Bottle Compactor Rollers That Prevent Plastic Springback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compactor devices for plastic bottles are ineffective due to the elastic return of plastic material after crushing, leading to reduced volume reduction and increased disposal costs.
Innovation Solution
A compactor device with toothed wheels and movable elements with recesses that synchronize to create deep deformations, punctures, and tears in the plastic, preventing elastic return by interrupting structural continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional rollers are used to crush bottles, then the bottles are compacted, but the plastic material returns to its original shape due to elasticity
Solution Approach 1:
The compactor members are segmented with protrusions and recesses that create multiple puncture points and deformation zones along the bottle, preventing uniform elastic recovery and achieving more permanent compaction
Solution Approach 2:
The compactor members feature localized protrusions and recesses that create concentrated stress points for puncturing and deforming the plastic, rather than uniform pressure distribution, thereby reducing elastic return in specific critical areas
2Volume of moving object
If deep crushing is applied to reduce volume, then the bottle volume decreases, but the structural continuity is maintained allowing elastic return
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions and recesses on compactor members segment the plastic structure into multiple deformed sections, breaking structural continuity and preventing the material from springing back to its original configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The punctures and tears that might seem to damage the plastic are actually beneficial as they interrupt the structural continuity and prevent elastic recovery, converting what appears to be material degradation into a mechanism for permanent compaction
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device achieves high compaction efficiency by reducing the elastic return of plastic bottles, thereby minimizing their volume and disposal costs.
Implementation Method 1
the rotation of the toothed wheel 3a and the movement of the movable element 4a occur synchronously due to the interaction between the teeth of the toothed wheel 3a and the recesses of the movable element 4a
Implementation Method 2
the aforesaid interaction between the teeth and the recesses on respective opposite sides of the collapsible object A has the effect of causing a deep deformation of the latter
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Compactor device (1) comprising a first compacting station (2) with a first compactor member (3) and a second compactor member (4), the compactor members (3, 4) being operatively associated with motorization means (5) for their mutual movement to cause the advancement, and the simultaneous crushing, of a collapsible object (A) interposed between them. The first compactor member (3) comprises a toothed wheel (3a) and the second compactor member (4) comprises a movable element (4a) which is provided with recesses for meshing with the toothed wheel (3a).