EP2960047B1 - Sorting device for a compacting system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sorting device for a compacting plant according to the preamble of patent claim 1, a compacting plant and a method for operating a compacting plant.

A known compacting system comprises a compacting unit, which receives non-compacted packs at an input and outputs compacted packs at an output, as well as a collecting unit for collecting compacted packs. Occasionally a sorting device is arranged between the collecting unit and the compacting unit, which sorting device accepts the container compacted by the compacting unit and supplies it to the collecting unit. For example, such a collection unit has different collection containers and the sorting device is designed to optionally feed the compacted container accepted by it to one of the different containers of the collection unit.

Such a sorting device is for example from U.S. 4,373,435 known, where the sorting device is designed in the form of an inclined plane which has an opening at its bottom which can be selectively opened or closed via a movable element.

The U.S. 5,167,184 describes another sorting device. The sorting device is designed in the form of a conveyor belt. The container compacted by the compacting unit falls onto this conveyor belt and is conveyed by the conveyor belt in a translatory (straight) direction to the collecting unit.

The JP-H 05104289 A discloses an empties acceptance device in which empty cans are accepted by means of a conveyor belt, which has catches formed perpendicular to the transport direction, and are guided to a sorting device.

The CN 2267861 Y discloses a sorting device according to the preamble of claims 1 and 8. There is a sorting element with a turntable between a compacting unit and a sorting unit and the compacted container falls due to the effect of gravity on the turntable and is either a first container or a second container by means of a wing fed.

From the EP 2720200 A1 a coin sorting device is known. A sorting device with a rotatably driven turntable is provided, but not for use in a compacting system, but in a coin collecting system.

The DE 860 566 C describes a device for separating stones from potatoes, in which intermingled potatoes and stones are fed to a flat surface which is rotated in a plane inclined to the horizontal, whereby the stones and potatoes are thrown from the surface at different points due to different frictional resistances .

The object of the present invention is to propose a sorting device for a compacting plant or a method for operating a sorting device for a compacting plant, which allows a compact design of the compacting plant.

This object is achieved according to a first aspect by a sorting device according to independent patent claim 1. Features of advantageous embodiments are provided in the subclaims.

According to a second aspect, a compacting system according to independent patent claim 8 is proposed to achieve the object.

A third aspect relates to a method for operating a compacting plant according to the second aspect (independent claim 11).

The sorting device according to the invention has a sorting element rotatable about an axis of rotation, which is designed to take the accepted compacted container along a direction of rotation about the axis of rotation and to convey the compacted container to the collecting unit.

In this case, the sorting element in the sorting device according to the first aspect has an impeller with at least one blade which is radially formed with respect to the axis of rotation.

The sorting element, which is generally in the form of a turntable and / or in the form of an impeller with at least one wing formed radially with respect to the axis of rotation, takes the assumed compacted container along with it along the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation and conveys it due to this rotary movement towards the collecting unit of the compacting plant.

The sorting device has a band that is at least partially radially symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation and radially adjoining the sorting element, which is designed to guide the compacted container carried along by the sorting element within the sorting device.

The sorting device is designed for an arrangement that is inclined with respect to the direction of gravity, along which the force of gravity acts, in such a way that the axis of rotation intersects the direction of gravity at an angle of more than 0 °.

Furthermore, the sorting element is designed to eject the compacted container at an ejection opening of the sorting device in order to convey the compacted container to the collecting unit, the compacted container being ejected at least partially against the direction of gravity.

Because of the sorting element rotatable about the axis of rotation, it is on the one hand possible in particular to place the sorting device below the compacting unit to be arranged so that the container compacted by the compacting unit can fall into the sorting device due to the effect of gravity, and on the other hand, however, it is not necessary to arrange the collecting unit below the sorting device. Rather, the use of the rotatable sorting element according to advantageous embodiments allows the accepted compacted container to be ejected at least partially against gravity, so that an inlet opening of the collecting unit can be positioned at the same height as the sorting device or even above the sorting device. As a result, it is possible overall to reduce the overall height of the compacting system, which increases the user friendliness of the compacting system. For example, it is sometimes necessary that an input of the compacting unit for entering non-compacted containers is not above a predetermined height of, for example, 1 to 1.5 meters. Such specifications can now be complied with more easily due to the use of the sorting device, since in particular it is not necessary for the collecting unit to be arranged below the sorting device.

Further preferred embodiments of the sorting device of the first aspect of the present invention are explained below. The further features of these further embodiments can be combined with one another as well as with the optional features already described above for forming further embodiments, unless they are expressly described as alternatives to one another.

For example, the sorting device is designed for use in a compacting system. The compacting system comprises at least one compacting unit which is designed to receive non-compacted containers, such as plastic bottles, glass bottles, cans, other hollow bodies or other containers to be compacted or comminuted, at an input of the compacting unit. The non-compacted container can be fed to the compacting unit either manually or automatically by appropriate means. The compacting unit compacts or comminutes the received non-compacted container and outputs the compacted container at an output of the compacting unit. For compacting packs, the compacting unit comprises, for example, a roller, a press or similar means for compacting packs. The exact design of the compacting unit is less important in the present case. In particular, the sorting device is not only suitable for use in a compacting plant, but can basically also be used in other material processing systems in which sorting of pieces of material is expedient.

The sorting device is designed, for example, to accept compacted packs dispensed at an output of the compacting unit. For this purpose, the sorting device is arranged, for example, below the exit of the compacting unit, so that the compacted container output at the exit of the compacting unit falls into the sorting device or onto the sorting device due to the effect of gravity.

The sorting element of the sorting device is rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation and designed to take the accepted compacted container along the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation, for example to accelerate it along the direction of rotation, and thus to convey the compacted container to the collecting unit of the compacting system. The compacted container that is taken along experiences a rotational movement in particular and not just a purely translational movement.

As has already been explained above, the sorting element is designed, for example, in the form of a turntable which is arranged to be rotatable about the axis of rotation. As an alternative or in addition to this, an impeller is provided which is rotatable about the axis of rotation and has at least one wing formed radially with respect to the axis of rotation in order to attack the assumed compacted container with it and to convey it along the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation to the collecting unit.

If the sorting device is designed for an arrangement below the compacting unit of the compacting system, it is also preferred that the sorting device has a collecting surface for collecting the compacted container, which is preferably arranged essentially perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

In the embodiment in which the sorting element has said turntable, this collecting surface is preferably formed by the surface of the turntable itself. In other words, in this embodiment, the container compacted by the compacting unit falls onto the surface of the turntable (collecting surface) and is accelerated by the turntable around the axis of rotation and thus conveyed to the collecting unit.

If the said impeller is provided instead of the turntable, the collecting surface is formed, for example, by a plate arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and the at least one wing of the impeller is arranged above the plate so as to be rotatable about the axis of rotation so that the compacted container collected over the plate to convey along the direction of rotation around the axis of rotation to the collecting unit.

In a further preferred embodiment, the sorting device has a band which is at least partially radially symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation and radially adjoining the sorting element and which is designed to guide the compacted container carried along by the sorting element along the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation within the sorting device. The band is therefore preferably designed in such a way that it prevents undesired escape of the compacted container carried along by the sorting element. If the compacted container is accelerated by the sorting element along a direction of rotation around the axis of rotation, the centrifugal forces thus generated and acting on the compacted container do not lead to the compacted container leaving the sorting device at an undesired point.

The sorting element is designed to eject the compacted pack at an ejection opening of the sorting device in order to convey the compacted pack to the collecting unit. For example, the ejection opening is formed by a recess in the band. For example, the band is designed in the shape of a horseshoe, for example running approximately radially symmetrically to the axis of rotation in a collecting area of the sorting device and running approximately translationally in an ejection area of the sorting device in order to form the ejection opening. The dimensions of the ejection opening are preferably adapted to the dimensions of the compacted container.

At this point it should be noted with regard to a preferred three-dimensional configuration of the sorting device that it is preferred that the axis of rotation either lies approximately parallel to the direction of gravity or intersects the direction of gravity at an angle between 0 ° and 70 °, preferably between 0 ° and 30 °. It is always preferred that the collecting surface of the sorting device is arranged essentially perpendicular to this axis of rotation. Is the Cutting angle at 15 °, for example, the compacted container is ejected approximately at an angle of 15 ° above the horizontal and thus against the direction of gravity.

It is provided that the sorting device is designed for an arrangement inclined with respect to the direction of gravity. For example, the direction of gravity cuts the collecting surface of the sorting device at an angle of less than 90 °, for example at an angle between 90 ° and 60 °. In other words, it is preferred that the axis of rotation intersects the direction of gravity, for example at an angle between 0 ° and 30 °.

