DE10045964A1 - Automatic recycling machine for drinks cans has sensor scanning coding carried by each returned can for detecting cans with returnable deposit - Google Patents

Abstract

The recycling machine has a sensor (6) associated with the transport path (3) between an input (2) of a recycled can and a can press (9) for detection each can with a returnable deposit, allowing the deposit money to be returned. The sensor reads an ID code carried by each can, for differentiating between ordinary cans and those with a returnable deposit and for classifying the cans according to the manufacturer and the contents.

Description

The invention relates to a machine for taking back deposit boxes, in particular dere (empty) beverage cans, which a can inlet with subsequent Do transport route to a recycling point, especially with a can press, has, with a sensor system on the can transport path for detecting the respective thrown in the tin and to determine a deposit.

A similar type of installation is described in DE 297 06 654 U1. The well-known Au tomat is housed in a steel housing. This has a recording shaft for inserting empty beverage cans. The cans should - not closer described way - to be recognized by sensors and the latter should ever release the deposit due for the return of the can. In the well-known housing There is a press for compressing the detected cans. The together Squeezed cans are collected in a basket. beverage residues are excreted during compression and stored in a separate container captured.

A disadvantage of the known system is that there are differentiating means deposit-free doses are not available. Furthermore, under different doses the deposit amount to be repaid is not determined who the. There is also no possibility of the can manufacturer as well as the (originally) in the can of existing product to determine exactly and this data - for example for a statistic - available to save.  

The invention has for its object a fully automatic system at the beginning to create the type mentioned, which makes it possible to classify the respectively inserted can decorate and thereby a deposit box of other cans or objects differentiate, determine the deposit value for each individual can, the manufacturer and to record the (original) can content and call it up for statistics save so that a central collection of the collected data from meh other machines, which are located in different places.

The solution according to the invention exists for the machine according to the preamble of Claim 1 in that the sensor system pawned funds both to distinguish free of depositable cans as well as rejecting the former as well to classify the depositable cans by manufacturer and content by Le sen has an identifier located on the respective can. Some improvements Rungen and further embodiments of the invention are in the dependent claims specified.

An advantage of the machine according to the invention is that it is automatic can determine whether the object thrown in at all is a deposit which is subject to a deposit and which deposit amount may be increased is repayable. Another advantage of the machine according to the invention is therein seen that deposit-free items that should not be collected, automa be rejected. In this way, for example Automatically distinguish aluminum cans from tin cans. Selbstverständ Lich the collected beverage cans should in the system according to the invention brought to a minimum volume and in a container, preferably separate from the Can contents are collected.

A preferred feature of the invention is that on each can brought identifier, preferably as a bar, EAN or bar code, for the determination the deposit, the manufacturer and the (original) content can. Such an identifier should preferably also be one of the invention value receipt printer controlled according to the sensor system. At a  Return funds can then the amount to be paid by scanning the voucher can be determined with a scanner without errors.

A great advantage of the system according to the invention is that several Machines of the type according to the invention, in particular their memories or computers, with which the collected data are collected, can be networked with a central office. Such a central recording makes it possible for the first time to have precise data on the proportion of the produced and that of a recycling center or the recycling to supply the quantity supplied. It can even make statistical statements about the buying behavior of different products.

Based on the schematic representation of an embodiment, some Details of the invention, in particular a classification system for evaluators capture of beverage cans and return to the recycling cycle, be wrote.

The automat according to the invention is housed in a housing 1 which is secured against unauthorized access. On the front of the housing 1 accessible to the public there is a can inlet 2 in which the respective beverage can D is to be inserted. At the can inlet 2 connects a connecting shaft 3 with a piece counter 4 . The connecting shaft 3 leads to a rotary conveyor 5 and belt conveyor 7 . The latter transport the beverage can D with a rotary movement, preferably in a certain angular orientation, for. B. with about 30 ° upwards, past a cross scanner 6 so that it can read an existing bar code on the box D (not shown).

The can identifier determined by the cross scanner 6 , e.g. B. type and value of the can is transmitted to a system control computer 22 , or - if the inspected item is not a deposit subject to deposit - a separating flap 8 is opened to reject the item in question. If necessary, this incorrectly thrown object can also be used in a collecting container 13 for non-beverage cans, e.g. B. tin cans can be collected. The separator flap 8 can be viewed as a switch on the way of the can transport path.

