WO2009156757A1

WO2009156757A1 - Improvements in and relating to aerosol can processing

Info

Publication number: WO2009156757A1
Application number: PCT/GB2009/050721
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tim Kilpatrick
Original assignee: Vicinia Limited
Priority date: 2008-06-24
Filing date: 2009-06-24
Publication date: 2009-12-30
Also published as: GB0811557D0

Abstract

A can holder (2) holds a can (3). A sealing member (24) seals the top T of the can and a sealing member (24) seals the bottom B. A punching member (30) pierces the can in the region of a first seal member (24) to relieve the pressure in the can and a second punching member (31) pierces the can in the region of the second seal member (24). Fluid supplying apparatus (4) flushes fluid into one piercing of the can, through the can and out of the other piercing.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO AEROSOL CAN PROCESSING

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods of processing aerosol cans.

Aerosol cans come in varying shapes and sizes, and contain various different types of content. Most types of aerosol can are recyclable. However, some cans are not recyclable or their recycling is difficult because they are extremely large and/or their contents are environmentally hazardous, toxic or otherwise hazardous.

Most known machines used to recycle aerosol cans are adapted for a specifically shaped can or a specific content. Moreover, such machines are commonly not able to handle the processing of the toxic or hazardous contents, which can lead to the aerosol cans with such content ending up in land fill sites or waste storage areas where they degrade.

It is an aim of the present invention to address problems associated with recycling aerosol cans whether identified herein or otherwise.

According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided an aerosol can processing apparatus comprising : a holding arrangement for holding an aerosol can, including a first can sealing member and a second can sealing member that are arranged, in use, to form a seal at a first location and a seal at a second location of the aerosol can; a can piercing arrangement arranged, in use, to pierce the aerosol can at the first and second locations; and a fluid supply arrangement arranged, in use, to flush fluid through the aerosol can from the first location to the second location.

The first location may be a first end region of the aerosol can, and the second location may be a second end region of the aerosol can. The first end region may be a top of the aerosol can that includes the nozzle.

Suitably, the first and second can sealing members are configured to form a seal with cans having a variety of different dimensions.

Suitably, at least one of the first or second can sealing member comprises a plurality of stepped sealing elements. Suitably, the stepped sealing elements are concentrically stepped with respect to each other. Suitably, each one of the sealing elements is configured to form a seal with cans of varying widths. Suitably, a first sealing element forms a seal with cans having widths in a range different to the widths with which the second sealing element forms a seal. Suitably, the first sealing element is arranged to form a seal with cans having widths in the range of 20mm to 65mms, 65 to llOmms or 110 to 160mms .

At least one of the first or second can sealing members may be mounted on a common member allowing the first or second seal members to be replaced as a unit. Suitably, the second can sealing member is dimensioned to have a width for forming a seal with cans having widths ranging from between 20mms to 160mms.

Suitably, the sealing elements of the first and second can sealing members are rubber rings. Suitably, the rubber rings comprises a rubber capable withstanding hot temperatures and/or toxic or harmful chemicals.

Suitably, the holding apparatus comprises a clamp for holding the aerosol can in position. Suitably, the clamp has a first and a second clamp member; wherein the second clamp member is moveable relative to the first clamp member for holding cans. The clamps may be relatively movable through different extents whereby cans having different height may be able to be held. The heights of cans may be between 50mms to 750mms. Suitably, the clamp comprises a lock for holding the can in a fixed position during the operation of the aerosol can flushing apparatus.

Suitably, the first clamp member comprises the first can sealing member. Suitably, the second clamp member comprises the second can sealing member.

Suitably, the first and second clamp members are located in a first and second region, respectively, of the aerosol can flushing apparatus. Suitably, the first region is a lower region. Suitably, the second region is an upper region.

Suitably, the can piercing arrangement comprises a first piercing element for creating at least one hole in the first location of a can for releasing propellants held within the can. Suitably, the can piercing arrangement comprises a second piercing element for creating a hole in the second location of the can for enabling fluid to be flushed through the holes in the first and second locations of the can. Suitably, the first location is a top of the aerosol can. Suitably, the second location is a bottom of the aerosol can. Alternatively the first location could be a side location with the second location being another side location on the top or the bottom of the can.

Suitably, at least one of the piercing elements comprises a punching member for creating a hole in the can. Suitably, the punching member comprises at least one punching element for punching a hole in the can. Suitably, the punching element is sloped spike. Suitably, at least one punching element is a square-based pyramidal spike .

Suitably, the can piercing arrangement comprises at least one piston and cylinder arrangement, arranged, in use to quickly fire and retract at least one of the piercing elements. Alternatively, or in addition, the piercing elements are quickly fired and retracted by a servo motor.

Suitably, the first and second piercing elements are located in the first and second regions of the aerosol can flushing apparatus, respectively. Suitably, the first region is a bottom region. Suitably, the second region is a top region. Suitably, the first and second piercing elements comprise a non-spark forming material. Suitably, the piercing elements are formed from tungsten carbide.

Suitably, the first and second piercing elements are earthed.

The fluid supply arrangement may use a fluid supply, a pump, a valve and a fluid delivery nozzle for supplying fluid to the can. Suitably, the fluid supply apparatus supplies fluid to the can through one seal member. Suitably, the fluid is supplied at a temperature in the range of 5°C to 60⁰C.

Suitably, the aerosol processing apparatus comprises a contents holding arrangement for storing the contents removed from the aerosol can. Suitably, the contents holding arrangement comprises a passageway to guide the released can contents into a storage tank. Suitably, the contents are guided through a particle removal system before being stored in the storage tank.

Suitably, the aerosol can processing apparatus comprises a control system for controlling the operations of the aerosol can flushing apparatus. Suitably, the control system pneumatically controls the operations. Alternatively, the control system electronically controls the operations.

The aerosol can processing apparatus may form part of an aerosol can recycling assembly. Suitably, the aerosol can recycling assembly comprises a conveyor for delivering a can to be flushed to the aerosol can processing apparatus.

Suitably, the aerosol can recycling assembly comprises a conveyor for removing a flushed can from the aerosol can flushing apparatus .

Suitably, the aerosol can recycling assembly comprises first and second arms for inserting and removing can from the aerosol can processing apparatus. Suitably, the first and second arms are linked at one end and have hands at their opposed other ends for inserting cans from one conveyor into the aerosol can flushing apparatus and for removing cans from the aerosol can flushing apparatus and placing the removed can on the other conveyor.

According to the present invention in a second aspect, there is provided a method of processing an aerosol can, the method comprising the steps of: providing an aerosol can; forming a seal with a first location and a second location of the can; piercing the can at the sealed locations; and flushing the contents from the aerosol can through the pierced locations.

Suitably, the first location is a top of the aerosol can that may include a nozzle. Suitably, the second location is a bottom of the aerosol can.

Suitably, the method comprises sequentially flushing the contents from aerosol cans having different diameters. Suitably, the method comprises sequentially flushing the contents from aerosol cans having different heights.

Suitably, the step of clamping comprises locking the can in a fixed position whilst the piercing and flushing steps are performed.

Suitably, the first location is pierced first before piercing the second location. Suitably, the pressure within the can is equalised with the pressure outside of the can before the second location is pierced. The delay between the locations being pierced may be predetermined.

The delay between the locations being pierced may be controlled by pressure sensors arranged to monitor the return of a zone outside of a can to a lower pressure abuts the first location of the can has been pierced.

Suitably, the step of piercing comprises punching a hole in the aerosol can.

Suitably, the step of flushing comprises flushing the contents into a storage area to be stored. Suitably, the step of flushing comprises filtering the contents to remove unwanted particles before they are stored

The method of flushing an aerosol can may form part of method of recycling an aerosol can.

Suitably, the method of piercing an aerosol comprises the step of conveying a can to be flushed to an aerosol can flushing apparatus . Suitably, the method of piercing an aerosol comprises the step of conveying a flushed can to a recycling apparatus .

Suitably, the method comprises recycling a can using an aerosol can processing apparatus of the first aspect.

The present invention may be carried out in practice in various ways but an embodiment will now be described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of a aerosol can flushing apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 2 shows a front view of can holding element of the aerosol can flushing apparatus.

Figure 1 shows an aerosol flushing apparatus 1 used to clean an aerosol can C. The apparatus 1 uses a can holder 2, a can punching apparatus 3 and a fluid supplying apparatus 4 to release and clean the contents out of an aerosol can C. The can holder 2 is able to hold cans of various sizes whilst the can's contents are released and cleansed by the punching apparatus 3 and the fluid supplying apparatus 4. The contents, such as propellants and fluids, are flushed into a contents holding area 5 where they are held to be processed and recycled.

In use, a can C is placed upside-down into the can holder 2 where it is held in position by being engaged by a clamp 20. A first location, i.e. a top T of the can, which is held in a first, lower, region 10 of the apparatus 1, is then pierced by a first punching member 30 of the punching apparatus 3. Piercing the top T the aerosol releases propellants held within the can C into the contents holding area 5. After the propellants have been released, a second punching member 31 of the punching apparatus 3 operates to pierce a second location, i.e. bottom B of the can, which is held in a second, upper, region 11 of the apparatus 1. The fluid supplying apparatus 4 then squirts a suitable fluid through the can C to flush the remaining contents into the contents holding area 5. After the can's contents have been flushed, the clamp 20 is disengaged and the can C is removed for further processing.

To hold an aerosol can C the clamp 20 uses a first and a second clamp member 21, 22. The first clamp member 21 is located in a fixed position in the bottom region 10. The second clamp member 22 is located in the top region 11 and is moveable relative to the first clamp member 21. To move the second clamp member 22 towards and away from the first clamp member 21 a pneumatic cylinder and piston arrangement 23 is used.

The second clamp member 22 is moved relative to the first clamp member 21 to allow cans having a height ranging from between 50mms to 750mms to be held in position .

To hold cans of varying widths in position, the can holder 2 uses first and second seal members 24, 25. The first seal member 24 is located in the first clamp member 21 and the second seal member 25 is located in the second clamp member 22. The seal members 24, 25 form a seal between the top T and bottom B to minimise the amount of any propellant that may be released into the area surrounding the apparatus 1 as the can C is processed.

The first seal member 24 is located in the bottom region 10. The first seal member is a cartridge that can be removed from the clamp member 21 to be easily replaced. As shown in Figure 2, the first seal member 24 uses a series of stepped sealing elements 24a, 24b, 24c to accommodate cans having a variety of differing widths. The sealing elements 24a, 24b and 24c are different sized rubber rings, such as o-rings, comprising an aperture 26 through which the top T extends into a passageway 50 of the contents holding area 5.

The first sealing member 24 is stepped so that the top T, which commonly features a protruding section P, does not prevent a seal from being formed between the can C and the seal member 24. The first stepped sealing element 24a accommodates cans having a width varying from between 20mms to 65mms. The second stepped sealing element 24b accommodates cans having a width varying from between 65mms to llOmms. The third stepped sealing element 24c accommodates cans having a width varying from between llOmms to 160mms.

The first seal member 24 in addition to forming a seal with the can C, when clamped, also serves to locate the can C in the correct position, before it is clamped, i.e. the member 24 centralises the can C so that it is able to be both clamped and pierced. The sealing elements 24a, 24b, 24c and 25 use, for example, Viton^® rubber to make the seals, so that they are able to withstand most temperatures and aerosol can contents .

Referring again to Figure 1, the second seal member 25 is located in the top region 10. The second seal member 25 uses a sealing element 27, such as rubber ring, having an aperture 28 dimensioned to allow the top punching member 31 to pass therethrough. The sealing element 27 is dimensioned to have a width suitable for forming a seal with cans having a base B with widths ranging from between 20mms to 160mms.

The second seal member 24 also has a fluid directing chamber 29. The fluid directing chamber 29 has an opening 29a, around the circumference of which the sealing element 27 is located. In use, second seal member 24 forms a seal with the base B and the fluid supplying apparatus 4, so that fluid supplied by the fluid supplying apparatus 4 is directed towards the base B by the inner wall of the chamber 29.

The first punching member 30 is located in the bottom region 10. The punching member 30 uses a plurality of punching elements 32 to pierce the top of the upside-down can C. The punching elements 32 are arranged on the end of a piston arm 34 that extends from a cylinder 35, and are aligned relative to the first sealing member 24 so that they are able to pierce the can C. In use, the piston arm 34 is fired and retracted by the cylinder 35 causing the elements 32 to pierce the top of the can C and release pressure in the can and the propellant. This occurs before the bottom of the can is pierced.

The second punching member 31 is located in the top region 11. The second punching member 31 uses a punching element 36 to pierce the bottom B. The punching element

36 protrudes from a piston arm 37 that extends from a cylinder 38. The piston arm 37 extends into the directing chamber 28 so that the piercing element 31 is located within the second seal member 24. In use, the piston arm

37 is fired and retracted by the cylinder 38 causing the element 36 to move through the aperture 26 and puncture the top T so that the can's remaining contents can be flushed out.

The punching elements 32 and 37 are shaped to pierce the can in such a way the punched parts of the can remain connected. In the first punching member 30, this is achieved by angling the top of the punching elements 32 from one side to the other with the apex, being a piercing spike, towards the centre of the first punching member 30. In the second punching member 31, this is achieved by forming the punching element 37 as square-based pyramidal spike .

To minimise the risks of sparks from being formed during the punching operation, the punching elements 32 and 37 are made from tungsten carbide, and earthed through an earth bonding 61. To further reduce the risk of sparks being formed, the apparatus 1 uses a static eliminator 62.

After the top and bottom of the can C have been pierced, the fluid supplying apparatus 4 is operated to wash residual contents from the can C using a fluid. The fluid supplying apparatus 4 uses a fluid reservoir 40, a pump 41, a valve 42 and a fluid delivery nozzle 43 for this purpose. Suitable fluids include water or solvent based solutions.

In use, the fluid supplier 40 is heated to a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature in the range of 5°C to 60⁰C and depends on the type of contents held within the aerosol can C. For example, if the contents are paint, then a suitable fluid is a solvent based solution and the predetermined temperature is 15°C.

To supply fluid to the nozzle 43, the valve 42 is opened and the pump 41 is operated to supply high pressure fluid to the nozzle 43. The nozzle 43 delivers fluid into the chamber 28 so that the fluid is directed through the can C to flush the residual contents into the contents storage area 5.

A passageway 50 is used to guide the contents expelled from the can C into the contents holding area 5. The passageway 50 is sealed to the can through use of the first sealing member 24. The contents are then guided into an abatement system 51 and then on into a storage tank 52. The abatement system 51 removes unwanted particles from the propellants and fluids, so that only unwanted particles are stored in the tank 51.

After the can C has been cleansed, the clamp is disengaged and the can C is recycled. A control system (not shown) is used to control the operations of the aerosol can flushing apparatus 1. The control system comprises a control arrangement (not shown) which is switched on and off to manage the operations of the control system. The control system uses pneumatic logic to control the apparatus 1.

The can is first positioned upside-down in the first sealing member 24. The control arrangement is switched-on to engage the clamp 20 with the can to form the seal and hold the can in position. The control system comprises a sensor (not shown) to sense when a seal forming pressure is reached. The clamp 20 is then interlocked using an interlock (not shown), so that the seal is maintained throughout the assembly's flushing operation. Once the interlock is engaged, the first punching assembly 30 is operated to pierce the top T. After a first predetermined time, the second punching assembly 31 is operated to pierce the base B. The second punching assembly's operation is delayed by, for example, four seconds to allow the pressure to be released from the can. The flushing assembly is then operated for a second predetermined time, for example, five seconds, to supply the fluid at the predetermined temperature to the chamber 28 and into the can C to flush the contents into the holding area 5. After the second predetermined time has elapsed the interlock is released and the control arrangement switched-o f f . The cleansed can is then removed for further processing.

I n th e co n t r o l sy s t e m described ab o v e , a f irst predetermined t ime e l ap s e s before t h e se c o n d punching as sembl y 31 i s operated . However , in another embodiment of the apparatus 1, a pressure sensor is provided to sense when the propellant has been released by determining when a predetermined pressure is reached in the passageway 50, i.e., the pressure sensor senses when the pressure in the passageway has returned to normal atmospheric pressure. In this embodiment the first predetermined time is not calculated, instead the second punching assembly is operated after the predetermined pressure is sensed.

In an embodiment of the apparatus 1 that is manually operated, the control arrangement is a first and second button (not shown) . So that the user of the apparatus 1, after manually inserting the can C into the sealing member 24, does not inadvertently trap their hands in the components 2, 3, 4 and 5, the buttons are arranged on opposed sides of the apparatus 1 and both of them have to be pressed and held to instigate the sequence of operations described above.

The apparatus 1 also comprises various safety features. The safety features are used to prevent harm and damage from being caused to persons and premises by the apparatus 1.

The apparatus 1 uses a gas detector 60 to determine if any unwanted propellant has leaked into the area surrounding the assembly. If propellant is detected, then the operation of the apparatus ceases until a safe level is reached.

To reduce the amount of harmful gas potentially being inhaled by the user of the apparatus, a clean air supplier 63 is used. The clean air supplier 63 is arranged to blow clean air into the area in which the apparatus 1 is located.

In another embodiment of the present invention (not shown) the insertion and removal process is automated. In this embodiment, the can flushing apparatus comprises a first and a second conveyor. The first conveyor supplies the cans that are inserted into the assembly, and the second conveyor removes the cans processed by the assembly. To insert and remove the cans into the assembly, a first and a second arm are linked at one and terminate in hands at the other end. The arms move from side to side so that the first hand selectively takes a can from the first conveyor which is inserted into the clamp, whilst the second hand removes the processed can from the clamp and places it on the second conveyor for further processing.

In a further exemplary embodiment (not shown) , the cylinders used to fire the punching elements are controlled by a servo motor.

In a still further exemplary embodiment (not shown), the control system user to control the operations of the aerosol can flushing apparatus are electronically controlled using for example, a programmable logic controller .

In a further arrangement any of the herein described embodiments may be used in conjunction with piercing the side or sides of a can. In this respect the side or the top or bottom of the can first be pierced to release the pressurised contents into a holding area. After the propellents have left a second piercing may be made in a side, top or bottom of the can with the can then being flushed by fluid flowing into the can through the first or second piercing and then out through the other piercing.

When the side or sides of the can is sealed before or during or after piercing suitable seals are provided that conform to the shape of the can around where the piercing is to be effected. In this respect the seal may not be disc shaped as the side wall of the can is normally cylindrical .

During punching and during flushing the can may be held by a suitable clamp.

The cans that are recycled may be cans from a production line that are faulty by virtue of, for instance, being insufficiently filled.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are op en to pu blic inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including an y accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s ) . The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in th i s specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. An aerosol can processing apparatus comprising: a holding arrangement for holding an aerosol can, including a first can sealing member and a second can sealing member that are arranged, in use, to form a seal at a first location and a seal at a second location of the aerosol can; a can piercing arrangement arranged, in use, to pierce the aerosol can at the first and second locations; and a fluid supply arrangement arranged, in use, to flush fluid through the aerosol can from the first location to the second location.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the first or second location is a first end region of the aerosol can.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the first or second location is a side region of the can.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the first and second can sealing members are configured to form a seal with cans having a variety of different dimensions.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least one of the first or second can sealing members comprises a plurality of stepped sealing elements.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the holding arrangement comprises a clamp for holding the aerosol can in position.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 in which the clamp has a first and second clamp member with the second clamp member being movable relative to the first clamp member, the clamps being relatively movable through different extents whereby cans having different heights may be able to be held.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 in which the first clamp member comprises the first can sealing member.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the can piercing arrangement comprises a punching member for creating at least one hole in the first location of a can for releasing propellants held in the can.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the fluid supply arrangement comprises a fluid supply, a pump, a valve and a fluid delivery nozzle for supplying fluid to the can.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including a contents holding arrangement arranged, in use, to store the contents removed from the aerosol can.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising part of an aerosol can recycling assembly.

13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 in which the recycling assembly includes a conveyor for delivering a can to be flushed to the aerosol can processing apparatus.

14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 or 13 in which the aerosol can recycling assembly comprises first and second arms for inserting and removing a can from the aerosol can processing apparatus.

15. A method of processing an aerosol can, the method comprising the steps of: providing an aerosol can; forming a seal with a first location and a second location of the can; piercing the can at the sealed locations; and flushing the contents from the aerosol can through the pierced locations.