AN APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF PLASTIC CONTAINERS, SUCH AS BOTTLES

Abstract: Apparatus for the destruction of plastic containers such as bottles etc. in order to reduce the volume of empty containers by crushing them and obtaining raw material for new bottles. The apparatus uses a pair of rollers (5), each having a recess (13) in the outer shell together forming an aperture for accommodating the neck of a container (F) and having detection members (14) for sensing the neck and triggering rotation of the rollers (5) for crushing the container (F).

Description: An apparatus for the destruction of plastic containers, such as bottles The invention concerns an apparatus for the destruction of plastic containers, such as beverage bottles etc., the container being provided with a neck for locating a closure, the said neck being made with a collar. The introduction of plastic bottles for beverages, such as carbonated beverages, encounters resistance from the market because of the relatively serious burden on the environment. After all, the bottles are discarded after usage, causing a refuse problem. A solution for this is the return of the used bottles to the manufacturer, who can use them as raw material for new bottles. However, the bottles are voluminous in character, so resulting in high transport costs. The invention has as its object an apparatus whereby the volume of the bottles can be considerably reduced, by functional destruction of the bottles, that is, the bottles are made smaller. The apparatus according to the invention is distinguished by a frame with a pair of rollers rotatably supported therein, each roller displaying a recess in the outer shell, which recesses together form an aperture for accommodating the neck and the adjoining part of a container, there being fitted detection organs projecting into the aperture for sensing the presence of the neck, and for triggering the rollers. Through the rotation of the rollers, the plastic bottles are crushed, whereby their volume is made less. However, since detector means are also present for determin¬ ation of the presence of the neck of a bottle, the apparatus can only operate when a bottle is offered between the rollers. The idea of the invention is based on, among other things, the existence of standard bottle necks for various kinds of plastic bottle, whereby it is possible to exclude bottles of other materials from being processed, so that no contamination of the raw material takes place. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is dis¬ tinguished in that each roll is rotatably journalled around a shaft rotatable in the frame, each detection organ being formed by at least one arm fixed to a shaft and passing through a radial opening. Thus the apparatus becomes partic¬ ularly compact, since the detection means are incorporated in the rollers. It is preferable to locate a detection arm in each of the rollers, each arm being given a profiled tip, such that the tip of one arm detects the open end edge of the neck, and that of the other arm detects the collar of the neck. Both arms therefore have to be moved through a short distance before the rollers can come into operation. Each roller preferably has a shell which is rough- ened, for example by means of axially aligned teeth or ribs. By these means the bottle material is repeatedly locally stretched, whereby the bottles will retain their crushed shape after treatment. Each of the rollers can, according to the inven- tion, be provided with a cutting organ, the cutting organs of the two rollers cooperating, whereby a so-called flying cutter is obtained. This cutter cuts each bottle in two, or separates the usable parts from the unusable parts. These and other characteristics of the invention are further explained in the description with drawings, below. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows an axial cross-section of the pair of rollers equipped with detection means. Figure 2 shows a radial cross-section of the rollers of figure 1 along line II-II. In the drawings, 1 indicates the frame, which is here drawn merely as two parallel plates, which are obvious¬ ly joined together by cross members, plates, etc. not shown. Each plate has a bearing bush 2, in which a shaft 3 is rotat¬ ably mounted. The two shafts 3 run parallel to one another, and each serves as a support for a roller 5, rotatably mounted with respect to the shaft via bearing bushes 4. Next to each roller, coaxially therewith, there is fitted a gear wheel, also rotatably around shaft 3, the gear wheels 6 of the respective shafts 3 engaging with one anothe ' r. One of the gear wheels 6 also engages with a gear wheel 7 of a driving shaft 8, which is supported in one of the frame plates 1 by a bearing 9. Driving shaft 8 is turned via a coupling gear or transmission 10, via an input shaft 11 (not shown) . As is apparent from figure 2, each rolLer has a recess 13 in its shell surface, which recess consists of two parts, namely a cylindrical part perpendicular to the axial direction of shaft 3 and a part widened in relation thereto. The two recesses 13 together form a space for accommodating a plastic bottle F in figure 2. The roller 5 consists, in fact, of two adjacently arranged discs, whereof the central drilling for accommodat¬ ing the bearing bush 4 is widened at one flat surface, which widened drillingsof the two discs, arranged facing one another, accommodate a detector arm 14. Each detector arm 14 has a profiled tip, 15 and 16 respectively, which projects into space 13. Arm 14 is, to a limited extend, pivotable with respect to roller 5, on account of channel 17, leading from the widened drillingin roller 5 to the recess 13 in the shell thereof, being wider than the thickness of arm 14. The shell surface of rollers 5 is provided with ribs or teeth 18 aligned parallel to shafts 3. At a certain circumferential distance from recesses 13 or detector arms 14, there are also fitted in the shell cutting organs 19 and 20 respectively, thus creating a flying cutter. Both shafts 3 are extended past frame 1 at the left in figure 1 and are each provided with an arm 21, the arms pointing towards one another in the neutral position of the apparatus. The free end of each arm 21 is situated in the sensing region of a proximity switch 22, which serves to control the driving of shaft 11. This control mechanism falls, further, outside the scope of this invention, and is therefore not further described. This control requirement can obviously be met in any known way. Finally, a pretensioning spring 23, in the form of a helical spring, is operative between each shaft 3 and the respective roller 5, so arranged that detector arm 14 is prestressed in the direction of the enlarged part of recess 13. The above described apparatus works as follows: A bottle F, of plastic, which is indicated schema¬ tically in figure 2, usually has a standard neck construct¬ ion, that is a cylindrical part with a screw thread and collar. The distance between the open edge of the neck and its collar is always a fixed dimension. When bottle F is in¬ troduced into the space formed by recesses 13 in the shell surfaces of rollers 5 (see arrow PI), the leading edge of the neck pushes the upper detector arm 14 in figure 2 in a clockwise direction, while the collar of the neck pivots the lower arm 14 in an anticlockwise direction. Through this pivoting action, each shaft 3, as well as the arm 21 fasten¬ ed thereto, undergoes a pivoting movement. The free end parts of these arms 21 move out of rang of proximity switches 22, so that the drive for shaft 11 is enabled. Shaft 11 is rotated, and consequently shaft 8, which brings gear wheel 7 into rotary movement. Since the said gear wheel is in engagement with both gear wheels 6, these latter gear wheels 6 rotate rollers 5 around shafts 3. Although the shell surfaces of the two rollers are not in an engaged state, the two rollers 5 will synchronously turn in the direction of arrows P2 and P3 respectively, whereby plastic bottle F is drawn between the rollers in the direction of arrow PI and, at the same time, crushed. The ribs 18 on the roller shell strongly deform and stretch the material of the bottle, whereby the bottle will ultimately retain its crushed form. Finally, the cutting organs 19 and 20 cut away the bottom part 24 of the bottle, which bottom part is not usually suitable for recycling. As soon as the rollers have turned once and the bottle has disappeared in the pinch between the rollers, springs 23 ensure that detector arms 14 are returned to their starting position in respect of the rollers, so that 86/04014 these detector arms are again ready for detecting. The whole cycle is finished as soon as the free ends of arms 21 reach proximity switches 22, whereby the drive is stopped. The apparatus is then ready for a repetition of the cycle. Obviously, the invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment. Thus the drive can be a completely different one from the shown geared drive. The detection means to not have to be mounted centrally within the rollers, but could also be embodied in another way, for example electronically.

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Inventors: MENGER JAN WILLEM, VAN GEMERT HENDRIKUS THEODORUS, MENGER, JAN, WILLEM, VAN GEMERT, HENDRIKUS, THEODORUS
Applicants: GEMERT HENDRIKUS THEODORUS VAN, MENGER JAN WILLEM, MENGER, JAN, WILLEM, VAN GEMERT, HENDRIKUS, THEODORUS
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B29B17
IPC codes: B29B17, B30B9