Machine and method for removing labels from reusable containers

Abstract

A machine (1) for removing labels from reusable containers, comprising support means (2) for at least one reusable container (3) having at least one label (4) to be removed applied on a lateral surface (3a), and provided with at least one cutting device (5) suitable for performing at least one at least partial cut on the label (4). The particularity of the invention is that the machine comprises means for removing the label (4) from the container (3), which comprise spraying means (6) for spraying at least one jet of high-pressure fluid towards the label (4).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a machine and method for removing labels from reusable containers.

[0002] In order to limit the spread of plastic packaging and containers in the environment, some countries have mandated the use of reusable plastic containers.

[0003] In this scenario, users recycle reusable containers (which are typically labeled on their outer surface) after use, allowing the containers to be subsequently peeled off, washed, and sterilized so that they are ready to be relabeled and refilled, and thus reused.

[0004] Typically, the label applied to a reusable container is obtained from a label strip made of plastic material and is wrapped around the side surface of the corresponding container, gluing one end of the label to the other end.

[0005] To remove labels from used containers, the current method involves cutting the labels with a blade in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the corresponding container.

[0006] After cutting the label in this way, insert the container into the washing machine for washing.

[0007] Although the process is conceptually effective, it has been found that cutting the labels is insufficient to completely remove them from the container and subsequently separate them from the container.

[0008] In fact, used containers collected for reuse may have residues of glue or other sticky substances (such as sugar) from previous processes that were not removed during washing between their side surfaces and the labels. These sticky substances tend to keep the labels attached to the containers even after they have been cut.

[0009] The objective of this invention is to provide a machine and method for removing labels from reusable containers, which improves upon one or more of the aspects mentioned above in the background art.

[0010] Within this objective, the object of the present invention is to provide a machine that can completely remove and effectively separate labels from containers designed for reuse.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for removing labels from reusable containers, which is simple in construction and reliable.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art in a way that replaces any existing solutions.

[0013] A key objective of this invention is to provide a machine for removing labels from reusable containers that can be produced at a competitive cost.

[0014] This objective and these and other objectives, which will become clearer below, are achieved by a machine for removing labels from reusable containers according to claim 1, which may optionally be provided with one or more features of the dependent claims.

[0015] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the machine according to the invention, which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the machine according to the present invention;

[0017] Figures 2 to 5 This is a perspective view of a series of operating steps of the machine according to the present invention;

[0018] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the fluid operation circuit of the machine according to the present invention.

[0019] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the machine according to the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 1, includes a support device 2 for at least one reusable container 3 on which at least one label 4 to be removed is applied, the label being wound around the axis of the container 3.

[0020] In addition, the machine has at least one cutting device 5, which is designed to perform at least one partial cut on the label 4, preferably along a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the container 3.

[0021] According to the invention, there are devices for removing the label 4 from the container 3, which include a device 6 for spraying one or more high-pressure fluid jets toward the label 4 so as to completely separate the label from the container 3. The fluid dispensed by the spraying device 6 is preferably composed of a gas, and more particularly of air, or alternatively of a liquid (such as, for example, water).

[0022] Preferably, these fluid jets are injected through the injection device 6 at a pressure substantially between 5 and 8 bar.

[0023] Advantageously, the support device 2 includes a rotating device 7, which has the function of rotating the container about its own axis.

[0024] More specifically, the spraying device 6 faces the portion 8 of the side surface 3a of the container 3 and is oriented to spray its own fluid jet in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the tangential velocity imparted to the portion 8 of the side surface 3a of the container 3 by the rotating device 7, such that the fluid jet distributed by the spraying device 6 is guided against the movement of the label 4 in its area on the label in order to achieve the effective removal of the label 4 from the container 3.

[0025] Advantageously, the jetting device 6 is adapted to intermittently jet the fluid. More particularly, the jetting device 6 is preferably capable of jetting the fluid at a frequency of once every 10 to 20 milliseconds.

[0026] Conveniently, the injection device 6 is actuated to dispense the fluid jet in a manner synchronized with the rotation of the container 3 given by the rotating device 7.

[0027] Conveniently, the spraying device 6 is arranged adjacent to the cutting device 5 in the lateral direction and advantageously located close to the cutting device. Preferably, the spraying device 6 is mounted on the plate of the cutting device 5.

