Wincor Nixdorf International Gmbh

Prokent Ag

Siegmar Hecht

Dieter Beyer

Hans-Peter Krull

Johann L&ouml;ning

The invention described here concerns a unit for automatic container returns systems, with a conveyor device for transporting the containers in the direction of their longitudinal axis, with two rotary-driven rollers arranged along the conveyor path and which can be transferred from a neutral position into an identification position in which they release the container from the conveyor device and rotate said container, and with a sorting means for the selective, lateral removal of the container from the conveyor device according to the identification. It is the object of the invention to provide a generic unit for automatic container returns systems that is characterised by a simple construction. This object is achieved in that the two rollers ( ) act as a sorting mechanism by way of their being transferred transverse to the conveyor path into a sorting position in which the lateral distance between one or other of the rollers ( ) and the conveyor path is so large that the container ( ) can drop down between the conveyor path and the respective roller ( ) displaced sideways.

Unit for automatic container returns systems

An automatic empty container return machine includes a detection unit operable for identifying whether or not an empty container is of a predetermined category, an input unit located upstream of the detection unit for receiving empty containers to supply the empty containers to the detection unit, an output unit located downstream of the detection unit for receiving empty containers that have been identified by the detection unit as being of the predetermined category, a transport stage having a conveyor for transporting empty containers from the input unit through the detection unit to the output unit, and a self-cleaning arrangement having components integrated with at least one of the input unit, detection unit, output unit and transport stage and being operable at selected times to clean surfaces thereof that are preselected to be cleaned.

Growing community of inventors

Ilmenau, Germany

Siegmar Hecht