Frank B Slepicka

61583057, Dec 12, 2000

Oct 20, 1998

9/175719

Frank J. Slepicka - Berwyn IL

Blackhawk Molding Co., Inc. - Addison IL

B65B 716

81 327

A bottle cap remover used to separate a cap from a bottle wherein the cap has an upper section and a lower section, and at least a portion of the upper section of the cap protrudes radially outwardly beyond the lower section of the cap. The cap remover includes a first grip member and a second grip member. The first grip member is rigidly mounted to a stop plate in a position where the first grip member is spaced from the stop plate to define a gap between the first grip member and the stop plate. The first grip member includes a cap engaging edge which at least partially corresponds to an outside surface of the cap. The second grip member is positioned in opposed relationship to the first grip member and has a grip surface positioned a predetermined distance from the cap engaging edge of the first grip member. The distance between the grip surface of the second grip member and the cap engaging edge of the first grip member is approximately equal to a diameter of the lower section of the cap and is less than the diameter of the upper section of the cap.

D2584840, Mar 10, 1981

Sep 11, 1978

5/941393

Frank V. Slepicka - Glen Ellyn IL

D0701

D 7 9

58264094, Oct 27, 1998

Jun 11, 1996

8/661924

Frank J. Slepicka - Berwyn IL
Douglas J. Hidding - Barrington IL

Blackhawk Molding Co., Inc. - Addison IL

B65B 4326
B65B 4338
B65B 4340

53492

A bottle cap removing system which is easily adapted to a conveyor system of either 5-gallon or 3-gallon bottle movement within a bottling or recycling facility. Such system automatically determines which, if any, bottles have attached bottle caps and automatically removes such bottle caps in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Multiple lengths of steel comprise a main support structure which supports an overhead decapping assembly. As bottles from a conveyor line pass underneath this decapping assembly, a sensor determines whether or not the first bottle in the line has an attached bottle cap. If such bottle has an attached bottle cap, pneumatic actuators located at both the lower and upper front end of the support structure are energized to extend a set of bottle pads into the path of the bottle. This bottle's movement is thus stopped and its bottle cap situated immediately underneath the decapping assembly. At the same time, a separate, rearwardly positioned actuator extends another bottle pad into the line of bottles which succeed this first bottle to inhibit their movement as well.