Bottom saw blade height adjustment

Abstract

The invention provides a device for use in the extraction of bottles or the like from cartons travelling in a stream on a conveyor, each carton having a bottom wall and associated side walls. The device has a saw blade adapted to extend across the conveyor to cut the associated side walls just above the base which is thereby severed. The saw blade is vertically adjustable so as to accommodate cartons having bases of different thickness' and thereby ensure avoidance of damage to the bottles sitting on said bottom wall. A sensor positioned upstream of said blade determines the vertical position required for each passing carton and transmits a signal which results in the blade being positioned as required.

1 ) A cutting device for a recycling system wherein bottles are removed from a carton having walls and a base, the device comprising means to transport bottle-filled cartons to a saw station which station includes in combination blade means and a carton support, said blade means being located above and latterly across a travel path of said carton through said station and the support being located adjacent to a cutting edge of said blade means, adjusting means to vary the vertical distance between said cutting edge and an adjacent edge of the support to cause part of said walls contiguous to said base to be presented to said cutting edge for cutting to allow severing of the base therefrom.  
     
     
         2 ) A device according to  claim 1  wherein said support is generally horizontally located and parallel to said cutting edge.  
     
     
         3 ) A device according to  claim 1  wherein said adjusting means adjusts the height of the support relative to the saw blade.  
     
     
         4 ) A device according to  claim 1  wherein said blade means is a band saw.  
     
     
         5 ) A device according to  claim 1  which said adjusting means is adapted to automatically adjust and set said vertical distance in response to an instructing signal.  
     
     
         6 ) A device according to  claim 5  which includes sensing means adapted to identify a type of carton being transported to said cutting edge and, following such identification, provide instructions to vary said height where deemed necessary.  
     
     
         7 ) A device according to  claim 6  wherein said sensor is adapted to sense the presence or absence of a handhole in a passing carton and, in response thereto adjusts the said height if required.  
     
     
         8 ) A device according to  claim 1  wherein there is a slot between the edge of said support means and saw cutting edge which slot is adapted to allow any severed carton base to pass therethrough.  
     
     
         9 ) A device according to  claim 6  wherein said sensing means is located upstream of said saw means station and is adapted to delay said instructing signal until the carton requiring a change in said height has reached the saw blade station.  
     
     
         10 ) A device according to  claim 1  wherein said adjusting means is a fluid operated piston and cylinder arrangement.