Device for emptying containers

Abstract

An apparatus for the removal of liquids from deformable containers comprises a first holding device which is suitable for holding a first portion of the container, a second holding device which is suitable for holding a second portion of the container, a drive device for producing a relative movement between the first holding device and the second holding device in order to deform in this way the container arranged between these holding devices in such a way that the internal volume thereof is reduced, and a removal device which is connected in terms of flow to the inner space of the container and by way of which the liquid is capable of being removed as a result of compression of the container.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the removal of liquids from deformable containers comprising: a first holding device constructed and arranged to hold a first portion of the container; a second holding device constructed and arranged to hold a second portion of the container; wherein the second portion of the container is positioned at a distance from the first portion of the container; wherein the first and second holding devices are positioned relative to each other so that the container can be positioned between the first and second holding devices and can be deformed by a relative movement of one holding device with respect to the other holding device, and wherein one of the first and second holding devices has a curved projection and the other of the first and second holding devices has a recess opposite the container as the curved projection of the one of the first and second holding devices, the recess extending along a portion of, and not an entire width of, the other of the first and second holding devices, wherein a contact area between a bottom surface of the container and the second holding device is constant during the relative movement; a drive device for producing the relative movement between the first holding device and the second holding device to deform the container positioned between the first and second holding devices so that the internal volume thereof is reduced; and a removal device in fluid communication with an inner space of the container so that liquid can be removed from the container as a result of the reduction of the internal volume of the container, wherein at least portions of bodies of the first holding device and the second holding device can be directed toward each other in accordance with the relative movement to cause the reduction in volume in the container positioned between them.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the second holding device is adapted to a shape of a base of the container to be emptied.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the first holding device is adapted to a shape of a base of the container to be emptied.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a guide device which guides a relative movement between the first holding device and the second holding device in such a way that the first holding device and the second holding device are displaceable with respect to each other along a linear axis and are fixed relative to each other in a direction of rotation.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a central region of the first holding device, the first holding device further comprises a projection which faces in the direction of the second holding device.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising one or more ducts for conveying the medium to be emptied provided on a surface of the projection.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first holding device forms a contact face which is at least locally circularly annular for the container.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the removal device has a piercing device for piercing at least one wall of the container or a container closure of the container.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second holding device is displaceable with respect to the piercing device.

10. A method of removing liquids from a container comprising: arranging a container, a first portion of which is on a first holding device and a second portion of which is positioned at a distance from the first portion on a second holding device, so that the container is positioned at least locally between the first holding device and the second holding device; moving the second holding device relative to the first holding device to deform the container in order to reduce the internal volume of the container, wherein one of the first and second holding devices has a curved projection and the other of the first and second holding devices has a recess opposite the container as the curved projection of the one of the first and second holding devices, the recess extending along a portion of, and not an entire width of, the other of the first and second holding devices; and removing liquid out of the container by means of a removal device during moving of the second holding device, wherein at least portions of bodies of the first holding device and the second holding device which are directed toward each other are adapted to each other at least in sections so that when the first and second holding devices are moved toward each other an internal volume of the container positioned between the first and second holding devices is reduced and a contact area between a bottom surface of the container and the second holding device is constant during the movement.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the curved projection is in a circular area about a center of a region of the first or second holding device, which includes a central axis of the container to be emptied.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the region of the first or second holding device includes an axis of symmetry of the container.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the axis of symmetry is a geometrical axis of symmetry.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the region of the first or second holding device includes lower lying regions about the curved projection, and wherein the lower lying regions include regions facing away from an interior space of the container.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the curved projection is curved at least locally and shaped outwards in a dome-shape at least locally or has a profile in the shape of a hemisphere or hemi-ellipse.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the curved projection has a rotationally symmetrical cross-section or circular cross-section.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one portion between the first and second holding devices is formed without a housing, and wherein at least one portion of the container to be compressed is not surrounded during a compression procedure by a directly adjacent housing.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a projection on the second holding device, which engages either a recess in the container or a base of the container, and wherein when the first and second holding devices are positioned to be at or near each other, the projection engages a recess in the first holding device.

19. An apparatus for the removal of liquids from deformable containers comprising: a first holding device constructed and arranged to hold a first portion of the container; a second holding device constructed and arranged to hold a second portion of the container; wherein the second portion of the container is positioned at a distance from the first portion of the container; wherein the first and second holding devices are positioned relative to each other so that the container can be positioned between the first and second holding devices and can be deformed by a relative movement of one holding device with respect to the other holding device, and wherein one of the first and second holding devices has a curved projection and the other of the first and second holding devices has a recess opposite the container as the curved projection of the one of the first and second holding devices, the container partially inserted, and not entirely inserted, into the recess of the first holding device, wherein a contact area between a bottom surface of the container and the second holding device is constant during the relative movement; a drive device for producing the relative movement between the first holding device and the second holding device to deform the container positioned between the first and second holding devices so that the internal volume thereof is reduced; and a removal device in fluid communication with an inner space of the container so that liquid can be removed from the container as a result of the reduction of the internal volume of the container, wherein at least portions of bodies of the first holding device and the second holding device can be directed toward each other in accordance with the relative movement to cause the reduction in volume in the container positioned between them.

Description

(1) Further advantages and embodiments are evident from the accompanying figures. In the figures

(2) FIG. 1 is a first diagrammatic illustration of an apparatus according to the invention;

(3) FIGS. 2a, 2b are two illustrations of the projection of the first holding device;

(4) FIGS. 3a, 3b are two further illustrations of a design of the projection, and

(5) FIG. 4 is a further diagrammatic illustration of an apparatus according to the invention.

(6) FIG. 1 is a first diagrammatic illustration of an apparatus according to the invention for the emptying of containers 10. In this case this apparatus 1 has a first holding device 2 which in this case holds a shoulder region 10b of the container. This shoulder region 10b also has an aperture portion 10c in this case. The reference number 30 designates a removal device which in this case has a piercing element 32 which can be introduced into the container through the closure of the latter.

(7) The reference number 4 designates a second holding device, which in this case holds a base region 10a of the container. These two holding devices 2 and 4 can be brought up to each other in the direction. L which at the same time is also a longitudinal direction of the container. It will be seen that the regions 2a and 4a of the holding devices which are directed towards each other are adapted to each other in part with respect to their shape and, when brought up to each other to the maximum degree, can engage in each other. In this way, for example, the second holding device 4 has formed on it a projection 46 (in particular continuous) which engages on the one hand in a corresponding recess 10f in the container 10 or the base portion 10a thereof respectively and on the other hand, when the two holding devices 2 and 4 are brought up to each other, in a corresponding recess 124 which is provided in the first holding device 2.

(8) The reference number 122 designates a projection which is likewise made continuous in this case and, when the holding devices 2, 4 are brought up to each other, can engage in the recess 44. In addition, the container 10 has a corresponding projection 10d. The reference number 126 designates a curved region which can likewise engage in a corresponding curved recess 45 in the second holding device. In addition, this portion is adapted in the shape thereof to the base of the container 10.

(9) The reference number 8 designates a projection or the raised portion 8 respectively which is formed in a central region of the second holding device 4. This projection has in this case a dome-like structure which is likewise adapted to a corresponding recess 10g in the container. This projection helps with a still better emptying of the container, since liquid cannot build up in this region and, when the container is turned inside out, this region enters a shoulder region or aperture region 10c respectively, as indicated by the broken line V.

(10) FIG. 2a is a first illustration of the projection 8. This projection (illustrated diagrammatically in this case) has a plurality of ducts 84 by way of which the liquid medium can flow. Alternatively, the ducts 84 can also be shaped outwards as raised portions.

(11) FIG. 2b is a plan view of the projection 8 from FIG. 2a. The individual ducts 84, which, starting from a central recess 82, extend downwards in each case by way of the projection 8, are again evident here.

(12) It is advantageous for this projection 8 or raised portion respectively to be designed in such a way that, when the two holding devices 2 and 4 are brought up to each other, it enters the internal contour of the aperture 10c of the container and, in this way, leads to an even better residual emptying. As shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, this raised portion can be shaped outwards by a relief in the shape of an asterisk, as a result of which there are formed between the inner wall of the aperture and the raised portion small ducts which also allow even the last residue to flow out of the crushed bottle. This raised portion can also be part of a relief in this case and is supported by the holding means or the holding device 4 respectively. In this case it is also possible for this relief in the projection 8 to be designed in a circular annular shape and it preferably has an internal diameter which is greater [than] or equal to, and preferably equal to, the internal diameter of the receiving means of the aperture. In addition, in this way, the rolling behaviour on the shoulder 10b of the container is achieved in an improved manner (as compared to petaloid bottles for example).

(13) FIGS. 3a and 3b are a further illustration of the projection, in which the ducts 84 are designed in the form of reliefs in this case. Here too these reliefs can again form the corresponding ducts 84 described above. In this way, it is possible for example, as shown in FIG. 3b, for a negative impression to be formed in the base of the holding device. In this case it is also possible for such a base of the holding device to be larger than a bottle base of the large container. The reference number 88 designates a frame or the boundary of the holding device respectively.

(14) The reference number 46 again designates the continuous projection which again forms the stand area of the respective container.

(15) In addition, a corresponding relief-like container base can be designed in such a way that the container base forms a stand area, so that the container or the large container respectively can be set on the base without falling over. In this way the stability of the container inside the apparatus can also be ensured, and also the steadiness when the container 10 is standing on a flat substructure.

(16) In order to remove liquids, the container is introduced, as mentioned above, into the apparatus 1 and is then tapped. On account of the above-mentioned relief in the container base and the insertion of the container in the base the container is also stabilized by the two holding devices 2 and 4, since the base thereof fits into the corresponding negative impression of the second holding device 4.

(17) A corresponding negative impression of the container in the base of the apparatus can also be already incorporated in the holding device 2 or the punch which deforms the containers into themselves and crushes them respectively. This holding device 2 can likewise in this case have the relief-like pattern shown in FIGS. 2a to 3b. In this case it is also possible for the second holding device 4 to be mounted so as to be rotatable, so that the user can introduce on the large container (which is also very heavy) in an improved manner into the corresponding negative impression of the second holding device 4. If the container is introduced into the aforesaid negative impression of the second holding device 4 in a proper manner, there is also the possibility of this rotatable mounting being locked and of the system then being properly mounted and no longer rotatable.

(18) In addition, it is possible for a rotatable mounting and removal of the large container to be achieved if the large container is empty and reduced or also by a renewed rotation—actuated by the increased application of force—of the large container in one direction.

(19) FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the apparatus 1 according to the invention. In the case of this embodiment a guide device 90 is also shown which in this case has two guide rods 92 with respect to which the first holding device 2 is arranged in a displaceable manner by means of a slide 94. In addition, the removal device 30 or the tubular body respectively is arranged in this case so as to be displaceable with respect to the first holding device 2. It is advantageous in this case for the removal device 30 or the piercing device 32 respectively to be arranged in a stationary manner. It would be advantageous, however, for the invention to be designed in such a way that, other than shown in FIG. 4, the removal of the liquid is carried out by the second holding device 4 being brought up to the first holding device 2.

(20) In this way, in the case of this embodiment the punch or the holding device 2 respectively and the base holding means or the second holding device 4 respectively are displaceable towards each other by a guide, but are connected to each other in a manner preventing rotation so that the contours for the residual emptying are always precisely opposite each other. The base contour or the projection 8 respectively in the alignment of the receiving means of the aperture is not in this case an essential component of the base relief for the key/lock principle, since in this part the receiving means of the aperture is opposite the holding device 2. It is therefore proposed that the adaption of the two holding devices as illustrated above should be carried out not in a central region of the holding devices, but in a region radially on the outside thereof.

(21) The Applicants reserve the right to claim all the features disclosed in the application documents as being essential to the invention, insofar as they are novel either individually or in combination as compared with the prior art.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(22) 1 apparatus 2 first holding device 2a surface of the first holding device 4 second holding device 4a regions of the holding device 8 projection in the central region of the second holding device 4 10 container 10a base region 10b shoulder region 10c aperture portion 10d projection 10f recess 10g recess of the container 30 removal device 32 piercing device 44 recess 45 curved recess 46 projection 82 central recess 84 ducts 88 frame of the holding device 90 guide device 91 guide rods 94 slide 122 continuous projection 124 recess 126 curved region L longitudinal direction of the container, direction of movement