Conveyor and a method for a beverage container recycler
AssigneePure Recycle Oy
InventorKari Almen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor has multiple successive fixed stops (17), each suitable for holding the empty beverage container (20) in place. A horizontal ladder frame (12) structure lifts the beverage container (20) in sequences above one fixed stop (17) at a time. Multiple lifting motions transport the beverage container (20) through the successive fixed stops (17). The ladder frame (12) structure has plural transverse beams (14) that reciprocate between a flat position and a raised position. The motion from the float position to the raised position ejects the beverage container (20) above the fixed stop (17).
Claims15
A conveyor for a beverage container recycler, comprising:
- an inlet for receiving the beverage container;
- and
- a base for the conveyor;
- characterized by comprising:
- a ladder frame, comprising two longitudinal beams spaced apart from each other, allowing the beverage container to fit transversely between the longitudinal beams;
- and plural transverse beams connecting the two longitudinal beams;
- an actuator for reciprocating the ladder frame between a flat position and a raised position;
- plural fixed stops for retaining the beverage container at the base, between the transverse beams when the ladder frame is in the flat position;
- wherein
- the ladder frame is configured to push the beverage container over one fixed stop when moving from the flat position to the raised position and multiple reciprocations cause the beverage container to travel over plural fixed stops through the conveyor.
A method for moving a beverage container in a beverage container recycler, comprising:
- an inlet for receiving the beverage container;
- a conveyor;
- and
- a base for the conveyor;
- characterized in that the conveyor comprises:
- a ladder frame, comprising two longitudinal beams spaced apart from each other, allowing the beverage container to fit transversely between the longitudinal beams;
- and plural transverse beams connecting the two longitudinal beams;
- plural fixed stops for retaining the beverage container at the base, between the transverse beams when the ladder frame is in the flat position;
- wherein the method comprises:
- pushing the beverage container by the ladder frame over one fixed stop when moving from a flat position to a raised position;
- and providing multiple reciprocations for causing the beverage container to travel over plural fixed stops through the conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.