EP2704109B1 - Container return device with a distribution device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a package take-back device according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating a package take-back device.

Such a container take-back device comprises an acceptance machine for accepting at least one container, at least one background device for processing the at least one container and a conveyor system for conveying the at least one container from the automatic acceptance device in a conveying direction to the at least one background device.

Containers of the type in question may be, for example, glass or plastic bottles, cans or other containers of liquids or solids.

Such package take-back devices are used, for example, in the environment of a supermarket and serve, in particular, to take back containers within the framework of a deposit system. At an acceptance machine, a customer can deliver containers, for example, against the issuing of a deposit. The containers are from the automatic acceptance by means of the conveyor system to a Background device, wherein a plurality of background devices, for example in the form of collection containers, compacting devices for compacting disposable containers such as plastic bottles or cans, sorting lines, collection points or the like may be present.

In such package take-back devices, it may happen that the operating speeds of the pickup machine and the one or more background devices differ. For example, if the assumption rate at which packages are accepted at a pickup machine is greater than the compacting speed at a downstream compactor for compacting disposable packages, then a pack stall may occur in front of the compactor, resulting in failure of the package picker.

The danger of such disturbances arises in particular because often a pickup machine and one or more background devices come from different manufacturers and thus are not exactly matched in their operation.

There is thus a need for a package take-back device in which a special adaptation of a pickup machine and one or more background devices to each other is not required and which nevertheless ensures a robust, trouble-free operation.

From the DE 23 49 608 C3 a device for aligning containers with a turntable is known, which has a number of top and side open pockets for receiving the container. By means of the devices, containers can be set up regardless of their original orientation and conveyed to a conveyor belt.

At one of the DE 100 55 207 A1 Known container take-back device is a turning unit is provided, which passes through a container directly or in case of incorrect orientation only after a turn by 180 °.

In addition, different forms of sorting devices from the DE 10 2009 011 716 A1 and EP 2 163 315 B1 in which by sorting a sorting element sorting of bottle packages takes place.

The US 5,248,102 describes a receptacle for containers, which has a rotatable magazine. A container can be introduced into the magazine via a throw-in opening, wherein the magazine rotates step by step and in this way leads thrown-in containers to shafts which are assigned to collection containers.

The GB 2 120 628 A describes a packaging device with a rotatable distributor.

From the EP 2 163 315 B1 a container take-back device is known in which a sorting device is arranged on a conveyor system.

From the FR 2 202 021 a device for setting up beverage containers is known, supplied in the container via a feed path a rotatable magazine, placed in the magazine and then discharged via a discharge conveyor again.

The object of the present invention is to provide a package take-back device and a method for operating a package take-back device, which can be used to convey packages from a pick-up machine to one or more background devices and process the packages in a robust and trouble-free manner without any special coordination of automatic pickup and background devices enable each other.

This object is achieved by an article having the features of claim 1.

• eine Einlassöffnung zum Einlassen des mindestens einen Gebindes,
• ein um eine Drehachse drehbares Magazin mit einer Mehrzahl von Segmenten zum Aufnehmen des mindestens einen Gebindes und
• mindestens eine steuerbare Auswerfeinrichtung zum Auswerfen des mindestens einen Gebindes in Abhängigkeit von einer Drehposition des Magazins

aufweist.Accordingly, in a container take-back device additionally a distribution device is provided, which is arranged in the conveying direction between the receiving machine and the at least one background device on the conveyor system and

• an inlet opening for admitting the at least one container,
• a rotatable around a rotation axis magazine with a plurality of segments for receiving the at least one container and
• at least one controllable ejection device for ejecting the at least one container as a function of a rotational position of the magazine

having.

The present invention is based on the recognition that a robust and trouble-free operation of a container take-back device can be achieved by a device for at least partially buffering containers accepted by the automatic acceptance device and conveyed by the conveyor system to the at least one background device. For this purpose, the distribution device provided according to the invention has a magazine rotatable about an axis of rotation, which has a plurality of segments for receiving containers in the manner of a drum magazine. In operation, the magazine is rotated about its axis of rotation, and packages conveyed by the conveyor system from the pickup machine to the distributor are inserted through the inlet opening into the magazine so that the containers are conveyed in the segments of the magazine. The containers are ejected via an ejection device and guided to a background device, wherein different ejection devices can be provided for ejecting different containers.

Each segment is advantageously designed to accommodate exactly one container and adapted in size and shape accordingly. The number of In this case, segments can be selected as a function of the desired buffer effect, with the general rule that the more segments the magazine has, the greater the buffering effect.

By using a distribution device connected between the acceptance machines and one or more background devices, it is possible to operate the acceptance machine at a higher speed than the background devices. Thus, packages can be accepted at a comparatively large acceptance rate at the acceptance machine, without this leading to a congestion or overflow on a background device, because containers can be buffered at the distribution device before they are conveyed on to a background device. The acceptance machine can thus be operated at a greater acceptance speed, which speeds up the acceptance process for a customer.

By interposing the distribution device is also easily possible to combine an automatic pickup of a manufacturer with background devices of another manufacturer, without a special vote of acceptance machine and background devices is required to each other.

The at least one controllable ejection device can be formed, for example, by at least one flap device to be opened or closed as a function of the rotational position of the magazine. The flap means comprises one or more flaps which can be opened to eject a package from the magazine and lead to a downstream background device.

If the container take-back device has a plurality of background devices or if it is configured for at least one possible use with a plurality of background devices, the distributor device preferably has a plurality of ejection devices, wherein each background device is assigned an ejection device of the distributing device. The ejection devices are in this case advantageously controlled by a control device for controlling in dependence on the rotational position of the magazine, wherein the control device advantageously considered as an additional control parameter, the container type of a container and the ejection devices in dependence on the rotational position of the magazine and the container type of container located in a segment controls.

This is based on the idea that at a package take-off device of this kind different containers, such as disposable plastic bottles such as transparent or colored PET bottles, returnable plastic bottles, returnable glass bottles, beverage cans or other containers to be accepted by means of different background devices, such as sorting units, collection points, storage containers or Kompaktiervorrichtungen to be processed. For example, disposable plastic bottles, for example PET bottles, compacting devices are supplied, which cause by volume reduction, a compaction of such plastic bottles, advantageously before the compaction separation of transparent and colored bottles takes place to store the compacted containers depending on their properties in different containers and be able to recycle, for example.

For this reason, the distribution device advantageously has a plurality of ejection devices, wherein each ejection device is assigned to a background device and thus different containers can be supplied to different background devices by means of the distributing device with respect to their container type. The distribution device thus also serves as a sorting unit for sorting containers and allows the sorting at a central location by a spatially compact device in a simple, mechanically robust manner.

Advantageously, a sensor device for detecting the rotational position of the magazine is provided. By means of the sensor device can thus be detected when the magazine has reached a certain position during rotation during operation, in order to actuate depending on the position of an ejection device for ejecting a arranged in a particular segment container.

Such a sensor device can be realized in different ways. Thus, for example, by means of Hall sensors or the like, the rotation of the magazine can be detected to determine the position based on the rotation, for example by signal pulses of Hall sensors are counted. Or it can be provided a coding disc on the basis of which the current rotational position of the magazine can be detected in a unique way at any time. Also conceivable are reflection sensors, for example, working with infrared light and possibly coupled with a pedometer.

In addition, the container take-back device advantageously has a detection device for detecting a container type of a container. Such a recognition device can be part of the acceptance machine and serves to detect whether it is, for example, a disposable bottle or a returnable bottle, which color has a disposable plastic bottle, if a beverage can or if the containers have other special properties by which the container to be supplied to a specific, downstream background device. In this context, the "container type" of a container is understood to mean a property of a container, by means of which a differentiation from other containers is to be carried out as part of the processing by the container take-back device, for example in order to supply the containers to different downstream background devices. For example, reusable glass bottles can be fed to a downstream collection point for collection, while disposable plastic bottles are to be supplied to one or more compacting devices for compacting.

The conveyor system is configured to convey the at least one container ejected at the at least one ejection device towards the at least one background device. Each ejector is in this case for example associated with a chute, via which an ejected container is guided, under the action of gravity, slidingly toward an associated background device or a conveyor section of the conveyor system. In operation, a container is thus ejected by means of an ejection device and reaches a chute, via which the container slides directly to a background device or first reaches a further conveying section, via which the container is then conveyed to a background device.

