Patent US3852867A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3852867A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Bottle decapping system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-07-09
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Granted: 1974-12-10
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Expires: 1993-07-09
Abstract
Abstract Bottle caps are removed from recycled bottles either while the bottles are in half cases or are in case formation by an endless belt system which engages only the bottle caps and requiring no positive control or constraint of the bottles. Incidental to the decapping action the endless belt system causes the bottles to press downwardly to react against the bottle conveyor system, thereby to stabilize the bottles during the decapping action. The caps remain seated upon but unscrewed from the bottles until removed.
Inventors
- 👤 G Risener
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:34
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67B; B67B7/00; B67B7/18; B67B7/182; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53687; Y10T29/53796
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
In a bottle handling system including conveyor means for travelling empty bottles along a predetermined path, which bottles may have screw caps engaged thereon, and decapping means for removing the screw caps frOm the bottles as they travel along said path, said decapping means comprising: cap engaging means disposed above said conveyor means for engaging opposite sides of screw caps on the bottles during a selected length of travel of said bottles along said path, said cap engaging means including an endless belt essentially parallel to said path and means for driving said belt at a linear speed greater than that of said conveyor means whereby to unscrew the caps and cause the bottles to be pressed downwardly against said conveying means as a result of such unscrewing action.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
In a bottle handling system including conveyor means for travelling empty bottles along a predetermined path, which bottles may have screw caps engaged thereon, and decapping means for removing the screw caps frOm the bottles as they travel along said path, said decapping means comprising: cap engaging means disposed above said conveyor means for engaging opposite sides of screw caps on the bottles during a selected length of travel of said bottles along said path, said cap engaging means including an endless belt essentially parallel to said path and means for driving said belt at a linear speed greater than that of said conveyor means whereby to unscrew the caps and cause the bottles to be pressed downwardly against said conveying means as a result of such unscrewing action.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 1 wherein said decapping means comprises a plurality of said cap engaging means disposed in side-by-side relation to accommodate a plurality of bottles moving abreast along said path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 2 including vacuum means located downstream from said cap engaging means for sucking unscrewed caps off said bottles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 3 including restraining means overlying the bottle caps for preventing disengagement thereof from the bottles until the bottles pass beneath said vacuum means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 4 wherein said decapping means includes a frame plate disposed above said conveyor means and supporting said cap engaging means therebeneath to engage the bottle caps.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 5 including a drive shaft for each endless belt, each drive shaft being rotatably mounted on said frame plate and having portions projecting above and below said frame plate, and said means for driving said endless belts drivingly engaging that portion of each drive shaft which projects above said frame plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 6 wherein said restraining means is constituted by the underside of said frame plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 6 wherein said restraining means comprises a finger.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 1 including vacuum means located downstream from said cap engaging means for sucking unscrewed caps off said bottles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 9 including restraining means overlying the bottle caps for preventing disengagement thereof from the bottles until the bottles pass beneath said vacuum means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 10 wherein said decapping means includes a frame plate disposed above said conveyor means and supporting said cap engaging means therebeneath to engage the bottle caps.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 11 including a drive shaft for said endless belt, said drive shaft being rotatably mounted in said frame plate and having portions projecting above and below it, and said means for driving the endless belt drivingly engaging that portion of the drive shaft which projects above said frame plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 12 wherein said restraining means is constituted by the underside of said frame plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 12 wherein said restraining means comprises a finger.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 1 wherein said decapping means includes a frame plate disposed above said conveyor means and supporting said cap engaging means therebeneath to engage the bottle caps.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a bottling system as defined in claim 15 including a drive shaft for said endless belt, said drive shaft being rotatably mounted in said frame plate and having portions projecting above and below it, and said means for driving the endless belt drivingly engaging that portion of the drive shaft which projects above said frame plate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
99 words
A bottle decapping assembly for use in combination with conveyor means for travelling a plurality of bottles abreast along a predetermined horizontal path, said decapping assembly comprising, in combination: a plurality of cap engaging means disposed above said conveyor means for intercepting and engaging diametrIcally opposed portions of bottle caps on the bottles as the bottles are travelled along said path, each cap engaging means including an endless belt travelling in a plane parallel to said path; and means for driving all of said endless belts at a linear speed greater than the speed of movement of said bottles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
99 words
A bottle decapping assembly for use in combination with conveyor means for travelling a plurality of bottles abreast along a predetermined horizontal path, said decapping assembly comprising, in combination: a plurality of cap engaging means disposed above said conveyor means for intercepting and engaging diametrIcally opposed portions of bottle caps on the bottles as the bottles are travelled along said path, each cap engaging means including an endless belt travelling in a plane parallel to said path; and means for driving all of said endless belts at a linear speed greater than the speed of movement of said bottles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A bottle decapping assembly as defined in claim 17 including vacuum means located downstream from said cap engaging means for sucking the caps from said bottles.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A bottle decapping assembly as defined in claim 18 including restraining means for preventing complete removal of said caps from the bottles until they reach the region of said vacuum means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
A bottle decapping system comprising, in combination: conveyor means for travelling pluralities of bottles abreast along a predetermined path; and cap engaging means disposed above said conveyor means and along said path for unscrewing bottle caps from said bottles while pressing the bottles downwardly against the conveyor means incidental to such unscrewing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
A bottle decapping system comprising, in combination: conveyor means for travelling pluralities of bottles abreast along a predetermined path; and cap engaging means disposed above said conveyor means and along said path for unscrewing bottle caps from said bottles while pressing the bottles downwardly against the conveyor means incidental to such unscrewing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3545174A
Cited
US3518744A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |