Compacting device for compacting container

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).

Claims

1. A compacting apparatus for compacting receptacles, comprising: a compacting unit having at least one first advancing device for transporting at least one receptacle in an insertion direction, the compacting unit being configured to compact the at least one receptacle while the at least one receptacle is being transported in the insertion direction; a post-compacting unit arranged downstream of the compacting unit in the insertion direction, said post-compacting unit having at least one second advancing device for transporting the at least one receptacle through the post-compacting unit, wherein the post-compacting unit is configured to compact the at least one receptacle further, wherein positions of the at least one first advancing device of the compacting unit and of the at least one second advancing device of the post-compacting unit are changeable with respect to one another in the insertion direction; and wherein the compacting unit has a first housing on which the at least one advancing device is arranged, and the post-compacting unit has a second housing on which the at least one second advancing device is arranged, wherein the positions of the first housing and the second housing are changeable with respect to one another in the insertion direction.

2. The compacting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first housing of the compacting unit and the second housing of the post-compacting unit are guided longitudinally together in the insertion direction.

3. The compacting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a spring-elastic pretensioning device which pretensions the first housing and the second housing against changing position with respect to one another in the insertion direction.

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

5. The compacting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control device, wherein the at least one first advancing device of the compacting unit is operable at a first conveying speed for conveying the at least one receptacle and the at least one second advancing device of the post-compacting unit is operable at a second conveying speed for conveying the at least one receptacle and the control device is configured to control the first conveying speed and the second conveying speed.

6. The compacting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first drive apparatus for driving the at least one first advancing device and a second drive apparatus, different than the first drive apparatus, for driving the at least one second advancing device.

7. The compacting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first drive apparatus is operatively connected to a plurality of first advancing devices in order to synchronously drive the first advancing devices and/or the second drive apparatus is operatively connected to a plurality of second advancing devices in order to synchronously drive the second advancing devices.

8. A compacting apparatus for compacting receptacles, comprising: a compacting unit having at least one first advancing device for transporting at least one receptacle in an insertion direction, the compacting unit being configured to compact the at least one receptacle while the at least one receptacle is being transported in the insertion direction, and a post-compacting unit arranged downstream of the compacting unit in the insertion direction, said post-compacting unit having at least one second advancing device for transporting the at least one receptacle through the post-compacting unit, wherein the post-compacting unit is configured to compact the at least one receptacle further, wherein positions of the at least one first advancing device of the compacting unit and of the at least one second advancing device of the post-compacting unit are changeable with respect to one another in the insertion direction; wherein the at least one first advancing device and the at least one second advancing device are arranged in an offset manner with respect to one another in a circumferential direction around the insertion direction.

9. The compacting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one first advancing device of the compacting unit is configured to convey the at least one receptacle for compacting into a hopper formed by the compacting unit.

10. The compacting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the compacting unit has plural advancing devices arranged in a circumferential direction around the insertion direction around the hopper.

11. The compacting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one first advancing device of the compacting unit is formed by a chain drive formed from chain links, wherein the chain drive is configured to move in an advancing direction along an outer lateral surface of a hopper during operation of the compacting apparatus such that the at least one receptacle is conveyed into the hopper in the insertion direction.

12. The compacting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one second advancing device of the post-compacting unit is formed by a chain drive formed from chain links, wherein the chain drive is configured to transport the at least one receptacle further in the insertion direction.

13. The compacting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one piercing tool for piercing the at least one receptacle, the piercing tool being arranged on the at least one first advancing device and/or on the at least one second advancing device.

14. The compacting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one piercing tool comprises plural piercing tools arranged respectively on every second chain link on the at least one first advancing device, which is formed by a chain drive having chain links, while a piercing tool (601) is arranged on every chain link on the at least one second advancing device, which is formed by a chain drive having chain links.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compacting apparatus having a compacting unit and a post-compacting unit arranged downstream of the compacting unit.

