Patent ID: 7431144

Claim:
A temporary storage system ( 1 ) of belt type for lightweight hollow bodies (C), said system being particularly suitable for use with empty plastic containers (C) and comprising: a storage buffer vessel ( 2 ) provided with a feed entry opening ( 3 ) in an upper part of the vessel ( 2 ) and a discharge exit ( 4 ) in a lower part of the vessel ( 2 ), said exit ( 4 ) being situated above a conveyor means ( 5 ) for removal from the buffer vessel ( 2 ); at least one movable storage belt ( 6 a , 6 b , 6 c ) positioned substantially horizontally in an interior of said buffer vessel ( 2 ), said storage belt ( 6 a , 6 b , 6 c ) being arranged to receive a falling plurality of desired volumes (D) of said hollow bodies (C), while advancing during the fall of said hollow bodies (C) by a distance sufficient to maintain said volumes (D) separate, said volumes (D) being made to advance towards the discharge exit ( 4 ) and allowed to fall onto the conveyor means ( 5 ) when said stored hollow bodies (C) are required to be withdrawn; and sensor means ( 8 ), placed in a region in which the hollow bodies (C) fall on said movable storage belt ( 6 a , 6 b , 6 c ), for sensing that the desired volume (D) of hollow bodies (C) has been attained, said sensor means ( 8 ) then operating said movable storage belt ( 6 a , 6 b , 6 c ) for advancing it to free a receiving space for a next volume (D) of hollow bodies (C), wherein said sensor means comprises at least one sensor that determines when the desired volume (D) of hollow bodies (C) reaches a predetermined height.