CA1306720C

CA1306720C - Bottle processing system

Info

Publication number: CA1306720C
Application number: CA 493898
Authority: CA
Inventors: Leroy Ernest Long
Original assignee: Leroy Ernest Long
Current assignee: LONG LEROY ERNEST
Priority date: 1985-10-24
Filing date: 1985-10-24
Publication date: 1992-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-25

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A check out system used particularly for bottle processing comprising a series of fixed conveyors and a movable transfer conveyor. A plurality of infeed conveyors are located adjacently and in a substantially parallel configuration, A sorting conveyor runs substantially perpendicular to the infeed conveyor. A transfer conveyor is located between the infeed and the sorter conveyor and is movable substantially parallel to the sorter conveyor along the width of the fixed infeed conveyors.

Description

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INTFCODUCTIOM

This invention relates to a check out. system and, more particularly, -to a bottle processing system which uses a series of conveyors to sort and count the bottles from a number of differ~nt users.

BACKGROUND OF THE IMV~NTION

The processing of beverage bottles upon their return from users has been complicated/ labour intensive, dirty and time consuming due to the great variety of bottles, the fact that a number of users may be returning bottles at the same time and the necessity for handling each beverage container to obtain the proper bottle count.
Heretofore, there has been no efficient and inexpensive system to process the bottles by receiving them from users, counting them and sending them to be sorted according to size and type.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a check out system comprising a plurality of adjacently positioned longitudinal infeed conveyors, a sorter conveyor mounted substantially perpendicu:Lar to said longitudinal infeed conveyors, and a transeer conveyor positioned between said infeed conveyors and said sorter conveyor, said transfer conveyor being movable along a path substantially parallel to said sorter conveyor.

Also according to the invention, there is provided a check out system comprising a plurality of substantially parallel adjacently positioned infeed conveyors, a sorter conveyor extending for the width of said infeed conveyors and being substantially B ~k ``` ~ 3i~6~'2~

perpendicular thereto, and a transfer conveyor movable substantially parallel to the length of said sorter conveyor across the width of said plurality of substantially parallel adjacently positioned infeed conveyors.

Further according to the invention, there is provided a check out method comprising positioning the items of first and second users on a Eirst and second infeed conveyor, respectively, successively positioniny a transfer conveyor at the ends of said first and second infeed conveyor on one end of said transfer conveyor and positioning a sorter conveyor on the other end of said transfer conveyor, and successively transferring said items from said first and second infeed conveyors to said transfer conveyor and, subsequently, to said sorter conveyor.

Fiyure 1 is a schematic view oE the check out system as embodied in a bottle processing conveyor lavout accordiny to the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a tray to be used on the conveyors for holding bottles;

Figure 3 illustrates the transfer conveyor and the cash register to which the transfer conveyor is connected; and Figure 4 illustrates a user placing his bottles in the tray of Figure 2 for processing.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
_ Referring now to the drawings, a bottle processing system is illustrated yenerally at 10 in Fiyure 1. It comprises a series of infeed conveyors 11 located adjacent and substantially parallel to each other. ~ sorter conveyor 12 runs substantially perpendicular to the length of the infeed conveyors 11 and extends the width of the plurality of infeed conveyors 11. Transfer conveyors 13 are positioned between the infeed conveyors 11 and the sorter conveyor 12 and are movable as indicated by the ~3~67;~
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arrows. A cash register 14 can be moun~ed to each transfer conveyor 13, the transfer conveyor 13 being movable on rails 20 to move in and out relative to a shelf 21 illustrated beneath the cash register 14, A series of conveyor stops 22 are mounted, one on each infeed conveyor 11 at the end adjacent to the transfer conveyor 13. These stops 22 are removable as required when processing the bottles 23 (Figure 4). Trays 24 ~only one of which is shown in ~igure 2) are used to hold the bottles 23. They are of a size compatable with the conveyors 11, 12, 13 and hold the bottles 23 to be processed.

User movement stations 30 may also be provided. These stations are each associated with a respective infeed conveyor 11 and allow the bottles belonging to a single user to be positioned on only a particular infeed conveyor 11 thereby isolating each user's bottles 23 and preventing mixing.

