Patent ID: 7594790

Claim:
A system for removing small volumes of liquid from individual bottles and then accumulating said small volumes of liquid in a collection container, said system comprising: a bottle feed assembly on which a collection of individual bottles containing small volumes of liquid is gathered; a feed mechanism for discharging a line of individual bottles from said bottle feed assembly onto a powered conveyor, said feed mechanism having a plurality of separating elements angularly disposed on a top surface of said bottle feed assembly; said powered conveyor having a singulator and being constructed and arranged to move an individual bottle to a bottle cutter mechanism; said bottle cutter mechanism being constructed and arranged to sever the top of each individual bottle from the bottom of each individual bottle; a separation mechanism for moving the severed top of each individual bottle away from the bottom of each individual bottle; a dumper for causing the liquid remaining in said severed bottom portion of each individual bottle to flow into said collection container; and a scale for weighing said collection container, said scale having a control that terminates operation of said system for removing small volumes of liquid when a required amount of said liquid is collected in said collection container.