DE10130006C1 - Compactor for empty drinks containers uses movement of impact element for acceleration of energy store providing operating energy for drive device for impact element - Google Patents

Abstract

The compactor has a reception space (3) for the empty drinks containers and at least one impact element (27), providing kinetic energy, e.g. for breakage of a glass bottle, with acceleration of an energy store (30) by the movement of the impact element and transfer of the stored energy to a drive device (17,22,23) for the impact element movement. The container type can be identified for providing a signal for a control device for the drive motor dependent on the container material. An Independent claim for a compaction method for empty drinks containers is also included.

Description

The invention relates on the one hand to a Vorrich device for compacting empty beverage containers, ins special in an empties return system, with an open reception room for at least one empty beverage container, min least a striking element that in the recording room is feasible and through that during its insertion movement a beverage container due to its kinetic energy Glass is smashable, an energy store through which the striking element can be accelerated, and a drive device through which the energy store can be charged and the insertion movement of the striking element can be triggered.

The invention further relates to a method for compacting empty beverage containers, in particular in an empties return system, in which in a Smashing at least one glass beverage container an energy store is recorded in a recording room is charged by a drive device, an on leading movement of a striking element is triggered in which the striking element inserted into the recording space and through the kinetic energy of the impact element the beverage is crushed out of glass.

Such a device and, such a method are known from US 5,248,102 A. Here glass containers  each in a section of a plurality of Ab cut a rotatable revolver-like drum men. The drum is then rotated, taking the glass variety is detected, and the container is opened spent in the room where it was printed by one spring-biased impact element is smashed.

As a result, a good compacting of Glass containers reached. The revolver mechanism is ever yet very complex and requires considerable space; wei Furthermore, a compacting is not made of glass the containers, in particular sheet metal and plastic containers nits, not possible due to the impact element.

DE 29 90 7640 U1 shows a collecting device for Collecting PET bottles with a press that a fixed press wall and a movably arranged one Has press label, between which the PET bottles ver be pressed. The press plate is adjusted through a rack and pinion drive with an electric motor. By such a collecting device, however, are not z. B. Compact glass containers.

DE 70 06 670 U shows a device for smashing and pressing together of empty glass and sheet metal bodies with at least one to be crushed and to Compressed glass or sheet metal receiving Kam mer and across to those acting in the chamber (s) Impact or pressing tools.

DE 196 18 730 A1 shows a method and a pre direction in which the beverage containers are in a wedge shaped receiving space between two circumferential transport tapes are introduced, which grip the beverage container and crush between them during the transport movement. On the  Tapes are pins for piercing the containers see. There are counterforce devices on the back of the belts to apply sufficient compression force provided with which the bands are pressed against each other become. A thrown-in container will pass through of the recording room thus automatically captured by the tapes, compressed and in the end in a compressed state output. With such a device, a continuous Nuclear picking, pressing and ejecting process of metal containers and plastic containers possible.

However, a disadvantage of such a device is that glass containers are generally too stiff and hard are considered to be at an oblique angle from that of can be crushed into running tapes. The the force required for this can be derived from the counterforce generally do not provide facilities; with thicker ones Glass containers also suffice for the rigidity of the metal tapes for the application of sufficient force out. A thrown-in glass container can therefore damage the Damage to the tapes because the tapes with the top slide the pins along the vitreous, causing the Pins can be destroyed. Will still be interjected If the glass container is broken, the hard, brittle can and sharp-edged broken surfaces of the glass container to egg damage and destruction of the conveyor belts.

With such a device can Metallbe containers and plastic containers, in particular also PET Container to be compacted. In addition to such containers however, glass beverage containers are also used. so with must in addition to the device shown a separa ter return machine with a device for compacting of glass containers may be provided to take back all to enable used beverage containers.  

US 4,573,641 describes a device with which Glass containers can be added. It has min a beater wheel with a cross bar and a more number of these radially projecting bumpers. The crossbar is rotatable in the front and rear wall of the impact wheel surrounding housing stored. When the impact wheel rotates, smash the bumpers bottles under heavy force in a receiving space of the device ge are falling. The crossbar is replaced by a corresponding one Drive mechanism set in rotation. This one drive mechanism is formed by an electric motor, which drives the crossbar via gears.

This device has the disadvantage that it has a rela tiv large number of moving parts, which makes them prone to failure and also relatively expensive to manufacture. It also builds relatively large and it is a relatively large one electrical drive power required. Furthermore is the inclusion of beverage containers from a different dimension material as glass through such a device initially not possible, so that in the return machine additionally a device for compacting plastic and Tin containers must be provided.

The invention has for its object a Vorrich device and a method for compacting beverage containers nissen with which both the inclusion of Beverage containers made of glass as well as the inclusion of Beverage containers made of metal or plastic possible is, with a compacting of glass containers with ho Reliability and relatively little effort possible is. Advantageously, the Vorrich according to the invention tion small and with relatively little equipment wall can be realized.  

