Today in 1899, US Patent 620820 A was issued, an invention of Charles Zies, for his “Automatic Keg-Soaking Apparatus.” There’s no Abstract, but it’s described as follows:
It is the object of my invention to provide an improvement in that class of troughs or tanks for soaking and rinsing beer-kegs and other casks which are provided with automatic apparatus for causing such kegs or casks to roll and travel through the tank and to deliver them therefrom, say, to a scrubbing machine. I have devised improved means or mechanism for submerging the kegs or casks in the body of water contained in the tank and also for causing the same to roll and travel from one end of the tank to the other, where an improved elevating and delivery mechanism is arranged for automatic cooperation with the means for submerging as aforesaid. I further provide an improved guard for regulating the admission of kegs or casks to the tank, the same being automatically operated in connection with the other mechanism above referred to.
