the upper end of board 10, whereupon the bottle: will, by their own weight, swing the re-- taining strips open so that the bottles will be tree to slide downward upon tin. board 10.

The mechanism above described does not constitute any part of the present invention but merely forms part of one form of bottle soaker now in use. The attachment constituting the present invention consists of a mounted therein and. supporting" a shaft 1% On this sha ftjare secured sprockets 20 and a gear 21. This gear meshes with another gear 22 secured to a stud shaft 23 on which .less chains constituting a conveyer and connected at regular intervals by cross bars 31 each carrying a series of inverted substantially frusto-conical receiving sleeves 32 .open at their upper and lower ends and spaced apart laterally distances equal to the distances between the bottles within the racks 8. These rows or series of sleeves are designed to assume positions at the lower end of board 10 so that the bottles when re-' leased from the racks will slide down upon the board 10 with their necks lowermost and will enter the sleeves 32 in the paths thereof.

Secured to shaft 28 is a ratchet wheel 33 designed to be actuated by a pawl 34 adjustably connected ip any suitable manner to an arm 35 which may be slidably mounted on a suitable supporting block 36 or other structure'.

This arm 35 is pivotally connected to ,one end of a lever 37 fulcrumed at an inter ably by means of a worm 44 upon a shaft having pulleys 46 or other suitable means 'pawl 34 relative to the arm 35.

mediate point upon the frame 12 and having a wrist pin 38 at its other end movably mounted within a slot 39 formed longitudinally within pitman 40. This pitman is connected to a wrist pin 41 extending from one face of a worm wheel 42 which is journaled upon a'stud shaft 43 extending from.

the frame 12. \Vheel 42 is driven preferwhereby motion may be received from a belt driven by a suitable motor, not shown.

With the mechanism herein described it will be seen that durin each complete rota- .tion of the worm whee 42 the pawl 34 will operate to turn ratchet wheel 33 one or more teeth, according to the adjustment of the Obviously the farther the pawl 34 is from the pivot of arm 37 the sooner it will engage a tooth on the ratchet wheel and the greater will be the movement of said ratchet wheel when the pawlis recip'rocated. This intermittent motion of the ratchet wheel Will result in a corresponding movement of the chains 30 and sleeves 32 and also of the chains 25 and 5 and of the racks 8.- The parts are so spaced and timed that one set of sleeves 32 will assume a position at the lower end of the board 10 upon the completion of each movement of chains 30 and at the same time one rack 8 will assume a position at the upper end of board 10 so that the bottles con tained therein will be free to move downthe board and thence into the sleeves the paths thereof.

Extending upward from the frame 12 at opposite sides of the conveyer formed by chains 30 and bars 31 are standards 47 on which is journaled a shaft 48 having cords or light chains 49 secured thereto and designed to be wound thereon and each of which has a weight 50 fastened to it and mounted between ide plates 51. These wei hts are disposed directly above the path of the sleeves 32 and one set of sleeves is designed to assume a position below the weights upon the completion of each movement of the mechanism.

A cross bar or head 52 is arranged below the upper ply of conveyer 30 and in vertical alinement with the weights 50 and this bar 'is supported at its ends by side bars 53 lower ends to links 55 which are in turn at tached to hell crank levers 56. Both of these bell crank levers are secured to a transverse shaft 57 and one of the levers is connected 41 hereinbefore referred to. A pulley 59 is secured to one end of shaft 48 and secured thereto and designed to be wound thereon is a cord" 60 extending downward and secured to one of the bell crank levers 56. A supply pipe 61 extends upwardly adjacent one of the standards 47 and opens into a distributing pipe 62 which connects the standards 47 and extends transversely above conveyer 30. This distributing pipe has a series of downwardly extending spraying devices 63 one of which is located directly in front of each weight 50 and at a distance therefrom equal to the distance between any two adjoining series of sleeves 32. A valve 64 is located within pipe 61 and the stem 65 thereof engages an car 66 extending from one'of the slides 53 and. the parts are so related that during the completion of the upstroke of the slide 53 the valve isopened, while after the first portion of thedownstroke of said slide the valve is closed. In Fig. 3the position of the stem when lowered has been indicated by dotted lines.

