WO2002089078A1

WO2002089078A1 - Reverse vending machine for returnable packaging, and method for returning packaging, such as bottles and cans

Info

Publication number: WO2002089078A1
Application number: PCT/FI2002/000320
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jukka Ajo
Original assignee: Tomra Systems Oy
Priority date: 2001-04-27
Filing date: 2002-04-16
Publication date: 2002-11-07
Also published as: FI20010890A0; DE10296706T5; FI112195B; FI20010890A

Abstract

The invention concerns a reverse vending machine (100) for receiving returnable packaging. The returnable packaging is fed into an input station (A). The reverse vending machine identifies the packaging and gives money and/or receipt and/or a pawn or other such according to the identification. The reverse vending machine (100) includes a sorter (10) including a sorting chute (11), which is in an oblique position to the vertical plane, whereby the returnable packaging dropped into the sorting chute is moved with the aid of gravity to the lower end of the chute (11). The sorter at the lower end of chute (11) includes a tilting chute part (110), with the aid of which the returnable packaging guided into the said chute part (110) can be dropped into sorting station I or into sorting station II based on the identification data.

Description

Reverse vending machine for returnable packaging, and method for returning packaging, such as bottles and cans

The invention concerns a reverse vending machine for returnable packaging, and method for returning packaging, such as bottles and cans.

Such reverse vending machines for bottles and cans are known in the art, which receive the returnable packaging, such as a returnable bottle and can, from the customer and in return for the packaging give refund money, a receipt, a pawn or other such. The person returning the packaging gets refund money corresponding with the returnable packaging based on an identification performed by the concerned reverse vending machine or, if the packaging is not accepted, the packaging is transferred further in the known solutions to the exit opening of the machine or it is not fed any further from the input opening.

The present application presents an entirely new type of machine for handling returnable packaging, wherein the returnable packaging is fed from the input opening of the reverse vending machine preferably to a conveyor in the input station, whereby the shape/bar code, of the returnable packaging, the colour, material and weight of the packaging are identified at the input station. Thus, it is possible with the machine according to the invention to identify the characteristics of the packaging as well as its type. When the returnable packaging has been put into the input station of the reverse vending machine, the conveyor will feed it further in accordance with the invention into a sorting station, which according to the invention includes a sorter, which is used for moving the returnable packaging into the desired storage station. Based on the identification, the various packaging can be sorted by the sorter according to the invention into the desired storage stations. According to the invention, the sorter includes a chute or such, which is located at an angle to the horizontal plane. Thus, with the aid of gravity it will guide the bottle transferred to the chute from the input conveyor in such a way that the bottle will drop from the chute end into storage station III or it will first remain in the lower end of the chute against a stopper part located therein. According to the invention, the sorter body includes a conveyor moving the stopper part to the chute end thus blocking the chute end and preventing the returnable bottle from falling from the chute end into storage station III located below. Then the stopper part is moved by the conveyor in such a way that the stopper part in question will move the returnable packaging, such as a bottle or can, to the upper end of the chute, dropping it there further to be in connection with a so-called turning guiding wall of a sorting gate, which will sort the returnable packaging into two different storage stations IVa or IVb. In one embodiment of the invention, the said storage or sorting stations IVa and IVb are crushing stations, wherein the returnable packaging is crushed with the aid of a crusher, such as a crushing drum.

Each sorting station IVa and IVb may include a separate crusher or one and the same crusher, which includes separate crushing jaws for each sorted product to be crushed, such as a plastic bottle or aluminium can. The sorting wall functions to sort the returnable packaging into either sorting passage, which leads to sorting station IVa or IVb.

According to the invention, sorting station IVa will contain crushed cans, while sorting station IVb will contain crushed plastic bottles.

According to the invention, the chute at its lower end includes a movable, preferably tilting sorter part, which is a chute part, the function of which is to sort the returnable packaging dropped with the aid of gravity against the stopper part in the lower end of the chute into either sorting station I or II. In the following, an advantageous sorting alternative will be presented, wherein sorting is done based on the colour. However, sorting may be done based on any identification data or their combinations. Thus, sorting or storage stations I, II and III are e.g. for returnable bottles, and the returnable bottle can be sorted into the said sorting stations e.g. based on its colour. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, such returnable bottles are sorted into sorting station III, the colour of which is transparent; those returnable bottles are sorted into sorting station II the colour of which is green, and those returnable bottles are sorted into sorting station I the colour of which is brown. The bottles drop into sorting station II with the aid of gravity when the stopper part is not located at the lower end of the chute but has been moved to another position in the upper run of the conveyor. By turning the tilting sorter part at the lower end of the chute the returnable bottle is dropped either into storage station I or into storage station II. The said sorter part, which is formed by a chute-like part, is moved by a tilting mechanism 20.

The reverse vending machine according to the invention for receiving returnable packaging and the method for returning packaging, such as bottles and cans, are characterised by the features presented in the claims.

In the following, the invention will be described with reference to the appended drawings and to some advantageous embodiments of the invention shown in the figures, but the intention is not to limit the invention to these only.

Figure 1A shows a reverse vending machine according to the invention for returning returnable packaging, such as bottles and cans.

Figure IB is a schematic view of the object of the invention, that is, a returnable packaging sorter.

Figure IC is an axonometric view in principle of the sorter according to the invention. Figure 2A shows a position of the tilting chute part of the sorter, wherein the returnable packaging, such as a bottle or can, is dropped with the aid of gravity through the chute end into the storage station or against a stopper part placed at the chute end.

Figure 2B shows a position of the sorter, wherein the chute is turned into another extreme tilted position, wherein sorting is done into storage station I.

Figure 2C shows a position of the sorter, wherein the chute is tilted into another extreme tilted position, wherein sorting is done into storage station II.

Figure 1A is a schematic view of the reverse vending machine 100 according to the invention for receiving returnable packaging, such as bottles and cans. It consists of two adjacent body parts Rl and R2, which are placed in connection with each other, whereby body part Rl includes a returnable packaging receiving station A and therein a conveyor H_b such as a belt conveyor, for transferring returnable packaging. In the input station A, while the returnable packaging is located on conveyor H,, the colour, weight, material or type of the returnable packaging is identified, either by a camera based on its profile or using a scanner to read the bar code on the packaging in question. Sorting may be done based on the identification performed in the identification station based on some characteristic of the packaging or on a combination of characteristics. In the input station the weight of the packaging is measured and this is compared with identification data in the memory of the equipment and with the weight of the empty packaging. In case the identification data of the concerned type of packaging does not correspond with the data stored in the memory, the packaging is not accepted and it is not moved forward. Returnable packaging, such as bottles and cans, are fed into the input station of the reverse vending machine. The reverse vending machine identifies the packaging with the aid of identifying equipment and gives money and/or a receipt and/or a pawn or other such that corresponds with the identification. Thus, based on the identification the reverse vending machine may give money and a receipt or only a receipt or money or a pawn or some other return voucher both written on paper and/or in an electronic form.

Figure IB is a schematic view of sorting performed by a sorter. In the machine according to the invention, the returnable packaging is moved after identification on conveyor H, further to sorter 10. In one embodiment of the invention, sorter 10 according to the invention sorts the returnable packaging into five different sorting or storage stations. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, sorting stations I, II and III are for returnable bottles, and sorting into the said stations takes place based on the colour. Sorting stations IVa and IVb are crushing stations, and returnable cans and plastic bottles are guided into these stations. The cans in question are separated according to the identification by a guide 25, which is located on the front side of the input passage of sorting stations IVa and IVb and which guides the returnable packaging either into sorting station IVa or IVb. Guide 25 may consist of a motor-operated guiding wall guiding the progress of the packaging.

As is shown in Figure IC, sorter 10 includes a sorting chute 11, the chute run of which is located obliquely in relation to the vertical plane, whereby gravity is used to drop the returnable packaging guided from the conveyor of the reverse vending machine into the sorting chute 11 of the sorter and further on to the lower end of the chute with the aid of gravity.

In the sorter, conveyor 12 preferably includes a chain conveyor, wherein the conveyor link 120 is preferably a chain link placed by way of sheaves 14a, and 14a₂, preferably chain sheaves, which are located at both ends of the longitudinal body part 13. An electric motor M, driving the chain is connected to one of the sheaves. The conveyor is placed as a conveyor link by way of the chain sheaves and it includes a stopper part 15, preferably a structural part coming against the bottle bottom, the function of which when located at the lower end of chute 11 is to prevent the returnable packaging, such as a bottle or can, from dropping into the sorting and storage station III, and it is another function of the said part in sorting to the crusher into sorting stations IVa, IVb to move the returnable packaging along chute 11 obliquely upwards to the upper end of the chute and thence optionally by way of the sorting wall into either sorting and crushing station IVa or IVb.

There are preferably two stopper parts 15 on opposite sides of conveyor link 120 and protrusions sideways in the same direction from chain 12. Thus, stopper part 15 functions to stop the packaging or to move it. By moving the chain connected to chain 12 by motor Mi the stopper part 15 is moved from the lower end of chute 11, 110 to its upper end. Stopper part 15 with its arms is shaped in such a way that it extends laterally from chain 12 into chute 11, 110. Thus it is movable at the side of chute part 110 and chute 11 obliquely upwards as the packaging is transferred.

According to the invention, chute 11 includes a lower tilting chute part 110, the tilting direction of which is controlled by a tilting mechanism 16. Using tilting mechanism 16, an arm section 17 connected with movable chute part 110 is turned with the aid of a mechanism including a wheel 18 and an arm 20, which is in a pivoting connection with its periphery by joint 19 and which is further in a pivoting connection by joint 21 with intermediate arm section 22, which is pivoted by joint 23 to body 13. By operating electric motor 24 the wheel 18 is rotated and the arm 20 connected to it is thus moved and further the intermediate arm section 22 is moved as well as arm section 17, which is connected to it and connected to chute part 110. Thus, depending on the direction of rotation of electric motor 24, the chute part 110 is turned in such a way that the returnable packaging located against stopper part 15 is sorted either into sorting station I or into sorting station II.

Figure 2A shows the operation of the tilting mechanism for movable chute part

110. Tilting mechanism 16 thus includes an intermediate arm section 22, which is pivoted in a turning fashion to body 13, and an arm section 20 pivoted to it in a turning fashion and pivoted at its other end eccentrically to wheel 18, which is rotated by electric motor 24. As is shown in the figure, a third fixed arm section 17 is connected to intermediate arm section 22, to which arm section 17 the tilting chute part 110 is connected. Figure 2 A shows a position of the mechanism, wherein the tilting chute part 110 is located in the direction of the upper chute part and of its continuation chute part 11, which is located at a small distance from it in a fixed position, and obliquely in relation to the vertical plane. Chute part 110 turns in relation to the upper chute 11 and it can be positioned in its direction obliquely in relation to the vertical plane.

Figure 2B shows a position of the mechanism, wherein the movable chute part 110 is tilted by making electric motor 24 rotate the wheel 18 in direction L,. At the stage shown in Figure 2B, the returnable packaging, such as a bottle, is dropped into sorting and storage station II.

Figure 2C shows such a sorting stage of the chute turning mechanism according to the invention, wherein electric motor 24 has rotated wheel 18 in direction L₂, whereby chute part 110 obtains a tilted position in another direction and it will sort the returnable packaging, such as a bottle, located therein into sorting and storage station I.

Chute part 110, such as a fixed chute, is preferably U-shaped including a bottom part b and sidewall parts a, and a₂. Chute 11, 110 is open at the top.

Claims

1. Reverse vending machine (100) for receiving returnable packaging and wherein the returnable packaging are fed into an input station (A) and which reverse vending machine identifies the returned packaging and gives money and/or a receipt and/or a pawn or other such against the identification, characterised in that the reverse vending machine (100) includes a sorter (10) including a sorting chute (11), which is in an oblique position to the vertical plane, whereby a returnable packaging dropped into the sorting chute will be transferred by gravity to the lower end of the chute (11), and that the sorter includes a tilting chute part (110), which is located at the lower end of chute (11) and which is used for dropping the returnable packaging guided into the said chute part (110) into a sorting station (I) or into a sorting station (II) based on the identification data.

2. Equipment according to claim 1, characterised in that the chute (11) is connected to a body including a conveyor (12), which forms a conveyor link (120) and therein at least one stopper part (15) preventing the returnable packaging from falling from the lower end of the chute (11) when the stopper part (15) is brought by the conveyor to a position, wherein it blocks the lower end of chute (11), and that by moving the said stopper part (15) by using conveyor (12) the returnable packaging, such as a bottle or can, dropped against the stopper part (15) can be moved to the upper end of chute (11) and it can be dropped from there into a sorting station (IVa or IVb)

3. Equipment according to some preceding claim, characterised in that there are two stopper parts (15) on opposite sides of the conveyor link.

4. Equipment according to some preceding claim, characterised in that the tilting chute part (110) can be tilted by operating an electric motor (24) to rotate a wheel (18), to the periphery of which an arm (20) is connected by a pivot joint (19), whereby the other end of arm (20) is connected by a pivot joint (21) to an intermediate arm section (22), which is joined by a pivot joint (23) to the body (13) of sorter (10), and that the intermediate arm section (22) further includes an arm section (17), which is in a fixed connection with chute part (110), whereby by changing the direction of rotation of the electric motor (24) the tilting position of chute part (110) is changed and it is tilted towards either sorting station (I) or (II).

5. Equipment according to some preceding claim, characterised in that the conveyor link (120) of conveyor (12) at its end includes sheaves (14a,), (14a₂), whereby a motor (M,), preferably an electric motor, is connected to one sheave and is adapted to move the conveyor link (120).

6. Equipment according to some preceding claim, characterised in that the sheaves (14a,), (14a₂) are chain sheaves and the conveyor link (120) is a chain link including laterally protruding stopper parts (15) at opposite sides of the conveyor run, whereby when one stopper part (15) is located at the lower end of the conveyor the other stopper part (15) is located at the upper end of the conveyor, and when one stopper part is located at the lower run of the conveyor the other stopper part (15) is located at the upper run of the conveyor.

7. Equipment according to some preceding claim, characterised in that a sorting wall (25), which can be moved by a motor (M₂) is located at the upper end of chute (11) and it is used to guide the returnable packaging, such as a plastic bottle or can, dropped from the upper end of chute (11) to either one of sorting passages (IVa or IVb), and that the sorting passages lead to a crusher/crushers, which crush the returnable packaging, such as a can or plastic bottle.

8. Equipment according to some preceding claim, characterised in that when sorting is done into sorting station (III), the lower end of the chute part (110) of chute (11) is kept free and the returnable packaging is allowed to travel with the aid of gravity through the chute part (110) of chute (11) obliquely downwards into the sorting station (III).

9. Equipment according to some preceding claim, characterised in that the input station (A) includes a conveyor (H,), upon which the returnable packaging, such as a bottle or can, is first placed, and that the conveyor (H,) moves the returnable packaging to the sorter (10) after identification.

10. Equipment according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the conveyor (H,) is a belt conveyor.

11. Equipment according to some preceding claim, characterised in that the sorting stations (I, II and III) are for returnable bottles and sorting into these takes place based on the colour of the returnable bottles after their identification taking place on the input belt (H,), and that the sorting stations (IVa and IVb) are crushing stations, into which the returnable packaging is guided from the sorter based on the identification and that the returnable packaging guided into the said stations are plastic bottles or cans.

12. Method for handling returnable packaging, characterised in that the returnable packaging is placed in the input station (A) of a reverse vending machine and after identification in the chute (11) of a sorter (10), and that the chute (11) includes in connection with it a tilting chute part (110), with the aid of which the returnable packaging guided into the chute part (110) can be transferred into a sorting station (I or II) by tilting the chute part (110).

13. Method according to claim 12, characterised in that in connection with the chute (11) of the sorter there is a conveyor (12), the stopper part (15) of which is used for moving the returnable packaging based on the identification to the upper part of chute (11) and further away from the chute (11).

14. Method according to some preceding claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the returnable packaging identified in the sorting is dropped into chute (11) and from its lower end into sorting station (III), or sorting of the returnable packaging is performed into the sorting stations (I or II) by using a tilting chute part (110), or in which method the returnable packaging is transferred from the tilting chute part (110) to the upper end of chute part (11) with the aid of stopper part (15), which blocks the lower end of chute part (11) at the stage when the returnable packaging arrives in the chute part (110) and it is not guided from the lower end of chute (11) into a storage station (III).

15. Method according to some of the preceding claims 12 - 14, characterised in that the sorting is done into sorting stations (I or II or III) based on the colour of the packaging, and if the returnable packaging is a plastic bottle or can, the returnable packaging is moved to the upper part of the chute and thence to a crusher by way of a sorting passage (IVa or IVb) leading thereto, whereby the crusher will crush the plastic bottle or can.

16. Method according to some of the preceding claims 12 - 15, characterised in that the returnable bottle is transferred to the sorting station (I or II or III) in such a way that the returnable bottles are sorted according to their colour, so that transparent returnable bottles end up in one sorting station, brown returnable bottles end up in the second sorting station and returnable bottles of green colour end up in the third sorting station.

17. Method according to some of the preceding claims 12 - 16, characterised in that in the method the returnable packaging is first moved to the lower end of the chute (11) located in the sorter, and if the returnable bottle is a glass bottle, the returnable packaging is dropped directly from the end of chute part (110) of chute (11) into the sorting station (III) or sorting is performed by the chute part (11) located at the lower end of the chute into sorting station (II or I), or if the returnable packaging is a plastic bottle or can, it is moved by the stopper part (15) of the sorter to the upper end of chute (11) and thence optionally into either sorting passage (IVa or IVb), whereby one sorting passage will take the plastic bottles to a crusher, which will crush them before they are dropped into the storage station, while the other sorting passage will take the returnable cans to a crusher, which will crush them before they are dropped into the storage station.

18. Method for handling returnable packaging according to some of the preceding claims 12 - 17, characterised in that in the method the returnable packaging is identified in connection with a conveyor (H,) located at the input station (A), and after the identification the returnable packaging is moved by the conveyor (H,) into the sorter (10).