Method for separation of beverage bottle components

A method for separation of components of beverage bottles, said components being high density polyethylene (HDPE) base-cup, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle body, aluminum cap, labels and adhesives;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• a. transporting said beverage bottles from one location to a second location in a continuous path of travel,
• b. orienting said beverage bottles using an orientation device disposed at an intermediate location between said first and second locations, whereby said beverage bottles are longitudinally oriented in the direction of said path of travel,
• c. interposing cutting means in said path of travel proximate to said second location, whereupon said longitudinally oriented bottles are bisected into two halves,
• d. collecting said bisected bottle halves onto a moving takeaway conveyor,
• e. subjecting said bisected bottle halves on said moving takeaway conveyor to thermal treatment, thereby thermally softening said adhesives joining said beverage bottle components,
• f. feeding said thermally softened bottle components into a scrambler having agitating means, whereby said beverage bottle components are mutually isolated and disjoined from each other,
• g. transporting said disjoined components of said beverage bottles to a flotation tank, whereupon said labels and HDPE base-cups float while said PET and aluminum components sink,
• h. collecting said afloat and sunk fractions separately,
• i. subjecting said sunk fraction to mechanical screening, whereby said aluminum and PET components are separated,
• j. subjecting said afloat fraction to air classification, whereby said labels are separated from said HDPE base-cups.