This object is inventively at the beginning of ge called device solved by the receiving space between two spaced apart walls is formed from de NEN at least one movable wall through the drive device is movable to the other wall.

In the method mentioned at the beginning this task solved by alternatively to the Zer in the recording room rubble process a pressing process can be carried out in which a beverage container to be pressed in a pressing process, preferably made of sheet metal or plastic, in the between egg ner movable wall and a fixed wall formed on the moving wall is introduced on the fes moved to the wall and moved back from the fixed wall is moved, the smashing process and the pressing process due to different directions of rotation one of a motor driven shaft are performed.

According to the invention, the device for receiving Glass, sheet metal and plastic containers are used. This can be used to compact the various containers made of glass, plastic and sheet metal the same recording space and the same drive device can be used.

When compacting glass beverage containers in a smashing process through the up percussion elements introduced due to their kineti energy and the inertia of the beverage containers smashed. This can be done in particular through use of striking elements with a small impact area, for Example firing pin with a hard tip, preferably a hard metal tip, also thicker glass containers punk puncture and thus be smashed. The Ver Wear of the impact elements is less than in the  US 4,573,641, for the bumpers over a larger one Are exposed to the surface of the bottles and their rotation be worn along sharp-edged breaks can. According to the invention from a drive device first, an energy storage device is charged, which is subsequently ent by accelerating the striking element loads, a high kinetic energy of the striking element also by a small-sized drive device with small performance. By charging the Ener giespeicher and triggering the insertion movement of the Drive device is performed and no separate Tripping device is used, the number of ver components used and the installation space used are low th.

When compacting sheet metal and plastic containers at least one wall delimiting the receiving space the opposite wall moves too, creating a press gear is carried out. A partial process of the wall can also be used to smash glass containers be performed; such an adjustment movement the wall is not inevitable during a smashing process necessary, if necessary it leads to a more precise position tioning and support of the glass container.

The smashing process can be done by charging an Ener giespeicher, for example a compression spring, on the Shaft-attached drivers can be reached when the wide If you turn the shaft, release a pin that has been taken away ben, causing the insertion movement of the striking element in the up drawing room is drawn. With such a device with drivers that have one or two pins of the Schlagele Take with you and thereby charge the energy storage the, a safe automatic charging and release of the energy storage reached. To do that in the recording room  introduced striking element back to a rest position at which it was taken up by the carriers can also be a return spring between Impact element and a housing-side attachment featured be seen whose spring characteristic is less than the spring is the characteristic curve of the compression spring of the energy storage Do not significantly slow down the insertion movement. This return holfeder can, for example, with a concentric structure be provided within the harder compression spring. OF INVENTION According to the invention, several striking elements, for example meh re arranged parallel along the length of the recording space Firing pin, used to a large extent debris into small components and therefore a high comm to ensure pacting.

According to the invention, the pressing process can be carried out using the same Motor, the same gearbox and the same shaft in the receptacle can be carried out by one opposite the Rotary movement of the smashing process opposite rotation movement of the shaft, the movable plate on the fixed Plate to be adjusted. Here, the rigid Coupling the shaft with the carriers, if necessary, at one Pressing the pins of the striking elements when pulling back moving wall slightly pushed by the drivers SEN; however, this does not result in accidental destruction merge process triggered because the energy storage was not was charged.

As the impact means only moved translationally Impact elements are used, their energy storage charged by an engine with relatively low power is a small-scale training for the Shattering required elements possible. Since the Impact elements are guided through one of the two walls, which are required for the pressing process can be the same  Recording room can be used. This will be more advantageous as a detection device for detecting a loading Holding type provided in a revenue area to the ge desired process to start.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Drawings explained in some embodiments. It shows gene:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a further perspective view of this device from a direction offset from FIG. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the movable wall;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a firing pin;

Fig. 5-7 is a sectional side view of the Vorrich tung in various stages of a process Smashed:

Fig. 5 is a ground state;

Fig. 6 is a further rotated position with the shaft during the charging of the energy storage;

Fig. 7 compared to Fig. 6 rotated position of the shaft after the insertion of the striker;

8 shows a state of the device during a pressing operation with respect to the basic position rotated by 180 ° shaft.

A device 1 according to the invention has a housing 2 , in which a motor 4 with subsequent gear 5 is introduced. Side walls 6 for lateral limitation of a receiving space 3 shown in FIG. 5, for example, are provided on the housing side. The receiving space 3 is further limited by a wall 10 on the housing side and a wall 12 that is movable relative to the fixed wall 10 . The movable wall 12 can be adjusted in translation in the longitudinal direction to the fixed wall 10 on, for example, four guide rods 16 , as a result of which the receiving space 3 is reduced. Beverage containers are lowered via a slope 8 into the receiving space 3 , which is bounded at the bottom by an unloading flap 32 .

On the movable wall 12 several to the Aufnah meraum 3 pointing thorns 15 for piercing plastic and sheet metal containers are provided. Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, three spikes can be provided one above the other and several spikes next to one another. The movable wall 12 has a bearing plate 14 towards the receiving space 3 , which is elastically attached to the movable wall 12 by springs 13 . The springs 13 are ge according to FIG. 3 concentrically provided on upper and lower mandrels 15 .

According to Fig. 1, 5 is fixed to the shaft 17 has a transversely extending carrier 22 is provided, which Ausspa stanchions for receiving extending in the longitudinal direction of sleeves 24. The sleeves and impact bolts used are shown in more detail in FIGS. 4, 5. The sleeves 24 have longitudinal slots 25 and each have a contact plate 26 for attachment to the fixed wall 10 . In the sleeve 24 each firing pin 27 is slidably leads, which is shown in Fig. 4 in a partially extended position in which it protrudes into the receiving space 3 . At the front end of the firing pin 27 , a hard metal head 28 with, for example, a spherical end is seen. In the rear area of the firing pin 27 , a continuous pin 29 or two laterally projecting pins 29 are provided, which can be taken along by the drivers 22 when the shaft rotates. At a rear end of the firing pin 27 , a return spring 31 is attached with an en de, the other end of the housing, for example, is attached to the sleeve 24 . Furthermore, a compression spring 30 is provided concentrically around the return spring 31 in the metal sleeve 24 , on which the rear end of the firing pin 27 bears when the return spring 31 retrieves it.

As shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is seen, the firing pin 27 are pushed through openings 11 in the fixed wall 10 and into the receiving space 3.

If a detection device, not shown in the drawings, determines that a beverage container made of glass has been entered into the receiving space 3 via the slope 8 , a shattering process shown in FIGS . 5-7 is started. Here, the motor is driven in such a way by a control device, not shown, when the detection signal of the detection device is received that the shaft 17 is rotated from the basic position of FIG. 5 to the left, ie counterclockwise.

The driver 22 takes the pin 29 of the firing pin 27 with the rotary movement of the shaft 17 , whereby the compression spring 30 is tensioned. In Fig. 6 the compression spring in this case is shown in its fully tightened condition in which the pin 29 of a rounded end 23 slides the driver 22 after further rotation of the shaft 17 where relaxed by the compression spring 30 and the striker 27 shown in Fig. 7 in shoots in the recording room 3 . During this insertion movement, the pin 29 slides in the longitudinal slot 25 and strikes in the position shown in FIG. 7 at the end of the longitudinal slot 25 , as a result of which the insertion movement - if it has not already been slowed down by a glass body struck - is stopped. As to the shaft 17 a crank pulley 18 via a connecting rod 19 gelen is KIG connected to the movable wall 12, 5, the movable wall is during the rotational movement of FIG. To FIG. 7 to be moved slightly to the fixed wall 10 12, wherein by a suitable dimensioning it is assured that in Fig. 7 27 does not strike the firing pin to the movable wall 12 and between the carbide head 28 and the Appendices geplatte 14 of the movable wall 12 a free space remains.

In a pressing operation, starting from the basic position of FIG. 5, when the shaft 17 rotates clockwise, ie clockwise, via the crank disk 18 and the connecting rod 19, the movable wall 12 is moved into the pressing position shown in FIG. 8, in which a minimum distance between the contact plate 14 and the fixed wall 10 is observed. Here, the shaft is rotated through 180 ° relative to the basic position of FIG. 5. In the course of the further rotation, the basic position shown in FIG. 5 is reached again, with the rigid coupling of the shaft 17 with the driver 22 towards the end of the restoring movement of the pin 29 to advance it somewhat in the longitudinal direction, but immediately by the return spring 31 again is withdrawn.

During the pressing process, the containers made of sheet metal or a plastic material are pressed between the contact plate 14 of the movable wall 12 and the fixed wall 10 . Here, the abutment plate 14 is pressed against the action of the springs 13 towards the movable wall 12 , as a result of which the spikes 15 protrude and can pierce the containers, where they are opened by enclosed spaces. When the movable wall 12 is reset, the springs 13 relax again.

Claims (21)

1. Device for compacting empty beverage containers, especially in an empties return system, with
a receiving space ( 3 ) for at least one empty beverage container,
at least one striking element ( 27 ) which can be inserted into the receiving space ( 3 ) and by means of which a beverage container made of glass can be shattered due to its kinetic energy during its introduction movement,
an energy store ( 30 ) through which the striking element ( 27 ) can be accelerated, and
a drive device ( 4 , 5 , 17 , 22 , 23 ) by means of which the energy store ( 30 ) can be charged and the insertion movement of the striking element ( 27 ) can be triggered,
characterized in that
the receiving space ( 3 ) is formed between two spaced walls ( 10 , 12 ), of which at least one movable wall ( 12 ) through the drive device ( 4 , 5 , 17 , 18 , 19 ) on the other wall ( 10 ) is too movable. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable wall ( 12 ) to the receiving space ( 3 ) pointing thorns ( 15 ) for piercing plastic and sheet metal containers. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that on the movable wall ( 12 ) a contact plate ( 14 ) is resiliently mounted for contact with the containers, the spikes ( 15 ) being able to be carried out through recesses in the contact plate ( 14 ). 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an adjustment movement of the movable wall ( 12 ) and the insertion movement of the striking element ( 27 ) are the same or opposite. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the striking element ( 27 ) through one of the two walls ( 10 , 12 ), preferably the fixed wall ( 10 ), can be inserted into the receiving space ( 3 ). 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that either a Zertrümmervor process by inserting the striking element ( 27 ) into the receiving space ( 3 ) or a pressing process by moving the movable wall ( 12 ) to the fixed wall ( 10 ) is feasible. 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the smashing process and the pressing process in un different directions of rotation of a motor ( 4 ) driven shaft ( 17 ) can be carried out. 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the movable wall ( 12 ) via the shaft ( 17 ), an eccentric device connected to the shaft ( 17 ), for. B. a crank disc ( 18 ), and one on the Exzentereinrich device ( 18 ) and the movable wall ( 12 ) articulated connecting rod ( 19 ) is adjustable. 9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that with a full rotation of the shaft ( 17 ) a pressing process by adjusting the movable wall ( 12 ) and resetting the movable wall ( 12 ) can be carried out in a basic position. 10. The device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a driver ( 22 ) is fastened to the shaft ( 17 ) and the striking element ( 27 ) has a pin ( 29 ) which can be carried by the driver ( 22 ), with a rotational movement of the shaft ( 17 ) of the Energiespei cher ( 30 ) via the driver ( 22 ) and the pin ( 29 ) initially rechargeable and in the further course of the Drehbe movement of the pin ( 29 ) can be released. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the energy store ( 30 ) is a spring, preferably a compression spring ( 30 ), through which the striking element ( 27 ), preferably before a firing pin ( 27 ), in the receiving space ( 3 ) is shockable. 12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the compression spring (30) fastening to a housing-side Be, preferably a sleeve (24) for receiving the striking element (27) is fixed and element on the shock (27) is applied. 13. The apparatus of claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a resilient return spring ( 31 ) is fixed between the striking element ( 27 ) and a housing-side fastening, which has a lower spring stiffness than the compression spring. ( 30 ). 14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a closable unloading flap ( 32 ) is provided under the receiving space ( 3 ). 15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, there characterized in that a detection device to recognize a container type, in particular one Container material is provided, which is a detection outputs a signal to a control device for the engine. 16. A method for compacting empty beverage containers, in particular in an empties return system, in which at least one glass beverage container is accommodated in a receiving space ( 3 ) in a smashing process, an energy store ( 30 ) by a drive device ( 4 , 5 , 17 , 22 , is charged 23), an introduction motion of a striking member (27) triggered is, in the introduced the impact element (27) in the up receiving space (3) and by the kinetic Ener energy of the percussion element (27), the beverage container made of glass shattered, characterized in that, as an alternative to the smashing process, a pressing process can be carried out in the receiving space ( 3 ), in which in a pressing process a beverage container to be pressed is preferably made of sheet metal or plastic, into which between a movable wall ( 12 ) and a fixed wall ( 10 ) Formed receiving space ( 3 ) is introduced, the movable wall ( 12 ) on the fixed wall ( 10 ) is moved and moved back from the fixed wall ( 10 ), the shattering process and the pressing process being carried out by different directions of rotation of a shaft ( 17 ) driven by a motor ( 4 ). 17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that in the smashing process, the movable wall ( 12 ) is moved a first partial distance towards the fixed wall ( 10 ). 18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the charging of the energy store ( 30 ) and triggering the insertion movement of the striking element ( 27 ) are carried out by a continuous rotary movement of the shaft ( 17 ). 19. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the pressing process is carried out by a continuous rotary movement of the shaft ( 17 ), preferably a 360 ° rotation. 20. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the container is pierced during the pressing process by thorns ( 15 ) attached to the movable wall ( 12 ). 21. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 20, characterized characterized that after taking a container it is first detected which type of container, in particular which container material is present, whereby after recognizing a glass container Smashing process and after recognizing a container made of a non-glass material, especially one Plastic or sheet material, a pressing process is carried out.