Removing Bottle Caps

Abstract

A method and apparatus for removing caps off of bottles being shifted along on a conveyor means. The bottles are held between a pair of laterally spaced elongated gripping surfaces as they are moved through a cap removing station for restraining the bottles against rotation. An elongated stationary member engages one side of the cap, while a moving belt engages the other side of the cap producing a forced couple which twists the cap off of the bottle. Streams of air lift the cap into a receptacle.

Description

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing threaded caps from reusable bottles, and more particularly to a method and apparatus which utilizes a force couple for twisting the cap off while the bottles are being shifted in succession along a conveyor.

Since the development of threaded caps for drink bottles a problem has arisen in that prior to reusing the bottles any cap replaced thereon by the consumer must be removed. This has become more prevalent in recent years as a result of consumers replacing the caps on the empty bottles in order to avoid littering. This is becoming a greater problem as bottlers are reverting back to the reusable bottles, rather than using disposable bottles.

Heretofore, one apparatus for removing the caps utilized a conveyor which moved the bottles in succession into a star wheel for positioning the bottle directly under a cap removing apparatus which applied a twisting force to the cap. These apparatus worked satisfactory for removing caps, however, they are relatively expensive.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive apparatus for removing caps from reusable bottles prior to the bottles being washed for refilling.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for removing caps from bottles which utilizes a forced couple produced by a moving belt engaging the cap on one side and a stationary surface engaging the cap on the other side while the bottle is being shifted along a conveyor.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for which a bottle is restrained from rotating on a conveyor, while a belt engages the cap on the bottle for imparting a twisting force thereto, so as to roll the cap off against a stationary member with a minimum of wear on the belt.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts removed for purpose of clarity, illustrating an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention provided for removing caps from bottles,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, with parts removed for purpose of clarity,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, with parts being in section, taken from the end of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the twisting action being imparted to a cap while removing it from a bottle.

Referring in more detail to the drawings there is illustrated an apparatus for removing threaded caps from a plurality of bottles being shifted by a conveyor means in succession to a cap removing station, generally designated by the reference character A. A pair of laterally spaced elongated gripping surfaces B engage opposite sides of the bottles restraining the bottles against rotation as the bottles are moved forward on the conveyor. Means C is provided for moving the gripping surfaces in a forward direction at substantially the same rate of speed. An elongated stationary member D is carried above the gripping surfaces and positioned for engaging one side of the caps on the bottles as the bottles are moved forward on the conveyor. An elongated belt E is carried on the opposite side of the bottles from the stationary member for engaging the other side of the cap. Means F is provided for moving the elongated belt E in a forward direction at a higher rate of speed than the gripping surfaces are moving the bottles for rotating the caps relative to the bottles. Thus, a forced couple is produced on the cap by the elongated belt and the stationary member rotating the cap which rolls along the stationary member minimizing wear. A pair of air streams are provided for lifting the unscrewed caps from the bottles, and depositing such into a receptacle.

Referring in more detail to FIG. 1, the apparatus provided for removing threaded caps from a plurality of bottles 10 is usually located about an endless conveyor 12 which is provided for carrying the bottles to a washing and filling station. Before the bottles enter the apparatus for washing it is necessary that all caps carried on the bottles be removed. This is accomplished by sending the bottles through a cap removing station, generally designated by the reference character A, as shown in FIG. 1. The cap removing station includes a frame member which includes vertical end frame members 14 and 15 which are joined together by suitable cross bracing, such as shown at 16, 17 and 18. The end members 14 and 15 are U-shaped and are constructed of any suitable material such as angle-iron.

As the bottles are moved along by the endless conveyor 12 between the spaced guide rails 19 and 20 they are brought in contact with the elongated gripping surfaces B. In the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawings the gripping surfaces B includes three vertical spaced belts 21 positioned on opposite sides of the conveyor 12 which engage the bottles 10 as they pass through the cap removing station A. The guide rails 19 and 20 terminate adjacent the pulleys 22, around which the belts pass. The belts 21 which defines the elongated gripping surface B are as previously mentioned, carried on the pulleys 22 and 23. The pulleys 22 are, in turn, supported on a vertical shaft 24 that is journalled in bearing blocks 25 and 26 which are supported on suitable cross braces, such as 18.

The pulleys 23 are keyed to a vertical shaft 27 which is, in turn, journalled in the bearing blocks 28 and 29. The bearing blocks 28 and 29 are also supported on the cross-braces, such as 18. The lower end of the vertical shaft 27 is coupled by a coupling 30 to the output shaft of a gear reduction box 31. The input shaft (not shown) of the gear reduction box 31 is, in turn, directly connected to an electric motor 32. The electric motor 32 also drives a gear reduction box 33 which is coupled to the vertical shaft 27 provided on the other side of the conveyor which, in turn, supports the pulleys 23 having the elongated belts 21 extending therearound.

In order to bring the belts 21 in contact with the bottles as they pass through the cap removing station an elongated metallic plate 35 supported on threaded adjustable rods 36 presses against the belts 21 forcing them in contact with the bottles. The rods 36 are threaded in vertical supporting posts 37. The lower end of the vertical supporting posts 37 are attached by the rods 38 to the frame which supports the conveyor 12.

Adherred to the inner surface of the metallic plate 35 is an elongated sheet 39 of high molecular-weight polyethylene which provides a self-lubricating bearing surface for the belts 21 as they ride thereagainst. The rods 36 have sprockets 40 carried thereon around which a chain 41 passes so that when one of the threaded rods 36 is rotated the other is rotated therewith so as to move the metallic plate 35 in and out relative to the bottles passing on the conveyor. A similar adjustment mechanism is provided for the belts 21 carried on the opposite side of the conveyor so that the belts 21 engage opposite sides of the bottles 10 as they pass through the cap removing station A and restrains the bottles against rotation while moving them forward. The belts 21 on opposite sides of the conveyor are moved at the same speed since they are driven by the same electric motor 32 through identical gear boxes 31 and 33.

A bearing post 42 which is capable of being shifted in and out relative to the conveyor in a conventional manner is provided for maintaining the proper tension in the belts 21.

The means C for moving the gripping surfaces B, as previously mentioned, includes the motor 32, gear reduction boxes 33 and the pulleys 22 and 23.

The elongated stationary member D (FIG. 3), which is carried above the gripping surfaces B includes a portion 43 of a conventional belt which is adherred to a plate 44. The plate 44 is, in turn, journalled on a rod 45 that can be rotated to move the fixed belt portion 43 in and out relative to the top of the bottle 10. The other end of the rod 45 is threaded through a bracket 46 carried by the posts 37. The knob 48 is carried on the end of the rod for rotating such.

Positioned on the opposite side of the path of the bottles 10 from the elongated stationary member D is an elongated belt E. The belt E is carried on pulley wheels 49 which have a circumference substantially twice that of the pulley wheels 22. The pulley wheels 49, are in turn, supported on shafts 50 and 51. Shaft 51 is coupled through a direct chain linkage to shaft 27 which drives pulley 23 so that such are rotated at the identical speed. The linkage between shaft 27 and 51 are not shown for purpose of clarity. A tensioning roller 52 which can be moved in and out relative to the conveyor is provided for maintaining the proper tension in the belt E. The means F for moving the elongated belt E as previously mentioned, includes a linkage coupled between the vertical shaft 27 for pulley 23 and the vertical shaft 51 for pulley 49.

As the bottles 10 with caps thereon are moved along on the conventional conveyor belt 12 through the cap removing station A the elongated gripping surfaces B, which include the belts 21, engage the bottles preventing them from rotating while moving them forward through the cap removing station. The elongated belt E then engages one side of the cap while the other side of the cap engages the fixed belt 43. Since the belt E is moving at a linear speed of twice that of the belts 21 a forced couple is produced between the fixed belt 43 and the cap wherein the cap 13 is caused to be rotated by the moving elongated belt E while it is rolled along the surface of the fixed elongated stationary member D which includes the belt 43 (see FIG. 4). This causes the cap to be twisted off of the bottle and minimizes wear on the fixed belt 43.

The pressure imparted by the elongated belt E may be varied by moving an elongated adjustable plate 54 carried on the inside of the belt. On the innersurface of the adjustable plate 54 is a layer of high molecular weight polyethylene 55 which minimizes wear on the inside of the belt E as such is rotated thereacross. The plate 54 is supported on a threaded rod similar to plate 35 but such apparatus is not illustrated for purposes of clarity.

Adjacent the end of the cap removing station A is provided an elongated leather strip 56 which is supported by a bracket suitably mounted on the frame which engages the top of the unscrewed cap 13 for holding such on top of the bottles 10 until the bottles pass between a pair of tubes 57 and 58. A stream of air passes through tubes 57 and 58 lifting the cap from the top of the bottle into an arcuate tube 59 for depositing the cap in a receptacle below the other end of the arcuate tube 59. The tubes 57 and 58 are connected to any suitable source of pressurized air and create a venturi action in the throat of the tube 58 causing the caps to be ejected off of the bottles.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. An apparatus for removing a threaded cap having a top and side wall from a bottle comprising: conveyor means for supporting and moving said bottle in a forward direction; a pair of laterally spaced elongated gripping surfaces engaging opposite sides of said bottle restraining said bottle against rotation as said bottle is moved forward on said conveyor; means for moving said gripping surfaces in a forward direction at substantially the same rate of speed; an elongated stationary member carried above said gripping surfaces positioned for engaging a side wall of a cap on said bottle as said bottle is moved forward on said conveyor; an elongated belt carried on the opposite side of said bottle from said stationary member engaging the other side of said side wall of said cap; means for moving said elongated belt in a forward direction at a higher rate of speed than said gripping surfaces are being moved for rotating said cap relative to said bottle; whereby said cap is rotated off said bottle as said bottle is restrained from rotating by said pair of elongated gripping surfaces.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated belt is moved forward at twice the speed as said gripping surfaces so that as said elongated belt rotates said cap relative to said bottle said cap is rolled along said elongated stationary member.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: means for generating a plurality of streams of air for lifting said unscrewed cap from said bottle.

4. The method of removing threaded caps having a side wall and top from a plurality of bottles preparatory to reusing the bottles comprising: moving said bottles in succession on a conveyor to a cap removing station; restraining said bottles from rotating as said bottles are moved through said cap removing station at a first speed; bringing one side of said side wall of said caps in engagement with an elongated stationary member as said bottles are moved in a forward direction through said cap removing station; engaging the opposite side of said side wall of said caps with a belt moving at a higher rate of speed than said first speed; producing a forced couple which causes said caps to rotate relative to said moving bottles while rolling along said elongated stationary member thus unscrewing said caps from said bottle.

5. The method as set forth in claim 3 further comprising: lifting said unscrewed caps from said bottles with air streams into a receptacle.