EMPTIES TRANSPORT SYSTEM AND EMPTIES RETURN SYSTEM FOR SUCTION OF CONTAINERS

Abstract

An empties transport system has an airstream transport device with an empties transport conduit, which has a first attachment point for attachment to the reverse vending machine and a second attachment point for attachment to the empties collection container, and an airstream generator, which is attached to the empties transport conduit and is designed to make available, in the empties transport conduit, a transporting airstream by which the empties passing via the first attachment point from the reverse vending machine the empties transport conduit are moved to the empties collection container, and an airlock device, which is arranged on the first attachment point and via which the empties are transferable from the reverse vending machine to the empties transport conduit.

Claims

1. An empties transport system (1) for automatic transport of empties (31) from a reverse vending machine (15) to an empties collection container (19), with: an airstream transport device (3) which has an empties transport conduit (9), which has a first attachment point (13) for attachment to the reverse vending machine (15) and a second attachment point (17) for attachment to the empties collection container (19), and an airstream generator (11), which is attached to the empties transport conduit (9) and is designed to make available, in the empties transport conduit (9), a transporting airstream (L) by means of which the empties (31) passing via the first attachment point (13) from the reverse vending machine (15) into the empties transport conduit (9) are movable to the empties collection container (19), an airlock device (5) which is arranged on the first attachment point (13) in order to be attachable between the reverse vending machine (15) and the empties transport conduit (9), and via which the empties (31) are transferable from the reverse vending machine (15) to the empties transport conduit (9), and which has at least one airlock gate (43; 45) for automatically controlled, selective separation of the empties transport conduit (9) and the reverse vending machine (15) attached thereto, and an automatic control device (7) which is connected to the airlock device (5) in order to automatically control an opening and closing actuation of the at least one airlock gate (43; 45) as a function of the empties (31) which are to be carried away via the empties transport conduit (9) and which are delivered to the airlock device (5) from the reverse vending machine (15).

2. The empties transport system (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airstream generator (11) is designed in such a way that, during the operation of the empties transport system (1), it makes the transporting airstream (L) permanently available.

3. The empties transport system (1) as claimed in either of the preceding claims, wherein the airlock device (5) has a second airlock gate (45), and wherein the control device (7) is designed to control the opening and closing actuation of the first and the second airlock gate (43, 45) of the airlock device (5) in such a way that at least substantially only one of the first and the second airlock gates (43, 45) is opened.

4. The empties transport system (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the airlock device (5) and/or the first attachment point (13) are/is designed in such a way that the transfer of the empties (31) from the airlock device (5) to the empties transport conduit (9) is effected at least substantially exclusively by an air flow underpressure which is generated in the empties transport conduit (9) and acts on the empties (31) present in the airlock device (5), and by means of which the empties (31) can be sucked from the airlock device (5) into the empties transport conduit (9).

5. The empties transport system (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims in combination with empties (31), wherein the empties transport conduit (9) has a conduit diameter which is greater than the greatest dimension of the empties (31), such that the empties (31) in the empties transport conduit (9) are freely movable at least substantially in all directions.

6. An empties return system (21) with an empties transport system (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, a reverse vending machine (15), which is connected to the empties transport conduit (9) via the airlock device (5) and the first attachment point (13), and an empties collection container (19), which is connected to the empties transport conduit (9) via the second attachment point (17), wherein the reverse vending machine (15) has an empties admission opening (35) through which empties (31) can be introduced into the reverse vending machine (15).

7. The empties return system (21) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the airlock device (5) is arranged at a distance from the empties admission opening (35), and wherein the reverse vending machine (15) has a conveyor device (37), optionally a mechanical conveyor device, which is arranged between the empties admission opening (35) and the airlock device (5), and by means of which the empties (31) introduced into the reverse vending machine (15) through the empties admission opening (35) can be conveyed automatically to the airlock device (5).

8. The empties return system (21) as claimed in claim 6, in combination with claim 4, wherein the airlock device (5) is arranged adjacent to the empties admission opening (35), such that empties (31) can be introduced through the empties admission opening (35) directly into the airlock device (5), in order then to be sucked into the empties transport conduit (9) by means of the airflow underpressure.

9. The empties return system (21) as claimed in any of claims 6 through 8, wherein several reverse vending machines (15-1, 15-2) are connected to the empties transport conduit (9) by means of a respective first attachment point (13-1, 13-2).

10. The empties return system (21) as claimed in any of claims 6 through 9, further having an empties compacter (39) by which the empties (31) delivered to the reverse vending machine (15) are compacted by compression and/or shredding.

11. The empties return system (21) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the empties compacter (39) is arranged between the empties admission opening (35) of the reverse vending machine (15) and the airlock device (5) or is arranged between the second attachment point (17) of the empties transport conduit (9) and the empties collection container (19).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic empties transport system and a schematic empties return system according to one embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows an arrangement of a reverse vending machine, an empties compacter, an airlock device, and an empties transport conduit according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; and

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a further arrangement of a reverse vending machine, an airlock device and an empties transport conduit according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of said description, and which, for illustrative purposes, show specific embodiments. In this respect, use is made of directional terminology such as “up”, “down”, “forward”, “rearward”, “front”, “rear”, etc., in relation to the orientation of the figure(s) described. Since components of embodiments can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology serves for illustrative purposes and is in no way limiting. Of course, it is possible to use other embodiments and to implement structural or logical modifications without departing from the scope of the disclosure. It is of course possible for the features of the various illustrative embodiments described herein to be combined with one another, unless specifically stated otherwise. The following detailed description should therefore not be interpreted as being limiting.

[0030] Within the context of this description, the terms “connected”, “attached”, “coupled” and the like are used for describing direct and indirect connection, direct or indirect attachment, and direct or indirect coupling. In the figures, identical or similar elements are provided with identical reference signs, if this is deemed expedient.

[0031] A schematic empties transport system 1 with an airstream transport device 3, two airlock devices 5-1 and 5-2 and an automatic control device 7 is shown in FIG. 1. The airstream transport device 3 is composed of an empties transport conduit 9 and of an airstream generator 11 and has two first attachment points 13-1 and 13-2 for the attachment (by the associated airlock device 5-1 or 5-2) of a respective reverse vending machine 15-1 and 15-2, and a second attachment point 17 for an empties collection container 19. All of the components shown in FIG. 1 together form an empties return system 21. For example, some components of the empties transport system, e.g. the airstream generator 11 and an empties compacter (described further below), can be arranged on a roof of the reverse vending facility.

[0032] The empties transport conduit 9 is a conduit in which an airstream L is generated by the airstream generator 11 and, at least starting from a location upstream from the two first attachment points 13-1 and 13-2, acts as far as the second attachment point 17. For this purpose, the airstream generator 11 is connected to one end of the empties transport conduit 9 located upstream from the two first attachment points 13-1 and 13-2. In this embodiment, the airstream generator 11 is a radial ventilator, which provides a volumetric flow in a range of approximately 150 m.sup.3/h to approximately 350 m.sup.3/h, for example in a range of approximately 200 m.sup.3/h to approximately 300 m.sup.3/h, for example of approximately 250 m.sup.3/h. The empties transport conduit 9 can have a diameter in a range of approximately 5 cm to approximately 50 cm, for example in a range of approximately 10 cm to approximately 30 cm, for example in a range of approximately 15 cm to approximately 25 cm.

[0033] For the sake of clarity, the empties transport system 1 and the empties return system 21 are described below as having only a single reverse vending machine 15 attached thereto, a single airlock device 5 and a single first attachment point 13, although, as is evident from FIG. 1, two reverse vending machines 15-1 and 15-2 are attached to the empties transport system 1. Further embodiments with only one reverse vending machine or with more than two reverse vending machines, for example three, four, five, six, seven, eight or more reverse vending machines, are possible analogously. Moreover, in the description below, the term “empties” stands so to speak for an individual beverage container (e.g. an individual returnable bottle or beverage can), a group of beverage containers, or parts thereof (e.g. shreds/jointly compressed beverage containers), wherein the specific configuration of the empties will be clear from the context.

[0034] The airlock device 5 is connected to the empties transport conduit 9 at the first attachment point 13 in order to receive empties 31 from the reverse vending machine 15 (described in detail further below). The transfer of the empties 31 from the airlock device 5 to the empties transport conduit 9 is controlled by the control device 7, which is connected to the airstream generator 11, to the reverse vending machine 15 and to the airlock device 5. For control purposes, the control device 7 receives from the designated components, i.e. from sensors assigned to these, e.g.

[0035] information concerning an operating state of the airstream generator 11, concerning the type of empties (for example bottle or can), or concerning the quantity of the empties, etc., and controls at least the airlock device 5 accordingly.

[0036] In FIG. 2, the reverse vending machine 15 and the airlock device 5 according to an illustrative embodiment are shown schematically in the area of the first attachment point 13. In the further description of the reverse vending machine 15, certain elements have been omitted, for example a detection device for the empties and a voucher dispenser of the reverse vending machine.

[0037] The reverse vending machine 15 is set up in a machine area 33 of a reverse vending facility (e.g. in a supermarket or beverage shop), and it is thus possible for consumers to introduce, and thus return, empties 31 into the reverse vending machine 15 on a front side of the reverse vending machine 15, through an empties admission opening 35 provided there. The reverse vending machine 15 is usually set up such that at least its rear side is separated spatially from the machine area 33, e.g. by a wall 36. The handling of the empties 31 takes place on the rear side of the reverse vending machine 15 (i.e. behind the wall 36), and therefore noise and odors caused by the handling of the empties are kept away from the machine area 33.

[0038] Moreover, the reverse vending machine 15 has a conveyor 37 and an empties compacter 39. The conveyor 37 is here a conveyor belt, which extends from the empties admission opening 35 to the empties compacter 39, which is integrated in a rear part of the reverse vending machine 15 (the empties compacter 39 can also be designed as a device separate from the reverse vending machine 15). The empties compacter 39 serves to compact the empties 31 delivered through the empties admission opening 35 by the conveyor 37. In this case, the empties compacter 39 is designed as a shredder by which the empties 31, i.e. individual beverage containers separately or several beverage containers jointly, are cut into shreds, e.g. in order to prevent blockage of the empties transport conduit 9. However, the empties compacter 39 can also be designed as a press, which only presses together (e.g. compresses/compacts) the empties 31, or it can be a combination of both.

[0039] The empties 31 shredded in the empties compacter 39 are here discharged at a rear, lower side (or other expedient side) of the reverse vending machine 15 and received by the airlock device 5. For this purpose, the airlock device 5 has an airlock chamber 41 formed therein, and an airlock gate 43, which, controlled by the control device 7, selectively separates the airlock chamber 41 from the empties transport conduit 9 or connects it to the latter. The airlock gate 43 is designed, for example, as a spring-loaded slide, which is opened by a pneumatic cylinder, or it is actuated (without spring) by an electric motor or other actuators (e.g. pneumatic actuators). Thus, the reverse vending machine 15 is likewise selectively separated or connected to the empties transport conduit 9 via the airlock chamber 41. When empties 31 (e.g. an individual shredded bottle or several shredded bottles) located in the airlock chamber 41 are to be transferred to the empties transport conduit 9, the control device 7 controls the airlock gate 43 to be opened for a defined period, such that the empties 31 are sucked into the empties transport conduit 9 by the airstream L present therein (e.g. also assisted by gravity). At the same time, odors in the reverse vending machine 15 are likewise carried off. To prevent excessive withdrawal of air from the reverse vending machine 15 (and/or from the machine area 33), the airlock device 5 can be equipped with a further airlock gate (not shown), which delimits the airlock chamber 41 toward the reverse vending machine 15, and which is (at least partially) closed when the other airlock gate 43 is opened.

[0040] The empties 31 introduced into the empties transport conduit 9 are carried along by the airstream L present therein and are transported to the empties collection container 19 (cf. FIG. 1). The diameter of the empties conduit is adapted to the empties 31, i.e. to the size and the shape of the empties 31, such that the empties 31 are able to move freely (in translation and in rotation) in the transporting airstream L in the empties transport conduit 9. Bends or curves, further (first and/or second) attachment points, branches, etc., in the empties transport conduit 9 are designed such that backing up and blockage of empties is prevented.

[0041] After the transport of the empties 31 in the empties transport conduit 9, the empties 31 (shreds) are introduced into the empties collection container 19 via the second attachment point 17. For this purpose, the empties collection container 19, at least substantially at an upper area thereof, is coupled to the empties transport conduit 9, such that the empties 31 are blown into the empties collection container 19 and remain there, while excess air of the transporting airstream L escapes from the empties collection container 19. In this way, the empties collection container 19 can be filled continuously with a high packing density.

[0042] In FIG. 3, the reverse vending machine 15 and the airlock device 5 according to a further illustrative embodiment are shown schematically in the area of the first attachment point 13. The empties transport system 1 and the empties return system 21 correspond basically to those of FIG. 1, although the empties transport conduit 9, on account of the adaptation to the size of the empties (see below), can have a greater diameter of the empties transport conduit, for example in a range of approximately 5 cm to approximately 50 cm, for example in a range of approximately 10 cm to approximately 30 cm, for example in a range of approximately 15 cm to approximately 25 cm (the empties transport conduit can, for example, also have different diameters, e.g. in a case where several empties transport conduits are run together).

[0043] The reverse vending machine 15 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds basically to the one shown in FIG. 2, but the reverse vending machine 15 of this embodiment has no conveyor and also no empties compacter. Here, the empties 31 are introduced by the consumer into the reverse vending machine 15 through the empties admission opening 35 and fall directly (uncompacted or unshredded) into the airlock device 5, which is arranged inside the reverse vending machine 15 at the lower rear thereof (although the airlock device 5 can also be designed as a device separate from the reverse vending machine 15). In this configuration of the reverse vending machine 15, the latter can, for example, have a simple and compact structure. Moreover, compared to the case where empties are compacted, the intact empties cause less residual liquid to escape, for example, which can reduce the build-up of odors. Notwithstanding this, an individual empties compacter can be arranged on the empties collection container 19 or anywhere along the course of the empties transport conduit 9, e.g. on the roof of the reverse vending facility, in order to compact the empties 31 directly on the empties collection container 19 or anywhere along the course of the empties transport conduit 9. Generally, the empties transport conduit 9 can run through, and interconnect, processing centers, e.g. areas with reverse vending machines, empties compacters, etc., and discharge areas, e.g. discharge devices to collection containers.

[0044] The airlock device 5 of the reverse vending machine 15 of this embodiment has an airlock chamber 41 formed therein, and a first airlock gate 43, which, controlled by the control device 7, selectively separates the airlock chamber 41 from the empties transport conduit 9 or connects it to the latter, and a second airlock gate 45, which, controlled by the control device 7, selectively connects the airlock chamber 41 to the reverse vending machine 15 (the empties admission opening 35). When empties 31 (e.g. one or more beverage cans) located in the airlock chamber 41 are transferred to the empties transport conduit 9, the control device 7 controls the airlock gate 43 to be opened for a defined period, such that the empties 31 are sucked into the empties transport conduit 9 by the airstream L present therein. At the same time, the control device 7 controls the second airlock gate 45 to be (at least substantially) closed, such that there is no excessive suction of air from the reverse vending machine 15 and/or from the machine area 33.