FR2595337A1 - Method for arranging empty bottles on a conveying chain from batches of bulk-packaged bottles and installation for implementing the said method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for arranging empty bottles on a conveying chain from batches of bulk-packaged bottles in carriages, as well as to an arrangement installation according to an embodiment of the said method. According to the invention, the batch 1 of empty bottles, grouped into a container 2, is deposited on a buffer zone 3, in which buffer zone the lower part of the pile of deposited empty bottles is laid down and oriented. The laid-down and oriented bottles are directed towards a discharge zone 7 on which some bottles are tilted so that all have a neck directed in a specific direction and the said bottles are righted before being directed towards the conveying chain 12. The invention will apply most particularly to bottlers.

Description

 The invention relates to a method for storing empty bottles on a conveyor chain from batches of bottles packaged in bulk, as well as an installation for implementing said method. It will find its application in particular in bottlers.

 In many areas, particularly in the food beverage industry, liquids are packaged in returnable glass bottles and taken up for reuse.

 We know the drawbacks, especially in terms of energy, of using lost glasses, so the use of returnable bottles remains an essential factor in lowering the cost price in the sale of drinks.

 In return, the reuse of the instructions involves significant handling.

 There are facilities for sorting bottles according to their shape, which allows the process to be automated at the merchant level. The machine is also capable of paying the sum due to the consumer according to the instructions given by the latter.

 Generally, the bottles returned and taken back by the merchant are placed in bulk in waiting trolleys.

 During tours, the empty glasses are picked up by carriers, the goods being packaged in bulk.

 Empty bottles, once brought back to the bottler, must be placed on a conveyor chain so that they can pass in an automated cleaning installation in which they are rinsed before their reuse.

 Many difficulties are felt at this level because, between the bulk delivery of the bottles by the carriers and their placement on a conveyor chain where they must be upright and aligned, there is currently no large-capacity installation which gives satisfaction.

 Manual recourse is compulsory when it is a question of exceeding rates of around eight thousand bottles per hour.

 It is a tedious job because of the many existing nuisances, however the current automatic installations cannot replace the workforce when it comes to treating on the order of sixteen to twenty thousand bottles per hour.

 Current machines, which allow bulk bottles to be processed for storage on a conveyor belt for example, use vibrations to obtain the displacement of the bottles and their orientation.

 Vibrating mechanisms have many applications, in particular for loading parts such as screws, and are well suited when the objects to be moved are small. On the other hand, when it comes to treating bottles, there are incompatibilities which greatly reduce the effectiveness of the solution used.

 Glass is a fragile element which suffers from shocks and the vibrations caused by the shaking can cause a number of breaks if they are too great.

 In addition, the vibrating mechanisms only allow small displacements and when it is a question of treating objects as bulky as bottles, the speed of displacement represents an essential element of the performance of the installation.

 Finally, the orientation and the storage of the bottles are achieved through the use of hatches or exit gates which are passive elements, that is to say that there is no mechanical action oriented storage but that the bottle, in its incessant random movement, comes, at any time, to be positioned so that it can precisely be evacuated. This absence of external mechanical action considerably increases the average storage time necessary to properly orient the bottles.

 The main object of the present invention is to present a bottle storage process which allows to completely dispense with any manual operation and which, moreover, is very efficient in terms of processing capacity.

 Despite the high production which can be obtained by using the process of the present invention, the stresses exerted on the empty glasses are minimized to avoid any breakage.

 Another object of the present invention is to present a method for storing empty bottles in which the number of movements imposed on the treated bottles is reduced.

 Another object of the present invention is to present an installation for storing empty bottles from batches of bulk bottles, which is fully automated and which has a relatively small footprint.

 The installation is very reliable due to the reduced number of moving parts, which also allows a significant reduction in cost.

 Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear during the following description which is not intended to limit it.

The process for storing empty bottles on a conveyor chain from batches of bottles packaged in bulk in trolleys, which will find its application in particular in bottlers, is characterized in that
- lots of bulk bottles are placed in a heap in a buffer zone,
- layer and orient the lower part of the pile of bottles according to the direction of movement,
- we direct the bottles lying down and oriented towards an evacuation area,
- the surplus bottles driven by the previous operation are pushed back into the buffer zone so as to obtain only a single layer of evacuated bottles,
- certain bottles are tilted so that all of them have the neck directed in a determined direction,
- the bottles are straightened on their base,
- they are pushed on the conveyor chain.

