EP2414246A1

EP2414246A1 - Device for extracting a liquid contained in containers made of an infrangible material

Info

Publication number: EP2414246A1
Application number: EP10711662A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nicolas Laurent; Rémi GOMEZ; Michel Degrange; Jean-Marc Meurville
Original assignee: ARTS
Current assignee: GREEN CREATIVE
Priority date: 2009-03-30
Filing date: 2010-03-26
Publication date: 2012-02-08
Also published as: FR2943630A1; FR2943630B1; WO2010112425A1; US20120079930A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for extracting a liquid (14) contained in a container (12, 13, 15) made of an infrangible material, such as a container containing a liquid or pasty cosmetic or food product. The device comprises two wheels (1, 2), rotating about parallel axes (AX1, AX2) while being separated from each other by a gap (E), and a motor-driven means (3) for rotating said two wheels (1, 2) in the reverse direction. At least one of the wheels (1, 2) comprises spikes (7, 11) that radially project from an basic outer diameter of said wheel (D1, D2) and are inserted into corresponding recesses in the other wheel (1, 2; 21). The device ensures the compression and boring of the containers (12, 13, 15) at the same time when the containers pass through the gap (E) separating the two wheels.

Description

Device for extracting liquid contained in containers of non-brittle material

The invention relates to the reprocessing of liquid or pasty products which are packaged in containers of flexible material, and which prove to be unfit for sale.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of the manufacture of various products, such as cosmetics, liquid soaps, soup-type food products, fruit juices or sodas, the products are packaged in containers which are most often made of plastic, aluminum boxes or cardboard boxes. When it appears, after packaging in the containers, that the product, for one reason or another is in fact unfit for sale, it is necessary to dispose of it. In this context, in view of the financial and ecological imperatives which are increasingly determining in the industrial field, it is necessary to separate the packaged product from the container which contains it.

In such a situation, which is neither regular nor desired, the products are extracted by operators who open each container for emptying, which can be extremely tedious and expensive in view of the robustness of the means for closing the containers. used.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to propose a solution to facilitate the extraction operation of the product contained in such containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, the invention relates to a device for extracting a liquid or pasty product. contained in a container of non-brittle material, such as a container containing a cosmetic or food product, comprising two wheels rotating about parallel axes being separated from each other by a fender, motorized means for rotate said two wheels in the opposite direction, at least one of the wheels having radially projecting points, the other wheel having recesses constituting hollow portions for receiving the tips when they are at the height of the air gap, to jointly compress and drill each container passing through the air gap.

With this solution, it is no longer necessary to provide an operator to open each container to empty the contents since this operation is completely automated, and it effectively separates the contents of the container.

The invention also relates to a device as defined above, in which one of the wheels is a driving wheel driven directly by the motor means, and the other wheel is a driven wheel which is driven by the driving wheel. and wherein the recesses are circumferential grooves.

The driven wheel is thus rotated by the drive wheel only when a container to be treated reaches the air gap.

The invention also relates to a device as defined above, wherein the gap value between the axes of rotation of the two wheels is adjustable. This adjustment makes it possible to ensure the treatment of different types of containers that vary both in their size and the mechanical characteristics of their overall structure, and different types of contents varying in their viscosity and behavior. The invention also relates to a device as defined above, wherein each wheel consists of several disks spaced apart from each other along its axis of rotation, each space separating two consecutive disks constituting a circumferential recess, in which at least one of the discs is provided with radially protruding tips, and wherein the two wheels are offset relative to one another in a direction parallel to the axes of rotation of these wheels so that the tips of a disc engaging between two disks of the other wheel when they reach the gap.

The invention also relates to a device as defined above, comprising a receptacle located at the air gap to collect by gravity the liquid extracted from the containers passing in the gap.

The invention also relates to a device as defined above, comprising an inclined perforated wall interposed between the receptacle and the gap to receive each emptied container leaving the air gap and directing it out of the receptacle while leaving the extracted liquid pass to through the openwork.

The invention also relates to a device as defined above, wherein the axis of rotation of the driving wheel is located above the axis of rotation of the driven wheel, and having a generally semi-cylindrical guide surrounding a lower part. driving wheel, to drive each container introduced in the upper part of the guide to the air gap.

The invention also relates to a device as defined above, further comprising at least one fixed comb, one end of which is engaged in a wheel provided with tips, each tooth of this comb being engaged between two discs of this wheel.

The invention also relates to a device as defined above, comprising on the one hand a comb fitted to unhook a container from a wheel after passing through the air gap and secondly a cleaning comb.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the device according to the invention in side view;

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the device according to the invention in top view;

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the device according to the invention shown in side view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device according to the invention comprises a drive wheel 1 rotating about an axis AX1, contiguous to a driven wheel 2 rotating about another axis AX2 parallel to the axis axis AXl. These two axes are located in the same horizontal plane, the driving wheel being driven directly in rotation by a motor marked by 3.

These two wheels, each of which has a base diameter, denoted respectively D1 and D2, are laterally spaced from each other by an air gap zone marked E whose value is adjustable. The axes AX1 and AX2 are thus separated by a distance equal to E + (D1 + D2) / 2, the gap zone being situated at the level of the plane containing these axes AX1 and AX2. Optionally, the gap can be adjusted to a negative value.

The device furthermore comprises a receptacle 4 intended to receive the product extracted from the receptacles it processes, this receptacle 4 being situated below the gap E, so that the product extracted from a receptacle passing through the air gap flows naturally into this receptacle.

A perforated wall or comb, marked by 6, is interposed between the gap zone E and the receptacle 4, by being inclined so as to evacuate a solid container from the air gap to the outside of the receptacle 4. As can be seen in the figures, the drive wheel comprises tips marked at 7, oriented radially with respect to the axis AX1 to exceed the base diameter Dl, and which allow to pierce or lacerate a container during treatment when it passes in the gap zone E.

This drive wheel 1 also comprises radial drive pins, marked by 8, which are also oriented radially relative to the axis AX1 to exceed the base diameter D1 of a length greater than that of the spikes 7. Driving pins 8 are intended to facilitate the delivery of containers to be treated deposited in the upper part of the drive wheel, to the air gap zone E.

As can be seen in the figures, the wheel has, around the axis AX1, a greater quantity of spikes 7 than drive lugs 8. The driven wheel D2 is devoid of lugs, but it includes, analogously to the driving wheel 1 of the spikes, marked by 11 which radially exceed its basic diameter D2.

As illustrated in Figure 2, each wheel consists of a stack of disc spaced apart from each other along the axis that carries it. Thus, the driving wheel 1 consists of a series of five disks spaced apart from one another. Each disk Ia-Ie has a base diameter corresponding to that of the wheel, and comprises a plurality of drive lugs and several points protruding radially from this diameter.

Similarly, the driven wheel 2 is also composed of another series of disks, marked by 2a to 2e, which are spaced along the axis AX2 which carries it, each disk bearing several points 11. These discs are advantageously made of cut sheet metal, and the spacing separating two consecutive discs along the axis which carries them has a value slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet constituting these discs. Moreover, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the two wheels 1 and 2 are offset relative to one another in the direction of axes AX1 and AX2 carrying them, by a value comprised between the thickness of the disks. and the spacing of consecutive disks. Thus, the spacings separating each pair of consecutive disks constitute circumferential recesses, that is to say hollow portions or recesses towards the axis of rotation, in which the tips and lugs engage when they reach the gap zone E. Therefore, the tips and lugs, although radially exceeding the base diameter, do not disturb the rotation of the wheels.

On the other hand, thanks to this construction in the form of stack of discs wheels, the two wheels can interpenetrate slightly so as to ensure greater compression of the treated containers, the adjustment of the gap value E thus allowing to give it a negative value.

As regards the perforated wall 6 in the form of a comb, its upper end advantageously has teeth spaced apart from each other by the same values as the spacings separating the consecutive discs. Thus, the upper end of the wall 6 is engaged in the driving wheel 1, so that each tooth of this upper end is interposed between two consecutive disks to ensure continuous cleaning of the wheel during operation of the device.

In operation, the driving wheel 1 rotates in the indirect direction in FIG. 1 while the driven wheel rotates in the opposite direction, that is to say in the forward direction, in such a way that a container placed in the upper part of the wheels is led towards the gap E.

In practice, each container to be treated, like the container marked by 12, is placed in the upper part of the driving wheel 1 which is the wheel comprising the driving pins 8.

Due to the rotation of the wheels 1 and 2, this container is led to the gap zone E, where it is compressed by the wheels whose base diameters are separated from each other by the value of the E gap which is very small compared to the dimensions of the treated container, the latter being identified by 13 when it is in this gap zone. Simultaneously, the spikes 7 and 11 pierce and pierce this container 13 on its two opposite faces.

Under these conditions, the product contained in the container 13 is extracted via the holes created by the tips, and under the effect of the compression produced by the passage in the gap. This liquid 14 then flows under the effect of gravity to the receptacle 4 while passing through the perforated wall 6 comb-shaped.

Once the treated container has completely crossed the gap, it falls on the oblique wall 6, which corresponds to the situation in which this container is marked by 15, to slide along the oblique wall 6 to be driven. out of the receptacle 4.

As shown in Figure 1, the end of the oblique wall 6 whose teeth are engaged in the lower part of the driving wheel 1, between consecutive discs, is used to collect the product extracted likely to remain between the ^two consecutive discs Ia -Ie by adhesion effect, so that it slides along this wall and falls into the receptacle 4.

Complementarily, the apparatus comprises two side flanges marked 16 and 17, located on the side and other two wheels 1 and 2, and avoid side projections of product extracted during operation.

FIG. 3 shows a variant of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2, whose architecture makes it possible to reduce the quantity of extracted product remaining on the outside face of the bottle.

In this variant, the apparatus also comprises a driving wheel and a driven wheel marked by 21 and 22 which respectively rotate about parallel axes marked by AX21 and AX22 being separated from one another by an air gap E '.

The driving wheel 21 comprises at its periphery driving lugs 23 which exceed its base diameter, and the driven wheel 22 has at its periphery points 24 intended to pierce the container to be treated, and which also radially exceed the diameter of base of this driven wheel 22.

As in the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, the axes AX21 and AX22 carrying the wheels 21 and 22 are separated from each other by a value corresponding to the half sum of the base diameters of these wheels increased. an air gap value E '.

Moreover, and analogously to the case of FIGS. 1 and 2, the wheels 21 and 22 are offset relative to one another along the direction of the axes AX21 and AX22 by a distance between the thickness sheet metal discs and the spacing of these discs. The spacings of these discs also constitute hollow portions or recesses allowing the tips to engage in order not to disturb the rotation during the passage of these points at the air gap E '.

In contrast to the case of Figures 1 and 2, the axis AX21 carrying the drive wheel is here above the axis AX22 carrying the driven wheel, and the containers are introduced by the lower part of the air gap E 'to exit through the upper part of this gap.

Furthermore, the apparatus here comprises a housing or casing 25 surrounding the wheels 21. This casing comprises an upper part 26 in the form of a hopper overhanging the drive wheel 21, and via which the containers to be treated are introduced. It comprises a bottom portion 27 in the form of a funnel for collecting the extracted product, and a lateral conduit 28 opening opposite the driven wheel 21 to extract the treated containers.

Complementarily, various fixed combs 29, 31 and 32, of the same type as that of the upper end of the perforated oblique wall of the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, are provided. These combs have their teeth engaged between the disks constituting the driving wheel and the driven wheel, so as to ensure their cleaning during operation. In operation, the driving wheel 21 rotates in the indirect direction in FIG. 3, and the driven wheel 22 rotates in the forward direction. The containers to be treated introduced by the hopper 26 are driven by the drive wheel 21 provided with drive lugs 23, to be engaged in a channel C delimited by this wheel and a semicylindrical guide 33 along the right-hand lower quarter of this wheel.

Each container is thus driven towards the lower part of the gap E 'where, analogously to the case of FIGS. 1 and 2, it is compressed by the simple effect of its passage between the wheels, while being pierced by the short points. 24 of the driven wheel, which causes the extraction of the product.

During the extraction, the product flows into the funnel 27 to be recovered at the level of means of collection. not shown. Once the entire container has passed through the air gap E ', it naturally opens, via the upper part of this gap E', at the upper part of the driven wheel which rotates in the direct direction to drive it to the mouth of the extraction duct 28 after detachment by the comb 31.

