CA2102420A1 - Handling and compacting of empty beverage cans - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for identification, separation and compacting of empty beverage cans (10) comprising a first device (38; 50; 43) having means (38) fo distinguishing between cans to be accepted and not accepted and rejecting non-acceptable cans, and having means (50) for detecting at least one dimension of a can to be compacted, and means (43) for determining a can redemption value based on such detection, and a second device (2-4, 9-22, 25-37) for compacting said can through interaction of three arm means (12, 22, 13, 14), a first (12, 22) of said arm means contacting a mid-portion (10') of said can and compressing that mid-portion, and second (13) and third (14) of said arm means acting on end regions (10'', 10''') on either side of said mid-portion to compress the remaining portions of said can, and means for retracting (4, 12, 20, 21; 3, 13, 17; 4, 14, 19) said arm means and removing (2, 3, 9, 16, 28-34) said compacted can after compressing action by said arm means.

Description

WO()2/2110~ 2 ~ 2 ~3 PCT/N092/~0090 HANDLING AND COMPACTING OF EMPTY BE~ERAGE C~NS.

The present invention relates to a method and device for compacting empty beverage cans. Further, the invention relates to a device for identification and separation of beverage cans. Still further, the invention relates to a system for handling and compacting empty beverage cans to be recycled.

Although such cans in most cases are of metal, e.g. aluminium or steel, they could instead e.g. be of a plastics material.
Thus, type of can material is not to be construed as limitative to the present invention.

A device for compacting empty beverage cans of metal is inter alia of a type where a can is squeezed between a smooth wall and movable chain means with decreasing space between said wall and chain means. Such prior device requires a high power and creates a lot of noise.

It is therefore an ob~ect of the present invention to provide a method and device for compacting empty beverage cans of metal requiring minimum of power and yielding a noise level which is much lower than with prior art devices.

A device for identification and separation of beverage cans of metal is inter alia known from US patent ~,532,859.
~ ~.
The present invention provides, however, a functionally . 30 some~hat simpler device for identification and separation of ~beverage cans, and which ls able to operate on a continuous !~, basis unless a non-acceptable can is received. In a system for handling and compacting empty beverage cans of metal to be recycled, it ~ould be possible to use an apparatus ` ~ 35 according to US patent 4,532,~59, although the present ; inventive device for identification and separation of beverage cans is preferred.
'::
:

,"
;:
,: ~
',' WO~)2/2~ J PCr/~0~2/0~090 21~2~2~ 2 ~~

According -to the invention the method for compacting empty beverage cans comprises the steps of forwarding the can to an operation site of a compacting device, arranging the can to be substantially parallel to a can abutment surface of said device, sub~ecting the can to a first co~pacting step by means of a first pressure force acting in a transverse direction of said surface for compressing a midsection of said can, sub~ecting end regions of t.he can to second and third pressure forces, respectively, acting in the direction of said sur~ace, -to cause the end faces of said can to lie substantially parallel to said surface, removing the can so compacted from said site, and collecting the compacted can.

Preferably the can is prior to the forwarding to an operation site subJected to a type-of-material detection and the said steps are executed if a single material of a type to be recycled is detected. Conversely, if a material of type not to be recycled or undesirable types of materials are detected 20 through said metal detection, then the non-compacted can is returned to a can return site.

The device for compacting empty beverage cans comprises electric motor means, gear means connected to an output shaft 25 f said electric motor means, means for recelvlng said can from a can delivering device, and locating said received can at an operation site, means providin~ an abutment surface for said can at said site, a ~lrst arm means movable across said site towards said surface to compress a mld-section of said 30 can against said surface, second and third arm means movable across said site towards said surface to compress end i:
regions, respectively, of said can, against said surface, causing the can end faces to lie substantially parallel to said surface, gear means providing a synchronized movement of said second and third arm means towards and away from said surface, and movement of said first arm means related to the ~ovement of the second and third arm means, and reclprocally ' .~

~, .
, ..

; WC)~2/21109 21~ 2 ~ ~ ~ PCT/NO92~0~9~

operative means for removing a trap door means at said site upon a retraction movement of said arm means a~ay from said surface to establish an exit hole for said can to fall through, and causing said trap door means to close said hole after the passing of said can through said hole.

The device for identification and separation of beverage cans comprises: a first can output, a second can output, means at said can input for sensing the type or types of material of said can, electric motor means, a rotary can supporting means having its a~is of rotation horlzontal and capable of turning in at least one direction through ~60 by means of said electric motor means, said rotary can supporting means having cradle means for receiving a can at said input and ~, retaining said can -therein until delivered at the first or second can output, logic processing means capable of controlling the direction of rotation of said motor means based on an output signal from said sensing means to transfer said can either to said first can output or to said second 20 can output, said first can output being belo~ said can input for returning cans being of a type not to be accepted, and said second can output belng located approximately 180 relative to said can input and above an operation site for compacting of said can for subsequent processing thereof.

. The system for handling and compacting empty beverage cans to be recycled comprises a first device having means for .: distinguishing between cans to be recycled and not recycled and re~ecting non-recycleable cans, and having means for 30 detecting at least one dimension of a can to he compacted and : means for determining a can redemption value based on such detection, and a second device i~or compacting said can through the interaction of three arm means, a fi~st of said arm means contacting a mid-portion of said can and com-35 pressing that mid-portion, and second and third of said arm means acting on end regions on either side of said mid-portion to compress the remaining portions of said can, and ..
' . .

`:
:

~ W~2/2ll~)') J PCT/N092/~90 2 ~ 0 ~ -`
means for removing said compacted can when said arm means retract after their respectlve compression action.

Further features characterizing the embodiments of the present invention will appear from the following claims as well as from the description below with reference to the attached drawing figures illustrating preferred, but non-limitative embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a compacting device according to the present invention.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate steps in the process of compressing a beverage can, according ~o the invention.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the compacting device illustrated in figure 1, and without motor drive indicated.

Figures 6 is a sectional view of figure 7 at section Vl ~I
20 therein, Figure 7 illustrating means for moving a trap door means at a compacting site for said can in top view, with elements not related to said functioning of said trap door means removed for sake of clarity, ` 25 Figure 8 represents a functional view of a device for identification and separation of beverage cans, according to the invention.

Figures 9 and 10 are top perspective views of the-device of 30 figure 8 in two different states of the device.

Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a front view of the device in figure 8 in the states of the device according to figures 9 and 10, respectively.

~ Figure 13 is a principal schematic showing the overall ¦ ~ system, according to the invention.
~ .
~`:
~' . ~.
, ,. ,:

w~ l)2,2 ""~, 2 1 ~ 1 ? O PCT/NO9~/0~90 A can compacting device, according to the invention is illustrated in figure 1 as well as in figure 5 and with the principles of operation illustrated in figures 2, 3 and 4.
s The device for compacting empty beverage cans, e.g. of metal, comprises an electric motor means 1 with gear means 2, 3, ~
coacting with an output shaft 5 of said electric motor means 1. Said motor means is sultably connected to a stand 6 by ~0 means of bolts 7. Suitably the shaft 5 is connected with the motor 1 Yia a rotary link or gear 8. When a can is delivered to said device from a can delivering device (not illustrated on figures 1-5, but to be explained later), said can is positioned at an operation site 9, the can being indlcated in figures 2-5 by reference numeral 10. ~n abutment surface 11 at said operation slte provides a countermember when the can is sub~ected to compression.

