WO2004039698A1

WO2004039698A1 - Reverse vending machine

Info

Publication number: WO2004039698A1
Application number: PCT/NO2003/000354
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Ulrik Rustad; Lars Guntveit; Svein Holmen
Original assignee: Repant As
Priority date: 2002-10-29
Filing date: 2003-10-27
Publication date: 2004-05-13
Also published as: NO20025194D0; NO317713B1; AU2003274847A1

Abstract

A device for distributing articles in a container which is filled from the top in order to give the volume in the container a substantially level surface, comprising -a pusher means (11) adapted to move articles, -a transport device connected with the pusher means for conveying the pusher means over the container's upper portion and -a drive device connected with the transport device. The pusher means may be hinged to the transport device, thus enabling it to be brought into a position parallel to the transport device, and thereby providing a device with low overall height. The device may also comprise a control device and one or more sensors for controlling the movement of the pusher means.

Description

Reverse vending machine

The invention relates to a device for evenly distributing the contents of a container which is filled from the top. More specifically, the invention relates to a device for evenly distributing bottles or cans in a container employed for collection from a reverse vending machine.

In reverse vending machines for bottles, cans and other packaging, the items are fed in through an inlet opening and conveyed by the machine to a collection area. The first reverse vending machines had a large collection area which had to be emptied when necessary by staff members, thus complicating the return of large numbers of bottles.

This problem is solved by using different collection devices. Such a collection device involves the bottles/cans being conveyed from the reverse vending machine's feeding opening towards an opening where a container is placed beneath the opening. The bottles/cans drop into the container and the whole container is emptied or replaced when it is full. A sensor is advantageously mounted in connection with the container in order to detect when the container is full, thus enabling it to be replaced. One problem encountered with this arrangement is that the bottles/cans drop into the container where they accumulate into peaks which cause the sensor to erroneously register that the container is full. This prevents the maximum filling ratio being achieved for the container, resulting in the occurrence of more frequent stoppages than necessary of the reverse vending machines. In order to avoid this, at present the staff have to move the boxes at regular intervals, which is unnecessarily time-consuming.

Devices exist for ensuring that containers are filled evenly. US 4534156 describes an apparatus for filling containers with articles that are fed via a conveyor belt. This process starts with a first container being filled and when it is full, a second container is automatically filled from the first container. This is a large and space- consuming structure and is not suitable for the backrooms of shops where reverse vending machines are usually located. JP-A-4251708 concerns a rotating lever which is mounted over a container in order to level off a heap of powder or the like in the container.

If such or similar devices for ensuring level filling of containers become too high, this will also cause the in-feed opening/location to become higher. Excessive feed- in height means reduced user-friendliness and should therefore be avoided. Thus a drawback with existing devices is that they are space-consuming and impractical to use. The object of the invention is to provide a device which distributes articles evenly in a container and which does not occupy a great deal of space. More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide a device which evenly distributes in a container bottles, cans, etc. discharged from a reverse vending machine to a container.

The object of the invention is achieved by means of the features in the patent claims.

A reverse vending machine for bottles, cans or other empty metal or plastic packaging comprises an inlet opening where the user inserts the empty packaging and a transport device, for example a conveyor belt, for conveying the empty packaging from the inlet opening towards a discharge opening in or above a collecting bin. The empty packaging drops through the discharge opening down into the collecting bin. In some embodiments a compactor may also be provided between the inlet opening and the collecting bin with the result that it is compacted packaging that is collected. Since the collecting bin is filled from only one position, the empty packaging will be unevenly distributed in the collecting bin, i.e. a peak will be formed near the arrival point for the packaging.

In order to counteract this uneven distribution, according to the invention a levelling mechanism is provided at the upper part of the collecting bin, for example just under the opening above the collecting bin.

The levelling mechanism comprises a pusher means and a drive device connected to a transport device. The levelling mechanism preferably also comprises a control device. In a second embodiment the levelling device may also comprise a support structure. The function of the pusher means is to push/move the articles at the top of the collecting bin from a location with an accumulation of articles to a location on a lower level. The design of the pusher means may vary depending on the shape of the collecting bins and the articles constituting the volume that has to be levelled, and where the collecting bin is square/rectangular, for example, it may comprise a square-shaped elongated body extending over the entire or parts of the width or the length of the collecting bin. The pusher means is made of a flexible material whose weight and rigidity are adapted to the weight and size of the articles that have to be moved, with the result that the article is easily moved along by the pusher means. A suitable material for levelling non-returnable plastic bottles or aluminium cans for drinks, for example, is rubber or a textile material, possibly with an integrated weight to provide the desired weight and/or rigidity. The pusher means may also comprise a replaceable end portion, thus enabling the weight and rigidity to be varied by replacing the end portion depending on which type of article has to be levelled (weight, shape, flexibility, size, etc.) The pusher means is connected to a transport device. The function of the transport device is to convey the pusher means over the upper portion of the collecting bin, thus levelling off any accumulations in parts of the collecting bin.

In an embodiment the transport device comprises two endless conveyor belts which are mounted round at least two rollers. The conveyor belts may be belts, chains or the like. A drive device such as a motor, or in a simple embodiment a manual crank or the like, connected with at least one of the rollers drives the transport device round. The pusher means is attached to the conveyor belt, thus causing it to be moved in a "stage" - movement in the vertical plane. In an embodiment of the invention the transport device is designed in such a mamier that in the working direction the pusher means is in an extended position. When the pusher means is subsequently passed round the roller(s), it is folded up in a position parallel to the transport direction, either due to gravity or by some other means, for example by meeting a physical obstacle such as a protective cover round the conveyor belts. In this manner a device is achieved with a low overall height.

The attachment of the pusher means to the transport device may be hinged, for example by fastening to/inserting into the chains a rod which is integrated in or fastened to the pusher means, with the result that it extends between the chains when they form the conveyor belts. This is particularly advantageous when the pusher means comprises a textile material, in which case the rod can be sewn into the pusher means. A pusher means of this kind can thereby be composed of a piece of fabric with a rod sewn in at a lateral edge and a weight, for example a second rod, sewn in at the opposite lateral edge. In most cases the weight and rigidity of the pusher means in itself will be sufficient to carry along the articles that have to be moved, but the use may also be envisaged of a spring mechanism or the like which keeps the pusher means in an extended state and which permits the pusher means to be folded up parallel to the transport device.

The levelling mechanism may be provided as an integrated part of the reverse vending machine's collection part, or it may be an independent unit. When the levelling mechanism is an independent unit, it will also include a support structure that supports the transport device and possibly a control device. This independent unit will then be able to be mounted on all types of collecting bins where there is a problem with uneven distribution of the collected volume.

The pusher means can move in several different ways depending on the shape of the collecting bin, the type of packaging that has to be levelled, etc. The optimal pattern of movement for the pusher means is dependent on where in the collecting bin the packaging drops, which in turn is dependent on the machine configuration involved in the reverse vending machine. The premises in which the reverse vending machines are to be employed vary. In some premises it is advantageous to remove the collecting bins (the typical size is Vz Euro-pall or 1/1 Euro-pall) to the left when emptying, and in others to the right, from the rear or in front of the reverse vending machine. The packaging will thereby be able to drop down in different positions in the collecting bin depending on the configuration concerned and possibly other factors involved in the construction of the reverse vending machine. The pattern of movement for ensuring maximum filling ratio for the collecting bins is controlled depending on the position in which the packaging drops.

In an embodiment of the invention the levelling mechanism preferably comprises a control device which controls the movement of the pusher means. The control device may comprise one or more sensors, a clock, a processor and signal cables connected to the transport device/drive device. The sensors employed will typically be sensors that detect the level in the collecting bin, the position of accumulation(s) in the collecting bin and the rate of supply of articles. The control device may be an isolated unit or it may be comprised of other equipment associated with the levelling mechanism, such as, e.g., a recognition device in a reverse vending machine. An example of a recognition device of this kind comprising a control device which can also be used to control the levelling mechanism is mentioned in the applicant's own patent no. NO 313496.

The control device's processor may be programmed to cause the pusher means to perform a specific pattern of movement or it may choose the pattern of movement best suited to each case. The choice of patterns of movement may be made on the basis of signals from the sensors or other information such as signals from a recognition unit in reverse vending machines which recognise different types of packaging. Relevant patterns of movement may be, for example:

1) Only one direction:

- a sensor detects a bottle dropping into the collecting bin, the signal from the sensor causes the control device to transmit a start signal to the transport device's drive device which drives the transport device for a certain pre- programmed period before a stop signal is transmitted to the drive device,

- a counter counts the number of bottles that drop and the control device transmits a start signal to the transport device after a predetermined number of bottles,

- a sensor detects that a bottle in the collecting bin is located at a predetermined level, the signal from the sensor causes the control device to transmit a start signal to the transport device's drive device,

- a signal to the control device from a recognition unit indicates a type of bottle is on the way to the collection device, the control device transmits a start signal to the transport device's drive device, - the control device transmits a start signal to the transport device at predetermined times, for example n times per hour or the like.

2) Two directions, i.e. that in addition to a start signal, the control device also transmits directional information to the transport device: - the transport device moves the pusher means in the two directions alternately with start and stop criteria as in point 1),

- several sensors detect where the pusher means is and where the peaks are that have to be levelled off, and the control device calculates the direction and transmits start and directional signals to the transport device, a stop signal is transmitted after a predetermined period,

- several sensors detect where the pusher means is and where the peaks are that have to be levelled off, and the control device calculates the direction and transmits start and directional signals to the transport device, a stop signal is transmitted when the peaks are no longer registered by a sensor, - several sensors detect where the pusher means is and where the peaks are that have to be levelled off, and the control device calculates the direction and transmits start and directional signals to the transport device, the direction can be altered in transit based on the information from the sensors.

3) The transport device is driven continuously in only one direction. 4) The transport device is controlled manually by the staff.

When there is a need for several simultaneous collecting bins, for example for collecting different types of empty packaging, it may be advantageous to have several levelling mechanisms. Depending on the type of packaging and the variation between the packaging types in the different collecting bins, the respective levelling mechanisms can be driven separately or by the same drive device.

In a second embodiment of the invention it may also be equipped with one or more additional device(s) in order to make the levelling operation even more efficient. For example, such an additional device may be a mechanism, which is arranged near the area where the empty packaging arrives at the collecting bin and which leads to a movement of the articles and/or provides a stirring effect in this area in order to prevent the arrival area from becoming blocked. Such a mechanism may, for example, be a plate, whisk or the like that is rotated in the area concerned.

The invention will now be described in more detail by means of an embodiment with reference to the figures in which: Figure 1 is a view of a part of a reverse vending machine with two collecting bins with levelling mechanisms according to the invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the levelling mechanism according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the levelling mechanism according to the invention.

Figure 4 illustrates the principle of how the levelling mechanism according to the invention works.

Figure 1 is a view of a rear part 15 of a reverse vending machine. Empty packaging is fed into the front of the reverse vending machine and reaches the rear part in the direction indicated by the arrow 16. In this embodiment the reverse vending machine is arranged for two collecting bins disposed in abutment with each other. A partition device 17 divides the articles intended for the two collecting bins. The two collecting bins can collect the same type of packaging or two different types of packaging. Under the partition device 17 is mounted a "leakage barrier" 20 which prevents packaging from one collecting bin from crossing over into the other. At the openings 14 is mounted a levelling mechanism 10 according to the invention. In this embodiment the levelling mechanism 10 comprises chains 12 extending round rollers 13. Connected to the chains 12 is a pusher means 11. The pusher means 11 extends over the entire width of the opening 14. A motor 19 is connected to the rollers 13 and drives them round, thus causing the chains 12 and thereby the pusher means 11 to be set in motion. Figure 2 illustrates the levelling mechanism in greater detail. Elements corresponding to the elements in figure 1 have the same number. As in figure 1, here two levelling mechanisms are placed side by side. Empty packaging is fed into the area defined between the arrows 22 and distributed to the respective collecting bins (not shown) in a manner corresponding to that described in connection with figure 1. Here the motor 19 is connected with the rollers 13 via a rod 21, with the result that in this case both the levelling mechanisms will be driven simultaneously. In this embodiment the levelling mechanism includes an additional mechanism 18. The mechanism 18 is rotatably mounted near the feeding area for empty packaging and provides stirring of the packaging in this area to prevent accumulation and thereby blocking of the inlet. One of the levelling mechanisms is illustrated here suspended in a supporting structure/stand 22 which in turn can be attached to a top cover for fixing to the reverse vending machine concerned. The stand 22 may be the physical obstacle that causes the pusher means 11 to be brought into a position parallel to the chain when it is moved along the upper chain path. In figure 3, which is a front elevation of the levelling mechanism according to the invention, the position of the two collecting bins 32 is illustrated.

Figure 4 illustrates the principle of how the levelling mechanism according to the invention works. 4a illustrates a situation when a can 30 drops into the collecting bin 32, thus causing an accumulation of bottles 31 in the collecting bin 32 as illustrated in 4c. The pusher means 11 is then set in motion by the rollers 13 beginning to rotate, thus setting the chain 12 in motion. Figure 4b shows how the pusher means is folded in a position parallel to the chain's 12 working direction. In 4d the pusher means 11 carries a bottle 31 along in the working direction, and in 4e the situation is illustrated after the bottle has been moved to a location at a lower level.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A device for distributing articles in a container which is filled from the top in order to give the volume in the container a substantially level surface, comprising a pusher means (11) adapted to move articles, a transport device connected with the pusher means for conveying the pusher means over the container's upper portion and a drive device connected with the transport device, characterised in that the pusher means (11) is hinged to the transport device, thus enabling it to be brought into a position parallel to the transport device.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the connection between the transport device and the pusher means (11) comprises a spring loading.

3. A device according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that it comprises a physical obstacle for the pusher means that causes the pusher means to be folded up in a position parallel to the transport device's working direction, thus providing a device with low height.

4. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the pusher means is made of a flexible material, possibly with a weight at its lower edge.

5. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that it also comprises a control device that controls the operation of the transport device.

6. A device according to claim 5, characterised in that it also comprises one or more sensors which transmit signals to the control device.

7. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that the control device transmits a start signal to the drive device when a sensor detects that a new article has arrived in the container.

8. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that the control device transmits a start signal to the drive device when a sensor detects that the top object in the container is located at a given level.

9. A device according to claim 5, characterised in that the control device transmits signals to the drive device based on signals from a recognition device.

10. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the transport device comprises a chain that extends round at least two rollers.

11. A device according to claim 1 , characterised in that it further comprises a mechanism for moving the articles located near the area where the articles arrive in the storage bin.

12. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the articles are non-returnable cans, plastic bottles, PET bottles and/or glass bottles.

13. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the articles have been compacted by a compactor.