JPH11285899A - Rotary press - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To compress a waste PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle or the like by a simple structure, to reduce its volume and to facilitate collection and transportation for the purpose of recycling. SOLUTION: Notched parts 411, 421 are provided in the outer circumferential direction on a pair of rollers 41, 42 rotating synchronously in the direction opposite to each other as shown by the arrow. As a result, the neck 1a or the bottom 1c of a waste PET bottle 1 for example is taken in through the space between the notched parts 411, 421 without slippage, enabling precise compression and reduction by pressurization by means of the body 1b of the circular outer circumferential surface. Thus, compression is made possible by the small diameter rollers 41, 42, allowing the device to be reduced in size, and enabling space to be saved in the installation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary press apparatus suitable for pressing and reducing empty containers such as empty PET bottles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the problem of global environmental protection has been highlighted, and containers such as empty plastic bottles and empty cans, such as soft drinks, which are widely circulated, are to be collected and recycled efficiently and effectively. Is required. Particularly, PET bottles made of polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate are widely used for soft drinks and the like because they are lightweight, hard and durable.

It is desirable that such used containers, such as empty PET bottles and empty cans, be compressed and reduced, if possible, near the end of the consumption area, reduced in volume, collected, and transported to a recycling plant.

However, since such empty PET bottles and empty cans are hard and durable, it is not easy to reduce the volume by compressing them. A large press machine had to be used.

[0005] Since it is practically difficult to arrange such a large-sized machine in each of a large number of consumption areas, it is actually installed in a collection site or a recycling plant, and transported by truck or the like from various places. The compression processing is performed in a concentrated manner.

Accordingly, empty PET bottles discharged from homes, restaurants, or near many stores are often transported in bulk without being compressed or reduced by trucks or the like.

[0007]

Although empty PET bottles and empty cans are relatively lightweight, they occupy a large volume as they are, and have conventionally been inefficiently collected and transported.

[0008] The target empty PET bottles and the like
Its head and bottom are quite rigid, requiring a large amount of force to compress and a large press machine.

Therefore, for example, a rotary roller type compression device can be installed in a relatively large number of areas if the size can be reduced. However, to reduce the size, it is necessary to reduce the diameter of the roller. Required. However, when the roller diameter is reduced, the pressed member such as an empty plastic bottle slips while being in contact with the rotating cylindrical roller surface, the roller idles, and the empty plastic bottle or the like as the pressed member is fed. The phenomenon that there is not occurred.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a rotary press device that can be reduced in size and can accurately compress and reduce a member to be pressed such as an empty plastic bottle or an empty can. With the goal.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a rotary press apparatus in which a pair of rollers are arranged to face each other and rotate in opposite directions to sandwich a member to be pressed between the rollers and compress the member. The rollers rotate in synchronization with each other, and are provided with cutouts that are cut open toward the outer peripheral direction.

As described above, the rotary press device according to the present invention is provided with the cutout portion that is cut open toward the outer peripheral direction of the roller. It is caught and sent between the notches, and the other main body and the like are sandwiched between the outer circumferential surfaces of the pair of rotating rollers, so that the pressing and reducing are performed accurately.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a rotary press apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an apparatus for collecting empty PET bottles or the like to which the first embodiment of the rotary press apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

That is, a member to be pressed, such as an empty plastic bottle 1, is thrown into the opening 2 a provided in the box 2 in the length direction. The empty PET bottle 1 and the like are guided by the cylindrical guide 3 constituting the rotary press device, and fall toward the intermediate portion between the pair of rollers 41 and 42 so that the length direction thereof is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis direction. I do.

A pair of rollers 41 having substantially the same radius,
42 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG.
They are arranged facing each other with a slight gap d of about 5 mm.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of rollers 41, 4
The two rotating shafts 41a and 42a are provided with gears 51 and 52 which mesh with each other and rotate in synchronization with each other. The gears 51 and 52 are driven by a driving gear 71 fixed to the rotating shaft of the motor 7 via a gear reduction mechanism 6. It is connected to.

Therefore, the rotating shafts 41a and 42a of the pair of rollers 41 and 42 are rotated in the opposite directions by the rotation of the motor 7 as shown by the arrows, so that the dropped empty PET bottle 1 is sandwiched. Acts to catch in.

2, a pair of rollers 41 and 42 have cutouts 411 and 411, respectively, which are cut out toward the outer peripheral direction of the rollers 41 and 42 and have substantially the same V-shape. 421 are provided, and these notches 411 and 421 are provided symmetrically corresponding to each other, and rotate synchronously in opposite directions to each other.

The plastic bottle 1 is often formed of a synthetic resin material having a thickness of about 0.3 mm, and the head 1a and the bottom 1c are formed so as to maintain appropriate hardness. ing. Therefore, the cap (lid) from the head 1a
Is removed, for example, as shown in FIG.
The empty PET bottle 1 that has fallen with a a downwards comes into contact with the respective circular outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of rotating rollers 41 and 42, and a slip state occurs between the two smooth outer peripheral surfaces. When the openings of the notches 411 and 421 reach the positions facing each other by the rotation of the rollers 41 and 42 from the slip state, the head 1a of the empty plastic bottle 1
Are supported by the front side portions 411a and 421a between the notches 411 and 421 shown in FIG. 2, while facing the notches 411 and 4 as shown in FIG.
It falls into the space formed between the rollers 21 and is sent downward while the rollers 41 and 42 rotate.

Therefore, since the notches 411 and 421 are partially provided so as to open toward the outer peripheral direction of the rollers 41 and 42, the head 1a of the empty plastic bottle 1 is rotated with the rotation of the rollers 41 and 42. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the relatively soft portion extending from the stomach to the abdomen 1b is continuously crushed by the outer circumferential surface associated with the rotation of the rollers 41 and 42, and the empty plastic bottle 1 is accordingly moved downward. Sent to. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3C, most of the abdomen 1b of the empty plastic bottle 1 is
2 is crushed and reduced by the outer circumferential surface, and the bottom 1c
It is about to come.

The bottom part 1c of the empty plastic bottle 1 has a head part 1a.
It is generally rigid as well. Therefore, the lightweight empty plastic bottle 1 is in the state shown in FIG. 3C and rotates while contacting the circumferential surfaces of the rollers 41 and 42 until the notches 411 and 421 reach by rotation. , And a slip state occurs.

Then, by the rotation of the rollers 41 and 42,
When the cutouts 411 and 421 reach the bottom 1c of the empty plastic bottle 1, the bottom 1c is formed in the front side 41 of the cutouts 411 and 421 by the same process as in the head 1a.
It descends while being supported by 1a and 421a. Along with this lowering, as shown in FIG. 3 (d), the rollers 41, 42 are immediately pushed from the outside of the bottom 1 c by the rear sides 411 b, 421 b of the rollers 41, and are stored in the lower collection box 8.

As described above, the pressed member such as the empty plastic bottle 1 has a rigid portion in a part of its structure such as the head portion 1a or the bottom portion 1c, but the other portion has a circular outer shape. Since it is compressed and reduced by the rollers 41 and 42 having the shape, it is stored in the collection box 8 in a state where the volume is sufficiently reduced.

As described above, in the rotary press apparatus according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the empty plastic bottle 1 is guided by the guide 3 and the head 1a is turned downward. If it falls down, the head 1a which is relatively hard
The bottom portion 1c is reduced and collected in a state where the shape is substantially maintained by the action of the cutout portions 411 and 421 of the rollers 41 and 42. However, even if the bottom portion 1c is dropped with the bottom portion 1c down, Similarly, reduced collection is possible.

That is, in the first embodiment, if the lower portion 1c is inserted downward from the opening 2a through the guide 3 with the bottom portion 1c, the cutout portions 411 and 421 are formed as shown in FIG. Bottom 1 at front side 411a, 421a
4c, and then, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the entire abdomen 1b is crushed from above the bottom 1c by the circular outer peripheral surface continuing from the rear sides 411b, 421b of the rollers 41, 42. It works to send it downward while reducing it.

Therefore, the rigid head 1 of the empty plastic bottle 1
When a reaches the rollers 41 and 42, the state shown in FIG. 4C is obtained. Here, when the rollers 41 and 42 idle and the notches 411 and 421 again reach and face each other, FIG.
As shown in (d), the head 1a is pushed downward while keeping its original shape, and is stored in the collection box 8. In this way, the empty plastic bottle 1 is
2 by the action of the notches 411 and 421 directed toward the outer peripheral direction, “capture of the head 1a (bottom 1c)” → “abdomen 1b”
Through the process of “compression and reduction of the bottom” → “extrusion of the bottom 1c (head 1a)”.

In the first embodiment, the empty PET bottle 1 is pressed and reduced on the outer peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical or cylindrical rollers 41 and 42 excluding the cutouts 411 and 421 as a whole. It is. Therefore, it is desirable that the outer circumference of the circular portions of the rollers 41 and 42 be longer than at least the length of the abdomen 1b of the plastic bottle 1.

In the first embodiment, only 1
Although the pressing and compression of empty PET bottles has been described, a plurality of empty PET bottles can be pressed and compressed in parallel by being configured to be dropped by the guide 3 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction of the roller. Can be.

Also, according to the present embodiment, the head 1a of the plastic bottle 1 partially made of a different material remains in its original shape and is collected without being damaged. The material is effectively recycled.

As described above, the rotary press device according to this embodiment includes a pair of cylindrical rollers 41, 42.
The simple configuration of providing a notch in the roller allows the pressed member to be accurately captured and reduced, thereby enabling downsizing.The roller is compared to a conventional case in which a columnar or cylindrical roller is simply employed. The diameters of 41 and 42 can be reduced to 1/3 or less.

As described above, the abdomen of the PET bottle is often formed of a material having a thickness of about 0.3 mm. On the other hand, the gap d between the rollers 41 and 42 is set to 2.5
In the case of about mm, when pressed at the rear side of the cutout, a 1.9 mm extra space is calculated in calculation.

Since the first pressing operation by the rear side of the cutout portion greatly affects the compression ratio of the pressed member, it is desirable that the interval between the rear sides is as narrow as possible. In addition, it is desired that the interval can be adjusted according to the type of the pressed member having a different container thickness.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the rotary press apparatus according to the present invention, which is configured to easily adjust the distance d between the pair of rollers 41 and 42 and to increase the compression ratio. This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the rotary press apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a main part of the embodiment of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the roller 41, 4 according to the type of the pressed member, for example, a plastic bottle, as viewed from the line A in the direction of the arrow.
The rear sides 411b, 421 of both cutouts 41, 42 without changing the interval between the two rotating shafts 41a, 42a.
The interval between b was adjusted so that compression could be performed efficiently.

That is, in the second embodiment, the notch 4 formed in the pair of rotating rollers 41 and 42 is used.
11, 421, rear side portions 411b, 421b
, Each of which has a screw 91, and a horizontally long metal pressing plate 92.
Are detachably attached to form a protruding portion.

Since the pressing plate 92 is provided with a long mounting hole 92a in the height direction, the screw 91
The height h of the portion protruding outside from the outer peripheral surface of No. 2 was adjusted in accordance with the thickness of the pressed member such as a PET bottle or the like, so that pressing and compression could be performed more efficiently. In particular, the front end portions of both cutout portions 41 and 42 are particularly often worn because they contact the pressed member at an acute angle. Therefore, the pressing plate 9
2 can prevent the wear, and can always set the optimum interval by adjusting the mounting position by the screw 91 and replacing the pressing plate 92. Except for the configuration of the main part of the above description, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore detailed description is omitted.

Next, in the first and second embodiments, the notches 411, 41 formed in the rollers 41, 42 are used.
421 is configured such that, when the rollers 41 and 42 rotate, their positions are symmetrical, for example, as shown in FIG. However, for example, as shown in FIG.
When the rigid bottom 1c is captured in a horizontal state and the abdomen 1b thereon is pressed and reduced at the same time from the left and right, the horizontal rigid bottom 1c acts to prevent the abdomen 1b from being pressed and reduced, requiring a large torque. There is.

Therefore, if a difference is provided in the relative angle between the notches 411 and 421, the rotation of the front and rear side portions 4
11a, 421a, 411b, and 421b are alternately applied with a pressing force to the pressed member, and efficient compression and reduction can be performed. In particular, by making the mounting positions of the pressing plates 92 different from each other so as to bite into the notches on the other side, the force of compression and feeding to the pressed member works effectively, and the function as the rotary press device is improved. Be strengthened.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a rotary press device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the cutouts 411 and 421 formed in the pair of rotating rollers 41 and 42 are configured so as to form an angle difference θ of about 6.5 degrees between the left and right in the rotation angle. Further, the pressing plate 92 in the notch portion 421 having a fast advance angle is provided on the rear side portion 421b, and the notch portion 4 which is turned later.
The pressing plate 92 in 11 was configured to be attached to the front side portion 411a.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, a pressing force is applied to the pressed member alternately from the left and right, and a force for alternately folding the empty plastic bottle 1 is applied, and the pressing plate 92 is pressed. Irregularities and steps in the notch formed by attachment also act, so that compression and reduction can be efficiently performed even with relatively small torque with little slippage.
In particular, since the mounting position of the pressing plate 92 is different and bites into the notches on the other side, the pressing plate 92 having a long length up to the tip can be selected and mounted, and as a result, like a PET bottle The folding force and the feeding force with respect to the pressed member having a relatively large repulsion force against the compression force can be further increased.

In the third embodiment, the pressing plate 92 has been described as being attached to the front side 411a and the rear side 421b of each of the cutouts 411, 421. The gap d is substantially adjusted to allow the pressed member to be accurately captured and pressed, so that the pressed member is positioned on one of the front sides 411a and 421a, or on any of the front sides 411a and 421a. Alternatively, it can be selectively attached as necessary.

Since the space itself formed by the notch is not a part for directly applying a compressive force to the member to be pressed, the size of the notch depends on the shape and size of the member to be pressed. It is desirable to select as appropriate.
In that regard, according to the second and third embodiments, the size of the space occupied by the cutout portion is substantially adjusted by selecting the pressing plates 92 having different lengths and plate thicknesses to the distal end portion. Thus, a rotary press device suitable for the shape and size of the pressed member can be realized.

In each of the above embodiments, the plastic bottle 1 having the rigid head 1a and the rigid bottom 1c at the upper and lower ends has been described as an example of the pressed member. Even if a member to be pressed is used, as long as the upper and lower ends have a size between the notches facing each other, the member can be reliably captured and similarly pressed and reduced.

As described above, according to the rotary press device according to the present invention, space can be saved by a compact and simple structure, and empty containers such as PET bottles can be efficiently and accurately compressed. Can be reduced.

[0046]

According to the present invention, a compact rotary press device capable of accurately compressing and reducing an empty container or the like is realized by a simple structure in which a notch is formed in a part of a column or a cylinder. Therefore, a practically remarkable effect can be obtained when collecting and regenerating waste.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a rotary press device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a main part of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating functions of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating another function of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part showing a second embodiment of the rotary press device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a principal part showing a third embodiment of the rotary press device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the same main part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Empty PET bottle 2 Box 2a Opening 3 Guide 41,42 Roller 411,421 Notch 411a, 421a Front side 411b, 421b Rear side 51,52 Gear 7 Motor 8 Collection box 92 Pressing plate (projection)

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 5, 1999

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention, outside each
<br/> pair of rollers having a cut portion which is cut open in the same shape toward the circumferential direction is opposed, and the same in the opposite directions
By rotating the sake, each of the pressing members of the pair
In a rotary press device that supports and compresses between the notches, the depth of the notch from the outer peripheral surface is the pair of notches.
At the position opposing the notch, the bottom of the pressed member
Can be accommodated between the pair of cutouts without pressing
It is characterized by being formed so that .

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As described above, in the rotary press device according to the present invention, the depth of the notch from the outer peripheral surface is determined by the member to be pressed.
It is formed so that it can be stored without pressing the bottom of
Therefore, a pair of rollers serve as a member to be pressed such as a PET bottle.
Supports a solid bottom and does not shrink, reducing power consumption and miniaturization
And efficient compression and reduction with a simple configuration
Become.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0020

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The plastic bottle 1 is often formed of a synthetic resin material having a thickness of about 0.3 mm, and the head 1a and the bottom 1c are formed so as to maintain appropriate hardness. ing. Therefore, the cap (lid) from the head 1a
Is removed, for example, as shown in FIG.
free plastic bottle 1 dropped by the a downward, comes to have contact with the circular outer peripheral surface of the pair of rollers 41 and 42 rotate, the slip state between its smooth Ryogaishu surface. When the openings of the notches 411 and 421 reach the positions facing each other by the rotation of the rollers 41 and 42 from the slip state, the head 1a of the empty plastic bottle 1
Are supported by the front side portions 411a and 421a between the notches 411 and 421 shown in FIG. 2, while facing the notches 411 and 4 as shown in FIG.
21 falls into the space formed between them and maintains its shape.
First, it is fed downward while the rollers 41 and 42 rotate.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0023

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Then, by the rotation of the rollers 41 and 42,
When the cutouts 411 and 421 reach the bottom 1c of the empty plastic bottle 1, the bottom 1c is formed in the front side 41 of the cutouts 411 and 421 by the same process as in the head 1a.
It descends while being supported by 1a and 421a. Along with this lowering, as shown in FIG. 3D, from the outside of the bottom 1c, the roller 41, 42 is immediately pushed in by the rear side 411b, 421b, and is stored in the lower collection box 8 while maintaining its shape. Is done.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0027

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Therefore, the rigid head 1 of the empty plastic bottle 1
When a reaches the rollers 41 and 42, the state shown in FIG. 4C is obtained. Here, when the rollers 41 and 42 idle and the notches 411 and 421 again reach and face each other, FIG.
As shown in (d), the head 1a is pushed downward while keeping its original shape, and is stored in the collection box 8. In this manner, the empty PET bottle 1 is moved toward the outer peripheral direction of the rollers 41 and 42 so that the bottom of the pressed member is
Notch 41 formed so as to be accommodated without pressing
Due to the action of 1,421, “capture head 1a (bottom 1c)” → “compression reduction of abdomen 1b” → “bottom 1c (head 1c)
Through the step of “a) extrusion”, the material is efficiently compressed and reduced.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0029

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In the first embodiment, only 1
The press compression of empty PET bottles has been described, but the guide 3 drops the PET bottles in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction of the rollers.
By configuring the obtained so that can be pressed compressed in parallel free bottled plural.

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0044

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In each of the above embodiments, the plastic bottle 1 having the rigid head 1a and the rigid bottom 1c at the upper and lower ends has been described as an example of the pressed member. Even if it is a member to be pressed, in short, from the outer peripheral surface of the notch
The depth is provided so as not to press the pressed member
In, to enter the between the notches its upper and lower end portions are opposed to each other, Ken
There moiety Ru efficient pressing reduction is performed as a whole while kept almost intact.

[Procedure amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0046

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0046]

According to the present invention , an empty container or the like can be accurately compressed and reduced by a simple configuration in which a cutout portion that does not press the bottom portion or the like of a pressed member is formed in a columnar or cylindrical portion. The present invention realizes a compact rotary press device, and has a practically remarkable effect when collecting and regenerating waste.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A rotary press device in which a pair of rollers are disposed opposite to each other and rotate in opposite directions to sandwich a pressed member between the rollers and compress the rollers, wherein the pair of rollers rotate in synchronization with each other. A rotary press device provided with a notch portion which is cut open toward an outer peripheral direction. 2. The pair of rollers rotating in synchronization with each other,
2. The rotary press device according to claim 1, wherein the formed notches are arranged so as to make a slight angle difference at positions facing each other in advance and rotate. 3. The rotary press apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pair of rollers form a protrusion protruding outward along an inner surface of the notch. 4. When the pressed member falls between the pair of rollers, the pressing member is guided such that a length direction of the pressed member and a rotation axis direction of the roller are substantially orthogonal to each other. The rotary press device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rotary press device is configured by adding a guide to the rotary press.