Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
  • G07F7/06—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
  • G07F7/0609—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles by fluid containers, e.g. bottles, cups, gas containers
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3244—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
  • G07F17/3253—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes involving articles, e.g. paying in bottles, paying out toys
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3286—Type of games
  • G07F17/329—Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
  • G07F7/06—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by returnable containers, i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for handling in a reverse vending machine empty packaging units having return value, where the reverse vending machine, for each unit received from a person who inserts one or more such units into the reverse vending machine, identifies the individual unit and determines its assigned return value, and indicates total payable return value, and also gives the person the choice between participating in a lottery with the return value as his/her stake or having the return value paid out.
• the invention also relates to a system for handling in a reverse vending machine empty packaging units having return value, where the reverse vending machine, for each unit received from a person who inserts one or more such units into the reverse vending machine, has equipment for identifying the individual unit and determining its assigned return value, and for indicating total payable return value, and has a selector panel which gives the person the choice between participating in a lottery with the return value as his/her stake or having the return value paid out.
• the object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for handling in a reverse vending machine empty packaging units, as stated above.
• the aforementioned method is characterised, according to the invention, by the features set forth in claim 1.
• the method also aims to provide back-up solutions if typically uncommon operational failures occur.
• the aforementioned system is characterised, according to the invention, by the features that are set forth in attached claim 20.
• the system also aims, especially in readiness for typically uncommon operational failures, to provide back-up solutions.
• Figs. 1 and 3 show together a simplified flow chart of the course of the lottery during a normal transaction, and for the case where an operational failure occurs.
• Figs. 2 and 3 show a variant of the combined flow chart according to Figs. 1 and 3, wherein Fig. 2 in addition shows that there is a choice among several lotteries;
• Fig. 4 shows a simplified block diagram of the reverse vending machine, the lottery database and the distribution point that forms a part of the system described by way of example.
• the basis of the present invention is that the lottery tickets which participate in the lottery originate from a supply of tickets in a lottery database 1, wherein some of these tickets in the supply, in a lottery draw supervised according to regulations, are allocated different or identical prizes.
• the obvious advantage of this is that the customer, after depositing the empty packaging units 2; 2' in the reverse vending machine 3, and upon chosen and confirmed participation in the lottery, will immediately be notified of whether there is/are any prize(s) or not.
• from the lottery database 1 there can be retrieved from a supply therein of numbered lottery tickets an integer number of lottery tickets as numbered tickets, the number of tickets being related to the return value of the returned packaging units.
• the reverse vending machine 3 can per se be any known type, but fitted with additional equipment enabling the reverse vending machine to be a part of a system also comprising a lottery database and one or more prize distribution points.
• the reverse vending machine is intended to receive returnable, empty beverage containers 2; 2', as, for example, bottles 2 of glass or plastic, or beverage cans 2' of metal.
• the reverse vending machine 3 will, for each packaging unit received from a person who inserts one or more such units into the reverse vending machine, identify the individual unit with the aid of a detector station 4 and a processor 5 and determine by means of a return value calculator 6 the assigned return value of the unit 2; 2', indicate the total payable return value, and give the person, by using a selector 7, the choice between taking part in a lottery with the return value as his/her stake or having the return value paid out.
• a selector 7 there is of course the possibility of taking part in one of a plurality of lotteries, if conditions are in place for several lotteries, as indicated in Fig. 2.
• lotteries When there is a plurality of lotteries, they may be structured differently, for example, so that one lottery has few but large prizes, i.e., prizes of great value, whilst another lottery has a substantially larger number of prizes but where each prize is of a low value.
• the method and apparatus are so designed that, when a person chooses via the selector 7 to participate in a lottery, the person's choice is registered in the reverse vending machine. Communication between the reverse vending machine and the lottery database must then be established. This is preferably done either by converting in the reverse vending machine, with the aid of a converter 9, the return value into an integer number (whole number) of lottery tickets and establishing communication between the reverse vending machine 3 and the lottery database 1 with the aid of a communication unit 10, a decision unit 11 and a ticket acquisition unit 12, or by establishing communication between the reverse vending machine 3 and the lottery database 1, and converting in the lottery database, with the aid of a converter 13, the return value into an integer number of lottery tickets. Then, from a supply of numbered lottery tickets in the lottery database 1 there is retrieved such an integer number of lottery tickets as 5 numbered tickets.
• the problem may arise that communication with the lottery database cannot be established, or that there are communication failures which prevent satisfactory communication.
• the0 converter 9 in the reverse vending machine can convert the return value into an integer number of lottery tickets, after which an attempt is then made to establish communication with the lottery database 1 via the units 10-12, i.e., with a view to retrieving such a number of lottery tickets as numbered tickets from an existing supply of numbered lottery tickets in a lottery database, where at least for some of the lotterys tickets in the supply there are pre-drawn lottery prizes of different or identical value, or it is intended that the draw of any prize tickets should be effected by the drawing means 8, as indicated above.
• an attempt may be made to establish communication between the reverse vending machine 3 and the lottery database 1 directly via the communication unit 10, decision unit 11 ando acquisition unit 12, i.e., without previous return value conversion in the converter 9, with a view, instead, to effecting conversion of the return value into an integer number of lottery tickets using the converter 13 in the lottery database 1, and then to retrieve such an integer number of lottery tickets as numbered tickets from an existing supply of numbered lottery tickets in the lottery database, where for at least some of the lottery 5 tickets in the supply there are pre-drawn lottery prizes of different or identical value, or where it is intended to allow the retrieval of said integer number of lottery tickets to involve that the tickets simultaneously can participate in a draw by the drawing means 8 for possible immediate allocation of prize tickets.
• the 5 method and system are so designed that the decision unit 11 registers this situation and ensures that the person is informed that lottery participation is not possible for technical reasons, whereupon a token for payable return value is issued by a return value token printer 15, or that payment of the return value is made directly in that the token printer is connected to or has equipment for such payment.
• the lottery database with said supply of pre-drawn prize tickets may be in the reverse vending machine, although in a currently preferred embodiment it will be expedient to allow the lottery database to be in a lottery centre external to the reverse vendings machine.
• the system will ask the person for0 confirmation of his/her choice. This may be done with the aid of a panel 16 on the reverse vending machine, where there is control equipment for such confirmation, an "undo button” and optional card reader or other reading device/input device for registering information related to the person. After received confirmation, the system will perform a further process to communicate with the lottery database 1 and retrieve 5 tickets, and deliver tickets with optional prize information to the system's user, i.e., said person.
• participation in the lottery will in reality mean that play which is linked to the card's owner is registered, whilst only pressing the confirmation button means thatS there is unregistered play, where the issued token is proof of the lottery participation.
• the system may, instead of confirmation, receive from the person a request to change the lottery in which he/she wishes to participate, i.e., a partial cancellation of lottery choice, but not participation as such in a lottery.
• the system will be adapted to ask the person for choice of desired lottery, and to ask the person for confirmation of this choice, and then, after received confirmation, to proceed with the process as outlined above.
• the panel 16 could perform the functions that are related to such a request to change lottery, and confirmation.
• the details may be in encrypted format on the token, and that the information can be present on the token in an optically detectable, magnetically detectable or radiofrequency (r.f.) detectable form, or that the information is inputted into a smart card with associated data chip. This may be particularly relevant in the cases where the person has his/her own game card.
• said transaction details or at least some of them in addition are transferred to at least one specific distribution point 17 for the distribution of a prize or prizes, and that the transaction details transferred to said at least one distribution point contain a distribution authorisation.
• the distribution point may, for example, be the payment point or check-out, the so-called Point of Sale (POS).
• Such transaction details may, for example, be transferred from the reverse vending machine 3 to said at least one distribution point 17, or the transaction details are caused to be sent from the lottery database to said at least one distribution point.
• the last- mentioned may perhaps be particularly appropriate in the cases where the lottery database is in an external lottery centre, but is also appropriate when the database is in the reverse vending machine.
• the distribution point 17 that distributes the prize or prizes must ensure that distribution transaction notification thereof is sent to other prize distribution points which, for the prize or prizes, are possible but not used, as for example, the point 17' for removal of distribution authorisation for an already distributed prize. This means that if a distribution operation is started at one point (for example, 17), the distribution operation is at the same instant blocked at the other, previously authorised distribution points (for example 17'), as they are no longer authorised to distribute the prize or prizes in question.
• the numbered tickets retrieved from the supply have ticket numbers that are not sequential one after the other, for example, as the result of a request from the person who is to take part in the lottery, the numbered tickets retrieved from the supply will advantageously have tickets numbers that are sequential one after the other.
• return value can be related to at least one of: fixed deposit refund value for respective packaging units; and - material-type-based return value for respective packaging units.
• the lottery chosen by the person contains extra tickets that are allocated and retrieved as a function of return value or number of empty packaging units of at least one particular type or of at least one particular appearance that are deposited in the reverse vending machine.
• one or more particular suppliers of beverages with relevant packaging can use the lottery system to remunerate by ticket draw persons who return to the reverse vending machine very many empty packaging units which are associated with one specific beverage supplier.
• Such extra tickets may, for example, be related to special prizes, such as goods from the said beverage supplier, or give substantial discount on payment for purchased beverages supplied by said supplier.
• the prizes In the cases where the prizes have a large monetary value, they will, for example, be distributed by submitting the token or a prize voucher to a central payment point/distribution point, for example, 17, or to the lottery centre 18, i.e., where the token in reality serves as a kind of security or bond with or without personal details, for example, the winner's name and address and possible account for transfer.
• the prize can be distributed, for example, in the form of goods and/or articles in the shop or the supermarket where the person has deposited the empty packaging units.
• the prize can be paid/distributed by the check-out point for purchased goods in a grocery and/or off- licence outlet, a so-called POS (Point of Sale).
• POS Point of Sale
• a ticket/receipt is handed in at the POS, it will be checked there that the ticket is in fact related to a defined transaction. If this is not the case, the customer will be so informed.
• the customer for example, has received the ticket/receipt from a reverse vending machine which is not connected to the POS, but, for example, a different POS in an entirely different business activity, or that said POS does not pay out on tickets in a particular lottery.
• the prize can be distributed by the distribution point 17; 17', for example, a POS. If the prize is large physically or in monetary value, it may be necessary for a prize voucher to be issued instead. If such a prize voucher is issued, the customer will at the same time be informed of where the prize can be collected from and any procedure that must be followed. At the same time as the issuance of the prize voucher, notification is sent to the prize distribution point, which may be such as indicated by 17" in Fig. 3 or be at the actual lottery centre 18. When such a prize voucher is handed in for collection of the prize, it must be valid.
• Its validity can, for example, be related to the voucher having a specific validity date and by which date the prize must be collected, the prize otherwise going to the lottery's cause, or that the prize must be collected elsewhere than previously stated, in which case the customer will be given new distribution instructions. If the validity date has not been observed, the prize voucher in reality will not be able to result in a prize.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=40030295

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (3)

Citations (8)

• 2007
  • 2007-09-28 NO NO20074932A patent/NO328810B1/no unknown
• 2008
  • 2008-09-26 WO PCT/NO2008/000345 patent/WO2009041825A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (8)

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