JPH0468677B2 - - 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.

However, with this type of system that dispenses coins only by detecting the seal, if the seal detector malfunctions due to the intrusion of insects such as ants, coins may be dispensed even though no empty cans are inserted. Situations may arise in which this happens. It is also possible to commit fraud in which coins are continuously ejected by hanging an empty can with a string and moving the front of the seal detector up and down (string hanging act). In order to prevent this from happening, coins will be dispensed only when two conditions are met: the empty can that has been thrown in must have a sticker affixed to it, and the empty can must have definitely gone to the collection box. It is possible to do so.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, if one of the conditions for dispensing coins is that the empty cans inserted in this way are pressed and then sent to the collection box, the time required to press one can will be Since the pressing time is approximately 3 to 5 seconds, the user cannot receive money until the sealed empty can is finished being pressed, and the user is forced to wait during this time, causing discomfort to the user.

The present invention was developed in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to quickly dispense coins, and also to prevent an unreasonable increase in coins in the event that the seal detector malfunctions or a "thread hanging act" is performed. To provide an empty can collection machine capable of preventing coins from being dispensed.

(Means for Solving the Problems) According to the present invention, this purpose is achieved by providing an empty can inlet;
A shutter that guides empty cans inputted from the empty can input port downward; a seal detector that detects stickers attached to empty cans passing through the shutter; and a collection box that collects only empty cans with stickers attached. a press device that presses empty cans guided toward the collection box and discharges them into the collection box; a discharge port that discharges empty cans that are not collected into the collection box to the outside; and a press device that presses empty cans guided toward the collection box and discharges them to the collection box; a passage switching mechanism that selectively guides the cans to the passage leading to the outlet or the passage leading to the discharge port, and a passage switching mechanism provided in the passage leading to the collection box on the downstream side of the press device to detect when pressed empty cans are directed to the collection box. The empty can passage detector detects the seal of the inserted empty can with a seal, and the seal detector detects that the empty can with the seal that was inserted just before the empty can with the seal has been pressed and is heading to the collection box. This is achieved by an empty can collection machine characterized by comprising a control device that outputs a coin dispensing command under two conditions, and a coin dispensing device that dispenses coins based on the coin dispensing command.

To summarize, the seal detector detects the seal of the put-in empty can with a seal, and the empty can with the seal that was put in just before the empty can with the seal (the previous empty can) has been pressed and is placed in the collection box. The system dispenses coins under two conditions: that the coins are headed towards the target.

(Function) Therefore, if the previous empty can with a seal has already been collected toward the collection box and the press device is capable of accommodating empty cans, the most recent empty can put in will be Coins will be dispensed. That is, coins are dispensed before pressing without waiting until the pressing is completed. On the other hand, an empty can with a seal is hung with a string and moved to the seal detector position to activate the seal detector, after which the empty can is retreated from the seal detector position and the seal detector is again positioned. In the case of an act of intruding into a container and illegally dispensing coins, that is, a string hanging act, coins will be dispensed for the next empty can with a seal, provided that the first empty can determined to have a seal goes to the collection box. No matter how many times the string hanging action is repeated, the coins that are dispensed are only from the first empty can determined to have a seal, and it is possible to prevent an unduly large amount of coins from being dispensed. Further, even if the seal detector malfunctions due to insects such as ants, it is possible to similarly prevent a large amount of coins from being dispensed.

(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 that pressed empty cans have passed toward the collection box 6 are installed in the empty can passageway of the shooter 5 leading to the storage box 6 .
is provided.

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 sealed empty can is inputted 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 9 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 in the path of the empty can passage detector 12, and the detection signal of the empty can passage detector 12 will have a constant voltage level. It becomes a DC signal with 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 are 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 collection machine can operate normally (step 101). That is, based on the output signal of the press sensor 11E, it is detected whether the movable plate 11D of the press device 11 has returned to the press start position, and based on the output signal of the empty can passage detector 12, it is detected whether the collection box 6 is full. Furthermore, 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 the coins are in the dispensing port 3 or not. Detects whether or not there is a blockage on the upstream side.

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 can operate normally. It is determined that the state is possible, 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 in the position shown by the solid line in the figure until all causes of the inoperable state are removed.
Once the machine is ready for operation, the switching plate 9A is immediately switched to the side shown by the imaginary line when an empty can with a regular seal is inserted. Therefore, even if empty cans are thrown in when the machine is inoperable,
This empty can is discharged to the outside from the discharge port 4 through the branch path 7 of the shooter 5 (step 102).

On the other hand, if there are no conditions that make the operation impossible, the control device 15 transmits a flag signal FLG that controls the coin dispensing conditions immediately after the power is turned on.
Set FLG=0. That is, the FLG is cleared (step 103). In this state, when the first empty can is loaded from the input port 2 (step 104), the control device 15 checks the seal detector 16 for the presence or absence of a seal on the condition that the flag signal FLG is FLG=0. (Steps 105 and 106). As a result,
If it is an empty can with a "seal", then the flag signal FLG is set to FLG=1 (step 107), and a dispensing command is sent to the coin dispensing device 13 to dispense coins equivalent to the deposit from the dispensing opening. (Step 108). 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 next empty can with a seal is transferred to the press device 1 via the switching plate 9A.
It falls to the position of No. 1 stopper plate 11F.

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. As a result, the movable plate 11D reciprocates, and the empty can located at the stopper plate 11F is pressed (step 109).
The collection box 6 passes between the 1st floor and the wall of the shooter 5.
This fall is detected by the empty can passage detector 1.
2 (step 110) and the control device 15
then sets the flag signal FLG to the same content as the initial state.
FLG is set to 0 (step 111), and the pressed empty can falls into the collection box (step 112), waiting for the next new empty can to be inserted.

On the other hand, if the inserted empty can does not have a seal, the control device 15 does not switch the switching plate 9A of the path switching mechanism 9 according to the determination in step 106, and controls the shooter 5 to communicate with the branch path 7. Empty cans without seals are discharged from the outlet. This is the same even during a power outage.
All the loaded empty cans are discharged from the discharge port 4 regardless of whether or not they have a seal.

On the other hand, if the empty can determined to be "sealed" is not detected by the empty can passage detector 12 (step 110), the control device 15 sends a flag signal.
The process waits for the next empty can to be inserted (step 104) without passing through step 111 for clearing the FLG.

When empty cans are continuously fed with FLG=1, the control device 15 controls the number of subsequent sealed cans guided to the press device 11 by the switching mechanism 9 and the empty can passage detector 12. From the difference between the number of passes through the
The number of empty cans remaining in the can is constantly monitored, and the motor 11 of the press device 11 is
Operate A 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 shooter 11G, the control device 15 switches the passage switching mechanism 9 to the side that guides 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 empty can with the seal is discharged to the discharge port 4 without switching, and dispensing of coins is prohibited.

In this case, the state of FLG=1 means that the operation in step 111 is executed when the first empty can judged to have a seal actually goes to the collection box 6, or when the next empty can goes to the collection box. It is canceled by

Therefore, the seal detector 1 may be
Even if 0 is activated, coins are paid out only once, and subsequent illegal payouts are prevented.

In addition, if a fraudulent act such as string hanging occurs, for example, when the machine is stopped and restarted by the administrator, a signal indicating that one can has been pressed is automatically output. Then, a regular refund will be available for the first can injection after restarting. Note that any appropriate method can be used to detect fraudulent acts such as string hanging. For example, it is possible to monitor the time from when a can is inserted until the empty can passage is detected by the empty can passage detector 12, and if this time is longer than a predetermined time, it can be determined that there is an abnormality such as fraudulent activity.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, an inserted empty can has a seal attached to it, and an empty can (1) inserted immediately before the empty can with the seal.
Since coins are dispensed under two conditions: when the previous empty can (individual empty can) is headed toward the collection box, if the previous empty can has already been collected toward the collection box, coins will be paid out in the shutter of the press As long as empty cans can be accepted, coins will be paid out for the most recently inserted empty can only on the condition that it has a seal. That is, coins are dispensed without waiting until the press is completed. On the other hand, an empty can with a seal is suspended by a string and moved to the seal detector position to activate the seal detector, after which the empty can is retreated from the seal detector position and returned to the seal detector position. For acts of intrusion and illegally dispensing coins, that is, hanging by a string, coins will be dispensed for the next empty can with a seal, provided that the first empty can determined to have a seal goes to the collection box. No matter how many times the stringing action is repeated, the coins that are dispensed are only from the first empty can determined to have a seal, and it is possible to prevent a large number of coins from being dispensed. Furthermore, coins will not be continuously dispensed due to an abnormality in the seal detector.

Moreover, since the time from putting in an empty can to dispensing coins can be significantly shortened, it is possible to eliminate the discomfort caused to users while waiting until coin dispensing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

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, 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 empty cans input from the empty can input port downward, a seal detector that detects seals attached to empty cans that pass through the shutter, and a system that detects only empty cans with stickers attached. A collection box to be collected, a press device that presses empty cans guided toward the collection box and discharged to the collection box, a discharge port for discharging empty cans that are not collected into the collection box to the outside, and a can that is guided by the shooter. a passage switching mechanism that selectively guides empty cans into a passage leading to the collection box or a passage leading to the discharge port; There is an empty can passing detector that detects when the empty can has passed, a seal detector detects the seal of the inserted empty can with a seal, and the empty can with the seal that was inserted just before the empty can with the seal has been pressed and is placed in the collection box. 1. An empty can collecting machine comprising: a control device that outputs a coin dispensing command under two conditions; and a coin dispensing device that dispenses coins based on the coin dispensing command.