JP2000312994A - Volume reduction device of container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent fracture of parts such as an activated body and a container receiving body generated due to weight of an insertion bottle which the container receiving body receives so as to obtain high reliability by installing a shock absorbing means which absorbs a force of an acting means against the container receiving body when the acting means moves accompanied by an approaching action of a pair of compression bodies. SOLUTION: A shock absorbing means 55 is combined with a container receiving body 54. If weight of a bottle P applied on a receiving part 54a is less than a first weight but more than a second weight, when a cam 56 moves forward accompanied by approach of a movable compression body 52 to a fixed compression body 51, each acted body pin 83 ascends along a groove 57 inner part and a cam part 58 so that the container receiving body 54 rotates around a pivot 78. Then, the receiving part 54a is retreated downwards from the space between the compression bodies 51 and 52 and the pin 83 is escaped. If the weight of the bottle P is between the first weight and the second weight, the bottom end of the cam 56 is brought into contact with the pin 83. Furthermore, the pin 83 is pushed and an arm member 81 rotates around the pivot 78 against a spring force of a tensile coil spring 82, so as to escape the pin 83 from the cam 56.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container volume reducing device for reducing the volume of a container such as a synthetic resin bottle from which the contents have been removed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many bottles made of synthetic resin, which are lightweight, hard to break, and chemically stable, have been used as containers for storing drinking water, seasonings and the like. Along with this, there has been proposed a bottle volume reducing device for collecting and reusing synthetic resin bottles whose contents have been emptied due to their contents being removed.

[0003] This bottle volume reducing device includes an apparatus main body having an inlet for introducing a bottle into the inside thereof, and a pair of compression bodies provided in the apparatus main body, which are relatively close to and separated from each other. A pair of compression reducing means for compressing the bottle between the pair of compression bodies relatively close to each other, and after this compression, relatively separating the pair of compression bodies to release the compressed state, and The receiving part receives the bottle that has entered between the pair of compressed bodies from below and moved between the pair of compressed bodies around the pivot located at the lower side of the compressed body, and withdrawn from between the pair of compressed bodies. The weight balance is set so that the receiving portion is located between the pair of compressed bodies when the load received by the receiving portion is less than or equal to the first weight. And the load received by the receiving part is the first A container receiving body which rotates so as to break the weight balance and withdraw the receiving portion from between the pair of compressed bodies when the weight is equal to or more than a second weight larger than the amount, and an operated body provided in the container receiving body; For example, a pin and an operating means, for example, a cam, which is brought into contact with an object to be operated in conjunction with the approaching operation of the pair of compressed bodies and rotates so that the receiving portion of the container receiver is retracted from between the pair of compressed bodies. There is something.

That is, in this volume reducing device, a bottle which has been put into the apparatus main body and moved to a pair of compressed bodies is received by a container receiver, and the pair of compressed bodies are relatively moved to compress the bottle. I do. In this case, the operating means moves in conjunction with the operation in which the pair of compression bodies relatively move closer to each other, and comes into contact with the operation body, so that the container receiving portion retreats downward from between the pair of compression bodies. To rotate. For this reason, a pair of compression bodies can compress a bottle, without being obstructed by the receiving part of a container receiving body. Thereafter, the bottle is taken out with the pair of compressed bodies relatively separated from each other, and the container receiver is rotated so that the receiving portion again enters between the pair of compressed bodies.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional bottle volume reducing device, the container receiving member is used when the load of the bottle placed on the receiving portion is equal to or less than the first weight (normal bottle weight). When the receiving part is located between the pair of compressed bodies and the load by the bottle is equal to or more than the second weight (for example, when the liquid remains inside the bottle, when a plurality of bottles are placed at the same time, etc.) The container receiving body rotates so that the receiving part descends and retreats downward from between the pair of compressed bodies. The operated body provided on the container receiver changes its position according to the rotational position of these container receivers. The operating means includes: an operating part that contacts an object to be located in the case of the first load when moving in conjunction with the movement of the pair of compression bodies that approach and moves; Actuating portions that come into contact with the located object to be actuated are individually provided so that the container receiver performs the above-described predetermined operation in the case of the first load and the case of the second load, respectively.

[0006] By the way, depending on conditions such as the amount of liquid remaining in the bottle received by the receiving portion of the container receiving body, the load by the bottle may be the magnitude of the weight between the first load and the second load. is there. In this case, the container receiver is located between the position where the receiving portion is in the first load and the position in the second case, and the operated body provided in the container receiver is also in the case where the first load is applied. It is located at an intermediate position from the second case. However,
When the operating means moves in conjunction with the pair of compression bodies which are relatively close to each other and closed when the operated body is located at the intermediate position as described above, the operated body moves the first load and the second load provided on the operating means.
Abuts on a portion of the operating means that is displaced from each operating portion provided in accordance with the load of. Then, when the operating means further moves in accordance with the approaching operation of the pair of compression bodies, the driven body cannot escape in the horizontal direction or upward even if pushed by the operating means, but is simply pushed by the operating means. Damage by the force.
Further, the container receiver is damaged together with the operated object.

As described above, in the conventional volume reducing device, depending on the weight of the bottle received by the container receiver, the operating means interferes with the container receiver when moving in accordance with the approaching operation of the pair of compressed bodies, and thus the operated object is moved. In addition, there is a problem that peripheral components such as a container receiver are damaged.

FIG. 10 schematically shows an example of the state described above. In the figure, 101 and 102 are a pair of compressed bodies, 103
Is a container receiver, 104 is an operated body, 105 is an operation means,
For example, a cam. The lower end of the tip of the operating means 106 is in contact with the operated body 104, and the pair of compressed bodies 101, 10
When the operation means 105 moves with the approach of the object 2, the object 1
04 and the container receiver 103 cannot escape and are damaged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the operating means interferes with the container receiving body when the operating means moves in accordance with the approaching operation of the pair of compression bodies, and the parts are damaged. An object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable container volume reducing device.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for reducing the volume of a container, comprising: an apparatus main body having an insertion port into which the container is inserted; A compression body, and the pair of compression bodies are relatively close to each other to compress a container between the pair of compression bodies, and after the compression, the pair of compression bodies are relatively separated from each other to release the compressed state. Compression-reducing means, having a receiving portion, the receiving portion receiving the container which has entered between the pair of compressed bodies from below and moved between the pair of compressed bodies around a pivot. The container is rotatably provided so as to discharge the container received from the pair of compressed bodies, and the receiving unit is configured to receive the container when the magnitude of the load received by the receiving unit is equal to or less than a first weight. Weight balance set so that it is located between the compression bodies And when the magnitude of the load received by the receiving portion is equal to or greater than a second weight that is larger than the first weight, the weight balance is broken and the receiving portion retreats from between the pair of compressed bodies. A rotating container receiver, a buffer provided on the container receiver, an operated body provided on the buffer, and an operating body contacting the operated body in conjunction with the approaching operation of the pair of compression bodies. When the load received by the contact portion of the container receiver is less than or equal to the first weight, the container receiver is rotated through the buffer means so that the receiving portion retreats from between the pair of compressed bodies. Operating means for performing the operation, and a collecting section for collecting the container taken out from the pair of compressed bodies, wherein the buffering means is configured such that the receiving section of the container receiving body has a first weight and a second weight. In a state where a load of a magnitude between the pair is received, When said operating means is brought into contact with the object to be the operable compression body is relatively close,
It is characterized in that the force of the operating means is absorbed by the container receiver.

According to the structure of the present invention, when the pair of compressed bodies are relatively close to each other and the operating means comes into contact with the operated body,
Since the buffering means absorbs the force of the operating means so as not to be applied to the container receiver, even if a load within a predetermined weight range is applied to the container receiver, it is possible to avoid damage to the parts by the operating member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the container volume reducing apparatus according to the first aspect, the operating means is configured to operate the operated member when a load received by a receiving portion of the container receiving member is equal to or less than a first weight. A first operating section that comes into contact with the body and a second operating section that comes into contact with the operated body when a load received by the receiving section is greater than or equal to a second weight; An arm member rotatably supported by a pivot supporting the container receiver and having the operated body attached to one end thereof; and a spring connecting the other end of the arm member to the container receiver. According to the structure of the present invention, the arm member is restrained from rotating by the spring by a stopper formed on the container receiver. It can be provided in a simple configuration.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is directed to a PET bottle as a container for reducing the volume. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plastic bottle P targeted in this embodiment has a body Pa that stores the beverage liquid, and a mouth that is continuous with the tip of the body Pa and allows the contents to enter and exit. It has a neck portion Pb.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a volume reducing apparatus according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line FF of FIG. 1, and FIG.
2 is a sectional view taken along the line GG of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line HH of FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped apparatus main body, which is manufactured by using a metal plate as a wall plate and can be moved by a caster 2 provided on a bottom surface portion. The apparatus main body 1 is divided into an upper section and a lower section, the front upper section of the upper section is configured as a container charging section A, the lower section and the rear upper section of the upper section are configured as a compression section B, and the lower section is defined as a recovery section C. It is configured.

The container charging section A will be described. In the upper part of the front part (front part) of the apparatus main body 1, a horizontally long rectangular input port 3 is formed horizontally. The insertion opening 3 is large enough to allow the maximum length of the plastic bottle P to be inserted horizontally.
The container input section A has an input port door 11, a shutter 17, a container holding means (not shown), and a container wiping means (not shown).

The loading door 11 opens and closes the loading port 3 and supports the PET bottle P loaded from the loading port 3 sideways (container support). This input door 11
Is a rectangular door plate 12 having a size large enough to close the input port 3 vertically, and the door plate 12 is attached to the lower portion of the door plate 12 inside the apparatus main body 1 in the process of closing the input port 3 vertically. It is composed of a container support plate (not shown) inclined so as to become lower toward the inside, and a door plate 12 and a pair of side plates (not shown) attached to left and right side edges of the container support plate.
The PET bottle P is placed horizontally on the container support plate. 12a is a handle attached to the door plate 12. The input door 11 is rotatably supported by a pivot provided on the apparatus main body 11 at the lower front end of the pair of side plates. This allows the inlet door 11 to rotate between a closed position Z1 for closing the inlet 3 and an open position Z2 outside the inlet 3.

The inlet door 11 is stopped at respective positions Z1 and Z2 by stoppers (not shown) provided on the apparatus main body 1. The shutter 17 is provided for the compression unit B with respect to the input door 1.
1 is to be closed or opened. In other words, the shutter 17 opens and closes the opening between the input port 3 and a compression volume reducing means described later, and regulates the movement of the PET bottle P inserted from the input port 3 to the compression volume reducing means. When the pair of compression bodies 51 and 52 of the volume reduction means are in the container compression state, the movement of the PET bottle P inserted from the input port 3 to the compression volume reduction means is regulated. The shutter 17 is disposed at a position behind the pair of side plates of the door plate 12 of the input door 11, and is fixed to a shutter shaft horizontally mounted on the pair of side plates. An electric motor for shutter 19 is provided in the container input section A of the apparatus main body 1. The electric motor 19 drives the shutter shaft to rotate the shutter shaft so that the shutter 17 comes into contact with the container support plate and is opened inward from the container support plate. It is designed to rotate between the positions.

The compression section B will be described. The compression unit B
Fixed compression body 51, movable compression body 52, compression body driving device 53
A, 53B and a container receiver 54. A fixed compression body 51, which constitutes a compression volume reducing means by these components, is provided directly below the inlet 3 inside the main body 1, and has a horizontally long rectangular base plate 61 and a base plate 61. 61 from a metal plate attached inside 61
Two. The base plate 61 is a horizontally long rectangle having a length corresponding to the maximum length of the plastic bottle P that is raised horizontally. The compression plate 62 has a rectangular shape of the same size as the base plate 61, and has a plurality of peaks 62a extending in the vertical direction.
And a plurality of valleys 62b extending in the vertical direction are alternately arranged in the length direction to form a waveform.

The fixed compressed body 51 stands upright between a pair of side frames 68A and 68B arranged upright with an interval corresponding to the length of the fixed compressed body 51 inside the apparatus main body 1. Placed and fixed.

The movable compression body 52 compresses the PET bottle P delivered from the charging port door 11 with the fixed compression body 51 therebetween. The movable compression body 52 is disposed inside the apparatus main body 1 so as to face the fixed compression body 51,
And a corrugated compression plate 64 made of a metal plate located inside the base plate 63 and a plurality of elastic bodies 65. The base plate 63 is horizontally long and has a length corresponding to the maximum length of the plastic bottle P raised horizontally, and has a lower edge from one end (the other frame 68B side) to the other end (the one frame). 68A
Side), and forms a straight inclined edge that is inclined so as to become lower toward the side.

The compression plate 64 is horizontally long and has the same size as the base plate 63. A plurality of vertically extending ridges 64a and a plurality of vertically extending valleys 64b are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction. It has a undulating waveform. Similarly to the base plate 63, the lower edge of the compression plate 64 also forms a straight inclined edge which is inclined so that the lower edge becomes lower from the other side frame 68B toward the one side frame 68A. Note that the ridges 64 of the compression plate 64
a and the valley 64b are the valley 62b and the peak 62a of the compression plate 62.
And face each other. The compression plate 64 is attached to the base plate 63 via a plurality of elastic bodies 65.

The movable compression body 52 thus constructed is vertically disposed, and is movably supported by a guide rail (not shown) along a direction approaching and moving away from the fixed compression body 51. That is, the movable compression body 52 moves between a compression position and an open position at a portion sandwiched between the pair of side frames 68A and 68B. Movable compression body 52
The portion sandwiched by the fixed compression body 51 and the fixed compression body 51 is located below the input port door 11 of the input section A.

Next, the compression body driving devices 53A and 53B will be described. The compression body driving devices 53A and 53B
2 is applied and a pressing force is applied to the movable compression body 52. The compression body driving devices 53A and 53B are provided in a portion of the movable compression body 52 opposite to the fixed compression body 51 in the longitudinal direction of the movable compression body 52.

Next, one compressor driving device 53A will be described. An electric motor 70 is a driving source. The electric motor 70 is provided in an upright state, and a driving shaft 70a protrudes from a lower end portion. Reference numeral 71 denotes a crank gear attached to the drive shaft 70a, to which a crank pin 72 is attached. One end of a horizontally arranged rod 74 is connected to the crank pin 72 via a rod end 73. An attachment 75 is attached to the base plate 63 of the movable compression body 52, and the crank pin 7 supported by the attachment 75
The other end of the rod 74 is connected to 6 via a rod end 77.

The other compressor driving device 53B does not include the electric motor 70, but otherwise has the same configuration as the compressor driving device 53A. The rod 74 provided in the device 53B is similar to the rod 74 of the device 53A. Base plate 6 along with 74
3 side by side. The crank gear 71 provided in the device 53B meshes with the crank gear 71 of the device 53A.

In the compressor driving device 53A, when the drive shaft 70a of the electric motor 70 rotates and the crank gear 71 rotates, the movable compression body 52 is fixedly compressed by the operation of the crank pin 72, the rod 74 and the crank pin 76. A linear reciprocating motion is provided to the body 51 along the direction approaching and moving away. In the compression body driving device 53B, the compression body driving device 53B
The crank gear 71 rotates in response to the rotation from the crank gear 71 of A, and gives a linear reciprocating motion along the direction approaching and moving away from the fixed compression body 51 similarly to the compression body driving device 53A. The movable compression body 52 is moved in a direction approaching the fixed compression body 51 in accordance with the direction of rotation of the crank gear 71 of each of the devices 53A and 53B, and a force is applied to the PET bottle P between them to compress them. The movable compression body 52 is moved in a direction away from the fixed compression body 51 to release the compressed PET bottle P between them. In this embodiment, 2
A strong pressing force can be applied to the plastic bottle P so that the set of compressed body driving devices 53A and 53B synchronously move the movable compressed body 52 strongly.

The container receiving body 54 has a receiving portion 54a for receiving the fixed compressed body 51, the movable compressed body 52 and the plastic bottle P sent out from the inlet door. This container receiver 54
The container receiver 54 is composed of a fixed compression body 51 and a movable compression body 52.
Between the lower edge of the base plate 63 and the lower edge of the compression plate 64 in the movable compression body 52, and along the line of the lower edge, the right end in the figure (the other side frame 68B side). From the bottom to the left end in the drawing (one side frame 68A side). Thus, the container receiver 54
Is tilted in order to set the position by moving the received PET bottle P to the left side in the figure and bringing the neck Pb into contact with the one side frame 68A. In addition, since the movable compression body 52 has an inclined lower edge, the container receiving body 54
It can move without colliding with.

Further, both sides 54b, 54c of the receiving portion 54a of the container receiving body 54 are connected to both side frames 68A, 68B.
And the side portions 54a, 54
b is supported by a pivot 78 so as to be vertically rotatable. That is, the container receiving body 54 rotates about the pivot 78 between the container receiving position between the fixed compression body 51 and the movable compression body 52 and the relief position below the movable compression body 52. ing. When the container receiver 54 is at the container receiving position, the pair of side frames 68A and 68B
It will be located in the part sandwiched between. An arm 79 having a balance weight 80 is attached to the container receiver 54 so as to maintain the weight balance so as to stop at the container receiving position T1.

That is, in the container receiving body 54, the receiving portion 54a enters between the pair of compressed bodies 51 and 52 from below and moves between the pair of compressed bodies 51 and 52 around the pivot 78. It is rotatably provided so as to receive the bottle P and to take out the received PET bottle P by retreating from between the pair of compression bodies 51 and 52, and the magnitude of the load received by the receiving portion 54a is equal to or less than the first weight. And the weight balance is set so that the receiving portion 54a is located between the pair of compressed bodies 51, and the magnitude of the load received by the receiving portion 54a is equal to or greater than a second weight greater than the first load. At some point, the weight balance is lost and the receiving portion 54a
Rotates so as to retreat from between the pair of compression bodies 51 and 52.

Here, the means for driving the container receiver 54 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the buffer means and the cam in a state where the container receiver has entered between the pair of compressed bodies. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the buffer means and the cam in a state where the container receiver has been withdrawn from between the pair of compressed bodies. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the cam, FIG. 7 is a side view showing the position of the container receiver when the load received by the container receiver is between the first weight and the second weight, and FIG. (A),
(B) and (c) are views showing the operation of the cam, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the container receiver.

A buffering means 55 is combined with the other side 54c of the container receiver 54. The buffering means 55 includes an arm member 81
Arm member 81 is arranged in parallel with the other side portion 54c of the container receiver 54,
The intermediate portion is configured to rotate in the same direction as the container receiver 54 by a pivot 78 that supports the container receiver 54. The tension coil spring 82 is connected to one end of the arm member 81 (an end protruding toward the container receiver with respect to the pivot 78) and the container receiver 54.
The other side portion 54c is arranged along the up-down direction to connect the two. This allows the arm member 81 to pivot
A rotational force is applied so that one end rotates toward the container receiver around the center. An operated body pin 83 is attached to the other end of the arm member 81 in parallel with the pivot 78. In addition, a stopper 84 is provided integrally with the other side portion 54c of the container receiver 54 to suppress a portion between the pivot portion and the other end of the arm member 81 from above. Accordingly, the rotation displacement of the arm member 81 by the spring 82 is regulated, and the arm member 81 is integrally fixed to the other side portion 54c of the container receiver 54 and fixed stationary. That is, the buffering means 55 is in a state where the receiving portion 54a of the container receiving member 54 receives a weight between the first weight and the second weight, and the pair of compressed bodies 51 and 52
Are relatively close to each other, and when the operating means comes into contact with the object to be operated, the force of the operating means is absorbed by the container receiver.

The movable compressing member 52 is provided with operating means for forcibly driving the container receiving member 54. Here, a cam 56 is used as this operating means, and this cam 56 is arranged outside the other side frame 68B and is supported by the movable compression body 52 by a member (not shown). That is, the cam 56 moves to the upper side of the buffer means 55 in conjunction with the movement of the movable compression body 52 in the direction approaching the fixed compression body 51, and the movable compression body 52
Cushioning means 5 in conjunction with the operation of moving away from
Move in a direction away from 5. The cam 56 includes a first cam portion (operating portion) 57 which comes into contact with the operated member pin 83 when the container receiver 54 has the first load, and a container receiver 5.
4 has a second cam portion (operating portion) 58 that comes into contact with the operated object pin 83 when receiving the second weight. That is, the first cam portion 57 is a vertically inclined groove formed on the side opposite to the container receiver 54 with respect to the first cam portion 57, and the second cam portion 58 is a container in the cam 56. The edges are inclined in the vertical direction on the side of the receiving body 54, all of which come into contact with and be guided by the pin 83 to be actuated, and the receiving part 54 a of the blocking container receiving body 54 via the buffering means 55 is formed of a pair of compressed bodies 51. , 52 so as to exit. That is, the cam 56, which is an example of the operating means, is provided with
In conjunction with the approaching movement of the first and second members 52, the container receiver 54 abuts on the operated member pin 83 via the buffering means 55 so that the receiving portion of the first container 52 retreats from between the pair of compressed bodies 51 and 52. It is to let.

In the collecting section C of the apparatus main body 1, a collecting box 91 which is located below the compressing section B and receives and stores the PET bottle P compressed by the compressing section B is detachably provided.

Next, the operation of the thus configured volume reducing device will be described. The basic process is as follows. After the input port door 11 is opened in the input section A and the plastic bottle P is input from the input port 3, the input port door 11 is locked at the closed position. Further, the shutter 17 is opened to send out the PET bottle P to the compression unit B. Then shutter 1
7 closes. On the other hand, in the compression section B, the movable compression body 52 is closed and is in a standby state, and is opened at the same time as the shutter 17 is opened to receive the plastic bottle P sent from the charging section A. Thereafter, the movable compression body 52 closes and compresses the plastic bottle P. Then, the movable compression body 52 stops in a closed state while compressing the plastic bottle P, and waits for the next plastic bottle P to be inserted. The shutter 17 is a movable compression body 5
It closes before 2 is closed, preventing the plastic bottle P from moving to the compression section B while the movable compression body 52 is on standby. When the next PET bottle P is sent out from the charging section A, the movable compression body 52 is opened and the compressed PET bottle P is dropped into the collection box 91 as described above.

The operation of the charging section A will be described. Before loading the PET bottle P, the loading port door 11 is at the position Z1 where the loading port 3 of the apparatus main body 1 is closed as shown in FIG.
At this time, the input door 11 is locked by the door lock mechanism.
Not locked. The PET bottle P is the one excluding the contents. The user holds the door 12 with the handle 12a.
When the user pulls 2 outward, the input door 11 pivots outward around the shaft 15 to the open position Z2 and stops. In this state, the slot 3 is opened, and the inside of the slot door 11 is also opened from above. The user puts the PET bottle P into the inside of the inlet door 11 and places it on the container support plate. The PET bottle P is pressed by the pressing means. The shutter 17 is located at a blocking position of the input port door 11 in contact with the container support plate, and prevents the PET bottle P from dropping from the container support plate to the compression section B side. In this manner, the PET bottle P is set, and the input port 3 is rotated to the position Z1 for closing the input port door 11, and the input port 3 is closed. Here, the shutter motor 19 is driven to rotate the shutter 17 from the blocking position to the opening position.

The loading door 11 is locked in a state where the loading port 3 is closed by the lock mechanism from the time when the loading port 3 is closed to the time when the compression operation described later is completed. Shutter 17
After turning to the open position and holding it in the open position for a certain time,
The motor 19 is driven by a command from the shutter drive circuit, and is turned to the closed position again.

The operation of the compression section B will be described. At the time of waiting before the plastic bottle P is inserted, the plastic bottle P is located at the approaching compression position as shown in FIGS. . Further, the container receiver 54 has a balance weight 80.
The receiving part 54a is moved upward by the operation of
It reaches the receiving position between 2 and the fixed compression body 51. Then, the electric motor 70 in the compression body driving device 53A is rotationally driven to drive the compression body driving devices 53A and 53B in the compression body separation direction. The movable compression body 52 includes a compression body driving device 53
A and 53B move from the compression position to the release position and stop. Thus, in the compression section B, the shutter 17 of the input section A
The movable compression body 52 is moved in synchronization with the opening operation of
And a system for receiving the PET bottle P from the charging section A is established.

Then, the plastic bottle P sent out from the charging port door 11 of the charging section 1 is
1 and falls down to an upper surface of the receiving portion 54a of the container receiving body 54 located between the two. Further, the PET bottle P moves on the receiving portion 54a of the container receiving member 54 to one side of the container receiving member 54 along the direction of its inclination, and the neck portion Pb of the PET bottle P is moved to one side frame 68.
Abuts and stops. In this position, the plastic bottle P
Contacts the corrugated compression plate 62 of the fixed compression body 51.

Thereafter, the electric motor 70 is rotationally driven to drive the compression body driving devices 53A and 53B in the compression body approaching direction.
The movable compressed body 52 is moved from the open position to a position where the movable compressed body 52 comes into contact with the plastic bottle P between the two compressed bodies 51 and 52.
Move in the direction approaching 1. Further, the electric motor 70 is rotationally driven to drive the compression body driving devices 53A and 53B in the compression body approaching direction, so that the movable compression body 52 is further moved closer to the fixed compression body 51, and the pet is moved together with the fixed compression body 51. Compress bottle P. The movable compression body 52 is fixed
Move to the compression position that comes closest to
Is compressed most and the compression is completed.

Here, the operation of the container receiver 54 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, when the weight of the PET bottle P received by the receiving portion 54 a is equal to or less than the first weight set in advance, the container receiving body 54 is paired with the receiving portion 54 a by the weight balance set by the weight 80. Compressed body 5
It stops between 1 and 52. When the cam 56 moves toward the container receiver 54 together with the movable compression body 52 moving in the direction approaching the fixed compression body 51, as shown in FIG. The lower end of the cam portion (groove) 57 abuts on the operated body pin 83 provided on the arm member 81 of the buffering means 55. Further, when the cam 56 moves forward, the operated member pin 83 rises along the inside of the first cam portion 57, so that the arm member 81 of the buffering means 55 and the side portion 54b of the container receiver 54 move the pivot 78. As a center, the receiving portion 54b rotates in a direction in which the receiving portion 54b moves downward. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6, it retreats downward from between the pair of compressed bodies 51, 52.

When the weight of the PET bottle P received by the receiving portion 54a is equal to or larger than the second weight set in advance (for example, when a large amount of liquid remains inside the bottle), the container receiving member 54 is attached to the weight 80. The receiving portion 54a is displaced downward from the space between the pair of compressed bodies 51 and 52 by breaking the weight balance set by the above. Thereby, the receiving portion 54
The PET bottle P received in a falls from the space between the pair of compressed bodies 51 and 52 and is collected in the collection box 91 without being compressed. In this case, the arm member 81 rotates upward together with the side portion 54c of the container receiver 54, and the operated object pin 83 moves up. Then, when the movable compression body 52 moves toward the fixed compression body 51 in a direction approaching the fixed compression body 51, the cam 56 moves together toward the container receiver 54, and as shown in FIG. (A container receiving body side edge) 58 abuts on an operated body pin 83 provided on an arm member 81 of the buffering means 55. Further, when the cam 56 moves forward, the operated member pin 83 rises along the second cam portion 58, so that the arm member 81 of the buffering means 55 and the side portion 54b of the container receiver 54.
Rotates about the pivot 78 in a direction in which the receiving portion 54b moves downward. Thus, the pins 83 do not escape with the movement of the cam 56 and are not pushed and damaged by the cam 56.

Further, when the weight of the PET bottle P received by the receiving portion 54a is between the first weight and the second weight set in advance, as shown in FIG. The weight balance set by the weight 80 is lost, and the receiving portion 54a retreats downward from the space between the pair of compressed bodies 51 and 52. However, due to the weight of the PET bottle P, the degree of rotation of the container receiving body 54 so that the receiving portion 54a is lowered is smaller than that in the case of the second weight or more. For this reason, the angle at which the arm member 81 rotates upward is small. When the cam H56 moves toward the container receiver side in this state, the lower end of the container receiver side edge of the cam 56 collides with the operated member pin 83 of the arm member 81 as shown in FIG. When the cam 56 further moves toward the container receiver 54, the operated member pin 83 is pushed, and the arm member 81 rotates about the pivot 78 against the spring force of the tension coil spring 82. That is, the cam 56 applies a force to the arm member 81 via the pin 83 to rotate the arm member 81 so that the pin 83 escapes from the cam 56, and the arm member 81 absorbs the force of the cam 56 and the side of the container receiver 54 It does not join the part 54c.
Therefore, the pin 83 and the side portion 54c of the container receiver 54 are not damaged by the cam 56. The container receiver 54
Rotates so that the receiving portion 54a moves downward.

To drive the container receiver 54 in this way,
The buffering means 55 does not apply the force of the cam 56 to the container receiver when the pair of compressed bodies 51 and 52 relatively approach each other and the cam 56 as the operating means comes into contact with the pin 83 to be operated. Therefore, even when a load of a weight between the first weight and the second weight is applied to the container receiver 54, it is possible to avoid damage to components such as the pin 83 by the operating member.

After the compression operation is completed, the compression body driving devices 53A and 53B stop driving until the next plastic bottle P is supplied from the charging section A to the compression section B, and the movable compression body 52 is fixed. The PET bottle P is stopped while being compressed together with the compression body 51. On the other hand, the shutter 17 provided on the insertion port door 11 is closed before the movable compression body 52 is completely closed to prevent the PET bottle P from moving to the compression section B while the movable compression body 52 is on standby.

Then, when the next plastic bottle P is supplied from the charging section A to the compression section B, the electric motor 70 is driven to rotate, and the compression body driving devices 53A and 53B are driven in the movable compression body opening direction to move the movable compression body. The body 52 is moved from the compression position to the release position. Thereby, the PET bottle P compressed between the movable compression body 52 and the fixed compression body 51 is released. The released PET bottle P is moved between the movable compression body 52 and the fixed compression body 51.
And is collected into the collection box 91 provided in the collection section C of the apparatus main body 1.

Here, the container receiving member 54 rotates about the pivot 78 by its own weight balance, and is rotated by the receiving portion 54a.
Enters between the pair of compression bodies 51 and 52 and stops.

The cam 56, which is an operating means, has a first operating portion 57 which comes into contact with the pin 83 when the load received by the receiving portion 54a of the container receiver 54 is equal to or less than the first weight. When the load to be received is equal to or more than the second weight, each has a second operating portion 58 that comes into contact with the pin 83, and the buffering means 55 is rotatably supported by a pivot 78 that supports the container receiver 54. An arm member 81 having a pin 83 attached to one end thereof, and a spring 82 connecting the other end of the arm member 81 to the container receiver 54, the arm member 81 is formed on the container receiver 54. The rotation displacement by the spring 82 is regulated by the stopper 84.
According to this configuration, the operation unit and the buffer unit can be provided in an effective configuration.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be implemented with various modifications. In the above-described embodiment, the pair of compression bodies provided in the compression volume reducing means is constituted by the movable compression body and the fixed compression body. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Is also good.

The container whose volume is to be reduced by the volume reducing device of the present invention is not limited to a PET bottle, but may be a container made of a synthetic resin excluding the contents, or a metal container such as an empty can.

[0051]

According to the container volume reducing device according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the container receiving body is driven, when the pair of compressed bodies are relatively close to each other and the operating means comes into contact with the operated body. Since the shock absorbing means absorbs the force of the operating means so as not to be applied to the container receiver, even if a load in a predetermined weight range is applied to the container receiver, it is possible to avoid damage to the parts by the operating member and to achieve high reliability. It has nature.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the operating means and the buffering means can be provided with an effective configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a volume reduction device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the volume reducing device in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a compression section of the volume reduction device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a compression section of the volume reduction device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a compression unit of the volume reduction device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the operation of the compression unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the operation of the compression unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view showing the operation of the compression unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a compression unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a compression unit in a conventional volume reduction device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Device main body, 3 ... Input port part, 11 ... Input port door, 12 ... Door plate, 17 ... Shutter, 19 ... Electric motor, 51 ... Fixed compression body (compression reduction means), 52 ... Movable compression body (Compression reduction) 53A: Compressed body driving device (compression reducing device), 53B: Compressed body driving device (compression reducing device), 54: Container receiver, 55: Buffering device, 56: Cam (operating device), 57 ... first cam portion, 58 ... second cam portion, 78 ... axis, 80 ... weight, 81 ... arm member, 82 ... coil spring, 83 ... operated body pin, 84 ... stopper, 91 ... collection box, A ... input section, B ... compression section, C ... recovery section.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus main body having an inlet for charging a container therein, and a pair of compression bodies provided in the apparatus main body, which are relatively close to and separated from each other, and the pair of compression bodies are relatively close to each other. Compression volume reducing means for compressing the container between the pair of compression bodies and relatively separating the pair of compression bodies after this compression to release the compressed state; and The portion receives the container that has entered between the pair of compressed bodies from below and moved between the pair of compressed bodies, and discharges the container that has exited and received between the pair of compressed bodies. The weight balance is set so that the receiving portion is located between the pair of compressed bodies when the magnitude of the load received by the receiving portion is equal to or less than the first weight. The magnitude of the load received by the receiving part is A container receiving body that rotates so as to lose the weight balance and retreat from between the pair of compressed bodies when the weight is greater than a second weight that is greater than the weight of 1; A shock absorber, an operated body provided in the shock absorber, and a load received by a receiving portion of the container receiver in contact with the operated body in conjunction with the approaching operation of the pair of compression bodies and receiving a first force. Operating means for rotating the container receiving body via the buffer means so that the receiving portion is retracted from between the pair of compressed bodies when the weight is equal to or less than the weight,
A collecting unit for collecting the container taken out from the pair of compressed bodies, wherein the buffering means has a receiving portion of the container receiving member having a size between a first weight and a second weight. Under a load, the force of the operating means is absorbed by the container receiver when the pair of compressed bodies relatively approach each other and the operating means contacts the operated body. Container volume reduction device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The operating means according to claim 1, wherein the load received by the receiving portion of the container receiving member is less than or equal to a first weight. A second operating portion that comes into contact with the operated object when the weight is not less than 2; and the buffering means is rotatably supported by a pivot supporting the container receiver and is provided at one end with the buffering means. An arm member to which an object is attached;
A spring connecting the other end of the arm member to the container receiver, wherein the arm member is restricted from rotating by the spring by a stopper formed on the container receiver. The container volume reducing device according to claim 1, wherein: