The invention relates to an apparatus and method for emptying holders filled with product, for example, cardboard packages filled with drink.

The invention concerns in particular the emptying of rejected holders.

An apparatus for emptying milk cartons is known, for example, from CA571050. The known apparatus is provided with a crusher, having a feed hopper, under which a chamber is arranged. Situated in an upper part of the chamber is a drum provided with perforations and piercing pins. During use, filled milk cartons are introduced via the hopper into the chamber, and fall over between the drum and a grating. The piercing pins engage the milk cartons, and drag the cartons along, to pierce the walls of the cartons. Thereupon the milk can run out of the cartons, to be collected. A rake peels the emptied cartons off the drum. A disadvantage of the known apparatus is that it has a relatively low capacity. Further, cleaning the apparatus is relatively difficult and time consuming. In addition, the known apparatus consists of relatively many moving parts, which can come into contact with the milk, and is therefore susceptible of failure. The present invention contemplates removing these disadvantages at least partly. In particular, the invention contemplates a reliable, durable apparatus, suitable to empty holders fast and efficiently.

To this end, according to the invention, an apparatus is provided that is characterized by the features of claim 1. An apparatus for emptying holders filled with product, for example, cardboard packages filled with drink, preferably comprises a cutting device set up along a holder conveying track, the cutting device being configured to cut open the holders passed along the track and a conveyor to pass the holders along the conveying track. The apparatus is particularly reliable, can be designed with relatively few parts, and can empty the holders in a particularly efficient manner. Use of the apparatus comprises, for example, a method in which the holders are passed along the conveying track (by the conveyor) and during passage are cut open (by the cutting device).

The present apparatus can be made of relatively lightweight and compact design. Further, the apparatus can effect removal of a product, for example, a liquid (such as a drink), from the holders in a relatively pure state, i.e., without the product being polluted by holder material. Another aspect of the invention, which the apparatus is preferably provided with, concerns a system of removing closures situated on holder top walls. Such closures comprise, for example, caps, which close off pour openings. The system is then preferably provided with a conveyor to pass the holders along a conveying track, as well as a striking device, comprising one or more striking elements, to strike the closures off the holders (during conveyance along the conveying track).

Further advantageous elaborations of the invention are defined in the subclaims. Presently, a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the invention will be discussed with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a cutaway side elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a cutaway top plan view of a part of the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 show a rear view and a front view, respectively, of the exemplary embodiment; and

Fig. 5 shows schematically an example of a closure-remover. Equal or corresponding features are designated in this patent application with equal or corresponding reference signs. Figs. 1-4 show an advantageous embodiment of an apparatus for emptying product-filled (closed) holders H. The holders H to be processed can each be provided, for example, with wall parts that bound a product- filled inner space, and close off that space, for example, wall parts made of cardboard or of plastic. According to a further elaboration, the holders H are provided with flexible wall parts (at least, such that the holders H can be compressed after being cut open).

The holders H are, for example, rejected holders, for example, rejected in view of the contents of the holders, and/or in view of an unwanted attribute of the holders themselves (for example, an incorrect printing, or the like).

The holders H can be, for example, angular, cardboard packages. According to a further elaboration, the packages H to be emptied are of angular design, for example, having a quadrangular cross section (with 90° angles), in particular a holder H in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. The holders H comprise, for example, top walls with pour openings, which are closed off by closures R (in particular screw caps or the like) projecting above the holder top wall. The apparatus is suitable to handle, for example, holders H of different sizes, for example, holders with volumes in the range of 0.25-2 liters, for example, both 0.25 liter packages and 1 liter packages H.

Another type of holders H that can be processed by the apparatus comprises plastic bottles, for example, cylinder-shaped bottles, provided with thin plastic walls, and in particular made of an intrinsically flexible plastic.

In particular, the holders H are filled with a liquid substance, for example, a foodstuff, for example soft drink, milk, cream, soup, a dessert, yoghurt or the like.

The present apparatus is provided with a frame F, for example, a steel, stainless steel, or aluminum frame F. Preferably, the apparatus is mobile. To this end, the frame may be provided with, for example, support wheels 9 (schematically represented in Fig. 1).