The object classified by the cross scanner 6 as deposit box D is transported by the belt conveyor 7 to a pressing device 9 , detected by a material sensor 10 , reported to the system control computer 22 and the pressing device 9 started via the latter. The pressed beverage can is conveyed via a spout 11 into a collecting container 12 so that it is to be supplied to a recycling system.

In the housing 1 shown there is a collecting trough 15 under the two collecting containers 12 and 13 , which can be pulled out via guide and guide rails 14 . In the latter, residual liquid and possibly flushing water are collected for cleaning and possibly via a connection 16 , for. B. derived to the public sewer system. A rinsing and cleaning process can be started by the system control computer 22 after a predetermined number of cans. If necessary, water can be sprayed via a water connection 17 by opening a solenoid valve 18 via spray nozzles 19 into the connecting shaft 3 , the rotary conveyor 5 , the belt conveyor 7 and the pressing device 9 in order to clean these parts. The flowing rinse water is - as I said - collected in the drip pan 15 .

The entire system can be supplied with power via a voltage connection 20 . All recorded data can be evaluated, processed and stored by the software on the hard disk 26 of the system control computer 22 . The detection and control of the individual modules, e.g. B. piece counter 4 , cross scanner 6 , conveyor 5 and 7 , pressing device 9 and solenoid valve 18 can be done via the interfaces 25 of the system control computer 22 . The latter also serves to control a receipt printer 28 , so that the recorded data are to be printed on a receipt 29 . The voucher 29 can contain the deposit amount to be repaid both as a tender and as a barcode. If necessary, the voucher 29 can be automatically read into a cash register - for the purpose of refunding the deposit.

Via an interface 27 of the system control computer 22 , the evaluated software with the number of pieces, manufacturer, product etc. can be forwarded to a transmission module 30 and from the latter - e.g. B. at regular intervals via an interface 31 via telephone connection 21 - to an external overall system for evaluation and statistics, z. B. also several Au tomatoes according to the invention are transmitted.

All process operations of the machine or the detection system can be monitored by the system control computer 22 . In the event of a fault, a fault indicator 32 is provided, which can be connected to the interfaces 25 of the system control computer 22 via an interface 33 . In this way, it is possible to report the respective fault to the outside via the interface 31 of the system control computer 22 and the telephone line 21 , so that the service is also automatically called up.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

casing

2

Beverage cans intake

3

connecting shaft

4

piece counter

5

rotary conveyor

6

cross scanner

7

belt conveyors

8th

Absonderklappe

9

pressing device

10

material sensor

11

ejection

12

Collecting container for pressed cans

13

Collecting container for rejected objects

14

guide rail

15

drip tray

16

channel connection

17

mains water supply

18

magnetic valve

19

spray nozzle

20

voltage connection

21

telephone

22

System control computer

23

computer

24

Software (

22

)

25

interface

26

hard disk

27

interface

28

Value receipt printer

29

Wertbon

30

transmission module

31

interface

32

fault indicator

33

interface

Claims (9)

1. Machine for taking back deposit cans (D), in particular beverage cans, which has a can inlet ( 2 ) with subsequent can transport path ( 3 ) to a recycling point, in particular can press ( 9 ), with a sensor system ( 6 ) on the can transport path ( 3 ) Detection of the respective thrown can and for determining a deposit is provided, characterized in that the sensor system ( 6 ) means ( 22 ) both for distinguishing deposit-free from deposit-requiring cans (D) and for rejecting the former as well as for classifying the deposit-requiring cans (D) by manufacturer and content by reading an identifier on the respective can (D). 2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that as an identifier a so-called bar, EAN or bar code is provided. 3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor system ( 6 ) is assigned a receipt printer ( 28 ), preferably with a bar code, and receipt issuing point. 4. Automat according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the can transport path ( 3 ) has means ( 5 ) for aligning the respective can (D) in a reading position with respect to the sensor system, in particular with respect to a cross scanner ( 6 ) , 5. Automat according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by a computer ( 22 ) for storing the ge with the sensor system ( 6 ) collected data. 6. Automatic machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the computer ( 22 ) is networked with a control center for forwarding stored data. 7. Automat according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the can transport path ( 3 ) is assigned a water rinse ( 17 to 19 ). 8. Automat according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the can transport path ( 3 ) is assigned a piece counter ( 4 ). 9. Automatic machine according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by an integrated malfunction indicator, in particular with a malfunction indicator ( 32 ), which, preferably via the system control computer ( 22 ), is coupled to a service station.