Extending horizontally from pipe'61 at a point above valve 64 is a distributing pipe 67 from which extends a series of flexible tubes 68. Each tube opens into one of a series of casings 69 secured upon the bar 52 and these casings are equal in number to the number of sleeves 32 in each series. Each casing 69 has a hollow hub 70 journalcd therein and n'ovided with radial blades or wings 71 againstwhich is directed the water which'cnters the casing throughtube 68. Ilub 70 has an upstanding pipe which rotates therewith and openings 73 are formed mounted in guides 54 and connected at their ward by gravity from the rack and along by means of a pitma'n 58 with the wrist pin bristles of the brush.

in the hub and between blades Tl so that a portion of the water discharged into the casing 69 will pass into the hub 70 and thence upwardly into pipe 72. An elongated cylin drical brush 74 is arranged at the upper end of the pipe 72 and has a tubular core 75 provided with guide openings 76 through which a portion of the water which is dis charged into pipe '72; is expelled among the .An opening 77 is formed at the end of the tube 75 so that a jet of water can be directed longitiulinally from said end. An outlet opening TS is formed in casing tifland a pipe 75) extends from this opening and forwardly of the machine, said pipe terminating in. an upstanding nozzleSO arranged below and in vertical alineinent with one of the spraying devices 63. One of these casings 9 and the mechanism herein described in relation thereto is located below each weight 50.

1 in minute -through the openings 73 V will be directed upwardly wound uponthe shaft 48.. The

From the foregoing description it will be seen that during the upstroke of/the slides 53 the brush 74 will be brought into position within the series of sleeves 32 thereabove and immediately subsequent to this positioning of the parts and just prior to the completion of the upward movement of the brushes, the valve 64 will be opened and water will rush frointhe supply pipe 61 through the tubes (38 to the casing (39. The force of the water will be sutlicient to rotate the blades 71 and the hubs so that the pipes 72 will'b'e caused to rapidly revolve. The brushes will of course turn with the pipes. At the same time a portion of the water will escape and into pipe 72 discharged outwardly jets through the openings 76 and 77. That portion of the water which is utilized for propelling the blades 71 will escape through pipes 79 to nozzles 80 by which it into the nextadoining series of sleeves 32 as will beclearly apparent by referring to Figs. '1 and 3 of .the drawings. While this operation of the parts is taking place some or the water will pass upwardly and be distributed to the various spraying devices 63 which will operate to directthe water downwardly onto the inverted bottles contained within the series of sleeves 82 adjoining those beneath the .-weig'hts' 50.

It is'to'be understood that'when the cross bar or head 51 is in lowered position the cord (yr-chain 60 is held taut by the lever to which it is attached and when it is in this positiorr it is unwound from the pulley or spool 59 vv hilmthe cords or chains 49 are weights 5O are therefore-held raised out of the paths of the bottles contained in sleeves wheel 42 is rotated by means of worm 4A the pitmen 40 and 58 are slowly operated. the parts are in positions shown in from which it will be hen ' into the bottle.

32. When' Fig. l the rotation of wheel 2L2 will cause pitman 40 to move to the left withdrawing the pawl 34 from the ratchet wheel and thus leaving the chains 30 at rest. During this withdrawal of the pawl the pitman 58 is actuating bell crank levers 56 so as to push upwardl y upon the slides and raise the cross bar or head 52. This will result in the brushes H and the nozzles 80 being in- Soltth into the bottles contained in two adjoining series of sleeves 32 and just prior to the upward movement of the brushes and nozzles, and valve (34: will be opened as hereinbet'ore described and the water will rush to the various outlets and rinse the bottles both inside and outside as will be apparent. Importance is attached to the fact that the same current of water operates to rotate the brushes and to spray through the brush and As soon as the bell crank levers 5t; begin their upward movement for raising the cross bar or head 52 the cord (30 becomes slack and the weights 50 pull downward on the cords 4!) which thus unwind from the shaft 48 and assume positions upon the bottoms of the inverted bottles thereunder. Displacement of the bottles during the insertion of the brushes thereinto is thus prevented.

