WO2016202344A1

WO2016202344A1 - Label removing method and system

Info

Publication number: WO2016202344A1
Application number: PCT/DK2016/050192
Authority: WO
Inventors: Troels Jakobsen
Original assignee: Troels Jakobsen
Priority date: 2015-06-19
Filing date: 2016-06-16
Publication date: 2016-12-22

Abstract

The invention concerns a method of removing labels from reusable containers (1), e.g. for use in transporting food articles, in a crate label removing system, the method comprising identifying the position of a label (2) on a container (1), relative positioning of the container (1) and a label removing device (4) and relatively move the container (1) and/or the label removing device (4) for removing the label (2) and where the label removing device (4) may be rotated, with the labels (2) sitting on the container (1) surface, to positions from which label (2) removing can be directly and efficiently performed, or where the container (1) is rotated with the labels (2) sitting on the container (1) surface, to positions from which label removing can be directly and efficiently performed. The invention further relates to a label removing system for removing a label (2) from a reusable container (1), e.g. a crate (1) for use in transporting food articles, the system including a label removing device (4), a label recognition device, at least one rotation device (5) provided for mutually positioning of the container (1) and the label removing device (4) and a control system that based on the label recognition device input controls the at least one rotation device (5) to enable the mutual positioning of the container (1) and the label removing device (4).

Description

LABEL REMOVING METHOD AND SYSTEM Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns the area of label removing.

Background of the Invention

In particular in the food industry and in logistics enterprises that often transport food articles to the retail shops/supermarkets, cleaning of the food/transport crates occurs to a great extent. This is done in order to ensure hygiene, quality and shelf life of the foodstuff as well as the visual impression to the user in relation to mainly food article crates.

Some firms wash millions of such crates every year. The total number of washings in the industry is many times greater. Some firms that have crate washing as their business wash thousands of crates per hour at each site of which there may be several sites (washing depots) associated with the same firm.

Typically such crates are of plastic and often in the format 600 x 500/400 mm or 300 x 400 mm in base dimensions, and with either fixed or foldable crate sides. Some rigid crates with fixed sides are equipped with positionable support bars, often located high on two of four crate sides. Depending on position such support bars are making crates either stackable, on top of each other as often when packed with goods and with the upper crate resting its weight on the support bars of the lower crate, or making same crates nestable, inside each other as often when empty in order to reduce volume during empty storage and transportation. Similarly crates with foldable sides are able to be unfolded to shape a container to carry contents and otherwise fold to reduce in volume. Such crates often have locks locking erect sides together for the crate to become and stay stable while unfolded.

The crates are typically washed individually, foldable crates first unfolded, positioned on a continuous horizontal track following each other with a small spacing in order for this small spacing to provide access to perform nozzle washing of outer crate ends that also often carry labels glued or otherwise attached onto the crate. Unfolding and folding again after the cleaning process is today performed manually or automatically in machines with positioning devices as e.g. electrical motors and/or electrical and/or pneumatical driven cylinders equipped with mechanical parts and mechanisms. Machines with such devices are also applicable for positioning support bars on e.g. rigid crates before being sure to be able to re-stack as nestable crates after the cleaning process. But also for unfolding crates or for positioning support bars as ready for stacking packed crates elsewhere in the logistics chain, e.g. in the food producing industry packing the same crates with goods, such machines are utilized. Labels provide advantageous possibilities for registering, monitoring and tracking individual crates and crate contents during logistics. If labels are not efficiently removed from crates when crates are emptied, washed and repacked with changing contents then the risk of confusion due to invalid and unreliable readings of crate contents occur potentially arousing much disturbance and expenditure throughout the supply chain. That can be as wrongly shipped or stored crates and contents, potentially also causing lost goods as contents suddenly and unintendedly becoming disposable.

Of known methods for removing labels before, during or after a wash process are e.g. mechanical scraping, high pressure water treatment and dry ice blasting among others.

Within the field it is commonly known that impact time is crucial however critical and difficultly obtained as crates often, due to capacity requirements, pass such label removing devices at speeds which do not leave sufficient time and opportunity to perform efficient label removing. Often, and even if temporarily slowed down or completely stopped, one crate on a continuous line, of e.g. 2.500 crates per hour, can only pass and be presented to label removing devices for a time being around or less than 1 second before the following crate/s will arrive on the same position and collide if the former crate is held back for a longer time for label removing. Attempts to manually or automatically stack crates, to buffer and concentrate the footprints of otherwise colliding crates into one footprint, with many crates on top of each other on the same vertical position, are known to have been made. However if e.g. only one nozzle or even four around four sides of such crate column, is applied then the maximum treatment time per entire crate side is not extended and only if just a narrow vertical strip is defined as target area down across the crate column then the advantage of continuously moving e.g. one or four sets of nozzles can be obtained compared to continuously running individual crates horizontally past fixed sets of continuously operating label removing devises, e.g. nozzles inside a crate washer.

And additional need for stacking and de-stacking again, eventually before further rinse of crates and rinse off of label residue or before individual crate folding (if foldable crates), crate type sorting and crate drying such additional stacking and de-stacking can be relatively man, machine and space consuming.

And where crates are anyway to be presented individually, one by one, for repacking after the cleaning process, as often in food industries as meat or bread processing, it is often preferred not having to establish crate stacks only for parts of the cleaning process.

Since labels, visible for human or machine readings, can be more or less randomly sitting on 4 outer crate sides of a crate (not counting bottom on which crate is standing or insides and inside bottom away from desired labelling areas), however sitting maybe only on a relatively small and limited spot of the entire crate surface, then also label removing devices must be able to function from 4 sides requiring them typically to be fixed on more positions or be movable among more positions if positions are detected and accordingly treated. If not so specifically designated target areas then the complete 4 sides or complete surface 2 of 4 sides might be treated, consequently often with excess use of time and e.g. water required to perform such completely covering treatment. Common prior art types of crate label removing are operated by one central label removing unit (comprising its set of e.g. nozzles, etc.) per track through which all crates on the line are passing. A possible drawback of known variants is the risk that failure of parts of such central label removing unit will result in a total stop of label removing and thereby satisfactory or even acceptable cleaning of crates on the line in question. And thereby a stop for clean crates for further distribution or shipping of the user's food articles.

Similar critical time challenge applies to the crate unfolding and folding and support bar positioning where crates come in-line and individually at high capacity and speed as e.g. by number of crates per hour with maybe only app. 0,3 seconds between in-line crate collision, if an otherwise un-manipulated crate sequence.

Challenge definitely applies to the absolute time between arriving crates, as e.g. 1,2 seconds between if 3000 in line per hour, which time to process each crate can however then be manipulated in a system of a single crate unfolding and/or folding and/or support bar positioning and/or label removing element with in and out feed tracks off set, meaning tracks overlapping each other perpendicular to their transport directions for a certain stretch of the transport direction and time, similar to momentarily layering crates and letting them share time slots, principally 2 crates no. 1 going out and no. 2 going in on the same 1 time slot releasing then 1 extra process time slot per crate in the actual element, avoiding collision from behind during processing, and such time gained moreover per crate per cell in multiple elements combined, as e.g. having 2,4 seconds process time per crate if 2 elements on a 3000 crate per hour line.

Object of the Invention

An object of the invention is to provide a method and a system for label removing with enhanced efficiency, capacity and flexibility.

Description of the Invention

This is achieved through a method for removing labels from reusable containers, e.g. for use in transporting food articles, in a crate label removing system, the method comprising identifying the position of a label on a container, relative positioning of the container and a label removing device for removing the label. Preferably the label removing device is rotated, with the labels sitting on the container surface, to positions from which label removing can be directly and efficiently performed, or the container is rotated with the labels sitting on the container surface, to positions from which label removing can be directly and efficiently performed.

Hereby labels can be efficiently removed at high capacity.

Advantageously the label removing device is rotated, with the labels sitting on the container surface, to positions from which label removing can be directly and efficiently performed, or the container is rotated with the labels sitting on the container surface, to positions from which label removing can be directly and efficiently performed.

Moreover, according to the present invention, this is achieved by a label removing system, where at least one label removing unit is provided, where a feed track and a discharge track are provided in connection with the label removing unit and where the feed track and the discharge track are at least partly overlapping each other relative to the label removing unit. It is herewith achieved that impact expensively generated to remove labels can be focused, concentrated and limited on a smaller fraction of the crate than the entire surface. Hereby the label recognition device may be a visual recognition device, e.g. a camera system or other means capable of identifying the position of the label and providing an input to a control system of the position.

This may advantageously be achieved through a label removing system wherein feed tracks and discharge tracks are positioned so that one is vertically higher than the other and/or horizontally offset from each other. This aspect of the invention may be combined with any other features described, either individually or in combination.

Advantageously a label removing system for removing a label from a reusable container, e.g. a crate for use in transporting food articles, includes a label removing device, a label recognition device, at least one rotation device provided for mutually positioning of the container and the label removing device and a control system that based on the label recognition device input controls the at least one rotation device to enable the mutual positioning of the container and the label removing device. As the identification of the label position may happen already before entering into the position for label removing it is possible to enable an adjustment of the label removing device prior to the positioning and hence achieve a process time reduction which will further increase the system capacity. According to a further embodiment the crate can be rotated to predetermined positions as a fixed stand still position or as rotating back and forth on a certain number of degrees of the full circular rotation.

It is herewith achieved that the movement already in the ability to rotate is exploited further for the pin point of the ray of impact eventually to cover a crate surface area around and larger than the pin point itself.

According to a further embodiment, the crate can be elevated to predetermined positions as a fixed stand still position or as elevated up and down on a certain path.

It is herewith achieved that more dimensions can be added to an individual label removing pattern of each crate.

According to a further embodiment more rotation devices are disposed in series and further advantageous more rotation devises are disposed in series, in combination with in feed and out feed tracks.

It is herewith achieved that a higher quantity of crates over time can be spread across more rotation devices therefore becoming able to meet capacity requirements against treatment time required per crate. It is herewith achieved that (crates can run in a buffer loop of in feed and out feed tracks and) the crate label removing system can be integrated with surrounding tracks and/or equipment, e.g. crate washers. According to a further embodiment, the crate label removing system according to the invention comprises more rotation devices disposed in parallel.

It is herewith achieved that same sets of crate positioning devices, serving crates to label removing elements and rotation devises, can position crates to more positions more rapidly from the same position on the in feed track while positioning devices returning across in feed tracks from positioning one crate into one label removing element are simultaneously serving opposite directional across in feed tracks to position another crate into an opposite label removing element.

According to a further embodiment, the crate label removing system according to the invention is peculiar in that more rotation devices are disposed in series and in parallel. It is herewith achieved that a higher quantity of crates over time can be spread across more label removing elements and rotation devices therefore becoming able to meet capacity requirements against treatment time required per crate and that same sets of crate positioning devices, serving crates to rotation devises, can position crates to more positions from the same position on the in feed track.

According to a further embodiment, the crate label removing system according to the invention comprises in feed and discharge tracks mutually positioned vertically higher than the other and/or horizontally offset from each other. It is herewith achieved that label residue and water from the untreated crates does not drip onto the clean or even clean and dry crates. Thus the untreated crates are separated from the clean or even clean and dry crates.

According to a further embodiment, the crate label removing system according to the invention is peculiar in that covers are either fixed or movingly positioned to shield off and/or catch label residue, such as pulp remains, being blasted loose by label removing devices and/or spun off from rotation additional to the label positioning rotation. It is herewith achieved that label residue and water being spun off from crates is contained and prevented from further spread and contamination inside and outside the crate label removing system. According to a further embodiment, the crate label removing system according to the invention comprises cleaning or rinsing utensils that are either fixed or movingly positioned to remove label residue from the crates, such as pulp remains. Further cleaning or rinsing utensils may either fixed or movingly be positioned to remove, from the label removing system itself, label residue, such as pulp.

It is herewith achieved that label residue, such as pulp, can be sprayed off from crates after being blasted loose and label residue, such as pulp, can be systematically washed down from the crate label removing system, collected and taken out of the system. According to a further embodiment, the crate label removing system according to the invention is combined with auxiliary equipment as collection tanks and filters and drains for separating label residue, such as pulp, and/or re-circulating label removing media, e.g. liquids. It is herewith achieved that efficient re-use or disposal can take place according to regulations.

According to a further embodiment, the crate label removing system according to the invention the crate can be rotated to release label residue before and/or after removing label by label removing device, such label residue being spun off with the rotation.

