Ralph Elvin Williams

US Patent:

20070089573, Apr 26, 2007

Filed:

Aug 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/507210

Inventors:

Ralph Williams - Des Peres MO, US
Daniel Lockwood - O'Fallon MO, US

International Classification:

B23B 1/00

US Classification:

082047000, 083013000

Abstract:

Apparatus is disclosed for trimming scrap material, such as a dome or moil, from a plastic container or other object, which is typically formed with the neck of the container during molding. The apparatus comprises a pair of power driven endless belts, each having an inner reach with the inner reaches of the belts being spaced apart from one another so as to grip a portion of the container (typically the scrap dome or moil to be trimmed) therebetween and so as to move the container along a path. The belts are driven so that the inner reaches of each of the belts move in the same direction so that a container gripped between the belt reaches is conveyed along the work path. One of the belts is driven at a surface speed faster than the surface speed of the other belt so as to rotate the container gripped by the belt reaches about a vertical axis. An elongate blade extends along at least a portion of the work path and is positioned proximate to the work path so as to trim the scrap from the container as the container is conveyed along the work path and as the container is rotated by the belt reaches. A method of trimming such scrap is also disclosed.