Thus, in this solution, contrary to the case of FIGS. 1 and 2, the container does not slip along a perforated surface through which the extracted product passes, which contributes to significantly reducing the amount of residual product extracted. depositing on the outer face of the treated container.

Furthermore, the device comprises a rigid bar 34 oriented parallel to the axes AX21 and AX22 of the wheels, being located at the upper end of the guide 33, at a relatively small distance from the ends of the lugs 23 to delimit the upper mouth of the channel C. It is separated from the base diameter of the wheel

21 by a distance that is both less than the largest dimension of the base of a pack of containers to be treated, and greater than the largest dimension of the section of a container of this pack. Here, pack means a package containing a plurality of containers sandwiched together by a single package such as a thermoformed plastic envelope.

This bar makes it possible to tear the plastic envelope of the packs to further reduce the handling work required to operate the device.

In practice, when a pack of containers is engaged in the hopper 26, it is spontaneously placed so that the underside of its base is supported on the bar 34, the sidewall of this pack then along the upper part of the periphery of the wheel 21.

In this situation, the lugs 23, the ends of which are advantageously pointed, cut or lacerate the plastic wrapped wall of the pack, against the bar 34 on which this pack is supported by its base. This releases the containers of the pack which are then naturally driven by the following pins 23, and through the guide 33 to the air gap E 'to be treated.

Claims

1. Device for extracting a liquid or pasty product (14) contained in a container (12, 13, 15) of non-brittle material, such as a container containing a cosmetic or food product, comprising two wheels

(1, 2; 21, 22) rotating about parallel axes (AX1,

AX2; AX21, AX22) being separated from each other by an air gap (E; E '), motorized means (3) for driving said two wheels (1, 2; 21, 22) in rotation at least one of the wheels (1, 2; 22) having radially projecting tips (7, 11; 24), the other wheel (2, 1; 21) having recesses forming hollow portions for receiving the points when they are at the height of the air gap (E; E '), so as to jointly compress and drill each container (12, 13, 15) passing through the air gap (E; E').

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein one of the wheels (1; 21) is a drive wheel driven directly by the motorized means (3), and the other wheel (2; 22) is a driven wheel. which is driven by the driving wheel (1; 21) and in which the recesses are circumferential grooves.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gap value (E; E ') separating the axes of rotation (AX1, AX2, AX21, AX22) of the two wheels (1, 2; 21, 22) is adjustable.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each wheel (1, 2; 21, 22) consists of several disks (Ia-Ie, 2a-2e) spaced from each other along its axis. of rotation (AX1, AX2, AX21, AX22), each space separating two consecutive disks constituting a circumferential recess, in which at least one of the disks (Ia-Ie, 2a-2e) is provided with spikes (7, 11; 24) radially protruding, and in the- the two wheels are shifted relative to one another in a direction parallel to their axes of rotation (AX1, AX2, AX21, AX22) so that the points (7, 11, 24) of a disk (Ia-Ie, 2a -2e) engaging between two disks (2a-2e, Ia-Ie) of the other wheel when they are at the gap (E; E ').

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to

4, having a receptacle (4; 27) located at the air gap (E, E ') to collect by gravity the liquid (14) extracted from the containers passing through the gap (E;

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to

5, comprising an inclined perforated wall (6) interposed between the receptacle (4) and the gap (E) for receiving each emptied container (15) leaving the gap and directing it out of the receptacle (4) while leaving the liquid extract (14) pass through the openwork.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the axis of rotation (AX21) of the drive wheel (21) is located above the axis of rotation (AX2) of the driven wheel ( 22), and having a generally semicylindrical guide (33) surrounding a lower portion of the drive wheel (21), for driving each container (12, 13, 15) introduced at the top of the guide towards the gap (E).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one fixed comb (6; 29, 31, 32) whose one end is engaged in a wheel (1, 2; 21, 22) having spikes, each tooth of this comb being engaged between two discs (Ia-Ie, 2a-2e) of this wheel.

9. Device according to claim 8, comprising on the one hand a comb positioned to unhook (31) a container of a wheel after passing through the air gap (E) and secondly a cleaning comb (6; 32).