JP2517537Y2 - Empty can crushing device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an empty can crushing device for automatically conveying and crushing empty cans such as soft drinks.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-30476, an empty can inserted into a machine frame from an insertion port is guided between a pair of press plates, and these press plates are stepped on and driven. Alternatively, an empty can crushing device that closes an empty can by driving an electric motor and crushes the empty can is known. And, in the device described in the above-mentioned publication, the empty can is conveyed in the radial direction in the machine frame, and at the time of crushing, the both axial ends of the substantially cylindrical empty can are crushed at the same time. I have to.

However, in order to convey an empty can in the machine frame in the radial direction, at least the width of the machine frame must be determined according to the axial length of the can, which leads to an increase in size of the apparatus. . Further, if both ends of the cylindrical empty can in the axial direction are crushed at the same time, a large force is required at one time, and when crushing, the empty can easily jumps from a predetermined position. Therefore, in the device described in the above publication, the press plate is made substantially vertical, and the empty can is supported from below and is crushed in the horizontal direction. However, for that reason, it becomes necessary to bend the empty can transporting path in the machine frame vertically from an angle close to horizontal, which causes inconvenience such as enlargement of the apparatus.

Therefore, similar to a domestic empty can crushing machine described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-108995, an empty can is formed between a substrate and a crushing plate pivotally mounted on the empty can. It is conceivable that the axial direction should be substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the crushing plate so that the crushing plate is crushed. In this case, the empty can is sequentially crushed from one end to the other end.

[0005]

Gravity is the simplest method for automatically transporting empty cans within the machine frame of the empty can crushing device. For that purpose, the empty can conveying path in the machine frame may be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, but how much the inclination angle is set is an important issue. As mentioned above, in order to miniaturize the device, it is necessary to convey the empty can in the axial direction, but it is difficult to convey the empty can in the axial direction. Since the mucus may adhere, it is better to increase the inclination angle for reliable transport. On the other hand, in order to prevent the position and orientation of the empty can from being disturbed by a shock and to ensure the operation of the weight sorter for sorting the empty can and the foreign matter, it is better to make the inclination angle smaller.

As described above, the inclination angle of the empty can conveying path should not be made unnecessarily large, but when the empty can is crushed from one end by a pressing body such as a rotating crushing plate, the pressing body is pressed. It is necessary to reliably feed the empty can to the predetermined position with respect to the substrate part.

It is also an important issue to reliably convey the empty can from the charging port to the substrate part while keeping its axial direction.

The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and in an empty can crushing device that uses gravity to carry an empty can, the inclination angle of the empty can conveying path is generally excessively increased. The first purpose is to reliably feed the empty can to the predetermined position with respect to the pressing body and the substrate portion. A second object is to reliably convey the empty can from the input port to the substrate portion while keeping its axial direction. A third object is to enable the subsequent operation of the apparatus without any trouble even if an empty can or the like is not conveyed from the charging port to the substrate section for some reason.

[0009]

In order to achieve the first object, an empty can crushing device according to a first aspect of the invention has a machine casing,
Inside the machine frame, the empty can carrier path is provided so as to be inclined rearward, and the upper and lower sides of the substrate part forming a part of the empty can carrier path can be freely swung with the left-right direction as the rotation axis direction. And a pressing body that is opened and closed relative to the substrate portion on the front side of the rotating shaft, and an empty can guide that opens and closes on the substrate portion is provided on the upper side of the substrate portion at the rear end portion of the empty can guide. When the pressing body descends from a predetermined position, the empty can guide is closed with respect to the base plate portion, and the empty body guide is closed when the pressing body rises. An interlocking mechanism for raising the empty can guide and increasing its inclination angle is provided.

The empty can crushing device according to the second aspect of the invention is
In order to achieve the second object, a machine frame, an empty can carrying path that is provided in the machine frame in a straight line with a downward inclination, and an empty can carrying path And a pressing member that is swingably supported on the upper side of the base plate portion that forms a left-right direction around the rotation axis direction and that opens and closes on the front side of the rotation shaft with respect to the base plate portion, and the empty can transport path is the machine frame. A cylindrical input port opened to the front surface of the, a weight selector continuous below the input port, and the substrate portion continuous below the weight selector, the weight selector, It consists of an opening and closing body that opens downward when a load of a predetermined amount or more is opened, and covers the opening and closing plate from above, and provides a guide tunnel that is coaxial with the cylindrical loading port and is located in the empty can conveying direction. It is a thing.

Further, in order to achieve the third object, the empty can crushing device according to the third aspect of the present invention is provided with a machine frame, and is inclined in the machine frame in a downward descending direction. And an empty can carrying path, and a pressing body which is swingably supported on the upper side of a substrate part forming a part of the empty can carrying path with the left-right direction as the rotation axis direction and which opens and closes with respect to the substrate part in front of the rotating shaft. The empty can transporting path is continuous with a cylindrical inlet opening to the front surface of the machine frame, a weight sorter continuous below and below this inlet, and a rear lower side of this weight sorter. The weight selector has an opening / closing body that opens downward when a load of a predetermined amount or more is applied, and has a drive mechanism that opens the opening / closing plate.

[0012]

In the empty can crushing device according to the first aspect of the invention, the empty can slides backward on the empty can conveying path in the machine frame due to gravity. At this time, the carrying direction of the empty can is the axial direction of the empty can.
Then, the empty can sent onto the substrate portion is pushed between the pressing body and the substrate portion as the pressing body descends in a state where the axial direction thereof is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the pressing body. Crushed. After that, the pressing body rises and the crushed empty can slides down further. By the way, the empty can to be crushed is
When the pressing body is rising, it slides down between the pressing body and the substrate portion. At this time, initially, the empty can is placed on the empty can guide that is in a closed position with respect to the substrate portion, but when the pressing body rises to some extent, the empty can guide also starts to move upward in conjunction with this. This increases the inclination angle of the empty can guide with respect to the horizontal plane, and even if mucus adheres,
The empty can is surely sent to a predetermined position between the pressing body and the substrate portion. Further, when the empty can is crushed, the empty can guide is lowered in conjunction with the lowering of the pressing body, and when the pressing body is lowered to a predetermined position, the empty can guide is closed on the substrate portion. Therefore, when the pressing body is further lowered and the empty can is crushed, the load is reliably received by the substrate portion.

In the empty can crushing device according to the second aspect of the present invention, empty cans and the like are fed between the substrate portion and the pressing body through the weight selector in the empty can carrier path in a straight line. However, in the weight sorter, heavy foreign matters such as glass bottles are dropped and eliminated by the opening and closing plate rotating downward to open due to the load. The attitude of the empty can is controlled by the cylindrical inlet so that the axial direction is the conveying direction, and also in the weight sorter, the guide is located coaxially with the inlet and covers the opening / closing plate from above. By the tunnel
The posture is controlled so that the axial direction is the carrying direction. Therefore, even when the empty can is fed from the weight sorter between the substrate portion and the pressing body, the axial direction of the empty can is surely substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the pressing body.

Further, in the empty can crushing device according to the third aspect of the invention, the opening / closing plate of the weight sorter is opened by the drive mechanism at a predetermined timing with respect to the operation of the pressing body. The empty can must be transferred onto the substrate from the closed opening / closing plate, but if there is mucus adhered, a deformed empty can, or if a light paper cup or waste paper is accidentally put in. In some cases, these empty cans, paper cups, etc. may remain on the open / close plate and cannot be transferred onto the substrate. However, these empty cans and paper cups fall when the opening / closing plate is opened as described above, and are removed as foreign matter. If the empty can transport path itself is heavily soiled with mucus, normal empty cans will be removed by the opening / closing plate. On the contrary, the maintenance personnel should know when to clean the inside of the device. You can

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an empty can crushing device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes a machine frame that forms an outer shell of the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 2, the machine frame 1 is formed by covering each surface formed by a frame material 2 forming each side thereof with a plate material 3. Casters 4 are provided at the four corners of the lower surface. At the upper part of the front surface of the machine frame 1, one end of a cylindrical charging port 5 is opened, and below the charging port 5, a blue lamp 6, a white lamp 7, a red lamp 8 and a yellow lamp are located. And a reset button 9 are provided.

On the frame member 2 of the machine frame 1, horizontal rails 11 are horizontally installed at relatively lower positions on both left and right sides. A foreign matter storage container 12 having an open upper surface is detachably mounted on the front portion of the horizontal rail 11. Further, on the lower frame member 2, a steel can housing container 13 and an aluminum can housing container 14 each having an open upper surface are arranged side by side in a detachable manner. An optical sensor 15 for detecting that the lower containers 13 and 14 are filled with the empty can A is provided on both the horizontal rails 11. The optical sensor 15 is composed of a left and right light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, which are shifted back and forth so that the light flux between them both passes through the upper side of both containers 13 and 14. Furthermore, the lower part of the front surface of the machine frame 1 is a door 16 which can be freely opened and closed.
By opening the door 16, the containers 12, 13, 14 can be put in and taken out.

A front rail 21 and a rear rail 22 are horizontally installed on the upper portions of the front and rear sides of the frame member 2.
A pair of left and right transport path frames 23, 24 are provided between the 21 and the rear rail 22. The front rail 21 is located higher than the rear rail 22,
As a result, the transport path frames 23, 24 are inclined at an angle of about 10 to 20 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane in the direction of descending from the front to the rear. The maximum inclination direction is the empty can conveying direction. Further, in the machine frame 1, an empty can transporting path 25 is provided linearly between the transporting path frames 23 and 24 so as to incline in a direction descending rearward from the input port 5. This empty can carrier 25
The input port 5, the weight selector 26, the crushing substrate portion 27, and the sorting plate 28 are arranged in this order from front to back.

A through hole 31 penetrating in the left-right direction is formed on the peripheral surface of the charging port 5. On the other hand, an optical sensor 32 including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion is provided on both the transport path frames 23 and 24. The light flux passes through the through hole 31 of the input port 5. A shutter 33 is axially attached to the rear of the input port 5 between the transport path frames 23 and 24 with the left-right direction as the rotation axis direction. That is, this shutter
33 is a support shaft 35 located at the rear end of the arm 34 on both sides thereof.
It swings up and down a predetermined range around the
The rear end opening is closed and opened when descending.

The weight sorter 26 is continuously located below and rearward of the charging port 5, and is composed of a pair of opening / closing plates 36 and 37 which are vertically opened and closed. The opening / closing plates 36, 37 are supported by the support shafts 23, 24 by supporting shafts 38, 39 so as to be vertically swingable within a predetermined range with the empty can conveying direction as the rotation axis direction. The open / close plates 36 and 37 are normally in the raised position, that is, the closed position due to the gravity applied to the weights 40 and 41 connected to the opposite sides of the support shafts 38 and 39, but a load of a predetermined amount or more is applied from above. When received, it rotates downward and opens against the gravity applied to the weights 40 and 41. A guide tunnel 42 that covers the opening / closing plates 36 and 37 from above is fixed between the transport path frames 23 and 24. The guide tunnel 42 has a semi-cylindrical shape, and is positioned coaxially with the charging port 5 along the empty can conveying direction. In addition, the guide tunnel
A through hole 43 that penetrates in the left-right direction is formed in the peripheral surface portion of 42. On the other hand, an optical sensor 44 including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion is provided on both the transport path frames 23 and 24. The light flux passes through the through hole 43 of the guide tunnel 42.

The crushed base plate portion 27 is provided with the two transport path frames 23,
It is fixed on a horizontal rail 50 erected between 24, and is continuously located below the closed opening / closing plates 36, 37 on the same plane as this. A crushing plate 51, which is a pressing body that opens and closes with respect to the substrate portion 27, is axially mounted above the substrate portion 27. That is, the crushing plate 51 is supported near the rear end of the crushing plate 51 between the two transport path frames 23 and 24 by the support shaft 52 so as to be vertically swingable within a predetermined range with the horizontal direction as the rotation axis direction. The crush plate 51 is provided with anti-slip projections 53, 54 cut and raised at the position on the support shaft 52 side and at the free end. These anti-slip protrusions 53, 54 are cut and raised toward the support shaft 52 toward the base plate portion 27. On the other hand, the crushing plate 51 is also provided on the substrate 27.
With the cover closed, the non-slip projections at the rearmost part of the crush plate 51
A non-slip projection 55 located adjacent to 53 is cut and raised. The anti-slip protrusions 55 are cut and raised in a direction that rises forward.

The crush plate 51 is driven by an electric motor 56. The electric motor 56 includes a gearbox 57 with a built-in gear train for reduction and a rod 58 for rotational movement.
The converter 59 for converting into the linear motion of is integrally assembled. The converter 59 is supported by the support frame 61 between the support frames 61 which are fixed to the both transport path frames 23 and 24 by projecting upward.
It is supported by 62 with the left-right direction as the rotation axis direction.
A front end portion of the rod 58 is rotatably connected to a free end portion of the crushing plate 51 via a horizontal support shaft 63. Thus, as the rod 58 moves forward and backward by driving the motor 56, the crushing plate 51 swings up and down. Further, a first limit switch 66 is provided above the support frame 61, and a second limit switch 67 is provided on the transport path frame 24. These limit switches 66 are operated such that their actuators are pressed by the ends of the support shafts 63, and the first limit switch 66 detects that the crush plate 51 is at the upper limit, The limit switch 67 detects that the crush plate 51 is at the lower limit.

A plate-shaped empty can guide 71, which is elongated in the front-rear direction, is provided above the base plate portion 27. The upper surface of the empty can guide 71 has a groove shape along the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, the position where the empty can guide 71 is closed in the substrate portion 27 is a concave groove 70 having the same shape as that of the empty can guide 71 in order to receive the empty can guide 71 reliably. And empty can guide 71
The hook portion 72 provided at the rear end of the board portion 27
In the above, it is engaged with a support hole 73 formed on the front side of the anti-slip projection 55, and can swing up and down within a predetermined range with the horizontal direction as the rotation axis direction. That is, the empty can guide 71
Is to swing up and down around its rear end portion to open and close with respect to the substrate portion 27. A hanging piece 74 is provided on the front end portion of the empty can guide 71 along the front surface of the substrate portion 27. Then, the vertically elongated hole formed in the hanging piece 74.
Bolts 76 screwed to the base plate portion 27 or the horizontal rails 50 pass through 75, whereby the range of vertical movement of the empty can guide 71 is restricted.

Further, the sorting plate 28 is formed by the both transport path frames.
A support shaft 81 is supported between 23 and 24 so as to be vertically swingable within a predetermined range with the left-right direction as the rotation axis direction. The sorting plate 28 always tries to rotate in the clockwise direction in the drawing due to gravity applied to itself, and the rear portion of the sorting plate 28 is placed on the stopper piece 82 provided between the two conveyance path frames 23 and 24. become. In this state, the sorting plate 28 is continuously located on the same plane as the rear side of the crushed substrate portion 27. A magnet 83 is fixed on the stopper piece 82. On the other hand, sorting plate 28
The magnet 83 when it rests on the stopper piece 82.
An opening hole 84 for exposing the is formed. Further, a backing plate 85 is fixed to the rear crosspiece 22 positioned behind the sorting plate 28 so as to project upward.

The shutter 33, the one opening / closing plate 36, the empty can guide 71, and the sorting plate 28 operate in conjunction with the crushing plate 51. Next, the interlocking mechanism will be described. The shutter 33 is always pulled upward, that is, in the closing direction by a spring 91 stretched between the shutter 33 and the front upper portion of the frame member 2. In addition, one transport path frame 24 has a lever
A support shaft 93 is supported by a support shaft 93 so as to be vertically swingable within a predetermined range with the left-right direction as the rotation axis direction. A protrusion 94 is fixed to the intermediate portion of the lever 92 where the support shaft 93 is located at the rear end portion by protruding upward. The protruding piece 94 is pushed from above by the end of the support shaft 63 when the crushing plate 51 is lowered. The rear end of the link rod 95 is rotatably connected to the front end of the lever 92, and the front end of the link rod 95 is rotatably connected to the intermediate part of one arm portion 34 of the shutter 33. Has been done.

As one of the drive mechanisms for the opening / closing plate 36, one end of the wire 101 is fixed to the weight 40 of the opening / closing plate 36. The wire 101 is hooked on a wire guide 102 provided on the front upper portion of the frame member 2, and the other end is fixed to the end of the support shaft 63. The wire 101 is stretched only when the crushing plate 51 is near the upper limit of the ascending weight 40.
And the opening / closing plate 36 is opened.

As a mechanism for interlocking the empty can guide 71 and the crushing plate 51, a lever 106 is provided at a rear side of the horizontal rail 50 by a support shaft 107 located at one end of the horizontal bar 50 so that a front-back direction is set as a rotation axis direction. It is supported so that it can swing vertically. The intermediate portion of the lever 106 is a hanging piece 74 on the front surface of the empty can guide 71.
It is located in a U-shaped lever receiving portion 109 formed in the lower part of the. The upper limit of the lever receiving portion 109 limits the rising limit of the lever 106, and the lower limit of the lever receiving portion 109 controls the lower limit. Also, the lever 106
A stopper 108 fixed to the horizontal rail 50 so as to project downward is prevented from moving backward. Further, the crush plate 51
One end of the wire 110 is fixed to the end of the support shaft 63, and the other end of the wire 110 is fixed to the free end of the lever 106. Further, one end of a spring 111 is connected to the wire 110, and the other end of the spring 111 is fixed to the front end of one of the horizontal rails 11. With such an interlocking mechanism, the empty can guide 71 is closed with respect to the substrate portion 27 when the crushing plate 51 is lowered from a predetermined position, and the empty can guide 71 is raised when the crushing plate 51 is raised. It is like this. It should be noted that one end of the spring 111 can freely move along the wire 110. this is,
This is to prevent the wire 110 from slackening and to prevent the wire 110 from being caught by other mechanism parts and hindering its operation or breaking the wire.

Further, one end of the wire 116 is fixed to the separating plate 28, which is positioned slightly behind the supporting shaft 81 thereof. The wire 116 is hooked on a wire guide 117 provided on the support frame 61 and a wire guide 118 provided on the protrusion 94 of the lever 92, and the other end is fixed to the front upper part of the frame member 2. .

FIG. 8 shows an outline of a control system centered on the electric motor 56. In the figure, 121 is an overcurrent detecting means, and this overcurrent detecting means 121 detects the current of the motor 56. Further, 122 is a timer for clocking, 123 is a motor driving means, and 124 is a control means. This control means 124 includes sensors 15, 32, 44, reset button 9, limit switches 66, 67, and overcurrent detection means.
The motor 56 is controlled via the motor driving means 123 according to signals from the timer 121 and the timer 122.

Although not shown, a switch is provided on the upper rear portion of the frame member 2 to prevent the apparatus from operating unless the upper plate member 3 is attached. When this switch opens, the device will stop immediately at that point.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. First, the usage method will be described. When the blue lamp 6 is lit, empty can crushing can be performed. The user
It is only necessary to put the empty can A into the charging port 5. At this time, the axial direction of the empty can A is made to coincide with the axial direction of the charging port 5. And
By inserting the empty can A into the charging port 5, the empty can crushing device is activated to perform a certain operation, and the empty can crushing is automatically performed. In addition, if the empty can A put in the charging port 5 advances, the next empty can A can be put in. Thus, the blue lamp 6 is always lit, but when the blue lamp 6 is turned off and the white lamp 7 is lit, the containers 13 and 14 inside are full, so the door 16 is opened. Empty container A in containers 13 and 14
Dispose of. Further, the lighting of the red lamp 8 informs that the apparatus has stopped due to some abnormality. At this time, by pressing the reset button 9, the apparatus can be forcibly restarted. However, for example, if the reset button 9 is not pressed and it does not operate normally,
An inspection should be done.

Next, the operation of the empty can crushing device will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the state where the crushing plate 51 is at the upper limit and is stopped is the standby state. That is, the device is always stopped in this standby state. The device is activated when the sensor 32 detects that the empty can A or the like has entered the charging port 5. Further, as will be described in detail later, in the case of an emergency stop of the device, it may be possible to restart the device by pressing the reset button 9. When the apparatus is activated, the rod 58 moves forward by driving the motor 56 and the crushing plate 51 descends. As shown in FIG. 4, when the crush plate 51 reaches the lower limit and the second limit switch 67 detects this, the motor 56
Is reversed, the rod 58 retracts, and the crush plate 51 rises. The crush plate 51 has reached the upper limit, which is the first limit switch.
66 detects, which shuts down the device. One cycle of operation is about 9 seconds.

Interlocking with the operation of the crushing plate 51, the shutter 33, the opening / closing plate 36, the empty can guide 71, and the sorting plate 28 respectively operate as follows. First is the shutter 33,
In the standby state, the shutter 33 is in a position where it is pulled up by the spring 91 and raised, and closes the insertion port 5. When the crushing plate 51 approaches the lower limit, the support shaft 63 of the crushing plate 51 projects.
By pushing 94 downward, lever 92 turns downward. Along with this, the link rod 95 pulls the shutter 33, and the shutter 33 rotates downward and opens. When the crushing plate 51 turns upward, the shutter 91 immediately raises the shutter 33 and the lever 92, and the insertion port 5 is closed.

In the standby state, the open / close plate 36 is in a state in which the open / close plate 36 is rotated downward and opened by the stretched wire 101 lifting the weight 40 upward. When the crushing plate 51 starts descending, the wire 101 is loosened, so that the opening / closing plate 36 immediately turns upward and closes. This is due to the effect of gravity on the weight 40. While the crushing plate 51 is descending to some extent or more, the opening / closing plate 36 remains closed, but the crushing plate 51
When reaches the upper limit, the wire 101 is stretched again and the opening / closing plate 36 opens. The other opening / closing plate 37 is always closed.

Further, the empty can guide 71 is located at the upper limit in the standby state. As the crush plate 51 begins to descend, as the wire 110 loosens, gravity and spring 11
The tension of 1 causes lever 106 to rotate downward. Lever 106
When is lowered, the empty can guide 71 in which the lever 106 is engaged with the lever receiving portion 109 of the hanging piece 74 is also lowered.
While the crushing plate 51 descends about 1/3 of its full stroke, the empty can guide 71 reaches the lower limit and is closed with respect to the substrate portion 27. After that, the wire 110 will only loosen. Further, when the crushing plate 51 is raised, the wire 110 is not sufficiently stretched until the crushing plate 51 rises about 2/3 of its full stroke, and due to gravity and the tension of the spring 111, the empty can The guide 71 continues to be located at the lower limit. After that, when the wire 110 is sufficiently stretched, the wire 106 is pulled by this and the lever 106 rotates upward, and the empty can guide 71 also rotates upward. The spring 111 is for surely lowering the empty can guide 71. That is, the empty can guide 71 can be surely lowered even if mucus such as residual juice of the juice is attached.

Further, the sorting plate 28 is
Due to gravity, the rear portion is placed on the stopper piece 82. When the crushing plate 51 approaches the lower limit, the support shaft 63 pushes the protrusion 94 downward, so that the lever 92 rotates downward. Along with this, the wire 116 is stretched to support the support shaft 81 of the sorting plate 28.
The rear part is pulled up more than this, whereby the sorting plate 28 rotates counterclockwise in the drawing. When the crushing plate 51 starts to rise, the sorting plate 28 immediately rotates in the clockwise direction due to gravity, and the rear portion is again placed on the stopper piece 82. Next,
The movement of one empty can A will be described. When the shutter 33 opens, the empty can A that has entered the charging port 5 slides down onto the open / close plates 36 and 37 that are closed due to gravity, and the crush plate 51 located at the lower limit.
Hits the front of and stops. If it is a light empty can A with no contents, the opening / closing plates 36, 37 will not open. Although the empty can A has an axial direction of conveyance at the input port 5, even when the empty can A slides down on the opening / closing plates 36 and 37, the empty can A passes through the guide tunnel 42 so that the axial direction becomes the direction of conveyance. The posture is controlled. Therefore, the radial direction of the empty can A does not become the conveying direction.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, after the crushing plate 51 has risen to a certain extent, the empty can A gradually moves on the empty can guide 71 so that the crushing plate 51 goes under the rising of the crushing plate 51. It slides down. The empty can guide 71 is closed on the substrate portion 27 until most of the empty can A is placed on the empty can guide 71.
When the crushing plate 51 further rises, the empty can guide 71 rises. In this way, since the angle formed by the empty can guide 71 with respect to the horizontal plane becomes large, even if mucus adheres, the empty can A
Surely slips down into place. That is, the crush plate 51
Is in the upper limit position, and the tip of the empty can A is in contact with the crushing plate 51 and the substrate portion 27. At this time, the axial direction of the empty can A is substantially orthogonal to the rotational axis direction of the crushing plate 51.

Then, when the crushing plate 51 descends, the empty can A
Is crushed between the crushing plate 51 and the substrate portion 27. At this time, shortly after the crushing plate 51 starts to descend, the empty can guide 71 descends, and the empty can guide 71 is closed on the substrate portion 27. Therefore,
The load applied when the empty can A is crushed is reliably received by the base plate portion 27. Also, when this crushing is performed, the crushing plate 51
And the non-slip projections 53, 54, 55 of the base plate portion 27 bite into the peripheral surface of the empty can A, thereby preventing the empty can A from being displaced particularly in the returning direction. In particular, the non-slip projections 54 at the free end of the crush plate 51 reliably prevent the empty can A from bouncing in the return direction.

When the crushing plate 51 reaches the lower limit, the crushing is completed, but thereafter, as the crushing plate 51 rises,
The crushed empty can A passes through the gap between the rear end of the crushing plate 51 and the upper surface of the substrate portion 27 and slides down onto the sorting plate 28 located on the same plane as the substrate portion 27. It should be noted that in the case of the empty can A having mucus adhered thereto, the empty can A may not be easily slid off from the substrate portion 27, but even in this case, the empty can guide 71
Is raised and its inclination becomes large, it can be surely slid down from the empty can guide 71. Empty can A is substrate 27
When sliding down from the separating plate 28 to the separating plate 28, the magnet 83 is exposed in the opening hole 84 of the separating plate 28. However, the aluminum empty can (aluminum can) A is not adsorbed by the magnet 83 and is kept as it is. It slides down, falls from the rear end of this sorting plate 28, and is stored in the aluminum can storage container 14 on the rear side. In addition,
The backing plate 85 prevents the empty can A from being caught by the rear crosspiece 22 made of an angle material, and reliably drops the empty can A into the aluminum can storage container 14. On the other hand, steel cans (steel cans)
A is attracted to the magnet 83 and stops on the sorting plate 28. When the sorting plate 28 rotates counterclockwise in the drawing, the empty can A
Is separated from the magnet 83 on the stopper piece 82 together with the separating plate 28, the adsorption is released, and the separating plate 28 that is inclined in the opposite direction slides down to the front, falls from the front end of the separating plate 28, and is stored in the front steel can. It is stored in the container 13. In this way, the aluminum can and the steel can are automatically separated, and there is no need to manually separate the crushed empty can A later.

When a foreign substance such as a stone, a glass bottle or a can containing juice is put into the charging port 5,
If the foreign matter has a weight of a predetermined value or more, the foreign matter is removed by the weight sorter 26. That is,
When the foreign matter slipped down from the inlet 5 is placed on the opening / closing plates 36, 37, the gravity exerted by the foreign matter exceeds the gravity exerted by the weights 40, 41 on the opening / closing plates 36, 37. Turn down and open. As a result, the foreign matter is stored in the foreign matter storage container 12
Fall inside. After that, the opening / closing plates 36, 37 are attached to the weights 40,
Open again under the load of 41.

By the way, in the case of an empty can A having mucus adhered thereto or a deformed empty can A, or in the case of a lightly paper cup or waste paper which has been mistakenly put in, slippage is bad and remains on the opening / closing plates 36, 37. , It may not be possible to transfer to the empty can guide 71. Such an empty can A, a paper cup, or the like, when the crushing plate 51 is near the upper limit, as one opening / closing plate 36 opens,
It falls into the foreign matter container 12 and is removed as a foreign matter. As a result, the device can be operated without any trouble thereafter. Also,
If mucus adheres to the open / close plates 36, 37 and the resistance to conveyance increases, the open / close plates 36, 37 will be able to operate even with a normal empty can
It does not slide down from the board portion 27 to the board portion 27, falls from there as the opening / closing plate 36 opens, and is treated as a foreign substance. This is a guide for when to clean the inside of the device. That is,
The maintenance person looks at the foreign matter container 12 and, if a large number of normal empty cans A are contained therein, it is determined that the amount of mucus adhered to the empty can carrier path 25 including the opening / closing plates 36 and 37 is large. It is possible to clean the empty can carrying path 25.

As is apparent from the above-mentioned explanation of the operation of the apparatus, after a certain empty can A enters between the crushing plate 51 located at the ascending limit and the base plate portion 27, the next empty can A enters the charging port. The crushing plate 51 is lowered and the empty can A is crushed only after the crushing plate 51 is put into the container 5.

When both the sensor 32 in the inlet 5 and the sensor 44 in the weight sorter 26 are in the detection state,
The apparatus immediately returns to the standby state, that is, the crushing plate 51 is raised, and stops. Further, the blue lamp 6 is turned off and the red lamp 8 is turned on. For example, if a hand, an umbrella, etc. is inserted from the insertion port 5 to the back by mischief,
Both sensors 32 and 44 are in the detection state, but at this time, the device returns to the standby state and stops, which is safe. In addition,
During normal use, while the crushing plate 51 is descending, the charging port 5
The empty can A is not located on both the opening and closing plates 36 and 37. Further, as described above, when the empty can A is crushed, the crush plate 51 is crushed by the non-slip protrusions 54 at the free end of the crush plate 51.
It is reliably prevented that the lower empty can A returns to the top of the opening / closing plates 36, 37. Therefore, with the empty can A also in the input port 5, the empty can A under the crushing plate 51 returns to above the opening / closing plates 36, 37, and the sensor 44 detects it. Does not stop unnecessarily.

Further, when the empty can A rises up from the containers 13 and 14, the sensor 15 detects it and the blue lamp 6 which is always lit up to that time is extinguished.
The white lamp 7 lights up. At the same time, the device returns to the standby state and stops, and even if the empty can A is inserted into the charging port 5 or the reset button 9 is pressed, the device does not operate.

Here, the operation of the crushing plate 51 will be supplementarily described. If it is a normal soft can A, the crushing plate 51
Is lowered only once, and is lowered until the second limit switch 67 is actuated, and then raised to the standby position.
On the other hand, in the case of a fairly hard empty can A, the load of the motor 56 increases as the crushing plate 51 descends. The current of the motor 56 is detected by the overcurrent detecting means 121. When this exceeds the reference value, the crushing plate 51 rises to the standby position regardless of the second limit switch 67. Further, even when a predetermined time, for example, about 8 seconds has passed after the operation of the first limit switch 66, the crushing plate 51 is raised to the standby position by the function of the timer 122 regardless of the second limit switch 67. As a result, the empty can A, which has been crushed to some extent, is sent to the back by gravity. After that, the crush plate 51 descends again and tries to crush. In this way, the crushed empty can A is further sent to the fulcrum of the crushing plate 51, and then crushing is attempted again, so that the empty can A that could not be crushed by one downward movement of the crushing plate 51 can be crushed. Become. This attempt to lower the crush plate 51 is repeated up to three times. Meanwhile, if the second limit switch 67 is activated, the crushing is completed, the crushing plate 51 is raised to the standby position, and the device can continue to operate thereafter. On the other hand, if the second limit switch 67 is not activated even after three attempts, the red lamp 8 lights up, the crushing plate 51 returns to the standby position, and the apparatus stops. Here, if the reset switch 9 is pressed, the crushing operation is retried.

In addition to the detection of the overcurrent of the motor 56, the timer 122 controls the motor 56 for the following reason. That is, in the case of a foreign substance, the force to return the crushing plate 51 to the upper side may work, and there is instability in the electric circuit only by detecting the overcurrent, and the crushing plate 51 remains stopped at the intermediate position. Sometimes. In order to prevent this, the timer will force the crush plate about 8 seconds after the last operation of the first limit switch 66.
Raise 51 to the standby position. Further, even if the second reset switch 67 is broken, the crush plate 51 can be returned to the standby position by the detection of the overcurrent or the timer 122 described above. Therefore, the motor 56 does not burn.

According to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the empty can crushing device which conveys the empty can A in the axial direction by utilizing gravity is provided with the empty can guide 71 which moves up and down in association with the crushing plate 51. Thus, the empty can A can be surely sent to the predetermined position with respect to the substrate portion 27 and the crushing plate 51 without increasing the inclination angle of the empty can transporting path 25 too much, and the empty can after the crushing is completed. Can A can also be delivered smoothly and reliably. Also, empty can A
The load when crushing is surely received.

Further, the cylindrical inlet 5, the guide tunnel 42 provided in the weight sorter 26, and the groove-shaped guides on the upper surfaces of the empty can guides 71 ensure that the empty can is securely fed from the inlet 5 to the substrate portion 27. A can be conveyed while maintaining its axial direction.

Further, since the opening / closing plate 36 is opened when the crushing plate 51 is located near the upper limit, even if the empty can A or paper cup to which mucus adheres cannot be transferred onto the substrate 27, A and paper cups can be eliminated, and therefore the subsequent operation of the device can be performed without any hindrance. Also, a normal empty can A
Since the open / close plate 36 is removed from the open / close plate 36, it can be known that the empty can carrying path 25 itself has become considerably soiled with mucus, which is also useful for maintenance of the apparatus.

Further, when the overcurrent of the motor 56 is detected and the crushing plate 51 cannot be crushed by one downward movement, the crushing of the empty can A is repeated up to three times, so that the apparatus is excessively crushed. It is possible to reliably crush even a solid empty can A while preventing the burden of Moreover, the timer further improves the reliability.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but various modifications can be made. For example,
In the above embodiment, the opening / closing plates 36, 37 are held in the closed position by the weights 40, 41, but they may be held by springs. Further, in the above-described embodiment, only one motor 56 is provided, and the crushing plate 51 is linked with the shutter 33, the opening / closing plate 36, the guide plate 37, and the separating plate 28. It is also possible to interlock with each other. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the crushing plate 51 is made to try to crush up to three times at a time, but the number is not limited to three. Further, in the above embodiment, the crush plate 51
Although the opening / closing plate 36 is opened when the crushing plate rises, the opening / closing plate may be opened when the crushing plate is lowered or at another timing depending on the operation timing of the entire apparatus.

[0051]

According to the invention of claim 1, the empty can is conveyed backward along the axial direction by gravity in the machine frame, and
In an empty can crushing device that crushes an empty can from one end side by a rotating pressing body, an empty can guide that opens and closes with respect to the substrate is provided at the rear end of the empty can guide on the upper side of the substrate. Is swingably supported about the rotation axis direction, the empty can guide is closed with respect to the substrate portion when the pressing body is lowered from a predetermined position, and the empty can guide is raised when the pressing body is raised. Since the interlocking mechanism is provided, when the empty can is fed between the substrate portion and the pressing body, the empty can guide is turned upward, and the angle with respect to the horizontal plane becomes large. Even if the overall inclination angle is not large, the empty can can be reliably fed to a predetermined position between the substrate portion and the pressing body. Further, when the pressing body descends and crushes the empty can, the load can be reliably received because the empty can guide is closed on the substrate portion.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, in the straight can carrier path, between the input port and the substrate part, there is an opening / closing body which opens downward when a load of a predetermined amount or more is applied. Although there is a weight sorter, the opening and closing plate was covered from above, and a guide tunnel located coaxially with the cylindrical loading port along the empty can transport direction was provided, so The empty can can be reliably transported while maintaining its axial direction.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, since the drive mechanism for opening the opening / closing plate of the weight sorter is provided, by opening the opening / closing plate at an appropriate timing, an empty can with mucus or a deformed empty space can be opened. Even if a can or a light paper cup or waste paper cannot be transferred from the opening / closing plate onto the substrate, these empty cans, paper cups, etc. are removed as the opening / closing plate opens, and therefore the operation of the device thereafter. Can be done without any trouble. Further, since the normal empty can is removed by the opening / closing plate, it can be known that the empty can carrying path itself is considerably soiled with mucus, which is also useful for maintenance of the apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of an empty can crushing device according to the present invention, with a plate material of an outer shell being removed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the overall appearance of the same.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the upper empty can transporting path, showing a state in which the pressing body is at the upper limit.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the upper empty can transport path, showing a state in which the pressing body is at the lower limit.

FIG. 5 is a lower perspective view of a portion of the upper empty can carrying path.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a pressing body and a substrate portion in the intermediate position of the same as above.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the same opening / closing plate.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an outline of a control system of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Machine frame 5 Input port 25 Empty can carrier 26 Weight sorter 27 Base plate 36 Open / close plate 37 Open / close plate 42 Guide tunnel 51 Crush plate (pressing body) 53 Non-slip protrusion 54 Non-slip protrusion 71 Empty can guide

Claims (3)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A machine frame, an empty can carrier path provided in the machine frame so as to be inclined in a direction descending rearward, and left and right on an upper side of a substrate portion forming a part of the empty can carrier path. A pressing member that is swingably supported about the direction of the rotation axis and that opens and closes with respect to the base plate portion in front of the rotary shaft, and an empty can guide that opens and closes with respect to the base plate portion is provided above the base plate portion. A rear end portion of the empty can guide is swingably supported with the left-right direction as a rotation axis direction, and the empty can guide is closed with respect to the substrate portion when the pressing body is lowered from a predetermined position. An empty can crushing device comprising an interlocking mechanism that raises the empty can guide when the pressing body moves upward. 2. A machine frame, an empty can carrier path linearly provided in the machine frame in a direction descending rearward, and a substrate portion forming a part of the empty can carrier path. A pressing body that is swingably supported on the upper side with the left-right direction as the rotation axis direction and that opens and closes on the front side of the rotation axis with respect to the substrate section;
The empty can transport path is a cylindrical inlet opening to the front of the machine frame, and a weight sorter continuous below the inlet.
The weight sorter has a continuous base plate section below the weight sorter, and the weight sorter includes an opening / closing body that opens downward when a load of a predetermined amount or more is applied, and covers the opening / closing plate from above. An empty can crushing device, characterized in that a guide tunnel is provided coaxially with the cylindrical inlet along the empty can conveying direction. 3. A machine frame, an empty can carrying path which is provided in the machine frame so as to be inclined in a direction descending rearward, and left and right above a substrate portion forming a part of the empty can carrying path. And a pressing body that is swingably supported about the direction of the rotation axis and that opens and closes on the front side of the rotation axis with respect to the substrate section, and the empty can transfer path is a cylindrical insertion opening to the front surface of the machine frame. An opening, a weight sorter continuous below and below the input port, and a substrate portion continuous below and below the weight sorter, and the weight sorter moves downward when a load of a predetermined amount or more is applied. An empty can crushing device, which comprises an opening / closing member that opens and closes and has a drive mechanism that opens the opening / closing plate.