Method of and apparatus for removing labels

摘要

A machine (10) for removing tubular plastic labels from bottles (13) to facilitate their re-use and recycling. The machine (10) has a multi-station turret and supply (24) and exit conveyors (80) to sequentially supply labelled bottles (13) in line to the turret and remove delabelled bottles (17) from the turret. The delabelling is accomplished with a cutter (54) which is preferably in the form of a high-pressure jet of water. Ideally, the cutter is adjusted so that it is a differential cutter which will cut a label without cutting or marring a bottle from which a label is being removed. With one embodiment, a water flush mechanism (34) is provided to flush cut labels from their bottles (13) and the turret onto a screen conveyor (36). The flush water passes through the conveyor (36) into a container (38) from which it is pumped for re-use. Removed labels are transported by the screen conveyor (36) to a collection bin (39). With another embodiment, an air blast mechanism (40) is used to strip cut labels from bottles (13) and a vacuum pick (41) up is used to collect stripped labels.