AU2023203488A1

AU2023203488A1 - Reverse vending machine

Info

Publication number: AU2023203488A1
Application number: AU2023203488A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Julien Craeye; Michael Lennon
Original assignee: Ecoboxtec Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Ecoboxtec Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2022-06-08
Filing date: 2023-06-05
Publication date: 2024-01-04
Also published as: GB2621225A; GB202308436D0

Abstract

A reverse vending machine for processing containers, the reverse vending machine comprising: an opening positioned within an enclosure frame of the reverse vending machine for allowing insertion of containers into an internal volume of the vending machine; a take-up conveyor assembly with at least one take-up conveyor belt being positioned to receive containers inserted into the opening and convey said received contains from a first end to a second end of the take-up conveyor assembly along a container advancement path, the second end of the assembly further comprising a feeding gate that is operable to be opened and closed by a first gate controlling arrangement; a diverter conveyor assembly comprising at least one diverter conveyor belt being positioned lengthwise to receive a container from the take up conveyor assembly when the gate is open and convey the received container along a length of the diverter conveyor belt, the diverter conveyor assembly further comprising a plurality of container diverter gates, each of the diverter gates being positioned over the diverter conveyor belt and controlled by a second diverter gate controller arrangement to pivot between a closed position and an open position wherein in the closed position, the gates define a pathway to allow received containers to be conveyed along the length of the diverter conveyor; and in an open position the diverter gates pivot to engage and divert the received container towards a transverse direction relative to the length of the diverter conveyor belt and fall off the diverter conveyor belt under gravity; a plurality of receptacles being positioned along lateral sides of the diverter conveyor assembly, each collection chamber being arranged below the diverter conveyor assembly to receive the containers diverted by a corresponding diverter gate. FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2

Description

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2

REVERSE VENDING MACHINE TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present invention relates to beverage container recycling machines, and

more particularly to a novel reverse vending machine.

BACKGROUND

[002] Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to

be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of

the common general knowledge.

[003] The present invention relates generally to beverage container recycling

machines, and more particularly to a reverse vending machine for beverage

containers which provides a significant variety of useful functions in addition to

compacting and storing beverage containers.

[004] In recent times as various types of beverage containers have been produced

in ever increasing quantities, a corresponding need has developed to recycle used

beverage containers in the most cost effective and efficient manner possible.

Legislation has been enacted in many states requiring that redemption deposits be

imposed on beverage containers to encourage consumers to redeem their used

beverage containers, thereby avoiding the environmental problems caused by

discarded beverage containers. Other states have initiated programs to encourage

voluntary recycling of beverage containers without imposing redemption deposits on

beverage containers. Redemption of used beverage containers has thus necessitated the development of economical and effective beverage container recycling equipment.

[005] Recycling of used beverage containers, without the use of automated

equipment, usually requires extensive manual labor, personnel costs, and production

space in order to properly sort, compact, and count large quantities of used

beverage containers. Such methods of recycling may require unacceptably high

production costs, making the recycling process economically impractical. A need has

therefore developed in the recycling industry for convenient, efficient, cost effective

container recycling equipment, capable of accepting a variety of beverage container

types.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[006] In an aspect, the invention provides a reverse vending machine for processing

containers, the reverse vending machine comprising:

an opening positioned within an enclosure frame of the reverse vending

machine for allowing insertion of containers into an internal volume of the vending

machine;

a take-up conveyor assembly with at least one take-up conveyor belt being

positioned to receive containers inserted into the opening and convey said received

contains from a first end to a second end of the take-up conveyor assembly along a

container advancement path, the second end of the assembly further comprising a

feeding gate that is operable to be opened and closed by a first gate controlling

arrangement;

a diverter conveyor assembly comprising at least one diverter conveyor belt

being positioned lengthwise to receive a container from the take up conveyor assembly when the gate is open and convey the received container along a length of the diverter conveyor belt, the diverter conveyor assembly further comprising a plurality of container diverter gates, each of the diverter gates being positioned over the diverter conveyor belt and controlled by a second diverter gate controller arrangement to pivot between a closed position and an open position wherein in the closed position, the gates define a pathway to allow received containers to be conveyed along the length of the diverter conveyor; and in an open position the diverter gates pivot to engage and divert the received container towards a transverse direction relative to the length of the diverter conveyor belt and fall off the diverter conveyor belt under gravity; and a plurality of receptacles being positioned along lateral sides of the diverter conveyor assembly, each collection chamber being arranged below the diverter conveyor assembly to receive the containers diverted by a corresponding diverter gate.

[007] In an embodiment, the reverse vending machine further comprises an optical

scanner positioned along the container advancement path, the optical scanner being

positioned to read codes on the containers during advancement of the containers

along the take-up conveyor assembly, the optical scanner being capable of

producing an output signal which is interpretable to identify selected containers as

acceptable and wherein the first gate controller and the second diverter gate

controllers are operable to control opening and closing of the feeding gate and the

diverter gates in response to the output signal generated by the optical scanner.

[008] In an embodiment, the reverse vending machine further comprises a plurality

of processing assemblies being located along one or both lateral sides of the length

of the diverter conveyor belt such that a respective shredding or compacting

assembly is arranged to receive and process containers diverted by a respective

diverter gate.

[009] In an embodiment, the reverse vending machine further comprises at least a

first plurality of processing assemblies being arranged lengthwise along one of the

lateral sides of the diverter conveyor belt wherein the first plurality of processing

assemblies are driven by a common drive shaft to transmit torque introduced by a

motor, preferably an electric motor.

[0010] In an embodiment, the reverse vending machine further comprises a plurality

of guiding chutes arranged along one or both lateral sides of the diverter conveyor

belt wherein each guiding chute is arranged to guide the containers diverted by a

respective diverter gate to wards a corresponding processing assembly.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the processing assembly comprises:

a first plurality of one or more processing assemblies having shredding

members driven by the common drive shaft to shred diverted containers diverted by

a first corresponding plurality of one or more corresponding diverter gates and direct

shredded portions of the diverted containers to respective receptacles positioned

thereunder; and

a second plurality of processing assemblies having compacting members

driven by the common drive shaft to flatten or compress diverted containers diverted by a second corresponding plurality of one or more corresponding diverter gates and direct the compressed or flattened and diverted containers to respective receptacles positioned thereunder.

[0012] In an embodiment, the first plurality of the processing assemblies comprises

at least two shredding shafts rotatably mounted and coupled to the common drive

shaft to enable the drive motor to counter-drive the shafts in respective opposing

rotational cutting directions; and each of the shredding shafts including positive

cutter elements and negative cutter elements configured to cooperate to shred the

containers as the shredding shafts are rotationally counter-driven by the drive

system in the respective rotational cutting directions thereof.

[0013] In an embodiment, the second plurality of the processing assemblies

comprises at least two compressing shafts rotatably mounted and coupled to the

common drive shaft to enable the drive motor to counter-drive the compressing

shafts in respective opposing rotational directions; and each of the shredding shafts

including container engaging surfaces configured to cooperate to compress the

containers as the compressing shafts are rotationally counter-driven by the drive

system in the respective rotational cutting directions thereof.

[0014 In an embodiment, the one or more processing assemblies driven by the

common drive shaft and the motor are supported on a sliding rail mounted on the

enclosure frame.

[0015 In an embodiment, the take-up conveyor assembly is supported on sliding

rails mounted on the enclosure frame to enable the take-up conveyor to slide out of

the internal volume of the enclosure.

[0016 In an embodiment, the one or more of the receptacles are supported on

sliding rails mounted on the enclosure frame to enable the take-up conveyor to slide

out of the internal volume of the enclosure.

[0017 In an embodiment, the diverter conveyor assembly is also supported on

sliding rails mounted on the enclosure frame to enable the diverter conveyor

assembly to slide out of the internal volume of the enclosure.

[0018] In an embodiment, the take-up conveyor in the take-up conveyor assembly is

flanked by side walls located lengthwise along lateral sides of the take-up conveyor

belt to retain the container on the conveyor belt and allow containers to be advanced

along the advancement path.

[0019 In an embodiment, the diverter gates pivot a transverse direction relative to

the length of the diverter conveyor belt.

[0020 In an embodiment, the reverse vending machine further comprises a PLC

(programmable logic controller) and associated logic circuits for communicating with

the output signal from the optical scanner and controlling operation of the first and

second controlling arrangements in response to the output signal from the optical

scanner.

[0021 In an embodiment, the reverse vending machine further comprises: a

microprocessor-based computer system; a memory device configured for storing and

retrieving data; a computer operating system; software for recording and analyzing

data.

[0022] In an embodiment, the memory device comprises computer executable

instructions operative on the microprocessor to generate control signals for

controlling the first controlling arrangement and/or second controlling arrangement in

response by processing the output signal or a derivative thereof.

[0023] In another aspect, the invention provides a reverse vending machine for

processing containers, the reverse vending machine comprising:

an opening positioned within an enclosure frame of the reverse vending

machine;

a diverter conveyor assembly comprising at least one diverter conveyor belt

being positioned lengthwise to receive a container from the opening and convey the

received container along a length of the diverter conveyor belt, the diverter conveyor

assembly further comprising a plurality of container diverter gates, each of the

diverter gates being positioned over the diverter conveyor belt and controlled by a

second diverter gate controller arrangement to pivot between a closed position and

an open position wherein in the closed position, the gates define a pathway to allow

received containers to be conveyed along the length of the diverter conveyor; and in

an open position the diverter gates pivot to engage and divert the received container towards a transverse direction relative to the length of the diverter conveyor belt and fall off the diverter conveyor belt under gravity; a plurality of receptacles being positioned along lateral sides of the diverter conveyor assembly, each collection chamber being arranged below the diverter conveyor assembly to receive the containers diverted by a corresponding diverter gate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be

discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient

information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed

Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of

the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number

of drawings as follows:

Figure 1 is a first frontal view of a reverse vending machine 1000 in accordance with

an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a second frontal view of the reverse vending machine 1000.

Figure 3 is a right hand side view of the reverse vending machine 1000.

Figure 4 is a left hand side view of the vending machine 1000.

Figure 5 is a rear view of the vending machine 1000 with a rear door removed.

Figure 6 shows receptacles 500 being slidably mounted on rails.

Figure 7 is a top view of the reverse vending machine 1000.

Figure 8 us a right hand side rear perspective view of the reverse vending machine

1000.

Figure 9 is a left-hand side view of the reverse vending machine 1000.

Figure 10 is a rear view of the reverse vending machine 1000 with the rear door

removed.

Figure 11 is an internal view of the enclosure of the reverse vending machine 1000

(bins removed) showing the underside of the shredding assembly 400 as mounted.

Figure 12 shows the take-up conveyor assembly 200 as positioned internally within

the enclosure of the reverse vending machine 1000.

Figure 13 is an enlarged internal view (frontal) of the reverse vending machine 1000.

Figures 14 and 15 are frontal views of the reverse vending machine 100 showing the

slidably mounted shredding assembly 400.

Figure 16 is a top view of the reverse vending machine 1000 showing the slidably

mounted shredding assembly 400.

Figure 17 is a frontal view of reverse vending machine 1000 showing the slidably

mounted take-up conveyor assembly 200.

Figure 18 is a top view of the reverse vending machine 1000 showing the slidably

mounted take-up conveyor assembly 200.

Figure 19 is a top view of the reverse vending machine 1000

Figure 20 is a top left perspective view of the vending machine 1000.

Figure 21 is an internal view of the reverse vending machine 1000.

Figure 22 is a top internal view of the reverse vending machine 1000.

Figures 23 and 24 are isolated views of the take-up conveyor assembly 200.

