Aligning device for aligning empty goods containers, and system for returning empty goods

Abstract

The invention relates to an aligning device for aligning empty goods containers, comprising: at least one feeding means (4), in particular a feeding chute (4), for transporting empty goods containers (6) from an inlet region (8) to a positioning region (10), wherein the at least one feeding means (6) substantially aligns the transported empty goods containers (6); and at least one driving device (12) which is arranged in the positioning region (10) for fixing and further transporting the empty goods containers (6) transported to the positioning region (10) to an outlet region (14). The invention likewise relates to a system for returning empty goods, comprising the aforementioned aligning device (2).

Description

[0001] Erecting device for erecting empty containers and return system for empty containers

[0002] The invention relates to an erecting device for erecting empty containers, comprising: at least one feed means, in particular a feed chute, for transporting empty containers from an entrance area to a storage area; wherein the at least one feed means substantially erects the transported empty containers; at least one entrainment device arranged in the storage area for securing and further transporting the empty containers transported to the storage area to an exit area. The invention further relates to an empty container return system for returning empty containers.

[0003] Erecting devices for erecting empty containers are known in various forms from the prior art. Since it has proven advantageous for reverse vending systems to accept empty containers in a horizontal position, while further processing of the accepted empty containers is advantageously possible in an upright position, such erecting devices are required.

[0004] These are used in particular to move the empty containers accepted by a reverse vending system from a lying position to an upright position. A lying position of an empty container preferably exists when the longitudinal axis of the empty container extends essentially horizontally. An upright or erected position of an empty container preferably exists when the longitudinal axis of the empty container extends essentially vertically. Erecting the empty containers places special demands on the erecting device, since the returned empty containers can have different characteristics regarding their dimensions, i.e., volume, size, shape, weight, and / or material.

[0005] It is therefore known from the prior art to determine the aforementioned features, for example by means of a sensor, and to adapt the receiving device to the features of the empty container to be erected, for example to the respective shape and / or size of the empty container to be erected.

[0006] Since the erectors must be adapted to the characteristics of the empty container being erected, the prior art erectors require a complex design and control system, which are associated with higher costs and increased design effort. Furthermore, this only allows for slow cycle times, meaning that the prior art erectors can create a bottleneck and thus negatively impact the overall return speed of the reverse vending system.

[0007] In this respect, the present invention is based on the object of providing an erecting device and an empty container return system which enable the effective erection of returned empty containers in a cost-effective manner.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the aforementioned object is achieved in an erecting device specified at the outset in that the at least one carrying device comprises at least one empty container compartment defining a receiving space; that the receiving space of the at least one empty container compartment is delimited by at least two holding elements; and that the at least two holding elements are mounted such that they can be displaced relative to one another, so that the receiving space of the at least one empty container compartment can be adapted to the empty containers to be erected. The at least two holding elements, which can be displaced relative to one another, provide a receiving space for empty containers to be erected in a structurally advantageous manner, which can be adapted depending on the characteristics of the respective empty container, in particular depending on the size, shape and / or weight.This reliably ensures that the empty containers already erected by the feeder do not fall over during further transport from the setup area to the exit area.

[0009] The feeding means is, in particular, a feed chute. The feed chute is preferably designed such that empty containers are fed to the feed chute in a horizontal position, with these empty containers being transferred along the feed chute into an upright position.

[0010] It is further preferred that the empty containers reach the entrance area of ​​the feed means at a certain speed and that the transport of the empty containers from the entrance area to the installation area is ensured only via the initial speed and a gradient of the feed means.

[0011] The empty containers to be taken back can be, for example, bottles, cans, and / or other empty containers. The empty containers to be erected are particularly preferred as reusable empty containers.

[0012] The entrance area is preferably the area where the empty containers to be erected are transferred to the feeding means, for example by a conveyor belt.

[0013] The setup area is preferably the area to which the empty containers to be erected are transferred from the feed means. The empty containers preferably have a certain speed during transfer from the feed means to the carrying device. For example, the empty containers fall from the feed chute into the setup area.

[0014] For example, the entrainment device is designed to secure the empty containers that are transferred from the feeder to the entrainment device. In particular, the empty containers must be secured because they fall out of the feeder, especially the feed chute, at a certain speed and would otherwise tip over.

[0015] It is preferred that the entrainment device is designed, for example, as a carousel rotating about a rotation axis.

[0016] Preferably, the carrying device fixes the empty containers in the installation area while they are transported further towards the exit area.

[0017] The at least two holding elements are preferably substantially plate-shaped, with one of the plate-shaped holding elements being movable relative to another plate-shaped holding element. This allows the receiving space of the empty container compartment to be adapted to the empty container to be secured and transported. For example, the at least two holding elements are paddle-shaped and / or designed as paddle elements.

[0018] The at least two holding elements delimiting a receiving space can, for example, also be formed in one piece, wherein the two holding elements are displaceable relative to one another, preferably by means of a film hinge.

[0019] A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the at least two holding elements for further transport of the empty containers rotate about a rotational axis and / or are rotatably mounted about a rotational axis. This allows the empty containers arriving in the setup area to be reliably transported by the transport device to the exit area.

[0020] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the at least one entrainment device comprises at least one guide; and / or that at least one holding element is designed as a variable holding element; and / or that the at least one variable holding element is connected to the guide in such a way that rotation of the at least two holding elements about the rotation axis leads to a change in the receiving space of the at least one empty container compartment. By means of the guide, it is preferably possible to adjust which receiving space is provided by the empty container compartment depending on the angle of rotation of the two holding elements, in particular depending on the variable holding element.This enables reliable fixing and reliable further transport of the empty containers to be erected, in particular without having to take into account certain characteristics of the empty containers to be erected, such as their dimensions.

[0021] In a further preferred embodiment, the guide is designed as a guide disk, and the at least one variable holding element is movably mounted on an outer profile of the guide disk. By movably mounting the at least one variable holding element on an outer profile of the guide disk, different positions of the at least one variable holding element can be set depending on the angle of rotation. The guide disk is preferably fixed, in particular immovably or rotatably mounted, so that it does not rotate during operation of the erecting device or the driving device. Preferably, the at least one variable holding element can be mounted on the outer profile of the guide disk by means of a roller element. The guide disk can be an eccentric disk, for example.

[0022] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the position of the at least one variable holding element varies depending on the angle of rotation of the variable holding element relative to the guide disc, so that the receiving space of the at least one empty container compartment has a changed size, in particular depending on the angle of rotation of the variable holding element relative to the guide disc. By changing the size, the receiving space of the at least one empty container compartment can be reliably adapted to the empty containers to be fixed and transported further. It is preferred that the receiving space of the at least one empty container compartment has a changed width, in particular depending on the angle of rotation, so that reliable fixing and reliable transport of the empty containers from the setup area to an exit area can be enabled.

[0023] In a further preferred embodiment, the outer profile of the at least one guide disc is substantially circularly arcuate on its side facing away from the at least one feed means. This makes it possible for the receiving space of the at least one empty container compartment on the side facing away from the feed means to have an initial size that corresponds, in particular, to an open position of the variable holding element.

[0024] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the outer profile of the at least one guide disc has, on its side facing the at least one feed means, at least one indentation and, in particular, two cams delimiting the at least one indentation. The indentation of the guide disc makes it possible for the at least one variable holding element to be moved into a closed position when an empty container is transferred from the feed means to the entrainment device. The two cams and / or projections delimiting the indentation can enable reliable closing of the variable holding element from an open position to a closed position, as well as reliable opening of the variable holding element from a closed position to an open position.According to a further preferred embodiment, the at least one variable holding element can be moved into a closed position and into an open position by means of the guide disc, wherein the variable holding element, in a closed position, rests in particular against an empty container and fixes the empty container. By appropriately fixing the empty container to be transported further, it can be ensured that the already erected empty container does not fall over again. Preferably, the guide disc is designed such that the variable holding element is moved into a closed position in the setup area. Preferably, both holding elements rest against the empty container in a closed position.

[0025] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the carrying device comprises at least one spring element assigned to at least one variable holding element, and in that the at least one spring element exerts a spring force on the at least one variable holding element. By exerting the spring force on the at least one variable holding element, it is possible to fix the empty containers to be transported further in a structurally advantageous manner and thus to ensure that the already erected empty containers do not fall over. The spring force is preferably designed such that the at least one variable holding element moves a reliable fixation for empty containers of differently dimensioned.

[0026] In a further preferred embodiment, the at least one spring element exerts a spring force on the at least one variable holding element such that the spring force acts in the direction of a closed position of the at least one variable holding element. This can advantageously fix empty containers of different dimensions. In particular, the at least one spring element is designed as a tension spring, which also rotates about an axis of rotation, in particular about the axis of rotation of the holding elements. For example, the spring element is fastened to the variable holding element. A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the erecting device further comprises at least one sensor for detecting at least one feature of the empty containers to be erected, and in that preferably the at least one entraining device is controlled as a function of the at least one feature detected by the sensor.

[0027] Preferably, the feature detected by the at least one sensor is indicative of the presence of an empty container in the entrance area, indicative of the shape and / or material of the empty container, or indicative of a barcode or bar code arranged on the empty container and / or a DPG marking. In particular, the sensor detects the presence of an empty container to be erected, so that a rotation of the at least two holding elements can then be caused. For example, this can prevent the erecting device from being constantly in operation, thus saving energy. For example, the erecting device can also be coupled to a sensor of an empty container return system.

[0028] A further preferred embodiment is characterized in that the erecting device comprises at least two exit areas, and in that the carrying device adapts the direction of rotation of the carrying device and / or the holding elements depending on the feature detected by the at least one sensor, so that the empty container to be erected is transported either to the first exit area or to the second exit area. For example, the erecting device can also be coupled to a sensor of an empty container return system. For example, the feature detected by the at least one sensor can be the material of the empty container, so that the erecting device can also sort the empty containers in addition to erecting them.If, for example, a PET empty container is received, the carrying device can rotate in a first direction of rotation so that the empty container to be erected is transported to a first exit area and if, for example, a glass empty container is received, the carrying device can rotate in the other direction of rotation so that the empty container to be erected is transported to a second exit area.

[0029] According to a further preferred embodiment, the erecting device has at least two empty container compartments, each defining a receiving space, in particular at least three empty container compartments, each defining a receiving space, particularly preferably exactly three empty container compartments, each defining a receiving space. A number of three empty container compartments defining a receiving space has proven in practice to be an advantageous balance between structural complexity and the possible timing of the empty containers to be erected. For example, empty containers can be erected by the erecting device every second, so that 60 empty containers can be erected and transported further in one minute.

[0030] The above-mentioned object is achieved in a second aspect, namely an empty container return system for returning empty containers, in that the empty container return system comprises an above-mentioned erecting device.

[0031] Empty container return systems are known in various forms from the state of the art and are used in particular for the automated acceptance of empty containers, for example in supermarkets.

[0032] The empty containers to be taken back may include, for example, bottles, cans, crates filled with bottles and / or other empty containers.

[0033] Such empty containers are typically inserted by a user into a receiving opening of the reverse vending system and then checked for at least one feature, in particular at least one characteristic feature, using at least one sensor. Such a feature can be, for example, identification features by which the empty containers can be recognized and / or classified. For example, such a feature can be the shape and / or material of the empty container, a barcode or bar code arranged on the empty container, and / or a DPG marking.

[0034] At least one sensor is provided to detect the empty containers. Preferably, a plurality of sensors are provided so that features arranged on the empty containers can be reliably detected even without rotating the returned empty containers along their longitudinal axis. Furthermore, it is preferred that the plurality of sensors be arranged in a ring-shaped arrangement distributed along a circumference.

[0035] The return container system preferably has a sorting device that differentiates between disposable and reusable empty containers and, in particular, feeds only reusable empty containers to the erecting device. For the storage of the reusable empty containers, it is further preferred that they be stored in a reusable storage area, such as on a table, after erecting.

[0036] At least one transport device is also provided to transport the received empty containers from the at least one receiving opening to the at least one storage area. The at least one transport device can comprise, for example, conveyor belts, transport rollers, and / or inclined planes.

[0037] The above-described embodiments and exemplary configurations of all aspects of the present invention, which initially stand alone in principle, should also be understood to be disclosed in all combinations with one another. Further advantageous exemplary configurations of the invention can be found in the following detailed description of some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in particular in conjunction with the figures. However, the figures attached to the application are intended only for the purpose of clarification and not to determine the scope of protection of the invention. The attached drawings are not necessarily to scale and are intended merely to reflect the general concept of the present invention by way of example. In particular, features contained in the figures should in no way be regarded as a necessary part of the present invention.

[0038] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments of the drawings. They show schematically:

[0039] Fig. 1A shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of an erecting device for erecting empty containers in a perspective view;

[0040] Fig. 1B is a schematic representation of the embodiment of the erecting device shown in Fig. 1A in a side view;

[0041] Fig. 2A is a schematic plan view of the embodiment in a first state in a first sectional view;

[0042] Fig. 2B is a schematic plan view of the embodiment in the first state in a second sectional view;

[0043] Fig. 3A is a schematic plan view of the embodiment in a second state in the first sectional view;

[0044] Fig. 3B is a schematic plan view of the embodiment in the second state in the second sectional view; Fig. 4A is a schematic plan view of the embodiment in a third state in the first sectional view; and

[0045] Fig. 4B is a schematic plan view of the embodiment in the third state in the second sectional view.

[0046] In the following description of the various embodiments according to the invention, components and elements with the same function and the same mode of operation are provided with the same reference numerals, even if the components and elements in the various embodiments may have differences in their dimensions or shape.

[0047] Figs. 1A to 4B show an erecting device 2 for erecting empty containers. The erecting device 2 has a feed means 4 in the form of a feed chute 4. The empty containers can be fed to the feed chute 4, for example, by means of a transport device 5. By means of the feed chute 4, empty containers 6 can be transported from an entrance area 8 to a setup area 10. By means of the feed chute 4, the empty containers 6 can be erected, i.e., brought from a substantially lying position to a substantially upright position.

[0048] A transport device 12 is also arranged in the installation area 10. By means of the transport device 12, empty containers 6 erected by the feed chute 4 can be secured and transported to an exit area 14.

[0049] The carrying device 12 has three empty container compartments 18 defining a receiving space 16, wherein a receiving space 16 is delimited by two holding elements 20 and 22. The holding elements 20 and 22 are designed as angled, plate-shaped elements that can advantageously enclose an outer periphery of an empty container 6.

[0050] For further transport of the empty containers 6, the holding elements 20 and 22 rotate about a rotation axis X. For this purpose, the holding elements 20 and 22 are mounted and / or secured to a shaft 24, wherein the shaft 24 is rotatably mounted and / or secured in a housing 26 of the erecting device 2. By means of a belt 30, in particular by means of a toothed belt 30, the shaft 24 is connected to an electric motor 32 arranged on the housing 26.

[0051] The driving device 12 has a guide disk 34 on which the holding elements 22 are variably mounted. The guide disk 34 is fixed so that it does not rotate when the holding elements 20 and 22 rotate.

[0052] The variable holding elements 22 are each mounted on the outer profile 38 of the guide disc 34 by means of a roller 36 in such a way that a rotation of the variable holding elements 22 about the rotation axis X leads to a change in the receiving space 16 of the respective empty container compartment 18.

[0053] In addition, the variable holding elements 22 are connected to a spring element 40, in particular to a tension spring, which exerts a spring force on the variable holding element 22 such that the spring force acts in the direction of a closed position of the variable holding element 22.

[0054] Figs. 2A to 4B show different states of the erecting device 2.

[0055] Fig. 2A and 2B show a first state of the erection device 2, in which an empty container 6 is fed from the feed chute 4 to the erection area 10. It can be seen that the receiving space 16 of the empty container compartment 18 assigned to the feed chute 4 has an open position. For this purpose, the roller 36 of the variable holding element 22 of the empty container compartment 18 assigned to the feed chute is arranged at the tip of a cam 44 delimiting a recess 42. The variable holding element 22 is also held in the open position by means of a spring force exerted by the spring 40. The spring 40 can be seen in the second sectional view according to Fig. 2B.

[0056] Fig. 3A and 3B show a second state of the erecting device 2, in which the empty container 6 transported by the feed chute 4 is secured in the installation area 10 by the entraining device 12. For this purpose, the variable holding element 22 is arranged in a closed position, with the roller 36 being mounted in the recess 42 of the guide disk 34. By mounting the roller 36 in the recess 42, the variable holding element 22 is moved in the direction of the empty container 6, so that the empty container 6 rests against the fixed holding element 20 and the variable holding element 22 and is thus secured. The spring force exerted by the spring 40 on the variable holding element 22 also serves this purpose. Such a construction can provide reliable fixation of empty containers 6 of different dimensions.

[0057] During the movement or rotation of the holding elements 20 and 22, the roller 36 of the variable holding element 22 moves out of the recess 42 onto the cam 46, so that the variable holding element 22 is moved back into an open position. Such an open position is shown in Figs. 4A and 4B. This allows the empty container 6 to be reliably conveyed to an exit area and is no longer held in place by the holding elements 20 and 22.

[0058] The exemplary embodiments of the present invention described in this specification are to be understood as disclosed both individually and in all combinations with one another. In particular, the description of a feature encompassed by an embodiment should not be understood in this case - unless explicitly stated otherwise - to mean that the feature is essential or essential for the function of the embodiment. The sequence of the method steps described in this specification is not mandatory; alternative sequences of the method steps are conceivable. The method steps can be implemented in various ways; for example, an implementation in software (by program instructions), hardware, or a combination of both is conceivable for implementing the method steps.

[0059] Terms used in the claims such as "comprise," "have," "include," "contain," and the like do not exclude further elements or steps. The phrase "at least partially" encompasses both "partially" and "fully." The phrase "and / or" is intended to indicate that both the alternative and the combination are disclosed, thus "A and / or B" means "(A) or (B) or (A and B)." A plurality of units, persons, or the like, in the context of this specification, means multiple units, persons, or the like. The use of the indefinite article does not exclude a plurality. A single device may perform the functions of multiple units or devices recited in the claims. Reference numerals indicated in the claims are not to be construed as limitations on the means and steps employed.

[0060] List of reference symbols

[0061] 2 erection device

[0062] 4 Feeding means, in particular feed chute

[0063] 5 Transport device

[0064] 6 empty containers

[0065] 8 Entrance area

[0066] 10 Installation area

[0067] 12 Carrying device

[0068] 14 Exit area

[0069] 16 Recording room

[0070] 18 Empty container

[0071] 20 fixed holding element

[0072] 22 variable holding element

[0073] 24 Wave

[0074] 26 housings

[0075] 30 Belts, especially timing belts

[0076] 32 electric motor

[0077] 34 Guide disc

[0078] 36 roll

[0079] 38 external profile

[0080] 40 spring element

[0081] 42 indentation

[0082] 44 cam

[0083] 46 Nocke

[0084] X Rotationsachse

Claims

P a t e n t a n s p r ü c h e 1. An erecting device for erecting empty containers, comprising: at least one feed means (4), in particular a feed chute (4), for transporting empty containers (6) from an entrance area (8) to a storage area (10); wherein the at least one feed means (6) substantially erects the transported empty containers (6); at least one entrainment device (12) arranged in the storage area (10) for securing and further transporting the empty containers (6) transported to the storage area (10) to an exit area (14); characterized in that the at least one entrainment device (12) comprises at least one empty container compartment (18) defining a receiving space (16); in that the receiving space (16) of the at least one empty container compartment (18) is delimited by at least two holding elements (20, 22);and that the at least two holding elements (20, 22) are mounted so as to be displaceable relative to one another, so that the receiving space (16) of the at least one empty container compartment (18) can be adapted to the empty container (6) to be erected; 2. Erecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two holding elements (20, 22) rotate about a rotation axis (X) for further transport of the empty containers (6).

3. Erecting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one driving device (12) comprises at least one guide (34); that at least one holding element is designed as a variable holding element (22); that the at least one variable holding element (22) is connected to the guide (34) in such a way that a rotation of the at least two holding elements (20, 22) about the rotation axis (X) leads to a change in the receiving space (16) of the at least one empty container compartment (18).

4. Erecting device according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide is designed as a guide disc (34), and that the at least one variable holding element (22) is movably mounted on an outer profile (38) of the guide disc (34).

5. Erecting device according to claim 4, characterized in that the position of the at least one variable holding element (22) varies depending on the angle of rotation of the variable holding element (22) to the guide disc (34), so that the receiving space (16) of the at least one empty container compartment (18) has a changed size depending on the angle of rotation of the variable holding element (22) to the guide disc (34).

6. Erecting device according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the outer profile (38) of the at least one guide disc (34) is substantially circular-arc-shaped on its side facing away from the at least one feed means (4) and / or that the outer profile (38) of the at least one guide disc (34) has at least one indentation (42) and in particular two cams (44, 46) delimiting the at least one indentation (42) on its side facing the at least one feed means (4).

7. Erecting device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the at least one variable holding element (22) is movable into a closed position and into an open position by means of the guide disc (34), wherein the variable holding element (22) in a closed position rests in particular on an empty container (6) and fixes the empty container (6).

8. Erecting device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the driving device (12) comprises at least one spring element (40) associated with at least one variable holding element (22), and in that the at least one spring element (40) exerts a spring force on the at least one variable holding element (22).

9. Erecting device according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one spring element (40) exerts a spring force on the at least one variable holding element (22) such that the spring force acts in the direction of a closed position of the at least one variable holding element (22).

10. Erecting device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the erecting device (2) further comprises at least one sensor for detecting at least one feature of the empty containers (6) to be erected, that preferably the at least one carrying device (12) is controlled as a function of the at least one feature detected by the sensor.

11. Erecting device according to claim 10, characterized in that the feature detected by the at least one sensor is indicative of the presence of an empty container (6) in the entrance area (8), indicative of the shape and / or the material of the empty container (6), indicative of a barcode or bar code arranged on the empty container (6) and / or a DPG marking.

12. Erecting device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the erecting device (2) comprises at least two exit areas (14), that the carrying device (12) adapts the direction of rotation of the carrying device (12) depending on the feature detected by the at least one sensor, so that the carrying device (12) transports the empty container (6) to be erected either to a first exit area or to a second exit area.

13. Erecting device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the erecting device (2) has at least two empty container compartments (18) each defining a receiving space (16), in particular at least three empty container compartments (18) each defining a receiving space (16), particularly preferably exactly three empty container compartments (18) each defining a receiving space (16).

14. Empty container return system for returning empty containers, characterized in that the empty container return system comprises an erecting device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

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