Tomra Systems Asa

Tomra Systems A/s

Mosshydro As

Kristian Holmen

Svein Holmen

Tore Planke

Andreas Nordbryhn

Jan Rype

Jacob S&oslash;mming Rognhaug

Terje Hanserud

Lars Aanestad

Kaj Johnsen

Jacob Somming Rognhaug

A filter arrangement includes: a chamber including a chamber inlet for unfiltered liquid, a chamber outlet for filtered liquid and a wall arranged to keep the unfiltered liquid and the filtered liquid separated, a filter element having a longitudinal extension arranged inside of the chamber, wherein the filter element includes a semi-permeable filtration wall including a folded filter arranged in a zig-zag configuration between an inner perforated cylinder and an outer perforated cylinder and an internally located back-washing arrangement. The back-washing arrangement includes: an elongated and hollow body having a longitudinal extension, which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the filter element, a mechanism configured to drive the body in a rotational and/or an axial movement, a plurality of nozzles arranged in fluid communication with a cavity inside of the body, the plurality of nozzles projecting laterally from the body such that a distal end of each of the plurality of nozzles is arranged in close proximity to the inner perforated cylinder and an outlet arranged in fluid communication with the cavity of the elongated and hollow body and wherein the plurality of nozzles are arranged parallel to each other along a straight line on the body such that they all project in the same direction.

Water filter

A device for controlling the conveying direction of empty liquid containers of any cross section, where the conveying direction is either through a portion of the device, or sideways away from the conveying path and the containers are supported in a horizontal position, the device comprising a rotatable drum arranged above the conveying path and with its axis of rotation in the direction of the conveying path, wherein the drum has at least one container chamber forming an opening in the drum, at least one container guide plate, and a container ejection mechanism arranged in connection with the chamber. In operation, the ejector empties the container from the chamber when the chamber opening has moved passed an upper edge of the guide plate and thus with force will thrust a container out of the chamber opening.

Sorting device for containers

Handling of liquid containers in horizontal position in the form of beverage packaging, for example, cans or or bottles of any cross-section, comprising a first and a second conveyor with respective belt, especially in connection with detection of features of the container. The belts are movable in a mutually parallel direction, and in a first, container-supporting position form an angle relative to each other, thereby forming an approximately V-shaped conveyor. The two conveyors can be moved apart to a second position thereof, thereby exposing in the space between the conveyor belts a pair of rotary rollers which have the same direction of rotation and having their axis of rotation in the direction of travel of the conveyor belts, whereby a container that is supported by the conveyor belts falls onto the pair of rollers and is rotated there in order to detect with the aid of a detector unit characteristic features of the container, for example, its contour, an identification code or the like, and means for moving the two conveyor belts from the second position back to the first position, whereby a container that is rotated on the rollers is lifted up and away from the rollers by the conveyor belts for support by the conveyor belts in said first position. The container may in said first position of the conveyors be caused either to be carried onwards to a point downstream in relation to the conveyors or be carried back to an upstream position.

Device for handling liquid containers

An apparatus for the compaction of articles, e.g., disposable metal cans or disposable plastic bottles, includes a pair of mutually counter-rotatable, interacting squeeze rollers, wherein the first roller has a fixed support and wherein the second roller is supported in an arm-spring assembly, thereby enabling the space between the rollers to be varied according to the size and compactability of the article. In addition, the apparatus has a precompactor that includes a conveyor, e.g., a belt or chain conveyor, and an elongate press plate inclined relative to the conveyor and preferably spring-loaded, to ensure that the article is gradually flattened upstream of the squeeze rollers. The squeeze roller may be provided with an incurvate middle portion and, optionally with openings having an L, U or V-shaped cross section with gripping edges in order to facilitate the feeding of the articles, such as bottles having a mouth and bottom nipple, through the compactor.

Article compacting device

A reverse vending machine for empty cans, wherein a can (21) which is delivered by a machine user is inspected in a first section (1) of the machine with regard to special characteristics, where a non-accepted can is returned to the machine user, whilst an accepted can is fed to a second section (7) for discharge into a receptacle, optionally via a compactor or shredder (17). The first section (1) consists of a first can guide having a first end (1') for can insertion, a second end (1') for can discharge, and a partially open central section (1''). At the first end there is provided a first metal detector (2), and at the second end there is provided a second metal detector (3). An optical reader (4) is provided at a radial distance from the central portion and has its sensing field covering at least a part of the central portion, the reader reading characteristics of the can, such as a bar code applied thereon. Impelling devices (5, 6, M1, M2) are provided at the central section in order to urge a can (21) in a first direction through the first can guide and out via the second end, or return a non-accepted can (21) to the machine user in a second, opposite direction via the first end. A control unit (19) is connected to the metal detectors (2, 3), the optical reader (4), and the impelling means (M1, M2), the control unit (19) being designed to determine whether collected data indicate that: the characteristics are readable and the can is acceptable, or the characteristics are readable, but the can is not acceptable, or the characteristics are not readable and the can is not acceptable. As a consequence of such indication the control unit (19) is designed to actuate the impelling devices (5, 6, M1, M2) to move the can in one direction or the other. The second section (7) is equipped with a blocking body (14) to prevent articles other than cans accepted by the control unit (19) from being transported from the first section (1) to the second section (2).

Reverse vending apparatus

A conveyor for lightweight objects, such as plastic beverage containers, includes an upward facing conveyor surface and a drive for causing the conveyor surface to move. An air suction device located below the conveyor surface draws air through the conveyor surface. The drawn air creates an object-stabilizing suction force on an object located on the conveyor surface when the conveyor moves relative to the air suction device. The conveyor has provision for changing the suction force imposed on the object while it is being transported on the conveyor surface.

Growing community of inventors

Asker, Norway

Kristian Holmen