FR2821195A1 - IMPROVEMENT TO A DESIGNATION APPARATUS - Google Patents

Abstract

The equipment includes a vertical guide tube (1) with an inlet (G) for the insertion of cups, and a waste bin in which they are received. The cup passes detection bars (IR1-3) to monitor its passage through the chute, which is used for collection of cups after vending of drinks. The collection equipment comprises a guide tube (1) which is mounted vertically, or nearly vertical with an inlet (G) for the insertion of cups, and a waste bin in which they are received. The tube is of a diameter to ensure that the cup is guided down in the upright position, falling into the waste bin at the bottom. The cup includes an invisible marking, formed with an ink which is not seen under normal white light, but may be detected under IR light. The cup passes a first detection bar (IR1) near to the inlet (G), and then passes a light transmitting source (LL) and a light detector (LD) so that its passage can be read. the cup finally reaches two further detectors (IR2 and IR3) near to the bottom of the chute. A pivoting finger (D) controls the access to the tube just beneath the inlet (G).

Description

advertising for the sale and promotion of products.

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  Improvement to a logging device

FIELD OF THE INVENTION.

  S The invention relates to an improvement to a disconnection device. More particularly, it relates to the identification system for containers to be discarded, the reliability of which is increased by the use of a new nature-reading device.

  complex different from that of the prior art.

PRIOR ART.

  Various devices have been developed to ensure the de-designation of containers such as cups, cans, bottles, etc. Their references are given in French patent N 2,744,272. These devices all present problems of technical complexity, reliability, costs of use. The invention described in patent N 2 744 272 relates to an apparatus allowing the disconnection of a rigid container or not of liquid or solid products whose identification is ensured by the recognition of a determined marking of this container

  logged by read redundancy.

  The main object of this invention was to ensure the reliability of the identification of the

  marking and consequently of the container by performing this redundancy of reading.

  The device particularly wanted to avoid errors associated with uniqueness of reading, and therefore the non-return of instructions for normally returnable products, caused by soiling, soiling, partial deterioration ... of the marking

  identification or reading device.

  The device optionally describes at least two readings of the marking at different sites and uses an inclusive "OR" logic function to decide on the return of the deposit. Thanks to this function, recognition of the marking by only one of the different

  sites is sufficient to issue a counter-payment.

  This disconnection device, designed to prevent as much as possible a user of a returnable container from being harmed, has however proved to be unable to distinguish the marking of a container identical to that to be recognized but affixed with illicit way

on an unreturned cup.

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  Patent application N 2,785,702 describes an apparatus for canceling rigid or non-rigid containers of liquid or solid products, the identification of which is ensured.

  by recognition of one or two markings of a different nature.

  To ensure the recognition of returnable containers but only of them, the invention combines or not the graphic marking and its reading process mentioned in patent N 2,744,272 with a marking which is very difficult to reproduce or not

  detectable with the naked eye or even difficult to detect and reproduce.

  The apparatus according to the invention which is the subject of application N 2,785,702 is designed so as to ensure all or part of the following steps: processing of the two signals obtained after comparison by a logic "AND" function which does not generate a recognition signal and therefore delivery - of a counter value only if the first two signals correspond to an identification of the markings; - choice of withdrawal or non-withdrawal; - fall of the container into the receptacle; - control of the correct progress of the container;

  - - if necessary, return of the deposit.

  - As in the case described in patent N 2,744,272, the first graphic or screen printing marking of the container, generally a cup, is carried out with a conductive ink or not by a known process. This first marking can possibly be

  a decoy to mislead attempts at fraud.

  The second marking is not reproducible by conventional copying methods.

  The inks of these markings are codifiable. We choose in particular an invisible marking carried out on one or two sites with a fluorescent material under ultraviolet or infrared lighting. The reason chosen is then more or less complex and depends on the management that we intend to practice of the recovered containers, the type of operation made of

the deconsignation device ...

  The device for de-identification is of the type described in French patent N 2,744,272. Its recognition device is designed in a similar way. It does, however, present one or two additional reading site (s) dedicated to the sole recognition of the invisible marking made fluorescent under ultraviolet or infrared lighting. This type of site, which replaces the site of the type described in French patent N

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  2,744,272, consists of at least one ultraviolet or infrared receptor cell. A container scrolling past this ultraviolet or infrared light sends or does not send back to the receiving cell radiation whose nature depends on the container encountered. In the case of a returnable container, the invisible marking excited by the tube or infrared or infrared tube then emits fluorescent radiation coesponding to the signal

marking recognition.

  After reception by the corresponding cells of the light signals emitted by the container, these are processed in the following manner: - according to patent N 2,744,272 the signals emitted by the zone corresponding to the first marking are processed by a logic function << 0U "inclusive allowing this first marking to be identified even if a single reading is validated i - - the signal resulting from this processing and that emitted by the zone corresponding to the fluorescent marking of a returnable container are processed by a logic function << OR >> and << aND ". -: It is the result of the processing of the signals by this second function which makes it possible to give or not the order of delivery of a counter value. Thus, the two markings, or the second when it is unique, must be recognized for the container to be disconnected. The identification of the only non-fluorescent marking is equivalent to a total absence of recognition and does not entail any restitution. If the sites are functional and coupled, the identification of the only fluorescent labeling does not lead either to

deposit of deposit.

  These successive arrangements have not proven to be completely fraud-proof. The improvement brought by the present invention is characterized: - in that at least three reading and measurement sites control the deconsignation process; - in that the setpoint restore order is given by a logic function if the responses to successive readings and measurements are coexistent; - in that at least one ultraviolet or infrared cell observes the passage of a container triggering or not triggering the delisting process; - in that a reading of at least one coded marking is carried out by at least one reading site;

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  - in that it has a device for controlling the direction of travel and for measuring the size of the returnable container, consisting of at least two pairs of ultraviolet or infrared cells, which warns by an audible alarm of any manual attempt to raise the an object supposed to have to be disconnected - and puts the device in safety, without restitution of deposit, if the responses to

  successive readings and measurements are not coexistent.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

  The present invention is based on diagram 1 detailing the devices which make it possible to reliably identify the returnable container and to prevent any attempt

  fraud during the termination process.

  The deconnection device in the standby or rest cycle includes an indicator light (A)

  flashing light that prompts you to put the returnable container in the airlock (1).

  - Therefore (normal deconsignment cycle), the first infrared barrier (2) is -15 cut (IR1 = 1) while the two infrared barriers (3) which follow are not - obstructed (IR2 = IR3 = 0) , causing the energizing of an electromagnet (8) whose horizontal metal finger (9) is lowered with a variable time delay according to the characteristics of the container and returns to its initial position in abutment after the passage thereof. The operation of the finger allows the cells to perform a reading on the fly or when stopped according to the characteristics of the container to be disconnected and mechanically prevents any manual attempt to raise an object supposed to be disconnected. The container is then recognized by at least one reading of the first marking device in the visible (C1 = 1) (10) and / or of the second marking device in the ultraviolet or infrared (C2 = 0) (10 ' ), letting through the container whose markings have thus been identified. In its fall, the latter cuts the two infrared barriers spaced apart so that (4) IR2 = 1 and IR3 = 0, then (5) IR2 = 0 and IR3 = 1. The disconnection device recognizes the container as valid because it has the appropriate predetermined markings and a normal size. Also the light (A) goes out while a light (B) comes on, and the setpoint is restored. The device returns to its standby cycle

  for a new disconnection operation, the indicator (A) flashes again.

  If C1 = 0 (11) and / or C2 = 1 (11 '), the container is considered unknown and is discharged into the trash (disposal device) without deposit of deposit, before

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  return of the disconnection device to its waiting cycle. This device makes it possible to recover containers other than those of the operator while respecting the environment. Similarly if C1 = 1 (10) and / or C2 = 0 (10 ') but if (6) IR2 = lR3 = 1, the container S having an abnormal size but whose markings are adequate will be disposed of in the trash without deposit of deposit (size compliance system). This device makes it possible to prevent the return of deposit for containers of different sizes on which the markings have been affixed in an often illegal manner In (7), if IR2 = 1 or IR3 = 1 when IR1 = 0, an anti-fraud device notes the path in the opposite direction of a container which triggers an audible alarm and causes the return of the disconnection device to the waiting cycle without restitution of the set point. This device is designed to prevent the same returnable container from

  are used in several deconsignation processes.

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Claims (3)

REVEN DICATIONS   1. Apparatus for deconsigning rigid or non-rigid containers of liquid or solid products by identifying determined parameters comprising: At 5 - introductory airlock (1), - said airlock comprising at least three reading and measurement sites, IR1, IR2 and IR3, - a receptacle for used containers or unidentified objects, - a device for return of equivalent value, characterized in that: - a first pair of ultraviolet or infrared cells (2 and 3) placed on the side and other of the airlock (1) notes the introduction into said airlock of an object, triggers the process of de-identification by the lowering of a horizontal metal finger (9) with a variable time delay according to the characteristics of the container releasing the passage by gravity of the object, and - resuming its initial position in abutment after passage of the container, :: - :. -: -the. finger operation. metallic allows the cells to carry out a reading on the fly or at a standstill depending on the characteristics of the container to - unregister and mechanically prevent any manual attempt to raise an object supposed to be unregistered, - at least one infrared cell or ultraviolet (10'-11 ') identifies the markings made on the containers using one or more invisible inks made fluorescent in the ultraviolet or infrared, - the inks of these markings are coded on request and are not recognized that by the second cell or cells, - a third recognition device composed of at least two pairs of ultraviolet or infrared cells (4-5) (6-7) measure the size of the container scrolling past them by gravity and warn by an audible alarm any manual attempt to raise an object supposed to be disconnected for a new operation having the same purpose, - the order of return setpoint is only given by the logic function if the responses to successive readings are coexistent, 28211 95   if these answers are not consistent, they trigger an audible alarm, the machine going into safety and the deconnection process being interrupted. S 2. A disconnection device according to claim 1, characterized in that if the responses to the readings carried out successively are inconsistent but good   path, the container is considered unknown and evacuated.   3. disconnection device according to any one of claims 1 and 2,   characterized in that the responses to the readings carried out successively on a container, the size of which does not comply with the standards of the returnable container, are such that