Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Differential fluid etching apparatus – With microwave gas energizing means
Patent
1987-12-21
1989-05-30
Dawson, Robert A.
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Differential fluid etching apparatus
With microwave gas energizing means
156250, 156497, 156499, 156529, 156584, B32B 3118
Patent
active
048348260
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus by which heat-shrinkable tubular labels covering the outer peripheral surfaces of bottles or the like in intimate contact therewith are automatically cut on melting by applying hot air to the label.
BACKGROUND ART
Recently, it is practice to cover the trunks of bottles or the like with a label of heat-shrinkable tube (hereinafter referred to as a "heat-shrinkable label") in intimate contact therewith for labeling and also for protecting the bottle or the like. However, before reusing the bottle collected after use, the label must be removed as by peeling or cutting. It has heretofore been proposed to remove such labels, for example, by applying hot air or a jet of high-pressure water to the label or by irradiating the label with a laser beam. Especially noteworthy among these methods is the method of thermally cutting (melting and cutting) the heat-shrinkable label by forcing a jet of hot air against the side portion of the bottle (see, for example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publications SHO No. 58-41092,SHO No. 58-125435, SHO No. 58-193243 and SHO No. 58-216533).
Nevertheless, the new bottles recently developed and lightweight bottles made available at a reduced cost include bottles of altered configuration, and for use with such bottles, there arises a need to prepare a novel hot air nozzle other than those heretofore used. When the label is to be removed by melting with hot air, the orifice end of the nozzle must be positioned at a predetermined distance (within a permissible range) from the bottle surface. If otherwise, that is, if the distance is outside the permissible range, the label will not be properly cut smoothly and is likely to remain uncut locally. Accordingly, every time the shape of the bottles to be handled is altered, it becomes necessary to prepare a different nozzle, hence great inconvenience. The conventional nozzle is therefore not usable universally and is costly.
The present invention has been accomplished to solve the above problem of the prior art.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a hot air jet nozzle which comprises a plurality of blocks for applying a jet of hot air to labels and in which each of the blocks is individually movable toward or away from the label to adjust the distance between the surface of the label and the surface of the block opposed to the label.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawings show embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view;
FIG. 2 is an overall plan view schematically showing an apparatus for practicing the method of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the same;
FIG. 4 is a side elevation partly in vertical section and showing the same;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a hot air jet nozzle assembly;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the hot air jet nozzle assembly;
FIG. 7 is a side elevation in vertical section showing the jet nozzle assembly of FIG. 6 as it is used for a bottle of special shape;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a bottle intimately covered with a label extending to the outer periphery of its bottom;
FIGS. 9 and 10 are side elevations in vertical section of a hot air jet nozzle assembly useful for the bottle of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the assembly of FIG. 9 with the bottle removed;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the lowermost block shown in FIGS. 9 to 11; and
FIGS. 13 and 14 are perspective views showing the appearance of other embodiments of jet nozzles.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIGS. 2 and 3 show an apparatus for automatically removing labels by thermal cutting for use in practicing the method of the invention. The apparatus comprises a feed conveyor 1, a feed screw 2 provided alongside the conveyor 1, a feed star wheel 3 disposed at the forward end of the conveyor 1, a rotary table 5 fixed to a main shaft 4, a discharge star wheel 6, a discharge conveyor 7, etc. A multiplicity of bottl
REFERENCES:
patent: 4033804 (1977-07-01), Baldyga
patent: 4599131 (1986-07-01), Matuszak
patent: 4715920 (1987-12-01), Ruppman et al.
Abe Takehiro
Onoyama Yugo
Dawson Robert A.
Gunze Kabushiki Kaisha
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