Abstract: A trimming apparatus (10) for removing the dome scrap (152) from a blow, molded bottle (150) is described. The apparatus includes an advancement wheel (12) and a rotation wheel (14) mounted on opposite sides of a path (16) formed by upper guide rails (18 and 20), lower guide rails (22 and 24) and the wheels. A knife assembly (62) is adjustably mounted beneath the advancement wheel and includes a knife blade (64) which extends into the path slightly in front of the area tangent to the wheels. The wheels are connected to drive motors (26 and 28). In use, the bottle is fed into the path such that the upper guide rails engage each side of the groove (152A) of the dome scrap. As the bottle moves into the apparatus, the advancement wheel engages the groove to move the bottle into the path between the wheels. When the bottle reaches the area of the path tangent to the wheels, the rotation wheel contacts the groove.

Abstract: A trimmer apparatus (10) comprising dual moveable belts (64) and (90) for removing a dome scrap (12) from a hollow, blow molded plastic bottle (14), is described. The dual belts are supported on spaced apart pulley systems (20) and (22) forming a linear path (24) along which the bottle travels. The distance between the pulley system is adjustable for different size bottles. A groove (12A) on the dome scrap is engaged by the belts which are rotating in a similar direction. However, one belt is moving somewhat faster than the other. This provides for moving the bottle linearly along the path, while spinning the bottle. As the bottle spins past a knife blade (112) the dome scrap cut from the bottle.