JP2007145445A - Empty vessel recovery device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an empty vessel recovery device capable of securing safety, by preventing a hand from touching a compactor, even if an input person (an operator) inserts the hand into the device from an input port. <P>SOLUTION: This empty vessel recovery device has a collapsing means 8 reducing capacity of a sorted vessel by sorting the empty vessel by a sorting means 7 arranged in the vicinity of a carrying passage on the basis of a discriminating result, by discriminating the empty vessel with every classification in a carrying process, by carrying the empty vessel (a) input from an input port 2 via the carrying passage, and is provided with a partitioning means 51 opening and closing a partitioned space by partitioning the space on the vessel carrying upstream side of the collapsing means, a shutter 11 opening and closing the carrying passage on the vessel carrying upstream side of the sorting means 7 arranged in the vicinity of the carrying passage, and a control means prohibiting opening-closing of the partitioning means 51 when the shutter 11 is an open state and allowing the opening-closing of the partitioning means 51 when the shutter 11 is a closed state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an empty container collection device for collecting an empty container of a can or a PET bottle that contains drinking water or the like.

  Cans containing drinking water (aluminum cans, steel cans), PET bottles, etc. are collected to prevent scattering of these empty containers and to recycle them. In particular, recently, in order to recycle products, empty containers that have been thrown into the collection device to determine whether the empty container is a container to be collected (for example, an aluminum can) or a deposit. The container to be collected is subjected to volume reduction processing by a volume reduction device equipped in the apparatus (for example, see Patent Document 1).

And this empty container collection | recovery apparatus is devised as follows, for example, in order to make the whole apparatus compact.
(1) To shorten the conveyance path for conveying the empty container introduced from the introduction port of the apparatus to a predetermined position as much as possible.
(2) A sorting means for sorting the transported empty containers into the right and left sides of the transport path for each type is provided at the top of the transport path.
(3) A compactor for reducing the volume of the empty container is disposed immediately after the sorting means.

  However, when the compactor is arranged immediately after the sorting means, and also because the transport path is shortened as much as possible, when the operator (operator) accidentally inserts a hand into the apparatus from the inlet, There is a possibility that a hand touches the compactor arranged immediately after the sorting means, and there is a problem that safety cannot be maintained.

JP 2001-105191 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and the problem is that even if the input person (operator) inserts a hand into the apparatus through the input port, the hand is in the compactor. An object of the present invention is to provide an empty container collection device that can prevent touching and ensure safety.

  In order to solve the above problems, the empty container collection device of the present invention is configured such that an empty container introduced from an inlet is conveyed through a conveyance path, and an empty container is identified for each type in the conveyance process. Based on the above, in the empty container recovery apparatus comprising the crushing means for reducing the volume of the sorted containers by the sorting means arranged in the vicinity of the transport path, the area where the crushing means is arranged And an area upstream of the container conveying area, a partitioning means for opening and closing the partition, and a shutter for opening and closing the conveying path upstream of the container conveying from the sorting means arranged in the vicinity of the conveying path And control means for prohibiting the opening and closing of the sorting means when the shutter is open, and allowing the opening and closing of the sorting means when the shutter is closed (claim). Item 1).

  According to the above means, the crushing means and the space upstream of the container transport are partitioned by the sorting means, and the shutter for opening / blocking the transport path is provided on the front side of the sorting means for sorting the transported empty containers, When the shutter is in the open state (conveyance path: open), the sorting means blocks the entry path to the crushing means, so even if the hand is accidentally inserted into the apparatus from the input port, the sorting means It is possible to prevent the hand from touching the crushing means arranged in the area partitioned by the sorting means at the subsequent stage.

The sorting unit and the sorting unit may be arranged separately, but the sorting unit may also serve as the sorting unit. For example, the sorting means is provided in the upper part of the conveyance path, and the sorting means is also used as the sorting means (claim 2).
In this case, since the sorting means exhibits two functions of sorting empty containers and sorting the crushing means and the transport path area, the structure can be simplified.

A specific configuration for restricting the opening / closing of the shutter and the swinging of the sorting unit that also serves as the sorting unit is, for example, configured such that the sorting unit includes a pair of wall portions opposed to each other across the conveyance path. According to the type of the container, the wall portion swings left and right so that empty containers are sorted. The shutter is configured by connecting left and right shutter members so as to be openable and closable by a link mechanism, and the control means is disposed within a moving range of the restricting pin provided in a link mechanism that opens and closes the shutter. And a regulation frame that swings integrally with the sorting means, and the regulation pin is fitted into the groove of the regulation frame to regulate the swing of the sorting means, and the regulation pin is moved from the groove of the regulation frame. By separating, the sorting means is configured to be swingable (Claim 3).
The left and right shutter members constituting the shutter are formed in a rectangular shape using a metal flat plate or a resin flat plate having substantially the same strength as the metal flat plate, and two of them are arranged in a plane and the opposite edges are butt-matched or The upper part is connected so that it can be opened and closed.

According to the above means, when the restriction pin is fitted in the groove of the restriction frame, the movement of the restriction frame is restricted by the restriction pin, so that the sorting means is prohibited from swinging and held at the reference position. . Accordingly, it is possible to insert a hand into the apparatus from the insertion port, but since the intrusion path to the crushing means arranged at the subsequent stage of the sorting means is partitioned by the wall portion of the sorting means, the hand is crushing means. Never reach.
When the shutter is closed, the sorting means can be swung and the closed state of the shutter is restricted. In addition, since it is controlled by a mechanical structure, higher safety is ensured.

  The restricting frame forms a restricting inclined portion that expands in a laterally diverging shape below a groove in which the restricting pin at the upper center is fitted, and when the shutter is in a closed state, the upper periphery of the restricting pin The surface abuts against a restriction inclined portion of the restriction frame that swings together with the swing of the sorting means (claim 4).

  According to the above means, when the shutter is closed, that is, when the restriction pin that moves together with the opening and closing of the shutter is disengaged from the groove of the restriction frame, the upper peripheral surface of the restriction pin swings together with the sorting means. The restriction inclined portion of the moving restriction frame comes into contact, and the upward movement of the restriction pin is restricted. As a result, when the sorting means is allowed to swing, the opening of the shutter is prohibited, and safety is ensured. Further, since the lower end (opening side) of the groove of the restriction frame is formed in a divergent shape, the restriction pin is smoothly moved up and down.

The link mechanism for opening and closing the shutter is driven by a rotary solenoid.
According to the above means, since it can be driven by a simple mechanism, the drive mechanism can be simplified and maintenance and inspection can be easily performed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even if the hand is accidentally inserted into the apparatus when the shutter is open, the sorting means is fixed and held at the reference position, and the emptying container collecting apparatus of the present invention is disposed at the subsequent stage of the sorting means. The space between the crushing means arranged is blocked and the crushing means is not reached, and safety is ensured.
In the case of the configuration described in claim 2, since the sorting function and the sorting function can be performed by a single means, the configuration can be simplified.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the regulation pin that moves together with the opening and closing of the shutter is fitted in the groove of the regulation frame integrated with the sorting means, thereby restricting the swinging of the sorting means. The sorting means is allowed to swing by being out of the groove. That is, since the swing of the sorting means is restricted by the mechanical structure, higher safety can be ensured. Moreover, since it is a simple mechanism using pins and grooves, maintenance and inspection can be easily performed.

Further, when the shutter is closed, that is, when the restriction pin that moves together with the opening and closing of the shutter is disengaged from the groove of the restriction frame, the upper peripheral surface of the restriction pin has a sorting means. The restriction inclined portion of the restriction frame that swings together with the contact is brought into contact, and the upward movement of the restriction pin is restricted. As a result, when the sorting means is allowed to swing, the opening of the shutter is prohibited, and safety is ensured. Further, since the lower end (opening side) of the groove of the restriction frame is formed in a divergent shape, the restriction pin is smoothly moved up and down.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the shutter opening / closing mechanism can be simplified.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of an empty container collection device according to the present invention will be described based on an example in which sorting means also serves as sorting means.
FIG. 1 shows an outline of an empty container collection device, where 1 is a case of the collection device, 2 is an empty container inlet opening in the front of the case 1, and the case 1 is introduced from the empty container inlet 2 In order to transfer the empty container a to the predetermined position, the transfer means 3 for transferring the empty container a to the barcode reading position, the rolling support means 4 for supporting the transferred empty container a to the barcode reading position, The vertical movement means 5 that swings the conveyance means 3 up and down, the barcode reader 6 that reads the barcode displayed on the empty container supported by the conveyance means 3 or the rolling support means 4, and the barcode reading Sorting means 7 for sorting the completed empty containers a into separate crushing means, crushing means 8, 8 'for crushing the empty containers a sorted by the sorting means 7, and a collection container 9 for storing the crushed empty containers , 9 ', Chike Printer 10 to issue a preparative, further shutter 11 or the like for opening and closing the conveying means 3 into the nearby position of the empty container inlet 2 of and the sorting unit 7 behind is equipped.

The transport means 3 for transporting an empty container (steel can, aluminum can, PET bottle, etc.) introduced from the empty container inlet 2 to a position where the barcode reader 6 can read the narrow endless belt 3a is driven by a driving pulley 3b. The driven pulley 3b is configured such that the rotation of the motor 3d is driven and rotated through power transmission means such as a belt. The surface of the endless belt 3a that constitutes the conveying surface is made of a material that is larger than the frictional resistance on the surface (aluminum material) of a roller that constitutes the rolling support means 4 described later, such as urethane resin or vinyl chloride resin. It is configured.
Further, the conveying means 3 is placed on a mounting base 14 supported via a load cell 13 on a base 12 installed in the case 1 so as to be able to swing up and down.

The conveying means 3 is supported by a shaft 15 of the drive pulley 3b on the conveying start end side so as to be rotatable by an upright frame 15 standing on a mounting base 14, and the substantially central position of the conveying means 3 in the machine length direction is attached. It is supported by the vertical movement means 5 installed on the table 14.
The up-and-down moving means 5 includes a motor 5a, an eccentric rotating plate 5b attached to the output shaft of the motor, an eccentric rotating plate 5b, and an arm 5c that connects the conveying means 3, and the arm 5c is operated by operating the motor 5a. Oscillates, whereby the conveying means 3 moves up and down on the conveying end (driven pulley 3c) side with the conveying start end (driving pulley 3b) as a fulcrum. The vertical moving means 5 is not limited to the configuration shown in the figure, and any method may be used as long as it can move the opposite side up and down using the conveyance start point side as a fulcrum.

A container detection sensor 16 and a material sensor (optical sensor) 17 are sequentially arranged at a predetermined interval on the side of the starting end side across the conveyance path of the conveyance means 3 in the conveyance direction of the conveyance means 3. Further, a magnetic sensor 18 for discriminating between a steel can and an aluminum can is disposed between the forward path surface (conveying surface) and the return path surface of the endless belt 3a of the conveying means 3.
As a result, when the inserted empty container a is a steel can, it is detected by the magnetic sensor 18, and when the input empty container is a PET bottle, it is detected by the material sensor (optical sensor) 17.
Further, a stop sensor 19 for detecting whether or not the empty container a has been transported to a predetermined position (a reading position by a barcode reader) by the transport means 3 is disposed at the end portion of the transport means 3. When the stop sensor 19 is turned on, it is determined that the empty container has been transported to a predetermined position (read position by the barcode reader), and the transport means 3 is lowered.

  The rolling support means 4 includes two rollers 4a and 4b arranged horizontally on both the left and right sides with an endless belt 3a constituting the conveying means 3 and a motor 4c for rotating the two rollers 4a and 4b. And a power transmission member 4d for transmitting the rotation of the motor 4c to the two rollers 4a and 4b. The power transmission member 4d is formed by winding a toothed belt in a triangular shape across the toothed pulley of the motor 4c and the toothed pulley of two rollers arranged in parallel with the conveying means 3 interposed therebetween. 4a and 4b are configured to rotate in the same direction.

Further, the rollers 4a and 4b of the rolling support means 4 have a length from the position where they have passed through the detection range by the sensor to the vicinity of the end side of the conveying means 3, so that the can and the PET bottle can be stabilized. It comes to be able to support well.
The two rollers 4a and 4b constituting the rolling support means 4 are in contact with the empty container at the time of carrying by the carrying means 3.
When the conveying means 3 is tilted and lowered forward and downward by the up-and-down moving means 5, the empty container before volume reduction that has been supported by the two points of the endless belt 3a and the two rollers 4a and 4b until then. Is switched to two-point support by the two rollers 4a and 4b when the support by the endless belt 3a is lost, and is rolled by the rotation of the rollers. In the case of a volume-removed empty container, the surface friction of the rollers 4a and 4b is reduced so that the empty container does not roll even if the roller rotates.

The bar code reader 6 reads the bar code displayed on the peripheral surface of the inserted empty container a, and is suspended above the rolling support means 4 in the direction of the rolling support means. Has been. Note that a plurality (two in the drawing) of barcode readers may be fixed at a predetermined angle, but the readable range may be expanded as a swinging and sliding type. Further, the number of barcode readers 6 is not limited to a plurality, and may be one.
The reading of the barcode by the barcode reader 6 is processed by comparing the data read from the inserted empty container a with the information stored in the database of the control unit. In the apparatus corresponding to the deposit system, if the container is an empty container that is not a deposit object, the container is collected, but it is possible not to issue a ticket.

When the reading by the bar code reader 6 is completed, the empty container a is sorted out by the sorting means 7 into the crushing means 8 and 8 'according to the type.
The sorting means 7 has a cylindrical frame 7a having a pair of wall portions opposed to each other across the conveyance path, with the upper and lower surfaces and the front surface (surface corresponding to the thrown empty container) opened by a metal plate or a resin plate, etc. The cylindrical body 7a is composed of a rocking mechanism 7b that rocks in the left-right direction.
For swinging in the left-right direction, the empty containers a supported on the two rollers 4 a, 4 b of the rolling support means 4 are sorted into crushing means 8, 8 ′ arranged on the left and right sides of the rolling support means 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper center of the cylindrical frame is pivotally supported by shafts 21 and 21 ′ on mounting plates 20 and 20 ′ suspended and fixed to the case 1 as shown in FIGS.
The swing mechanism 7b includes a swing means 49 such as a cam and a motor 50 that drives the swing means. The opening of the upper surface of the cylinder frame 7a is to ensure that the barcode reader 6 can perform reading. The cylindrical frame 7a swings from the vertical reference position to the left or right depending on the type of the empty container a. A sensor 39a for detecting the reference position is installed on the fixed frame 40, and a flag 39b. Is fixed to the shaft of the cylinder frame 7a.

  A restriction frame 23 is vertically connected to an upper portion of the front surface of the cylindrical frame 7a of the sorting means 7 via an auxiliary frame 22 that is erected and fixed on the left and right widths of the sorting means. It is configured to swing in the direction opposite to the swinging direction of the sorting means 7 by movement.

  The restriction frame 23 has a groove 24 with a predetermined depth notch formed in a center portion in the width direction, into which a restriction pin 33 that moves up and down in the vertical direction in accordance with the opening / closing operation of the shutter 11 described later is formed. The lower opening is widened toward the left and right in the downward direction, and restricting inclined portions 25 and 25 'are formed. Further, contact plates 26 and 26 'having a predetermined thickness are attached to the front surface of the restriction frame 23 along the restriction inclined portions 25 and 25', so that the contact with the restriction pin on the shutter side is stabilized. It is configured to be performed.

  The shutter 11 shuts / opens the transport path of the transport means 3 for transporting empty containers into the sorting means 7, and is provided with shaft support portions 27a, 27a, 27b on the upper part of two rectangular shutter members 27, 27 '. 27b is formed, the shaft support portions 27a and 27b are rotatably supported by the shaft 21 that supports the sorting means 7 on the mounting plate 20, and the inner edges of the shutter members 27 and 27 'are overlapped. A shut-off state is established, and the shutter members 27 and 27 ′ are rotated outward about the shaft 21 to be in an open state.

  The link mechanism that opens and closes the shutter members 27 and 27 ′ includes link pieces 28 and 28 ′ connected to the upper portions of the shutter members 27 and 27 ′ by shafts 29 and 29 ′, and other link pieces 28 and 28 ′. The end side is integrally connected to the guide frame 32 that moves up and down by fitting the shaft 31 into the vertical guide hole 30 of the mounting plate 20. Further, the shafts 29 and 29 ′ connecting the shutter members 27 and 27 ′ and the link pieces 28 and 28 ′ are inclined so as to have a substantially C-shape in front on the left and right sides around the vertical guide hole 30 of the mounting plate 20. The guide holes 34 and 34 'are fitted. As a result, when the guide frame 32 moves upward along the vertical guide hole 30, the link pieces 28, 28 'connected to the guide frame 32 are also lifted. At this time, the link pieces 28, 28' Since the shafts 29 and 29 'are fitted in the inclined guide holes 34 and 34', the shafts 29 and 29 'are pulled up along the inclined guide holes 34 and 34', and the shutter members 27 and 27 'are It is rotated outward about 21.

  The shutter member 27 has a protruding piece 27c extending vertically upward from a shaft support portion with the shaft 31, and a restricting pin 33 is fixed to the protruding piece 27c at a right angle. 33 'is rotatably attached. The restriction pin 33 having the rolling element 33 ′ is fitted into and removed from the groove 24 of the restriction frame 23, and contacts the restriction inclined portions 25 and 25 ′ of the restriction frame 23 when it is removed from the groove 24. .

A rotary solenoid 35 is used as a power source for moving the guide frame 32 up and down along the vertical guide hole 30, and one end of the linkage 36 is fixed to the rotating shaft 35 ′ of the rotary solenoid 35, and the other end of the linkage 36. A rotor 37 is rotatably attached to the rotor. The rotor 37 is fitted and attached to the guide frame 32.
Further, a sensor 38 for detecting the movement position (shutter opening position) of the guide frame 32 that is moved up and down by the drive of the rotary solenoid 35 is installed on the mounting plate 20. The sensor 38 detects that the guide frame 32 has moved to a predetermined position, and is configured such that the driving of the rotary solenoid 35 is stopped when the sensor 38 is turned on.

The crushing means 8, 8 ′ reduce the volume of the empty container. The crushing means 8, 8 ′ includes two toothed drums 8 a, 8 b, a rotary blade 8 c that pushes the empty container into the toothed drums 8 a, 8 b, and a sorting means 7. It comprises a hopper 8d for guiding the excluded empty container a to the toothed drums 8a, 8b. The left and right crushing means 8 and 8 ′ are configured to be driven by a single motor 41. The crushing means 8 and 8 'are not limited to the illustrated form, and can be appropriately selected, for example, a crushing means that is flattened between two rollers.
The empty container that has been crushed by the crushing means 8, 8 ′ is accommodated in a collection container 9, 9 ′ disposed below the empty container. The collection containers 9 and 9 ′ are put in and out by opening an opening / closing door provided on the front surface or side surface of the case 1.

As shown in the electric block diagram of FIG. 6, the constituent members of the above-described empty container collection device are a ROM 42, a RAM 45, a display unit 46, a key operation unit 47, a bar code reader via a bus 43 to a CPU 42 that controls each block. 6, the printer 10 and the load cell 13 are connected, and the interface 48 has a container detection sensor 16, a magnetic sensor 18, a material sensor (optical sensor) 17, a stop sensor 19, a reference position sensor 39a, an open sensor 38, a transport motor 3d, A container rotating roller motor 4c, a vertical movement motor 5a, a sorting motor 50, a crushing motor 41, and a rotary solenoid 35 are connected.
The ROM 44 stores various programs executed by the CPU 42.
The RAM 45 temporarily stores data for the CPU 42 to operate or calculate, and stores product files such as empty container materials (aluminum cans, steel cans, PET bottles, etc.), beverage manufacturers, product types, etc. is doing.
The key operation unit 47 includes a touch key for operation input, a numeric keypad for key input, and the like, and the display unit 46 is configured by a liquid crystal display or the like, and information input by the key operation unit 47 and processing contents Etc. are configured to be displayed.
The printer 10 issues a container collection ticket (certificate) to a provider who brings in an empty container to be deposited among the empty containers a put in the apparatus. The provider can exchange this for a predetermined amount of money or merchandise by taking this ticket to a predetermined shop or the like. The collected empty container material (aluminum cans, steel cans, PET bottles, etc.), beverage manufacturer, product type, quantity, etc. are all recorded in a data processing device (not shown) in the case, and the aggregated data. Can be taken out at any time.

Next, an outline of the operation of the CPU 42 shown in the electric block diagram of the above-described empty container recovery apparatus will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
(Step 1): Turn on the power switch. Thereby, each part is reset (refer FIG. 8 (a), (b)).
(Step 2) The cylinder frame 7a of the sorting means 7 is set to the reference position by the reset operation, and the rotary solenoid 35 is driven and the shutter 11 is opened while the reference position sensor 39a is ON. When the shutter 11 is opened, the open sensor 38a is turned on. By the opening movement of the shutter 11, the restriction pin 33 rises in the vertical direction and is fitted in the groove 24 of the restriction frame 23 integrated with the sorting means 7 held at the reference position. Thereby, the sorting means 7 is fixed in a state where it cannot be mechanically swung (see FIGS. 9A and 9B). In this state, a hand or the like cannot be inserted into the subsequent crushing means 8 from the gap of the sorting means 7 or the like.
(Step 3)... When an empty container is introduced from the empty container insertion port and detected by the container detection sensor 16, the conveying means 3 is driven to start carrying in the empty container.
(Step 4)... The type of the empty container is determined by the material sensor 17 and the magnetic sensor 18 during the carry-in.

(Step 5) ... The shutter 11 is closed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the container was detected by the container detection sensor 16 in Step 3. As a result, the open sensor 38a is turned off. In a state where the shutter 11 is closed, the restriction pin 33 moves vertically downward, disengages from the groove 24 of the restriction frame 23, and the mechanism that mechanically restrains the swinging of the sorting means 7 is opened, and the sorting means is released. 7 is in a state where it can swing in the left-right direction (see FIG. 10). When the sorting means 7 is driven and the cylindrical frame 7a swings, the regulating pin 33 moved to the lower limit position expands in a divergent shape below the groove 24 of the regulating frame 23 that swings together with the cylindrical frame 7a. It abuts on the regulation inclined portions 25 and 25 ′ to be opened, and the rise of the regulation pin 33 is restrained. As a result, the shutter 11 is not opened, and the risk that the shutter 11 opens when the sorting means 7 is driven and the operator's hand is inserted can be eliminated.
(Step 6) When the stop sensor 19 is turned on, it is determined that the container has been transported to a desired reading position (predetermined position), the transport means 3 is stopped, the empty container a is replaced with the rolling support means 4, and the The empty container a is rolled by the operation of the moving support means 4, and the barcode is read. In the case of YES, that is, in the case where the barcode is read and the container (acquisition object to be collected) permitted to be accepted, the process proceeds to Step 7;

(Step 7)... Based on the type detected in Step 4, the input empty container a is sorted left and right by the sorting means 7 (see FIGS. 11A and 11B). After the sorting is completed, the transport means 3 positioned below returns to the initial position (upper limit position) for the next empty container. The empty container is crushed by the crushing means 8 and 8 ', and is accommodated in the collection containers 9 and 9'.
(Step 8)... After a predetermined time (timer) after returning to the reference position after the sorting means 7 is driven, the rotary solenoid 35 is driven, and the restriction pin 33 is inserted into the groove 24 of the restriction frame 23, and the shutter. 11 is opened and the empty container is waited for. The sorting means 7 is fixed again in a state where it cannot be mechanically swung again by fitting the restriction pin 33 into the groove 24 of the restriction frame 23. That is, the process returns to step 3.
(Step 9)... The rotary solenoid 35 is driven and the shutter 11 is opened in order to return the container in which the barcode could not be read in Step 6 or the container that has been read but is not a collection target product. The rotary solenoid 35 is driven by a timer.

(Step 10)... The transport means 3 is raised to transfer the empty container a from the rolling support means 4, and the transport means 3 is rotated in the reverse direction to transport the empty container to the inlet side. When the transport unit 3 rotates in the reverse direction and the transported empty container is detected by the container detection sensor 16, the driving of the transport unit 3 is stopped. This completes the process (end).
Then, the sorting means 7 operates according to the PET bottle and the aluminum can), and the empty container a on the rolling support means 4 is sorted into the crushing means 8 and 8 '. When the crushing process is completed, privilege information corresponding to the type of container is printed by the printer and a ticket is issued.

Although the above-described embodiment has a configuration in which the sorting means also serves as the sorting means, an example in which the sorting means and the sorting means are provided separately will be briefly described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the conveying means, the sorting means, the sorting means, and the crushing means, and the two rollers 4a and 4b of the rolling support means 4 in the previous embodiment are configured to be movable up and down. This rolling support means 4 is provided with a function of sorting means, and further, a shielding plate that blocks access to the space where the subsequent crushing means 8 is arranged on both sides of the rollers 4a and 4b of the rolling support means 4. (Wall portions) 51 a and 51 b are provided, and the shielding plates 51 a and 51 b are used as the sorting means 51. The shielding plates 51a and 51b constituting the sorting means 51 are configured to be movable up and down, and are configured to be interlocked with opening / closing movements of a shutter (not shown).

With the above configuration, the empty container is conveyed by the conveying means 3 and placed on the rollers 4a and 4b of the rolling support means 4, and the rollers 4a and 4b are rotated so that the empty container is rotated and displayed on the empty container. After the bar code is read and the sorting direction is determined, of the rollers 4a and 4b of the rolling support means 4, the roller in the direction in which the sorting is determined moves downward, whereby the empty container moves downward. Rolled to the roller side and sorted.
During the descending operation of the rolling support means 4 for performing the sorting, the crushing means 8 receives the sorted empty containers so that the shielding plate 51a or 51b of the sorting means 51 moves upward to enable the receiving. The sorting means 51 is linked to the movement of the shutter by a link mechanism. When the shutter is open, the shielding plates 51a and 51b are in the lower position, and when the shutter is closed, the shielding plates 51a and 51b are connected. 51b is positioned at the upper position.
Thereby, when the shutter is open, the space to the crushing means 8 is blocked by the sorting means 51, so that even if a hand is inserted, the crushing means 8 is not touched and safety is maintained. . The opening / closing of the sorting means is not limited to the vertical movement in the vertical direction, but may be a rotary type.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed without changing the gist of the present invention.
(1) The shutter opening / closing mechanism is not limited to the illustrated form, and any mechanism may be used as long as the movement of the sorting unit is restricted by the opening of the shutter and the opening of the shutter is restricted when the sorting unit is driven.
(2) In step 8, the rotary solenoid is driven and the shutter 11 is opened by raising the restriction pin 33 during the time when the cylinder frame 7a of the sorting means 7 returns to the reference position by the timer. Alternatively, the rotary solenoid 35 may be driven after the cylinder frame 7a of the sorting means 7 returns to the reference position and is detected by the reference position sensor 39a.
(3) The crushing means for reducing the volume of the empty container is not limited to the illustrated form, and any crushing means may be used as long as the volume can be reduced. For example, the crushing means may be crushed flatly between rollers.
(4) The position of the shutter is not limited as long as it is upstream of the container transport with respect to the sorting means 7. For example, it may be in an empty container inlet. In that case, an operation unit for opening the shutter may be provided, and the container may be loaded after the shutter is opened.

The schematic side view which shows the outline | summary of the empty container collection | recovery apparatus of this invention. The front view. The partially cutaway enlarged side view showing the shutter and the sorting means. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal front view taken along line (4)-(4) in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal front view taken along line (5)-(5) in FIG. 3. The electric block diagram of a structural member. The flowchart figure which shows the flow of a collection process. Explanatory drawing which shows the state which turned on the power supply and the shutter and the sorting means were reset. Explanatory drawing which shows the state which a shutter opens and the cylinder frame of a sorting means stops in a reference position. Explanatory drawing which shows the state which a shutter closes. Explanatory drawing which shows the state which a sorting means drives and sorts an empty container. Explanatory drawing which shows the example which provided the classification means and the classification means separately.

Explanation of symbols

a ... Empty container 2 ... Empty container inlet
3 ... Conveying means 6 ... Bar code reader
7: Sorting means 8, 8 '... Crushing means 11 ... Shutter 23 ... Restriction frame (control means)
24 ... Groove (control means) 33 ... Restriction pin (control means)
51 ... Classification means

Claims (5)

An empty container introduced from the input port is transported through a transport path, and the empty container is determined for each type in the transport process, and based on the determination result, the empty container is sorted by a sorting means arranged near the transport path. In an empty container collection device comprising a crushing means for reducing the volume of the sorted containers,
A partitioning means for partitioning an area where the crushing means is arranged and an area upstream of container transport from the area, and opening and closing the partition;
A shutter that opens and closes the transport path upstream of the container transport from the sorting means disposed in the vicinity of the transport path;
Control means for prohibiting the opening and closing of the sorting means when the shutter is open, and allowing the opening and closing of the sorting means when the shutter is closed;
An empty container collection device comprising:   2. The empty container collection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sorting unit is provided in an upper portion of the conveyance path, and the sorting unit also serves as the sorting unit. The sorting means is composed of a pair of wall portions arranged to face each other across the transport path, and sorts empty containers by swinging left and right according to the type of empty container,
The shutter is configured by connecting left and right shutter members so as to be opened and closed by a link mechanism, and the control means is disposed within a movement range of the restriction pin provided in a link mechanism that opens and closes the shutter. And a regulation frame that swings integrally with the sorting means,
The regulation pin is fitted into the groove of the regulation frame to regulate the swing of the sorting means, and the regulation pin is detached from the groove of the regulation frame, so that the sorting means can be swung. Item 3. The empty container collection device according to Item 2.   The restricting frame is formed with a restricting inclined portion that expands in a laterally diverging manner below a groove in which the restricting pin at the upper center is fitted, and when the shutter is in a closed state, an upper periphery of the restricting pin 4. The empty container collection device according to claim 3, wherein the surface abuts against a restriction inclined portion of a restriction frame that swings together with the swing of the sorting means.   5. The empty container collection device according to claim 3, wherein the link mechanism for opening and closing the shutter member of the shutter is driven by a rotary solenoid.

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