DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING OF SPRAY CANS

Abstract

A device for processing spray cans includes a first space, separating means for separating spray cans in the first space, a second space, first transport means for transporting gas from the first space to the second space, and compressing means for compressing gas in the second space. The device also includes second transport means for transporting heat, released during compressing of the gas, from the second space to the first space. The second transport means includes a conduit for having a fluid, flow therethrough. A method for processing of spray cans by means of such a device.

Claims

1. A device for processing of spray cans, the device comprising: a first space, separating means for separating spray cans in the first space, a second space, first transport means for transporting gas from the first space to the second space, and compressing means for compressing gas in the second space, wherein the device further comprises second transport means configured for transporting heat, released during compressing of the gas, from the second space to the first space.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second transport means comprises a conduit for having a fluid flow therethrough.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separating means comprises compacting means for compacting spray cans.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the compacting means comprises a ram movable in the first space.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separating means comprises perforating means for perforating spray cans.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the separating means comprises cutting means for cutting spray cans into pieces.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device further comprises first discharge means for discharging solid material from the first space.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the device further comprises second discharge means for discharging liquid from the first space.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the device further comprises third discharge means for discharging liquid from the second space.

10. A method for processing of spray cans, the method comprising: separating spray cans in a first space by means of separating means provided for this purpose, transporting gas from the first space to a second space by means of first transport means provided for this purpose, and compressing gas in the second space by means of compressing means, wherein the method further comprises of transporting heat, released during compressing of the gas, from the second space to the first space by means of second transport means.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the transporting of heat comprises having a fluid, flow through a conduit.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the separating comprises of compacting spray cans by means of compacting means.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the compacting takes place by means of a ram movable in the first space.

14. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the separating comprises of perforating spray cans by perforating means.

15. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the separating comprises of cutting spray cans into pieces by cutting means.

16. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the method also comprises of discharging solid material from the first space by first discharge means.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the method also comprises of discharging liquid from the first space by second discharge means.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the method also comprises of discharging liquid from the second space by third discharge means.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of exemplary embodiments.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows schematically a preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The device (1) shown in FIG. 1 for processing spray cans (2) comprises a first space (3), separating means for separating spray cans (2) in the first space (3), a second space (9), first transport means for transporting (13) gas from the first space (3) to the second space (9), and compressing means for compressing gas (10) in the second space (9). The device (1) also comprises feed means for feeding (4) spray cans into the first space (3), first discharge means for discharging (7) solid material of the containers and valves from the first space (3), and second discharge means for discharging (8) liquid (6) from the first space (3). The device (1) also comprises third discharge means for discharging (12) liquid (11) from the second space (9). The separating means can comprise compacting means for compacting spray cans, for instance a ram movable in the first space (3), and/or perforating means for perforating spray cans, and/or cutting means for cutting spray cans into pieces.

[0013] For the purpose of processing spray cans (2) they are fed (4) into the first space (3) by means of the feed means and separated in the first space (3) by means of the separating means, wherein active substance and propellant are separated from the containers and valves. Solid material of containers and valves is discharged (7) from the first space (3) by means of the first discharge means.

[0014] When process parameters such as heat flow (14), gas flow (13), temperatures and pressures are set correctly, active substance (6) is discharged (8) from the first space (3) by means of the second discharge means, and gaseous propellant is transported (13) from the first space (3) to the second space (9) by means of the first transport means, and liquid propellant (11) is discharged (12) from the second space (9) by means of the third discharge means. The separated discharged solid material, active substance and liquid propellant can then separately be further processed, destroyed or reused.

[0015] According to the invention, the device (1) now also comprises second transport means for transporting (14) heat, released during compressing of the gas (10), from the second space (9) to the first space (3). The second transport means can for instance comprise a conduit for having a fluid, a liquid or gas preferably a coolant, flow therethrough. Heat which is released during the compressing/condensing of the gas (10) or gaseous propellant in the second space (9) can thus be used to compensate for cold which is released during expansion of gas/evaporation of liquid or liquid propellant in the first space (3). It is thus possible to bring about that the first space (3) does not become too cold and the second space (9) does not become too hot, while the whole process is energy-efficient.

[0016] It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the given exemplary embodiments, but that within the scope of the invention diverse variants obvious to a skilled person are possible. The invention can thus also be applied in the processing of containers with content other than spray cans.

REFERENCE NUMERALS USED

[0017] 1 device [0018] 2 spray can [0019] 3 first space [0020] 4 feed of spray cans (into the first space) [0021] 5 gas (in first space) [0022] 6 liquid (in first space) [0023] 7 discharge of solid material (from first space) [0024] 8 discharge of liquid (from first space) [0025] 9 second space [0026] 10 gas (in second space) [0027] 11 liquid (in second space) [0028] 12 discharge of liquid (from second space) [0029] 13 transport of gas (from first space to second space) [0030] 14 transport of heat (from second space to first space)