WO2000064787A1 - Silo for storage and regulated supply of light empty bottles and method for the utilization thereof - Google Patents

Silo for storage and regulated supply of light empty bottles and method for the utilization thereof Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000064787A1
WO2000064787A1 PCT/ES1999/000108 ES9900108W WO0064787A1 WO 2000064787 A1 WO2000064787 A1 WO 2000064787A1 ES 9900108 W ES9900108 W ES 9900108W WO 0064787 A1 WO0064787 A1 WO 0064787A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
silo
containers
enclosure
enclosures
tank
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/ES1999/000108
Other languages
Spanish (es)
French (fr)
Inventor
Jaime Marti Sala
Original Assignee
Jaime Marti Sala
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jaime Marti Sala filed Critical Jaime Marti Sala
Priority to PCT/ES1999/000108 priority Critical patent/WO2000064787A1/en
Priority to AT99940206T priority patent/ATE238209T1/en
Priority to CA002339957A priority patent/CA2339957C/en
Priority to US09/762,883 priority patent/US6457610B1/en
Priority to EP99940206A priority patent/EP1106534B1/en
Priority to ES99940206T priority patent/ES2197664T3/en
Priority to AU54234/99A priority patent/AU760104B2/en
Priority to PCT/ES1999/000262 priority patent/WO2000009425A2/en
Priority to DK99940206T priority patent/DK1106534T3/en
Priority to CNB998111872A priority patent/CN1151051C/en
Priority to BR9912894-2A priority patent/BR9912894A/en
Priority to PT99940206T priority patent/PT1106534E/en
Priority to DE69907217T priority patent/DE69907217T2/en
Priority to ARP000101917A priority patent/AR023755A1/en
Publication of WO2000064787A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000064787A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G69/00—Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with loading or unloading
    • B65G69/16—Preventing pulverisation, deformation, breakage, or other mechanical damage to the goods or materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/54—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying
    • B65D88/58—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying by displacement of walls
    • B65D88/60—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying by displacement of walls of internal walls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/54—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying
    • B65D88/64—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying preventing bridge formation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/54—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying
    • B65D88/64—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying preventing bridge formation
    • B65D88/66—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying preventing bridge formation using vibrating or knocking devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
    • B65D90/12—Supports
    • B65D90/20—Frames or nets, e.g. for flexible containers
    • B65D90/205—Frames or nets, e.g. for flexible containers for flexible containers, i.e. the flexible container being permanently connected to the frame
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
    • B65D90/54—Gates or closures
    • B65D90/58—Gates or closures having closure members sliding in the plane of the opening
    • B65D90/587—Gates or closures having closure members sliding in the plane of the opening having a linear motion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
    • B65D90/54—Gates or closures
    • B65D90/62—Gates or closures having closure members movable out of the plane of the opening
    • B65D90/623—Gates or closures having closure members movable out of the plane of the opening having a rotational motion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2590/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
    • B65D2590/54—Gates or closures
    • B65D2590/545—Gates or closures flexible gates

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a silo for storage and regulated supply of empty light packages, and more particularly a silo capable of being loaded by a top loading inlet and capable of supplying the packages by gravity from a lower outlet, suitable for being used, for example, as a maintenance and regulated feeding tank for empty containers, in particular plastic containers, but not limited to a bottling line, or as a temporary storage tank for said containers.
  • the present invention also concerns a method for the use of such a silo. Background of the invention
  • Light empty containers which are generally made of blown plastic, when supplied in bulk from the bottom outlet of a tank, behave as a material that can flow by gravity but highly prone to form “vaults” or “bridges” that they can interrupt the regular and continued flow of such articles. This is due to the fact that said packages frequently have irregular shapes, being provided with protuberances such as handles, necks, etc., which cause the packages to be interwoven with each other forming a kind of structure, usually called “vault” or "bridge”, which , aided by the weight of the containers located at a higher level, it leans against the walls of the tank causing a blockage inside the silo, causing the containers involved in such a structure, as well as all those above them, to see each other. prevented from descending due to gravity towards the lower part of the silo.
  • a silo for empty light containers whose walls are formed, at least in part, by sheets of a flexible material, such as a canvas, where some are provided means capable of transmitting to said flexible sheets a vibratory movement.
  • a silo for storage of light hollow bodies is provided provided with a lower discharge opening comprising a dispensing device formed by plates, articulated with respect to opposite walls of the silo, inclined downward towards the center of the tank, so that the end of one of them, longer, extends partially below the end of the other.
  • the inclination of said plates is adjustable in a dependent or independent manner, so that a discharge funnel with a slope slope and an opening can be obtained depending on the type of container to be stored.
  • the longer plate has a wing near its free end that can be lifted to momentarily close the flow of containers without losing the slope and exit opening settings.
  • said plates are provided with pushing means that allow shaking movement in order to facilitate the breakage of the "vaults” or “bridges” allowing the flow of light hollow bodies, such as empty plastic containers, stored .
  • baffle plates nets with sufficient passage openings for containers or labyrinths located at different levels within a high-rise silo are designed to limit the maximum height of free fall of a container on another container located at a lower level and the maximum height of stacking containers on a particular container.
  • said baffle plates, nets or labyrinths are an impediment to the free flow of stored items that adds to the problem of the formation of "vaults" or "bridges.”
  • an objective of the present invention is to provide a silo for storage and regulated supply of empty light containers provided with means to prevent the formation of "vaults” or “bridges”, or where appropriate to facilitate their breakage.
  • Another objective of the present invention is to provide a silo for storage and regulated supply of empty light containers provided with means to limit the maximum height of free fall of a container on another container located at a lower level and the maximum stacking height of containers on a particular container, inside the silo.
  • Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method of storage and regulated supply of empty light packages by means of a silo provided with the means mentioned in the two preceding paragraphs.
  • said silo comprises a subdivision of said container into overlapping enclosures, filled by gravity, the height of which is a function of the type of container to be stored, said enclosures being delimited by lift planes retractable equipped with independent drive means, capable of moving them to open or close at least one passage through it to unload containers from an enclosure to the immediate lower enclosure.
  • said lift plane comprises at least one flexible sheet, such as a canvas, capable of being wound on a rotating core supported next to one of the side walls of said tank, a free front edge of said sheet being flexible fixed to a load bar capable of moving away from and approaching said rotating core moving, supported and guided, in a predetermined path formed, for example, by a pair of side rails on which corresponding wheels or skates fixed to both are supported ends of said loading bar.
  • Said predetermined trajectory which is preferably horizontal, comprises retractable stops that prevent the retraction of the loading bar in a situation of extension of the flexible sheet.
  • the loading bar is provided with pushing means comprising a pair of articulated arms, each of which is formed by two sections coupled to each other, each arm being articulated jointly at one end to the bench, in an area close to the rotating core, and at the other end to the loading bar, each of whose arms includes a tension spring fixed at one end of said sections and connected by a flexible element to the other of said sections so that it exerts on said stretches of a tendency to extend until they are aligned by pushing said load bar in the direction away from said rotating core.
  • An electric motor acts on said rotating core for and against said pushing means to, respectively, extend and collect said flexible sheet.
  • said lift plane comprises two of said flexible sheets, the corresponding rotating cores being supported in respective positions facing adjacent opposite side walls of said tank, with the corresponding predetermined paths arranged so that the respective Loading bars are mutually adjacent when said flexible sheets are fully extended.
  • the two flexible sheets in an extended situation, are practically coplanar.
  • an orientation of said flexible sheets slightly inclined towards the center of the lift plane appears equally flexible.
  • said lift plane comprises the less a flexible endless band extended between two rollers supported in respective positions facing adjacent side walls of said tank, and pressed by a pair of support rollers so that two superimposed sheets are very close together.
  • Said endless flexible band comprises a portion with a wide and extensive opening, there being drive means connected to rotate, in a controlled manner, at least one of the rollers.
  • the extension of said opening, in combination with said reciprocating movement makes said flexible band capable of adopting a position in which said opening is completely in the lower sheet, the upper sheet constituting said bearing plane, and at least another position (normally two, at opposite ends of the band) in which a part of said opening is in the upper sheet, superimposed on another part of said opening remaining in the lower sheet, facilitating a passage therethrough for the discharge of containers from an enclosure to the immediate lower enclosure.
  • two of said flexible endless bands would also preferably be mounted for each lift plane.
  • the silo of the present invention optionally comprises side walls formed by flexible sheet canvases provided with reinforced peripheral edges, fixed to a support structure by means of tensioners distributed along said edges. As a function of reinforcing said side walls, extended cables are arranged crossing the outer face of said canvases, fixed by means of tensioners to said support structure.
  • each of said lift planes is associated with a portion of the structure of said tank constituting a stackable modular assembly to form a tank, of a desired height, on a base module that includes said bottom and discharge opening, the modular assemblies being fixed to each other and with the base module in the final location by means of removable or permanent joints.
  • the dispensing device described in the PTC patent application ES 98/00230 mentioned above is particularly suitable for constituting said bottom and discharge opening of said base module in the silo of the present invention.
  • control means are susceptible, depending on signals received from said detection means, of acting at least on said means of actuation of the lift planes to regulate the flow of the containers from one enclosure to the other and the maximum amounts thereof in each enclosure.
  • said control means are integrated in a general control that governs the feeding of said silo and the regulated supply of packages from it to, for example, a packaging line.
  • silo is carried out following the method of storage and regulated supply of empty light packages described below, which is also an objective of the present invention.
  • the deposit of which is subdivided into superimposed enclosures by means of retractable lift planes, whose enclosures are filled superiorly by gravity, said lift planes being provided with independent means capable of selectively communicating with each other, in a desired moment, two of said enclosures, and the height of said enclosures being adequate to the minimum value of the maximum free fall height or the maximum stacking height capable of resisting a predetermined container type without deteriorating
  • said method is characterized in that: the feeding of said deposit is always initiated by loading the enclosure located at a higher level being the latter incommunicado with respect to the next; the discharge of any enclosure is always carried out by communicating it with the immediately inferior enclosure being empty, at least in part, and incommunicado with respect to the following, except when the immediately inferior enclosure is the enclosure located at the lowest level, which is delimited inferiorly by said bottom and said adjustable discharge opening, in which case, said discharge opening may be: closed, for storing containers; or open in a selected extension, for a regulated supply of
  • Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a silo according to the invention, in the process of completing the complete filling with empty light containers for temporary storage, with the lower opening closed by means of a mobile wing;
  • Fig. 2 is an exterior elevation view of a side wall of a part of the silo of the Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a lift plane for a silo like that of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 4 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a silo lift plane of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a silo according to the invention, in the process of completing the complete filling with empty light containers for temporary storage, with the lower opening closed by means of a mobile wing;
  • Fig. 2 is an exterior elevation view of a side wall of a part of the silo of the Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
  • Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken along the line VV of Fig. 4 in an enlarged detail; and Figs. 6 to 9 are schematic side views of the silo of Fig. 1 illustrating a possible filling / emptying sequence of said silo for a regulated supply of empty light packages.
  • a silo according to the present invention is seen comprising a large reservoir 1 provided with a loading inlet 2 at the top, a bottom 3 with at least one discharge opening 3 to adjustable in its lower part.
  • Figs. 6 to 9 correspond to the dispensing device described in the patent application PTC ES 98/00230 of the current applicant, mentioned above, which is particularly suitable for the silo of the present invention.
  • Said tank 1 comprises an internal subdivision in superimposed, gravity-filled enclosures B, the height H of whose enclosures B is a function of the type of container A to be stored, so that the maximum height of free fall and the maximum crushing pressure is limited supported by a container A located at a lower level.
  • Said enclosures are delimited by retractable lift planes 4, equipped with independent drive means 5, 21, capable of moving them to open or close at least one passage through it for unloading A packages from an enclosure to the immediate enclosure. lower, except the enclosure located at the lowest level, which is delimited by the bottom 3 and discharge opening 3 a.
  • a preferred embodiment of a lift plane 4 is shown which is derived from an already classic system used in the awnings manufacturing sector, to which some simplifications and modifications have been practiced, whose implementation is very favorable in economic terms.
  • said bearing plane 4 comprises two flexible sheets 6, of a material such as a canvas, capable of winding respectively on two rotating cores 7 supported in opposite positions next to opposite side walls of said tank 1.
  • a free front edge of each flexible sheet 6 is fixed to a loading bar 8 capable of moving away from and approaching said rotating core 7 moving, supported and guided, in a predetermined path.
  • Said supported and guided trajectory constitutes one of the specific contributions of this embodiment that differ from the classic application in the awnings sector, and is formed by a pair of lateral rails 9 on which corresponding li wheels or skates fixed to both ends of said loading bar 8.
  • Preferably said rails 9 are horizontal, whereby both flexible sheets are, when extended, coplanar, with retractable stops 10 being provided in said predetermined path that prevent the retraction of the loading bar 8 in a situation of extension of the flexible sheet 6.
  • Figs. 4 and 5 shows one of said flexible sheets 6 practically retracted (on the left) with its extended position indicated by dashed line, while the other flexible sheet 6 is shown fully extended (on the right).
  • both flexible sheets 6 will extend or retract in unison.
  • Pushing means drive said load bars 8 in the direction away from the respective rotating cores 7, that is, towards a central area of the lift plane 4.
  • said drive means 5, which typically consist of a motor electric housed inside each rotating core 7, act in favor and against the corresponding thrust means to, respectively, extend and collect said flexible sheets 6.
  • Said pushing means comprise, for each flexible sheet 6, a pair of articulated arms 12, each of which is formed by two sections 12a, 12b articulated with each other, each arm 12 being articulated jointly at one end to the bench, in an area close to the rotating core 7, and at the other end to the loading bar 8, each of whose arms 12 includes a tension spring fixed at one end to one of said sections 12a, 12b and connected by a flexible element to the other of said sections 12a, 12b so that it exerts on said sections 12a, 12b a tendency to extend to remain aligned, while the drive means 5 act directly on said rotating core 7.
  • FIG. 3 An alternative embodiment for said lift plane 4 is shown in Fig. 3, which comprises at least one endless flexible band 16 extended between two rollers 17 supported in respective opposite positions adjacent to opposite side walls of said tank 1 , and pressed by a pair of support rollers 20 so that there are two very close superimposed sheets, whose flexible band 16 comprises a portion with a wide and wide opening 18, there are drive means 21 connected to rotate at least one of the rollers 17 reciprocating so that said flexible band 16 is capable of adopting a position in which the entire opening 18 is in the lower sheet, the upper sheet constituting a support and closing plane of the upper enclosure, and at least one position wherein a part of said opening is in the top sheet, superimposed on another part of said opening 18 that is in the sheet infe rior, facilitating a passage through it for unloading containers A from an enclosure to the immediate lower enclosure (position illustrated in Fig. 3).
  • This exemplary embodiment can also preferably be supplemented with two of said adjacent bands 16, arranged in a coplanar manner, for each lift
  • Fig. 2 one of the side walls walls of the silo is shown, formed by a canvas 13 of a sheet of a flexible material, fixed by tensioners 14, distributed along its reinforced peripheral edges 15, to a structure of support the.
  • extended cables 22 are arranged crossing the outer face of said canvases 13, fixed by tensioners 23 to said support structure the.
  • the silo is also characterized in that each of the lift planes 4 described above is associated with a portion of the structure of said tank 1 (see again Fig. 1) constituting a modular assembly stackable to form a tank 1, of a desired height, on a base module that includes said bottom 3 and discharge opening 3 a, the modular assemblies being fixed to each other and with the base module in the final location by means of removable or permanent joints 19.
  • the silo of the invention further comprises means for detecting the level of packages A accumulated on the lift plane 4 and / or on the bottom 3 and control means capable of acting at least on said actuating means 5, 21 of the lift planes 4 that divide said enclosures B based on signals received from said detection means.
  • Said control means are integrated in a general control that governs the feeding of said silo and the regulated supply of packages A from it.
  • Figs. 6 to 8 illustrates the method of storage and regulated supply of empty light A containers of the invention, using a silo as described in Figs. 1 to 5, whose method is characterized in that it acts by actuating the lift planes 4 so that in no case does a container A fall freely from a height greater than the height H of the enclosures, nor a container A supporting on top of he a height of piled containers greater than said height H of the enclosures.
  • the height H of said enclosures B has been defined to be adequate to the minimum value of the maximum free fall height or the maximum stacking height capable of withstanding a predetermined container type A without deterioration.
  • FIG. 6 An example of a logical sequence for filling and emptying said silo for a regulated supply of empty light containers A is as follows: a) the feeding of said tank 1 is initiated by loading the enclosure located at a higher level, being it incommunicado with respect to the following (Fig. 6); b) when the enclosure located at the highest level is full, or before, the flexible sheets 6 are operated to remove the lift plane 4 (Fig.
  • steps a) -d) are repeated continuously with a suitable cadence to feed said required flow of containers through the discharge opening 3 a, whose cadence can be automatically controlled from signals coming from of means filling level sensors of each enclosure.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)

Abstract

The silo comprises a deposit (1) with an top loading inlet (2) and a bottom (3) with a regulatable discharge hole (3a), whose deposit (1) is subdivided into superimposed compartments (B) that can be filled by gravity, whose height (H) is a function of the resistance of the type of bottle (A) to be stored, said compartments (B) being defined by retractable support planes (4) fitted with means for independent actuation which can displace the latter by opening or closing at least one passage for unloading the bottles (A) from one compartment to the next lowest compartment (A) provided that the latter is totally or partially empty or not communicating with the next lower compartment and excepting the compartment located at the lowest level, wherein the discharge hole (3a) can be closed or open.

Description

SILO PARA ALMACENAMIENTO Y SUMINISTRO REGULADO DE ENVASES LIGEROS VACÍOS. Y MÉTODO PARA SU UTILIZACIÓN Ámbito de la invención SILO FOR STORAGE AND REGULATED SUPPLY OF EMPTY LIGHT PACKAGES. AND METHOD FOR ITS USE Scope of the invention
La presente invención concierne a un silo para almacenamiento y suministro regulado de envases ligeros vacíos, y más en particular a un silo susceptible de ser cargado por una entrada de carga superior y capaz de suministrar los envases por gravedad desde una salida inferior, apto para ser utilizado, por ejemplo, como depósito de manutención y alimentación regulada de envases vacíos, en particular recipientes de materia plástica, aunque sin limitarse a ello, a una línea de embotellado, o como depósito de almacenamiento temporal de dichos envases. La presente invención también concierne a un método para la utilización de tal silo. Antecedentes de la invenciónThe present invention concerns a silo for storage and regulated supply of empty light packages, and more particularly a silo capable of being loaded by a top loading inlet and capable of supplying the packages by gravity from a lower outlet, suitable for being used, for example, as a maintenance and regulated feeding tank for empty containers, in particular plastic containers, but not limited to a bottling line, or as a temporary storage tank for said containers. The present invention also concerns a method for the use of such a silo. Background of the invention
Los envases ligeros vacíos, los cuales están generalmente realizados en plástico soplado, cuando se suministran a granel desde la salida inferior de un depósito, se comportan como un material susceptible de fluir por gravedad pero altamente propenso a formar "bóvedas" o "puentes" que pueden interrumpir el flujo regular y continuado de dichos artículos. Esto es debido a que dichos envases frecuentemente presentan formas irregulares, estando provistos de protuberancias tales como asas, cuellos etc., que hacen que los envases se entrelacen entre ellos formando una especie de estructura, usualmente llamada "bóveda" o "puente", que, ayudada por el peso de los envases situados a más alto nivel, apoya contra las paredes del depósito provocando un atasco dentro del silo, haciendo que los envases implicados en tal estructura, así como todos los que se encuentran por encima de ellos, se vean impedidos de descender por efecto de la gravedad hacia la parte baja del silo.Light empty containers, which are generally made of blown plastic, when supplied in bulk from the bottom outlet of a tank, behave as a material that can flow by gravity but highly prone to form "vaults" or "bridges" that they can interrupt the regular and continued flow of such articles. This is due to the fact that said packages frequently have irregular shapes, being provided with protuberances such as handles, necks, etc., which cause the packages to be interwoven with each other forming a kind of structure, usually called "vault" or "bridge", which , aided by the weight of the containers located at a higher level, it leans against the walls of the tank causing a blockage inside the silo, causing the containers involved in such a structure, as well as all those above them, to see each other. prevented from descending due to gravity towards the lower part of the silo.
Otra limitación que presentan los envases ligeros vacíos de cara a su almacenamiento en silos de grandes dimensiones reside en su relativamente baja resistencia al aplastamiento, ya sea debido a colisiones provocadas por la caída libre desde una excesiva altura o a la presión ejercida por el peso de una gran cantidad de envases amontonados por encima de un envase en particular. Esto limita, por consiguiente, la altura máxima de caída libre desde la entrada de carga superior así como la altura máxima de amontonamiento de envases sobre una superficie de soporte, tal como el fondo, dentro del silo. Existen diferentes dispositivos en el estado de la técnica encaminados a paliar el problema de la falta de fluidez en el suministro a granel por gravedad de materiales constituidos por cuerpos de formas irregulares, propensos a formar "bóvedas" o "puentes", pudiéndose citar, por ejemplo, las patentes US 2.905.365 y US 3.286.886 que describen distintas variantes de unos dispositivos de suministro de materiales a granel, o tolvas, formados por un recipiente de paredes fijas planas, rígidas, la sección transversal de cuyo depósito es rectangular, decreciente de arriba hacia abajo, con una abertura de salida dispuesta en el extremo inferior. Adosada por la parte interior de al menos una de dichas paredes se encuentra dispuesta una placa plana, rígida, conectada a unos medios para transmitir a dicha placa un movimiento vibratorio. Con la vibración impartida por dicha placa directamente sobre los materiales almacenados a granel las "bóvedas" o "puentes" se rompen facilitando la fluencia de dichos materiales por gravedad. Sin embargo, esta vibración aplicada por dicha placa rígida directamente sobre los materiales almacenados en una tolva de paredes asimismo rígidas es altamente agresiva para los materiales almacenados, por lo que sólo es aplicable para materiales a granel formados por cuerpos macizos, compactos, tales como carbón mineral o grava, resultando del todo inadecuada para artículos menos resistentes, tales como los envases ligeros vacíos.Another limitation of empty light containers for storage in large silos lies in their relatively low resistance to crushing, either due to collisions caused by free fall from excessive height or the pressure exerted by the weight of a large number of containers piled above a particular container. This limits, therefore, the maximum height of free fall from the upper load inlet as well as the maximum height of stacking containers on a support surface, such as the bottom, within the silo. There are different devices in the state of the art aimed at alleviating the problem of the lack of fluidity in the bulk supply by gravity of materials constituted by irregularly shaped bodies, prone to form "vaults" or "bridges", which may be mentioned, by For example, patents US 2,905,365 and US 3,286,886 which describe different variants of bulk material supply devices, or hoppers, formed by a container of flat, rigid fixed walls, the cross section of whose tank is rectangular, decreasing from top to bottom, with an outlet opening arranged at the end lower. Attached by the inside of at least one of said walls, a flat, rigid plate is arranged, connected to means for transmitting a vibratory movement to said plate. With the vibration imparted by said plate directly on the materials stored in bulk the "vaults" or "bridges" are broken facilitating the creep of said materials by gravity. However, this vibration applied by said rigid plate directly on the materials stored in a hopper of similarly rigid walls is highly aggressive for the stored materials, so it is only applicable for bulk materials formed by solid, compact bodies, such as coal mineral or gravel, resulting entirely unsuitable for less resistant items, such as empty light containers.
En la solicitud de patente PTC ES 98/00229 del presente solicitante, se describe un silo para envases ligeros vacíos cuyas paredes están formadas, al menos en parte, por láminas de un material flexible, tal como una lona, en donde se han previsto unos medios capaces de transmitir a dichas láminas flexibles un movimiento vibratorio. Esta disposición se beneficia de las ventajas de la aplicación de vibraciones para romper las "bóvedas" o "puentes" al mismo tiempo que tal vibración resulta inocua para los envases. Asimismo, en la solicitud de patente PTC ES 98/00230, también del presente solicitante, se describe un silo para almacenamiento de cuerpos huecos ligeros dotado de una abertura de descarga inferior que comprende un dispositivo dispensador formado por unas placas, articuladas respecto a paredes opuestas del silo, inclinadas en dirección descendente hacia el centro del depósito, de manera que el extremo de una de ellas, más larga, se extiende parcialmente por debajo del extremo de la otra. La inclinación de dichas placas es regulable de manera dependiente o independiente, de manera que se puede obtener un embudo de descarga con una pendiente de talud y una abertura deseadas en función del tipo de envase a almacenar. La placa de mayor longitud dispone de un ala próxima a su extremo libre susceptible de levantarse para cerrar momentáneamente el flujo de envases sin perder los ajustes de pendiente y abertura de salida. Además, dichas placas están dotadas de unos medios de empuje que facultan un movimiento en sacudidas con el fin de facilitar la rotura de las "bóvedas" o "puentes" permitiendo el flujo de los cuerpos huecos ligeros, tales como envases de plástico vacíos, almacenados. Aunque las dos solicitudes de patente PCT anteriormente citadas en último lugar aportan soluciones para el problema de la dificultad de fluencia que presentan los cuerpos suministrados a granel propensos a formar "bóvedas" o "puentes", queda sin resolver el problema del riesgo de aplastamiento de los envases debida a la relativamente baja resistencia de los envases ligeros vacíos, ya sea por recibir una carga excesiva o por caída desde una excesiva altura.In the PTC patent application ES 98/00229 of the present applicant, a silo for empty light containers is described whose walls are formed, at least in part, by sheets of a flexible material, such as a canvas, where some are provided means capable of transmitting to said flexible sheets a vibratory movement. This arrangement benefits from the advantages of the application of vibrations to break the "vaults" or "bridges" at the same time that such vibration is harmless to the containers. Also, in the PTC patent application ES 98/00230, also of the present applicant, a silo for storage of light hollow bodies is provided provided with a lower discharge opening comprising a dispensing device formed by plates, articulated with respect to opposite walls of the silo, inclined downward towards the center of the tank, so that the end of one of them, longer, extends partially below the end of the other. The inclination of said plates is adjustable in a dependent or independent manner, so that a discharge funnel with a slope slope and an opening can be obtained depending on the type of container to be stored. The longer plate has a wing near its free end that can be lifted to momentarily close the flow of containers without losing the slope and exit opening settings. In addition, said plates are provided with pushing means that allow shaking movement in order to facilitate the breakage of the "vaults" or "bridges" allowing the flow of light hollow bodies, such as empty plastic containers, stored . Although the two PCT patent applications cited above provide solutions for the problem of the difficulty of creep presented by bulk bodies prone to form "vaults" or "bridges", the problem of crushing risk remains unresolved. the containers due to the relatively low resistance of the empty light containers, either by receiving an excessive load or by falling from an excessive height.
En este sentido se conocen, en la técnica del sector, dispositivos tales como placas deflectoras, redes con aberturas de paso suficientes para los envases o laberintos situados a diferentes niveles dentro de un silo de gran altura destinados a limitar la máxima altura de caída libre de un envase sobre otro envase situado a un nivel inferior y la máxima altura de amontonamiento de envases sobre un envase en particular. Sin embargo, dichas placas deflectoras, redes o laberintos resultan un impedimento para la libre fluencia de los artículos almacenados que se añade al problema de la formación de "bóvedas" o "puentes".In this sense, devices such as baffle plates, nets with sufficient passage openings for containers or labyrinths located at different levels within a high-rise silo are designed to limit the maximum height of free fall of a container on another container located at a lower level and the maximum height of stacking containers on a particular container. However, said baffle plates, nets or labyrinths are an impediment to the free flow of stored items that adds to the problem of the formation of "vaults" or "bridges."
Por consiguiente, un objetivo de la presente invención es el de aportar un silo para almacenamiento y suministro regulado de envases ligeros vacíos dotado de unos medios para impedir la formación de "bóvedas" o "puentes", o en su caso para facilitar su rotura.Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a silo for storage and regulated supply of empty light containers provided with means to prevent the formation of "vaults" or "bridges", or where appropriate to facilitate their breakage.
Otro objetivo de la presente invención es el de aportar un silo para almacenamiento y suministro regulado de envases ligeros vacíos dotado de unos medios para limitar la máxima altura de caída libre de un envase sobre otro envase situado a un nivel inferior y la máxima altura de amontonamiento de envases sobre un envase en particular, dentro del silo.Another objective of the present invention is to provide a silo for storage and regulated supply of empty light containers provided with means to limit the maximum height of free fall of a container on another container located at a lower level and the maximum stacking height of containers on a particular container, inside the silo.
Finalmente, otro objetivo de la presente invención es el de aportar un método de almacenamiento y suministro regulado de envases ligeros vacíos mediante un silo dotado de los medios mencionados en los dos párrafos anteriores. Breve exposición de la invención Estos objetivos se consiguen de acuerdo con la presente invención aportando un silo para almacenamiento y suministro regulado de envases ligeros vacíos del tipo que comprende un amplio depósito provisto de una entrada de carga en la parte superior y un fondo con al menos una abertura de descarga regulable en su parte inferior, cuyo depósito se llena y se vacía por gravedad. Con el fin de limitar la máxima altura de caída libre de un envase sobre otro envase situado a un nivel inferior, así como la máxima altura de amontonamiento de envases sobre un envase en particular, dicho silo comprende una subdivisión de dicho depósito en recintos superpuestos, llenables por gravedad, la altura de los cuales es función del tipo de envase a almacenar, estando dichos recintos delimitados por unos planos de sustentación retraíbles dotados de unos medios de accionamiento, independientes, susceptibles de desplazarlos para abrir o cerrar al menos un paso a su través para la descarga de envases de un recinto al recinto inmediato inferior.Finally, another objective of the present invention is to provide a method of storage and regulated supply of empty light packages by means of a silo provided with the means mentioned in the two preceding paragraphs. BRIEF EXPOSURE OF THE INVENTION These objectives are achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing a silo for storage and regulated supply of empty light packages of the type comprising a large tank provided with a cargo inlet at the top and a bottom with at least an adjustable discharge opening in its lower part, whose tank is filled and emptied by gravity. In order to limit the maximum height of free fall of a container on another container located at a lower level, as well as the maximum height of stacking containers on a particular container, said silo comprises a subdivision of said container into overlapping enclosures, filled by gravity, the height of which is a function of the type of container to be stored, said enclosures being delimited by lift planes retractable equipped with independent drive means, capable of moving them to open or close at least one passage through it to unload containers from an enclosure to the immediate lower enclosure.
En un ejemplo de realización preferida, dicho plano de sustentación comprende al menos una lámina flexible, tal como una lona, susceptible de bobinarse sobre un núcleo giratorio soportado junto a una de las paredes laterales de dicho depósito, estando un borde libre frontal de dicha lámina flexible fijado a una barra de carga susceptible de alejarse de y acercarse a dicho núcleo giratorio desplazándose, soportada y guiada, en una trayectoria predeterminada formada, por ejemplo, por un par railes laterales sobre los que se apoyan unas correspondientes ruedas o patines fijados a ambos extremos de dicha barra de carga. Dicha trayectoria predeterminada, que preferiblemente es horizontal, comprende unos topes retráctiles que impiden el retroceso de la barra de carga en situación de extensión de la lámina flexible.In a preferred embodiment, said lift plane comprises at least one flexible sheet, such as a canvas, capable of being wound on a rotating core supported next to one of the side walls of said tank, a free front edge of said sheet being flexible fixed to a load bar capable of moving away from and approaching said rotating core moving, supported and guided, in a predetermined path formed, for example, by a pair of side rails on which corresponding wheels or skates fixed to both are supported ends of said loading bar. Said predetermined trajectory, which is preferably horizontal, comprises retractable stops that prevent the retraction of the loading bar in a situation of extension of the flexible sheet.
La barra de carga está dotada de unos medios de empuje que comprenden un par de brazos articulados, cada uno de los cuales está formado por dos tramos acoplados entre sí, estando cada brazo unido articuladamente por un extremo a la bancada, en una zona próxima al núcleo giratorio, y por el otro extremo a la barra de carga, cada uno de cuyos brazos incluye un muelle de tracción fijado por un extremo a uno de dichos tramos y conectado mediante un elemento flexible al otro de dichos tramos de manera que ejerce sobre dichos tramos una tendencia a extenderse hasta quedar alineados empujando dicha barra de carga en la dirección de alejamiento del citado núcleo giratorio. Un motor eléctrico actúa sobre dicho núcleo giratorio a favor y en contra de dichos medios de empuje para, respectivamente, extender y recoger dicha lámina flexible.The loading bar is provided with pushing means comprising a pair of articulated arms, each of which is formed by two sections coupled to each other, each arm being articulated jointly at one end to the bench, in an area close to the rotating core, and at the other end to the loading bar, each of whose arms includes a tension spring fixed at one end of said sections and connected by a flexible element to the other of said sections so that it exerts on said stretches of a tendency to extend until they are aligned by pushing said load bar in the direction away from said rotating core. An electric motor acts on said rotating core for and against said pushing means to, respectively, extend and collect said flexible sheet.
En un ejemplo de realización más preferida, dicho plano de sustentación comprende dos de dichas láminas flexibles, estando los correspondientes núcleos giratorios soportados en unas respectivas posiciones enfrentadas junto a paredes laterales opuestas de dicho depósito, con las correspondientes trayectorias predeterminadas dispuestas de manera que las respectivas barras de carga se encuentran mutuamente adyacentes cuando dichas láminas flexibles están completamente extendidas. Al ser las trayectorias de los extremos de las barras de carga horizontales, las dos láminas flexibles, en situación de extendidas, son prácticamente coplanarias. Sin embargo, una orientación de dichas láminas flexibles ligeramente inclinada hacia el centro del plano de sustentación aparece igualmente flexible.In a more preferred embodiment, said lift plane comprises two of said flexible sheets, the corresponding rotating cores being supported in respective positions facing adjacent opposite side walls of said tank, with the corresponding predetermined paths arranged so that the respective Loading bars are mutually adjacent when said flexible sheets are fully extended. Being the trajectories of the ends of the horizontal load bars, the two flexible sheets, in an extended situation, are practically coplanar. However, an orientation of said flexible sheets slightly inclined towards the center of the lift plane appears equally flexible.
En otro ejemplo de realización alternativo dicho plano de sustentación comprende al menos una banda flexible sin fin extendida entre dos rodillos soportados en unas respectivas posiciones enfrentadas junto a paredes laterales opuestas de dicho depósito, y presionada por un par de rodillos de apoyo de manera que quedan dos láminas superpuestas muy próximas. Dicha banda flexible sin fin comprende una porción con una amplia y extensa abertura, existiendo unos medios de accionamiento conectados para hacer girar en vaivén, de manera controlada, al menos uno de los rodillos. La extensión de dicha abertura, en combinación con dicho movimiento en vaivén hace que dicha banda flexible sea susceptible de adoptar una posición en la que dicha abertura se encuentre totalmente en la lámina inferior, constituyendo la lámina superior dicho plano de sustentación, y al menos otra posición (normalmente dos, en extremos opuestos de la banda) en la que una parte de dicha abertura queda en la lámina superior, superpuesta a otra parte de dicha abertura que queda en la lámina inferior, facilitando un paso a su través para la descarga de envases de un recinto al recinto inmediato inferior. En este ejemplo de realización también se montarían preferiblemente dos de dichas bandas sin fin flexibles por cada plano de sustentación. El silo de la presente invención comprende, opcionalmente, unas paredes laterales formadas por lienzos de lámina flexible dotados de bordes periféricos reforzados, fijados a una estructura de soporte mediante unos tensores distribuidos a lo largo de dichos bordes. En función de refuerzo de dichas paredes laterales están dispuestos unos cables extendidos cruzando la cara exterior de dichos lienzos, fijados mediante tensores a dicha estructura de soporte.In another alternative embodiment, said lift plane comprises the less a flexible endless band extended between two rollers supported in respective positions facing adjacent side walls of said tank, and pressed by a pair of support rollers so that two superimposed sheets are very close together. Said endless flexible band comprises a portion with a wide and extensive opening, there being drive means connected to rotate, in a controlled manner, at least one of the rollers. The extension of said opening, in combination with said reciprocating movement makes said flexible band capable of adopting a position in which said opening is completely in the lower sheet, the upper sheet constituting said bearing plane, and at least another position (normally two, at opposite ends of the band) in which a part of said opening is in the upper sheet, superimposed on another part of said opening remaining in the lower sheet, facilitating a passage therethrough for the discharge of containers from an enclosure to the immediate lower enclosure. In this exemplary embodiment, two of said flexible endless bands would also preferably be mounted for each lift plane. The silo of the present invention optionally comprises side walls formed by flexible sheet canvases provided with reinforced peripheral edges, fixed to a support structure by means of tensioners distributed along said edges. As a function of reinforcing said side walls, extended cables are arranged crossing the outer face of said canvases, fixed by means of tensioners to said support structure.
Con el fin de facilitar la fabricación, transporte y montaje de dicho silo, teniendo en cuenta sus grandes dimensiones, cada uno de dichos planos de sustentación está asociado a una porción de la estructura de dicho depósito constituyendo un conjunto modular apilable para formar un depósito, de una altura deseada, sobre un módulo base que incluye dicho fondo y abertura de descarga, fijándose los conjuntos modulares entre sí y con el módulo base en el emplazamiento definitivo mediante uniones desmontables o permanentes. El dispositivo dispensador descrito en la solicitud de patente PTC ES 98/00230 anteriormente mencionada es particularmente apropiado para constituir el citado fondo y abertura de descarga de dicho módulo base en el silo de la presente invención. Independientemente del ejemplo de realización escogido para los planos de sustentación, en el silo de acuerdo con la presente invención se han previsto además unos medios de detección del nivel de envases acumulados sobre el plano de sustentación y/o sobre el fondo. Unos medios de control son susceptibles, en función de unas señales recibidas desde dichos medios de detección, de actuar al menos sobre dichos medios de accionamiento de los planos de sustentación para regular el flujo de los envases de uno a otro recinto y las cantidades máximas de los mismos en cada recinto. Opcionalmente, dichos medios de control están integrados en un control general que gobierna la alimentación de dicho silo y el suministro regulado de envases desde el mismo hacia, por ejemplo, una línea de envasado.In order to facilitate the manufacture, transport and assembly of said silo, taking into account its large dimensions, each of said lift planes is associated with a portion of the structure of said tank constituting a stackable modular assembly to form a tank, of a desired height, on a base module that includes said bottom and discharge opening, the modular assemblies being fixed to each other and with the base module in the final location by means of removable or permanent joints. The dispensing device described in the PTC patent application ES 98/00230 mentioned above is particularly suitable for constituting said bottom and discharge opening of said base module in the silo of the present invention. Regardless of the embodiment chosen for the lift planes, in the silo according to the present invention, means for detecting the level of accumulated packages on the lift plane and / or on the bottom are also provided. Control means are susceptible, depending on signals received from said detection means, of acting at least on said means of actuation of the lift planes to regulate the flow of the containers from one enclosure to the other and the maximum amounts thereof in each enclosure. Optionally, said control means are integrated in a general control that governs the feeding of said silo and the regulated supply of packages from it to, for example, a packaging line.
El funcionamiento de dicho silo se realiza siguiendo el método de almacenamiento y suministro regulado de envases ligeros vacíos que se describe a continuación, el cual constituye también un objetivo de la presente invención.The operation of said silo is carried out following the method of storage and regulated supply of empty light packages described below, which is also an objective of the present invention.
Con un silo como el descrito anteriormente, el depósito del cual se subdivide en recintos superpuestos mediante unos planos de sustentación retraíbles, cuyos recintos se llenan superiormente por gravedad, estando dichos planos de sustentación provistos de unos medios independientes capaces de comunicar selectivamente entre sí, en un momento deseado, dos de dichos recintos, y estando la altura de dichos recintos adecuada al mínimo valor de la altura máxima de caída libre o la altura máxima de amontonamiento capaz de resistir un tipo de envase predeterminado sin deteriorarse, dicho método se caracteriza porque: la alimentación de dicho depósito se inicia siempre mediante la carga del recinto situado a más alto nivel estando éste incomunicado respecto al siguiente; la descarga de cualquier recinto se realiza siempre comunicándolo con el recinto inmediatamente inferior estando éste vacío, al menos en parte, e incomunicado respecto al siguiente, excepto cuando el recinto inmediatamente inferior es el recinto situado al nivel más bajo, el cual está delimitado inferiormente por dicho fondo y dicha abertura de descarga regulable, en cuyo caso, dicha abertura de descarga puede estar: cerrada, para almacenar envases; ó abierta en una extensión seleccionada, para un suministro regulado de dichos envases.With a silo like the one described above, the deposit of which is subdivided into superimposed enclosures by means of retractable lift planes, whose enclosures are filled superiorly by gravity, said lift planes being provided with independent means capable of selectively communicating with each other, in a desired moment, two of said enclosures, and the height of said enclosures being adequate to the minimum value of the maximum free fall height or the maximum stacking height capable of resisting a predetermined container type without deteriorating, said method is characterized in that: the feeding of said deposit is always initiated by loading the enclosure located at a higher level being the latter incommunicado with respect to the next; the discharge of any enclosure is always carried out by communicating it with the immediately inferior enclosure being empty, at least in part, and incommunicado with respect to the following, except when the immediately inferior enclosure is the enclosure located at the lowest level, which is delimited inferiorly by said bottom and said adjustable discharge opening, in which case, said discharge opening may be: closed, for storing containers; or open in a selected extension, for a regulated supply of said containers.
Breve descripción de los dibujosBrief description of the drawings
La invención se comprenderá mejor a partir de la siguiente descripción detallada de unos ejemplos de realización preferidos, cuya descripción se hace con referencias a los dibujos adjuntos, en los que: la Fig. 1 es una vista en sección vertical de un silo de acuerdo con la invención, en fase de terminar el llenado completo con envases ligeros vacíos para su almacenamiento temporal, con la abertura inferior cerrada mediante un ala móvil; la Fig. 2 es una vista en alzado exterior de una pared lateral de una parte del silo de la Fig. 1; la Fig. 3 es una vista en perspectiva de un ejemplo de realización alternativa de un plano de sustentación para un silo como el de la Fig. 1; la Fig. 4 es una vista superior de un ejemplo de realización preferida de un plano de sustentación del silo de la Fig. 1; la Fig. 5 es una sección transversal tomada por la línea V-V de la Fig. 4 con un detalle ampliado; y las Figs. 6 a 9 son vistas laterales esquemáticas del silo de la Fig. 1 que ilustran una posible secuencia de llenado/vaciado de dicho silo para un suministro regulado de envases ligeros vacíos.The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments, the description of which is made with references to the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a silo according to the invention, in the process of completing the complete filling with empty light containers for temporary storage, with the lower opening closed by means of a mobile wing; Fig. 2 is an exterior elevation view of a side wall of a part of the silo of the Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a lift plane for a silo like that of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a silo lift plane of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken along the line VV of Fig. 4 in an enlarged detail; and Figs. 6 to 9 are schematic side views of the silo of Fig. 1 illustrating a possible filling / emptying sequence of said silo for a regulated supply of empty light packages.
Descripción de los ejemplos de realización preferidosDescription of the preferred embodiments
Haciendo en primer lugar referencia a la Fig. 1, se observa un silo de acuerdo con la presente invención que comprende un amplio depósito 1 provisto de una entrada de carga 2 en la parte superior, un fondo 3 con al menos una abertura de descarga 3 a regulable en su parte inferior. Se han representado asimismo esquemática y parcialmente un aparato elevador 30 para la carga superior de envases ligeros vacíos A a dicho silo, y una banda transportadora 40, situada inmediatamente debajo de la abertura de descarga 3 a para la recogida y transporte de los envases suministrados por el silo hacia, por ejemplo, una línea de envasado (no representada). El fondo 3 y la abertura de descarga representados en dicha Fig. 1, así como en lasReferring firstly to Fig. 1, a silo according to the present invention is seen comprising a large reservoir 1 provided with a loading inlet 2 at the top, a bottom 3 with at least one discharge opening 3 to adjustable in its lower part. A lifting device 30 for the upper loading of empty light containers A to said silo, and a conveyor belt 40, located immediately below the discharge opening 3 a for the collection and transport of the packages supplied by the silo towards, for example, a packaging line (not shown). The bottom 3 and the discharge opening shown in said Fig. 1, as well as in the
Figs. 6 a 9, se corresponden al dispositivo dispensador descrito en la solicitud de patente PTC ES 98/00230 del actual solicitante, anteriormente mencionada, el cual es particularmente apropiado para el silo de la presente invención.Figs. 6 to 9, correspond to the dispensing device described in the patent application PTC ES 98/00230 of the current applicant, mentioned above, which is particularly suitable for the silo of the present invention.
Dicho depósito 1 comprende una subdivisión interior en recintos B superpuestos, llenables por gravedad, la altura H de cuyos recintos B es función del tipo de envase A a almacenar, de manera que se limita la altura máxima de caída libre y la máxima presión de aplastamiento soportada por un envase A situado a más bajo nivel. Dichos recintos están delimitados por unos planos de sustentación 4 retraíbles, dotados de unos medios de accionamiento 5, 21, independientes, susceptibles de desplazarlos para abrir o cerrar al menos un paso a su través para la descarga de envases A de un recinto al recinto inmediato inferior, excepto el recinto situado al nivel más bajo, que está delimitado por el fondo 3 y abertura de descarga 3 a.Said tank 1 comprises an internal subdivision in superimposed, gravity-filled enclosures B, the height H of whose enclosures B is a function of the type of container A to be stored, so that the maximum height of free fall and the maximum crushing pressure is limited supported by a container A located at a lower level. Said enclosures are delimited by retractable lift planes 4, equipped with independent drive means 5, 21, capable of moving them to open or close at least one passage through it for unloading A packages from an enclosure to the immediate enclosure. lower, except the enclosure located at the lowest level, which is delimited by the bottom 3 and discharge opening 3 a.
En las Figs. 4 y 5 se muestra una realización preferida de un plano de sustentación 4 que está derivado de un sistema ya clásico utilizado en el sector de la fabricación de toldos, al cual se han practicado algunas simplificaciones y modificaciones, cuya implantación resulta muy favorable en términos económicos. En efecto, dicho plano de sustentación 4 comprende dos láminas flexibles 6, de un material tal como una lona, susceptibles de bobinarse respectivamente sobre sendos núcleos giratorios 7 soportados en posiciones enfrentadas junto a paredes laterales opuestas de dicho depósito 1. Un borde libre frontal de cada lámina flexible 6 está fijado a una barra de carga 8 susceptible de alejarse de y acercarse a dicho núcleo giratorio 7 desplazándose, soportada y guiada, en una trayectoria predeterminada. Dicha trayectoria soportada y guiada constituye una de las aportaciones específicas de esta realización que se diferencian de la clásica aplicación en el sector de los toldos, y está formada por un par raíles 9 laterales sobre los que se apoyan unas correspondientes ruedas li o patines fijados a ambos extremos de dicha barra de carga 8. Preferiblemente dichos raíles 9 son horizontales, por lo que ambas láminas flexibles son, cuando están extendidas, coplanarias, habiéndose previsto unos topes retráctiles 10 en dicha trayectoria predeterminada que impiden el retroceso de la barra de carga 8 en situación de extensión de la lámina flexible 6. Para una mejor explicación del funcionamiento, En las Figs. 4 y 5 se muestra una de dichas láminas flexibles 6 prácticamente retraída (a la izquierda) con su posición extendida señalada por línea de trazos, mientras que la otra lámina flexible 6 se muestra completamente extendida (a la derecha). Sin embargo, usualmente ambas láminas flexibles 6 se extenderán o retraerán al unísono.In Figs. 4 and 5 a preferred embodiment of a lift plane 4 is shown which is derived from an already classic system used in the awnings manufacturing sector, to which some simplifications and modifications have been practiced, whose implementation is very favorable in economic terms. In fact, said bearing plane 4 comprises two flexible sheets 6, of a material such as a canvas, capable of winding respectively on two rotating cores 7 supported in opposite positions next to opposite side walls of said tank 1. A free front edge of each flexible sheet 6 is fixed to a loading bar 8 capable of moving away from and approaching said rotating core 7 moving, supported and guided, in a predetermined path. Said supported and guided trajectory constitutes one of the specific contributions of this embodiment that differ from the classic application in the awnings sector, and is formed by a pair of lateral rails 9 on which corresponding li wheels or skates fixed to both ends of said loading bar 8. Preferably said rails 9 are horizontal, whereby both flexible sheets are, when extended, coplanar, with retractable stops 10 being provided in said predetermined path that prevent the retraction of the loading bar 8 in a situation of extension of the flexible sheet 6. For a better explanation of the operation, In Figs. 4 and 5 shows one of said flexible sheets 6 practically retracted (on the left) with its extended position indicated by dashed line, while the other flexible sheet 6 is shown fully extended (on the right). However, usually both flexible sheets 6 will extend or retract in unison.
El accionamiento de dichas láminas flexibles 6 es el siguiente. Unos medios de empuje impulsan dichas barras de carga 8 en dirección de alejamiento de los respectivos núcleos giratorios 7, es decir, hacia una zona central del plano de sustentación 4. Por su parte, dichos medios de accionamiento 5, que consisten típicamente en un motor eléctrico alojado dentro de cada núcleo giratorio 7, actúan a favor y en contra de los correspondientes medios de empuje para, respectivamente, extender y recoger dichas láminas flexibles 6.The operation of said flexible sheets 6 is as follows. Pushing means drive said load bars 8 in the direction away from the respective rotating cores 7, that is, towards a central area of the lift plane 4. On the other hand, said drive means 5, which typically consist of a motor electric housed inside each rotating core 7, act in favor and against the corresponding thrust means to, respectively, extend and collect said flexible sheets 6.
Los citados medios de empuje comprenden, para cada lámina flexible 6, un par de brazos articulados 12, cada uno de los cuales está formado por dos tramos 12a, 12b articulados entre sí, estando cada brazo 12 unido articuladamente por un extremo a la bancada, en una zona próxima al núcleo giratorio 7, y por el otro extremo a la barra de carga 8, cada uno de cuyos brazos 12 incluye un muelle de tracción fijado por un extremo a uno de dichos tramos 12a, 12b y conectado mediante un elemento flexible al otro de dichos tramos 12a, 12b de manera que ejerce sobre dichos tramos 12a, 12b una tendencia a extenderse hasta quedar alineados, mientras que los medios de accionamiento 5 actúan directamente sobre dicho núcleo giratorio 7.Said pushing means comprise, for each flexible sheet 6, a pair of articulated arms 12, each of which is formed by two sections 12a, 12b articulated with each other, each arm 12 being articulated jointly at one end to the bench, in an area close to the rotating core 7, and at the other end to the loading bar 8, each of whose arms 12 includes a tension spring fixed at one end to one of said sections 12a, 12b and connected by a flexible element to the other of said sections 12a, 12b so that it exerts on said sections 12a, 12b a tendency to extend to remain aligned, while the drive means 5 act directly on said rotating core 7.
En la Fig. 3 se muestra un ejemplo de realización alternativo para dicho plano de sustentación 4, el cual comprende al menos una banda flexible sin fin 16 extendida entre dos rodillos 17 soportados en unas respectivas posiciones enfrentadas junto a paredes laterales opuestas de dicho depósito 1, y presionada por un par de rodillos de apoyo 20 de manera que quedan dos láminas superpuestas muy próximas, cuya banda flexible 16 comprende una porción con una amplia y extensa abertura 18, existiendo unos medios de accionamiento 21 conectados para hacer girar al menos uno de los rodillos 17 en vaivén de manera que dicha banda flexible 16 es susceptible de adoptar una posición en la que toda la abertura 18 está en la lamina inferior, constituyendo la lámina superior un plano de apoyo y cerramiento del recinto superior, y al menos una posición en la que una parte de dicha abertura queda en la lámina superior, superpuesta a otra parte de dicha abertura 18 que queda en la lámina inferior, facilitando un paso a su través para la descarga de envases A de un recinto al recinto inmediato inferior (posición ilustrada en la Fig. 3). Este ejemplo de realización también se puede i plementar preferiblemente con dos de dichas bandas 16 adyacentes, dispuestas de manera coplanaria, para cada plano de sustentación 4.An alternative embodiment for said lift plane 4 is shown in Fig. 3, which comprises at least one endless flexible band 16 extended between two rollers 17 supported in respective opposite positions adjacent to opposite side walls of said tank 1 , and pressed by a pair of support rollers 20 so that there are two very close superimposed sheets, whose flexible band 16 comprises a portion with a wide and wide opening 18, there are drive means 21 connected to rotate at least one of the rollers 17 reciprocating so that said flexible band 16 is capable of adopting a position in which the entire opening 18 is in the lower sheet, the upper sheet constituting a support and closing plane of the upper enclosure, and at least one position wherein a part of said opening is in the top sheet, superimposed on another part of said opening 18 that is in the sheet infe rior, facilitating a passage through it for unloading containers A from an enclosure to the immediate lower enclosure (position illustrated in Fig. 3). This exemplary embodiment can also preferably be supplemented with two of said adjacent bands 16, arranged in a coplanar manner, for each lift plane 4.
En la Fig. 2 se muestra una de las paredes paredes laterales del silo, formada por un lienzo 13 de una lámina de un material flexible, fijado mediante unos tensores 14, distribuidos a lo largo de sus bordes periféricos reforzados 15, a una estructura de soporte la. Con el fin de reforzar dichas paredes laterales se han dispuesto unos cables 22 extendidos cruzando la cara exterior de dichos lienzos 13, fijados mediante tensores 23 a dicha estructura de soporte la.In Fig. 2 one of the side walls walls of the silo is shown, formed by a canvas 13 of a sheet of a flexible material, fixed by tensioners 14, distributed along its reinforced peripheral edges 15, to a structure of support the. In order to reinforce said side walls, extended cables 22 are arranged crossing the outer face of said canvases 13, fixed by tensioners 23 to said support structure the.
De acuerdo con una variante de la invención, el silo también está caracterizado porque cada uno de los planos de sustentación 4 descritos anteriormente está asociado a una porción de la estructura de dicho depósito 1 (ver de nuevo la Fig. 1) constituyendo un conjunto modular apilable para formar un depósito 1, de una altura deseada, sobre un módulo base que incluye dicho fondo 3 y abertura de descarga 3 a, fijándose los conjuntos modulares entre sí y con el módulo base en el emplazamiento definitivo mediante uniones 19 desmontables o permanentes. El silo de la invención comprende además unos medios de detección del nivel de envases A acumulados sobre el plano de sustentación 4 y/o sobre el fondo 3 y unos medios de control susceptibles de actuar al menos sobre dichos medios de accionamiento 5, 21 de los planos de sustentación 4 que dividen dichos recintos B en función de unas señales recibidas de dichos medios de detección. Dichos medios de control están integrados en un control general que gobierna la alimentación de dicho silo y el suministro regulado de envases A desde el mismo.According to a variant of the invention, the silo is also characterized in that each of the lift planes 4 described above is associated with a portion of the structure of said tank 1 (see again Fig. 1) constituting a modular assembly stackable to form a tank 1, of a desired height, on a base module that includes said bottom 3 and discharge opening 3 a, the modular assemblies being fixed to each other and with the base module in the final location by means of removable or permanent joints 19. The silo of the invention further comprises means for detecting the level of packages A accumulated on the lift plane 4 and / or on the bottom 3 and control means capable of acting at least on said actuating means 5, 21 of the lift planes 4 that divide said enclosures B based on signals received from said detection means. Said control means are integrated in a general control that governs the feeding of said silo and the regulated supply of packages A from it.
En las Figs. 6 a 8 se ilustra el método de almacenamiento y suministro regulado de envases A ligeros vacíos de la invención, utilizando un silo como el descrito en las Figs. 1 a 5, cuyo método se caracteriza porque se actúa mediante el accionamiento de los planos de sustentación 4 de manera que en ningún caso un recipiente A caiga libremente desde una altura superior a la altura H de los recintos, ni un recipiente A soporte encima de él una altura de envases amontonados superior a dicha altura H de los recintos. Tal como se ha expuesto anteriormente, la altura H de dichos recintos B se ha definido para ser adecuada al mínimo valor de la altura máxima de caída libre o la altura máxima de amontonamiento capaz de resistir un tipo de envase A predeterminado sin deteriorarse. Un ejemplo de secuencia lógica para el llenado y vaciado de dicho silo para un suministro regulado de envases ligeros vacíos A es el siguiente: a) la alimentación de dicho depósito 1 se inicia mediante la carga del recinto situado a más alto nivel, estando éste incomunicado respecto al siguiente (Fig. 6); b) cuando el recinto situado a más alto nivel se encuentra lleno, o antes, se accionan las láminas flexibles 6 para retirar el plano de sustentación 4 (Fig. 7) de manera que dicho recinto situado a más alto nivel se comunica con el recinto inmediatamente inferior, produciéndose la descarga de los envases A; es condición indispensable, para efectuar la descarga de cualquier recinto, que el recinto inmediatamente inferior esté vacío, al menos en parte, e incomunicado con el siguiente, excepto cuando el recinto inmediatamente inferior es el recinto situado a más bajo nivel; c) en caso de existir más de dos recintos B superpuestos, puede realizarse la descarga de un recinto en particular sobre su recinto inmediatamente inferior simultáneamente a la carga o descarga de un recinto situado a un nivel superior (ver Fig. 8) siempre que se cumpla la condición indispensable mencionada en el párrafo b); d) este procedimiento se repite secuencialmente en sentido descendente hasta que el recinto inmediatamente inferior es el recinto situado al nivel más bajo (Fig. 9), el cual está delimitado inferiormente por dicho fondo 3 y dicha abertura de descarga 3 a regulable, en cuyo caso existen dos alternativas: si lo que se desea es utilizar el silo como almacén temporal de envases A el) dicha abertura de descarga 3a está cerrada (Fig. 1) permitiendo el llenado completo del recinto situado a más bajo nivel; fl) a continuación se cierran las láminas flexibles 6 del plano de sustentación 4 del recinto inmediato superior para proceder a su llenado completo, y así sucesivamente en sentido ascendente hasta conseguir el llenado de todos los recintos (Fig. 1), o de un número de recintos deseado; ó si lo que se desea es utilizar el silo para un suministro regulado de envases A e2) dicha abertura de descarga 3 a está abierta (Fig. 9) en una extensión seleccionada de acuerdo con el flujo de envases requerido; yIn Figs. 6 to 8 illustrates the method of storage and regulated supply of empty light A containers of the invention, using a silo as described in Figs. 1 to 5, whose method is characterized in that it acts by actuating the lift planes 4 so that in no case does a container A fall freely from a height greater than the height H of the enclosures, nor a container A supporting on top of he a height of piled containers greater than said height H of the enclosures. As stated above, the height H of said enclosures B has been defined to be adequate to the minimum value of the maximum free fall height or the maximum stacking height capable of withstanding a predetermined container type A without deterioration. An example of a logical sequence for filling and emptying said silo for a regulated supply of empty light containers A is as follows: a) the feeding of said tank 1 is initiated by loading the enclosure located at a higher level, being it incommunicado with respect to the following (Fig. 6); b) when the enclosure located at the highest level is full, or before, the flexible sheets 6 are operated to remove the lift plane 4 (Fig. 7) so that said enclosure located at the highest level communicates with the enclosure immediately lower, producing the discharge of the packages A; it is an indispensable condition, for the discharge of any enclosure, that the immediately inferior enclosure is empty, at least in part, and incommunicado with the following, except when the immediately inferior enclosure is the enclosure located at the lowest level; c) in case there are more than two superimposed B enclosures, the discharge of a particular enclosure on its enclosure immediately below can be carried out simultaneously with the loading or unloading of an enclosure located at a higher level (see Fig. 8) provided that meet the indispensable condition mentioned in paragraph b); d) this procedure is repeated sequentially downwards until the immediately lower enclosure is the enclosure located at the lowest level (Fig. 9), which is delimited inferiorly by said bottom 3 and said discharge opening 3 to adjustable, in which If there are two alternatives: if what is desired is to use the silo as a temporary storage warehouse A) said discharge opening 3a is closed (Fig. 1) allowing filling complete enclosure located at the lowest level; fl) then the flexible sheets 6 of the support plane 4 of the upper immediate enclosure are closed to proceed with their complete filling, and so on upwards until all the enclosures are filled (Fig. 1), or a number of desired enclosures; or if what is desired is to use the silo for a regulated supply of packages A e2) said discharge opening 3 a is open (Fig. 9) in a selected extension according to the required flow of packages; Y
£2) a continuación se repiten de manera continuada los pasos a)-d) con una cadencia adecuada para alimentar dicho flujo de envases requerido a través de la abertura de descarga 3 a, cuya cadencia puede estar automáticamente controlada a partir de unas señales procedentes de unos medios sensores de nivel de llenado de cada recinto.£ 2) then steps a) -d) are repeated continuously with a suitable cadence to feed said required flow of containers through the discharge opening 3 a, whose cadence can be automatically controlled from signals coming from of means filling level sensors of each enclosure.
Los ejemplos de realización y de utilización anteriormente descritos pretender ser meramente ilustrativos y no limitativos, pudiendo un experto en la materia introducir numerosos cambios o modificaciones, tanto en el silo como en el método de utilización, sin salirse del alcance de la invención, el cual está definido por las reivindicaciones adjuntas. The examples of embodiment and use described above are intended to be merely illustrative and not limiting, and one skilled in the art may introduce numerous changes or modifications, both in the silo and in the method of use, without departing from the scope of the invention, which It is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

REIVINDICACIONES
1.- Silo para almacenamiento y suministro regulado de envases ligeros vacíos, del tipo que comprende un amplio depósito (1) provisto de una entrada de carga (2) en la parte superior, un fondo (3) con al menos una abertura de descarga (3a), regulable, en su parte inferior y unos medios en el interior para impedir deterioros en dichos envases (A) debidos a colisiones por caída libre desde una altura excesiva y/o por un aplastamiento causado por un amontonamiento excesivo, caracterizado porque dichos medios para impedir deterioros en los envases (A) comprenden una subdivisión de dicho depósito (1) en recintos (B) superpuestos, llenables desde arriba por gravedad, la altura (H) de cuyos recintos (B) es función del tipo de envase (A) a almacenar, de manera que se limita la altura máxima de caída libre y la máxima presión de aplastamiento soportada por un envase (A) a más bajo nivel, estando dichos recintos (B) delimitados por unos planos de sustentación (4) retraíbles dotados de unos medios de accionamiento (5, 21), independientes, susceptibles de desplazarlos para abrir o cerrar al menos un paso a su través para la descarga de envases (A) de un recinto al recinto inmediato inferior, excepto el recinto situado al nivel más bajo, que está delimitado por el fondo (3) y abertura de descarga (3a).1.- Silo for storage and regulated supply of empty light containers, of the type comprising a large tank (1) provided with a loading inlet (2) at the top, a bottom (3) with at least one discharge opening (3a), adjustable, in its lower part and means inside to prevent deterioration in said containers (A) due to collisions by free fall from an excessive height and / or by a crushing caused by excessive stacking, characterized in that said means for preventing deterioration in the containers (A) comprise a subdivision of said tank (1) into overlapping enclosures (B), filled from above by gravity, the height (H) of whose enclosures (B) is a function of the type of container ( A) to be stored, so as to limit the maximum free fall height and the maximum crushing pressure supported by a container (A) at a lower level, said enclosures (B) being delimited by retractable lift planes (4) gifted d and independent drive means (5, 21), capable of moving them to open or close at least one passage through it for unloading containers (A) from an enclosure to the immediate lower enclosure, except the enclosure located at the highest level low, which is delimited by the bottom (3) and discharge opening (3a).
2.- Silo, de acuerdo con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque dicho plano de sustentación (4) comprende al menos una lámina flexible (6), tal como una lona, susceptible de bobinarse sobre un núcleo giratorio (7) soportado junto a una de las paredes laterales de dicho depósito (1), estando un borde libre frontal de dicha lámina flexible (6) fijado a una barra de carga (8) susceptible de alejarse de y acercarse a dicho núcleo giratorio (7) desplazándose, soportada y guiada, en una trayectoria predeterminada.2. Silo, according to claim 1, characterized in that said support plane (4) comprises at least one flexible sheet (6), such as a canvas, capable of being wound on a rotating core (7) supported next to a from the side walls of said tank (1), a free front edge of said flexible sheet (6) being fixed to a loading bar (8) capable of moving away from and approaching said rotating core (7) moving, supported and guided , in a predetermined path.
3.- Silo, de acuerdo con la reivindicación 2, caracterizado porque comprende unos topes retráctiles (10) en dicha trayectoria predeterminada que impiden el retroceso de la barra de carga (8) en situación de extensión de la lámina flexible (6).3. Silo, according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises retractable stops (10) in said predetermined path that prevent the retraction of the load bar (8) in the situation of extension of the flexible sheet (6).
4.- Silo, de acuerdo con la reivindicación 3, caracterizado porque dicho plano de sustentación (4) comprende además unos medios de empuje de dicha barra de carga (8) en dirección de alejamiento al núcleo giratorio (7), actuando dichos medios de accionamiento (5), tales como un motor eléctrico acoplado a dicho núcleo giratorio (7), a favor y en contra de dichos medios de empuje para, respectivamente, extender y recoger dicha lámina flexible (6).4. Silo according to claim 3, characterized in that said lift plane (4) further comprises pushing means of said loading bar (8) in the direction away from the rotating core (7), said means of actuation acting drive (5), such as an electric motor coupled to said rotating core (7), for and against said thrust means for, respectively, extending and collecting said flexible sheet (6).
5.- Silo, de acuerdo con la reivindicación 3, caracterizado porque dicho plano de sustentación (4) comprende además unos medios de empuje de dicha barra de carga (8) en dirección al núcleo giratorio (7), actuando dichos medios de accionamiento (5) en contra y a favor de dichos medios de empuje para, respectivamente, extender y recoger dicha lámina flexible (6).5. Silo, according to claim 3, characterized in that said lift plane (4) further comprises pushing means of said loading bar (8) in the direction of the rotating core (7), said actuating means acting ( 5) against already favor of said pushing means for, respectively, extending and collecting said flexible sheet (6).
6.- Silo, de acuerdo con la reivindicación 4, caracterizado porque dichos medios de empuje comprenden un par de brazos articulados (12), cada uno de los cuales está formado por dos tramos (12a, 12b) articulados entre sí, estando cada brazo (12) unido articuladamente por un extremo a la bancada, en una zona próxima al núcleo giratorio (7), y por el otro extremo a la barra de carga (8), cada uno de cuyos brazos (12) incluye un muelle de tracción fijado por un extremo a uno de dichos tramos (12a, 12b) y conectado mediante un elemento flexible al otro de dichos tramos (12a, 12b) de manera que ejerce sobre dichos tramos (12a, 12b) una tendencia a extenderse hasta quedar alineados.6. Silo according to claim 4, characterized in that said pushing means comprise a pair of articulated arms (12), each of which is formed by two sections (12a, 12b) articulated with each other, each arm being (12) articulated jointly by one end to the bench, in an area close to the rotating core (7), and at the other end to the load bar (8), each of whose arms (12) includes a traction spring fixed at one end to one of said sections (12a, 12b) and connected by a flexible element to the other of said sections (12a, 12b) so that it exerts on said sections (12a, 12b) a tendency to extend until they are aligned.
7.- Silo, de acuerdo con la reivindicación 2, caracterizado porque dicha trayectoria predeterminada comprende un par raíles (9) laterales directamente opuestas sobre los que se apoyan unas correspondientes ruedas (11) o patines fijados a ambos extremos de dicha barra de carga (8). 7. Silo according to claim 2, characterized in that said predetermined path comprises a pair of directly opposite side rails (9) on which corresponding wheels (11) or skates fixed to both ends of said loading bar ( 8).
8.- Silo, de acuerdo con la reivindicación 7, caracterizado porque dichos raíles (9) son horizontales.8. Silo, according to claim 7, characterized in that said rails (9) are horizontal.
9.- Silo, de acuerdo con cualquiera de las reivindicaciones 2 a 8, caracterizado porque dicho plano de sustentación (4) comprende dos de dichas láminas flexibles (6), estando los correspondientes núcleos giratorios (7) soportados en unas respectivas posiciones enfrentadas junto a paredes laterales opuestas de dicho depósito (1), con las correspondientes trayectorias predeterminadas dispuestas de manera que las respectivas barras de carga (8) se encuentran mutuamente adyacentes cuando dichas láminas flexibles (6) están completamente extendidas.9. Silo, according to any of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that said support plane (4) comprises two of said flexible sheets (6), the corresponding rotating cores (7) being supported in respective positions facing together opposite side walls of said reservoir (1), with corresponding predetermined paths arranged so that the respective loading bars (8) are mutually adjacent when said flexible sheets (6) are fully extended.
10.- Silo, de acuerdo con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque dicho plano de sustentación (4) comprende al menos una banda flexible sin fin (16) extendida entre dos rodillos (17) soportados en unas respectivas posiciones enfrentadas junto a paredes laterales opuestas de dicho depósito (1), y presionada por un par de rodillos de apoyo (20) de manera que quedan dos láminas superpuestas muy próximas, cuya banda flexible (16) comprende una porción con una amplia y extensa abertura (18), existiendo unos medios de accionamiento (21) conectados para hacer girar al menos uno de los rodillos (17) en vaivén de manera que dicha banda flexible (16) es susceptible de adoptar al menos una posición en la que una parte de dicha abertura queda en la lámina superior, superpuesta a otra parte de dicha abertura (18) que queda en la lámina inferior, facilitando un paso a su través para la descarga de envases (A) de un recinto al recinto inmediato inferior. 10. Silo according to claim 1, characterized in that said lift plane (4) comprises at least one endless flexible band (16) extended between two rollers (17) supported in respective opposite positions next to opposite side walls of said reservoir (1), and pressed by a pair of support rollers (20) so that there are two superimposed superimposed sheets, whose flexible band (16) comprises a portion with a wide and wide opening (18), there being drive means (21) connected to rotate at least one of the rollers (17) in a reciprocating manner such that said flexible band (16) is capable of adopting at least one position in which a part of said opening is in the sheet upper, superimposed on another part of said opening (18) remaining in the lower sheet, facilitating a passage therethrough for unloading containers (A) from an enclosure to the immediate lower enclosure.
11.- Silo, de acuerdo con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque comprende unas paredes laterales formadas por lienzos (13) de lámina flexible fijados, mediante unos tensores (14) distribuidos a lo largo de sus bordes periféricos reforzados (15), a una estructura de soporte (la). 11. Silo according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises lateral walls formed by fixed sheet canvases (13), by means of tensioners (14) distributed along its reinforced peripheral edges (15), to a support structure (the).
12.- Silo, de acuerdo con la reivindicación 11, caracterizado porque comprende además, en función de refuerzo de las paredes, unos cables (22) extendidos cruzando la cara exterior de dichos lienzos (13), fijados mediante tensores (23) a dicha estructura de soporte (la).12. Silo, according to claim 11, characterized in that it also comprises, depending on the reinforcement of the walls, cables (22) extended across the outer face of said canvases (13), fixed by means of tensioners (23) to said support structure (the).
13.- Silo, de acuerdo con la reivindicación 1, 11 ó 12, caracterizado porque cada uno de dichos planos de sustentación (4) está asociado a una porción de la estructura de dicho depósito (1) constituyendo un conjunto modular apilable para formar un depósito (1), de una altura deseada, sobre un módulo base que incluye dicho fondo (3) y abertura de descarga (3a), fijándose los conjuntos modulares entre sí y con el módulo base en el emplazamiento definitivo mediante uniones (19) desmontables o permanentes. 13. Silo, according to claim 1, 11 or 12, characterized in that each of said lift planes (4) is associated with a portion of the structure of said tank (1) constituting a stackable modular assembly to form a tank (1), of a desired height, on a base module that includes said bottom (3) and discharge opening (3a), the modular assemblies being fixed to each other and with the base module in the final location by means of removable joints (19) or permanent
14.- Silo, de acuerdo con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque comprende además unos medios de detección del nivel de envases (A) acumulados sobre el plano de sustentación (4) y/o sobre el fondo (3) y unos medios de control susceptibles de actuar al menos sobre dichos medios de accionamiento (5, 21) de los planos de sustentación (4) que dividen dichos recintos (B) en función de unas señales recibidas de dichos medios de detección. 14. Silo according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means for detecting the level of packages (A) accumulated on the lift plane (4) and / or on the bottom (3) and control means capable of acting at least on said actuation means (5, 21) of the lift planes (4) that divide said enclosures (B) according to signals received from said detection means.
15.- Silo, de acuerdo con la reivindicación 14, caracterizado porque dichos medios de control están integrados en un control general que gobierna la alimentación de dicho silo y el suministro regulado de envases (A) desde el mismo.15. Silo, according to claim 14, characterized in that said control means are integrated in a general control that governs the feeding of said silo and the regulated supply of containers (A) therefrom.
16.- Método de almacenamiento y suministro regulado de envases (A) ligeros vacíos mediante un silo del tipo que comprende un amplio depósito (1) provisto de una entrada de carga (2) en la parte superior, y un fondo (3) con al menos una abertura de descarga (3 a) regulable en su parte inferior, estando dicho método caracterizado porque el citado depósito (1) se subdivide en recintos (B) superpuestos mediante unos planos de sustentación retraíbles, cuyos recintos (B) se llenan superiormente por gravedad, estando dichos planos de sustentación provistos de unos medios independientes para comunicar selectivamente entre sí, en un momento deseado, dos de dichos recintos (B), estando la altura (H) de dichos recintos (B) adecuada al mínimo valor de la altura máxima de caída libre o la altura máxima de amontonamiento capaz de resistir un tipo de envase (A) predeterminado sin deteriorarse, iniciándose siempre la alimentación de dicho depósito (1) mediante la carga del recinto situado a más alto nivel, estando éste incomunicado respecto al siguiente y realizándose siempre la descarga de cualquier recinto comunicándolo con el recinto inmediatamente inferior estando éste vacío, al menos en parte, e incomunicado con el siguiente, excepto cuando el recinto inmediatamente inferior es el recinto situado al nivel más bajo, el cual está delimitado inferiormente por dicho fondo (3) y dicha abertura de descarga (3 a) regulable, en cuyo caso dicha abertura de descarga (3 a) puede estar cerrada, para almacenar envases (A), o abierta en una extensión seleccionada, para un suministro regulado de dichos envases (A). 16.- Method of storage and regulated supply of empty light containers (A) by means of a silo of the type comprising a large tank (1) provided with a cargo inlet (2) at the top, and a bottom (3) with at least one discharge opening (3 a) adjustable in its lower part, said method being characterized in that said tank (1) is subdivided into enclosures (B) superimposed by retractable lift planes, whose enclosures (B) are filled superiorly by gravity, said lift planes being provided with independent means to selectively communicate with each other, at a desired time, two of said enclosures (B), the height (H) of said enclosures (B) being adequate to the minimum value of the maximum height of free fall or the maximum height of stacking capable of resisting a predetermined type of container (A) without deterioration, always feeding the said tank (1) by loading the site ado at a higher level, the latter being held incommunicado with respect to the next one and always carrying out the discharge of any enclosure communicating it with the immediately lower enclosure being empty, at least in part, and incommunicado with the next, except when the immediately inferior enclosure is the enclosure at the lowest level, which is delimited inferiorly by said bottom (3) and said adjustable discharge opening (3 a), in which case said discharge opening (3 a) can be closed, to store containers (A), or opened in a selected extension, for a regulated supply of said containers (A).
PCT/ES1999/000108 1998-08-11 1999-04-23 Silo for storage and regulated supply of light empty bottles and method for the utilization thereof WO2000064787A1 (en)

Priority Applications (14)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/ES1999/000108 WO2000064787A1 (en) 1999-04-23 1999-04-23 Silo for storage and regulated supply of light empty bottles and method for the utilization thereof
AT99940206T ATE238209T1 (en) 1998-08-11 1999-08-11 SILO FOR STORAGE AND CONTROLLED SUPPLY OF LIGHT, HOLLOW VESSELS AND METHOD FOR USE THEREOF
CA002339957A CA2339957C (en) 1998-08-11 1999-08-11 Silo for storing and controlled supply of empty light containers, and method for using such silo
US09/762,883 US6457610B1 (en) 1998-08-11 1999-08-11 Silo for storing and controlled supply of empty light containers, and method for using such silo
EP99940206A EP1106534B1 (en) 1998-08-11 1999-08-11 Silo for storing and controlled supply of empty light containers, and method for using such silo
ES99940206T ES2197664T3 (en) 1998-08-11 1999-08-11 SILO FOR STORAGE AND REGULATED SUPPLY OF EMPTY LIGHT PACKAGES, AND METHOD FOR USE.
AU54234/99A AU760104B2 (en) 1998-08-11 1999-08-11 Silo for storing and controlled supply of empty light containers, and method for using such silo
PCT/ES1999/000262 WO2000009425A2 (en) 1998-08-11 1999-08-11 Silo for storing and controlled supply of empty light containers, and method for using such silo
DK99940206T DK1106534T3 (en) 1998-08-11 1999-08-11 Silo for storage and controlled discharge of empty, lightweight containers and method for using such silo
CNB998111872A CN1151051C (en) 1998-08-11 1999-08-11 Silo for storing and controlled supply of empty light containers, and method for using such silo
BR9912894-2A BR9912894A (en) 1998-08-11 1999-08-11 Silo for controlled storage and supply of empty light containers and method for their use
PT99940206T PT1106534E (en) 1998-08-11 1999-08-11 SILO FOR STORAGE AND CONTROLLED SUPPLY OF EMPTY LIGHT CONTAINERS AND METHOD FOR USING TAL SILO
DE69907217T DE69907217T2 (en) 1998-08-11 1999-08-11 SILO FOR STORAGE AND REGULATED SUPPLY OF LIGHT, HOLLOW VESSELS AND METHOD FOR USE THEREOF
ARP000101917A AR023755A1 (en) 1999-04-23 2000-04-24 SILO FOR STORAGE AND REGULATED SUPPLY OF EMPTY LIGHT PACKAGES, AND METHODS FOR USE.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/ES1999/000108 WO2000064787A1 (en) 1999-04-23 1999-04-23 Silo for storage and regulated supply of light empty bottles and method for the utilization thereof

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006050885A1 (en) * 2004-11-11 2006-05-18 Lanfranchi S.R.L. Silo or box for storage or transportation of empty plastic bottles
WO2007051554A1 (en) 2005-11-02 2007-05-10 Lanfranchi S.R.L. Method and silo for storage and accumulation of plastic bottles or empty lightweight containers
FR2972722A1 (en) * 2011-03-14 2012-09-21 Cinetic Sorting S P A DIRECT SORTING OF PARCELS IN CONTAINERS WITH REDUCTION IN DAMAGE

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US2905365A (en) 1956-06-08 1959-09-22 Thayer Scale Corp Fluent material agitator
US3286886A (en) 1964-10-12 1966-11-22 Jr Warren C Burgess Hopper
US3995541A (en) * 1973-10-31 1976-12-07 Acf Industries, Incorporated Railway hopper car having baffles decreasing load density
FR2529175A1 (en) * 1982-06-28 1983-12-30 Lesieur Cotelle Collapsible horizontal partition for storage silo - comprises inflatable cantilever arms or panels which collapse when deflated.
EP0117457A2 (en) * 1983-03-01 1984-09-05 Anton Dieter Dr. Hammel Storage container for poorly flowable material such as leaven or yeast preparations for the manufacture of bread doughs

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2905365A (en) 1956-06-08 1959-09-22 Thayer Scale Corp Fluent material agitator
US3286886A (en) 1964-10-12 1966-11-22 Jr Warren C Burgess Hopper
US3995541A (en) * 1973-10-31 1976-12-07 Acf Industries, Incorporated Railway hopper car having baffles decreasing load density
FR2529175A1 (en) * 1982-06-28 1983-12-30 Lesieur Cotelle Collapsible horizontal partition for storage silo - comprises inflatable cantilever arms or panels which collapse when deflated.
EP0117457A2 (en) * 1983-03-01 1984-09-05 Anton Dieter Dr. Hammel Storage container for poorly flowable material such as leaven or yeast preparations for the manufacture of bread doughs

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006050885A1 (en) * 2004-11-11 2006-05-18 Lanfranchi S.R.L. Silo or box for storage or transportation of empty plastic bottles
WO2007051554A1 (en) 2005-11-02 2007-05-10 Lanfranchi S.R.L. Method and silo for storage and accumulation of plastic bottles or empty lightweight containers
FR2972722A1 (en) * 2011-03-14 2012-09-21 Cinetic Sorting S P A DIRECT SORTING OF PARCELS IN CONTAINERS WITH REDUCTION IN DAMAGE

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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