US1525558A - Bottle-washing machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb, 10, 1925.

O. LARSEN BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet l I z w w .i w@ M m w \l mwu Feb. 10, 1925-. 1,525,558

O. LARSEN BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Filed April '18, 1922 5. Sheets-Sheet 2 izioz Qlgf 42651;

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Feb, 10, 1925.

- 1,525,558 0. LARS EN BOTTLE WASHING menus Filed April 18. 1922 5 Sheets-sheet a Ola: [$312672 25 Feb,' 10, 1925.

O. LARSEN BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 18. 1923 Feb, 10,

o. LARSEN BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

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BQTTLEwWASHING MAGHlNKE.

Application. filed ,April- 18, 1922.

T0 allwham it may concern c I Be it known that I, OLAE. LARSEN,2L cltr-j new. and useful Improvements in Bottle- WVashing lvIachines, of which the following is a specification.

Theflinvention relates to machines for 1 washing bottles in crates, 1nore particularly tojthe type of such machines in whichthe bottles are; moved continuously through successive cleansing operations.

Qne of the objects ofthe lnventlon 15 to provide a, slmply constructed compact machine wherein the cleansing means and the conveying means are so arranged that by.

simple adjutsment the machine may he op} erated;to}deliver the bottles ateither en'dffas" desired, and at the same time preserve the propersequence ofthe several cleanslng operatlons.

Another object is to provide a washing machine in which the continuous conveying -mechanism is devoid of obstruction to the play of "the cleansing flilid jets, and. which permits ready access for cleaning the fluidl tanks without removing any of the mecha n sm;

parent in the following description of a pre ferred embodiment of my invention which I; have illustrated 1n the accompanying drawings.

In thedrawings, Fig. Iisa side elevation.

of a washingmachine embodying the invention E1gJ2T1s-a plan.v1ew w1th covers re- 5 is a detailfview ofpa-rts of the conveying moved, and Fig, 3 is an endelevation of the same. Fig. l, 1s a long tudinal vertical sec-v tion through; the cent-erofthe machine. Fig.

mechanism. Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryz'sectionalelevation taken on the plane. ofsthe line 6+6 in Fig; 2..

a tank 1, supported on legs- 2, and; preferahly having a pyramidal shaped bottom wall 3 eflt'ecting a division ofjthe tank into twofluid reservoirs 4t arr-155. 'Endward exten= sions .6 and? ofthe tan'kaccommodate parts,

of a conveyor mechanism hereinafter described, and also are provided with outlets 8 and 9 which drain any overflow from the.

tank over the level-maintaining partitions r 1,0 and 11. 3

Other ohjjects and advantages will he. a

The machine illustrated herein comprises 3 Serial No. 555,188.

The two reservoirs 4 and 5 may be filled wlth water through the pipe 12 and valved inlet connections 13 and 141. A suitalo le washing solution may be used in one of'tlie reservoirs, the water 1n the" other being used line 19'. Suitable drain outlets 20 and 21 are providedat the lowermost end portions of each reservoir. 7

The side walls of the tank extend upwardly from the reservoirportion, forming wlth preferablyremovable sectional covers 22 an" enclosed'compartment over the reservoirs and. the conveying means later dc"- scrihed herein.

The washing operation is accomplished by pumping thewater-from'the reservoirs and spraying it under pressure into" and upon the bottlesas'they arefcarried througlr the machine; To that end a pair of'rotary pumps 23' and 24 are suitably. supported alongside the. tank, having pipe connections 25 and 26 with'screened intakes 27 and 28 in therespective reservoirs- Deliveryconnections 29 and 30 lead from the pumps to apair of headers 31' and 32', from which series of jet pipes 33 andfldextendacross the tank'in' position to spray the passing bottles, the spent Water falling backinto the reservoirs. Steam sterilizing jets f also are provided, asillustrated at 8'5 and 86 hav-' ing connections through the valved pipes 3 7 and 38with the steamlline' 19k It willhe observedthatthesterilizlng jets 35. and 36* 'are positioned between the; washing fluid jets 33] and 34 and the'respective ends of the tank. By closing one of the valves controlling the steam pipes 37'and 3.8, and hy introducing the Washing solution into tlereser-voir at that end of-thetank the sequence of washing, rinsing and sterilizing operations may be readily established from either end of the machine selectively.