It is herewith achieved that crates will afterwards be even cleaner and free of e.g. pulp. Advantageously the crate can be rotated also to be dried from e.g. wash water being spun off with the rotation.

It is herewith achieved that crates will afterwards be also dry and not requiring further drying equipment or process after the label removing. Preferably a feed track and a discharge track are provided in connection with the label removing unit, where the feed track and the discharge track are at least partly overlapping each other relative to the label removing unit. Such overlapping may be achieved by that feed tracks and discharge tracks are positioned so that one is vertically higher than the other and/or horizontally offset from each other.

Hereby crates for label removing are fed into a crate loop of overlapping in and out feed movement, among one or more crate label removing elements, creating the time for this crate label removing system to function and maintain significantly higher crate capacity, and with extended treatment time per crate, than systems without such loop.

When a crate arrives at a collection position and enters a label removing element, then the emptied collection position may be passed by crates destined for empty downstream collection positions. This increases the capacity of the system, as crates are moved out of the path of the in feed track when the label removing element is ready to receive a crate.

It is herewith achieved that the capacity of the system is maximised. A crate may pass an up-stream crate on its way to an empty down-stream label removing element, while the up-stream crate has its label removed is in the up-stream label removing element.

In an embodiment the method according to the invention is peculiar in that the label removing elements operate simultaneously. It is herewith achieved that in feed and out feed patterns can be aligned and coordinated.

Further the invention relates to the aspect of a container unfolding/folding system, where at least one container unfolding/folding unit is provided and where a feed track and a discharge track are provided in connection with the container opening unit, where the feed track and the discharge track are at least partly overlapping each other relative to the container unfolding unit. This may advantageously be achieved through a container unfolding system wherein feed tracks and discharge tracks are positioned so that one is vertically higher than the other and/or horizontally offset from each other. This aspect of the invention may be combined with any other features described, either individually or in combination.

The aspects of the invention related to in feed and discharge track configuration as well as the configuration of the actual label removing units or container unfolding/folding units of the invention as seen individually will have an impact:

• where a crate loop, meaning that a crate coming on an in feed track will find its way from an in feed crate position into and through the actual label removing process in a label removing element, possibly positioned

perpendicular on the transportation direction of crates, from which label removing element the crate is delivered back onto an out feed track and an out feed crate position positioned vertically below or above the in feed crate position, as crates in layers, and/or delivered back onto an out feed track and an out feed crate position positioned horizontally offset besides, next to or parallel to the in feed crate position, as peering crates, in effect momentarily eliminating the crate transport directional need for space for one crate since crate transport directional layers and/or pairs occupy, either vertically and/or horizontally seen, only transport directional space for one crate as opposed to two spaces as otherwise needed for two crates, if e.g. in line, in process, such loop creates the time for this crate label removing system to function and maintain significantly higher crate capacity than systems without such time and space loop of in feed tracks and out feed tracks, for example perpendicular to the label removing elements, and such in feed tracks and out feed tracks with overlapping lengths, as e.g. under and over or side by side to each other, with in feed tracks and out feed tracks vertically and/or horizontally offset.

