Abstract: An apparatus for feeding objects, such as used beverage containers, to a recording and/or sorting unit with which the objects are supplied on a receiver and forwarded one by one with a predetermined orientation on at least one feeding conveyor. The receiver has at least one receiving table with at least one rotating disk, at least one feeding conveyor that is positioned tangentially relative to the at least one rotating disk, and a peripheral barrier essentially circumscribing at least a portion of the at least one receiving table. A related method involves the objects being provided on the at least one rotating disk and rotated it to thereby be aligned along the peripheral barrier that circumscribes at least a portion of the at least rotating disk. The aligned objects are then forwarded on the at least one feeding conveyor that is tangentially arranged relative to a rotating disk.

Abstract: A system and a method for receiving and feeding used beverage containers (UBC) uses at least one conveyer and a receptacle with a variable volume for receiving batches of UBC's. The batch receptacle has a small footprint. An annular rotating ring located at the upper edge of the receptacle circumscribes a piston when placed in the upper position. The receptacle has a receiving cylinder. The receiving cylinder has a piston, which is moved by at least one actuator. The system provides a very effective and very small receptacle for all kinds of packaging which has to be returned either for refill or for reuse of the material, or the system can be used for collecting highly polluting used articles such as batteries or other containers containing chemicals. The receptacle has a variable volume that can be filled up with UBC's.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding objects, such as used beverage containers, to a recording and/or sorting unit with which the objects are supplied on a receiver and forwarded one by one with a predetermined orientation on at least one feeding conveyor. The receiver has at least one receiving table with at least one rotating disk, at least one feeding conveyor that is positioned tangentially relative to the at least one rotating disk, and a peripheral barrier essentially circumscribing at least a portion of the at least one receiving table. A related method involves the objects being provided on the at least one rotating disk and rotated it to thereby be aligned along the peripheral barrier that circumscribes at least a portion of the at least rotating disk. The aligned objects are then forwarded on the at least one feeding conveyor that is tangentially arranged relative to a rotating disk.

Abstract: In a system for sorting packages (17), such as cans and bottles, the packages are transferred from a sack or the like to a tiltable unloading container (1), where the packages are supplied to a funnel (3) with an inclined conveyor belt (4) having a plurality of carriers (5, 6) between which the packages may be placed singly. The packages are moved from the funnel (3) up the inclined conveyor (4), and from there to a horizontal conveyor (11, 13) having five sections (8, 9, 10, 11, 12), it being possible to adjust the speed of some of the sections. The packages are guided from the 3rd section of the horizontal conveyor into and through a recording unit (13) by a translatory movement, where a plurality of cameras (15, 16) record characteristics of the individual package for use in the sorting, recording, compaction and the like. The invention provides a system in which sorting of cans and bottles may take place at a greater speed than before.