EP1687091B1 - Device for comminuting empty containers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for crushing empty containers, in particular beverage bottles or cans u. Ä. Waste plastic or thin-walled sheet metal, according to the preamble of claim 1.
Such devices are used to empty containers, especially those from the food industry, such as beverage bottles, cans u. Ä. Containers for the transport to the recycling plants or for the recycling process itself in the volume to reduce or prepare for their further processing.

Are known on the one hand devices that operate on the principle of plate pressing and on the other hand, those whose press unit / -en rollers. These devices are optimized for either the treatment of plastic containers or tinplate containers / cans.
Since said waste material can contain in a not insignificant number closed containers, the / the pressing device / s of these devices is often preceded by a perforator, such as a perforator after the DE 43 38 561 A1 or the US 5,642,661 A ,

In order that the technical complexity of these devices can be reduced, devices are also known in which means for perforating the pressing device (s) are provided, for example in a device for compacting empty beverage containers after the DE 100 55 201 A1 , This device has a substantially funnel-shaped tapered conveyor line, in which enter the beverage containers and are compacted successively under the action of the conveying path laterally limiting means for conveying and compressing.
In addition, there is provided that the rollers are provided with distributed on its circumference, blade-shaped elevations extending over the length of the rollers, ie parallel to the axis of rotation thereof. Furthermore and in particular, the means for conveying and compressing the beverage containers in this device consist of rollers driven by drum motors.
This device is expensive and maintenance-intensive, above all because of the latter assemblies.

Devices are also known in which the distance between the pairs of rollers, in particular those with the smallest Achsabbstand, with respect to their distance and the position of the longitudinal cutting edges are adjustable so that a separation of the guided material is carried out in the manner of breaking, tearing or shearing , so that each of a bottle or can of several smaller pieces arise.

What type of volume reduction of said emptied container - compressing or crushing - is applied to the collection point of the waste, resulting from the / Task / -en the downstream recycling stages, the transport to the recycling company and the recycling process itself. A device for crushing said waste can therefore be placed at the collection point or at the recycling company.

Known devices for crushing said waste have, inter alia, the disadvantage that the crushing, tearing or shearing edges on the small and small pieces produced on the one hand are frayed and / or in these pieces - the so-called flakes - so-called white fractures are present. These frayings or white fractures represent a quality deficiency in the classification of the recycled material for further processing.

Another disadvantage of known devices for crushing said waste material also consists in the fact that the individual pieces produced under certain circumstances still with sections of said containers, z. As PET bottles, provided labeling (coding for the returnable bottle return system) may contain and thus an abuse can not be excluded.

In this context is from the DE 20111752 U1 a device known, with the hollow body, preferably plastic bottles, compacted for recycling, so to be compressed to approximately plate-shaped objects to be. It is also provided to make cuts and intersections of individual wall sections of these containers to allow escape of air and residual liquids contained therein. However, it is not intended and not desired that thereby the container to be treated is separated into several parts.

Furthermore, from the DE 3806119 C2 a cutting unit with two mutually working cutting rollers having a plurality of mutually intermeshing cutting discs in the axial direction known. It is primarily about the design of the cross-sectional shape of the cutting discs in the radially outer end region.

From the US 4669673 , which forms the closest prior art, a device for dividing plastic bottles and metal cans into small pieces (particle cut) is known, in which the arrangement of the cutting unit in a surrounding housing with, for example, a filling opening and a separator for the individual objects to be cut is disclosed.

Furthermore, the shows DE 3412021 A1 a cutting unit with two mutually-working cutting rollers for particle cutting, which has a concrete to be recognized tooth shape on the cutting discs, but no integration of this cutting unit in a surrounding device.

To produce the cutting teeth by inserting grooves in the periphery of the cutting wheels, and to arrange these particle cuts in the axial direction of the cutting rollers helical, both show the DE 3412021 A1 as well as the DE 3806119 C2 ,

Based on this prior art, the skilled person has the task of designing a device for crushing empty containers, especially beverage bottles or beverage cans made of plastic, especially PET bottles or tinplate, such that the crushing is guaranteed reliable and high quality and the manufacturing costs and the maintenance costs for this device are low compared to known devices.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a device for crushing empty containers with the features of claim 1; advantageous developments and refinements of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The core idea of the invention is that in the new device for shredding with only one pair of cutting rollers said waste material is cut, being used as a cutting unit used in shredders for shredding paper or cardboard cutting unit in the inventive device for crushing. This cutting unit consists of a cutting unit with two cutting rollers whose axes of rotation are arranged parallel to each other. This cutting unit also includes a gearbox, a drive and a control unit. Each of the two cutting rollers has a plurality of cutting discs, which, viewed in the axial direction, are arranged spaced from one another by a respective puncture (gap). The distance between the axes of rotation is selected so that the cutting discs of each opposing cutting roller dive into the gap of the other cutting roller. The axial distance from cutting disc to cutting disc on a cutting roller, so the width of the gap (the puncture) is greater than the width of a cutting disc of the opposite cutting roller. This ensures that between the mutually facing side edges of the respective overlapping (combing) cutting discs a gap of small width is present, the so-called cutting game. By appropriate adjustment, axial displacement, the cutting clearance is adjustable so that on one side of the respective cutting disc no or a very narrow gap is present and on the other side of the cutting disc Cutting clearance between the two mutually facing side edges is greater. The size / width of the respective cutting clearance between two mutually facing side edges of two adjacent cutting discs is selected according to the intended application. So, this cutting game is different for PET containers than for tinplate containers. The wall thickness of the container can be considered for the adjustment of the cutting game, as well as the use of a device for waste material of various materials. A development of the device thus provides that at least one cutting roller is arranged adjustable and lockable in the axial direction.

The new device for shredding empty containers, in particular of plastic bottles or cans made of plastic or tinplate consists of a filling opening and an outlet opening (outlet opening) having housing / frame and arranged in the housing, above cutting unit. Furthermore, as far as provided, means for actuating and for controlling one or more closure elements for the filling opening and / or the outlet opening are arranged on and / or in the device.

Specifically, it is provided on the cutting unit that on at least one of the cutting rollers, but preferably on both cutting rollers, in the peripheral surface of the cutting discs at least one, preferably a plurality of recesses (grooves), in particular four or a multiple of two, are incorporated. These recesses break through at least one of the two cutting disk flanks of the cutting disks, preferably both cutting disk flanks.

The diameter of the cutting rollers is 80 mm +/- 10%. According to a further embodiment, the diameters of the two cutting rollers are different.

A further development provides that scrapers are arranged between the cutting discs, wherein preferably standard scrapers are used by cutters of shredders application.

The so-called interplay between adjacent discs preferably has a value between 0.005 mm and 2 mm. The overlap of adjacent and opposite discs is chosen between 0.5 mm and 15 mm.

The cutting rollers of the device are preferably made of the material 42CrMoS4. The cutting disks of the cutting rollers are hardened, in a preferred embodiment, only the body edge region is hardened.

According to a special development of arranged in the peripheral surface of the cutting disc or cutting discs the trailing in the direction of rotation groove flank forms with the peripheral surface an pointing in the circumferential direction acute-angled cutting tooth, wherein the beginning of the tip groove edge, at least in sections, a linear and counter to the rolling rotation direction course has and the adjoining transition region to the groove bottom and / or lying in the direction of rotation, ahead hurrying groove flank, arc-shaped. Preferably, the two groove flanks extend parallel or divergent to one another. The tip angle of each cutting tooth is preferably selected between 45 ° and 80 °.

Furthermore, it is advantageously provided that the cutting rollers rotate in a speed range of 30 to 150 U / min. The drive of the cutting unit preferably has a power of 1.5 to 2 kilowatts. It is also provided that the start pulse for the cutting rollers, for example via a light barrier and a follow-up time is provided.

Further advantageous design details in the new device are used from the outside in the bearing plates bearing for the cutting rollers. This is advantageous because it is not excluded that supplied containers are closed and also contain liquid, which in turn can ferment, so that in the bottle pressure is built up and in the first perforation this liquid in the cutting unit uncontrollably splashed around.
Because of the latter, nozzles are provided in the housing of the device for acting on the cutting rollers and / or the inlet and the outlet opening with disinfectant.

The outer dimensions of the device are such that a coupling to bottle and / or Dosenrücknahmeautomaten or systems can take place. The device is designed especially for containers with a volume of 0.2 to 3 liters.

In addition, it is provided in the new device that the cutting unit in the region of the filling opening, which in a preferred embodiment comprises a reservoir with funnel-like shape, a separator is arranged upstream. Rotate about a rotation axis wings, preferably three or four wings, the waste material in the conveying direction orderly lead the cutting and at the same time, at least until the detection of the container by the cutting discs, press the same in the nip of the cutting unit. Above the cutting mechanism and behind the separator, one of the walls of the funnel is continued or arranged a plate-like part, for limiting the storage space and as a guide surface for the return of possibly under the wings or entrained containers to the storage room.

Another special development provides that the grooves in the cutting discs of each cutting roller, seen in the axial direction, are arranged helically extending. In addition, the peripheral cross-section of the cutting discs is beveled on one side or V-shaped or arcuately designed running inward of the body. Furthermore, here the helical grooves are incorporated deeper than the depth of the inwardly directed bevels or grooves. This configuration, on the one hand, causes the waste to be better absorbed and drawn in by the cutting rollers and, on the other hand, that the cut edges on the small parts produced (flakes) are smooth. This design also has a positive effect on the required power of the drive during the cutting process. Because of the smooth and clean cut edges and hooking of the flakes or their towering towers is substantially prevented.

Figur 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung in Seitenansicht mit geöffneter Seitenfläche und Blick auf die Schneideinheit,

Figur 2

eine schematische Sicht von oben auf die kämmenden Schneidwalzen, ohne Lagerplatten und ohne Antrieb,

Figur 3

einen Ausschnitt einer Schneidscheibe,

Figur 4

die Schneidwalzen in Seitenansicht bei einseitig abgenommener Lagerplatte und die

Figuren 5 und 6

Varianten der Flügel der in Fig.1 gezeigten Dosier- und Andruckwelle.

In the following description part, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an advantageous embodiment shown schematically in drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a device according to the invention in side view with opened side surface and view of the cutting unit,

FIG. 2

a schematic view from above of the combing cutting rollers, without bearing plates and without drive,

FIG. 3

a section of a cutting disc,

FIG. 4

the cutting rollers in side view with one side removed bearing plate and the

FIGS. 5 and 6

Variants of the wings of the Fig.1 shown metering and pressure wave.

The new device for crushing empty containers is in Fig. 1 shown in side view with partially open side surface and view of the cutting unit schematically. The device 20 comprises a housing 1, with a filling opening 2 in the upper side / surface 1.1 and an outlet opening 3, also called outlet opening, in the lower side 1.3. and a cutting unit 4 arranged in the housing 1 and means for driving 7 and for controlling 8 of the cutting unit 4. The front side 1.2 and the rear side 1.4 of the housing 1 are closed here in the embodiment.
The cutting unit 4 includes two with respect to their axes of rotation spaced-apart cutting rollers 4.1 and 4.2. Each cutting roller 4.1 and 4.2 has, seen in the longitudinal direction of its axis of rotation A1 and A2 , at least two cutting discs 5 , said cutting discs 5 each by a radially inwardly directed, up to a puncture E reaching a core diameter 4.3 are spaced apart - see Fig. 2 -. With B2 , the width of each puncture E is designated. This width B2 is greater than the width B of the cutting discs 5. Thus, between the intermeshing sections of the cutting discs 5, so between the there mutually facing cutting disc edges 5.2 is given a so-called cutting game 16 . Preferably, the value for this cutting game 16 is selected in a range between 0.005 mm and 2 mm. In this embodiment, it is provided in a special embodiment that the cutting roller 4.2 is mounted displaceable and lockable in the axial direction. The resulting advantages have already been mentioned in the front part of the description.
The overlap of adjacent and opposite cutting discs 5 is selectable in a value range between 0.5 mm and 15 mm and in the exemplary embodiment is preferably 6 to 8 mm.
In the peripheral surface 5.1 of each cutting disc 5 is at least one groove 6 - recess - provided in the exemplary embodiment preferably six grooves 6. The grooves 6 in the respective opposite cutting roller 4.1 and 4.2 are arranged in mirror image to those in the other cutting roller.

In the upper surface 1.1 , a filling opening 2 is provided which forms a reservoir 2 ' with the inclusion of the walls 9 and 13 . This storage container 2 ' leads to the draw-in gap formed by the cutting rollers 4.1 and 4.2 . In the vicinity of this intake gap, a separator / Selektivor 10 is arranged in the storage container 2 ' . At a rotational axis 11 of this separator wings 12 are arranged. By rotation of these wings 12 supplied container (waste 19 ) are fed to the nip of the cutting unit. According to the total width of the cutting unit one or more containers 19 are supplied. The distance the axis of rotation 11 to the cutting rollers and the length and shape of the wings 12 is chosen so that said container 19 are pressed by the end portions of the wings 12 in the nip of the cutting mechanism. Should nevertheless and contrary to expectations a container slide under a wing or not be detected by the cutting rollers, the rear wall of the reservoir 2 ', the wall 13, arranged such that such containers are again conveyed into the reservoir 2' .
The supplied containers 19 are gripped by the cutting discs 5, in particular by the cutting teeth 5.3 and drawn into the cutting gap and cut by the cutting discs into so-called particles 15 . The generated small parts are then discharged through the outlet port 3 . Under this outlet opening, a collecting container may be arranged or the cut falls on a conveyor belt and is conveyed to a collecting container. The housing / frame 1 of the device roller is dimensioned such that it can be coupled to a bottle and / or can take-back machine or integrated into the same.

The cutting discs 5 of the cutting rollers 4.1 and 4.2 are preferably surface hardened. The Indian FIG. 2 left end portion of the cutting roller 4.2 is formed as a bearing pin 4.4 and the right end portion of the cutting roller 4.1 as a bearing and drive pin 4.5 .

At the in Fig. 1, 2 and 4 In the embodiment shown, the bearings of the cutting rollers 4.1 and 4.2 are inserted from the outside into bearing plates 14 arranged in the housing. Also, the benefits in the front part of the description are already mentioned.

The diameter D of the cutting discs 5 is in this embodiment, a device for crushing PET bottles with a volume of 0.25 to 3 liters, preferably 79 mm.
The speed of the cutting rollers 4.1 and 4.2 of the cutting unit 4 is preferably 50 to 90 U / min here. The start pulse for the cutting rollers 4.1 and 4.2 is preferably carried out via a light barrier, which is not shown here; In addition, a follow-up time is provided.

In the Fig. 4 is still shown that 5 scrapers 4.6 are arranged in this embodiment between the cutting discs, with standard scrapers of shredders apply.
Not shown are arranged in the housing 1 nozzles, for acting on the cutting rollers 1.4 and 1.2 and / or the filling 2 and the outlet 3 with disinfectant and / or detergent, so that a favored by liquid residues and ambient atmosphere odor (bacteria formation) can be prevented ,

In the FIG. 3 the detailed design of the groove 6 in the cutting disc 5 is shown. To Fig. 3 forms each in the direction of rotation R ' trailing edge 6.3 of the peripheral surface 5.1 of the cutting discs 5 of the cutting roller 4.2 arranged grooves 6 with the peripheral surface 5.1 a pointing in the circumferential direction acute-angled cutting tooth 5.3, wherein the beginning of the tip groove edge 6.3 a linear and against the Schneidwalzendrehsinn R ' Directed course and the adjoining transition region 6.4 to the groove bottom 6.2 and / or lying in the circumferential direction of the groove side 6.1 is formed arcuate. Preferably, the two groove flanks 6.1 and 6.3 extend parallel or divergent to one another. The point angle W of the cutting teeth is 5.3 preferably selected between 45 ° and 80 °, in the illustrated embodiment, it is preferably 60 °. N designates an angle of inclination which is formed between the perpendicular S of the imaginary coordinate system extending through the axis of rotation A2 and the vertical perpendicular to the groove bottom 6.2 , which is likewise laid through the axis of rotation A2 . With L , the length of the groove 6 is designated. Preferably, this length L, in this embodiment, corresponds to about 40% of the length of the circular arc, which is defined by a groove 6 and a subsequent thereto section of the peripheral surface 5.1 of a cutting disc 5.

In the FIGS. 5 and 6 are other variants of the wings of the Fig. 1 shown separator shown. Starting from the center, the axis of rotation 11, these wings are polygonzugartig 17 or arcuately shaped 18 to their free ends. The circumferential circle described by the ends of the moving wings is denoted by Dk . These designs ensure that containers with a volume of 0.25 liters to 3 liters receive optimum pressure in the direction of the feed nip of the cutting unit. As can be seen from the two figures, the end regions of the wings 17 and 18 are occupied by piercing elements 21 . The tip of these piercing elements pointing in the direction of rotation, ie in the working direction. By this measure, the holding and feeding the container to the intake nip of the cutting mechanism is still improved. In particular, in the case of very thin-walled and very flexible containers, under certain circumstances it may happen that the blade ends could slip over such a container. These lancing elements counteract such efforts.

All mentioned in the foregoing description and the only removable from the drawing features are further components of the disclosure, even if not particularly highlighted and in particular not mentioned in the claims. The invention is not limited to the embodiment described, but often variable within the scope of the claims. Thus, it is within the scope of the disclosure to position the filling opening 2 instead of in the upper surface 1.1 in one of the side walls of the housing 1 . Due to the intended use of a cutting mechanism of a shredder, which is available in a compact design, the aforementioned change in the position of the filling opening without great technical overhead can be realized. <B><u> REFERENCE LIST </ u></b> 1 casing 1.1 upper side (surface) 1.2 front side 1.3 lower side 1.4 rear side 2 fill opening 2 ' reservoir 3 Outlet opening (outlet opening) 4 cutting unit 4.1 first cutting roller (front) 4.2 second roller (rear) 4.3 core diameter 4.4 pivot 4.5 Bearing and drive pin 4.6 scraper 5 cutting discs 5.1 peripheral surfaces 5.2 Cutting disk flanks 5.3 cutting teeth 6 groove 6.1 leading groove flank 6.2 groove bottom 6.3 trailing groove flank 6.4 Transition area 7 drive 8th control unit 9 Wall of Pos. 2 ' 10 separator 11 Rotary axis of Pos. 10 12 wing 13 Wall from Pos. 2 '(limitation to the rear) 14 bearing plate 15 cut containers 16 Die clearance 17 Wing, polygonal 18 Wings, arched 19 Waste (container, vessel) 20 device 21 Lancing elements (pointed screws, nails etc.) A1 Rotary axis of the cutting roller 4.1 A2 Rotary axis of the cutting roller 4.2 B Width of pos. 5 B2 Width of the punctures D Diameter of Pos. 5 dk Circumferential circle of the wings of pos. 10 e punctures L Length of pos. 6 N tilt angle W Point angle S Vertical to pos. A2 R direction of rotation R ' direction of rotation

Claims (17)

1. A device for shredding empty containers, in particular beverage bottles or cans made from synthetic material or tinplate, the device comprising:

   - a housing (1) including a fill-in opening (2) and an outlet opening (3),

   - a cutting unit (4) arranged in the housing (1),

   - devices for driving and controlling the cutting unit (4),

   - wherein the cutting unit (4) includes two cutting rollers (4.1 and 4.2) with rotation axes that are offset from each other,

   - wherein a separator (10) is arranged upstream from a cutting arrangement that includes the cutting rollers (4.1) and (4.2) wherein the separator is a vane shaft with vanes (12), wherein free vane ends of the vanes are swept backward viewed in a direction of rotation (R'),

   - wherein the end portions of the vanes are configured with piercing elements (21) wherein tips of the piercing elements are oriented in the direction of rotation, thus in the operating direction,

   - wherein each of the cutting rollers (4.1 and 4.2) includes plural cutting discs (5) which are respectively offset from each other in an axial direction by respective a gap and wherein at least one groove (6) is fabricated in a circumferential surface of the cutting discs (5) wherein the groove (6) penetrates both flanks (5.1, 5.2) of the cutting disc,

   characterized in that,

   - the grooves extend in a helical shape in axial direction in the cutting discs (5) of both cutting rollers, and

   - the diameter (D) of the cutting discs (5) is 80 millimeters +/- 10 %.
2. The device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that,
   the separator (10) is a vane shaft that includes three or four vanes (12).
3. The device according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that,
   vanes that are attached in a center, this means at the rotation axis, are configured with polygonal sections (17) or arcuate sections (18) at their ends.
4. The device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that,
   the so-called cutting clearance (16) between adjacent cutting discs (5) of the cutting arrangement has a value between 0.005 mm and 2 mm.
5. The device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that,
   the overlap of adjacent and opposite cutting discs (5) has a value between 0.5 mm and 15 mm.
6. The device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that,
   the cutting rollers are advantageously made from 42CrMoS4 material.
7. The device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that,
   the cutting discs (5) of the cutting rollers (4.1 and 4.2) are hardened.
8. The device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that,
   the bearings of the cutting rollers (4.1 and 4.2) are inserted from an outside into their support plates (8).
9. The device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that,
   a drive (7) of the cutting rollers (4.1 and 4.2) is configured for speeds in a range of 30 to 150 rpm.
10. The device according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that,
    wipers (4.6) are arranged between the cutting discs (5).
11. The device according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that,
    a light switch is arranged in a portion of the fill-in opening (2) and configured to generate a start impulse for the cutting rollers (4.1 and 4.2).
12. The device according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that,
    nozzles are arranged in the housing (1) for loading the cutting rollers (4.1 and 4.2), and/or the fill-in opening (2) and/or the outlet opening (3) with disinfectant.
13. The device according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that,
    the cutting discs (5) include grooves (6) that are fabricated in a circumferential surface (5.1) wherein a flank (6.3) that is swept back in a circumferential direction (R, R') forms an acute cutting tooth (5.3) with the circumferential surface (5.1), wherein the acute cutting tooth is oriented in a direction of revolution, wherein the groove flank (6.3) that begins at the tip has a linear extension that is oriented against a direction of rotation of the roller (R, R'), and an adjoining transition portion (6.4) is configured arcuate towards a groove base (6.2) and/or towards the groove flank (6.1) that is arranged in the direction of revolution.
14. The device according to claim 13,
    characterized in that,
    the two groove flanks (6.1 and 6.3) extend parallel to each other or diverge from each other.
15. The device according to claims 13 or 14,
    characterized in that,
    a tip angle (W) of the cutting tooth (5.3) is advantageously between 45 degrees and 80 degrees.
16. The device according to claims 13, 14 or 15,
    characterized in that,
    a circular arc defined by a groove (6) and an adjacent section of the circumferential surface (5.1) of a cutting disc (5) is defined by the groove (6) advantageously along 40% of a length of the circular arc.
17. The device according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that,
    the cutting arrangement is a particle cutting arrangement.

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