The apparatus, at least the frame F, comprises a cutting device 11 set up stationarily along a holder conveying track, configured to cut open product holders H passed along the track, and a first conveyor 5 to pass the holders H along the conveying track (in a conveying direction designated with arrow T). Advantageously, a section of the conveying track is provided with an area G (see Fig. 2) where the holders H, during conveyance by the conveyor 5, are free at undersides thereof. In other words, in that area G the holders H are not supported.

The apparatus is provided with a product collector 4 to receive product coming from the cut-open holders H, for example, a receiving bin 4 having an open top. The first conveyor 5 is arranged to pass the holders H over the receiving bin 4, i.e., downstream (in the conveying direction T) with respect to the cutting device 11.

In the example, the product collector (i.e., receiving bin) 4 is of elongated design. The receiving bin 4 extends along a large part (at least 50%, in particular at least 75%) of the area G, opposite the free undersides of the holders H being passed through that area G (and respective parts of the conveyor 5). An upstream part of the bin is situated under the cutting device 11, at least, under a location where that device 11 is active to cut open holders H supplied.

Preferably, the receiving bin 4 is set up movably with respect to the cutting device 11 (for example, following arrow X in Fig. 1), in particular to bring the receiving bin 4 at least partly, or wholly, from the product receiving position shown, out of the frame F (for example, for the purpose of maintenance or cleaning activities). The bin 4 may, for example, be coupled slidably to the frame F, and/or via guides, or by means of roller supports 4a (see Fig. 3) or the like. The receiving bin 4 may be provided with a discharge opening 4b (see Fig. 1) to discharge collected product, for example to a product- processing system, not shown (comprising, for example, a purification system, filter system, storage system, cooling system, recycling system and/or the like).

As follows from the drawing, the first conveyor 5 is designed to engage only mutually remote (vertical) lateral sides of the holders H during passage of the holders H over the product receptacle 4.

The first conveyor 5 can be designed in different manners. According to a design not shown, the conveyor may be provided, for example, with grippers movable along the conveying track, arranged to grip the holders H upstream with respect to the cutting device 11, and thereupon to pass the gripped holders H (one by one) along the cutting device 11 and over the product collector 4. In the present advantageous exemplary embodiment, the conveyor 5 is provided with two endless engaging elements 6, 7, comprising conveyor belts 6, 7, which have conveying parts extending along the conveying track to carry along the holders (one by one) between them. Preferably, the conveyor belts 6, 7 are provided with surfaces capable of engaging the holders H with a relatively high friction. To that end, the conveyor belts 6, 7 may be made of, for example, rubber, or rubberlike, material.

The apparatus comprises return pulleys 6a, 7a, for passing the endless conveyor belts over them, as well as a drive M (which is coupled via a suitable transmission to two of the pulleys 6a, 7a) to drive the belts 6, 7 simultaneously, and preferably at the same speed. In the example, an extra guide pulley 7b is set up near the cutting device 11, i.e., at a distance from respective end pulleys 7a, to create a bend in the path of the respective conveyor belt 7.

