JPH11193106A - Empty container collecting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To unnecessitate a scan mechanism of bar codes and simplify a bar code reading means by revolving a fed empty container at a fixed location and reading bar codes by a bar code reader fixed on the upper side of a container cylinder direction. SOLUTION: Both of rollers 13 revolve in the same direction and also an empty container Q2 revolves. In this state, bar codes printed on the empty container Q2 are read by a bar code reader 14 fixed on the upper side. Further, whether the recognition of a bar code reading is performed or not is decided. When the recognition of the reading is performed, the chute direction of a movable chute 15 is changed to the right direction (press machine 16) or the just under direction (bucket B3) based on the material decision result of the empty container Q2. Next, because the one roller 19 saves to the outside in a state that the roller 19 revolves, the empty container Q2 located at the bar code reading location falls and the container Q2 is carried to the next process by the movable chute 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an empty container collecting machine for separating and collecting empty cans and empty bottles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A general mechanism of this kind is shown in FIG. The empty container 52 put in from the input port 51 is printed on or attached to the container 52 by a barcode reading device 53, and an iron (steel) can container, an aluminum can container or another container is read from the barcode information. (A glass bottle or the like), and if it is a can container, it is sent to a press 55 through a lifter 54, and after being reduced in volume by compression there, by a sorting conveyor 56,
The steel bottle and the aluminum can are collected in the respective collection containers 57 and 58, while the glass bottle is collected by the bar code reading device 5.
3 to the collection container 59.

[0003]

The bar code reader 53 described above has a mechanism for reading a bar code while scanning the bar code reader in the longitudinal direction of the empty container while rotating the empty container at a fixed position. However, in this mechanism, the moving mechanism of the scanner unit is complicated, and the reading time is long.

Accordingly, the present invention simplifies the mechanism, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide an empty container collecting machine provided with a barcode reading device in which the reading time is reduced.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a bar code reading means for rotating a charged empty container at a fixed position, and a container cylinder for reading a bar code written on the empty container. And a bar code reader fixed upward in the direction.

[0006]

According to this structure, the scanning mechanism of the bar code reader is not required, and the mechanism of the bar code reading means is simplified.

As means for reading the bar code, the means for rotating the loaded empty container at a fixed position comprises two rotating rollers having a simple mechanism.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, two barcode readers are provided in the longitudinal direction of the empty container, and the data obtained from the two barcode readers are combined with each other and demodulated to increase the reading rate. be able to.

[0009]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an empty container collecting machine 1 according to the present invention. At the upper part of the front door 2, an input door 4 that can be opened and closed at an empty container input port 3 is provided. The configuration at this point will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2A shows a state in which the input door 4 is closed, and a handle 4a is provided on an upper portion thereof. As shown in FIG. 2B, the upper handle 4a is moved forward (see FIG. 2B). 2 to the left), the input door 4 can be opened with the lower part as a fulcrum Z1. The input door 4 itself is made of a plate material bent in the shape of "ku". Plunger 5 on the inner wall of front door 2
When the cylinder shaft 5a of the plunger 5 projects and engages with a part of the handle 4a, the opening / closing operation of the input door 4 is locked. Numeral 6 denotes a flapper 6 in which one flat plate is formed by bending a metal plate in the shape of a "ku". It is provided freely. Of FIG.
In the flapper 6 in the state (B), a member in contact with the input door 4 is referred to as 6a, and other members are referred to as 6b.

Returning to FIG. 1, S1 and S2 are a door open detection switch and a door close detection switch for detecting the open / closed state of the closing door 4. 7 is a weight detection plate, as shown in the figure,
When the input door 4 is closed, it is located on the downstream side (right side in the figure) of the member 6b of the flapper 6. When the empty container Q rolls on the weight detection plate 7, the weight detection plate 7 itself is bent downward by its weight, and the weight detection switch S3 is turned on and off by the radius at this time, so that the weight at that time is Whether the empty container Q is heavier or lighter than a specified value is detected.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a material detector for detecting whether the material of the empty container Q is an aluminum can or an iron can based on the magnetic permeability. The material detector is located on the downstream side of the weight detection plate 7 so that it can roll naturally. Is slightly inclined. Reference numeral 9 denotes an empty container rolled on the weight detection plate 7, as indicated by Q1,
It is a movable stopper for stopping at the material measuring position on the material detector 8. SS1 is a container detection sensor that detects that the empty container Q1 is located on the material detector 8. Reference numeral 10 denotes "toyu" for receiving the residual liquid flowing out of the empty container Q1 at the material measuring position. 10 '
This is another method for further guiding the remaining liquid guided to the toy 10 to the bucket B3. This toy 10 ′ is provided along the front door 2, and also guides rainwater or the like that has entered from a gap in the front door 2 to the bucket B 3. Each of the above elements 3 to 10 '
Is provided integrally with the front door 2.

When the movable stopper 9 moves downward, the empty container Q1 rolls rightward on the inclined plate 11 located downstream. Reference numeral 12 denotes a solenoid for operating the stopper 9. The detailed mechanism of the material detector 8 and the movable stopper 9 will be described later with reference to FIG.

After rolling on the inclined plate 11, the empty container Q1 stops at the bar code reading position between the pair of rollers 13 separated in the horizontal direction as indicated by Q2. M1 is a motor for rotating both rollers 13 in one direction to rotate empty container Q2.
A bar code reader 14 reads a bar code written on the empty container Q2 while the empty container Q1 is rotating on the roller 13. The barcode information can include the type of beverage, the beverage maker, the content, the selling price, and the like. This apparatus uses two barcode readers 14 to increase the barcode reading rate. M2 is a drive motor for retreating the right roller 13 to the right in order to drop the empty container Q2 from which the barcode has been read, downward. S4 is a detection switch that detects whether the roller 13 is at a position (FIG. 9A) where the empty container Q2 can be held. S5 is a detection switch for detecting whether or not the empty container Q2 is at a position where the empty container Q2 can be dropped downward (FIG. 9B).

Reference numeral 15 denotes a movable shooter for shooting the empty container Q2, which has fallen from the barcode reading position, right below, leftward, and rightward. M3 is a drive motor for converting the shooting direction. S6, S7, S
Reference numeral 8 denotes a detection switch for detecting whether the movable shooter 15 has operated in each shooting direction.

If the empty container Q is an aluminum or iron can container, the movable shooter 15 has changed its direction in the direction of the arrow, and the container that has fallen, as indicated by Q3,
It is set at the press position of the press 16. M4 is a drive motor of the press 16. S9 and S10 are
This is a detection switch for detecting that the piston 16a of the press 16 has reached the bottom dead center position and the top dead center position, respectively.

Q4 indicates a pressed empty container, which falls under its own weight from a gap through which the pressed empty container passes. Reference numeral 17 denotes a separation plate for sending the dropped empty container Q4 into the collection bucket B1 or B2 depending on whether the container is an aluminum can or an iron can. M5 is a drive motor for driving the separation plate 17. S12 and S13 are detection switches for detecting whether the sorting plate 17 has been operated to a predetermined sorting position.

In the case where the empty container Q2 is a glass bottle, weighs more than a specified weight (e.g., left over), or other foreign matter, the movable shooter 15 is directed downward and the empty container Q2 that has fallen from the reading position is Is guided to a collection bucket B3 for a glass bottle through a movable shooter 15 heading directly downward and a fixed shooter 18 connected thereto.

On the other hand, when the empty container Q2 cannot be read due to deformation or contamination of the empty container Q2, the movable shooter 15 turns to the left and is unloaded to the return position where the movable bottom plate 19 is provided, as indicated by Q5. Is done. When the movable bottom plate 19 rotates downward by the drive of the drive motor M8,
The empty container Q5 at the return position falls and is collected in the lower bucket B3.

The components of the apparatus and the simple functions thereof have been described above. The operation of the entire apparatus will be described in detail below with reference to the flowcharts and detailed diagrams of FIGS. In the flowchart of FIG. 3, in step S1, it is determined whether the input door 4 has been opened to input an empty container. The operation of inserting empty containers by opening the input door 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

(A) shows a state where the input door 4 is opened. In this state, the flapper 6 moves from the balance of its own center of gravity.
It is tilted to the input door 4 side. (B) shows a state where the empty container Q is placed on the flapper 6, and at this time also, the flapper 6
Remains tilted to the input door 4 side. In addition, Flapper 6
When two empty containers are piled up at the position, even if the closing door 4 is to be closed, the empty container stacked on the upper side is caught by the front door 2 and the closing door 4 does not close.

(C) shows a state in which the input door 4 is being closed with the handle 4a. When the input door 4 is closed to the illustrated angle, the flapper 6 including the empty container Q is opened. Moves to the right side of the normal passing through the fulcrum Z2.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
Rotates clockwise and the empty container Q rolls rightward on the member 6b and is taken into the apparatus 1. At this time, since the member 6a of the flapper 6 is locked at such a position as to close the container inlet 3, it is possible to prevent the empty container Q from being continuously input.

While the empty container Q taken in next rolls on the weight detection plate 7 next, the empty container Q is changed from the on / off state of the weight detection switch S3 in step S2 to, for example, a, b as follows. Are classified into two types. i (when glass bottle is heavier than iron can) a) glass bottle b) iron and aluminum container ii (when glass bottle and iron can are similar in weight) a) glass bottle and iron can b) aluminum can

When the weight detection is performed in this manner, the movable bottom plate 19 is opened in step S3, and the empty container Q left on the movable bottom plate 19 in the previous loading operation.
5 falls downward and is collected in the bucket B3 (see FIG. 10).
(C)). Thereafter, the empty container is stopped at the material measuring position by the movable stopper 9 as shown by Q1, and when this is detected by the container detection sensor SS1 in step S4, the plunger 5 in step S5 executes the above-described operation. The loading door 4 is locked, thereby prohibiting subsequent loading. If the sensor SS1 does not detect, for example, when the container is not inserted just because the input door 4 is opened, the lock is not performed.

FIG. 6A shows a state at the time of material measurement. An aluminum proximity sensor 8a is provided on the surface of the material detector 8.
And an iron proximity sensor 8b. In step S6, the magnetic permeability of the empty container Q1 located here is measured to determine whether the material of the empty container Q1 is aluminum, iron, or neither (i.e., glass). ) Is detected.

FIG. 7 shows the arrangement of these sensors, which are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the empty container in the order of (iron proximity sensor)-(aluminum proximity sensor)-(iron proximity sensor). The maximum length of an empty container that can be collected by this device is 500 ml in a can, and a 350 ml can with a short can is shifted to one side at the material measurement position, and only one iron proximity sensor 8b and one aluminum proximity sensor 8a are provided. In some cases, the material cannot be detected by the conventional device that does not have the material, but in the present device, the same type of proximity sensor is disposed on both sides, so that the material can be detected reliably. Note that the same effect can be obtained even if the arrangement order of the sensors is (aluminum proximity sensor) − (iron proximity sensor) − (aluminum proximity sensor).

In the weight detection described above, in the case of (i), iron and aluminum were not distinguished, and in the case of (ii), glass and iron were not distinguished. Thereby, whether the empty container Q1 is an aluminum can, an iron can or a glass bottle is determined.

Further, if juices remain in the empty container, the residual liquid spills out of the container during the measurement of the material and the like, and the equipment becomes dirty, which causes a problem. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a gutter 10 is provided below the movable stopper 9, and a groove 9 a for guiding the residual liquid flowing out to the movable stopper 9 to the gutter 10 is formed below the movable stopper 9. I have.

FIG. 8 is a view of the movable stopper 9 as viewed from the front. The groove 9a is angled in a "V" shape, and the residual liquid flows downward through an opening 9b formed at the lowermost portion. It is guided from the toy 10 and further to another toy 10 ', and finally to the bucket B3.

When the detection of the material is completed, in step S7, the sorting plate 17 is moved in a predetermined direction so that the material is collected in the bucket B1 or B2 depending on whether the material of the container is iron or aluminum. In step S8, as shown in FIG. 6B, the movable stopper 9 moves downward, and as a result, the empty container Q1
Rolls further rightward on the inclined plate 11 and stops at the barcode reading position on the pair of rollers 13 as indicated by Q2 in FIG. After a predetermined time has passed since the movable stopper 9 has moved downward, in step S9,
It is determined whether the empty container Q2 has reached the barcode reading position. In step S9, a switch may be provided to detect whether an empty container is located at the reading position, and the process may proceed to the next step based on the output of the switch.

The movable stopper 9 is further provided in FIG.
As shown by, when the upper end portion is pulled rightward in FIG. 6 (toward the front when the front door 2 is opened), it is provided so as to be inclined in that direction. The movable stopper 9 itself can be easily cleaned.

In the next step S10, both rollers 13
Rotate in the same direction as shown in FIG. 9A, and the empty container Q2 rotates accordingly. In this state, step S11
, The empty container Q2 by the barcode reader 14
Is read. The read barcode information is used for counting POS data and the like.

In step S12, it is determined whether the recognition of the bar code reading has been performed. If the reading recognition has been performed, in step S13, the shooting direction of the movable shooter 15 is determined based on the material determination result of the empty container Q2. The direction is changed to the middle or rightward direction (press 16) or directly downward (bucket B3).

In step S14, as shown in FIG. 9B, one of the rollers 19 is retracted to the outside while rotating, so that the empty container Q2 at the bar code reading position falls. So that the posture at the time of fall is maintained. Below the barcode reading position, as means for separating empty containers according to the material of the container,
If a belt conveyor is used as in the conventional machine, the posture of the empty container is not determined when the belt is dropped on the belt conveyor. However, since the movable shooter 15 is separately used in this apparatus, the empty container Q2 is used. Is transported to the next process while maintaining the posture, which is convenient.

When the empty container Q2 is an iron can or an aluminum can, it is carried out by the movable shooter 15 to the press position of the press 16 as shown by Q3. At that time, since the position of the empty container was maintained, the direction of the empty container at this press position was also maintained. For example, the direction of the empty container did not match the pressing direction (excessive press pressure during pressing). Is required). Step S after this
Since the lock of the input door 4 is released at 15, the second empty container can be input at this point. Step S16
In step S1, it is determined whether the empty container Q3 has been set at this press position.
4, the press 16 is turned on, and the empty container Q3 is
And then falls naturally.

The operation of the press 16 is shown in detail in the subroutine of FIG. Empty container Q at the press position
When it is confirmed that 3 has been set, step S21 is performed.
, The motor of the press 16 rotates forward and the piston 16a moves forward (to the left in the figure). In step S22, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the normal rotation of the motor. If there is no problem in the movement of the piston 16a, the piston 16a reaches the top dead center position before the predetermined time is up. This top dead center position is the most advanced position of the piston that is sufficient to reduce the volume of the can. If it is detected that the top dead center position has been reached, step S2
From 3, the process proceeds to step S <b> 24, and the motor is rotated in the reverse direction, whereby the piston 16 a is retracted. Is done.

On the other hand, if the piston 16a does not reach the top dead center position even after the predetermined time has elapsed for some reason, the process skips from step S22 to step S24, and the piston 16a retreats immediately. In this way, in this control, when it is determined that the lock has been applied, the piston is automatically retracted, and a transition is made to the standby state in preparation for the next press. Therefore, if the empty cans that have not been completely pressed are also allowed to fall downward, no inconvenience will occur in the next press processing.

As described above, since the separation plate 17 has already been moved depending on whether the material of the pressed container Q4 is aluminum or iron, the pressed empty container Q4 is
It is collected in bucket B1 or bucket B2 depending on whether the material is iron or aluminum.

When the empty container Q2 is a glass bottle, the shooting direction of the movable shooter 15 is directed to the bucket B3 in step S13. Is transported to the bucket B3.

If the barcode of the empty container Q2 is not recognized, the shooting direction of the movable shooter 15 is changed to the left in step S13, and the roller 13 is retracted in step S14.
As shown in (A), the empty container Q2 is transported to the return position.

The movable bottom plate 19 shown here is provided so as to be able to move up and down with a right end 19a as a fulcrum in the figure, and a play space 19b is formed on a side wall of the movable bottom plate 19. One end of an arm 19c is movably engaged with the play space 19b, and the other end of the arm 19c is connected to a rotating plate 19 reversibly rotated by the drive motor M6.
The cam mechanism is configured to engage with a predetermined portion of d. or,
A spring 19e is stretched between the one end of the arm 19c and the fulcrum 19a.

