Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
  • G07F7/06—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
  • G07F7/0609—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles by fluid containers, e.g. bottles, cups, gas containers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
  • B65G47/74—Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types
  • B65G47/84—Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
  • B65G47/846—Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
  • B65G2201/02—Articles
  • B65G2201/0235—Containers
  • B65G2201/0244—Bottles

Definitions

• This invention relates to a bottle raiser. More particularly, it concerns a bottle raiser, wherein the bottle, which is to be raised, has been directed, on the basis of information about the bottle, into a receiving space of a dimensionalIy suitable size.
• the device is particularly suitable for use in connection with a reverse vending machine for bottles.
• bottle includes in this connection any form of fluid container, which is used for storing consumer goods in connection with sales to an end user.
• the raising of like bottles that are typically in a lying position may be carried out by means of simple equipment known in itself.
• a bottle raiser for bottles that are not identical must be adapted to the kind of bottle. The bottle may tip over if it is not supported and fed stably forward onto a subsequent conveyor belt, for example.
• US 6012588 thus discloses a machine, in which a bottle stabilizer adjusts, on the basis of information about the bottle to be raised, the size of the receiving space for the bottle, so that the bottle remains standing.
• the bottle stabilizer then moves the bottle towards a stop in order to stabilize the bottle, after which the bottle, in its standing position, is fed out onto a downstream conveyor belt.
• DE 10144518 discloses a corresponding device, in which axially movable guide controls adjust the size of the receiving opening to the incoming bottle before the guide controls withdraw and allow the bottle to be transported forwards in its standing position on a conveyor belt.
• the devices according to the documents mentioned are relatively complicated and slow as the bottle must be moved essentially completely out of the device before the size of the receiving space can be adjusted for a new bottle.
• the invention has as its object to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.
• the object is achieved in accordance with the invention through the features specified in the description below and in the following Claims.
• a bottle is directed, after the bottle has been identified, for example by determination of its size and shape, to a receiving space of a suitable dimension, with the aim of keeping the bottle in a standing position, after which the bottle in its standing position is fed out from the receiving space.
• a rotor with a vertical axis of rotation is provided with a number of vertical receiving spaces of different sizes.
• the receiving spaces are open along the periphery of the rotor.
• a guide plate encircles a portion of the rotor, so that, whenever the respective receiving space is in a receiving position, the receiving space of the rotor is radially closed but is radially open when the receiving space is in its delivering position.
• the bottle is fed into the receiving space of the rotor by means of a sloping track, for example.
• the bottle has, in advance, been oriented in such a way that the bottom of the bottle will be at the bottom when, preferably by its own weight, the bottle is moved freely down into the receiving space.
• the rotor turns about its vertical axis until a receiving space of a suitable size is located below the supply track. As soon as the bottle is in the receiving space, the rotor may turn forward a new receiving space corresponding to a new bottle, which is on its way.
• the first bottle reaches the delivering position of the rotor, in which, for example by means of a conveyor belt, the bottle is moved, standing, out of the rotor.
• the invention provides a simplified device for bottle raising, which also enables an increase in the bottle-receiving rate.
• one bottle raiser may receive bottles from more than one reverse vending machine.
• Figure 1 shows in perspective a bottle raiser as a bottle is on its way into the bottle raiser
• Figure 2 shows, on a larger scale, a plan view of the rotor of the bottle raiser as a first bottle has arrived into the receiving space positioned in the entrance path;
• Figure 3 shows the same as figure 2, but here the rotor is about to rotate forward a new receiving space into the entrance path;
• Figure 4 shows the same as Figure 3, but here a larger bottle has arrived into a corresponding receiving space
• Figure 5 shows the same as Figure 4, but here the rotor is rotated further, so that the first bottle is moved out of the rotor.
• the reference numeral 1 identifies a bottle raiser, which is arranged on a table 2.
• the table 2 is provided with a conveyor belt 4 level with the tabletop of the table 2.
• a rotor 6 having a vertical central axis is arranged above the table 2 and is driven by a gear motor 8.
• the rotor 6 overlaps at least part of the conveyor belt 4.
• a guide plate 10 encircles a portion of the rotor 6 and forms part of the structure 12 of the bottle raiser 1.
• a supply conveyor 14 is arranged to transport a bottle 16', 16" from an upstream reverse vending machine, not shown, on to a sloping track 18 connecting the supply conveyor track 14 to the structure 12.
• the supply conveyor 14 and the sloping track 18 form a supply track for the bottle 16', 16" to the rotor 6.
• the rotor 6 includes a number of receiving spaces 20', 20" which are distributed around the rotor 6.
• the receiving spaces 20' are smaller than the receiving spaces 20" as the receiving spaces 20' may have been adapted for bottles having volumes of up to one litre, for example, whereas the receiving spaces 20" may have been adapted for larger bottles.
• the first bottle 16 ' is then moved down into the corresponding receiving space 20' .
• the rotor 6 may then immediately be rotated, so that the receiving space 20' involved is rotated away from the supply track 14, 18, or an identification of a second bottle 16" may be awaited.
• the gear motor 8 rotates the rotor so that a large receiving space 20" corresponds to the supply track 14, 18.
• the first bottle 16' is thereby moved on along the guide plate 10.
• the rotor 6 When the rotor 6 subsequently rotates to be able to receive a further bottle, not shown, the rotor 6 is rotated in such a manner that the receiving space 20' with the first bottle 16' arrives at the outlet side of the rotor 6, where the guide plate 10 no longer covers the receiving space 20' in question.
• the conveyor 4 thereby carries along the first bottle 16' , standing, out of the rotor 6.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Feeding Of Articles To Conveyors (AREA)
• Platform Screen Doors And Railroad Systems (AREA)
• Soil Working Implements (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2004
  • 2004-07-08 NO NO20042900A patent/NO321229B1/no not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2005
  • 2005-06-30 WO PCT/NO2005/000242 patent/WO2006006868A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2005-06-30 EP EP05761275A patent/EP1773696A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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