| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 2 017 070 B1 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
| (45) |
Mention of the grant of the patent: |
|
22.05.2013 Bulletin 2013/21 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 14.07.2008 |
|
| (51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC):
|
|
| (54) |
Machine for compacting collapsible containers, particulary bottles made of plastic
material and the like
Maschine zur Kompaktierung von zusammenklappbaren Behältern, insbesondere Flaschen
aus Kunststoffmaterial und dergleichen
Machine de compactage de récipients compressibles, en particulier de bouteilles en
matériau plastique et similaires
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL
PT RO SE SI SK TR |
| (30) |
Priority: |
16.07.2007 IT TO20070526
|
| (43) |
Date of publication of application: |
|
21.01.2009 Bulletin 2009/04 |
| (73) |
Proprietor: La Fabrica S.r.l. |
|
12040 Sant'Albano Stura (CN) (IT) |
|
| (72) |
Inventor: |
|
- Persia, Alessandro
12030, Cavallermaggiore (Cuneo) (IT)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Buzzi, Franco |
|
Buzzi, Notaro & Antonielli d'Oulx
Via Maria Vittoria 18 10123 Torino 10123 Torino (IT) |
| (56) |
References cited: :
WO-A1-00/47398 JP-A- 11 193 108 JP-U- 50 052 773 JP-U- 57 065 796 JP-U- 59 077 596 US-A- 5 522 311
|
JP-A- 9 048 504 JP-A- 58 157 600 JP-U- 57 003 499 JP-U- 57 136 596 US-A- 4 432 279
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
|
Background of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates in general to collection and compacting of empty collapsable
containers, particularly bottles made of plastic material (polyethylene), aluminium
tins, flasks and the like, in order to reduce their volume with a view to disposal
and possible recycling thereof.
[0002] More in particular, the invention relates to a machine for compacting containers
of the sort described above using compacting means acting during translation of the
container along a path of advance between an inlet and an outlet of the machine.
State of the prior art
[0003] A machine of the above type is known for example from the U.S. patent No.
US-A-5,522,311, in which the compacting means are constituted by a pair of flexible endless belts
convergent with respect to one another and provided with projections for gripping
and perforating the containers each time introduced between them so as to grip and
press them progressively.
[0004] Even though said belts are suitable for squeezing the container effectively, they
are not able to guarantee a permanent deformation of the collapsed container, i.e.,
a deformation without a partial elastic return towards the undeformed condition, in
the case where the container is made of a plastic material such as, for example, in
the case of bottles for beverages.
[0005] The same drawback arises in connection with compacting machines corresponding to
the preamble of claim 1, namely wherein the compacting means include a plurality of
opposed counter-rotating rollers arranged in succession in contact with the container
in said path of advance and comprising a set of rollers situated near to the inlet
and defining a section of progressive squeezing of the container from an undeformed
condition to a collapsed condition. This set of rollers consists of a cylinder of
larger diameter and a series of rollers of smaller diameter facing the periphery of
the cylinder at progressively decreasing distances from the latter
Summary of the invention
[0007] The object of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid drawback, and to
provide a machine for compacting collapsible containers suitable for guaranteeing
a complete permanent squeezing not only in the case of tins and similar metal containers,
but also and in particular in the case of bottles, flasks, and the like, made of plastic
material.
[0008] According to the invention, the above object is achieved thanks to the fact that
the plurality of rollers further includes a second set of rollers set between the
first set of rollers and the outlet and including a plurality of pairs of contiguous
rollers of equal diameter arranged at the same distance from each other and defining
a section of maintenance of the collapsed condition of the container.
[0009] According to a further characteristic of the invention, the inlet of the machine
includes a mouth for introduction of the container associated to which are detector
means for its identification and first means for temporary arrest of the container
in a position corresponding to the detector means. Provided downstream of the first
temporary-arrest means are second means for temporary arrest of the container in an
area corresponding to a selection unit, which advantageously includes at least one
mobile hatch for discharge of the container outside the machine, which is controlled
by the aforesaid detector means. In addition, said mobile hatch is also advantageously
controlled by a device for weighing the container.
Brief description of the drawings
[0010] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from
the ensuing description with reference to the annexed drawings, which are provided
purely by way of non-limiting example and in which:
Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a compacting machine according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the machine;
Figure 3 is a view in side elevation and at an enlarged scale that shows schematically
and in a simplified form the operating assemblies of the machine;
Figure 4 is a top plan view of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a view in elevation according to the arrow V of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a partial perspective view according to the arrow VI of Figure 3; and
Figure 7 is a perspective view and at an enlarged scale of the detail indicated by
the arrow VII in Figure 3.
Detailed description of the invention
[0011] With initial reference to Figures 1 and 2, the machine for compacting collapsible
containers according to the invention includes a cabinet 1, contained within which
are the functional components described in what follows and which has on its front
side an inlet mouth 2, typically of a circular shape, for the introduction of the
container that each time is to be compacted. The inlet mouth 2, which, for example,
has a length of 380 mm and a diameter of 120 mm, is set at a height from the ground
of approximately 1.40 m and is inclined downwards by approximately 45°. A "chip card"
reader 3 for activation of the machine is set adjacent to the inlet mouth 2, and above
it a display 4 of a conventional type may be provided, for example, pre-arranged for
indicating the instructions for introduction of the containers to be compacted, or
else advertising or promotional messages.
[0012] On the side opposite to the inlet mouth 2, the dorsal side of the cabinet 1 has an
opening 5 for outlet of the containers each time compacted.
[0013] The outlet opening 5, which is located in the vicinity of the top of the cabinet
1 and from which the containers that have each time been collapsed in a flattened
configuration come out, can be connected to a device for supply of a hydraulic press,
designed to reduce into compact blocks groups of containers which have been collapsed
in succession.
[0014] With reference now in greater detail to Figures 3 to 5, according to the peculiar
aspect of the invention, compacting of the containers is provided by the machine during
their translation along a continuous path of advance between the inlet 2 and the outlet
5, via a plurality of counter-rotating and opposed motor-driven rollers, against which
the container each time introduced into the machine sets itself in contact along its
path of advance.
[0015] In detail, the machine includes a first set of rollers 7 situated in the proximity
of the inlet mouth 2 and in a position underlying it, which defines a section for
progressive squeezing of each container from an undeformed condition to a collapsed
condition, and a second set of rollers 8 set between the first set of rollers 7 and
the outlet 5 and defining a section for maintenance of the collapsed condition of
the container.
[0016] The two sets of rollers 7 and 8 are supported in rotation around respective horizontal
axes by two sturdy side plates 6 adjacent to the sides of the machine 1 and are driven
in rotation via a single electric motor 29 (for example, with a power of 1.5 kW with
4 poles) and respective transmissions, in part with gears and in part with chains.
[0017] The first set of rollers 7 includes a cylinder of large diameter 9, from the periphery
of which there project series of radial tips 10 (Figure 7), and a series of rollers
of smaller diameter facing the periphery of the cylinder 9, in a bottom area of the
latter and at distances progressively decreasing in the direction of the second set
of rollers 8. Only some of the rollers of the first set 7 are represented in the drawings
and designated by 11 in Figures 4 and 7: in Figure 3, for simplicity of illustration,
only the traces of the corresponding axes thereof are illustrated, which are also
designated by the reference 11.
[0018] The arrangement of the above rollers 11 is hence such that the space between said
rollers and the cylinder 9 reduces progressively along the path of advance towards
the second set of rollers 8 of the container each time introduced into the machine.
[0019] The first set of rollers 7 moreover includes an eccentric roller 12, visible in Figures
4 and 7, set above the first roller 11 in a position adjacent to the cylinder 9 and
having the function of conveying the container each time arriving from the inlet mouth
2 between the cylinder 9 and the rollers 11. Also the eccentric roller 12 is driven
in rotation by the same electric motor 29.
[0020] With reference to Figure 3, the cylinder 9 is driven in rotation in a counterclockwise
direction, whilst the rollers 11 and the eccentric roller 12 rotate in a clockwise
direction.
[0021] The rollers 11 can be smooth or else more conveniently be provided at least in part
with radial projections shaped like tips, similar to the tips 10 of the cylinder 9,
or else with radially projecting axial ribs.
[0022] The second set of rollers 8 includes a plurality of pairs of counter-rotating rollers
13, illustrated in Figure 6 and in Figures 4 and 5, whilst Figure 3 shows only the
traces of the corresponding axes thereof, which are also designated by the reference
number 13. The rollers 13 of each pair, which are all of a relatively small diameter,
are arranged substantially at the same distance from one another and are driven in
rotation via chains 14 (Figure 6). At least some of said rollers 11 are conveniently
provided with radial projections in the form of tips similar to those of the cylinder
9, and in this case the opposed rollers may present circumferential grooves, or else
may present axial ribs projecting radially.
[0023] Set between the inlet mouth 2 and the eccentric roller 12 of the first set of rollers
7 is an identification and selection assembly, designated as a whole by 14. For identification
of the container each time introduced into the inlet mouth 2 a plurality of detector
devices 15 is provided, typically bar-code readers, for example, arranged on the five
sides of a pentagonal body mounted within the mouth 2, with the median reading axis
set at approximately 130 mm from the plane of introduction of the containers. The
detectors 15 are operatively connected to an actuator 16, either of an electric or
hydraulic type, which controls opening and closing of a first mobile arrest gate 17.
Downstream of the first mobile arrest gate 17 a second mobile arrest gate 18 is provided,
opening/closing of which are controlled via a second actuator 19, which is also of
the electric or hydraulic type. The gates 16 and 19 intercept the container each time
introduced into the inlet mouth 2 through a duct 20, having a length in the region
of 400 mm and inclined downwards in the direction of the first set of rollers 7. The
bottom of the duct 20 is mobile and is, for example, constituted by a pair of mobile
gates 21, represented in Figure 7 with a solid line in the closed condition and with
a dashed line in the open condition.
[0024] The gates 21 of the mobile bottom of the duct 20 are normally kept in the closed
position, and opening thereof is advantageously controlled using two different systems.
A first system envisages a positive control performed by a third actuator 22, which
is also of the electric or hydraulic type, controlled via the bar-code readers 15.
The second system uses a counterweight, designated by 23 in Figure 7, which performs
in practice the function of a weighing device. If the weight of the container positioned
between the two mobile gates 17 and 18 is greater than the closing force exerted by
the counterweight 23, the mobile hatches 21 is open.
[0025] The assembly 14 is then pre-arranged for selecting the containers according to the
characteristics of the corresponding bar codes conventionally applied on them, as
well as on the basis of their weight in order to prevent containers that are full
or in any case not completely empty from being subjected to compacting.
[0026] With the arrangement described above, it emerges clearly that the path of the container
to be compacted each time fed into the machine 1 is made up of three successive sections:
a first section, comprised between the inlet mouth 2 and the eccentric roller 12,
in which the container translates by gravity, a second section corresponding to the
first set of rollers 7, in which the container is made to advance whilst it collapses
progressively between the cylinder 9 and the rollers 11; and a third section, in which
the collapsed container is transferred upwards in direction of the outlet 5 whilst
it is kept in the collapsed condition between the rollers 13.
[0027] Operation of the machine is described in what follows.
[0028] The container is introduced manually into the inlet mouth 2, and its recognition
is performed via reading of the corresponding bar code by the readers 15. If the chip
card has been correctly inserted by the user into the reader 3 and recognized, and
if the bar code of the container has been detected properly, the actuator 16 causes
opening of the first mobile hatch 17, enabling the container to proceed by gravity
within the duct 20 until it rests against the second mobile hatch 18. Here it is decided
whether the container introduced will have to proceed its path towards the squeezing
rollers, or else whether it will instead have to be rejected. Rejection, performed
by opening of the hatches 21 of the openable bottom of the duct 20, as has been said,
can be performed by the actuator 22 in the case where the bar-code readers 15 have
not identified the container as suitable, or else by the weighing system constituted
by the counterweight 23 in the case where the weight of the container is higher than
the weight set.
[0029] It should be noted that at least one of the mobile hatches 17 and 18 will in any
case be closed before, during, and after introduction of the container so as to ensure
the necessary safety against the possibility of the user inserting his hand beyond
the selection assembly 14.
[0030] The containers that are not suitable are hence discharged from the machine, whilst
the ones that are suitable proceed their advance through the first and second sets
of rollers 7, 8 up to the outlet 5. As already explained, the eccentric roller 12
performs proper introduction of the container between the cylinder 9 and the rollers
11 of the first set of rollers 7, and the squeezing performed by the latter rollers
occurs progressively so as to prevent any risk of jamming. The tips 10 of the cylinder
9, as well as the possible ones of the rollers 11, in addition to favouring advance
of the container, enable holes to be made in it for outlet of the air contained therein,
typically in the case of bottles made of plastic material, the top of which has not
been previously removed.
[0031] At the end, the extraction of the chip card from the reader 3 causes arrest of the
electric motor 29 and hence of operation of the machine 1.
[0032] The machine is typically controlled by an electronic card interfaced with the chip-card
reader 3 as well as the bar-code readers 15, with the motor 29 and with the actuators
16, 19 and 22. The electronic card may moreover be interfaced with the display 4,
as well as with a possible audio system and with a GSM modem, in order to supply to
a remote control station data useful for statistical processing, etc.
[0033] Of course, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary widely with respect
to what is described and illustrated herein, without thereby departing from the scope
of the present invention, as defined by the ensuing claims.
1. Compacting machine for compacting collapsible containers, particularly bottles made
of plastic material and the like, comprising compacting means (7, 8) acting during
translation of the container along a continuous path of advance between an inlet (2)
and an outlet (5) of the machine (1), wherein said compacting means (7, 8) include
a plurality of opposed counter-rotating rollers arranged in succession in contact
with the container in said path of advance and comprising a first set of rollers (7)
situated near to said inlet (2) and defining a section of progressive squeezing of
the container from an undeformed condition to a collapsed condition, said first set
of rollers (7) including a cylinder of larger diameter (9) and a series of rollers
of smaller diameter (11) facing the periphery of said cylinder (9) at progressively
decreasing distances from the latter, characterized in that said plurality of rollers further includes a second set of rollers (8) set between
said first set of rollers (7) and said outlet (5) and including a plurality of pairs
of contiguous rollers (13) of equal diameter arranged substantially at the same distance
from each other and defining a section of maintenance of said collapsed condition
of the container.
2. The machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that said pairs of rollers (13) are provided at least in part with radial projections.
3. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said first set of rollers (7) moreover includes an eccentric conveying roller (12)
adjacent to said cylinder (9) and set between the latter and said inlet (5).
4. The machine according to claim 1 or 3 , characterized in that said cylinder (9) is provided with tips (10) projecting from its surface.
5. The machine according to claim 1 or 3 or 4 , characterized in that said rollers of smaller diameter (11) are provided at least in part with radial projections.
6. The machine according to claim 1 , characterized in that said first and second sets of rollers (7, 8) are driven by a single motor (29).
7. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inlet (2) communicates with a duct (20) for introduction of the container, operatively
associated to which are means for temporary arrest (12, 18) of said container.
8. The machine according to Claim 7, characterized in that said duct (20) is provided with detector means (15) for identification of the container
and with a first temporary arrest (12) for the container in a position corresponding
to said detector means (15).
9. The machine according to Claim 8, characterized in that said detector means include a plurality of bar-code readers (15).
10. The machine according to any one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that said duct (20) moreover includes, downstream of said first temporary arrest (12),
a second temporary arrest (18) of the container in a position corresponding to a selection
unit (14).
11. The machine according to Claim 10, characterized in that said selection unit (14) includes a duct (20) having a bottom provided with opening
means and including at least one normally closed mobile hatch (21), opening of which
can be controlled via said detector means (15).
12. The machine according to Claim 11, characterized in that said mobile hatch (21) can moreover be controlled by a device for weighing the container.
13. The machine according to Claim 12, characterized in that said device for weighing the container uses a counterweight (23).
14. The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inlet (2) defines a path for feed by gravity of the container towards said plurality
of rollers (7, 8).
15. The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said outlet (5) is situated at the end of an upward path of the containers.
16. The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that operatively associated to said outlet (5) is a press.
17. The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is equipped with an electronic control unit, which is also prearranged for remote
data transmission.
1. Kompaktierungsmaschine zum Kompaktieren von zusammenklappbaren Behältern wie insbesondere
aus einem Kunststoffmaterial hergestellten Flaschen oder ähnlichem, wobei die Kompatkierungsmaschine
Kompaktierungseinrichtungen (7, 8) umfasst, die während einer Translationsbewegung
eines Behälters entlang eines kontinuierlichen Vorschubpfads zwischen einem Einlass
(2) und einem Auslass (5) der Maschine (1) tätig sind, wobei die Kompaktierungseinrichtungen
(7, 8) eine Vielzahl von gegenüberliegenden, gegenläufigen Rollen enthalten, die aufeinander
folgend in Kontakt mit dem Behälter in dem Vorschubpfad angeordnet sind und einen
ersten Satz von Rollen (7) in der Nähe des Einlasses (2) umfassen und einen Querschnitt
zum fortschreitenden Quetschen des Behälters aus einem unverformten Zustand zu einem
zusammengeklappten Zustand definieren, wobei der erste Satz von Rollen (7) einen Zylinder
(9) mit einem großen Durchmesser und eine dem Umfang des Zylinders (9) zugewandte
Reihe von Rollen (11) mit einem kleineren Durchmesser, die mit zunehmend kleineren
Abständen zu dem Umfang des Zylinders angeordnet sind, umfasst, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vielzahl von Rollen weiterhin einen zweiten Satz von Rollen (8) umfasst, die
zwischen dem ersten Satz von Rollen (7) und dem Auslass (5) angeordnet sind und eine
Vielzahl von Paaren von benachbarten Rollen (13) mit gleichem Durchmesser umfasst,
die mit im Wesentlichen gleichen Abständen voneinander angeordnet sind und einen Querschnitt
zum Aufrechterhalten des zusammengeklappten Zustands des Behälters definieren.
2. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Paare von Rollen (13) wenigstens teilweise mit radialen Vorsprüngen versehen
sind.
3. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der erste Satz von Rollen (7) weiterhin eine exzentrische Transportrolle (12) umfasst,
die in Nachbarschaft zu dem Zylinder (9) zwischen demselben und dem Einlass (5) angeordnet
ist.
4. Maschine nach Anspruch 1 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Zylinder (9) mit von dessen Oberfläche vorstehenden Spitzen (10) versehen ist.
5. Maschine nach Anspruch 1 oder 3 oder 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Rollen (11) mit dem kleinen Durchmesser wenigstens teilweise mit radialen Vorsprüngen
versehen sind.
6. Maschine nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der erste und der zweite Satz von Rollen (7, 8) durch einen einzelnen Motor (29)
angetrieben werden.
7. Maschine nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Einlass (2) mit einem Durchgang (20) für die Einführung des Behälters verbunden
ist, mit dem Einrichtungen (12, 18) zum vorübergehenden Anhalten des Behälters assoziiert
sind.
8. Maschine nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Durchgang (20) mit einer Detektoreinrichtung (15) zum Identifizieren des Behälters
und mit einer ersten Einrichtung (12) zum vorübergehenden Anhalten des Behälters an
einer Position in Entsprechung zu der Detektoreinrichtung (15) versehen ist.
9. Maschine nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Detektoreinrichtung eine Vielzahl von Barcodelesern (15) enthält.
10. Maschine nach einem der Ansprüche 7 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Durchgang (20) weiterhin in der Vorschubrichtung hinter der ersten Einrichtung
(12) zum vorübergehenden Anhalten mit einer zweiten Einrichtung (18) zum vorübergehenden
Anhalten des Behälters an einer Position in Entsprechung zu einer Wahleinheit (14)
versehen ist.
11. Maschine nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Wahleinheit (14) einen Durchgang (20) enthält, der an seinem Boden eine Öffnungseinrichtung
aufweist und eine normalerweise geschlossene, bewegliche Klappe (21) enthält, deren
Öffnung über die Detektoreinrichtung (15) gesteuert werden kann.
12. Maschine nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die bewegliche Klappe (21) weiterhin durch eine Einrichtung zum Wiegen des Behälters
gesteuert werden kann.
13. Maschine nach Anspruch 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einrichtung zum Wiegen des Behälters ein Gegengewicht (23) verwendet.
14. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Einlass (2) einen Pfad für eine durch die Schwerkraft bewirkte Zufuhr des Behälters
zu der Vielzahl von Rollen (7, 8) definiert.
15. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Auslass (5) an dem Ende des nach oben gerichteten Pfads der Behälter angeordnet
ist.
16. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Presse tätig mit dem Auslass (5) assoziiert ist.
