Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to a device for
sorting packagings, principally beverage packagings, in
several stages and more precisel-~ to a device incorpora-
ting two sections, one of which, the loader, is designed
as both a loading organ and a sorting organ.
Sorting articles or goods according to such
properties as size, shape, colour, material, density,
etc., is previously known. In the case o~ sorting
based on size or shape, the actual dimensions o~ the
articles or goods form the basis of sorting.
The present invention entails a substantial
rationalization of the handling of returned packagings
such as beverage packagings in the shape of cans.
A construction in accordance with the present
invention comprises a device for sorting out packagings,
especially of the can type having overall dimensions
within a predetermined interval in regard to length and
diameter, for example, from packagings having dimensions
deviating from within the interval. The device comprises
two sorting stages, one of the two sorting stages
including a pivoted supporting member for carrying the
packagings and a frame with an opening through which the
supporting member is movable to the second stage. The
second sorting stage includes pressing members co-
operating with the supporting member to effect axial
compression of the packaging carried by said supporting
member. I'he opening of the frame is of a size which
limits the dimensions in at least one direction of the
packaging passing through the opening. The second stage
is provided with a second opening through which com-
pressed packagings pass, whereby the second opening
maximizes the axial length of the compressed packagings
which pass through the second opening and are thereby
sorted out.
In a device according to the invention, the
packaging is received by an organ, henceforth called the
loader, which comprises both the loading organ and the
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sorting organ. The loader transfers the packagings to
a second sorting stage in which they are subjected to
a compressive force in order to permit continued
sorting based on the degree and nature of the deforma-
tion and/or final shape thus given to each packaging.
The loader consists principally of at least
two organs arranged so as to be capable of moving
relative to each other, which individually or in
combination sort out for transfer to the second sorting
stage every packaging having dimensions within a
predetermined dimension interval.
The second sorting stage is located in second
part of
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the device, henceforth called the pressing section. In
this section pressing organs arranged to describe rela-
tive motion towards or away from each other subject the
packagings to a compressive force. Packagings with giv-
en physical properties are thereby compressed to a sizepermitting them to pass through a dimension-determining
opening and principally to a collecting device.
In one version of the invention specially adapted for
cylindrically shaped packagings the loader is arranged
with chiefly vertical supports at a distance from each
other slightly in excess of a certain established dia-
meter of the packagings. Arranged at the lower ends of
the supports are protuberances oriented towards the re-
ceived packaging at a distance from each other slightly
less than said established diameter. Packagings having
the established diameter are carried by the loader in
that they rest on the protuberances and then mainly occu-
py the opening formed between them. Packagings having
a diameter less than the distance between the protuber-
ances are sorted out in that such packagings fall downthrough the opening.
In another version of the invention the supports are con-
nected to each other at least at their lower ends to
limit the length of the aforementioned opening. As a
result, only packagings having a diameter less than the
distance between the aforementioned protuberances and
with a length less than the distance between the afore-
mentioned connections drop through the opening.
Arranged in a preferred version of the invention is a
frame through which the packagings pass on their way to
the pressing section, i.e. to the second sorting stage.
In connection with this the frame comprises a second
section of the loader and prevents the transfer of
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packagings having excessively large axial lengths and/or
diameters to the second sorting stage.
In the pressing section the loader interacts with the
previously mentioned pressing organs to pl~ce the pack-
agings in the correct position in relation to these or-
gans, in which position the pressing organs make contact
with the~packagings in the course of their movement to-
wards each other and compress them. The opening of the
loading organ has no protuberances in a limited area
with the result that in this area the opening is larger
as it is limited only by the vertical supports. This
widening of the opening has a position which coincides
mainly with the position assumed by the packagings after
they have been compressed by the pressing organs. In
the case of a can-like packaging, for example, which
has been compressed in its axial direction the compres-
sed packaging will drop down through the wider portion
of the opening when the pressing organs commence moving
away from each other (from the compression position) and
when the axial length and diameter of the compressed
packaging are less than the corresponding quantities of
the aforementioned wider portion.
In yet another version of the invention one of the pres-
sing organs is magnetic, whereby a packaging of magnetic
material is returned to the first position, i.e. to the
position occupied by the packaging when it was received
~y the device, when the loading organ returns to the
starting p~sition~
Arranged in yet another version of the invention is a
sensing and control organ for sensing the occurrence of
any magnetic material in the received packaging and,
when such material i$ detected, for activating the drive
organs for moving the loader so that the loader is
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prevented from transferring the received packaging to the
pressing section or alternatively so that transfer of the
received packaging to the pressing section is permitted
only if it is of magnetic material.
In still another version of the invention the movement
of at least one of the pressing organs is controlled by
a device for determining the compressive force with which
the packagin~s are compressed. In a preferred version a
drive organ is then connected to one of the pressing
organs via a drive mechanism in which is incorporated an
organ for interrupting the movement of the pressing or-
gan at a predetermined maximum compressive force.
The invention will be evident in detail from a number
of figures, where
15 Fig. 1 shows a sorting device viewed from the side,
Fig. 2 shows a partially sectioned diagram of a sort-
ing device viewed from the side,
Fig. 3 shows a simplified cross-section III-III in
Fig. 1 with a packaging placed in the sorting
device,
Fig. 4 shows the same cross-section as in Fig. 3
after the packaging has undergone axial com-
pression,
Fig. 5 shows the same cross-section as in Fig. 3 and
with a packaging leaving the sorting device,
Fig. 6 shows a side view of a drive mechanism con-
sisting of two arms joined together by means
of a friction connection,
12~ A~
Fig. 7 shows the cross-section VII-VII in Fig. 6,
Fig. 8 shows a detail diagram of a loading organ
viewed from the side,
Fig. 9 shows a front view of the loading organ at
the cross-section 9-9 in Fig. 8,
Fig. 10 shows a top plan view of the loading organ.
Shown in Figs. 1-5 is a casing 21 in which is arranged a
bearing 22 for the pivoted suspension of a loading organ
(supporting organ) 8 for packagings 7. The loading organ,
which comprises a supporting organ for the packagings,
is arranged with side supports 31, 32 to limit space with
a~ opening at the bottom in which the packagings are re-
ceived. Reference figure 18 indicates the opening at the
bottom of the space. The loading organ is moved ~y drive
organs (not shown in the figures) or by manual operation
from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in
Fig. 1. ~ spring 23 returns the loading organ to the
position shown in Fig. 2 after the drive organ has been
disengaged from the loading organ 8. The casing 21 forms
a frame 33 through which the loading organ 8 passes on
moving between the aforementioned positions. Together
with the frame 33 the loading organ 8 forms the first
section of the device, called the loader, in which every
packaging having dimensions within a predetermined dim-
ension interval are sorted out for transfer to the secondsection of the device, i.e. to the pressing section.
With reference to the pressing section, Figs. 1-5 show
a first pressing organ 1 and a second pressing organ 2.
The ~irst pressing organ is fastened to a lever 5 which
via a connecting rod 4 is joined to an eccentric 3 which
in its turn is connected to a drive organ no~ shown in
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the figures for rotating the eccentric in the direction
of the arrow. The first pressing organ is arranged at
one end of the lever 5 while the other end of the lever
is pivoted in a bracket 6. The two pressing organs 1
and 2 are arranged on either side of the opening 18.
Below opening 18 is a funnel-like receiving organ 24.
Also in the vicinity of opening 1~ an organ 20 is arr-
anged for receipting the number of packagings passing
through the opening.
Figs. 6-7 show a drive mechanism for the first pressing
organ in which connecting rod 4 is replaced by two arms
9 and 10 which form an angle to each other. The arms
are joined together by a bolt 11 and spring washers 12
which exerts pressure on a friction connection 13 which
enables arm 9 to move in relation to arm 10 under a cer-
tain degree of friction. As a result, in the event of
an overload on the device due to a packagi~g having ex-
cessive mechanical rigidity, for example, being subjec-
ted to compression the component corresponding to conn-
ecting rod 4 is extended in that the angle between arms9 and 10 changes, which in its turn causes compression
of the packaging to cease. The version described makes
it possi~le to set the maximum permissible compressive
force for compressing the packaging. If this value is ex-
ceeded, compression of the packaglng ceases and it cannotpass through the opening 18. When the pressing organ re-
turns to the position shown in Fig. 3, lever 5 abuts
against a stop 14 (Fig. 5) and causes the arms 9 and 10 to
return to their original positions relative to each other.
In certain applications lever 5 is fitted with an artic-
ulation which is pretensioned in such a manner that the
joint is not activated until the load exceeds a certain
value. In this alternative also the packaging is not
compressed to the final shape which allows it to pass
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through the opening 18.
Other versions of the invention are also possible, such
as with a telescopic connecting rod 4 which in the event
of an overload is activated and can in such manner be
extended, A heavily pretensioned spring also comprises
an alternative.
Figs. 8-10 show in greater detail how the loading organ
8 of the loader is arranged when it is specially adapted
to receive cylindrical packagings. The side supports
31, 32 are then arranged at a distance A-A from each
other which is slightly greater than the diameter of the
packagings 7 and are also at their lower edges provided
with protuberances 35, 36 facing each other and limiting
the opening 18 to the width designated B-B. A limited
area of the opening has no protuberances and the result
is that in this area the opening is wider and limited
solely by the vertical supports. The position of this
wider portion of the opening is adapted to the position
occupled by a compressed packaging 7'. For example, the
wider portion is situated in the area at one end of the
opening as shown in Fig. 10. The ~igures also show how
the two side supports 31, 32 are connected to each other
to limit the length of opening 18 to a value correspond-
ing to a certain established minimum length of the pack-
agings.
