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US 2010/0276083 A1Published application
Apparatus and method for clean removing labels from containers
OwnerRichard H. Hurstinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved semi-automatic Label Stripping Machine for detaching labels from a round container is disclosed. The container is placed between a rotatable idler and a rotatable platform. The container is rotated on its central vertical axis by rotating the platform. A plurality of peeler assemblies are brought in contact with the label and are moved down the outside surface of the container there by spirally striping off the label. The apparatus further comprises a guide that provides provide improved safety and a self-cleaning feature.
Claims20
An improved apparatus for removing labels from the outside surface of a container, said apparatus comprising:
- a frame,
- a rotary platform movably associated with said frame wherein said platform is configured for receiving a first end of a cylindrically shaped container;
- a rotary idler movably associated with said frame wherein said rotary idler is adjacent to and in alignment with said rotary platform, said rotary idler configured to receive and rotatably clamp an opposing second end of said cylindrically shaped container between said rotary idler and said rotary platform thereby defining a container void between said rotary platform and said rotary idler;
- a rotary movement generator mechanically associated with said housing and said rotary platform, said rotary movement generator configured to generate and transfer a rotating force to said rotary platform;
- a plurality of peeler assemblies wherein each peeler assembly comprises a peeler and wherein each peeler assembly is movably associated with said frame so that each peeler assembly is outside of said container void when not actuated and moves toward said container void when actuated;
- and
- a peeler assembly actuator configured for moving at least one peeler assembly a predefined distance toward said container void wherein said predefined distance is adjustable and selected so that the peeler of the at least one actuated peeler assembly comes into contact with a label associated with an outside surface of said cylindrically shaped container to spirally strip said label from said container.
4 more elements
An improved apparatus for removing labels from the outside surface of a container, said apparatus comprising:
- a frame,
- a plurality of rotary platforms movably associated with said frame wherein each of said platform is configured for receiving a first end of a cylindrically shaped container;
- a plurality of rotary idlers movably associated with said frame wherein each rotary idler is adjacent to and in alignment with one of said rotary platforms thereby defining a rotary platform-rotary idler pair
- wherein each of said rotary idlers is configured to receive and rotatably clamp an opposing second end of said cylindrically shaped container between said rotary idler its respective rotary platform thereby defining a container void between said rotary platform-rotary idler pair;
- a rotary movement generator mechanically associated with said housing and each of said rotary platforms, said rotary movement generator configured to generate and transfer a rotating force to each rotary platform;
- a plurality of peeler assemblies defining a peeler assembly array for each rotary platform-rotary idler pair, wherein each peeler assembly comprises a peeler and wherein each peeler assembly is movably associated with said frame so that each peeler assembly is outside of said container voids when not actuated and moves toward a container void when actuated;
- and
- a peeler assembly actuator configured for moving at least one peeler assembly a predefined distance toward a container void wherein said predefined distance is adjustable and selected so that the peeler of said at least one actuated peeler assembly comes into contact with a label associated with an outside surface of said cylindrically shaped container to spirally strip said label from said container.
5 more elements
A method of removing a label from the outside of a cylindrically shaped container comprising the steps of:
- Providing a plurality of rotatable platforms wherein each of said rotatable platforms are in vertical alignment with a rotatable idler thereby defining a plurality of rotatable platform-rotatable idler pairs;
- centering a cylindrically shaped container on each rotatable platform wherein said container has a label associated with an external surface;
- applying an clamping force on one end of said cylindrically shaped container to frictionally engage said container between its respective rotatable idler and rotatable platform;
- providing a peeler assembly array for each rotatable platform-rotatable idler pair;
- rotating said plurality of rotatable platforms,
- axially moving at least one peeler assembly for each array along said external surface;
- and
- urging said at least one peeler assembly into engagement with said external surface to spirally remove said label attached thereon.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.