• where continuously being able to layer and/or peer crates corresponds to

adding the time it takes to transport a crate for a crate distance and that time can then be allocated to the actual crate positioning and label removing from a crate in front or after. where a multiplied crate loop (meaning that e.g. 3 crates coming as no. 1 leading, then 2 and 3 will find their way into and through the actual label removing process, no. 1 for example in label removing element A farthest ahead on the transportation direction, then no. 2 in element B and no. 3 in element C, while crate no. 4 passes elements C and B in undertaking their actual label removing such crate no. 4 then to arrive at element A. The continued movement of crate 4 which is then not causing collision backwards to 5 and 6, designated for B and C, even while previous crates 3, 2 and 1 are still processed through same label removing elements that loop creates the time for this crate label removing system to function and crates to flow also while crates 1, 2 and 3 are discharged on an out feed track not occupying the space or way for crate movement on the in feed track) creates the time for this crate label removing system to function and maintain significantly higher crate capacity than systems without such loop of in feed tracks and out feed tracks for example perpendicular to the label removing elements and such in feed tracks and out feed tracks here with overlapping lengths, as e.g. under and over or side by side to each other, with in feed track and out feed track vertically and/or horizontally offset. with optimal time and access to each targeted label area, while rotating and turning crates thus accordingly presented towards positioned label removing device: in a system where labels can be removed from either one or more crates at the same time, in either one or more label removing elements connected in series to meet the total crate capacity on the actual line; in a system where labels can be removed from more crates in a time sequence where energy of applied mean of label removal force (e.g. pressurized water, dry ice or other) can be coordinated, allocated and infused with the most possible of the complete power and impact of the combined system on each individual crate; in a scalable system that becomes relatively economically attractive by lower as well as by higher capacities, i.e. the technical solution is to be extended to a lesser degree and with fewer label removing elements by lower capacity need than by higher capacity need with several label removing elements in series and/or parallel or opposite along the same in feed and out feed tracks; in a single or up to several serial and/or parallel or opposite label removing elements such that a label removing element or parts thereof can be inoperative while label removing capacity is still maintained in one or more of the other label removing elements; in a system which can offer label scanning and monitoring on the crates arriving; in a system which with its labels removing device or devices can designate and attack specific target areas on the crates in process; in a system which can allow label free crates or crates below limit of determined label contamination to bypass label removing elements, label removing elements then to designate their label removing time and capacity to other crates; in a system which can offer label re-monitoring on the crates while still inside the individual label removing element, potentially for further treatment of the specific crate while other crates can move past this label removing element to others on the line or further on to accepted clean crate use. in a system where label removing elements can have filters and other means for label residue removal.

In various system variants, where several unfolding units, positioning units or label removal units are implemented, possibly in combination, it is advantageous if containers or crates requiring less treatment are bypassed, i.e. such containers are not subject to the same treatment as those containers or crates requiring a more intensive treatment (many labels present, difficult locks etc.). Hereby the efficiency of the system is maintained even when single containers would otherwise delay the system overall.

Description of the Drawing

Embodiments of the invention are described in the following with reference to the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1A-C shows a crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, including one label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/-folding element, wherein the in feed track and the out feed track is one, in centre of the vertical axis of crate treatment. Fig. 2A-C shows the crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed as fraction from above, including a) two label removing elements, one with a label removing device and a crate rotation device and one with a moving label removing device and b) one support bar positioning element with support bar positioning devices in two positions (in and out) and c) one un/-folding element with unfolding and folding devices in two positions (in and out).

Fig. 3A-D shows the crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed as fraction from the side, including lift elevating crates to different heights.

Fig. 4A-C shows a crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, including one label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/-folding element, wherein the in feed track and the out feed track is one, out of centre of the vertical axis of crate treatment.

Fig. 5A-C shows a crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, including one label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/-folding element, wherein the in feed track and the out feed track are offset in a direction out of the plane of the paper, and wherein the direction of movement of crates along said two tracks is the same, in an embodiment wherein the in feed track is the lower, including a bypass track on the lower level.

Fig. 6A-C shows a crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, including one label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/-folding element, wherein the in feed track and the out feed track is offset in a direction in the plane of the paper, and wherein the direction of movement of crates along said two tracks is the same, including a bypass track on the in feed track.

Fig. 7A-c shows a crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, including two label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/-folding elements disposed in series, wherein the in feed track and the out feed track is offset in a direction out of the plane of the paper, and wherein the direction of movement of crates along said two tracks is the same.

Fig. 8A-C shows a crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, including two label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/-folding elements disposed in series, wherein the in feed track and the out feed track is offset in a direction in the plane of the paper, and wherein the direction of movement of crates along said two tracks is the same.

Fig. 9A-C shows a crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, including three label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/-folding elements disposed in series, wherein in feed track and the out feed track is offset in a direction out of the plane of the paper, and wherein the direction of movement of crates along said two tracks is the same.

Fig. lOA-C shows a crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, including three label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/-folding elements disposed in series, wherein in feed track and the out feed track is offset in a direction in the plane of the paper, and wherein the direction of movement of crates along said two tracks is the same.

Fig. 11A-C shows a crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, including two label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/-folding elements disposed at opposed sides of the in feed track and the out feed track, wherein the in feed track and the out feed track is offset in a direction out of the plane of the paper, and wherein the direction of movement of crates along said two tracks is the same.

Fig. 12A-C shows a crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, including four label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/-folding elements disposed in series and in parallel.

Fig. 13A-C shows a crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, in an embodiment wherein in and out feed tracks are adjacent and away from label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/-folding elements, and wherein the in feed track and the out feed track is offset in a direction in the plane of the paper, and wherein the direction of movement of crates along the in feed track is reversed in relation to the out feed track.

Fig. 14A-C shows a crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, in an embodiment wherein in and out feed tracks are adjacent to label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/-folding elements, and wherein the in feed track and the out feed track is offset in a direction out of the plane of the paper, and wherein the direction of movement of crates along the in feed track is reversed in relation to the out feed track. Fig. 15A-C shows a crate label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/- folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, in an embodiment wherein in and out feed tracks are adjacent to label removing and/or support bar positioning and/or un/-folding elements, and wherein the in feed track and the out feed track is offset in a direction in the plane of the paper, and wherein the direction of movement of crates along the in feed track is reversed in relation to the out feed track. Fig. 16A-C shows a crate support bar positioning and/or un/-folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, including one support bar positioning and/or un/- folding element including three support bar positioning and/or un/-folding devices, wherein in feed track and the out feed track are offset in a direction out of the plane of the paper, and wherein the direction of movement of crates along said two tracks is the same, in an embodiment wherein the in feed track is the lower.

Fig. 17A-C shows a crate support bar positioning and/or un/-folding system viewed a) from the side across direction of crate movement, b) from the end along direction of crate movement and c) from above, including one support bar positioning and/or un/- folding element including three support bar positioning and/or un/-folding devices, wherein in feed track and the out feed track are offset in a direction in the plane of the paper, and wherein the direction of movement of crates along said two tracks is the same.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention

In the drawing and in the following description designation 3 is used for a label removing unit. It should be appreciated that in all constellations of units and tracks leading to and from the units the unit may also be substituted by an unfolding or folding unit. Unfolding or folding units should in this context be appreciated as covering unfolding/folding of support bars mounted on side walls of containers/crates as well as unfolding/folding of sidewalls in foldable containers/crates. The unfolding or folding units may also be configured together with label removing units. A unit may comprise a single device, i.e. a label removing device or an unfolding/folding device, or may comprise several of these arranged in series or in parallel, and hence not only the configurations shown in Fig. 16 and 17.

In the examples the out feed track is generally shown as being the uppermost where the in feed track and the out feed track are disposed vertically displaced. Obviously this could also be opposite, i.e. the out feed track could be the lowermost. In Figs. 1-15 a crate label removing system is shown, in which crates 1 can have labels 2 removed one or more crates 1 and/or labels 2 at a time and if more coordinated among several individual label removing units 3 and/or label removing devices 4 in order to attain the desired total number of crates per hour.

The crate label removing system is built up as en extension principle around one or more label removing units 3 embodying label removing devices 4, rotation devices 5 and lifting devices 8. A label removing unit 3 may in principle have the same technical basis for extension with more individual label removing units 3 in series and/or parallel in a situation where the need for a number of crates 1 treated per hour exceeds the number that can be managed by a single label removing unit 3.

The crate label removing system may include tracks 9, 10 for in feed 9 and out feed 10 of crates to and from a label removing unit.

The crate label removing system may embody bypass tracks 11 for crates 1 not designated for treatment. Crates 1 arrive continuously, moving on an external conveyor to a feed in track 9 which in situations with such capacity demands also serve as buffer loop track 9 in order to accumulate and prepare a number of crates 1 before label removing, without causing stop on the production up-stream e.g. towards a washing machine that is to maintain its continuous operation.

The crate label removing system thus consists of a number of label removing units 3, the number depending on capacity/number of crates per hour, in which crates 1 from track 9 are moved on one by one into each their position for insertion into the rotation device 5, possibly by being elevated by a lifting device 8, or lowered into an underlying rotation device or displaced into an adjacent rotation device in which crates are fixated rotated about a vertical or horizontal axis and subsequently conveyed out of the system on a track 10 with various dispositions relative to the crate label removing system, label removing unit 3, label removing device 4 and rotation device 5. The crate label removing system may operate such that one or more label removing units 3, label removing devices 4, rotation devices 5 and lifting devices 8 herein operate simultaneously or independently in relation to how and when crates 1 are moved into the positions in the label removing units 3. Crates 1 in several label removing units 3 can thereby be treated simultaneously or displaced in time relative to each other, depending on feeding and discharge pattern and movement of possible positioning mechanisms, such as guides, pushers and elevators. There may be combinations of additional functions for the shown setups and label removing units 3 can be set up in not shown configurations, possibly with a different disposition of tracks 9,10 relative to label removing units 3.

