WO2000063852A1

WO2000063852A1 - Automatic recycling device for packaging

Info

Publication number: WO2000063852A1
Application number: PCT/DE2000/000993
Authority: WO
Inventors: Uwe Stahl; Günther STAHL; Kai Marschner; Hilmar Stange
Original assignee: Asg Automaten Systeme Gmbh
Priority date: 1999-04-17
Filing date: 2000-04-01
Publication date: 2000-10-26
Also published as: NO20015034D0; DE19917415A1; NO20015034L; EP1173834A1; DE19917415C2

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic recycling device for packaging (V) consisting of plastic, sheet metal and paper or similar, especially cans, bottles, tins and cups. The recycling device has at least one of each of the following in a housing (G): a receiving device, an identifying device, a sorting device, a volume-reducing device and a collecting device; and a control device to which these are all subordinate and which contains an operation and information device, especially a game of chance. The housing (G) is moveably connected to a protective outer housing (U) so that when it is pivoted closed, the housing is fully sealed and when it is pivoted open, its operating elements are accessible. The control device controls at least one device for reproducing images, text, and/or sound for animation, information and/or advertising and has a bi-directional long distance data transmission line and/or an infrared remote control system for programming or controlling purposes. The receiving device has draw-in brushes behind a draw-in opening and a horizontally disposed draw-in shaft. These draw-in brushes are arranged in pairs, and can be divided in a controlled manner. The receiving device can receive cylindrical and non-cylindrical packaging (V) and transports said packaging on a turnstile-type device which is turned in a controlled, directed manner and is positioned horizontally, diagonally below the draw-in brushes, to where the sorting device is located. The sorting device throws out the packaging or transfers it to the volume-reducing device, which has a pair of rollers that are driven in a controlled manner and have an eccentrically mounted feeding roller. The control device controls the feeding of the volume-reducing device through several of the devices mounted upstream.

Description

Take-back machine for packaging

Redemption machine for packaging made of plastic, sheet metal and cardboard or the like, in particular cans, bottles, cans and cups, each of which has at least one acceptance device, one detection device, one sorting device, one volume reduction device and one collecting device with a higher-level control device, which may be an operator, in a housing - And has information device, in particular a gaming machine, contains.

Such a return machine is known from DE 195 01 527 AI. This return machine has a horizontally arranged acceptance shaft, which is fed through an acceptance opening in the housing, the one above

Detection device is assigned and which is closed from below with a flap. After the packaging has been recognized, the flap of the receiving shaft is opened and the packaging falls into the respective sorting shaft of the sorting device, which is aligned below the flap in accordance with the detection. From there, packaging to be rejected is sent to the return shaft, and packaging to be taken back is sent for further processing in the return machine. Before the collection is separated according to the type and material of the packaging, the packaging to be taken back is compressed by moving a press ram against a closure element which is arranged between the sorting shaft and the compression device.

A disadvantage of such a solution is the limitation of the withdrawal with regard to the shape and dimensions of the packaging and the relatively large time intervals between two possible ones Other devices allow shorter acceptance intervals. These have acceptance devices, the assemblies of which are also arranged vertically, in their sequence one below the other, and which pass through the packaging standing upright, as a result of which they are transported in the acceptance device by gravity. The return of a packaging is registered by a light barrier, which triggers a control signal for further treatment of the packaging in the return machine and at the same time blocks the acceptance of another packaging for the duration of the treatment of the packaging in the machine. In a receiving shaft, at least one characteristic feature of the packaging is determined by means of a detection device. Depending on the result, the returned packaging is rejected or sent for further treatment and the further treatment steps are controlled. The supply from the acceptance to subsequent devices takes place in the acceptance shaft, which is pivotably arranged in one plane. In this, after swiveling into the compression device, the packaging is compressed by moving a press ram. The comminution device is arranged below the compression device and the collection device below it.

The cycle time between two successive withdrawals is relatively long due to the use of the acceptance slot for the detection and transport of the packaging. To shorten the time, the machine is equipped with two acceptance shafts, so that an acceptance shaft is available again for the acceptance and detection of packaging when the other acceptance shaft is in the subsequent treatment. For this purpose, the acceptance shafts are arranged on a rotor offset by 180 °.

Such a division of the treatment process in two limits the possibility of further shortening the withdrawal frequency. A further restriction exists with regard to the size and the external shape of the packaging due to the dimensions of the receiving shafts and the recognition of a characteristic one Characteristic of the packaging in the same. In addition, the compression of the packaging, for example in the case of screwed-on bottles, in the compression device shown above is problematic due to the build-up of an extremely high counterpressure in the bottle.

Regardless of the effort to reduce the time between two possible successive returns of packaging and packaging with a relatively small (0.2 1) and relatively large (2 1) capacity and different, also non-cylindrical shape (bottles, cans, cans, tetra packs among other things) to be able to take back with identical return machines, the problem of the lack of motivation of consumers to return the packaging and the financing of the return arises in connection with the return of packaging. On the one hand, the willingness to collect and return packaging is not widespread in consumer awareness, on the other hand, for many types of packaging, material constraints for manufacturers and consumers are lacking due to the deposit principle.

The machine described in EP 0 390 940 AI has a game of chance to motivate consumers to return the packaging, which is coupled with the return of a packaging. It is also used as an advertising medium by using its visible and primarily its moving parts as such. Acoustic signals also support return animation and advertising.

Due to the necessity of access to the control elements of the machine from the outside, damage often occurs, especially outside of operating hours. This risk is further increased by the use of gambling to motivate consumers, since the availability of prizes in the form of material prizes stimulates the machine to be opened violently. It is an object of the invention to provide an automatic take-back device which can accept, recognize, transport, compress, shred and collect packaging with different capacities and commercial shape and dimensions in a relatively fast cycle frequency between two successive assumptions, which can be operated at low cost who is largely protected against external interference and damage and whose individual functions are controlled and monitored in their sequence and in their sequence.

The task is solved by the housing of the

Redemption machine is movably connected to a protective housing, by means of which it is pivoted completely enclosed and the control elements of which are pivoted open, by the control device controlling at least one device for image, text and / or sound reproduction for animation, information and / or advertising and a bidirectional one Remote data transmission line and / or an infrared remote control for programming the control and that the acceptance device behind a feed opening and a horizontally arranged feed shaft has paired, separable feed brushes and can hold both cylindrical and non-cylindrical packaging and on a horizontally arranged obliquely below the feed brushes, Controlled directionally rotatable turnstile conveys where the sorting device is arranged, through which an ejection or transfer into the volume reduction device, which drives a controlled it has a pair of rollers with an eccentrically mounted feed roller, and that the control device feeds the

Volume reduction device controls over several of the upstream devices.

Advantageous embodiments of the return machine and its individual devices are shown in the subclaims. Facilities with similar applications, such as collection containers for waste and recycled goods or machines for dispensing goods that are always ready for use, are often damaged in everyday life by Vandalis us and hooliganism and must be installed at great expense. In addition, their use outside of operating hours, especially at night, is a nuisance. To counteract this, the return machine has a protective housing which is movably connected to the housing of the return machine and, when swiveled closed, completely encloses and swings open the operation of the return machine . Depending on the installation site and, partly as a result, the desired operating time, accessibility is thus advantageously guaranteed or prevented.

The protective housing preferably consists of several segments which, when assembled, re-form the outer contour of the housing or form another outer contour which completely surrounds the housing. Depending on the local conditions, the protective housing has one or more segments for covering the top of the return machine. At least the segments that cover the operating elements of the return machine when the housing is closed are advantageously arranged such that they can be pivoted on one side of the segment on the housing and are movably arranged.

The segments of the housing advantageously have a catch both in their swung-open position and in their swiveled-in position.

In an advantageous embodiment of the segments, which laterally enclose the housing of the redemption machine, they are arranged vertically, have a rectangular surface and can be pivoted about one of their perpendicular edges. The segments are preferably each pivotally attached to the housing of the return machine in such a way that a Segment pair swung open collapsible and is advantageously locked in this position. For complete housing, the segment pairs are spaced apart so that each segment of a segment pair swings closed with the respectively adjacent segment of the adjacent pair of segments to form a closed surface and is also locked in this position.

In a preferred embodiment, both the housing and the protective housing have a rectangular cross section, which in an advantageous embodiment is square. The housing is arranged in the swung-in protective housing in such a way that each abutting edge between two adjacent side surfaces of the housing abuts one side surface of the protective housing and the side surface of the protective housing is divided and pivotally attached to the abutting edge. In an advantageous arrangement, the abutting edges of the side surfaces of the housing meet the side surfaces of the housing in the center.

In order to accelerate the acceptance or for further treatment of packaging different material composition by compression and / or shredding and collection, it is in practice that several take-back machines are placed side by side. In this arrangement, several or all of the return machines placed next to one another are advantageously enclosed together by a housing. The same is advantageous if return machines are set up together with other machines for issuing or taking back goods.

The opening and closing and the locking of the segments of the housing in the swung open or swiveled-in state takes place in accordance with the operating or resting times. This is expediently implemented by means of time-controlled auxiliary motors. In a preferred embodiment, swivel arms are used, which are advantageously above those to be swiveled Segments of the housing are arranged and moved by a common motor or driven by an auxiliary motor. In this version, the swivel arms can be locked in any position. In a second advantageous embodiment of ^'at least one of the detents is in each case one segment of the enclosure is driven guided in a guide and is used in such a way both to pivot and to lock by driving an auxiliary motor.

With the time control, the opening and / or closing is possible by means of control manually or by means of another device as well as by remote control and / or bidirectional remote data transmission line, in order to be able to intervene independently of the valid operating regime and thus to be able to react, for example, to faults.

At least one of the surfaces of the housing and / or of the housing visible in the swung-open position of the segments of the housing is advantageously used as a surface for. Animation, information, advertising or similar, on the one hand to increase the willingness to return the packaging and on the other hand to secure the financing of the manufacture and operation of the return machine.

In a first embodiment, one or more poster changers, i.e. walls arranged as viewing windows. In a further embodiment, such a surface is designed as a light box, as a monitor or advantageously as a video wall. Such a cost-intensive equipment is possible due to the complete Umhausen outside of the operating hours.

In addition to the use of the surfaces of the housing which are visible in the swung-open state, for animation, information or advertising, at least one visible side surface of the housing serves the same purpose, preferably a display for text and / or graphics output for information about the operating state of the Redemption machines are used. In addition, the controls of the return machine, such as the acceptance opening, the return opening, the cash or voucher dispenser and the parts of the game of chance visible when the housing is swung open, are arranged on this side surface.

This side surface of the housing is advantageously designed as a door, so that on the one hand the collected packaging can be removed from the collection container of the return machine and on the other hand there is accessibility for repairs.

In combination with the image and / or text reproduction by means of a monitor, video wall and / or display, devices for sound reproduction in the form of loudspeakers are provided in further advantageous configurations.

In an expedient embodiment, the repeatability of the playback is ensured by means of suitable media for storing or controlling the playback devices in real-time operation, for example by means of a speech module integrated in the control.

In a first advantageous application, the device system for animation, information! and / or advertising by time-controlled changing visual and / or acoustic signals product advertising or advertising for the use of the return machine. In a further advantageous application, the device system is controlled in that the visual and / or acoustic signals, controlled by signals from the devices of the return machine or external signals, are changed or imported. Such control is carried out either by evaluating the data of the recognition device by broadcasting product-specific advertising in accordance with the results, or by evaluating the operating state of the devices of the return machine, e.g. For example, the operational readiness of the acceptance or information on the further operational process (waiting for receipt of the voucher, gambling starts, etc.). External, location-independent monitoring and control of the return machine, as described in DE 44 11 478 AI, is possible in a known manner.

Monitoring and control on site is advantageously possible by means of a remote control or by connecting a data transmission device, for example a notebook.

As already described above, the display is primarily used for communication with the customer. Depending on the operating state, at least one output text and / or at least one output graphic is displayed in this. For this purpose, each operating state is understood as an event and assigned to a category, which each contains several output texts and / or graphics. These are displayed in a preferably specific output period, the sequence of the texts of a category being selected in a fixed order or preferably at random. In advantageous applications, in addition to or instead of the display, the monitor or the video wall are used for output.

Analogous to the output of texts and / or graphics for guiding the customer, voice and / or sound is output in an advantageous application, which repeats the text displayed in the simplest application.

In an advantageous embodiment, the elements of an integrated game of chance are arranged in the door of the take-back machine, which is coupled to the return device and starts automatically after returning a packaging and, in the event of a win, a prize in the form of a non-cash prize or a voucher for receiving a prize issues from a receipt also arranged in the door. The sound reproduction elements and the reproduction elements for texts and graphics of the machine advantageously provide information on the course of the game. In addition, the statistical data of the game of chance are saved. The sequence of the treatment in the return machine and also the sequence in each device for handling the packaging is controlled by the control device, ie the action to be triggered expediently on an event step in the operation is started. A preferred position is the reaction of the reverse vending machine to malfunctions and its communication with its surroundings.

