SE538965C2 - A guiding member, a system for guiding objects by means of said guiding member and a method - Google Patents

Abstract

13 ABSTRACT A guiding member for guiding objects (3) moved from a first location to a secondlocation in an elongate guide part (12) having at least one guide part module (l2A,l2B), the guiding member (7) comprising a body (70) With a first and a second end Withsliding members (7l) and support members (72) at each end of said body (70), saidsliding members (7l) being arranged to minimize surface contact between the elongateguide part (l2) and the guiding member (7), c h ar a c t e r i z e d in that said supportmembers (72) have concaVe surfaces (72A) supporting an object (3) that is pressedagainst said concaVe surface (72A) in a longitudinal direction (C) in relation to theguiding member (7). (FigA)

Description

The present invention relates to a guiding member for guiding objects from a firstlocation to a second location, the invention also relates to a system for guiding objects by means of an inventive guiding member.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Conventional systems for collection of deposit containers, e.g. aluminum cans and PET-bottles for beverages, consist of automatic machines into Which the deposit cans are fed,Where the cans are decoded by a bar code reader, and the cans accepted for retum of thedeposit are compressed or cut to pieces and collected in plastic sacks. The automaticmachines are often located in adjacent to the entrances of food shops, so that the customers not Will have to carry empty cans through the shop. Such a machine isdescribed for instance in WO 2012052852.

These automatic machines and their location cause a number of disadvantages. Onenuisance is the noise that arises in the shop, or at least at its entrance, from the devicethat compresses the cans or that cuts the cans to pieces in the automatic machine.Besides being a nuisance to the customers, this type of noise does constitute a burdenfor the personnel in their Work environment, especially for the cashiers Who often arelocated adjacent to the entrance. Furthermore, the collecting in plastic sacks gives thedisadvantages that due to space and handling aspects the sacks cannot be very large,usually about 150 liters, Which means that the automatic machines stop due to full sackrelatively often, leading to the shop personnel having to change sacks and having totransport the filled sack to the loading ramp of the shop, Where it is taken care of forfurther transport. Moreover, the transport from the automatic machine to the loadingramp causes risks for the personnel of being hurt by the cut up cans and also a risk thatpossible remaining liquid contents in the can leak from the sack if it gets holes. Such holes arise very easily due to the sharp edges of the cut up cans.

A solution to this problem is proposed in US 6,401,902 B1 and US 2007/0151903 A1.US 6,401,902 B1 discloses a collecting system for packagings, preferably retumablepackagings, comprising a feed-in device for the packagings, Which feed-in device is arranged at a first location. Furthermore, an automatic transport device is arranged to automatically, and preferably mechanically, transport the packagings from said feed-indevice to a demolition and/or collecting device which is arranged at a second location, said second location being located at a distance from said first location.

US 2007/0151903 Al discloses a handling device for retumable packagings comprisinga feeding device, having at least one inlet opening, a first detection device arranged inconnection with said feeding device, means for detection of at least one property of thematerial of a retumable packaging, in order to control/affect the operation in asubsequent sorting unit, wherein a lock unit is arranged before said sorting unit, and acompression unit, wherein said lock unit comprises a first and a second stop device,arranged to control that only one retumable packaging at a time is present at said secondstop device, wherein said means comprises a second detection device arranged withinsaid feeding device, which second detection device includes a gauge arranged todistinguish between metal and plastic, and that said sorting unit is moveable arranged,between different positions, based on a control signal from said second detection device,in order to dependent of its material direct the retumable packaging into one of at least two different directions.

In both of the designs, the aluminum cans or plastic bottles are fed through a transportcanal, which is stated to consist of a tube in e.g. PVC or steel, with a diameter of 60-200 mm. Steel pipes have the disadvantage of being too heavy to be generally acceptedand with PVC tubes, there is the problem of deformation and sticking. It is of utmostimportance that the aluminum cans or plastic bottles don°t stick in the pipe, so that shoppersonnel has to leave their ordinary tasks. With a long pipe with a long row ofcans/bottles pushing one another, the ensuing friction may be so large, that stickingoccur. WO201415803 presents a solution to the above problem by means of a crosssectional design that minimizes risk of sticking cans/bottles. However, there still mayexist problems with jamming, due to incompatible forms of bottles/cans. The thin wallsin PET bottles of today are not suff1ciently rigid to prevent an empty bottle fromgradually changing its shape. Empty bottles tend to buckle, and the problem of stickingis pronounced especially when PET bottles having different shapes are pushed throughPVC tubes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe main object of the present invention is to provide a guiding system, in which the risk of j amming and sticking of objects in long pipes is eliminated, or at least minimized, and this is achieved thanks to the inventive guiding members in accordance With the independent claims.

In a guiding system of the kind referred to in the first paragraph above, this object isachieved in accordance with the present invention in that the guiding members will keeptheir alignment with the longitudinal axis of the guide path also when they are beingpushed forward. By avoiding the risk of the objects assuming jamming and/or obliquepositions in relation to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, the direction of the pushingforce will not deviate from the direction of the pipe, and the risk of jamming will begreatly reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments and the appended drawings.

Fig. 1, shows an overview of a collecting system according to the invention, Fig. 2, shows a cross sectional view of a trough according to the invention, havingguiding member carrying an object in accordance with the invention, Fig. 3, shows a perspective side view of a guiding member in accordance with theinvention, Fig. 4, shows an elbow section, seen from above of a guide system in accordance withthe invention, containing a number of guiding members and objects carried by theguiding members, Fig. 5, shows a second embodiment of a guiding member according to the inventionand, Fig. 6, shows an overview of a collecting system according to a further embodiment according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSIn the described example below, a system that collects substantially cylindricalcontainers, such as PET bottles and metal cans is described. It should be understood that the collecting system and its components parts can be used in other applications.

Figure 1 shows an overview of a collecting system according to the invention. Thesystem collects objects 3, preferably substantially cylindrical containers 3 for holdingliquid, such as PET bottles and metal cans for beverages. The system comprises an inlet feeding device 1 (generally know per se) for the containers 3, which inlet feeding device 1 is arranged at a first location, in this case in a wall W. On one side of the feedingdevice 1 there is arranged an opening 10 where containers 3 can be entered. On theother side of the feeding device 1 mouths a branch canal 11 suitable sloping downwardsand connects in a branch point to an elongate guide part 12 (also referred to as guidemember, guide pipe and guide system). The elongate guide part 12 is formed by aplurality of interconnected guide part modules 12A, l2B, 6, 100 that stretch from thebranch point suitably along walls and/or ceiling to a demo lition device 14 and/or acollecting device 16 and guides the containers 3 during transport from the feedingdevice 1 to the demolition 14 and/or collecting 16 device. In a preferred embodimentthe same interconnecting members are used for each module, wherein more preferredmale, female interconnecting members as described more in detail in relationWO201415803, which hereby is introduced by way of reference. The demolition 14and/or collecting 16 device is arranged at a second location, said second location beingsituated at a predeterrnined distance from said first location. A conventional automatictransport device is arranged to automatically transport the containers 3 supported by theelongate guide member 12 from said feeding device 1 to said demolition 14 and/orcollecting 16 device. Said transport device comprises a driving device 2 that is arrangedto push the containers 3 forward one by one supported by the guide part 12 in that thedriving device 2 pushes a first container a distance forward in the guide part 12,whereby this first container pushes a second container, in front of the first one, forwardin the guide member 12, which second container, in its tum, pushes a third container, in front of the second one, forward supported by the guide member 12 and so on.

As shown in figures 1, 2 and 4 each container/obj ect 3 is further supported by a pair ofguiding members 7. The guiding members 7 are designed to carry each object 3 to keepit away from contact with the guide parts 12, i.e. eliminating friction and/or stickingbetween the objects 3 and the walls of the guide parts 12. Hereby a more reliabletransport of the objects 3 may be achieved. The design of each guiding member 7 (seefigure 3) is such that it presents a body 70 that extends in a longitudinal direction with adesired length L. In figure 3 it is shown that this body 70 is cylindrical. As will beapparent from following the body 70 may have varying shape, other than cylindrical, tofulfil the function of the guiding members 7.

At each end of a guiding member 7 there are ring shaped sliding parts 71. These slidingparts 71 are preferably the only parts of the guiding member 7 that will be in contactwith the walls of the guide parts 12. In a preferred embodiment shown in figure 3 this design is achieved by having a cylindrical body 70. The sliding parts 71 have diameter D1 that is larger than the diameter D2 of the body 70, preferably in the range of 1-5millimeter larger than D2. The largest diameter D1 preferably is in the range of about85-98 % of the inner diameter Wi of the guide parts 12. In a preferred embodiment theinner diameter of the guide parts Wi is in the range of 100-120 millimeter and the larger diameter D1 of the guiding member 7 is in the range of 95-1 10 millimeter.

Further it is shown that the guiding member 7 at each end, protruding into its interior,are arranged with support members 72, exposing a concave surface 72A at each end. Inthe preferred embodiment each support member 72 (also referred to as support device)has a parabolic surface 72A with an outer diameter generally corresponding to thediameter D2 of the body 70, preferably safely attached to the body 70 and/or to thesliding parts 71. The parabolic support devices 72 have their convex sides directed in tothe center of the guiding member 7, such that each end of the guiding member willpresent a concave parabolic support for an object 3 being moved in to contact with theguiding member 7 along a longitudinal line C in relation to the guiding member 7, independently of which side it is being approached from.

Thanks to this design an object 3 that is moved within the guide system having aguiding member 7 at each end thereof, will be forced to be positioned substantiallycentrally due to the tangential forces applied to the object 3 by means of the parabolicsurfaces 72A, when a pushing force is being applied in the longitudinal direction. As aconsequence the pushing force that forwards the objects through the guide system willprovide a “bonus effect” in that the objects 3 will be kept away from contact with theside walls of the guide parts 12. Furthermore the sliding parts 71, e. g. in the form ofrings in contact with a guide part 12 having polygonal shape will provide for aminimum of surface contact between the guide parts 12 and the guiding members 7. Inan altemative the guide parts may be cylindrical in shape and the sliding parts 71polygonal. All in all it provides a guide system wherein problems due to sticking and/or friction are eliminated or at least minimized.

The depth T of the Surface 72A of each parabolic support member 72 is preferably in arange 0,3-0,6 of the maximum diameter D1 of the guiding member 7, more preferred ina range 0,4-0,5 of the D1. It is evident for the skilled person that a variety of concaveshapes, deviating from parabolic shape may be used to achieve the desired function oflifting the objects 3, in accordance with the invention. For instance a truncated coneshape may also be used. More over it is evident that the guiding members 7 may be produced as an integrated body, e.g. in the form as indicated in figure 5, wherein the shape of the body 70 is adapted to generally correspond to the shape of the supportdevices 72 at the ends and an interconnecting midsection that has an outer diameter thatis much smaller than the maximum D1 (e.g. in the range 1/2-1/10 of the maximumdiameter D 1) Now again referring to figure 1 it is indicated that the collecting device 16, inaccordance with the invention, also is equipped with a sorting device that will sort theobjects 3 to be moved into a path in direction to the collecting bin 16 and the guidingmembers 7 to move into another path, i.e. a retum path 8. Preferably the retum path 8 isconstructed from the same kind of modules of guide parts 12 as the other parts ofsystem. In the retum path 8 the guiding members 7 are retumed to a buffer device 80positioned adj acent the driving device 2, thereby providing a buffer of guiding members7 to be fed in to the guide system in a desired pace, i.e. one guiding member 7 inbetween each one of the objects 3 being fed in to the guide system. It is evident for theskilled person that the buffer system 80 may be achieved in various forms. Oneembodiment (not shown) is in the form of having the retum path 8 extending upwardlypast the driving device 2, thereby creating a vertically, upwardly extending buffer in aone or more guide parts 12 extending in an upward direction, wherein the guide part 12that is located beside the location of the driving device 2 is arranged with a lateralopening for pushing a guiding member 7 at a time from the buffer system 80 into the driving device 2.

It is preferred that the length L of each guiding member 7 is larger than the maximuminner diameter Wi of the guide parts 12, thereby eliminating the possibility of tilting of aguiding member 7, and/or have the maximum diameter D1 of each guiding member 7large enough in combination with the length L to eliminate the possibility of tilting itwithin the guide part 12.

One guide part module 12A, l2B may comprise an elongate first trough 120 and figure2 shows a cross sectional view of said first trough 120 in a preferred embodiment, witha guiding member 7 carrying an object 3 in accordance with the invention. The firsttrough 120 comprises two substantially planar side wall sections which form an angle otof 40-60°, in relation to a longitudinal plane of symmetry of said trough 120 and whichin a horizontally extending part of the trough 120 support the weight of guiding member7 in two different directions, making it less likely to get stuck in the guide part 12. Saidtwo substantially planar side wall sections are preferably planar but of course it will work even if they are somewhat curved.

The first trough 120 preferably comprises a bottom portion 123 that extendstransversally in relation to said plane of symmetry S interconnecting the twosubstantially planar side wall sections. In other words, the two side wall sections extend obliquely upward from said bottom portion, diverging from each other.

When building together a collection system the different modules parts in the guidesystem can be connected as desired by means of sleeve members 100. In the dashed areain figure 1 a horizontally extending tubular section 12A (previously also referred to as“guide part module”) is assembled with an elbow 6 by means of a sleeve member 100,the rotation possibility of the sleeve member 100 will facilitate the passage of the guide member 12 past obstacles situated between the two locations.

In figure 6 there is shown a schematic overview of collecting system according to afurther embodiment in accordance with the invention, wherein guiding members 7 areused in between the objects 3 in the guide path 12. Here, at a location close to thedowntum of the final part of the guide pipe 12 there is a gripping device 9 that grips aguiding member 7 out from an upper opening in the guide pipe 12 and puts it in to theretum path 8. This retum path may preferably comprise several parts. One buffer part8a, where an appropriate number of guiding members 7 may be collected, preferably ina retum path part extending horizontally. There after there is a transfer device 80 thatmay feed one guiding member 7 at the time through a second part 8b of the retum path8, which presents an empty space, whereby the amount of guiding members 7 in thefirst part may vary, i.e. by varying the amount of guiding members 7 that protrude in tothe transfer device 80 and consequently also the transfer distance of the transfer device.Finally there is a third retum part 8c that preferably extends vertically, providing thatthe guiding members 7 will be positioned correctly for horizontal feeding at the feedingdevice 2. Thanks to the interrnediate part 8b of the retum path 8 it is possible to have avarying amount of guiding members 7 in the first part 8a of the retum path andsequentially supply a new guiding member 7 in to the final part 8c in connection with anew empty space being provided, i.e. when a guiding member 7 is pushed in to theguide pipe 12. As can be seen it is an advantage to use horizontal in feed system of theobjects 3 in connection with the inlet/feeding device 1, since then they will fit directly in to interaction with the guiding members 8.

According to a preferred embodiment the guiding members 7 are magnetic, e.g. by using a ferromagnetic body 70. Since there generally does not any longer exist any magnetic cans or bottles, using magnetic guiding members 7 may present greatadvantages When sorting/handling in the system, as indicated in Fig. 6. For instance amagnetic gripping device 9 may then be used to lift the guiding members 7 out of theguide pipe 12 at an appropriate location, eg. through an upWardly facing hole in theguide pipe l2, e. g. in connection With the last down tum of the guide pipe l2, close tothe demolition 14 and/or collection unit 16. Hence, at that hole a magnetic device 9 caneasily lift each guiding member 7 up and out of the guide pipe l2 and put into the retumpath 8. Further this facilitates the use of one or more magnetic handling/transfer devicesin the system, e. g. one or more magnet conveyers 80, e.g. at an interrnediate positionSB, of the retum path, Wherein there is no need of having any member movable Withinthe guide pipe/ s 8, l2, since the magnets may act through the Walls. Moreover, itfacilitates the use of practical “check valves” in the form of stationary magnets, e. g.adjacent the inlet point of the start of the guide pipe l2, hindering objects 3 and guidingmembers 7 to slide backwards, but easily enabling by pass by pushing With a forcelarger than the holding force of the “check valve”. Also at the feeding out end of theretum path such “check valves” may facilitate easy control, e.g. by having a plurality of(e. g. three) such “check valves” on top of each other at the end, holding two (or three, ormore) guiding members, and Wherein by sequential deactivation and activation, a controlled feeding out of guiding members 7 may be achieved.

As already mentioned above the ir1vention is not limited to use in connection With aguide system l2 as exemplified in the figures, but various designs of the guide systemmay be used, e.g. circular cross-sectional shape. Moreover the retum path 8 may beprovided in various forms, e.g. a piping system and/or a sliding system and/or a conveyor system, e. g. including magnetic members.

The present invention is applicable in all applications Where an object 3 is to be movedfrom a first location to a second location. The invention is not limited to collect depositcontainers into plastic sacks but may collect all kinds of objects, for examplerectangular coffee packets, cans and biscuit packages. It should also be understood thatthe collecting device 16 could be the start of any process, for example a packagingdevice or a collection point for further transport of the objects 3. The guide member l2could also replace conveyors in a transport system With the advantage that objects are not likely to fall off the conveyor.

The present invention is applicable in the collection of deposit containers, such as aluminum cans and PET bottles for beverages. The deposit containers are fed into automatic machines, Where the container shape, Weight, and orientation is deterrninedand bar code read to decide Whether the container is acceptable for passing into asubsequent step of the collecting system and Whether a possible deposit for thecontainer should be refunded. Then, the containers accepted for return of the deposit aretransferred by each container pushing the one ahead of it, etc., to another locationusually betWeen l0 and 100 m away, Where they are demo lished and collected in plasticsacks. The direction of the pushing force is accurately controlled to avoid sticking of the containers.

As Will be understood by those skilled in the present field of art, numerous changes andmodifications may be made to the above described and other embodiments of thepresent invention, Without departing from its scope as defined in the appending claims.For example, the collecting system may comprise tWo parallel guide system, a first onefor containers having a first maximum diameter ( e.g. on the order of 80 mm), and asecond one for containers having a second, larger diameter (e.g. on the order of 80-125mm), and possibly also a device for automatically size sorting the containers into themost suitable one of the guide members or simply a manual feeding into each one of them.

Claims (12)

1. l.

2. A guiding member for guiding objects (3) moved from a first location to asecond location in an elongate guide part (12) having at least one guide partmodule (l2A, l2B), the guiding member (7) comprising a body (70) With afirst and a second end With sliding members (7l) and support members (72)at each end of said body (70), said sliding members (7l) being arranged tominimize surface contact between the elongate guide part (l2) and theguiding member (7), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said support members (72)have concave surfaces (72A) supporting an object (3) that is pressed againstsaid concave surface (72A) in a longitudinal direction (C) in relation to the guiding member (7). .

3. N A guiding member according to claim l, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said concave surface (72A) is at least partly, cone shaped or parabolic shaped.

4. UJ Guiding member according to claim l or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that saidsliding member (7l) presents the maximum transversal measurement (Dl) of said guiding member (7), and preferably is ring shaped. :Ä A guiding member according to any of the claims l - 3 c h ar a c t e r i z e d inthat depth (T) of the concave surface (72A) is in the range of 03-0,7 of the maximum transversal measurement (Dl) of the sliding member (7l).

5. UI .

6. A guiding member according to any of the claims 1-4, c h ar a c t e r i z e d in thedeepest part (72B) of the concave surface (72A) is positioned substantially centrally in relation to the longitudinal center line (C) of the guiding member (7)- 9* A guiding member according to any previous claim, c h a r a ct e r i z e d in thatthe length (L) of a guiding member (7) is larger than the maximum transversal measurement (Dl) of the guiding member (7).

7. N A guiding member according to any previous claim, c h a r a ct e r i z e d in thatsaid sliding members (7l) are positioned adjacent each end of said guiding member body (70), preferably Within 0-15 mm from an end. 11

8. A guiding member according to any previous claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y being magnetic.

9. System for guiding objects, comprising a plurality of guiding membersaccording to any of the claims 1-8, wherein a number of guide part modules(12A, 12B) are assembled to form a guide path from a first (10) to a second(16) location and further a retum path (8) is arranged for retuming the guiding members (7) to a drive position (2).

10. A system according to claim 9, c h ar a ct e r i z e d in that said systemcomprises a collection position (16) whereat there is arranged a sorting device that is arranged to direct guiding members (7) into the retum path (8).

11. A system according to any ofthe claims 9-10, c h ar a c t e r i z e d in that saidguiding members (7) have a maximum transversal measurement (Dl) and/orlength (L) arranged to eliminate the possibility of a guiding member 7 tiltingwithin the guide part (12).

12. A method for collecting objects (3), such as PET bottles and metal cans for beverages, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a feeding device (1) for feeding objects (3), at a first location, b) providing a demolition (14) and/or collecting (16) device, at a secondlocation distance from said first location, c) providing an elongate guide member (12) for guiding the objects (3)during transport from the feeding device (1) to the demo lition (14)and/or collecting (16) device, and d) providing a driving device (2) that pushes the objects to automaticallytransport the objects (3) supported by the elongate guide member (12)from said feeding device (1) to said demolition (14) and/or collecting(16) device, e) wherein said driving device (2) pushes a first object a distance forward inthe guide member (12), whereby this first object pushes a secondobject, in front of the first one, forward in the guide member (12),which second object, in its tum, pushes a third object, in front of thesecond one, forward supported by the guide member (12), characterized in 12 f) that a plurality of guiding members (7) according to any of claims 1-8 areused to eliminate, or minimize, direct contact between objects (3) andthe elongate guide member 12, Wherein the guiding members (7) areinterposed between the objects (3) to be fed, preferable Wherein one guiding member (7) is interposed between every object (3).