Abstract:
Unit for automated container recovery machines, such as for receiving returnable bottles and cans, includes a conveyor device for transporting the returnable containers horizontally in the direction of their longitudinal axes and for rotating the containers about their longitudinal axes. The aim is to provide an additional unit of this type. To achieve this, the conveyor device includes one or more continuous conveyer chains which are adjacent to one another and include support elements and conveyor members which are situated on the support elements. The conveyor members can be rotated about an axis that extends in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of application No. PCT/DE2004/002287, filed 15 Oct. 2004, which claims priority of German Application No. 103 58 203.7, filed 12 Dec. 2003, and each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a unit for use in automatic container return systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a unit for use in an automatic returnable container return system of the type including a conveyor device for horizontal transport of the returnable containers in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the returnable containers, and for rotation of the containers around their longitudinal axes. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   One unit of this type is known from EP 1 167 247 B 1. It comprises at least two essentially cylindrical conveyor rollers that are aligned parallel to one another, longitudinally in the direction of conveyance of the articles. The conveyor rollers are capable of rotating around their longitudinal axes, and each conveyor roller comprises an integrated conveyor belt that rotates around the said roller. The top run of each conveyor belt is essentially aligned on the circumferential surface of the conveyor rollers, which in the region of the top run of the conveyor belts is recessed. To enable the longitudinal transport of the containers, the conveyor rollers are tilted toward one another such that the two top runs of the conveyor belts form a V-shaped channel, in which the container lies. Containers are transported longitudinally until they reach an identification unit, which is designed to scan data on the container, for example a barcode on its outer surface. The identification unit is ordinarily positioned above the path of conveyance or to its side. Because the circumferential surfaces of the containers lie in random positions once the containers have been loaded into the unit, the barcode may not lie within the scanning range of the identification unit. In such cases it is necessary to rotate the container. This is accomplished by means of a unidirectional rotation of the conveyor rollers, which causes the conveyor belts integrated into said rollers also to rotate. Once the distinguishing markings on the container have been scanned, the conveyor rollers reassume a position in which the top runs of the conveyor belts form a V-shaped channel. By actuating the conveyor belts, the container is then advanced in a longitudinal direction for further processing or is conveyed in a reverse direction if it is identified as a container that cannot be accepted by the system. 
   Another unit of this type is disclosed in EP 1 081 661 A 2. This unit comprises two conveyors that are essentially identical in design; these are comprised of conveyor elements and are tilted toward one another so as to form a V-shaped channel. Between the transport elements, slots are provided extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of conveyance. Beneath the two conveyors, rotational discs are arranged, extending over at least a portion of the length of the conveyors, in which discs can be raised so that they protrude through the slots in the transport elements. When this function is activated, a container lying on the conveyors is lifted off the conveyors by the rotating discs. The container then rests on the rotating discs and can be placed in rotation via the unidirectional actuation of the rotating discs. As in the above case, this allows an obscured identifying mark on the container, such as a barcode, to be scanned by an identification unit. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor unit for use in automatic container return systems. This object is attained according to the invention with a unit for use in an automatic container return system of the type including a conveyor device for horizontal transport of the returnable containers in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the returnable containers, and for rotation of the containers around their longitudinal axes, the unit including a conveyor device having a circulating conveyor chain. A support element provided on the conveyor chain, and conveyor members provided on the support elements. The conveyor members are rotatable around an axis extending longitudinally in the direction of conveyance. 
   With the present invention, the conveyor members in the conveyor chain produce both the translational motion and the rotational motion of the container. Thus additional components required for rotating the container can be omitted. 
   In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support element for the conveyor members is a taut cable or belt. A taut cable or belt is a very simply implemented support element, on which the conveyor members can be lined up like beads on a chain. A support element of this type offers the additional advantage of simultaneously serving as the rotational axis for the conveyor members. 
   In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support element for the conveyor members is a link chain with recesses in links, and which recesses extend transversely to the direction of conveyance, whereby the conveyor members are disk-shaped and are rotatably mounted in the recesses on individual shafts which extend longitudinally in the direction of conveyance and which are supported in the respective links. In this case it is advantageous for each link in the link chain to have two recesses arranged side by side, extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of conveyance, and with one conveyor member being arranged in each recess. In this manner, the cost of two separate conveyor chains can be eliminated. 
   If the conveyor chains of the device are arranged side by side, the inventive apparatus can also be used without great expense as a conveying device for conveying boxes, packages, and the like. When the conveyor chains are moved in a longitudinal direction, the boxes, packages, and similar articles are transported in a longitudinal direction, and when the conveyor members are rotated, such articles are moved in a transverse direction. Sorting gates or sorting areas for boxes, packages, and similar articles can be constructed on the basis of this principle. 
   Below, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to two exemplary embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevation of this unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective representation of a unit according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation of this unit of  FIG. 3 , in reduced dimensions; and 
       FIG. 5  is a front elevation of this unit of  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The inventive embodiment of the unit shown in  FIG. 1  includes a base frame  1  that is U-shaped in cross-section, on an outer panel of which two electric motors  2 ,  3  are mounted. A drive shaft  4  of the electric motor  2  projects through the base frame  1  and supports a chain drive sprocket  5 , which has two circumferential grooves  5 . 1  which are essentially semicircular in cross-section and are configured to hold two conveyor chains  6 ,  7 . An identical sprocket wheel  8  is rotatably mounted at the other end of the base frame  1  in its side panels. For this sprocket wheel  8 , a tensioning device  9  is provided, which is not further depicted in the drawing. 
   The conveyor chains  6 ,  7  include individual conveyor members  10 . Each conveyor chain  6 ,  7  includes a steel cable  10 . 4  as a support element, which is shown in  FIG. 2 , on which the conveyor members  10  are lined up. Each conveyor member  10  has a cylindrical circumferential surface  10 . 1  and, on its end surfaces, in a male-female manner, a semicircular head  10 . 2  and a semicircular shell  10 . 3 . On the basis of this configuration, the conveyor members  10  engage in one another in the conveyor chain  6 ,  7 , and can also take on the curvature of the sprocket wheels  5 ,  8 . 
   The conveyor chains  6 ,  7  rotate on the sprocket wheels  5 ,  8  and thus have a top run  11  and a bottom return run  12 , such as an upper side and a lower side, respectively. The top runs  11  are guided at their edges by two support rollers  13 ,  14 , which are rotatably mounted on the base frame  1 . 
   Beneath the top run  11  of the conveyor chains  6 ,  7  a pressure roller  15  is arranged centrally relative to the conveyor chains  6 ,  7 , extending longitudinally in the direction of conveyance. The pressure roller  15  includes a rotary drive, which includes a toothed belt wheel  16  that rests on a drive shaft  19  of the electric motor  3 , a toothed belt  17 , and a toothed belt wheel  18  that rests on the axle of the pressure roller  15 . The circumferential surface of the pressure roller  15  bears against the cylindrical surfaces  10 . 1  of the conveyor members  10  arranged above it. 
   When the electric motor  2  is activated for the purpose of driving the sprocket wheel  5 , a bottle  20  lying on the conveyor chains  6 ,  7  is conveyed longitudinally along the conveyor chains  6 ,  7 . Once the bottle  20  reaches a position above the pressure roller  15 , the electric motor  2  can be stopped in this position, for example by use of a photoelectric sensor or some other type of sensor. If at this point the pressure roller  15  is placed in rotation by the electric motor  3  and the toothed belt drive  16 ,  17 ,  18 , the resulting friction will cause the abutting conveyor members  10  to rotate around the steel cables, each of which forms an axis of rotation. The bottle  20  lying on these conveyor members  10  will then begin to rotate in the same direction as the pressure roller  15 . This rotational motion of the bottle  20  will bring an identifying marking on the bottle  20 , such as a barcode, into the scanning range of a sensor, for example a barcode reader, so that distinguishing characteristics specific to the bottle can be read into the system. If the identification unit should determine that the bottle is returnable, it is further advanced in the previous longitudinal direction. If the bottle  20  is a container of the type which cannot be accepted by the system, it can be returned, for example, to an input area, by reversing the drive of the conveyor chains  6 ,  7 . 
