De-packaging machine

Abstract

A de-packaging system for removing film and bands from packages includes a first conveyor configured to move packages. The de-packaging system also includes a loading station for loading packages onto the conveyor, and a film cutting station associated with the first conveyor. The film cutting station includes a cutter having an elongated cutting element that can be heated to cut film on packages. A band cutting station includes a cutter for cutting bands wrapped around packages. A clamp device includes a clamp configured to clamp bands on packages for removal of the bands. The de-packaging system further includes a second conveyor having an upstream end adjacent a downstream end of the first conveyor. A device applies force to packages to move packages from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, and at least one friction member strips film from packages as they are moved from the first conveyor to the second conveyor.

1 . A de-packaging system for removing packing material from packages, comprising: 
 a first conveyor belt configured to move packages along the de-packaging system in a first direction    first and second conveyors each including respective conveyor belts;    a second conveyor belt extending generally parallel to the first conveyor belt and moving packages in the first direction, the first and, second conveyor belts having upper package support surfaces defining first and second planes, respectively, wherein the first and second planes are substantially orthogonal relative to one another;    at least a pair of spaced-apart cutters that cut film on sides of packages on the first and second conveyor belts.    
   
   
       2 . The de-packaging machine of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 The first and second conveyor belts move packages along the first and second conveyors in a downstream direction, and including:    a band cutter positioned down-stream of the cutters to cut hands on-packages after the cutters cut filt on the packages.    
   
   
       3 . The de-packaging machine of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the band cutter includes a movable cutting blade.    
   
   
       4 . The de-packaging machine of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the first conveyor belt defines an upstream end; and including:    a stop configured to selectively stop packages adjacent the upstream end    
   
   
       5 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A de-packaging system, comprising: 
 a conveyor configured to move packages along the de-packaging system;    a film cutting, station associated width the conveyor, the film cutting, station including a plurality of cutters configured to cut film across at least two generally orthogonial side faces k,of a package while the packages are stationary, and wherein at least one of the cutters shifts transverse to the convey or to accomodate packages of different sizes.    
   
   
       10 . The de-packaging system of  claim 9 , including: 
 a band cutting station associated with the conveyor, the band cutting station including a cutting blade for cutting bands wrapped around packages.    
   
   
       11 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A de-packaging system for removing wrapping material from individual substantially flat articles held together in a package by the wrapping material, comprising: 
 a de-packaging station for receiving packages enclosed with wrapping;    a conveyor for moving wrapped packages into said de-packaging station;    said conveyor positioning package in a fixed stationary position in said de-packaging station; and    at least a pair of spaced-apart movable cutters that cut said wrapping on at least two sides of packages in said de-packaging station.    
   
   
       22 . The system as defined in  claim 21  wherein said movable cutters each include a cutting member which engages a side of a package while in said de-packaging station.  
   
   
       23 . The system as defined in  claim 22  wherein said wrapping is a polymeric film holding a plurality of one of magazines and catalogs in a package.  
   
   
       24 . A de-packaging system for removing film from packages of the type having generally vertical opposite side faces, generally vertical front and rear side faces, and generally horizontal top and bottom side faces, the de-packaging system comprising: 
 a conveyor for moving packages into a fixed stationary position in a de-packing station; and    first and second movable cutters adjacent said conveyor that make non-vertical side cuts in the film while the package is in said fixed position, said cutters making cuts in at least two side faces of packages, the side cuts extending substantially across the side faces of the packages.    
   
   
       25 . The system as defined in  claim 24  wherein said movable cutters each system as defined in  claim 24  wherein said movable cutters each include a cutting member which engages a side of a package while in said de-packing station.  
   
   
       26 . A de-packaging method for removing covering on packages comprising the steps of: 
 conveying packages to a fixed stationary position in a dee-packaging station;    cutting the film on a first side face of a package while in said fixed position in said de-packaging station with a movable cutter;    cutting the film on a second side face of a package while in said fixed position in said de-packaging station; and    releasing the package and conveying the package from said de-packaging system.    
   
   
       27 . Thee de-packaging system of  claim 9 , including: 
 a film stripping device for stripping film from packages after the cutters cut film across the two side faces, the film stripping device including a movable gripper that engages film and pulls it off packages.    
   
   
       28 . The de-packaging system of  claim 27 , wherein: 
 the gripper includes at least two pinch members that are movable relative to one another to pinch film between the pinch members.    
   
   
       29 . The de-packaging system of  claim 28 , wherein: 
 the pinch members are mounted to a pinch head, and including:    a powered actuator that translate,s the pinch head relative to the conveyor.    
   
   
       30 . The de-packaging systemt of  claim 29 , wherein; 
 the pinch head includes a support structure and a foot member movably mounted to the support structure between the pinch members and wherein the foot member is based away from the support structure.    
   
   
       31 . The de-packaging system of  claim 28 , wherein; 
 the film stripping device includes a support structure, and the two pinch members are movably mounted to the support structure for reciprocating movement relative to the support structure.    
   
   
       32 . The de-packaging system of  claim 28 , wherein; 
 each pinch member includes a resilient pad having a high friction surface configured to contact film that is pinched between the pinch members.    
   
   
       33 . The de-packaging system of  claim 21 , including: 
 a film stripping device for stripping film from packages after the cutters cut filter across the two side faces, the film stripping device including a moveable grip per that engages film and pulls it off packages.    
   
   
       34 . The de-packaging system of clam  33 , wherein; 
 the gripper includes at least two pinch members that are movable relative to one another to pinch film between the pinch members.    
   
   
       35 . The de-packaging system of  claim 34 , wherein: 
 the film stripping, device includes a support structure, ad the two pinch members are movably mounted to the support structure for reciprocating movement relative to the support structure.    
   
   
       36 . The de-packaging system of  claim 24 , including: 
 a film stripping device for stripping film from packages after the cutters cut film across the two side faces, the film stripping device including a movable gripper that engages film and pulls it off packages.    
   
   
       37 . The de-packaging system of  claim 36 , wherein: 
 the gripper includes at least two pinch members that are movable relative to one another to pinch film between the pinch members.    
   
   
       38 . The de-packaging method of  claim 26 , including: 
 providing a powered film stripping device;    actuating the film stripping device to strip film from a package after cutting the film on the first and second side faces.    
   
   
       39 . The de-packaging method of  claim 38 , wherein: 
 stripping film from a package includes pinching the film followed by pulling the film.