FR2662389A1 - Compact transported grinding assembly for plastic bottles - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transported self-contained unit enabling plastic bottles to be simultaneously collected and ground. The unit consists of a loading hopper with flow-rate regulation and fitted with a vibrating system to avoid blockage. The heavy materials are removed via a bottom shutter system and the plastics are sent towards the grinding device pneumatically with intermediate removal of the light elements, such as films. The ground matter is sent pneumatically into the final container. The unit comprises all the technical and energy-supplying appendages enabling it to be operated in an entirely self-contained manner within the framework of a collection round.

Description

ENSEMB1-E COMPACT DE 3ROYAGE TRANSPORTE
FOR PLA5TI BOTTLES: 9UES
The present invention relates to an autonomous transported block making it possible to simultaneously carry out the collection and grinding of plastic bottles. The installation fits directly into the chain of industrial recovery and regeneration of the products making up these bottles, such as
PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) or PE (Polyethylene).

Functions of this type already exist: - either in the form of fixed installations - or in the form of mobile installations but which must be fixed during operation.

 French Patent 80 25973 describes an installation of this type whose operation requires immobilization for the duration of the processes. Therefore, the inputs and removals are not very different from those of a fixed plant.

 These installations require the organization of a collection service and the transport of the bottles in bulk to the point of grinding. However, the density of this bulk is only about 0.025. the result is an overall cost incompatible with the reality of the market.

 The development of the use of plastic packaging has made it possible to organize the distribution of very many liquid or semi-liquid products economically and to the satisfaction of the user.

However, the current cost of disposing of this packaging and the impact of its poorly controlled release into the environment has led the Community
European to draw up directives aiming to reduce the energy costs linked to the use of food packaging and to control the impact on the environment.

 In order not to destabilize the current plastic packaging market, economic solutions for recovery and recycling should be sought.

In general, consumer education is a necessary step in these processes. To succeed in changing behaviors, it seems essential:
1) to provide users with voluntary selective sorting facilities
simple and practical,
2) rigorously ensuring the sustainability of these means by developing simple, reliable industrial equipment, adapted to the real economic conditions of the market.

The safest way is to make PVC containers available to users under conditions similar to glass collection and, if possible, adjacent to glass containers. This makes it possible to make the most of the habits already taken by consumers and also, to encourage their
good citizenship by facilitating their selective rejection action.

As an indication, the recovery of 1 t of PVC per year will involve a
population of around 1,000 inhabitants, i.e. 40 m3 before grinding and 2 m3 after
grinding.

The invention presented is perfectly suited to this type of collection and allows
even the simultaneous collection of the two separate products.

The compact transported grinding unit (ECBT) can be loaded on
any commercial vehicle. n is more particularly studied
to be installed in a semi-trailer container for collecting glass.

The upper part constituted in hopper can receive a volume of 4 a
10 m3 for example, as needed.

A thermal power generation group is incorporated into the crusher,
either placed on the carrier or tractor, allows shredding during
handling of containers or during the journey between two locations
of containers.

The total volume of the device is less than 10 m3. Its total weight is
around 1 t (around 2 t in the case of energy production
integrated).

The volume occupied by the ground PVC is only 1/10 of the total volume
in the case of collection coupled with glass.

The ECBT has the following main characteristics in a non-exhaustive manner:
- simple, rustic and reliable mechanisms,
- installation operating with minimum energy expenditure,
- possibility of autonomy,
- control devices allowing great flexibility of
settings.

Its operation is based on Putillsation of the following means:
- the weight of the bottles and an electric vibrator for the flow in the hopper,
- an oil cylinder for flow regulation
- a strong draft to sort and route the bottles,
- three-phase current to activate the grinder and fan.

- a thermal group for actuating: - a high pressure oil pump
- an alternator
- electric motors driving ventilation and grinding.

- an electrical control box comprising:
- safety devices,
- power contactors,
- the adjustment members,
- relaying,
- the indicators.

The system performs the following functions:
Accumulation T reception (see operating logic diagram)
- the crane on board the collection vehicle empties the container above
hopper,
- the volume can be created from 2 to 10 m3 depending on the type of tour to ensure.

Regulation
Primary flow regulation (1) (see diagram for numbered references)
- Bars slid into reserved housings and crossing the whole hopper ensure a braking of the mass of the bottles limiting the pressure of this pseudo fluid based.

De-clogging flow
- a vibrator (2) shakes the mass of the bottles thus maintaining its 4fluid behavior "
Main regulation
- organ acting as a diaphragm valve which can either be:
a valve with articulated pallets with springs (fig. D6),
a crankshaft (fig. D7),
or any other device with reciprocating movement moving on a vertical axis, or rotary with horizontal axis.

 The alternately cleared opening surface between the chimney body and the valve ensures a limited flow of bottles to the speed-up chamber.

- Ordered:
. the amplitude, period and stop times at the end of the reciprocating movement are controlled by a hydraulic cylinder controlled by programmable solenoid valves,
a simpler variant consists in controlling the movement by a connecting rod and an eccentric.

- Other regulation mode (fig. D8):
a circular drum with a horizontal axis, open on the top, ensures the volumetric distribution of the bottles according to a programmable rhythm.

As we will inevitably find in plastic containers a few glass bottles and various other wastes, sorting and elimination of heavy elements will be ensured under the following conditions:
- a batch of bottles released by the action of the valve falls into the speed setting chamber (5),
- a violent air jet generated by the fan (4) creates a relative depression in the room,
- the primary jet and the secondary air drawn in by the vacuum project the plastic bottles into the transport channel (8),
- heavy elements, such as glass bottles, slide on the inclined planes and tilt the counterweighted hatches (6) to fall into the refuse bin (7).

 Light elements are not a major drawback for industrial recyclers. However, plastic films can interfere with the operation of the mill. A removable "fakir board" (19) retains most of it. The length and shape of the pins as well as their distribution have been the subject of an empirical experimental study.

 - the grid (11) stops the bottles but lets through waste paper which is refused by the grid (12) open to the atmosphere.

- during ventilation stops these papers fall into the perforated bag (13)
- the jolts of transport due to the heterogeneity of the material, are absorbed by the supply chamber (9)
- the shredder (14) is a simple hammer device for PVC but can be fitted with knives for the collective collection of PVC, PET and PE
The ground material is discharged by an air jet (15) into the distribution tube (16)
- An adjustable diffuser (17) consisting of a partially perforated truncated cone ensures the reduction of the speed of the ground material and of the transport wind to control the effects of the blast and the dispersion of the ground material.

- the ground material is
. either direct to the opening of the big bags (18)
. either projected directly into the reserved compartment of the transport case.

 - a movable partition (fig. D 1) makes it possible to materialize the volume reserved for the ground material in relation to the glass, according to the statistical probabilities of the collection round concerned.

 - in the case where the thermal group (A2) and its fuel reserve (A1) can be housed outside the box, on the platform supporting the crane, the volume freed up under the ECBT can accept ground material.

 In order to limit the transmission of grinding and ventilation noises, the ECBT is coated with a layer of sound insulation.

Claims (7)

 1 - Compact transported grinding device for plastic bottles of all types, characterized in that it comprises, in combination:  - a feed and sorting device with flow regulation,  - a pneumatic transport device to the mill,  - a pneumatic grinding and transport device for storage,  - an additional device for direct suction of plastic bottles in suitable fixed containers.  2 - Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the device for supplying and sorting flow regulation comprises:  - a vibrator ensuring the flow of the bottles,  - a device allowing the pre-regulation of the flow rate comprises removable bars arranged in staggered rows and the number and position of which are adaptable according to the composition of the bottles,  - a main flow control device,  - a pneumatic sorting chamber with counterweight valve grids.  3 - Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the flow regulating device is centered by its pyramidal shape on the bottom of the hopper, actuated by an adjustable hydraulic cylinder, from an external electrical box, in cadence, amplitude and end-of-travel stops, thereby ensuring the rupture of the arching effect of the bottles, and the passage of a determined batch compatible with the possibilities of sorting and transport downstream.  4 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for transporting plastic bottles is a pneumatic blowing device, comprising:  - a transport tube,  - a removable hooked device designed to retain plastic films,  - a double venting grid allowing the stopping of plastic bottles and the trapping of light elements such as pieces of paper then recovered in a porous bag.  - a grinder feed chamber eliminates jolts during transport.  5 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for grinding plastic bottles is a conventional hammer mill for PVC, or a knife mill for all types of plastic bottles.  6 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ground material is transported pneumatically, either to a reserved compartment, or to "big-bags" transported on the same vehicle.  7 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, upstream of the bottle grinding device, it is  provided an additional system for direct suction of plastic bottles using air bags.