OPERATION

In operation, a user 31 (Figure 4) brings bottles to the location of the bottle processing system 10. He ~3~6~
_5_ positions a tray 24 on one of the infeed conveyors 11 and loads his bottles 23 into the tray 2~. When the tray 2~
i5 full or the user 3l has no further bottles to load, the tray is released and moves by gravity down ths infeed conveyor 11 until stop 22 is reached. The user 31 may have several trays 24 and these are backed up until the user 31 has finished unloading his bottles 23.

Assuming the user 31 has unloaded his bottles onto infeed conveyor 32 (Figure 1), his trays 24 will be retained against stop 22. The transfer conveyor 13 and cash register 14 are moved from the position shown to a position adjacent to stop 22 and between the infeed conveyor 11 and the sorter conveyor 12. The operator (not shown) removes the stop ~2 and the -trays 24 with their bottles are moved onto the transfer conveyor 13 and thence to the sorter conveyor 12 where they travel by gravity feed to the sorting area 33. While they are on the transfer conveyor 13, they are counted. When all the trays 24 of a particular user have been processed, the last tray, for example, being indicated by a manually placed flag, the stop 22 is reinserted, the appropriate cash refund is made to the user 31 and the transfer conveyor 13 is moved to its new position to process the bottles of another user.

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While the specific embodiment described is inexpensive and easy to construct and maintain, modifications are clearly contemplated in the event more sophistication is desired or if the number of bottles processed are very large. Automatic operation such as electrically, mechanically, hydraulically or pneumatically powering all o~ the conveyor rollers or/ indeed, by providing belt conveyors, rather than using gravity feed may be utilized. The transfer conveyor 13 may be movabIe by remote control and the number of bottles may be determined mechanically, electronically or by weight rather than being counted manually. Furthermore, the system can be used for items other than bottles and should be classified more generally as a check out system which could be applicable to groceries, newspapers and other items which need to be processed and are received from several users.

Various other modifications may be made to the inventions and the specific embodiment described should be considered as illustrative only and not as limiting the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A check out system comprising a plurality of adjacently positioned longitudinal infeed conveyors, a sorter conveyor mounted substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal infeed conveyors, and a transfer conveyor positioned between said infeed conveyors and said sorter conveyor, said transfer conveyor being movable along a path substantially parallel to said sorter conveyor.

2. A check out system as in claim 1 wherein each of said infeed conveyors is substantially parallel to the remaining ones of said infeed conveyors.

3. A check out system as in claim 2 wherein said transfer conveyor is movable along said path from a position between the first and last of said plurality of infeed conveyors and said sorter conveyor.

4. A check out system as in claim 1, 2 or 3 and further comprising counting means between said infeed conveyors and said sorter conveyor.

5. A check out system as in claim 4 wherein said counting means is connected to said transfer conveyor and is movable therewith.

6. A check out system comprising a plurality of substantially parallel adjacently positioned infeed conveyors, a sorter conveyor extending for the width of said infeed conveyors and being substantially perpendicular thereto, and a transfer conveyor movable substantially parallel to the length of said sorter conveyor across the width of said plurality of substantially parallel adjacently positioned infeed conveyors.

7. A check out method comprising positioning the items of first and second users on a first and second infeed conveyor, respectively, successively positioning a transfer conveyor at the ends of said first and second infeed conveyor on one end of said transfer conveyor and positioning a sorter conveyor on the other end of said transfer conveyor, and successively transferring said items from said first and second infeed conveyors to said transfer conveyor and, subsequently, to said sorter conveyor.

8. A method as in claim 7 wherein said first and second infeed conveyors are positioned substantially parallel, said transfer conveyor is moved substantially perpendicular between said infeed conveyors and said sorter conveyor is positioned parallel to the path of movement of said transfer conveyor.

9. A method as in claim 7 or 8 and further comprising counting said items passing on said transfer conveyor from said infeed conveyor to said sorter conveyor.

10. A method as in claim 9 wherein said infeed and sorter conveyors are substantially fixed.