The individual functions supported by the control are described below in connection with the description of the devices of the return machine.

The return machine has devices for receiving and handling both cylindrical and non-cylindrical packaging and with a relatively large difference in the cross section of the packaging.

The packaging is advantageously accepted in a horizontally arranged device into which a packaging is inserted, which is returned for return through an acceptance opening which is visible from the outside and which is advantageously closed by an acceptance flap. The acceptance flap is opened by inserting a packaging and is preferably sensory

supervised. In an expedient embodiment, the acceptance flap is in two parts in order to keep the force required for insertion low, with an acceptance sensor responding advantageously when each part of the acceptance flap is opened. This prevents a reception sensor from not responding when plugging in a package that is small in its dimensions and in which only part of the acceptance flap is opened, because it is arranged on the other part of the acceptance flap.

After inserting the packaging, the acceptance flap closes automatically by spring force and triggered by the acceptance sensors, a lock prevents the opening of the 1]

Acceptance flap. The locking is advantageously carried out by means of a lifting magnet.

The period of locking depends on the course of the treatment of the packaging in the other devices of the return machine. The locking is preferably released by a tilt sensor in the sorting device. In a further embodiment, the locking is time-controlled.

In addition to locking, the acceptance sensors control assemblies of the subsequent devices, primarily they start them.

After opening the acceptance flap, the packaging is drawn in by means of feed brushes mounted on axles. These are started by the acceptance sensors when the acceptance flap is opened and run inwards from the acceptance flap. The feed brushes are preferably arranged in pairs and aligned horizontally.

In a first embodiment, the axes are arranged rigidly to one another, and the packaging is pulled in by the contact pressure of the bristles arranged on the feed brushes.

In a further embodiment, the feed brushes are arranged on movable axes. The distance between the feed brushes is controlled by the controller in such a way that an approximately constant contact pressure between the packaging and the feed brushes is achieved. In this way, it is also possible to pull in packaging with very different cross-sectional dimensions and to accept non-cylindrical cross-sectional shapes of the packaging to be returned, regardless of their position in the feed shaft. In a preferred embodiment, the intake brushes are arranged next to one another on perpendicular axes. From the feed brushes, the packaging is conveyed into an acceptance shaft, which, from the perspective of the viewer in front of the acceptance flap, is arranged behind the feed brushes.

The devices for recognizing and sorting the accepted packaging are advantageously arranged below the receiving shaft of the receiving device. The sorting into packaging to be taken back and rejected or the sorting of different packaging to be taken back takes place after the detection, according to the invention by means of detection methods known to the person skilled in the art, by means of a horizontally arranged turnstile.

Methods for recognizing the packaging by detecting the outer shape as well as from information applied to the packaging (bar codes, inscriptions) are well known. All are based on the decision whether a packaging is accepted or rejected, on a comparison between at least information for the accepted packaging and stored information about packaging to be accepted or rejected. If packaging is not recognized or if a packaging is not found when compared with the stored information, the packaging is defined as packaging to be rejected.

In the return machine described, the visible and / or preferably invisible properties of the packaging are recognized by means of special scanners and special light by reading a code and the profile type.

The properties of the packaging required for comparison are stored in a memory, for example in the control system or in the scanner, in such a way that the properties of each packaging are put together in a data record and summarized in a file. The data record also contains information on the treatment of the recognized packaging. This includes at least one piece of information about the withdrawal or manner of Packaging, unless only packaging to be taken back is stored. Saving packaging that is also to be rejected leads to an acceleration of the recognition, because the packaging to be rejected is otherwise “recognized” only after the search process has ended.

Further information relates to the guidelines for the further procedure for the treatment of packaging to be taken back, for example deposit payment, receipt of a voucher or start of a competition. On the one hand, the data records can be individually entered, changed or deleted, preferably complete current files are loaded into the memory. This loading is particularly advantageously carried out via the bidirectional long-distance data transmission line.

The read properties of the packaging are compared with the packaging properties read into the memory. If the result of the comparison is positive, the property "take back / reject the packaging" of the associated data record loaded in the memory is checked and the further treatment of the packaging is dealt with accordingly.

If the acceptance flap is unlocked in a time-controlled manner, the detection process is time-critical. When the time expires, the packaging is set as rejectable and treated accordingly.

The turnstile advantageously consists of several, at least three rollers, which are arranged parallel to the axis and is tiltably supported in both directions. To treat the packaging on the turnstile, two rollers are aligned horizontally on one level at the highest level.

All rollers are driven and advantageously have the same surface speed. One roller is preferably the one driven by a rotary motor and the others are positively driven by the drive of the driven roller. The turnstile's rotary motor is started by the acceptance sensors, which respond when the acceptance flap is opened by inserting a package.

The rotational movement of the rollers moves the packaging on the turnstile and thus enables the packaging to be recognized by the identification device, regardless of the position of the packaging in the acceptance device.

The tilting movement causes the packaging to be thrown off after recognition, in accordance with the further treatment.

In a preferred embodiment, a roller is arranged in the center of the intersection of the turnstile. This roller preferably has a larger diameter than the other rollers. The other rollers are preferably arranged at the same distance from the middle roller and symmetrically.

In this embodiment, the middle roller is advantageously the controlled, directionally driven one.

The tilt axis is preferably arranged in the center of the cross. The tilt angle depends on the number of outer rollers and must firstly ensure that the packaging is thrown off the turnstile, and secondly that after the end of the tilting process, two outer rollers are again horizontally aligned at the highest level of the turnstile.

An advantageous embodiment of the turnstile is the arrangement of four rollers around a central one. The diameter of the middle roller is between 20 mm and 100 mm, that of the outer rollers between 10 mm and 40 mm. The distance between the middle and an outer roller is between 30 mm and 100 mm. The size ratios ensure the sortability of standard bottles with a capacity of 0.2 to 3.0 1, standard cans with a capacity of 0.25 to 1.0 1 and standard tetra packs with a capacity of 0.2 to 2.0 1 . By changing the size ratio, sorting is also possible for other packaging. The packaging is sorted in that a package ejected from the feed brushes falls onto the turnstile arranged diagonally below it between two outer rollers, is rotated there by the rotation of the rollers, and the packaging is recognized by means of the detection device arranged above the turnstile.

The tilting movement of the turnstile is advantageously a quarter turn with an arrangement of four outer rollers around a central one.

The tilting movement is triggered by the controller, which starts a tilting motor after the recognition device has recognized the packaging. The packaging is dropped from the turnstile and, if it is packaging to be rejected, falls over a steering plate into a return shaft, if it is packaging to be returned, onto a conveyor belt. The return shaft is closed by means of a return flap, which is preferably arranged in the door of the return machine and can be opened to remove the rejected packaging.

The version with four outer rollers immediately returns to operational readiness after tilting by a quarter circle, since after the quarter turn, two outer rollers are aligned horizontally above the middle roller. The rotation around a quarter circle is advantageously controlled by means of a tilt sensor, which switches off the tilt motor when the horizontal alignment of two outer rollers of the turnstile has been carried out in one plane.

The devices described for accepting the packaging by means of feed brushes and for sorting and identifying by means of movement on a turnstile permits withdrawals in a time interval of 3 seconds. A further shortening of the take-back intervals can be achieved by arranging two or more acceptance, sorting and detection devices for loading the subsequent devices for treating the packaging.

The packaging can be sorted into two groups on a turnstile as described above, in accordance with the control of the tilt direction. A deeper sorting can possibly be achieved by arranging several turnstiles in such a way that after a first separation, a further turnstile or turnstiles are arranged on a turnstile.

A simpler solution is to take back only one type of packaging or packaging material in a return machine. In the sorting and recognition device, sorting then takes place in packaging to be taken back and rejected. Different types of packaging or different packaging materials can be taken back, for example, by placing several take-back vending machines next to each other.

In the technological sequence after the sorting, the packs recognized and sorted as to be taken back are fed on a conveyor belt to a device for volume reduction by compression and / or shredding in order to be able to collect a larger number of packs in the collecting containers. The transport motor of the conveyor belt is started by the tilt sensor, which responds when packaging has been recognized, tilts the turnstile and switches it off in a time-controlled manner.

At the end of the conveyor belt facing the device for volume reduction, a transport sensor is expediently arranged, which responds when a package is transported from the conveyor belt into the device for volume reduction. If the transport sensor does not respond within a certain period of time after the tilt sensor has responded, information is sent to the controller. The volume is reduced by compression by means of at least two groups of press rolls, each arranged in series, which form a tapering compression channel and which are driven in a suitable arrangement by a press roll motor via at least one roller chain. The arrangement of press rolls enables continuous operation of the device for volume reduction, so that the short cycle times of the treatment of the packaging in the upstream devices of only about 3 seconds. are advantageously observed.

The press roll motor that drives the press rolls is started by the tilt sensor of the turnstile. All press rolls run in the direction of rotation in the channel pointing and expediently at the same peripheral speed.

The press rolls, which guide the packaging during transport through the compression channel, have a circular cross-section over their entire circumference with recesses, the opening width and depth of which are determined by the minimum and maximum dimensions of the packaging to be taken back. In a preferred embodiment, the press rolls are each composed of roll plates arranged on an axis, which have the recesses, and spacers arranged between the roll plates, so that the press rolls have a lower weight than the compact design.

The packaging is drawn into the compression via a pair of loading rollers, of which one loading roller is mounted eccentrically according to the invention. The eccentric mounting of the one feed roller enables the treatment of the packaging, which varies greatly in size and shape according to the task. In one embodiment, one of the two loading rollers has thorns on its circumference which pierce the wall of the packaging when it is drawn in and which on the one hand prevent the packaging from being re-pressed out of the device for compression and on the other hand prevent excess pressure from building up in the packaging.

In an advantageous embodiment, the eccentrically mounted loading roller has loading roller plates with recesses of different notch depths and angles designed as wedge-shaped notches, in order to ensure a non-slip insertion and secure guidance of the packaging even in the case of large differences in the dimensions of the packaging to be compressed. In this embodiment, the spikes for piercing into the wall of the packaging are advantageously replaced by the fact that the wedge-shaped recesses in the eccentrically mounted loading roller plates abut one another without spacing. In this embodiment, the cutouts form a star shape. The tips are arranged asymmetrically on an advantageously elliptical cross section.

In the advantageous embodiment, wipers are arranged on each press roll, which have an outer contour that compliments the shape of the press roll and prevent packaging from remaining in the compression area.

The volume reduction by means of shredding expediently takes place after the packaging has been compressed, since the dimensions of the shredder can thus be designed to be smaller than in the reverse order of treatment. Commercial models are used as shredders.

The shredder is also started by means of the tilt sensor on the turnstile and expediently driven by the press roller motor.

The packaging is expediently only shredded if only the same packaging is used in a return machine Material composition are withdrawn or a separation is not subsequently hindered by shredding and if the product labeling on the packaging is not applied to any material other than that of the packaging.

The sorted and reduced-volume packaging is collected in at least one collecting container which is arranged below the device for reducing the volume in the return machine.

The fill level in the collection container is expediently monitored by sensors. If the target level is exceeded, a fault message is sent to the control and a message corresponding to the event for the customer is shown on the display. In addition, the acceptance flap is advantageously locked in the acceptance device until the collecting container is emptied.

An embodiment is described in more detail below with reference to the attached figures. Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a housing of the

Take-back machines and a housing, Figure 2: a front view of a door of the take-back machine, Figure 3: an acceptance flap for packaging, Figure 4: two intake brushes of a device for accepting

Packaging in the view from above, Figure 5: a side view of a turnstile for sorting

Packaging, Figure 6: a front view of a turnstile for sorting

Packaging, Figure 7: an arrangement of press rollers for volume reduction of packaging with a conveyor belt, Figure 8: an eccentric feed roller for volume reduction and Figure 9: an arrangement of the devices of a

Return machines. FIG. 1 shows an automatic take-back device with a square cross section of the housing (G) of the machine. The housing (U) is connected to the housing (G) at the abutting edges of the side faces (FG) of the housing (G). The cross section of the housing (U) is also square and the abutting edges of the housing (G) abut the side surfaces (FU) of the housing (U) which are divided into two wings (F) there. The wings (F) of each side surface (FU) of the housing (U) are movably connected by means of hinges (S) which are attached to the abutting edges of the side surfaces (FG) of the housing (G). When swiveled, two adjacent wings (F) of adjacent side surfaces (FU) of the housing (U) abut each other at the butt edge, which has no hinge, and are locked in this position. The two wings (F) of one side surface (FU) are arranged so that they are swung open and locked in this position by means of catches (A) on the underground side.

The visible surface of the wings (F) of the housing (U) when swung open are the visible surfaces for advertising, animation and information.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of a door of the housing (G) of the redemption machine. The door represents a side surface (FG) of the housing (G). When the door is opened, for example for the removal of collected packaging (V) from the collecting device (60), the control device (50) of the return machine is addressed by means of a door sensor. This blocks the take-back functions of the take-back machine. The acceptance flap (12) and the return flap (35) are arranged in the door of the housing (G) for re-issuing rejected packaging (V). A display (71) enables the output of texts and / or graphics for information about the operating state of the return machine. In addition, it has the slot machine (80), the combined deposit and receipt (81) and a loudspeaker as a sound reproduction element (75). Free areas can be used for advertising, etc. FIG. 3 shows the acceptance opening with a two-part acceptance flap (19). An acceptance sensor (19s) is assigned to both parts of the acceptance flap (19), so that the insertion of a package (V) is also detected when only a part of the acceptance flap (19) is opened by inserting a package (V) with small dimensions becomes. After inserting a package (V), the acceptance flap (19) is closed by spring force and, triggered by the acceptance sensors (19s), locked by means of a controlled lifting magnet (18).

FIG. 4 shows the arrangement of the intake brushes (11) which pull the packaging (V) into the return machine. These are driven by a feed motor (lim), which is started in a controlled manner when the acceptance sensors (19s) respond, via a belt drive. The feed brushes (11) are arranged horizontally to save space.

Figures 5 and 6 show the turnstile (20). This essentially consists of a roller (25) at the center of intersection and four outer rollers (21, 22, 23, 24), with two rollers (in the state shown 21 and 24) above the roller (25) at the intersection center horizontally in operational readiness are aligned on one level. A rotary motor (20d) drives the roller (25) at the center of the intersection via a chain drive, which in turn drives two adjacent outer rollers (21, 22 and 23, 24) by means of two belt drives. The rotary motor (20d), like the feed motor (lim), is triggered by the acceptance sensors (19s) when the acceptance flap (19) is opened. It is stopped by a signal from the recognition device which signals that the packaging has been recognized or the recognition time set in the control has expired. According to the result of the detection device, the turnstile (20) is then tilted in the respective direction by means of the tilt motor (20k) via a chain drive around the roller (25) at the center of the intersection. When a packaging (V) is rejected by the recognition device, the turnstile (20) is turned off View from the side surface (FG), on which the door of the return machine is arranged, tilted to the right. The packaging falls into the return shaft (33), from where it can be removed through the return flap (35). When deciding that a package (V) is taken back, the turnstile (20) is tilted to the left from the side surface (FG) on which the door of the return machine is arranged, and the package (V) falls on it Conveyor belt (14). A tilt sensor (20s) starts the conveyor belt (14) when the tilting movement of the turnstile is on the left from the view described above.

Figure 7 shows the conveyor belt (14) with a schematically illustrated packaging (V) and the device for volume reduction (50). A transport sensor (14s) checks the loading of the device for volume reduction (50) with packaging (V) depending on the response of the tilt sensor (20s) and, when the set time is exceeded, provides the control system with information about the fault.

Two loading rollers (51, 52) first pull the packaging (V) into the compression. A loading roller (51) is mounted eccentrically and the loading roller plates (see FIG. 8) each have different-angled, wedge-shaped recesses of different depths, which meet sharply over the circumference of the loading roller (51) and are symmetrical to the axis of the loading roller (51). The tips are arranged on a circular cross-section, the center of the circle not corresponding to the center of the axis.

The feed rollers (51, 52) and the other press rollers (53, 54) are designed differently in their diameters and rotate at the same peripheral speed. The distance between the rollers (51, 52, 53, 54) of the compression tapers, so that a package (V) is increasingly compressed. The rollers (51, 52, 53, 54) of the compression are driven by a press motor (50m) via chains (57, 58). On the rollers (52) and (54) wipers (52a, 54a) are arranged which prevent packaging or parts thereof from remaining.

Deflection rollers (55, 56), which are also driven by the press motor (50m), drive the shredder.

FIG. 9 shows the devices of the take-back machine in their arrangement in the take-back machine and to one another. The intake brushes (11) are arranged behind the acceptance flap (19) in the door and the acceptance shaft (16) in a row behind them. The turnstile (20) is located below the acceptance shaft (16), so that a package (V) falls from the downwardly open acceptance shaft (16) onto the turnstile (20). Below the turnstile (20), offset to the rear in view of FIG. 9, there is a steering plate (34) which directs rejected packagings (V) into the return shaft (33) through the return flap (35) which in the Door of the redemption machine is arranged, is closed. Below the turnstile (20), offset to the front in view of FIG. 9, is the conveyor belt (14), which transports a packaging (V), which the recognition device has recognized as packaging to be taken back, into the device for volume reduction (50) . The device for volume reduction (50) is arranged opposite the door of the return machine. A collecting container (60) is located below this.

Claims

claims

1. Redemption machine for packaging (V) made of plastic, sheet metal and cardboard or the like, in particular cans, bottles, cans and cups, each of which has at least one acceptance device (10), one detection device (40), one sorting device ( 30), one

Volume reduction device (50) and a collecting device (60) with a control device (70), which is superordinate to the latter, and which optionally has an operating and information device, in particular an automatic gaming machine (80), characterized in that the housing (G) with a Protective housing (U) is movably connected, by means of which it is swiveled completely closed and when swung open, its operating elements are accessible, so that the control device controls at least one device for image, text and / or sound reproduction for animation, information and / or advertising and a bidirectional one Remote data transmission line and / or an infrared remote control for programming the control and that the acceptance device (10) behind a feed opening (13) and a horizontally arranged feed shaft (16) has paired, controllably divisible feed brushes (11) and both cylindrical and non-zy Lindric packaging (V) can accommodate and on a, diagonally below the feed brushes (11) horizontally arranged, controlled directionally rotatable turnstile, where the sorting device (30) is arranged, through which an ejection or transfer into the

Volume reduction device (50), which has a controlled driven pair of rollers (51, 52) with an eccentrically mounted feed roller (51), and that the control device controls the loading of a volume reduction device (50) via several of the upstream devices.

2. Take-back machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (G) and the housing (U) each have a square base, the housing (U) swings the housing (G) so that the abutting edges of the side surfaces (FG) of the housing (G) on the side surfaces (FU) of the housing (U) are arranged in the center and that the housing (U) has a roof that covers it completely.

3. Take-back machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two hinged together and with the abutting edges of the side faces (FG) of the housing (G) pivoted wings (F) form a side face (FU) of the housing (U) and swung open are folded together.

4. Take-back machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arrangement of the wings (F) on the housing (G) is symmetrical in both directions of the square and that the wings (F) are locked and / or locked in position in their position are.

5. Redemption machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, primarily by the use of the horizontal brushes (11) in the area of acceptance (10), the turnstile (20) in the area of detection (40) and sorting (30) and the eccentric stored feed roller (51) in the area of volume reduction (50), standard bottles with a capacity of 0.2 to 3.0 1, standard cans with a capacity of 0.25 to 1.0 1 and standard tetra packs with a capacity of 0 , 2 to 2.0 1 are redeemable.

6. Take-back machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the spatially arranged in the detection device (40) for separating acceptable packaging to be rejected (V) and about its center of intersection (K) by means of a drive turnable in both directions turnstile (20) from several, parallel to the axis arranged, each rotatably mounted rollers (21, 22, 23, 24, 25), of which a roller (25) is arranged and driven at the center of intersection (K) and has a larger diameter than the outer rollers.

7. Take-back machine according to one of claims 1 or 6, characterized in that the outer rollers (21, 22, 23, 24) of the turnstile (20) are equally spaced from the center of intersection (K) and are driven by the drive of the central roller (25) and run at the same surface speed.

8. Take-back machine according to one of claims 1, 6 or 7, characterized in that the turnstile (20) consists of a roller (25) at the intersection center (K) and four outer rollers (21, 22, 23, 24).

9. Take-back machine according to one of claims 1, 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the distance between the central roller (25) and the outer rollers (21, 22, 23, 24) of the turnstile (20) from the minimum dimension of returnable packaging (V) is intended.

10. Take-back machine according to claim 1, characterized in that two loading rollers (51, 52) arranged perpendicular to the turnstile (20) press rollers (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56) of

Load the volume reduction device (50) with packaging (V).

11. Redemption machine according to claim 1, characterized in that a volume reduction device (50) via conveyor belts (14) from several upstream acceptance (10), detection (40) and sorting devices (30) is loaded.