Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B30—PRESSES
  • B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
  • B30B9/00—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
  • B30B9/32—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for consolidating scrap metal or for compacting used cars
  • B30B9/321—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for consolidating scrap metal or for compacting used cars for consolidating empty containers, e.g. cans
  • B30B9/322—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for consolidating scrap metal or for compacting used cars for consolidating empty containers, e.g. cans between jaws pivoting with respect to each other
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
  • G07F7/06—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
  • G07F7/0609—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles by fluid containers, e.g. bottles, cups, gas containers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method and device for compacting empty beverage cans. Further, the inventio relates to a device for identification and separation o beverage cans. Still further, the invention relates to a system for handling and compacting empty beverage cans to be recycled.
• 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.
• a device for identification and separation of beverage cans of metal is inter alia known from US patent 4,532,859.
• 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, subjecting the can to a first compacting step by means of a first pressure force acting in a transverse direction of said surface for compressing a midsection of said can, subjecting end regions of the can to second and third pressure forces, respectively, acting in the direction of said surface, 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.
• 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 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 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, 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 the 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.
• 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 axis of rotation horizontal and capable of turning in at least one direction through 360 ° 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 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.
• 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 rejecting non-recycleable cans, and having means for detecting at least one dimension of a can to be compacted and means for determining a can redemption value based on such detection, and a second device for compacting said can through the interaction of three arm means, a first of said arm means contacting a mid-portion of said can and com ⁇ 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 means for removing said compacted can when said arm means retract after their respective compression action.
• 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 to the invention.
• Figure 8 represents a functional view of a device for identification and separation of beverage cans, according to the invention.
• the device for compacting empty beverage cans e.g. of metal, comprises an electric motor means 1 with gear means 2, 3, 4 coacting with an output shaft 5 of said electric motor means 1.
• Said motor means is suitably connected to a stand 6 by means of bolts 7.
• the shaft 5 is connected with the motor 1 via a rotary link or gear 8.
• the second arm means 13 is at its one end 13' hinge connected to a support means 16 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 17" 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 respective arm means.
• the third arm means 14 is pivotally connected to a first end 19' of a second link means 19, said second link means at its other end 19" being pivotally connected to said third gear 4 at a peri ⁇ pheral location thereof.
• the first arm means is of an angled two-legged configuration, substantially of V, U or L shape, one leg 12' thereof at its free end 12" being pivotally connected to said support means 16 via said stud 18 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 extending from said other end region 12"' of the first arm means in the direction towards the previously mentioned abutment surface or member 11.
• the movement of the arm means 13 is controlled by the movements of the link means 17 and the 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.
• 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 contacting the can is substantially 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 ⁇ acting member 11 is not attached to the support means 16, but instead attached to a base means or table means 25 below said 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 pins 27 engaging and slideably securing said support means 16 to said base or table means 25.
• Spring means 28 are at one end 28' attached to an upright edge 25' of the base or table means 25 and at its other end 28" attached to an upright edge 16' of the support means 16. 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 the mutual slide- ability between the support means 16 and the base or table means 25 is a safety precaution in the event that a foreign body through accident enters the operation site and causes the compacting device to be jammed unless the spacing between the arm means 12, 13 and 14, and the member 11 is increased automatically.
• Such slideability also protects the gears 2,3,4 from overload, as well as functionally related elements thereto.
• Such an event could also be caused by e.g. an unopened, liquid filled can entering the operation site 9.
• said springs 28 could easily be replaced by any suitably resilient 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 above.
• a pressure detector 66 is suitably located behind the member 11 and between a support bracket 67 therefor and said member 0 11, as more clearly illustrated in figures 1, 5, 6, 7 and 13.
• 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
• Such pressure detector could instead or in addition be 5 located at the support bracket 68, as shown by dotted line
• the operation site 9 for the compacting of the can has a trap door means 29.
• the arm means, the link means, springs, the support means, the base or table means explained above have not been illustrated on figure 7 to lighten the under ⁇ standing of the operation of the trap door means.
• the support means 16 is illustrated to show how the trap door means is arranged relative thereto, i.e. on the bottom side of the support means 16. Openings 30' and 31' to be explained more fully below are thus located in the support means 16.
• 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.
• 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
• 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.
• compacting means for compressing fully an empty beverage can using low power motor means 1 and providing low noise.
• the device is compact and mechanically simple and requires little or no maintenance, yet is safe to operate and safe in the case of a foreign body or full can entering the space between the member 11 and the arm means 12, 13 and 14, in which case the unit assembled on the base 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.
• Said device for identification and separation comprises a can input 35, a first can output 36 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 provided, 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 which 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 for controlling direction of rotation of the drum 39 and the angle of rotation thereof.
• the motor current will be a function of the weight of the can located in the drum.
• the sensor means 69 may cause the motor to release its retaining moment of force, so that the drum turns to the first can exit 36 to exit the non- acceptable can.
• 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 exit 36.
• the compacting device is capable of operating on a 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 succession are of the correct type in which case the device operates at a second cycle rate.
• asynchronous operation between the two devices is obtainable.
• the cycle rate of the compacting device is higher than the cycle rate of the device for identification and separation of the beverage cans in order to obtain such asynchronous operation.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
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• 1992
  • 1992-05-11 EP EP19920909784 patent/EP0588810A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1992-05-11 JP JP4509301A patent/JPH07115229B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1992-05-11 AU AU16932/92A patent/AU1693292A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1992-05-11 CA CA 2102420 patent/CA2102420A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1992-05-11 WO PCT/NO1992/000090 patent/WO1992021109A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1993
  • 1993-11-10 FI FI934970A patent/FI934970A/fi not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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