When wheel 42 begins the second half of its rotation the pitmen 40 and 58 operate to reverse the movements of levers 37 and 56 and the slot 39 is of such length that the brushes 74 and nozzles 80 will have been withdrawn from the bottles and the weights 50 raised therefrom, before the end wall of the slot strikes the wrist pin 38 so as to act-uate lever 37 and cause pawl 84: to partly rotate the ratchet wheel This partial rotation will be suflicient to move one set of hottles from under the weights 50 and into position under the spraying devices 63 while another sct of bottles is brought into position under the weights. This intermittent motion will be transmitted through chain 25 to the rack carrying chains 5 and another rack will be brought into position above board 10 soon as a new set of sleeves 32 assumes a position at the lowerend of the board. It will thus be seen that bottles will be automatically carried through the tank 1 and discharged into the sleeves 32 and then conveyed through the rinsing apparatus and above the drain tank into which the water will be free to drop as the bottles pass to the end of the machine where they can be removed by the operator. v k

In Fig. 1 only a fewsets of sleeves 32 have. been shown but it is to be understood of course that these sets are to extend at regular intervals throughout the lengths of the chains 30.

Instead of constructing the rinsing mechanism as an attachment for a bottle soaker the same can be incorporated in a single niachine with soaking mechanism, as illustrated in Figs. 6 to 12 inclusive. In the complete machine shown in these figures it is designedto rinse the insides of the bottles while they are in the racks which convey them through the .solution tank. The intermediate operation of sliding the bottles from the racks to the holding sleeves before the rinsing operation is thus dispensed with.

By referring to the drawings in Fig. 6 it will be noted that the tank 81 isdivided by a vertical partition 82 into two compart ments 83 and 84 respectively, the first mentioned compartment being designed to hold a disinfecting and cleansing solution while the compartment 84 is designed to hold clear water. Standards 85 are arranged above the feed end of the tank and a shaft 86 is journaled upon them preferably in adjustable boxes 87. This shaft has sprockets 88 secured to it. Standards 89 extend upward from the middle portion of the tank and above the partition 82 and have a shaft 90 journaled preferably in boxes 91 adj ustably 'mounted upon the standards. Sprockets 92 are secured to this shaft. A frame 93 extends from one end of the tank 81 and arranged thereon are uprights 94 suitably connected and supporting standards 95 in which are mounted adjustable boxes 96 constituting bearings for a shaft 97. This shaft has sprockets 98 secured to it. Idler sprockets 99 and 100 are disposed within the'upper and lower portions of the compartment 84 and sprockets 101 and 102 are located in the lower portion of the compartment 83. Endless chains 103 are mounted on sprockets 88 and 98 and extend downward under the sprockets 101 and 102 and thence upwardly and over sprockets 92 from which they extend downward under the sprockets 100 and over the sprockets 99. It will thus be seen that during the movement of the chains in the direction' of their lengths all )ortions thereof will be conveyed downward into the compartment 83 and thence over partition 82 and downwardly into the compartment 84 from which said chains will extend in an inclined plane upwardly to the sprockets 98.

Sprockets 101 are secured to a shaft 104 to which is attached a ratchet wheel 105 designed to be engaged by a pawl 100 adjustably connected to an arm 107 which is in turn mounted upon a wrist pin 108 extending from a worm wheel 109. This w orm wheel receives its motion from a worm 110 on ashaft- 111 having pulleys 1-12 for receiving motion from a suitable motor through a belt not shown. This mechanism produces an intermittent movement of the chains 103.

Mounted in frame 93 are slides 113 only one of which has been shown but both are similar in construction to the slides 53 and are connected by a cross head 114 on which flexible tube 118 extends from each of the devices to a supply pipe 119, the valve 120 of which has a stem 121 designed to be actuated by the slide 113 in the same manner as is the valve stem 65 hereinbefore referred to. The slides 113 are connected by links 122 to levers 123 and one of these .levers is connected by a pitman 124 with the wrist pin 108. The cross head 114 is mounted to reciprocate below those portions of the inclined chains 103 arranged between tank 81 and the uprights 94. In order that the lost motion produced by slotting the pitman 40 may be duplicated in this modified construction pitman 107 is preferabl provided with a slot 125 in which the wrist pin 108 works.

In order that bottles may be supported in inverted positions while being operated upon by the rinsing mechanism it is necessary to provide meanswhereby these bottles can be locked within the racks containing them and automatically unlocked after the rinsing operation so that the bottles can be discharged either into a tank or onto a suitable conveyer. In Fig. Gonly a few racks 126 have been shownconnected to the chains 103 but it is of course to be understood that these racks are to extend the full lengths of the chains and at regular intervals apart. The construction of each rack has been shown particularly in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive. Each rack consists of an elongated rectangular frame 127 having a series of frusto-conical cups 128 secured therein upon the bottom thereof, the open end of each cup being provided with an inturncd bead 129'desi 'ned to space an inserted bottle from the walIof the cup. Openings 130 are formed in the bottom of cachcup and also in the bottom of the frame 127 so that any water accumulating within the cup can drain therefrom. The top 131 of the frame does not extend entn'clythereacrossbut terminates adjacent the longitudinal center thereof and has a series of notches or recesses 132 each of which constitutes a seat for the neck of a bottle located in' one of the cups 128. In order that the bottles maybe securely fastened within these cups each frame has an elongated yoke 133 pivotally connected to the sides thereof so constructed asto swing either into position upon the upper end of the frame or into a position removed from. said end. The inter- 136 having a crank arm 137 secured thereto and extending outwardly therefrom, and this arm when pushed in one direction is designed to force the cam against the yoke 133 so as to direct it into engaging position. The

cam when thus shifted will swing against one of the links of chain 103 as shown in Fig. 8 and thus be held against accidental displacement. Extending inwardly from one 'all of tank 81 is a tripping arm or bracket 138 which extends into the path of arm 137 and is designed to shift it while moving into the tank so as to swing the cam and close the yoke 133 uponthe bottles. The yoke will thus be held by the cam while the rack being conveyed through the two cmpartments of tank 81. and while the bottles are held inverted above, and are being operated upon by. the rinsing mechanismf A tter the bottles have been moved away from the rinsing mechanism they are conve ved upwardly toward the sprockets 9S and to the upper end of an inclined board 139 designed to direct bottles either into a suitable rinsing tank. not shown, or into a series of bottle receiving sleeves 140 similar to the sleeves and carried by endless chains 141, there being spraying devices 142 for washing th outside of each bottle as it passes tlu-reumler. The means en'iployed for re Imoing the bottles from the racks upon reaching the upper end of board 130 can be of any desired term. In Figs 11 and12,however, the preferred means has been shown. This consists of a curved tripping arm 143 supported by a bracket 144 close to chain 103 and the other end of board 130. \Vhe'n each rack approaches this arm 143, said arm wedges back of the crank arm 137. This crank arm will therefore travel along and under the curved Face of the arm H3, and will be actuated thereby so as to swing the cam out of locking posit ion. The locking yoke 13-33 will therefore be t'ree'to swing out of engagement with the bottles which can, in turn, slide downwardly from the rack and onto the board 131. In order that the yoke 133 may b ositively swung out of engaging position as soon as released a spring 145 is fastened to the yoke 133 and also to the chain 103, this spring operating to hold the yoke normally removed from the top of the rack. As soon as the cam is initially shitted by arm 143 he spring presses the yoke against the cam and turther shifts it and this crank arm as shown in Fig. 11.

The springshold the yokes of the. racks open a t'ter they pass the arm 14-3 and they remain open until the racks reassume positions adjacent the sprockets 88 at which point. the operator retills the racks and moves the yokes into locking position.

With this construction it will be seen that the bottles, alter being placed in the. racks by the operator who stands adjacent the Z sprockets 88, will be carried downward until the lockingcanis are automatically shifted by the bracket 138 so as to secure the bottles in place. The racks are then carried iinder the sprockets 102 and 101 within the solution tank and then upwardly over the sprockets 92 after which they are carried downward into the fresh water compartment of the tank and under sprockets 100 and over sprockets 99. It is of course to be understood that all of this movement is intermittent inasmuch as the chain receives its motion from the reciprocating pawl which engages the ratchet wheel 5. The inverted racks are carried above the spraying devices 115 which, when they move upwardly, as described in connection with the other construction, cause the brushes to whirl within the bottles while jets of water are discharged outwardly. The nozzles 117 also act to rinse the interiors of the bottles. This spraying and rinsing operation of course occurs between the movements of the chains 103. The racks are then conveyed upwardly to the releasing mechanism, after which the bottles are discharged in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with bottle holding means and mechanism for imparting a step by step movement to said means; 01 a easing, a water wheel therein, a tubular brush 'revoluble with the wheel and having outlet openings, means for shifting the brush into the bottle successively between the movements thereof, and means for directing liquid under pressure against the water wheel and into the brush. I

L The combination withbottle holding means, and mechanism for imparting a step 'by step movement thereto: ot a casing, a

water wheel therein and having a hollow hub portion provided with inlet openings, a. tubular brush revolublc with and opening into said hub portion, said brush having outlet openings, means tor shitt ing thebrush into the bottles successively between the movements thereof, and means for directing fluid under pressure against the water wheel at predetermined periods.

3. The combination with bottle holding means and mechanism for imparting a step by step movement thereto; of a rinsing device comprising a vertically movable easing,

moans for actuating said casing between the movements of the bottles, a water wheel rev oluble within the casing and having a hollow apertured hub, a tubular "brush extending upward from and communicating with the hub, said brush having outletapertures, a nozzle. connected to the casing and consti tuting an outlet therefor, and means fendireeting tluid under pressure into the casing at pretletermiued intervals.

1. The combination \vitlrbottle. holding lJU a vertically movable casing, a hollow hub mounted to rotate therein, blades radiating from the hub, said hub having openings therein, a tubular brush extending from and opening into the hub, said brush having out let apertures, a. discharge nozzle constituting an outlet for the casing, a supply pipe, at

flexible tubular connection between said pipe and easing, a valve in the supply pipe, and means operated by the movement of the rinsing mechanism for opening and closing the valve at predetermined intervals.

(i. The combination with a plurality of bottle holders, and means for imparting a step by step movement thereto; of bottle rinsing mechanism, means for projecting said mechanism into the'bottles successively bet-ween movements thereof, and flexibly supported weights cooperating with the rinsing-mechanism for bearing upon and holding the bottles during the rinsing opera tion.

7. The combination with a plurality of bottle holders and means for imparting a step by step movement thereto; of flexibly supported weights suspended above the paths of the holders, rinsing mechanism, means for projecting said mechanism into the bottles successively between the move- 'ments thereof, means for rotating that portion of the mechanism within a bottle, winding means for controlling the weights, and means operated by the'movement of the rinsing mechanism for actuating the Winding means to raise or lower the wei hts uponbott-les. 4

8.- The combination with bottle holding means and mechanism for imparting a step by step movement thereto; of a spraymg brush, means for shiftingthe brush into bottles successively between the movements thereof, a water motor for rotating the brush, and means for directing fiuid under pressure into the motor to rotate the same, there being apertures within the motor for directing a portion of the motive fluid into the brush during the rotation thereof.

9. The combination with an endless conveyer and bottle holders carried thereby; of a ratchet wheel movable therewith, an oscillating lever, an arm pivotally connected to the lever, a guide therefor, a pawl adjustable longitudinally upon the arm and normally engaging the ratchet wheel, and means for imparting an oscillating movement to the lever to actuate the ratchet wheel and conveyer with a step by step movement.

10. The combination with a tank, a flexible endless conveyer extending through the tank, and holders upon the conveyer for holding bottles; of a-second flexible endless conveyer, a series'of bottle holders thereon, means for imparting a stepby-step move-' ment to each of the conveyers, a spraying device surrounded by one of the conveyers, and comprising a casing, a .water wheel, a brush revoluble with the wheel and constituting a spraying device, means, for automatically directing abottle from one holder of one series to a holder of the other series between movementso said conveyers, and means for directing; a fluid into the casing between said movements to rotate the Wheel and brush and direct a spray from the brush.

In testimony that Igclaim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed myzsignature in the presence of two witnesses. 7

scores w, Koon. Witnesses WM. M. STEWART, J12, B011) L. SPAHR.

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