JPH10328894A - Volume reducing device for container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To steadily sqeeze various kinds of containers such as PET bottles or aluminum cans in a structure of a compact device. SOLUTION: The device is equipped with drawing-in wheels 3 and compressing wheels 5; the drawing-in wheels 3 are constituted of circular shaped recessed parts 31 retreating around the outer circle, and are fixed to a pair of driving shafts 30a, 30b respectively in a plurality. The drawing-in wheels 3, 3... of a drawing shaft 30a on one side and the drawing-in wheels 3, 3... of a drawing shaft 30b on the other side rotate synchronously so that the recessed parts 31, 31 are respectively capable of opposing to each other. The compressing wheels 5 are fixed to a pair of driving shafts 50a, 50b respectively in a plurality, and the compressing wheels 5, 5... of a deiving shaft 50a on one side and the compressing wheels 5, 5... of a driving shaft 50b on the other side are arranged in a position in which the outer circles nearly overlap each other in a state shifting to each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing the volume of a container, and more particularly to a container having a compact structure and capable of securely crushing a container such as a PET bottle or an aluminum can. And a volume reduction processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recyclable containers such as PET bottles and aluminum cans are used as raw materials in a recycling plant or a molding plant by using a so-called shredder (crushing device) to perform crushing treatment in the form of pellets. By the way, in order to promote the reuse of containers such as PET bottles and aluminum cans, it is an extremely important issue to reduce the cost of collecting and transporting the containers to the above-mentioned treatment facility. That is, it is important to reduce the volume of the collected containers to increase the transportation efficiency.

An apparatus for reducing the volume of PET bottles is disclosed, for example, in JP-A-8-309591 as a waste volume reducing machine. Such a device compresses a large number of PET bottles housed in a compression chamber from above with a cylinder device, pierces the hole with a protruding needle to bleed the air from the bottle, and from the side to the cylindrical passage by the cylinder device. It is a device that pushes in and forms into a rectangular lump, and then binds it with a binding band (pp band) to suppress the restoration of the bottle.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned waste volume reducing machine, since a large number of PET bottles are simultaneously pressed by a flat press plate, they seem to be crushed in the apparatus. Is an elastically deformed state. Therefore, in fact, there is a situation that the binding band is cut and many bottles are restored. In addition, since the above-described device has a structure of a press device, it has a large-scale device configuration, and there is a problem that it is difficult to install the device at each collection place.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a container having a compact device configuration and capable of reliably crushing various containers such as plastic bottles and aluminum cans. To provide a volume reduction processing device.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a container volume reduction processing apparatus according to the present invention is a volume reduction processing apparatus for crushing and discharging a container supplied from an input port, A retracting wheel disposed below the inlet, and a compression wheel disposed below the retracting wheel, wherein the retracting wheel is configured by providing a concave portion that retreats in an arc shape on the outer periphery, and A plurality of drive shafts are attached to each of a pair of drive shafts arranged in parallel in the direction, and the retracting wheel of one drive shaft and the retracting wheel of the other drive shaft are arranged in a state where their outer circumferences face each other or are shifted. The recesses are rotated in synchronism with the direction in which the container is pulled in, so that the recesses can be substantially opposed to each other. The compression wheel is a pair arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction. A plurality of the drive wheels are attached to each of the drive shafts, and the compression wheel of the one drive shaft and the compression wheel of the other drive shaft are arranged at positions substantially overlapping each other with their outer peripheries shifted from each other, and rotate in the direction of drawing in the container. It is characterized by being made possible.

In the above-mentioned volume reduction processing apparatus, when the containers are supplied through the inlet, a plurality of retraction wheels mounted on each of the pair of drive shafts and capable of substantially confronting the respective concave portions are formed by the mutual concave portions. The container is captured in the substantially circular space to be formed, and is surely sent to the compression wheel. Then, a plurality of compression wheels attached to each of the pair of drive shafts and arranged at positions where the outer peripheries are shifted from each other substantially overlap each other, crush the fed container into a corrugated plate,
It is plastically deformed and discharged downward.

In the above structure, it is preferable that a guide member having a narrower guide gap as it goes downward is disposed between the retracting wheel and the compression wheel. As the container is fed into the compression wheel, the container is deformed to a flat state, so that the container can be smoothly held by the compression wheel.

In each of the above structures, the outer circumference of the compression wheel of one drive shaft and the outer circumference of the compression wheel of the other drive shaft are -3 to 3 in order to more securely deform the container plastically.
It is preferable to be arranged at a position where 5 mm overlaps.

[0010] In each of the above-described configurations, if the compression wheel is provided with saw-like teeth on the outer periphery, the container pulled in by the compression wheel can be prevented from slipping, and the speed at which the container is delivered can be increased.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a container volume reducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic structure of a container volume reduction processing device. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing an arrangement and a shape of a retraction wheel and a compression hole. FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the arrangement of the retraction wheel and the compression hole. FIG. 4 is a cutaway view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2, and is a developed view showing the overall arrangement of the retraction wheel, the compression holes, and the guide members. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a processing state of a PET bottle and an aluminum can as an example. In addition,
In the figure, hatching is partially omitted. In the description of the embodiment, the container volume reduction processing device is abbreviated as “processing device”.

As shown in FIG. 1, the processing apparatus of the present invention is a volume reduction processing apparatus for crushing and discharging a container (w) supplied from an input port (2), and includes a frame (FIGS. 2 to 4). Each mechanism is housed in a box-shaped main body (1) formed by assembling a cover with a reference numeral (10). That is, the processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes an inlet (2) serving as a shooter that opens in the upper front of the main body (1), a retracting wheel (3) disposed below the inlet (2), and a retracting wheel. Compression wheel (5) arranged below (3)
And a storage chamber (7) arranged below the compression wheel (5).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the frame (1
0) is a horizontal gantry (1) supported by four legs (11).
2) Side plates (13, 13) are provided upright on the left and right sides. The lower end of the input port (2) is attached to the upper end side of the left and right side plates (13), and a pair of drives each supporting the retraction wheel (3) and the compression wheel (5) are provided between the side plates (13). The shafts (30a, 30b) and (50a, 50b) are erected. Then, a motor (6) for rotating each drive shaft (30a, 30b, 50a, 50b) is installed on the gantry (12).

The retracting wheel (3) is 4 to 10 mm
It is formed to have a maximum outer diameter of about 100 to 300 mm by a metal plate having a thickness of about 100 mm. As shown in FIG. 2, the retraction wheel (3) is provided with a concave portion (31) that retreats in an arc shape on the outer periphery. The concave portion (31) is a means for capturing the container (W) for forcibly feeding the supplied container (W), and an appropriate number can be set according to the size of the retraction wheel (3). , Are provided evenly at three locations on the outer peripheral side of the retraction wheel (3). Recess (3
The radius of curvature of 1) is about 50 to 100 mm, and the size is set in consideration of the maximum outer diameter of the container (W) to be processed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a plurality of retraction wheels (3) are attached to each of the pair of drive shafts (30a, 30b) arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction. The length of each drive shaft (30a, 30b) is set in consideration of the number of containers (W) in a state of being horizontally arranged.
The number of arrangements of the retracting wheels (3, 3...) For one drive shaft (30a) or (30b) is 3 to 10 when arranged at substantially the same pitch. Also, the retraction wheels (3, 3) on both drive shafts (30a, 30b).
...) are almost the same.

Further, a pair of drive shafts (30a, 30b)
Are the retracting wheels (3,3 ...) arranged on them
Are separated by a predetermined distance so that they do not come into contact with each other, and the retraction wheels (3, 3...) Of one drive shaft (30a) and the retraction wheel (3b) of the other drive shaft (30b) , 3) are arranged in a state where the outer peripheries face each other or are shifted. In particular, to further enhance the retraction function, one of the wheels (3, 3 ...)
And the other wheels (3, 3...) Are preferably displaced from each other and are arranged so that their outer peripheral portions are overlapped by about 20 to 30 mm in a side view.

The retraction wheels (3, 3,...) Of one drive shaft (30a) and the retraction wheels (3, 3,...) Of the other drive shaft (30b) synchronize in the direction of retraction of the container (W). And rotate each other to make the recesses (3
1, 31) can be substantially confronted. That is, one retraction wheel (3) and the corresponding other retraction wheel (3) rotate in directions opposite to each other in the direction of retraction of the container (W), and during rotation, both retraction wheels (3, 3). The concave portions (31, 31) of 3) are opposed to each other when viewed from the side.

The compression wheel (5) is formed of a metal plate having a thickness of about 4 to 10 mm and a maximum outer diameter of about 100 to 300 mm. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, saw-shaped teeth (51, 51...) Are provided on the outer periphery of the compression wheel (5). Teeth (51, 51
..) Are means for preventing the container to be compressed from slipping, and are provided evenly on the outer periphery of the compression wheel (5) according to the diameter of the compression wheel (5). The tooth shape of the tooth (51) is formed in a triangular sawtooth shape with a gentle hypotenuse on the opposite side to the rotation direction, and the protrusion height is 1 to 3
mm.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a plurality of compression wheels (5) are mounted on each of the pair of drive shafts (50a, 50b) arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction. The length of each drive shaft (50a, 50b) is the same as the length of the drive shaft (30a, 30b), and each drive shaft (5
0a, 50b) is 6 to 20 when the compression wheels (5, 5...) Are arranged at substantially the same pitch. The arrangement patterns of the compression wheels (5, 5,...) On both drive shafts (50a, 50b) are substantially the same.

Further, a pair of drive shafts (50a, 50b)
Are separated by a predetermined distance so that the compression wheels (5, 5...) Arranged thereon have a specific arrangement relationship. The compression wheel (5, 5,...) Of the one drive shaft (50a) and the compression wheel (5, 5,...) Of the other drive shaft (50b) are located at positions where the outer peripheries are substantially overlapped with each other. Be placed. In addition, both compression wheels (5, 5) are rotatable in the direction of retracting the container (W). That is, the one compression wheel (5) and the other compression wheel (5) at the corresponding position rotate in directions opposite to each other in the direction of retracting the container (W), and during rotation, both compression wheels are rotated. (5,
The outer periphery of 5) is in a state of substantially overlapping when viewed from the side.

In the processing apparatus of the present invention, the compression wheel (5,5) of one of the drive shafts (50a) is used to reliably plastically deform even an elastic resin container such as a PET bottle.
…) And the compression wheel (5,5) of the other drive shaft (50b).
...) is preferably arranged at a position where the outer circumference overlaps by -3 to 3 mm. The above-mentioned range where the outer circumference of one compression wheel (5) and the outer circumference of the other compression wheel (5) substantially overlap with each other is such that when viewed from the side, each outer circumference overlaps by 5 mm from a state where each outer circumference is separated by 3 mm. Say the range up to the state.

The reason why the outer circumferences of the compression wheels (5, 5) are overlapped in the above range as described above is as follows. That is, when the outer circumferences of the compression wheels (5, 5) overlap with each other by more than 5 mm, the holding of the container (W) in the compression wheels (5, 5) is not performed smoothly, and the mechanical load is large. It is not preferable because the processing efficiency is reduced. When the outer circumferences of the compression wheels (5, 5) are separated by more than 3 mm, the volume reduction rate of each container (W) decreases (the flatness of the container (W) decreases) or sufficiently. It is not preferable because plastic deformation does not occur.

In the processing apparatus of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the drawing wheels (3, 3...) Are used to further smoothly draw the container (W) by the compression wheels (5, 5...). Preferably, a guide member (4) is formed between the compression wheel (5, 5 ...) and the guide gap (41) is formed so as to become narrower downward. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the guide member (4) is constituted by a plurality of sets of a pair of guide plates (40, 40) having a substantially trapezoidal board shape. These guide plates (40, 40) are attached to reinforcing bars (14, 14,...) Installed on the upper and lower portions of the side plates (13, 13) of the frame (10), and are attached to the retraction wheels (3, 3,...). On the other hand, for example, it is arrange | positioned between 5 and 11 places between them and both sides. Note that the guide plates (40, 40) of each set may be arranged at positions shifted from each other, or may be arranged at the same position, as shown in FIG.

In the above processing apparatus, the gantry (12)
., And the compression wheels (5, 5,...) Are rotated synchronously. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a sprocket (52) is attached to one end of one drive shaft (50a) of the compression wheel (5), and the sprocket (52) and the sprocket (62) of the motor (6) are provided. ) And the chain (65) is wound. 3 and 4
As shown in the figure, a gear (53a) is attached to the inside of the proket (52) at one end of the one drive shaft (50a), and the same gear (53) is attached to one end of the other drive shaft (50b). 53b) is attached and these gears (53
a, 53b) mesh.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, sprockets (54a, 54b) are respectively attached to the other ends of the drive shafts (50a, 50b) of the compression wheel (5).
Each drive shaft (30a, 30b) of the retraction wheel (3)
Sprockets (34a, 34b) are respectively attached to the ends of. When viewed from the side, the chain (55a) is wound around the sprocket (54a) and the sprocket (34a) located on the left side, and the chain (55b) is wound on the sprocket (54b) and the sprocket (34b) located on the right side. Is wound.

In the driving system as described above, the motor (6) rotates the chain (6) in a predetermined direction.
5) via one drive shaft (50) of the compression wheel (5).
a) is rotated, and the other drive shaft (50b) is reversely rotated via the gears (53a, 53b). Further, the rotation of one drive shaft (50a) of the compression wheel (5) causes the drive shaft (30a) of the retraction wheel (3) located on the left side to rotate in the same direction via the chain (55a), Also, the other drive shaft (50) of the compression wheel (5)
b), through its rotation, through the chain (55b),
The drive shaft (30) of the retraction wheel (3) located on the right side
b) is rotated in the opposite direction to the left drive shaft (30a).

Examples of the container (W) applicable to the present invention include containers made of various materials such as synthetic resin containers such as PET bottles, aluminum cans, steel cans, and paper packs. In particular, PET bottles or aluminum cans are suitable from the viewpoint of reuse. These containers (W)
Is supplied from the charging port (2) and subjected to volume reduction processing.

In the processing apparatus of the present invention having the above-described structure, when the container (W) is supplied through the input port (2), a plurality of the driving shafts (30a, 30b) are attached to each of the plurality of driving shafts (30a, 30b). The retraction wheels (3, 3...), Which are made to be able to substantially face the concave portions (31, 31), are placed in a substantially circular space formed by the mutual concave portions (31, 31).
One or a plurality of containers (W) are captured in a state where they are tilted horizontally, and sent to the compression wheels (5, 5,...) Without fail. That is, since the mutual concave portions (31, 31) form a space that opens and closes with the rotation of the retracting wheel (3, 3...), It prevents escape of the container (W) once captured above,
In addition, another subsequent container (W) is prevented from overlapping and entering.

When the guide member (4) is arranged between the retraction wheel (3, 3...) And the compression wheel (5, 5,...), The guide member (4) moves downward. Since the guide gap (41) is formed to be narrow, the container (W) can be moved along with the operation of feeding the compression wheel (5, 5 ...) by the retraction wheel (3, 3 ...).
Is deformed to a flat state, and the container (W) can be held in the compression wheel (5, 5...) More smoothly.

Then, a pair of drive shafts (50a, 50b)
And a plurality of compression wheels (5, 5) that are attached to each of the
..) Crushes the container (W) fed from the pull-in wheels (3, 3...) Into a corrugated plate, securely plastically deforms and discharges downward.

When the container (W) is crushed, the compression wheels (5, 5,...) Of one drive shaft (50a) and the compression wheels (5, 5,...) Of the other drive shaft (50b) are specified. The container (W) can be more reliably plastically deformed by being disposed at a position where the container (W) overlaps by the length. The saw-shaped teeth (51, 51 ...) provided on the outer periphery of the compression wheel (5, 5 ...) prevent the container (W) drawn in the compression wheel (5, 5 ...) from slipping. The feeding speed of the container (W) can be increased, and the container (W) can be more efficiently deformed.

The reduced volume container (W) is stored in a storage chamber (7) provided below the compression wheel (5). In the accommodation room (7), the containers (W) whose volume has been reduced can be collected by disposing packaging materials such as bags in advance.

As described above, the processing apparatus of the present invention has a structure in which the volume of the container (W) is reduced by the combination of the drawing wheel (3) and the compression wheel (5), and the apparatus configuration can be made compact. . Moreover, various containers such as PET bottles and aluminum cans can be reliably crushed (see FIG. 5). In addition, in the processing apparatus of the present invention, in addition to the structure illustrated in the drawing, the number of arrangements and arrangement patterns of the retracting wheels and the compression wheels can be appropriately designed according to the processing amount. In addition, it is possible to enhance safety by making the input port into a bent structure, and furthermore, it is possible to install a transport conveyor inside the input port.

[0034]

As described above, according to the container volume reducing apparatus of the present invention, the volume of the container is reduced by the combination of the drawing wheel and the compression wheel, and the apparatus can be made compact. I can do it. Moreover, various containers such as PET bottles and aluminum cans can be reliably crushed and plastically deformed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic structure of a container volume reduction processing device.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the arrangement and shape of a retraction wheel and a compression hole.

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the arrangement of the retraction wheel and the compression hole.

FIG. 4 is a developed view taken along a line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a processing state of a PET bottle and an aluminum can as an example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2: Input port 3: Retraction wheel 30a: Drive shaft 30b: Drive shaft 31: Depression 4: Guide member 41: Guide gap 5: Compression wheel 50a: Drive shaft 50b: Drive shaft 7: Storage chamber W: Container (object to be processed) )

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A container (W) supplied from an input port (2).
A volume reduction processing device that crushes and discharges, wherein a retraction wheel (3) disposed below an input port (2);
A compression wheel (5) disposed below the retraction wheel (3), wherein the retraction wheel (3) is provided with a concave portion (31) that retreats in an arc shape on the outer periphery, and is parallel to the horizontal direction. A pair of drive shafts (30
a, 30b), the retracting wheels (3, 3,...) of one drive shaft (30a) and the retracting wheels (3, 3,...) of the other drive shaft (30b) The recesses (31, 31) are arranged so as to face each other or are shifted from each other, and are rotated in synchronization with the direction in which the container (W) is drawn in, so that the recesses (31, 31) can be substantially opposed to each other. Are mounted on each of a pair of drive shafts (50a, 50b) arranged in parallel to each other, and a compression wheel (5, 5...) Of one drive shaft (50a) and a compression wheel (5 , 5) is a container volume reduction apparatus characterized in that it is disposed at a position where the outer peripheries are displaced from each other and substantially overlap with each other, and is rotatable in the direction of drawing in the container (W). 2. A guide member (4) is formed between the retraction wheel (3, 3...) And the compression wheel (5, 5. The container volume reduction treatment device according to claim 1. 3. The compression wheel (5, 5...) Of one drive shaft (50a) and the compression wheel (5, 5...) Of the other drive shaft (50b) are positioned such that their outer circumferences overlap by -3 to 5 mm. 3. The apparatus for reducing the volume of a container according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is arranged in a container. 4. The apparatus for reducing the volume of a container according to claim 1, wherein said compression wheel is provided with saw-like teeth on an outer periphery thereof. 5. The container volume reducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the container (W) is a PET bottle or an aluminum can.