Abstract: An apparatus for treating containers, including a transport device which transports the containers along a specified transport path, the transport device including a plurality of holding elements for holding the containers, with the holding elements being transported along the specified transport path. The apparatus includes a cleaning device for sterilizing the holding elements at least in sections.

Abstract: A machine for washing containers comprises a base structure and a plurality of brushes mounted able to rotate on the base structure to clean the outer surface of the containers. Also provided are grip organs in the form of jaws movable between an open position and a closed position and fitted with rollers interposed between the grip organs and the neck of the container. The rollers are mounted idle about an axis of rotation to generate sliding elements and allow the rotation of the container itself through the rotary action of the brushes.

Abstract: A machine for washing containers comprises a base structure and a plurality of brushes mounted able to rotate on said base structure to clean the outer surface of the containers. Also provided are grip organs in the form of jaws movable between an open position and a closed position and fitted with rollers interposed between the grip organs and the neck of the container. Said rollers are mounted idle about an axis of rotation to generate sliding elements and allow the rotation of the container itself through the rotary action of the brushes.

Abstract: An automatic bottle scrubber for use with automatic bottle washing machines utilizes vertical powered brushes which rotate as the bottles go by on a conveyor system to scrub the bottles in a wet environment to remove dirt. The bottles are allowed to rotate during the scrubbing process so that all of the exterior of the bottle will be scrubbed. The brushes used are preferably helically disposed on a drive rod and rotated in such a manner as to cause the bottle to lift up out of its conveyor receptacle. Thus, while rotating, abrasion to the bottle and to the conveyor receptacle is minimized due to reduced contact between the conveyor receptacle and the bottle. A guide or bar disposed over the scrubber station keeps the bottles from coming completely out of the conveyor receptacle.

Abstract: A method for removing exterior material from vials following a serpentine path through various steps of cleaning and drying. The movement of the vials may be limited to a predetermined path formed as an elongated opening in a sheet of material. The sheet may be replaced with a similar sheet with a different width of opening for bottles of differing sizes. The vials are rotated as they move along the path which may be accomplished by slight deviations in the straight sections of the elongated slot such as a zig-zag or sinusoidal wave. Changing the sheet can alter the number of straight path segments and thus the overall path of the vials through the equipment. The cleaning of the vials may include a washing with detergent, water rinsing, and air and vacuum drying. Air is drawn through the paths to produce a completely dry product. Liquid is removed from the vials' bottoms by a vacuum underneath the paths.

Abstract: Process and device for delabeling of plastic containers by immersing them in a liquid bath heated to above the disorientation temperature of the containers and thereafter separating the loose labels (optionally cups) from the container bodies by bringing them on an inclined sieve vibrating in such a way that when the screen deck is in its highest position in the vibrating motion, the component of motion parallel to the screen deck is directed toward the highest point of the screen.

Abstract: A system (20) for separating the labels, base cups and caps from plastic bottles for subsequent recycling includes an endless belt (26) mounted for movement around a course. The bottles are attached to the endless belt (26) by means of carriers (32) for advancement between heaters (56, 80) to soften the adhesive securing the labels and base cups. The base cups are removed with a first pair of rotating brushes (68) while the labels are removed with a second pair of rotating brushes (86). The caps are removed with a rotating blade (96). In a second embodiment (110), the bottles are heated by immersion in a tank (112) of hot liquid (114).

Abstract: A plastic bottle delabeling apparatus in which a series of heated rolls that are driven at increasingly greater peripheral velocity engage the plastic bottles to flatten and stretch the bottles. While flattening the bottles, the apparatus heats the plastic bottle surface by the contact with the heated rolls, effectively softening the bond of any label to the bottle. The flattened bottle is then passed through a pair of opposed rotating brush rolls which strip the loosened label from the bottle. The rolls are in vertically opposed sets with the peripheral velocity of the sets of rolls being successively greater in the direction of movement of the bottles therebetween.

Abstract: A delabeler (11) provides a conveyor (12) which sandwiches a series of containers (13) to positively rotatably move such containers through a plurality of processing stations. A strip brush section (31) includes a series of stations (32-35) each including a plurality of rotating brushes (53-55) located within specific planes and operated to completely remove the container labels. A scrub brush section (101) includes a similarly constructed series of scrub brush stations (102-105) which completely remove adhesive residue from the containers. A series of stations (27, 28, 100, 106) spaced throughout the delabeler provide a series of vertically spaced pulsating jets (29) of non-caustic fluid to the containers while an initial drenching station (25) preconditions the labels prior to further processing and a drying station (107) provides a completely dry and clean container following the delabeling.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing straws from bottles employing a plurality of resilient blades which are mounted to rotate such that the ends thereof engage the straws within the bottles removing same.