US4701973A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bottle duster
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-10-29
•
Granted: 1987-10-27
•
Expires: 2005-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A device for removing dust and other fine particulate matter from the exterior surface of a bottle moving along a conveyor line. A jet of ionized air neutralizes any static charge adhering the particulate matter to the bottle and also commences the dislodgement of the former from the latter. Moving brushes contacting the exterior surface of the bottle further dislodges the particulate matter. Lastly, a vacuum on the other side of the brushes from the bottle removes the air and entrained particulate matter detached from the bottles. A star wheel having indentations in it moves the bottles along at a predetermined pace. Alternately, one or more rotating longitudinal screws can control the bottles motion through the system. A belt in contact with the bottles and moving relative to the conveyor effects their rotation regardless of their exterior configuration. This assures that the brushes contact all portions of their exterior surface. The star wheel has rollers attached to it which maintain the belt in an extended configuration and keeps it in intimate contact with the bottles. When the device utilizes a longitudinal screw, the belt can rotate around rollers placed at the ends of the screw.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. McBrady
- 👤 Julian P. Avelis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:25
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/08; B08B9/20; B08B9/36; B08B5/00; B08B5/02; B08B6/00; B08B9/28; B08B9/283; B08B9/286
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A mechanism for removing fine particulate matter from the exterior of a bottle comprising: A. a frame; B. neutralizing means, mounted on said frame, for spraying ionized air on said bottle; C. brushing means, mounted on said frame, for brushing said exterior of said bottle; and D. vacuum means, mounted on said frame, for removing air from the immediate vicinity of said bottle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
A mechanism for removing fine particulate matter from the exterior of a bottle comprising: A. a frame; B. neutralizing means, mounted on said frame, for spraying ionized air on said bottle; C. brushing means, mounted on said frame, for brushing said exterior of said bottle; and D. vacuum means, mounted on said frame, for removing air from the immediate vicinity of said bottle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said bottle is moving on a conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The mechanism of claim 2 including turning means, mounted on said frame, for imparting a rotational motion to said bottle when said brushing means brushes the exterior of said bottle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mechanism of claim 3 wherein said mechanism is separate from said conveyor and is formed in a C-shaped configuration with the opening in said C-shaped configuration being sufficiently large for said conveyor to pass through.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The mechanism of claim 4 wherein said neutralizing means, said brushing means, said vacuum means, and said turning means are located on said frame relative to each other to operate upon the same bottle simutaneously.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
The mechanism of claim 3 wherein said turning means includes: A. resilient surface forming means arranged along one side of said conveyor; B. position-controlling means, arranged over said conveyor, for (1) controlling the position of said bottle on said conveyor and (2) urging said bottle against said resilient surface forming means; C. a flexible belt, coupled to said position-controlling means and with a portion of said belt being in contact with said bottle on the side opposite to said resilient surface forming means; and D. motive means, coupled to said belt, for imparting to said portion of said belt a motion relative to said conveyor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The mechanism of claim 6 wherein said position-controlling means includes a wheel lying in a horizontal plane and having a generally circular configuration with indentations in it of a width slightly larger than the width of said bottle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mechanism of claim 7 wherein said vacuum means includes a source of negative partial pressure having an opening in the vicinity of said brushing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mechanism of claim 8 wherein said belt constitutes a closed loop in a taut condition and said motive means moves said entire loop.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The mechanism of claim 9 wherein said portion of said belt in contact with said bottle moves in the direction opposite to the direction of motion of said conveyor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The mechanism of claim 10 wherein (1) said brushing means includes rotary brushes, in contact with the exterior surface of said bottle, and rotating means, coupled to said brushes, for rotating said brushes and (2) said resilient surface forming means comprises said brushes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said opening of said source of partial pressure lies on the side of said brushes removed from said bottle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mechanism of claim 12 wherein said mechanism is separate from said conveyor and is formed in a C-shaped configuration with the opening in said C-shaped configuration being sufficiently large for said conveyor to pass through.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement of claim 13 wherein said neutralizing means, said brushing means, said vacuum means, and said turning means are located on said frame and have a location relative to each other to operate upon said bottle simultaneously.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mechanism of claim 10 wherein said belt, in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said bottle, has a small dimension relative to the dimension of said bottle along said axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The improvement of claim 15 wherein said motive means includes a plurality of rollers attached to said wheel and having a freedom of revolution about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said wheel with said belt held tightly against at least one of said rollers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The mechanism of claim 6 wherein said position-controlling means includes an elongated screw with an axis lying in the horizontal plane, the spaces between the ridges in said screw being of a width slightly larger than the width of said bottle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mechanism of claim 17 wherein said vacuum means includes a source of negative partial pressure having an opening in the vicinity of said brushing means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mechanism of claim 18 wherein said belt constitutes a closed loop in a taut condition and said motive means moves said entire loop.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The mechanism of claim 19 wherein said portion of said belt in contact with said bottle moves in the direction opposite to the direction of motion of said conveyor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The mechanism of claim 20 wherein (1) said brushing means includes rotary brushes in contact with the exterior surface of said bottle and rotating means, coupled to said brushes, for rotating said brushes and (2) said resilient surface comprises said brushes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mechanism of claim 21 wherein said brushes are located on the side of said conveyor opposite said screw.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mechanism of claim 22 wherein said brushes rotate about a vertical shaft.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mechanism of claim 23 wherein said brushes rotate about a horizontal shaft.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The mechanism of claim 23 wherein said belt, in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said bottle, has a small dimension relative to the dimension of said bottle along said axis.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improvement of claim 25 wherein said motive means includes a plurality of rollers suspended above said screw and having a freedom of revolution about an axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane with said belt held tightly against at least one of said rollers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mechanism of claim 26 wherein said opening of said source of partial pressure lies on the side of said brushes removed from said bottle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mechanism of claim 27 wherein said mechanism is separate from said conveyor and is formed in a C-shaped configuration with the opening in said C-shaped configuration being sufficiently large for said conveyor to pass through.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement of claim 28 wherein said neutralizing means, said brushing means, said vacuum means, and said turning means are located on said frame and have a location relative to each other to operate upon said bottle simultaneously.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
68 words
The mechanism of claim 2 further including: A. conveying means, separate from said conveyor, for propelling said bottle to said neutralizing, brushing and vacuum means; B. transport means for transferring said bottle from said conveyor to said conveying means; and C. position controlling means for (1) controlling the position of said bottle as it moves on said conveying means, and (2) urging said bottle against said brushing means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
43 words
The mechanism of claim 30 wherein said position-controlling means includes an elongated screw with an axis lying in the horizontal plane, the spaces between the ridges in said screw being of a width slightly larger than the cross sectional area of said bottle.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
The mechanism of claim 31 wherein (1) said brushing means includes rotary brushes in contact with the exterior surface of said bottle and rotating means, coupled to said brushes, for rotating said brushes and (2) said resilient surface comprises said brushes.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mechanism of claim 32 wherein said screw and said brushes rotate on opposite sides of said conveying means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mechanism of claim 33 wherein said brushes rotate around a vertical axis.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mechanism of claim 34 wherein said brushes rotate around a horizontal axis.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mechanism of claim 33 wherein said brushes rotate on more than one side of said conveying means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
43 words
The mechanism of claim 36 including monitoring means, coupled to said conveyor and said brushes, for detecting the presence of said bottles on said conveyor, and when not detecting the presence of a bottle on said conveyor, stopping the operation of said brushes.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
64 words
The mechanism of claim 32 wherein said screw is a first screw and said position-controlling means includes a second screw, the spaces between the ridges in said second screw being slightly wider than the width of said bottle, with the axis of said second screw lying in a horizontal plane, said first and second screws being located on opposite sides of said conveying means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
42 words
The mechanism of claim 38 wherein a first and a second of said brushes are located on the side of said conveying means opposite said first and second screws, respectively, at a point wherein said first and second screws do not overlap.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mechanism of claim 39 wherein said screws overlap at least in part along the path of movement of said bottles.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mechanism of claim 40 wherein one of said brushes is located underneath the path of movement of said bottles.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mechanism of claim 41 wherein one of said brushes is located above the path of movement of said bottles.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mechanism of claim 41 wherein said conveying means includes a conveyor belt extending under the path of movement of said bottles.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mechanism of claim 43 wherein said brushes rotate along more than one side of said conveying means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
49 words
The mechanism of claim 43 wherein said conveyor belt is a first conveyor belt and said conveying means includes a second conveyor belt, said first and second conveyor belts extending sequentially under the path of movement of said bottles, said belt's position to include a space between said belts.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
The mechanism of claim 45 wherein one of said brushes is located underneath the path of movement of said bottles.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mechanism of claim 46 wherein one of said brushes rotates above the path of movement of said bottles.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mechanism of claim 47 wherein said brushes rotate around a horizontal shaft.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
39 words
The mechanism of claim 48 including monitoring means, attached to said conveyor, for detecting the presence of said bottles on said conveyor, and controlling the operation of said mechanism in response to the presence or absence of said bottles.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
36 words
The mechanism of claim 47 wherein said mechanism is separate from said conveyor and is formed in a C-shaped configuration with the opening in said C-shaped configuration being sufficiently large for said conveyor to pass through.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-10-26 | 1991-04-27 | 1991-10-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-10-26 | 1995-04-27 | 1995-10-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-10-26 | 1999-04-27 | 1999-10-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |