Apparatus and method for removing a label from a surface with a chilled medium
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsRajiv S. Agarwala, Cynthia A. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for removing labels from a housing is provided. The apparatus includes a tank for storing a medium at a pressure above ambient pressure. The apparatus also includes a medium conduit in communication with the tank for transporting the medium therefrom. The conduit defines a opening therein. The medium exiting the conduit at the opening is adapted to remove labels from the housing.
Claims28
An apparatus for removing labels from a housing, comprising:
- a tank for storing a medium at a pressure above ambient pressure;
- a medium conduit in communication with said tank for transporting the medium therefrom, said medium conduit defining a opening therein;
- a heater functionally associated with said medium conduit;
- and
- a controller for controlling operation of said heater wherein the medium exiting said medium conduit is adapted to remove labels from the housing;
- wherein at least a portion of the housing comprises a soft material;
- and
- wherein the medium exiting the medium conduit is adapted to clean the portion of the housing.
An apparatus for removing labels from a housing, comprising:
- a tank for storing a medium at a pressure above ambient pressure;
- a medium conduit in communication with said tank for transporting the medium therefrom, said medium conduit defining a opening therein, the medium exiting said medium conduit at the opening adapted to remove labels from the housing and a heater attached to said conduit for warming said conduit;
- wherein the heater operates intermittently.
An apparatus for cleaning a housing, comprising:
- a tank for storing carbon dioxide at a pressure higher than ambient pressure;
- a medium conduit in communication with said tank for transporting a medium therefrom, said medium conduit defining a opening therein, the medium exiting the medium conduit at said opening being in at least partially solid form and adapted to remove labels from the housing;
- a heater functionally associated with said medium conduit;
- at least one enclosure for containing debris from the cleaning of the housing and for containing the medium and a nozzle extending from said medium conduit;
- an air conduit for transporting compressed air from a compressed air source;
- and
- a venturi operably associated with said air conduit and with the medium conduit for mixing the compressed air with the medium;
- wherein the heater operates intermittently.
A method for removing labels from a housing, comprising the steps of:
- supplying a medium at a pressure higher than ambient pressure;
- transporting the medium through a conduit;
- transforming the medium at least partially to a solid;
- and
- adapting the medium to remove labels from the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.