Back to results
US 4,041,963 AGranted
Container washer apparatus
AssigneeBarry-Wehmiller Company
InventorMomir Babunovic
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Container washer apparatus for removing labels from the containers and from the apparatus as soon as possible by means causing washing solution agitation through the container conveying pockets into the area between the down and up passes of the conveyor movement in the washing solution tank, and by cooperating means effecting controlled transfer of the removed labels out of the tank.
Claims12
In apparatus for washing containers and removing labels therefrom, comprising:
- a washing tank containing washing solution;
- container conveyor means directed through said tank in a path having down and up passes joined in a looped pass spaced above the tank bottom, said conveyor means having container pockets open at opposite ends with the pockets aligned in rows transversely of the direction of travel along said path;
- fixed retainer means following the path of travel of said conveyor in position to retain the containers in the pockets;
- washing solution agitator means operably mounted adjacent said tank and extending downwardly into the washing solution in the upper zone thereof, said agitator means being movable alternately back and forth between said retainer means to establish flow of washing solution over the containers and through the container pockets;
- and washing solution flow control means cooperating with said agitator means and being located in position to force the washing solution to flow downwardly in said tank toward said looped pass of said conveyor means, whereby said flow of washing solution over the containers and through said pockets follows the alternate movement of said agitator means away from said container retainer means to effect label removal inwardly between said down and up passes of said conveyor means.
2 more elements
In apparatus for washing containers and removing labels from the containers and from the apparatus, comprising:
- a washing tank containing washing solution;
- container conveyor means directed through said tank in a path having down and up passes joined in a loop pass spaced above the tank bottom, said conveyor means having container pockets open at opposite ends;
- means extending along said conveyor path in position to retain the containers in said conveyor pockets, said retainer means including slotted openings submerged in the upper zone of the washing solution, impervious wall extending along the down and up passes of said conveyor and a trough in said loop pass;
- passage forming means connecting said trough with the area adjacent the tank bottom below said trough;
- discharge conduit means connected into the tank bottom to receive washing solution burdened with labels;
- pipe means connected into said tank to feed washing solution free of labels thereto;
- and oscillatory means mounted in said tank in the upper zone of the washing solution between said slotted openings in said retainer means, said oscillatory means including a washing solution agitator paddle and a flapper element carried thereby in position to move with said paddle and alternately engage with said retainer means below said slotted openings and establish alternating high and low pressure regions adjacent said slotted openings, whereby said paddle and flapper element force washing solution to flow through said slotted openings drawing labels therewith and by the alternating high pressure to flow downwardly into said trough and through said passage forming means into the tank bottom.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.