FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a guide member for guiding items from a first location to a second location, the invention also relates to a system for collecting items by means of an inventive guide member. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Conventional systems for collection of deposit containers, more precisely for aluminum cans for beverages, consist of automatic machines into which the deposit cans are fed, where the cans are decoded by a bar code reader, and the cans accepted for return of the deposit are compressed or cut to pieces and collected in plastic sacks. The automatic machines are often located in adjacent to the entrances of food shops, so that the customers not will have to carry empty cans through the shop. Such a machine is described for instance in WO 2012052852.

These automatic machines and their location cause a number of disadvantages. One nuisance is the noise that arises in the shop, or at least at its entrance, from the device that compresses the cans or that cuts the cans to pieces in the automatic machine.

Besides being a nuisance to the customers, this type of noise does constitute a burden for the personnel in their work environment, especially for the cashiers who often are located adjacent to the entrance. Furthermore, the collecting in plastic sacks gives the disadvantages that due to space and handling aspects the sacks cannot be very large, usually about 150 liters, which means that the automatic machines stop due to full sack relatively often, leading to the shop personnel having to change sacks and having to transport the filled sack to the loading ramp of the shop, where it is taken care of for further transport. Moreover, the transport from the automatic machine to the loading ramp causes risks for the personnel of being hurt by the cut up cans and also a risk that possible remaining liquid contents in the can leak from the sack if it gets holes. Such holes arise very easily due to the sharp edges of the cut up cans.

A solution to this problem is proposed in US 6,401,902 B l and US 2007/0151903 Al . US 6,401,902 B l discloses a collecting system for packagings, preferably returnable packagings, comprising a feed-in device for the packagings, which feed-in device is arranged at a first location. Furthermore, an automatic transport device is arranged to automatically, and preferably mechanically, transport the packagings from said feed-in device to a demolition and/or collecting device which is arranged at a second location, said second location being located at a distance from said first location. US 2007/0151903 Al discloses a handling device for returnable packagings comprising a feeding device, having at least one inlet opening, a first detection device arranged in connection with said feeding device, means for detection of at least one property of the material of a returnable packaging, in order to control/affect the operation in a subsequent sorting unit, wherein a lock unit is arranged before said sorting unit, and a compression unit, wherein said lock unit comprises a first and a second stop device, arranged to control that only one returnable packaging at a time is present at said second stop device, wherein said means comprises a second detection device arranged within said feeding device, which second detection device includes a gauge arranged to distinguish between metal and plastic, and that said sorting unit is moveable arranged, between different positions, based on a control signal from said second detection device, in order to dependent of its material direct the returnable packaging into one of at least two different directions.

In both of the designs, the aluminum cans or plastic bottles are fed through a transport canal, which is stated to consist of a tube in e.g. PVC or steel, with a diameter of 60- 200 mm, preferably 60-160 mm and even more preferred about 70-110 mm. Steel pipes have the disadvantage of being too heavy to be generally accepted for mounting suspended from the ceiling or roof of the shop. Further, in summer, the temperature around the pipe may be quite high, e.g. on the order of 40-50 °C, and then with PVC tubes, you have the problem of deformation and sticking. It is of utmost importance that the aluminum cans or plastic bottles don't stick in the pipe, so that shop personnel has to leave their ordinary tasks to demount pipe sections from the collecting system to clear up the mess. When aluminum cans and plastic bottles are being pushed through a circular pipe, they will try to assume a slightly oblique position in relation to the longitudinal axis of the pipe The direction of the pushing force will deviate from the direction of the pipe. Thereby, an upper portion (adjacent the outlet of the can/bottle) and a lower portion (adjacent the bottom) of the can/bottle will slide against mainly opposed portions of the interior wall of the pipe, and with a long pipe with a long row of cans/bottles pushing one another, the ensuing friction will be so large, that sticking occurs. The thin walls in PET bottles of today are not sufficiently rigid to prevent an empty bottle from gradually changing its shape. Empty bottles tend to buckle, and the problem of sticking is pronounced especially when PET bottles are pushed through PVC tubes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a collection system, in which the risk of sticking of items in long pipes is eliminated, or at least minimized, and this is achieved thanks to the inventive guide member in accordance with the independent claims.

In a collection system of the kind referred to in the first paragraph above, this object is achieved in accordance with the present invention in that the guide member includes an elongate first trough having two substantially planar side wall sections, which form an angle to each other, and which in a horizontally extending part of the trough support the weight of the items in two different directions. Thereby, since the items in the trough are supported in generally opposed directions by the two substantially planar side wall sections instead of just lying on the bottom of a circular pipe, they will keep their alignment with the longitudinal axis of the trough, guide member or pipe, also when they are being pushed forward. By avoiding the risk of the items assuming slightly oblique positions in relation to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, the direction of the pushing force will not deviate from the direction of the pipe, and the risk of sticking will be greatly reduced.

The two substantially planar side wall sections of the trough suitably form an angle of 40-60° in relation to a longitudinal plane of symmetry of said trough.

Preferably, the trough has a bottom portion, from which the two substantially planar side wall sections extend obliquely upward diverging from each other. The provision of a bottom between the two side walls increases the rigidity of the profile in comparison to that of an angular bar.

It is also preferred that the guide member in addition to said first trough includes an elongate, inverted second trough mounted as a roof member on top of the first trough to form a tubular section. By forming a tubular section or pipe, the risk of an item leaving the bottom tray is eliminated and the rigidity of the ensuing assembly is increased.

For manufacturing reasons, the first and second troughs suitably are identical. Then, for the same reasons, it is also suitable that one of the two substantially planar side wall sections of each of the troughs has a male snap action member and the other side wall has a female snap action member, and the two troughs are joined by snap action.

To make it possible for the items to follow an optimal transport path from the first to the second location, the guide member in addition to said tubular section comprises at least one elbow or additional tubular section, which suitably are joined to said tubular section by means of a sleeve member.

It is preferred that the sleeve member includes two halves, i.e. one female half and one male half, and each half has a radially outward extending flange that faces the flange of the other half and permits rotation of one half around a longitudinal axis of the sleeve member in relation to the other half. The rotation possibility will facilitate the passage of the guide member past obstacles situated between the two locations. The female half and the male half preferably has a first trough member and an inverted second trough member mounted as a roof member on top of the first trough member by snap action to form a tubular section of the sleeve member.

To reduce the risk of sticking, the elbow suitably has a radius of curvature on the order of 0,8-1, 5 m.

The elbow preferably extends over an angle on the order of 45°. Then, two elbows can be joined to form an elbow of 90°, and if a smaller angle than 45° is desired, an elbow having the desired angle can be cut by sawing, for example.

Like the pipe section and the sleeve member, the elbow is suitably divided along its length into two identical halves, which are joined to each other by for example pop rivets. To minimize the risk of sticking, the trough is made from a plastic material containing a solid lubricant.

Suitably, the plastic material is high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and the solid lubricant is graphite.

The polyethylene preferably is saturated with graphite. To improve the wear resistance further, the plastic material containing a solid lubricant may also contain silicone in an amount on the order of 1 % by weight.

The trough preferably is made by extrusion of the plastic material containing the solid lubricant. Extrusion makes it easy to get the desired cross section, and the surface finish is excellent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments and the appended drawings.

Fig. 1 shows an overview of a collecting system according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows a cross sectional view of a trough according to the invention,

Fig. 3 shows a cross sectional view of a tubular section according to the invention, Fig. 4 shows an elbow according to the invention,

Fig. 5 shows a cross sectional view, along A-A in figure 4, of an elbow according to the invention,

Fig. 6 shows a sleeve member according to the invention, in a perspective view, Fig. 7 shows a female half according to the invention, seen from below, and

Fig. 8 shows a male half according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the described example below, a system that collects substantially cylindrical containers, such as PET bottles and metal cans is described. It should be understood that the collecting system and its components parts can be used in other applications.

Figure 1 shows an overview of a collecting system according to the invention. The system collects items 3, preferably substantially cylindrical containers 3 for holding liquid, such as PET bottles and metal cans for beverages. The system comprises a feeding device 1 for the containers 3, which feeding device 1 is arranged at a first location, in this case in a wall W. On one side of the feeding device 1 there is arranged an opening 10 where containers 3 can be entered. On the other side of the feeding device 1 mouths a branch canal 11 suitable sloping downwards and connects in a branch point to an elongate guide member 12. The elongate guide member 12 is formed by a plurality of interconnected guide member modules 12A, 12B, 6, 100 that stretch from the branch point suitably along walls and/or ceiling to a demolition device 14 and/or a collecting device 16 and guides the containers 3 during transport from the feeding device 1 to the demolition 14 and/or collecting 16 device. In a preferred embodiment the same interconnecting members are used for each module, wherein more preferred male, female interconnecting members (101, 102) as described more in detail in relation to figs. 6-8. The demolition 14 and/or collecting 16 device is arranged at a second location, said second location being situated at a predetermined distance from said first location. A conventional automatic transport device is arranged to automatically transport the containers 3 supported by the elongate guide member 12 from said feeding device 1 to said demolition 14 and/or collecting 16 device. Said transport device comprises a driving device 2 that is arranged to push the containers 3 forward one by one supported by the guide member 12 in that the driving device 2 pushes a first container a distance forward in the guide member 12, whereby this first container pushes a second container, in front of the first one, forward in the guide member 12, which second container, in its turn, pushes a third container, in front of the second one, forward supported by the guide member 12 and so on. One guide member module 12A, 12B according to the invention comprises an elongate first trough 120 and figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of said first trough 120 in a preferred embodiment according to the invention. The first trough 120 comprises two substantially planar side wall sections 121, 122, which form an angle a of 40-60°, preferably 45-55°, in relation to a longitudinal plane S of symmetry of said trough 120 and which in a horizontally extending part of the trough 120 support the weight of an item 3 in two different directions A, B (see figure 3), making the items 3 less likely to get stuck in the guide member 12. Said two substantially planar side wall sections 121, 122 are preferably planar but of course it will work even if they are somewhat curved in the plane i.e. the side wall sections radius r (not shown) must not be infinite but substantially greater than the radius r' of the items 3 transported in the guide member 12. The radius r of said side wall sections 121, 122 are preferably infinite or else of the order of greater than 0,5 m, and this applies for both sides of the side wall sections 121, 122. This would then provide, in a cross-section of said trough 120 that the side wall sections 121, 122 can be both somewhat concave or somewhat convex.

The first trough 120 preferably comprises a bottom portion 123 that extends transversally in relation to said plane of symmetry S interconnecting the two substantially planar side wall sections 121, 122. In other words, the two side wall sections 121, 122 extend obliquely upward from said bottom portion, diverging from each other. Furthermore, the side wall sections 121, 122 of the first trough 120 form an angle β of 130-150° with said bottom portion 123, preferably an angle β of 135-145° with said bottom portion 123. It may also be possible that the two side wall sections 121, 122 extend downward until they meet at the longitudinal plane S of symmetry, but it is preferred with a bottom portion 123 extending transversally between the side wall sections 121, 122. The advantages with said bottom portion 123 are that the trough 120 becomes more compact and when arranging the trough 120, for example in a shackle hanger, said bottom portion 123 rests against the shackle hanger and functions as a support surface making it not so wobbly.

The two inclined side wall sections 121, 122 each connect with an upper sidewall section 124, 125 which in turn each comprise a first 5 and a second 4 interface member. Said upper sidewall sections preferably are in the form of a first 124 and a second 125 vertical wall section. The first vertical wall section 124 comprises said first interface member 5, preferably a male snap action member 5 and the second vertical wall section 125 comprises said second interface member 4, preferably a female snap action member 4, both said male snap action member 5 and said female snap action member 4 extends preferably along the entire length of the trough 120. The trough 120 has an internal width Wi _; between the first 124 and second 125 vertical wall section, in the interval 30 - 500 mm, preferably 40 - 350 mm and more preferred 70 - 140 mm. The trough 120 has a height H, between said bottom portion 123 and the top of said first 124 and second 125 vertical wall section, in the interval 20 - 300 mm, preferably in the interval 30 - 100 and more preferred 40 - 80 mm. The bottom portion 123 preferably has a width w in the range of 20-30% of the internal width Wi. It is understood that it is the design of the two substantially planar side wall sections 121, 122 that provides the advantage that the trough 120 supports the weight of an item 3 in two different directions A, B and thereby prevents items 3 to get stuck. It is not of the same importance how the upper sidewall sections 124, 125 and the bottom portion 123 are formed, and the slope of these, then they basically just holds together the different parts of the troughs. But it is preferred to give these parts a design like described so the trough 120 will not take up unnecessary space or increase the cost of production. In addition to said elongate first trough 120, the guide member 12 further comprises an elongate, inverted second trough 126 (see figure 3) mounted as a roof member module on top of the first trough 120 to form a tubular section. Said first 120 and second 126 troughs are preferably joined by snap action. Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of said tubular section. The first 120 and second 126 troughs are preferably identical to facilitate the manufacturing. The first 120 and second 126 troughs have a length in the interval 2-5 m preferably in the interval 2,5-3,5 m and a thickness t in the interval 1-5 mm, preferably in the interval 1,5-2,5 mm. The first interface member 5 comprises a first edge 50 which first edge 50 turns out from the trough 120 at the end of the first vertical wall section 124 perpendicular to the extension of the first vertical wall section 124 and extends along with the trough 120. Along the middle on an upper side 52 of said first edge 50 the first interface member 5 preferably includes a vertical board-like male part 51 along the entire length of the trough 120. Said board-like male part 51 may comprise a head portion 53 extending along the board-like male part 51 at its upper edge. Said head portion 53 preferably having a circular cross section.

The second interface member 4 preferably also extends along the entire length of the trough 120 to mate with the first interface member 5. The second interface member 4 may preferably also include a vertical member 41, that is arranged at the same level as the male part i.e. a groove 41 for disposing the board-like male part 51. The second interface member 4 may have a cross section in the form of an inverted keyhole. It should be understood that the above described preferred joining by snap-in action may be replaced by other joining methods. As an example the first 5 and the second 4 interface members may comprise substantially planar flanges running along both sides of the trough 120, that are joined by for example screwing or pop riveting through the flanges.

The first 120 and second 126 troughs are preferably made from a material that is non sticky and comprises a low coefficient of friction μ and has a hard surface that is durable. A suitable material could be a plastic material such as high-density

polyethylene (HDPE). The plastic material preferably comprises a solid lubricant and is saturated with said solid lubricant, for example graphite. This yields the advantage that the coefficient of friction μ is low, preferably as close as possible to zero, providing a smooth, hard and durable surface. To improve the wear resistance further the plastic material preferably also comprises silicone in an amount on the order of 1 % by weight.

The first 120 and the second 126 troughs are preferably made by extrusion of the plastic material containing the solid lubricant. Extrusion makes it easy to get the desired cross section of the troughs 120, 126, the surface finish is excellent and it is an economical method of manufacture.

The guide member 12 comprises, in addition to said tubular section preferably at least one elbow 6 which elbow 6 is joined to said tubular section by means of a sleeve member modulelOO. The elbow 6 preferably has a radius of curvature R within the range 0,8-1,5 m, preferably on the order of 1 m and extends over an angle λ on the order of 45°-90°, see figure 4. The elbow 6 is divided along its length into two identical halves 61, 61 ', see figure 5 that shows a cross sectional view of one half 61, along A-A in figure 4. Both halves 61, 6 comprises along both edges a longitudinal rib 610. The two identical halves 61, 6 are joined to each other by fastening means, for example pop rivets 613, arranged through the rib 610.

Said elbow 6 preferably has an internal width Wi that is equal to the internal width Wi of said trough 120 which gives the advantage that no irregularities occurs on the inside of the guide member 12 where items 3 can be stuck. At one end the elbow 6 comprises an internal width that is somewhat bigger than the internal width Wi of the rest of the elbow 6. The joint between the two internal widths comprises a rim 61 1 so that when a further elbow 6 or tubular section is inserted into this end of the elbow 6 it is introduced until it abuts said rim 611. The rim 61 1 matches the thickness of the elbow 6 or the tubular section that is inserted into the elbow so that the different parts comprises the same internal dimensions so that no items 3 should be able to get stuck in the joints between the different parts. The elbow 6 is preferably made from a plastic material, for example Acrylonitrile

Butadiene Styrene (ABS) that is somewhat harder than HDPE which is an advantage in the elbow 6 that is exposed to greater stress. Preferably the elbows 6 is made by vacuum forming, or form moulding. Fig. 6 shows a sleeve member modulelOO according to the invention, in a perspective view. The sleeve member modulelOO comprises two halves 101, 102, one female half 101 and one male half 102, and each half 101, 102 has a radially outward extending flange 105, 105' on one end, that faces the flange 105, 105' of the other half 101, 102 and permits rotation of one half 101, 102 around a longitudinal axis of the sleeve member modulelOO in relation to the other half 101, 102.

The female half 101 comprises a first female trough member modulelOl A, see figure 7, and an inverted second female trough member module 10 IB mounted as a roof member on top of the first female trough member modulelOlA by snap action to form a shorter tubular section. The first 101A and second 101B female trough member modules comprise side walls 121 ', 122', that form an angle a of 40-60°, preferably 45-55°, in relation to a longitudinal plane S of symmetry of said female trough members 101A, 101B. The two female trough members 101A, 101B preferably comprises a bottom portion 123 ' that extends transversally in relation to said plane of symmetry S interconnecting the two side walls 12 , 122' all in accordance with how the first trough 120 and the second trough 126 are described above to be able to connect the different parts. The same applies to the first male trough member module 102A and the second male trough member modulel02B.

The female half 101 comprises, at the opposite end to the flange 105, an inner width W'i that is consistent with an outer width w ₀ of the tubular section (see figure 2) formed by the first and second troughs 120, 126 or an outer width w ₀ of the elbow 6. This to allow the female half 101 to receive a tubular section or an elbow 6 as at mounting is pressed into the female half 101 until the tubular section or elbow 6 abuts an edge 109 running around the inside of the female half 101. Said edge 109 is consistent with the thickness t of the tubular section or the elbow 6 so that when the parts are assembled they form a common tubular section with the same internal dimensions so that no items 3 should be able to get stuck in the joints between the different parts. The male half 102 is formed similarly to be able to receive a tubular section or an elbow 6.

The male half 102 comprises a first male trough member module 102A, see figure 8, and an inverted second male trough member module 102B mounted as a roof member on top of the first male trough member module 102A by snap action to form a shorter tubular section.

The difference between the male 102 and the female 101 half is that the male half 102 at the inner end of said radially outward extending flange 105' comprises, a transversely towards the flange 105', extending towards the female half 101, joint member 1006', preferably in the form of an annular edge. The female half 101 comprises, at the inner end of said radially outward extending flange 105, a receiving part 1006 for said joint member 1006' . The form of the receiving part 1006 is consistent with the form of the joint member 1006' in such a way that when they are joined, the two halves 101, 102 forms a tubular part with the same internal dimensions. In this described example the receiving part 1006 comprises an annular inner edge 108 extending radially inward so the joint member 1006' of the male half 102 is entered into the female half 101 until the joint member 1006' abuts the inner edge 108. Said edge 108 is consistent with the thickness of the joint member 1006' so that when the two halves 101, 102 are combined they form a tubular section with the same internal dimensions so that no items 3 should be able to get stuck in the joints between the different parts. The first and second female trough members 101A, 101B and the first and second male trough members 102A, 102B are preferably joined by snap action. All varieties of snap action is possible but in this described example, all trough members 101A, 101B, 102A, 102B comprises along their sides protruding elements 1003, 1003', 1007, 1007' which runs along about half the length of the trough members sides. Each trough member module 101 A, 10 IB, 102A, 102B comprises two protruding element on opposite sides of the trough member where one of the protruding elements 1007, 1007' comprises a lip 107, 107' and the other 1003, 1003 ' a through hole 103, 103' intended to receive said lip 107, 107' and to lock the two female trough members 101 A, 10 IB together by snap action. The same applies to the two male trough members 102A, 102B. Said protruding elements 1003, 1003 ' preferably also comprises in line with the through hole 103, 103' a cavity 1004, 1004' arranged to receive a steering member 104, 104' preferably arranged in line with said lip 107, 107' on said protruding element 1007, 1007. The steering member 104, 104' may preferably comprise a protruding element with a form that match the form of said cavity 1004, 1004' . When locking the two female trough members 101A, 101B together by snap action, or the two male trough members 102A, 102B, said steering member 104, 104' helps to control so that the trough members gets into right position at locking by snap action.

