DEVICE FOR SORTING PACKAGINGS, PRINCIPALLY BEVERAGE PACKAGINGS, IN SEVERAL STAGES

Abstract: Sorting device for principally used beverage packagings (7) of can type in which the device incorporates at least two sorting stages. Packagings of principally can type having overall dimensions within a predetermined interval in regard to length and diameter, for example, are sorted out in the sorting device from packagings deviating from those embraced by the aforementioned interval. In a device according to the invention the first of the two sorting stages consists of a pivoted supporting organ (8) for carrying the packagings and a frame (33) through which the supporting organ is moved while the second sorting stage consists of the supporting organ (8) and pressing organs (1, 2) interacting with the supporting organ. In the first sorting stage the opening of the frame (33) maximizes the size of the packagings which are allowed to pass to the second sorting stage. In the second sorting stage the supporting organ (8) interacts with pressing organs (1, 2) which compress the packagings in an axial direction. Packagings which are to be sorted out are then compressed to a maximum axial length which permits them to pass through an opening (18) and their sorting out is thus achieved.

Description: Device for sorting packagings, principally beverage packagings, in several stages The present invention relates to a device for sorting packagings, principally beverage packagings, in several stages and more precisely to a device incorporating two sections, one of which, the loader, is designed as both a loading organ and a sorting organ. Sorting articles or goods according to such properties as size, shape, colour, material, density, etc. is pre¬ viously known. In the case of sorting based on size or shape, the actual dimensions of the articles or goods form the basis of sorting. The present invention entails a substantial rationaliza¬ tion of the handling of returned packagings such as bev¬ erage packagings in the shape of cans. In a device according to the invention the packaging is received by an organ, henceforth called the loader, which comprises both the loading organ and the sorting organ. The loader transfers the packagings to a second sorting stage in which they are subjected to a compres- sive force in order to permit continued sorting based on the degree and nature of the deformation and/or final shape thus given to each packaging. The loader consists principally of at least two organs arranged so as to be capable of moving relative to each other, which individually or in combination sort out for transfer to the second sorting stage every packaging having dimensions within a predetermined dimension interval. The second sorting stage is located in second part of OMPI_ WIPO the device, henceforth called the pressing section. In this section pressing organs arranged to describe rela¬ tive motion towards or away from each other subject the packagings to a compressive force. Packagings with giv- en physical properties are thereby compressed to a size permitting them to pass through a dimension-determining opening and principally to a collecting device. In one version of the invention specially adapted for cylindrically shaped packagings the loader is arranged with chiefly vertical supports at a distance from each other slightly in excess of a certain established dia¬ meter of the packagings. Arranged at the lower ends of the supports are protuberances oriented towards the re¬ ceived packaging at a distance from each other slightly less than said established diameter. Packagings having the established diameter are carried by the loader in that they rest on the protuberances and then mainly occu¬ py the opening formed between them. Packagings having a diameter less than the distance between the protuber- ances are sorted out in that such packagings fall down through the opening. In another version of the invention the supports are con¬ nected to each other at least at their lower ends to limit the length of the aforementioned opening. As a result, only packagings having a diameter less than the distance between the aforementioned protuberances and with a length less than the distance between the afore¬ mentioned connections drop through the opening. Arranged in a preferred version of the invention is a frame through which the packagings pass on their way to the pressing section, i.e. to the second sorting stage. In connection with this the frame comprises a second section of the loader and prevents the transfer of packagings having excessively large axial lengths and/or diameters to the second sorting stage. In the pressing section the loader interacts with the previously mentioned pressing organs to place the pack- agings in the correct position in relation to these or¬ gans, in which position the pressing organs make contact with the-packagings in the course of their movement to¬ wards each other and compress them. The opening of the loading organ has no protuberances in a limited area with the result that in this area the opening is larger as it is limited only by the: vertical supports. This widening of the opening has a position which coincides mainly with the position assumed by the packagings after they have been compressed by the pressing organs. In the case of a can-like packaging, for example, which has been compressed in its axial direction the compres¬ sed packaging will drop down through the wider portion of the opening when the pressing organs commence moving away from each other (from the compression position) and when the axial length and diameter of the compressed packaging are less than the corresponding quantities of the aforementioned wider portion. In yet another version of the invention one of the pres¬ sing organs is magnetic, whereby a packaging of magnetic material is returned to the first position, i.e. to the position occupied by the packaging when it was received by the device, when the loading organ returns to the starting position. Arranged in yet another version of the invention is a sensing and control organ for sensing the occurrence of any magnetic material in the received packaging and, when such material is detected, for activating the drive organs for moving the loader so that the loader is prevented from transferring the received packaging to the pressing section or alternatively so that transfer of the received packaging to the pressing section is permitted only if it is of magnetic material. In still another version of the invention the movement of at least one of the pressing organs is controlled by a device for determining the compressive force with which the packagings are compressed. In a preferred version a drive organ is then connected to one of the pressing ~ organs via a drive mechanism in which is incorporated an organ for interrupting the movement of the pressing or¬ gan at a predetermined maximum compressive force. The invention will be evident in detail from a " number of figures, where Fig. 1 shows a- sorting device viewed from the side, Fig. 2 shows a partially sectioned diagram of a sort¬ ing device viewed from the side, Fig. 3 shows a simplified cross-section III-III in Fig. 1 with a packaging placed in the sorting device, Fig. 4 shows the same cross-section as in F±g. 3 after the packaging has undergone axial com¬ pression, Fig. 5 shows the same cross-section as in Fig. 3 and with a packaging leaving the sorting device, Fig. 6 shows a side view of a drive mechanism con¬ sisting of two arms joined together by means of a friction connection, OMH Fig. 7 shows the cross-section VII-VII in Fig. 6, Fig. 8 shows a detail diagram of a loading organ viewed from the side. Fig. 9 shows a front view of the loading organ at the cross-section 9-9 in Fig. 8, Fig. 10 shows a top plan view of the loading organ. Shown in Figs. 1-5 is a casing 21 in which is arranged a bearing 22 for the pivoted suspension of a loading organ (supporting organ) 8 for packagings 7. The loading organ, which comprises a supporting organ for the packagings, is arranged with side supports 31, 32 to limit space with an. opening at the bottom in which the packagings are re¬ ceived. Reference figure 18 indicates the opening at the bottom of the space. The loading organ is moved by drive organs (not shown in the figures) or by manual operation from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown i Fig. 1. A spring 23 returns the loading organ to the position shown in Fig. 2 after the drive organ has been disengaged from the loading organ 8. The casing 21 forms a frame 33 through which the loading organ 8 passes on moving between the aforementioned positions. Together with the frame 33 the loading organ 8 forms the first section of the device, called the loader, in which every packaging having dimensions within a predetermined dim- ension interval are sorted out for transfer to the second section of the device, i.e. to the pressing section. With reference to the pressing section. Figs. 1-5 show a first pressing organ 1 and a second pressing organ 2. The first pressing organ is fastened to a lever 5 which via a connecting rod 4 is joined to an eccentric 3 which in its turn is connected to a drive organ not shown in _OMPI_ the figures for rotating the eccentric in the direction of the arrow. The first pressing organ is arranged at one end of. the lever 5 while the other end of the lever is pivoted in a bracket 6. The two pressing organs 1 and 2 are arranged on either side of the opening 18. Below opening 18 is a funnel-like receiving organ 24. Also in the vicinity of opening 18 an organ 20 is arr¬ anged for receipting the number of packagings passing through the opening. Figs. 6-7 show a drive mechanism for the first pressing organ in which connecting rod 4 is replaced by two arms 9 and 10 which form an angle to each other. The arms are joined together by a bolt 11 and spring washers 12 which exerts pressure on a friction connection 13 which enables arm 9 to move in relation to arm 10 under a cer¬ tain degree of friction. As a result, in the event of an overload on the device due to a packaging having ex¬ cessive mechanical rigidity, for example, being subjec¬ ted to compression the component corresponding to conn- ecting rod 4 is extended in that the angle between arms 9 and 10 changes, which in its turn causes compression of the packaging to cease. The version described makes it possible to set ' the maximum permissible compressive force for compressing the packaging. If this value is ex- ceeded, compression of the packaging ceases and it cannot pass through the opening 18. When the pressing organ re-r turns to the position shown in Fig. 3, lever 5 abuts against a stop 14 (Fig. 5) and causes the arms 9 and 10 to return to their original positions relative to each other. In certain applications lever 5 is fitted with an artic¬ ulation which is pretensioned in such a manner that the joint is not activated until the load exceeds a certain value. In this alternative also the packaging is not compressed to the final shape which allows it to pass DMPI A WPO through the opening 18. Other versions of the invention are also possible, such as with a telescopic connecting rod 4 which in the event of an overload is activated and can in such manner be extended. A heavily pretensioned spring also comprises an alternative. Figs. 8-10 show in greater detail how the loading organ 8 of the loader is arranged when it is specially adapted to receive cylindrical packagings. The side supports 31, 32 are then arranged at a distance A-A from each other which is slightly greater than the diameter of the packagings 7 and are also at their lower edges provided with protuberances 35, 36 facing each other and limiting the opening 18 to the width designated B-B. A limited area of the opening has no protuberances and the result is that in this area the opening is wider and limited solely by the vertical supports. The position of this wider portion of the opening is adapted to the position occupied by a compressed packaging 7'. For example, the wider portion is situated in the area at one end of the opening as shown in Fig. 10. The figures also show how the two side supports 31, 32 are connected to each other to limit the length of opening 18 to a value correspond¬ ing to a certain established minimum length of the pack- agings. A packaging 7 is placed on supporting organ 8 when this organ occupies the position shown in Fig. 2. A pack¬ aging having a diameter within the interval between the marked distances A-A and B-B or having an axial length in excess of the distance between the connections be¬ tween the vertical supports 31, 32 is thereby carried by the supporting organ 8 and occupies the position shown in Fig. 8. A packaging having a larger diameter rests on the upper edges of the supports 31, 32 while a pack¬ aging having a smaller diameter and with a length short¬ er than the distance between the connections drops down through the opening 18 and is thus sorted out. The drive organ for moving theloading organ to the:-pressing section now begins to move the loading organ. A pack¬ aging resting on the upper edges of the supports 31, 32 is then brought up against the frame 33, whereby the packaging is either dislodged by the frame or further movement of the loading organ is prevented. Packagings of excessive diameter or excessive axial length are sorted out in this way. Packagings which are not sorted out in the loader by means of the process described in the previous paragraph are transferred by the continued movement of the loading organ to the pressing section in that the loading organ assumes the position shown in Fig. 1. Following this the drive organ for rotating eccentric 3 starts and the first pressing organ is moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4. In the case of a packaging, the mechanical strength of which is within a predetermined interval, the packaging 7 is compressed and assumes the shape that is evident from Fig. 4. The first pressing organ has then been moved to a position beside the wider portion of the opening 18 and the pack¬ aging has thus been compressed so that the space it occ¬ upies between the first and the second pressing organs is less than the length of the wider portion of the opening 18. The continued rotation of the eccentric moves the first pressing organ back to its starting pos¬ ition and the compressed packaging 7' drops through the opening into the funnel-like receiving organ 24. Where applicable, the falling packaging is recorded by the receipting organ 20. Compressed packagings 7' which drop down through the opening 18 accordingly correspond to returned packagings which fulfill certain established criteria in regard to length, diameter and mechanical strength. Sorting has been carried out in two sorting stages where the first sorting stage takes place in ithe first section ' (the loader) of the device and the second sorting stage takes place in the second section (the pressing section) of the device. The version shown in Figs. 6 and 7 achieves a limitation of the maximum compressive force for * compressing the pack¬ agings. Packagings having excessively high axial strength cause an.extension of the component corresponding to con¬ necting rod 4 in that the angle of arms 9 and 10 changes, which in its turn causes compression of the packagings to cease. Accordingly, the described version makes it possible to set the maximum permissible compressive force for compressing the packagings. If this value is exceeded, compression ceases and the packagings cannot pass through the opening 18. When loading organ 8 returns to the position shown in Fig. 2 the packagings are returned to their original position (Fig. 2) . In an alternative version of the invention the connect¬ ions shown in Fig. 10 between the supports 31, 32 are so positioned that cylindrical packagings having a diameter less than the width B-B always drop down through the opening between the protuberances of the supports re¬ gardless of the axial length of the packagings. In still another alternative version of the invention the distance between the connections exceeds the corres¬ ponding distance in frame 33. As in the preferred ver¬ sion described earlier, the maximum length of the pack¬ agings which- are transferred to the pressing section is OMPI then determined through the interaction between loading organ 8 and frame 33. In certain versions one of the pressing organs 1, 2 is magnetic, with the result that packagings of magnetic material are retained by the magnetic pressing organ when the pressing organs move away from each other. When the loading organ 8 returns to the position shown in Fig. 2 the packagings are returned to a position corresponding to the original loading position. In an additional version one or more organs for detect¬ ing the occurrence of magnetic material in the received packagings are arranged in the vicinity of the loader and then principally in the vicinity of loading organ 8. In accordance with intrinsically known technique the organs for detecting magnetic material activate drive organs, for example, for moving the loader to prevent the loader from moving to the pressing section of the device on detection of magnetic material in packagings placed in the loader or alternatively solely to transfer packagings of magnetic material to the pressing section. In the above description the final dimensions of the compressed packaging 7" are stated to comprise a sorting criterion. It is evident from the description that in an alternative version the device shown is also suitable for using the dimensional diminution of the packagings (the magnitude of the movement of the pressing organs towards each other after they have made contact with both ends of a packaging) as a sorting criterion. The dimensional diminution is then determined by intrinsic- ally know technique. The version described above in which opening 18 is arr¬ anged in loader (supporting organ) 8 is in certain applications replaced by versions in which the opening is arranged in a frame, for example, mounted on the housing of the device-. In this connection the device is designed principally to permit the return of the support¬ ing organ to the position shown in Fig. 2 already during the compression process or immediately on conclusion of it. In addition to the above description the invention will also be evident from the following patent claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for sorting out packagings (7) , principal¬ ly of can type having overall dimensions within a predetermined interval in regard to length and dia¬ meter, for example, from packagings having dimen- sions deviating from those embraced by the afore¬ mentioned interval, and incorporating at least two sorting stages, characterized in that one of the two sorting stages consists of a pivoted supporting organ (8) for carrying the packagings and a frame (33) with an opening through which the supporting organ is moved, in that the second sorting stage consists of the supporting organ (8) and pressing organs (1,2) interacting with the supporting organ and with the pressing organs arranged for axial compression of the packagings, in that the opening of the frame (33) is of a size which maximizes the dimensions in at least one direction of packagings (7) passing through the opening and in that the second sorting stage is arranged with an opening (18) through which compressed packagings pass, whereby the opening maximizes the axial length of the compressed packagings which pass through the opening and are thereby sorted out. 2. A device as in Claim 1, characterized in that the supporting organ (8) is arranged with the opening (18) and in that the opening has a mainly rectangu¬ lar shape and faces downwards. 3. A device as in Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the opening (18) is provided with protuberances . (35,36) facing the centreline of the opening along at least half the length of the opening and at a distance (B-B) from each other slightly less than - 3 E£^ OMPI a certain established diameter of the packagings, whereby packagings having a diameter less .than the minimum value according to the predetermined inter¬ val drop through the opening when attempts are made to place them on the supporting organ (8) and their movement through the frame (33) is prevented. 4. A device as in any of Claims 1-3, characterized in that the supporting organ (8) is arranged with chiefly vertical supports (31,32) flanking the opening (18) and at a distance (A-A) from each other slightly greater than a certain established diameter of the packagings so that packagings having a diameter in excess of the maximum value according to the predetermined interval are prevented from being received by the supporting organ and from be¬ ing carried through the frame (33) . 5. A device as in Claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the supports are connected to each other at least ' at their lower ends so as to limit the length of the downward-directed opening (18) which is formed between the protuberances (35,36) and between the supports (31,32) respectively with the result that packagings having an axial length and a diameter less than the minimum value according to the pre- determined interval drop through the opening (18) if attempts are made to place them on the support¬ ing organ (8) and their transfer through the frame (33) is thus prevented. 6. A device as in Claim 1, characterized in that the position of the dimension-determining opening (18) mainly coincides with the position of the packag- . ings (7') in the final phase of their compression. OMPI /.. IPO -*. 7. A device as in Claim 1, characterized in that one of the pressing organs (1,2) is magnetic, whereby packagings (7) of magnetic material are returned to the first position (Fig. 2) outside the opening of the frame (33) in connection with the return of the first organ (8) to the starting position. 8. A device as in Claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the pressing organs (1,2) is connected to a drive organ (3) via a drive mechanism (9,10) in which is incorporated an organ (13) for inter¬ rupting the movement of the pressing organ at a pre¬ determined maximum pompressive force. 9. A device as in Claim 1, characterized in that a sensing and control organ is arranged for sensing the occurrence of magnetic material in a received packaging and on detection of such material for activating drive organs for moving the loader to avoid bringing the supporting organ (8) to the second sorting position. 10. A device as in any of the foregoing Claims, charac¬ terized in that a sensing and control organ is ar¬ ranged for sensing the occurrence of magnetic materi¬ al in a received packaging and on detection of such material for activating drive organs arranged for the movement of the loader- for bringing the support¬ ing organ (8) to the second sorting position.

Inventors: TROLLE STEN, TROLLE, STEN
Applicants: TROLLE STEN, TROLLE, STEN
Application year: 1982
Main classification: B07C5
IPC codes: B07C5, B30B9, G01M3, G07F7