5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a guiding member for guiding objects from a first location to a second location, the invention also relates to a system for guiding objects by means of an inventive guiding member.

10 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Conventional systems for collection of deposit containers, e.g. aluminum cans and PET- bottles 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

15 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 20 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 25 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 30 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 Bl and US 2007/0151903 Al . 35 US 6,401,902 Bl 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. Steel pipes have the disadvantage of being too heavy to be generally accepted and with PVC tubes, there is 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. With a long pipe with a long row of cans/bottles pushing one another, the ensuing friction may be so large, that sticking occur. WO201415803 presents a solution to the above problem by means of a cross sectional design that minimizes risk of sticking cans/bottles. However, there still may exist problems with jamming, due to incompatible forms of bottles/cans. 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 having different shapes are pushed through PVC tubes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a guiding system, in which the risk of jamming and sticking of objects in long feeding systems such as a long pipe is eliminated, or at least minimized, and this is achieved thanks to the inventive guiding members in accordance with the independent claims.

In a guiding system of the kind referred to in the first paragraph above, this object is achieved in accordance with the present invention in that the guiding members will keep their alignment with the longitudinal axis of the guide path also when they are being pushed forward. By avoiding the risk of the objects assuming jamming and/or 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 jamming will be greatly reduced.

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, having guiding member carrying an object in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 3, shows a perspective side view of a guiding member in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 4, shows an elbow section, seen from above of a guide system in accordance with the invention, containing a number of guiding members and objects carried by the guiding members,

Fig. 5, shows a second embodiment of a guiding member according to the invention and,

Fig. 6, shows an overview of a collecting system according to a further embodiment 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.

Furthermore, the herein described examples relate to a collection system based on long pipes, however it is to be understood that the application is not limited to pipes only and that various designs of a guide system where an object is moved from a first to a second location may be used. Figure 1 shows an overview of a collecting system according to the invention. The system collects objects 3, preferably substantially cylindrical containers 3 for holding liquid, such as PET bottles and metal cans for beverages. The system comprises an inlet feeding device 1 (generally know per se) for the containers 3, which inlet feeding device l 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 part 12 (herein also referred to as guide member, guide pipe and guide system). The elongate guide part 12 is formed by a plurality of interconnected guide part modules 12 A, 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 as described more in detail in relation

WO201415803, which hereby is introduced by way of reference. 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 part 12 in that the driving device 2 pushes a first container a distance forward in the guide part 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.

As shown in figures 1, 2 and 4 each container/object 3 is further supported by a pair of guiding members 7 arranged to guide said objects when moved from a first to a second location in an elongate guide part 12. As seen in figure 4, said guiding members 7 are interposed between the objects 3 to be fed, preferably wherein one guiding member 7 is interposed between every object 3. The guiding members 7 are designed to carry each object 3 to keep it away from contact with the guide parts 12, i.e. eliminating friction and/or sticking between the objects 3 and the walls of the guide parts 12. Hereby a more reliable transport of the objects 3 may be achieved. The design of each guiding member 7 (see figure 3) is such that it presents a body 70 that extends in a longitudinal direction with a desired length L. In figure 3 it is shown that this body 70 is cylindrical having a first 73 and a second 74 end. As will be apparent from following the body 70 may have varying shape, other than cylindrical, to fulfil the function of the guiding members 7.

At each end of a guiding member 7 there are ring shaped sliding parts 71. These sliding parts 71 are preferably the only parts of the guiding member 7 that will be in contact with the walls of the guide parts 12. In a preferred embodiment shown in figure 3 this design is achieved by having a cylindrical body 70. The sliding parts 71 have diameter Dl that is larger than the diameter D2 of the body 70, preferably in the range of 1-5 millimeter larger than D2. The largest diameter Dl preferably is in the range of about 85-98 % of the inner diameter Wi of the guide parts 12. In a preferred embodiment the inner diameter of the guide parts Wi is in the range of 100-120 millimeter and the larger diameter Dl of the guiding member 7 is in the range of 95-110 millimeter.

Further it is shown that the guiding member 7 at each end, protruding into its interior, are arranged with support members 72 (also referred to as support device), exposing a concave surface 72A at each end. In the preferred embodiment each support member 72 has a parabolic surface 72A with an outer diameter generally corresponding to the diameter D2 of the body 70, preferably safely attached to the body 70 and/or to the sliding parts 71. The parabolic support devices 72 have their convex sides directed in to the center of the guiding member 7, such that each end of the guiding member will present a concave parabolic support for an object 3 being moved into contact with the guiding member 7 along a longitudinal line C in relation to the guiding member 7, independently of which side it is being approached from. Thanks to this design an object 3 that is moved within the guide system, as shown e.g. in figure 4, is provided with a guiding member 7 at each end thereof thus being forced to be positioned substantially centrally due to the tangential forces applied to the object 3 by means of the parabolic surfaces 72A, when a pushing force is being applied in the longitudinal direction. As a consequence the pushing force that forwards the objects through the guide system will provide a "bonus effect" in that the objects 3 will be kept away from contact with the side walls of the guide parts 12. Furthermore the sliding parts 71, e.g. in the form of rings in contact with a guide part 12 having polygonal shape will provide for a minimum of surface contact between the guide parts 12 and the guiding members 7. In an alternative the guide parts may be cylindrical in shape and the sliding parts 71 polygonal. All in all it provides a guide system wherein problems due to sticking and/or friction are eliminated or at least minimized. Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of an elongate guide part 12 with a guiding member 7 carrying an object 3 to be transported from a first to a second location. In the example of figure 2, the guide part 12 is a pipe which herein is shown to extend in a horizontal direction. The object 3 to be transported is supported by the concave surface 72A of the guiding member 7 such that a lifting force F is provided when said object 3 is pressed against the concave surface 72A in a longitudinal direction C (see figure 3) in relation to the guiding member 7, when said guiding member extends in a horizontal direction. The depth T of the Surface 72A of each parabolic support member 72 is preferably in a range 0,3-0,6 of the maximum diameter Dl of the guiding member 7, more preferred in a range 0,4-0,5 of the Dl . It is evident for the skilled person that a variety of concave shapes, deviating from parabolic shape may be used to achieve the desired function of lifting the objects 3, in accordance with the invention. For instance a truncated cone shape may also be used. More over it is evident that the guiding members 7 may be produced as an integrated body, e.g. in the form as indicated in figure 5, wherein the shape of the body 70 is adapted to generally correspond to the shape of the support devices 72 at the ends and an interconnecting midsection that has an outer diameter that is much smaller than the maximum Dl (e.g. in the range 1/2-1/10 of the maximum diameter Dl)

Now again referring to figure 1 it is indicated that the collecting device 16, in accordance with the invention, also is equipped with a sorting device that will sort the objects 3 to be moved into a path in direction to the collecting bin 16 and the guiding members 7 to move into another path, i.e. a return path 8. Preferably the return path 8 is constructed from the same kind of modules of guide parts 12 as the other parts of system. In the return path 8 the guiding members 7 are returned to a buffer device 80 positioned adjacent the driving device 2, thereby providing a buffer of guiding members 7 to be fed in to the guide system in a desired pace, i.e. one guiding member 7 in between each one of the objects 3 being fed in to the guide system. It is evident for the skilled person that the buffer system 80 may be achieved in various forms. One embodiment (not shown) is in the form of having the return path 8 extending upwardly past the driving device 2, thereby creating a vertically, upwardly extending buffer in a one or more guide parts 12 extending in an upward direction, wherein the guide part 12 that is located beside the location of the driving device 2 is arranged with a lateral opening for pushing a guiding member 7 at a time from the buffer system 80 into the driving device 2. It is preferred that the length L of each guiding member 7 is larger than the maximum inner diameter Wi of the guide parts 12, thereby eliminating the possibility of tilting of a guiding member 7, and/or have the maximum diameter Dl of each guiding member 7 large enough in combination with the length L to eliminate the possibility of tilting it within the guide part 12.

One guide part module 12A, 12B may comprise an elongate first trough 120 and figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of said first trough 120 in a preferred embodiment, with a guiding member 7 carrying an object 3 in accordance with the invention. The first trough 120 comprises two substantially planar side wall sections which form an angle a of 40-60°, in relation to a longitudinal plane of symmetry of said trough 120 and which in a horizontally extending part of the trough 120 support the weight of guiding member 7 in two different directions, making it less likely to get stuck in the guide part 12. Said two substantially planar side wall sections are preferably planar but of course it will work even if they are somewhat curved.

