BG113341A - Compact system for shredding or compacting plastic bottles and metal beverage boxes - Google Patents

Abstract

The compact system for shredding or compacting plastic bottles and metal cans, according to the invention, is small in size, allowing a wide positioning of the system in the marketing network. The system consists of a housing (3) with side walls (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4), with at least one inlet, and in the housing (3) are located and attached to it a control unit (12) connected to a means for volume reduction (7), an inlet section located above the volume reduction means (7), under which is located a waste container (10). The inlet section includes at least one mechanism (6) having safety valves /37, 38/ for receiving plastic bottles and/or metal cans. The inlet section includes an additional separation compartment (5) for receiving caps. The volume reducing means (7) has a perforated bottom (25, 35) for removing residual liquid; it is located above a liquid collector (24, 36) connected by a flexible or rigid pipe (8) to a liquid container (11).

Description

COMPACT SYSTEM FOR CRUSHING OR COMPACTING PLASTIC BOTTLES AND METAL BEVERAGE CANS

FIELD OF ENGINEERING

The invention relates to a compact system for crushing or compacting plastic bottles and metal cans of used alcoholic, non-alcoholic, energy drinks, water, and other drinks. The system finds application in the field of recycling, and can be used together with refrigerated display cases or vending machines.

PRIOR ART

Systems for compacting or crushing bottles and metal cans are known, such as the system described in US patent US7546965, in which, by pressing and successively passing through rollers, the object to be compacted reduces its volume. A disadvantage of this system is that similar systems have a lesser degree of reduction in the volume of waste, in addition, the dimensions of the machine are relatively large and it is not suitable to be located in public areas with relatively little space for users.

US patent US4009838 describes a system that achieves a high degree of comminution. It can be combined with a compacting and baling press, which gives a good opportunity to reduce the volume and for easy removal of waste, but the dimensions of the whole system, especially in combination with the compacting press, are quite large.

Similar systems are also described in patents US4669673, US6520435, US7637448B2, US20090078804A1, US8763941, and in all of them, the described machines and systems have dimensions that are relatively large and are not suitable for working together with refrigerated display cases or vending machines for such drinks .

In most known machines and systems, protection of user access to the compacting or grinding area is primarily provided by sensors connected to the control unit, and injury may more easily occur if the sensor or control unit fails, or in case of unregulated tampering in the system by a user.

Moreover, none of the known machines and systems includes a system for separating the residual liquids from the plastic bottles or metal cans, which is a serious drawback for the operation of these systems.

Also, all known systems accept the bottles and metal cans together with their caps, which is a disadvantage because no separation of the types of material from which they are made is provided.

TECHNICAL ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

The task of the present invention is to create a compact system for crushing or compacting plastic bottles and metal cans used for various types of beverages, which:

- to be of small dimensions, allowing its wide positioning in the marketing network;

- to ensure high safety during operation by the user;

- to collect in a specially created compartment the residual liquid from the accepted bottles and/or metal cans for drinks;

- to ensure the possibility of separate collection of the material from which the caps of the bottles and metal boxes are made;

- to ensure a minimum volume of cut or compacted material, so that a larger amount of material is collected in smaller containers, respectively, the material is easier to transport to recycling centers.

These tasks are solved by creating the compact system for crushing or compacting plastic bottles and metal beverage cans, which includes a housing with side walls, with at least one inlet opening, and a control unit connected to it is located in the housing and clamped thereto with a volume reduction means, an inlet section located above the volume reduction means, wherein the volume reduction means is connected by a waste chute to a waste container located below it. The inlet section includes at least one mechanism for receiving plastic bottles and/or metal cans connected to the at least one inlet opening on a side wall of the housing, which mechanism includes an inlet valve located on the at least one inlet opening on the side walls of the housing, and a safety valve , which is mechanically or electro-mechanically connected to the inlet valve. The volume reducer has a perforated bottom for passage of residual liquid located above a liquid collector connected by flexible or rigid tubing to a liquid container.