(2) FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the compacting apparatus.

(3) FIG. 3 is a more cutaway perspective view of the compacting apparatus.

(4) FIG. 4 is another partially cutaway perspective view of the compacting apparatus.

(5) FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the compacting apparatus.

(6) FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the post-compacting unit.

(7) FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the post-compacting unit without a housing.

(8) FIG. 6C is a further perspective view of the post-compacting unit without the housing.

(9) FIG. 7A is a perspective view of advancing devices of the post-compacting unit.

(10) FIG. 7B is an elevational view of the advancing devices of the post-compacting unit.

(11) FIG. 8 is an elevational view of an advancing device in the form of a chain drive of the post-compacting unit.

(12) FIG. 9A is a bottom plan view of the advancing devices of the post-compacting unit.

(13) FIG. 9B is a top plan view of the advancing devices of the post-compacting unit.

(14) FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the advancing devices of the compacting unit and of the post-compacting unit.

(15) FIG. 10B is another perspective view of the advancing devices of the compacting unit and of the post-compacting unit.

(16) FIG. 11A is a bottom plan view of the advancing devices of the compacting unit and of the post-compacting unit.

(17) FIG. 11B is a top plan view of the advancing devices of the compacting unit and of the post-compacting unit.

(18) FIG. 12 is a plan view of the compacting apparatus.

(19) FIG. 13A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 12.

(20) FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 12, with the post-compacting unit in an adjusted state.

(21) FIG. 13C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 12;

(22) FIG. 14A is a schematic view of the advancing devices of the compacting unit and of the post-compacting unit.

(23) FIG. 14B is a schematic view of the compacting unit from above.

(24) FIG. 15 is a schematic view of an advancing device of the compacting unit and an advancing device of the post-compacting unit.

(25) FIG. 16 is a schematic view of the compacting unit and of the post-compacting unit illustrating the changeability of position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(26) FIGS. 1 to 13 show an exemplary embodiment of a compacting apparatus 1 which has a compacting unit 3 for conveying a receptacle G in an insertion direction E and for compacting the receptacle G in the compacting unit 3, and a post-compacting unit 5, arranged downstream of the compacting unit 3 in the insertion direction E, for compacting the receptacle G further.

(27) The compacting unit 3 and the post-compacting unit 5 realize different units which interact to compact a receptacle G.

(28) The compacting unit 3 has six advancing devices 4 which are formed by chain drives 40 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The chain drives 40 are mounted on bearing plates 34 of a housing 32 via sprockets 412 and have chains that are formed from chain links 400 and are arranged on the sprockets 412. Together with guide surfaces 36, the chain drives 40 form a hopper and are intended to be driven such that a receptacle G can be inserted into the hopper through an insertion opening 300 in order to be conveyed through the compacting unit 3 by means of the chain drives 40.

(29) The insertion opening 300 is arranged on a cover plate 30 of the housing 32 and has a cross-sectional area A1 (see FIGS. 14A and 14B). The lateral surface M, bounded by the guide surfaces 36 and the advancing devices 4 in the form of the chain drives 40, of the hopper T (see FIG. 14A) narrows in the insertion direction E down to a cross-sectional area A2 at the outlet-side end of the hopper T (see FIGS. 14A and 14B). As a result of the receptacle G being conveyed through the hopper T, the receptacle G is compacted, i.e. its volume is reduced.

(30) In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the compacting unit 3 has three drive apparatuses such as referenced at 2A and 2B, of which only one is visible in FIG. 2. The drive apparatuses 2A each have an electric motor 20A which drives two gear wheels 23A via a drive shaft 21A and a gear wheel 22A arranged thereon. Motor 20B of drive apparatus 2B is referenced in FIG. 13C. The gear wheels 23A are each connected firmly to a bevel wheel 24A which is in turn in interlocking engagement with a bevel wheel 410. The bevel wheel 410 is arranged on a shaft 41 of the upper sprocket 412 of an advancing device 4 and is connected firmly to the sprocket 412 via the shaft 41.

(31) The drive shaft 20A is furthermore connected to a toothed wheel 25A which is in interlocking engagement with an internally toothed ring gear 26. The ring gear 26 extends around the compacting unit 3 and serves to synchronize the three different drive apparatuses 2A with one another in that all of the drive apparatuses 2A are coupled mechanically together via the ring gear 26 and can thus move only uniformly.

(32) During operation, the drive shaft 21A and the gear wheel 22A arranged thereon are set into rotary movement via the electric motor 20A. As a result, the gear wheels 23A and the bevel wheels 24A connected thereto are likewise set into a rotary movement which is transmitted via the bevel wheels 410 to the shafts 41 and thus the sprockets 412 to the left and right of the bevel wheels 24A. Since the drive shaft 21A is still in interlocking engagement with the ring gear 26 via the toothed wheel 25A and as a result the movements of the drive apparatuses 2A are synchronized with one another, all of the chain drives 40 are driven in a uniform, aligned manner such that a receptacle G inserted into the insertion opening 300 in the insertion direction E is conveyed into the compacting unit 3.

(33) Connected downstream of the compacting unit 3 is the post-compacting unit 5. As is apparent from FIGS. 3 to 6A-6C, the post-compacting unit 5 has six advancing devices 6, corresponding to the number of advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3, said advancing devices 6 likewise being formed by chain drives 60 having a chain composed of chain links 600. The advancing devices 6 are arranged and mounted on a housing 50 of the post-compacting unit 3, wherein each chain drive 60, as is apparent from FIG. 8, has a sprocket 602 that is in engagement with the chain formed from chain links 600, and also a guide element 62 having a guide track 620 on which the chain is guided.

(34) The post-compacting unit 5 hasin an analogous manner to the compacting unit 3three drive apparatuses 51A, 51B, 51C which each comprise an electric motor 511A, 511B, 511C (see for example FIG. 6C). The electric motors 511A, 511B, 511C are each in interlocking engagement with an internally toothed ring gear 53 via a drive wheel 510A, 510B, 510C, the drive apparatuses 51A, 51B, 51C being synchronized with one another and being operatively connected to drive trains 52A, 52B, 52C via said ring gear 53.

(35) Each drive train 52A, 52B, 52C is assigned two advancing devices 6, wherein each drive train 52A, 52B, 52C is arranged between in each case two advancing devices 6 (as seen in the circumferential direction around the insertion direction E). Each drive train 52A, 52B, 52C has, as is apparent from FIGS. 3 to 5, a toothed wheel 520A, 520B, 520C which is arranged on a shaft 521A and is in interlocking engagement with the internally toothed ring gear 53. Arranged on the shaft 521A is a toothed wheel 522A which is engaged with two toothed wheels 523A. The toothed wheels 523A are each arranged on a shaft 524A on which a bevel wheel 525A is also held, said bevel wheel 525A being engaged with a bevel wheel 610 of the respectively assigned advancing device 6. The bevel wheel 610 is arranged on a shaft 61 and is connected via the shaft 61 to the sprocket 602 of the respective chain drive 60, such that when the bevel wheel 610 is rotated, the sprocket 602 is driven and the chain drive 60 is moved via the sprocket 602.

(36) In the bottom view according to FIG. 5, the three drive wheels 510A, 510B, 510C, which are each connected to an electric motor 511A, 511B, 511C, and the toothed wheels 520A, 520B, 520C, via which the drive trains 52A, 52B, 52C are driven, can be seen.

(37) During operation, the ring gear 53 is set into a rotary movement via the three electric motors 511A, 511B, 511C, offset with respect to one another in the circumferential direction, of the drive apparatuses 51A, 51B, 51C, and the toothed wheels 520A, 520B, 520C are driven via said rotary movement. Thus, the toothed wheels 523A and the bevel wheels 525A, which in turn drive the bevel wheels 610 and thus the sprockets 602 of the assigned chain drives 60, also move.

(38) The advancing movement of the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3 and of the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 are controlled via a control device 7 which is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1. The control device 7 in this case controls the conveying speeds V1, V2 (see FIG. 14A) of the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3 on the one hand and of the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 on the other hand.

(39) For example, the control device 7 controls the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3 and the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 such that the conveying speed V1 of the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3 is greater (for example by a factor of 10) than the conveying speed V2 of the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5. This has the effect that a receptacle G inserted into the compacting unit 3 is conveyed through the compacting unit 3 into a compression space R between the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3 and the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 and, on account of the reduced conveying speed V2 of the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5, is compressed there because the receptacle G is discharged only at a reduced speed. On account of the compression, the receptacle G, which has already been compacted in a multidimensional manner in the compacting unit 3 in the radial plane transversely to the insertion direction G in a manner corresponding to the shape of the hopper T, is also compressed lengthwise in the insertion direction E, such that the receptacle G is compacted further and is reshaped to form a compact receptacle.

(40) The advancing devices 4 are moved with their chains formed by the chain links 400 in an advancing direction V (see FIG. 14A) in order in this way to convey a receptacle G into the compacting unit. The advancing devices 6 move in an aligned manner in order to convey a receptacle G through the post-compacting unit 5 in an advancing direction V, wherein the conveying speed V1 of the compacting unit 3 and the conveying speed V2 of the post-compacting unit 5 can be different and is controlled by means of the control device 7.

(41) As is apparent from FIGS. 7A and 7B, the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 are arranged at an equal spacing from one another in the circumferential direction around the insertion direction E. As is further apparent from FIGS. 10A and 10B, the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3 are additionally also arranged at an equal spacing from one another in the circumferential direction, wherein the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3 and the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 are arranged in an offset manner with respect to one another.

(42) As illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 are at an angle to one another, while the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3 are arranged at an angle to one another. The advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 3 are arranged in a staggered manner along the angle bisector between the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3. This results, in the illustrated example having six advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 and six advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3, in an angular spacing of 60 between the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 and an angular spacing of likewise 60 between the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3, wherein there is an angular offset of 30 between the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 and the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3.

(43) On account of the angular offset between the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 and the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3, the volume of the compression space R between the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3 and the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 can be comparatively small in a starting state, because the chains of the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3 and of the advancing device 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 can move independently of one another without impeding one another.

(44) Arranged on the chain links 400, 600 (see FIG. 8 and FIG. 10B) that form the chains of the chain drives 40, 60 are in each case piercing tools 401, 601 in the form of spikes, which serve to come into engagement with a receptacle G inserted into the compacting unit 3 and to at least partially perforate the receptacle G. The piercing tools 401 serve in this case not only to transmit their advancing movement in a suitable manner to the receptacle G but also to perforate the receptacle G such that air can escape from the interior of the receptacle G and the receptacle G can be compacted effectively.

(45) In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, a piercing tool 401 in the form of a spike is arranged on each chain member 400 of each chain of an advancing device 4, 6. However, provision can be made in an advantageous configuration for the chain drives 40 of the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3 to carry a piercing tool 401 only on every second chain link 400, for example on each outer link, while the chain drives 60 of the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 have a piercing tool 601 in the form of a spike on each chain link 600. The density of the piercing tools 401, 601 is thus greater on the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 than on the advancing devices 400 of the compacting unit 3. This can have the advantageous effect that, on account of the increased speed V1 of the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3, the piercing tools 401 do not bring about excessive destruction of the receptacle G upon conveying into the compression space R, and the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 can transport the receptacle G efficiently out of the compression space R.

(46) In order to further increase the efficiency of compacting with the compacting unit 3 and the post-compacting unit 5 interacting, the compacting unit 3 and the post-compacting unit 5 are adjustable relative to one another vertically in a stroke direction H (see FIGS. 13A and 13B) in the insertion direction E. Advantageously, in this case the compacting unit 3 can be kept in a fixed position while the position of the post-compacting unit 5 is changeable with respect to the compacting unit 3 in the stroke direction H. However, it is also possible in principle for the compacting unit 3 to be adjustable rather than the post-compacting unit 5 or in addition to the post-compacting unit 5.

(47) As a result of the adjustability of the compacting unit 3 and of the post-compacting unit 5 with respect to one another, the positions of the compacting unit 3 and of the post-compacting unit 5 with respect to one another can be changed during a compacting operation. To this end, the housing 32 of the compacting unit 3 is guided longitudinally on the housing 50 of the post-compacting unit 5 along guide pins 54 (see FIGS. 6A and 16) that engage in guide bushings 37, such that the positions of the compacting unit 3 and of the post-compacting unit 5 are changeable with respect to one another in a defined manner.

(48) In a starting position, the post-compacting unit 5 is in the vicinity of the compacting unit 3 such that the compression space R between the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3 and the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 has a minimum volume. The post-compacting unit 5 is pretensioned in the direction of this starting position relative to the compacting unit 3 by means of a pretensioning unit 8 (illustrated schematically in FIG. 16), such that following a deflection out of the starting position, the post-compacting unit 5 is also restored automatically to its starting position.

(49) During a compacting operation, a receptacle G is conveyed through the compacting unit 3 and pushed into the compression space R between the compacting unit 3 and the post-compacting unit 5. Because the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 run at a reduced speed V2 compared with the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3, this results in compression of the receptacle G in the compression space R, this having the effect that the receptacle G is pressed successively into the compression space R. If the volume of the receptacle G pressed into the compression space R is greater than the capacity of the compression space R in the starting position of the post-compacting unit 5, the post-compacting unit 5 is adjusted relative to the compacting unit 3 in the stroke direction H counter to the spring-elastic pretensioning force of the pretensioning device 8 and thus deflected out of its starting position. This makes it possible for the receptacle Gregardless of its wall thicknessto be able to be conveyed completely into the compression space R and in the process to be compacted effectively on account of the conveying action of the advancing devices 4 and of the compressive action in the compression space R. The compacted receptacle G is then conveyed in a retarded manner out of the compression space R by means of the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 and is ejected from the compacting apparatus 1 as a compacted receptacle G (see FIG. 1).

(50) Receptacles G which are ejected from the post-compacting unit 5 have a sphere-like shape. This has the advantage that receptacles G compacted in this way have a good bulk handling and layering behavior. In particular, the outer surface of the receptacles G is approximately smooth and so the risk of catching with other receptacles Gwhich would impair the bulk handling behavioris small.

(51) The control device 7 can also effect intelligent control.

(52) For example, when a receptacle G is stuck in the compacting unit 3, the control device 7 can cause the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3 to be automatically driven in the reverse direction of movement, such that a receptacle G can be ejected from the compacting unit 3 again. If, by contrast, it is established that a receptacle G has passed through the compacting unit 3 and has been pressed into the compression chamber R, but in the process excessive deflection of the post-compacting unit 5 (for example beyond a predetermined threshold value) occurs, then the conveying speed V2 of the post-compacting unit 5 can be equalized with the conveying speed V1 of the compacting unit 3 such that the receptacle G is conveyed readily and in particular without further compression out of the post-compacting unit 5.

(53) Furthermore, it is also conceivable for the control device 7 to actuate the post-compacting unit 5 so that the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 are driven only when a deflection of the post-compacting unit 5 occurs on account of compression of a receptacle G in the compression space R. The compacting unit 3 thus conveys a receptacle G into the compression space R with the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 initially at a standstill. Only after the post-compacting unit 5 has been deflected in the stroke direction H are the advancing devices 6 set into movement and thus the compacted receptacle G conveyed out of the compression space.

