Apparatus and method for stripping filmic casings from products
OwnerBranko Skrak, Terry W. Thomsoninventors
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Abstract
The invention provides an apparatus and a method for processing packages made up of a filmic casing containing a product, to separate the casing from the product for subsequent further processing of the product. The package is moved through a series of steps to first weaken the casing, and then a leading end of the moving casing is gripped and the end of the casing is moved away from the product. As a result the casing is stripped off the product as the weakened casing opens and the product continues to move.
Claims31
Apparatus for removing a filmic casing from an elongate package to recover product contained in the casing, the package having first and second ends and the apparatus including:
- a transport mechanism for receiving the package and moving the package along an operating path with said first end leading;
- a cutting station positioned relative to the transport mechanism to cut the casing transversely to form a transverse slit extending partially through said package between said first end and said second end and adjacent to said first end of the casing, and to cut the casing longitudinally of the casing starting at the transverse slit to form a longitudinal slit extending longitudinally towards said second end;
- a stripper positioned to meet the package as the package progresses longitudinally from the cutting station, the stripper including a gripper to grab said first end in advance of said transverse slit and an actuator operable to move the gripper transversely to drag the filmic casing away from the packaged product so that the product can be collected.
A method of removing a filmic casing from an elongate package to recover product contained in the casing, the package having first and second ends and the method including the steps:
- placing the package on an operating path along which the package is to travel with said first end leading;
- moving the package along the path and into a cutting station to cut the casing transversely partially through said package to form a transverse slit between said first end and said second end and adjacent to said first end of the casing, and to cut the casing longitudinally of the casing starting at the transverse slit and extending longitudinally towards said second end;
- moving the slit package from the cutting station into a stripper positioned to meet the package as the package progresses from the cutting station, grabbing the leading end of the package and moving the leading end transversely to drag the filmic casing away from the packaged product;
- and
- collecting the product.
Apparatus for removing a filmic casing from an elongate package to recover product contained in the casing, the package having first and second ends and the apparatus including:
- a transport mechanism for receiving the package and moving the package along an operating path with said first end leading;
- a cutting station positioned relative to the transport mechanism to weaken the casing transversely to form a transverse line of weakness between said first end and said second end and adjacent to said first end of the casing, and to weaken the casing longitudinally of the casing starting at the transverse line of weakness to form a longitudinal line of weakness extending longitudinally towards said second end;
- a stripper positioned to meet the package as the package progresses longitudinally from the cutting station, the stripper including a gripper to grab said first end in advance of said transverse line of weakness and an actuator operable to move the gripper transversely to drag the filmic casing away from the packaged product to break the casing along the transverse and longitudinal lines of weakness so that the product can be collected.
A method of removing a filmic casing from an elongate package to recover product contained in the casing, the package having first and second ends and the method including the steps:
- placing the package on an operating path along which the package is to travel with said first end leading;
- moving the package along the path and into a cutting station to weaken the casing transversely to form a transverse line of weakness between said first end and said second end and adjacent to said first end of the casing, and to weaken the casing longitudinally of the casing starting at the transverse line of weakness and extending longitudinally towards said second end;
- moving the weakness package from the cutting station into a stripper positioned to meet the package as the package progresses from the cutting station, grabbing the leading end of the package in advance of said transverse line of weakness and moving the leading end transversely to break said casing and drag the filmic casing away from the packaged product;
- and
- collecting the product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.