GB2169838A

GB2169838A - Empty can pressing machine

Info

Publication number: GB2169838A
Application number: GB08601259A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giovanni Simondi
Original assignee: ARCE Sas
Current assignee: ARCE Sas
Priority date: 1985-01-21
Filing date: 1986-01-20
Publication date: 1986-07-23
Also published as: DE8601415U1; ES551077A0; CH666837A5; GB8601259D0; IT8552868V0; FR2576229A3; FR2576229B3; ES8700144A1; IT8552868U1; GB2169838B

Abstract

The machine comprises a fixed plate (2) for supporting the can, an axially-moving plate (3) designed to move towards the fixed plate for exerting pressures on the can, and a tubular containing element (15) pivoting about a horizontal axis between a loading position whereat it receives the can, and an operative position whereat it receives the movable plate in order to deform the can. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Empty can pressing machine The present invention relates to a can pressing machine designed to exert sufficient pressure on an empty can for permanently deforming it into a compact disc-shaped element enabling immediate, troublefree storage or use as scrap metal.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a machine of the aforementioned type enabling the empty can to be loaded onto the machine and the disc-shaped element to be unloaded easily and quickly.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a machine of the aforementioned type enabling both straightforward construction and reliable operation.

With this aim in view, the present invention relates to a can pressing machine designed to exert sufficient pressure on an ampty can for deforming it permanently into a disc-shaped element, characterised by the fact that it comprises a fixed plate for supporting the said can, an axially-moving plate designed to move towards the said fixed plate for exerting the said pressure, and a tubular containing element located between the said plates and having an inside diameter greater than that of the said can, thus enabling the said tubular element to contain the said can, and greater than that of the said movable plate, thus enabling the said movable plate to fit inside the said tubular containing element; the said containing element pivoting about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the element itself, in such a manner as to enable it to be moved from a first position, wherein the said axis of the said containing element forms a given preset angle in relation to the said travelling direction of the said movable plate, thus enabling a can to be inserted inside the said containing element, to a second position wherein the said axis substantially coincident with the said direction, thus enabling the said pressure to be exerted for deforming the said can.

The present inventon will now be described in more detail, purely by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a partially-sectioned side view of the machine in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a purther side view, perpendicular to the former, of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

The machine in accordance with the present invention substantially comprises a frame 1 fitted with a fixed plate 2, for supporting an empty can as described later on, and a substantially verticaily-moving plate 3 designed to exert sufficient pressure on the said can for deforming it.

The aforementioned plate is activated by a connecting rod and crank mechanism 6, via an assembly comprising an electric motor 4 and a reduction gear 5. The said plate 3 is conveniently integral with a rod 7 designed to move axially in the aforementioned direction and the upper end of which is hinged to connecting rod 8 on the aforementioned mechanism. The other end of the said connecting rod is hinged, via pin 9, to a disc 10 fitted on the axis of reduction gear 5 and constituting the crank on the aforementioned mechanism. The lower end of rod 7 is conveniently guided by a bushing 11 fitted onto the machine frame.

The machine in accordance with the present invention also comprises a substantially tubular containing element 15 for containing a can 12 during the pressing operation; for which purpose, the inside diameter of element 15 is slightly greater than the outside diameter of the can to be inserted inside element 15, and the outside diameter of movable plate 3 which also presents a circular contour.

Containing element 15 is hinged about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of movable plate 3 and marked 16 in Fig. 1.

Containing element 15 pivots from a first position (shown by the continuous line in Fig. 1) wherein the longitudinal axis of the element itself is substantially coincident with that of rod 7, to a second position (shown by the dotted line in Fig. 1) wherein the said axes form a given angle ranging from 0 to 90" and such as to enable a can to be inserted inside the element itself. For this purpose, provision may be made for a stop member 17 consisting, for example, of an appropriately bent wall on the machine frame, as shown, for example, by the broken line in Fig. 1. Containing element 15 may also be provided with a grip 18 enabling the said element to be gripped and shifted from one to the other of the aforementioned two positions.The top edge 19 and bottom edge 20 of containing element 15 are conveniently and substantially shaped in the form of arcs of a circle having its centre on rotation axis 16 of the element itself, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, in such a manner as to enable element 15 to pivot about the said axis 16 without interfering with fixed plate 2 or movable plate 3.

Provision is conveniently made for a detector 21 designed to detect given metallurgical characteristics of the material of which the can is formed, and positioned in such a manner as to be located in the immediate vicinity of the can when containing element 1 5 is in the aforementioned first position. Detector 21, which may be of any appropriate type, is designed to emit a consent signal for activating motor 4 controlling the said connecting rod and crank mechanism, upon detection of given metallurgical characteristics in the said can.

The machine in accordance with the present invention operates as follows.

With the machine in the rest position, movable plate 3 is situated in the topmost limit position, as shown in Fig. 1. With plate 3 so located, grip 18 may be gripped by the operator for turning containing element 15 from its present first position, wherein its longitudinal axis is substantially coincident with the axis of rod 7, into the second loading position shown by the dotted line in Fig. 1. As shown clearly in Fig. 1, the said secong loading position is reached when containing element 15 is arrested against stop member 17, in which position, containing element 15 is positioned with its top mouth facing the operator, thus enabling an empty can to be inserted easily inside the said mouth. Containing element 15 may then be restored to the said first position by acting on grip 18.Upon detecting the required metallurgical characteristics in the material of which the can is formed, detector 21 supplies electric motor 4 with a consent signal, at which point, the operator may activate the motor for bringing down movable plate 3 which exerts such high pressure on the empty can as to permanently deform it and reduce it substantially into the form of a thin disc.

By means of grip 18, the operator may then bring containing element 15 back to the aforementioned second position, during which movement, the wall on containing element 15 pushes the said disc forward and, as the bottom mouth of containing element 15 is no longer closed by fixed plate 2, the said disc may be easily unloaded, for example, into a bin underneath the machine frame.

In other words, as containing element 15 is shifted into the said second position for loading another can, the disc formed in the foregoing operating cycle is unloaded at the same time.

Clearly, therefore, loading the cans onto the machine and unloading the disc elements produced by pressing the said cans may be performed easily and rapidly, thus providing for considerably high machine output. The structure of the machine as described is also highly straightforward, thus providing for troublefree operation and a high degree of reliability.

What is more, the small number and simple design of the component parts on the machine provide for low-cost construction. To those skilled in the art it will be clear that changes may be made to the embodiment as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, movable plate 3 may be controlled by hydraulic, instead of mechanical, mechanisms other than the one described herein.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Can pressing machine designed to exert sufficient pressure on an empty can for deforming it permanently into a disc-shaped element, characterised by the fact that it comprises a fixed plate for supporting the said can, an axially-moving plate designed to move towards the said fixed plate for exerting the said pressure, and a tubular containing element located between the said plates and having an inside diameter greater than that of the said can, thus enabling the said tubular element to contain the said can, and greater than that of the said movable plate, thus enabling the said movable plate to fit inside the said tubular containing element; the said containing element pivoting about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the element itself, in such a manner as to enable it to be moved from a first position, wherein the said axis of the said containing element forms a given preset angle in relation to the said traveling direction of the said movable plate, thus enabling a can to be inserted inside the said containing element, to a second position wherein the said axis is substantially coincident with the said direction, thus enabling the said pressure to be exerted for deforming the said can.

2. Machine as claimed in Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said containing element is provided with a grip for swinging the element itself from one to the other of the said two positions.

3. Machine as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that the end edges of the said containing element are shaped in the form of arcs of a circle having its centre on the said horizontal axis.

4. Machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that a stop is provided for limiting the swing of the said containing element when the said second position is reached.

5. Machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that the said movable plate is activated by a connecting rod and crank mechanism, the said movable plate being integral with a rod designed to move axially in the said direction and the end of which is hinged to one end of the connecting rod on the said mechanism.

6. Machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that it comprises a detector designed to detect metallurgical characteristics of the said can.

and to emit a consent signal for activating the said mechanism when the said characteristics comply with given preset characteristics.

7. Can pressing machine substantially as described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.