(54) The chain drives 40 of the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3 and also the chain drives 60 of the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5 arein the case of the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3mounted between sprockets 412 orin the case of the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5guided on a guide element 62. In order in this case to ensure that the chain tension of the chain drives 40, 60 is always sufficiently high, a means for length compensation in order to readjust the chain tension can be provided on each chain drive 40, 60.

(55) Thus, on each chain drive 40 of the advancing devices 4 of the compacting unit 3, provision can be made of a guide element 46 which has two portions 461, 462 that are pretensioned in a spring-elastic manner with respect to one another via a pretensioning device 463, said portions causing a tension in the chain drive 40 and achieving automatic re-tensioning if a chain drive 40 elongates. The chain drive 40 thus always has a sufficiently high tension.

(56) In an analogous manner, on each chain drive 60 of the advancing devices 6 of the post-compacting unit 5, the guide element 62 can also have two portions 621, 622 which are pretensioned with respect to one another via a pretensioning device 623 and thus effect automatic re-tensioning of the chain drive 60 if the chain elongates during operation.

(57) The pretensioning devices 463, 623 can be designed such that it is only possible to move the respective portions 461, 462, 621, 622 away from one another, but not to restore the distances 461, 462, 621, 622 from one another. The portions 461, 462 and 621, 622 can thus only be moved away from one another, but cannot be moved back towards one another after re-tensioning of the chain drive 40, 60 has taken place. Such length compensation apparatuses are well known, for example as cable length compensation apparatuses in cable window regulators in motor vehicles.

(58) 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.

(59) Thus, in particular the advancing devices do not necessarily need to be configured as chain drives. It is also conceivable to use for example, for the advancing devices of the compacting unit and of the post-compacting unit, advancing devices that make use of belts, bands or cables or other traction members for transmitting tractive forces.

(60) Likewise, the compacting unit and the post-compacting unit can in principle also have a different number of advancing devices.

(61) Also, the number of advancing devices of the compacting unit and the number of advancing devices of the post-compacting unit are not necessarily identical. The compacting unit and the post-compacting unit can in principle also have a different number of advancing devices.

(62) In addition, other configurations of drive apparatuses are also conceivable. For example, the compacting unit and the post-compacting unit may each have only one single drive apparatus, although it is in principle also conceivable for the compacting unit and the post-compacting unit to use a common drive apparatus.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(63) 1 Compacting apparatus 2A Drive apparatus 20A Electric motor 21A Drive shaft 22A, 23A Gear wheel 24A Bevel wheel 25A Toothed wheel 26 Ring gear 3 Compacting unit 30 Cover plate 300 Insertion opening 31 Bottom 32 Housing 34 Bearing plates 36 Guide surface 37 Bearing bushing 4 Advancing device 40 Chain drive 400 Chain link 401 Piercing tool (Spike) 41 Shaft 410 Bevel wheel 412 Sprocket 46 Guide element 461, 462 Portion 463 Pretensioning device 5 Post-compacting unit 50 Housing 51A, 51B, 51C Drive apparatus 510A, 510B, 510C Drive wheel 511A, 511B, 511C Electric motor 52A, 52B, 52C Drive train 520A, 520B, 520C Toothed wheel 521A Shaft 522A, 523A Toothed wheel 524A Shaft 525A Bevel wheel 53 Ring gear 54 Guide pin 6 Advancing device 60 Chain drive 600 Chain link 601 Piercing tool (Spike) 602 Sprocket 61 Shaft 610 Bevel wheel 62 Guide element 620 Guide track 621, 622 Portion 623 Pretensioning device 7 Control device 8 Pretensioning device , Angle A1, A2 Cross-sectional area G Post-compacted receptacle H Stroke direction M Lateral surface R Compression space S Rotation axis T Hopper V, V Advancing direction V1, V2 Conveying speed