WO2020089425A1

WO2020089425A1 - A reverse vending machine and a method of operating a reverse vending machine

Info

Publication number: WO2020089425A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/079900
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ole SØRLLE-SKOVLY; Terje Dehli; Åsmund Birger DAGSLET
Original assignee: Tomra Systems Asa
Priority date: 2018-10-31
Filing date: 2019-10-31
Publication date: 2020-05-07
Also published as: JP7457726B2; JP2022509436A

Abstract

A reverse vending machine and a method for operating a reverse vending machine are provided. The reverse vending machine has a compartment in which a rotatable paddle device comprises at least one paddle is provided. The paddle may be arranged in an object-receiving position to receive a returnable object, such as a food or beverage container, onto a trailing side of the paddle. As the paddle device rotates, the object is dropped onto a compactor for reducing the volume of the object. Upon continued rotation of the paddle device, a leading side of the paddle or of another paddle, will press the object against the compactor.

Description

A REVERSE VENDING MACHINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING A REVERSE VENDING MACHINE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a reverse vending machine for receiving and reducing the volume of objects, in particular used food or beverage containers. The invention also relates to a method of operating a reverse vending machine.

Background Art

Reverse vending machines are generally arranged so that a person can return empty objects, in particular used food or beverage containers, such as bottles or cans, and in some cases receive money or vouchers in return. The reverse vending machine may need to collect a large number of such returnable objects in a short period of time. This means that the reverse vending machine needs to efficiently store the objects so that the storage bin for the objects need not be replaced frequently. Therefore, the objects may be compressed or shredded by the reverse vending machine so that the returned objects take up less space than before being compressed or shredded.

In order to compress or shred the returnable objects, the reverse vending machines may typically have an arrangement with rollers which have two main tasks, grabbing the returnable objects and then compressing/shredding the objects between the rollers. Oftentimes the objects are dropped from a distance onto the rollers. The dropped objects may bounce on the rollers and end up in a random position, for instance, in a skewed position relative to the rollers, in which case the compaction will not be satisfactory enough.

Furthermore, the dropped object may even end up in a position that hinders the proper operation of the reverse vending machine. For instance, some reverse vending machines have a shutter or hatch (sometimes referred to as a crusher lid) closing off the compartment where the rollers are located. If an object, such as a bottle, comes to rest in a standing/vertical position it may block the hatch from closing. This potentially leaves the reverse vending machine inoperable as it is normally not safe to operate the rollers as long as the hatch is not completely closed.

Summary of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to alleviate the above-mentioned drawback of the prior art. This and other objects, which will become apparent in the following, are accomplished by the accompanying independent claims.

According to a first aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a reverse vending machine configured to validate and accept a range of used containers, including small-sized containers having a first diameter corresponding to the smallest diameter the reverse vending machine is configured to accept and large-sized containers having a second diameter corresponding to the largest diameter the reverse vending machine is configured to accept, said reverse vending machine comprising:

a receiving section for receiving objects, in particular used food or beverage containers,

a compartment to which objects received by said receiving section are transferrable,

a controller for activating the transferring of an object from said receiving section to said compartment,

a paddle device provided inside the compartment, the paddle device comprising a rotatable shaft having a geometrical axis of rotation, at least one far reaching paddle and at least one shorter reaching member, each of the at least one far reaching paddle and the at least one shorter reaching member being connected to the rotatable shaft and extending towards the periphery of the compartment, whereby each of the at least one far reaching paddle and the at least one shorter reaching member is configured to move circumferentially around said axis of rotation, wherein, as seen in its direction of movement, each of the at least one far reaching paddle and the at least one shorter reaching member has a trailing side,

wherein the paddle device has an object-receiving position, in which the shortest distance between a free end of the at least one shorter reaching member and an opposing inner wall portion of the compartment is less than the shortest distance between a free end of a far reaching paddle and said inner wall portion, and in which a small- sized object entering the compartment from the receiving section will pass the shorter reaching member and will be held by the trailing side of said at least one far reaching paddle and the opposing inner wall portion, and a large-sized object entering the compartment from the receiving section will be held by the trailing side of a shorter reaching member and the opposing inner wall portion,

wherein, upon determination by the controller that the paddle device is located in said object-receiving position, said controller is adapted to activate the transfer of an object received by said receiving section to said compartment allowing the object to land on and be held by the trailing side of the at least one far reaching paddle and the opposing inner wall portion or on the trailing side of a shorter reaching member and the opposing inner wall portion, and

a compactor for reducing the volume of objects that have landed on the trailing side of the at least one far reaching paddle or on the trailing side of a shorter reaching member and that subsequently are dropped from the paddle or member upon rotation of the rotatable shaft.

The present invention is based on the realization that, in addition to a far reaching paddle, a shorter reaching member, e.g. in the form of a separate paddle, may be used for preventing a container to bounce into an improper position. More specifically, when the paddle device is situated in the object- receiving position, such a shorter reaching member forms a bouncing limiter that limits the empty space within the compartment to which the containers are transferred and thereby prevents a container passing the shorter reaching member from ending up on a far reaching member having an improper orientation.