In a further preferred embodiment of the sorting device, the sorting device has an outlet in order to let out a liquid collected in the sorting device. Often there is still a residual liquid in the container to be compacted, which occasionally does not escape during the compacting of the container. Therefore, liquid can collect in the sorting device, which accepts the compacted container from the compacting unit, during operation, whereby it is expedient to remove this liquid from the sorting device in order to be able to ensure permanent operation of the compacting plant. Said outlet is provided for this purpose. The outlet is designed, for example, in the form of a further recess in the said band, so that when the sorting device is inclined, the liquid in the sorting device automatically leaves the sorting device due to the effect of gravity and flows into a collecting container provided for this purpose, for example. Due to the design of the sorting device, this additional collecting container hardly requires any additional installation space, since - as explained in detail above - it is not necessary to position the collecting unit below the sorting device, so that space for said collecting container remains below the sorting device to collect the liquid.

In a further preferred embodiment of the sorting device, the sorting device comprises a control unit for operating the sorting element, the control unit preferably being designed to control the direction of rotation and / or the frequency of rotation of the sorting element. This variant allows the trajectory of a compacted container ejected by the sorting device to be influenced.

First, through the selection of the direction of rotation and through the corresponding design of the ejection opening, a direction can be set in which the ejected compacted container leaves the sorting device. This makes it possible to position the compacted container in a targeted manner in the collecting unit of the compacting system, for example in different containers of the collecting unit and / or in different areas of the collecting unit. It can thus be ensured, for example, that no cones of bulk from compacted containers arise in the collecting unit, but rather that the compacted containers are evenly distributed in the collecting unit.

By adjusting the rotational speed, in particular the flight distance of the ejected compacted container can be set and in this way it can also be ensured that the compacted container lands at an appropriate place within the collecting unit. It should be noted at this point that the subject matter of the present invention does not require the sorting element to describe a complete revolution around the axis of rotation. Rather, it may be sufficient to eject the compacted container that the sorting element, for example a turntable and / or an impeller with at least one wing, is rotated around the axis of rotation by a certain angular range of a few degrees, for example by 5 ° or 60 ° to take the compacted container with you along the direction of rotation and to transport it to the collecting unit. For example, the control unit is designed to accelerate the sorting element in a pulse-like manner by a certain angular range around the axis of rotation in order to convey the compacted container that has been taken along to the collecting unit.

In a further preferred embodiment of the sorting device, said control unit is designed to rotate the sorting element at intervals about the axis of rotation. The subject matter of the present invention does not require continuous operation of the sorting element, but rather the control unit can ensure that the sorting element is controlled as a function of the load, that is, as a function of the compacted containers fed to the sorting device.

In order to drive the sorting element and / or to adjust the ejection opening, a drive unit can be provided, for example one or more electric motors.

To solve the above technical problem, the invention also proposes a compacting system which has a compacting unit for compacting Has containers and a collecting unit for collecting compacted containers and is characterized in that the compacting system comprises a sorting device arranged between the compacting unit and the collecting unit, as has been described above in various embodiments. Of course, the compacting system according to the invention shares the advantages of the sorting device just described and has preferred embodiments which correspond to the preferred embodiments of the sorting device described above, in particular as defined in the dependent claims. In this respect, reference is made to the above.

It is therefore preferred, for example, that the sorting device is arranged below an exit of the compacting unit at which the compacting unit dispenses compacted packs. For example, the collecting unit of the compacting system has at least two collecting containers, and the sorting device is designed to optionally feed the compacted container that has been taken along to one of the at least two collecting containers. This has also already been explained above with reference to the control unit, which is designed to control the direction of rotation and / or the speed of rotation.

In order to simplify the serviceability of the sorting device or the compacting system, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the sorting device is arranged such that it can pivot relative to the axis of rotation. This enables a service person to quickly and easily gain access to the sorting device, so that, for example, the sorting element can be exchanged or repaired and / or other actions can be taken to rectify faults. The pivotability against the axis of rotation not only improves accessibility, but also allows the trajectory of the ejected compacted container to be influenced even further. Said control unit is preferably designed not only to set the direction of rotation, the rotational speed and / or the position of the ejection opening, but also the pivot angle against the axis of rotation in order to determine the correct trajectory for the compacted container to be conveyed to the collecting unit, so that the ejected compacted container on ends up in the desired position within the collection unit.

The method according to claim 11 forms a further aspect of the present invention. The method also shares the advantages of the sorting device according to the invention and has preferred embodiments similar to those above The preferred embodiments of the sorting device or the compacting system described correspond, in particular, as they are defined in the dependent claims. In this respect, reference is made to the above.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer exemplarischen Kompaktieranlage mit einer exemplarischen Sortiervorrichtung;

Fig. 2

die in der Fig. 1 gezeigte exemplarische Kompaktieranlage mit der exemplarischen Sortiervorrichtung in einer schematischen Ansicht von oben; und

Fig. 3

die in der Fig. 1 und in der Fig. 2 gezeigte exemplarische Kompaktieranlage mit der exemplarischen Sortiervorrichtung in einer schematischen isometrischen Ansicht.

The idea on which the invention is based is to be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic side view of an exemplary compacting system with an exemplary sorting device;

Fig. 2

those in the Fig. 1 Shown exemplary compacting system with the exemplary sorting device in a schematic view from above; and

Fig. 3

those in the Fig. 1 and in the Fig. 2 Shown exemplary compacting system with the exemplary sorting device in a schematic isometric view.

The FIGS. 1 to 3 show schematic views of a compacting plant 1 with a sorting device 12 Fig. 1 gives a side view showing the Fig. 2 a view from above and the Fig. 3 an isometric view. The following is all FIGS. 1 to 3 Reference is made to describe, on the one hand, the compacting system 1 with the sorting device 12 and, on the other hand, a method for operating the sorting device 12.

The compacting system 1 has a compacting unit 11, the sorting device 12 and a collecting unit 13. Container P to be compacted, for example empty plastic bottles or similar hollow bodies, such as cans, for example, are fed to the compacting unit 11 at an input 114 either manually or automatically. To compact the non-compacted container P, the compacting unit 11 has a compacting element 112, shown only schematically in the figures, which compacts the input non-compacted container P in order to output it at an output 111 of the compacting unit 11 as a compacted container P '. The compacting element 112 is arranged, for example, within a housing 113 of the compacting unit 11.

The collecting device 12 is arranged below the outlet 111 of the compacting unit 11. The arrangement of the collecting device 12 below the outlet 111 has the advantage that the compacted container P 'falls into the collecting device 12 due to the force of gravity, which acts in the direction of gravity G, i.e. is automatically fed to the collecting device 12 without any means being provided for this have to. The sorting device 12 can be roughly divided into a collecting area 12-A, which is used to collect the compacted container P ′, and an ejection area 12-B, which is used to feed the compacted container P ′ to the collecting unit 13.

The collecting unit 13 has a housing 131 in which a first collecting container 13-1 and a second collecting container 13-2 are integrated, which are separated from one another by a limiting means 132. The collecting unit 13 has an inlet opening for the input of compacted containers P ' 133, which is divided into a first input 133-1 for the first collecting container 13-1 and a second input 133-2 for the second collecting container 13-2. Compacted packs P 'are to be collected within the first collecting container 13-1 and the second collecting container 13-2 of the collecting unit 13. For example, the first collecting container 13-1 is provided for a first type of compacted container and the second collecting container 13-2 for a second type of this compacted container. However, it is also possible that both containers 13-1 and 13-2 are provided for the same type of compacted container P '.

The sorting device 12 is provided in order to convey the compacted container P ′ from the compacting unit 11 to the collecting unit 13. As in FIGS. 1 to 3 shown schematically, the sorting device 12 is arranged inclined with respect to the direction of gravity G, this inclined arrangement of the collecting device 12 is not absolutely necessary. The collecting device 12 could also be arranged approximately perpendicular to the direction of gravity G. The inclined arrangement of the collecting device 12, however, has the advantage that the collecting unit does not necessarily have to be arranged below the ejection area 12-B of the collecting device 12, but can in principle also be positioned so that the inlet opening 133 of the collecting unit 13 is above the ejection area 12-B the sorting device 12 is located (different from what is in the FIGS. 1 to 3 is shown).

The design of the sorting device 12 will be discussed in more detail below. Basically, the sorting device 12 is formed by the Compacting unit 11 to accept compacted packs P ′ from the compacting unit 11 and to feed them to the collecting unit 13, more precisely: to feed them to the inlet opening 133 of the collecting unit 13. For this purpose, the sorting device 12 has a sorting element 123 rotatable about an axis of rotation R, which is designed to take the accepted compacted container P 'along a direction of rotation r and to convey the compacted container P' to the collecting unit 13, and that by a drive unit 125, like an electric motor, is driven. The one in that Figs. 1 to 3 The embodiment shown, the rotatable sorting element 123 is designed in the form of a rotary disk. As an alternative or in addition to this, an impeller with at least one blade formed radially with respect to the axis of rotation R would come into consideration, as has been shown in detail above in the general part of the description. In the following, the turntable 123 is always mentioned, whereby - to emphasize this again - said impeller could be used instead of the turntable or some other sorting element rotatable about the axis of rotation R, which is suitable for the purposes described below.

The turntable 123 is arranged approximately perpendicular to the axis of rotation R and is rotatable about the same. On the one hand, it is possible that the turntable 123 can only be rotated in one direction about the axis of rotation R and, on the other hand, it is possible that the turntable 123 can be rotated in both directions about the axis of rotation R, so that the direction of rotation r is adjustable. The rotary disk 123 extends both into the collecting area 12-A and into the ejection area 12-B of the sorting device 12.

The turntable 123 forms a collecting surface in order to collect in the collecting area 12-A the container P ′ compacted by the compacting unit 11, which falls into the sorting device 12 due to the effect of gravity. The turntable 123 is rotated either clockwise or counter-clockwise about the axis of rotation R, whereby the collected compacted container P 'is accelerated and taken along the direction of rotation r to the sorting device 12 in the ejection area 12-B at a certain speed and a certain To leave the ejection direction A or A ', and is thus conveyed to the collecting unit 13.

In order to prevent the compacted container P 'from leaving the sorting device 12 prematurely at an undesired location while it is being taken away by the turntable 123, a band 122 is provided which is approximately radially symmetrical in relation to the axis of rotation R and in the Ejection area 12-B runs in a translatory manner so as to specify the ejection direction A or A '. The band 122 adjoins the turntable 123 in the radial direction and in this way takes on the role of a guide element which, on the one hand, prevents the compacted container P 'from escaping from the sorting device 12 in the collecting area 12-A and, on the other hand, prevents the compacted container from being ejected Container P 'allowed in the ejection area 12-B. Due to the recess in the band 122, a type of ejection ramp is created in the ejection area 12-B, via which the compacted container P 'that has been carried along is ejected. If the turntable 123 is rotated clockwise around the axis of rotation R, the result is the ejection direction A. If the turntable 123 is rotated counterclockwise around the axis of rotation R, the compacted container P 'leaves the sorting device 12 along the ejection direction A'. On the basis of this representation, it has already been illustrated that the ejection direction is specified by the selection of the direction of rotation, and thus also a landing position at which the ejected compacted container P ′ lands in the collecting unit 13.

The one in the FIGS. 1 to 3 As shown in the embodiment shown, the band 122 is roughly horseshoe-shaped and forms the ejection opening 121 in the ejection area 12-B with the translational parts and the recess, at which the compacted container P 'that has been taken leaves the sorting device 12.

To influence the trajectory of the ejected compacted container P ', a control unit can optionally be provided which is optionally designed to set the rotational speed of the turntable 123, to set the direction of rotation of the turntable 123 and / or to modify the position of the ejection opening 121 in order to adjust the flight distance and / or to influence the flight direction of the ejected compacted thread P '. The control of the sorting device 12 by the control unit (the in FIGS. 1 to 3 not shown) can for example be based on measurement data that the control unit detects by means of a sensor device provided for this purpose. For example, the control unit is designed to operate the turntable 123 at intervals, for example only when the compacted container P ′ has actually been entered into the sorting device 12. In addition, it can be provided that the control unit determines the type of compacted container P 'and varies or sets the rotational speed and / or the direction of rotation and / or the position of the ejection opening 121 as a function of the determined type. For example, the control unit rotates the entire sorting device 12 about the axis of rotation R by a certain angle, so that the ejection opening 121 either to the first collecting container 13-1 or to the second collecting container 13-2 shows. In order to ensure that there are no cones of bulk in the collecting containers 13-1 and 13-2, but the compacted containers P 'are evenly distributed there, so that approximately homogeneous filling levels arise in the collecting containers 13-1 and 13-2, the control unit varies the direction of rotation and / or the speed of rotation of the turntable 123 accordingly, for example sequentially or randomly, whereby it is always ensured that the ejected compacted container P 'is always conveyed to the inlet opening 133 of the collecting unit 13.

Instead of modifying the position of the ejection opening 121, it can also be provided, according to an optional embodiment, that the band 122 is designed to be controllable at least in the ejection area 12-B, for example by adjusting the direction of ejection in this area 12-B by a corresponding adjustable angle of the transversely extending band A or A 'is varied.

Optionally, an outlet 124 is also provided in the sorting device 12, via which the liquid collected in the sorting device 12 can be separated. It often happens that a certain residual liquid is present in the non-compacted thread P, so that not only the compacted container P ′ reaches the sorting device 12 via the output 111 of the compacting unit 11, but also undesired residual liquid that prevents the operation of the sorting device 12 can negatively affect. Said outlet 124 is provided for this purpose, which is for example simply formed by a corresponding recess in the band 122 in the collecting area 12-A. Due to the inclined arrangement of the sorting device 12, the liquid collected in the sorting device 12 leaves the sorting device 12 automatically via the outlet 124. Below the outlet 124, a collecting container can be provided to collect the separated liquid.

The use of the sorting device 12 within the compacting system 1 allows the formation of a compact compacting system 1, since the transport of the compacted container P 'by means of the sorting element 123 within the sorting device 12 along the band 122 and height differences between the exit 111 of the compacting unit 11 and the Inlet opening 133 of the collecting unit 13 as well as by changing the direction of rotation sorting into several collecting containers 13-1 and 13-2 can take place. The sorting downstream of the compacting also enables compact access protection with respect to the output 111 of the compacting unit 11. This makes it possible, for example, to collect the collecting containers 13-1 and 13-2 of the collecting unit 13 even when the compacting system 1 is in operation to exchange. As long as the sorting device 12 does not eject any compacted packs P ', the sorting device 12 thus functions as an intermediate store for compacted packs P'.

In addition, it is possible that the collecting unit 13 is not only arranged on one side of the sorting device 12, but rather surrounds it in an approximately circular manner, so that the collecting unit 13 can have a comparatively large collecting volume. Because the position of the ejection opening 121 of the sorting device 12 can be modified, for example that is also completely rotatable about the axis of rotation R, every area of the collecting unit 13 can be served by the sorting device 12.

The one in the FIGS. 1 to 3 The embodiment shown, the sorting device 12 is always shown in an inclined arrangement in which the axis of rotation R intersects the direction of gravity G at an angle of approximately 30 °. However, it is also possible to arrange the sorting device 12 at a different angle of inclination, in particular also such that the axis of rotation R is essentially parallel to the direction of gravity G, the collecting surface formed by the turntable 123 for collecting the compacted container P ', i.e. essentially perpendicular to the Direction of gravity G and thus in the horizontal.

List of reference symbols / abbreviations used

1

Compacting system

11

Compacting unit

111

Output of the compacting unit 11

112

Compacting element

113

Housing of the compacting unit 11

114

Compaction unit input 11

12

Sorting device

12-A

Catchment area

12-B

Ejection area

121

Discharge opening

122

band

123

Sorting element, e.g. Turntable or impeller

124

Outlet

125

Drive unit

13th

Collection unit

13-1

First collection container

13-2

Second collection container

131

Collection unit housing 13

132

Limiting means

133

Entrance opening of the collecting unit 13

133-1

First entrance of the first collecting container 13-1

133-2

Second entrance of the second collecting container 13-2

A.

Direction of ejection when the sorting element is rotated clockwise

A '

Direction of ejection when the sorting element is rotated counterclockwise

R.

Axis of rotation

r

Direction of rotation

G

Direction of gravity

P

Non-compacted container

P '

Compacted container, e.g. Pellet

Claims (11)

1. Sorting apparatus (12) for a compacting system (1), wherein the sorting apparatus (12) is provided for arrangement between a compacting unit (11) and a collecting unit (13) of the compacting system (1) and is designed to receive from the compacting unit (11), and to feed the collecting unit (13), a container (P') which has been compacted by the compacting unit (11), wherein
   the sorting apparatus (12) has a sorting element (123), which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (R) and is designed to carry along the compacted container (P'), once received, along a direction of rotation (r) about the axis of rotation (R) and to convey the compacted container (P') in the direction of the collecting unit (13); the sorting apparatus (12) has a pick-up surface for picking up the compacted container (P'), said pick-up surface being arranged essentially perpendicularly in relation to the axis of rotation (R);
   the sorting apparatus (12) has a boundary edge (122) which is at least to some extent radially symmetrical in relation to the axis of rotation (R), is at least partially radially adjacent to the sorting element (123), as seen in relation to the axis of rotation (R), and is designed to guide within the sorting apparatus (12) the compacted container (P') which is carried along by the sorting element (123);
   characterized in that
   the sorting apparatus (12) is configured for an inclined arrangement in relation to the gravitational-force direction (G), along which the force of gravity acts, said arrangement being such that the axis of rotation (R) intersects the gravitational-force direction (G) at an angle of more than 0°;
   and the sorting element (123) is designed to eject the compacted container (P') at an ejecting opening (121) of the sorting apparatus (12), in order to convey the compacted container in the direction of the collecting unit (13), wherein the compacted container (P') is ejected at least to some extent counter to the gravitational-force direction (G), and in that
   the sorting element (123) has an impeller wheel with at least one vane formed radially in relation to the axis of rotation (R).
2. Sorting apparatus (12) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sorting apparatus (12) has a rotary disk.
3. Sorting apparatus (12) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sorting apparatus (12) has an outlet (124), in order to let out a liquid which has collected in the sorting apparatus.
4. Sorting apparatus (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position of the ejecting opening (121) can be controlled in a variable manner and independently of the rotation of the sorting element (123).
5. Sorting apparatus (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sorting apparatus (12) has a control unit which is intended for operating the sorting element (123) and is designed to control the direction of rotation and/or the speed of rotation of the sorting element (123).
6. Sorting apparatus (12) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the control unit is designed to rotate the sorting element (123) at intervals about the axis of rotation (R).
7. Sorting apparatus (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axis of rotation (R) is parallel to the gravitational-force direction (G) or intersects the gravitational-force direction (G) at an angle which is between 0° and 70°, preferably between 0° and 30°.
8. Compacting system (1) having a compacting unit (11) for compacting containers (P), and having a collecting unit (13) for collecting compacted containers (P'), wherein the compacting system (1) comprises a sorting apparatus (12), which is arranged between the compacting unit (11) and the collecting unit (13), wherein the sorting apparatus (12) is designed to receive from the compacting unit (11), and to feed to the collecting unit (13), a container (P') which has been compacted by the compacting unit (11),
   wherein
   the sorting apparatus (12) has a sorting element (123), which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (R) and is designed to carry along the compacted container (P'), once received, along a direction of rotation (r) about the axis of rotation (R) and to convey the compacted container (P') in the direction of the collecting unit (13), wherein
   the sorting apparatus (12) has a pick-up surface for picking up the compacted container (P'), said pick-up surface being arranged essentially perpendicularly in relation to the axis of rotation (R), and wherein
   the sorting apparatus (12) has a boundary edge (122) which is at least to some extent radially symmetrical in relation to the axis of rotation (R), is at least partially radially adjacent to the sorting element (123), as seen in relation to the axis of rotation (R), and is designed to guide within the sorting apparatus (12) the compacted container (P') which is carried along by the sorting element (123);
   characterized in that
   the sorting apparatus (12) is configured for an inclined arrangement in relation to the gravitational-force direction (G), along which the force of gravity acts, said arrangement being such that the axis of rotation (R) intersects the gravitational-force direction (G) at an angle of more than 0°;
   and in that the sorting element (123) is designed to eject the compacted container (P') at an ejecting opening (121) of the sorting apparatus (12), in order to convey the compacted container in the direction of the collecting unit (13), wherein the compacted container (P') is ejected at least to some extent counter to the gravitational-force direction (G).
9. Compacting system (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the sorting apparatus (12) is arranged beneath an exit (111) of the compacting unit (11), the compacting unit discharging the compacted container (P') at said exit.
10. Compacting system (1) according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the collecting unit (13) has at least two collecting hoppers (13-1, 13-2) and the sorting apparatus (12) is designed to feed the carried-along compacted container (P') optionally to one of the at least two collecting hoppers (13-1, 13-2).
11. Method for operating a compacting system (1) according to one of preceding Claims 8 to 10, comprising:

    - receiving a container (P') which has been compacted by the compacting unit (12) of the compacting system (1);

    - feeding the compacted container (P') to the collecting unit (13) of the compacting system (1),

    characterized in that the method has the following steps:

    - carrying along the compacted container (P'), once received, along a direction of rotation (r) about an axis of rotation (R) by means of the sorting element (123) of the sorting apparatus (12), it being possible for said sorting element to be rotated about the axis of rotation (R), in order for the compacted container (P') to be conveyed to the collecting unit (13).

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