EP1515280A2 - Deposit marking, deposit item and return device for deposit items as well as procedure for device-controlled deposit check and deposit return - Google Patents

Abstract

In an input channel (2) with preset magnetic excitation of an exciting coil (5), a returnable item (8) with a deposit is monitored for deposit-labeling (9) on the returnable item and then magnetized through high magnetic excitation as far as the remanence of an indicator element. Coils (3-6) fit around the input channel concentrically. Independent claims are also included for the following: (a) an item with a deposit to be reclaimed with a refund; (b) a recycling device for an item with a deposit and a deposit-labeling device; (c) a method for controlling returnable items and return of deposit.

Description

The invention relates to a deposit mark according to the preamble of claim 1, a pledged product according to the preamble of claim 4, a return device for Pledged product according to the preamble of claim 5 and a method for technical deposit check and deposit return according to the generic term of the Claim 10.

The withdrawal, in particular provided for by recent statutory provisions of pledged about cans and bottles creates especially technical Retail problems, especially in the specialized beverage trade standard withdrawal and reimbursement "by hand" the streamlined retail business blasts. This has long been a cause for development given to make the deposit recovery device technology automatically, with as Tamper proof at least one recognition is required that it is Pledged property from a system intended for reimbursement.

Often preferred optical control systems, by optical markers or Coding in particular common strip codes emanate are therefore inadequate, because the optical detection is often due to contamination, surface damage or - with cans or plastic containers - by denting is impaired. Moreover, such systems do not exclude that Pledge after return not returned, but diverted and again in a device technical deposit return is fed, so that once paid deposit is refunded several times. Moreover, they are optically readable Markers comparatively easy to manipulate and deceive.

The object of the invention is accordingly, a reliable, robust and to create a simple marking system for pledged goods, which not only the to recognize (original) pledge entitlement of a presented object allows, but in this also with compensation of the pledge allowed to devalue.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a deposit mark with the Characteristics of claim 1 or by a pledge with the features of Claim 4 and a return device with the features of claim 5 and a method with the features of claim 10 solved.

A key function is the pawn mark, whose ferromagnetic Properties are to be used in different ways and in particular also with dirt, abrasions, dentures and other damages remain effective.

A key function has a ferromagnetic indicator element higher magnetic remanence, which until the pledge return not in the Remanence area is magnetized out. In general you will be in such a Case using a "virgin" starting material. It can However, find an already pre-magnetized material application, which partially magnetized in opposite directions or in different directions was to an at least largely weakened magnetic field to the outside leave. The magnetization of the indicator element in the remanence area into it serves the "devaluation" for the sensory detection, that a (again) Refund of the deposit is not to be released.

For a prior review of the pledge on a compensation claim is a magnetic excitation in a controlled under the predetermined remanence Area provided. This modulation can be by a single pulse or Jump signal, preferably, however, a changing Output control provided in particular with sine or square waves.

In particular, in a virgin material for the indicator element of the Starting branch of the magnetization curve of the material used for the review whether one is small in terms of the saturation characteristic of the material Arousal inductions of a predetermined kind achieved, then in one Exciter coil or in a separate sensor coil to be tested voltages induce.

Preferably, however, the indicator element with its high remanence specially and exclusively for the devaluation, while giving him a second associated ferromagnetic reporting element lower magnetic remanence which responds first with small excitation level and thus the Recoup releases, but then from the indicator element with larger Remanence and expediently also larger remanent induction flow according to Inductance and cross-section magnetically set and disabled. expedient For example, the indicator element and the reporting element are juxtaposed Strip or threads designed so that the two elements with respect to outer Fields are parallel to each other, but internally form a magnetic circuit in which the Notification element is disabled by the indicator element when the indicator element in remanent magnetic state.

With such a pledge marking, two adjacent - i. also if necessary superimposed strips of an indicator element and a signaling element very flat and narrow and with a total length of for example only 10 to 20 mm is executed, a pledge can be simple, robust and inexpensive equip. The pawn mark is inexpensive to produce as a mass part and sufficiently robust to connect with the pledge. So can the mark with a tin can surface glued or welded and also with Plastic bottles are glued if they are not already in bottle making embedded in the plastic material.

The pledge then only needs the return of a magnetic check to be subjected to the manner described above, before it opens the way to Recycling works.

A return device for pledged goods with such a deposit mark is with a Input channel and provided with at least one magnetic coil whose magnetic Field detects the input channel. Preferably, the input channel becomes prismatic or cylindrical and formed by the magnetic coil or a system of Magnet coils enclosed, so that in the coil core a high and relatively uniform Magnetic field occurs.

The input channel is preferably continuous and in the simplest case for easy entry and further promotion designed vertically as a chute, too if basically about a horizontal and also an end closed or provided with flaps input channel is conceivable. The latter comes for the rejection of items that are not to be recognized as pledges.

A procedure for device-specific deposit control and deposit return provides that the pledge on the basis of the deposit mark first with a predetermined Magnetic excitation is monitored by a solenoid to the effect that it is a reimbursement entitled pledge, then with a high magnetic excitation to the remanence of the indicator element the To cancel the deposit mark. This procedure can be in the electrical Area very quickly follow each other, so that pledges also in free fall through a chute can be recognized and canceled.

Fig. 1

schematisierte Ansicht eines Eingabekanals in einem Rücknahmegerät für Pfandgut mit zugehörigen Magnetspulen und einer durchlaufenden Pfanddose,

Fig. 2

eine Pfandmarkierung zur Pfanddose aus Fig. 1.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be described in more detail below. In the drawing show:

Fig. 1

Schematic view of an input channel in a return device for pledged items with associated magnetic coils and a continuous deposit box,

Fig. 2

a deposit mark to the deposit box from Fig. 1st

In Fig. 1, a total of 1 designated return device for pledged only with an input channel 2 and a set of magnetic coils 3,4,5,6, which surround the input channel 2 concentrically. The input channel 2 is vertical aligned with a sufficiently large internal cross section for pledged items such as cans or bottles with a given outer cross-section or circumferential profile. Such bottles or cans are designed predominantly circular cylindrical, but will the free cross-section of the input channel with a sufficient oversize provided to dented aluminum or tinplate cans or compressed or evacuated plastic bottles despite the above-mentioned cross-sectional areas to drop freely. In an expediently provided circular cross-section of the input channel 2, the magnetic coils 3,4,5,6 can be designed as cylindrical coils which, in the present case, are not only coaxial with respect to the Input channels, but for the sake of simplicity also enclosing each other arranged, in the simplest case are thus wound on top of each other, which also leads to one compact design leads. The free core of the coils encloses an at least in essential iron-free spool core 7 as a section of the input channel 2. The Coils are formed in the present case as pure air coils, although the Coils for bundling the magnetic flux on the outside with ferromagnetic Claddings or yokes could be provided.

The internal coil 3 is a sensor coil (pick-up coil), which is not to a shown evaluation device is connected, in which the induced signals the shape, the time course, the frequency spectrum and the temporal allocation can be controlled to an excitation signal, which is based on an excitation coil 5 is given and inductively transmits to the sensor coil 3.

It depends on the inductive influence of the magnetic field by a incident box 8, which is provided as a pledge with a deposit mark 9. This deposit mark 9 contains ferromagnetic elements, due to the not linear magnetization line of such material characteristic induction jumps and thus trigger forms of tension, on the basis of which the property as such identify is.

In order to do so, the underlying inductions of the excitation field but also To eliminate interference from the outside, is a coil 6 as a compensation coil whose signal is advantageously subtracted from the signal which is received by the excitation coil, so as to receive the return signal of the deposit mark 9 to highlight.

In the coil system is further integrated a magnetic coil 4, as Deactivation coil serves, after the detection of the deposit mark 9 with Help the sensor coil 3 a sufficiently high, significantly higher than that of the exciter coil Apply 5 lying magnetic field and thus the pledge marking disable or "invalidate".

Thus, when the sensor coil 3 has supplied a signal that in a not shown subsequent evaluation confirms that it is in the input channel may be a reimbursement signal be issued. This controls a cash return in cash or a receipt or any other credit. After that is the pawn mark 9 using the deactivation coil 4 to disable and thus one Repeat pledged reimbursement with the help of the same pledge.

Due to the deposit detection with the help of the sensor coil 3 can in a downstream Part of the input channel provided a flap or the like. Wegsteuerung to throw back pledges that are not reimbursable. Similarly, locks or flaps can be provided in the input channel 2 to the checking and deactivation process in the field of coils 3,4,5,6 to be carried out with the pledge 8 stopped. In general, but the enough electrical processing speed of the magnetic coils and also the downstream Evaluation electronics off, a freely collapsing property without a Test stop to check and disable.

The measurement and deactivation process can be performed by separate mechanical sensors, Photocells or the like. Sensors are triggered, as soon as pledges in the input channel falls down. In the present case, however, provided that the deposit mark has a bias, in the sensor coil 3 a first (Start) signal induced.

In Fig. 2 a deposit mark 9 is enlarged and in particular for reasons of illustration shown greatly widened. It is a compound Element with a total length of less than 20, here 15 mm and a width of only 1.5 mm, resulting from the width of a narrow elongated deactivator plate 10 results on which a reporting element 11 in the form of a "microwire" (microwire) firmly rests. In this design, the deposit mark 9 forms a solid Unit that is as firm with a deposit box, deposit bottle or other To bond, to weld or to connect pledges in any other way is. The deposit mark then preferably receives the orientation shown in Fig. 1 approximately parallel to the main extension of the pledge, so that the pledge marking 9 magnetically good with the magnetic fields in the core of the magnetic coils 3,4,5,6 can interact.

The signaling element 11 is a commercially available micro-wire with a diameter from about 17 to 20 microns, due to its material properties and its processing represents a single magnetic dipole. If this dipole by an external magnetic field, here by the excitation coil 5, for folding is induced, it induces a well-identifiable magnetic in the sensor coil 3 Pulse voltage. This is then used for detection in one of the sensor coil 3 downstream evaluation, that it is entitled to reimbursement Pledge trade.

In close contact with the reporting element 11 is the hard magnetic indicator element 10, which is not initially biased but a high magnetic Remanence and coercive field strength, in the previous detection Actually not involved. But on the pawn mark 9 with the help of Deactivation coil 4 a strong, on the coercive force of the indicator element 10 outgoing field given, then forms the indicator element 10th a permanent magnet with magnetic return via the signaling element 11, the now permanently so strong is charged that it by a renewed excitement with the help of the exciter coil 5 no longer for magnetic folding and thus for Signal comes.

The pawn mark is thus canceled, with the high remanence of the indicator element Also withstand manipulation with magnetic excitement, about the Restoring start-up condition of the indicator element. The whole system can thus be considered forgery-proof.

The deposit mark shown can be produced as a prefabricated unit and at to attach a pledged item, such as by gluing or welding. A Production technology interesting alternative sees the use of powdered ferritic magnetic material that in liquid or viscous state with a share of varnish or resin on a pledge print or spread is. For example, the indicator element may consist of a continuous, only 1 to 2 mm wide and 8 to 15 mm long printed paint strips with incorporated iron strontium oxide powder or even from a series of points that as a whole realize such a strip, but Pointwise - as rectangle sections of the strip - better to control are. Likewise, the reporting element from a printable applied Strips that runs approximately close to the indicator element strip.

Claims (10)

Deposit marking (9) for equipment to be taken back with a refund (8) such as cans or bottles, characterized by at least one on the property (8) arranged ferromagnetic indicator element (10) high magnetic remanence, which is not or not holistically magnetized to remanence , Deposit marking (9) according to claim 1, characterized in that the indicator element (10) is added a ferromagnetic message element (11) of lesser magnetic Remanzenz to a magnetic circuit. Deposit marking according to claim 2, characterized in that the indicator element (10) and the reporting element (11) form two strips running next to each other. Pledged item (8) for a device with a redeeming duchzuführende withdrawal, characterized in that it is fixedly connected to a deposit mark (9) according to one of claims 1 to 3. Return device (1) for pledged goods (8) with a deposit mark (9) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by an input channel (2) and at least one magnetic coil (3, 4, 5, 6) whose magnetic field is the input channel (2). 2). Return device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the input channel (2) is designed as a chute. Return device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the input channel (2) leads into a storage space. Return device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the input channel is associated with a plurality of magnetic coils, of which at least one is an exciter coil and another a pickup coil. Return device (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the coils (3, 4, 5, 6) are arranged concentrically around the input channel (2). Method for device-based deposit check and return of pledge (8) in a return device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the item (8) in the input channel (2) initially with a predetermined magnetic excitation of an excitation coil (5) monitored on a pledge (9) for zurückzunehmendes pledge (8) and then magnetized by a high magnetic excitation to the remanence of the indicator element (10).

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