Suction arrangement in a bottle-cleaning machine for removing of labels from bottles

In a bottle-cleaning machine, a suction arrangement for removing of labels from bottles comprising a label-softening container adapted to contain a liquid and having a bottom;

• a plurality of elongated bottle-receiving cells having each an open end for insertion of bottles with labels into the cells and for withdrawing the bottles after the labels have been removed therefrom, said bottle-receiving cells having each opposite said open end a plurality of openings for the passage of liquid into the cells, said cells having axes and retaining the bottle in axially displaceable manner;
• conveyor means for transporting the cells with bottles inserted therein through said label-softening container and above its bottom;
• means for causing a stream of liquid from said softening container to detach and transport the labels and including wall means defining a suction compartment within said label-softening container and having a bottom portion upwardly spaced from said bottom and being formed in said bottom portion with a single opening having a width at least equal to the width of said open end of each cell as considered in the direction of movement of said cell, said conveyor means being arranged to transport said bottle-receiving cells with said open ends thereof under and closely adjacent to said bottom portion of said wall means past said single opening therein, said means for causing a stream of liquid further including means for sucking liquid from said suction compartment arranged so that a stream of liquid forcedly flows upwardly from said label-softening container via said openings of said cells through said cells, then leaves said cells through said open ends thereof, flows upwardly into said suction compartment through said opening in said bottom portion of said wall means of said suction compartment, and then is discharged into said label-softening container, whereby under the action of the suction-caused stream of liquid the labels are loosened from the bottles inside said cells, transported through said open ends of the cells into said suction compartment, and then withdrawn from the latter;
• and means arranged above and adjacent said cells to prevent said bottles to leave said cells through said open ends under the influence of the stream of liquid passing therethrough and tending to displace the bottles.