When fastening two male or female trough members 101A, 101B, 102A, 102B together the thickness of the protruding elements 1003, 1003 ', 1007, 1007' creates a gap 106', see figure 6, along the rest of about half the length of the trough members sides. The purpose with said gap 106' is to accommodate the rib 610 of the elbow6 or the male snap action member 5 and the female snap action member 4 of the tubular section when linking these parts together. Even the bottom portions 123 ' of the male and female trough members 101A, 101B, 102A, 102B comprises an opening 106 consistent with the form of said gap 106' to be able to accommodate the rib of the elbow 6 or the male snap action member 5 and the female snap action member 4 of the tubular section when linking these parts together. When building together a collection system the different parts in the guide member 12 can be connected as desired by means of sleeve members 100. In the dashed area in figure 1 a horizontally extending tubular section 12A is assembled with an elbow 6 by means of a sleeve member 100. The elbow 6 may be rotated at assembling thanks to that the sleeve member includes two halves 101, 102 that permits rotation of one half around a longitudinal axis of the sleeve member 100 in relation to the other half. The elbow 6 is rotated to a desired position before the two halves 101, 102 are fixed together for example by pop rivets through the radially outward extending flange 105, 105' . Another elbow 6 is assembled into the first elbow 6 and thereafter a further tubular section 12B is assembled to the elbow 6 by means of a sleeve member 100. The rotation possibility of the sleeve member 100 will facilitate the passage of the guide member 12 past obstacles situated between the two locations.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable in all applications where an item is to be moved from a first location to a second location. The invention is not limited to collect deposit containers into plastic sacks but may collect all kinds of items, for example rectangular coffee packets, cans and biscuit packages. It should also be understood that the collecting device 16 could be the start of any process, for example a packaging device or a collection point for further transport of the items. The guide member 12 could also replace conveyors in a transport system with the advantage that items are not likely to fall off the conveyor.

The present invention is applicable in the collection of deposit containers, such as aluminum cans and PCT bottles for beverages. The deposit containers are fed into automatic machines, where the container shape, weight, and orientation is determined and bar code read to decide whether the container is acceptable for passing into a subsequent step of the collecting system and whether a possible deposit for the container should be refunded. Then, the containers accepted for return of the deposit are transferred by each container pushing the one ahead of it, etc., to another location usually between 10 and 100 m away, where they are demolished and collected in plastic sacks. The direction of the pushing force is accurately controlled to avoid sticking of the containers.

As will be understood by those skilled in the present field of art, numerous changes and modifications may be made to the above described and other embodiments of the present invention, without departing from its scope as defined in the appending claims. For example, the collecting system may comprise two parallel guide members, a first one for containers having a maximum diameter on the order of 80 mm, and a second one for containers having a diameter on the order of 80-125 mm, and a device for automatically size sorting the containers into the most suitable one of the guide members. Further, it should be understood that the same modification adjustments as for the troughs 120, 126 are possible for the first and second female trough members 101A, 101B and the first and second male trough members 102A, 102B. Instead of snap-in action, the male and female trough members may be joined by for example screwing or pop riveting through flanges or the like. The bottom portions 123' of the male and female trough members 101A, 101B, 102A, 102B may of course also be modified as for the troughs 120, 126, in other words the two side walls 121 ', 122' may extend downward until they meet at the longitudinal plane S of symmetry.