JP2023093422A - Article recovery device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an article recovery device capable of taking out easily an article, even if the article recovered from a drawable article storage part falls down to the back side of the article storage part.SOLUTION: An article recovery device for recovering an article has an article storage part for storing the recovered article and provided drawably on a body part of the article recovery device, and capacity expansion means for storing an article falling down from the article storage part to the opposite side in a drawing direction of the article storage part, when the article storage part is drawn out from the body part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to an article recovery device.

An empty container collecting device for collecting empty containers is known (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).

JP 2009-175789 A

In a collection device that stores items such as reduced-volume items in a collection box, when the collection box is pulled out from the housing of the collection device with a large amount of items stored in the collection box, the back side of the collection box (the drawer The back side of the container) may spill and it may be difficult to remove the spilled item.
Further, there is a demand for a collection device having a structure in which articles such as reduced-volume items are less likely to spill out of the collection box.

The article recovery device of the present invention has at least the following configuration.
An article recovery device for recovering articles is
an article storage section that is provided in a main body of the article recovery device and that accommodates the recovered articles;
The storage capacity expanding means is provided on the side opposite to the pull-out direction of the article storage section for storing the articles spilled from the article storage section when the article storage section is pulled out from the main body. .

According to the present invention, even if the collected articles fall from the article storage section to the opposite side (back side) of the article storage section with respect to the direction in which the article storage section is pulled out, the spilled articles can be easily taken out. An article retrieval device can be provided.
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an article recovery apparatus having a structure in which articles such as reduced-volume articles are less likely to spill out of the article storage section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall conceptual diagram of an empty container collecting device as an article collecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a front view of the empty container collecting device and (b) is a side view of the empty container collecting device. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which a drawer of an article recovery device (empty container recovery device) according to one embodiment of the present invention is pulled out; FIG. A diagram showing an example of an article recovery device (empty container recovery device) during maintenance, (a) is a perspective view showing an example of a drawer with a plate member in a horizontal state, and (b) is a plate member in a horizontal state. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an article recovery device (empty container recovery device) from the back side of a drawer; FIG. 3A is a diagram for explaining an example of a drawer of an article recovery device, (a) is a rear view showing an example of a drawer provided with a plate member, and (b) is a side view showing an example of a drawer provided with a plate member; is. FIG. 11A is a view for explaining an example of a plate-like member of an article recovery device, FIG. FIG. 11C is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the container accommodating portion is removed from the drawer shown in FIG. 11C, and FIG. FIG. 3A is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of a plate-like member as storage capacity expanding means of an article recovery device, FIG. Conceptual diagram, (b) is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a state in which the drawer is slightly pulled out and the plate member is slightly inclined, and (c) is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a state in which the drawer is pulled out and the plate member is inclined. It is a conceptual diagram. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a pressing means (pressing portion) of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device) according to one embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a drawer provided with a cap bag holding portion of an article recovery device (empty container recovery device) according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the cap bag holding portion shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an article recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a conceptual side view showing an example of a container accommodating portion of the article recovery device, and (b) is a front plate portion that can be tilted in the drawer direction. It is a figure which shows an example of a container accommodating part. 1 is a diagram showing an example of electrical functional blocks of an article recovery device (empty container recovery device) according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

An article collecting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an article containing section provided in a main body of the article collecting apparatus so as to be freely drawn out, and a pull-out direction of the article containing section when the article containing section is drawn out from the main body. On the opposite side, it has storage capacity expansion means for storing articles that have fallen from the article storage section.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, the illustrated content. In the following description of each figure, the same reference numerals are given to the parts that are common to the already described parts, and redundant description is partly omitted.
For example, an empty container collecting device will be described as an article collecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an empty container collecting apparatus 100 for collecting empty containers (such as PET bottles) to be collected as an article collecting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
In the empty container collecting apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the outer door 111 of the article loading section is closed during standby, and the inner door 112 provided between the article loading section and the container housing section 140 is closed. is. At the time of article collection, the outer door 111 of the article loading section is opened, and the discriminating section determines that an article placed on the placement section of the article loading section is an article to be collected (for example, an empty plastic bottle such as a PET bottle). container). When it is determined that the object to be collected is an article (empty container), the outer door 111 is closed, and the inner door 112 provided between the article loading section and the container housing section 140 is opened. 140 retrieves the container. In this embodiment, the empty container collecting device is provided with a volume reduction mechanism (volume reduction unit 120), and by reducing the volume of the container by the volume reduction mechanism (volume reduction unit 120), a large amount of the container storage unit 140 with a specified capacity can be collected. can be recovered from the reduced volume of empty containers.

The goods are not limited to PET bottles, cans, and bottles, and may include, for example, milk cartons, trays, ink cartridges, returned items (books, DVDs, etc.) to libraries and rental shops, cleaning goods, batteries, light bulbs, etc., which can be collected. Any object can be used as long as it is an object. In other words, the empty container collecting device is one embodiment of the article collecting device.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an empty container collecting apparatus 100 as an article collecting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a container loading section 110 at the top of a main body section 100B of the apparatus. An outer door 111 is provided outside the opening of the container loading section 110 . A main unit 100</b>B of the apparatus is provided with a display operation unit 3 and a transmission/reception unit 4 (communication unit) on the front side near the upper part of the outer door 111 . A luggage hook 100f is provided on the front side of the main body 100B of the device.

Further, a passage communicating with the container housing portion 140 is provided below the container throwing portion 110, and an inner door 112 is provided in the passage 71 from the mounting portion 116 of the container throwing portion 110 to the container housing portion 140. ing.

In this embodiment, the empty container collecting 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 open, the volume reduction unit 120 crushes the empty container A from the container insertion unit 110 to reduce the volume, and outputs the reduced container RA to the container storage unit 140 below.
The main body 100B of the empty container collecting apparatus 100 has a drawer 100C (drawer member) on which the container accommodating portion 140 is placed, and a drawer handle 100e and a keyhole 100r are provided on the front side. A key can be inserted into the keyhole 100r to lock and unlock.

In addition, a translucent portion 100A (translucent window) is provided on the front side of the main body portion 100B of the device, more specifically, on the front side of the drawer 100C, so that the container storage portion 140 can receive an empty space accommodated in the container storage portion 140 from the outside. The container is configured to be visible.

Further, a moving handle 100g used during transportation is provided on the side surface of the main body 100B of the apparatus.

In addition, the main body portion 100B of the device has a cap insertion portion 108 on the front side, and a cap passage 72 is provided downward in the main body portion of the device from the cap insertion portion 108, and the cap inserted into the cap insertion portion 108 is is accommodated in the cap accommodation portion 145 via the cap passage 72 .
The cap passage 72 may have a cap and a mechanism for sorting items smaller than the cap. Specifically, the passage 72 for the cap is branched, and a mesh-shaped member is used at the branch to discharge and accumulate the leftover cigarette butts, rainwater, and the like through a separate route, so that only the cap can be accommodated in the cap housing portion 145. can be

The volume reduction unit 120 includes, for example, a pair of rotating shafts (not shown) rotatably supported, each of which has a compression roller (not shown) having blade surfaces on both sides in the axial direction. Spacers (not shown) having a diameter smaller than that of the compression roller and slightly thicker than the thickness of the compression roller are alternately arranged along the axial direction.
When driven, the pair of rotating shafts rotate in opposite directions to each other, the empty container A placed in the central portion is compressed by the compression rollers, and the reduced empty container is output downward.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which the drawer of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100) according to one embodiment of the present invention is pulled out. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100) during maintenance. Specifically, FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view showing an example of a drawer in which the plate member 241 is in a horizontal state, and FIG. 3(b) is an article recovery from the back side of the drawer in which the plate member 241 is in a horizontal state. It is a perspective view showing an example of a device (empty container recovery device 100).
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of the drawer 100C of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100). Specifically, FIG. 4(a) is a rear view showing an example of a drawer 100C having a plate member 241, and FIG. 4(b) is a side view showing an example of a drawer 100C having a plate member 241. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of the plate member 241 of the article recovery device. Specifically, FIG. 5(a) is a diagram showing an example of an inclined plate member 241 (accommodation capacity expansion means) provided in the drawer 100C, and FIG. 5(b) is shown in FIG. 5(a). FIG. 5C is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the container housing portion 140 is removed from the drawer 100C, and FIG. 5C is a diagram showing an example of the plate member in a horizontal posture during maintenance.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the drawer 100C can be accommodated through an opening on the front side of the main body 100B of the empty container collecting device 100 and can be pulled out.
The drawer 100C has a front plate portion 100Ca (decorative plate portion), a pair of side plate portions 100Cs, a facing plate portion 100Cb (rear plate portion), and a bottom plate portion 100Cd, and is formed in the shape of a bottomed box that opens upward. there is In the drawer 100C, a bottomed box-shaped container holding portion 140 which is open upward is detachably arranged.
A plate-like member 241 as a storage capacity expanding portion 240 is provided on the far side (back side) of the drawer 100C. In this embodiment, a plate member 241 is arranged via a hinge 243 at the upper end portion of the facing plate portion 100Cb of the drawer 100C.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5(a), when the container accommodating portion 140 is pulled out from the main body portion 100B of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100), the inclined portion 242 of the plate member 241 is The angle θ is defined to be about 60°, and the sloped portion 242 has a higher rearward (rear side) slope and a lower forward slope. The hinge 243 is configured to restrict the inclination of the plate member 241 to the angle θ.
In other words, the inclined portion 242 of the plate-like member 241 serves to remove the spilled article (reduced container) from the article accommodating portion (container accommodating portion 140) to the side opposite to the pull-out direction of the article accommodating portion (container accommodating portion 140). , the vicinity of the article accommodating portion (container accommodating portion 140), more specifically, to the rear surface of the article accommodating portion (container accommodating portion 140).

3(a), 3(b), 5(b), and 5(c), when the container accommodating portion 140 is removed from the drawer 100C during maintenance, the plate member 241 is removed. It is configured so that it can be laid down to the front side (front side) and placed in a horizontal state, so that the back of the drawer 100C and the vicinity of the lower portion of the volume reduction mechanism can be easily cleaned.

Next, an example of the operation of the plate-shaped member as the storage capacity expanding means of the article recovery apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 6 and the like.
As shown in FIG. 6A, in the normal state (standby state), the drawer 100C is housed in the main body 100B of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100), and the plate-like member 241 is in an upright state. .

As shown in FIG. 6B, when collecting articles such as empty containers stored in the container storage section 140, when the drawer 100C is slightly pulled out in the pull-out direction (front side), the plate-like member 241 is slightly displaced. tilt to The upper end portion 241a of the plate-like member 241 moves downward while contacting and sliding against the back member 100Bb on the back side of the body portion 100B of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100).

Furthermore, when the drawer 100C is pulled out in the drawer direction, the plate member 241 is held in a state of being inclined at a specified angle (about 60°) as shown in FIG. 6(c). The drawer 100C pulled out from the main body 100B is supported by a guide member (not shown) such as a rail.
That is, when the drawer 100C is pulled out, the plate-like member 241 tilts toward the back side (rear side), and receives, for example, articles (reduced-volume containers, etc.) that have fallen from the article storage section (container storage section 140), It functions as a guide member (guide plate) that guides in the pull-out direction to the vicinity of the back surface of the article storage section (container storage section 140). An operator (maintenance person or the like) can easily remove the spilled article from the gap between the main body 100B and the drawer 100C.

Then, the container is recovered from the container housing portion 140 . Alternatively, a container recovery bag may be attached to the container storage section 140 in advance, and the container may be accommodated in the container recovery bag. When the container is to be collected, the container can be easily collected by removing the container collecting bag and attaching a new empty container collecting bag to the container housing portion 140 .

Next, when the drawer 100C is housed in the main body 100B of the empty container collecting device 100, the procedure is reversed. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6(c) and 6(b), the drawer 100C is moved in the opposite direction to the drawer direction. The upper end portion 241a of the plate-like member 241 moves upward while contacting and sliding against the back member 100Bb on the back side of the body portion 100B of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100). Then, as shown in FIG. 6A, the drawer 100C and the container housing portion 140 are housed in the body portion 100B, and the plate member 241 is in an upright state (substantially vertical state).

Next, an example of the pressing means (pressing portion 100P) of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7, the body portion 100B of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100) includes pressing means (pressing means) disposed above the article storage portion (container storage portion 140) housed in the body portion 100B. 100P). This pressing means (pressing portion 100P) is configured to press the articles (empty container A etc.) downwards.
Specifically, the lower end surface of the pressing portion 100P has an inclined surface portion 100Pa whose height decreases toward the pull-out direction side. The lowest end of the inclined surface portion 100Pa is arranged so as to be substantially the same height as the upper end of the article accommodating portion (container accommodating portion 140) or slightly higher than the upper end of the article accommodating portion (container accommodating portion 140). It is
For example, when the drawer 100C is pulled out in the pull-out direction, the articles exceeding the prescribed storage capacity of the article accommodating portion (container accommodating portion 140) are more precisely than the upper end of the article accommodating portion (container accommodating portion 140). An article at a high position contacts the inclined surface portion 100Pa (fixed portion) of the pressing portion 100P, and as the drawer 100C moves in the drawer direction (horizontal direction), the article is pressed downward, and the lower end of the pressing portion 100P and the lower end of the pressing portion 100P move. It has substantially the same height, that is, substantially the same height as the upper end of the container housing portion, so that it is possible to prevent articles from overflowing from the container housing portion 140 .

<Cap Bag Holding Unit 300>
Next, an example of the cap bag holding portion 300 will be described.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a drawer provided with a cap bag holding portion 300 of an article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the cap bag holding portion 300 shown in FIG.

In the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100), the cap is received in the cap receiving portion 145 from the cap insertion portion 108 through the cap passage 72 in the main body of the device, as shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a cap accommodating portion 145 is arranged in a portion of the container accommodating portion 140 . Specifically, the cap storage bag BS is arranged at one corner of the container storage portion 140 . As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cap bag holding portion 300 is provided on the rear surface 100Cab of the front plate portion 100Ca (decorative plate portion) of the drawer 100C.
The cap bag holding portion 300 has an L-shaped holder 310, a hinge 320 (leaf plate), a cylindrical fitting member 330, an O-ring 340 (resin packing), and a support member 360 (support wire or the like).

The L-shaped holder 310 is provided above the rear surface 100Cab of the front plate portion 100Ca (decorative plate portion) of the drawer 100C via a hinge 320. As shown in FIG. A support member 360 (such as a support wire) is provided between the L-shaped holder 310 and the rear surface 100Cab of the front plate portion 100Ca of the drawer 100C to support the L-shaped holder 310. As shown in FIG.

The L-shaped holder 310 has a hole portion 310h in the central portion, and is configured to fit a cylindrical fitting member 330, an O-ring 340 (resin packing), etc. into the hole portion 310h.

The tubular fitting member 330 has a tubular body portion 330a with an outer diameter smaller than that of the L-shaped holder 310, and a collar portion 330b is integrally formed on the tubular body portion 330a. The collar portion 330b has a larger outer diameter than the cylindrical body portion 330a.
In addition, a plurality of protrusions 330c are provided in the vicinity of the upper portion of the outer surface of the cylindrical main body 330a in the circumferential direction at predetermined intervals. there is

The O-ring 340 is, for example, a packing made of resin such as rubber, and has an inner diameter that is the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical body portion 330 a of the cylindrical fitting member 330 .

A cylindrical fitting member 330 to which a cap accommodating bag BS and an O-ring 340 are attached is fitted into the hole 310 h of the L-shaped holder 310 .
That is, in the present embodiment, the cap storage bag BS made of resin such as vinyl is securely held with a simple structure by the L-shaped holder 310, the O-ring 340, and the cylindrical fitting member 330 of the cap bag holding portion 300. retained.

Further, when collecting the cap housed in the cap housing bag BS, the operator or the like removes the cylindrical fitting member 330 and the O-ring 340 from the L-shaped holder 310, and then removes the cap from the cap housing bag BS. Collect with BS. Then, after attaching a new empty cap storage bag BS to the hole 310h of the L-shaped holder 310, the O-ring 340 and the cylindrical fitting member 330 are fitted.

In addition, the cap bag holding portion 300 is configured such that the L-shaped holder 310, the cylindrical fitting member 330, and the like can be bent upward by about 90° by means of a hinge 320 (leaf plate).

In addition, for example, when taking out or attaching the container accommodating part 140 accommodated in the drawer 100C, the L-shaped holder 310 and the like of the cap bag holding part 300 are bent upward by about 90° with the hinge 320 (leaf plate). Accordingly, the container accommodating portion 140 can be easily taken out or attached without being obstructed by the L-shaped holder 310 or the like.

Note that the above-described cap-accommodating bag BS may be a net-like bag capable of holding the cap.

The accommodation expansion means of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100) according to one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
For example, the storage volume expanding means (storage volume expansion unit 240) of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device) shown in FIG. When pulled out from the main body of the device 100), part or all of the end surface 140Ab of the article storage portion (container storage portion 140A) opposite to the pull-out direction moves in the opposite direction to the pull-out direction. Alternatively, the storage capacity of the article storage portion (container storage portion 140A) itself may be expanded (increased) compared to the state in which the container storage portion is stored in the main body. In addition, a stretchable member such as a bellows-shaped member 140W may be provided between the end face 140Ab and the side walls (left and right side walls) of the container accommodating portion 140A.
Further, when the article accommodating portion (container accommodating portion 140A) is accommodated in the body portion 100B of the article collecting device (empty container collecting device 100), the capacity of the article accommodating portion (container accommodating portion 140A) returns to the initial state.
That is, as described above, the storage capacity expansion means (accommodation capacity expansion section 240) can be realized with a simple structure, and a structure in which articles such as reduced-volume articles are unlikely to spill out of the article storage section (container storage section 140A) is provided. It is possible to provide an article recovery device having
Further, the plate-like member 241 is composed of an expandable member such as a bellows-like member, and is connected to the rear surface of the facing plate portion 100Cb (rear plate portion) of the drawer 100C or the container housing portion 140A and the inner surface of the main body portion 100B of the apparatus. may be provided removably. In this case, according to the pull-out amount of the drawer 100C in the pull-out direction, the spilled article (empty container) that is stretched by the bellows member is stored in a place near the article storage section (container storage section 140), that is, on the back side. can be done.
Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 10B, the front plate portion 100Da of the drawer 100D can be tilted in the pull-out direction around the hinge 100Db, and the front portion 140Ba of the container housing portion 140B can be pulled out. It may be configured as a capacity expansion means by configuring it so that it can be tilted in any direction. A bellows-like member may be provided on the front surface portion 140Ba of the container accommodating portion 140B.

Next, an example of an electrical configuration of an empty container collecting device 100 as an article collecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The empty container collecting 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 driving unit 15, and the like. Each component is electrically connected by a signal line or the like.

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

The storage unit 2 is a storage device such as RAM and ROM. The storage unit 2 stores control programs and the like. The storage unit 2 also stores characteristics of the empty containers to be collected. The characteristics of the empty container are, for example, the range of the container weight and whether or not it is made of resin material.

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

The transmitting/receiving unit 4 is a transmitting/receiving device that communicates with a contactless IC card, an IC tag, or the like, and performs predetermined communication under the control of the control unit 1 . Also, under the control of the control unit 1, the transmitting/receiving unit 4 performs predetermined communication with another terminal device (computer) via a wireless communication path or a wired communication path.

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

The inner door drive unit 6 is a motor or the like for opening and closing the inner door 112 , and is driven and controlled to open or close the inner door under the control of the control unit 1 .

The weighing unit 7 measures the mass of the empty container placed on the placement unit 116 of the container loading unit 110 or the non-recoverable object. The weighing unit 7 is a weighing device such as a load cell.
Further, the weighing unit 7 is used as a sensor for judging whether or not collection is possible by detecting leftovers and the like in containers placed on the placement unit 116 of the container loading unit 110 . In addition, the weighing unit 7 is configured to be able to specify the total weight accommodated in the container accommodating unit 140 by accumulating the weight values of the containers determined to be recoverable. With this function, there is no need to provide a weighing unit in the container housing unit 140, and a large capacity container housing unit 140 can be secured, and the weighing unit 7 itself can be made small. Since the object to be weighed is relatively small, there is no need to provide a large weighing unit 7 .

The metal sensor 8 detects whether the object placed on the placement portion 116 of the container loading portion 110 is metal or non-metal. In the present embodiment, when the metal sensor 8 detects that the object placed on the placement unit 116 is metal, the control unit 1 determines that the object placed on the placement unit 116 is a non-recoverable object. determine that there is

Moreover, the optical sensor 9 has a light receiving section that receives light from a light emitting section provided in the container loading section 110 . The optical sensor 9 includes, for example, a polarizing plate and is configured to receive light via the polarizing plate, and detects the polarized light that has passed through a light-transmitting empty container such as a PET bottle, thereby detecting the collection target. It is configured to be able to detect an empty container.
The control unit 1 detects the light received through the light-transmitting empty container placed on the placement unit of the container insertion unit by the optical sensor 9, and based on the detection signal from the optical sensor 9, , to determine whether the container is an empty container to be collected.

In addition, the article collecting apparatus is provided with the above-described sensors for determining whether or not collection is necessary around the placing section. For example, in a conventional collection device, an article is taken into the device, it is determined whether or not it is an object to be collected, and non-target objects are 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 is provided with sensors for determining whether collection is necessary or not in the loading section corresponding to the input port of the device, so there is no need to take collection objects into the device. It has become. Therefore, it is possible to provide a compact article recovery device without the need to provide a discharge port.

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 regarding the position of the outer door 111 and the position of the inner door 112 to the control section 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 a lock device such as a solenoid, and locks the movement of the outer door 111 and the inner door 112 as necessary under the control of the control unit 1 .

As described above, the empty container collecting apparatus 100 as an article collecting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is a main body of an article collecting apparatus (empty container collecting apparatus 100) that stores collected articles (empty containers). A case in which an article accommodating portion (container accommodating portion 140) provided to be freely drawn out from a portion (apparatus main body portion 100B) and an article accommodating portion (container accommodating portion 140) are pulled out from the main portion (apparatus main body portion 100B) Furthermore, on the opposite side of the article storage section (container storage section 140) in the pull-out direction, there is storage capacity expansion means (storage capacity expansion section 240) for accommodating articles spilled from the article storage section (container storage section 140).
That is, even if the collected articles fall from the article storage section (container storage section 140) to the opposite side (back side) of the article storage section (container storage section 140) with respect to the pull-out direction of the article storage section (container storage section 140), the storage capacity expansion The spilled article (empty container) can be accommodated in a location near the article storage section (container storage section 140), that is, on the back side by means (accommodation capacity expansion section 240). It is possible to provide an article recovery device capable of easily removing the article from the section 240).
In this embodiment, the capacity expansion means (accommodation capacity expansion part 240) is provided in the drawer 100C, and the capacity expansion means (accommodation capacity expansion part 240) is adjusted according to the amount of the drawer 100C pulled out in the drawer direction. Specifically, when the drawer amount is 0 (the state in which the drawer 100C is arranged in the main body 100B), the capacity expansion means (accommodation capacity expansion section 240 ) is 0, the drawer 100C is pulled out, and the back side end of the article storage section provided in the drawer 100C is located outside the front end of the apparatus main body 100c, the storage capacity expanding means ( The storage capacity of the storage capacity expansion part 240) is the maximum value, the article (container storage part 140) spilling down from the article storage part (container storage part 140) can be easily accommodated, and the storage capacity expansion part An article (container) housed in 240 can be easily taken out from the side.
As a comparative example, in the absence of the storage capacity expanding portion 240, if an article (reduced container) spills backward (rear side) from the facing plate portion 100Cb (rear plate portion) of the drawer 100C, the drawer It is necessary to completely remove 100C and perform complicated work such as removing the article. For example, if the spilled article (container) is not removed, when the drawer 100C is housed in the main body 100B, there will be a gap between the facing plate 100Cb (rear plate) of the drawer 100C and the back plate of the main body 100B. There is a risk that the spilled article (container) may get caught and may not be completely closed.

On the other hand, since the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100) according to one embodiment of the present invention has the storage capacity expansion means (capacity expansion section 240), the articles (containers) accommodated in the storage capacity expansion section 240 ) can be easily retrieved.

In addition, the storage volume expanding means (storage volume expansion section 240) of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100) according to one embodiment of the present invention pulls out the article storage section (container storage section 140) from the main body section 100B. In this case, the article (container with reduced volume) spilled from the article storage section (container storage section 140) to the side opposite to the pull-out direction of the article storage section (container storage section 140) is placed in the article storage section (container storage section 140). , more specifically, an inclined portion 242 that guides to the rear surface of the article storage portion (container storage portion 140) and whose height is lower toward the drawer direction side.
In this embodiment, the capacity expansion means (capacity expansion section 240) includes a plate-shaped member 241 provided on the back side of the article housing section (on the side opposite to the drawing direction of the container housing section 140 or the drawer 100C). have.
The plate member 241 is connected at its lower end to the facing plate portion 100Cb (rear plate portion) of the drawer 100C via a hinge 243, and more specifically, is provided at the upper end of the facing plate portion 100Cb of the drawer 100C.

When the container housing portion 140 is pulled out from the body portion 100B of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100), the angle θ of the inclined portion 242 is approximately 40 degrees with the horizontal as the reference (0°). ° to 80°, preferably about 45° to 70°, optimally about 60°, and this ramp 242 is higher rearward (dorsal side). , with a low slope forward. The hinge 243 is configured to restrict the inclination of the plate member 241 to the angle θ. In the above embodiment, the tilt of the plate member 241 is restricted by the hinge 243 .
That is, it is possible to realize the storage capacity expansion means (accommodation capacity expansion section) with a simple configuration.

In this embodiment, the height of the upper end of the container accommodating portion 140 (accommodating box) is configured to be higher than the upper end of the facing plate portion 100Cb of the drawer 100C (drawer member).
For example, the plate-like member 241 is in a tilted state slightly tilted to the back side from the vertical state, and when the drawer 100C is pulled out in the drawer direction, the plate-like member is further tilted to the back side due to its own weight or the like. is configured to
For example, in order to incline the plate-like member 241 when the drawer 100C is pulled out, a contacting member that temporarily contacts the upper end portion of the plate-like member 241 or the like may be provided in the main body portion 100B.

In this embodiment, the plate-like member 241 is arranged so that the height of the upper end of the plate-like member 241 (the height when the drawer 100C is stored) is higher than the height of the article storage portion (container storage portion 140). It is configured.

In order to ensure that the upright plate-like member 241 falls to the back side, the upper end of the upright plate portion is
A protruding member may be arranged on the path along which the upper end portion of the plate-like member in the upright state moves to hinder its movement.
When pulling out the drawer, the plate-like member 241 in the upright state may collide with the protruding member so that the plate-like member 241 can surely fall to the rear side.

Further, the plate member 241 of the storage capacity expanding means of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100) according to one embodiment of the present invention is rotatably disposed behind the container storage section 140 to accommodate the container. When the portion 140 is pulled out from the body portion 100B of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100), the lower end of the plate-like member 241 can be tilted to the upper end of the facing plate portion 100Cb of the drawer 100C via the hinge 243. It has a connected structure. The minimum value of the tilt angle is defined as described above.
That is, since the lower end of the plate-like member 241 is connected to the upper end of the facing plate portion 100Cb of the drawer 100C via the hinge 243, the storage capacity expansion means can be realized with a simple configuration. can.

The plate-like member 241 is in an upright state when the drawer 100C is accommodated in the main body 100B of the apparatus, and when the drawer 100C and the article accommodation section (container accommodation section 140) are pulled out, it tilts toward the back side (rear side) and functions as a guide section. configured to function.

More specifically, when the drawer 100C is retracted, more specifically, when the drawer 100C moves in the direction opposite to the drawer direction, the plate-like member 241 moves toward the rear surface of the main body 100B of the article recovery device (empty container recovery device 100). After the upper end portion 241a of the plate-like member 241 abuts against the side back member 100Bb or the like, the plate-like member 241 slides upward along the back member 100Bb, so that the plate-like member 241 stands up vertically or substantially vertically. becomes.
That is, the gap between the plate-like member 241 of the storage capacity expansion part 240 and the back plate part is zero or substantially zero, and the storage capacity of the storage capacity expansion part 240 is substantially zero, so that a compact article recovery apparatus can be realized. can provide.

In addition, when the article accommodating portion is pulled out, the plate-like member 241 inclines to the back side (back side), so that the articles spilled from the article accommodating portion are pulled out from the back portion of the article accommodating portion (container accommodating portion 140). It functions as a guide member (guide plate) that guides to the vicinity.
That is, the storage capacity expansion means (storage capacity expansion section 240) is configured to expand the storage capacity only when the article storage section is pulled out.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments, and design changes and the like may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. are included in the present invention.
Further, the embodiments shown in the respective drawings described above can be combined with each other as long as there is no particular contradiction or problem in the purpose, configuration, or the like.
In addition, the contents described in each drawing can be an independent embodiment, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to one embodiment in which each drawing is combined.

Although the empty container collecting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention described above includes a volume reduction unit (volume reduction mechanism) for reducing the volume of empty containers, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. , and the empty container of the object to be collected may be collected as it is.

In the above-described embodiment, the empty container collecting device collects empty containers such as PET bottles. It may be a device used for both purposes.

Also, the article recovery device according to the present invention may be employed as a container volume reduction device or a container recovery device.

100 Empty container recovery device (article recovery device (container volume reduction device))
100B ... main body (main body of recovery device)
116... Placement part 120... Volume reduction part (volume reduction mechanism)
140... container accommodating portion (accommodating portion)
140Ab... End face 240... Accommodating capacity expanding part (accommodating capacity expanding means)
241... Plate-shaped member 242... Inclined part 243... Hinge (rotation support part (restriction member))

The article recovery device of the present invention has at least the following configuration.
A container volume reduction device that reduces and collects containers is
a placement section on which the container can be placed;
a volume reduction unit that reduces the volume of the container sent out from the placement unit;
a container accommodating part provided below the volume reducing part and accommodating the reduced volume container and provided in a main body of the container volume reducing device so as to be freely pulled out;
a capacity expansion means for accommodating a container spilled from the container storage portion on the opposite side of the container storage portion in the direction in which the container storage portion is pulled out when the container storage portion is pulled out from the main body ;
The storage capacity expansion means is a member for expanding the storage capacity, which is provided on the opposite side to the drawing direction of the container housing portion .

Claims (6)

An article recovery device for recovering an article,
an article storage section that is provided in a main body of the article recovery device and that accommodates the recovered articles;
and storage capacity expanding means for accommodating articles spilled from the article storage section on the opposite side of the article storage section in the direction in which the article storage section is pulled out when the article storage section is pulled out from the main body. Article recovery equipment. When the article storage section is pulled out, the storage capacity expanding means guides the spilled articles from the article storage section to the vicinity of the article storage section in the direction opposite to the pull-out direction of the article storage section. 2. The article recovery device according to claim 1, further comprising an inclined portion whose height decreases toward the side. 3. The article recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage capacity expanding means is provided on the opposite side of said article storage section in the direction in which said article is pulled out, and has a plate-like member. The plate-shaped member of the storage capacity expanding means is arranged behind the article storage section, and is configured to be tiltable when the article storage section is pulled out from the main body section of the article recovery device. 4. The article recovery device according to claim 3, wherein the article recovery device is configured as follows. The main body of the article collecting device is arranged above the article accommodating section accommodated in the main body, and when the article accommodating section is pulled out from the main body, the specified capacity of the article accommodating section is increased. 5. The article recovery apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising pressing means for pressing downward the article that has crossed over. When the article accommodating portion is pulled out, the storage capacity expansion means moves an end surface of the article accommodating portion in a direction opposite to the drawing direction to move in the opposite direction to the pulling-out direction. 2. The article recovery device according to claim 1, wherein the storage capacity of the part is expanded.

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