The conveylng means illustrated in the" present embodiment for conducting the bot tles over the. spray jets comprises apa-ir; of endless travelling elements preferably chains 39. and operating respectively on I opposite sides ofthe interioroi the tank.

The upper runs ofthe chainspass above the jet pipes and are supported on a pair of longitudinally dlsposed parallel rails'41 and 42, the latter being rigidly supported at their outer ends preferably on the end wall structure of the tank extensions 6 and 7. Inner support for the rails may be provided by the cr ss braces 43 and 44 secured between the side walls of the tank and having suitable attachment with the rails 41 and 42.

To prevent lateral displacement of the chains operating along the rails without inter-connecting support, I have provided a longitudinal channel 45 in the bearing surface of each of the rails adapted to engage the chain links and guide them longitudinally on the rails. In the present illustration I employ a type of chain in which the centrally positioned link connections project sufliciently to engage the channels while the links proper slide on the rail surfaces.

The rails 41 and 42 preferably are constructed of L shaped cross section, the upright flanges adding strength to the structure and serving to support the lateral bottle case guides 46 and 47. The latter are suitably secured to the rails as by bolts 48, and preferably with some space therebetween as effected by the spacer rings 49. The guides 46 and 47 are spaced from each other so that they will just freely admit the passage of a bottle case between them, the abutting walls of the case being positioned directly upon the upper surface of the chains 39 and 40. The extremities of the guides at each end of therails may be outwardly inclined as at 50 to admit the bottle cases more readily when initially placed in the machine.

The channeled portions of the rails 41 and 42 preferably are opened as at 51 at each side of the dividing portion of the tank bottom between the two reservoirs, so that the water from the washing compartment will not be carried into and contaminate the water in the rinsing con'ipartment.

The operating mechanism for the chains 39 and 40 comprises pairs of double- flanged rollers 52 and 53 located at each end of the machine, each pair being mounted on a shaft 54 suitably journaled in the side walls of the tank extensions 6 and 7 respectively. The rollers 52 and 53 mainly support the chains at their run ends, and are positioned in openings 55 in the bearing portions of the rails 41 and 42 so that the bearing surfaces of the rails are tangent to the bearing peripheries of the rollers. The lower runs of the chains, in which it is operatively advantageous to permit slack, may be supported by additional pairs of rollers 56 and 57 suit-ably mounted on stub shafts secured to the tank walls as illustrated at 58.

Power is transmitted to the chains by means of a pair of sprockets 59 and 60 engaging the lower runs of the respective chains and rigidly mounted on a drive shaft 61 journalled in suitable bearings 62 mounted in the sidewalls of the tank. A pair of adjustable idler rollers 63 is provided to take up the slack in the chains. It will be obvious that the slack in the chains will occur on that side of the driving sprockets on which the chains leave the sprockets. Having provided for operating the chains in either direction, it is advantageous to swing the rollers 63 to either side of the sprockets. To that end I have provided inwardly extending sleeves 64 on the drive shaft bearings 62 upon which are mounted a pair of swinging brackets 65 carrying pivot pins 66 at their free ends for the operative support of the rollers 63. The rollers 63 may be shifted and secured 011 either side of the driving sprockets by means of the split bracket bearings 67 and tightening bolts 68 to clamp the brackets to the sleeves 64. The broken lines in Fig. 5 indicate the relative positions of the parts upon reversing the direction of the chain drive.

7 Any suitable reversible transmission means may be employed to drive the shaft 61. As herein illustrated, the outer end of the shaft 61 is journalled in the housing 69 supported upon the bracket 70 mounted on the tank wall. Conventional spiral gear and worm elements 71 and 72 in the housing connect the shaft 61 in driven relation to the pulley shaft 73, supported near its opposite end in a bearing bracket 74 and carry ing a fixed pulley 75. The latter is preferably connected by a belt 76 to a driving pulley 77 mounted on the drive shaft 78 by which the pumps 23 and 24 are operated. A main drive pulley 79, also moimted on the. pump shaft, is adapted to receive belt power for the operation of both pumps and conveyor.

By crossing the belt 76 between the pulleys 77 and 75, the direction of travel of the chains 39 and 40 may be reversed. The interchangeable direction of the chains also may be effected by interchanging right and left worms and gears in the housing 69.

The ability to operate the conveyor chains in either direction by a simple rearrangement of the power transmission has material advantage in the installation of the washing machines. The conditions of location in users plants make it highly desirable for economy of space and efficient association with other equipment, that the washing machine deliver the washed bottles at one end or the other of the machine, depending upon the particular conditions.

The simple means for taking up the slack in the chains on either side of the driving sprockets accomplishes the even operation of the conveyor at all times without back lash or jamming of the bottle crates.

A further distinct advantage in the present conveyor construction is the absence of any cross elements connecting the two continuously operating chains. This obviates all obstruction to the free and effective play of the cleansing sprays upon the passing bottles and eliminates much of the splashing. It further gives unobstructed access to the tank reservoirs, screens and spraying apparatus for thorough cleaning after use without removing the conveyor.

It will now be apparent that I have provided a simple durable construction in a bottle washing machine which effectively accomplishes the purposes set forth.

I claim as my invention:

1. Ina washing machine, a series of compartments, washing means in each compartment, selectively controlled sterilizing means in the end compartments positioned out- Warly of the washing means, and means for conveying articles to be cleansed through said series of compartments successively, said conveying means being adapted for operation toward either end of said series of compartments.

2. In a washing machine, a tank having serial c mpartments, a washing fluid spraying device in each compartment, a sterilizing fluid spraying device adajcenteach end of said tank, said latter devices being independently controlled, and a reversiblecontinuously operable conr eyor for carrying articles to be cleansed from either end of said tank to the other.

3. In a machine for washing bottles in crates, a tank adapted to contain washing fluid, means therein for sprayingthe fluid,

selectively controlled sterilizing means positioned in each end of said tank outwardly of said spraying means, a pair of spaced parallel rails extending through said tank, a pair of endless conveyor elements having operative runs supported longitudinally on said rails in spaced disconnected relation to each other, said elements being adapted to carry crated bottles past said spraying means, and operating means adapted for the selective movement of said elements in either direction along said rails.

4. In. a machine for Washing bottles in crates, a tank having a substantially enclosed upper portion and a lower portion forming a reservoir for washing fluid, spraying means in the lower portion ofsaid tank arranged to discharge an upwardly directed jet of washing fluid, a pair of separate endless conveyor chains having carrying runs for moving crates containing bottles over said spraying means and said reservoir and providing an unobstructed passage for said jet between said moving chains, a pair of parallel channeled rails underlying the carrying runs of said chains to support and retain the same against lateral displacement, and means for uniformly operating the chains.

5. In a washing machine, a tank having serial compartments, cleansing means in each compartment, a conveyor for moving articles into operative relation to said cleansing means successively and including an endless chain supported for reversible operation, a sprocket having operative engagement with said chain, reversible means for driving said sprocket, a roller, and an adjustable support therefor adapted to selectively position said roller in engagement with said chain on either side of said sprocket. i

6. Ina washing machine, a tank having serial compartments, cleansing means in each compartment, an endless conveyor chain in said tank having a supported operative run and a slack return run, said chaln being operable in either direction to move articles into operative relation to said cleansing means, a shaft, a sprocket on said shaft having driving engagement with said chain, a roller, a bracket having a pivotal sup-port for said roller, said bracket being adjustably supported toswing about the axis of said shaft, means for securing said bracket in position to cause the engagement of said roller with said chain on either side of said sprocket selectively, and reversible means for rotating said shaft.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

OLAF LARSEN.

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