A first arm means 12 is moveable across the operation site :20 towards the member 11 to compress a midsection 10' of said can against the member 11, as clearly illustrated in figure 3. Thus, lt is noted that the can is initially compressed at a midsection thereof, which is structurally the weakest portion of the can when a force acts transversely of the can 25 surface. Thus, the first arm means provides the initial compressing of the can 10 whereafter comple-tion of the compression or compacting of the can is provided by means of second and third arm means 13 and 14, respectively. Said second and third arm means are moveable across the operation ' 30 site against said member 11 to compress the end regions 10", 10"', respectively of the can 10, as clearly illustrated in ;~figure 3. Upon the completion of the movement of said second and third arm means 13, 14 the end members 15, 15' of the can 10 will lie substantially parallel to the member 11, as clearly illustrated in figure 4.

W0~2/2ll09 P~T/~092/00090 21 ~2~ 2 a 6 `~
The gear means 2, 3, 4 provide a synchronized movement of the second and third arm means 13, 14 towards and away from the member 11, and movement of the first arm means 12 is related to the movement of the second and third arm means. Suitably the first gear has a first radius and the second and third gears ~, 4 have a second larger radius. The first gear is connected to the output shaft 5 from the electric motor, and the second and third gears 3, 4 rotate at the same velocity and in opposite directions.

The second arm means 13 is at its one end 13' hinge connected to a support means 1~ and at its other end 13" pivotally connected to a first end 17' of a first link means 17, said first link means 17 at its other end 177' being pivotally connected to the second gear 3 at a peripheral location thereof. The third arm means 14 is at its one end 14' hinge connected to said support 16. The said hinge connections to the support could be in the form of a stud 18 protruding up from said support means 16 and pivotally engaging said 20 respective arm means. At~its other end 1~" the third arm means 14 is pivotally connected to a first end 19' of a second link means 19, said second llnk means at its other end 19" being pivotally connected to said third gear 4 at a peri pheral location thereof.

As clearly noted from figures 1-5 the first arm means is of an angled two-legged configuration, substantiall~ of V, U or L shape, one leg 12' thereof at its free e~d 12" being pivotally connected to said support means 1~ via said stud 18 30 or its equivalent, and at its other end region 12"' being provided with slot means 20 interacting with slide means 21 located at said peripheral location of said third gear means, and the other leg 22 of said first arm means e~tending from said other end region 12"' of the first arm means in the `; ` 35 direction towards the previously mentioned abutment surface `or member 11. Thus, the movement of the arm means 13 is controlled by the movements of the link means 17 and the . .
i W~')2/21l09 21~ 2 ~ ~ O PcT/No92/ooa~o second gear means 3. The movement of the arm means 14 is controlled by -the movements of the link means 19 and the third gear means 4. Finally, the movement of the first arm means 12 is controlled by the movement of the third gear means 4 and the interaction between the slot means 20 and the slide means 21. As noted on figure 1, first, second and third arm means 12, 13, 14 have each an engagement means 22, 13"', 14"', respectively, for physically contacting the can upon the compacting thereof. The overall surface area of said engagement means for contactlng the can is substantlally equal to a longitudinal cross section of a non-compacted can.

The stand 6 is connected to the support means 16 by means of brackets 23 and bolts 24. The abutment surface or counter-S acting member 11 is not attached to the support means 16, butlnstead attached to a base means or table means 25 below sald support means 16. Said support means 16 is slideably connected to the base or table means 25 by means of slots 26 in said support means and plns 27 engaglng and slldeably 20 securing said support means 16 to said base or table means 25. Sprlng means 28 are at one end 28' attached to an upright edge 25' of the base or table means 25 and at lts - other end 28" attached to an upright edge 16' of the support me~ns 1~. Thus, the springs 28 will tend to pull, under normal operation, the support means 16 in the direction of the upright edge 25'. The reason for ~he mutual slide-ability between the support means 1~ and the base or table means 25 is a safety precaution in the event that a foreign body through accident enters the operation slte and causes 30 the compacting device to be ~ammed unless the spacing between the arm means 12, 13 and 14, and the member 11 is increasèd automatically. Such slideability also protects the gears 2,~,4 from overload, as well as functionally related elements thereto. Such an event could also be caused b~ e.g. an 35 unopened, liquid filled can entering the operation site 9.
:

., .~

` ' ~ .
:~ .

` -' ^'1 ~ ` - _ ? ' `' ' ~ J ~ J U
s . ~r ~ 2 8 -(~6- 1993 8 21~'129 ` ~``
I-t should be readily understood that said springs 28 could easily be replaced by any suitably resillent member means to force the base means 16 towards the edge 25', such resilient member means yielding in the event of a foreign body to 5 increase the said space between said arm means 12, 13 and 14 and the member 11, as explained abo~e.

A pressure detector 66 is suitably located behind the member 11 and between a support bracket 67 therefor and said member 11, as more clearly illustrated in figures 1, 5, 6, 7 and 1~.
Suitably, the pressure detector 66, is located to be operative with the action of the third arm means 13 com-pressing its corresponding part of the can against the member 11. Such pressure detector could instead or in addition be located at the support bracket 68, as shown by dotted line 66' to be operative with the action of the second arm means 12. However, in most cases such pressure detector 66 will be sensitive to compression in general of the can by the first, second and third arm means. Thus a positive detection of a 20 can being compacted is provided by said pressure sensitive detector 66 (and/or 66'). Thus the compacting device is made substantially pilfer-proof when operating in a redemption-system because no redemption evaluatlon is provided until the compacted can has left the opening 9' through the trap door 25 means 29.

The operation site 9 for the compacting of the can has a trap door means 29. ~efore explaining the operation of the trap door means i`urther, it should be noted, for sake of :, 30 clarity, -that the arm means, the link means, springs, the support means, the base or table means explained above h~ve not been illustrated on figure 7 to simplify the under-standing of the operation of the trap door means. In fig. 6 the support means 1~ is illustrated to show how the trap door ` 35 means is arranged relative thereto, i.e. on the bottom side of the support means 16. Openings ~O' and ~1' to be explained more fully below are thus located in the support ~i~JEl STl~l~TI~

.
~: .
.. .. . . .
`. .

P~ ' / 0 0 ~ ~ 0 ; ~ r; ~.~JI~ 2 8 -n6- 1993 9 21~24~
means 1~. The base or -table means 25 is so designed that it does not in any way interfere with the operation of the trap door means 29. Thus, the pins 27 could serve also as spacer members between the support means 16 and the base 25, or the base 25 could have a cut-out area in the operational region of the trap door means 29.

Said trap door means 29 has two cams 30 and 31. The cam 30 is used for closing the opening 9' of the operation site, and the cam 31 is used for moving the trap door 29 away from the operation site to leave the operation site with the opening 9' in order that the compressed or compacted can may fall through such opening 9'. No spring means are required to interact with the operation of the trap door means 29. A
pin 32 protruding down from the bottom side of the gear 4 is located to alternatively engage the cams 30 and 31. Thus, it is seen that the upright cams ~1, 32 of which only cam 32 is seen in figure 6, are moveable in respective openings 30', 31' (not illustra-ted on figures 1-5 for sake of clarity in : 20 the drawings) in the support means 16. In order to obtain a controlled slideability between the trap door means 29 and the support means 16 as well as the operation site 9, slots 33, 33' are provided in said trap door means 29 coacting with : guide pins 34, ~4', respectively. Also, guide pins 34", 34"' 25 are provided along edge 29' of the trap door means 29. Thus, ;~it will be readily seen that the base or table means 25 does not interfere with the region governed by the trap door means 29.

~s explained with reference to figures 1-7, there is thus provided compacting means for compressing fully an empty beverage can uslng low power motor means 1 and providing low noise. Further, the devlce is compact and mechanically simple and requires llttle or no maintenance, yet is safe to 35 operate and safe in the case of a foreign body or full can 0ntering the space bet~een the member 11 and the arm means 12, 13 and 14, in which case the unit assembled on the base llTlJT~ $ ~1 E E~T

,`
;~ ` ' .