The shorter reaching member thus primarily serves to prevent containers having a diameter which is less than a predetermined diameter, i.e. containers that will pass the shorter reaching diameter, from bouncing into a random position. Furthermore, the trailing side of the shorter reaching member serves to receive containers having a diameter that is larger than the predetermined diameter. Large-sized objects will thus land on and be held by the trailing side of the shorter reaching member. Containers received by the shorter reaching member, i.e. containers having a diameter that is larger than the passage formed between the free end of the shorter reaching member and the opposing inner wall portion, will keep their orientation since they are heavier and/or are received at a higher vertical level in the compartment.

This means that containers dropped from a paddle or member of the paddle device will be positioned properly relative to the rollers of the compactor. The machine thus provides for a high throughput, i.e. rate at which containers are processed by the machine, since unplanned downtime caused by improperly positioned containers onto a compactor may be avoided.

According to at least one example embodiment objects which have been dropped from the trailing side of the at least one far reaching paddle or a shorter reaching member onto the compactor are, upon further rotation of the rotatable shaft, pressed against the compactor by the leading side of the at least one far reaching paddle, or the leading side of any following far reaching paddle of the paddle device.

According to at least one example embodiment, the paddle device comprises at least two far reaching paddles and two shorter reaching members distributed circumferentially and alternatingly around the shaft, wherein, when any one of the paddles has dropped an object from its trailing side onto the compactor, upon continued rotation of the rotatable shaft, the leading side of the next far reaching paddle to arrive at the compactor is adapted to press the object against the compactor.

According to at least one example embodiment, the machine comprises a sensor for determining that the paddle device is located in said object-receiving position, wherein the sensor is in communication with said controller for signalling to the controller when the paddle device is located in said object-receiving position.

According to at least one example embodiment, the sensor

continuously monitors the current position of the paddle device.

According to at least one example embodiment, the sensor is connected to the rotatable shaft.

According to at least one example embodiment, the controller is adapted to stop the rotation of the shaft in the object-receiving position until an object has been received by the trailing side of the at least one far reaching paddle or the trailing side of a shorter reaching member, and thereafter continue the rotation of the shaft for enabling the received object to be dropped to the compactor.

According to at least one example embodiment, in operation, the compactor is always located below the paddle device as seen in a vertical direction.

According to at least one example embodiment, the compactor comprises rollers for compacting, shredding and/or cutting the objects.

According at least one example embodiment, the machine comprises a chute interconnecting the receiving section and the compartment, wherein objects are transferrable from the receiving section to the compartment via the chute.

According to at least one example embodiment, the machine comprises a hatch located in the receiving section or between the receiving section and the compartment, the hatch having an open state and a closed state, wherein the controller is adapted to set the hatch in the open state upon determination that the paddle device is in its object-receiving position and to set the hatch in the closed state when the paddle device is not in its object- receiving position.

According to at least one example embodiment, when the paddle device is situated in said object-receiving position, the shortest distance between the free end of the at least one far reaching paddle and the opposing inner wall portion of the compartment is less than said first diameter. According to at least one example embodiment, when the paddle device is situated in said object-receiving position, the shortest distance between the free end of the at least one far reaching paddle and the opposing inner wall portion of the compartment is 0.97 or less, or 0.95 or less, or 0.9 or less, or 0.85 or less, or 0.8 or less, or 0.7 or less times said first diameter.

According to at least one example embodiment, when the paddle device is situated in said object-receiving position, the shortest distance between the free end of the at least one shorter reaching member and the opposing inner wall portion of the compartment is 0.9 or less times said first diameter.

According to at least one example embodiment, when the paddle device is situated in said object-receiving position, the shortest distance between the free end of the at least one shorter reaching member and the opposing inner wall portion of the compartment is at least 1.1 , more preferably at least 1.2 and most preferably at least 1.25 times the shortest distance between the free end of the at least one far reaching paddle and the opposing inner wall portion.

According to at least one example embodiment, when the paddle device is situated in said object-receiving position, the shortest distance between the free end of a shorter reaching member and the surface of a small-sized container held by said at least one far reaching paddle is in the range of 10-50 mm, more preferably of 20-40 mm and most preferably 25-35 mm.

According to at least one example embodiment, the free end of a shorter reaching member is arranged within a circle sector of 10-60°, more preferably 30-50° and most preferably 35-45° from said trailing side of said at least one far reaching paddle.

According to at least one example embodiment the shorter reaching member is a paddle.

According to a second aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a reverse vending machine, comprising: a receiving section for receiving objects, in particular used food or beverage containers,

a paddle device provided inside the compartment, the paddle device comprising a rotatable shaft having a geometrical axis of rotation, at least one far reaching paddle and at least one shorter reaching member, each of the at least one far reaching paddle and the at least one shorter reaching member being connected to the rotatable shaft and extending towards the periphery of the compartment, whereby each of the at least one far reaching paddle and the at least one shorter reaching member is configured to move circumferentially around said axis of rotation,

wherein, as seen in its direction of movement, each of the at least one far reaching paddle and the at least one shorter reaching member has a trailing side,

wherein a free end of a shorter reaching member is arranged within a circle sector of 10-60°, more preferably 30-50° and most preferably 35-45° from a trailing side of said at least one far reaching paddle,

wherein, upon determination by the controller that the paddle device is located in an object-receiving position, said controller is adapted to activate the transfer of an object received by said receiving section to said compartment allowing the object to land on and be held by the trailing side of said at least one far reaching paddle and the opposing inner wall portion or on the trailing side of a shorter reaching member and the opposing inner wall portion, and