The apparatus is furthermore provided with a holder supply surface 2 (for example, of a supply table) arranged upstream of the cutting device 11, which in itself can comprise, for example, a second conveyor, to receive the filled holders H and to feed them to the first conveyor 5. As the drawing shows, a part of the first conveyor 5 extends upstream with respect to cutting device 11 along a holder receiving path, to receive, during use, holders H situated on the holder supply surface 2 of the second conveyor. The second conveyor (which provides the supply surface 2) can comprise, for example, a roller conveyor, a belt conveyor or the like. Preferably, at least a downstream part of the supply surface 2 extends parallel to the conveying direction T provided by the first conveyor. In this manner, the filled holder H can be transferred upright (in a substantially vertical position) to the first conveyor, thereupon to be passed in that position along the cutting device 11 (and over the receiving bin). In the example, a downstream edge of the supply surface 2 is at a distance from the cutting device 11 (see Fig. 2). As Fig. 1 shows, the first conveyor 5 may be set up such that it engages each holder H being supplied via supply surface 2 at a distance from a top and bottom side of the holder. Thus the holders H received by conveyor 5 each protrude above as well as under the belts 6, 7 during use. To this end, it is furthermore advantageous if a width of each of the conveyor belts 6, 7 of the first conveyor 5 (measured in vertical direction) is narrower than the height of the holders H to be taken up. The width of each of the belts 6, 7 can be, for example, approximately 5-15 cm and more particularly not more than 10 cm, for example a width of approximately 8 or 9 cm. According to a further elaboration, the first and second conveyor are, for example, adjustable in height with respect to each other (for example, by coupling the second conveyor to the frame F in a manner adjustable in vertical direction). In this way, a product engaging height, as regards engagement by the first conveyor 5, can be set. As follows from the drawing, mutually oppositely extending conveying parts of the belts 6, 7 converge obliquely towards each other (viewed in top plan view), to receive the product holders H from the supply surface 2 and clamp the holders H between them. The conveyor belts 6, 7 of the first conveyor 5 are further set up to align the holders H to an inlet opening of the cutting device 11. The alignment provided is in this case such that each holder H is passed centrally through the cutting device 11, and in particular such that vertical side edges of a front holder sidewall are engaged simultaneously by the cutting device 11. The conveyor 5 is furthermore arranged to compress the holders H, and in particular to flatten them (in transversal direction). To this end, the conveying parts, viewed in conveying direction T from the cutting device 11, run further obliquely towards each other, to a discharge end W (see Fig. 1) where the compressed holders are discharged (and, for example, are collected in a holder-collector, not shown, for example a waste container placed on wheels).

The cutting device 11 is set up at a distance from the parts 6, 7 of the conveyor 5, and in particular below a vertical position (the level) of the conveyor belts 6, 7. The cutting device 11 is set up to cut open the holders H supplied to that device 11 at or near holder undersides (for example, at a distance of approximately 2 cm or less from a holder underside), in particular when the holders H are being pulled along the cutting device 11 by the belts 6, 7.

The present cutting device 11 is arranged to cut through the holders H each, and in particular to cut through holder sidewalls. During use, the present cutting device 11 can in any case wholly cut through mutually remote (vertical) holder sidewalls, which sidewalls are engaged by the belts 6, 7 of the first conveyor 5 upon receiving a holder H from the supply surface 2. The cutting device 11 is provided with two oppositely arranged (horizontally placed, flat) knives having mutually facing cutting edges S (see Figs. 2, 4) to cut open the holders H. The cutting edges S extend in a (horizontal) plane parallel to a conveying direction of the holders H, and during use can cut through each holder H on opposite sides.

Preferably, the cutting edges S are at a relatively short distance above a vertical position of the holder supply surface 2, for example, a distance of approximately 5 cm or less (preferably 2 cm or less, and preferably minimally at least 1 cm), to cut into the holders H just above holder undersides. The cutting edges S are furthermore set up such that these edges keep bottom walls of supplied holders H intact (at least do no cut through them).

The cutting edges S are at a relatively great distance below a virtual horizontal plane that includes lower edges of the conveyor belts 6, 7, for example, a distance of more than 1 cm, in particular more than approximately 2 cm. As follows from Fig. 2, the two conveying parts of the conveyor belts 6, 7 cross the two cutting edges S of the cutting device 11, viewed in top plan view.

The cutting edges S are sharp edges (of respective cutting elements 11), such that the edge S can cut through a wall of a holder H being passed along it and pressed against it. The cutting edges S may be, for example, of so sharp a design that the cutting-through of a holder H hardly, if at all, leads to the release of material of the holder wall (for example, small cardboard particles, in the case of cardboard holders H). In particular, the cutting edges S extend along the conveying track (defined by the first conveyor 5). Viewed in the holder conveying direction T, the cutting edges S converge towards each other, with the edges S including an angle, for example, in the range of approximately 10-90°.

The cutting edges S do not touch each other; in other words: between the cutting edges S a holder passage slit is available where the holders H are free, and are not cut through. The cutting device 11 can thus cut through the passing holders H only partly, in particular such that the bottom of each cut-in holder H remains coupled to other walls of the holder H. According to a further elaboration, downstream parts of the cutting edges S can be, for example, at a first distance of at least approximately 1 cm (and maximally, for example, 5 cm). According to a further elaboration, upstream parts of the cutting edges S can be, for example, at a second distance which is greater than the first distance, for example, a second distance of more than 5 cm. In particular, the second distance is greater than a width of the holders H to be cut open, for the purpose of receiving the holders.

During use, filled holders H are brought onto the supply surface 2. The holders H are passed by a second conveyor, associated with that surface 2, to the first conveyor 1, to be taken over by the first conveyor 1. The first conveyor 1 thereupon passes the holders in the conveying direction T, along the cutting device 11 — whereby the holders are cut-in on both sides (at a short distance above the holder bottoms) — and over the receiving bin 5 with simultaneous gradual compression of the holders H. The first conveyor 5 provides for the undersides of the holders H to be free, both during the cutting open of the holders by the cutting device and thereupon during compression of the holders H. Thus, the cut-open holders H are held suspended above the receiving bin, and are gradually flattened, such that the holders can lose product efficiently and fast (through squeezing between the belts 6, 7) via respective cuts. The product squeezed out of the holders H is received by the receiving bin 4 and can be processed further, for example, recycled. The flattened holders H can be ejected by the first conveyor 5 at the discharge end W, for example, into a suitable holder-collector, for example, to be recycled.

By virtue of the construction, most parts of the apparatus do not come into contact with the product coming from the holders H. Thus, the conveyor belts 6, 7 are at a relatively great distance above cuts provided by the cutting device 11, so that the product cannot reach the belts 6, 7. Nor does the (optional) second conveyor, which provides the supply surface 2, come into contact, during use, with the product coming from the holders H. The present apparatus is durable, reliable and particularly efficient, and requires relatively little maintenance.

An aspect of the invention comprises a system 25, 26 and method of removing closures R projecting above holder top walls, for example caps, from the holders H. Preferably, in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1-4, there is provided such a system 25, 26. Such a system 25, 26 is shown schematically in Fig. 5, and may, for example, be mounted on the frame F of the apparatus. The system may be situated upstream or downstream of the cutting device 11. According to a further elaboration, the system 25, 26 is arranged just before the cutting device 11, there where holders H have already been taken up by the conveyor 5, but have not been cut open yet.

Fig. 5 schematically shows two holder conveyor belts 6, 7, for example of the first conveyor of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1-4, and a holder H (for example, already cut-in and at least partly emptied) clamped therebetween. The present system is provided with a striking device 25, comprising one or more striking elements 26 to strike the closures off the holders H. The striking device comprises, for example, a rotor 25, with striking elements 26 which during rotation of the rotor 25 can hit a closure R and can strike it off the respective holder H. A closure -collector 27, for example a trap, is set up along the path of the holders H, to capture the struck-off closures R. In the example, the rotor 25 is set up such that a striking direction Y of the striking elements 26 is sideways with respect to a conveying direction provided by the conveyor 5 (i.e., the striking direction Y includes a 90 degree angle with the conveying direction T). A more advantageous (horizontal) striking direction is oblique with respect to the conveying direction T, for example at an angle in the range of 25-75 degrees with respect to that direction T, in particular 40-50 degrees, for example, 45 degrees (and in horizontal direction). With such an oblique striking direction, the striking range of the striking elements 26 is enlarged. Striking the closures R off the holders H can be carried out accurately and reliably. In this manner, the closures can be collected separately from other holder parts, and, for example, be recycled separately.

To one skilled in the art it will be clear that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described. Various changes are possible within the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Thus, the apparatus may be provided with one or more stationarily disposed cutting knives, or moving knives, for example with rotating cutting edges.

Further, a first conveyor 5 may, for example, be active to move the holders H with constant speed along a track (for example, over a product receptacle), or with varying speed, for example, continuously or intermittently. In addition, it is advantageous when a cutting device 11, for example the knives thereof, is detachable, for example for the purpose of cleaning, grinding, and/or replacement.

Furthermore, a system of removing closures R situated on holder top walls, shown schematically in Fig. 5, may, for example, be supplied separately, and/or, for example, in combination with other apparatuses than those used according to claim 1.