JPH1017107A - Empty can recovering apparatus with bar code reading function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a demand for a recovery expense by an empty can disposing company or an empty can charging person to, for example, a manufacturer for a can or a contracted convenience store by providing a function to read a bar code specific to a manufacturer so that a recovery expense paid to a damping disposing company for an empty can by the manufacturer side for a can, and further a function to perform damping disposal of the empty can and a discriminating function. SOLUTION: An empty can W charged through a charge port 11 is placed on a tray 31. It is detected by a metal detecting part 50 whether the empty can on the tray 31 is metallic. Further, it is detected by a sensor 55 whether the empty can is a steel can. Thereafter, the empty can W is rotated and lowered togetherwith the tray 31. In this case, a bar code W1 marked on the outer peripheral surface of the empty can W is read by a bar coded reader 60.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an empty can collection device having a function of reading a bar code attached to an empty can.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an empty can collection device having a function of reading a bar code attached to an empty can in order to calculate a collection cost paid by a can manufacturer to a disposal company of the empty can.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, for the purpose of recycling resources,
Collection devices for empty containers, such as empty cans, have been installed in towns and around automatic vending means. Further, there has been proposed a recovery apparatus having a processing function for requesting a recovery cost for waste containers such as empty cans (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-33203).
Such a collection device reads a barcode (attribute information) recorded on a waste container, calculates collection information such as a collection price from the information, and further stores the collection information on a card of a user who provided the waste container. It is configured to record. Therefore, billing processing of the collection cost using the card can be performed.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned proposed collecting device simply irradiates the waste container with infrared rays or ultraviolet rays at a predetermined bar code reading section to which the waste container such as an empty can is conveyed. Thus, the bar code recorded on the reading unit is read, and the posture of the waste container in the reading unit is not changed. Therefore, when a barcode is not recorded at a specific position of the waste container or over the entire waste container, that is, when a barcode is recorded at an unspecified position of the waste container, the barcode is reliably read. It was difficult.

On the other hand, there has been proposed an empty can collection machine for reading a bar code recorded on an empty can by rotating the empty can about its axis at a position facing a bar code reader (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 4 (1998) -104). -37089
No. 6). In such a collecting machine, assuming that a barcode is recorded on the outer peripheral surface near the end of the empty can, a total of two barcode readers are arranged at positions facing the outer peripheral surfaces near both ends of the empty can. The bar code is read regardless of the vertical position of the empty can. However, at least two barcode readers must be provided, and if a barcode is recorded at an unspecified position of the empty can other than the position facing the barcode reader, it cannot be read. .

An object of the present invention is to reliably read a bar code recorded at an unspecified position of an empty can and calculate a collection cost and the like paid by the can manufacturer to a disposal company of the empty can. An object of the present invention is to provide an empty can collection device that enables a disposal company of empty cans or a person who puts empty cans to charge a collection cost to a can manufacturer or a contracted convenience store.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an empty can collection device having a bar code reading function, the empty can collection device storing empty cans inserted from an input port in a storage section. A moving means for rotating the loaded empty can in the axial direction while rotating about the axis thereof, and a moving means arranged at a fixed position facing the outer peripheral surface of the empty can moved by the moving means and formed on the outer peripheral surface of the empty can. And a reading means for reading the read barcode.

A second embodiment of the empty can collection device having a bar code reading function according to the present invention is an empty can collection device for storing empty cans inserted from an input port in a storage section. Holding means for holding at a position, reading means capable of reading a barcode formed on the outer peripheral surface of the empty can, and reading means at a position facing the outer peripheral surface of the empty can held by the holding means. Moving means for rotating the empty can around the axis while moving the empty can in the axial direction.

[0008] A third embodiment of the empty can collection device having a bar code reading function according to the present invention is an empty can collection device for storing empty cans inserted from an input port into a storage section. A reading unit capable of reading a barcode formed on the surface, a moving unit for relatively moving the empty can input from the input port and the reading unit along the axial direction of the empty can, and the reading unit Comprises: a first and a second reading unit capable of reading the bar code facing each other across the empty can;
A first and second reflection mirror for reflecting an image of the outer peripheral surface of the empty can facing the direction substantially orthogonal to the facing direction of the first and second reading units to the first and second reading units; It is characterized by having.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an empty can collection device having a bar code reading function, the empty can collection device for storing empty cans inserted from an input port in a storage section. A reading unit capable of reading a barcode formed on the surface, a moving unit for relatively moving the empty can input from the input port and the reading unit along the axial direction of the empty can, and the reading unit Reflects one bar on the outer peripheral surface of the empty can and capable of reading the bar code, and reflects an image of the outer peripheral surface of the empty can not facing the reader on the first and second readers. And a reflecting mirror.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 5 are views for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the entire recovery device.

The main body of the collecting device of this embodiment is provided with an opening 1 for an empty can W.
The cover 1 includes a cover 1 on which a mechanism 1 is provided, a mechanism 2 having various processing mechanisms to be described later, and a storage 3 for storing empty cans W. The lid 1 is provided with a guide tube 12 for guiding the empty cans W fed from the inlet 11 downward along the axial direction, and at an intermediate position of the guide tube 12,
A continuous throw prevention mechanism 20 capable of blocking the passage of empty cans W is provided. When the lever 22 is rotated by the operation of the solenoid 21 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the tip of the lever 22 is located in the guide tube 12 and prevents the passage of the empty can W. When the solenoid 21 does not operate and the return spring 23 rotates the lever 22 as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, the empty can W is allowed to pass. Three guide members 13 are provided at the lower end of the guide tube 12 at equal intervals of 120 ° along the circumferential direction and extend downward. In addition, a display lamp 15 described below is installed on the upper part of the lid 10.

The mechanism section 2 is provided with a moving mechanism 30 as moving means for rotating the empty can W guided by the guide tube 12 about the axis while moving the empty can W in the axial direction. The mechanism 30 is configured to vertically move while rotating the tray 31 on which the empty can W is placed together with the screw shaft 32, and the screw shaft 32 is rotatable to a fixed position in the mechanism unit 2 by the bearing member 33. Is held in. That is,
On the outer peripheral surface of the screw shaft 32 and the inner peripheral surface of the bearing member 33, spiral concave portions or convex portions (spiral portions) screwed to each other are formed, and when the screw shaft 32 is driven to rotate, The screw shaft 32 moves up and down while rotating. A gear 32A having teeth extending vertically is formed on the lower portion of the screw shaft 32, and a spur gear 35 driven by a motor 34 for rotating the can meshes with the gear 32A. . The gears 35 and 32A constitute a transmission system that transmits the driving force of the motor 34 while allowing their relative vertical movement. Reference numeral 36 denotes a sliding member which slidably engages with the gear 32A of the screw shaft 32 in the up-down direction, and its outer peripheral portion is rotatably held at a fixed position in the mechanism section 2 by a bearing 37. I have. In the center of the screw shaft 32, a discharge path 32 for discharging waste liquid in the empty can W accumulated on the tray 31 is provided.
B is formed to penetrate. The waste liquid discharged downward from the discharge passage 32B is stored in a waste liquid storage part 83 described later.

The receiving tray 31 is moved up and down with the position of the solid line in FIG. 1 as the upper limit position and the position of the two-dot chain line in the same drawing as the lower limit position. At the upper limit position, the empty can W is placed on the receiving tray 31. Whether or not the tray 31 is placed is detected by a can presence / absence sensor 41 such as a reflection type optical sensor, and the lower limit detector 42 detects that the tray 31 has been lowered to the lower limit position. The rise of the tray 31 to the upper limit position is detected by the upper limit detector 43 in FIG.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a metal detecting unit (determining means) for determining whether or not the empty can W on the tray 31 is metallic.
It is. In the case of this example, the lower end of the guide pipe 12
A hitting member 51 as a swinging hitting portion is provided, and it is determined whether or not the empty can is metallic by analyzing a frequency of a hitting sound when the hitting member 51 is hit against the empty can W by the solenoid 52. It is supposed to. The striking sound at that time is collected by the microphone 53 in FIG. The detection unit 50 may be directly rotated by the rotary solenoid 52 as shown in FIG. 5 and hit the empty can W, or a metal detector may be used.

Reference numeral 55 denotes a sensor as a material detecting means for detecting whether the empty can W determined to be metallic is a steel material or an aluminum can. For example, the empty can W is made of a steel material by a magnetic sensor. Detect if there is
If it is not a steel material, it is determined to be an aluminum can.

Reference numeral 60 denotes a bar code W attached to the empty can W
1 is a bar code reader as a reading means for reading 1. The barcode W1 records the attribute information of the empty can W, and the attribute information includes information for specifying the manufacturer of the empty can W. The bar code reader 60 controls the laser scanning unit 61 that scans the laser beam in the axial direction of the empty can W (up and down direction in FIG. 1) by the driver 62 as shown in FIG. The bar code W1 is read based on the digital signal that has been amplified and then converted by the A / D converter 64. Various sensors such as a line sensor and an area sensor can be used as the barcode reader 60, and the scanning direction may be a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the empty can W. For example, SAM manufactured by Tesco Corporation
-140 (trade name) can also be used.

Reference numeral 56 denotes a delivery solenoid, which is a compressor 70 as a compression means to be described later when the empty can W located on the lower receiving tray 31 is made of metal.
It jumps in. The time required for popping out the empty cans W is, for example, about 100 msec.
When an empty bottle or a paper pack other than the metallic empty can W is positioned on the tray 31, the solenoid 56
A different solenoid 58 (see FIG. 2) is used to cause the solenoid 58 to jump into the storage portion 57. The solenoid 58 is disposed, for example, at a position shifted by 90 ° from the solenoid 56 around the axis of the screw shaft 32.

The compressor 70 has a pair of endless bodies 71 which convey the empty can W downward. The endless body 71 is
For example, it is an endless chain or an endless hard belt made of steel or the like which is stretched between upper and lower rollers 72 and 73, and the distance between them is gradually narrowed downward. Therefore, the empty cans W are conveyed downward by these endless bodies 71 and are compressed and crushed between them. Reference numeral 74 denotes a guide member for pressing, between which the pressing force of the empty can W is secured. When the endless body 71 is fed, at least one of the rollers 72 and 73 may be driven by the motor 75 in FIG.

Reference numeral 76 denotes a sorting member for sorting the storage destinations of the empty cans W compressed by the compressor 70. As shown in FIG.
When rotated to the left by, the compressed empty can W
Into the steel can storage 81, while the fulcrum P2
When rotated to the right by the solenoid 77 around the center, the compressed empty can W is stored in the housing 82 for the aluminum can.
It is designed to lead inside. In the case of this example, when the distribution member 76 is rotating to the left as shown in the figure, that is, when the rotating can is at the rotational position where the empty can W is guided into the steel can storage portion 81, the reference state is set. When the solenoid 77 is turned on in the state, the member 76 is rotated to the right, and a switching state is established in which the empty can W is guided into the storage section 82 for the aluminum can, and the solenoid 77 is turned off from the switching state. This returns to the reference state.

Reference numeral 83 denotes a storage section for waste liquid, and reference numeral 84 denotes each storage section 8.
A boundary wall that partitions 1, 82, 83, and 85 are storage sections 81, 8
2 and is inclined downward toward the storage portion 83 side. A hole 84A that forms a waste liquid discharge passage is formed in a lower portion of the boundary wall 84, and the waste liquid in the storage portions 81 and 82 is discharged into the storage portion 83 from the hole 84A along the inclination of the bottom plate 85. It can be stored. It is to be noted that a storage portion 83 is provided below the storage portions 81 and 82, and a bottom plate 85 is provided.
May be made into a net shape, so that the waste liquid in the storage portions 81 and 82 may be dropped into the storage portion 83 through the hole of the bottom plate 85.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a control system. In the controller 100, a CPU 101 executes control processing and data processing of each mechanism, and a ROM 102 stores processing procedures and the like. Is used as a work area. 104 is an I / O port. 105
Is a power supply device, 106 is a control panel for setting various data, and 107 is a device for reading and writing data from and to a recording card (hereinafter, referred to as an “IC card”) having a built-in IC. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 106A denotes an operation button of the control panel 106, and 107A denotes an IC card inlet.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, the empty can W
Is detected (step S1), that is, the empty cans W charged from the charging port 11 are placed in the tray 31 at the upper limit position.
Waiting to be positioned above, and when it is detected, the solenoid 21 for prohibiting throwing of the can is turned ON, and the empty can W
Is prohibited (step S2). At this time, the display lamp 14 is turned on to notify the user to refrain from loading the empty cans W.

Thereafter, the metal detecting section 50 turns on the striking solenoid 52 for about 30 msec, and the striking member 51
Then, the type of the empty can W is determined from the frequency of the hitting sound at that time (step S4). When it is not metallic, the solenoid 58
Is turned on for about 30 msec, so that it is jumped into the paper collection unit 57 (steps S5 and S6), and the prohibition of the insertion of the empty can W is released by turning off the solenoid 21 (step S22). Return to S1.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the empty can W is metallic, whether it is a steel can or an aluminum can is detected by a sensor 55 such as a magnetic sensor (step S7), and then the can for rotating cans is detected. The motor 34 is started, the screw shaft 32 is lowered while rotating the screw shaft 32 together with the tray 31 on which the empty can W is placed, and the laser beam of the bar code reader 60 is scanned in the up and down direction, and the bar code W1 attached to the empty can W is scanned. Read (step S8). Then, when the lower limit detector detects that the tray 31 has been lowered to the lower limit position (step S9), the reading operation of the barcode reader 60 is stopped (step S10), and the motor 34 for rotating the can is stopped. (Step S11). Due to such rotation and lowering of the empty can W, the bar code reader 60 consequently scans the entire peripheral surface of the empty can W and reads the bar code W1 reliably regardless of the upward and downward posture of the empty can W. Will be. Barcode reader 6
The same applies to the case where 0 scans in the left-right direction in FIG.

Thereafter, it is determined whether the barcode W1 has been successfully read by the barcode reader 60 (step S12).

When the barcode W1 is read, the data is read from the IC card reading / writing device 107 (FIG. 2).
(See step S1).
3). The number of empty cans W corresponding to each barcode W1, that is, the number of empty cans W corresponding to each manufacturer is added and written in the IC card, and becomes data when billing for the cost of collecting empty cans. After that, the can stored number count value is incremented (step S14). The value is a value for counting the total number of stored steel cans and aluminum cans.
After that, the solenoid 56 is turned ON for 100 msec,
The empty cans W on the tray 31 are splashed into the compressor 70 (step S15). If the determination in step S7 is a steel can, the motor 75 for crushing the can is operated for 15 seconds while the solenoid 77 for switching the sorting member 76 is kept OFF (steps S16 and S).
17) The steel can is compressed and crushed. On the other hand, if the determination in step S7 is an aluminum can, the solenoid 77 is turned on for 20 seconds (step S18), and the motor 75 is operated during 15 seconds during that time. Then, the aluminum can is compressed and crushed (step S17). Therefore, the crushed steel can is guided and stored in the dedicated storage portion 81 by the distribution member 76, and the crushed aluminum can is guided and stored in the dedicated storage portion 82 by the distribution member 76. Will be.

Thereafter, the motor 34 for rotating the can is rotated in the reverse direction to raise the tray 31 until the upper limit detector 43 (see FIG. 2) detects that the tray 31 has reached the upper limit position (step S19). , S20, S21),
After the solenoid 21 is turned off to prohibit the charging of the empty cans W, the process returns to step S1.

On the other hand, if the bar code W1 has not been read in step S12, the reading failure count value is incremented (step S22), and the value is set to the upper limit value ("2" in this example). On the condition that it has not reached (step S23), the upper limit detector 43
Until the rise of the tray 31 to the upper limit position is detected by (see FIG. 2), the can rotation motor 34 is rotated reversely to raise the tray 31 together with the empty cans W (steps S24, S25, S26). Returning to the previous step S8, the steps S8, S9, S10, S11, S
12 operations are performed. If the bar code W1 cannot be read again at step S12, the reading failure count value is incremented (step S2).
2) When the value becomes “2” as the upper limit, the reading failure count value is cleared in step S27, and then the process proceeds to the previous step S14.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is sectional drawing of the whole collection | recovery device for describing Embodiment of this invention.

In this embodiment, contrary to the above-described embodiment, the bar 31 of the empty can W on the tray 31 is lowered by rotating the bar code reader 60 while the tray 31 is stopped at a fixed position. It is configured to read the code W1. That is, the receiving tray 31 is fixed at a fixed position by a rod 91 extending in the vertical direction, and a hollow screw shaft 92 holding the barcode reader 60 is fitted to the outside of the rod 91. On the outer peripheral surface of the rod 91 and the inner peripheral surface of the shaft 92, spiral concave portions or convex portions (spiral portions) which are screwed with each other are formed. When the shaft 92 is rotationally driven, the shaft 92 is rotated. Moves up and down while rotating. On the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 92, a gear 92A having teeth extending vertically is formed.
A spur gear 35 driven by a motor 34 meshes.

Therefore, by controlling the drive of the motor 34 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, the bar code reader 60 can scan the entire peripheral surface of the empty can W and read the bar code W1 reliably. Of course, rod 91
Inside, a discharge path for discharging the waste liquid accumulated in the tray 31 downward can be formed.

The other configuration is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and the description is omitted.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure for explaining an important section of an embodiment.

In this example, without rotating the empty can W,
While moving it only in the axial direction, the bar code W
1 is read. In order to move the empty can W in the axial direction, for example, in the first embodiment described above, a configuration in which the tray 31 can be moved up and down and moved only in the up and down direction by the motor 34 can be adopted. In the present example, the first and the first opposed sides of the empty can W are arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the empty can W.
Provided with second barcode readers 60A and 60B,
They are configured to swing at a fixed position about an axis P3 along the axial direction of the empty can W. Further, the first and second reflection mirrors 65A and 65B opposed to each other with the empty can W interposed therebetween in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction in which the bar code readers 60A and 60B face each other and substantially orthogonal to the axis of the empty can W. It is provided in a fixed position.

The bar code readers 60A, 60B of the present embodiment
Is a simple line sensor in which light receiving elements such as CCDs are arranged along the axial direction of the empty can W, and swings in the width direction of the empty can W about the axis P3 as shown in FIG. , For the barcode reader 60A,
The image of the outer surface of the empty can W facing it and the mirror 65A
An image of the outer surface of the empty can W reflected from the outer surface of the empty can W is formed on the right side in FIG. 7B, and the image of the outer surface of the empty can W facing the bar code reader 60B and the mirror 6
An image on the left side in FIG. 7B of the empty can W reflected from 5B is formed. Therefore, the readers 60A and 60B can reliably read the barcode W1 by scanning the entire surface of the empty can W by the swing of the readers 60A and 60B and the movement of the empty can W in the axial direction.

As a mechanism for swinging the readers 60A and 60B, a link mechanism for synchronously swinging the readers 60A and 60B by a solenoid 66 can be used as shown in FIG. Note that the readers 60A, 6A
0B, an area sensor may be used.
It is also possible to adopt a laser beam method in which scanning is performed in the axial direction or a direction orthogonal thereto. Further, when the bar code readers 60A and 60B of the raster scan system or the like are used, it is not always necessary to swing them. Also, instead of moving the empty cans W in the axial direction, a leader 6 is used.
0A, 60B and the mirrors 65A, 65B may be moved in the axial direction of the empty can W. In addition, the reader 60
As A and 60B, it is preferable to use a built-in wide-angle lens in order to set a sufficient reading width (for example, 70 mm to 80 mm) in the axial direction of the empty can W, and further, an empty can facing the readers 60A and 60B. It is preferable to increase the depth of focus in consideration of the difference in the optical path distance between the front of W and the side.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure for explaining an important section of an embodiment.

In this example, as in the third embodiment described above, the bar code W1 is read while the empty can W is moved only in the axial direction, and the bar code reader 60 is positioned at a fixed position. A raster scan type is used. 67A and 67B are reflection mirrors, which are arranged at an angle so as to reflect an image on the outer surface of the empty can W not facing the reader 60 to the reader 60. Therefore, for example, at a reading width of about 85 mm in FIG.
The bar code W1 is read by scanning the entire outer surface of the empty can W as indicated by 1, S2 and S3. For example, when the diameter of the empty can W is 66 mm, the reader 60 having a reading depth A of 80 mm to 160 mm
By arranging them apart, the barcode W1 can be reliably read.

In this embodiment, instead of moving the empty can W in the axial direction, the reader 60 and the mirrors 67A, 67A are used.
B may be moved in the axial direction of the empty can W.

[0042]

As described above, according to the first and second embodiments of the empty can collection device having a bar code reading function of the present invention, the empty can put in and the bar code reading means are opposed to each other. By moving them relative to each other in the axial direction of the empty can while rotating them relative to each other around the axis, the reading means scans the entire outer peripheral surface of the empty can and securely reads the bar code attached to the outer peripheral surface. Can be read.

According to the third and fourth embodiments of the empty can collection device having the bar code reading function of the present invention, a combination of two reading units and two mirrors or a combination of one reading unit and one mirror. By the combination, the reading unit and the put empty can are relatively moved in the axial direction of the empty can, so that the entire outer peripheral surface of the empty can is scanned by the reading means, and the bar code attached to the outer peripheral surface is scanned. Can be reliably read.

Further, by using a screw shaft extending in the axial direction of the empty can as a moving means for relatively rotating the loaded empty can and the reading means in the axial direction of the empty can while relatively moving the empty can and the reading means around the axis of the empty can.
The moving means can be easily configured. further,
A waste liquid discharge passage is formed inside the screw shaft, and the waste liquid collected in the receiving tray for receiving the charged empty cans is discharged through the discharge passage, so that the empty cans can be stored separately from the waste liquid, and the receiving tray can be received. It is possible to avoid the problem that the empty cans float due to the waste liquid accumulated on the top, and the waste liquid spilled from the tray rusts equipment such as a motor and impairs the function of the equipment.

Further, by detecting the material of the empty can that has been charged, it becomes possible to carry out a recovery process according to the type of empty can, such as a steel can or an aluminum can.

Further, by providing the compression means for compressing the empty cans, the collected empty cans can be crushed into small pieces and stored efficiently, and handling after storage can be facilitated.

Further, by compressing the charged empty cans and storing them separately in storage sections according to the material, handling after storage can be made easier.

Further, by using a means for compressing the empty cans while conveying the empty cans between a pair of endless bodies as a compression means for compressing the empty cans, the empty cans can be efficiently transported and compressed in parallel. be able to.

Further, a storage section for waste liquid is provided separately from the storage section for empty cans, and the waste liquid in the former storage section is guided into the latter storage section through a flow path, so that the empty cans are stored separately from the waste liquid. , And batch processing of waste liquid is also possible.

[0050] Further, a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the input material is metallic is provided. When the input material is not metallic, it is stored in a dedicated storage section so that it cannot be crushed. Even if input materials such as a glass container and a paper cup not to be refunded are mixed, they can be separated and collected. Furthermore, by using a means for determining whether or not the input material is metallic based on the frequency of the sound generated when the input material is hit, when an expensive metal detector or the like is used. Compared with this, the price can be reduced.

Also, by using a raster scan type bar code reader as the bar code reading means, it is possible to simultaneously improve the reading accuracy and reduce the cost.

Also, by recording the data read by the bar code reading means on a card such as an IC card, the card can be used to charge for the cost of collecting empty cans.
It is possible to improve the recycling effect of empty cans by performing cash exchanges and product exchanges at convenience stores and the like, and it is possible to eliminate the burden of collecting collection costs from the disposal business of empty cans to the manufacturer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part for explaining another configuration example of the metal detection unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a main part for describing a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a plan view of the main part.

FIG. 8A is a plan view of a main part for describing a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8B is a side view of the main part.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Injection port 12 Guide pipe 30 Moving mechanism (moving means) 31 Receiving tray 32 Screw shaft 32B Discharge path 41 Can existence sensor 42 Lower limit detector 43 Upper limit detector 50 Metal detector (discriminating means) 51 Striking member (hitting part) 52 Solenoid 53 Microphone 55 Sensor (Material detection means) 60 Barcode reader (Reading means) 70 Compressor (Compression means) 71 Endless body 76 Distributing member 81 Storage section for steel can 82 Storage section for aluminum can 83 Storage section for waste liquid W Empty can W1 Barcode

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An empty can collection device for storing empty cans charged from an input port in a storage section, a moving means for rotating the empty cans input from the input port around the axis while moving the empty cans in the axial direction thereof; A bar code reading function, comprising: reading means arranged at a fixed position facing the outer peripheral surface of the empty can moved by the moving means and reading a bar code formed on the outer peripheral surface of the empty can. Empty can collector. 2. An empty can collection device for storing empty cans charged from an input port in a storage section, comprising: holding means for holding the empty cans input from the input port in a fixed position; and an outer peripheral surface of the empty can. A reading unit capable of reading a barcode; and a moving unit that rotates the reading unit about the axis thereof while moving the reading unit in the axial direction of the empty can at a position facing the outer peripheral surface of the empty can held by the holding unit. An empty can collection device with a bar code reading function, comprising: 3. An empty can collection device for storing empty cans inserted from an input port in a storage section, a reading unit capable of reading a bar code formed on an outer peripheral surface of the empty can input from the input port; Moving means for relatively moving the empty can put in from the mouth and the reading means along the axial direction of the empty can, and the reading means is capable of reading the barcode opposite to the empty can. 1st, 2nd
A first and a second reading unit for reflecting an image of an outer peripheral surface of the empty can facing a direction substantially orthogonal to a facing direction of the first and the second reading units to the first and the second reading units. An empty can collector with a bar code reading function, comprising: 4. An empty can collection device for storing empty cans inserted from an input port in a storage section, wherein the reading means is capable of reading a bar code formed on an outer peripheral surface of the empty can input from the input port; Moving means for relatively moving the empty can put in from the mouth and the reading means along the axial direction of the empty can, and the reading means can read the barcode in opposition to the outer peripheral surface of the empty can An empty can collection device with a bar code reading function, comprising: a single reading unit; and a reflection mirror that reflects an image of the outer peripheral surface of the empty can that does not face the reading unit to the reading unit. 5. A screw shaft extending along an axial direction of the empty can and having a helical portion formed on an inner peripheral surface or an outer peripheral surface thereof, and a screwing member for screwing the helical portion of the screw shaft. The empty can collection device having a barcode reading function according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a bearing portion that is held at a fixed position and a drive mechanism that rotates the screw shaft. 6. A receiving tray attached to the screw shaft for receiving empty cans input from the input port, and a discharge passage formed inside the screw shaft and discharging waste liquid in the empty can stored in the receiving pan. The empty can collection device with a bar code reading function according to claim 5, further comprising: 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting unit configured to detect a material of the empty can charged from the charging port.
7. An empty can collection device with a barcode reading function according to any one of items 1 to 6. 8. The empty can collection device with a bar code reading function according to claim 1, further comprising compression means for compressing the empty can from which the bar code has been read by said reading means. 9. A detecting means for detecting the material of the empty can put in from the input port, a compressing means for compressing the empty can from which a bar code is read by the reading means, and the empty can compressed by the compressing means. The empty can collection device with a bar code reading function according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising means for storing the data in a storage section according to a detection result of the detection means. 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said compressing means has a pair of endless bodies which convey the empty can and sandwich the empty can and whose facing distance gradually decreases in the conveying direction of the empty can. Empty can collection device with barcode reading function. 11. The storage unit includes an empty can storage unit that can store empty cans, a waste liquid storage unit that can store waste liquid, and a flow path that guides waste liquid in the empty can storage unit into the waste liquid storage unit. The empty can collection device with a bar code reading function according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein 12. A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the input material from the input port is metallic, and means for storing the input material determined to be non-metallic by the discriminating means in a dedicated storage unit. The empty can collection device with a barcode reading function according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising: 13. The input means is metallic based on a striking portion for striking the input material from the input port and a frequency of a sound generated when the input material is hit by the hitting portion. The empty can collection device with a barcode reading function according to claim 12, further comprising a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the empty can is read. 14. The empty can collection device with a bar code reading function according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit is a raster scan type bar code reader. 15. The empty can collection device with a bar code reading function according to claim 1, further comprising a recording device for recording data read by the reading device on an IC card or the like.