The magazine preferably has a substantially circular outer contour in cross-section. The segments are in this case formed by circular sectors, which are bounded by radially extending walls. In operation, the magazine is rotated about its axis of rotation whereby packages are successively introduced into the segments by means of the inlet opening and ejected by the one or more ejector means as soon as the magazine has reached the rotational position associated with the respective package type for conveying to the associated background apparatus ,

The inlet opening serves to introduce the containers into the segments of the magazine, the inlet opening separating the containers in such a way that they always enter a segment just a container is introduced. The inlet opening is arranged on a housing which circumferentially surrounds the magazine about the axis of rotation at least in sections, wherein the containers are guided by the acceptance machine via a conveyor section of the conveyor system to the inlet opening and individually inserted into the magazine via the inlet opening.

The magazine has an upper side and an underside offset axially along the axis of rotation to the upper side, wherein the ejection device is advantageously arranged on the lower side of the magazine, so that the containers are ejected downwards out of the magazine. This has the advantage that no special conveyors must be provided to promote the container out of the magazine. Upon actuation of an ejection device, a container passes out of the segment solely on account of the force of gravity and falls, for example, onto a chute arranged beneath the ejection device for conveying the container toward an associated background device.

The distributor device is designed to rotate the magazine during operation of the container take-off device at a constant rotational speed, wherein the rotational speed of the magazine is independent of the acceptance rate with which containers are accepted at the automatic acceptance device. Depending on the (constant) rotational speed of the magazine containers are successively introduced into the segments of the magazine and ejected successively through the ejection devices again, whereby a buffer effect is achieved by the magazine and, for example, can also be provided to eject a container via an ejector only if the delivery rate of containers to an associated background device does not exceed a maximum processing speed of this background device. In this way, the delivery rate to a background device may be regulated, for example, by not having an ejection device associated with a background device actuated each time the magazine has reached the associated rotational position, but only when a maximum delivery rate is not exceeded.

For driving the magazine, the distribution device has a drive device which is advantageously offset along the axis of rotation, for example, is arranged below the magazine. By a staggered arrangement of the drive device is a simple access to the drive device for the purpose of maintenance or Cleaning possible, so that in particular an expansion of the magazine is not required to access the drive device.

• mindestens ein Gebinde an einem Annahmeautomaten angenommen wird,
• mindestens ein Hintergrundgerät das mindestens eine Gebinde verarbeitet und
• ein Fördersystem das mindestens eine Gebinde vom Annahmeautomaten in eine Förderrichtung zu dem mindestens einen Hintergrundgerät fördert.

Dabei ist vorgesehen, dass eine Verteileinrichtung in Förderrichtung zwischen dem Annahmeautomat und dem mindestens einen Hintergrundgerät an dem Fördersystem angeordnet ist, wobei

• das mindestens eine Gebinde an einer Einlassöffnung der Verteileinrichtung eingelassen wird,
• ein Magazin der Verteileinrichtung mit einer Mehrzahl von Segmenten sich um eine Drehachse dreht und das mindestens eine Gebinde aufnimmt und
• mindestens eine steuerbare Auswerfeinrichtung der Verteileinrichtung das mindestens eine Gebinde in Abhängigkeit von einer Drehposition des Magazins auswirft.

The invention is also achieved by a method for operating a package take-back device, in which

• at least one container is accepted at an acceptance machine,
• at least one background device that processes at least one container and
• a conveyor system which conveys at least one container from the automatic acceptance machine in a conveying direction to the at least one background device.

It is provided that a distribution device is arranged in the conveying direction between the receiving machine and the at least one background device on the conveyor system, wherein

• the at least one container is introduced at an inlet opening of the distributor,
• a magazine of the distributor with a plurality of segments rotates about an axis of rotation and which receives at least one container and
• at least one controllable ejection device of the distribution device ejects the at least one container in dependence on a rotational position of the magazine.

The advantages and advantageous embodiments described above for the container take-back device can analogously also be applied to the claimed method, so that reference should be made to what has been stated above.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht einer Gebinderücknahmeeinrichtung mit einem Annahmeautomaten, der über ein Fördersystem mit unterschiedlichen Hintergrundgeräten verbunden ist;

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht einer Verteileinrichtung;

Fig. 3A

eine schematische Seitenansicht der Verteileinrichtung; und

Fig. 3B

eine schematische Draufsicht auf die Verteileinrichtung.

The idea underlying the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic view of a take-back device with a pickup machine, which is connected via a conveyor system with different background devices;

Fig. 2

a view of a distribution device;

Fig. 3A

a schematic side view of the distributor; and

Fig. 3B

a schematic plan view of the distributor.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a container take-back device 1, which has a pickup machine 2, a conveyor system 5 and different background devices 3.

The automatic acceptance machine 2 is configured in a manner known per se to accept containers, such as disposable plastic bottles, reusable plastic bottles, glass bottles or cans, for example, from a customer against the issuing of, for example, a pawn. From the acceptance machine 2, the containers are directed in a conveying direction F on the conveyor system 5 towards different background devices 3, wherein different containers can be promoted to different background devices 3.

For example, a disposable plastic bottle, such as a PET bottle, may be directed to a background device 3 in the form of a compacting device for compacting containers by volume reduction, wherein it may be intended, for example, to supply differently colored disposable plastic bottles to different compaction devices to order compacted containers sorted by color to obtain. Returnable bottles can be routed, for example, to a background device 3 in the form of a collection point or a collection container or a sorting line.

In principle, any background devices 3 which serve for the further processing of packages accepted at the automatic acceptance machine 2 can be arranged downstream of the automatic acceptance device 2. By providing an acceptance machine 2 for accepting containers on the one hand and of background devices 3 for further processing of the containers, for example for sorting, collecting or compacting the containers, on the other hand a modular separation of the functional units of the container take-back device 1 is created: At the automatic acceptance machine 2 the containers are accepted, and the processing of the assumed containers is carried out on the background devices 3, so that the containers can be transported away in a simple manner for recycling or for reuse, for example when installing the container take-back device 1 in a supermarket environment.

To connect the automatic acceptance machine 2 and the background devices 3 is the conveyor system 5, which is composed of individual conveyor sections 50 to 54, for example conveyor belts or slides and on which a distributor 4 for Distributing the different containers on the different background devices 3 is arranged.

An embodiment of such a distributor 4 is in Fig. 2 and 3A, 3B shown. The distributor device 4 has a magazine 40 which is arranged rotatably about a rotation axis D in a housing 41 and which has a plurality of segments 400 in the form of circular sectors delimited by radially extended walls 401.

The distributing device 4 is connected, on the one hand, to a conveying section 50, which connects the automatic acceptance device 2 to the distributing device 4. On the other hand, conveyer sections 51 to 54, which lead from the distributing device 4 to different background devices 3, adjoin the distributing device 4.

By way of the conveying section 50, packages G are guided from the receiving machine 2 to the distributing device 4, wherein an inlet opening 410 is formed on the housing 41, through each of which and through an opening 402 on the outer surface of the magazine 40 a container G is inserted Segment 400 of the magazine 40 can be performed so that in operation of the container take-back device 1 container G are conveyed in an isolated manner in the segments 400.

Each segment 400 is designed here for receiving exactly one container G. By a rotational movement S about the axis of rotation D in the operation of the distributor 4, the magazine 40 in this way conveys in its segments 400 containers G in isolated form.

The magazine is, viewed axially along the axis of rotation D, at its top O (see Fig. 3A ) and on its underside U open. On one of the underside U of the magazine 40 associated bottom surface of the housing 41 different ejection devices 44 are arranged in the form of flap devices can be ejected through the container G from the magazine 40. Depending on a conveyor section 51 to 54 in this case an ejector 44 is assigned, so that by means of the associated ejector 44, a container G can be ejected onto a chute 510 to 540 and then passes through the chute 510 to 540 on the conveyor section 51 to 54. About the conveyor section 51 to 54, the container G is guided to a specific background device 3, to be further processed to the background device 3 in a suitable manner.

In operation, the magazine 40 is driven at a constant rotational speed about its axis of rotation D, driven by a drive device 6 (see FIG Fig. 3A ), twisted. Through the conveyor section 50 containers G are introduced into the magazine 40, wherein each one segment 400 receives a container G. Depending on the type of container, that is to say depending on whether the container G is, for example, a reusable glass bottle, a reusable plastic bottle, a (colored or transparent) disposable plastic bottle or a can, the container G in a segment 400 will be in the magazine for so long 40 promoted until an ejector 44 is reached, which is associated with the background device 3, to which the container G of this type of container to be directed. When the ejector 44 is reached, the ejector 44 is actuated by opening flaps so that the container G falls from the magazine 40 onto the chute 510-540 associated with the ejector 44 and over the adjoining conveyor section 51-54 toward the background apparatus 3 is conducted.

The distribution device 4 has a sensor device 43, by means of which the rotational position of the magazine 40 can be detected, so that based on the rotational position of the magazine 40, the ejection devices 44 can be actuated in a suitable manner.

The distributor 4 also has a detection device 45 for detecting a type of container of a container G. The recognition device 45 can be arranged directly in the region of the magazine 40 in order to recognize what kind of packages G are present in the individual segments 400. However, the recognition device 45 can also be part of, for example, the automatic acceptance machine 2, at which a recognition takes place anyway, in order, for example, to reimburse a suitable deposit as a function of a bundle type.

By means of the recognition device 45 it is determined which type of container has a container G in a segment 400. By means of the sensor device 43, it can then be detected when a segment 400 has reached an associated ejection device 44, so that, controlled by a control device 42 (see FIG Fig. 3B ), the ejection device 44 can be actuated in a suitable manner.

On the one hand, the distribution device 4 serves as a buffer for temporarily storing the containers G in that a plurality of containers G are received in the individual segments 400 of the magazine 40 can. The rotational speed of the magazine 40 about its axis of rotation D is hereby advantageously independent of the acceptance rate of containers G on the automatic acceptor 2. By means of the distributor 4, the delivery rate of containers G towards the individual background devices 3 can be regulated such that the delivery rate of containers G towards the individual background devices 3 does not exceed a maximum possible processing speed of the individual background devices 3.

Due to the buffering effect of the distribution device 4, it is possible to operate the automatic acceptance machine 2 with a comparatively large acceptance speed, irrespective of an optionally lower processing speed, on the background devices 3. This can be advantageous, in particular, when the automatic acceptance machine 2 and the background devices 3 originate from different manufacturers and thus are not exactly matched to one another in their mode of operation. This results in a robust, reliable operation of the container take-back device 1, regardless of the configuration of the automatic acceptance device 2 and the background devices 3.

Among other things, the buffering effect of the distributor device 4 depends on the number of segments 400 of the magazine 40. If a large buffer is to be created, the number of segments 400 can be selected to be large enough to temporarily store many packages G in the magazine 40 to accomplish.

By means of the distributor 4, a distributor is provided which simultaneously has a buffering effect and can be constructed in a compact manner. In particular, the distribution device 4 enables a distribution of containers G to different background devices 3 at a central location, so that further sorting units on the conveyor system 5 are not required.

The magazine 40 is driven by a drive device 6, which advantageously, as in Fig. 3A shown, is arranged on the underside of the magazine 40. The axially offset arrangement of the drive device 6 relative to the magazine 40 allows easy access to the drive device 6 for the purpose of cleaning and maintenance, without requiring that the magazine 40 must be dismantled.

The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can also be realized in completely different types of embodiments.

In particular, other embodiments of Auswerfeinrichtungen are conceivable that do not necessarily cause ejection of containers from the magazine down, but instead can eject containers in the radial direction.

The ejection devices need not necessarily be implemented by flap devices, but may be formed by any other closure devices or conveyors for conveying from the individual segments of the magazine.

Also, the inlet openings do not necessarily have to be arranged on a circumferential jacket surface of a housing. It is also conceivable a supply of containers in the magazine from the top, wherein at the inlet openings and suitable closure devices for the controlled admission of containers can be arranged.

In addition, the distribution device may be preceded by a buffer, for example a container, into which containers are conveyed by the automatic acceptance device. From the upstream buffer containers can then be introduced in isolated form in the segments of the magazine to be distributed by the distribution device.