Figures 25 and 26 are isolated views of the diverter conveyor assembly 300.

Figures 27 and 28 show a pair of diverter gates 325 in a neutral/non-diverting

configuration.

Figures 29 and 30 show the diverter gates 325 in a diverting configuration.

Figures 31 and 32 illustrate isolated views of a shredding assembly 400.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Figures 1 to 22 illustrate various views of a reverse vending machine 1000 in

accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The present

invention, a reverse vending machine 10, is shown in FIG. 1. The reverse vending

machine 1000 accepts non-metallic (including PET-Polyethylene and HDPE-High

Density Polyethylene) and metallic beverage containers for processing, which

includes compacting, sorting, and storing the beverage containers. Other functions of

the reverse vending machine 1000 may include issuing coupons to users, storing all

transaction information including the date, time, user ID, beverage container bar

code, coupon data, and ingress/egress status.

[0026]The reverse vending machine 1000 includes a frame 100 that defines a

substantially enclosed internal volume within which beverage containers are sorted

and processed. A front panel door 110 allows access to the interior volume of the

reverse vending machine 1000. One or more video displays 120 may be mounted on

the outside of the frame 100 so that users may conveniently view reverse vending

machine 1000 user instructions, transaction information, public information,

advertisements, etc.

[0027] The front panel door 110 comprises a substantially circular opening 115

(though the opening might take other shapes) for allowing insertion of empty

beverage containers into the internal volume of the enclosure frame 100. Figures 12

and 13 show a perspective view of the reverse vending machine 100 with one of the

front panel doors 110 removed for ease of understanding. The reverse vending

machine comprises a take-up conveyor assembly 200 that is positioned internally

within the enclosure frame 100 to receive any containers inserted through the

opening 115. Figures 23 to 26 show isolated views of the take-up conveyor

assembly 200. The take-up conveyor assembly 200 comprises a take-up conveyor

belt 210 being positioned to receive the beverage containers inserted into the

opening 115 and convey the received container from a first frontal end to a second

rear end of the take-up conveyor assembly along a container advancement path.

The endless conveyor belt 210 is driven by conveyor motors to convey the received

container from the frontal end to a rear end of the take-up conveyor assembly 200.

The take-up conveyor belt 210 is flanked by slanting lateral side wall members 225

arranged along both lateral sides of the length of the take-up conveyor belt 210. The

side wall members 225 slant inwardly and are provided to keep the received

containers along a middle or central portion of the conveyor belt 210 as they are

conveyed from the frontal end towards the rear end of the take-up conveyor

assembly.

[0028]An optical scanner assembly (not shown) comprising a plurality of optical

scanners (such as but not limited to laser scanners) are positioned along the

container advancement path of the take-up conveyor assembly 200. The optical

scanners are preferably configured to carry out a optical scanning of readable

information codes printed on the outer walls of the containers being conveyed by the conveyor belt 210 of the take-up conveyor assembly 200. The optical scanners are preferably disposed around the conveyor belt 210 to allow the optical scanner to read any readable codes on the travelling containers. The provision of the side wall members 225 results in the containers undergoing rotation when the container contacts the side wall members 225 as the take-up conveyor belt 210 is moving and the arrangement of the optical scanners in the vicinity of the take-up conveyor assembly 200 allows for the optically readable codes to eb easily read by the optical scanners. The optical scanners generate an output signal which are interpretable to indicate information about the beverage container scanned by the optical scanner assembly.

[0029] In at least some embodiments, the output signal may be communicated to an

on-board computer device which includes a memory device configured for storing

and retrieving data; a computer operating system and software for recording and

analyzing data. The output signal generated by the optical scanners may be

processed in accordance with one or more rules stored on the memory by way of

utilising the operating system to initially determine if the scanned container is

acceptable. Once the container is deemed acceptable, the on-board computer may

generate a control signal to actuate a first gate controller 240 to open a gate 245

positioned at the second or rearward end of the take-up conveyor assembly 200.

[0030]The provision of the gate 245 at the second or rear end of the take-up

conveyor assembly 200 is therefore useful in ensuring that only acceptable

containers can pass through the gate 245. If containers are not acceptable and the

gate 245 remains closed, then the containers may be returned back to the opening

115 by triggering operation of the take-up conveyor belt 210 in a reverse direction to

send the refused container back from the second end of the take-up conveyor assembly 200 to the first end of the take-up conveyor assembly 200. In another alternative embodiment, if a container is deemed unacceptable by the optical scanners, one or both of the slanting slide wall members 225 located along the length of each lateral side of the take-up conveyor belt 210 may pivot to allow the unacceptable container to fall off the conveyor belt 210 into a receptacle container positioned under the take-up conveyor assembly 200 to allow retrieval of the unacceptable container.

[0031] As shown in Figures 17 and 18 in particular, the take-up conveyor assembly

200 is slidably mounted on the enclosure frame to enable the take-up conveyor

assembly 200 to slide out of the internal volume of the enclosure ease of cleaning

and maintenance.

[0032]The reverse vending machine 1000 further comprises a diverter conveyor

assembly 300 (isolated views shown in Figures 25 and 26) comprising at least one

diverter conveyor belt 310 that is positioned lengthwise to receive the container from

the second end of the take up conveyor assembly 200 when the gate 245 is open

and convey the received container along a length of the diverter conveyor belt 310.

The divertor conveyor assembly 300 includes two pairs of diverter gates (generally

denoted by 325) located along the length of the divertor conveyor assembly 300.

Figures 27 to 30 illustrate isolated views of the diverter gates 325. Each pair of the

divertor gates 325 is positioned along respective lateral sides of the divertor

conveyor assembly 300. Each pair of diverter gates 325 is linked to a respective

diverter gate frame 327 and a diverter gate controller 340 is provided to control the

movement of the diverter gates 325. In a neutral or closed position, the diverter

gates are substantially aligned along the lateral sides of the diverter conveyor belt

315 to retain the beverage containers along the diverter conveyor belt 315. The diverter gates 325 can be pivoted using the diverter gate controller 340 to pivot into an inwardly position which allows the beverage containers to be deflected by the inwardly positioned diverter gates 325 towards any of the lateral sides. In the presently described embodiment, the two pairs of diverter gates 325 can therefore be used to deflect beverage containers in a transverse direction (relative to the length of the diverter conveyor belt 310) into any one of four specific regions. The operation of the diverter gate controllers 340 may be controlled by a control signal generated by the on-board computer after receiving and processing the output signal from the optical scanning assembly.

[0033] By way of example only, an acceptable beverage container that has been

received onto the diverter conveyor assembly 300 may be sorted into any one of four

different categories of containers by activating the movement of any one of the

diverter gates 325 based on a control signal generated by the computer in response

to the output signal received from the optical scanner. Four separate collecting

receptacles 500 are positioned below the divertor conveyor assembly 300 to collect

respective beverage containers diverted by each of the diverter gates 325 during use

as they fall off the divertor conveyor belt 310 under gravity after being deflected. As a

result, beverage containers can be sorted into categories such as metals, HDPE,

PET and other(s).

[0034] Advantageously, diverted containers may be processed by respective

processing assemblies in the form of a shredder or compacter assembly generally

denoted by the reference numeral 400 that are located at an intermediate location to

receive and process the diverted containers to direct the processed containers into

the respective receptacles 500 positioned underneath. Isolated views of the

shredding assembly 400 have been shown in Figures 31 and 32. The shredding assemblies 400 are located along both the lateral sides of the diverter conveyor belt

310 such that a respective shredding assembly 400 (or a compacting assembly) is

arranged to receive and process containers diverted by a corresponding diverter

gate 325. As shown particularly clearly in Figures 14 to 16 and Figures 19 to 22, at

least a pair of the shredding assemblies 400 are arranged lengthwise along one of

the lateral sides of the divertor conveyor belt 310. Importantly, such an arrangement

allows a single motor 410 to be utilised to transmit torque to a motor drive shaft 420

which can be coupled to shredding shafts in each of the shredding assemblies 400.

The motor drive shaft 420 in combination with a single motor 410 allows a plurality of

shredder assemblies 400 (two assemblies arranged lengthwise and operably

coupled to the motor drive shaft 420 and the motor 410).

[0035]Figures 31 and 32 show isolated views for each shredding assembly 400

which comprises two shredding shafts 425 rotatably mounted and coupled to the

common drive shaft to enable the drive motor to counter-drive the shafts 425 in

respective opposing rotational cutting directions. Each shredding shaft 425

comprises positive cutter elements and negative cutter elements configured to

cooperate to shred the containers as the shredding shafts are rotationally counter

driven by the drive system in the respective rotational cutting directions. One of the

shredding shafts comprises a shaft coupler 427 that can be coupled to the motor unit

410 via the common motor shaft 420.

[0036 It is to be understood that any one of the shredding assemblies 400 could be

replaced by a compacting assembly (not shown) for flattening the diverted containers

instead of shredding the containers. The compacting assembly could also comprises

of two slightly spaced apart compacting rollers without cutting elements which would

be rotated in opposite directions by using the common drive shaft 420 driven by the motor 410. Therefore, one or more of the shredding assemblies 400 can be easily replaced by a compacting assembly, as mentioned herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0037] As shown clearly in Figures 14 to 16, the shredding assemblies 400 with the

common drive shaft 420 and motor unit 410 may be mounted onto sliding rails to

allow the shredding assemblies to easily slide out of the enclosure for cleaning and

maintenance.

[0038] Referring to Figures 19 to 22, further comprises a plurality of guiding chutes

600 arranged along one or both lateral sides of the diverter conveyor belt 310

whereby each guiding chute 600 is arranged to guide the diverted containers

diverted by a respective diverter gate 325 towards a corresponding shredding

assembly 400.

[0039] The aforementioned combination of the take-up conveyor assembly 200 in

combination with the diverter conveyor assembly 300 and the processing assembly

in the form of the shredding assembly 400 or the compacting assembly with

collection receptacles 500 positioned thereunder allow beverage containers to be

easily sorted and processed based on the initial scanning carried out by the optical

scanners in a very compact configuration. As shown in Figures 19 to 22, three

assembly lines, each assembly line comprising a take-up conveyor assembly 200

and the diverted conveyor assembly 300, and four processing lines, each processing

line being driven by a single motor and drive shaft, could be provided in an

alternating arrangement to provide a highly compact and efficient reverse vending

machine 1000. The number of assembly lines or processing lines used in a single

reverse vending machine is not limiting.

[0040] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language

more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term "comprises" and

its variations, such as "comprising" and "comprised of" is used throughout in an

inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features.

[0041 It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features

shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of

putting the invention into effect.

[0042] The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within

the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in

the art.

Claims

1. A reverse vending machine for processing containers, the reverse vending

machine comprising:

an opening positioned within an enclosure frame of the reverse vending

machine;

a take-up conveyor assembly with at least one take-up conveyor belt being

container advancement path, the second end of the assembly further comprising a

arrangement;

a diverter conveyor assembly comprising at least one diverter conveyor belt

being positioned lengthwise to receive a container from the take up conveyor

assembly when the gate is open and convey the received container along a length of

the diverter conveyor belt, the diverter conveyor assembly further comprising a

plurality of container diverter gates, each of the diverter gates being positioned over

the diverter conveyor belt and controlled by a second diverter gate controller

arrangement to pivot between a closed position and an open position wherein in the

closed position, the gates define a pathway to allow received containers to be

conveyed along the length of the diverter conveyor; and in an open position the

diverter gates pivot to engage and divert the received container towards a transverse

direction relative to the length of the diverter conveyor belt and fall off the diverter

conveyor belt under gravity; a plurality of receptacles being positioned along lateral sides of the diverter conveyor assembly, each collection chamber being arranged below the diverter conveyor assembly to receive the containers diverted by a corresponding diverter gate.

2. A reverse vending machine in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an

optical scanner positioned along the container advancement path, the optical

scanner being positioned to read codes on the containers during advancement of the

containers along the take-up conveyor assembly, the optical scanner being capable

of producing an output signal which is interpretable to identify selected containers as

acceptable and wherein the first gate controller and the second diverter gate

3. A reverse vending machine in accordance with any one of claim 1 or claim 2

further comprising a plurality of processing assemblies being located along one or

both lateral sides of the length of the diverter conveyor belt such that a respective

shredding or compacting assembly is arranged to receive and process containers

diverted by a respective diverter gate.

4. A reverse vending machine in accordance with claim 3 comprising at least a

lateral sides of the diverter conveyor belt wherein the first plurality of processing assemblies are driven by a common drive shaft to transmit torque introduced by a motor, preferably an electric motor.

5. A reverse vending machine in accordance with claim 3 or claim 4 further

comprises a plurality of guiding chutes arranged along one or both lateral sides of

the diverter conveyor belt wherein each guiding chute is arranged to guide the

containers diverted by a respective diverter gate to wards a corresponding

processing assembly.

6. A reverse vending machine in accordance with claims 3 to 5 wherein the

processing assembly comprises:

a first plurality of one or more processing assemblies having shredding

thereunder; and

a second plurality of processing assemblies having compacting members

driven by the common drive shaft to flatten or compress diverted containers diverted

by a second corresponding plurality of one or more corresponding diverter gates and

direct the compressed or flattened and diverted containers to respective receptacles

positioned thereunder.

7. A reverse vending machine in accordance with claim 6 wherein the first

plurality of the processing assemblies comprises at least two shredding shafts

rotatably mounted and coupled to the common drive shaft to enable the drive motor

to counter-drive the shafts in respective opposing rotational cutting directions; and

each of the shredding shafts including positive cutter elements and negative cutter

elements configured to cooperate to shred the containers as the shredding shafts

are rotationally counter-driven by the drive system in the respective rotational cutting

directions thereof.

8. A reverse vending machine in accordance with claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the

second plurality of the processing assemblies comprises at least two compressing

shafts rotatably mounted and coupled to the common drive shaft to enable the drive

motor to counter-drive the compressing shafts in respective opposing rotational

directions; and each of the shredding shafts including container engaging surfaces

configured to cooperate to compress the containers as the compressing shafts are

rotationally counter-driven by the drive system in the respective rotational cutting

directions thereof.

9. A reverse vending machine in accordance with any one of claims 3 to 8

wherein the one or more processing assemblies driven by the common drive shaft

and the motor are supported on a sliding rail mounted on the enclosure frame.

10. A reverse vending machine in accordance with any one of the preceding

claims wherein the take-up conveyor assembly is supported on sliding rails mounted on the enclosure frame to enable the take-up conveyor to slide out of the internal volume of the enclosure.

11. A reverse vending machine in accordance with any one of the preceding

claims wherein one or more of the receptacles are supported on sliding rails

mounted on the enclosure frame to enable the take-up conveyor to slide out of the

internal volume of the enclosure.

12. A reverse vending machine in accordance with any one of the preceding

claims wherein the diverter conveyor assembly is supported on sliding rails mounted

on the enclosure frame to enable the diverter conveyor assembly to slide out of the

internal volume of the enclosure.

13. A reverse vending machine in accordance with any one of the preceding

claims wherein the take-up conveyor in the take-up conveyor assembly is flanked by

side walls located lengthwise along lateral sides of the take-up conveyor belt to

retain the container on the conveyor belt and allow containers to be advanced along

the advancement path.

14. A reverse vending machine in accordance with any one of the preceding

claims wherein the diverter gates pivot a transverse direction relative to the length of

the diverter conveyor belt.

15. A reverse vending machine in accordance with any one of the preceding

claims further comprising a PLC (programmable logic controller) and associated

logic circuits for communicating with the output signal from the optical scanner and

controlling operation of the first and second controlling arrangements in response to

the output signal from the optical scanner.

16. A reverse vending machine in accordance with claim 15 further comprising:a

data.

17. A reverse vending machine in accordance with claim 16 wherein the memory

device comprises computer executable instructions operative on the microprocessor

to generate control signals for controlling the first controlling arrangement and/or

second controlling arrangement in response by processing the output signal or a

derivative thereof.

18. A reverse vending machine for processing containers, the reverse vending

machine comprising:

an opening positioned within an enclosure frame of the reverse vending

machine;

a diverter conveyor assembly comprising at least one diverter conveyor belt

being positioned lengthwise to receive a container from the opening and convey the received container along a length of the diverter conveyor belt, the diverter conveyor assembly further comprising a plurality of container diverter gates, each of the diverter gates being positioned over the diverter conveyor belt and controlled by a second diverter gate controller arrangement to pivot between a closed position and an open position wherein in the closed position, the gates define a pathway to allow received containers to be conveyed along the length of the diverter conveyor; and in an open position the diverter gates pivot to engage and divert the received container towards a transverse direction relative to the length of the diverter conveyor belt and fall off the diverter conveyor belt under gravity; a plurality of receptacles being positioned along lateral sides of the diverter conveyor assembly, each collection chamber being arranged below the diverter conveyor assembly to receive the containers diverted by a corresponding diverter gate.

115 2023203488

100 100

120 120 110 110

1000 1000

FIGURE 11 FIGURE

1000 1000

FIGURE 22 FIGURE ecoboxtec

1000 1000

FIGURE 33 FIGURE

1000 1000

FIGURE 44 FIGURE

1000 1000

FIGURE FIGURE 55

ecoboxtec

500 500

1000 1000

FIGURE 66 FIGURE

1000 2023203488

500 500

FIGURE 77 FIGURE

500 500

1000 1000

FIGURE 88 FIGURE

Jun

ecoboxtec 2023203488

500 500

1000 1000

FIGURE FIGURE 99

500 500

FIGURE 10 FIGURE 10 requested 2023203488

400 400

FIGURE 11 FIGURE 11

2023203488

200 200 1000 1000

FIGURE 12 FIGURE 12

200 200

410 410

FIGURE 13 FIGURE 13

410 410

1000 1000 400 400

FIGURE 14 FIGURE 14

410 410 400 400

FIGURE 15 FIGURE 15

200 2023203488

400 400

410 410

FIGURE 16 FIGURE 16

C202

THE

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:

200 200

FIGURE 17 FIGURE 17

200 200

FIGURE 18 FIGURE 18

300 300 300 300 300 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 2023203488

500 500 200 200 1000 200 200 200 200 1000

FIGURE 19 FIGURE 19

600 600

500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500

FIGURE 20 FIGURE 20

600 2023203488

500 500 500 500 500 500

FIGURE 21 FIGURE 21

200 200

600 600 600 600

300 300

600 600

FIGURE 22 FIGURE 22

245 240 240

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225 225 225 225 210 210 0 0 0

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240 240 FIGURE 23 FIGURE 23

OCO I 245 245 200 200

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FIGURE 24 FIGURE 24

340 327 327 325 325 325 325 300 300 340 340 327 327 2023203488

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FIGURE 25 FIGURE 25 340 340 300 300 340 340 327 327 327 327

325 325

FIGURE 26 FIGURE 26 310

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325 327 327 325 2023203488

FIGURE 27 FIGURE 27 340 340

327 327

FIGURE 28 FIGURE 28

340 2023203488

327 327 325 325

FIGURE 29 FIGURE 29

340 340 340 340

FIGURE 30 FIGURE 30

425 400 400 2023203488

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427 427 0 FIGURE 31 FIGURE 31 400 400 425 425

FIGURE 32 FIGURE 32 427