17. Maschine nach einem oder mehreren der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Maschine mit einer elektronischen Steuereinheit ausgestattet ist, die auch für
eine Datenfernübertragung ausgebildet ist.
1. Machine de compactage pour compacter des récipients compressibles, en particulier
des bouteilles réalisées à partir d'une matière plastique et similaire, comprenant
des moyens de compactage (7, 8) agissant pendant la translation du récipient le long
d'une trajectoire d'avancement continue entre une entrée (2) et une sortie (5) de
la machine (1), dans laquelle lesdits moyens de compactage (7, 8) comprennent une
pluralité de rouleaux opposés tournant en sens inverse agencés en succession en contact
avec le récipient dans ladite trajectoire d'avancement et comprenant un premier ensemble
de rouleaux (7) situé à proximité de ladite entrée (2) et définissant une section
de compression progressive du récipient d'une condition non déformée à une condition
compressée, ledit premier ensemble de rouleaux (7) comprenant un cylindre de grand
diamètre (9) et une série de rouleaux de petit diamètre (11) faisant face à la périphérie
dudit cylindre (9) à des distances progressivement décroissantes de ce dernier, caractérisée en ce que ladite pluralité de rouleaux comprend en outre un second ensemble de rouleaux (8)
placé entre ledit premier ensemble de rouleaux (7) et ladite sortie (5) et comprenant
une pluralité de paires de rouleaux (13) contiguës de diamètre identique agencées
sensiblement à la même distance les unes des autres et définissant une section de
maintien de ladite condition compressée dudit récipient.
2. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que lesdites paires de rouleaux (13) sont prévues au moins en partie avec des saillies
radiales.
3. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ledit premier ensemble de rouleaux (7) comprend un rouleau de transport excentrique
(12) adjacent audit cylindre (9) et placé entre ce dernier et ladite entrée (5).
4. Machine selon la revendication 1 ou 3, caractérisée en ce que ledit cylindre (9) est prévu avec des pointes (10) faisant saillie de sa surface.
5. Machine selon la revendication 1 ou 3 ou 4, caractérisée en ce que lesdits rouleaux de petit diamètre (11) sont prévus au moins en partie avec des saillies
radiales.
6. Machine selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que lesdits premier et second ensembles de rouleaux (7, 8) sont entraînés par un seul
moteur (29).
7. Machine selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que ladite entrée (2) communique avec un conduit (20) pour l'introduction du récipient,
opérationnellement associés auquel, on trouve des moyens pour l'arrêt temporaire (12,
18) dudit récipient.
8. Machine selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que ledit conduit (20) est prévu avec des moyens de détecteur (15) pour l'identification
du récipient et avec un premier arrêt temporaire (12) pour le récipient dans une position
correspondant auxdits moyens de détecteur (15).
9. Machine selon la revendication 8, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens de détecteur comprennent une pluralité de lecteurs de codes à barres
(15).
10. Machine selon l'une quelconque des revendications 7 à 9, caractérisée en ce que ledit conduit (20) comprend de plus, en aval dudit premier arrêt temporaire (12),
un second arrêt temporaire (18) du récipient dans une position correspondant à une
unité de sélection (14).
11. Machine selon la revendication 10, caractérisée en ce que ladite unité de sélection (14) comprend un conduit (20) ayant un fond prévu avec
des moyens d'ouverture et comprenant au moins une trappe d'accès mobile (21) normalement
fermée, dont l'ouverture peut être commandée via lesdits moyens de détecteur (15).
12. Machine selon la revendication 11, caractérisée en ce que ladite trappe d'accès mobile (21) peut de plus être commandée par un dispositif pour
peser le récipient.
13. Machine selon la revendication 12, caractérisée en ce que ledit dispositif pour peser le récipient utilise un contrepoids (23).
14. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que ladite entrée (2) comprend une trajectoire pour l'alimentation par gravité du récipient
vers ladite pluralité de rouleaux (7, 8).
15. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que ladite sortie (5) est située à l'extrémité d'une trajectoire ascendante des récipients.
16. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que, opérationnellement associée à ladite sortie (5), on trouve une presse.
17. Machine selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce qu'elle est équipée d'une unité de commande électronique, qui est également pré-agencée
pour la transmission de données à distance.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description