JP2020055006A - Article recovery device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an article recovery device which prevents such a defect caused by a recovery material, for instance, such a defect that a door is not opened.SOLUTION: An article recovery device includes a mounting part on which an article can be mounted, and an inner door that is a movable part provided on a passage passing an article through a body part from the mounting part. The article recovery device includes means which can maintain an edge part of the mounting part and an end face of the inner door in a non-adhesive state, more specifically, for instance, regulation means (regulation part) which can maintain the edge part of the mounting part and the end face of the inner door at a predetermined interval. The regulation means has, for instance, a projection part in a portion on the edge part of the inner door side in the mounting part and/or a portion on the inner door side in the side wall part of the mounting part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to an article collection device.

  2. Description of the Related Art An empty container collecting device for collecting empty containers is known (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP-A-9-313972 JP 2005-153019 A

In a collection device that takes collected items into the storage section in the main body, if an inner door is provided for safety measures in the passage from the input section to the storage section, if the internal door does not open, the collected items cannot be collected. There is a fear.
For example, the remaining liquid such as juice or coffee drink leaked from the collected matter may adhere to the inner door or the mounting portion, and the inner door may not be opened due to the viscosity of the liquid.
In addition, for example, in a recovery device that reduces the volume of the collected material in the volume reduction unit and then stores the collected material in the storage unit, the pieces of the collected material scatter from the volume reduction unit and remain at a position where the opening operation of the inner door is prevented. In such a case, the inner door may not be opened.

The article collection device of the present invention has at least the following configuration.
An article collection device having a placement section on which articles can be placed, and an inner door which is a movable section provided in a passage through which articles passing from the placement section to the inside of the main body section have an edge of the placement section. And means for maintaining the inner door and the end face in a non-adhered state.

  Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an article collection device that prevents a problem caused by a collected product, for example, a problem that an inner door does not open.

1 is an overall conceptual diagram of an empty container collection device as an article collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a front view of the empty container collection device and (b) is a side view of the empty container collection device. It is a side conceptual diagram of a container collection device as an article collection device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram of the container insertion part of the empty container collection | recovery apparatus as an article collection | recovery apparatus. It is a perspective view showing an example of an article collection device (empty container collection device) with an outer door closed and an inner door closed. It is a side conceptual diagram showing an example of an article collection device (empty container collection device) with an outer door closed and an inner door closed. It is a perspective view showing an example of an article collection device (empty container collection device) with an outer door opened and an inner door closed. It is a side conceptual diagram showing an example of an article collection device (empty container collection device) with an outer door opened and an inner door closed. It is a figure which shows an example of the article collection | recovery apparatus (empty container collection | recovery apparatus) with an outer door closed (not shown) and an inner door open, (a) is a side view conceptual diagram, (b) is a rear view. It is a perspective view of. It is a perspective view from the back side which shows an example of the article collection device (empty container collection device) in which the outer door is closed (not shown) and the inner door is open. It is a figure which shows an example of the article collection | recovery apparatus (empty container collection | recovery apparatus) which has a convex part in an inner door, (a) is a conceptual side view of the article collection | recovery apparatus with an inner door closed, (b) is an inner door. It is a side view conceptual diagram of the article collection | recovery apparatus of open state. It is a figure for explaining the 1st scattering prevention part of the article collection device concerning one embodiment of the present invention, and (a) is a figure showing an example of the 1st scattering prevention part in the state where an inner lid is closed. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an example of a first scattering prevention unit when the inner lid is open. It is an upper surface conceptual diagram which shows an example of a 1st scattering prevention part and a feed blade part. It is a figure showing an example of operation of the 2nd scattering prevention part. It is a figure showing an example of an electric functional block of an article collection device (empty container collection device) concerning one embodiment of the present invention.

  An empty container collection device as an article collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a placement portion on which an article can be placed, and a movable portion provided in a passage through which the article passes from the placement portion to the main body. With a door. This article collection device has a means capable of maintaining the edge of the mounting portion and the end surface of the inner door in a non-adhered state when the inner door is closed. That is, the edge of the mounting portion and the end surface of the inner door can be easily separated without bonding. In addition, the article collection device may include a regulating unit that can maintain the edge of the placement unit and the end surface of the inner door at a predetermined interval. Even when the inner door is in the closed state, it is possible to reliably maintain a predetermined interval between the edge of the mounting portion and the end surface of the inner door by the regulating means. That is, when the inner door is opened, the article collection device can easily separate the inner door from the mounting portion.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Embodiments of the invention include, but are not limited to, those shown. In the following description of each drawing, portions common to those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a redundant description is partially omitted.
In addition, as an article collection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, for example, an empty container collection device will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an empty container collection device 100 that collects empty containers (PET bottles and the like) to be collected as an article collection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the empty container collecting apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, during standby, the outer door of the article input section is closed, and the inner door provided between the article input section and the storage section so as to be freely opened and closed is closed. At the time of article collection, the outer door of the article insertion section is opened, and the discrimination section determines that the object placed on the mounting section of the article insertion section is the object to be collected (for example, an empty resin container such as a PET bottle or the like). ) Is determined. When it is determined that the object is an object (empty container) to be collected, the outer door is closed, the inner door provided between the article input unit and the storage unit is opened, and the container is collected by the storage unit. You. In the present embodiment, the empty container collecting device includes a volume reducing mechanism, and the volume of the container is reduced by the volume reducing mechanism, so that a large amount of the empty container whose volume is reduced can be collected in the storage portion having the specified capacity.

  In addition, the goods are not limited to PET bottles, cans, and bottles. Any target article may be used. That is, the empty container collection device is an embodiment of the article collection device.

  In detail, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the empty container collecting apparatus 100 as the article collecting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has a container input section 110 provided at an upper portion of the apparatus main body 100B. An outer door 111 is provided outside the opening of the container input unit 110. The display / operation unit 3 and the transmission / reception unit 4 (communication unit) are provided on the front side near the upper part of the apparatus main body 100B above the outer door 111. A luggage hook 100f is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body 100B.

  In addition, a passage communicating with the container storage unit 140 is provided below the container insertion unit 110, and an inner door 112 is provided in a passage 71 from the mounting unit 116 of the container insertion unit 110 to the container storage unit 140. ing.

In the present embodiment, the empty container collection device 100 is provided with a volume reduction section 120 (volume reduction mechanism) between the inner door 112 and the container storage section 140. When the inner door 112 is in the open state, the volume reducing section 120 crushes and reduces the volume of the empty container A from the container charging section 110, and outputs the reduced volume container RA to the lower container accommodating section 140.
Further, the apparatus main body 100B of the empty container collecting apparatus 100 has a drawer 100C on which the container accommodating part 140 is placed, and a drawer handle 100e and a keyhole 100r are provided on the front side. It is configured so that it can be inserted into and unlocked from the hole 100r.

  A light-transmitting portion 100A (light-transmitting window) is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body 100B, more specifically, on the front side of the drawer 100C, and an empty container housed in the container housing portion 140 from the outside. Are configured to be visible.

  In addition, a moving handle 100g used at the time of transport is provided on a side surface of the apparatus main body 100B.

Further, the apparatus main body 100B includes a cap insertion section 108 on the front side, and a cap passage 72 is provided downward from the cap insertion section 108 in the apparatus main body. It is configured to be housed in the cap housing part 145 through the use passage 72.
Note that the cap passage 72 may have a mechanism for sorting the cap and the one smaller than the cap. Specifically, the cap passage 72 is branched, and the leftover butts, rainwater, and the like are discharged and accumulated in another path by a mesh-like member at the branch portion, and only the cap is accommodated in the cap accommodating portion 145. It may be.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the volume reducing section 120 has a structure in which a pair of rotating shafts 811 and 911 are rotatably supported by two substantially plate-shaped support members (not shown).

  A feed mechanism 50 is provided above the volume reducing section 120, and a rotation shaft 51 of the feed mechanism 50 is rotatably supported by the substantially plate-shaped support member. The feed mechanism 50 has a plurality of blades 52 (made of metal or resin) as paddles on a rotating shaft 51. The feed mechanism 50 guides the empty container A to the volume reducing unit 120 by rotating the rotary shaft 51 to rotate the blade 52 around the rotary shaft 51 as a center of rotation.

  In addition, on the upper part of the volume reducing part 120, an inclined plate-shaped regulating member 60, a regulating member 61, and a regulating member 62 having a slope opposite to the regulating member 61 move the empty container A to the center of the volume reducing part 120. It is provided so as to guide and restricts movement of the empty container A to other places.

The rotation shafts 811, 911, and 51 are arranged in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval. In each of the pair of rotation shafts 811 and 911, compression rollers 81 and 91 having blade surfaces on both axial side surfaces, and a diameter smaller than the compression rollers 81 and 91 and slightly smaller than the thickness of the compression rollers 81 and 91. Thick spacers (not shown) are alternately arranged along the axial direction.
An outer peripheral portion of the compression roller provided on one rotation shaft is disposed between the compression rollers provided on the other rotation shaft, and provided between the compression rollers provided on the other rotation shaft. Is disposed at a position away from the spacer by a predetermined distance.

  A gear (not shown) is provided at one end of the rotating shaft 811, and is configured to mesh with a gear (not shown) provided at one end of the rotating shaft 911. The rotating shafts 811, 911, 51 are driven to rotate by a drive motor (not shown). At the time of driving, the rotating shaft 811 and the rotating shaft 911 rotate in directions opposite to each other, and the empty container A put in the center is compressed by the compression rollers 81 and 91, and the reduced empty container is output downward. .

  The peeling section 32 (30) is configured to peel the container whose volume has been reduced by the compression rollers 81 and 91 of the volume reducing section 120 from the compression rollers 81 and 91.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a first scatter prevention unit 75 and a second scatter prevention unit 78 are provided above the volume reduction unit 120. The first scattering prevention unit 75 and the second scattering prevention unit 78 will be described later.

  4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating an example of the empty container collecting device in which the outer door 111 is closed and the inner door 112 is closed. 6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating an example of the empty container collecting apparatus 100 in which the outer door 111 is open and the inner door 112 is closed. 8 and 9 are conceptual diagrams illustrating an example of the empty container collecting device in which the outer door 111 is closed and the inner door 112 is open. 8 and 9, the outer door is not shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the container insertion unit 110 of the empty container collection device 100 includes a placing unit 116, an outer door 111, an inner door 112, a pedestal 118, a weighing unit 7, and an outer door support unit. S111, an inner door support section S112, an outer door drive section 5, an inner door drive section 6, a first restriction section K111, a second restriction section K112, and the like.

  The mounting section 116 is configured to be able to mount an object to be collected. The mounting section 116 is provided with an optical sensor 9 such as the light receiving section 9a and the light emitting section 9b, a metal sensor, and the like. The measuring section 7 is provided below the placing section 116.

In the present embodiment, the mounting portion 116 has a mounting surface that is not horizontal, and the container housing portion 140 side is lower than the input port side of the article (the opening side when the outer door 111 is open). It is provided with an inclination. In other words, the placement unit 116 is configured to urge the input article to drop toward the container storage unit 140 (or the volume reduction unit 120) due to its own weight. Accordingly, there is no need to provide a transport mechanism for sending articles (inputs) to the container housing section 140, and a compact article collection device can be provided.
The placing section 116 has a structure in which surface treatment is performed on the surface of the placing surface to form an uneven portion, and the inserted articles are prevented from sticking to the placing section. When the article collection device is an empty container collection device, even if the container is wet, the contact area between the surface of the container and the uneven surface of the mounting portion is relatively small, so that the surface tension due to the wetting becomes small, and the container becomes wet. It easily moves to the container housing 140 side. That is, it is possible to prevent a problem that a wet container does not drop to the container storage unit side.

The outer door 111 is provided outside the mounting section 116. The outer door driving unit 5 drives the outer door 111 so that it can be opened and closed.
The inner door 112 is provided in the passage 71 between the placing section 116 and the volume reducing section 120. The inner door driving section 6 drives the inner door 112 to be freely opened and closed. As shown in FIG. 6, the inner door 112 is provided with a guide portion 112D for guiding the mounted state of the empty container. The guide portion 112D is provided at a position where the guide portion 112D is exposed and visible from the apparatus main body. The guide section 112D is displayed as information so as to place an article (an empty container such as a PET bottle) in a prescribed direction and at a prescribed position (for example, 350 ml, 500 ml, 2000 ml, etc.). The guide portion 112D may be a concave portion, a convex portion, a sticker, an LED display portion, an LCD, or the like provided on the surface of the inner door 112.
Further, the article collection device may include a determination unit for determining whether the article is correctly placed at the placement position indicated by the guide unit 112D by a detection sensor such as an imaging unit. In addition, when the mounting direction and the position are not correct, a notification or the like can be performed by a detection unit such as an imaging process or an optical sensor.

In the present embodiment, the empty container collection device 100 has a pedestal 118, and the pedestal 118 has an outer door 111 and outer door supports S <b> 118 and S <b> 111 that support the outer door driving unit 5. In detail, the outer door driving part 5 and the rotation axis C111 are provided at the upper end of the two outer door support parts S118, and the fan-shaped outer door support part S111 is rotatably provided on the rotation axis C111. The outer door 111 is supported by the fan-shaped outer door support portion S111. One of the two rotating shafts C111 is connected to the rotating shaft of the motor of the outer door driving unit 5.
The fan-shaped outer door support portion S111 is provided with a hole portion S111h through which the rotation axis C112 of the inner door 112 penetrates.

  The weighing unit 7 is disposed between the pedestal 118 and the placing unit 116 and supports the placing unit 116.

  The inner door 112 is configured to guide an empty container placed on the placement unit 116 to the volume reduction unit 120 in the open state. In the present embodiment, the inner door driving unit 6 and the inner door 112 are supported by the inner door support S112 having a structure arranged on the measuring unit 7 and extending from between the measuring unit 7 and the placement unit 116. Have been. The inner door drive section 6 is provided with a rotation axis C112 of the inner door 112, and the rotation axis C112 is provided with the inner door 112. By setting the inner door 112 to the open state, the object to be collected can be guided to the container housing section 140 in the apparatus main body. The inner door support S112 has a hole S112h through which the rotation axis C111 passes.

  That is, the outer door driving unit 5 and the outer door 111 are supported by the outer door support unit S111 of the pedestal 118, and the placing unit 116 is provided above the weighing unit 7 arranged on the pedestal 118. The mass of the object to be collected placed on the placement unit 116 can be measured with high accuracy by the unit 7. In detail, since the outer door 111 and the outer door driving unit 5 are not supported on the weighing unit 7, the weighing unit 7 has the influence of the vibration of the outer door 111 and the outer door driving unit 5 and the like. The mass of the object to be collected on the mounting portion 116 can be accurately measured.

  Further, the outer door 111 of the empty container collection device 100 as the article collection device according to the embodiment of the present invention can be moved between an open position where the mounting portion 116 is exposed and a closed position where the mounting portion 116 is covered. When the outer door 111 is closed, the outer door 111 is configured to be movable from the open position toward the mounting portion 116 to the closed position. That is, since the outer door 111 is configured to move from the open state toward the mounting portion 116 and close, for example, the user's hand or arm is sandwiched between the outer door 111 and the mounting portion 116. When the weighing value of the weighing unit fluctuates and the control unit detects the fluctuation, the user's hand, arm, foreign matter, or the like can easily be caught between the outer door 111 and the mounting unit 116. Can be detected.

Further, in the empty container collecting apparatus 100 as the article collecting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the outer door 111 includes a first restricting portion K111 for restricting the movement of the inner door 112. The inner door 112 includes a second restricting portion K112 that restricts the movement of the outer door 111. The first and second restriction portions K111 and K112 have a mechanism for restricting both the outer door 111 and the inner door 112 from being opened.
That is, since the empty container collection device 100 has the first restricting portion K111 provided on the outer door 111 and the second restricting portion K112 provided on the inner door 112, the empty container collecting device 100 has a mechanically simple structure. The opening / closing operation of each door can be restricted according to the opening / closing state of each of the door 111 and the inner door 112.

Further, the first restricting portion K111 of the empty container collecting device 100 as the article collecting device is configured to respond to the movement of the outer door 111. The second restricting portion K112 is configured to respond to the movement of the inner door 112. Further, the empty container collection device 100 is configured such that the first restricting portion K111 restricts the movement of the inner door 112 when the outer door 111 is in the open state, The second restricting portion K112 is configured to restrict the movement of the outer door 111.
Specifically, in the present embodiment, when the outer door 111 is in the open state, the empty container collecting apparatus 100 is configured to limit the state in which the inner door 112 is kept in the closed state and in the open state. That is, when the thrown object is placed on the placing portion 116 with the outer door 111 being open, the inner door 112 is in the closed state and is not opened, and is placed on the placing portion 116. Regardless of whether the collected object is a collection target object or a non-collection target object, it is configured not to be stored in the container storage part 140 in the apparatus main body 100B. In other words, in this state, the article (collection target or non-collection) is in contact with the inner door 112, and the inner door 112 has a structure also serving as a part of the mounting portion.

  Further, the first restricting unit K111 and the second restricting unit K112 are configured so that the moving routes overlap. Further, in the present embodiment, when one of the first restricting portion K111 and the second restricting portion K112 restricts the movement of the other, the empty container collecting device 100 connects the first restricting portion K111 with the second restricting portion K111. The limiting portion K112 has a structure in which the limiting portion K112 is adjacent to the arc shape at a slight interval. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the first restriction portion K111 is formed in a substantially fan shape. The first limiting portion K111 has a convex arc-shaped portion K111a and a concave portion K111b. Further, the second restriction portion K112 is formed in a substantially fan shape. More specifically, the second limiting part K112 has a convex arc-shaped part K112a and a concave part K112b.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the outer door 111 is in the closed state and the inner door 112 is in the closed state, the empty container collecting apparatus 100 sets the edge 116 a of the mounting portion 116 and the end surface of the inner door 112 in a non-adhered state. Means that can be maintained. More specifically, for example, the empty container collecting apparatus 100 includes a regulation unit (regulation unit 40) capable of maintaining the edge 116a of the placement unit 116 and the end surface of the inner door 112 at a predetermined interval Ls. The predetermined interval Ls is preferably, for example, an interval that does not allow a finger to enter.
In the present embodiment, the restricting means (the restricting portion 40) includes the convex portion 41 (40) on the edge portion 116a of the mounting portion 116 on the inner door 112 side, and / or the side wall portion 116W of the mounting portion 116 (side cover). Has a convex portion 42 (40) in the portion 116Wa on the inner door side.
That is, even when the inner door 112 is in the closed state, the edge portion 116a of the mounting portion 116 and the end surface 112a of the inner door 112 can be maintained at a predetermined interval Ls, and the residual liquid is It can be discharged from the gap between the part 116 and the inner door 112.
Note that the protrusion 42 (40) may be provided on the inner door 122 side.
Further, as a means capable of maintaining the edge portion 116a of the mounting portion 116 and the end surface of the inner door 112 in a non-adhered state, for example, the following configuration can be mentioned. For example, the surface of the surface where the inner door 112 and the mounting portion 116 are in contact may have water repellency to which liquid does not easily adhere, and the surface of the convex portion 42 (40) may have water repellency. You may. Further, instead of the protruding portion 42 (40), the surface of the surface where the inner door 112 and the mounting portion 116 are in contact may have water repellency to which liquid does not easily adhere. In the case where the surface has water repellency instead of the convex portions 42 (40), the surface having water repellency is the regulating means. The water repellency of the surface may be obtained, for example, by forming a surface of a fine uneven structure having a Lotus effect, or by applying a water repellent material such as a fluororesin, a silicone resin, or a silicone oil to the surface. May be obtained by forming a water-repellent film.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the first door K111 limits the movement of the second door K112 when the outer door 111 is open and the inner door 112 is closed, the first The convex arc-shaped portion K111a of the restricting portion K111 and the concave portion K112b of the second restricting portion K112 are adjacent to each other at a slight interval in the arc shape.
That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, as described above, when the outer door 111 is in the open state, the inner door 112 is in the closed state, and the movement of the second restrictor K112 is restricted by the first restrictor K111. Therefore, the inner door 112 is maintained in the closed state, and does not enter the open state.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, in the present embodiment, the restricting means (the restricting portion 40) includes the inner door 112 at a part of the edge 116 a on the inner door 112 side of the mounting portion 116. The convex portion 41 (40) having a shape protruding to the side and / or a portion of the side portion 116Wa on the inner door side of the side wall portion 116W (side cover) of the mounting portion 116 has a shape protruding toward the inner door side. It has a convex part 42 (40). The regulating means may have only one of the convex portions 41 and 42, or may have a plurality of restricting portions.
That is, since the regulating portion 40 is provided, the inner door 112 can be easily opened from the inner door closed state in which the edge 116a of the mounting portion 116 and the end surface 112a of the inner door 112 are maintained at a predetermined interval Ls. State.

  That is, when the outer door 111 is in the closed state and the inner door 112 is in the open state, the empty container collecting apparatus as the article collecting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention uses the first restricting section K111 by the second restricting section K112. Is restricted, the outer door 111 is maintained in a closed state and does not enter an open state.

In the present embodiment, the empty container collection device 100 may include a prohibition unit that prohibits movement of one or both of the first restriction unit K111 and the second restriction unit K112. Specifically, the prohibition unit has, for example, a solenoid. In this solenoid, for example, a movable pin (plunger) made of metal is disposed in a coil, and when no power is supplied to the coil, the movable pin (plunger) is disposed at a position where the movable pin (plunger) projects from an end of the coil by an urging portion. The movable pin moves into the coil when the coil is energized.
For example, a movable pin (plunger) of a solenoid for the outer door is engaged with a hole provided in the first restricting portion K111 as a prohibiting means that can prohibit the movement of the outer door 111 from the closed state to the open state. When the first restricting portion K111 is maintained in the closed state and the movement to the open state is prohibited, the movable pin is engaged with the hole, and the movement is not prohibited. , The control section controls the movable pin so as to disengage the movable pin. That is, the prohibition unit can prohibit the movement of the first restriction unit K111 from the closed state to the open state with a simple structure.
In addition, as a prohibiting device that can prohibit the movement of the inner door 112 from the closed state to the open state, a movable pin (plunger) of a solenoid for the inner door is engaged with a hole provided in the second restricting portion K112. When the second restricting portion K112 is maintained in the closed state and the movement to the open state is prohibited, the movable pin is engaged with the hole, and the movement is not prohibited. , The control section controls the movable pin so as to disengage the movable pin. That is, the prohibition means can prohibit the movement of the second restriction portion K112 from the closed state to the open state with a simple structure.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an article collection device (empty container collection device) having a protrusion on the inner door according to an embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 10A is a conceptual side view of the article collection device with the inner door closed, and FIG. 10B is a conceptual side view of the article collection device with the inner door open.

As shown in FIG. 10A, when the outer door 111 is in a closed state (not shown) and the inner door 112 is in a closed state, the empty container collecting apparatus 100 includes an edge 116 a of the placing section 116 and the inner door 112. And a regulating means (regulating section 40) capable of maintaining the end face with a predetermined distance Ls.
As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, in the present embodiment, the restricting means (the restricting portion 40) is provided at a portion of the end surface 112 a of the inner door 112 which contacts the edge 116 a of the mounting portion 116. A convex portion 44 (40) is provided at a portion 116 Wa of the end surface 112 a of the inner door 112 that contacts the side wall portion 116 W (side wall cover) of the mounting portion 116. Is also good. Even when the inner door 112 is in the closed state, the edge portion 116a of the mounting portion 116 and the end surface 112a of the inner door 112 can be maintained at a predetermined interval Ls, and the residual liquid can be removed from the mounting portion 116. And the inner door 112 can be discharged from the gap.

<First scattering prevention unit>
As shown in FIG. 11, the empty container collection device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention has a first scattering prevention unit 75 between a volume reduction unit 120 and an inner door 112 provided in a main body. . The first scattering prevention portion 75 may be, for example, a flexible plate-shaped member or a rigid plate-shaped member. In the present embodiment, the first scattering prevention portion 75 is made of a material such as a flexible PET canvas.
Further, in the present embodiment, the first scattering prevention unit 75 is suspended in the middle of the passage 71 from the placement unit 116 to the volume reduction unit 120.

  The first scattering prevention unit 75 is preferably configured to be movable in accordance with the opening and closing operation of the inner door 112. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11A, when the inner door 112 is closed, the upper end 75 a of the first scattering prevention unit 75 is fixed to the fixing member of the main body of the empty container collection device 100. Thus, it is suspended in the middle of the passage 71 from the mounting portion 116 to the volume reducing portion 120.

As illustrated in FIG. 11B, when the inner door 112 is changed from the closed state to the open state, the lower end of the inner door 112 pushes the first scattering prevention unit 75 backward, and the collection target object ( The passage 71 of the container is secured. Then, after the article (container) to be collected on the placing section 116 is moved to the volume reducing section 120 through the passage 71 without being disturbed by the first scattering prevention section 75, FIG. ), The inner door 112 shifts from the open state to the closed state, and the first scattering prevention unit 75 returns to the initial state and closes the passage 71. It is possible to prevent the fragments from being scattered to 112.
The first scattering prevention unit 75 may have a structure in which, for example, a plurality of chains are suspended.
Further, the first scattering prevention unit 75 may include a mechanism for switching between the closed state and the open state of the passage 71 by motor drive control.

  When reducing the volume of the article by the volume reducing section 120, the first scattering prevention section 75 can prevent the pieces of the article from scattering toward the inner door 112, and the inner door 112 reliably performs the opening and closing operation. It is possible to provide an empty container collection device 100 that can perform the operation.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 2, the empty container collecting apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention has a paddle (blade 52) for guiding an article to be collected to a volume reduction section, Is formed in a shape that does not interfere with the paddle (blade 52).
More specifically, in the present embodiment, a plurality of protrusions 52c that protrude outward (in the radial direction) are juxtaposed at the tips 52a of the plurality of blades 52 as paddles.
A cutout portion 75c is provided at the lower end portion 75b of the first scattering prevention portion 75 in correspondence with the shape of the projection 52c of the tip 52a of the blade portion 52, and when the inner door 112 is open and the blade portion The empty container collection device 100 is configured so that the blade 52 and the first scattering prevention unit 75 do not interfere with each other even when the rotation of the rotation shaft 52 around the rotation shaft 51.

As shown in FIG. 13, the empty container collection device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may have a second scattering prevention unit 78 above the volume reduction unit 120. The second scattering prevention unit 78 has a function of a maintenance door of the article collection device (empty container collection device 100).
More specifically, the second scattering prevention portion 78 is supported by a fixing member provided inside the empty container recovery device via a hinge 78a (hinge) so that the opening can be freely opened and closed.

At the time of maintenance, the operator holds the holding portion 78d (handle) of the second scattering prevention portion 78 with the outer cover 100K at the top of the empty container collecting device 100 opened, and the second scattering prevention portion 78. Is opened (see FIG. 13). As shown in FIG. 13, the exterior cover 100K may be a door opening / closing type, or may be another cover member.
The operator, for example, cleans the volume reduction unit 120 and the like and ends the maintenance.

  At the end of the maintenance, the operator closes the second scattering prevention unit 78 so as to close the opening above the blade 52. Next, the operator closes the outer cover. At this time, if the second scattering prevention unit 78 is not in the closed state, control may be performed so that the volume reduction unit 120 and other operations cannot be performed.

Next, an example of the electrical configuration of the empty container collection device 100 as the article collection device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The empty container collection device 100 includes a control unit 1 (CPU), a storage unit 2, a display operation unit 3, a transmission / reception unit 4, an outer door driving unit 5, an inner door driving unit 6, a weighing unit 7, a metal sensor 8, and an optical sensor 9. , A door position sensor 10, a door lock unit 11, a volume reduction drive unit 15, and the like. Each component is electrically connected by a signal line or the like.

  The control unit 1 (CPU) controls each component of the article collection device (empty container collection device 100) in an integrated manner. The control unit 1 realizes the functions according to the present invention in a computer by executing, for example, a control program.

  The storage unit 2 is a storage device such as a RAM and a ROM. The storage unit 2 stores a control program and the like. Further, the storage unit 2 stores the characteristics of the empty container of the collection target. The characteristics of the empty container are determined, for example, in the range of the container mass and whether or not the material is a resin material.

  The display operation unit 3 performs a predetermined display under the control of the control unit 1. The display operation unit 3 outputs a signal corresponding to an operation of a user or the like to the control unit 1. The display operation unit 3 is, for example, a touch panel display device.

  The transmission / reception unit 4 is a transmission / reception device that performs communication with a non-contact type IC card, an IC tag, and the like, and performs predetermined communication under the control of the control unit 1. The transmission / reception unit 4 performs predetermined communication with another terminal device (computer) via a wireless communication path or a wired communication path under the control of the control unit 1.

  The outer door driving unit 5 is a motor or the like for opening and closing the outer door 111, and is driven and controlled by the control of the control unit 1.

  The inner door driving unit 6 is a motor or the like for opening and closing the inner door 112, and the driving of the inner door is controlled to an open state or a closed state by the control of the control unit 1.

The weighing unit 7 weighs the empty container placed on the placing unit 116 of the container input unit 110 or the mass of the non-collection target. The weighing unit 7 is a weighing device such as a load cell.
The weighing unit 7 is used as a sensor for determining whether or not the container can be collected by detecting, for example, a leftover in the container placed on the placing unit 116 of the container input unit 110. Further, the weighing unit 7 is configured to be able to specify the total weight stored in the container storage unit 140 by integrating the weight values of the containers determined to be recoverable. With this function, it is not necessary to provide a measuring section in the container housing section 140, so that the container housing section 140 having a large capacity can be secured, and the measuring section 7 itself can be reduced in size. Since the object to be measured is relatively small, there is no need to provide a large measuring section 7.

  The metal sensor 8 detects whether an object placed on the placement unit 116 of the container insertion unit 110 is a metal or a non-metal. In the present embodiment, when the metal sensor 8 detects that the object placed on the receiver 116 is metal, the controller 1 determines that the object placed on the receiver 116 is a non-recoverable object. It is determined that there is.

In addition, the optical sensor 9 has a light receiving unit 9a that receives light from the light emitting unit 9b provided in the container input unit 110. The optical sensor 9 includes, for example, a polarizing plate, and is configured to receive light through the polarizing plate. The light sensor 9 detects the polarized light transmitted through a light-transmitting empty container such as a PET bottle, and thereby detects the light to be collected. It is configured so that an empty container can be detected.
The control unit 1 detects, with the optical sensor 9, light transmitted through and received by the light-transmitting empty container placed on the placing unit of the container input unit, and based on a detection signal from the optical sensor 9. It is determined whether or not the container is an empty container to be collected.

In addition, the article collection device is provided with the above-mentioned sensors for determining whether or not collection is necessary around the mounting portion. For example, in a conventional collection device, an article is taken into the device, it is determined whether or not it is a collection target, and a non-object is discharged from a discharge port different from the input port. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an outlet.
On the other hand, the article collection device according to the embodiment of the present invention has a configuration in which sensors for judging the necessity of collection are provided on the mounting portion corresponding to the input port of the device, so that it is not necessary to take in the collection target into the device. It has become. Therefore, there is no need to provide an outlet, and a small-sized article collection device can be provided.

  The door position sensor 10 detects the position of the outer door 111 and the position of the inner door 112, and outputs a signal relating to the position of the outer door 111 and the position of the inner door 112 to the control unit 1. The control unit 1 controls the open / close state of the outer door 111 and the inner door 112 based on the signal.

  The door lock unit 11 has, for example, a lock device such as a solenoid, and locks the movement of the outer door 111 and the inner door 112 as needed under the control of the control unit 1.

As described above, the empty container collecting apparatus 100 as the article collecting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the placing section 116 on which articles can be placed, and the articles that pass from the placing section 116 into the main body. And an inner door 112 (movable part) provided in the passage 71 passing therethrough. When the inner door 112 is in a closed state, the empty container collecting apparatus 100 can maintain the edge portion 116a of the mounting portion 116 and the end surface of the inner door 112 in a non-adhered state. There is a regulation means (regulation section 40) that can be maintained at intervals Ls.
That is, since the empty container collecting apparatus 100 has a means capable of maintaining the edge 116a of the mounting portion 116 and the end face of the inner door 112 in a non-adhered state, the edge 116a of the mounting portion 116 and the inner door 112 It is possible to provide the empty container collecting apparatus 100 that can be easily separated without being adhered to the end face and that prevents a problem such as the inner door not opening due to the article to be collected.
More specifically, since the empty container collection device 100 has the above-described regulating means (the regulating portion 40), when the inner door 112 is in the closed state, the edge portion 116a of the mounting portion 116 and the inner door It is possible to provide the empty container collection device 100 that can maintain a gap with the end surface of the storage container 112 at a predetermined interval Ls and that prevents a problem such as the inner door not opening due to the collection target article.
Specifically, for example, even when the remaining liquid such as juice or coffee beverage adheres to the placing portion or the inner door from the empty container, when the inner door is in the closed state, the regulating means (the regulating portion) According to 40), the edge portion 116a of the mounting portion 116 and the end surface 112a of the inner door 112 can be maintained at a predetermined interval with a simple structure, and the residual liquid can be maintained between the mounting portion 116 and the inner door 112. Since the container is discharged from the gap, the placement unit 116 can be kept in a clean state, and the empty container collection device 100 that prevents problems such as the inner door 112 not opening can be provided.

In addition, the regulating means (regulating portion 40) of the empty container collecting device 100 as the article collecting device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the convex portion 41 (40) on the edge 116a of the placing portion 116 on the inner door 112 side. And / or a convex portion 42 (40) on a portion 116Wa on the inner door side of the side wall portion 116W (side cover) of the mounting portion 116.
That is, since the placing portion 116 has the above-mentioned convex portion 42 (40) as the regulating means (the regulating portion 40) of the empty container collection device 100, when the inner door 112 is in the closed state, the placing portion is simple. The edge portion 116a of the inner door 112 and the end surface of the inner door 112 can be maintained at a predetermined interval, and the residual liquid can be discharged from the gap between the mounting portion 116 and the inner door 112.

  In addition, the empty container collecting apparatus 100 as the article collecting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an article input section (container input section 110) including a mounting section 116 for mounting articles, and an article input section ( An outer door 111 provided at the opening of the container input unit 110) so as to be openable and closable; an outer door driving unit 5 for driving the outer door 111 to open or close the outer door 111; An inner door 112 provided in the passage 71 between the container 110 and the container housing 140 so as to be openable and closable, and an inner door driving unit 6 for driving the inner door 112 to open or close the inner door 112; A detection unit (a weighing unit 7, an optical sensor 9, a metal sensor 8, and the like) for detecting whether an article placed on the placement unit 116 of the container input unit 110 is a collection target or a non-collection target; Unit 1. The control unit 1 performs control to open the outer door 111 when collecting articles. When the detection unit detects that the collection target is placed on the placement unit 116, the control unit 1 closes the outer door 111 and opens the inner door 112, and collects the collection target in the container storage unit 140. Control to collect the empty container of the target object is performed. Further, the control unit 1 maintains the closed state of the inner door 112 when the detection unit detects that the non-collection target is placed on the placement unit 116 and the non-collection target is not removed for a predetermined time or more. At the same time, control for closing the outer door 111 is performed.

That is, at the time of initial standby, the outer door is closed and the inner door is closed, and at the start of collection, the outer door is opened while the inner door is closed, and the non-collection target such as a foreign substance is placed on the container input unit 110. When a predetermined time or more (for example, one minute or more) has elapsed after being placed on the placement unit 116, the outer door 111 is closed. It is possible to provide an empty container collection device that prevents the further non-collection target (foreign matter) from being mixed.
In addition, when the empty container collection device is installed outdoors or the like, even when the non-collection target is placed on the placement portion, the outer door is closed after a predetermined time elapses for a short time. Therefore, it is possible to provide an empty container collection device with less intrusion of rainwater or the like.

  In addition, the empty container collection device 100 as the article collection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the non-collection target object is detected by the detection unit, notifies the non-collection target object to be excluded from the container input unit. It has a notification unit. More specifically, for example, the control unit 1 performs a notification process of displaying on the display operation unit 3 that a non-collection target has been detected. Further, the control unit 1 performs a notification process of displaying the non-collection target object on the display operation unit 3 so as to exclude the non-collection target object from the container input unit.

  In addition, the empty container collection device 100 as the article collection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, when a non-collection target is detected by the detection unit (the measuring unit 7, a metal sensor, or the like), the non-collection target is placed in a container. It has a notification unit (in the present embodiment, the control unit 1 and the display operation unit 3) that performs notification so as to be excluded from the input unit 110. Specifically, when a non-collection target is detected by the detection unit, the control unit 1 displays the non-collection target on the display unit of the display operation unit 3 so as to exclude the non-collection target from the container insertion unit. In other words, by urging the user to remove the non-recoverable object from the container input unit 110, there is no need to store the non-recoverable object in the apparatus main body, and a small-sized empty container collecting apparatus with a simple configuration is provided. be able to.

  Further, the notification unit of the empty container collection device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention performs the above-described notification to the external terminal device. That is, for example, the notification can be performed by an external terminal device in the store. In addition, the above notification can be performed by a host server as an external terminal device.

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and there may be a design change or the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. This is also included in the present invention.
In addition, the embodiments shown in the above-described drawings can be combined with each other as long as there is no particular inconsistency or problem in the purpose, configuration, or the like.
Further, the contents described in each drawing can be independent embodiments, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to one embodiment combining the drawings.

  The empty container collection device according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention includes the volume reducing section (volume reducing mechanism) for reducing the volume of the empty container. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. And the empty container of the input collection target may be collected as it is.

  In the above-described embodiment, the empty container collecting apparatus collects empty containers such as PET bottles, but may be configured to collect aluminum cans or steel cans. It may be a device that is also used.

  Further, the empty container collecting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has the outer door and the inner door, but is not limited to this embodiment, and for example, may not have the outer door.

40 ... Regulator (Regulator)
41 ... convex part (projection part)
42 ... convex part (projection part)
100: Empty container collection device (article collection device (container volume reduction device))
100B: apparatus main body 110: container input section (article input section)
111 ... Outer door 112 ... Inner door 116 ... Placement part 116W ... side wall part (side wall part of placement part: side cover)
120: Volume reduction part (volume reduction mechanism)
140 ... container storage part (storage part)

Claims (4)

An article collection device having a placement section on which articles can be placed, and an inner door that is a movable section provided in a passage through which the article passes from the placement section to the inside of the main body section,
An article collection device comprising: means for maintaining an edge of the placement section and an end surface of the inner door in a non-adhered state.   2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the unit that can be maintained in the non-adhesive state includes a restricting unit that can maintain an edge of the placement unit and an end surface of the inner door at a predetermined interval. 3. Goods collection device.   The said restriction | limiting means has a convex part in the edge part by the side of the inner door in the said mounting part, and / or the part by the side of the inner door in the side wall part of the said mounting part, The said part is characterized by the above-mentioned. Goods collection device.   The regulating means has a convex portion on a portion of the end surface of the inner door that contacts the edge of the placing portion and / or a portion of the end surface of the inner door that contacts the wall of the placing portion. The article collection device according to claim 2, wherein

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