   To minimize the friction between the conveyor members  10  and the pressure roller  15  during the translational actuation of the conveyor chains  6 ,  7 , either the pressure roller  15  can be pivoted downward, away from the conveyor members  10 , or the pressure roller  15  can be equipped with releases arranged longitudinally along the lines of contact with the conveyor members  10 . In this case it is necessary, once the rotational motion has been completed, to realign the releases underneath the conveyor members  10 . For this purpose, a positioning sensor for the pressure roller  15  can be provided. 
   If the friction between the pressure roller  15  and the conveyor members  10  during the translational actuation of the conveyor chains  6 ,  7  is to be disregarded, then the rotational drive can also be activated. In this case, the bottle  20  will move in a helical fashion. 
   If, rather than just two conveyor chains  6 ,  7  as in the above exemplary embodiment, multiple conveyor chains are to be aligned side by side, the unit can also be used as sorting gates or in sorting areas for boxes, packages, or similar articles. In this case the boxes, packages, and the like are transported longitudinally along the conveyor chains with their translational actuation, and with the rotational actuation of the conveyor members  10  such articles are transported transversely relative to the longitudinal extension of the conveyor chains. 
   In  FIG. 3 through 5  a further exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The reference figures used in the above-described exemplary embodiment are used here again to identify identical or equivalent components. 
   This unit also includes base frame  1  with U-shaped cross-section, on the side panel of which electric motor  2  for translational motion and electric motor  3  for rotational motion of the conveyor assembly are mounted. Two sprocket wheels  5  rest on the drive shaft  4  of the electric motor  2 , each lying adjacent to the side walls of the base frame  1  on the inside. Identical, but not actuated, sprocket wheels  8  are mounted at the opposite end of the unit on the side walls of the base frame  1 . 
   A link chain  21  including links  22  that are connected to one another in an articulated fashion runs over the sprocket wheels  5 ,  8 . Each of the articulated joints between the links  22  is designed with female joint elements  23  and male joint elements  24  at their side ends, with these two joint elements  23 ,  24  being connected to one another by means of a link pin  25  that projects to the side. These link pins  25  lie within the tooth spaces of the sprocket wheels  5 ,  8 , so that a secure transmission of force via the motor shaft  4  and the actuated sprocket wheels  5  to the link chain  21  is ensured. The non-driven sprocket wheels  8  which can in turn be acted upon by a tensioning device  9  which is partially illustrated, allowing the adjustment of the tension in the link chain  21 . The top run of the link chain  21  is guided over its link pins  25  in lateral guides  13 ,  14  that are U-shaped in cross-section. 
   The link chain  21  forms a support element for disc-shaped conveyor members  10  that are arranged extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of conveyance. To accommodate these conveyor members  10 , each link  22  in the link chain  21  comprises two recesses  26  arranged side by side and arranged extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of conveyance. The conveyor members  10  are rotatably mounted in the recesses  22 . In addition, shafts are provided, aligned in the longitudinal direction of conveyance, which extend through the conveyor members  10  and are mounted in cross supports  28  on each of the links  22 . 
   With the side-by-side arrangement of the conveyor members  10  in link chain  21 , as with the preceding exemplary embodiment, two conveyor chains  6 ,  7  are created, on whose conveyor members  10  a bottle  20  being transported is laterally supported. 
   For the rotary actuation of the conveyor members  10  a pressure roller  15  is provided. The positioning, construction, and actuation of this pressure roller  15  are as described in reference to the first exemplary embodiment. 
   This unit, too, enables the helical movement of a bottle  20  with the simultaneous activation of the translational and rotational drives. 
   For details on the mode of operation of the unit according to the second exemplary embodiment, please refer to the first exemplary embodiment, as the operating principles are identical. The unit illustrated in  FIG. 3 through 5  can also be used as sorting gates or in a sorting area for boxes, packages or similar articles. 
   While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, and uses and/or adaptations of the invention and following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention or limits of the claims appended hereto.