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. In other words, the two side wall sections extend obliquely upward from said bottom portion, diverging from each other.

When building together a collection system the different modules parts in the guide system can be connected as desired by means of sleeve members 100. In the dashed area in figure 1 a horizontally extending tubular section 12A (previously also referred to as "guide part module") is assembled with an 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. In figure 6 there is shown a schematic overview of collecting system according to a further embodiment in accordance with the invention, wherein guiding members 7 are used in between the objects 3 in the guide path 12. Here, at a location close to the downturn of the final part of the guide pipe 12 there is a gripping device 9 that grips a guiding member 7 out from an upper opening in the guide pipe 12 and puts it in to the return path 8. This return path may preferably comprise several parts. One buffer part 8a, where an appropriate number of guiding members 7 may be collected, preferably in a return path part extending horizontally. There after there is a transfer device 80 that may feed one guiding member 7 at the time through a second part 8b of the return path 8, which presents an empty space, whereby the amount of guiding members 7 in the first part may vary, i.e. by varying the amount of guiding members 7 that protrude in to the transfer device 80 and consequently also the transfer distance of the transfer device. Finally there is a third return part 8c that preferably extends vertically, providing that the guiding members 7 will be positioned correctly for horizontal feeding at the driving device 2. Thanks to the intermediate part 8b of the return path 8 it is possible to have a varying amount of guiding members 7 in the first part 8a of the return path and sequentially supply a new guiding member 7 in to the final part 8c in connection with a new empty space being provided, i.e. when a guiding member 7 is pushed in to the guide pipe 12. As can be seen it is an advantage to use horizontal in feed system of the objects 3 in connection with the inlet/feeding device 1, since then they will fit directly in to interaction with the guiding members. According to a preferred embodiment the guiding members 7 are magnetic, e.g. by using a ferromagnetic body 70. Since there generally does not any longer exist any magnetic cans or bottles, using magnetic guiding members 7 may present great advantages when sorting/handling in the system, as indicated in Fig. 6. For instance a magnetic gripping device 9 may then be used to lift the guiding members 7 out of the guide pipe 12 at an appropriate location, e.g. through an upwardly facing hole in the guide pipe 12, e.g. in connection with the last down turn of the guide pipe 12, close to the demolition 14 and/or collection unit 16. Hence, at that hole a magnetic device 9 can easily lift each guiding member 7 up and out of the guide pipe 12 and put into the return path 8. Further this facilitates the use of one or more magnetic handling/transfer devices in the system, e.g. one or more magnet conveyers 80, e.g. at an intermediate position 8B, of the return path, wherein there is no need of having any member movable within the guide pipe/s 8, 12, since the magnets may act through the walls. Moreover, it facilitates the use of practical "check valves" in the form of stationary magnets, e.g. adjacent the inlet point of the start of the guide pipe 12, hindering objects 3 and guiding members 7 to slide backwards, but easily enabling by pass by pushing with a force larger than the holding force of the "check valve". Also at the feeding out end of the return path such "check valves" may facilitate easy control, e.g. by having a plurality of (e.g. three) such "check valves" on top of each other at the end, holding two (or three, or more) guiding members, and wherein by sequential deactivation and activation, a controlled feeding out of guiding members 7 may be achieved. As already mentioned above the invention is not limited to use in connection with a guide system 12 as exemplified in the figures, but various designs of the guide system may be used, e.g. circular cross-sectional shape. Moreover the return path 8 may be provided in various forms, e.g. a piping system and/or a sliding system and/or a conveyor system, e.g. including magnetic members.

The present invention is applicable in all applications where an object 3 is to be moved from a first location to a second location. Thus, it is understood that the invention is suitable for use in pipe systems as well as other types of elongated transportation structures, such as for instance horizontal transportation in an open trough conveyor. The invention is not limited to collect deposit containers into plastic sacks but may collect all kinds of objects, 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 objects 3. The guide member 12 could also replace conveyors in a transport system with the advantage that objects are not likely to fall off the conveyor.

The present invention is applicable in the collection of deposit containers, such as aluminum cans and PET 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 system, a first one for containers having a first maximum diameter ( e.g. on the order of 80 mm), and a second one for containers having a second, larger diameter (e.g. on the order of 80-125 mm), and possibly also a device for automatically size sorting the containers into the most suitable one of the guide members or simply a manual feeding into each one of them.