Compacting apparatus for compacting receptacles

Abstract

A compacting apparatus (1) for compacting receptacles has at least one advancing device (2) for conveying a receptacle (G) in a conveying direction (E) to an exit opening (6) of the compacting apparatus (1). The at least one advancing device (2) is configured to act on the receptacle (G) for compacting during conveying. A flap device (5) has an adjustable retaining flap (50) that closes the exit opening (6) in a closed position so that a receptacle (G) conveyed against the retaining flap (50) by the at least one advancing device (2) is retained on the retaining flap (50). The retaining flap (50) is adjustable out of the closed position to release the exit opening (6).

Claims

1. A compacting apparatus for compacting receptacles, comprising: at least one advancing device for conveying a receptacle in a conveying direction to an exit opening of the compacting apparatus, the at least one advancing device being configured to act on the receptacle for compacting during conveying; a flap device having an adjustable retaining flap that closes the exit opening in a closed position so that a receptacle conveyed against the retaining flap by the at least one advancing device is retained on the retaining flap, the retaining flap being adjustable out of the closed position to release the exit opening; a moveable guiding surface, wherein an intermediate space is located between the movable guiding surface and the at least one advancing device, wherein the intermediate space is positioned along the conveying direction and receptacles travel through the intermediate space; and wherein the flap device is downstream of the at least one advancing device and the moveable guiding surface in the conveying direction.

2. The compacting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining flap is pivotable about a pivot axis.

3. The compacting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the retaining flap is pretensioned toward the closed position.

4. The compacting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the retaining flap opens automatically when a force exerted by the receptacle on the retaining flap exceeds a predetermined limit force.

5. The compacting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining flap is pivotable about a pivot axis that is offset with respect to the exit opening counter to the conveying direction.

6. The compacting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the retaining flap has a flap portion that closes the exit opening in the closed position.

7. The compacting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the flap portion is connected via at least one arm to a bearing element for pivotably mounting the retaining flap on a housing of the compacting apparatus.

8. The compacting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the flap portion is oriented with respect to the conveying direction in which the receptacle is conveyed against the flap portion during operation of the compacting apparatus, such that the receptacle conveyed against the flap portion exerts a force action on the flap portion, said force action being directed at least with one direction vector component in an adjusting direction in which the retaining flap is adjustable out of the closed position.

9. The compacting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the exit opening is formed between two guide plates for guiding the receptacle, the guide plates forming between one another a storage space into which the receptacle is intended to be conveyed, and the flap portion of the retaining flap bounding the storage space on an outlet side.

10. The compacting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the flap portion of the retaining flap describes, in the closed position, an angle of greater than 90 with a line that points through the pivot axis of the retaining flap and through a point of action of the flap portion on which a receptacle conveyed against the flap portion acts.

11. A compacting apparatus for compacting receptacles, the compacting apparatus comprising: at least one advancing device for conveying a receptacle in a conveying direction to an exit opening of the compacting apparatus, the at least one advancing device being configured to act on the receptacle for compacting during conveying; a flap device having an adjustable retaining flap that closes the exit opening in a closed position so that a receptacle conveyed against the retaining flap by the at least one advancing device is retained on the retaining flap, the retaining flap being adjustable out of the closed position to release the exit opening; wherein the exit opening is formed between two guide plates; and wherein the flap device is at least partially formed by spaced-apart blocking bars that block the exit opening in the closed position, and in the closed position the blocking bars engage through slots in at least one of the guide plates.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a compacting apparatus.

(2) FIG. 2 is an elevational view of an advancing device interacting with a flap device.

(3) FIG. 3 is the view of FIG. 2, illustrating a receptacle conveyed toward the flap device.

(4) FIG. 4 is the view of FIG. 2, illustrating an angle between a flap portion and a line pointing through the pivot axis of the retaining flap.

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a flap portion of the flap device interacting with a guide plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a compacting apparatus 1 with a housing 10 and an advancing device 2 arranged therein, for example in the form of a roller or the like.

(7) An insertion hopper 100 is formed by guiding surfaces 11, 12 and a receptacle G can be inserted therein. The advancing device is rotatable about a rotation axis D and conveys the receptacle G in a conveying direction E and in the process compacts the receptacle G, thus reducing its volume, by compression of the receptacle G transverse to the conveying direction E. To this end, the guiding surface 11 can be mounted in a resilient manner with respect to the housing 10 by a pretensioning device 110. The advancing device 2 conveys the receptacle G in the conveying direction E into an intermediate space between the guiding surface 11 and the advancing device 2 and in the process compresses it.

(8) Guide plates 3, 4 are arranged downstream of the advancing device 2 in the conveying direction E and a storage space R is formed between the guide plates 3, 4 for receiving the receptacle G conveyed by the advancing device 2. The compacting apparatus 10 has an exit opening 6 on the outlet side of this storage space R, and a compacted receptacle G passes through the exit opening 6 to be ejected from the compacting apparatus 1.

