JPH0467239B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an empty can collecting machine for collecting empty cans of canned products such as canned coffee, canned coffee, and canned beer.

(Prior Art) Recently, empty can collection machines using a deposit method (temporary deposit method) have been used to improve the effectiveness of collecting empty cans of canned products such as canned coffee, canned coffee, and canned beer. What is the deposit method?
The canned product is sold at a fixed amount, e.g.
In this system, cans are sold with yen added as a deposit and a sticker attached to the bottom of the can to mark the deposit, and the deposit is returned for empty cans with the sticker attached.

Empty can collection machines used in such deposit methods conventionally detect whether or not an empty can inserted through an input slot has a sticker, and if a sticker is attached, the coins equivalent to the deposit are collected as coins. The empty cans dispensed from the dispensing port and placed therein are collected as they are or are pressed and collected in a collection box.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the empty can collection machine that presses empty cans and collects them in a collection box as described above, if a power cutoff such as a power outage occurs during the pressing, the empty cans will not be pressed. It remains in the press equipment unfinished. For this reason, when new empty cans are introduced after the power is restored, new empty cans will be sent to the press machine in addition to the empty cans that have not yet been pressed, resulting in a press failure or empty cans that have been press failures being stored inside the press machine. There was a risk that it would become clogged.

Furthermore, even though the person inserting empty cans is not responsible, if the press stops midway due to a power outage or malfunction, the person who inserts the empty cans must wait until the press restarts in order to receive a refund. It's inconvenient.

The present invention was developed in view of the above circumstances, and even if a power cut-off such as a power outage occurs during the press or an abnormality occurs in the operation and the press stops, the present invention can be operated after the power is restored or the abnormality is removed. To provide an empty can collecting machine which can normally press and collect new empty cans. Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin collecting machine which allows the coins to be refunded without waiting for the collecting machine to be restarted when the collecting machine stops due to no responsibility on the part of the thrower.

(Means for Solving the Problems) According to the present invention, these objects include an empty can input port, a shutter for guiding the empty cans input from the empty can input port downward, and an attachment to the empty cans passing through the shutter. a seal detector that detects a sealed seal, a passage switching mechanism that guides a portion of the empty cans that have been put in to a discharge port, and a press device that presses the sealed empty cans that are guided by the passage switching mechanism and discharges them into a collection box. , a coin dispensing device that dispenses coins when the seal detector detects an empty can with a seal; a press sensor that detects whether the press device has returned to a normal press start position; and a coin dispensing device that dispenses coins when the seal detector detects an empty can with a seal; Based on the output signal of the press sensor indicating that the device has not returned to the normal press start position, the press device is operated in the same direction as the normal press direction to return to the press start position, and the press device is returned to the press start position. When a foreign object is detected, the press device is operated in the opposite direction to return to the pressing start position, and when the press device stops in the middle of pressing, the coin dispensing device is prohibited from dispensing coins, and the passage is switched. This is achieved by an empty can collecting machine characterized by comprising a control device that switches the mechanism so as to guide all the loaded empty cans to a discharge port.

(Operation) If the press device has not returned to the normal press start position when the power is turned on, the normal press operation is performed again on the empty can that has not been pressed yet. This completes the press, and the empty cans after being pressed are collected into a collection box. Therefore, when the next new empty can is loaded, there will be no unpressed empty cans left in the press device, and the new empty cans can also be pressed normally.

In addition, coins are dispensed when the seal is detected, so even if the press stops mid-press due to a power outage, malfunction, or foreign matter gets caught, the person putting in the empty cans can restart the collecting machine. You can receive coins without waiting.

While the press is stopped midway through, the dispensing of coins is prohibited, and all empty cans that are thrown in are guided to the discharge port.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on the illustrated example.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, in which a front door 1 of the collection machine body is provided with an empty can input port 2, a coin payout port 3, and an empty can discharge port 4. .

A can receiving door 2A is attached to the input port 2 so as to be openable and closable using its lower edge as a fulcrum, and when empty cans are placed on the open can receiving door 2A and closed, the empty cans are loaded one by one. The insertion of empty cans is detected by the insertion detector 2B which detects that the can receiving door 2A is closed.

The input port 2 communicates with a collection box 6 via a shutter 5 that guides the loaded empty cans downward.
It communicates with the discharge port 4 via a branch path 7 provided in the middle of the shooter 5 . A path switching mechanism 9 is provided on the branch path of the shooter 5 to selectively guide empty cans input from the input port 2 to the collection box 6 or the discharge port 4. Furthermore, a seal detector 10 is provided on the upstream side of the branch path 7 to detect the presence or absence of a seal. Also, collection box 6
A press device 11 and an empty can passage detector 12 for detecting the passage of pressed empty cans toward the collection box 6 are provided in the empty can passageway of the shooter 5 leading to the empty can passage.

The passage switching mechanism 9 includes a switching plate 9A and a solenoid 9B for operating the switching plate 9A. The switching plate 9A is connected to the press device 11 in which the empty can with the seal is inserted and as described later.
When the number of empty cans remaining in the shutter 11G between the stopper plate 11F and the passage switching mechanism is within the allowable number of storage, the empty cans are switched to be guided to the press device 11.

The press device 11 includes an eccentric cam 11B rotated by a press motor 11A;
A movable plate 11D contacts the cam 11B, advances into the empty can passage of the shooter 5 as the cam 11B rotates, and retreats from the can passage of the shooter 5 after a certain rotation by the biasing force of the tension spring 11C; and a press sensor 11E that detects when the can has traveled the distance required for pressing.Empty cans facing the collection box 6 with the switching plate 9A switched to the side shown by the imaginary line are moved to a swingable stopper plate 11F. It stops at the position , is pressed by the reciprocating movement of the movable plate 11D, and is stored in the collection box 6 through the gap between the stopper plate 11F and the wall surface of the shooter 5. At this time,
Empty cans stored in the collection box 6 are detected by an empty can passage detector 12. In this case, when the collection box 6 is full of pressed empty cans, the pressed empty cans will stay at the path of the empty can passage detector 12, and the detection signal of the empty can passage detector 12 will be continuously constant. It becomes a DC signal with a voltage level. Therefore, when the detection signal of the empty can passage detector 12 changes to a DC signal of a constant voltage level, it can be determined that the collection box 6 is full.

On the other hand, a coin dispensing device 13 is installed upstream of the coin dispensing port 3. This coin dispensing device 13 includes a coin-out detector 13A that detects a shortage of coins based on a change in the weight of the coin hopper, and a coin jam detector 13A that detects that a coin is clogged in the passage leading to the dispensing port 3. A container 13B is provided.

Further, at the top of the front door 1, there is an indicator lamp 1 that indicates that the collection machine is ready for operation.
4 is provided.

All of the output signals of the various detectors described above are input to the control device 15. The passage switching mechanism 9, the press device 11, the coin dispensing device 13, and the display lamp 14 are controlled by this control device 15.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an overview of the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to this flowchart.

First, when the power of the control device 15 is turned on (step 100), this empty can collecting machine becomes operational.
Upon turning on the power, the control device 15 first determines whether or not the empty can collecting machine can be operated normally (step 101). That is, the press sensor 11E
The movable plate 11 of the press device 11 based on the output signal of
Detecting whether or not D has returned to the press start position, and detecting whether or not the collection box 6 is full based on the output signal of the empty can passage detector 12,
Further, based on the output signal of the coin out-of-coin detector 13A, it is determined whether there is a shortage of coins for dispensing, and furthermore, based on the output signal of the coin jam detector 13B, it is determined whether coins are jammed on the upstream side of the dispensing port 3. Detect whether or not.

As a result, if it is found that the movable plate 11D has returned to the pressing starting position, the collection box 6 is not full, and there is no coin shortage or coin jam, the empty can collection machine will operate normally. It is determined that the display is enabled, and the display lamp 14 is turned on.

However, if the collection box 6 is full, or if there is a coin shortage or a coin jam, it is determined that the machine is in an inoperable state, and the display lamp 14 remains off. In this case, the passage switching mechanism 9
The switching plate 9A is held at the position shown by the solid line in the figure until all causes of the inoperable state are removed, and all empty cans that have been put in are guided to the discharge port 4. Further, at this time, the coin dispensing device 13 is prohibited from dispensing coins. And once it is ready to drive,
When an empty can with a regular seal is inserted, the switching plate 9A is immediately switched to the side shown by the imaginary line. Therefore, even if an empty can is thrown in when the system is in an inoperable state, the empty can is discharged to the outside from the discharge port 4 through the branch path 7 of the computer 5 (step 111).

On the other hand, if the movable plate 11D has not returned to the normal pressing start position (step 102), it is determined that a power cut-off state such as a power outage has occurred during pressing, and the pressing is not yet completed, and the pressing device The press motor 11A of No. 11 is rotated forward, and the movable plate 11D is moved in the same direction as the normal press direction (step 105).

As a result, even if the power supply is cut off while the pressing is not completed, the empty cans that are in the middle of pressing and are located at the stopper plate 11F at the time of restart are completely pressed and stored in the collection box 6. (Step 112).

When an empty can is inputted from the input port 2 and a detection signal indicating that a predetermined seal is attached to the empty can is generated from the seal detector 10 (step 103), the control device 15 detects "sealed". Based on the determination, a payout command is sent to the coin payout device 13, and coins equivalent to the deposit are paid out from the payout opening (step 104). At the same time, the solenoid 9B of the passage switching mechanism 9 is driven to switch the switching plate 9A to the side shown by the imaginary line. As a result, the empty can with the seal falls to the position of the stopper plate 11F of the press device 11 via the switching plate 9A.

The control device 15 drives the press motor 11A in normal rotation after a certain period of time, taking into account the time it takes for the empty can to fall to the position of the stopper plate 11F, and drives the eccentric cam 11B.
rotate once (step 105). By this,
The movable plate 11D reciprocates, the empty can located at the stopper plate 11F is pressed, and the empty can at the stopper plate 11F is pressed.
and the wall of the shooter 5 and fall toward the collection box 6 (step 112), this fall is detected by the empty can passage detector 12, and the control device 15 waits for the next empty can to be inserted.

Note that when empty cans are continuously fed in, the control device 15 controls the switching mechanism 9 so that the subsequent sealed cans are placed in the shutter 1 in the vicinity of the press device 11.
The number of empty cans remaining in the shutter 11G near the press device 11 is constantly monitored based on the difference between the number guided by 1G and the number passing the empty can passage detector 12. Press device 1
1 motor 11A is operated continuously. When there are no remaining empty cans, the motor 11A stops. In addition, when the number of remaining empty cans reaches the allowable number of storage units in the shutter near the press device 11, the control device 15 is operated to guide the empty cans to the press device 11 even if the seal detector 10 detects that an empty can with a seal is inserted. The sealed empty can is then discharged to the discharge port 4 without switching the passage switching mechanism 9, and dispensing of coins is prohibited.

If the drive current of the press motor 11A exceeds a certain value or the time required for pressing exceeds a certain time, the control device 15 determines that a foreign object has been caught (step 106), and the press device 11
is operated in a direction opposite to the normal press direction (step 107). The control device 15 reverses the press motor 11A until the movable plate 11D returns to the press start position (step 107).

As a result, when the movable plate 11A returns to the press starting position (step 108), the indicator lamp 14 is turned off to allow maintenance personnel to remove the trapped foreign matter, and at the same time, the indicator panel for maintenance (not shown) is turned off.
A foreign object is displayed (step 109), and the operation is stopped (step 110). That is, the switching mechanism 9 guides all input empty cans to the discharge port 4, and the coin dispensing device 13 prohibits coin dispensing.

After that, maintenance personnel removes the stuck foreign object, and when the power is turned on again (step 100),
The control device 15 performs the above operation again.

As a result, if there is no cause for inoperability, the display lamp 14 is turned on and the system is in a standby state for empty cans.

If the loaded empty can does not have a seal, the switching plate 9A is not switched and the shutter 5 is controlled to communicate with the branch path 7. As a result, empty cans without seals are discharged from the discharge port 4. In addition, in a power outage state, the switching plate 9A switches the shutter 5 to the branch path 7.
It has been switched to lead to . Therefore, all empty cans put in during a power outage are discharged from the discharge port 4.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, the press device does not return to the normal press start position due to power cut-off conditions such as power outages or malfunctions, or foreign matter gets caught in the press, and the press stops during the press. When the machine stops, the dispensing of coins is prohibited, and all empty cans that have been inserted thereafter are guided to the discharge port, so that the press device will not be clogged with empty cans.

In addition, when the press device is restarted, the rest of the press is activated and then returned to the normal pressing start position, so empty cans that have not been pressed due to a power outage such as a power outage can be removed. When the power is restored, the paper is pressed normally and collected in the collection box. Accordingly, it becomes possible to press new empty cans normally, and there are effects such as being able to prevent jamming of cans due to poor pressing.

When a foreign object is caught here, the press device operates in the opposite direction and returns to the return position, so that the foreign object can be easily removed.

Furthermore, since the coins are dispensed immediately after the seal is detected, even if the collecting machine stops during the press, the authorized person who throws in the empty can can receive the coins without waiting for the collecting machine to restart.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an empty can collecting machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an overview of the operation of the embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Front door, 2...Input port, 3...Discharge port, 4...Discharge port, 5...Shooter, 6...Collection box, 7...Diversion path, 9...Aisle switching mechanism, 10
... Seal detector, 11 ... Press device, 11E
...Press sensor, 12...Empty can passage detector,
13... Coin dispensing device, 14... Display lamp,
15...control device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An empty can input port, a shutter that guides the empty cans input from the empty can input port downward, a seal detector that detects the seals attached to the empty cans passing through the shutter, and a system that detects some of the empty cans that have been input. a passage switching mechanism that leads to a discharge port; a press device that presses sealed empty cans guided by the passage switching mechanism and discharges them into a collection box; and a coin dispenser that dispenses coins when the seal detector detects an empty can with a seal. a press sensor that detects whether the press device has returned to the normal press start position; and a press sensor that indicates that the press device has not returned to the normal press start position when the power is turned on. Based on the output signal, the press device is operated in the same direction as the normal pressing direction to return to the press start position, and when foreign matter is detected caught in the press device, the press device is operated in the opposite direction to return to the press start position. and when the press device stops in the middle of pressing, a control device that prohibits the coin dispensing device from dispensing coins and switches the passage switching mechanism to guide all loaded empty cans to the discharge port. An empty can collection machine characterized by comprising: