Patent ID: 9296026
Filing Date: 2016-03-29
CPC Classification: B08B,B29B,B29L,Y02W

Claim Text:
1. A machine that continuously washes plastic containers and removes contaminants and labels from surfaces of the plastic containers, comprising: at least one fixed washing chamber having at least one inlet and one outlet for said containers; agitation means for facilitating transit of the plastic containers into the washing chamber from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet and for developing friction action between the plastic containers from rotation of the plastic containers and from rubbing of the plastic containers against one another and against the at least one washing chamber, said agitation means including at least one agitator that has a plurality of agitation blades inside said washing chamber that are positioned to develop the friction action between the plastic containers from rotation of the plastic containers and from rubbing of the plastic containers against one another and against the at least one washing chamber, means for rotating the at least one agitator and the agitation blades to effect the rotation of the plastic containers in a manner that causes the rubbing of the plastic containers against one another and against the at least one washing chamber; means for supplying a washing fluid inside said washing chamber; means for maintaining constant a filling level of containers inside said chamber and for maintaining constant a staying time of the plastic containers inside said washing chamber; tearing means for acting upon the contaminants and labels adhering to the surfaces of said plastic containers during their transit inside said at least one washing chamber, said tearing means including a plurality of sharpened elements protruding towards an inside of the washing chamber that are configured and arranged to detach the contaminants and labels from the surfaces of said plastic containers during transit of the plastic containers inside said at least one washing chamber; and means for expelling said washing fluid together with the detached contaminants and the detached labels.