Abstract:
An improved semi-automatic Label Stripping Machine for detaching labels from a round container is disclosed. The container is placed between a rotatable idler and a rotatable platform. The container is rotated on its central vertical axis by rotating the platform. A plurality of peeler assemblies are brought in contact with the label and are moved down the outside surface of the container there by spirally striping off the label. The apparatus further comprises a guide that provides provide improved safety and a self-cleaning feature.

Description:
CLAIM TO PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional 61/174,202 filed on Apr. 30, 2009 which is incorporated by this reference for all that it discloses. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for removing/stripping labels which are attached by adhesive to cylindrical shaped containers. More particularly, the present invention is related to an improved semi-automatic label removing machine which removes both the label and the adhesive on relatively long containers as an integral unit without forming particulate. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Heretofore printed labels which were placed on cylindrical glass containers were made from paper, foil and plastic. The paper labels are most commonly varnished, clay coated fiber paper stock. When such paper labels are removed by prior art label stripping machines of the type set forth in a commonly held U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,734 the label was spirally cut and removed creating large amounts of dust and particulate which clogged the machine and affected its operability as well as created a pollution hazard. Even though plastic and foil labels do not create clay dust, they still produce a large amount of particulate which also produces problems for cleanliness of the machine and its environment. 
         [0004]    Additionally, the razor blades used in such label stripper machines is known to produce a spiral strip when cutting and stripping a label from a container. Not only was such label not cleanly removed but some label adhesive redeposited itself on different parts of the label stripper apparatus including the container which was being stripped. Thus, the prior art label strippers, while accomplishing the task of removing different types of adhesive backed labels, generated a post-cleaning operation to remove adhesive particles and parts of adhesive labels from the container as well as unremoved adhesive from the container. 
         [0005]    Thus, heretofore, the spiral stripping motion of paper labels leaves a substantial adhesive residue on the bottles. Not only is there some adhesive left on the bottles but there is adhesive on the particulate that becomes statically charged and reattaches itself not only to the bottles but to the machinery which requires additional cleaning of the machine and requires post-stripping cleaning of the bottles. 
         [0006]    Commonly held U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,865, issued to Richard Hurst, teaches an apparatus and method of removing an adhesive backed label from a cylindrical container. Such an apparatus and system works well for its intended purposes, however, improvements have been developed that (a) improve the time required to remove a label (i.e. faster); (b) provide improved safety; (c) provide a self-cleaning features; and (b) that better remove labels from cylindrical containers that may have more than one label as well as different sections having different diameters. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS 
       [0007]    Some of the objects and advantages of the invention will now be set forth in the following description, while other objects and advantages of the invention may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
         [0008]    The present invention an improved apparatus essentially eliminates the adhesive residue left on the bottles and at the same time substantially eliminates all of the particulate and removes the adhesive coated label as an integral unit so there is no particulate other than the unit label which can easily be removed. 
         [0009]    It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel label removing apparatus for removing labels faster and for removing multiple labels perhaps on sections of a cylindrical container having different diameters. 
         [0010]    It is another principal object of the present invention to provide a novel label removing apparatus which can be embodied in an automatic or semi-automatic machine. 
         [0011]    It is another primary object of the present invention to provide an improved label removing apparatus which comprising a plurality of adjustable peeler-assemblies that can be adjusted to remove different types of labels from different size bottles without generating particulate. 
         [0012]    It is another principal object of the present invention to provide an improved label stripping apparatus comprising a plurality of blade-interfaces which peels the adhesive back label from a container having a plurality of sections of different sizes. 
         [0013]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a universal label removing apparatus which is adapted to remove labels from different sizes of cylindrical glass containers such as bottles, vials, test tubes, syringes and ampules. 
         [0014]    It is another object of the present invention that comprises a plurality of peeler assemblies comprising a peeler wherein the peeler assemblies are adjustable to provide for a peeler having a z-axis tile as well as the prior art horizontal tilt. 
         [0015]    It is yet another general object of the invention to provide the features described above with improved safety for operators and maintenance personnel. 
         [0016]    It is a general object of the present invention to remove different types of adhesive backed labels by compressing the label in the vertical direction while expanding the horizontal dimension. 
         [0017]    According to these and other objects of the present invention there is provided a novel method and apparatus for clean removing adhesive backed labels from cylindrical containers which comprises the steps of mounting the container at least one adhesive backed label thereon on a rotating platform then engaging a plurality of tilted peelers (each titled peeler associated with a peeler-interface) between the adhesive and the glass container and moving the tilted peelers vertically so as to peel the adhesive backed label from the container by forcing the tilted peeler between the adhesive and the container to remove the label and the adhesive as an integral unit which forms as an adhesive side out skirt that is larger in diameter than the original label. The peeler interface is adjustable to provide an associated peeler with a z-axis tilt for a faster and improved peeling process. A peeler guide is also provided to provide safety features as well as provide an alignment guide for setting the z-axis tilt. The novel method is substantially faster than prior art machines and substantially reduces the amount of remaining residue which can be easily removed by vacuum or by hand if required. 
         [0018]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such embodiments, and others, upon review of the remainder of the specification. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    A full and enabling description of the present subject matter, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a front partial section view of a prior art label removing machine; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged elevation in side view of the preferred improved embodiment label removing machine shown in  FIG. 1  comprising a plurality of peelers assemblies; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is another enlarged elevation of a container showing a partial wrap around label being removed by a tilted peeler to produce an integral adhesive side out flared skirt label; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the present invention showing an set of horizontal blades wherein such blades defines a z-axis tilt angle; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the device depicted in  FIG. 7  including a blade guide that at least partially surrounds each of the blades; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention comprising a plurality of blade arrays defining a blade matrix wherein each blade array comprises a plurality of blades in vertical alignment. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    Repeat use of reference characters throughout the present specification and appended drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present technology. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    Reference now will be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present invention are disclosed in or may be determined from the following detailed description. Repeat use of reference characters is intended to represent same or analogous features, elements or steps. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention. 
         [0028]    For the purposes of this document two or more items are “mechanically associated” by bringing them together or into relationship with each other in any number of ways including a direct or indirect physical connection that may be releasable (snaps, rivets, screws, bolts, etc.) and/or movable (rotating, pivoting, oscillating, etc.) Similarly, two or more items are “electrically associated” by bringing them together or into relationship with each other in any number of ways including: (a) a direct, indirect or inductive communication connection, and (b) a direct/indirect or inductive power connection. Additionally, while the drawings may illustrate various electronic components of a system connected by a single line, it will be appreciated that such lines may represent one or more signal paths, power connections, electrical connections and/or cables as required by the embodiment of interest. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , one exemplary embodiment of the invention presented in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,865 is presented (incorporated by this reference for all that it discloses). Some of the improvements presented in this application are implemented via a modified version of the machine depicted in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  shows a front elevation in partial section of a label removing machine  10  having a box shaped frame  11 . The frame  11  has a top cross member  12  and a center cross member  13 . A variable speed motor  14  is shown having a shaft  15  coupled to a drive pulley  16  which drives a belt  17  coupled to a plurality of driven pulleys  18 . Each of the driven pulleys  18  is coupled to a shaft  19  rotatably mounted in bearing means  21  which are mounted in the center cross member  13 . Rotating platforms  22  are attached by set screws (not shown) to the rotatable shafts  19  and are adapted to receive and center cylindrical containers  23  thereon. Rotatable idlers  24  are mounted on piston shafts  25  of clamp cylinders  26 . A source of air (not shown) is coupled to air lines  27  which permits the pistons in air cylinders  26  to be actuated in a manner which clamps the tops of containers  23  in the rotatable idlers  24 . Once the containers  23  are clamped, the variable speed motor  14  may be activated so as to rotate platforms  22  and thereby rotating the containers  23  and the idlers  24 . 
         [0030]    For the prior art version of the apparatus, Peeler assembly mount  28  is configured for being associated with a single peeler assembly for each rotating platform  22 . The peeler assemblies are shown supported by a pair of cylindrical stub shafts  29  and  31  which are fixed in the peeler assembly mount  28  and slidably mounted in the cross blocks  32  and  33  respectively. In contrast, for one embodiment of the present invention, peeler assembly mount  28  is configured for being associated with a peeler assembly array as depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0031]    For the purposes of this document, a peeler assembly array comprises two or more peeler assemblies. For example, a set of three peeler assemblies, wherein each peeler assembly is associated with a different rotating platform, wherein each peeler assembly is configured to remove a label from a container supported by its respective platform, (as in  FIG. 5 ) represent a peeler assembly array. Similarly, a set of peeler assemblies associated with a single platform and configured to remove a section of a label associated with the same bottle (as in  FIG. 6 ) represents a peeler assembly array. Further, A peeler assembly is said to be associated with a platform is such peeler assembly is configured to remove a label from a container supported by such platform. Two or more peeler assembly arrays form a peeler assembly matrix. 
         [0032]    Bearings in the cross blocks  32  and  33 , such as sleeve bearings permit the peeler assembly mount  28  to be moved in a horizontal direction by means of a bearing  34  mounted on the peeler assembly mount  28  and co-operable with an inclined cam slot means  35  mounted on the center cross member  13 . Thus, when the peeler assembly mount  28  is moved vertically, the bearing  34  is guided in the cam slot  35  so as to impart a horizontal movement of the stub shafts  29  and  31  which are slidably mounted in the cross blocks  32  and  33  respectively. 
         [0033]    Cross blocks  32  and  33  are fixed onto and supported by vertically movable shafts  36  and  37 . Shafts  36  and  37  are slidably mounted in bearings  38  and  39  mounted in center cross member  13 . Vertical support shafts  36  and  37  are also fixed to a transverse lift bar  41  which is adapted to raise and lower the cross blocks  32  and  33  so as to raise and lower the peeler assembly mount  28 . 
         [0034]    A vertical lift air cylinder  42  is mounted on lift bar  41  and provided with a piston  43  having a shaft fixed and coupled to center cross member  13 . Cylinder  42  is provided with an adjustable air supply (not shown) which is coupled to input/output air lines  44 ,  44 A for actuating the air cylinder  42  so as to move the peeler assembly mount  28  vertically up and down. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , Peelers  45  are shown tilted at an angle  72  from the horizontal axis and aligned with the partial wrap around labels  46 . The preferred tilt angle is between 2 to 7 degrees but other angles of attack may be used. To further describe tilt angle  72 , such angle is the angle formed by the intersection a line  73   a , which is in parallel alignment with peeler face  73   b , and a line  71  that is in parallel alignment with the face of the item  23  associated with label ( 46 ). 
         [0036]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , an enlarged elevation in side view is presented of a presently preferred embodiment comprising a peeler array comprising a plurality of peeler assemblies associated with one peeler assembly mount  28 . More specifically, the peeler array comprises peeler assembly  3   a  and peeler assembly  3   b . For such embodiment, each peeler assembly comprises peeler  45 , peeler interface  48 , nut  51 , shaft  49 , and shaft receiver  52 . For the presently preferred embodiment, peeler assembly mount  28  is configured for being associated with two peeler assemblies. It should be noted for this configuration each peeler assembly is in vertical alignment with each other. It should be appreciated that embodiments where one or more peeler assemblies are offset relative to one another (i.e. not in vertical alignment) with overlapping stripping paths fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0037]    It should be appreciated that for the configuration in  FIG. 2 , where both peeler assemblies are associated with the same peeler assembly mount  28 , both peeler assembly  3   a  and  3   b  are activated at the same time and cannot be individually activated. In one alternative embodiment, each peeler assembly is associated with a dedicated assembly mount  28  and may be individually activated. 
         [0038]    Referring now to peeler  45 , any number of devices may be used as a peeler  45  such as a mechanically based apparatus such as a blade, an electrically based apparatus such as a LASER, a terminally based apparatus such as a flame, and a chemically based apparatus such as a high energy stream of fluid such as an acid or water (etc.). For the preferred embodiment, peeler  45  is a blade. 
         [0039]    As depicted in  FIG. 2 , each peeler assembly comprises a peeler  45  associated with a peeler interface  48  via screws  47 . The peeler interface is associated with threaded and spring loaded shaft  49 . The horizontal tilt angle of the peeler interface  48  is preferably manually adjusted and locked at a preferred horizontal tilt angle  72  (described above) by means of nut  51  (such as a lock nut or a jam nut). For the presently preferred embodiment, nut  51  is mechanically associated with shaft  49  via a spring loaded telescoping shaft section  49   b . Spring loaded telescoping shaft section  49   b  may be mechanically associated to threaded shaft section  49   a  by any commonly known method, or alternatively, may be an integral component of threaded shaft section  49   a . Shaft  49  is mechanically associated with shaft receiver  52  which is mechanically associated with peeler assembly mount  28 . 
         [0040]    Peeler assembly mount  28  is mechanically associated with the shaft of cylinder  54 . Cylinder  54  has a retractor portion  55  and a drive portion  56  which are coupled to an air supply (not shown). When air is entered into the portion  55  the peeler  45  is retracted a predefined distance and when air is entered into the portion  56  the peeler  45  is engaged against the container  23 . 
         [0041]    One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that cylinder  54  provides an automatic first course adjustment for the horizontal position of peeler  45 . A manual second course adjustment for peeler  45  is provided by threaded shaft section  49   a  by manually adjusting how far shaft  49  screws into adjustable shaft receiver  52 . As will be described below, adjustable shaft receiver  52  is configured to adjust the Z-axis tilt of the blade. Additionally, an automatic third fine adjustment for peeler is provided by spring loaded telescoping shaft section  49   b  that provides a preload configured to compensate for small variations in container shape. 
         [0042]    As already explained hereinbefore the peeler assembly mount  28  which supports air cylinder  54  may be moved horizontally by the cam means  34 ,  35  and moved vertically by the vertical air lift cylinder  42 . In the preferred embodiment mode of operation, the peeler  45  is tilted at an angle between 5 and 10 degrees and slowly brought into vertical engagement with the label  46 . Since the label  46  may be made of several different substances such as paper, foil and plastic known as the label stock and provided with different types of rear surface adhesive such as pressure sensitive adhesives, thermo plastic adhesives and gummed adhesives all of which may come in different thicknesses and chemical compositions there is no one angle of tilt for the blade which operates the best for all labels. 
         [0043]      FIG. 2  shows two labels,  46   a  and  46   b , being removed from a single container where each label is associated with a container section having a different size (diameter). For such a task, a first peeler assembly is adjusted so that a first peeler  45  extends out farther than a second peeler  45  for a second peeler assembly. For embodiments where each peeler assembly are associated with a dedicated peeler assembly mount  28  and associated air cylinder  54 , peeler assembly  3   a  may be activated first to remove label  46   b  and then both peeler assembly  3   a  and  3   b  may be activated to remove label  46   b . For such embodiment, any number of commercially available electronic controllers, such as PLCs, may be used to control the peeler assemblies. 
         [0044]    One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that if faster label removal is desired for a container associated with one label, each peeler assembly may be adjusted to the same distance and be configured to remove a different section of such label. The vertical position of the top most peeler assembly is to start at the top of the label whereas the remaining peeler assemblies will be positioned to remove a lower section of such label. Such peeler assembly array would then be moved down relative to the container until the entire label has been removed. 
         [0045]    If a faster label removing performance is desired, it should be appreciated that a larger tilt angle will result in more rapid removal of the label. Similarly higher vertical speeds of the movement of the peeler assembly mount  28  will result in more rapid removal of the labels. Further, the variable speed motor  14  which drives the pulley  18  and determines the rotation of the container or bottle  23  also affects the speed of removal of the labels  46 . Since different diameter containers  23  are usually encountered, the variable speed motor may be employed to compensate for the peripheral speed of the different diameter containers. This is to say that large diameter containers will have greater peripheral speeds than vials or syringes which have smaller diameters. Further, it will be understood that the clamps  24  and rotatable mounting platforms  22  are removable from their respective shafts  25  and  19  so as to provide idler clamps and rotatable platforms which center the type of container being inserted into the label removing machine  10 . A trial with one or two containers will rapidly determine the maximum speed of rotation of the container and descent of the blade as well as the tilt angle of the blade to provide an optimum removal of the label  46  as an integral unit as will now be explained. 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , presented is an enlarged elevation view of a container  23  having a partial wrap around label  46  which is half removed by peelers  45   a  and  45   b . For this embodiment of the inventions, the peeler array contains two peeler assemblies,  45   a  and  45   b  in vertical alignment and extending to the same point from peeler assembly mount  28 . For such embodiment, peeler  45   a  starts at the top of label  46  and removes label  46  down to point  63  thereby removing section  46   a  of label  46 . Similarly, peeler  46   b  starts at point  63  and moves down from point  63  to the bottom of the label (point  65 ) thereby removing label section  46   b  of label  46 . The platform  22  is shown having a tapered shape so as to accommodate the flared skirt  50  shown being produced in  FIG. 5  when a partial wrap around label  46  is being removed. The rotatable platform  22 A is also provided with a cushion  61  so as to assist in centering the container  23  as it is clamped by the rotatable idler  24 . 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention is presented showing the peeler assembly configured with a z-axis tilt. Before defining the z-axis tilt, a closer look at such peeler assembly is presented. As before, the peeler assembly comprises peeler  104  ( 45  in  FIG. 2 ), peeler interface  100  ( 48  in  FIG. 2 ), nut  51 , shaft  49 , and shaft receiver  52 . In prior art system described initially above, neither shaft receiver  52  nor nut  51 /shaft  49  were adjustable to provide for a z-axis tilt angle. For the current embodiment of the invention, one of the peeler interface  100  (via nut  51 /shaft  49 ) and the receiver  52  is adjustable to provide for non-zero peeler z-axis tilt angles. 
         [0048]    For the present embodiment where the peeler assembly comprises a blade, a peeler blade  104  is secured between peeler interface  100  and pressure plate  102  by screws  47 . The edge  108  of blade  104  extends beyond the edge of peeler interface  100  a predefined amount. 
         [0049]    The z-axis tilt is now considered. For the purposes of this document, the Z-axis is defined by the plane in alignment with line  111  which is perpendicular to the plane in alignment with line  110  which is in alignment with the plane defined by top surface of platform  122 . Restated, line  111  should parallel to the surface of the container associated with the label to be removed. The amount of Z-axis tilt is defined by angle  112  which is shown in  FIG. 4  as the measure of the angle formed by line  110   b  and line  108   b . Line  108   b  is parallel to edge  108  of blade  104  whereas line  110   b  is parallel to line  110  defined by the top of platform  122 . Restated, when then peeler assembly is configured to have a non-zero z-axis tilt angle, the left edge ( 124 ) of peeler  104  is at a different distance from surface  125  than is the right edge  126  of peeler  104 . Such a tilt angle improves the life of blade  104  and can improve the speed of the peeling processing. 
         [0050]    The z-axis tilt angle is preferably between 1 and 15 degrees although z-axis tilt angles of up to 45 degrees fall within the scope of the present invention. It should be appreciated that for the present configuration, the peeler assembly not only defines a horizontal tilt angle as described above, it also defines a z-axis tilt angle. 
         [0051]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , another alternative embodiment of the invention is presented wherein the apparatus further comprises a peeler guide  126 . For the presently preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a plurality of aligned peeler assemblies extending from the left of the apparatus to the right of the apparatus. The peeler guide  126  defines a bar defining a guide width  153  wherein said bar that extends from, and in alignment with, the left most peeler assembly to the right most peeler assembly as presented in  FIG. 5 . Peeler guide  126  further defines bays at each peeler assembly location within which the peeler assemblies retract when not engaging in a label removing processing. As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the peeler assembly is not engaged in a label removing process, the front face  131  of peeler guide  126  extends out further from back plate  129  than does the edge  108  of blade  104  so that the blades are recessed relative to the front Face  131 . Such a configuration provides at least two benefits: (1) machine operators and maintenance personnel are less likely to cut themselves when performing functions such as cleaning, performing setup operations, and servicing; and (2) the front face  131  of guide  126  will scrape off particulate buildup that may have attached itself to the peeler assemblies. 
         [0052]    For yet another embodiment, peeler guide  126  further defines an angle-guide for setting the z-axis tilt angle. As show in  FIG. 5 , the peeler bay is defined by a left-bay-wall  150  that extends downward from the top surface of the peeler guide a predefined distance to the left side of bay-floor  152 . Bay-floor  152  extends from the left-bay-wall  150  to the right-bay-wall  154  and right-bay-wall  154  extends from the bay-floor  152  back to the top surface of the peeler guide thereby defining a slot. For the present embodiment, left-bay-wall  150  extends non-perpendicularly from the top surface of bay-floor  152  thereby defining a guide angle  112 . Such guide angle is selected to equal the desired z-axis tilt angle (described above) thereby defining an angle-guide by which an operator may use to set the z-axis tilt angle. 
         [0053]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , one alternative embodiment of machine  10  depicted in  FIG. 1  is presented. For such embodiment, machine  210  comprises the same basic support structure movement structure described for machine  10 . As was described for machine  10 , a variable speed motor (not shown) drives belt  217  coupled to a plurality of driven pulleys. Each of the driven pulleys is coupled to a shaft which are associated with rotating platforms  222  by any conventional means such as set screws. Platforms  222  are adapted to receive and center cylindrical containers thereon. Rotatable idlers  224  are mounted on piston shafts associated with clamp cylinders  226 . A source of air (not shown) is coupled to air lines  227  which permits the pistons in air cylinders  226  to be actuated in a manner which clamps the tops of the containers in the rotatable idlers  224 . Once the containers are clamped, the variable speed motor  214  may be activated so as to rotate platforms  222  and thereby rotating the containers and the idlers  224 . 
         [0054]    For the prior art version of the apparatus, Peeler assembly mount  28  is configured for being associated with a single peeler assembly per platform and is shown supported by a pair of cylindrical stub shafts  29  and  31  which are fixed in the peeler assembly mount  28  and slidably mounted in the cross blocks  32  and  33  respectively. For the present embodiment of the present invention, peeler assembly mount  28  is configured for being associated with a peeler assembly array as depicted in  FIG. 2 . As depicted in  FIG. 6 , platforms  222   a  and  222   b  are each associated with a vertically aligned peeler assembly array. For example, platform  222   a  is associated with peeler assemblies  302   a ,  302   b , and  302   c . Similarly, platform  222   b  is associated with peeler assemblies  304   a ,  304   b , and  304   c . The two peeler assembly arrays form a peeler assembly matrix  300 . 
         [0055]    It should be appreciated that for the configuration depicted in  FIG. 6 , the entire matrix is activated simultaneously. Such an embodiment has its advantages as it only requires a single air cylinder to engage the matrix. As noted above, for one alternative embodiment, each peeler assembly may be configured with a dedicated peeler assembly mount  28  associated with a dedicated air cylinder. For example, each peeler assembly ( 302   a ,  302   b ,  302   c ,  304   a ,  304   b , and  304   c ) may be configured with a dedicated peeler assembly mount  28  that is selectably associated with an air cylinder. Such a configuration while more complex allows an electronic controller or human operator to activate individual peeler assemblies. 
         [0056]    Similarly, another alternative embodiment includes a configuration where the peeler assembly arrays are configured to be associated with a peeler assembly mount  28  that is associated with an air cylinder. For example, for the configuration depicted in  FIG. 6 , peeler assemblies  302   a ,  302   b , and  302   c  may be configured with a first peeler assembly mount  28  associated with a dedicated air cylinder. Similarly, peeler assemblies  304   a ,  304   b , and  304   c  may be configured with a second peeler assembly mount  28  associated with a dedicated air cylinder. 
         [0057]    As described above for machine  10 , machine  210  may further comprise peeler guide  126 . For the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 6 , there may be three horizontal peeler guides or there may be two vertical peeler guides. For example, for the horizontal peeler guide configuration, a first peeler guide  126  defines a bar defining a guide width  153  wherein said bar extends from, and in alignment with, the left most peeler assembly  304   c  to the right most peeler assembly  302   c . A similar second guide is used for peeler assemblies  302   b  and  304   b  as well as a third used for peeler assemblies  302   a  and  304   a.    
         [0058]    For the vertical peeler guide configuration, a first peeler guide  126  defines a bar defining a guide width  153  wherein said bar extends from, and in alignment with the uppermost peeler assembly  302   a  to the lowermost peeler assembly  302   c . Similarly, a second peeler guide  126  defines a bar defining a guide width  153  wherein said bar extends from, and in alignment with the uppermost peeler assembly  304   a  to the lowermost peeler assembly  304   c.    
         [0059]    While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily adapt the present technology for alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations, and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.