, WO~2/21In9 PCT/NO92/000~0 21(~2'1~ lo , ``

means, including said trap door means 29, will move away from the member 11, thus creating an opening 9' through which the foreign body or full can can fall through.

5 Having thus described the present compacting device, there is now to be described a device according to the invention for the identification and separation of beverage cans to be compacted or not.

Said device for identification and separation comprises a can input 35, a first can output 3~ and a second can output 37. A
sensing means 38 is provided for sensing the type or types of material of the can. Such sensing device could be of inductive or capacitive type. A rotary can supporting means 39 is pro~ided, designed more or less like a drum having its axis of rotation horizontal and being capable of turning in at least one direction through 360 by means of an electric motor 40. The rotary can supporting means has cradle means, in preferred embodiment in the form of two cradles 41 and 42 20 whlch are spaced 180 from each other. Logic processing means 43 are provided and connected to the said sensing means 38 and delivers output signal to the electric motor 40 f`or controlling direction of rotation of the drum 39 and the angle of rotation thereof. The direction of rotation of the 25 mo~or 40 is based on an output signal from the sensing means 38 to transfer the can either to said first can output 36 or to the second can output 37. If the sensing means 38 detects that the can is made o~ undesired material or materials, the can should not be accepted and the drum ~9 is turned, as 30 viewed in figure 13, in a clockwise direction through - appro~imately 90 to dellver the can from the cradle 41 into the first can output 3~ to be collected by the person who entered the can into the rotary can supporting means 39.
Also, the can is normally returned to the ~irst can output if it contains any foreign matter, e.g. metal nails, which is considered to be a further type of material beyond that which the can itself is made of. Conventionall~ most beverage cans ''~ .

- - - ` 2 8 -n6- 1993 ;~ 11 2l ~2~72~
are made solely of alumlnium or solely o~ steel, and it is deslrable to recycle such empty beverage cans. If a recycleable one-material type of can ls entered into a cradle 41 or 42 lying next to the can input 35, the drum 39 is turned by the motor 40 due to proper detection by the means 38 and 4~ in an anti-clockwise directlon towards the second can output 37 i.e. by turning the drum through approximately 180 in order to deliver the can 10 to an operation site of a compacting device, e.g. of the type dlsclosed ln connection o with the descrlptlon of drawlng flgures 1-7. The compacting device delivers the compacted can 10 to a collection bin 44.

The sensl~g devlce 38 ls powered through llne 45 and delivers - signals back to the logic processlng means through the same llne 45. The electrlc motor 40 ls powered through the loglc means 43 vla electric wires 46 and 47. Suitably the electric motor 40 could be a stepping motor, or the logic processing means could include a timing devlce in order to make sure that the electric motor rotates at least through 90 so that 20 a re~ectable can is in any circumstance returned to ~he first can output 36. The logic processing means is powered from a mains inlet 48 and the logic processing means is provided with DC voltages through a rectifier 49. AC power is also delivered to the electrlc motor means 1 as such electric 25 motor means may be an lne~pensive low power AC motor.
Alternati~ely a DC motor could be used, in whlch case said electrlc motor means could be connected to the output of the rectlfler 49.

3~ In order to determlne the redemption value of a recycleable beverage can, a dimension ~ensing device 50 could be arranged above the drum 39 as schematically indtcated ln flgure 13 in order to detect one or more dimensions of the can ln the cradle, e .e. dimenslon such as length and width o~ a can.
35 Thè sensing means 50 could be oi~ any suitable type ln order to detect such dimensionæ, e.g. mechanical cam members capable of riding on the surface of the can as lt passes by $llB5TIT31JlTI~ $~ T

.
:
.

, :'.`

PCT/N09'/00090 8 -n6-l993 12 2~ ~2~29 the senslng means 50 on its rotation from the can input 35 to the second can output ~7. Alternatively, the can dimension sensing means 50 could be an optical, capacitive or lnductive detection device.
s The sensing means 50 is linked to the processlng means 4 through a line 51. In case the sensing device requires power, such power is dellvered also through line 51 from the logic processing means ~3.

Based on the input from the sensing means 50, the logic processing means 43 calculates a redemption value for the can to be compacted based on the output signal from the sensing means 50 and prestored data in the logic processing ,5 means 43, and outputs a refund value to a printer 52, said printer providing a receipt 53 to be collected by a customer who has put the can into the rotar~ can supporting means 39.
Alternatively or additionally, the sensing means 50 could be an image reading device capable of reading the imprints on a : 20 can, e.g. also a bar code, in order to exactly determine the type of can to be recycled and appropriate redemption value.
`To avoid any possibility of "cheating" the system, the container is not validated (redemption value) until after a positive detection of can~compaction is obtained from the 25 pressure sensitive detector 54.

The device for identification and separation of beverage cans of metal as generally dlsclosed in connection with figure 1~
is now to be more closely described ln connection with a 30 preferred embodiment of the invention as more fully illu-strated in figures 8-12. Some of the reference numerals in figure 13 are also found ln ~igures 8-~2 and disclose same or equivalent elements.

Sultably, the device of flgure 8 ls provided with a shield ~means 54 at the second can output, said shield causing the `~ ca~ to be directed right into the operation site 9 of the .
S~ ;TOT13TE ~;~IE!~T

.

: ~ .

`
~'~.i'` .

. r W~')2/2ll~)') PCT/~092/0~90 :L3 2~2~'~9 `compac-ting device described earlier. The abutment surface or counteracting member 11 is also illustrated and a compacting action is illustrated with the first arm means 12 in an initial engagement with the can surface at a mid-portion of the can 10. If a can detected b~v the sensing means 38 is considered by the logic processing means not to be of the correct type, the rotary can supporting means 39 or drum is rotated in a clock-wise direction until the can drops out into the first can output 36. Under normal circumstances, the drum 39 will rotate in an anti-clockwise direc-tion.
Suitably, under normal operation, the drum 39 rotates continuously in the anti-clockwise direction collecting cans 10 at the input 35 and deli~ering cans at the output 37 on a continuous basis at fi~ed intervals. In a simple version of -the sensing means 50 said means could be constituted by cam members 5~ capable of riding on the drum, as shown in figure 8, and on the can surface as the can passes the cam members 55. By using a number of cam members 55, e.g. as illustrated in figures 9 and 10, it is possible bo-th to measure the length and width (or cross sectional dimension) of the can lying in a cradle 41 or 42 in order to verify a correct can.
In order to check the cross-sectional dlameter of the can with reference to the cradle bottom, the can could be measured by means of detecting the angle of tilting of one of the cams, e.g. by using the shadow image of such cam and detecting that image by means of array of photodetectors 56.
Alternatively or additionally, each cam could be connected to a micro-switch 57 in order to detect whether or not a cam has dropped in front and at the rear of a can lying in a cradle, e.g. as lllustrated ~n flgure 10 by the cam members 55' and 55". The middle cam member 55"' is capable of riding on the surface of the can. In a preferred and simpllfied embodiment of the invention as disclosed in figures 8-12 the said members 55 detect only the lengths of the can lying in the cradle 41 or 42. In flgures 9-12, a top lid member 58, as shown in figure 8, has been removed for sake of clarity. The device according to figure 8 has, as shown in figures 9 and '.~", ,:
~ `:
.,, . ;
.. .. .
~ '"

W092/2ll0') PCT~N~92/~090 i2 ~ a ~
10 slde panels 59 and 60, upper front panel ~1 and input tray 62 and a bottom front panel 63, see figure 8.

In order to avoid a liquid filled can or even an unopened can, or a can containing other foreign matter (even of same type of material as the can i~self - so that it is not detected at the type-of-material detection) to enter the compacting device, it may be of advantage to provide the device for ldentlflcation and separation of beverage cans ~0 with mo-tor drive moment control means 69 detecting (via line 70) and/or controlling (via line 71) motor current of the motor means 40 driving the drum 39.

As readily appreciated, the weight of the can will have a ; ~5 bearing on the overall motor moment of the motor 40 (idle moment plus added moment due to loading of can in drum).

Thus, the motor current will be a function of the weight of the can located in the drum. Thus, if the sensor means 69 20 senses a motor current above a set threshold, it may cause the motor to release its retaining moment of force, so that the drum turns to the first can e~it 36 to e~it the non-acceptable can. Alternatively, the sensor means 69 may be set at a specific motor current, thus yielding a set motor moment. If the can is of such weight that the total moment exerted on the motor is greater than that provided by the set current, the motor means 40, suitably a stepping motor, will be caused to slip back until the too heavy can exits the drum at the first can output or e~it 36.

The front panels are also more clearly visible in figures 11 -- and 12. Figure 11 is related to the situation in figure 9 '~ with the can having ~ust entered the cradle. In figure 12, it is illustrated that the can 10 has been returned to the - 35 first output 36 due to the can belng non~recycleable.
- .

: .
,''' ~' `
:,:

W~'J2/2ll(~9 p~/Nos2/oooso 2 ~ ~ 2 `'1 '.' ~

The side members of the device according to figures 8-12 are provided with side flanges 64, 65 having holes or recesses for engagement with screws (not shown), in order to be able to attach the device of figures 8-12 to the base or table means 25 as shown in figures 1 and 5.

At the top of figures 11 and 12 there are provided two arrays of rec-tangular teeth coacting with the said cam members 55 in order to provide a proper positioning of said members 55 at 1D elected locations along the length of a can to enter the cradle 41 or 42.

While the present invention has been particularly described in the context of figures 1-13, an average expert in the art will readily understand that the devices according to the inven-tion may be subJected to variations and modifications without limiting the scope of the invention as defined herein and in the attached patent claims.

20 Thus, the compacting device could be used with or without a device for identification and separation of beverage cans, and if used with such device, that device could be of the type disclosed in connection with figures 8-12 and figure 13 of the present disclosure, or any other suitable type of 25 such device, e.g. of the type disclosed in US patent 4,532,859. Also, the device for identification and sepa-ration of beverage cans, e.g. of metal, as disclosed ln the present specification could be used with other types of compacting devices than the device disclosed and shown in the ~30 present specification. ~owever, in the conte~t of the `~`present invention, the embodiments shown and described are to be considered as preferred, but non-limitative embodiments of the invention. According to the invention, it will be seen ;
that the compactirg device ls capable of operating on a ~",`35 continuous basis at a first cycle rate and that the device for identification and separation is capable also to operate ~;~;on a continuous basis, provided that all cans received in ~ `
~?` .~.
~"'` .
', ';"'` , : , . : , ::

W0~2/21l0~
PCT/N092/0~90 21~2'12~ 16 ``
succession are of the correct type in which case the device operates at a second cycle rate. Thus, asynchronous operation between the two devices is obtainable. Suitably the cycle rate of the compacting device is higher than the cycle rate of the device for ldentification and separation of the beverage cans in order to obtain such asynchronous operation.

In case synchronous operation is desirable, the control of the motor means 40 and the position of the drum cradle 41 or 42 could be linked to the operation of the detector 66 in order that a can enters the operation site 9 of the com-pacting device only when said site is empty and the arm means 11-13 are in retracted state. Alternatively, a separate ~5 detector means (not shown) may be located below the trap door means or operating therewith to sense when a compac-ted can drops through the opening 9' or the trap door retracts to cause the can to drop.

~;, 25 ,,.;
;;` "
.
,' ~
. ~ .
;: . .

~., ~ 35 .~
::
`' ``~
~' ~r .:

~,' ' .

'`,' .,i`,' ' .~

Claims

Further amended claims.
1.
A device for compacting empty beverage cans, comprising:
electric motor means, gear means coacting with an output shaft of said electric motor means, means for receiving said can from a can delivering device, and locating said received can at an operation site, means providing an abutment surface for said can at said site, a first arm means movable across said site towards said surface to compress a mid-section of said can against said surface, second and third arm means movable across said site towards said surface to compress end regions, respectively, of said can, against said surface, causing the can end faces to lie substantially parallel to said surface, said gear means providing a synchronized movement of said second and third arm means towards and away from said surface, and movement of said first arm means related to the movement of said second and third arm means, and reciprocally operative means for removing a trap door means at said site upon a retraction movement of said arm means away from said surface to establish an exit hole for said can to fall through, and causing said trap door means to close said hole after the passing of said can through said hole.

2.
A compacting device according to claim 1, wherein said gear means comprises a first gear having a first radius and second and third gears having a second, larger radius, said first gear being connected to the output shaft of said electric motor, and said second and third gears rotating at the same velocity and in opposite directions.

3.
A compacting device according to claim 1, wherein said second arm means at its one end is hinge-connected to a support means and at its other end is pivotally connected to a first end of a first link means, said first link means at its other end being pivotally connected to said second gear at a peripheral location thereof, and wherein said third arm means at its one end is hinge-connected to said support means and at its other end is pivotally connected to a first end of a second link means, said second link means at its other end being pivotally connected to said third gear at a peripheral location thereof.

4.
A compacting device according to claim 3, wherein said first arm means is of an angled two-legged configuration, one leg thereof at its free end being pivotally connected to said support means and at its other end region being provided with slot means interacting with slide means located at said peripheral location, and the other leg thereof extending from said other end region towards of said abutment surface.

5.
A compactor device according to claim 1, further comprising means on said first, second and third arm means for physically contacting said can upon compacting thereof, the overall surface area of said means for contacting substantially being equal to a longitudinal crossection of a non-compacted can.

6.
A compacting device according to claim 1, wherein said means for reciprocally moving said trap door means includes cam means interacting with a pin means attached to a bottom side of said second or third gear.

7.
A compacting device according to claim 1, wherein said motor means, said gear means, said first, second and third arm means, said trap door means and said means for reciprocally moving said trap door means are associated with a common support means, wherein said abutment surface is attached to a base or table means, and wherein said common support means is slideably attached to said base or table means and movable relative thereto against counteraction from resilient member means.

8.
A compacting device according to claim 1, wherein said device operates continuously at a first cycle rate.

9.
A compacting device according to claim 1, wherein said abutment surface is operatively connected to a pressure sensing means to detect compressive forces acting on said surface when said can is compacted.

10.
A device for identification and separation of beverage cans, comprising:
an can input, a first can output, a second can output, means at said can input for sensing type or types of material of said can, electric motor means, a rotary can supporting means located in a housing and capable of rotating in at least one direction through 360° by means of said electric motor means, said rotary can supporting means having two cradle-like compartments for receiving a can at said input in a direction transversly of the rotary can supporting means axis of rotation and with the can longitudinal axis parallel to said axis of rotation and retaining said can unaccessible therein as said rotary can supporting means rotates until delivered at the first or second can output, each compartment dimensio-ned to fully receive said can, and said compartments being provided 180° apart on said rotary can supporting means, logic processing means capable controlling the direction of rotation of said motor means based on an output signal from said sensing means to transfer said can either to said first can output or to said second can output, said logic processing means including motor drive moment control means to cause said rotary can supporting means to slip back in case of an overweight can to exit such can at said first can output, said first can output being below said can input for returning cans being of a type not to be accepted, and said second can output being located approximately 180°
relative to said can input and above an operation site for compacting of said can for subsequent processing thereof.