A packaging 7 is placed on supporting organ 8 when thisorgan occupies the position shown in Fig. 2. A pack-
aging having a diameter within the interval between the
marked distances A-A and B-B or having an axial length
în excess of the distance between the connections be-
tween the vertical supports 31, 32 is thereby carried by
the supporting organ 8 and occupies the position shown
in Fig. B. A packaging having a larger diameter rests
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on the upper edges of the supports 31, 32 while a pack-
aging having a smaller diameter and with a length short-
er than the distance between the connections drops down
through the opening 18 and is thus sorted out. The
drive organ for moving theloading organ to the pressing
section now begins to move the loading organ. A pack-
aging resting on the upper edges of the supports 31, 32
is then brought up against the frame 33, whereby the
packaging is either dislodged by the frame or further
movement of the loading organ is prevented. Packagings
of excessive diameter or excessive axial length are ,
sorted out in this way.
Packagings which are not sorted out in the loader by
means of the process described in the previous paragraph
are transferred by the continued movement of the loading
organ to the pressing section in that the loading organ
assumes the position shown in Fig. 1. Following this
the drive organ for rotating eccentric 3 starts and the
first pressing organ is moved from the position shown in
Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4. In the case of
a packaging, the mechanical strength of which is within
a predetermined interval, the packaging 7 is compressed
and assumes the shape that is evident from Fig. 4. The
first pressing organ has then been moved to a position
beside the wider portion of the opening 18 and the pack-
aging has thus been compressed so that the space it occ-
upies bet~een the first and the second pressing organs
is less than the length of the wider portion of the
opening 18. The continued rotation of the eccentric
moves the first pressing organ back to its starting pos-
ition and the compressed packaging 7' drops through the
opening into the funnel-like receiving organ 24. Where
applicable, the falling packaging is recorded by the
receipting organ 20.
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Compressed packagings 7' which drop down through the
opening 18 accordingly correspond to returned packagings
which fulfill certain established criteria in regard to
length, diameter and mechanical strength. Sorting has
been carried out in two sorting stages where the first
sorting stage takes place in ,the first section:(the
loader) of the device and the second sorting stage takes
place in the second section (the pressing section) of
the device~
The version shown in Figs. 6 and 7 achieves a limitation
of the maximum çompressive force for-compressing the pack-
agings. Packagings having excessively high axial strength
cause an extension of the component corresponding to con-
necting rod 4 in that the angle of arms 9 and lO changes,
which in its turn causes compression of the packagings to
cease. Accordingly, the described version makes it possible
to set the maximum permissible compressive force for
compressing the packagings. If this value is exceeded,
compression ceases and the packagings cannot pass
through the opening 18. When loading organ 8 returns to
the position shown in Fig. 2 the packagings are returned
to their original position (Fig. 2).
In an alternative version of the invention the connect-
ions shown in Fig. 10 between the supports 31, 32 are so
positioned that cylindrical packagings having a diameter
less than the width B-B always drop down through the
opening between the protuberances of the supports re-
gardless of the axial length of the packagings.
In still another alternative version of the invention
the distance between the connections exceeds the corres-
ponding distance in frame 33. As in the preferred ver-
sion described earlier, the maximum length of the pack-
; agings whic~ are tran~erred to the pressing section is
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then determined through the interaction between loading
organ 8 and frame 33.
In certain versions one of the pressing organs 1, 2 is
magnetic, with the result that packagings of magnetic
material are retained by the magnetic pressing organ
when the pressing organs move away from each other.
When the loading organ 8 returns to the position shown
in Fig. 2 the packagings are returned to a position
corresponding to the original loading position.
In an additional version one or more organs for detect-
ing the occurrence of magnetic material in the received
packagings are arranged in the vicinity of the loader
and then principally in the vicinity of loading organ 8.
In accordance with intrinsically known technique the
organs for detecting magnetic material activate drive
organs, for example, for moving the loader to prevent
the loader from moving to the pressing section of the
device on detection of magnetic material in packagings
placed in the loader or alternatively solely to transfer
packagings of magnetic material to the pressing section.
In the above description the final dimensions of the
compressed packaging 7' are stated to comprise a sorting
cr~terion. It is evident from the description that in
an alternative version the device shown is also suitable
for using the dimensional diminution of the packagings
(the magnitude of the movement of the pressing organs
towards each other after they have made contact with
both ends of a packaging) as a sorting criterion. The
dimenslonal diminution is then determined by intrinsic-
ally kno~n techni~ue.
i
The version described above in which opening 18 is arr-
anged in loader (supporting organ) 8 is in certain
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applications replaced by versions in which the opening
is arranged in a frame, for example, mounted on the
housing of the device. In this connection the device is
designed principally to permit the return of the support-
ing organ to the position shown in Fig. 2 already duringthe compression process or immediately on conclusion of
it.
In addition to the above description the invention will
also be evident from the following patent claims.