 The installation for storing empty bottles on a conveyor chain according to an implementation of the preceding process, which includes a buffer zone on which the batches of bulk bottles are spilled, is characterized in that the buffer zone has means to lay down and orient the bottles quoted in the longitudinal evacuation corridors.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description accompanied by attached drawings, among which
FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically the different stages of the method for storing empty bottles of the present invention,
FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c illustrate the details of the phases of the rotational movement imparted to the bottles to store them in the longitudinal transport corridors,
FIGS. 3a to 3h show diagrammatically the different stages of the tilting movement undergone by the empty bottles in order to tilt them and store them upright,
FIGS. 4a to 4d represent the different stages of the movement imposed on the empty bottles already oriented correctly, in order to straighten them,
FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively represent a front view and a top view of the loading station of the bottle storage installation of the present invention,
FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively represent a front and top view of the buffer zone which makes it possible to lay down and orient the empty bottles,
- Figures 9 and 10 show respectively in front view and from above the empty bottle discharge zone in which the bottles tilt and are routed on the conveyor chain to be fed.

 The present invention relates to a method for storing empty bottles on a conveyor chain from batches of bottles packaged in bulk in trolleys as well as a storage installation according to an implementation of said method.

 It will find its application in particular in bottlers for the reuse of empty returnable bottles.

 In many sectors, in particular that of food drinks, the packaging bottles are returned to the consumer and taken back by the producer in order to be reused. This movement leads to a particularly significant reduction in costs in everyday products.

 However, before being reused, these bottles must be rinsed in an automated cleaning installation, the loading of which is ensured by a conveyor chain on which the empty bottles are arranged one after the other. .

 The placement of empty bottles on the travel chain poses problems since they must be placed straight, in line, on the conveyor belt, while they are conveyed in bulk.

 The present invention relates precisely to a method and an installation which make it possible, from batches of bottles packaged in bulk, to store them standing, in line, on a conveyor chain.

 Generally, lots of empty bottles are delivered by traders in large mesh trolleys, however other possibilities for bulk delivery can perfectly be envisaged. The initial presentation of the product according to the present invention does not matter.

 Referring to Figure 1, the lot (1) of empty bottles is grouped in a container (2).

 As will appear during the following description, the shape of the bottles does not matter, however it is desirable to adopt the treatment of a standard format.

 The batch of empty bottles (1) is, according to the method of the present invention, firstly placed in the form of a heap on a buffer zone (3). This operation can for example be carried out by inverting the container (2) above the buffer zone (3). To avoid the sudden fall of empty bottles, preferably during the container inversion operation (2), a pressure plate (4) is applied to the surface of said container to prevent the bottles from falling sharply.

 At the end of this operation, the empty bottles are therefore distributed pell-mell over the buffer zone. We layer and then orient the lower part of the pile of bottles placed on the buffer zone (3) according to the direction of movement.

 To facilitate understanding, Figure 1 shows only two bottles (5) and (6) on the buffer zone (3).

A rotation movement is imparted to the bottles so as to rotate them about themselves and so that they orient themselves parallel to the direction of movement. Once oriented, the bottles are released to an evacuation zone (7). Guide lanes (8) hold the bottles (9) in place according to the direction of movement.

 In parallel with the release of the bottles from the lower layer, the excess bottles are pushed back which tends to be entrained by the lower layers. The surplus bottles are pushed back into the buffer zone (3) so that a little at a time, by its lower part, the pile of empty bottles is taken care of for storage.

 Up to now, the direction of the bottles has been imposed but not their direction; also found in the discharge area of bottles having a neck directed towards the front of the movement and bottles having a neck directed towards the rear of the movement.

 To harmonize the direction of placement of the bottles, certain bottles are tilted so that all of them have a neck directed in a determined direction.

 In Figure 1, the tilting (10) is made for the neck is arranged at the rear of the bottle, this by way of example.

 Finally, the bottles are straightened on their base so that they stand upright, this is step (11), then the bottles are pushed onto the conveyor chain (12).

 To lay the bottles in the buffer zone (3), mechanical means are used, which will be described later, and mobile surfaces are used, with a sloping profile at their upper part.

The slopes create an imbalance at the level of the bottle which, due to lack of stability, sets.

 The details of the bottle orientation process are illustrated in Figures 2a, 2b and 2c. First of all, the surface of the buffer zone (3) is composed of a number of longitudinal corridors (8). These corridors (8) are bordered by movable sides (13) whose upper profile (14) has a series of slopes.

 FIG. 2a illustrates the case of a lying bottle (15) arranged transversely on the sides (13). Each of the sides (13) is animated by a movement in the opposite direction symbolized by the arrows (16) and (17). This movement in the opposite direction has the consequence of rotating the bottle (15) in a rotating movement symbolized by the arrow (18) in FIG. 2b. Thus, gradually, the bottle (15) is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the corridor (8).

 After sufficient movement of the sides (13), as symbolized in FIG. 2c, the bottle (15) takes the exact orientation of the passage (8) and therefore enters the interval separating the sides (13). At the end of this operation, the bottle (15) is therefore perfectly oriented.

 In the example chosen above, the flanks (13) are driven in a continuous movement, however in practice it is preferable to create an alternative movement of the flanks (13) in phase opposition. This movement making it possible to create a rotation of the bottles of the lower layer of the pile deposited on the buffer zone (3).

 The evacuation of the oriented bottle (15) could for example be obtained by placing a conveyor belt at the bottom of the corridor (8) between the sides (13). The bottle, which rests on the belt conveyor, can thus be directed towards the evacuation zone.

 Figures 3a to 3h illustrate the different phases of the tilting movement imposed on the bottles in order to standardize the positioning of their neck.

 First of all, the bottle (20) is printed with a downward movement, for example in a chute (19).

 If the neck (21) of the bottle (20) is directed towards the front of the latter, as illustrated in FIG. 3b, the neck (21) is then retained. This action, combined with the speed of the bottle (20) causes the tilting of the bottle which tumbles as shown in Figures 3c, d, e and f. At the end of this tilting operation, the bottle is left with the neck (21) directed towards the rear of the movement, as illustrated in FIG. 39.

 The bottle will then be straightened and can stand upright, as illustrated in Figure 3h.

 If the bottle has a neck (21) directed towards the rear, no action is exerted at the neck (21) as illustrated in FIGS. 4a, b and c. In the absence of any action, the bottle does not undergo any tilting and finds itself at the end of the step in a good position to remain upright, as illustrated in FIG. 4d.

 Thus, according to the method of the present invention, by simple retaining action on the neck (21) of the bottle (20), the operation which is only carried out if the bottle has a neck directed towards the front of the movement , it is possible to tilt the bottle to place it correctly.

 Thus, according to the method of the present invention, it is possible, starting from a batch of bottles in bulk, to straighten them to direct them towards a conveyor chain.

 Figures 5 and 6 show respectively a front view and a top view of the loading station of the empty bottle storage installation according to the present invention.

 It is a loading station with two carriages (22) and (23). The carriages containing the empty bulk bottles are placed in freight elevators (24) and (25) provided respectively with front doors (26) and (27) whose closing is ensured by means of jacks (28) and (29) .

 The hoist cages have in their upper part two pressure plates (30) and (31) which prevent, during the tilting operation, that the bottles cannot escape and fall from a great height.

 The freight elevators (24) and (25) are articulated around an axis of rotation (32). The effort required to lift the freight elevator is given by a jack (33).

 It is thus possible to raise the load above the buffer zone (3) and to release the empty bottles' in bulk above this zone.

 These transhipment means are known to those skilled in the art and other implementations can be perfectly used such as a belt elevator, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

 Figures 7 and 8 show, respectively, a front view and a top view of the buffer zone of the installation on which the batches of empty bulk bottles are deposited.

 This buffer zone (3) has means for laying down and orienting the bottles in longitudinal evacuation corridors (8).

 In this respect, the surface of the buffer zone (3) is divided into longitudinal corridors (8) separated by sidewalls (13).

 The means for laying down and orienting the empty bottles are in the form of movable sides (13) whose upper profile (14) is sinuous.

 Preferably, the movement imparted to the sides (13) is an alternating movement in phase opposition with respect to the neighbor in order to obtain the rotary movement described in FIGS. 2a, b and c.

 The reciprocating movement imposed on the sides (13) is given, in the example chosen, by means of jacks (34) arranged at the lower part of the buffer zone (3).

 The bottom of the corridors (8) is formed by a set of conveyor belts (8) which allow the bottles lying and stored to be directed towards the evacuation zone (7).

 Given the displacement imposed on the lower layers of the pile of empty bottles resting on the buffer zone (3), it is necessary to retain all the upper layers to allow the evacuation only of the lower layer.

 This retaining force is provided by means of crosspieces (35), (36) and (37) which are provided with an oscillating movement to push the bottles towards the buffer zone.

 Only bottles lying, oriented, on a single layer are removed from the buffer zone. In this regard, it should be noted that if a bottle was standing upright on the buffer zone (3) in a corridor (8), the crosspieces (36) and (37) would lay the bottle in question.

 The corridors (8) convey the empty bottles to the tilting and straightening area (10) of the installation, as illustrated respectively in front view and from above in FIGS. 9 and 10.

 The evacuation zone (7) has means for causing the bottles to tip over in order to orient the necks in the same direction. In the example chosen, the corridors (8) lead the bottles to chutes (19), the operation of which is explained in Figures 3e to 3h and 4a to 4d.

 These channels (19) with variable slope have a slot (38) whose width is greater than that of a neck but less than that of the body of the bottle. Thus, if the neck is directed towards the front of the downward movement of the bottle in the chute (19), the neck of the bottle inevitably enters the slot (38) of the chute (19). Upon entering this slot (38), the neck is retained while the bottle was driven in a downward movement. This blocking of one end of the bottle causes its tilting which thus turns around so that, at the end of the chute, the neck of the bottle is directed towards the rear.

 On the contrary, if the neck of the bottle was directed from the origin towards the rear of the downward movement, the body of the bottle cannot penetrate into the slot (38) due to its narrowness and the bottle continues its movement without undergo the tumbling movement.

 Preferably, there is in the final part of the chute (19) a leaf spring so as to slow the movement of the bottle in order to slow down its fall.

 The profile of the chute (19) is such that it causes a straightening of the bottle so as to make it stand upright on its base at the outlet of the chute.

 The bottles are placed in the central part of an intermediate belt conveyor (39).

The elasticity of the conveyor belt (39) makes it possible to cushion the fall of the bottle.

 The belt conveyor (39) pushes the bottles on the conveyor chain (12) of the installation for cleaning empty bottles.

 Other means for tilting empty bottles could have been envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention.

 In particular, mechanisms with sections pivoting in one direction or another depending on the position of the bottle in the section could also have been envisaged to allow the bottles to be straightened on the conveyor chain.

 An electric cell device, for example, can make it possible to detect the orientation of the bottle in the pivoting section so as to control the rotational movement of the latter in one direction or another depending on the position of the bottle. . The chute however has the advantage of great simplicity of implementation and therefore will preferably be used.

 The treatment capacity of the installation depends on the number of lanes (8) used and, for example, with twenty two lanes, it is possible to process up to twenty thousand bottles per hour.

 Other implementations of the present invention, within the reach of ordinary skill in the art, could also have been envisaged without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims (10)

 1. Method for storing empty bottles on a conveyor chain from batches of bottles packaged in bulk in trolleys which will find its application in particular in bottlers, c a r a c t e r i s in that  - the batches of bulk bottles are placed in a heap on a buffer zone (3),  - layer and orient the lower part of the pile of bottles (5) and (6) according to the direction of movement,  - the bottles lying down and oriented (9) are directed towards an evacuation zone (7),  - the excess bottles driven by the previous operation are pushed back into the buffer zone (3) so as to obtain only a single layer of evacuated bottles,  - certain bottles are tilted so that all of them have a neck directed in a determined direction,  - the bottles are straightened on their base,  - the bottles are pushed onto the conveyor chain (12).  2. Method for storing empty bottles on a conveyor chain, according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottles (15) are laid in the buffer zone (3) by placing them on a mobile surface having slopes (14).  3. A method of storing empty bottles on a conveyor chain, according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower layer of the heap of loose bottles is oriented by animating it with an alternating rotation movement for direct the bottles (15) along longitudinal evacuation corridors (8).  4. A method of storing empty bottles on a conveyor chain, according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottles (20) are tilted by causing them to descend and retaining the necks. (21) directed forward to obtain the inversion of said bottles (20).  5. Installation for storing empty bottles in a conveyor chain from batches of bottles packaged in bulk in trolleys, according to an implementation of the method of claim 1, which comprises a buffer zone (3) on which are overturned batches of bottles in bulk, characterized in that the buffer zone (3) has means for laying down and orienting the empty bottles (15) in longitudinal evacuation corridors (8).  6. Installation for storing empty bottles, according to claim 5, c a r a c t é r i s e in that the means are in the form of flanks (13) movable whose upper profile (14) is sinuous.  7. Installation for storing empty bottles, according to claim 6, c a r a c t é r i s e in that the sides (13) are driven by an alternating movement in phase opposition to their neighbor.  8. Installation for storing empty bottles according to claim 6, c a r a c t é r i s e in that between the sides (13) are disposed at the bottom of the corridors (8) of the conveyor belts.  9. Installation for storing empty bottles, according to an implementation of the method of claim 1, which comprises an evacuation zone (7) of the bottles to a conveyor chain (12), characterized by the fact that the evacuation zone (7) has means for causing the tilting of the empty bottles in order to orient their neck (21) in the same direction.  10. Installation for storing empty bottles according to claim 9, characterized in that the means are in the form of a chute (19) having a variable slope and provided with a slot (38) the width of a bottle neck (21) (20).