EP2816536B1 - Empty goods return machine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a reverse vending machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a reverse vending machine comprises a processing device for accepting or issuing an empties object or for issuing a receipt.

About such a reverse vending machine, for example, returnable bottles or deposit funds can be returned with a user inserts a deposit bottle or empties box in a configured receiving device of the reverse vending machine or pushes and in return receives the deposit value of the returned empties amount paid or a receipt (Pledge) on the deposit value for payment to a cashier receives.

In the case of a conventional reverse vending machine, for example, an acceptance device is activated when a user inserts or inserts an emptied object into the acceptance device. As a result of the activation, for example, a conveyor of the acceptance device is set in motion, which is the emptied object a detection unit and then forwarded for storage or compaction (for disposable plastic bottles). The fact that the activation of the acceptance device only takes place when the empties object is thrown or inserted, for example, in a receiving shaft of the acceptance device, the activation is relatively sluggish and possibly associated with a (albeit short) waiting time for the user.

After a return of empties objects, a user must also use a suitable input device, such as a button to pay the deposit or to receive a receipt. This requires, on the one hand, the provision of such an input device at the reverse vending machine and, on the other hand, an additional operating step for the user when returning empties objects.

At one of the DE 298 12 678 U1 known return station for reusable containers, a switch-on device for turning on a detection unit is provided. The switch-on device can be formed, for example, by a light barrier, a light scanner or a sensor which detects an approach of a reusable container to be returned and as a result switches on a detection unit.

The DE 10 2011 109 392 A1 discloses a vending machine with a goods dispenser, in which a user interface is provided with a touch screen. The touch screen is used in a touch-sensitive way to enter commands and also to display information.

From the US 2010/0103131 A1 and the WO 2012/072835 A1 are each a vending machine with a touchscreen device known.

The DE 10 2010 040 177 A1 discloses a vending machine or reverse vending machine, for example, for taking back empty bottles, in which a tactile screen is provided.

The FR 2 970 797 A1 discloses a device called an interactive facade in which a touch of a facade can be detected by means of image matrix sensors.

From the WO 2009/021227 A2 For example, a recycle system for reclaimed goods is known, in which a controller can be made, for example, by means of data gloves whose movement is converted into computer gestures.

From a publication of M. Morales et al. "Vendor Profiles: Omek Interactive: Gesture Recognition and Machine Vision Technology for Intelligent Systems", XP055085512, August 2012 is a gesture control for a vending machine known.

The US 2007/0086764 A1 describes a gesture control for a camera.

Object of the present invention is to provide a reverse vending machine and a method for operating a reverse vending machines are available that allow the simplest, comfortable for a user operation for returning an emptied object.

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

Accordingly, in a reverse vending machine, a gesture recognition unit is additionally provided, which is designed to recognize an operating gesture of a user located in a detection area of the gesture recognition unit and to convert it into a control command for controlling the processing facility.

The present invention is based on the idea to use a gesture recognition unit for controlling a reverse vending machine. The gesture recognition unit is designed to recognize at least one operating gesture of a user. The operating gesture may be in a movement of the user (For example, the movement of an arm to approach an empties object to an acceptance device), in a viewing direction of the user, a facial expression of the user, a posture of the user or the like, possibly in combination with an audible utterance of the user exist. The gesture recognition unit detects such a gesture and evaluates it to generate a control command in response to an operator gesture, which is then used to control the processing unit, for example, an acceptance device for accepting an empties object or an output device for issuing money or for issuing a document , Depending on the control command then, for example, an acceptance device can be activated or stopped again, it can be the issue of a pledge equivalent money or a receipt, or it can be issued to a user, for example, to correctly enter an empties object or for further operation ,

The gesture recognition unit is in this case designed to recognize an operator gesture within a detection range of the gesture recognition unit. If a user is at least partially within the detection area, an operating gesture of the user can be evaluated and converted into a suitable control command. The detection area is in this case advantageously preceded by a housing of the reverse vending machine and detects an area in which a user usually resides in order to supply an emptied object to an acceptance device of the reverse vending machine or to perform another operating action on the reverse vending machine.

