Method and apparatus for removing bottle caps from bottles
First Claim
1. An apparatus for removing bottle caps from liquid-containing bottles, comprising:
- (a) a decapping assembly support member;
(b) one or more decapping assembly heads;
(c) one or more first actuators mounted to said support member, each of said one or more assembly heads attached to, and corresponding to, one of said one or more first actuators wherein an underside of each assembly head may be lowered into a position adjacent to a cap;
(d) one or more sets of jaw members corresponding to each of said one or more assembly heads;
(e) one or more second actuators, each of said one or more second actuators mounted to one of said one or more assembly heads, at least one jaw member of each of said sets of jaw members being attached to each of said second actuators and at least one jaw member of each of said sets of jaw members being mounted on said underside of each of said one or more assembly heads, wherein said jaw members are positioned on opposite sides of said cap when said underside of each of said assembly heads is in proximate relationship with said cap and wherein each of said second actuators moves its corresponding jaw member so that said jaw members may be relatively positioned to engage said cap when said underside of each of said assembly heads is in proximate relationship with said cap; and
(f) means for limiting upward movement of a bottle as each of said first actuators raises said corresponding assembly head after said jaw members engage said cap.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bottle cap removing system which is easily adapted to a conveyor system of either 5-gallon or 3-gallon bottle movement within a bottling or recycling facility. Such system automatically determines which, if any, bottles have attached bottle caps and automatically removes such bottle caps in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Multiple lengths of steel comprise a main support structure which supports an overhead decapping assembly. As bottles from a conveyor line pass underneath this decapping assembly, a sensor determines whether or not the first bottle in the line has an attached bottle cap. If such bottle has an attached bottle cap, pneumatic actuators located at both the lower and upper front end of the support structure are energized to extend a set of bottle pads into the path of the bottle. This bottle'"'"'s movement is thus stopped and its bottle cap situated immediately underneath the decapping assembly. At the same time, a separate, rearwardly positioned actuator extends another bottle pad into the line of bottles which succeed this first bottle to inhibit their movement as well. The decapping assembly is then lowered over the bottle cap and jaw members inserted underneath the cap'"'"'s lowest edge. As the assembly is then lifted, the bottle cap is removed from the bottle and discharged out through a side chute. After the cap is removed, the bottle pads are retracted and the conveyor line of bottles allowed to move forward once again.
61 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for removing bottle caps from liquid-containing bottles, comprising:
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(a) a decapping assembly support member; (b) one or more decapping assembly heads; (c) one or more first actuators mounted to said support member, each of said one or more assembly heads attached to, and corresponding to, one of said one or more first actuators wherein an underside of each assembly head may be lowered into a position adjacent to a cap; (d) one or more sets of jaw members corresponding to each of said one or more assembly heads; (e) one or more second actuators, each of said one or more second actuators mounted to one of said one or more assembly heads, at least one jaw member of each of said sets of jaw members being attached to each of said second actuators and at least one jaw member of each of said sets of jaw members being mounted on said underside of each of said one or more assembly heads, wherein said jaw members are positioned on opposite sides of said cap when said underside of each of said assembly heads is in proximate relationship with said cap and wherein each of said second actuators moves its corresponding jaw member so that said jaw members may be relatively positioned to engage said cap when said underside of each of said assembly heads is in proximate relationship with said cap; and (f) means for limiting upward movement of a bottle as each of said first actuators raises said corresponding assembly head after said jaw members engage said cap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of removing bottle caps from liquid-containing bottles, comprising the steps of:
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(a) lowering a decapping assembly having an underside, an actuator mounted to the assembly and a set of jaw members, at least one jaw member of the set of jaw members being attached to the actuator and at least one jaw member of the set of jaw members being mounted to the underside of the assembly, over a cap so that said jaw members are positioned on opposite sides of said cap; (b) activating said actuator thereby gripping said cap with said set of jaw members of said decapping assembly; (c) pulling said cap up and off of a bottle with said decapping assembly; and (d) preventing substantial upward movement of said bottle when pulling said cap with said decapping assembly. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for removing bottle caps from liquid-containing bottles, comprising:
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(a) a decapping assembly support member; (b) a decapping assembly head; (c) a first actuator mounted to said decapping assembly support member, said decapping assembly head being attached to said first actuator wherein an underside of said decapping assembly head may be lowered into a position adjacent to a cap; (d) a pair of jaw members; (e) a second actuator, said second actuator mounted to said decapping assembly head, one of the jaw members being attached to and corresponding to said second actuator and one of the jaw members being mounted on said underside of said decapping assembly head, wherein said jaw members are positioned on opposite sides of said cap when said underside of said decapping assembly head is in proximate relationship with said cap and wherein said second actuator moves its corresponding jaw member so that said jaw members may be relatively positioned to engage said cap when said underside of said assembly head is in proximate relationship with said cap; and (f) means for limiting upward movement of a bottle as said first actuator raises said decapping assembly head after said jaw members engage said cap. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification