JPH05255A - Empty can collecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To separate cans made of Al and cans made of iron from other containers to collect the cans in a large quantity and efficiently and in good condition for utilization by installing a shutter which works by a signal sent out of a metal detector and shuts the inlet of an empty can breaking part or the inlet of a non-metal thrown object braking part. CONSTITUTION:An empty can breaking part 2 having a blade 11 for breaking is branched from the terminal of a throwing inlet 1 having a throwing inlet 7 and a metal detector 9. A magnetic-type belt conveyor to attract and separates iron chips from the chips produced by the breaking part 2 and a chip separating part 3 which leads each separated chip to respective exclusive containers and consists of each scrapper are installed. Also, a non-metal thrown object breaking part 4 is branched from the terminal of the throwing part 1 and the chips discharged from it are contained in a waste storage part 5. Furthermore, a shutter 6 to shut the inlet of the breaking part 2 or the inlet of the breaking part 4 based on the signal sent out of the metal detector 9 is installed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an empty can collecting device for breaking empty cans and other containers made of aluminum or iron juice or the like into small chips and separating and collecting them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the recovery of resources has become a major social problem from the viewpoint of environmental protection, and the recovery of empty cans such as juice is one of them. By the way, empty cans such as juice are collected as non-burnable garbage by local governments and the like. In addition, vending machines for juice and the like are also provided with empty can inlets for collection. On the other hand, the reuse of resources is also important in terms of securing inexpensive resources, and empty cans of aluminum are imported from pressed ones from foreign countries.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

The number of empty cans collected by local governments is small in the total amount. Moreover, the types of articles collected as incombustible waste are so large that it is impossible to count them, and it is extremely difficult to separate and collect aluminum cans and iron cans from among them, which is a resource. Less than 30% is reused and the rest is abandoned in landfills. Therefore, the number of empty cans collected is less than 20% of the total.

The empty cans collected in the space attached to the vending machine are not processed by pressing or the like, and the number of empty cans that can be collected therein is limited. Moreover, although aluminum cans and iron cans are sold in the same vending machine, they are not sorted at the time of collection.

According to the present invention, an aluminum can and an iron can are separated from other containers and the like in large quantity and efficiently.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide an empty can collecting device that can collect the cans in a highly usable state.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the empty can collecting device of the present invention has an empty can breaking unit having a charging unit having a charging port and a metal detector, and a breaking blade branching from the end thereof. And a chip separation unit consisting of a magnetic belt conveyor that adsorbs and separates iron chips from the chips discharged from it and each scraper that guides each separated chip to its own container, and branches from the end of the charging unit. Crusher with a non-metallic input rupture section, a dust storage section for storing chips discharged from it, and an empty can rupture section inlet or non-metal input rupture section inlet operated by a signal emitted from a metal detector. It is composed of a shutter that shields.

[0007]

[Operation] In the empty can collecting device configured as described above, if the input is a metallic empty can, the shutter closes the entrance of the breaking part of the non-metallic input, and the empty can is placed on the empty can breaking part side. It is accepted and broken into small chips by the breaking blade and dropped. Then, among the chips, only iron chips are adsorbed on the magnetic belt conveyor to be separated, and the respective chips are discharged into a dedicated container by each scraper. If the input is made of non-metal, the shutter closes the entrance to the rupture part of the empty can, the input is received at the non-metal input rupture part side, and the crusher breaks it into small pieces and puts it in the garbage storage part. Be dropped.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the empty can collecting device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, this empty can collecting device includes a loading part 1 for empty cans, a breaking part 2 for empty cans, a chip separating part 3, a breaking part 4 for a non-metallic charged material, a waste container 5, and an input material. It is composed of a shutter 6 for allocating to the empty can rupture section 2 side and the non-metallic charged material rupture section 4 side. The charging part 1, the empty can breaking part 2, and the non-metal charging part breaking part 4 are each cylindrical.

The charging section 1 has a charging port 7 for empty cans and the like formed in the upper portion thereof, and the lower portion thereof is horizontal or gently inclined. Below the inclined portion, an endless belt conveyor 8 made of rubber or plastic that is stretched over belt wheels at both ends and moves from the inlet side to the outlet side, and a metal sensor 9 are provided below the belt conveyor 8. .. When the inclination angle of the inclined portion is relatively large, the belt conveyor 8 may be omitted, but in order to reliably feed a small input material,
It is better to provide the belt conveyor 8. Belt conveyor 8
On the upper surface of the sheet, several pairs of durable conductor wires 10 such as a pair of piano wires are stretched in the width direction at a slight distance from the belt surface. The lead wires 10 of each pair are connected to the positive side and the negative side of the metal sensor 9, respectively. Each pair of conductors 1
The interval of 0 is set to be slightly smaller than the diameter of an input material such as an empty can. When a metallic input such as an empty can touches the pair of conductive wires 10 at the same time, an electric current flows between them. This current is
It is a metal detection signal. The breaking blade 11, the belt conveyor 12 and the magnetic type belt conveyor 13, which will be described later, start driving upon receiving the metal detection signal. And these are
The current is cut off and stopped after a lapse of a predetermined time after the metal tip movement signal from a sensor (not shown) provided below the breaking blade 11 is cut off. Further, an empty can breaking part 2 and a non-metallic charging part breaking part 4 are branched and connected to the end of the charging part 1.

The shutter 6 is provided at a branch portion at the lower end of the charging unit 1 and normally stands by at a position where the entrance of the empty can breaking unit 2 is closed, and a metal detector 9 detects a metal charging object such as a empty can. At this time, it is supported by an electromagnetic solenoid, an air cylinder, or the like so as to swing in a direction of closing the inlet of the non-metallic charged material breaking portion 4. If the input is made of non-metal, the metal detector 9 does not detect metal, so the swing shutter 6 keeps the entrance of the empty can breaking portion 2 closed. In addition, since the lower part of the charging unit 1 is horizontally or slightly inclined, the time taken for the charging object to reach the shutter 6 from the charging port 7 can be lengthened compared to a natural fall, and the operating time of the shutter 6 can be spared. Can have

A breaking blade 11 is provided on the bulging portion at the center of the empty can breaking portion 2. As the breaking blade 11, for example, the one as shown in the drawing is raised. In this system, two rotary blades provided with several blades radially protruding on a horizontal axis are arranged in parallel, the left rotary blade is rotated clockwise and the right rotary blade is rotated counterclockwise at high speed. Cutting blade 11
In addition to this, any may be used as long as it can break a thin metal plate, such as one in which a large number of blades are projected on the surface of a horizontally placed rotating disk. Further, since the breaking blade 11 exists at the back after passing through the two bending portions, it cannot be reached even if a child puts his / her hand through the empty can insertion port 7.

The chip separating section 3 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a belt conveyor 12 and an aluminum chip collecting section attached to it, and a magnetic belt conveyor 13 and an iron chip collecting section attached to it.

One end of the belt conveyor 12 is arranged directly below the lower end opening of the empty can breaking portion 2 and conveys the metal chips to the left side as shown by the arrow. The structure is composed of a belt wheel at both ends, and an endless belt made of rubber or plastic having a reinforcing layer of canvas or steel wire that is hung around it. A scraper 14 for receiving the conveyed aluminum chips is installed on the other end side of the belt conveyor 12 and extends to a container 16.

The magnetic belt conveyor 13 is arranged above the belt conveyor 12 with a predetermined space therebetween, and conveys metal chips in a direction opposite to the belt conveyor 12. The structure is similar to that of the belt conveyor 12, except that the magnetic powder is kneaded into the rubber or plastic layer. At the end of the magnetic belt conveyor 13, a scraper 15 for receiving the conveyed iron chips is installed and extends to a container 17.

Each of the containers 16 and 17 is made of a mesh so that liquid such as juice or the like that adheres to the input material or remains therein can be permeated. Then, the liquid that has passed through the net of the container is discharged from the discharge port 21 at the lower part of the device to the external tray 22. For the same reason, the container of the dust container 5 described later is also made of net.

In the case where the chip separating portion 3 is provided, when an empty can made of aluminum or iron is inserted through the empty can input port 8, the metal sensor 9 detects it and the shutter 6 is made of a non-metal input material. The blade 11 for breaking, the belt conveyor 12, and the magnetic belt conveyor 13 start to drive while being closed to the side of the breaking portion 4, and the empty can is the blade 1 for breaking.
1 breaks into a chip about the size of a 1-yen coin. Then, the chip falls on the belt conveyor 12 and is carried to the left side. In the meantime, the chips of the empty can made of iron are adsorbed to the lower side of the magnetic belt conveyor 13 and moved to the left side, and after passing the position of the belt wheel at the left end, moved to the right side and passed on the scraper 15. Then, the scraper 15 is slid down and accommodated in the container 17. On the other hand, the chips of the empty can made of aluminum are not adsorbed on the magnetic belt conveyor 13 and proceed on the belt conveyor 12 as they are, passed on the scraper 14, slid down the scraper 14, and are accommodated in the container 16. It When the movement signal of the metal chip from the sensor below the breaking blade 11 is cut off and a predetermined time elapses, the breaking blade 11, the belt conveyor 12 and the magnetic belt conveyor 13 are stopped.

In the chip separating unit 3 shown in FIG. 2, a belt conveyor 12 and a magnetic belt conveyor 13 which are in the same conveying direction are arranged side by side so that the empty can breaking section 2 is located above the belt conveyor 12 in the conveying direction. Changes in positioning the bottom opening of the can be allowed. In this modified example, if the width of the belt conveyor 12 is reduced, the chips of the empty cans made of iron that fall on the belt conveyor 12 are sufficiently adsorbed to the magnetic belt conveyor 13, so that the conveyors 12 and 13 are provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction. By providing a scraper for each, the chips of the empty can made of aluminum and the chips of the empty can made of iron can be separated and collected.

The chip separating unit 3 shown in FIG. 3 has a magnetic belt conveyor 13 similar to the chip separating unit 3 shown in FIG.
There is only one.

A scraper 18 for guiding the naturally falling aluminum chips to the container is provided downstream of the magnetic belt conveyor 13 in the conveying direction. Similarly, a scraper 18 for guiding the aluminum chips to the container in the conveying direction is magnetically attached to the lower surface to the right side. There is provided a scraper 19 for peeling off the iron chip moving to the container and guiding it to the container. In principle, the separation and collection process of the aluminum cans and the iron cans in this empty can collecting unit is not much different from that of the first embodiment. However, this empty can collection device has only one belt conveyor and is superior to the previous example in that it is simple.

Lastly, a crusher 20 having a similar structure to that of the breaking blade 11 of the empty can breaking portion 2 and a more robust crusher 20 is provided at the lower portion of the breaking portion 4 of the non-metallic input material, and the crusher 20 enters there. Bottles and so on are crushed into small pieces. The crushed fragments and the like are stored in the dust container of the dust container 5 below the crusher 20. Note that the above-mentioned input material separation and collection process is summarized as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

The empty can collecting device described above is not so large, and can be sufficiently stored in a vending machine for juice or the like as shown by the dotted line in FIG. Also,
As shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 4, it can be installed as a stand-alone device beside the vending machine, or can be installed independently of the vending machine. In particular, when installing in association with the vending machine, a counter is provided to count the number of metal detection signals output from the metal detector 9,
If one can serve juice or the like by counting a predetermined number of times or more, the collection efficiency is further improved.

[0023]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects.

That is, since empty cans and other containers are collected in a chip state, a much larger amount of empty cans can be stored and collected as compared with the case where they are collected as they are. Especially at the event venues, playgrounds, parks, etc. where a large number of people gather.
It is convenient to collect empty cans and other containers that are discharged in large quantities, because the collected items are compact, space saving, and efficient.

Further, compared to the case where an empty can is pressed as it is and then washed with water, not only can it be washed with water much easier, but also melting at the time of reuse is easier. Moreover, the aluminum can and the iron can can be separated from other containers and collected efficiently. Even iron cans with aluminum lids can be reliably separated and collected.

Further, if it is attached to a vending machine for juice or the like, it can be used by consumers easily and the efficiency of collecting empty cans is further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing the arrangement of each part of an empty can collection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of an empty can breaking part and a chip separating part of the empty can collecting device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view of a portion corresponding to FIG. 2 in an empty can collection device including another chip separating unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an installation mode of the empty can collection device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart diagram for explaining a process of separately collecting and collecting aluminum cans, iron cans and others by the empty can collecting device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Input Section 2 Empty Can Breaking Section 3 Chip Separation Section 4 Non-Metallic Input Breaking Section 5 Dust Storage Section 6 Shutter 7 Input Port 9 Metal Detector 11 Breaking Blade 12 Belt Conveyor 13 Magnetic Belt Conveyor 14 Scrapper 15 Scrapper 16 containers 17 containers 18 scrapers 19 scrapers 20 crushers

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 1, 1991

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In the case where the chip separation unit 3 is provided, when an empty can made of aluminum or iron is inserted through the empty can input port 7 , the metal sensor 9 detects it and the shutter 6 is made of a non-metallic input material. While closing on the side of the breaking part 4,
The breaking blade 11, the belt conveyor 12 and the magnetic belt conveyor 13 start driving, and the empty can is broken by the breaking blade 11 into chips of a size of about one yen coin. Then, the chip falls on the belt conveyor 12 and is carried to the left side. In the meantime, the chips of the empty can made of iron are adsorbed to the lower side of the magnetic belt conveyor 13 and moved to the left side, and after passing the position of the belt wheel at the left end, moved to the right side and passed on the scraper 15. Then, the scraper 15 is slid down and accommodated in the container 17. On the other hand, the chips of the empty can made of aluminum are not adsorbed on the magnetic belt conveyor 13 and proceed on the belt conveyor 12 as they are, passed on the scraper 14, slid down the scraper 14, and are accommodated in the container 16. It When the movement signal of the metal chip from the sensor below the breaking blade 11 is cut off and a predetermined time elapses, the breaking blade 11, the belt conveyor 12 and the magnetic belt conveyor 13 are stopped.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A charging unit having a charging port and a metal sensor,
A crushing part of an empty can that branches off from the end and has a breaking blade, a magnetic belt conveyor that adsorbs and separates iron chips from the chips discharged from it, and each scraper that guides each separated chip to its own container. It is operated by a signal emitted from a metal separating unit, a chip separating unit, a non-metal input breaking unit that branches from the end of the input unit and has a crusher, a dust storage unit that stores chips discharged from it, and a signal emitted from a metal sensor. A device for collecting empty cans, which comprises a shutter that shields the entrance of the breaking part of the empty can or the entrance of the breaking part of the non-metallic charge.