The ratio of the width of the compact crushing or compacting system to its length is 1/2.5 or greater, and the width dimension is from 160 mm to 300 mm.

The inlet section further includes a separation compartment for receiving caps which is connected to a container located in the housing, the separation compartment being connected to a second inlet opening on a side wall of the housing.

In one embodiment, the safety valve is connected to the inlet valve by a lever system providing dependent movement between them, so that when the safety valve is in the open position, the inlet valve is always in the closed position. In an alternative embodiment, the compact crushing or compacting system also includes a safety valve position sensing sensor connected to the control unit, which is adapted to receive signals from the safety valve position sensing sensor and to provide commands to an actuator to open or close the inlet flap so that when the safety flap is in the open position the inlet flap is always in the closed position.

At least one side wall inlet for receiving plastic bottles and/or metal cans is at a height of 450 mm to 1500 mm, preferably 900 mm to 1500 mm, from the bottom of the housing of the compact crushing system.

In one embodiment, the volume reduction means includes a shredder with one or more shafts. In another embodiment, the volume reduction means includes a screw-type compactor.

The system, according to the present invention, differs from the systems known up to now in the way of the mutual arrangement of its component elements, so that it is obtained with a narrow width, not occupying a large space. Additionally, the system of the present invention has an entry mechanism that, in addition to electrical protection, mechanically prevents a user from tampering with the system by reaching the volume reducer and injuring himself. Another advantage of this system is the ability to separate and separate residual liquid from the bottles and metal cans, as well as the caps of these bottles and metal cans.

The system, according to the invention, aims to stimulate consumers before consumption of new products, or after their use, to return the packaging, be it plastic bottles or metal boxes, and it is possible to link this with a system of incentives to increase the level of return of bottles and metal cans. Due to the small dimensions of the system, it allows to be used both independently and together with refrigerated showcases or beverage vending machines, being located near them.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED FIGURES

In fig. 1 is a profile view of a compact system for crushing or compacting plastic bottles and metal beverage cans, according to the invention, placed next to a vending machine or refrigerated display case.

In fig. 2 shows a compact system for crushing or compacting plastic bottles and metal beverage cans, according to the invention, with open side walls.

In fig. 3 shows a compact system for crushing or compacting plastic bottles and metal beverage cans, according to the invention, in an exploded form, divided into its main components.

In fig. 4 shows a mechanism for receiving plastic bottles and/or metal boxes, according to the invention, in three successive stages of operation.

Fig. 5 is a top profile view of an exemplary embodiment of a volume reducer according to the invention comprising a single shaft shredder.

Fig. 6 is a side profile view of an exemplary embodiment of a volume reducer according to the invention comprising a single shaft shredder.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the housing of the volume reduction device shown in FIG. 5 according to the invention.

Fig. 8 is a side sectional view of the volume reduction device shown in FIG. 6 according to the invention.

Fig. 9 is a top profile view of an exemplary embodiment of a volume reduction device according to the invention comprising a shredder with two counter-rotating shafts.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the housing of the volume reduction device shown in Figure 9, according to the invention.

In fig. 11 is a side sectional view of the volume reduction device shown in Figure 9 according to the invention.

EXEMPLARY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The compact system for crushing or compacting plastic bottles and metal beverage cans according to the invention is intended for self-positioning or positioning in the vicinity of refrigerated display cases or vending machines, so as to carry out related activities with these refrigerated display cases or vending machines, namely a consumer, after taking a drink from such a display case or machine, has the possibility, after using the drink, to dispose of the packaging in the compact system, where it is ready for further recycling. Preferably, the compact system is placed flush with its front surface, level with the refrigerated showcase or vending machine it is located next to.

In particular, the compact system for shredding or compacting used packages, such as plastic bottles and metal cans, according to the present invention, consists of a body 3 with side walls 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, and on one of these side walls there is at least one inlet hole. A control unit 12 connected to a volume reduction means 7 is located in the housing 3 and attached to it, an input section for receiving the used packages, which is located above the volume reduction means 7. The volume reduction means 7 is connected through a waste disposal chute with a waste container 10 located below it for collecting the compacted packages.

The inlet section includes at least one mechanism for accepting used packages 6 connected to at least one inlet opening 41 on a side wall of the housing 3. The receiving mechanism 6 includes an inlet flap 37 located on at least one inlet opening 41 on side walls of the housing, and a safety valve 38 for the receiving opening of the volume reduction means 7, the safety valve 38 being mechanically or electro-mechanically connected to the inlet valve 37, so that when the safety valve 38 is open, the inlet valve and, accordingly, the inlet opening are always closed . In this way, unregulated mixing by a user in the crushing or compacting area is prevented. In a preferred embodiment, the safety valve 38 is connected to the inlet valve 37 by a lever system (not shown in the figures) providing dependent movement between them, so that when the safety valve 38 is in the open position, the inlet valve 37 is always in the closed position. In an alternative embodiment, the compact system also includes a sensor (not shown in the figures) for reading the position of the safety valve 38. This sensor can be connected to a separate control unit 12, which receives a signal of the position of the safety valve 38 from the sensor. and commanding an actuator (not shown in the figures) to open or close the inlet valve 37 so that when the safety valve 38 is in the open position, the inlet valve 37 is always in the closed position.

In a preferred embodiment, the inlet section includes an additional separation compartment 5 for receiving caps, which is connected to a container 9 located in the housing 3, and the separation compartment 5 is connected to a second inlet opening 42 on a side wall of the housing. This ensures separation of the caps from the bottles and cans, as they are made of different material, and thus facilitates subsequent recycling.

The volume reduction means 7 has a perforated bottom 25, 35, for the passage of residual liquid, which is located above a liquid collector 24, 36, connected by a flexible or rigid conduit 8 to a liquid container 11.

One or more of the side walls 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 are releasably connected to the housing so as to allow access to all parts of the compact system, and to allow the waste container 10 and the liquid container to be removed and emptied or replaced.

The compact system for crushing or compacting plastic bottles and metal cans has a width to length ratio of 1/2.5 or greater, and the width size is from 160 mm to 300 mm.

Preferably, at least one side wall inlet 41 for receiving plastic bottles and/or metal cans is at a height of 450 mm to 1500 mm, preferably 900 mm to 1500 mm, from the bottom of the housing of the compact crushing system. This is a height that allows said opening 41 to be at a height for free access of a user standing next to the compact system.

The volume reduction means 7 according to the invention may comprise a shredder with one or more shafts or a screw-type compactor.

In the embodiment of the volume reduction means 7 that includes a single shaft shredder, the shredder includes a housing 22 open at its top to receive the packages and open at its bottom to separate the crushed material in which it is located a shaft 14, and one or more knives 15 with one or more teeth are placed on the housing 22, which contact one or more stationary counter knives 16, and cut on them. The counter knives 16 are mounted stationary to the inner walls of the housing, in which the drive shaft 14 is connected, through a reducer 32, to an electric motor 21. The connection between the reducer 32 and the electric motor 21 can be direct or indirect, through a gear. The gear may be a belt gear consisting of belt pulleys 18 and 19 and a belt 20, or a chain gear or clutch. Below the volume reduction means 7 is located a zone by means of which the solid waste is separated from the liquid, and in the zone the residual liquid from the plastic bottles or metal cans is filtered through a perforated cylindrical surface 25, which drains into a liquid collector 24 and through a flexible or rigid pipeline 8, the liquid is collected in a separate container 11, designed for storing liquids. The plastic or metal waste cut by the rotating knives is taken away through a chute 23 and falls into a container 10, which, after being filled, is removed by an operator to be discarded.

As an alternative embodiment of the volume reduction means 7, it may include a shredder with a housing 40, open at its top for receiving the packages and open at its bottom for separating the crushed material, in which two shafts 26 are located and 27 rotating against each other. On the shafts 26 and 27 are located one or more knives 39 with one or more teeth, and at least one knife of one shaft 26 is in contact with at least one knife of the other shaft 27, whereby one shaft 26 is connected, through a reducer 32, to an electric motor 28 directly or indirectly by means of a gear. The gear can be belt pulleys 30 and 31 and belt 29, or a chain gear, or a clutch. The second shaft 27 is connected to the first shaft 26 and rotates from it by means of two gears 33 which synchronize the two shafts and ensure their opposite rotation. Below the volume reduction means 7 is located a zone by means of which the solid waste is separated from the liquid, and in the zone through a perforated surface 35 the residual liquid from the plastic bottles or metal cans is filtered, which drains into a liquid collector 36 and through a flexible or rigid pipeline 8, the liquid is collected in a separate container 11, designed for storing liquids. The plastic or metal waste cut by the rotating knives 27 leads through a chute 34 and falls into a container, which, after being filled, is removed by an operator to be discarded.

As an alternative embodiment of the volume reduction means 7, the means may include a four-shaft shredder operating similarly to a two-shaft shredder.

Another alternative embodiment of the volume reduction means 7, the means may include a screw-type compactor having a residual liquid separation zone below its compaction zone.

The device of the compact system for crushing or compacting plastic bottles and metal beverage cans allows to reduce the volume of these packages, and to collect a larger amount of them in smaller containers and to transport them more easily to the centers for recycling. The system aims to encourage consumers to return product packaging, be it plastic bottles or metal boxes. It is possible, for higher stimulation, to introduce a system of incentives.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the compact system for crushing or compacting plastic bottles and metal cans are possible, which also fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. All parts of the device can be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

The reference numbers of the technical features are included in the claims solely for the purpose of increasing the comprehensibility of the claims and, therefore, these reference numbers do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of the elements indicated by these reference numbers.

Claims (8)

1. A compact system for crushing or compacting plastic bottles and metal cans, consisting of a housing (3) with side walls (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4), with at least one inlet opening (41), as in the housing (3) a control unit (12) connected to a volume reduction means (7) is arranged and clamped thereto, an inlet section located above the volume reduction means (7) in which the volume reduction means (7) is connected by means of a chute (23, 34) for removing waste with a waste container (10) located below it, characterized in that the inlet section includes at least one mechanism (6) for receiving plastic bottles and/or metal cans, connected to the at least one inlet opening (41) on a side wall of the housing, which mechanism (6) includes an inlet valve (37) located on at least one inlet opening (41) on the side walls of the housing, and a safety valve (38) which is mechanically or electro-mechanically connected to the inlet valve (37), wherein the reducing means of volume (7) has a perforated bottom (25, 35) for the passage of residual liquid located above a liquid collector (24, 36) connected by a flexible or rigid pipe (8) to a liquid container (11). 2. A compact shredding or compacting system according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratio of its width to its length is 1/2.5 or greater, the size of the width being from 160 mm to 300 mm. 3. A compact crushing or compacting system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the input section includes an additional separation compartment (5) for receiving caps, which is connected to a container (9) located in the housing (3). , the separation compartment (5) being connected to a second inlet opening (42) on a side wall of the housing (3). 4. A compact crushing or compacting system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the safety valve (38) is connected to the inlet valve (37) by a lever system providing dependent movement between them, so that when the safety valve (38) is in the open position, the inlet valve (37) is always in the closed position. 5. A compact crushing or compacting system according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it also includes a sensor for reading the position of the safety valve (38) connected to the control unit (12) which is adapted to for receiving signals from the safety valve position sensing sensor (38) and for providing commands to an actuator to open or close the inlet valve (37) so that when the safety valve (38) is in the open position, the inlet valve (37) is always in the closed position. 6. A compact crushing or compacting system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one inlet opening (41) on a side wall for receiving plastic bottles and/or metal cans is at a height of 450 mm to 1500 mm , preferably 900 mm to 1500 mm, from the bottom of the housing of the compact crushing system. 7. A compact shredding or compacting system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the volume reduction means (7) comprises a shredder with one or more shafts. A compact crushing or compacting system according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the volume reduction means (7) comprises a screw-type compactor.