CA1160196A

CA1160196A - Apparatus for recognizing, crushing, separating, weighing and making payment for used metal items, particularly aluminum cans

Info

Publication number: CA1160196A
Application number: CA000396286A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Herbert H. Jamgochian; Joseph L. Levasseur
Original assignee: ARA SERVICES Inc
Current assignee: ARA SERVICES Inc
Priority date: 1981-03-12
Filing date: 1982-02-15
Publication date: 1984-01-10
Also published as: GB2097162A; ES510352A0; ES8304420A1; GB2097162B; JPS57153396A; DE3208533A1; FR2501535A1

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A housing of a size adapted for installation at a parking position at a shopping center or other location has an input hopper for receiving municipal trash items, particularly aluminum cans, which drop onto a conveyor and are carried to a crusher. The crushed items drop onto a second conveyor which carries the items past a magnetic separator station which recognizes and sepa-rates out any ferrous materials. Such ferrous items fall by gravity and in so doing to interrupt a light beam which, when interrupted, causes a photoelectric cell to generate a signal which actuates a panel on the front of the housing to inform the customer that the can he or she deposited was a steel can, not an aluminum can. The remaining material, including aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic cartons, paper and other items, are carried to an identification station which recognizes the aluminum items and signals a pusher mechanism to push the aluminum items off the conveyor. The pushed-off aluminum items drop onto the platform of a weighing scale where they remain and accumulate awaiting arrival of additional items. If a time period of preselected length passes during which no additional items are received on the scale platform, a signal is generated which is sent to a coin-payout mechanism to make payment for the weight of the aluminum items deposited on the scale. The scale is then cleared by a rotatable indexing push-off mechanism and the separated and weighed aluminum items drop by gravity into a chute and are directed onto a third conveyor which carries the aluminum items upwardly to a storage bin located in the upper part of the housing. When the storage bin is full, a signal is generated to indicate that the machine cannot accept any additional trash items and requires emptying.
Any non-ferrous non-magnetic items, such as glass bottles, plastic containers, paper, etc., pass through the aluminum identification station and are carried by the second conveyor to a trash receptacle within the housing.

Description

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The current worldwide demand for aluminum and the large amount of energy required to refine and place the ra~ material into usable form make it desirable to reuse and recycle as many as possible of the tremendous number of aluminum cans and containers which a~e used every day, by the consumer publicJ
and then discarded, the user having consumed his or her beerJ soft drink, or other food material.
To collect and to recycle economically used aluminum cans and contain-ers, requires an apparatus which is capable of distinguishing aluminum items from all other municipal trash materials. In addition to recognizing the aluminum items, the apparatus must be capable of separating out the aluminum items from the other trash items and materials without having the other materials mixed in with the seyarated aluminum items since this would preclude successful recycling ~f the alumlnum.
Summary of the Invention A principal object o the present invention is to provide an apparatus which is not only capable of recognizing and separating ou~ the alwninum cans and other aluminum items from municipal trash, but which also automatically returns a coin-payout to any person depositing trash containing aluminum items in the collection apparatus, thereby providing incentive to return aluminum cans and other aluminum items.
Since some cans are steel rather than aluminum, the apparatus should preferably be able to recognize and separate out steel cans and other ferrous items, and to inform the customer that the cans which ware deposited were steel.
It is desirable to provide a collection apparatus, having the aforesaid capabilities, which is housed in a housing adapted for installation at a shopping center and occupying no more than a single parking position.

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The invention provides apparatus for identifying items of a preselected metal and for making payment automatically, said apparatus comprising a housing having therein a plurality of components including:
a. a hopper for receiving trash items, including non-magnetic metal items, said hopper being accessible from the exterior of said housing;
b. a first conveyor fed by said hopper, said first conveyor having an elevated discharge end;
c. a crusher device located below the discharge end of said first conveyor for crushing items discharged from the end of said first conveyor;
do a second conveyor disposed below said crusher device for receiving the crushed items;
e. a magnetic device adjacent said second conveyor having magnetic compo-nents of sufficient strength to remove any ferrous items from said second conveyor;
f. means adjacent said magnetic device or removing ferrous items there-from;
gO a receptacle for receiving said ferrous items discharged from said magnetic device;
h. means adjacent said second conveyor beyond said magnetic device for establishing an electromagnetic field adjacent said second conveyor whereby items travelling on said conveyor pass through said field;
i. recognition means adjacent said conveyor for recognizing items of selected non-magnetic metal passing through said electromagnetic field and for generating an electric signal in response thereto;
jO removal means adjacent one side of said second conveyor adapted for rapid movement across said second conveyor;

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k. control means respQnsive to said generated electric signal for causing said removal means to extend across said second conveyor to push an identified selected item off the side of said second conveyor;
1. measuring means positioned below the side of said horizontal conveyor for receiving said selected items pushed off said second conveyor by said removal means;
mO means responsive to an interval of preselected duration following the arrival of a selected item at said measuring means for generating electric signals to trigger a readout of the total measured amount; and nO means responsive to said readout for dispensing payment to a payout mechanism accessible to the exterior of said housing.
Preferably the apparatus includes a photo-electric device which signals a panel at the front of the machine to alert the customer that a steel can has been deposited. The removal means may comprise a high speed pusher ram moLmted at one side of the second conveyor and responsive to an aluminum-recognition signal for pushing the aluminum item laterally off the conveyor. The measuring means is preferably a weighing scale positioned below the side of the conveyor having a platform for receiving aluminum items pushed off the conveyor by said ram, a platform-clearing mechanism comprising a spoked wheel disposed in a horizontal plane located just above the horizontal plane of the scale platform, the spokes of said wheel defining open sectors through one of which said aluminum items pass at they drop down on to said scale platform, said wheel adapted to be indexed about a vertical axis. The means responsive to a time interval of pre-selected duration for triggering a readout of the total weight on said platform index the segmented wheel through one sector, whereby the trailing radial spoke of said sector functions to push from the scale platform all aluminum items 13~

thereon. Means responsive ~o readout of the weight on said platform for dis-pensing coins into a coin~payout hopper which is accessible from the exterior of the housing. A third conveyor may be provided for receiving the aluminum items which are pushed from the scale platform, and carrying them vertically upwardly to a storage bin. Bin-emptying means ma~ comprise a movable pusher plate located at one end of the storage bin, and means responsive to a manually-produced signal for causing the pusher plate to move through the storage bin for discharging the aluminum items from the bin into a discharge chute leading to a collection truck.
The invention will further be described, by way of example only> with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of an apparatus accor-ding to the present invention.
Pigure 2 is a diagrammatic perspectlve view of the hopper.
Figure 3 is a fragmented view of a short section of the first conveyor showing the stops which form the pockets for receiving and carrying the aluminum cans.
Figure 4 is a view, in section, looking along the line 4~4 of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the crusher wheels.
Figure 6 is a view of the face of a crusher wheel looking along the line 6-6 of Figure 5O
Figure 7 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the push-off station illustrating schematically how the recognized aluminum items are pushed off the second conveyor and on to the scale platform.
Figure 8 is a plan view of the segmented wheel which is used to clear the aluminum items from the scale platform after a weigh and payout signal has been given.
~igure ~ is a diagram of the electrical control system.
Plgures lO~a~ and lO~b) show the pulse waveforms which are developed for control purposes and their time relationshipO
The apparatus is housed within a large rectangular structure or housing H which, in a preferred embodiment, may be of a size adapted to occupy one par-king stal] at, for example, a shopping center. Within the housing are all of the components which comprise the mechanism for receiving, conveying, crushing, recognizing, weighing, paying out, collecting and storing the crushed aluminum cans, and collecting in separate receptacles any non~aluminum items which may have been deposited in the receiving mechanlsm.
At the front of the housing is a large recess X and in the recess is a large rectangular hopper 10 into which members of the public may deposit munici-pal trash, Hopefully, the public will carry to the shopping center or other location of the collection and payout machine, only or at least principally used aluminum cans, with a minimum of trash other than aluminum, since the public will know that they are going to be paid only for the aluminum items deposited in the hopperO While there would be little reason for carrying from one's home to the shopping center trash other than aluminum cans, nevertheless, the apparatus of the present application is prepared to receive trash items ather than aluminum, and to distinguish those items which are aluminum from those which are not. The most likely non~aluminum items to be carried to the machine and deposited in ~he hopper are beer or soft drink cans which, unknown to the customer, are steel, not aluminum. The machine is designed, not only to recognize and separate out such steel cans, but also to signal to the customer that the cans are steel cans for which no payment ~ill be made.
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As seen in Figure 2, the floor of the rectangular hopper is inclined from all four sides toward a center opening 12 so that any items dropped into the hopper will sli.de to the low spot having the opening 12 which leads to a chute 14 of sinuous configuration which leads downwardly and through which the aluminum cans will pass, as illustrated in Figure 1. Chute 14 may preferably be rectangUlar in cross-section and of a size somewhat larger than that of the alumlnum can which it is designed to receiveO The sinuous configuration of chute 14 is intended to prevent entry and passage through the chute of objects which are longer or wider than aluminum cans, such as a stick or pipe or rod which might otherwise get into and damage the mechanism. The sinuous configur-ation of the chute is also intended to prevent the public from putting their hands and arms deep enough into the chute to come into contact with the moving conveyor.
The alumlnum can$, ~r other trasll items, drop through the hopper chute 14 onto a high speed first conveyor 20. Conveyor 20 is provided with appropri-ately shaped stops 21 which, as seen in Figure 3, form pockets 22 each adapted for carrying a can with its long axis transverse to the direction of movement of the conveyoru Figure 4 is a view in section of conveyor 20 at the location of the bend ~Figure 1). Here, the upwardly-moving leg of the conveyor is pro-vided with a guide 23 having sidewalls 24 in which are mounted rollers 25 against which the surface of the upwardly~moving conveyor bears as it makes the bend. Sidewalls 23 also serve to retain the cans in the pockets 22 formed by the stops 21. The downwardly-moving leg of the conveyor is also provided with a guide 26 having mounted therein rollers 27 against which the downwardly-movingconveyor bearsO The pockets 22 on the conveyor are so spaced as to create a desirable spacing between successive cans so that the cans will enter further ~6 processing at a ~nown spacing and time ra~e.
As seen in Figure 1, first conveyor 20 transports all materials which it receives from hopper 10 upwardly to a crusher mechanism 30 where the items, as they drop off the end of conveyor 2~, fall down hetween two crusher wheels 31, 32 and are compressed and crus-hed, being reduced to approximately 10% to 15%
of their original volume. The presently preferred form of crusher comprises two large cast-iron driven rollers 31, 32 with corrugated faces which intermesh during rotation of the crusher rollers in opposite directions. These rollers are illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. Cans dropping out of the pockets 20 at the discharge end of first conveyor 20 and falling down between the crusher rollers 31, 32 are grabbed and pulled down and between the intermeshing corrugated facss of the rollers.
In addition to crushing the aluminum cans, the crusher rollers 31,32 also tend to puncture and tear the cans so ~hat any residual liquids which may be contained therein will escape. To reduce noise and sound, the faces of rollers 31,32 may preferably be covered by a rubberized surface. ~o further reduce the noise and sound of the cans being crushed, the entire sub-area in which the crusher mechanism 30 ls located may preferably be housed within a sub-housing made of sound absorbing material.
~lthough both crusher rollers are motor driven, only one roller assembly (31) is fixed to the frame structure; the other ~32) is mounted on a pivot arm 33 which is spring biased, as by compression spring 34, in a directlonurging roller 32 into intermeshing engagement with roller 31. If a solid block or other material that resists crushing enters between the crusher rollers, the pivotal roller 32 is forced away from fixed roller 31 thereby allowing the uncrushable material to pass through the roller mechanism without causing

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damage to the rollers. The compressional force of spring 34 is such that all except the most dense of materials, for example, a solid steel block, shall be crushedO The crusher mechanism is~ of course, out of the reach of the members ~f the publicD
~ fter passing through the crusher mechanism, the crushed aluminum cans and other materials drop onto a second high speed conveyor 40 made of non-metal-lic material and are transported in a horizontal direction below and past a magnetized steel drum 50 which is driven rotationally in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in ~igure lo The face of drum 50 is smooth and has a width equal to that of the width of conveyor 40. The inner surface of drum 40 is lined with permanent magnets 51 held in fixed position. Magnets 51 are of sufficient strength to cause any ferrous materials carried on the surface of second conveyor 40 and passing under the drum 50 to be attracted and lifted to the bottom surface of the drum. The ferrous materials are carried by the rotating drum up to a scraper 52 located approximately 215 from the point of pickup of the materialO Scraper 52 is made of non-magnetizable material and is disposed angularly relative to the surface of drum 50 so that, as drum 50 ro-tates, the ferrous items, such as crushed steel cans, which are being carried on the face of the drum, are diverted to one side of the drum by a wiping and scraping action and are removed. These ferrous items fall down past the side of drum 50 and past second conveyor 40 into a receptacle 55. In so falling, the ferrous items pass through and interrupt the light beam 53 of a photo-elec-tric device 54 and a signal is generated which energizes an information panel at the front of the machine to inform the customer that the can or cans he or she dropped in the hopper 10 were steel cans, not aluminum.
The non-ferrous materials, including aluminum, glass, paper, plastic, and other items, rcmain on conveyor 40 and are carried past the magnetic-wheel separator 50 into an electron~c aluminum detector 6Q. ~etector 60 may prefer-abl~ consist of a series o annular coils ~1 which generate an electromagnetic field through which conveyor 50 passes carrying crushed aluminum, glass, plastic, paper, etc. materialsO Voltage pulses are applied by known means to the coils at high frequency. These voltage pulses cause pulse currents to flow through the coils 61. These pulse currents establish electromagnetic fields which sweep out from the coils and then recede at a frequency corresponding to that of the frequency at which the coils 61 are pulsedO As the crushed materials pass through the electromagnet field any metal material will disturb and dampen the waveform of the field. Steel material, if present, would cause the greatest dampening, but all ferrous material should have been removed by wheel 50 prior tc entering detector 60. Copper, brass, zinc cause less dampening. Aluminum causes still less dampeningO Glass and other non-metallic materials, such as plastic and paper, cause no dampening. The degree of wave dampening caused by the various metallic materials is determined very accurately in advance so that the various materials may be recognized and classified by their waveform shape or signature. The waveform of the electromagnetic field before it is altered by metal material passing therethrough is determined by the number of turns in 2Q each coil 61 and also by the number of coils 61 in proximity to each other. The Yariation in waveform created by the different metal materials passing through the detector 60 may preferably be determined by a level detector. In Figures 1 and 7, the conveyor 4Q is illustrated as passing through the center opening 62 of the annular coils 61 but it is to be understood that this is not necessary.
As a matter of fact it will probably be preerable to have the coils positioned below, or above, or to one side, of the conveyor 40. The important thing is to _9_, 9~

have the conveyor 40 and the articles carried therean pass ~hrough the electro-magnetic field created by the coils 610 ~ hen electronic detcctor 60 detects an aluminum item, a control signal is generated which is applied to an electro-mechanical device 70 which, in response to the signal, causes a fast-acting reciprocable piston 75 to be pro-~ected laterally across the surface of the longitudinally-moving conveyor ~0.
Piston 75 may preferably have at its outward end a large rectangular push plate 76 adapted to engage the recognized aluminum item ~or items) and to push it ~them) off the side of the conveyor 40. ~he length of the rectangular push plate 76 allows for continued movement of the aluminum item ~or items) length-wise on conveyor 40 while it is (or they are) being pushed laterally by the piston. Alternatively, the size of push plate 76 may be reduced and the piston 75 disposed in a diagonal direction laterally across the conveyor 40.
Any materials on conveyor 40 which are not recognized as aluminum are not acted upon by the piston and these materials, if any, such as glass bottles, plastic containers, and paper items, continue on conveyor 40 to the end thereo where they drop into a trash collection bin 80u As another alternative, instead of using a rapid reciprocable piston to push the recognized aluminum items off the side of conveyor 40, the identified aluminum items may be removed from the conveyor by a deflector vane which in normal rest position is adjacent and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor~ ~lowever, at a signal from detector 70 indicating that an aluminum item has been recognized, the vane is moved into a diagonal position across the belt, thereby forcing the aluminum item in a diagonal direction causing it to fall from the side of the conveyor.
As shown in Figure 7, the crushed aluminum items, after being pushed off the conveyor 40, fall by force of gravity through free air space onto the platform 91 of a scale 90. The aluminum items which fall onto the weighing platform 91 remain there and are accumula~ed awaiting an interval of preselectedlength, for example, three seconds, during which no additional items drop onto the weighing platform 91o At the expiration of such an interval, a signal is generated by means to be described, and the weight of the items on the scale is recorded. On the basis of the weight recorded, a signal is generated, as will be described, and a known form of coin-pay~ut mechanism is actuated and coins are delivered into a payout slot accessible to the person who deposited the aluminum cans into the input hopper lOo ~t weight read-out and coin payout, a signal is also delivered to an open segmented wheel 100 which lies in a horizontal plane just above the plane of the scale platform 91o One segment of wheel 100 frames platform 91 at all times. Upon receipt of the read-out payout signals wheel 100 is indexed, by mator 101 and gear head 102, through one segment and in so doing the trailing radial spoke 103 of the ~heel 100 pushes the a.ccumulated items off the scale platform and into a guide chute llOo The accumulatlon of items on the scale platform 91, awaiting generation of the read~out payout slgnals, may be as little as one ounce or as much as 250 ounces.
The crushed aluminum items which fall onto the weighing platform 91 follow an arcuate path P determined by the weight of the aluminum item and the velocity by which the item is pushed off of the conveyor 40 by the push plate 76. If the crushed aluminum can still contains liquid, or if it contains other non-metallic contaminants, such as sand, such can, because of its increased weight, will follow path P'rather than path P. In other words, the heavier items will follow the shorter arcuate path P' and will drop into a special ~ ~3~
collection bin 112. Thus, these items will not fall on platform 91; they will not bc weighed, and they will not be the basis for any payout. This arrangement prevents the machine from acce~ting for payment, and ~or paying out for, a can whose weight has been deliberately increased.
In summary, the crushed aluminum items which follow path P and fall onto the weighing platform 91 are accumulated until there is an interval of pre-selected duration in which no additional items drop onto the weighing platform.
At the expiration of such a predetermined interval~ the necessary signals are generated, by means to be described, the weight of the accumulated cans then on the scale is recorded, a payout mechanism is actuated, and an amount is paid out in coins corresponding to the number of cans which have been deposited into hopper 10 by that depositor. The segmented wheel 100 is indexed through one sector, and the trailing radial spoke 103 sweeps the cans off the platform scale. The succeeding segment or sector of wheel 100 then frames the platform 91 awaiting arrival of the next items on the platform.
The aluminum items which are swept from the scale platform 91 when the wheel 100 is indexed and which fall into chute 110 are guided onto a third conveyor 120. Conveyor 120 is a high speed transporting conveyor having spaced cupped bars 121 forming pockets 122 into which the crushed weighed aluminum items fall. Conveyor 120 travels horizontally for a short distance toward the rear of tho housing H and then rises vertically along the rear wall of the housing to an upper storage bin B located just below the roof of the housing.
Conveyor 120 then bends 90 degrees forwardly from the vertical and extends horizontally toward the front of storage bin B.
As the conveyor 120 bends from its upward vertical direction to its forward horizontal direction, the aluminum items carried in the pockets 122 fall out and down on to the floor of the bin B where they accumulate, piling up onthe floor of the bin in a rlght-angled ~riangular pile, as illustrated in Figure 1. ~hen ~he pile or accumulation of aluminum items in storage bin B has built up to the level of the forwardly moving conveyor 120, the cupped bars 121, which are now in a depending positian relatlve to the conveyor, ~111 continuously scrape off the peak of the triangular pile with the result that ~he height of the pile is not permitted to increase, bu~ the width of the pile increases continuously in the forward directionO
Located at the forward end of the storage bin B and depending from the roof is a small spring-biased plate 131 which is pivotal about a hinge located on the underside of the roof. Plate 131 hangs down into the storage area, and when the accumulation of aluminum items in the storage bin B builds up to a degree that the bin is completely filled, the pressure against plate 131 will orce it forwardly causing electrical switch 132 to close. Closing of switch 132 completes an electrical circuit which produces a "Full" signal which may pre-ferably be an illuminated signal located at the front of the machine in the vicinity of input hopper 110 informing the public that the machine is Full.
To empty the full storage bin B, the route co].lector unlocks and lowers the front door 160 of the bin B, moving it from the closed position shown in solid lines in F.igure 1 to the open position shown in dot-and-dash line. Door 160 may preferably be equipped with sidewalls ~not shown) which extend into the bin B when door 160 is closedO When door 160 is lowered to the open position, the sidewalls of the door form a chute through which the crushed aluminum items will pass when they drop down to the route collection truck.
After opening the front door 160, the route collector operates an electrical switch ~not shown~ to energize a motor 140 which, through a link belt ~13-.

or chain 141, drives a sprocket 142 which is connected to and drives a closed loop consisting of a mavable segmented floor conveyor 150 connected in series with a cable 151.
Projecting upwardly from the rearmost floor segment 152 of conveyor 150, near the rear wall of the housing H, is a vertical pusher plate 153 which in normal position is located just for~ard of the vertical leg of conveyor 120.
Pusher plate 152 has a cutout at the center of its upper edge through which the horizontal leg of conveyor 120 passesO When the route collector manually closes a switch to energize motor 140, the segmented floor conveyor 150 is pulled forwardly by cable 151 carrying with it pusher plate 153. Foruard move-ment of pusher plate 153 forces the aluminum items in bin B out of the now open front door 160 of the bin and down the chute into the route collection vehicle.
Conveyor 120 may preferably be activated during unloading of storage bin B to insure that no aluminum items fall behind the pusher plate 153 as it moves forwardly during the unloading operation.
It may be stated briefly at this point that piston device 70 may be a modified Vari-Pak ~Trademark) manufactured by Stelron, Saddle Brook, New Jersey, U.S.A.; that segmented wheel 100 may be driven by a Geneva Drive also manufac-tured by Stelron, Saddle Brook, New Jersey, U.S.A.; that scale 90 may be a modified Model 2700 rlectronic Count and Weigh System manufactured by Pennsyl-vania Scale Company, Leola, Pennsylvania, U~SoA~; and that the coin-payout mechanism may be manufactured by National Rejector Industries, Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S.A.
The aluminum detector 60 ~ay be of the type and use the technique described in United States Patent No. 4,254,857 issued ~arch 10, 1981 to Leo Levassor et alu ~14 ~o~
Operation In des~ribing the operation of the machine of Figure 1, and its con-trols, reference will be made to Pigures 9, lOa and lOb.
To start the machine, preferably just before the customer drops his or her aluminum cans into hopper 10, the cus~omer presses the start switch (Figure 9) and a current pulse is generated, as shown in Figure lO~a) which, under the control of the microprocessor controller ~Figure 9), turns on five motors.
These motors are shown in the upper right portion of Figure 9 and may be identified as follows: the motor for Conveyor No. 1 ~reference numeral 20 in Figure l); the motors for the first and second crushers ~crusher wheels 31 and 32 in Figure l); the motor for Conveyor No. 2 ~reference numeral 40 in Figure l); and the motor for the magnetic drum ~reference numeral 50 in Figure 1).
Turn~on of these five motors is under the control of the microprocessor. The control is such tha~ the five motors rema~n QN for a preselected period of time, such as fifteen secondsO This period of time is, however, extendable and is constantly extended by the continued detection of crushed aluminum cans or other aluminum items at the aluminum item detector 60 ~Pigure 1). In other words, these five motors remain energized so long as crushed aluminum items are being detected. They remain ON for a preselected number of seconds after detection of each aluminum item in order to determine whether additional aluminum items are being processed in the machine and about to be detected. If, after a preselec-ted number of seconds, for example three seconds, no further aluminum item is detected, the five motors shut off.
The situation just described is illustrated in Figure lO~a) where an aluminum metal detector output pulse is shown for each crushed aluminum item detected. The output of the detector ~reference numeral 60 in Figure 1) goes high for about 20 milliseconds each time an aluminum item is detected. As is tobe expected, the spaces between output pulses is irregular.
Each output pulse generated and delivered to the microprocessor con-troller by the aluminum detector 60 causes the controller to deliver a current pulse to the piston wiper 70 and, iJI response to such pulse, the ram 75 is projected across the face of conveyor 40, causing the push plate 76 at the fore end of the ram to push the recognized aluminum item off conveyor 40 and onto platform 91 of scale 90 ~Figure 7). The pulses wh;ch actuate the piston wiper 70 are shown in Figure lO(a~O ~here is one piston actuation pulse for each aluminum detector pulseO ~he actuation pulses lag behind the detection pulses by a short time period sufficient to allow the detected item to move to a position in front of the pusher plate 76 of the piston.
When a sufficiently long period of time, such as three seconds, passes following a pulse output from aluminum item detector 60, with no additional item detected and no further output pulse produced, the five motors shut off. This is illustrated in Figure 10Ca~.
As has been pointed out, if the crushed items dropped on to the second conveyor 40 include any ferrous items, such as iron or steel, these items will have been lifted from the conveyor 40 before reaching the aluminum detector 60 and carried by drum 50 to the scraper 52 where they are dislodged from the surface of the drum and drop down into bin 55. In so doing, ~he dropping items interrupt light beam 53 and a pulse is generated which triggers a flashing light and also a buzzerO This is indicated in Figure lO(b) by the pulse waveforms so identifiedO The duration and frequency of the flashing light and the duration of the buzzer signal is controlled by the microprocessor.
Following an interval of preselected length during which no additional aluminum items are detected, the machine shuts down. This shutting down of themachlne is noticed by the customer and he or she thereupon pushes the payout button to close the payout switch ~igure 9) which may preferably be located close to hopper lOo When the payout suitch is closed by the customer, a current pulse is generated, as shown in Figure 10(a) which is applied to the micropro-cessor and causes a weight scale autput pulse to be generated~ as shown in Figure 10(a). In response thereto, the motor for the third conveyor (reference numeral 120 in Figure 1) is turned ON and remains ON for a preselected time period controlled by the microprocessor, as shown by the waveform in Figure 10(a).
The weight scale output (Figure 9~ is applied to and read by the microprocessor which converts the weight reading (pounds) into money terms (cents) and displays the information on a custamer information panel near to hopper 10.
At the same time that the motor for the third conveyor (120) is turned ON, the motor for the scale wheel 1~0 is also turned ON. This turns on the scale whsel motor switch, as indicated by the waveforms in Figure 10~a) and after the motor switch has cycled, it shuts off the scale motorO
In response to the operation of the payout switch, and under the con-trol of the microprocessor, the payout motors are energized. In Figure 10~a)the payout motors for the five-cent and one-cent payouts are illustrated as being energized, in that order, with the twenty-five cents and one-dollar motors remaining de-energized.
Energization of the five-cent and one-csnt payment motors activates the motor switch for each of these motors, as illustrated by the waveforms in Figure 10~a~ and, after each of the switches has cycled the payout motors are shut OFF.

This informs the microprocessor that payout has been completed.
To provide signals to the control center that the various components ofthe machine are operating, Hall effect monitors, such as are indicated in Figure 9, may be placed at various strategic points throughout the machine. These may be slot sensors of the types sold by Gould IncO, Dist. ~ Controls Division, Bedford, Ohio, U.S.A. Such sensors may, for example, be placed on all three conveyors 20,~0 and 120, on both crusher wheels 31 and 32, on the magnetic drum 50, on the piston 70, and on the spoked ~heel 100.
While the machine has been described as designed to identify and weigh aluminum items, the machine could be readily adapted to counting aluminum cans, rather than weighing the items. Weighing the items requires a more complicated mechanism than counting, but enables the machine to accept and pay for aluminum items other than cans, as for example, aluminum plates and dishes.
Also, while the machine has been described as designed for identifying aluminum items, it could be readily designed to identify other materials, such as copper or brass items.

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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Apparatus for identifying items of a preselected metal and for ma-king payment automatically, said apparatus comprising a housing having therein a plurality of components including:
a. a hopper for receiving trash items, including non-magnetic metal items, said hopper being accessible from the exterior of said housing;
b. a first conveyor fed by said hopper, said first conveyor having an elevated discharge end;
c. a crusher device located below the discharge end of said first conveyor for crushing items discharged from the end of said first conveyor;
d. a second conveyor disposed below said crusher device for receiving the crushed items;
e. a magnetic device adjacent said second conveyor having magnetic compo-nents of sufficient strength to remove any ferrous items from said second conveyor;
f. means adjacent said magnetic device for removing ferrous items there-from;
g. a receptacle for receiving said ferrous items discharged from said magnetic device;
h. means adjacent said second conveyor beyond said magnetic device for establishing an electromagnetic field adjacent said second conveyor whereby items travelling on said conveyor pass through said field;
i. recognition means adjacent said conveyor for recognizing items of selected non-magnetic metal passing through said electromagnetic field and for generating an electric signal in response thereto;

j. removal means adjacent one side of said second conveyor adapted for rapid movement across said second conveyor;
k. control means responsive to said generated electric signal for causing said removal means to extend across said second conveyor to push an identified selected item off the side of said second conveyor;
l. measuring means positioned below the side of said horizontal conveyor for receiving said selected items pushed off said second conveyor by said removal means;
m. means responsive to an interval of preselected duration following the arrival of a selected item at said measuring means for generating electric signals to trigger a readout of the total measured amount; and n. means responsive to said readout for dispensing payment to a payout mechanism accessible to the exterior of said housing.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 whereby said removal means is a reciprocable piston.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein said measuring means is a weighing scale.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1 for identifying aluminum items, par-ticularly aluminum cans, in municipal trash and for making payment automatically in coins on the basis of automatically measured weight, wherein:
said crusher device comprises a pair of opposing driven crusher wheels;
said magnetic device comprises a driven rotating magnetic wheel above said second conveyor, and said magnetic components being adapted to lift ferrous items from said second conveyor and to carry said ferrous items on the surface of said magnetic wheel there being scraper means on the upper surface of said magnetic wheel for discharging ferrous items therefrom; said removal means com-prises a reciprocable ram mounted at one side of said second conveyor adapted for rapid movement across said second conveyor; said measuring means comprises a platform weighing scale having a platform for receiving aluminum items pushed off said second conveyor by said ram; a horizontally disposed segmented wheel having a plurality of open sectors defined be radial spokes, a first of said sectors positioned just above said scale platform, said aluminum items pushed from said second conveyor falling through said sector onto said scale platform;
said means responsive to an interval of preselected duration following the arrival of an aluminum item on said scale platform generating electric sig-nals to trigger a readout of the total weight on said platform and to index said segmented wheel through one sector, the trailing radial spoke of said first sector pushing said weighed aluminum items off of said scale platform, and a second sector moving into place above said scale platform; said means responsive to said readout of total weight on said scale platform dispensing coins into a payout hopper accessible to the exterior of said housing; said apparatus further comprising: an upper storage bin; a third driven conveyor for receiving the weighed aluminum items pushed from said scale platform, said third conveyor carrying said aluminum items vertically upwardly at the rear of said housing and then horizontally forwardly whereby the aluminum items carried on said third conveyor are discharged downwardly into said upper storage bin; a movable sec-tionalized floor in said upper storage bin; a movable rear wall in said upper storage bin secured to said movable floor; a discharge door at the forward end of said upper storage bin; manual control means for opening said discharge door; and manual control means for moving said movable floor forwardly to move said rear wall forwardly, thereby to push the aluminum items in said upper storage bin out through said open discharge door.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein one of said crusher wheels is spring loaded toward the other.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said hopper has a throat which follows a sinuous downward path.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said second conveyor is driven at a faster speed than said first conveyor thereby to provide a desired amount of spacing between items dropped from said first conveyor through said crusher to said second conveyor.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said means esta-blishing an electromagnetic field comprises a plurality of annular coils through the open center of which said second conveyor passes.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein a photo-electric device is positioned between said magnetic-wheel scraper means and said ferrous item storage bin whereby said ferrous items discharged from said magnetic wheel fall through and interrupt a light beam thereby to generate electric signals usable to provide information to the customer.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein said identification means includes electric means responsive to change in the electromagnetic field resulting from the passage therethrough of an aluminum item.

11. Apparatus for identifying aluminum items, particularly aluminum cans, in trash and for making payment automatically in coins on the basis of automa-tically measured weight, said apparatus comprising a housing having therein a plurality of components including:
a. a hopper for receiving trash items, including aluminum cans, said hopper being accessible from the exterior of said housing;
b. a first conveyor fed by said hopper, said first conveyor having an elevated discharge end;
c. a crusher device located below the discharge end of said first conveyor for crushing items discharged from the end of said first conveyor;
d. a second conveyor disposed below said crusher device for receiving the crushed items;
e. a magnetic device adjacent said second conveyor having magnetic com-ponents of sufficient strength to remove any ferrous items from said second conveyor;
f. means adjacent said magnetic device for removing ferrous items therefrom;
g. a bin for receiving said ferrous items discharged from said magnetic device;
h. means adjacent said second conveyor beyond said magnetic device for establishing an electromagnetic field adjacent said second conveyor whereby items travelling on said conveyor pass through said field;
i. recognition means adjacent said conveyor for recognizing aluminum items passing through said electromagnetic field and for generating an elec-tric signal in response thereto;
j. a reciprocable piston adjacent one side of said second conveyor adapted for rapid movement across said second conveyor;
k. control means responsive to said generated electric signal for causing said piston to extend across said second conveyor to push an identified aluminum item off the side of said second conveyor;

l. a weighing scale positioned below the side of said horizontal conveyor having a platform for receiving aluminum items pushed off said second conveyor by said piston;
m. a horizontally disposed wheel having a plurality of open sectors defined by the radial spokes of said wheel, a first of said open sectors being positioned just above said scale platform, whereby aluminum items pushed by said piston from said second conveyor fall through said first open sector onto said scale platform;
n. means responsive to an interval of preselected duration following the arrival of an aluminum item on said scale platform for generating elec-tric signals to trigger a readout of the total weight on said platform and to index said segmented wheel through one sector, the trailing radi-al spoke of said first sector pushing said weighed aluminum items off of said scale platform, and a second sector moving into place above said scale platform; and o. means responsive to said readout of total weight on said scale platform for dispensing coins into a payout hopper accessible to the exterior of said housing.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11 having:
a. an upper storage bin;
b. a third conveyor for receiving the weighed aluminum items pushed from said scale platform, said third conveyor carrying said aluminum items vertically upwardly at the rear of said housing and then horizontally forwardly, the aluminum items carried on said third conveyor being discharged downwardly into said upper storage bin;
c. a movable sectionalized floor in said upper storage bin;

d. a pusher wall in said upper storage bin secured to said movable floor;
e. a discharge door at the forward end of said upper storage bin;
f. control means for opening said discharge door;
g. control means for moving said movable floor forwardly to move said pusher wall forwardly, thereby to push the aluminum items in said upper storage bin out through said open discharge door.

13. Apparatus for identifying items of a preselected metal and for making payment automatically, said apparatus comprising a housing having therein a plurality of components including:
a. a hopper for receiving trash items, including non-magnetic metal items, said hopper being accessible from the exterior of said housing;
b. a first conveyor fed by said hopper;
c. a crusher device located to receive items from said first conveyor for crushing items discharged therefrom;
d. a second conveyor for receiving the crushed items;
e. a magnetic device adjacent said second conveyor having magnetic components of sufficient strength to remove ferrous items from said second conveyor;
f. receptacle means for receiving said ferrous items discharged from said magnetic device;
g. means adjacent said second conveyor beyond said magnetic device for establishing an electro-magnetic field adjacent said second conveyor whereby items traveling on said conveyor pass through said field;
h. recognition means adjacent said conveyor for recognizing items of selected non-magnetic metal passing through said electromagnetic field and for generating an electric signal in response thereto;
i. removal means adjacent one side of said second con-veyor adapted for rapid movement across said second conveyor;
j. control means responsive to said generated electric signal for causing said removal means to extend across said second conveyor to push an identified selected item off the side of said second conveyor;
k. a platform weighing scale and discharge chute positioned at the side of said horizontal conveyor;
l. a generally circular collector-and-wiper device adapted for rotational movement in a horizontal plane, said device having a plurality of open-bottom pockets positioned for receiving and collecting items pushed from said second conveyor and sub-sequently, in response to rotational movement of said collector-and-wiper device, for wiping said collected items from said scale platform and transferring them to said discharge chute;
m. means for generating electric signals to cause rotational movement of said collector-and-wiper device, and to trigger a readout of the total weight of said items on said plat-form, and to index said collector-and-wiper device to a discharge position to discharge the weighed items into said discharge chute, and to move a different pocket of said collector-and-wiper device into collection position; and n. means responsive to said readout for dispensing pay-ment to a payout mechanism accessible to the exterior of said housing.

14. Apparatus for identifying items of a preselected metal and for making payment automatically, said apparatus comprising:
a. means for receiving and conveying trash items, including non-magnetic metal items;
b. magnetic means adjacent said conveying means for removing ferrous items from said conveying means;
c. means adjacent said conveying means beyond said magnetic means for establishing an electro-magnetic field adjacent said conveying means whereby items traveling on said conveying means pass through said field;
d. recognition means adjacent said conveying means for recognizing items of selected non-magnetic metal passing through said electromagnetic field and for generating an electric signal in response thereto;
e. removal means adjacent said conveying means adapted for rapid movement across said conveying means;
f. control means responsive to said generated electric signal for causing said removal means to move across said conveying means to push an identified selected item off said conveying means;
g. a collector-and-wiper device adapted for rotational movement in a horizontal plane, said device having at least one open-bottom pocket adapted to be positioned for receiving and collecting items pushed from said conveying means;
h. a platform weighing scale and a discharge chute positioned at the side of said conveying means;

i. means for generating electric signals to cause rotational movement of said collector-and-wiper device for trans-ferring collected items onto said scale platform;
j. means for generating electric signals to trigger a readout of the total weight of said items on said platform, and then to rotate further said collector-and-wiper device for wiping said collected items from said scale platform and transferring them to said discharge chute;
k. means responsive to said readout of weight for dispensing payment.