The empty container Q5 carried out to the return position can be confirmed through the transparent plastic return door 20. In this case, the return door 20 is opened and the uncollectible empty container Q5 is taken out. The bar code may be thrown into the trash box or, if the bar code cannot be read due to contamination, may be thrown again through the throw-in door 4. At this time, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 0B, when the movable bottom plate 19 is pushed in with a hand pointing from the return door 20, the spring 19
One end of the arm 19c moves leftward in the drawing in the play space 19b against the urging force of e, and the movable bottom plate 19 rotates so as to escape downward, so that the hand is pinched and injured. There is no.

When the empty container Q5 returned to the return position is left as it is, as shown in FIG. 10C, at the next processing (in the above-described step S3), the rotating plate 19d is rotated.
Is rotated clockwise and the cam mechanism works,
The movable bottom plate 19 tilts downward, and the empty container Q5 falls and is collected in the bucket B3. The operation timing of the movable bottom plate 19 may be when a predetermined time has elapsed since the empty container Q5 was returned to the return position.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, a bucket B2 for an iron can
The bucket B1 for aluminum cans is larger than that of the above, but if more iron cans are collected than aluminum cans, the buckets may be exchanged between B1 and B2, or
The tilt angle of the separation plate 17 may be reversed between the iron can and the aluminum can. Further, instead of such two buckets B1 and B2, one bucket may be used, and the inside of the bucket may be divided into two by a partition plate, and the position of the partition plate may be changed. It can easily cope with the collection difference between aluminum cans and iron cans.

[0046]

As described above, the present invention employs a mechanism for reading a barcode by means of a barcode reader provided at a fixed position in a state where the empty container is rotated. The mechanism is simplified,
Since no scanning is required, the reading speed is high. or,
Since two rotating rollers are used as means for rotating the loaded empty container at a fixed position, the empty container can be reliably rotated. Further, two barcode readers are provided in the longitudinal direction of the empty container, and the data obtained from both barcode readers are combined and demodulated with each other, so that the barcode reading rate can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a charging door in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of a processing operation in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a subroutine showing details of step S15 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of an operation of a flapper provided in the input door.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a material detector and a movable stopper.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the arrangement of sensors in a material detector.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a movable stopper.

FIG. 9 is an operation diagram of a roller at a barcode reading position.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an operation of a movable bottom plate.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a conventional container collecting machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 empty container collecting machine 2 front door 3 container input port 4 input door 5 plunger 6 flapper 7 weight detection plate 8 material detector 8a aluminum proximity sensor 8b iron proximity sensor 9 movable stopper 9a groove 10 and towel 11 inclined plate 13 roller 14 Bar code reader 15 Movable shooter 16 Press machine 17 Sorting plate 18 Fixed shooter 19 Movable bottom plate 20 Return door Q Empty container B Bucket M Motor S1, S2 Door switch S3 Weight detection switch

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI B65F 1/00 B65F 1/00 E 1/04 1/04 (72) Inventor Keiichi Nakajima 1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa No. 1 Inside Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An empty container collecting machine that sorts empty containers that have been put into containers by type and collects them in a predetermined bucket. Type detecting means comprising at least one of a means for detecting the weight of the container, a means for detecting the material of the container, and a bar code reading means for reading the bar code means written on the container in order to know the type of the container And a press machine for pressing the iron and aluminum cans obtained from the type detection, and a separating device for separating the pressed containers into predetermined buckets according to iron and aluminum. The barcode reading means includes means for rotating the empty container that has been charged at a fixed position, and an upper part in the container cylinder direction for reading the barcode written on the empty container. Free container harvester, characterized in that a fixed bar code reader. 2. The empty container collecting machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for rotating the empty container at a fixed position comprises two rotating rollers. 3. The reading rate according to claim 1, wherein two bar code readers are provided in the longitudinal direction of the empty container, and data obtained from both bar code readers are combined with each other and demodulated to increase a read rate. Empty container collection machine.