WO2008122071A1 - Sorting apparatus especially for coloured bottles - Google Patents
Sorting apparatus especially for coloured bottles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2008122071A1 WO2008122071A1 PCT/AU2008/000465 AU2008000465W WO2008122071A1 WO 2008122071 A1 WO2008122071 A1 WO 2008122071A1 AU 2008000465 W AU2008000465 W AU 2008000465W WO 2008122071 A1 WO2008122071 A1 WO 2008122071A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- articles
- conveyor
- bottles
- colour
- zone
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
- B07C5/34—Sorting according to other particular properties
- B07C5/342—Sorting according to other particular properties according to optical properties, e.g. colour
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
- B07C5/04—Sorting according to size
- B07C5/12—Sorting according to size characterised by the application to particular articles, not otherwise provided for
- B07C5/122—Sorting according to size characterised by the application to particular articles, not otherwise provided for for bottles, ampoules, jars and other glassware
- B07C5/126—Sorting according to size characterised by the application to particular articles, not otherwise provided for for bottles, ampoules, jars and other glassware by means of photo-electric sensors, e.g. according to colour
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
- B07C5/36—Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
- B07C5/363—Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution by means of air
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to apparatus for sorting articles according to differing features or characteristics such as different colours, shape, weight and the like and more particularly, but not exclusively, to apparatus for sorting containers such as bottles which may be glass or plastics bottles.
- apparatus for sorting articles according to a feature or characteristic of the articles comprising: a conveyor having an upstream end and a downstream end for transferring the articles in a downstream direction; a feature or characteristic recognition zone which includes an identifier device for determining the feature or characteristic of the articles as they pass through the recognition zone; a plurality of discharge zones at which articles of a particular feature or characteristic can be discharged; a control gate associated with each discharge zone and operable so as to be able to adopt a closed or open position, each control gate being responsive to detection from the identifier device so as to adopt its closed or open position.
- apparatus for sorting coloured articles such as containers including bottles
- the apparatus comprising a conveyor having an upstream end and a downstream end, the conveyor being adapted to transfer the articles in a downstream direction towards the downstream end.
- the apparatus further includes an orientation zone which is disposed towards the upstream end of the conveyor for orientating the articles for travel along the conveyor.
- the apparatus further includes a colour recognition zone which includes a colour identifier device for determining the colour of the articles as they pass through this zone.
- the apparatus further includes a plurality of discharge zones at which articles of a selected colour can be discharged, there being a control gate associated with each discharge zone and operable so as to be able to adopt a closed or an open position, each control gate being selectively responsive to the colour identifying device so as to adopt either its open or closed position.
- the conveyor includes at least one conveying path along which the articles can travel.
- the conveyor path may be in the form of a channel which in one form may include a pair of spaced apart rails which extend in a direction of travel of articles along the conveyor.
- the rails may be substantially parallel to one another. The spacing of the rails may be the same or vary along the length of the conveyor. In other arrangements the rails may taper towards or away from one another along the conveyor at least over part of their length such as in certain zones.
- a plurality of conveyor paths are provided, these being disposed side by side. Each path may include a pair of the aforementioned rails.
- each conveyor path has a control gate associated therewith at each discharge zone.
- Each gate may include a section of one of the rails, that section being displaceable between the open and closed positions.
- Each gate may include an actuator associated therewith to cause the displacement thereof between the open and closed positions.
- the actuator may be in the form of a linear actuator such as for example, a pneumatic, hydraulic or electrically powered cylinder assembly. Selective actuation of each gate is in response to a signal received from the colour identifier device.
- each discharge zone has a collecting chute which when the gate is in the open position collects the articles which are discharged therefrom.
- the conveyor may be in the form of a vibratory conveyor which causes the transfer of the articles therealong. As a result of the vibratory motion of the conveyor articles are propelled along the conveyor path.
- a cushioning system may be provided to assist in transport of articles along the conveyor.
- ejection devices such as electric or air systems may be provided to eject some articles or waste from the conveyor.
- Fig. 1 is a schematic isometric view of apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
- Fig. 2 is a detail of that part of the apparatus circled in figure 1;
- Fig. 3 a is plan view of the apparatus shown in figures 1 and 2;
- Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in figures 1 to 3.
- apparatus generally indicated at 10 which comprises a main conveyor 12 having an upstream end 13 and a downstream end 14.
- the conveyor 12 comprises a main body 15 having side walls 16 and 17 with a plurality of side by side conveying paths 23, 24, 25 and 26 therebetween (Fig. 2).
- a feed conveyor 80 is provided at the upstream end of the main conveyor for feeding articles thereto.
- the main conveyor 12 is in the form of a vibratory conveyor which as a result of its vibratory motion causes movement of the articles therealong.
- Each conveyor path 23, 24, 25 and 26 is in the form of a channel formed by parallel spaced apart rails 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37.
- the spacing between the pair of rails which form each conveyor path is such that articles which are required to be sorted can be supported by the rails.
- rail 34 is common to paths 24 and 25. Articles such as wrappers, small articles and other rubbish fall between the rails.
- an orientation zone 20 which causes the articles to align in one of the conveying paths.
- the vibratory action causes the bottles to orientate in one of the conveyor paths from head to tail.
- a colour recognition zone 40 which includes a scanner device 42.
- the scanner device 42 comprises a plurality of scanning heads 46 each associated with a respective one of the conveyor paths and which can - A -
- Each discharge zone includes a gate 56, 57, 58, 59, associated with respective conveyor paths which are adapted to adopt either an open position or a closed position, hi the open position articles moving along the conveyor path are caused to drop into a chute which is disposed below the conveyor, hi the form shown three discharge zones are shown, one being for brown bottles, another being for green bottles and another for clear bottles. Upstream of these discharge zones is further chute 50 which collects small articles or broken articles, wrappers, labels, lids and any other rubbish.
- Each gate is formed by a section 64, 65, 66, 61 of one of the rails which form the conveying paths.
- Each of these rail sections is operatively connected to an actuator 70, 71, 72, 73 which in the form shown is a pneumatic cylinder. In use the cylinder is adapted to receive a signal from the scanner which causes the selected gate to open.
- Bottles and other debris to be sorted are fed by feed conveyor 80 to the upstream end 13 of the main conveyor which is in the form of a vibratory conveyor 12.
- the bottles tend to position themselves in one of the conveyor paths 22, 23, 24 or 25.
- the vibratory conveyor 12 when activated tends to orient the bottles head to tail in one of the conveyor paths in the orientation zone 20.
- the spacing between the rails forming each conveyor path is such that the bottles are supported by the rails and propelled in a downstream direction by the vibratory motion of the conveyor. Smaller articles and debris tend to fall through the spacing between the rails.
- the bottles are transferred along the conveyor paths to a colour recognition zone 40.
- This zone has a device 42 therein which includes a scanner having a scanner head associated with each conveyor path.
- the scanner head determines the colour of a bottle in that conveyor path as it passes through the zone 40.
- the device is adapted to generate a signal which is recognised by one of the discharge zones 51, 52 or 53 downstream of zone 40.
- the signal causes activation of a selected one of the gates 57, 58, or 59 depending upon the colour of the bottle recognised in zone 40. If a gate is opened a bottle can fall through to the chute with which it is associated.
- zone 51 may identify brown bottles, zone 52 green bottles and zone 53 clear bottles. Unidentified bottles can pass to the downstream end of the conveyor.
- Suitable section systems may be provided to assist in the removal of waste for the various sections of the conveyor.
Landscapes
- Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
- Discharge Of Articles From Conveyors (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2008235242A AU2008235242A1 (en) | 2007-04-05 | 2008-04-02 | Sorting apparatus especially for coloured bottles |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2007901837 | 2007-04-05 | ||
AU2007901837A AU2007901837A0 (en) | 2007-04-05 | Sorting apparatus |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2008122071A1 true WO2008122071A1 (en) | 2008-10-16 |
Family
ID=39830398
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/AU2008/000465 WO2008122071A1 (en) | 2007-04-05 | 2008-04-02 | Sorting apparatus especially for coloured bottles |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU2008235242A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2008122071A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN104785455A (en) * | 2015-03-24 | 2015-07-22 | 安徽省坤璞塑料机械有限公司 | Reclaimed waste plastic high-accuracy intelligent color sorting method |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5024335A (en) * | 1988-11-30 | 1991-06-18 | Lundell Vernon J | Automatic sorter |
US5150307A (en) * | 1990-10-15 | 1992-09-22 | Automation Industrial Control, Inc. | Computer-controlled system and method for sorting plastic items |
JPH091084A (en) * | 1995-06-23 | 1997-01-07 | Nkk Corp | Sorting apparatus of waste bottle |
US5641072A (en) * | 1994-04-12 | 1997-06-24 | Kurimoto, Ltd. | Method for sorting post-consumed bottles and apparatus thereof |
-
2008
- 2008-04-02 AU AU2008235242A patent/AU2008235242A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2008-04-02 WO PCT/AU2008/000465 patent/WO2008122071A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5024335A (en) * | 1988-11-30 | 1991-06-18 | Lundell Vernon J | Automatic sorter |
US5150307A (en) * | 1990-10-15 | 1992-09-22 | Automation Industrial Control, Inc. | Computer-controlled system and method for sorting plastic items |
US5641072A (en) * | 1994-04-12 | 1997-06-24 | Kurimoto, Ltd. | Method for sorting post-consumed bottles and apparatus thereof |
JPH091084A (en) * | 1995-06-23 | 1997-01-07 | Nkk Corp | Sorting apparatus of waste bottle |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN104785455A (en) * | 2015-03-24 | 2015-07-22 | 安徽省坤璞塑料机械有限公司 | Reclaimed waste plastic high-accuracy intelligent color sorting method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2008235242A1 (en) | 2008-10-16 |
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