Unit for compacting hollow bodies

Abstract

Hollow body compacting unit (8) with a drivable roller (1) comprising a plurality of projecting elements, a counter-plate (9', 9''') as a non-driven counter-bearing (9', 9''') with at least one recess, arranged in such a way that the projecting elements temporarily engage at least partially in the recess when the roller (1) rotates and a scraper (6) arranged downstream of the counter bearing (9', 9''') in the direction of rotation of the roller (1) during operation, which scraper has at least one recess into which the projecting elements of the roller (1) temporarily engage at least partially during operation, wherein the counter-plate (9', 9''') is spring-loaded and movable from a first position to a second position when a non-compactable object is inserted into the hollow body compacting unit (8) characterized in that the roller (1) has individual disc-shaped segments (10) which are arranged next to one another in the axial direction on a common axis with spacer discs (21) and each have cutting elements (7) formed on their circumference, and wherein the counter plate (9',9''') has grooves or finger-like elements spaced apart from one another in the axial direction of the roller (1), which do not completely penetrate the counter plate (9',9''') and into which the cutting elements (7) engage.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a unit for compacting hollow bodies such as glass, plastic, or metal containers, e.g., beverage containers, which undergo permanent deformation during compaction. The resulting compaction results in a permanent reduction in volume, thus facilitating cost-effective storage and transport of the pressed material, while simultaneously destroying any control marks applied to the hollow body.

[0002] Such hollow containers are used, for example, for plastic or metal beverage containers, which are produced in large quantities. These containers are often not disposed of in the waste stream due to convenience. Therefore, to eliminate this problem, the legislature has imposed a deposit on every beverage container. Each beverage container is also provided with control tags. Upon return of the beverage container, the deposit is refunded. To prevent a second return of a beverage container, the beverage container itself should be destroyed and the attached control tags rendered unusable.

[0003] DE 10325368 B4 discloses a compacting unit for this purpose. It is equipped with two rollers with upstanding, hook-shaped cutting edges for drawing in and interweaving the pressed material. Compacting occurs through a parallel, synchronously counter-rotating arrangement of the rollers. In this context, the term "compacting" refers to the pressing, perforation, and, if necessary, interweaving or crimping of the hollow body through the perforation in such a way that the pressed hollow body permanently retains its pressed shape.

[0004] In such units, the walls of the hollow body are often pulled apart again as the compressed hollow body exits the device, as the hooks of the rollers rotate outward from the center of the rollers and push the edges apart. This increases the volume of the empty container for storage or transport.

[0005] WO 2004 / 096532 A1 and DE 103 53 188 A1 describe a device for compressing empty containers, in particular beverage bottles or cans made of plastic or tinplate. A housing contains a cutting and pressing unit with two rollers spaced apart along their rotational axes, each having several alternating sections of different diameters. The rollers are offset from one another and arranged so that their peripheral surfaces partially mesh.

[0006] US 5,111,927 describes a device for recycling beverage containers, comprising a first module for receiving and handling plastic containers, a second module for receiving and handling glass containers, and a third module for receiving and handling metal containers. Each of the modules is arranged in the same housing, with the modules being extendable on rails. The containers are crushed in a solenoid crusher, using an electrical pulse operation for uniform application.

[0007] US Pat. No. 5,195,429 describes an assembly for perforating, compressing, and baling compressible objects discharged from a hopper onto a conveyor belt. A perforating device comprises a roller with perforating elements. A curved plate with slots forms a nip with the roller and is biased by a spring assembly.

[0008] The present invention is intended to simplify the construction of a compacting unit. Furthermore, it is intended to prevent the pressed and interwoven wall sections of the hollow body from pulling apart.

[0009] The object is achieved by a hollow body compacting unit according to claim 1 and a compacting system according to claim 4. Preferred developments are contained in the subclaims.

[0010] The present invention enables a compacting unit that is cost-effective to manufacture and easy to maintain. The compacting unit requires only a driven roller with protruding elements. The elements interact with a counterplate as a non-driven counterbearing in such a way that a hollow body, such as a plastic bottle or a beverage can, is drawn in and crushed by the rotation of the roller. For this purpose, a gap selected according to the hollow body to be compacted is formed between the surface of the counterbearing and the roller. The elements can preferably be designed as cutting edges or teeth.

[0011] In order to simultaneously devalue or partially destroy the hollow body, the protruding elements of the roller engage, partially in a comb-like manner, in at least one recess in the counter-bearing as the roller rotates, thereby perforating a retracted hollow body at this point. Perforation is particularly necessary in order to empty any air or liquid generally contained in the hollow body. Downstream of the counter-bearing in the direction of rotation is a scraper which separates the compacted hollow bodies from the roller. For this purpose, the scraper also has at least one recess into which the elements of the roller engage, at least partially in a comb-like manner as they rotate. When the elements engage with the counter-bearing as well as with the scraper, the distance between the elements and the counter-bearing or scraper should be selected so that they do not touch each other.In order to achieve reliable scraping, the distance between the elements of the roller and scraper should be so small that no compacted hollow body can get between the roller and scraper.

[0012] Since such compacting units are not operated exclusively by qualified personnel, incorrect insertions can occur during use. For example, it is entirely possible that a non-compactable object, such as a stone contained in a hollow body, enters the unit.

[0013] According to the invention, the counter bearing is therefore movable in this case from a first to a second position. A non-compactable object can be, for example, a stone or a screw. By allowing the counter bearing to deflect in this way, wear and tear in the event of incorrect insertion is reduced and damage to the compacting unit is advantageously avoided. In the second position, the distance between the roller and the counter plate should be increased compared to the first position so that the non-compactable object can pass through the unit. The second position can therefore be at a variable distance from the first position, depending on the size of the non-compactable object fed in. After the non-compactable object has passed through the unit, the counter plate should be moved back to the first position to return to normal operating mode.

[0014] According to the invention, the counterplate is spring-loaded and can be moved from the first position to the second position. This ensures automatic movement of the counterbearing when a non-compactable object enters the unit. After the non-compactable object has passed through the compacting unit, the counterbearing returns to the first position. The spring force should be selected such that the counterbearing remains in the first position during normal operation and only moves to the second position in the event of an incorrect insertion. Particularly preferably, one or more plastic rod springs made of a compressible material can be used to provide the spring force.

[0015] The inventive design of the counterbearing as a counterplate allows for cost-effective production of the compacting unit. According to the invention, the counterplate has spaced-apart grooves into which the protruding elements of the roller engage. The grooves should be formed at least in the area of ​​the counterplate that engages the protruding elements of the roller. It is preferred that the grooves be formed along the entire counterplate. This further simplifies production. Such grooves can be formed, for example, by machining the counterplate. Naturally, it is also possible to apply finger-like strips to the baseplate to form intermediate grooves.

[0016] Preferably, axially spaced elements are arranged on the roller, which engage during operation into several recesses in the counterbearing and scraper. This advantageously allows perforation of the hollow body at several locations. Furthermore, it is preferred that several elements are spaced one behind the other in the circumferential direction on the roller to further improve perforation.

[0017] According to the invention, the roller comprises individual disc-shaped segments arranged axially adjacent to one another on a common axis with spacers. These disc-shaped segments each have cutting elements molded onto their circumference. This makes it possible to easily replace individual segments of the roller in the event of wear. Replacing the entire roller can thus be avoided. For this purpose, the segments should have a correspondingly non-rotatably designed bore to enable them to be attached to the axis. Preferably, the segments should each have several elements spaced one behind the other in the circumferential direction, as explained above.

[0018] Particularly preferably, the protruding elements are designed as hook-shaped cutting edges. This allows the perforation properties of the compacting unit to be further improved.

[0019] A compacting system with a unit for compacting hollow bodies, as described above, has at least one of the following elements: feed device, drive, control device, detection device, housing, collecting container.

[0020] A corresponding feed device comprises a filling device and any movement means for conveying an inserted hollow body to the compacting unit. To enable the return of the corresponding deposit, a detection device can be provided. This detection device recognizes whether a hollow body has been inserted and also the type of hollow body. This allows the corresponding deposit to be refunded to be determined. The detection device should also detect any inserted non-compactable objects and then shut down the compacting system. The control device serves to control the compacting process and can be implemented using any common control means, e.g., a PLC or a microprocessor controller. In particular, the control device controls the drive that drives the roller. This can preferably be an electric motor.After compaction, the compacted hollow body is collected in the collection container. A housing is particularly advantageous when compacting or crushing glass containers, as it prevents glass fragments from escaping into the environment.

[0021] Since the compaction system heats up during extended periods of operation or during the summer months, residual liquid escaping from the hollow bodies can lead to the formation of bacteria within the compaction system, resulting in a significant odor. Since such compaction systems are typically installed in an enclosed space, such as a sales area, odor nuisance is a nuisance.

[0022] The compacting system can therefore preferably have appropriate cooling. The cooling can, for example, be designed as air cooling, thus supplying the housing of the compacting system with cooled air during operation. Since convection generally occurs here due to the cooled air, the air flow through the system is even. However, it is also conceivable to provide adjustable nozzles which, for example, cool the roller and counterbearing to a particularly high degree. Air cooling can also cool the drive motors of the compacting system as a beneficial side effect. Alternatively, it would be conceivable to cool the compacting unit directly, for example by cooling the roller and counterbearing using appropriate cooling elements, since particularly high nucleation rates are to be expected here.

[0023] To avoid unpleasant odors, the compaction system's housing should preferably be sealed from the environment. Ventilation could then be provided via a vent hose.

[0024] As an alternative to cooling, the compacting system can preferably also be run through with uncooled air. For this purpose, for example, a suitable fan could feed room air into the compacting system, which is then vented “to the outside” via a suitable vent hose. In this case, particular attention should be paid to the tightness of the system. Although the use of uncooled air only achieves a slight reduction in germ formation, the controlled ventilation of the system prevents any unpleasant odors in the environment, such as in a sales room in which the system is installed. Since only low convection occurs with a corresponding flow of uncooled air, air baffles or adjustable nozzles should preferably be installed in the system to ensure good airflow.

[0025] Embodiments of the invention are explained in the drawings.

[0026] They show: Fig. 1a and b embodiments of the invention schematically in side view, Fig. 2 an embodiment of a cutting disc with hook-shaped cutting edges in side view for use in a compacting unit according to the invention, Fig. 3 an embodiment of a roller for use in a compacting unit according to the invention, Fig. 4a and b further embodiments of the invention schematically in side view, as well as Fig. 5 a schematic view of an embodiment of a compacting system.

[0027] In Fig. 1a shows an embodiment of a compacting unit 8. In the Fig. 1a shows a roller 1, driven by a drive unit (not shown), equipped with upstanding hook-shaped cutting edges 7, and a counterplate 9' designed as a grooved wall, in which the hook-shaped cutting edges 7 of the roller 1 engage. The grooves run along the longitudinal axis of the counterplate 9' on the side facing the roller 1. The material 4 to be pressed, in this case a PET bottle, is introduced into the gap 3 of the filling device 5 and drawn in by rotation in the direction shown. The material 4 to be pressed is crushed in the gap 3, and the shell of the material 4 to be pressed is perforated by the hook-shaped cutting edges 7. At the same time, the opposite outer walls of the material 4 to be pressed are clamped together. To strip off the pressed material 4, a stripper 6 with grooves formed therein is arranged on the outlet side of the device.Similar to the counter plate 9', the hook-shaped cutting edges 7 of the roller 1 engage in the grooves of the scraper 6.

[0028] Similarly, in the Fig. 1b shows a further embodiment of a compacting unit 8. The counterplate 9', which interacts with the roller 1 in the previous embodiment, is replaced here by a counterroller 9" designed as a grooved roller, which has grooves running in the circumferential direction, indicated by the outer line 9''a. Advantageously, however, the counterroller 9'' is not driven. The counterroller 9'' can, however, be designed to be rotatably mounted in order to improve the compacting process. In this case, the counterroller 9'' can be moved by the material 4 to be pressed, which is fed into the gap 3.

[0029] A particularly cost-saving feature is that the rollers are not manufactured from a compact unit, but from cutting discs 10, which are provided with hook-shaped cutting edges 7 and are assembled with spacers 21 on a common axis. An embodiment of such a cutting disc 10 is shown in Fig. 2. The cutting disc 10 is made of hardened steel and has hook-shaped cutting edges 7 molded onto its circumference. For a rotationally fixed connection to a roller axis, the cutting disc 10 has a hexagonal bore 12. This hexagonal bore 12 can, of course, also be designed differently, as long as it is rotationally fixed, for example, as a polygonal bore.

[0030] An embodiment of a roller 20 with attached cutting discs 10 is shown in Fig. 3. The cutting discs 10 are, as previously described, mounted on the roller 20 at a distance from one another by spacers 21. The thickness of the spacers 21 should be selected according to the perforation spacing of the material 4 to be pressed. This modular design can, in particular, improve the maintenance of the compacting unit, since worn discs 10 can be replaced individually without having to replace the entire roller 20. When used to compact beverage containers, it is generally unavoidable that foreign objects such as stones or screws contained in the containers get into the compacting unit. Since the resulting wear only occurs in a small area and the affected cutting discs 10 can be easily replaced, the modular design is also advantageous in this regard.

[0031] Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b show further embodiments of the invention. The Fig. 4a and Fig. The embodiments shown in Figure 4b are analogous to those shown in the Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b. Corresponding parts have therefore been given the same reference numerals. As the Fig. 4a, the counter-plate 9''', designed as a groove wall, has correspondingly shaped grooves 35 only in the area of ​​engagement with the hook-shaped cutting edges 7 of the roller 1. Furthermore, the counter-plate 9''' is pivotally mounted via a bearing 33. A compressible plastic rod spring 34 provides a contact force so that the hook-shaped blades 7 of the roller 1 engage with the grooves of the counter-plate 9'''. The plastic rod spring 34 is adjusted so that if a non-compactable foreign object is inserted, the counter-plate 9''' pivots away, thus allowing the foreign object to pass through. This design prevents damage to the roller 1 or the counter-plate 9'''.

[0032] Similarly, the counter roller 9'' designed as a grooved roller is in Fig. 4b is pivotally mounted around the bearing 33. A plastic rod spring 34 is also provided here, which ensures that the counter roller 9" rests against the roller 1. Here, too, the counter roller 9" can deflect accordingly in the event of a foreign object being inserted.

[0033] In Fig.Figure 5 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a compacting system. The compacting system consists of a compacting unit 41 with a collecting container 42 arranged underneath, which receives the compacted pressed material 4. Naturally, a corresponding inlet for the pressed material 4 is provided on the compacting unit 41, but this is not shown here. The compacting system also has further elements, such as a microprocessor control and corresponding drives, which are not shown here for reasons of clarity. To prevent germ formation in the compacting system, a cooling unit 43 is connected to the compacting unit 41 via a supply line 44. The cooling unit is designed so that cooled air is fed into the compacting unit via the supply line 44.The cooled air then flows through the compaction unit 41 and the collection container 42 by convection and is then extracted from the collection container by a fan 45. The air is then discharged to the outside via an exhaust air duct 46.

[0034] With this design, it is possible to reduce germ formation within the compacting system by appropriately cooling the compacting unit 41 and the collection container 42. To avoid unpleasant odors, the cooled air introduced into the compacting unit 41 is extracted at the collection container 42 and discharged into the open air. Naturally, the compacting system should have a certain degree of airtightness so that the air introduced into the compacting unit 41 only leaves the system via the exhaust air line 46.

Claims

[1] Hollow body compacting unit (8) with a drivable roller (1) comprising a plurality of projecting elements, a counter-plate (9', 9''') as a non-driven counter-bearing (9', 9''') with at least one recess, arranged in such a way that the projecting elements temporarily engage at least partially in the recess when the roller (1) rotates and a scraper (6) arranged downstream of the counter bearing (9', 9''') in the direction of rotation of the roller (1) during operation, which scraper has at least one recess into which the projecting elements of the roller (1) temporarily engage at least partially during operation, wherein the counter-plate (9', 9''') is spring-loaded and movable from a first position to a second position when a non-compactable object is inserted into the hollow body compacting unit (8) characterized by , that the roller (1) has individual disc-shaped segments (10) which are arranged next to one another in the axial direction on a common axis with spacer discs (21) and each have cutting elements (7) formed on their circumference, and wherein the counter plate (9',9''') has grooves or finger-like elements spaced apart from one another in the axial direction of the roller (1), which do not completely penetrate the counter plate (9',9''') and into which the cutting elements (7) engage. [2] Hollow body compacting unit (8) according to claim 1, wherein the cutting elements (7) are designed as hook-shaped cutting edges (7). [3] Hollow body compacting unit (8) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more plastic rod springs (34) made of a compressible material act on the counter plate (9', 9'''). [4] Compacting plant with a hollow body compacting unit (8) according to one of the preceding claims and at least one of the following elements: Feed device (5), drive, control device, power supply, housing, collecting container (42). [5] Compacting system according to claim 4, wherein the compacting system comprises a cooling device (43). [6] Compacting system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the compacting system has a detection device for detecting whether a hollow body has been inserted and for detecting the type of the hollow body.

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