WO2020002640A1

WO2020002640A1 - Fragmentation device

Info

Publication number: WO2020002640A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/067409
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gary Barber
Original assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
Priority date: 2018-06-29
Filing date: 2019-06-28
Publication date: 2020-01-02
Also published as: BR112020026758A2; EP3814015B1; EP3814015C0; FR3083144B1; CO2020016162A2; CN110876260A; PL3814015T3; CN110876260B; RU2765252C1; FR3083144A1; MX2020014280A; EP3814015A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device suitable for the fragmentation of the glass of an old window, a corresponding fragmentation method, and the fragmented glass obtained by such a method.

Description

Fragmentation device

The present invention relates to a device suitable for fragmenting the glass of a used window, a corresponding fragmentation process, as well as the fragmented glass obtained by such a process.

The recycling of used windows is today a problem of primary importance, having in particular challenges the reduction of the costs of vitrifiable raw material and the reduction of the environmental footprint of new windows. Such recycling involves the separation of glass from used windows from their frame.

Are known from the state of the art, including document EP0618011, glass fragmentation devices designed for these purposes, which include a conveyor adapted for the flat transport of used windows and a fragmentation assembly surmounting this conveyor and being adapted for the fragmentation of the windows during their transport on the conveyor. More specifically, and as illustrated by FIG. 1, which refers to document EP0618011, such a fragmentation assembly comprises a plurality of knives arranged in rotation on a disc which is itself driven in rotation by a motor. Each knife is offset from the center of this disc. When this disc is rotated, these blades strike the surface of a window positioned on the conveyor, thus causing the fragmentation of the glass.

Such a fragmentation assembly has at least the drawback of generating significant mechanical stress both on the blades and on their connection with the rotary disc. Indeed, during the impact of the blades on the glass and / or the frame of a window, a significant proportion of the reaction force of the glass, of the frame and possibly of the support on which the window rests, is passed on to any the length of the blade, in particular in the form of bending stresses, as well as at its connection with the disc. There is therefore a risk of premature wear of the blade and / or the rotating disc. In order to overcome this drawback, and as described by document EP0618011, it is envisaged to adapt the conveyor so as to leave openings below the impact zone of the blades allowing the fragmented glass to pass through the conveyor to be collected. in a dedicated bin.

This technical solution remains however very unsatisfactory at least because it implies a specific adaptation of the conveyor, excluding for example the setting using a conveyor belt, and that it does not prevent premature wear of the fragmentation assembly, the knives possibly being able to strike a window frame which would offer an abnormally high resistance.

The invention aims to respond to the drawbacks described above. More particularly, in at least one embodiment, the proposed technique relates to a fragmentation device adapted to fragment the glass of a used window, and comprising at least:

A conveyor adapted for the flat transport of said window along a longitudinal axis, and

At least one fragmentation assembly which surmounts the conveyor and is adapted to fragment the glass of said window during its transport on said conveyor, said device being characterized in that the fragmentation assembly comprises a drum arranged above said conveyor along an axis of revolution transverse to said longitudinal axis, said drum being linked by at least one chain to at least one striker assembly comprising at least one percussion head adapted to strike the conveyor at each revolution of said drum.

Throughout the description, a fragmentation device according to the invention is suitable for fragmenting the glass of a used window in that it allows the glass and the frame of this window to be separated, for recycling. The fragmentation of the glass indicates the action of breaking, breaking into pieces, crushing, breaking of the glass of a window, in order to separate it from its frame and thus to be able to recycle it. A conveyor is a mechanical device suitable for transporting a used window from one end to the other of the device. Such a conveyor can preferably be a belt or a corridor. A chain is a series of metal rings engaged in each other. A drum designates a wooden or iron cylinder on which this chain is wound. This drum is suitable for carrying out revolutions, that is to say circular movements carried out around an axis of revolution. Finally, the verb "to bind" must be interpreted in its mechanical sense, and can alternatively refer to a direct or indirect link.

In practice, the drum of a fragmentation assembly according to the invention is rotated, preferably by a motor, around an axis of revolution transverse to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor or in other words, to its direction of advance. At each revolution of the drum, at least one percussion head is first brought overhanging the conveyor for thereafter colliding with the conveyor belt, under the effect of gravity.

The flexible nature of this chain makes it possible to reduce the mechanical stresses exerted at the anchoring points of the chain with the drum on the one hand, and with the striker assembly on the other hand.

In addition, such a chain provides no obstacle to the vertical acceleration of each percussion head, at the time of their fall, which makes it possible to maximize the impact force of this head on the glass, and therefore to obtain a satisfactory fragmentation of the glass.

It should also be noted that the arming of the striker assembly is easier given the advantageous distribution of the weight of this striker assembly and of the chain over their entire contact surface with the drum.

According to a particular embodiment, said striker assembly is linked to said drum by a plurality of anchoring points, preferably aligned along a transverse axis.

The multiplication of anchor points makes it possible to distribute the weight of the striker assembly and of the chain between each of the anchor points, and thus to reduce their respective stress.

According to a particular embodiment, said striker assembly is linked to said drum by a plurality of chains, preferably parallel to each other.

The multiplication of the number of chains makes it possible to distribute the weight of the striker assembly between them, and thus to reduce their respective stress. The implementation of a plurality of chains also makes it possible to facilitate the balancing of the striker assembly, in particular during the fragmentation step.

According to a particular embodiment, said striker assembly comprises a plurality of percussion heads aligned in a transverse direction.

The simultaneous collision of a plurality of heads with the glass makes it possible to maximize the instantaneous power of the impact while distributing it over a large surface of glass. It is thus possible to efficiently fragment the targeted used window, into a multitude of broken glass. According to a particular embodiment, said striker assembly comprises at least one transverse ballast bar.

The implementation of such a ballast crossbar increases the impact force of the striker assembly.

According to a particular embodiment, said transverse bar links a plurality of percussion heads to one another.

In such a configuration, such a bar makes it possible to facilitate the transverse alignment of the heads, and therefore their synchronization at the time of impact.

According to a particular embodiment, each percussion head is linked to the drum by a respective chain.

According to a particular embodiment, at least one percussion head is linked to said drum via said transverse bar.

It is thus possible to arrange a variable number of percussion heads on the crossbar, regardless of the number of chains used and the location of their point of attachment to the bar.

According to a particular embodiment, at least one head is linked to said crossbar via a chain.

According to a particular embodiment, said striker assembly is linked to said drum by M chains, preferably parallel to each other, in that said striker assembly comprises N percussion heads, and in that N is strictly greater than M.

It is thus possible to increase the number of impact points with the glass, regardless of the number of chains used.

According to a particular embodiment, the assembly formed by said chain and the striker assembly has a length less than or equal to the distance, inscribed along a theoretical vertical axis tangent to the rear of the drum, which separates the rear of the drum of the conveyor.

Throughout the text, the front and rear of the device are defined along the longitudinal axis of the conveyor, the conveyor belt being adapted to transport a used window from the rear to the front of the device. The use of a chain with a length less than or equal to this distance D prevents the chain from stays too long on the conveyor belt, in particular to limit the abrasion of the fragmentation heads by the crushed glass present on the conveyor belt.

According to a particular embodiment, the fragmentation device comprises a plurality of striker assemblies linked respectively to the drum by at least one chain.

It is thus possible to fragment the glass of a used window a plurality of times, with each new revolution of the drum.

According to a particular embodiment, said conveyor comprises a mat, preferably ribbed, said drum and the drive means of said mat being adapted to be rotated in opposite directions.

Such an opposition of direction of rotation between the drum and the conveyor belt makes it possible to limit the risks of seeing the fragmentation assembly, and in particular its percussion head (s), driving the frame of a used window. rearward.

The use of ribs on the surface of the conveyor belt makes it possible to limit the contact zones between the latter and the used window, by concentrating at these zones alone the reaction forces of the belt generated at the time of impact.

The invention also relates to a method of fragmenting the glass of a window, characterized in that it implements a fragmentation device suitable for fragmenting the glass of a used window, and comprising at least:

A fragmentation assembly which surmounts the conveyor and is adapted to fragment the glass of said window during its transport on said conveyor, the fragmentation assembly comprising a drum arranged above said conveyor along an axis of revolution transverse to said longitudinal axis , said drum being linked by at least one chain to a striker assembly comprising at least one percussion head adapted to strike said conveyor at each revolution of said drum.

According to a particular embodiment, said drum and the drive means of said conveyor are rotated in opposite directions.

According to a particular embodiment, the ratio between the speed of advance of the conveyor belt and the speed of revolution of the drum is chosen so that said window is, during its flat transport on said conveyor, struck by said fragmentation assembly at least twice, preferably at least three times, preferably at least four times, preferably at least five times.

The increase in the frequency of percussion makes it possible to reduce the size of the broken glass, and therefore to facilitate their sorting and / or their subsequent recycling.

According to a particular embodiment, the fragmentation method comprises a subsequent step of separate collection of the fragmented glass on the one hand, and of the frame of said window on the other hand.

Since the glass and the frame are of different composition, their separate collection, for example in separate receptacles or bins, makes it possible to facilitate recycling.

The invention also relates to the fragmented glass obtained via such a fragmentation process.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of particular embodiments, given by way of simple illustrative and nonlimiting examples, and of the appended figures, for which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a fragmentation assembly known from the state of the art,

Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of a fragmentation device according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views taken from the rear of the fragmentation assembly which surmounts the conveyor of a fragmentation device according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

The various elements illustrated by the figures are not necessarily represented on a real scale, the accent being placed more on the representation of the general operation of the invention.

In the various figures, unless otherwise indicated, the reference numbers which are identical represent similar or identical elements.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a fragmentation device 1 according to a particular embodiment of the invention is suitable for fragmenting the glass of a used window 2, and comprises: A conveyor 3 adapted for the flat transport of the window 2 along a longitudinal axis L, and

A fragmentation assembly 4 which surmounts the conveyor 3 and is adapted to fragment the glass of the window 2 during its transport on the conveyor 3.

More specifically, the fragmentation assembly 4 comprises a drum 5 arranged above the conveyor 3 along an axis of revolution R transverse to the longitudinal axis L.

The drum 5 is linked to two striker assemblies (7 ¹ , 7 ² ) by two groups of chains 6ay, each striker assembly 7 ¹ comprising a plurality of percussion heads (7al, 7a2, ..., 7az) adapted to strike the conveyor 3 at each revolution of the drum 5.

For each striker assembly 7, the percussion heads (7al, 7a2, 7az) are aligned in a transverse direction Rz. Also, for the sake of clarity and taking into account the fact that FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to this transverse direction, only a chain 6ay and a percussion head 7az are represented by striker assembly 7.

According to alternative embodiments, the fragmentation assembly 4 may comprise only one or, on the contrary, more than two striker assemblies 7, each striker assembly 7 may include one or more percussion heads 7az.

In practice, a used window 2 is first loaded on the conveyor belt 3a, behind the device 1. This used window 2 is then conveyed by the conveyor 3 at the level of the fragmentation assembly 4, c ' that is to say approximately below the drum 5. This drum 5 is rotated, preferably by a motor, about an axis of revolution R transverse to the longitudinal axis L of the conveyor 3 or in other words, to his direction of advancement. This direction of advance is shown in Figure 2 by a dotted directional arrow.

According to the particular embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the drum 5 and the conveyor drive means 3 are rotated in opposite directions, each of these directions being represented by dotted directional arrows. Thus, at each revolution of the drum 5, at least one percussion head 7az is first brought overhanging the conveyor 3 in order subsequently to strike the conveyor belt 3a, under the effect of its weight. During fragmentation, the glass 2a of the used window 2 is thus separated from its frame 2b, with a view to future sorting / recycling. As illustrated in Figure 2, the assembly formed by the chain 6ay and the striker assembly 7 ¹ has a length equal to the distance D, registered along a theoretical vertical axis tangent to the rear of the drum 5, which separates the rear of the conveyor drum 5 3. This prevents the chain 6ay from remaining too long on the conveyor belt 3a, in particular in order to limit the abrasion of the fragmentation heads 7az by the crushed glass present on the conveyor belt conveyor.

The flexible nature of this chain 6ay makes it possible to reduce the mechanical stresses exerted at the anchoring points 5ax of the chain 6ay with the drum 5 on the one hand, and with the striker assembly 7 on the other hand. In addition, such a chain 6ay does not provide any obstacle to the vertical acceleration of each percussion head 7az, at the time of their fall, which makes it possible to maximize the impact force of this head on the glass 8b of the used window. 2, and therefore to obtain a satisfactory fragmentation of this glass 8b.

It should also be noted that the arming of the striker assembly 7 is easier given the advantageous distribution of the weight of this striker assembly 7 and of the chain 6ay over their entire contact surface with the drum 5.

According to a particular embodiment, the ratio between the speed of advance of the conveyor belt 3 and the speed of revolution of the drum 5 is chosen so that the window 2 is, during its flat transport on said conveyor 3, struck by a set of fragmentation 4 at least five times.

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views taken from the rear of the fragmentation assembly 4 which overcomes the conveyor 3 of a fragmentation device 1 according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

This fragmentation assembly 4 comprises three striker assemblies (7 ¹ , 7 ² , 7 ³ ). Each striker assembly (7 ¹ , 7 ² , 7 ³ ) comprises a plurality of percussion heads (7al, 7a2, ..., 7az) which are linked to the drum 5 via a plurality of anchoring points (5al, 5a2, ..., 5ax). The percussion heads (7al, 7a2, ..., 7az) and anchor points (5al, 5a2, ..., 5ax) are aligned along respective transverse axes (Rz, Rx).

According to this same embodiment, the percussion heads (7al, 7a2, ..., 7az) and the chains (6al, 6a2, ..., 6ay) are linked together by a transverse bar 8 of ballasting. Note that each of the striker assemblies (7 ¹ , 7 ² , 7 ³ ) shown in Figures 3 and 4 is linked to the drum 5 by four chains (6al, 6a2, ..., 6ay), and includes seven percussion heads (7al, 7a2, ..., 7az), one head in two thus being linked to the drum 5 by intermediate of the crossbar 8. The number of points of impact with the glass is therefore considerably increased, regardless of the number of chains used.

Claims

- io - CLAIMS

1. Fragmentation device (1) adapted to fragment the glass of a used window (2), and comprising at least:

A conveyor (3) suitable for the flat transport of said window (2) along a longitudinal axis (L), and

At least one fragmentation assembly (4) which surmounts the conveyor (3) and is adapted to fragment the glass of said window (2) during its transport on said conveyor (3),

said device (1) being characterized in that the fragmentation assembly (4) comprises a drum (5) arranged above said conveyor (3) along an axis of revolution (R) transverse to said longitudinal axis (L), said drum (5) being connected by at least one chain (6ay) to at least one striker assembly (7) comprising at least one percussion head (7az) adapted to strike the conveyor (3) at each revolution of said drum (5).

2. Fragmentation device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said striker assembly (7) is connected to said drum (5) by a plurality of anchoring points (5al, 5a2, ..., 5ax), preferably aligned along a transverse axis.

3. Fragmentation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said striker assembly (7) is connected to said drum (5) by a plurality of chains (6al, 6a2, ..., 6ay), preferably parallel to each other.

4. Fragmentation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said striker assembly (7) comprises a plurality of percussion heads (7al, 7a2, ..., 7az) aligned according to a transverse direction.

5. Fragmentation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said striker assembly (7) comprises at least one transverse bar (8) ballasting.

6. Fragmentation device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said transverse bar (8) links a plurality of percussion heads (7al, 7a2, ..., 7az) between them.

7. Fragmentation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one percussion head (7az) is linked to said drum (5) via said transverse bar (8 ).

8. Fragmentation device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said striker assembly (7) is linked to said drum (5) by M chains (6al, 6a2, ..., 6ay), preferably parallel to each other, in that said striker assembly (7) comprises N percussion heads (7al, 7a2, ..., 7az), and in that N is strictly greater than M.

9. Fragmentation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the assembly formed by said chain (6ay) and the striker assembly (7) has a length less than or equal to the distance (D), inscribed along a theoretical vertical axis tangent to the rear of the drum (5), which separates the rear of the drum (5) from the conveyor (3).

10. Fragmentation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of striker assemblies (7) respectively connected to the drum (5) by at least one chain (6ay) .

11. Fragmentation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said conveyor (3) comprises a mat (3a), preferably ribbed, said drum (5) and the means for driving said carpet (3a) being adapted to be rotated in opposite directions.

12. Fragmentation method (9) of the glass of a window (2), characterized in that it implements a fragmentation device (1) suitable for fragmenting the glass of a used window (2), and comprising at least : A conveyor (3) suitable for the flat transport of said window (2) along a longitudinal axis (L), and

A fragmentation assembly (4) which surmounts the conveyor (3) and is adapted to fragment the glass of said window (2) during its transport on said conveyor (3),

the fragmentation assembly (4) comprising a drum (5) arranged above said conveyor (3) along an axis of revolution (R) transverse to said longitudinal axis (L), said drum (5) being linked by at least one chain (6ay) to a striker assembly (7) comprising at least one percussion head (7az) adapted to strike said conveyor (3) at each revolution of said drum (5).

13. The fragmentation method (9) according to claim 12, characterized in that said drum (5) and the drive means of said conveyor (3) are rotated in opposite directions.

14. Fragmentation method (9) according to any one of claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the ratio between the speed of advance of the conveyor belt (3) and the speed of revolution of the drum (5) is chosen to so that said window (2) is, during its flat transport on said conveyor (3), struck by said fragmentation assembly (4) at least twice, preferably at least three times, preferably at least four times, preferably at least five times.