A device for reducing the volume of plastic material containers

Abstract: The device subject of the present invention comprises a housing (1) that is open at its lower base and includes within a hollow funnel-shaped body (9) with its pipe (9) inserted into the mouth of its container. The top opening of the funnel (9) communicates with means (5) and (6) generating a hot air current combined with holes (7) in the housing; said hot air current is injected into the cavity of the container, causing its constituent plastic material to be softened, facilitating its deformation by axial compression. The device is applicable for reducing the size of moulded plastic material containers by pressure and heat in order to allow a large number of units to be stored in as little space as possible.

Description: The present invention relates to a device for reducing the volume of plastic material containers. In particular, the invention provides a device especially designed to reduce the volume of containers obtained by moulding thermoplastic materials, upon applying heat and a slight manual pressure in order for the containers to be flattened axially. The device has been devised to solve the current problem derived from the large amount of disposable type containers having the characteristics aforesaid, which require a large storage space, which space is a setback for household chores and moreover in shops where such containers are sold. The drawback aforesaid is eliminated with the device subject of the present invention for the container, being a bottle or the like, is flattened and its capacity and size is therefore reduced to a minimum, enabling a large number of said containers to be stored in a small crate. FR-A-2 231 497 shows a device for reducing the volume of thermoplastic bottles by using hot air being blown into the bottle after which the bottle is axially compressed. Generally speaking, the device subject of the invention is defined in claim 1 and comprises an upwardly elongate structure or housing, its configuration derived from a cylinder of revolution, its lower middle portion being wider and open at the base of such portion, wherein the top portion of the open bottle to be treated is housed, and upon which the device is seated. Said device includes means for generating a hot air current that is injected into the cavity of the container in order to soften its plastic structure, and a slight manual pressure is at the same time exerted upon the top base of the device, assisting in flattening the container, all within little time. A preferred embodiment of the invention is defined in claim 2. For ease of explanation, attached hereto is a sheet of drawings showing an embodiment cited as an example. In the drawings: The only figure is a semi-sectional elevation view of the device applied to a bottle to be treated. With reference to the only figure, the embodiment therein shows a device comprising a housing generally designated -1-, its configuration derived from a cylinder of revolution with a top convex base, at -2-, in order for a user's hand to be easily supported thereon, whereas the lower base is open, at -3-, the lower middle portion of the container having a substantially frustum-of-the-cone configuration, at -4-, the above in accordance with the morphology of the type of containers for which the device is intended. The top portion of the device, in its functional position, as illustrated in the only figure, contains an electric motor -5- to drive a turbine -6- that draws air in from the outside through communication holes -7-, propelling it through heating resistors -8-, whereupon the heated air is directed through a hollow funnel-like body -9- which on reducing its pitch increases the speed of the hot air that is injected directly into the cavity -10- of the container, which is softened due to the substantial temperature increase and thus becomes easily deformable to flattening under the manual pressure exerted by the user's hand holding the device and supported on its base -2-. As shown in the figure, the funnel pipe -9a- is inserted into the container -10- in order that air may be injected directly into such container. There is an annular gap between the funnel pipe -9a- and the mouth of the bottle -10-, designated -11-, for the hot air used to leave through the communications -12- and holes -13-. The device -14- includes an on-off switch -14-.

Claims: A device for reducing the volume of plastic material containers, particularly disposable type containers, characterised in that it consists of an upwardly elongate housing (1) open at its bottom base and including within a hollow funnel-like body (9) adopting a coaxial arrangement with respect to the housing, and its pipe (9a) being of suitable section to enable it to be loosely inserted into the mouth of the container, its free end to lie within the container, whereas the wide top opening of the funnel (9) communicates with means fitted in the housing proper which generate a hot air current that is propelled along the funnel and injected into the cavity of the container, in order to soften its constituent plastic material and facilitate its deformation by axial compression under the manual pressure exerted upon the top base (2) of the device. A device for reducing the volume of plastic material containers, as in claim 1, characterised in that the means generating the hot air current comprise an electric motor (5) with its drive shaft connected to a turbine (6) which draws cold air in from the outside through holes (7) and has it flow through electric heating resistors (8), injecting the air through the funnel pipe (9a) into the container cavity, the gap (11) between the latter and the mouth of said container being for the air to leave to the outside.

Inventors: SALVADOR ARELLANO ANGEL, SALVADOR ARELLANO, ANGEL, Salvador Arellano, Angel, C/ Carrasco i Formiguera
Applicants: REALIZACIONES P M A S L, REALIZACIONES P.M.A., S.L.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B29B17
IPC codes: B09B3, B30B9, B29B17