Thus, by means of the gesture recognition unit, for example, a spatial area with a radius of up to four meters, preferably up to two meters in front of the reverse vending machine are detected, wherein the gesture recognition unit detects a room and thus recognizes three-dimensional operation gestures of a user.

• mindestens ein Mikrofon zur Erfassung eines akustischen Signals,
• mindestens eine Projektionseinrichtung zur Erzeugung eines Projektionsbildes in dem Erfassungsbereich und eine Aufnahmeeinrichtung zur Aufnahme des projizierten Projektionsbilds aus dem Erfassungsbereich und/oder
• eine Kamera zur Aufnahme eines Bilds sichtbaren Lichts aus dem Erfassungsbereich aufweisen. Die Sensoreinrichtung ist somit dazu ausgestaltet, unterschiedliche optische und/oder akustische Signale aus dem Erfassungsbereich aufzunehmen, um anhand der empfangenen Signale eine Bedienungsgeste zu erkennen und in einen geeigneten Steuerbefehl umzusetzen.

The gesture recognition unit preferably comprises at least one sensor device for providing a sensor signal and a control device for generating a control command from the sensor signal. The sensor device can in this case, for example

• at least one microphone for detecting an acoustic signal,
• at least one projection device for generating a projection image in the detection area and a recording device for recording the projected projection image from the detection area and / or
• a camera for receiving an image of visible light from the detection area. The sensor device is thus designed to record different optical and / or acoustic signals from the detection range in order to recognize an operating gesture based on the received signals and to convert it into a suitable control command.

The sensor device is generally designed to detect an operating gesture in a three-dimensional space. The sensor device can in this case, for example, as in the US 2008/0240502 A1 , of the US 7,433,024 B2 , of the US 2009/0185274 A1 , of the US 2010/0020078 A1 whose content is to be fully included in the present case.

The projection device of the sensor device can be designed, for example, to generate an infrared projection image. In this case, the projection device serves to project a projection image into the detection space in the manner of a predetermined pattern in order to capture reflections of the projected projection image by means of the recording device and to generate a depth image on the basis of the projected projection image acquired in this way, the precise information about the distance of an object to the sensor device contains.

The depth image is hereby generated by evaluating distortions of the projected projection image due to reflections on an object located in the detection area. The projection device in this case projects a predetermined pattern into the space of the detection area, for example a dot or bar pattern, which is reflected on objects within the detection area. The projected projection image is picked up by the pickup device, and depth information is calculated from the deviation between the reflected and the known predetermined patterns of the projected image projected by the projection device.

Because the projection device and likewise the recording device operate in the infrared wavelength range, the calculation of the depth information is insensitive to daylight.

The recording device may, for example, have a frame rate of 30 fps for recording moving pictures and a resolution in the full HD range (1920 × 1080 pixels) or lower (for example 1280 × 1024 pixels).

The camera is preferably designed as a color camera (RGB camera). The camera thus serves to record a color image, wherein the camera, for example, a frame rate of 30 fps and a resolution in the Full HD range (1920 x 1080 pixels) or even lower (for example, 1280 x 1,024 pixels) may have.

Preferably, the sensor device comprises at least two spaced-apart microphones for the spatial detection of an acoustic signal. By means of two or more microphones can thus be spatially recorded an acoustic signal, so that a spatial localization of the acoustic source can be made.

The sensor device with its individual sensors can be fixedly arranged on a housing of the reverse vending machine. It is also conceivable that the sensor device can be adjusted by motor relative to the housing, for example, by being able to be inclined about a horizontal pivot axis by a predetermined angular range. This allows the adjustment of the detection range, for example, depending on the presence and the behavior of a user, for example, depending on the height of a user or its approach to the reverse vending machine, the adjustment can be done automatically as a result of detected by the sensor sensor sensor signals.

The gesture recognition unit can be designed, for example, to recognize within the detection area a user gesture, for example the approach of an empties object to an acceptance device or the termination of a throw-in process or the like, in order to control the empties return device depending on a recognized operating gesture. In this context, it is also conceivable and possible to combine the gesture recognition unit with a recognition unit for detecting and recognizing an emptied object. By means of the gesture recognition unit, it is recognized in accordance with the claim whether an emptied object which is approximated or inserted is an emptied object which can be accepted and processed at the reverse vending machine. Depending on the recognition of a gesture recognition unit, an emptied object can then be rejected or accepted early. The provision of a separate detection unit on an acceptance device of the reverse vending machine can thus be dispensed with.

The object is further achieved by a method for operating a reverse vending machine. The reverse vending machine has a processing device for receiving or outputting an empties object or for outputting a receipt. It is provided that a gesture recognition unit detects an operating gesture of a user located in a detection area of the gesture recognition unit and converts it into a control command for controlling the processing device.

For advantages and advantageous embodiments, reference is made to the above, which applies analogously to the method application.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht eines Leergutrücknahmeautomaten;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Ansicht einer Sensoreinrichtung des Leergutrücknahmeautomaten zur Bereitstellung einer Gestenerkennungseinheit;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Ansicht eines Nutzers an einem Leergutrücknahmeautomat; und

Fig. 4

eine schematische Ansicht eines mittels einer Projektionseinrichtung projizierten Projektionsbilds zur Erfassung durch eine Aufnahmeeinrichtung.

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

Fig. 1

a schematic view of a reverse vending machine;

Fig. 2

a schematic view of a sensor device of the reverse vending machine for providing a gesture recognition unit;

Fig. 3

a schematic view of a user at a reverse vending machine; and

Fig. 4

a schematic view of projected by means of a projection device projection image for detection by a recording device.

Fig. 1 shows in a schematic view of a reverse vending machine 1, for returning an empties object F in the form of a reusable or disposable bottle (see Fig. 3 ) is configured by a user N or to return an empties box.

For this purpose, the reverse vending machine 1 has an acceptance device 10 in the form of an acceptance shaft for insertion or insertion of an emptied object F in the form of a bottle and an acceptance device 11 for setting an empties box. About the receiving devices 10, 11 inserted or inserted empties objects F, for example, in a known manner a detection unit for detecting the empties object F is fed and then be transported by means of a suitable conveyor to a deposit or a Kompaktierungseinheit (in disposable plastic bottles).

The reverse vending machine 1 is used in a conventional manner for the acceptance of empties objects and pays a user N in return via an output device 12 a deposit in cash or a receipt (pledge), by means of which the user N at a checkout pay off the deposit can let.

The in Fig. 1 illustrated reverse vending machine 1 has a gesture recognition unit 2 for detecting a user gesture N in a detection area E (see Fig. 3 ) on. The gesture recognition unit 2 is configured to recognize an operation gesture such as a movement of the user N, a posture of the user N, a line of sight of the user N or the like, and to convert them into a control command based on which the acceptance devices 10, 11 or the output device 12 (the processing facilities of the reverse vending machine 1 realize) can be controlled.

Such gesture recognition units are known today, for example, from mobile phones or video game consoles. For example, the gesture recognition unit 2 of the reverse vending machine 1 can recognize that a user N directs his gaze to a specific receiving device 10, 11, turns to an acceptance device 10, 11 or approaches an emptied object F to an acceptance device 10, 11. As a result, the gesture recognition unit 2 may generate a control command that activates one or more acceptance devices 10, 11 or the output device 12 and thus prepares for the acceptance of an empties object F or causes the issuance of a deposit or a deposit slip.

By using the gesture recognition unit 2, the operation of the reverse vending machine 1 by a user N becomes simple and intuitive. In particular, the user N does not have to press any keys or operate any other input devices. By intuitively behaving and moving to return an empties object F, the reverse vending machine 1 is automatically controlled without requiring any special, conscious interaction of the user F with other input devices.

An embodiment of a gesture recognition unit 2 is shown schematically in FIG Fig. 2 shown. The gesture recognition unit 2 has, for example, two microphones 20, 21, which are arranged at a distance from one another and serve to receive a three-dimensional sound field. The fact that the microphones 20, 21 are spaced from each other, not only an acoustic signal can be picked up, but the acoustic signal can also be located in the detection area E.

The gesture recognition unit 2 further has a projection device 22 for projecting an infrared projection image into the detection area E. Such an infrared projection image P, as shown schematically in FIG Fig. 4 may, for example, take the form of a predetermined pattern, for example a dot or dash pattern. Reflections of the projection image P at a user N or another object in the detection area E, which is upstream of the reverse vending machine 1 (see Fig. 3 ), are recorded by means of a recording device 23, which is designed in the manner of an infrared camera, for example, with a frame rate of, for example, 30 fps (fps: frames per second). From the deviations between the recorded projection image P and the previously known pattern of the projection image P, which has been projected by the projection device 22, then depth information can be calculated in the manner of a depth image, so that in a spatially highly resolved manner pinpoint the distance of a user N and determine its body regions and limbs from the gesture recognition unit 2.

The gesture recognition unit 2 further has a camera 24 in the form of a color camera (RGB camera) for recording color images with a frame rate of, for example, 30 fps. The camera 24 is thus designed to record images in the visible light range, so that 24 color and brightness information can be obtained and evaluated via the camera.

The microphones 20, 21, the projection device 22, the recording device 23 and the camera 24 together realize a sensor device of the gesture recognition unit 2 for detecting sensor signals. The sensor signals, that is to say the signals of the microphones 20, 21, the recording device 23 and the camera 24, are supplied to a control device 27, for example in the form of a chip, and are evaluated by the control device 27 for generating one or more suitable control commands. By means of the control device 27 can then, for example the acceptance devices 10, 11 or the output device 12 are driven to perform a predetermined action.

The control device 27 may be connected to a memory 28. For example, predetermined operating gesture patterns may be stored on the memory 28 in the manner of a database, so that a detection can be carried out in dependence on a comparison of a recorded operating gesture with a previously stored operating gesture pattern, by means of which a control command can then be generated.

The controller 27 also acts together with arranged on a housing 13 of the reverse vending machine 1 speakers 25, 26 and a screen 29. About the speakers 25, 26, for example, an acoustic output to guide a user N to operate the empties return vending machine 1, warnings generate or other acoustic feedback, such as a warning sound or the like, output. About the screen 29 operating instructions can be issued in a comparable manner, or it can be played advertising or the like.

As schematically in Fig. 3 illustrated, the sensor device 20-24 of the gesture recognition unit 2 is used to perform a gesture recognition within a detection range E, which is a housing 13 of the reverse vending machine 1 upstream. A gesture recognition can be performed here, for example, within a range with a radius of up to four meters, for example up to two meters to the gesture recognition unit 2, so that only gestures of a user N, which is close to a reverse vending machine 1, detected and recognized. The detection area E extends spatially in three dimensions and may, for example, have the shape of a detection funnel.

The sensor device 20-24 can be arranged with its individual sensors (microphones 20, 21, projection device 22, receiving device 23, camera 24) or adjustable in total on the housing 13 of the reverse vending machine 1. In this case, the adjustability may be such that the sensor device 20-24 as a whole or individual ones of the sensors 20-24 are separated from one another about a horizontal pivot axis S (see FIG Fig. 3 ) can be pivoted, so that the detection range E in height, for example, depending on the height of a user N can be automatically adjusted.

The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can in principle also be implemented in completely different embodiments.

By means of the gesture recognition unit provided, basically completely different operating gestures of a user can be recognized and evaluated, so that operation of a reverse vending machine can proceed completely without (conscious) user interaction.

For example, a reverse vending machine can be activated as a whole as soon as a user enters a detection area. An acceptance device can be activated when the user carries out a movement of an empties object in the direction of the acceptance device. And when the user then directs his gaze, for example, toward an issuer, an issue of the deposit or a pledge may be made without requiring the user to operate an input device of some sort, such as a button or a button.

The operation by a user is thus simple, intuitive and comfortable, with inertia-related waiting times for a user can be largely avoided by, for example, an activation or control of acceptance devices or output devices can be done early on the basis of a detected gesture.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Empties accepting Machine

10, 11

acceptor

12

output device

13

casing

2

Gesture recognition unit

20, 21

microphone

22

projection device

23

recording device

24

camera

25, 26

speaker

27

control device

28

Storage

29

screen

e

detection range

F

empties object

N

user

P

projection image

Claims (10)

1. Reverse vending machine (1), comprising

   - a processing device (10, 11, 12) for receiving or outputting an empties object (F) or for issuing a receipt,

   characterized by
   a gesture recognition unit (2) that is configured to recognize a control gesture of a user (N) located in a capturing region (E) of the gesture recognition unit (2) and to convert said gesture into a control command for controlling the processing device (10, 11, 12), wherein the gesture recognition unit (2) is configured to capture a space and to recognize control gestures of a user in a three-dimensional manner, wherein the gesture recognition unit (2) is configured for recognizing an approaching empties object (F) so as to reject or to accept the empties object (F) depending on the recognition, wherein the reverse vending machine (1) recognizes, using the gesture recognition unit (2), whether the approaching empties object (F) is an empties object (F) that can be received and processed at the reverse vending machine (1).
2. Reverse vending machine (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the gesture recognition unit (2) has a sensor device (20-24) for providing a sensor signal and a control device (27) for generating a control command from the sensor signal.
3. Reverse vending machine (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the sensor device (20-24) has

   - at least one microphone (20, 21) for capturing an acoustic signal,

   - at least one projection device (22) for generating a projection image (P) in the capturing region (E) and a recording device (23) for recording the projected projection image (P) from the capturing region (E) and/or

   - a camera for recording an image of visible light from the capturing region (E).
4. Reverse vending machine (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the projection device (22) is configured to generate an infrared projection image (P) and the recording device (23) is configured to record the projected infrared projection image (P).
5. Reverse vending machine (1) according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the gesture recognition unit (2) is configured to derive spatial information relating to the user (N) located in the capturing region (E) from the projected projection image (P) that is recorded by the recording device (23).
6. Reverse vending machine (1) according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the camera (24) is configured as a colour camera.
7. Reverse vending machine (1) according to one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the sensor device (20-24) has at least two microphones (20, 21), which are spaced apart from one another, for spatially capturing an acoustic signal.
8. Reverse vending machine (1) according to one of Claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the sensor device (20-24) is displaceable relative to a housing (13) of the reverse vending machine (1).
9. Reverse vending machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gesture recognition unit (2) is configured to recognize

   - a control gesture carried out by the user (N) in the capturing region (E) for inserting an empties object (F),

   - an entrance of the user (N) into the capturing region (E) and/or

   - an approach of an empties object (F) to the processing device (10, 11).
10. Method for operating a reverse vending machine (1) having a processing device (10, 11, 12) for receiving or outputting an empties object (F) or for issuing a receipt,
    characterized in that
    a gesture recognition unit (2) recognizes a control gesture of a user (N) located in a capturing region (E) of the gesture recognition unit (2) and converts said gesture into a control command for controlling the processing device (10, 11, 12), wherein the gesture recognition unit (2) is configured to capture a space and to recognize control gestures of a user in a three-dimensional manner, wherein the gesture recognition unit (2) recognizes an approaching empties object (F) and rejects or accepts the empties object (F) depending on the recognition, wherein the reverse vending machine (1) recognizes, using the gesture recognition unit (2), whether the approaching empties object (F) is an empties object (F) that can be received and processed at the reverse vending machine (1).

Images