[0028] More specifically, the spraying device 6 is conveniently arranged upstream of the cutting device 5 relative to the rotation direction given to the container 3 by the rotating device 7.

[0029] Advantageously, the spraying device 6 consists of at least one pair of nozzles 9a, 9b, which are arranged to overlap each other in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the container 3.

[0030] Specifically, nozzles 9a and 9b are arranged substantially above and below the position of label 4 on container 3, respectively, and are tilted in a converging manner to guide the fluid jet distributed by the nozzles into the area of ​​container 3 affected by label 4.

[0031] Conveniently, nozzles 9a and 9b are connected to a fluid operating circuit 10, which includes a pressurized fluid manifold 11 and an intake valve device that controls the connection and disconnection between the manifold 11 and nozzles 9a and 9b.

[0032] Specifically, the valve device includes at least one multi-way valve 12 connected to the manifold 11 and the nozzles 9a, 9b. The multi-way valve is conveniently activated by means of a pulse for actuating / deactivating the passages connected to the nozzles 9a, 9b, so as to alternately send pressurized fluid from the manifold 11 to one or the other of the two nozzles 9a, 9b, thereby allowing the nozzles 9a and 9b to alternately eject pulsed fluid jets.

[0033] Referring to the embodiment shown, the cutting device 5 includes at least one blade 13 arranged such that its cutting portion faces the label 4 applied to the container 3. The cutting device is supported by a frame 14, which also advantageously supports the spraying device 6.

[0034] Furthermore, the cutting device 5 is provided with a means to generate a pressure difference between the two opposite sides of the label 4 so as to impart an expanding motion to the label 4 and thus separate the label 4 from the side surface 3a of the container 3 so that the label 4 impacts the cutting portion of the blade 13, thereby cutting the label.

[0035] Such a device that allows a pressure difference to be generated between the two opposite sides of the label 4 is conveniently provided by means of a device for blowing pressurized air between the label 4 and the side surface 3a of the container 3, which is conveniently provided by means of a suitable pressurized air injector 15 mounted on the frame 14 (e.g., above the blade 13) and oriented toward the area near the upper edge of the label 4.

[0036] It should be noted that the blade 13 is advantageously arranged in a vertical plane passing through the axis of the container 3, and the nozzles 9a and 9b are ideally arranged in planes that are substantially parallel to and laterally spaced relative to the plane in which the blade 13 is located.

[0037] Referring to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be noted that the support device 2 can be conveniently provided by means of a device 16 for conveying the container 3 along the forward path.

[0038] In this configuration, the cutting device 5 and the spraying device 6 can move integrally with the conveying device 16 so that they can operate as they follow the container 3 along the forward path, as will be explained more clearly below.

[0039] For example, the conveying device 16 is composed of a disc conveyor belt 17 that rotates about its own axis. In this case, the rotating device 7 can be advantageously provided by a rotating plate 18 arranged in the peripheral area of ​​the disc conveyor belt, on which the container 3 rests.

[0040] More preferably, the disc conveyor belt 17 may be provided with a plurality of plates 18 arranged at an angle to each other around the axis of the disc conveyor belt 17, each plate being designed to receive the container by placing the corresponding container 3, from which the corresponding label 4 must be removed, on it.

[0041] Above each or every plate 18, a corresponding retaining head 19 may be provided, which engages the upper part of the container 3 to ensure that the container rests on the corresponding plate 18.

[0042] Furthermore, if the support device 2 includes a conveying device 16, the frame 14 supporting the cutting device 5 and the spraying device 6 is conveniently connected to a moving device that is synchronized with the movement of the container 3 by the conveying device 16, such that the cutting device 5 and the spraying device 6 can follow the container 3 along at least a portion of the container's forward path on the conveying device 16, thereby moving at substantially the same speed as the container 3 moves along the forward path of the container via the conveying device 16.

[0043] Alternatively, each plate 18 of the disc conveyor belt 17 can be paired with a corresponding frame 14, which supports the corresponding cutting device 5 and the corresponding spraying device 6. In this case, the frame 14 paired with each plate 18 can be integrally fixed to the disc conveyor belt 17.

[0044] Alternatively, a single cutting device 5 can be provided on the machine, with a spraying device 6 arranged laterally adjacent to the cutting device. The cutting device is supported by a frame 14 connected to a moving device, which first initiates the frame to move forward (i.e., in the same direction as the forward direction of the conveyor 16) and then initiates the frame to move backward (i.e., in the opposite direction to the forward direction of the conveyor 16).

[0045] Specifically, in this configuration, during the forward movement of the frame 14, the cutting device 5 and the spraying device 6 synchronously follow the movement of the container 3 arranged on the conveyor 16 along the container's forward path, thus following the forward trajectory from the starting position to the destination position. During this time, the cutting device 5 and the spraying device 6 are actuated to remove the label 4 from the container 3. Subsequently, once the frame 14 reaches the destination position, the frame 14 moves backward at a faster speed than it follows the forward trajectory, following the return trajectory from the destination position to the starting position, so that the cutting device 5 and the spraying device 6 can operate on the container 3, which is then conveyed on the conveyor 16 and subsequently has the label 4 to be removed applied.

[0046] Furthermore, the machine is advantageously provided with a control device 100, which is, for example, a programmable electronic controller, functionally connected to the cutting device 5 and the spraying device 6 and configured to control the simultaneous actuation of the cutting device 5 and the spraying device 6, or more preferably, the actuation of the spraying device 6 immediately after the actuation of the cutting device 5.

[0047] Advantageously, the rotating device 7 may optionally be driven by the same control device 100 so that the rotation of the container 3 only begins after the actuation of the cutting device 5.

[0048] Conveniently, the electric valves 12 that control nozzles 9a and 9b are also controlled by the control device 100, such as in Figure 6 It is shown schematically in the diagram.

[0049] Conveniently, the spraying device 6 remains actuated for a sufficient period of time to allow the container 3 to rotate about its own axis by a predetermined angle (e.g., an angle equal to at least 300°).

[0050] Advantageously, a suction device is also provided, which is tasked with picking up the label 4 once it has been removed from the container 3 after the actuation of the cutting device 5 and the spraying device 6.

[0051] In particular, a suction device is conveniently provided by means of a suction inlet 20, which faces the support device 2 of the container 3 and is connected to an air suction device by means of a delivery pipe 21.

[0052] More specifically, as in the illustrated embodiment, the suction inlet 20 is arranged laterally relative to the conveying device 16 along the forward path of the container 3 on the side opposite to the cutting device 5 and the spraying device 6.

[0053] The machine according to the present invention operates as follows.

[0054] A container 3 with a label 4 to be removed (the label is wrapped around the side surface 3a of the container) is loaded onto a plate 18 of a disc conveyor belt 17. The container is held on the plate by a retaining head 19, and is positioned facing the cutting device 5 and the spraying device 6. Figure 1 As shown in the image.

[0055] As container 3 advances along its path defined by disc conveyor 17, frame 14 supporting cutting device 5 and spraying device 6 follows container 3 and actuates cutting device 5 by actuating sprayer 15 that sprays an air jet between label 4 and the side surface of container 3 to separate a portion of label 4 from container 3, thus pushing label 4 against the cutting blade 13, as in Figure 2 In the case shown.

[0056] At this time, the actuation of the injection device 6 causes nozzles 9a and 9b to intermittently and alternately spray high-pressure fluid jets toward the container 3, and more specifically toward the label 4, while simultaneously actuating the rotation of the plate 18 on which the container 3 rests, allowing the container 3 to rotate about its own axis. This causes the portion 8 of the side surface 3a of the container, guided by the fluid jets from nozzles 9a and 9b, to move in the opposite direction to the fluid jets. Therefore, the combined effect of the fluid jets distributed by the injection device 6 and the rotation of the container 3 raises the cut edge of the label 4, as shown in the image. Figure 3 As shown.

[0057] As container 3 rotates around its own axis and advances along its path, the fluid jets distributed by nozzles 9a and 9b gradually separate label 4 from container 3, thereby overcoming the adhesion of any residue of glue or other sticky substances. Figure 4 As shown.

[0058] As in Figure 5 In the case shown, once the container 3 reaches the location of the suction inlet 20, the label 4, which is now almost completely separated from the container 3, is separated from the container 3 by the attraction force applied by the suction inlet 20, and then sucked into the delivery pipe 21.

[0059] At this point, containers 3 without labels 4 can be collected by the disc conveyor belt 17 and prepared for subsequent processing so that they can be adapted for new use.

[0060] In fact, it has been found that the present invention has achieved the intended goals and objectives by providing a machine that allows for the efficient removal of labels from reusable containers, even in the presence of residues of glue or other substances that make complete removal difficult.

[0061] The invention conceived thus can be modified and varied in many ways, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all details can be further replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

[0062] In fact, the materials used, as well as the shape and size depending on the circumstances, can be any material according to requirements and the current level of technology.

[0063] This application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102021000013049, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0064] Where a technical feature mentioned in any claim is followed by a reference mark, the sole purpose of having those reference marks is to increase the comprehensibility of the claim, and therefore these reference marks do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example through these reference marks.

Claims

1. A machine (1) for removing a label from a reusable container, the machine comprising a support (2) for applying at least one label (4) to be removed onto a side surface (3a) of at least one reusable container (3), and the machine being provided with at least one cutting device (5) adapted to perform at least one at least partial cut on the label (4), wherein, The machine (1) includes means for removing the label (4) from the container (3), the means including a jetting device (6) for spraying at least one high-pressure fluid jet toward the label (4), characterized in that the support device (2) includes a rotating device (7) adapted to rotate the container (3) about its own axis, the jetting device (6) facing a portion (8) of the side surface (3a) of the container (3) and oriented to spray the at least one fluid jet in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the tangential velocity imparted by the rotating device (7) to the portion (8) of the side surface (3a) of the container (3).

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein, The jetting device (6) is adapted to intermittently jet the at least one fluid jet.

3. The machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The jetting device (6) is actuated to distribute the at least one fluid jet in a manner synchronized with the rotation of the container (3) by the rotating device (7).

4. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, The spraying device (3) is arranged adjacent to the cutting device (5) in the lateral direction.

5. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, The spraying device (6) is arranged upstream of the cutting device (5) relative to the rotation direction given to the at least one container (3) by the rotating device (7).

6. The machine of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The spraying device (6) includes at least one pair of nozzles (9a, 9b) arranged to overlap each other in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the container (3).

7. The machine of claim 6, wherein, The nozzles (9a, 9b) are respectively arranged above and below the position of the label (4) on the container (3) and are tilted in a converging manner to guide the fluid jets distributed through the nozzles into the area of ​​the container (3) affected by the label (4).

8. The machine of claim 6 or 7, wherein, The nozzles (9a, 9b) are actuated to alternately dispense the corresponding fluid jets.

9. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The support device (2) includes a conveying device (16) for conveying the container (3) along the forward path, and the cutting device (5) and the spraying device (6) are movable integrally with the conveying device (16).

10. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The machine includes a control device (100) functionally connected to the cutting device (5) and the spraying device (6), the control device (100) being adapted to activate the spraying device (6) immediately after the cutting device (5) is activated.

11. The machine of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The rotating device (7) can be actuated according to a command after the cutting device (5) is actuated.

12. The machine of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The machine includes a suction device adapted to pick up the label (4) after it has been removed from the container (3).

13. A method for removing a label from a reusable container, wherein, The method comprises the steps of: performing at least one at least partial cut on at least one label (4) applied to at least one outer surface (3a) of at least one container (3) in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the container (3); and distributing at least one high-pressure fluid jet in the direction of the label (4), characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: rotating the container (3) about its own axis, the step of distributing at least one fluid jet comprising guiding the at least one fluid jet toward a portion (8) of the side surface (3a) of the container (3), and distributing it in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of the tangential velocity imparted to the portion (8) of the side surface (3a) of the container (3) by the action of rotating the container (3) about its own axis.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, The method includes the following steps: intermittently spraying the at least one fluid jet.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: spraying the at least one fluid jet after performing at least one cut.

16. The method according to any of the preceding claims 13, 14 or 15, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: after performing at least one at least partial cutting step on the label (4), performing a step of rotating the container (3).

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