JP2000118601A - Device for detecting and discharging residual material in container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the spattering and adhesion of the residual material to the periphery by providing a residual material detecting means for detecting the material left in a container and a residual material discharging means for discharging the residual material inside the container on the basis of the detection by the residual material detecting means between an opening part and a housing part. SOLUTION: The residual liquid C inside of a container A is discharged for recovery by a residual liquid detecting and discharging device 11, and weight of the container A housed in a housing part 4 is reduced, and a load to be applied to a dispenser can be reduced. Furthermore, adhesion of the residual liquid C to the inner and the outer surfaces of the dispenser B, a user and a worker at the time of housing and recovery can be surely prevented. Since existence of the residual liquid C is discriminated on the basis of the detection by a residual liquid detecting sensor S2, in the case where the liquid C is left in the container A, weight is larger than the weight of the container A itself, and the residual quantity of the residual liquid C can be accurately and surely detected, and the residual liquid can be discharged at need.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container (for example, a plastic bottle, an aluminum can, a steel can, a glass bottle) in which a content liquid (content) such as soft drink, carbonated drink, drinking water, tea, liquor and the like is enclosed. The present invention relates to a device for detecting and discharging a residue of a container, which is attached to a vending machine which sells the container and discharges and collects the residual contents in the container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an apparatus for collecting a container as described above, for example, after drinking a liquid contained in the container, the container is put into a collection box installed at the side of a vending machine. Vending machines that collect regularly (6-3
No. 9424), and a container collection structure (Utility Model No. 3042523) in which an empty container in which a content liquid has been swallowed is put in a collection box placed on the top of a vending machine.

[0003]

However, when the above-mentioned container is put into a collection box, the content liquid sealed in the container is often left without being drunk or completely drained. The container in which the content liquid remains may be erroneously or intentionally charged.

[0004] Since the content liquid remains in the container put into the collection box, the weight of the entire collection box becomes heavy, and it is difficult to move or lift the collection box when collecting the container. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to collect the containers.

On the other hand, when a container is put into a collection box at the top of a vending machine, it is difficult to put the container accurately, the container is scattered around the vending machine, and the content liquid remaining in the container is scattered. Or you may.

[0006] If the contents liquid remains in the container, the weight given to the vending machine itself becomes heavy, so that a failure, deformation, or the like is likely to occur, which causes the function of the vending machine to be impaired. At the time of charging and collection, the residual liquid in the container is likely to flow out, and the liquid may adhere to the purchaser or worker.
Further, if the liquid content adheres to the inner and outer surfaces of the vending machine, it may cause a short circuit in the electric system or a malfunction.

In addition, the collection box must be lowered from the top of the vending machine, the work posture when unloading the box is poor, and the container put in the collection box may be accidentally discharged.
The content liquid remaining in the container and the collection box adheres or scatters on the outer surface and the periphery of the vending machine. The smell peculiar to the contents is released to the surroundings and insects such as fly and mosquito swarm,
There is a problem that not only the environment around the vending machine is impaired, but also the sales of the product is reduced.

In view of the above problems, the present invention discharges and collects the residual contents in the container by the residue discharging means based on the detection by the residue detecting means, so that the load applied to the storage portion is reduced. , Residual contents may scatter around,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for detecting and discharging a residue of a container, which can surely prevent adhesion.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An opening for supplying the container, a storage unit for storing the container in communication with the opening, and a residue detection unit for detecting contents remaining in the container between the opening and the storage unit; ,
It is a container residue detection and discharge device provided with residue discharge means for discharging the residual contents in the container based on the detection by the residue detection means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, there is provided a container residue detecting / discharging device, wherein the residue detecting means comprises weight detecting means for detecting the weight of the container. There is a feature.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in combination with the first aspect, the residue discharging means is transferred while the container is held in a posture in which the mouth of the container is directed downward or upward. It is a device for detecting and discharging a residue of a container constituted by a container transfer means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the residue discharging means rotates the container in a posture or a direction in which the residual content in the container is discharged. It is a device for detecting and discharging a residue of a container constituted by rotating means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the structure of the first aspect, the residue discharging means is constituted by lid separating means for separating the lid from the mouth of the container. It is an object detection and discharge device.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the residue discharging means cuts an arbitrary portion of the container into a size capable of discharging residual contents. Characterized in that it is a device for detecting and discharging a residue of a container.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the residue discharging means includes a perforation means for forming a hole for discharging the residual contents to an arbitrary portion of the container. Characterized in that it is a device for detecting and discharging a residue of a container.

The invention according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, together with the structure according to the first aspect, further comprises:
The apparatus is characterized in that the apparatus is a container residue detecting and discharging device provided with a residue collecting section for collecting the residual contents discharged by the residue discharging means.

[0017]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container residue detecting / discharging apparatus.
When the container is inserted into the opening, the presence / absence of contents (eg, a liquid content) remaining in the container is detected by the residue detection means (eg, a weight sensor), and based on the detection, it is determined that there is residual contents. In this case, the residual contents are discharged to the outside of the container by the residue discharging means, so that the weight of the container accommodated in the container becomes light, and the residual contents adhere to, for example, the inner and outer surfaces of the vending machine, And adherence to workers.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the container residue detecting and discharging device detects the weight of the container by weight detecting means, and based on the detection, determines whether there is any residual content. Therefore, when the contents remain in the container, the weight of the container is heavier than the weight of the container itself, and the remaining amount of the remaining contents can be accurately and reliably detected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the container residue detecting and discharging device transfers the container while holding the container in a posture in which the mouth portion faces downward or upward by the container transporting means. So, during the transfer or when throwing into the storage unit,
The residual content in the container drip by its own weight and can be discharged naturally.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the container content detecting and discharging device rotates the container in a posture in which the mouth is downward by holding the container by the container rotating means. Residual contents can be reliably discharged from the mouth of the container. In addition, when the container is held in a state where the mouth is outwardly turned and is rotated quickly (for example, in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction), the residual content can be discharged in a short time by the centrifugal force.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the apparatus for detecting and discharging a residue of a container includes a lid, which is attached to an opening of the container by a lid separating means, for example, a chuck, an adsorber. Since the container is held and separated by an arm or the like, or the opening of the container is cut off by a cutter or a heater or the like to separate the container, the operation of discharging the residual contents can be performed reliably.

In the container residue detecting and discharging device according to the sixth aspect, in addition to the operation according to the first aspect, a part of the container (for example, an opening with a lid, a side portion, and a bottom portion) is cut by the container cutting means. So, even if the lid is attached to the mouth of the container,
Residual contents can be reliably discharged from the cut portion of the container.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the container residue detecting and discharging apparatus, an arbitrary number of holes are formed in arbitrary portions (for example, side and bottom portions) of the container by means of a hole making means. Therefore, even if the lid is attached to the mouth of the container, the residual contents can be reliably discharged from the hole of the container.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the apparatus for detecting and discharging a residue in a container is capable of discharging the residual contents discharged from the container by the residue discharging means to the opening and / or the storage section. Residue collection unit (eg, tank,
(Drainage, sewer), so that the remaining contents can be prevented from scattering or remaining around.

[0025]

According to the present invention, since the residual contents in the container are discharged and collected by the residue discharging means, the weight of the container stored in the storage portion is reduced, and the residual content is applied to a vending machine, for example. Load can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to reliably prevent the remaining contents from scattering around, adhering to the inner and outer surfaces of the vending machine, and adhering to purchasers and workers.

Further, since the presence or absence of the remaining contents is determined based on the detection by the weight detecting means, when the contents remain in the container, it is heavier than the weight of the container itself, and the remaining amount of the remaining contents is determined. The detection can be performed accurately and reliably, and the discharge operation of the residual contents can be performed when necessary.

