US4033804A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reclaiming waste plastics
Assignee: Hoover Universal Inc
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Filing: 1975-07-07
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Granted: 1977-07-05
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Expires: 1995-07-07
Abstract
Abstract Molecular orientation stress is relieved in thermoplastic articles being prepared for reclaiming in order to shrink the article and decrease volume. Shrinkage is sufficient to cause separation of labels when the latter are present. When the articles are containers, each shrunk-back mass has the appearance of an individual, grotesquely distorted container, which, because of its reduced volume, is especially useful as feedstock to a reclamation system.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene P. Baldyga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:29
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29B; B29B17/00; B29B17/02; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/08; B08B9/083; B29B2017/0213; B29B2017/0255; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C61/02; B29K; B29K2023/00; B29K2023/04; B29K2023/06; B29K2023/10; B29K2023/12; B29K2025/00; B29K2027/00; B29K2027/06; B29K2055/00; B29K2055/02; B29K2067/00; B29L; B29L2007/00; B29L2007/008; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/712; B29L2031/7158; B29L2031/744; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/62; Y10; Y10S; Y10S156/00; Y10S156/918; Y10S156/919; Y10S156/921; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/71; Y10S264/911; Y10S264/918; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/11; Y10T156/1142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
In a process for delabeling molecularly oriented thermoplastic articles having labels adhesively bonded to surface portions thereof, the step of relieving orientation stresses beneath the labels to the extent of reducing the surface area of such portions by at least about five percent, thereby causing the thermoplastic material and labels to separate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a process for delabeling molecularly oriented thermoplastic articles having labels adhesively bonded to surface portions thereof, the step of relieving orientation stresses beneath the labels to the extent of reducing the surface area of such portions by at least about five percent, thereby causing the thermoplastic material and labels to separate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the article is heated to at least about the glass transition temperature range of the thermoplastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the article is a container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the container is a bottle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a major portion of a polymerized nitrile-group-containing monomer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a major portion of a polyolefin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a major portion of polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a plastics reclaim process which includes the step of: grinding used thermoplastic containers at a grinding station to form particulate material for further processing, the improvement wherein such containers are molecularly oriented and including steps comprising: heating such molecularly oriented containers at a heating station to at least about the glass transition temperature range of the thermoplastic material forming the containers prior to said grinding to relieve molecular orientation stresses therein and for a period sufficient to reduce the volume of such containers by about 70 to 90%; and transporting said containers from such heating station to said grinding station after said heating; whereby the transport bulk of such containers is substantially reduced as a result of such volume reduction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 8 wherein labels are separated from the containers as a result of shrinkage of the thermoplastic material during said stress relieving.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 9 wherein the thermoplastic material comprises a high barrier resin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the high barrier resin comprises a major amount of polymerized acrylonitrile.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-04 | 1981-01-03 | 1981-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-04 | 1985-01-03 | 1985-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-04 | 1989-01-03 | 1989-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |