Compacting device for compacting container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015033961-A1
Application number	US-201414446868-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 30, 2014
Priority date	Jul 31, 2012
Publication date	Feb 5, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

A compacting apparatus ( 1 ) for compacting receptacles has a compacting unit ( 3 ) with at least one first advancing device ( 4 ) for transporting at least one receptacle (G) in an insertion direction (E). The compacting unit ( 3 ) is configured to compact the receptacle (G) while the receptacle (G) is transported in the insertion direction (E). A post-compacting unit ( 5 ) is downstream of the compacting unit ( 3 ) in the insertion direction (E) and has at least one second advancing device ( 6 ) for transporting the at least one receptacle (G) through the post-compacting unit ( 5 ). The post-compacting unit ( 5 ) is configured to compact the at least one receptacle (G) further. Positions of the at least one first advancing device ( 4 ) of the compacting unit ( 3 ) and the at least one second advancing device ( 6 ) of the post-compacting unit ( 5 ) are changeable with respect to one another in the insertion direction (E).

First claim

1 . A compacting apparatus ( 1 ) for compacting receptacles, comprising:
a compacting unit ( 3 ) having at least one first advancing device ( 4 ) for transporting at least one receptacle (G) in an insertion direction (E), the compacting unit ( 3 ) being configured to compact the at least one receptacle (G) while the at least one receptacle is being transported in the insertion direction (E), and a post-compacting unit ( 5 ) arranged downstream of the compacting unit ( 3 ) in the insertion direction (E), said post-compacting unit ( 5 ) having at least one second advancing device ( 6 ) for transporting the at least one receptacle (G) through the post-compacting unit ( 5 ), wherein the post-compacting unit ( 5 ) is configured to compact the at least one receptacle (G) further, wherein
positions of the at least one first advancing device ( 4 ) of the compacting unit ( 3 ) and of the at least one second advancing device ( 6 ) of the post-compacting unit ( 5 ) are changeable with respect to one another in the insertion direction (E).

2 . The compacting apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the compacting unit ( 3 ) has a first housing ( 32 ) on which the at least one advancing device ( 4 ) is arranged, and the post-compacting unit ( 5 ) has a second housing ( 50 ) on which the at least one second advancing device ( 6 ) is arranged, wherein the positions of the first housing ( 32 ) and the second housing ( 50 ) are changeable with respect to one another in the insertion direction (E).

3 . The compacting apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 2 , wherein the first housing ( 32 ) of the compacting unit ( 3 ) and the second housing ( 50 ) of the post-compacting unit ( 5 ) are guided longitudinally together in the insertion direction (E).

4 . The compacting apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 2 , further comprising a spring-elastic pretensioning device ( 8 ) which pretensions the first housing ( 32 ) and the second housing ( 50 ) against changing position with respect to one another in the insertion direction (E).

5 . The compacting apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first advancing device ( 4 ) of the compacting unit ( 3 ) and the at least one second advancing device ( 6 ) of the post-compacting unit ( 5 ) form a compression space (R) between one another, wherein the at least one first advancing device ( 4 ) of the compacting unit ( 3 ) is configured to convey the at least one receptacle (G) into the compression space (R), and the at least one second advancing device ( 6 ) of the post-compacting unit ( 5 ) is configured to convey the at least one receptacle (G) out of the compression space (R), and a size of the compression space (R) is changeable by changing the position of the at least one first advancing device ( 4 ) and of the at least one second advancing device ( 6 ) with respect to one another.

6 . The compacting apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a control device ( 7 ), wherein the at least one first advancing device ( 4 ) of the compacting unit ( 3 ) is operable at a first conveying speed (V 1 ) for conveying the at least one receptacle (G) and the at least one second advancing device ( 6 ) of the post-compacting unit ( 5 ) is operable at a second conveying speed (V 2 ) for conveying the at least one receptacle (G) and the control device ( 7 ) is configured to control the first conveying speed (V 1 ) and the second conveying speed (V 2 ).

7 . The compacting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first drive apparatus ( 2 A- 2 C) for driving the at least one first advancing device ( 4 ) and a second drive apparatus ( 51 A- 51 C), different than the first drive apparatus ( 2 A- 2 C), for driving the at least one second advancing device ( 6 ).

8 . The compacting apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first drive apparatus ( 2 ) is operatively connected to a plurality of first advancing devices ( 4 ) in order to synchronously drive the first advancing devices ( 4 ) and/or the second drive apparatus ( 2 ) is operatively connected to a plurality of second advancing devices ( 4 ) in order to synchronously drive the second advancing devices ( 4 ).

9 . The compacting apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first advancing device ( 4 ) and the at least one second advancing device ( 6 ) are arranged in an offset manner with respect to one another in a circumferential direction around the insertion direction (E).

10 . The compacting apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first advancing device ( 4 ) of the compacting unit ( 3 ) is configured to convey the at least one receptacle (G) for compacting into a hopper (T) formed by the compacting unit ( 3 ).

11 . The compacting apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the compacting unit ( 3 ) has plural advancing devices ( 4 ) arranged in a circumferential direction around the insertion direction (E) around the hopper (T).

12 . The compacting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first advancing device ( 4 ) of the compacting unit ( 3 ) is formed by a chain drive ( 40 ) formed from chain links ( 400 ), wherein the chain drive ( 40 ) is configured to move in an advancing direction (V) along an outer lateral surface (M) of a hopper (T) during operation of the compacting apparatus ( 1 ) such that the at least one receptacle (G) is conveyed into the hopper (T) in the insertion direction (E).

13 . The compacting apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one second advancing device ( 6 ) of the post-compacting unit ( 5 ) is formed by a chain drive ( 60 ) formed from chain links ( 600 ), wherein the chain drive ( 60 ) is configured to transport the at least one receptacle (G) further in the insertion direction (E).

14 . The compacting apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one piercing tool ( 401 ) for piercing the at least one receptacle (G), the piercing tool ( 401 ) being arranged on the at least one first advancing device ( 4 ) and/or on the at least one second advancing device ( 6 ).

15 . The compacting apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 14 , wherein the at least one piercing tool ( 401 ) comprises plural piecing tools ( 401 ) arranged respectively on every second chain link ( 400 ) on the at least one first advancing device ( 4 ), which is formed by a chain drive ( 40 ) having chain links ( 400 ), while a piercing tool ( 601 ) is arranged on every chain link ( 600 ) on the at least one second advancing device ( 6 ), which is formed by a chain drive ( 60 ) having chain links ( 600 ).

Assignees

• Wincor Nixdorf Int Gmbh

Inventors

• Hartung Domenic

Classifications

• B30B9/321 Primary

  for consolidating empty containers, e.g. cans · CPC title

• B30B15/30

  Feeding material to presses · CPC title

• B30B1/30

  by the pull of chains or ropes {(B30B9/3071 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B30B12/00

  Presses not provided for in groups B30B1/00 - B30B11/00 · CPC title

• Y10S100/902

  Can crushers · CPC title