WO1999058428A1

WO1999058428A1 - Device and method for receiving packaging

Info

Publication number: WO1999058428A1
Application number: PCT/EP1999/001775
Authority: WO
Inventors: Uwe Stahl; Günther STAHL
Original assignee: Asg Automaten Systeme Gmbh
Priority date: 1998-05-09
Filing date: 1999-03-17
Publication date: 1999-11-18
Also published as: AU2934099A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for receiving packaging, especially tins, bottles, cups and tetrapaks, comprising a volume-reducing device. The receiving device (1) is characterized in that the volume-reducing device contains at least one size-reducing device (77).

Description

Device and method for accepting packaging

description

The invention relates to a device for accepting packaging, in particular cans, bottles, cups, tetrapaks, according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for accepting packaging, in particular cans, bottles, cups, tetrapaks, according to the preamble of claim 12.

Devices and methods of the type mentioned here are known. They serve to accept or take back packaging, for example cans, cups, bottles and the like, which are used, for example, by the beverage, food and luxury goods industries. The known device has a compression device which is formed by a press. The packaging placed in an acceptance shaft of the acceptance device is pressed together by means of the press and then transferred to a collecting container. By reducing the size of the packaging, which also reduces its volume, more packaging can be placed in a collecting container than in the non-compressed state, so that long emptying intervals can be achieved. Furthermore, the packaging can be transported away economically, since a collection vehicle can hold more packaging. The space saving also has an advantageous effect on disposal of packaging in a landfill. A disadvantage of the known device is that not all packaging materials, for example bottles made of glass, can be pressed together or only with a press which has a solid construction.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device and a method by means of which virtually all packaging can be accepted and the volume of which can be reduced, regardless of the material of which it is made. The acceptance device should have a simple and therefore inexpensive structure.

To solve this problem, an acceptance device is proposed which has the features of claim 1. The acceptance device comprises a volume reduction device with at least one shredding device, with the aid of which the volume of the accepted packaging can be reduced by dividing the packaging into at least two parts or breaking it up into many parts. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the comminution device is designed such that practically all materials used in the packaging industry, that is to say packaging made from these materials, can be comminuted with only this one comminution device. In another exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the acceptance device comprises a plurality of comminution devices, which are each used for packaging consisting of a specific material, that is to say with a first comminution device. 3 -

For example, packaging device consisting only of glass, for example bottles, and other packaging device consisting only of plastic and / or cardboard or paper, for example beverage cups, can be shredded. A large volume reduction can be achieved by dividing the packaging. The forces to be applied when shredding a packaging or to be supported by the acceptance device are relatively low, so that the acceptance device can be constructed easily.

In an advantageous embodiment of the acceptance device, the comminution device comprises at least one cutting means which can be rotated about a first axis and / or pivoted about a second axis. The packaging can be shredded by cutting, shearing and / or knocking off. It is possible to use one of the shredding devices known from the prior art, as they are known from many different technical fields, in connection with the acceptance device or to adopt their functional principle and only to carry out a corresponding modification of the known construction.

An exemplary embodiment of the acceptance device is particularly preferred, in which a recognition device is provided, with the aid of which at least one characteristic feature of the packaging, for example its height, shape, color or the like, or one that is provided on the outer surface of the packaging. - 4th

seen information, can be determined. The information is, for example, at least one character, a symbol and / or an arrangement of characters and / or symbols. The detection device can ensure that only one or more special packaging, for example only cans, bottles and / or cups or only certain cans, bottles and / or cups, are accepted or withdrawn by the acceptance device. The detection device thus controls the packaging, which is preferably placed in an acceptance shaft of the acceptance device, which enables sort-by-type collection and prevents the addition of unwanted packaging or other objects.

Further advantageous configurations result from the remaining subclaims.

To solve the problem, a method for accepting packaging with the features of claim 12 is also proposed. This provides that the packaging is divided into at least two parts. Depending on the material of the packaging, it can be cut up, for example, in a cutting, shearing and / or tapping process. For example, a package made of glass can be separated into at least two parts by a blow or in one cutting process. Which method is used to break up the respective packaging depends, among other things, on the material. It is important that preferably any commercially available packaging can be broken down and thus reduced in volume.

Further embodiments result from the remaining subclaims.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. Show it:

Figure 1 shows a part of an embodiment of an acceptance device in side view

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the acceptance device according to FIG. 1.

The device for accepting packaging described below can be used universally, for example for cans, bottles, cups and / or tetrapaks or the like. The packaging can for example consist of glass, metal, for example aluminum, plastic, paper and / or cardboard. In the following, the items mentioned above, regardless of their material, shape and size, are generally referred to as packaging.

Figure 1 shows a part of a highly schematically illustrated embodiment of a device 1 for accepting packaging in side view. The acceptance device 1 here comprises a total of two acceptance chutes, of which, in the functional position of the acceptance device 1 shown in FIG. 1, a first acceptance chute 3.1 in an acceptance area 5 and the second acceptance chute 3.2 are arranged in a processing area 7 of the acceptance device. The acceptance shafts 3.1, 3.2 formed here by hollow cylinders can be displaced with the aid of a transport device 9 which, in this exemplary embodiment, comprises a rotor 13 which can be rotated about a vertically aligned axis 11 and to which the acceptance shafts 3.1, 3.2 are attached on opposite sides. The acceptance shafts 3.1, 3.2 are arranged symmetrically to the axis of rotation 11 of the rotor 13 which can be rotated here in an imaginary horizontal plane, that is to say whose distance from the axis of rotation 11 is the same. The direction of rotation (double arrow 15) of the rotor 13 which can be driven by means of a drive (not shown in FIG. 1), for example an electric motor, can be varied. The acceptance shafts 3.1, 3.2 are each assigned an electromagnetic slide 17, each of which can be displaced into two functional positions by a separate drive 19. The slides 17 and the drives 19 are attached to the rotor 13. 1 shows the slide 17 in its second functional position, in which the lower opening 21 of the receiving shafts 3.1, 3.2, seen in the vertical direction, is released, that is to say not covered. In the first functional position, the slides 17, which are rotatably articulated on the rotor, are displaced radially outward, as seen from the axis of rotation 11, so that the opening 21 is closed, that is to say covered. An object introduced into the acceptance shafts 3.1, 3.2, for example packaging, can therefore not fall out of the acceptance shafts following gravity. The slide 17 can be moved independently of one another, so that, for example, that of the receiving shaft 3.1 assigned slide 17 in its first functional position and at the same time the slide 17 assigned to the receiving shaft 3.2 are arranged in the second functional position.

In the acceptance area 5, an acceptance unit 23 is provided, which is arranged in an area above the acceptance shafts 3.1, 3.2. The acceptance unit 23 here comprises a passage 25 having a through-opening, which serves to receive a packaging that can be inserted into the acceptance device 1 through an insertion opening (not shown), and a light barrier 27, by means of which the introduction of packaging into the hollow cylinder 25 can be determined. In the functional position of the acceptance device shown in FIG. 1, the acceptance shaft 3.1 is arranged in the acceptance area 5. The lower side 29 of the passage opening of the channel 25 facing the acceptance shaft 3.1 can be closed by means of a closure element 31, which here is formed by a flap 35 which can be pivoted about a vertical axis 33 by means of a drive 32, for example an electric motor. In this arrangement, the flap 35 can be pivoted in a plane perpendicular to the image plane of FIG. 1. The closure element 31 and the drive 32 are stationary on a frame 37 of the acceptance device 1.

A turntable 39, which can be rotated about a vertical axis 43 by means of a drive 41, for example an electric motor, is arranged in a stationary manner underneath the acceptance shaft 3.1 located in the acceptance area 5. The turntable 39 is in a stood from the channel 25 of the acceptance unit 23 and arranged just below it. The acceptance shafts 3.1, 3.2 can be introduced with the aid of the horizontally pivotable rotor 13 into the intermediate space 45 between the acceptance unit 23 and the turntable 39, as shown in FIG. 1. In the area of the turntable 39, a material detection device 47 is attached, which has at least one sensor, not shown, with the aid of which the material of the packaging inserted into the respective acceptance shaft arranged in the acceptance area 5 can be determined.

A first stand 51, to which a recognition device 53 is attached, is fastened to a base plate 49 of the acceptance device 1 attached to the frame 37 in the acceptance area 5. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the recognition device 53 comprises a reading device for bar codes, 2-D codes and / or stacked bar codes, which is not shown in any more detail. The reading device comprises at least one light source, for example a laser, the light beam of which can be directed into the interior of the receiving shafts through a vertical slot (not shown) in the jacket of the receiving shafts 3.1, 3.2. The structure of the reading device, which is also referred to as a scanner, is known per se, so that it is not described in more detail. A packaging (not shown) that has been introduced into the receiving shaft can be checked with the recognition device 53. If the packaging has at least one bar code, 2-D code and / or stacked bar code on its outer surface, this can be read by the reading device. will be. If the code is accepted by the recognition device 53, the packaging can be accepted and transferred to the processing area 7. In the event of non-recognition or a “wrong” code that is not accepted by the recognition device 53, the packaging can be sent to an output (not shown) of the acceptance device 1 or a separate collecting container.

In a preferred embodiment of the recognition device 53, a reading device is provided, with the aid of which a bar code, 2-D code and / or stacked bar code can be read, as well as the image of the packaging, that is to say its outer shape / contour , ascertainable or recognizable. Due to this configuration, an acceptance device 1 can be implemented with a simple structure. Furthermore, it is possible to identify "wrong" packaging with a high degree of certainty.

In another exemplary embodiment, not shown, that of the recognition device comprises a video camera which compares the contents of the acceptance shaft with stored images and accepts or does not accept packaging in accordance with the specifications. It is clear that other embodiments of the detection device are possible. It is important that at least one characteristic feature of the packaging can be determined by means of the recognition device, so that a distinction can be made between the packaging to be accepted by the acceptance device and the packaging. 10

cations or objects that are not desired.

Furthermore, a height measurement device 55 is provided in the acceptance area 5, which comprises a drive unit 57, consisting of a motor and a rack and pinion gear. A rack 59 can be displaced in the vertical direction (double arrow 61) by means of the drive unit 57. With the help of the height measuring device 55 arranged above the acceptance shaft, the height of a packaging placed in the acceptance shaft 5 arranged in the acceptance area 5 can be determined.

The detection device 53, the material detection device 47 and the height measurement device 55 serve the same purpose, namely the determination of at least one characteristic feature of the packaging placed in the acceptance area 5 in the acceptance shaft. In another embodiment of the acceptance device, for example, only one or two of these devices are used. If the acceptance device is used, for example, to accept packaging consisting only of plastic, the use of the material detection device is sufficient to check the packaging.

In the functional position of the acceptance device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the acceptance shaft 3.2 is arranged in the processing area 7. A compression device 63, which is part of a volume reduction device, is provided in the area located above the acceptance shaft 3.2. The 11

on a cross member 65 of the frame 37, also referred to as a compression device 63 comprises a drive device 67 with a motor and a rack and pinion gear 69 which can be displaced in the vertical direction (double arrow 61) by means of the drive device 67. A press die 73 is attached to the toothed rack 69. Beneath the compression device 63, on the opposite side, there is a press table 75 attached to the base plate 49, on which a packaging transferred from the acceptance shaft 3.2 from the acceptance area 5 to the processing area 7 can be placed. By moving the toothed rack 69 downward, the press die 73 moves into the interior of the receiving shaft, as a result of which the packaging located on the press table 75 is compressed or compressed.

In this exemplary embodiment, the press die 73 comprises a first pressure plate 74a rigidly connected to the toothed rack 69 and a second pressure plate 74b which can be brought into contact with a packaging lying on the press table 75 and which can be displaced relative to the first pressure plate 74a. Spring elements 76, for example compression springs, are provided between the pressure plates 74a, 74b. The press ram 73 described here can be used particularly advantageously for compressing cans. When the ram 73 is shut down, the second pressure plate 74b is pressed against the can. It is possible to tilt the second pressure plate against the spring force of the spring elements 76 in relation to the first pressure plate. This means 12

starts squeezing the can at its weakest point. Due to the force compensation realized with the spring elements, only relatively small forces are generated during the pressing process, so that a simple and easy construction of the acceptance device can be realized.

The volume reduction device here further comprises a shredding device 77, also referred to as a shredder, which is arranged below the press table 75 in a channel (not shown) leading to a collecting container or in its mouth region. The comminution device 77 is — viewed in plan view of the acceptance device 1 (FIG. 2) —arranged laterally to the press table 75. The construction of such a comminution device, which breaks up a package, which may have been compressed beforehand, into at least two, preferably into many parts, is known per se, so that the description thereof is dispensed with. By arranging the shredding device in the channel, the divided packaging can be removed directly from the processing area 7 of the acceptance device 1. The channel in which the crushing device 77 is arranged is part of a sorting unit 79 which has at least one channel leading to a collecting container, not shown. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the sorting unit 79 has a plurality, preferably two to six channels, for the packaging transferred from the acceptance area 5 to the processing area 7. The channels of the sorting unit - 13th

79 preferably each lead to a separate collection container.

The function of the acceptance device 1 is described in more detail below on the basis of an acceptance process:

A packaging (not shown) is introduced from above into the channel 25 of the acceptance unit 23, the opening of which is closed on the side facing the acceptance shaft by means of the pivotable flap 35. After an empty acceptance shaft, for example the acceptance shaft 3.1 has been positioned below the acceptance unit 23 by a rotary movement of the rotor 13, the flap 35 is pivoted and the packaging preferably falls automatically into the acceptance shaft 3.1 and comes to rest on the turntable 39. The flap 35 is now pivoted back again to close the channel 25 on its side facing the receiving shaft 3.1. The packaging arranged within the acceptance shaft 3.1 is largely centered by rotation of the turntable 39. The rotation of the packaging enables the stationary recognition device 51 to read at least one characteristic feature of the packaging, here a code provided on the outer surface of the packaging. Alternatively or additionally, the height of the packaging is determined by means of the height measuring device 55 and / or the material from which the packaging is made is determined by means of the material detection device 47. After the packaging has been checked and accepted, the slide 17 assigned to the acceptance shaft 3.1 in 14

shifted its first functional position, in which it closes the lower opening of the acceptance shaft 3.1. The slide 17 thus serves as the bottom to hold the packaging in the acceptance shaft 3.1. By a horizontal rotation of the rotor 13, the acceptance shaft 3.1 with the packaging held therein is transferred from the acceptance area 5 to the processing area 7. The second acceptance shaft 3.2, which is also attached to the rotor 13, is shifted from the processing area 7 into the acceptance area 5 and made available for the introduction of further packaging.

After the receiving shaft 3.1 having the packaging has arrived in the processing area 7, it is treated accordingly, for example depending on the packaging material, the height of the shape and / or the information read by the recognition device on the outer surface of the packaging. Beverage cans can be pressed together, for example, by means of the compression device 63. For this purpose, the slide 17 assigned to the acceptance shaft 3.1 is shifted into the second functional position (FIG. 1), so that the beverage can comes to rest on the press table 75. Then the press ram 73 can - as described above - compress the beverage can. Then, the volume-reduced drinks can can be pushed from the press table 75 and pushed and introduced into the melbehälter to the corresponding Sam ^¬ leading channel of the sorting unit 79 by movement of the shaft acceptance 3.1. In the case of a packaging consisting of glass, for example a bottle, this is not compressed in this exemplary embodiment, 15

but rather, for example, fed to the comminution device 77 or introduced untreated, that is to say neither compressed nor comminuted, directly into the collecting container provided for this purpose.

The procedure for accepting packaging according to claim 12 is readily apparent from the above. This provides that the packaging is divided into at least two parts. As a result, the volume of the packaging can advantageously be reduced. The fact that preferably all common packaging consisting of different materials can be cut up by means of preferably a single shredding device, the structure of the acceptance device can be simplified. A compression device for reducing the packaging volume can therefore be dispensed with.

The treatment or processing of a packaging in the processing area 7 can be varied in this exemplary embodiment and is selected, for example, depending on the material and / or the shape of the packaging. For example, PET bottles can be collected uncompressed or reduced in volume, the reduction in volume being achieved by compressing and / or crushing. In a preferred embodiment, the comminution device 77, as described above, is designed in such a way that it can be used to cut up a wide variety of materials, for example glass, plastic, metal, for example aluminum, and fibrous materials (paper, cardboard, cardboard). In another advantageous embodiment 16

for example, several different shredding devices are provided, which are used for shredding different materials; for example a shredder for plastic, another shredder for glass and a third for metal.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the acceptance device according to FIG. 1. The same parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that reference is made to the description of FIG. 1.

In the functional position of the acceptance device 1 shown in FIG. 2, the rotor 13 is rotated, for example counterclockwise, as a result of which the acceptance shaft 3.1 is transferred from the acceptance region 5 to the processing region 7 and the acceptance shaft 3.2 from the processing region 7 to the acceptance region 5. The acceptance shafts 3.1, 3.2, each formed by a hollow cylinder with a circular-cylindrical cross section, are arranged on an imaginary straight line G intersecting the axis of rotation 11 of the rotor 13, that is to say on opposite sides of the rotor 13. As seen in the direction of rotation of the rotor 13 at a distance of 180 ° provided arrangement of the receiving shafts 3.1, 3.2, the axis of rotation 11 of the rotor is simultaneously the axis of symmetry. The rotor 13 is formed here by a disk-shaped wing which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a drive shaft 81 which can be acted upon by a drive unit 83 with a drive or braking torque. The drive unit 83 preferably has a motor, - 17th

for example, an electric motor, and a transmission.

In the acceptance area 5 49 openings 85, 87 are provided in the base plate, which are attached to one side of the turntable 39, laterally offset to this. The breakthroughs 85 and 87 serve to remove the packaging from the acceptance area 5 if the packaging is not recognized, that is to say if the packaging is “incorrect” in the sensory sense. The packaging arranged in one of the receiving shafts and resting on the turntable 39 is thrown from the turntable 39 when the rotor 13 is rotated by means of the receiving shaft and, depending on the direction of rotation of the rotor 13, falls into the opening 85 or 87 and reaches it from there, for example into a separate collecting container or to an output of the acceptance device 1, which is not shown. It is clear that in this exemplary embodiment the slide 17 serving as the bottom for the acceptance shaft is only required for the transfer of packaging from the acceptance area 5 to the processing area 7.

In this exemplary embodiment, the sorting unit 79 provided in the processing area 7 comprises a total of four channels 88a, 88b, 88c and 88d, which preferably each lead to a separate collecting container (not shown). The channels 88a, 88b are in their opening area facing the press table 75 by a sorting flap 91 which can be pivoted about an axis 89 and the channels 88c, 88d by a sorting valve which can be pivoted about an axis 89 '. 18 -

animal flap 91 'separated. After the packaging has been recognized and possibly compressed in the processing area 7 by means of the compression device 63, this is pushed off the press table 75 by a movement of the acceptance shaft. In the functional position of the sorting flaps 91, 91 'shown in FIG. 2, the packaging would reach the channel 88a when the rotor 13 was rotated counterclockwise and into the channel 88c if the rotor 13 was rotated clockwise. It should also be pointed out that the shredding device 77, not shown in FIG. 2, is provided in one of the channels of the sorting unit 79.

In another embodiment (not shown), a plurality of comminution devices are provided, which are preferably arranged in different channels of the sorting unit and are used, for example, for comminuting different materials. These can have an identical structure.

In FIG. 2, a sensor system 95 is also shown in the processing area 7 attached to a second stand connected to the base plate 49, by means of which the receiving chutes 3.1, 3.2 can be arranged precisely in the processing area 7 below the compression device or above the press table 75. Since in this embodiment the receiving shafts 3.1, 3.2 — viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotor — are arranged at a distance of 180 ° from one another - 19th

the other of the two acceptance chutes in the acceptance area 5 is also exactly positioned.

It is clear from everything that the acceptance device 1 can also have more than two acceptance shafts for the packaging, preferably three, four, six or eight acceptance shafts. As a result, the time between two acceptance processes, ie the waiting time of the user, can be further reduced. The receiving shafts are preferably arranged at the same distance from one another, regardless of their number, as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotor.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the acceptance device 1 comprises a gaming machine, not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This serves to improve the attractiveness of the acceptance device. For example, after a package has been accepted, a game is started in which a prize can be won. The game can be started manually or automatically by a control. The gaming machine that can be integrated into the acceptance device 1 has at least one edition for the price that can be found in the edition of a game won. Cash, sweets (chocolate, sweets), natural goods, tangible assets, for example CD, a voucher and / or the like can be issued as the price for a game won. In an advantageous embodiment of the gaming machine, it is provided that a separate expenditure is provided for each different win (a prize can consist of several wins). 20th

The costs for the acceptance device 1 can be financed, for example, with advertising. For this purpose, the acceptance device can comprise windows for advertising posters, for example, which can be backlit, for example, by means of a light source. In another embodiment it is provided that the acceptance device comprises a monitor on which advertising videos are shown.

The acceptance device 1 can furthermore comprise an automatic fill level measuring device which transmits the fill level in the at least one collecting container by means of a remote data transmission device. Using the transmitted data, for example, the routes of the collection vehicles can be optimized. If the acceptance device comprises a gaming machine, the number of games, the prizes issued and / or the number of prizes still in the machine can also be transmitted as an alternative or in addition to the fill level data in the collecting container.

In summary, it should be noted that the spatial separation between the acceptance of packaging in the acceptance area 5 and the processing of the packaging in the processing area 7 means that a short period of time can be achieved between two acceptance processes. The waiting time for a person who wants to bring the packaging into the acceptance device 1 is therefore very short. Because at least one characteristic feature of the packaging is determined after it has been introduced, it is possible to collect the packaging according to type. The volume reduction of the packaging in the processing 21

tion area with the aid of the compression device and / or the comminution device allow larger time intervals between two empties of the packaging container (s) receiving the packaging, without the need to use a collection container with a larger volume. By using a volume reduction device, a compactly designed acceptance device can be realized. It is also particularly advantageous that the acceptance device 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 can be used to accept various types of packaging, for example cans, bottles, cups, tetrapaks and the like. The packaging can consist of different materials, for example plastic, metal, glass and / or paper / cardboard. The acceptance device can thus be used universally, although sorting by type is possible despite the acceptance of different packaging.

Claims

- 22 claims

1. Device for accepting packaging, in particular cans, bottles, mugs, tetrapaks, with a volume reduction device, characterized in that the volume reduction device comprises at least one size reduction device (77).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the comminution device (77) comprises at least one cutting means rotatable about a first axis and / or pivotable about a second axis.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the volume reduction device comprises at least one compression device (63), in particular press.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging consists of metal, glass, plastic, paper and / or cardboard.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one detection device (53), by means of which at least one characteristic feature of the packaging can be determined. - 23

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection device (53) comprises a reading device, in particular for bar codes, 2-D codes and stacked bar codes.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a material detection device (47), with the aid of which the material of the packaging can be determined.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compression device (63) - seen in the vertical direction - is arranged above an acceptance shaft (3.1; 3.2) for the packaging.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the comminution device (77) - seen in the vertical direction - is arranged below the acceptance shaft (3.1; 3.2).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the comminuting device (77) in a channel leading to a collecting container for the packaging

(88a; 88b; 88c; 88d) is arranged.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the crushing device (77) is arranged in the mouth region of a channel leading to a collecting container for the packaging (88a; 88b; 88c; 88d). - 24th

12. A method for accepting packaging, in particular cans, bottles, mugs, tetrapaks, in particular with a device according to claim 1, in which the volume of the packaging is reduced, characterized in that the packaging is divided into at least two parts.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the packaging is cut in at least one cutting and / or shearing process.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the

Packaging is compressed before it is cut up.