JPH0733494U - Empty can crushing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To reduce the longitudinal dimension of an empty can crushing device that basically conveys empty cans in the axial direction by gravity. [Constitution] An empty can carrying path 31 in a machine frame 1 having a longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction is inclined in a direction descending rearward. A transfer body 32 is provided below the charging port 7. This transfer
The reference numeral 32 rotates in association with the crushing plate 67 about a rotation axis parallel to the axial direction of the empty can being conveyed. A weight selector 33 is provided side by side with the transfer body 32. A crushing substrate portion 34 is provided below the weight selector 33, and an empty can A is provided between the weight sorting device 33 and the substrate portion 34 on the upper side thereof.
A squeeze plate 67 for sandwiching and squeezing is provided. Transferred from the input port 7 32
The empty can A that has entered drops into the weight sorter 33 as the transfer body 32 rotates. After that, the conveying direction of the empty can A is the axial direction of the empty can A. [Effect] Since the empty can carrier path 31 is bent by the transfer body 32,
The longitudinal dimension of the device can be shortened.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an empty can crushing device that automatically conveys and crushes empty cans such as soft drinks.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, for example, as described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-30476, an empty can that has been inserted into a machine frame from an insertion port is guided between a pair of press plates, and these press plates are driven by a foot or an electric motor. There is known an empty can crushing device that closes by driving the empty can and crushes the empty can. In the device described in the above publication, the empty can is conveyed in the radial direction within the machine frame, and when 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 in the lateral direction of the machine frame must be determined according to the maximum axial length of the can. Especially, the width of the device becomes large. 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 the crushing can easily cause the empty can to jump from a predetermined position. Therefore, in the apparatus described in the above publication, the press plate is made substantially vertical, and the empty can is supported from below while being crushed in the horizontal direction. However, for that reason, it becomes necessary to bend the empty can conveying path in the machine frame vertically from an angle close to horizontal, which causes a problem such as an increase in height of the apparatus.

On the other hand, gravity is used in the machine frame to convey the empty can in the axial direction, and the empty can is rotated in the axial direction between the substrate and the crush plate axially attached to the substrate. There is also proposed an empty can crushing device that is crushed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction. In this device, the empty can is crushed from one end to the other end. However, in the conventional empty can crushing device of this type, since the empty can conveying path in the machine frame is provided in a substantially straight line in the front-rear direction, the width of the device can be reduced, but the longitudinal dimension in the front-rear direction of the device is small. There was a growing problem. A weight sorter for sorting empty cans and foreign substances must be installed between the empty can input port and the crushing plate substrate, and behind the substrate is a weight sorter. Since a separator for separating the aluminum can and the steel can must be provided, the size of the device in the longitudinal direction becomes larger. The empty can crushing device is often installed side by side with the vending machine, but the recent vending machine has been shortening the dimension in the front-rear direction. However, the size in the front-back direction may increase.

Generally, mucous such as juice residual liquid adheres to the empty can. However, if this adhesion is large or the empty can itself is deformed, the empty can becomes empty. The resistance to the transport of cans increases, and especially when the empty cans are transported by gravity in the axial direction as described above, the empty cans stop due to the resistance in the middle of the empty can transport path, and the cans are no longer transported. There is a risk that

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 As described above, in the empty can crushing device that conveys empty cans in the machine frame in the axial direction, conventionally, the empty can conveying path in the machine frame was linear in the front-rear direction. There was a problem that the size became large. Further, due to the adhesion of mucus and the deformation of the empty can itself, the resistance against the conveyance was increased, and the empty can stopped on the way, and there was a possibility that the empty can was not sent thereafter.

The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and in an empty can crushing device that conveys an empty can in a state where the longitudinal direction of the empty can is aligned with the axial direction of the empty can in a machine frame, A first object is to reduce the longitudinal dimension of the entire device. A second object is to reliably convey the empty can against resistance due to sticking of mucus.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the first object, the invention of claim 1 provides an empty can carrying path in the machine frame, and an upper side of the board part provided in the empty can carrying path with respect to the board part. A pressing body that opens and closes is provided, and the empty can is transported in a state where the longitudinal direction of the machine frame and the axial direction of the empty can are the same when projected on a horizontal plane, and the empty can is placed between the substrate section and the pressing body. In the empty can crushing device, the empty can transport path is partly in the lateral direction of the machine frame when projected on a horizontal plane, and the remaining part is in the longitudinal direction of the machine frame. The portion is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and the portion in the lateral direction is provided with a transfer body which is rotationally driven around the rotation axis along the longitudinal direction.

In order to achieve the second object, the invention of claim 2 provides an empty can carrier path in the machine frame, and in the empty can carrier path, a weight sorter and the weight sorter are provided. A continuous substrate part is provided, and a pressing body that opens and closes the substrate part is provided above the substrate part, and the empty can is transferred from the weight sorter to the substrate part in a state where the axial direction of the empty can matches the conveying direction. In an empty can crushing device that conveys by gravity and crushes an empty can between the substrate and the pressing body, the weight sorter is orthogonal to the direction of transporting the empty can from the weight sorter to the substrate. A sorter base that is swingable around a rotary shaft, a sorter that is supported by the sorter base so as to swing up and down, and rotates downward when a load of a predetermined amount or more is applied, and in conjunction with the pressing body, A base drive mechanism for swinging the sorter base when an empty can is placed on the sorter; It is equipped with.

[0010]

[Action]

 In the empty can crushing device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the empty can is conveyed in the machine frame in a state where the longitudinal direction of the machine frame and the axial direction of the empty can are aligned in the projection onto the horizontal plane. Then, during the transportation, the empty can is crushed between the pressing body and the substrate portion. The projection of the empty can transport path is partly in the lateral direction of the machine frame when projected onto the horizontal plane, and the remaining part is in the longitudinal direction of the machine frame. It is inclined with respect to and empty cans are transported by gravity. In addition, in the portion in the short side direction in the empty can transporting path, the empty can is transported at least by the rotation of the transfer body.

In the empty can crushing device according to the second aspect of the invention, the empty can or the like is placed on the sorting body in the weight sorter. At this time, if a light empty can is placed, the sorting body does not rotate, and the empty can is sent from the sorting body to the substrate of the pressing body as it is, but a heavy foreign substance such as a glass bottle is placed on the sorting body. When the mark is placed, the foreign matter drops and is removed from the sorter by the load rotating the sorter downward and opened, and is not sent to the substrate portion. The sorter is supported by the sorter base, but when the empty can is placed on the sorter, the sorter is rotated around the rotation axis orthogonal to the direction of transporting the empty can from the weight sorter to the substrate. The base rocks. Due to this swing, the inclination angle of the sorting body with respect to the horizontal plane becomes large, and the empty can is sent from the sorting body to the substrate section by gravity against the resistance caused by the mucus such as the residual liquid of juice and the deformation of the empty can itself. It is easy to be affected. Further, the viscous liquid that adheres to the sorting body is shaken off by vibrating the sorting body together with the sorting machine base.

[0012]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an empty can crushing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes a machine frame that forms an outer shell of the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 3, 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. In the projection shape on the horizontal plane, the machine frame 1 has a longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction and a lateral direction in the left-right direction. The longitudinal dimension c is about 750 mm and the lateral dimension is about 350 mm. The operation panel 6 that forms the upper part of the front of the machine casing 1 has an opening 7 on the left side, and a green lamp 8, a white lamp 9, a red lamp 10 and a yellow reset button 11 on the right side. It is provided in.

On the frame member 2 of the machine frame 1, horizontal rails 16 are horizontally installed at relatively lower positions on both left and right sides. A foreign matter storage container 17 having an open upper surface is detachably mounted on the front portion of the cross rail 16. Further, a steel can storage container 18 and an aluminum can storage container 19 each having an open upper surface are arranged below the horizontal rail 16 so as to be detachably hung side by side. An optical sensor 21 for detecting that the lower containers 18 and 19 are filled with the empty can A is provided on both the horizontal rails 16. The optical sensor 21 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 over the upper side of both containers 18 and 19. Furthermore, a lower part of the front surface of the machine casing 1 is a door 22 which can be freely opened and closed, and by opening the door 22, the containers 17, 18 and 19 can be put in and taken out.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a front rail 26 and a rear rail 27 are horizontally installed on upper portions of the front and rear sides of the frame member 2, and between the front rail 26 and the rear rail 27. A pair of left and right transport path frames 28 and 29 are installed on the. The front rail 26 is located higher than the rear rail 27, so that the transport path frames 28 and 29 are inclined in the direction of descending from the front to the rear. The maximum inclination direction is the basic empty can conveying direction. Further, in the machine frame 1, an empty can transfer path 31 is provided between the transfer path frames 28 and 29 so as to incline in a direction descending rearward from the input port 7. In this empty can transporting path 31, a weight sorter 33 is positioned side by side on the left side of a transfer body 32 that is continuous behind and below the input port 7, and the weight sorter 33, the crushed substrate portion 34, and a separating plate are arranged. 35 and 35 are lined up in this order from front to back. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, in particular, in the empty can conveyance path 31, only the portion between the transfer body 32 and the weight sorter 33 is in the lateral direction of the machine casing 1 when projected onto a horizontal plane. The carrying direction is the radial direction of the empty can A, the remaining part is the longitudinal direction of the machine casing 1, and the carrying direction is the axial direction of the empty can A.

Here, the structure of the transfer body 32 will be described first. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of front and rear transfer body receivers 41 are fixed to the right side transport path frame 29 so as to project leftward. Each of the transfer body receivers 41 is formed in an arc shape having a concave shape on the upper side, and has a bearing portion 42 at its tip. Then, one side of the semi-cylindrical transfer body 32 is rotatably supported by a shaft 43 on these bearing portions 42. The rotation axis direction of the transfer body 32 is parallel to the maximum inclination direction of the empty can transfer path 31. Further, the transfer body 32 is normally in the lower limit position where it is placed on the transfer body receiver 41 by its own weight, and in this state, the side opening is upward and the transfer body 32 is positioned coaxially with the input port 7. To do. The transfer body 32 has a front end opened and a rear end closed by an end face plate 44. However, when the transfer body 32 is rotated and the side opening is turned sideways, a lid portion 45 for closing the input port 7 is provided. It has at the front end.

Next, the configuration of the weight selector 33 will be described. As shown also in FIG. 6, the above-mentioned conveying path frame 28 on the left side supports an elongated plate-shaped selector base 51 along the conveying path frame 28. This sorter base 51 is supported on the sorter base 51 by a support shaft 52 in the left-right direction so that the sorter base 51 can swing up and down, but by a substantially L-shaped stopper piece 53 fixed to the conveying path frame 28. The descent limit position on the front side is determined, and it is always placed on this stopper piece 53 by its own weight. The stopper piece 53 also serves to prevent the shaker base 51 from lateral movement. The sorter base 51 has bending pieces 54 and 55 facing each other at both front and rear ends, and a rotary base 56 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 57 between the bending pieces 54 and 55. The rotation axis direction is parallel to the maximum inclination direction of the empty can transfer path 31. The sorting body 58 is fixed on the rotation base 56. The sorting body 58 is composed of a groove-shaped member, but integrally has a counter piece 59 extending toward the opposite side of the support shaft 57, and a weight 60 is fixed to the counter piece 59. It is being touched. Then, the sorting body 58 is always in the upward limit position where the counter piece 59 is placed on the conveyance path frame 28 due to the load of the weight 60, and faces upward. At the ascending limit position, the sorting body 58 is positioned beside the transfer body 32 at the descending limit position and slightly below the transfer body 32. On the other hand, when a load larger than a predetermined value is applied on the sorting body 58, the sorting body 58 rotates downward and becomes sideways.

An optical sensor 61 including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion is provided in front of the both transport path frames 28 and 29. The light flux passes above the transfer body 32 and the weight sorter 33.

The crushed substrate portion 34 is fixed on a horizontal rail 66 that is installed between the two transport path frames 28 and 29, and is continuously provided below and below the sorting body 58 at the upper limit position. , Located almost in the same plane as this. A crushing plate 67, which is a pressing body that opens and closes with respect to the base plate portion 34, is axially mounted above the base plate portion 34. That is, the crush plate 67 is supported near the rear end of the crush plate 67 so as to be vertically swingable within a predetermined range between the transport path frames 28 and 29 by the support shaft 68 with the horizontal direction as the rotation axis direction. The crush plate 67 is formed with cut-and-slip protrusions 69 and 70 at the position on the support shaft 68 side and the free end. These non-slip projections 69, 70 are cut and raised toward the support shaft 68 toward the base plate portion 34. Further, on the lower surface of the crush plate 67, a recess 71 is formed so as to be located closer to the support shaft 68 than the anti-slip projection 69.

The crush plate 67 is driven by an electric motor 76. The electric motor 76 is integrally assembled with a gear box 77 having a built-in reduction gear train and a converter 79 for converting rotational movement into linear movement of a rod 78. The converter 79 is supported by the support shaft 82 between the support frames 81 fixed to both the transfer path frames 28 and 29 so as to project upward, with the horizontal direction as the rotation axis direction. A front end portion of the rod 78 is rotatably connected to a free end portion of the crush plate 67 via a support shaft 83 in the left-right direction. In this way, the crush plate 67 swings up and down as the rod 78 moves forward and backward by the drive of the motor 76. Further, a first limit switch 86 is provided above the support frame 81, and a second limit switch 87 is provided on the transport path frame 28. These limit switches 86, 87 are those whose actuators are operated by being pressed by the end of the support shaft 83, and the first limit switch 86 detects that the crush plate 67 is at the upper limit. The second limit switch 87 detects that the crush plate 67 is at the lower limit.

Further, a shutter 91 protruding and retracting downward from the front end of the crush plate 67 is supported on the front end portion of the crush plate 67 so as to be vertically swingable within a predetermined range. In this shutter 91, both arm portions 92 projecting rearward are supported by a support shaft 83 in the left-right direction of the crush plate 67. An inclined edge 93 that abuts against the crush plate 67 and holds the shutter 91 at the retracted limit position is formed at the rear end of the arm portion 92. On the other hand, when the arm portion 92 of the shutter 91 abuts on the bent piece 94 formed by bending the crushing plate 67 at the front edge thereof, the shutter 91 is held at the protruding limit position.

Further, the sorting plate 35 is supported between the two transport path frames 28 and 29 by a support shaft 96 so as to be vertically swingable within a predetermined range with the left-right direction as the rotation axis direction. The sorting plate 35 always tries to rotate in the direction in which the rear side descends due to the gravity applied to itself, and the rear part of the separating plate 35 is placed on the stopper piece 97 installed between the two conveyance path frames 28 and 29, rather than the support shaft 96. It becomes a state. In this state, the separating plate 35 is continuously located on the same plane as the rear side of the crushed base plate 34 at the lower rear side thereof. A magnet 98 is fixed on the stopper piece 97. On the other hand, the separating plate 35 is formed with an opening hole 99 for exposing the magnet 98 when the separating plate 35 is placed on the stopper piece 97. Further, the plate 100 is fixed to the rear rail 27, which is located behind the sorting plate 35, by projecting the plate 100 upward.

The transfer body 32, the sorter base 51, the shutter 91, and the sorting plate 35 operate in cooperation with the crushing plate 67. Next, the interlocking mechanism will be described. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in order to drive the transfer body 32, the transfer body 32 is pushed up from below to the push-up plate support tool 106 that is fixed by protruding downward on the transport path frame 29. A rotating push-up plate 107 is supported so as to be vertically movable. This support is based on the fact that a pair of bolts 109 fixed to the push-up plate support 106 are passed through vertical elongated holes 108 formed in the push-up plate 107. The push-up plate 107 is constantly pulled upward by a spring 110 stretched between the lower end of the push-up plate 107 and the transport path frame 29. Further, one end of a wire 112 is fixed to a wire attachment tool 111 axially attached to the outer surface of the crushing plate 67, and the wire 112 is hung on a wire guide 113 axially attached to the push-up plate support tool 106. The other end is fixed to the lower end of the push-up plate 107.

Further, as a base driving mechanism for swinging the sorter base 51, a swing body supporting member 116 is fixed to the conveyance path frame 28 at the rear of the weight sorter 33. An oscillating body 117 is supported by the tool 116 at its central portion so as to be vertically oscillatable by a lateral support shaft 118. The oscillating body 117 always tries to rotate in the direction in which the front side descends due to its own weight. The oscillating body 117 is such that, as the crushing plate 67 moves up and down, the end of the support shaft 83 of the crushing plate 67 rides up and down the rear part. An inclined edge 119 is formed on the rear upper side of the rocking body 117 with which the support shaft 83 abuts from above. Further, a receiving piece 120 on which the front portion of the rocking body 117 abuts from above is fixed to the bending piece 55 on the rear side of the sorter base 51 by projecting it backward.

As a drive mechanism of the shutter 91, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, a pin 121 is fixed to an arm portion 92 of the shutter 91, which is located in front of the support shaft 83. A coil-shaped spring 122 is stretched between the pin 121 and the crush plate 67, and the spring 91 constantly pulls the shutter 91 upward and rearward with respect to the crush plate 67, that is, in the direction in which it retracts. Has been. Further, a holding plate 123 is fixed to the front end portion of the side surface of the crush plate 67. The holding plate 123 is provided with a holding projection 124 over which the pin 121 of the holding plate 123 or the arm portion 92 of the shutter 91 elastically bends. On the other hand, the arm portion 92 of the shutter 91 abuts against the tip surface of the converter 79 of the motor 76 when the crushing plate 67 is raised, and the shutter 91 is forcibly rotated from the retreat limit position to the protrusion limit position. Plate 125 is fixed.

Further, one end of the wire 131 is fixed to the separating plate 35, which is located slightly behind the supporting shaft 96 thereof. The wire 131 is hung on the wire guide 131 provided on the support frame 81 and the wire guide 133 provided on the rocking body support tool 116, and the other end of the wire 131 is fixed to the upper front part of the frame member 2. It is fixed to a crosspiece (not shown).

FIG. 11 shows an outline of a control system centered on the electric motor 76. In the figure, 141 is an overcurrent detecting means, and this overcurrent detecting means 141 detects the current of the motor 76. Further, 142 is a timer for clocking, 143 is a motor driving means, and 144 is a control means. This control means 144 controls the motor 76 via the motor drive means 143 in response to signals from the sensors 21, 61, reset button 11, limit switches 86, 87, overcurrent detection means 141 and timer 142. is there.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. First, the usage method will be described. When the green lamp 8 is lit, empty can crushing can be performed. The user only has to put the empty can A into the charging port 7. At this time, the axial direction of the empty can A is made to coincide with the axial direction of the charging port 7. Then, by inserting the empty can A into the charging port 7, the empty can crushing device is activated to perform a certain operation, and the empty can crushing is automatically performed. The next empty can A can be inserted if the empty can A put in the inlet 7 is advanced. In this way, the green lamp 8 is always lit, but when the green lamp 8 is turned off and the white lamp 9 is lit, the containers 18 and 19 inside are full, The door 22 is opened and the empty can A in the containers 18 and 19 is disposed. Further, the lighting of the red lamp 10 informs that the apparatus has stopped due to some abnormality. At this time, by pressing the reset button 11, the apparatus can be forcibly restarted. However, if the normal operation does not occur after pressing the reset button 11 about five times, the inspection should be performed.

Next, the operation of the empty can crushing device will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the state in which the crush plate 67 is at the upper limit and stopped is the standby state. It should be noted that FIG. 1 shows a state in which the crush plate 67 is slightly lowered from the upper limit position. The device is always stopped in this standby state. The apparatus is activated when the sensor 61 detects that the empty can A or the like has entered the transfer body 32 from the charging port 7. 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 11. When the device is activated, the rod 78 is moved forward by the drive of the motor 76 and the crushing plate 67 is lowered. As shown in FIG. 2, when the crush plate 67 reaches the lower limit, which is detected by the second limit switch 87, the motor 76 reverses, the rod 78 retracts, and the crush plate 67 rises. The first limit switch 86 detects that the crush plate 67 has reached the ascending limit, which causes the device to stop.

Interlocking with the operation of the crushing plate 67, the transfer body 32, the selector base 51, the shutter 91, and the sorting plate 35 respectively operate as follows. First, regarding the transfer body 32, the transfer body 32 is in the descent limit position by its own weight in the standby state as shown in FIG. It is located coaxially with 7. At this time, the push-up plate 107 is pulled downward by the wire 112 and is in the lower limit position against the spring 110. As the crushing plate 67 descends from such a standby state, the wire 112 loosens, and as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the push-up plate 107 ascends by being pulled by the spring 110 accordingly. The push-up plate 107 pushes up the transfer body 32, and the transfer body 32 rotates. Then, when the transfer body 32 is turned sideways to some extent, the empty can A and the like drop from the transfer body 32 onto the sorting body 58 of the weight sorter 33. When the crushing plate 67 reaches the lower limit, the transfer body 32 also reaches the upper limit. Then, when the crush plate 67 moves up, the wire 112 pulls the push-up plate 107 to move it down, and the transfer body 32 also rotates downward. It should be noted that as the transfer body 32 rotates upward, the lid portion 45 closes the loading port 7 from below, and when the transfer body 32 reaches the upper limit, the loading port 7 is also completely closed. Therefore, in the state where the transfer body 32 is not connected to the charging port 7, the empty can A or the like will not be inserted into the charging port 7.

In the standby state, the selector base 51 is placed on the stopper piece 53 with its front side lowered by its own weight. Further, the front part of the oscillating body 117 is simply placed on the receiving piece 120 on the rear side of the sorter base 51. Then, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the crushing plate 67 descends to some extent, the end of the support shaft 83 hits the inclined edge 119 of the rear part of the oscillating body 117 from above. After that, as shown in FIG. 7B, as the crushing plate 67 descends, the oscillating body 117 rotates in the direction in which the rear side descends. When the rocking body 117 rotates to some extent, the support shaft 83 rides over the rear end of the rocking body 117 downward. At this point, as shown in FIG. 7C, the oscillating body 117 rapidly rotates in the opposite direction due to its own weight, and the front portion thereof comes into contact with the receiving piece 120 again. After that, the crush plate 67 reaches the lower limit and starts to rise, but when it rises to some extent, the support shaft 83 hits the rear part of the oscillating body 117 from below as shown in FIG. The oscillating body 117 rotates in the direction in which the front side descends. With the rotation of the rocking body 117, the receiving piece 120 is pushed down, and the selector base 51 rotates upward. As shown in FIG. 7E, when the oscillating body 117 rotates to some extent, the support shaft 83 climbs over the rear end of the oscillating body 117. At this point, the sorter base 51 rapidly rotates downward and hits the stopper piece 53 to vibrate. Along with that, the oscillating body 117 also rotates in the direction in which the rear side descends.

Further, the shutter 91 is located at the projecting limit position in the standby state, and projects only a in front of the front surface of the crush plate 67. Even when the crushing plate 67 is descending, as shown in FIG. 8A, the pin 121 on the shutter 91 side contacts the holding projection 124 of the holding plate 123 on the crushing plate 67 side from below, so that the spring 122 moves. The shutter 91 is held at the protruding limit position against the tension. However, when the crushing plate 67 approaches the lower limit and the front end of the shutter 91 contacts the substrate portion 34, the shutter 91 cannot be lowered thereafter, and the shutter 91 is relatively moved upward relative to the crushing plate 67 which continues to descend. It will turn to. As a result, the pin 12 1 climbs over the holding protrusion 124. Then, the tension of the spring 122 causes the shutter 91 to jump up to the retreat limit position, as shown in FIG. 8B. In this retreat limit position, the tip of the shutter 91 is located behind (above) the front side of the crush plate 67 by b. Then, even when the crushing plate 67 is subsequently raised, the shutter 91 is held at the retreat limit position by the spring 122, as shown in FIG. However, when the crush plate 67 approaches the ascending limit, the arm portion 92 of the shutter 91 hits the receiving plate 125 of the converter 79 from the front, and thereafter the shutter 91 cannot retreat and continues to rise. It will turn relatively to the front. Along with that, the pin 121 gets over the holding protrusion 124 forward. Then, due to the tension of the spring 122, the shutter 91 advances to the projection limit position as shown in FIG. It should be noted that even when the crushing plate 67 descends thereafter, the shutter 91 is held at the projection limit position.

Further, in the standby state, as shown in FIG. 1, the sorting plate 35 is in a state in which the rear portion is placed on the stopper piece 97 by gravity and is positioned on the same plane as the crushing substrate portion 34. . When the crushing plate 67 descends about 3/4 of the total stroke, the wire 131 is stretched by the end of the support shaft 83 of the crushing plate 67, and the rear part of the separating plate 35 is pulled up from the support shaft 96. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the sorting plate 35 turns in the direction in which the rear side rises. When the crushing plate 67 starts to move upward, the sorting plate 35 immediately rotates in the opposite direction by gravity, and the rear portion is again placed on the stopper piece 97.

Next, the movement of one empty can A will be described. In the machine casing 1, the empty can A is transported in a state in which the longitudinal direction of the machine casing 1 and the axial direction thereof coincide with each other when projected onto a horizontal plane. The empty can A that has entered the transfer body 32 from the input port 7 slides downward and downward due to gravity, hits the end face plate 44 of the transfer body 32, and stops. Then, when the transfer body 32 turns upward around the support shaft 43 and turns sideways, as shown in FIG. 5B, the empty can A moves from the transfer body 32 onto the sorting body 58 of the weight sorter 33. Fall to. In the case of a light empty can A having no contents, the sorting body 58 does not rotate downward, and the empty can A slides downward and downward on the sorting body 58 due to gravity. At this point in time, as shown in FIG. 8A, the crushing plate 67 is approaching the lower limit, and the empty can A temporarily stops by hitting the shutter 91 protruding further downward from the front end of the crushing plate 67.

After that, when the crushing plate 67 further approaches the lower limit position, the shutter 91 is forcibly pushed up as described above, and when the crushing plate 67 further rises from the lower limit position to some extent, the empty can A By gravity, it slides down from the sorting body 58 onto the crushing substrate portion 34 below and enters below the crushing plate 67. Then, as the crush plate 67 rises, the empty can A gradually slides backward and downward on the substrate portion 34. At this time, the axial direction of the empty can A coincides with the conveying direction.

Then, when the crushing plate 67 descends, the empty can A is crushed between the crushing plate 67 and the substrate portion 34. At the time of this crushing, the axial direction of the empty can A is in a state substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the crushing plate 67, and the empty can A is sequentially crushed from one end to the other end. At this time, first, the end of the empty can A is caught in the recess 71 of the crushing plate 67, and the non-slip projections 69, 70 of the crushing and crushing plate 67 bite into the peripheral surface of the empty can A. The empty can A is prevented from being displaced particularly in the returning direction, and the empty can A is reliably crushed.

When the crushing plate 67 reaches the lower limit, the crushing is completed, but thereafter, as the crushing plate 67 rises, the crushed empty can A is separated from the rear end of the crushing plate 67 and the substrate portion. After passing through a gap between the upper surface of 34 and further down and down, it is sent to a sorting plate 35 located on the same plane as this substrate portion 34. When the empty can A slides down from the base plate 34 to the separating plate 35, the magnet 98 is exposed in the opening hole 99 of the separating plate 35. However, the aluminum empty can (alumi can) A is attracted to the magnet 98. Without separating, it slides down on the sorting plate 35 to the lower rear, falls from the rear end of this sorting plate 35, and is stored in the aluminum can storage container 19 on the rear side. The backing plate 100 prevents the empty can A from being caught on the rear crosspiece 27 made of an angle material, and reliably drops the empty can A into the aluminum can storage container 19. On the other hand, the steel empty can (steel can) A is adsorbed by the magnet 98 and stops on the sorting plate 35. Then, when the crushing plate 67 descends and the sorting plate 35 rotates in the direction in which the front side descends, the empty can A adsorbed on the magnet 98 is the magnet on the stopper piece 97 together with the sorting plate 35. 9
The suction plate is released from the position 8, and the separating plate 35 which is inclined in the opposite direction slides down to the front, falls from the front end of the separating plate 35, and is stored in the steel can storage container 18 on the front side. 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 transfer body 32 through the inlet 7, if the foreign substance has a weight of a predetermined value or more, the foreign substance is After being transferred from the transfer body 32 to the weight selector 33, it is eliminated in the weight selector 33. That is, when the foreign matter dropped from the transfer body 32 is placed on the sorting body 58, the gravity exerted by the foreign matter exceeds the gravity exerted by the weight 60 on the sorting body 58, so that the sorting body 58 turns downward and faces sideways. Open to. As a result, the foreign matter falls from the sorting body 58 into the foreign matter storage container 17 and is eliminated, and is not sent to the crushed substrate portion 34. After that, the sorting body 58 rotates upward again by the load of the weight 60.

As is clear from the description of the operation of the apparatus described above, after a certain empty can A enters between the crushing plate 67 and the base plate portion 34 located at the upper limit, the next empty can A is loaded. The crushing plate 67 descends only after it is put into the transfer body 32 from the mouth 7, and the empty can A below it is crushed.

By the way, as the crushing plate 67 moves up and down once, the selector base 51, which is interlocked with the crushing plate 67 via the oscillating body 117, swings up and down once. This swinging is performed when the empty can A is placed on the sorting body 58 and the crushing plate 67 starts to rise and the empty can A tries to slide below. When the sorter base 51 swings upward, the inclination angle of the sorter 58 with respect to the horizontal plane becomes large as shown in FIG. Even if there is a large resistance due to the deformation of A itself, the empty can A slides smoothly due to gravity and is more easily transferred from the sorting body 58 to the substrate 34. Further, when the sorter base 51 rapidly swings downward, the sorter 58 vibrates together with the sorter base 51, so that the mucus adhered to the sorter 58 is shaken off. Moreover, since the vibration of the sorter base 51 is performed when the empty can A is placed on the sorting body 58, the mucus adhered to the empty can A itself can be shaken off. In this way, since the adhesion and accumulation of mucus on the sorting body 58 can be reduced, it is possible to prevent the resistance of the empty can A from being increased in the sorting body 58 due to the adhesion and accumulation of mucus. In this way, it is possible to reliably prevent the empty can A from not slipping off while still attached to the sorting body 58 due to the mucus. Further, as described above, since the mucus adhered to the empty can A itself can be shaken off, the sticking and accumulation of the mucus on the crushed substrate portion 34 and the separating plate 35 can be reduced, and the crushed substrate portion 34 and the separating plate 35 can be reduced. It is also possible to prevent the occurrence of obstacles in the transportation of the empty can A.

Further, when the empty can A rises up from the containers 18 and 19, the sensor 21 detects this and the green lamp 8 which is always lit up to that point is turned off, and the white lamp 9 is lit. . At the same time, the device returns to the standby state and stops, and even if the empty container A is inserted into the charging port 7 or the reset button 11 is pressed, the device does not operate unless the sensor blocker is removed.

Here, the operation of the crush plate 67 will be supplementarily described. In the case of an empty can A of a normal beverage can, the crushing plate 67 descends only once and descends until the second limit switch 87 is actuated, and then rises to the standby position. On the other hand, when the empty can A is considerably hard, or when the empty can A stops at a fixed position, that is, at the back position between the substrate portion 34 and the crush plate 67, the crush plate 67 is The load on the motor 76 increases as it descends. The current of the motor 76 is detected by the overcurrent detecting means 141. If this exceeds the reference value, the crushing plate 67 rises to the standby position regardless of the second limit switch 87. Further, even after a lapse of a predetermined time after the operation of the first limit switch 86, the crushing plate 67 is moved up to the standby position by the function of the timer 142 regardless of the second limit switch 87. 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 67 descends again and tries to crush. In this way, the crushed empty can A is further sent to the fulcrum of the crushing plate 67, 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 67 can be crushed. Become. This attempt to lower the crush plate 67 is repeated up to three times. Meanwhile, if the second limit switch 87 is actuated, the crushing is completed, the crushing plate 67 is moved up to the standby position, and the device can continue to operate. On the other hand, if the second limit switch 87 is not activated even after three attempts, the red lamp 10 lights up, the crush plate 67 returns to the standby position, and the device stops. Here, if the reset button 11 is pressed, the crushing operation is retried.

The reason why the motor 76 is controlled by the timer 142 in addition to the detection of the overcurrent of the motor 76 is as follows. That is, in the case of a foreign substance, the force to return the crush plate 67 to the top may work, and there is instability in the electric circuit only by detecting the overcurrent, and the crush plate 67 remains stopped at the intermediate position. It may end up. In order to prevent this, the timer causes the crushing plate 67 to be forcibly raised to the standby position and stopped when a predetermined time has passed after the last operation of the first limit switch 86. Further, even if the reset switches 86 and 87 are broken, the crush plate 67 can be returned to the standby position by the detection of the overcurrent or the timer 142 described above. Therefore, the motor 76 will not burn.

According to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the transfer body 32 is provided on the lower rear side of the charging port 7, and the weight selector 33 is provided side by side with the transfer body 32, so that the empty can A is conveyed in the axial direction. Since the transfer body 32 is rotated around a horizontal rotation axis so that the empty can A is transferred from the transfer body 32 to the weight selector 33, the longitudinal dimension in the front and rear of the entire apparatus can be reduced. This allows it to be placed side-by-side with vending machines whose front and rear dimensions are small.

In addition, even if a hand or an umbrella is put in the inlet 7 by mischief by bending the empty can transporting path 31 from the inlet 7 to the weight selector 33 by the transfer body 32, these It is safe because your hand or umbrella does not reach the crush plate 67.

Further, in the weight sorter 33, the sorter 58 is supported on the sorter base 51 which can be swung up and down, and in cooperation with the crushing plate 67, the empty can A is sent from the sorter 58 to the substrate portion 34. Since the sorter base 51 was swung when it should be done, the tilt angle of the sorter 58 increases with this swing, which is caused by the sticking or deformation of mucus such as juice residual liquid. This assists the transportation of the empty can A, which is likely to cause poor transportation. Further, the viscous liquid can be shaken off due to the vibration of the sorting body 58 caused by the swinging of the sorting machine base 51, and the adhesion of the mucus to the empty can transfer path 31 can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent an obstacle to the transportation of the empty can A due to adhesion and accumulation of mucus.

Furthermore, when the overcurrent of the motor 76 is detected and the crushing plate 67 cannot be crushed by one downward movement, the crushing of the empty can A is repeated up to three times. It is possible to reliably crush even a solid empty can A while preventing the burden of Moreover, the timer further improves reliability.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the foreign material storage container 17 is provided on the upper side of the horizontal rail 16, and the steel can storage container 18 and the aluminum can storage container 19 are provided side by side on the lower side. It is also possible to provide a foreign matter storage container, a steel can storage container, and an aluminum can storage container on the lower side of 16 in this order from front to back. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the shutter 91 is provided on the front side of the crushing plate 67 in order to control the time when the empty can A is transferred from the sorting body 58 to the crushing substrate part 34. The shutter 91 is not always necessary if it can be set. Further, in the above-described embodiment, only one motor 76 is provided and the crushing plate 67 is interlocked with the transfer body 32, the sorter base 51, the shutter 91 and the sorting plate 35, but each is driven by a separate motor, It is also possible to electrically interlock. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the crushing plate 67 is made to try to crush up to three times at one time, but the number is not limited to three.

Further, the arrangement of the empty can carrying path 31 is not limited to that in the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, in the empty can carrier path 31 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the input port 7 for inserting the empty can A is opened to the right side surface of the machine casing 1. In this case, the transfer body 32 facing the side of the input port 7 is provided horizontally without being inclined. Further, in the empty can transporting path 31 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the loading port 7 is opened to the front of the machine frame 1, but the transfer body 32 and the weight sorter 33 facing the loading port 7 are provided. The crushed substrate portion 34 is provided side by side. In this case, the structures of the transfer body 32 and the weight sorter 33 need to be slightly changed from those of the first embodiment. The conveyance from the weight sorter 33 to the crushed substrate portion 34 can be performed by gravity. In addition, in the third embodiment, the transfer body 32 and the weight sorter 33 may be interchanged in position. Further, the empty can carrying path 31 of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 15 is such that, in the third embodiment, the charging port 7 is opened not to the front surface of the machine frame 1 but to the right side surface. Also in this case, the transfer body 32 is provided horizontally. In the third and fourth embodiments, the longitudinal dimension e of the machine casing 1 can be further reduced. For example, this longitudinal dimension e is about 600 mm. On the other hand, the lateral dimension f of the machine frame 1 is about 400 mm.

[0049]

[Effect of device]

 According to the invention of claim 1, in the empty can carrier path in the machine frame, the empty can crusher that carries the empty can in a state where the longitudinal direction of the machine frame and the axial direction of the empty can are aligned when projected onto the horizontal plane. In the apparatus, the empty can transport path has a part in the lateral direction of the machine frame and a remaining part in the longitudinal direction of the machine frame when projected on a horizontal plane, so that the longitudinal dimension of the entire apparatus can be reduced.

According to the invention of claim 2, in the empty can crushing device which conveys the empty can from the weight selector to the base plate portion of the pressing body by gravity in a state where the axial direction thereof coincides with the conveying direction, the weight selector Support a sorter base that rotates downward when a load greater than a predetermined value is applied, and swing this sorter base around a rotation axis that is orthogonal to the direction of transport of empty cans from the weight sorter to the substrate. The sorting machine base is made to move freely when the empty can is placed on the sorting body by the base drive mechanism, and the tilting angle of the sorting body with respect to the horizontal plane increases with this swinging. It is possible to reliably send the empty can from the sorting body to the substrate portion by gravity against the resistance caused by the mucus such as the residual liquid of juice and the deformation of the empty can itself. Moreover, by vibrating the sorter together with the sorter base, it is possible to shake off the mucus such as juice residual liquid adhering to the sorter, and therefore the resistance to the transportation of the empty can increases due to the sticking and accumulation of the mucus. Can be prevented in advance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an empty can crushing device according to the present invention, and is a perspective view of the inside of the upper side when a pressing body is raised.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inside of the upper side in the state in which the pressing body is lowered.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the same as above, and the lower part shows the inside.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a front portion of the upper empty can carrying path.

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a transfer body and a weight sorter portion of the same.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the same weight sorter.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view for explaining the operation of the above-mentioned sorter base.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the shutter when the pressing body is descending.

FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the arm portion of the same shutter.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the shutter when the pressing body is raised.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an outline of a control system of the same.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of the upper empty can transport path.

FIG. 13 shows a second embodiment of the empty can crushing device of the present invention, and is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of the empty can conveying path.

FIG. 14 shows a third embodiment of the empty can crushing device of the present invention and is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of the empty can conveying path.

FIG. 15 shows a fourth embodiment of the empty can crushing device of the present invention and is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of the empty can conveying path.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Machine frame 31 Empty can conveying path 32 Transfer body 33 Weight sorter 34 Substrate 51 Sorter base 58 Sorter 67 Crush plate (pressing body) A Empty can

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An empty can carrying path is provided in a machine frame, and a pressing body for opening and closing the board is provided above a board part provided in the empty can carrying path to project on a horizontal plane. In the empty can crushing device that conveys the empty can in a state where the longitudinal direction of the machine frame and the axial direction of the empty can match and crushes the empty can between the substrate portion and the pressing body, Is part of the lateral direction of the machine frame in the projection onto the horizontal plane, and the remaining part is the longitudinal direction of the machine frame. The empty can crushing device is characterized in that a transfer body that is rotationally driven around a rotation axis along the longitudinal direction is provided in the direction portion. 2. An empty can carrier path is provided in the machine frame, and a weight sorter and a substrate portion continuous with the weight sorter are provided in the empty can carrier passage. A pressing body that opens and closes with respect to the base plate is provided, and the empty can is conveyed from the weight sorter to the base plate by gravity with the axial direction thereof aligned with the transfer direction, and the empty can is moved between the base plate and the pressing body. In an empty can crushing device for crushing cans, the weight sorter includes a sorter base swingable around a rotation axis orthogonal to the direction of transporting the empty cans from the weight sorter to the substrate section, and the sorter base. A sorting body that is swingably supported in the vertical direction and that rotates downward when a load greater than a predetermined amount is received; and the sorting machine base is swung in conjunction with the pressing body when the empty can is placed on the sorting body. An empty can crushing device comprising a base drive mechanism.