Wrap removal device

Abstract

A wrap removal device includes (a) an engagement surface configured to receive a container having an outer wrapping and (b) one or more delivery elements disposed on or in the engagement surface. The one or more delivery elements are configured to generate energy that one or more of melts, cuts, or weakens the outer wrapping along a path without melting, cutting, or modifying the container. The wrap removal device can quickly remove the outer wrapping without damage to the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 an engagement surface receiving a container having an outer regenerated cellulose wrapping; and   one or more linear delivery elements disposed in the engagement surface in a single linear path, the one or more linear delivery elements generating heat that cuts the outer regenerated cellulose wrapping along a single linear path without cutting the container.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more linear delivery elements generate the heat at a temperature that is hotter than a melting or phase changing temperature of the outer regenerated cellulose wrapping along the linear path, wherein the temperature is cooler than a threshold temperature that would result in melting, scorching, warping, or marking of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more linear delivery elements generate the heat to cut the outer regenerated cellulose wrapping without melting or cutting the container that is formed from a different polymer than the regenerated cellulose or a material that is not the regenerated cellulose. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more linear delivery elements generate the heat to cut the regenerated cellulose wrapping along a single, linear strip. 
     
     
         5 . A device comprising:
 an engagement surface receiving a container having an outer regenerated cellulose wrapping, the container including a first material that is not regenerated cellulose; and   a linear delivery element generating heat that cuts the outer regenerated cellulose wrapping along a single linear path without melting or modifying the container.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the heat melts the outer regenerated cellulose wrapping and the linear delivery element generates the heat that cuts the outer regenerated cellulose wrapping along the single linear path without melting or modifying the container. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the heat melts the outer regenerated cellulose wrapping and the linear delivery element generates the heat to cut the outer regenerated cellulose wrapping without melting or modifying the container that is formed from a different, second polymer or a material that is not a polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the linear delivery element includes a single, elongated, linear heating element that generates the heat. 
     
     
         9 . A wrap removal device comprising:
 an engagement surface configured to receive a container having an outer wrapping; and   one or more delivery elements positioned to generate energy that cuts the wrapping along a linear path without cutting or scorching the container.   
     
     
         10 . The wrap removal device of  claim 9 , wherein the wrapping is formed from regenerated cellulose. 
     
     
         11 . The wrap removal device of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more delivery elements are linear elements. 
     
     
         12 . The wrap removal device of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more delivery elements generate the heat to cut the wrapping without melting or cutting the container that is formed from a different polymer than the wrapper. 
     
     
         13 . The wrap removal device of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more delivery elements generate the ultrasonic energy to cut the wrapping. 
     
     
         14 . The wrap removal device of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more delivery elements generate the heat or ultrasonic energy to cut the wrapping along a single, linear strip.