(9) A flap device 5 is arranged at the exit opening 6 and can close the exit opening 6 so that a receptacle G cannot pass through the exit opening 6 but rather is retained at the flap device 5. In this way, it is possible, following compacting by the advancing device 2 and the guiding surface 11, for a receptacle G to additionally be compressed at the flap device 5 and as a result also to be longitudinally shortened in the longitudinal direction in the conveying direction E so that the receptacle G is compacted further down to the compacted receptacle G. Thus, compared with the original receptacle G, the compacted receptacle G is compressed both transverse to its longitudinal direction and in its longitudinal direction, so that a compact, for example approximately spherical or cuboidal or accordion-like shape of the compacted receptacle G can result.

(10) A specific configuration of a flap device 5 is illustrated in an exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 2 to 5.

(11) In the exemplary embodiment, the advancing device 2 is formed by a cutting unit of the type in DE 10 2006 033 615 A1, although this should not be understood in a limiting manner. In principle, the advancing device 2 can be configured in any desired manner to effect an advancing movement in the conveying direction E.

(12) The advancing device 2 compacts a receptacle G (see FIG. 3) initially in a manner interacting with the guiding surface 11 transverse to the conveying direction E. Piercing tools 20 in the manner of hooks are formed on the advancing device 2. The hooks are used to pierce the receptacle G at least in a punctiform manner and thus achieve perforation, effective compacting and also effective transmission of advancing forces to the receptacle G. As a result of the perforation, it is possible for example for air to escape from the interior of the receptacle G so that the receptacle G can be compressed. The piercing of the piercing tools 20 into the receptacle G additionally produces what are known as interleaving cuts, which interleave the walls of the receptacle G with one another such that the receptacle G retains its compacted form and is not restored to its original form from the compacted form.

(13) The advancing device 2 conveys a receptacle G into a storage space R located between guide plates 3, 4. The guide plate 4 has a guiding portion 40 which extends substantially parallel to the guide plate 3. The guide plates 3, 4 are each arranged in a fixed position on the housing 10 of the compacting apparatus 1.

(14) The guide plate 3 also functions as a stripping tool and is in meshed engagement with disks 21 of the advancing device 2 (see FIG. 5). Thus, a receptacle G conveyed in the conveying direction E by the advancing device 2 runs onto the guide plate 3 and as a result is stripped from the advancing device 2.

(15) As stated, the guide plates 3, 4 bound between one another a storage space R. In this case, the guide plates 3, 4 are arranged opposite one another transversely to the conveying direction E and enclose the storage space R, wherein the storage space R can furthermore be bounded by suitable walls of the housing 10 which extend (parallel to the plane of the drawing in the views according to FIGS. 2 to 4) between the guide plates 3, 4.

(16) On the outlet side, the guide plates 3, 4 form the exit opening 6 through which a receptacle G has to pass after it has been compacted, in order to leave the compacting apparatus 1. In an initial state, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, this exit opening 6 is closed by a flap portion 500 of a retaining flap 50 of the flap device 5, such that in this initial state it is not readily possible for a receptacle G to pass through the exit opening 6.

(17) The flap portion 500 of the retaining flap 50 is connected, via arms 501, 502 which extend at an angle to one another and between which a stabilizing arm 504 for stabilizing the retaining flap 50 extends, to a bearing element 503 by means of which the retaining flap 50 is arranged on the housing 10 of the compacting apparatus 1 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis S. About the pivot axis S, which is arranged in an offset manner with respect to the exit opening 6 counter to the conveying direction E, the retaining flap 50 can be pivoted out of its closed position in an adjusting direction A in order in this way to be transferred into an open position in which the exit opening 6 is released.

(18) On account of the offset of the pivot axis S of the retaining flap 50 with respect to the exit opening 6 counter to the conveying direction E, the adjusting direction A is directed at least approximately transversely to the conveying direction E. Adjustment of the flap portion 500 out of the region of the exit opening 6 takes place in the adjusting direction A about the pivot axis S.

(19) The retaining flap 50 is pretensioned with respect to the housing 10 by means of a pretensioning device 52 in the form of a (tension) spring element to be subjected to tensile loading, and in the specific configuration of the exemplary embodiment, is connected to the guide plate 4. The pretensioning device 52 acts on a setting device 51 which is arranged on the retaining flap 50 and by means of which the pretension of the retaining flap 50 relative to the housing 10 can be set. The setting device 51 has a setscrew 510 which is connected via one end 511 to the pretensioning device 52 in the form of the spring element and is held on the arm 502 of the retaining flap 50 via a nut 512. By adjusting the nut 512, the pretension can be set in that the distance of the end 511 from the guide plate 4 is varied in the closed position.

(20) During operation, the advancing device 2 conveys a receptacle G, as is illustrated in FIG. 3, into the storage space R between the guide plates 3, 4, said storage space R being closed on the outlet side in the initial state by the flap portion 500 of the retaining flap 50 located in its closed position. On account of the retaining action of the flap portion 500, compression of the receptacle G at the flap section 500 thus occurs as a result of the conveying action of the advancing device 2, and thus also compacting longitudinally in the conveying direction E, as is illustrated in FIG. 3.

(21) On account of the conveying force which the advancing device 2 exerts on the receptacle G, a force action on the flap portion 500 in the conveying direction E additionally occurs. This force action increases the further the advancing device 2 conveys the receptacle G into the storage space R, wherein the pretensioning device 52 pretensioning the retaining flap 50 defines a limit force, the exceeding of which causes the retaining flap 50 to open and thus to release the exit opening 6 for the receptacle G to pass through.

(22) As is apparent from FIG. 4, the flap portion 500 of the retaining flap 50 describes, together with a line L which points through the pivot axis (S) and through a point at which the flap portion 500 crosses the guiding portion 40 of the guide plate 4, an angle which is greater than 90. This has the effect that a force of the receptacle G conveyed against the flap portion 500 and retained at the flap portion 500 acts at least with a direction vector component in the adjusting direction A and can thus cause the retaining flap 50 to open. The force action of the receptacle G on the retaining flap 50 takes place predominantly in the conveying direction E. In this case, the receptacle G presses against the flap portion 500, wherein a force action occurs at the flap portion 500 on account of the inclination of the flap portion 500 toward the guiding portion 40 of the guide plate 4, said force action also being directed at least with a vector component in the direction of the adjusting direction A.

(23) Because not all of the force exerted by the receptacle G on the flap portion 500 acts in the direction of the adjusting direction A, but merely a portion which corresponds to the amount of the force direction vector component that acts in the direction of the adjusting direction A, the pretensioning device 52 can be dimensioned in a comparatively small manner. In particular, the pretensioning device 52 does not have to provide and absorb all of the limit force, but merely the portion that acts in the adjusting direction A. In other words, the limit force, the exceeding of which results in the opening of the retaining flap 50 on account of the force action of the receptacle G on the flap portion 500, is greater than the force that the pretensioning device 52 provides.

(24) It should be noted in this respect that the pretensioning device 52 already pretensions the retaining flap 50 in the initial position with respect to the guide plate 4 and thus to the housing 10, such that the retaining flap is held by force in its closed position.

(25) In the exemplary embodiment, the flap portion 500 of the retaining flap 50, as illustrated in FIG. 5, is formed by spaced-apart blocking bars 505 which extend through slots 400 in the guiding portion 40 and thus mesh with the guiding portion 40. The blocking bars 505 project into the region between the guide plates 3, 4 and in this way block the exit opening 6 to prevent the passage of a receptacle G. The blocking bars 505 can be adjusted in the adjusting direction A out of this closed position and then move in the slots 400 so that the exit opening 6 is released.

(26) The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments outlined above, but can also be realized in principle in embodiments of entirely different types.

(27) In particular, advancing devices of quite different types are conceivable and usable in principle, wherein one or more advancing devices can be used for the unidimensional or multidimensional compacting of a receptacle.

(28) For example, instead of an advancing roller, it is also possible to use advancing devices that use chain drives, cable drives, bands, belts or the like. Advancing devices that use advancing screws are also conceivable.

(29) A plurality of advancing devices can in this case be arranged in such a manner with respect to one another that they form a hopper into which a receptacle can be thrown in order to be conveyed into the hopper and to be compacted by being guided through a narrowed end of the hopper.

(30) In principle, the flap device can also adopt a completely different design. For example, a retaining flap of the flap device can also be arranged on a housing of a compacting apparatus so as to be movable or displaceable in some other way.

(31) Likewise, it is in principle conceivable not to control adjustment of the flap device between its closed position and its open position in a spring-mechanical manner but for example using an electronic control device which measures a force exerted on the retaining plate by means of a suitable sensor system and causes the retaining flap to be opened in an electronically controlled manner when a predetermined limit force is exceeded.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(32) 1 Compacting apparatus 10 Housing 100 Insertion hopper 101 Insertion opening 11, 12 Guiding surface 110 Pretensioning device 2 Advancing device (cutting unit) 20 Piercing tool 21 Disks 3 Guide plate (stripping tool) 4 Guide plate 40 Guiding portion 400 Slots 5 Flap device 50 Retaining flap 500 Flap portion 501, 502 Arm 503 Bearing element 504 Stabilizing arm 505 Blocking bars 51 Setting device 510 Setscrew 511 End 512 Nut 52 Spring element 6 Exit opening A Adjusting direction D Rotation axis E Conveying direction G Receptacle G Compacted receptacle L Line R Storage space S Pivot point V Direction of rotation