It is also possible to arrange on a conveyor system a plurality of distribution devices of the type described above, so that a cascaded distribution and buffering is made possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Container redemption facility

2

acceptance Machine

3

Background Devices

4

distributor

40

magazine

400

segment

401

segment wall

402

segment opening

41

drum housing

410

inlet port

42

control device

43

sensor device

44

Ejection device (valve device)

45

recognizer

5

conveyor system

50-54

conveyor section

510-540

slide

6

driving device

D

axis of rotation

F

conveying direction

O

top

S

rotary motion

U

bottom

Claims (13)

1. Reverse vending machine (1) having

   - an acceptance device (2) for accepting at least one container (G),

   - at least one background unit (3) for processing at least one container (G), and

   - a conveying system (5) for conveying the at least one container (G) from the acceptance device (2), in a conveying direction (F), to the at least one background unit (3),

   wherein a distributing device (4) is arranged on the conveying system (5) between the acceptance device (2) and the at least one background unit (3), as seen in the conveying direction (F), and has

   - an inlet opening (410) for letting in the at least one container (G),

   - a magazine (40) having a plurality of segments (400), which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (D) and is intended for accommodating the at least one container (G), and

   - at least one controllable ejecting device (44) for ejecting the at least one container (G) in dependence on a rotary position of the magazine (40),

   characterized
   in that the distributing device (4) is designed to rotate the magazine (40) at constant rotational speed during operation of the reverse vending machine (1), wherein the inlet opening (410) is arranged on a housing (41), which encloses the magazine (40) circumferentially, at least in part, about the axis of rotation (D), wherein the at least one container (G) is directed from the acceptance device (2), via a conveying portion (50) of the conveying system (5), to the inlet opening (410).
2. Reverse vending machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one ejecting device is formed by at least one shutter device (44), which can be opened or closed in dependence on the rotary position of the magazine (40).
3. Reverse vending machine according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reverse vending machine (1) has a plurality of background units (3) and the distributing device (4) has a plurality of ejecting devices (44), wherein each background unit (3) is assigned an ejecting device (44) of the distributing device (4).
4. Reverse vending machine according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized by a control device (42) for controlling the at least one ejecting device (44) in dependence on the rotary position of the magazine (40).
5. Reverse vending machine according to Claim 4, characterized in that the control device (42) is designed to activate the at least one ejecting device (44) in dependence on a particular type of the at least one container (G).
6. Reverse vending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a sensor device (43) for detecting the rotary position of the magazine (40).
7. Reverse vending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a detecting device (45) for detecting a particular type of the at least one container (G).
8. Reverse vending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying system (5) is designed to convey to the at least one background unit (3) the at least one container (G) ejected at the at least one ejecting device (44).
9. Reverse vending machine according to Claim 8, characterized in that the at least one ejecting device (44) is followed by a chute (510-540) for conveying under the force of gravity in the direction of an associated background unit (3) or a conveying portion (51-54) of the conveying system (5).
10. Reverse vending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the magazine (40), as seen in cross section in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation (D), has an essentially circular outer contour and the segments (400) are each in the form of a circle sector delimited by radially extending walls (401).
11. Reverse vending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the magazine (40) has an upper side (O) and an underside (U), which is offset axially along the axis of rotation (D) in relation to the upper side (O), wherein the at least one ejecting device (44) is arranged on the underside (U).
12. Reverse vending machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a drive means (6), which is intended for driving the magazine (4) and is offset along the axis of rotation (D) in relation to the magazine (40).
13. Method of operating a reverse vending machine (1), in which

    - at least one container (G) is accepted by an acceptance device (2),

    - at least one background unit (3) processes the at least one container (G), and

    - a conveying system (5) conveys the at least one container (G) from the acceptance device (2), in a conveying direction (F), to the at least one background unit (3),

    wherein a distributing device (4) is arranged on the conveying system (5) between the acceptance device (2) and the at least one background unit (3), as seen in the conveying direction (F), wherein

    - the at least one container (G) is let in at an inlet opening (410) of the distributing device (4),

    - a magazine (40) of the distributing device (4) having a plurality of segments (400) rotates about an axis of rotation (D) and accommodates the at least one container (G), and

    - at least one controllable ejecting device (44) of the distributing device (4) ejects the at least one container (G) in dependence on a rotary position of the magazine (40),

    characterized
    in that the distributing device (4) is designed to rotate the magazine (40) at constant rotational speed during operation of the reverse vending machine (1), wherein the inlet opening (410) is arranged on a housing (41), which encloses the magazine (40) circumferentially, at least in part, about the axis of rotation (D), wherein the at least one container (G) is directed from the acceptance device (2), via a conveying portion (50) of the conveying system (5), to the inlet opening (410).

Images