DK2905086T3

DK2905086T3 - Process for sorting containers

Info

Publication number: DK2905086T3
Application number: DK15150313.3T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Domenic Hartung
Original assignee: Wincor Nixdorf Int Gmbh
Priority date: 2014-01-30
Filing date: 2014-01-30
Publication date: 2017-03-06
Also published as: ES2572918T3; EP2905086A1; EP2902119B1; EP2905086B1; DK2902119T3; EP2902119A1

Description

The invention relates to a method for sorting containers according to the preamble to Claim 1. A sorting apparatus for sorting containers comprises a conveying route, along which at least one container can be conveyed in a conveying direction. The conveying route has a conveying portion, on which the at least one container can be conveyed in a state in which it is standing up or lying down, and which can be constituted, for example, by a conveying belt or some other advancement device for the transport of the at least one container. In addition, the sorting apparatus has an opening, into which the at least one container can optionally be conveyed for sorting purposes, or past which the at least one container can be conveyed. A sorting apparatus of this kind finds an application, for example, in reverse vending systems for taking back empties. In such reverse vending systems, empties in the form of containers, for example, plastic bottles, glass bottles or beverage cans, are fed into a reverse vending machine by a customer. The reverse vending machine verifies the container, determines its deposit value and generates a deposit credit voucher, for example, which is dispensed to the customer for repayment of the deposit. The containers that are fed in by the customer are guided via a conveying route to one or more sorting apparatuses, which guide containers from the conveying route, for example to a compactor apparatus, in order to compact containers in the form of plastic bottles or beverage cans, i.e. to reduce them in respect of their volume. The compacted containers can then be stored in suitable bags or receptacles and/or taken away.

Conventional apparatuses discharge containers laterally from a conveying route to one or more compactor apparatuses, which are positioned next to the conveying route. The fact that the conveying route having one or a plurality of adjoining sorting apparatuses and one or a plurality of compactor apparatuses stand next to one another means that such an arrangement - for example, when positioned in a retail outlet - requires a considerable amount of space, which must be provided, for example in a separate area that is situated away from the actual retail outlet.

The need therefore exists for sorting apparatuses, or methods for sorting containers, which undertake sorting simply and in a different manner than has previously been the case, and which, having regard in particular for the space requirement of the complete system, are more convenient than previously familiar solutions where appropriate.

Previously disclosed in DE 697 15 876 T2 is a conveying device, in which a container can be discharged laterally by the movement of a conveying belt portion.

In a separating apparatus that is previously disclosed in DE 10 2004 010 133 A1, containers are guided in a conveying direction on lower conveying belts and are separated in the process. Swivel frames, on which the conveying belts are arranged, can be swung open for maintenance purposes.

Sorting devices, in which containers can be discharged laterally from a conveying belt, are previously disclosed, for example in DE 10 2008 047 279 A1 and DE 10 2009 011 716 A1.

The object of the present invention is to make available a method for sorting containers, which permits a compact design of a reverse vending system.

This object is accomplished by a method for sorting containers having the characterizing features of Claim 1, in which • at least one container is conveyed in a conveying direction along a conveying route, wherein the conveying route has a conveying portion, on which the at least one container is conveyed in an upright or lying-down state, and • the at least one container, for sorting purposes, is conveyed optionally into an opening or past the opening.

It is provided that, for sorting purposes, the at least one container is conveyed first of all beyond the conveying portion, in the conveying direction, and then into the opening, in an opposing direction, which is counter to the conveying direction.

For the purpose of the opening being freed, the conveying portion is preferably movable, respectively between a closed position, in which the conveying portion closes the opening and the at least one container can be conveyed, on the conveying portion, beyond the opening, and an open position, in which the conveying portion frees the opening and the at least one container can be conveyed into the opening. The conveying portion can thus be moved between its closed position and the open position. If a container is to be conveyed beyond the conveying portion, the conveying portion is in its closed position. If a container is to be conveyed into the opening, the conveying portion is transferred from its closed position into the open position, so that the opening arranged beneath it is freed and the container can be conveyed into the opening.

This method is based on the idea of effecting the conveying of a container into an opening for sorting purposes by conveying the container in an opposing direction running counter to the conveying direction. In order to convey the container into the opening, the container must accordingly be conveyed initially beyond the conveying portion. Once the container has passed through the conveying portion, the container can be conveyed into the opening by reversing the direction of movement (from the conveying direction into the opposing direction).

The conveying portion is preferably movable in the process and initially closes the opening arranged beneath it, in order to convey the container beyond the conveying portion and thus the opening. The conveying portion is then opened, thereby freeing the opening, so that the container can be conveyed into the opening.

This is not strictly necessary, however. Arrangements are also conceivable, in which the conveying portion is configured in a fixed manner, that is to say invariable in its position, and the opening is situated behind and beneath the conveying portion, for example, in such a way that a container, after passing through the conveying portion, can make its way into the opening only by being conveyed in the opposing direction. For example, the conveying route can have a step after the conveying portion. After passing through the conveying portion, the container falls down the step and is then capable of being conveyed into an opening beneath the conveying portion by being conveyed in the opposing direction.

In the case of a sorting apparatus for sorting containers, in which the method according to the invention can be used, the conveying portion can be moved, for the purpose of freeing the opening, between a closed position, in which the conveying portion closes the opening and the at least one container can be conveyed on the conveying portion beyond the opening, and an open position, in which the conveying portion frees the opening and the at least one container can be conveyed into the opening.

In this case, the conveying portion of the conveying route, on which the container is conveyed standing up or lying down, is movable, that is to say variable in its position. The opening, into which containers will be conveyed for sorting purposes or via which containers will be conveyed away, is arranged beneath this conveying portion and is covered by the conveying portion in the closed position of the conveying portion. In order to free the opening, the conveying portion can be moved into its opened position, so that a container can be introduced into the opening and, for example, conveyed to a compactor downstream of the opening.

Containers are in particular empties in the form of beverage containers such as plastic bottles or beverage cans or also glass bottles, for example, which are subject to a redeemable deposit.

In the sorting apparatus, the conveying portion represents a floor portion of the conveying route, on which containers will be conveyed standing up or lying down. Because of the effect of gravitational force, containers thus stand or lie on the conveying portion and are conveyed along the conveying portion. If the conveying portion is in its closed position, the containers are moved beyond the opening on the conveying portion. If the conveying portion is opened, containers can enter into the opening on the conveying portion.

The opening is preferably arranged beneath the conveying portion along a gravitational-force direction, in which the gravitational force acts when the sorting apparatus is used and positioned as intended. If the conveying portion is opened, containers are then able to fall into the opening due to the effect of gravitational force and are discharged downwards from the conveying route.

The arrangement of the opening beneath the conveying portion and the ability of the conveying portion to move for the purpose of closing or freeing the opening, as desired, makes an arrangement possible, in which, for example, a compactor apparatus can be arranged immediately beneath the conveying route. The sorting of containers is effected by conveying containers beyond the opening or into the opening, as desired. For example, the arrangement of a compactor apparatus beneath the conveying route of the sorting apparatus results in a vertical assembly, in which the sorting apparatus is arranged above the compactor apparatus (and no longer next to the compactor apparatus, as was previously the case), so that the space requirement for the positioning of a complete system can be reduced.

The conveying portion is preferably capable of being pivoted about a pivot axis between the closed position and the open position. The pivot axis is preferably directed transversely to the gravitational-force direction and extends horizontally as a result, so that the conveying portion can be displaced about its pivot axis from the closed position, in which the conveying portion is extended substantially horizontally, into its opened position, in which the conveying portion is pivoted upwards, for example.

The conveying portion preferably has a first end and a second end, which is rejected to the first end in the conveying direction. The second end thus lies behind the first end in the conveying direction, so that a container, which is conveyed over the conveying portion in the conveying direction, initially passes the first end of the conveying portion and is conveyed onwards to the second end. The pivot axis in this case preferably lies in the region of the first end of the conveying portion, so that the conveying portion for the purpose of freeing the opening can be pivoted upwards around the first end with its second end remote from the first end, for example.

The following sequence occurs for sorting purposes in such an arrangement of the conveying portion. For the purposes of sorting, a container is first guided in the conveying direction towards the sorting apparatus and is displaced in the conveying direction along the conveying route. The container in this case initially passes through the conveying portion in the conveying direction. If, for the purposes of sorting, the container is to be conveyed into the opening arranged beneath the conveying portion, then, after passing the conveying portion, the conveying portion is moved from its closed position into the open position, so that, by reversing the conveying direction, the container can be conveyed into the opening.

This results in a sequence, in which a container to be discharged is initially conveyed beyond the conveying portion that is present in its closed position. Once the container has moved past the conveying portion, the conveying portion is displaced for the purpose of freeing the opening and the container is conveyed into the opening in an opposing direction running counter to the conveying direction. This sequence has the advantage that a container to be discharged can be separated automatically from a following container, where appropriate a container that has caught up with the container to be discharged. By reversing the conveying direction in order to convey the container into the opening, it is possible to ensure that the following container is not also conveyed into the opening, if the following container has not yet passed through the conveying portion. The following container is in point of fact conveyed back along the conveying route, but without finding its way into the opening.

An advancement device, in particular a movable conveying belt, a roller device, a chain drive or the like, for moving the at least one container is preferably arranged on the conveying portion. The conveying portion is thus used in an active way to cause the container being conveyed thereon to move along, the advancement device being able to cause conveying in the conveying direction or in an opposing direction running counter to the conveying direction.

The sorting apparatus preferably has a drive apparatus for driving the advancement device, for example in the form of an electric motor which interacts operatively with the advancement device. The drive apparatus in this case in a preferred embodiment also has a transmission, which establishes the connection of a motor to the advancement device. The transmission in this case is configured in such a way that the advancement device for conveying the at least one container can be driven in the conveying direction and in the opposing direction running counter to the conveying direction. The transmission is also preferably configured in such a way that, as the advancement device for conveying the at least one container is being driven in the opposing direction, the movable conveying portion is also moved at the same time from its closed position into the open position, so that, as the direction of movement of the advancement device is reversed from the conveying direction into the opposing direction, the conveying portion is also moved at the same time.

Thus, only one drive apparatus is provided for driving the advancement device and for moving the conveying portion. If the conveying portion is in its closed position, the conveying portion will be transferred from its closed position into the open position in conjunction with the reversal of the direction of movement (from the conveying direction into the opposing direction). As a result, in conjunction with the reversal of the direction of movement, the opening arranged beneath the conveying portion is freed automatically, so that a container can be conveyed into the opening. In the event of a repeated reversal of the direction of movement (from the opposing direction into the conveying direction), the conveying portion is transferred from the open position into the closed position, and the opening is thus closed, so that following containers can be conveyed beyond the conveying portion in the conveying direction.

In an advantageous embodiment, the conveying route on the sorting apparatus has a plurality of conveying portions, of which one can be moved for the purpose of freeing the opening arranged beneath it. In a specific embodiment, for example, a first conveying portion can be configured in a fixed manner, a second conveying portion following in the conveying direction is movable, and a subsequent third conveying portion is fixed in turn. The middle, second conveying portion is movable, therefore, and can free or close an opening arranged beneath it, as desired. An advancement device, for example in the form of a conveying belt, can be arranged on each conveying portion in this case, so that a container can be conveyed beyond the conveying portions in an actively driven manner.

The one or more conveying portions form a floor of the conveying route, on which containers can be conveyed standing up or lying down. In order also to delimit the conveying route laterally in this case, one or a plurality of directing walls can be arranged next to the conveying route, which extend as vertical walls along the conveying route.

The directing walls in this case can be of modular configuration and arranged (releasably) on a base of the sorting apparatus. Depending on the configuration of the directing walls, different conveying routes can be provided on the base in this case, for example a conveying route extending in a straight line or a conveying route angled through 90°. The directing walls can be exchanged for this purpose in a modular manner, as desired, in order to provide different conveying routes depending on their configuration.

In particular, when the conveying route describes a 90° angle in a bent manner, a directing wall, which must be moved together with the movable conveying portion, can be arranged on the movable conveying portion. By means of such a directing wall, a lateral discharge of a container can take place away from the conveying route to a bent, lateral portion of the conveying route.

Otherwise, the advantages and advantageous embodiments which have been described above for the sorting apparatus can also be applied analogously to the method, and reference is therefore made to what has been described above.

The underlying idea of the invention is described below in more detail on the basis of the illustrative embodiments represented in the figures. In the figures:

Fig. 1 depicts a schematic view of a reverse vending system having a conveying device and sorting apparatuses arranged thereon;

Fig. 2A depicts a view of a sorting apparatus having a conveying route with a conveying portion in a closed position;

Fig. 2B depicts a view of the arrangement according to Fig. 2A, with the conveying portion in an open position;

Fig. 3A depicts a view of the arrangement according to Fig. 2A, from above;

Fig. 3B depicts a view of the arrangement according to Fig. 2B, from above; and

Fig. 4 depicts a view of the sorting apparatus, with a different configuration of directing walls arranged on the conveying route;

Fig. 1 depicts in a schematic view a reverse vending system 1 for taking back containers, for example in a retail outlet. The reverse vending system 1 has, in a manner known per se, a reverse vending machine 2, into which a customer can feed containers G, for example beverage bottles or beverage cans or other containers which are subject to a redeemable deposit. The reverse vending machine 2 receives the containers G, determines their deposit value and issues the deposit value in the form of cash or in the form of a credit voucher authorizing repayment of the deposit.

The containers G are conveyed from the reverse vending system 2 by a conveying device 3, for example a conveying belt arrangement, and make their way to one or a number of compactor devices 4, 5, in which the containers G are compacted, that is to say reduced in their volume, for simplified, spacesaving storage and for transport. Compacted containers G' are discharged from the compactor apparatuses 4, 5 into receptacles 40, 50 and can be taken away or stored as such.

In order to guide the containers G to specific compactor apparatuses 4, 5, for example depending on their nature, their shape or their colour, the conveying device 3 is provided with sorting apparatuses 30, which ensure the discharge of containers G into the compactor apparatuses 4, 5 or the guiding of containers G past the compactor apparatuses 4, 5, as desired.

An illustrative embodiment of a sorting apparatus 30 of this kind is represented in Figs. 2A, 2B and 3A, 3B. The sorting apparatus 30 has on a base 300 three conveying portions 31,32, 33, each of which has an advancement device 310, 320, 330 in the form of a conveying belt.

The conveying portions 31, 32, 33 constitute of a conveying route 302, along which containers G can be conveyed in a conveying direction F. The conveying route 302 is delimited laterally by directing walls 34, 35, which extend laterally on the conveying portions 31, 32, 33 as vertical walls.

The arrangement of advancement devices 310, 320, 330 in the form of conveying belts on the conveying portions 31,32, 33 allows containers G to be conveyed actively along the conveying portions 31, 32, 33. A drive apparatus with an electric motor and a suitable transmission or a common drive apparatus is allocated to the respective advancement devices 310, 320, 330 in this case.

Of the conveying portions 31, 32, 33, the input-side, first conveying portion 31 and the output-side, third conveying portion 33 of the sorting apparatus 30 are in a fixed arrangement, that is to say - with the exception of the movement of the conveying belt constituting the advancement device 310, 330 - invariable in their length. The middle, second conveying portion 32 situated between these conveying portions 31,33, on the other hand, is variable in its position, since it can be caused to pivot about a pivot axis S along an opening direction O, as can be appreciated from Figs. 2B and 3B.

When observed in the gravitational-force direction A, an opening 36, through which containers G can be conveyed to a compactor device 4, 5 situated beneath the sorting apparatus 30, is arranged beneath said movable, middle conveying portion 32. This opening 36 is covered by the conveying portion 32 in a closed position of the middle conveying portion 32 (Figs. 2A, 3A) and is closed as a result, so that containers G can be conveyed beyond the conveying portion 32 past the opening 36. From this closed position, however, the conveying portion 32 can be transferred in the opening direction O into an opened position (Figs. 2B, 3B), in which the opening 36 is freed, so that containers G can be conveyed into the opening 36.

The pivot axis S is present at one end 321 of the movable conveying portion 32, which faces towards the input-side, first conveying portion 31. Situated at a distance from said end 321 in the conveying direction F is a distal end 322, with which the conveying portion 32 is caused to pivot in the opening direction O for the purpose of freeing the opening 36, as can be appreciated from Fig. 2B.

In order to convey a container G1 (see Figs. 3A and 3B) into the opening 36, the container G1 is initially conveyed in the conveying direction F beyond the input-side, first conveying portion 31 and beyond the middle, second conveying portion 32 and accordingly arrives on the output-side, third conveying portion 33. The direction of movement of the advancement devices 310, 320, 330 of the conveying portions 31, 32, 33 is then reversed, and the container G1 is accordingly conveyed on the output-side, third conveying portion 33 in an opposing direction F' running counter to the conveying direction F, after the rear, second conveying portion 32 has been transferred from its closed position (Fig. 2A) into the open position (Fig. 2B), thereby freeing the opening 36 situated beneath the conveying portion 32 (see Fig. 3B). The container G1 accordingly makes its way into the opening 36 and is discharged from the conveying route 302.

The ability to separate containers G1, G2 that have caught up with one another is achieved in a simple manner by the reversal of the direction of movement. If the direction of movement is actually reversed as soon as a container G1 to be discharged has passed the middle, second conveying portion 32, a following container G2 will still be present on the middle, second conveying portion 32 and accordingly cannot be conveyed into the opening 36 in conjunction with the reversal of the direction of movement (see Fig. 3B).

The reversal of the direction of movement of the advancement devices 310, 320, 330 is advantageously synchronized with the opening of the middle, second conveying portion 32. For this purpose, for example a single drive apparatus 323 (indicated schematically in Fig. 2B by an arrow) is capable, on the one hand, of providing a drive for the advancement devices 310, 320, 330 and a drive for the opening movement of the middle, second conveying portion 32. It is thus possible to envisage that the drive apparatus 323 initially drives the advancement devices 310, 320, 330 for the purpose of conveying the containers G in the conveying direction F. If the direction of movement is reversed, and if the advancement devices 310, 320, 330 are driven in the opposing direction F', the drive apparatus 323 will thus produce opening of the movable conveying portion 32 in the opening direction O, so that a container G can be conveyed from the output-side conveying portion 33 into the opening 36.

An appropriate mechanical transmission, for example, can be provided for synchronization. It is also conceivable, however, to provide separate motor drives, which are synchronized electronically.

In the event of a repeated reversal of the direction of movement (from the opposing direction F' into the conveying direction F), the middle, second conveying portion 32 will again be closed and will return to its closed position (Figs. 2A, 3A), so that further, following containers G2 can be conveyed beyond the opening 36.

The conveying route 302 is delimited laterally in the illustrative embodiment according to Figs. 2A, 2B and 3A, 3B by elongated, lateral directing walls 34, 35 and is thus extended longitudinally between the vertical walls in the form of the directing walls 34, 35. The directing walls 34, 35 in this case are of modular configuration and are releasably positioned on the base 300 of the sorting apparatus 30, so that other conveying routes 302 can also be configured on the base 300 by the reconfiguration of the directing walls 34, 35.

This depicts the illustrative embodiment according to Fig. 4, in which directing walls 37, 38 are positioned on the base 300 and, in addition, a directing wall 39 is arranged on the middle, movable conveying portion 32. The combination of these directing walls 37, 38, 39 with the directing wall 35 remaining on the base 300 provides a conveying route 302, which is bent through 90° and thereby permits the conveyance of containers G around a corner.

The basic functionality of the sorting apparatus 30 is the same as previously described. Containers G are conveyed initially in the conveying direction F along the conveying route 302. Once a container G has passed the movable conveying portion 32, the direction of movement is reversed and the movable conveying portion 32 is caused to pivot, in order to free the subjacent opening 36 and to convey the container G into this opening 36.

Pivoting of the movable conveying portion 32 in this case causes the associated pivoting of the directing wall 39 secured to the conveying portion 32.

In the configuration according to Fig. 4, containers 301 are guided over a sliding block 301 beyond the base 300 as far as the conveying portion 32. The sliding block 301 itself does not have an advancement device in the form of a conveying belt or the like, so that containers G slide beyond the sliding block 301 without the need for them to be actively driven for this purpose.

It is also conceivable and possible, of course, for an advancement device to be provided on the sliding block 301, for example in the form of a conveying belt.

Other configurations are also possible. For example, a conveying route 302 that is bent in the other direction can be provided. Or an elongated conveying route 302 can be provided together with one or two bent conveying routes 302, so that containers G can be introduced into the sorting apparatus 30 from different directions and from different conveying devices.

The general idea underlying the method for sorting containers G is for containers G to be conveyed into an opening 36 for sorting purposes by the reversal of the direction of movement. This can take place advantageously, as in the preceding illustrative embodiments, in that a conveying portion 32 is movable and is opened in conjunction with the reversal of the direction of movement (from the conveying direction F into the opposing direction F'), so that an opening 36 is freed and a container G can be conveyed into the opening 36.

Such a method is also conceivable and applicable in principle, however, but without the need to provide a movable conveying portion. A container G can thus be conveyed in the conveying direction F over a fixed, that is to say invariable in its position, conveying portion 32 and, after passing through the conveying portion 32, makes its way to a step and over the step onto a conveying portion 33 following in the conveying direction F, which is lowered in respect of its height. An opening 36 is configured in the region of the step between the upper conveying portion 32 and the following, lower conveying portion 33, into which opening a container G can be conveyed in the opposing direction F', after it has made its way onto the following, lower conveying portion 33, by reversal of the direction of movement.

In this illustrative embodiment, the separation between different containers G is thus achieved in that different conveying portions 32, 33 are displaced relative to one another along the gravitational-force direction A, and in that configured between these conveying portions 32, 33 is an opening 36, into which a container G can be conveyed by reversal of the direction of movement. This takes place without the need for a conveying portion 32, 33 to be varied in its position for this purpose, that is to say without the need for a movable conveying portion 32, 33 to be provided.

The underlying idea of the invention is not restricted to the illustrative embodiments described above, but can also be realized in principle by embodiments of an entirely different kind.

For example, a plurality of movable conveying portions can also be provided on a sorting apparatus, in order to permit discharge towards an opening at several points.

Advancement devices may be provided advantageously on the conveying portions, although they must not necessarily be present. If advancement devices are provided, they permit the active driving of conveyed containers and can be configured, for example, as conveying belts, as chain drives, as roller drives or the like.

List of Reference Designations 1 reverse vending system 2 reverse vending machine 3 conveying device 30 sorting apparatus 300 base 301 sliding block 302 conveying route 31-33 conveying portion 310-330 advancement device (conveying belt) 321,322 end 323 drive apparatus 34, 35 directing wall 36 opening 37, 38, 39 directing wall 4, 5 compactor device 40,50 receptacle A gravitational-force direction F conveying direction F' opposing direction G, G1,G2 container G' compacted container O opening direction S pivot axis

Claims

A method (30) for sorting containers (G), wherein - at least one container (G) is conveyed in a transport direction (F) along a transport section (302) and wherein said transport section (302) has a transport section (32), on which the at least one container (G) is conveyed standing or lying, and - for the purpose of sorting, the at least one container (G) is optionally transported in an opening (36) or past an opening, characterized in that the at least one container (G) G) for the purpose of sorting, first of all, transport in the transport direction (F) performs through the transport section (32) and is then inserted into an opening (36), moving in a direction (F) opposite to the transport direction (F '). ).

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport section (32) is moved between the closed position (32) and the at least one container (G) for releasing the opening (36) between a closed position. ) on the transport section (32) can transport beyond the opening (36) - an open position where the transport section (32) releases the opening (36) and the at least one container (G) can be transported into the opening (36).

Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the transport section (32), for transporting the at least one container (G) via the transport section (32), is in the closed position and after the at least one container (G ) has been transported through the transport section (32), this at least one container (G) being transferred to an opening (36) which is in the open position.