Label removing units 3, label removing devices 4, rotation devices 5 and lifting devices 8 are connected by an electric supply and control system programmed for a desired operational pattern.

In the similar configured system for crate unfolding or folding the label removing devices are replaced by unfolding/folding devices 6,7, which are typically pushers, guides or similar devices.

After completed treatment, crates are conveyed from the box drying system along external tracks, typically for rinsing, drying, sorting, filling or stacking and palletizing. Preferably overs are either fixed or movingly positioned to shield off and/or catch label residue, such as pulp removed from the container.

Further advantageously cleaning or rinsing utensils are either fixed or movingly positioned to remove, from the crates, label residue, such as pulp. Cleaning or rinsing utensils may either be fixed or movingly positioned to remove, from the label removing system itself, label residue, such as pulp. Preferably the system is combined with auxiliary equipment as collection tanks and filters and drains for separating label residue, such as pulp, and/or re-circulating label removing media, e.g. liquids. The crate may be rotated also to be released from label residue before and/or after removing label by label removing device, such label residue being spun off with the rotation. Furthermore the crate can be rotated also to be dried from e.g. wash water being spun off with the rotation.

Claims

1. Method of removing labels from reusable containers, e.g. for use in transporting food articles, in a crate label removing system comprising a label position identifying means, a label removing means and a positioning means, the method comprising identifying the position of a label on a container, relative positioning of the container and a label removing device by rotating the container with the labels on the container surface, to positions from which label removing can be directly and efficiently performed.

A label removing system for removing a label from a reusable container and according to the method of claim 1, where at least one label removing unit is provided, the label removing unit including a label removing device, a label recognition device, at least one rotation device provided for mutually positioning of the container and the label removing device and a control system that based on the label recognition device input controls the at least one rotation device to enable the mutual positioning of the container and the label removing device.

A label removing system for removing a label from a reusable container according to claim 2, where a feed track and a discharge track are provided in connection with the label removing unit, where the feed track and the discharge track are at least partly overlapping each other relative to the label removing unit.

A label removing system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the container can be rotated to predetermined positions as a fixed stand still position or as rotating back and forth on a certain number of degrees of the full circular rotation.

5. A label removing system according to any of the claims 2-4, wherein the container can be elevated to predetermined positions as a fixed stand still position or as elevated up and down on a certain path.

6. A label removing system according to any of previous claims, wherein more rotation devices are disposed in series.

7. A label removing system according to according to any of the previous claims, wherein more rotation devises are disposed in series, in combination with in feed and out feed tracks.

8. A label removing system according to any of the previous claims, wherein more rotation devices are disposed in parallel or in series.

9. A label removing system according to any of the previous claims, wherein tracks are positioned so that one is vertically higher than the other and/or horizontally offset from each other.

10. A label removing system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein feed tracks and discharge tracks are positioned so that one is vertically higher than the other and/or horizontally offset from each other.

11. A label removing system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a container unfolding/folding system, where at least one container unfolding/folding unit is provided and where a feed track and a discharge track are provided in connection with the container unfolding/folding unit, where the feed track and the discharge track are at least partly overlapping each other relative to the container unfolding/folding unit.

12. A label removing system according to claim 1 1, wherein feed tracks and discharge tracks are positioned so that one is vertically higher than the other and/or horizontally offset from each other.

13. A label removing system comprising, a label removing unit including a label removing device, at least one rotation device provided for mutually positioning of the container and the label removing device and where the rotation device is adapted for rotating the container to enable the mutual positioning of the container and the label removing device.

14. A label removing system according to claim 13 comprising a label recognition device and a control system that based on the label recognition device input controls the at least one rotation device to enable the mutual positioning of the container and the label removing device.