WO1997008081A1

WO1997008081A1 - Sorting method and device taking into account the size and mass of sorted objects

Info

Publication number: WO1997008081A1
Application number: PCT/FR1996/001321
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernard Chardot; Michel Fischer; Daniel Boudet; Marcel Bourdeau; Patrick Tessier; Jacques Valles
Original assignee: Cogeac-Compagnie Generale D'aide Aux Collectes
Priority date: 1995-08-23
Filing date: 1996-08-23
Publication date: 1997-03-06
Also published as: FR2737982B1; FR2737982A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sorting method and device comprising means for introducing an object to be sorted and a flexible support (5, 6) on which is placed said object. The flexible support (5, 6) is adapted to exert on said object a force taking into account the dimensions of the object and to cause the object to follow a second path when the dimensions of the object are such that the component of the force exerted by the flexible support and perpendicular to the support is higher than the weight component of the object; and a first path when the dimensions of the object are such that the component of said force exerted by the flexible support is lower than that of the object weight.

Description

SORTING METHOD AND DEVICE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE DIMENSIONS AND MASSES OF SORTED OBJECTS.

The present invention relates to a sorting device. It applies to waste as well as to all industrial products during manufacture.

Currently known container sorting devices, using X-ray or nuclear radiation generators, are both very expensive and relatively dangerous. Other devices, using nuclear magnetic resonance, are also too costly for distributed use.

The invention intends to remedy these drawbacks. It aims in particular to propose a sorting device, the implementation of which allows the production of sorting terminals intended to be placed in public places, such as parking lots, stations, garbage or private, such as super¬ markets .

To this end, the invention provides a sorting device comprising a means for introducing an object to be sorted, characterized in that it comprises a flexible support on which said object is disposed, said flexible support being adapted to exercise on said object a force taking into account the dimensions of the object and being adapted to make the object follow a first path when the dimensions of the object cause that, in their components perpendicular to the flexible support, said force exerted by the support flexible is greater than the weight of the object and suitable for making the object follow a second path when the dimensions of the object causes said component of said force exerted by the flexible support to be less than that of the weight of the object.

Thanks to these arrangements, relatively full objects as well as those essentially made of dense materials, follow the second path, while the most empty objects or whose walls are the thinnest, are separated from the first.

The invention thus adapts particularly to the sorting of beverage containers, that is to say on the one hand the metal beverage cans which have small dimensions and on the other hand the plastic bottles which have large dimensions.

The device according to the invention does not require the use of any energy and its operating cost is therefore zero.

According to particular characteristics, the flexible support consists of at least two flexible members separated by a predetermined width interval.

Thanks to these arrangements, objects of smaller dimensions follow the second path, passing between ies flexible members.

According to other particular characteristics, the flexible members each comprise a linear support carrying a bundle of flexible linear members.

Thanks to these arrangements, the invention is particularly easy to carry out.

According to other particular characteristics, the linear supports of the flexible members are inclined relative to the horizontal with an angle adapted so that each object which follows the second path is driven by its weight along the flexible members parallel to the linear supports.

Thanks to these arrangements, for objects which follow the first path, the reaction of the flexible members, which is substantially perpendicular to these members, combines with the action of weight to drive the object along the flexible members. According to other particular characteristics, the flexible linear members are inclined downward, relative to the plane containing the longitudinal axes of the linear supports, in such a way that the object to be sorted is driven by its weight towards the interval separating the members flexible. Thanks to these provisions, the objects all present themselves in the same way at the bifurcation between the first and second paths, opposite the interval separating the flexible members.

According to other particular characteristics, the flexible linear members are inclined towards one of the ends of the linear supports so as to facilitate the routing of the objects which follow the second path.

Thanks to these provisions, the object which follows the first path slides on these linear members, without the need to bend them, even when the object has, on its surface, a particular relief.

According to other particular characteristics, the interval separating the flexible members has a width substantially equal to the standard diameter most used for metal cans containing drinks.

Thanks to these provisions, the invention applies particularly well to the sorting of these cans.

According to other particular characteristics, the flexible support consists of air jets.

Thanks to these provisions, no contact between the flexible support, on the one hand, and the object to be sorted, on the other hand, is necessary and the second cannot therefore soil or deteriorate the first. In addition, the air jet in question can entrain the object along the second path. According to other particular characteristics, the flexible support consists of a plate and a lever on which a resistance means is adapted to exert a predetermined force.

Thanks to these provisions, the sorting device can orient the objects in several directions according to their weight. The invention also relates to a sorting terminal characterized in that it comprises at least one sorting device as succinctly presented above and in that it comprises * at least two tanks adapted to each receive the objects coming from the 'one of the said paths. Thanks to these provisions, the sorted objects can be recovered by taking away the tanks or by emptying them.

The invention finally relates to a sorting process characterized in that it comprises a step in which each object is followed:

- a first path if the weight of the object is always less than a reaction force which takes into account at least one dimension of the object and its position on said path, or

- a second path if its weight is greater than said reaction force for a position on the first path.

The method has the same advantages as the device as briefly described above.

Other advantages, aims and characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows a front view of a sorting terminal according to the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a side view of a sorting terminal according to the invention;

- Figure 3A shows a side view of a first flexible support seion a preferred embodiment of the device the invention; - Figure 3B shows a sectional view of a first flexible support according to a preferred embodiment of the device of the invention;

FIG. 4 represents a longitudinal view of the first flexible support presented in FIGS. 3 and 4.

- ia Figure 5 shows a longitudinal view of a second flexible support according to a second embodiment of the device according to the invention. In the embodiment presented in Figures 1 and 2, two sorting devices are combined to separate the objects to be sorted, here the beverage containers, on three separate paths leading to three tanks. Of course, the terminals actually produced in accordance with the invention may have as many such devices according to the invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is a box 1 comprising reservoirs 2, 3 and 4, a first flexible support 5, a second flexible support 6, and an introduction means 7. The box 1 supports a canopy 8 and contains all the other elements of the devices according to the invention to constitute a sorting terminal 9 according to the invention. The tanks 2, 3 and 4 are intended to receive the sorted objects.

The insertion means 7 comprises an object passage 10 having flexible radial tongues 11, a front ramp 12 separating the object passage 10 and the first flexible support 5 and a flap plate 13 placed above the first flexible support , substantially perpendicular to its end furthest from the passage 10. The object passage 10 is adapted to allow objects whose dimensions are similar to those of the largest objects to be sorted to penetrate into the boxes. The flexible radial tabs are used to brake the objects introduced in order to force them to fall, under the effect of gravity, onto the first flexible support 5. Similarly, the flap plate 13 prevent an object thrown into the box 1 does not cross the first flexible support 5.

Preferably, the tanks 2, 3 and 4 consist of bags intended for the collection of household waste and of supports 2A, 3A and 4A intended to support them in a known manner in public garbage cans (two of the supports 2A, and 3A have been shown in Figure 1 and the support 3A is shown in Figure 2). These bags are removed with their contents each time they are full or according to a schedule fixed in advance. To this end, hinges not shown make it possible to open the sides of the box 1 according to known techniques. In general according to the invention, the flexible supports 5 and 6 on which the objects to be sorted may be placed, are each adapted to exert on said object a force taking into account the dimensions of the object and to cause the object to follow a first path when the dimensions of the object cause said force exerted by the flexible support to be greater than the weight of the object and adapted to cause the object to follow a second path when the dimensions of the the object causes said force exerted by the flexible support to be less than the weight of the object. Here, the second path from the first support 5 leads to the second support 6, while the first path from the first support 5 leads to the reservoir 3. The first path from the second support 6 leads to the reservoir 2 and the second path from the second support 6 leads to tank 4.

Thus, the large plastic bottles (adapted to contain more than half a liter of drink) and empty are oriented towards the tank 3, the empty standard metal cans are oriented towards the tank 2 and the other objects, including partially filled containers, are oriented towards the tank 3.

Preferably, each flexible support consists of at least two flexible members separated by a predetermined width interval.

Thus, it can be seen in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4, for the first flexible support, that:

the flexible members each comprise a linear support carrying a bundle of flexible linear members;

- The linear supports of the flexible members are inclined relative to the horizontal, by an angle between 15 and 75 degrees and preferably, for the application presented here, between 40 and 50 degrees, angle adapted to that each object which follows the first path is driven by its weight along the flexible members parallel to the linear supports. Thus, for the objects which follow the first path, the reaction of the flexible organs, which is substantially perpendicular to these organs, combines with the action of the weight to drive the object along the flexible organs; - the flexible linear members are inclined downward, relative to the plane containing the longitudinal axes of the linear supports, here by an angle of 30 degrees, in such a way that the object to be sorted is driven by its weight towards the interval separating the flexible members. Thus, the objects to be sorted all present themselves in the same way at the bifurcation between the first and second paths, opposite the interval separating the flexible members;

- The flexible linear members are inclined towards one of the ends, the lowest end, of the linear supports, here at an angle of thirty degrees, so as to facilitate the movement of the objects which follow the first path; - The interval separating the flexible members has a width substantially equal to the standard diameter most used for metal cans containing drinks;

It is observed in fact that the first support 5 consists of two brushes 23 whose rigid parts 20 constitute linear supports for bristles constituting flexible linear members 21. The flexible linear members of the brushes 23 are separated by a gap 22 whose width is approximately equal to the diameter of the metal cans for beverages. These flexible linear members are oriented, on the one hand, towards the half-space located below the rigid supports 20, so that gravity brings the objects towards the central interval 22, and, on the other hand, downwards rigid parts, following the second path, that is to say towards the reservoir 3, so that the objects which follow this second path can slide on the flexible linear members without having to deform them, even when these objects are not smooth.

The plane passing through the two rigid parts 20 is inclined towards the second path, that is to say towards the reservoir 3. The two rigid parts are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal and vertical plane of symmetry of the box.

The second support 6 consists of two rigid parts 25 carrying flexible linear members 26 separated by a gap 28 whose width is substantially equal to 40 millimeters (corresponding to the sorting of cans). The flexible linear members 26 which constitute, among other things, the support 6, have an angle of fifteen degrees between them. They are therefore slightly oriented downwards, relative to the plane of the rigid parts 25. They are also each substantially perpendicular to these rigid parts. The plane which contains the two rigid parts 25 is inclined towards one of the reservoirs, here the reservoir 2. Below the second support 6, there is a sheet 27 intended for the objects which follow the second path of the second support, after following that of the first support, are returned to the tank 4.

The operation of the device according to the invention is as follows: the user introduces the objects to be sorted successively into the passage of circular object 10, between the flexible radial tongues 11. By the action of gravity, the object then falls on the first support 5. This flexible support, as described with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4 is adapted to exert on said object a force taking into account the dimensions of the object. Indeed, the smallest objects will pass in the central interval 22 of the support 5, regardless of their weight. On the other hand, objects whose diameter is greater than this interval 22, do not pass through the support, following the second path, only when the dimensions of the object entail that the force exerted by the flexible support is never equal or greater than the weight of the object. On the other hand, the object follows the first path, towards the reservoir 3, when its dimensions entail that the force exerted by the flexible support is, in its component perpendicular to the flexible support, at least in a position greater than the weight of the object. , while it follows this support.

The same effect is reproduced on the second support 6, but, due to the lateral inclination of this support, the sorting is carried out between objects of smaller dimensions than the interval 28 separating the flexible members that this second support comprises.

Preferably, the lowest lateral parts of the box, which surround the tanks 2, 3 and 4, consist of grids so that the tanks are ventilated. For reasons of strength and economy, the sorting terminals 9 are preferably made of folded and welded sheet metal. However, they can also be made of rigid molded plastics, for example.

According to a first variant, not shown, a support adapted to be implemented according to the present invention comprises only one brush.

According to a second variant, not shown, the support consists of an air jet which deflects the trajectory of the lightest or larger objects, without deviating that of the heaviest or smaller objects. According to this second variant, no contact between the flexible support, on the one hand, and the object to be sorted, on the other hand, is necessary and the second cannot therefore soil the first. In addition, the air jet in question can entrain the object along the second path.

According to a third variant not shown, the flexible support consists of a plate and a lever on which a resistance means is adapted to exert a predetermined force.

The invention is not limited to the single embodiments described and shown, but extends, on the contrary, to improvements and modifications within the reach of those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Sorting device comprising a means for introducing (7) an object to be sorted, characterized in that it comprises a flexible support (5, 6) on which said object is disposed, said .souple support being adapted to exert on said object a force taking into account the dimensions of the object and being adapted to make the object follow a first path when the dimensions of the object cause that, in their components perpendicular to the flexible support, said force exerted by the flexible support is greater than the weight of the object and adapted to make the object follow a second path when the dimensions of the object cause said component of said force exerted by the flexible support to be less than that of the weight of the 'object.

2. Sorting device according to claim 1 characterized in that the flexible support (5, 6) consists of at least two flexible members (21) separated by a gap (22, 28) of predetermined width.

3. Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the flexible members each comprise a linear support (20) carrying a bundle of flexible linear members (21).

4. Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the linear supports (20) of the flexible members (21) are inclined relative to the horizontal with an angle adapted so that each object which follows the first path is driven by its weight along the flexible members (21) parallel to the linear supports (20).

5. Device according to any one of claims 3 or 4 characterized in that the flexible linear members (21) are inclined downward relative to the plane containing the longitudinal axes of the linear supports (20), so that the the object to be sorted is driven by its weight towards the gap (22, 28) separating the flexible members (21).

6. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 5 characterized in that the flexible linear members (21) are inclined towards one of the ends of the linear supports (20) so as to facilitate the routing of the objects which follow the first path.

7. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 6 characterized in that the gap (22, 28) separating the flexible members (21) has a width substantially equal to the standard diameter most used for metal cans containing drinks .

8. Sorting device according to claim 1 characterized in that the flexible support consists of air jets.

9. Sorting device according to claim 1 characterized in that the flexible support consists of a plate and a lever on which a resistance means is adapted to exert a predetermined force.

10. Sorting terminal (9) characterized in that it comprises at least one sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and in that it comprises at least two tanks (2, 3, 4) adapted to each receive the objects coming from one of said paths.

11. Sorting method characterized in that it comprises a step in which each object is followed:

- a second path if the weight of the object is always greater than a reaction force which takes into account at least one dimension of the object and its position on said path, or

- a first path if its weight is less than said reaction force for at least one position on the first path.