Patent · US Expired

Method of delabelling

US5317794A · kind A · utility

20Cited by
9References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 8, 1992
Grant dateJun 7, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 8, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T156/19
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A machine for removing tubular plastic labels from bottles to facilitate their re-use and recycling. The machine has a multi-station turret and supply and exit conveyors to sequentially supply labeled bottles in line to the turret and remove delabeled bottles from the turret. The delabeling is accomplished with a cutter which is preferably in the form of a high-pressure jet of water. Ideally, the cutter is adjusted so that it is a differential cutter which will cut a label without cutting or marring a bottle from which a label is being removed. With one embodiment, a water flush mechanism is provided to flush cut labels from their bottles and the turret onto a screen conveyor. The flush water passes through the conveyor into a container from which it is pumped for re-use. Removed labels are transported by the screen conveyor to a collection bin. With another embodiment, an air blast mechanism is used to strip cut labels from bottles and a vacuum pick up is used to collect stripped labels.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.