Further, the container is held and transferred by the container transferring means while the mouth is downward or upward, or the container held by the container rotating means is transferred by rotating the container so that the opening is downward. Therefore, during transfer or when thrown into the storage unit, the remaining contents in the container drip by its own weight,
Can be discharged naturally.

Further, when the container held by the container rotating means is rotated quickly while holding the mouth outward, the centrifugal force allows the residual contents to be reliably discharged in a short time. Discharge work can be performed efficiently.

Further, when the container with the lid is put in, the lid separating means holds and separates the lid attached to the mouth of the container, or cuts off the mouth with the lid attached. As a result, the residual contents can be reliably discharged.

Furthermore, since an arbitrary portion of the container is cut by the container cutting means, and a hole is formed in an arbitrary portion of the container by the perforating means, even if the lid is attached to the mouth of the container, the remaining contents are not removed. The object can be reliably discharged from the cut portion or the hole of the container.

Furthermore, since the residual contents discharged from the container are supplied to the residue collecting section provided at the opening and / or the side of the storage section, the residual contents are scattered around the vending machine, for example. Residuals can be prevented, and a smell peculiar to the residues does not occur, and insects such as fly and mosquito do not swarm, and a clean and sanitary state can be maintained.

[0032]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawing shows, as an example of a residual content, a residual liquid detection / discharge device of a container used for the operation of discharging the residual liquid in the container. In FIG. The container collecting device 1 is disposed in the supply path 2 of the container collecting device 1 attached to the vending machine B, and the container collecting device 1 is, for example, PE.
A supply path 2 for supplying or discharging a container A such as a PET resin bottle or an aluminum can, a steel can, a glass bottle or the like is fixed to the left side wall (or the right side wall) of the vending machine B, and the container A Vending machine B to accommodate a large number of
It is fixed to the upper part (or inside, side part), and the supply path 2 and the accommodation part 4
Is connected.

The opening 3 formed in the front surface on the lower end side of the supply passage 2 is formed in a size and a shape capable of charging and discharging the container A, and the bottom 2a of the supply passage 2 is formed with a drain hole formed in the side wall. It is inclined and shaped (eg, gutter-like) at an angle at which the content liquid C flowing out of the container A flows down toward 2b.

A screen 2c, such as a net or a punching plate, through which a liquid (content liquid, rainwater, etc.) can pass is provided on the upper side of the bottom 2a.

The transfer belts 7, 7 installed in the supply path 2
Is vertically stretched at an interval capable of holding the container A, is rotated in the transfer direction by the pushing force of the container A pushed between the transfer belts 7, 7, and is rotated from the opening 3 toward the accommodation portion 4. To transfer the container A.

The transfer belt 7 may be rotated continuously or intermittently by a motor (not shown), for example, by detecting the loading and abutting of the container A with a detection sensor or operating a switch.

At the time of discharging the container, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the transfer belts 7, 7 are rotated in the discharging direction by the weight or pushing force of the container A itself, or the outer diameter of the container A or The container A is lowered by its own weight at a distance wider than the horizontal width, and is transferred from the storage section 4 toward the opening 3. Container A
Is a collection box 13 previously set in the lower part on the front side of the opening 3.
Input. In place of the transfer belt 7, an endless belt such as a chain or a wire may be used.

As another transfer method, the container A may be transferred by elevating means such as an elevator or a bucket, or air supplied from a blower (blower).

Further, the container A may be transferred by rotating the transfer belt 7 by operating a lever, a handle, or the like, or by moving the pusher up and down by an air cylinder, a solenoid, a motor, or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the residual liquid detecting and discharging device 11 is disposed immediately after the opening 3 and close to the lower end of the transfer belt 7, and has a detection sensor S1. , S2
, S3, the container A supplied from the opening 3 is held by the holding belts 11a, 11a, and the remaining liquid C in the container A is discharged.

The type detection sensor S1 determines the type of the container A (eg, PET bottle, aluminum can, steel can, glass bottle, etc.) and counts the number of containers. As other determination methods, for example, irradiating light, radio waves, magnetic force, etc., weight,
The difference may be determined by examining the difference in hardness, or by imaging with an imaging camera or reading a barcode.

The remaining liquid detecting sensor S2 is connected to the holding belt 11
The weight of the container A held at a and 11a is weighed, and the presence or absence of residual liquid is determined based on the weighed data. As another detection method, for example, the presence or absence of the residual content liquid C may be determined by measuring a difference in electric resistance or performing spectrum analysis.

The posture detection sensor S3 detects the insertion posture of the container A (for example, detects the presence or absence of unevenness, determines by imaging with an imaging camera, etc.), and based on the detection, the mouth Aa is directed upward, downward, Determine whether it is horizontal.

The holding belt 11a is stretched around mounting frames 34 provided on both sides, and is rotated by a motor (not shown) fixed at one end when the container A is transported upward or discharged forward. In addition, for example, you may forcibly discharge with a discharge means, such as a pusher.

Rotating motor 35 directly connected to mounting frame 34
Rotates the holding belt 11a between a transfer position for transferring the container A upward and a discharge position for discharging the container A based on the detection by the detection sensors S1, S2 and S3 (for example, about 9 °).
0 degrees or about 360 degrees).

The weight of the holding belt 11 is greater than the weight of the container A itself.
When it is determined that the weight of the container A held at a and 11a is heavy and that there is residual liquid, the container A is rotated to a position where the mouth Aa is directed downward or downward, and the residual content liquid C in the container A is removed. Discharge.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the weight of the container A is light and there is no remaining liquid, the container A held by the holding belts 11a is supplied between the transfer belts 7, 7.

The forward / backward actuator 36 (for example, a solenoid, an air cylinder, a motor) disposed on the side of the rotating motor 35
Moves the holding belts 11a, 11a to a holding position (solid line position in FIG. 3) for holding the container A and a separation position (virtual line position in FIG. 3) for releasing the holding.

Further, as shown in FIG.
a, the container A held at 11a (a state in which the mouth Aa faces outward) is quickly rotated in an arbitrary direction, and the centrifugal force causes the container A to rotate.
The residual content liquid C in the container A may be forcibly discharged.

When collecting the container A, the label Ab attached to the container A is cut off with a cutting tool (for example, a cutter, scissors, etc.), and a negative pressure generating device (for example, an intake blower,
A cut-off label Ab may be suctioned and separated and collected by a vacuum pump or the like, or the label Ab and the cap Ac may be separated by a purchaser or an operator.

Further, the air in the container A is evacuated and decompressed by a decompression device (for example, a suction blower, a vacuum pump, etc.) to reduce the volume of the container A or to move the container A in the radial or axial direction. The container A may be compressed and crushed into a flat state, or the container A may be pulverized or shredded to an arbitrary size (for example, pellets), and the container A may be stored and collected in a reduced amount.

As another weight reduction method, a container A made of synthetic resin is used.
(For example, a PET bottle) may be heated with, for example, a heater, hot water, hot air, or the like, or may be softened by a chemical solution or other softening means to reduce the volume.
May be sorted and stored by material or type based on the detection by the type detection sensor S1.

The container 4 is formed to have a volume capable of accommodating substantially all the containers A. For example, a hook (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the container 4 is engaged with the upper surface of the vending machine B, or is opposed to each other. A surface is fitted or fitted, or a locking hole and a locking claw (not shown) are locked to be detachably fixed to the upper portion of the vending machine B.

As another fixing method, for example, a magnet,
You may fix with fixing means, such as an adhesive tape, a hook-and-loop fastener, an adhesive, a bolt, a screw, and a pin.

Further, the accommodating portion 4 is provided so as to be adjustable in the width direction and the front-rear direction corresponding to the width and depth of the vending machine B, and the wall portion 4 of the accommodating portion 4 corresponding to the supply path 2 is provided.
c is provided so as to be openable and closable. Further, the peripheral wall of the housing section 4 may be provided so as to be adjustable in height in the vertical direction.

The alignment conveyor 27 laid on the bottom 4a of the storage section 4 is formed of, for example, a large number of holes or an endless belt such as a net-shaped belt or a punching plate. Allow.

An elevating device 29 (eg, an actuator such as a fluid pressure cylinder, a solenoid, or a motor) connected to both ends of the alignment conveyor 27 inclines the alignment conveyor 27 so that the supply path 2 is higher when the container is accommodated. Container A
Are rolled to the lower side and aligned and accommodated in the landscape orientation.

At the time of discharging the containers, the alignment conveyor 27 is inclined so that the supply path 2 side is lowered, and the container A is
Roll and discharge. At this time, the wall 4c of the storage section 4 corresponding to the supply path 2 side is opened, and the upper end of the same side transfer belt 7 is separated and raised.

The alignment conveyor 27 may be moved up and down in accordance with the amount of the container A charged.
7 may be rotated by a motor (not shown), or the bottom 4a of the storage unit 4 or the alignment conveyor 27 may be vibrated to store or discharge the container A. Instead of the alignment conveyor 27, for example, a net, a screen, A curtain such as a nonwoven fabric or a cloth may be used. Further, the bottom 4a of the housing section 4 may be inclined as described above.

The bottom 4a of the container 4 is inclined and shaped (eg, gutter-shaped) at an angle at which the content liquid C flowing out of the container A flows down toward the drain hole 4b formed in the side wall.
The content liquid C stored in the bottom part 4a is discharged to the outside of the storage part 4 as needed via the drain hole 4b or temporarily stored in a liquid storage part (for example, a liquid storage tank, a liquid storage tank, etc.) and periodically collected. I do.

A display 32 (for example, neon lights, electric decorations, electric bulletin boards) or a signboard for displaying the advertisement contents of the product for sale is attached to the front surface of the housing section 4. The display 32 displays and reports the amount of the container A based on the detection by the type detection sensor S1 when the amount of the container A is almost full or the collection time has come.

As another informing method, an informing device 33 (for example, a buzzer (sound), a lamp (light), a speaker (sound, melody) or other informing means or the like attached to the accommodating portion 4 informs the container A of the accommodation amount. May be.

The illustrated embodiment is configured as described above. When the container A is collected by the container collecting device 1 attached to the vending machine B, the remaining content liquid C in the container A is detected and discharged. The operation at the time of discharging and collecting by the apparatus 11 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 1, when a container A is put into an opening 3 provided on the side of the vending machine D, it is determined whether or not the container is a specific container A based on detection by a type detection sensor S1.

When a container A (for example, an aluminum can, a steel can, a glass bottle, etc.) other than the specific container A is charged, the container A shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
a and 11a are rotated to the discharge position and rotated in the discharge direction,
The container A is refused to be discharged or charged through the opening 3.

When a specific container A (PET bottle) is loaded, as shown in FIGS.
The holding belts 11a, 11a hold the container A in the portrait orientation (the mouth Aa is upward) or the landscape orientation (the mouth Aa is horizontal), and based on the detection of the residual liquid detection sensor S2, the container A
Is weighed to determine the presence or absence of residual liquid. At the same time, the throwing posture (vertical posture, horizontal posture) of the container A is determined based on the detection of the posture detecting sensor S3.

The weight of the holding belt 11 is greater than the weight of the container A alone.
When it is determined that the weight of the container A held at a and 11a is heavy and that there is residual liquid, the container A is rotated to a position where the mouth Aa is directed downward or downward, and the residual content liquid C in the container A is removed. Discharge.

The residual liquid C discharged from the container A passes through the screen 2c and is dropped on the bottom 2a of the supply path 2. The residual liquid C dropped on the bottom 2a is passed through the drain hole 2b to a residual liquid collecting section 48 disposed on the side of the supply path 2.
(For example, a liquid storage tank, a liquid receiving tray), and temporarily collect the liquid.

The residual liquid C dropped on the bottom 4a of the storage section 4 may be supplied to the residual liquid recovery section 48 disposed on the side of the storage section 4 through the drain hole 4b. The residual content liquid C discharged from the passage 2 and the drain holes 2b, 4b of the storage section 4 may be discharged to a drainage passage or a sewer through a drainage passage (not shown).

On the other hand, the container A with the opening Aa which is thrown in the portrait posture and whose upward direction is upward is turned upside down when thrown into the accommodation portion 4.
The residual liquid C in the container A is discharged and the residual liquid C is naturally discharged in the container A with the opening Aa facing downward, so that the residual liquid detecting / discharging device 11 is put on standby.

After the liquid is discharged, the holding belts 11a, 11a are rotated to the transfer position and rotated in the transfer direction, and the container A, which has been determined that the liquid has been discharged and there is no remaining liquid, is supplied between the transfer belts 7, 7. Then, the container A held by the transfer belts 7, 7 is transferred upward, and aligned and put into the storage section 4 at the top of the vending machine D.

Further, the transfer belts 7 may be rotated by the pushing force of the container A to transfer the container A from the opening 3 toward the storage section 4.

When the inside of the storage section 4 is almost full or when the collection time has come, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the wall section 4c of the storage section 4 corresponding to the supply path 2 side is opened and aligned. Conveyor 2
7 is tilted and rotated, and the container A accommodated in the accommodation portion 4
Are supplied to the supply path 2.

The container A held by the transfer belts 7, 7 is transferred toward the opening 3. Further, the transfer belts 7, 7 are rotated by the pushing force of the container A, or the transfer belts 7, 7 are separated by an interval at which the holding is released, and the container A is dropped by its own weight.

The residual liquid detecting / discharging device 11 disposed in the opening 3
The container A is continuously discharged from the opening 3 by rotating the holding belts 11a, 11a in the discharging position and rotating in the discharging direction, and the container A is collected into the collecting box 13 disposed at the lower part on the same side. I do.

As described above, since the residual liquid C in the container A is discharged and collected by the residual liquid detecting / discharging device 11, the weight of the container A stored in the container 4 is reduced, and the vending machine B Can be reduced. and,
It is possible to reliably prevent the residual liquid C from adhering to the inner and outer surfaces of the vending machine B and from adhering to a purchaser or an operator at the time of storage and recovery.

Further, the presence or absence of the residual liquid C is determined based on the detection by the residual liquid detection sensor S2.
When the content liquid C remains inside the container A, it is heavier than the weight of the container A itself, so that the remaining amount of the remaining content liquid C can be detected accurately and reliably, and the discharging operation of the remaining liquid is performed when necessary. be able to.

Further, the container A is held by the transfer belts 7 and 7 so that the mouth Aa faces downward or upward, and the container A is held by the holding belts 11a and 11a. Since the container A is rotated and transferred to a certain position, the remaining content liquid C in the container A is dripped by its own weight and can be naturally discharged during the transfer or when the container C is loaded into the storage unit 4.

Further, the container A held by the holding belts 11a, 11a is rotated quickly while holding the mouth Aa upward or downward, so that the residual liquid C can be reliably removed in a short time by the centrifugal force. Can be efficiently discharged.

Further, since the residual liquid C discharged from the container A is supplied to the residual liquid collecting section 48 provided on the side of the supply path 2, the residual liquid C scatters around the vending machine B. It can be prevented from remaining, and the odor peculiar to the content liquid C does not occur, and insects such as fly and mosquito do not gather, and a clean and sanitary state can be maintained.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the cap A
c is separated to show the remaining liquid discharging method for discharging the residual liquid C in the container A. When the cap Ac attached to the mouth Aa of the container A is detected by the detection sensor S4, the detection is performed. Then, the cap Ac held by the chuck 39 constituting the cap separator 38 is held, and the cap Ac held by the chuck 39 is rotated in the opening direction to separate the cap Ac. Since the liquid C is discharged, the operation of discharging the remaining content liquid C can be reliably performed. Further, instead of the chuck 39, for example, it may be held and separated by an arm, an adsorber or the like.

FIG. 9 shows another method of discharging the remaining liquid C in the container A by separating the mouth Aa of the container A to which the cap Ac is attached, and detecting the remaining liquid C in the container A. Then, after the mouth Aa of the container A to which the cap Ac is attached is cut off and opened by the cutter 41 constituting the mouth separator 40, the residual liquid C in the container A is discharged by the residual liquid detecting and discharging device 11. To discharge.

The cutter 4 constituting the container cutting machine 43
4, the bottom Ad (or the side) of the container A is cut off, and then the container A is rotated or tilted by the residual liquid detection / discharge device 11 to discharge the remaining content liquid C in the container A from the cut off portion. Even if the cap Ac is attached to the mouth Aa of the container A, the operation of discharging the remaining content liquid C can be reliably performed. Instead of the cutters 41 and 44 described above, cutting may be performed with a cutting tool such as scissors or a heater.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show another method of discharging the residual liquid C in the container A by piercing an arbitrary portion (for example, the bottom and side portions) of the container A. 45
After operating the forward / backward actuator 46 (for example, a solenoid, an air cylinder, or a motor), the piercing member 47 having a sharp tip is pierced into the bottom or the side of the container A to open the hole Ae. Container A by residual liquid detecting and discharging device 11
Is rotated or inclined so that the residual liquid C in the container A is filled with the hole Ae.
Therefore, even if the cap Ac is attached to the opening Aa of the container A, the operation of discharging the remaining content liquid C can be reliably performed. The position and the number of the holes Ae may be arbitrarily changed.

FIG. 12 shows another transfer method in which the discharged container A held by the holding belts 11a, 11a is pushed into the push hole 9a of the receiving plate 9 mounted in the supply path 2 and transferred upward. After the residual liquid C is discharged from the container A by the residual liquid detecting and discharging device 11, the holding belts 11a, 11a
Is rotated to the transfer position and rotated in the transfer direction, and the container A whose mouth Aa faces upward is pushed from below into the pushing hole 9a of the receiving plate 9, and the pushing force makes the flexible plate 9b elastic. It is flexibly deformed against it and is pushed or lifted above the receiving plate 9. Further, the container A may be pushed by a purchaser or an operator.

At this time, the flexible plates 9b are restored to the original state, and the container A is held in the lifted state. Subsequently, the container A pushed first by the succeeding container A is pushed up and sequentially transferred upward, and is put into the storage section 4 at the upper part of the vending machine D, so that substantially the same operation and effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained. be able to.

In the case of the above-described configuration, the container A accommodated in the accommodating section 4 is collected via a discharge path (not shown) provided independently of the vending machine B side or inside.

In the correspondence between the structure of the present invention and the above-mentioned embodiment, the contents of the present invention correspond to the contents liquid C of the embodiment. , The residue detecting means and the weight detecting means correspond to the residual liquid detecting sensor S2,
The container transfer means corresponds to the transfer belt 7 and the receiving plate 9,
The container rotating means includes a holding belt 11a and a rotating motor 35.
, The lid separating means corresponds to the cap separator 38 and the chuck 39, the mouth separator 40 and the cutter 41, the lid corresponds to the cap Ac of the container A, and the container cutting means corresponds to the container The invention corresponds to the cutting machine 43 and the cutter 44, the perforating means corresponds to the perforating machine 45 and the perforating member 47, and the residue collecting section corresponds to the residual liquid collecting section 48.
It is not limited only to the configuration of the above embodiment.

As another residual liquid removing method, for example, when the residual amount is small, the residual liquid C in the container A is heated to a temperature at which the residual liquid C in the container A evaporates by a heating means (for example, a heater) to remove the residual liquid C. You may.

The container A from which the residual liquid has been discharged may be provided so as to be housed in the housing 4 provided on the left side wall or the right side wall of the vending machine B. Further, the container A accommodated in the accommodating part 4 may be collected via a discharge path (not shown) provided on the side of or inside the vending machine B.

Further, when the supply path 2 and the discharge path (not shown) are provided on the same wall or inside the vending machine B,
Since both side walls or one side wall of the vending machine B are substantially flat, a plurality of vending machines B are installed in close proximity,
An arbitrary number can be installed at an arbitrary place, for example, by being installed close to a side wall of a building or a structure.

Further, the container A from which the liquid has been discharged is put into a collection box (for example, a container with a caster) stored in the storage section 4, and the recovery box is taken out from the front or side of the storage section 4. Container A may be collected.

The above-described residual liquid detecting / discharging apparatus 11 can be used for discharging the residual liquid C remaining in a container such as an aluminum can, a steel can, and a glass bottle.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a collecting operation of a container collecting device provided with a residual liquid detecting and discharging device.

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating an operation of discharging a container stored in a storage unit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a mounting state of a supply path and a housing.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a residual liquid discharging operation by the residual liquid detecting and discharging device.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a holding state of the container by a holding belt.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a container discharging operation by the residual liquid detecting and discharging device.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a residual liquid discharging operation by rotation of the container.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing another remaining liquid discharging method for separating the cap.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing another remaining liquid discharging method for separating a part of the container.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing another residual liquid discharging method for forming a hole in the bottom of the container.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing another residual liquid discharging method for making a hole in a side portion of the container.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing another transfer method for transferring containers one by one.

[Explanation of Signs] S2: Residual liquid detection sensor A: Container Aa: Mouth Ac: Cap Ad: Bottom Ae: Hole B: Vending machine C: Residual liquid 1. Container collection device 2. Supply path 3. Opening Part 4: accommodation parts 2b, 4b ... drain holes 7 ... transfer belt 9 ... receiving plate 11 ... residual liquid detection and discharge device 11a ... holding belt 13 ... collection box 38 ... cap separator 39 ... chuck 40 ... mouth separator 41 ... Cutter 43 ... Container cutting machine 44 ... Cutter 45 ... Punching machine 46 ... Advancing / retracting actuator 47 ... Punching member 48 ... Remaining liquid collecting part

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An opening for supplying a container, and a housing for housing the container in communication with the opening, wherein a content remaining in the container is detected between the opening and the housing. A residue detection and discharge device for a container, comprising: a residue detection unit; and a residue discharge unit that discharges residual contents in the container based on detection by the residue detection unit. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said residue detecting means comprises weight detecting means for detecting the weight of said container. 3. A container detecting and discharging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said residue discharging means comprises container transferring means for transferring said container while holding said container in a posture in which a mouth portion of said container is directed downward or upward. apparatus. 4. A container residue detecting and discharging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said residue discharging means is constituted by container rotating means for rotating said container in a posture or direction in which contents in said container are discharged. 5. The container residue detecting and discharging device according to claim 1, wherein said residue discharging means is constituted by a lid separating means for separating a lid from an opening of said container. 6. A container residue detecting and discharging device according to claim 1, wherein said residue discharging means is constituted by container cutting means for cutting an arbitrary portion of said container to a size capable of discharging contents. 7. A container residue detecting and discharging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said residue discharging means is constituted by a perforating means for forming a hole for discharging a residual content in an arbitrary portion of said container. 8. A container according to claim 1, further comprising a residue collecting section provided at a side of said opening and / or said accommodating section for collecting residual contents discharged by said residue discharging means. apparatus.