GB2299072A

GB2299072A - Collecting Recycleable Material

Info

Publication number: GB2299072A
Application number: GB9505883A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Brooks
Original assignee: Tony Team Ltd
Current assignee: Tony Team Ltd
Priority date: 1995-03-24
Filing date: 1995-03-24
Publication date: 1996-09-25
Also published as: GB9505883D0

Abstract

The collection arrangement 10 for material and particualrly a can crusher and collector for aluminium cans has incorporated therein in a display device 12 capable of displaying a plurality of images 14, 16, for example, advertisements. The disply may comprise one or more screens 14, 16 on to which images are projected by any suitable means. The screens are preferably TV screens, preferably located above the collector and preferably three in number. The images may be on a timer to provide sequential images. Alternatively, posters or transparencies, projected or back lit displays may be provided instead.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO COLLECTORS FOR RECYCLEABLE MATERIAL The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to collectors for recycleable material, especially but not exclusively collectors for drinks cans.

The invention is applicable to a range of collectors for recycleable material. In addition to collectors for drinks cans, the invention is applicable to any receptacle into which members of the public can deposit, for example, bottles, newspapers, clothing, dry cell batteries, used engine oil.

Such receptacles are often expensive and this expense discourages their use by, for example, Local Authorities, supermarkets and factories, especially when the recycled waste does not provide a high financial return.

Some collectors, for example, the drinks can collector to which the present invention is especially directed, are particularly expensive in that as well as collecting the cans, they crush them and often sort cans of different materials.

In summary, therefore, whereas the collection of recycleable material is most desireable, the cost of providing the collector could be high and this creates considerable disadvantages.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these and other disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a collection arrangement for material, the arrangement comprising material receiving and storing means and a display device capable of displaying a plurality of images.

Preferably the collection arrangement is intended to receive the drinks cans and includes means for crushing the cans prior to storage.

Preferably the display device comprises a screen on to which is sequentially displayed a plurality of images. The display may be by a projection system or a back lit system. The images may be carried by transparencies or posters.

Preferably a timing arrangement is incorporated in the display device to control the sequential changing of images displayed. Additionally means may be provided to change the image when the collection arrangement receives a new item.

Alternatively the display device comprises one or more television screens.

Preferably three screens are provided to project images to the front and sides of the collection arrangement.

Preferably the screens are mounted on the top of the collection arrangement.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of a drinks can collecting arrangement.

The drinks can collecting arrangement conveniently comprises a can crusher of the type disclosed in our co-pending U.K. Patent Application 9401116 with a display device mounted thereon. The invention, is however, applicable to any recycleable material collecting arrangement, for example, a bottle bank or a waste paper receiving skip.

Mounted on top of the can crusher 10 is a multi-screen advertising display device 12. Conveniently a first display screen 14 faces the front of the can crusher and two further display screens 16, only one of which is shown are arranged on each side of the can crusher. Any suitable display screen may be employed but in the embodiment now described, each display screen is provided with an arrangement for sequentially displaying images. The images may be posters or transparencies which are arranged in a continuous loop and moved behind the display screens 14,16, there being provided a back light (not shown) so that the images are illuminated. Means are provided for transporting the loop of images sequentially across the screen and a timer is included to ensure that each image is displayed for a pre-determined time.Additionally means may be provided to advance the images across the screen each time a can is fed to the can crusher. To provide this facility it is necessary to included a can detector which signals the image transporting means each time a can is detected.

The images can carry advertising material and the provision of advertising space can provide revenue to defray the cost of the can crusher so that, a supermarket, for example, can readily provide recycleable waste facilities at little or no cost to itself.

Suitable locations for can crushers of this nature would be shopping centres, supermarkets, fast food outlets, hospitals, airports, garages, motorway service stations , leisure centres, schools, universities, large office blocks and canteens.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, for example, the display device can take any suitable means form, and a projected transparency device replacing the loop of images can be employed.

In a further modification the display device could involve the use of T.V. screens connected to a video machine and this would open up the prospect of, for example, encouraging children to use the apparatus by displaying short cartoons etc., when a can is fed to the crusher. The picture projected by the T.V. screen could, in a further modification, be fed to it by a cable so that the information displayed could be altered from a remote location.

In a further modification the display screens could be incorporated in the modified casing of the can crusher.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims:

1. A collection arrangement for material, the arrangement comprising material receiving and storing means and a display device capable of displaying a plurality of images.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the collection arrangement is intended to receive the drinks cans and includes means for crushing the cans prior to storage.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the display device comprises a screen on to which is sequentially displayed a plurality of images.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claims 1 to 3, in which the display is by a projection system or a back lit system.

5. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the images are carried by transparencies or posters.

6. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a timing arrangement is incorporated in the display device to control the sequential changing of images displayed.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, in which means are provided to change the image when the collection arrangement receives a new item.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, in which the display device comprises one or more television screens.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, in which three screens are provided to project images to the front and sides of the collection arrangement.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, in which the screens are mounted on the top of the collection arrangement.

11. A collection arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.