Method for compacting empty plastic containers and press for carrying out said method

Abstract

According to the invention, in order to transport empty PET containers, said containers are compacted to form a packet ( 18 ) and are held in the compacted state by means of encompassing means ( 28 ). In this way, the transport volume of the containers is significantly reduced.

1 . Method of producing a transport unit ( 18 ,  28 ) of substantially empty, compacted plastic containers ( 17 ), specifically of not sorted PET-bottles, for a transporting thereof to a reclamation site, whereby a respective plurality of containers ( 17 ) is compacted into a package ( 18 ) and retained by wrapping means ( 28 ,  38 ) in a package shape and is provided in this manner as transportable package and the wrapping means ( 28 ) retains the package in a compacted state and is a wrapping means ( 20 ) or a encasing means which is placed in a state of the package held compacted around same, characterized in that the forming of the package proceeds in a plurality of steps by adding individual or several containers ( 17 ) to a already compacted partial package ( 18 ′).  
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the containers are compacted prior to the forming of the package or the partial package.  
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the containers are compacted during the forming of the package or partial package.  
     
     
         4 . Method according to one of the  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that a compacting of the container proceeds in the same press ( 20 ) in which the package is formed.  
     
     
         5 . Method according to one of the  claims 1  to  5 , characterized in that a compacting of the container proceeds in a first press and the compacting of the package proceeds in a second press.  
     
     
         6 . Method according to one of the  claims 1  to  5 , characterized in that a compacting of the containers ( 17 ) in the press ( 20 ) proceeds at the one side between a compacting plate ( 15 ) and at the other side a partial package ( 18 ′) of containers.  
     
     
         7 . Method according to one of the  claims 1  to  6 , characterized in that a partial package is maintained in a compacted state in the press ( 20 ) by means of retaining means ( 16 , 16 ′).  
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 7 , characterized in that during the compacting of the partial package a compacting to a smaller package size, preferably down to 10% to 30% smaller partial package size than given by the retaining means occurs.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to one of the  claims 1  to  8 , characterized in that the containers are punctured open during the compacting, specifically by puncturing means ( 15 ′) located on a compacting plate ( 15 ) of the press.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to one of the  claims 1  to  9 , characterized in that a container to be compacted rests initially on retaining means ( 16 ) which keep the partial package in a compacted state, that the retaining means upon a moving of the compacting plate ( 15 ) of the press ( 20 ) in a direction towards the partial package ( 18 ′) releases same, so that the container is compacted between partial package and compacting plate.  
     
     
         11 . Method according to one of the  claims 1  to  10 , characterized in that the wrapping means ( 28 ) or encasing means is placed around the package in the compacting chamber.  
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the wrapping means or encasing means is placed around the package during which it is held by the compacting plate ( 15 ) of the press or by the retaining means ( 16 ,  16 ′) in a compacted state.  
     
     
         13 . Method according to one of the  claims 1  to  12 , characterized in that the wrapping means is formed by plastic straps of which the ends are welded together.  
     
     
         14 . Press ( 20 ) for the production of a transport unit ( 18 ) of compacted plastic containers ( 17 ), which press ( 20 ) is provided with a compacting chamber, and a compacting means ( 14 ,  15 ) for a compacting of containers ( 17 ) to be compacted into a package ( 18 ) and received in the compacting chamber and includes a wrapping arrangement which has at least one wrapping means ( 28 ,  38 ) adapted to encase the packages compacted into a package in a compacted state which remains at the package, characterized in that the press is designed for the forming of the package in a plurality of steps by a adding of individual or several containers ( 17 ) to a already compacted partial package ( 18 ′), and includes retaining means ( 16 ,  16 ′) by means of which the partial package is arrestable in the compacting chamber in a compacted state.  
     
     
         15 . Press according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the retaining means comprise a plurality of retaining disks ( 16 , 16 ′) which are adapted to be moved or pivoted into the closed compacting chamber.  
     
     
         16 . Press according to  claim 14  or  15 , characterized in that the retaining means are connected for movement with the press drive or include a own drive which is coupled regarding control to the press drive so that the retaining means are insertable into and removable out of the compacting chamber independent from the position of the compacting plate ( 15 ).  
     
     
         17 . Press ( 20 ) according to one of the  claims 14  to  16 , characterized in that the volume of the compacting chamber is adjustable by at least one moveable, specifically compacting force dependent moveable delimiting element ( 19 ) opposite of the compacting plate ( 15 ) between a minimal volume and a maximal volume.  
     
     
         18 . Press ( 20 ) according to one of the  claims 14  to  17 , characterized in that the retaining means are designed as at at least one upper limit of the compacting chamber as retaining disks ( 16 ) pivotable around a pivot axis ( 18 ′) into the compacting chamber and pivotable out of same, respecrively, and that a plurality of retaining disks are arranged at a distance from each other on a common pivot axis.  
     
     
         19 . Press ( 20 ) according to one of the  claims 14  to  18 , characterized in that the compacting means is a compacting plate ( 15 ) which has recesses through which the compacting plate is able to move through the retaining means.  
     
     
         20 . Press ( 20 ) according to one of the  claims 14  to  19 , characterized in that the wrapping means is adapted to be guided from the wrapping arrangement into the compacting chamber and upon a increase of the compacting chamber to be drawn off a supply.  
     
     
         21 . Press according to one of the  claims 14  to  20 , characterized in that the wrapping means is formed by a plurality of straps, each of which adapted to be drawn off a spool into the compacting chamber and guided in recesses of the delimiting element ( 19 ).