a compactor for reducing the volume of objects that have landed on the trailing side of the at least one far reaching paddle or on the trailing side of a shorter reaching member and that subsequently are dropped from the paddle upon rotation of the rotatable shaft. According to a third aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided method of operating a reverse vending machine which comprises

a paddle device provided inside the compartment, the paddle device comprising a rotatable shaft having a geometrical axis of rotation, at least one far reaching paddle and at least one shorter reaching member, each of the at least one far reaching paddle and the at least one shorter reaching member being connected to the rotatable shaft and extending towards the periphery of the compartment, and a compactor for reducing the volume of the objects, the method comprising: moving the paddle device circumferentially around said axis of rotation, wherein, as seen in its direction of movement, each of the at least one far reaching paddle and the at least one shorter reaching member has a trailing side, and wherein the shortest distance between a free end of said far reaching paddle and an opposing inner wall portion of the compartment is less than the shortest distance between a free end of said shorter reaching member and said inner wall portion, determining when the paddle device is located in an object-receiving position, transferring, upon determination that the paddle device is located in said object-receiving position, an object received by said receiving section to said compartment such that the object lands on the trailing side of the at least one far reaching paddle or on the trailing side of the at least one shorter reaching member, and rotating the rotatable shaft such that the object that has landed on the trailing side of the at least one far reaching paddle or the trailing side of the at least one shorter reaching member is dropped onto the compactor.

The method according to the third aspect of the inventive concept may suitably be carried out by implementing a controller and, optionally, one or more sensors, as described in connection with the first or second aspect of the inventive concept. It should indeed be understood that any features and embodiments of the first aspect of the invention may, as far as it is compatible with the method, be implemented in the method according to the third aspect of the inventive concept.

Thus, according to at least one example embodiment, the method of operating a reverse vending machine comprises operating a reverse vending which is configured in accordance with any embodiment of the first or second aspect of the inventive concept.

For instance, according to at least one example embodiment, the method according to the third aspect comprises continuing rotating the rotatable shaft such that the leading side of the at least one far reaching paddle, or the leading side of any following far reaching paddle of the paddle device presses the object against the compactor. According to a further example

embodiment, the method comprises stopping the rotation of the shaft when the paddle device has reached its object-receiving position until an object has been received.

The present invention is also based on the realization that a paddle which may be used for pressing an object (in particular used food or beverage container, such as a bottle, can or the like) onto a compactor may instead, or in addition, be used for improving the alignment of the object with the roller. In particular, it has been realized that such a functionality (suitably such a dual functionality) may be accomplished by making use of a trailing side of a paddle (more preferably, making use of both a leading side and a trailing side). More specifically, while a leading side of a paddle may be used for pressing an object which already lies on the compactor, a trailing side may be used for relatively smoothly transporting the object from a receiving section of the reverse vending machine to the compactor, instead of dropping the object from a distance.

According to a fourth aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a reverse vending machine, comprising:

a paddle device provided inside the compartment, the paddle device comprising a rotatable shaft having a geometrical axis of rotation, and at least one paddle connected to the rotatable shaft and extending towards the periphery of the compartment, whereby the at least one paddle is configured to move circumferentially around said axis of rotation,

wherein, as seen in its direction of movement, the at least one paddle has a leading side and a trailing side, and

wherein the at least one paddle has an object-receiving position in which an object entering the compartment from the receiving section will land on the trailing side of said paddle,

wherein, upon determination by the controller that the at least one paddle is located in said object-receiving position, said controller is adapted to activate the transfer of an object received by said receiving section to said compartment allowing the object to land on the trailing side of the at least one paddle, and a compactor for reducing the volume of objects that have landed on the trailing side of the at least one paddle and that subsequently are dropped from the paddle upon rotation of the rotatable shaft.

The receiving section may be any suitable area of the reverse vending machine into which a user may place objects, either directly or indirectly via some type of displacement means. For instance, the receiving section may be in the form of a chamber which, for instance, may be accessed by a user via an openable/closable door, hatch or the like.

The receiving section may suitably be separated from the compartment to which the received objects are to be transferred. Such a separation may suitably be a mechanical separation, for instance in the form of a stop, a barrier or the like, temporarily preventing a received object from being transferred to the compartment. Such a mechanical separation may either be at least partly displaced or removed to temporarily cancel the separating effect, and to allow the object received in the receiving section to be

transferred from the receiving section into the compartment. Another alternative or complementary embodiment is to have a transferring means, such as a gripping arm, pusher, etc., which moves or forces the object past the mechanical separation so that the received object may be transferred to the compartment.

The transferring of the objects from the receiving section to the compartment is activated by the controller. The controller may be or comprise any suitable type of computer, processor, logic units or a plurality of components, such as a plurality of processors, in any suitable combination. In case of a mechanical separation being present between the receiving section and the compartment, the controller is configured to cause the mechanical separation to be moved out of the way or to cause the received object to otherwise pass by the mechanical separation. In at least some example embodiments the

mechanical separation may be in the form of a hatch, for instance, a slidable hatch which prevents an object from being dropped from the receiving section into the compartment, wherein the controller is configured to control the displacement of the hatch between an object-blocking position and a non- blocking position.

The transferring operation of the controller may suitably be dependent on the current location of the at least one paddle. The transferring operation of the controller may suitably also be dependent on the size of the object. The controller may, in at least some embodiments, control the rotation of the paddle device, for instance, control a motor driving the rotatable shaft of the paddle device. In other embodiments, another unit may be provided for controlling the rotation of the paddle device. The controller may, in at least some embodiments, control a size determining device, such as a camera or a bar code reader, or any other type of device (such as for instance a weight sensor) that may be used for determining the size of an object received in the receiving section. In other embodiments, another unit may be provided to control such a size determining device. If separate units are provided, these may still be operatively connected and/or exchange data with the controller.

The paddle device may, in at least some embodiments, comprise a single paddle, while in other embodiments it may comprise two, three, four our more paddles. If two or more paddles are provided, then these may suitable be equidistantly distributed around the rotatable shaft. The at least one paddle may be configured in different ways. For instance, it may have substantially planar leading and trailing sides, or it may have at least one side profiled. For instance, the trailing side may include a depression into which an object may become aligned. Other conceivable profiles include stepped or varying profiles, such as a paddle having a relatively thicker portion near the geometrical axis, and a relatively thinner portion at a distance from the geometrical axis.

It should be understood that, for any given rotational direction, the leading side of the at least one paddle is the side that arrives first to any given point along the path of movement when the paddle device is rotated, and the trailing side arrives afterwards. Making a simple simile : If the at least one paddle is regarded as an hour hand moving clockwise on a clock-face and is currently pointing at 3 o’clock, then the leading side would be the one facing 4 o’clock and the trailing side would be the one facing 2 o’clock.

The object-receiving position of the at least one paddle device does not need to be at a fixed angle, for instance a fixed angle relative to a horizontal plane, but may instead be anywhere within a defined interval. Furthermore, there may be more than one defined object receiving position. For instance, is at least some embodiments, the reverse vending machine is configured to be able to receive objects of at least two different sizes, suitably three or more different sizes. In such embodiments, there may be a respective object- receiving position associated with each object size. This is reflected in the example embodiment presented below.

According to at least one example embodiment, said object-receiving position is a first object-receiving position for receiving objects of a first size, wherein the at least one paddle further has at least a second object-receiving position for receiving objects of a second size, the reverse vending machine further comprising a size determining means for determining the size of the object, wherein the controller is configured to activate the transfer of an object from the receiving section to the compartment when the at least one paddle is in the object-receiving position associated with the determined size of the object.

The controller may, in at least some embodiments, determine that the at least one paddle device is located in said object-receiving position by means of any suitable kind of sensor. For instance, the sensor may be an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor etc., which may be located in the compartment, on the rotatable shaft, or in connection with a motor driving the rotatable shaft, or even at a gearing arrangement connecting a motor to the rotatable shaft. In other embodiments, the controller may determine the rotational orientation of the rotatable shaft, i.e. determine if the at least one paddle is in an object- receiving position, based on calculated time. For instance, if the shaft rotates at a given speed, the controller will know in which time intervals the object- receiving position is reached. Any other suitable means for the controller to determine the location of the at least one paddle device is conceivable.

According to at least one example embodiment, the objects which have been dropped from the trailing side of the at least one paddle onto the compactor are, upon further rotation of the rotatable shaft, pressed against the

compactor by the leading side of the at least one paddle, or the leading side of any following paddle of the paddle device. Thus, if the paddle device has only one paddle, it will drop the object from its trailing side onto the compactor and then make a circle around the rotatable shaft, and when the paddle returns to the compactor it may press the object with its leading side. If the paddle device has two or more paddles, a first paddle will drop the object from its trailing side onto the compactor and then, as the paddle device rotates around the shaft, the next paddle that reaches the compactor will press dropped object with its leading side. In case of at least two paddles, these are distributed circumferentially around the shaft, and suitably equidistantly.

As mentioned above, the controller may use a sensor for determining that the at least one paddle is located in its object-receiving position. This is reflected in at least one example embodiment, according to which the reverse vending machine comprises a sensor for determining that the at least one paddle is located in said object-receiving position, wherein the sensor is in

communication with said controller for signalling to the controller when the at least one paddle is located in said object-receiving position. Such signalling may be made via a wire/cable or wireless, such as via Bluetooth, WLAN, etc. The signal may contain simple binary information (such as high/low voltage, or 0/1 data signal, etc.) corresponding to“paddle not in object-receiving position” or“paddle in object-receiving position”. The signalling may in some embodiments, provide information about the current location around the rotational shaft (e.g. 0° - 360°), wherein a logic unit or processor in the controller determines if the current angle corresponds to the object-receiving position or not, or in case of several object-receiving positions, in the current angle corresponds to any one of said several object-receiving positions. If the controller is also configured to match an object of a certain size with a particular object-receiving position, then the controller may temporarily consider any other object-receiving positions as invalid positions.

According to at least one example embodiment, the reverse vending machine may comprise two or more sensors, such as an array of sensors, for detecting and providing information to the controller with regard to the position, in particular the object-receiving position, of the at least one paddle.

According to at least one example embodiment the one or more sensors continuously monitor the current position of the at least one paddle. However, in other embodiments, the one or more sensors may temporarily monitor the position of the at least one paddle, for instance, at certain time intervals, or upon being triggered by a certain event. For instance, if an event associated with a bottle being or on its way to being returned, such as a user accessing the receiving section or opening a door/lid/etc. to the receiving section, the sensors may be triggered to monitor whether or not the at least one paddle is in an object-receiving position. Such an event may also trigger the controller or other means to start rotating the paddle device, if it is presently in an idle state.

According to at least one example embodiment, the sensor is connected to the rotatable shaft. The sensor may be mechanically and/or operatively connected to the shaft. Instead of, or as a complement to a sensor being connected to the rotatable shaft, in other example embodiments, the sensor, or other sensor(s) may be located or connected to other parts of the reverse vending machine, such as to the inner circumferential wall of the

compartment in which the paddle device rotates, and/or even on the at least one paddle itself. The sensor may be provided as a single unit or as several spaced apart units. In case of several units, the sensor may include a radiation emitting device and a radiation receiving device (the radiation may for instance be

electromagnetic radiation or light), or the sensor may include a magnet and a separate coil, or the sensor may include a switch which is mechanically activated as it passes and abuts a mechanical actuator, such as a projection or the like.

According to at least one example embodiment, the controller is adapted to stop the rotation of the shaft in the object-receiving position until an object has been received by the trailing side of the at least one paddle, and thereafter continue the rotation of the shaft for enabling the received object to be dropped to the compactor. In other example embodiments, the object- receiving position may extend along an arc of a circle, i.e. within a certain extension along the circumferential direction (e.g. a defined number of degrees), in which case the controller may allow the paddle device to continue to rotate as long as the at least one paddle is within said certain extension at the time an object is transferred from the receiving section.

In a cylindrical (r, f, z) coordinate system, the at least one paddle may be considered to extend substantially in the radial direction (r) from the rotatable shaft towards the circumferential wall of the compartment. The rotatable shaft is configured to rotate in the angular direction ( f ), and thus also the at least one paddle is configured to move along the angular direction ( f ). The axis of rotation of the rotatable shaft extends in the length direction (z).

According to at least one example embodiment, in operation, the compactor is always located below the at least one paddle as seen in a vertical direction. In other words, a geometrical horizontal plane may be present, wherein the at least one paddle is on one side of the horizontal plane (irrespective of its angular location in a cylindrical coordinate system described above), and the compactor is on the other side of the horizontal plane. It should be

understood, that horizontal and vertical have their ordinary meaning. The reverse vending machine is configured to be placed on the ground, a floor etc. and extend vertically therefrom. However, in other embodiments, it is conceivable to have the compactor at a higher vertical level, for instance, substantially on the same horizontal level as the rotatable shaft. In such cases, the receiving section may actually be located below the compactor, and still taking advantage of the trailing side of a paddle receiving an object for proper aligning of the object.

According to at least one example embodiment, the compactor comprises rollers for compacting, shredding and/or cutting the objects. The compactor may suitably comprise a pair of rollers any suitable standard type, e.g. rollers having projections, recesses, and/or cutting edges, etc.

According to at least one example embodiment, the trailing side of the at least one paddle is provided with an alignment portion which aligns a received object on the trailing side such that when the object is dropped onto the compactor, a central geometrical axis of the object extends parallel with central geometrical axes of the rollers. The central geometrical axes of the rollers may suitably extend in parallel with the axis of rotation of the rotatable shaft, i.e. in a general z direction.

According to at least one example embodiment, a horizontal geometrical plane is parallel with the extension of said axis of rotation, wherein in its object-receiving position the trailing side of the at least one paddle forms an angle relative to said horizontal plane. In embodiments, in which different object-receiving positions are associated with respective different object sizes, an object-receiving position for a larger sized object may generally form a greater angler with said horizontal plane compared to an object-receiving position for a smaller sized object.

According to at least one example embodiment, the reverse vending machine comprises a chute interconnecting the receiving section and the

compartment, wherein objects are transferrable from the receiving section to the compartment via the chute. In at least some example embodiments, the chute may form part of the inner wall or wall portions defining the

compartment. In other example embodiments, the chute may be formed separately from such inner wall or wall portions.

According to at least one example embodiment, the reverse vending machine comprises a hatch located in the receiving section or between the receiving section and the compartment, the hatch having an open state and a closed state, wherein the controller is adapted to set the hatch in the open state upon determination that the at least one paddle is in its object-receiving position and to set the hatch in the closed state when the paddle is not in its object- receiving position. The switching between the open state and close state may be achieved by a displacement of the hatch. The displacement may, for instance be lengthwise displacement, similar to a sliding door, e.g. by sliding or rolling the hatch along a guiding track or groove. Other ways of displacing the hatch are however also conceivable, for instance, by a pivoting motion or a twisting motion. The hatch may be formed in one piece or as two or more pieces being near or in contact with each other in the closed state, and more spaced from each other in the open state.

Effects and features of this further aspect of the present invention are largely analogous to those described above in connection with the previous aspect(s) of the invention. Embodiments mentioned in relation to this aspect of the present invention are largely compatible with the previous aspect(s) of the invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a method of operating a reverse vending machine which comprises

a paddle device provided inside the compartment, the paddle device comprising a rotatable shaft having a geometrical axis of rotation, and at least one paddle connected to the rotatable shaft and extending towards the periphery of the compartment, and

a compactor for reducing the volume of the objects, the method comprising:

moving the at least one paddle circumferentially around said axis of rotation, wherein, as seen in its direction of movement, the at least one paddle has a leading side and a trailing side,

determining when the at least one paddle is located in an object- receiving position,

transferring, upon determination that the at least one paddle is located in said object-receiving position, an object received by said receiving section to said compartment such that the object lands on the trailing side of the at least one paddle, and

rotating the rotatable shaft such that the object that has landed on the trailing side of the at least one paddle is dropped onto the compactor.

The method may suitably be carried out by implementing a controller and, optionally, one or more sensors, as described in connection with the first aspect of the inventive concept. It should indeed be understood that any features and embodiments of the first aspect of the invention may, as far as it is compatible with the method, be implemented in the method according to the second aspect of the inventive concept.

Thus, according to at least one example embodiment, the method of operating a reverse vending machine comprises operating a reverse vending which is configured in accordance with any embodiment of the first aspect of the inventive concept.

For instance, according to at least one example embodiment, the method comprises continuing rotating the rotatable shaft such that the leading side of the at least one paddle, or the leading side of any following paddle of the paddle device presses the object against the compactor. According to a further example embodiment, the method comprises stopping the rotation of the shaft when the at least one paddle has reached its object-receiving position until an object has been received.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective cut-away view of interior parts of a reverse vending machine, in accordance with at least one example embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the reverse vending machine of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3-5 illustrate objects of different sizes having been transferred from a receiving section of the reverse vending machine to a compartment comprising a paddle device.

Fig. 6 illustrates an object being pressed by a paddle of the paddle device against a compactor of the reverse vending machine. Fig. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a reverse vending machine according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the reverse vending machine of Fig. 7 when handling a small-sized container.

Fig. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the reverse vending machine of Fig. 7 when handling a large-sized container.

Detailed description of the drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective cut-away view of parts of a reverse vending machine 1 , in accordance with at least one example embodiment of the invention. The reverse vending machine 1 comprises a receiving section 3, here illustrated in the form of a chamber which is accessible to a user via an openable/closable cover 5. In Fig. 1 a user has already opened the cover 5 and placed a returnable object 7, herein illustrated as a beverage container, such as a plastic bottle, in the receiving section 3 and has then closed the cover 5. The receiving section 3 is separated from a compartment 9 by a shutter or hatch 11. At this stage, the object 7 rests on the hatch 11. The hatch 11 is displaceable from the illustrated blocking position to an unblocking position for allowing the object 7 to be transferred by gravity into the compartment 9.

The compartment 9 comprises a paddle device 13 having at least one paddle, in this example three equidistantly distributed paddles 15 around a rotatable shaft 33. Below the paddle device 13, at the bottom of the compartment 9, a compactor 17 is provided for reducing the volume of objects that have landed on the compactor. The compactor 17 has two rollers 19, which are provided with cutting edges and/or protrusions for cutting, shredding and/or compacting the returned objects, and the rollers 19 are adapted to rotate in opposite directions relative to each other. The rollers 19 are driven by a common motor 21 , but could in other embodiments be driven by separate motors. Similarly, the rotatable shaft 33 of the paddle device 13 may be driven by a separate motor (not shown) or by the illustrated motor 21.

Each paddle 15 has a leading side 23 and a trailing side 25. Although the paddles 15 may be substantially flat, or curved, or shaped otherwise, in the present illustration the leading and trailing sides 23, 25 together form a tapering cross section. In the illustrated embodiment, the leading sides 23 extend substantially tangentially from a rotatable shaft 33 of the paddle device 13, while the trailing sides 25 taper towards the respective leading side (as regarded from centre-to-periphery of the compartment 9). In the illustrated example embodiment, the trailing side 25 of each paddle 15 partly overlaps the leading side 23 of the neighbouring/following paddle 15. An inner wall portion 27 of the compartment 9 serves as a chute for at least partly guiding an object 7 when it is dropped towards the compactor 17, but is first received by the trailing side 25 of one of the paddles 15.

As schematically illustrated in Fig. 1 , a controller 29 is provided for activating the transferring of the object 7 from the receiving section 3 to the

compartment 9. As will be discussed in connection with the other figures, the paddles 15 may have a number of object-receiving positions for receiving objects of different sizes. Upon determination by the controller 29 that one of the paddles 15 is located in a correct object-receiving position, the controller 29 will activate the transfer of the object 7 from the receiving section 3 to the compartment 9, by displacing the hatch 11. This will result in the object 7 moving down the chute 27 to the trailing side 25 of the paddle 15 which is in the object-receiving position. In this position, the trailing side 25 of the paddle 15 and the chute 27 together form a general V-shape which results in improved alignment of the object 7, as will be seen in the following figures.

As schematically illustrated in Fig. 1 , a sensor 31 is provided on a rotatable shaft 33 of the paddle device 13. The sensor 31 may be used for determining that one of the paddles 15 is located in the object-receiving position. The sensor 31 is in operative communication with the controller 29 for signalling to the controller 29 when one of the paddles 15 is located in the object-receiving position.

A camera 35 is provided behind a glass wall 37 for determining the size of the returned objects 7 located in the receiving section 3, however, other size- determining means are also conceivable. The controller 29 will adapt the object-receiving position of the paddle 15 based on the determined size of the returned object 7. When the controller 29 has determined the size for the object 7 currently located in the receiving section 3, it will, if necessary, rotate the paddle device 13 so that one of the paddles 15 arrive in the object- receiving position associated with the determined size. The paddle device 13 is suitably temporarily stopped until the controller 29 has transferred the object 7 onto the trailing side 25 of the paddle 15.

Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the reverse vending machine 1 of Fig. 1. As can be seen in Fig. 2 the hatch 11 is in its blocking state, and may be displaced along a groove or track 39 so that it comes into a non-blocking state, illustrated in Fig. 3, in which case the object may fall down on the trailing side 25 of a paddle 15 being in its object-receiving position. Fig. 2 also illustrates a guiding groove 41 for guiding a rod 43, pin or the like which is mechanically coupled to the cover 5, enabling the cover 5 to be opened and closed.

Figs. 3-5 illustrate objects of different sizes having been transferred from a receiving section 3 of the reverse vending machine 1 to a compartment 9 comprising a paddle device 13. As can be seen in Fig. 3 a relatively small object 7 (the same as in Figs. 1 and 2) has been received. The illustrated object-receiving position of the paddle 15 is at a relatively elevated level compared to the location of the compactor 17. In contrast, in Fig. 5 the paddle 15 is pointing down towards the compactor 17, and is just slightly spaced from the compactor 17. This object-receiving position is used for a relatively large object 7”. Fig. 4 illustrates an object-receiving position for the paddle in between the ones illustrated in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5, and is here used for receiving a middle-sized object 7’.

Regardless of the size of the object 7, T 7”, once the object has been received on the trailing side 25 of the paddle 15, in the object-receiving position, the controller will command the rotatable shaft to continue rotation (counter-clockwise in the illustrated figures), which results in that the object will be dropped from the trailing side 25 of the paddle 15 onto the compactor rollers. As the paddle device continues to rotate around its axis, the next paddle 15 to arrive at the compactor 17 will with its leading side press the dropped object against the compactor rollers, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Fig. 6 illustrates an object 7” being pressed by the leading side 23 of a paddle 15 of the paddle device 13 against a compactor 17 of the reverse vending machine 1. As the object 7 passes downwards between the rollers 19 of the compactor 17 it becomes compacted, shred and/or cut, i.e. resulting in a reduced volume and the material may be transferred to a storage space (not shown) and later recycled.

Thus, from the above it should be understood that the present inventive concept provides a controlled feeding of returnable objects 7, 7’, 7” to a compactor 17. The inventive concept reduces the risk of objects 7, 7’, 7” becoming misaligned at the compactor 17, by providing a smoother transfer of objects by making use of a trailing side 23 of a paddle of a rotatable paddle device 13. Although certain features have been illustrated in the drawings, the scope of the inventive concept is not limited to those features, but is defined by the appended independent claims.

In the illustrated embodiment a first portion of the at least one paddle 15 forms a far reaching paddle and a second portion of the at least one paddle 15 forms a shorter reaching member. More specifically, the portion that forms the leading side 23 of the paddle 15 forms a far reaching paddle and the portion that forms the trailing side 25 of the paddle 15 forms a shorter reaching member.

In the illustrated embodiment, different object-receiving positions are associated with respective different object sizes. It is however appreciated that the reverse vending machine 1 may have one single object-receiving position adapted for different object sizes. Then, smaller sized objects may land on the portion of the paddle 15 that forms the far reaching paddle and larger sized objects may land on the portion of the paddle 15 that forms the shorter reaching member.

Hereinafter a reverse vending machine 101 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 7-9. Many features disclosed in the first embodiment are also present in the second embodiment with similar reference numerals identifying similar or same features. Having mentioned this, the description will focus on explaining the differing features of the second embodiment. The vending machine 101 is configured to validate and accept a range of used containers, including small-sized containers 7 having a first diameter corresponding to the smallest diameter dmin, illustrated in Fig. 8, and large-sized containers 7” having a second diameter corresponding to the largest diameter dmax, illustrated in Fig. 9. Typically, dmin equals 40 mm and dmax equals 110 mm.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the paddle device, instead of comprising at least one paddle 15 that forms a far reaching paddle and a shorter reaching member, comprises at least two separate paddles in the form of a far reaching paddle and a shorter reaching paddle.

Now referring to Fig. 7, the compartment 9 of the machine 101 thus comprises a paddle device 45 having at least one far reaching paddle 47 and at least one shorter reaching member in the form of a shorter reaching paddle 49, in this example three equidistantly distributed paddle sets around a rotatable shaft 33, each paddle set including a far reaching paddle 47 and a shorter reaching paddle 49. The far reaching paddle 47 has a leading side 51 and a trailing side 53. The shorter reaching paddle 49 has a leading side 55 and a trailing side 57.

Although the paddles 47, 49 may be substantially flat, or curved, or shaped otherwise, in the present illustration each paddle 47, 49 is formed by two flat members arranged such that, on the trailing side 53, 57, a blunt angle, preferably an angle of 135-160° is formed therebeween. Each of the paddles 47, 49 of the paddle device 45 extends, with a constant cross- section, in a direction that is parallel with the axis of rotation of the paddle device 45 in the same manner as the paddles of the paddle device of the first embodiment, as illustrated in Fig.1.

In this embodiment the paddle device 45 comprises one single object- receiving position, which is illustrated in each of Figs. 7-9. As seen when the paddle device 45 is situated in the object-receiving position, the shortest distance Li between a free end 59 of the far reaching paddle 47 and an opposing inner wall portion 27 of the compartment 9 is less than the shortest distance l_2 between a free end 61 of the shorter reaching paddle 49 and the opposing inner wall portion 27, as illustrated in Fig. 7, i.e Li< l_2. Between the free end 61 of the shorter reaching paddle 49 and the opposing inner wall portion 27 a small-sized container passage, through wich containers of a predetemnined size may pass, is thus formed. As seen when the paddle device 45 is situated in the object-receiving position the distance Li is preferably 0.9 or less times the first diameter.

As seen when the paddle device 45 is situated in the object-receiving position the distance l_2 is preferably at least 1.1 , more preferably at least 1.2 and most preferably at least 1.25 times the shortest distance between the free end 59 of the far reaching paddle 47 and the opposing inner wall portion 27. As seen when the paddle device 45 is situated in the object-receiving position the distance Li is preferably in the range of 10-50 mm, more preferably of 20- 40 mm and most preferably 23-35 mm. In the illustrated embodiment, the distance Li is 27.5 mm.

The free end 61 of the shorter reaching paddle 49 is preferably arranged within a circle sector Q of 10-60°, more preferably 30-50° and most preferably 35-45° from the trailing side 53 of the far reaching paddle 47.

Now referring to Fig. 8, there is a clearance between the free end 61 of the shorter reaching paddle 49 and the surface of a small-sized container 7 held by the far reaching paddle 47. The distance l_3 between the free end 61 of the shorter reaching paddle 49 and the surface of a small-sized container 7 held by the far reaching paddle 47 in the object-receiving position is preferably in the range of 10-50 mm, more preferably of 20-40 mm and most preferably 25-35 mm. In the illustrated embodiment, the distance l_3 is 30mm.

Below the paddle device 45, at the bottom of the compartment 9, a compactor 17 is provided for reducing the volume of objects that have landed on the compactor. The compactor 17 has two rollers 19, which are provided with cutting edges and/or protrusions for cutting, shredding and/or compacting the returned objects, and the rollers 19 are adapted to rotate in opposite directions relative to each other. The rollers 19 are driven by a common motor 21 , but could in other embodiments be driven by separate motors. Similarly, the rotatable shaft 33 of the paddle device 13 may be driven by a separate motor (not shown) or by the illustrated motor 21. A small-sized object 7 entering the compartment 9 from the receiving section 3 will pass the shorter reaching paddle 49 and will be held by the trailing side 53 of the far reaching paddle 47 and the opposing inner wall portion 27, as illustrated in Fig. 8. The container 7 may subsequently be dropped from the far reaching paddle 47 upon rotation of the rotatable shaft 33. As the paddle device 45 continues to rotate around its axis, the next paddle 63 to arrive at the compactor 17 will with its leading side 65 press the dropped object against the compactor rollers 19.

A large-sized object 7” entering the compartment 9 from the receiving section 3 will be held by the trailing side 57 of the shorter reaching paddle 49 and the opposing inner wall portion 27, as illustrated in Fig. 9. The container 7” may subsequently be dropped from the shorter reaching paddle 49 upon rotation of the rotatable shaft 33. As the paddle device 45 continues to rotate around its axis, the next paddle 63 to arrive at the compactor 17 will with its leading side 65 press the dropped object against the compactor rollers 19.

In the embodiment illustrated with reference to Figs. 7-9, the reverse vending machine 101 has one single object-receiving position. It is however appreciated that the reverse vending machine 101 may, according to at least one example embodiment, have two or more object-receiving positions.

ITEMIZED LIST OF EMBODIMENTS

Item 1. A reverse vending machine, comprising a receiving section for receiving objects, in particular used food or beverage containers, a compartment to which objects received by said receiving section are transferrable, a controller for activating the transferring of an object from said receiving section to said compartment, a paddle device provided inside the compartment, the paddle device comprising a rotatable shaft having a geometrical axis of rotation, and at least one paddle connected to the rotatable shaft and extending towards the periphery of the compartment, whereby the at least one paddle is configured to move circumferentially around said axis of rotation,

wherein the at least one paddle has an object-receiving position in which an object entering the compartment from the receiving section will land on the trailing side of said paddle, wherein, upon determination by the controller that the at least one paddle is located in said object-receiving position, said controller is adapted to activate the transfer of an object received by said receiving section to said compartment allowing the object to land on the trailing side of the at least one paddle, and a compactor for reducing the volume of objects that have landed on the trailing side of the at least one paddle and that subsequently are dropped from the paddle upon rotation of the rotatable shaft.

Item 2. The reverse vending machine as claimed in item 1 , wherein objects which have been dropped from the trailing side of the at least one paddle onto the compactor are, upon further rotation of the rotatable shaft, pressed against the compactor by the leading side of the at least one paddle, or the leading side of any following paddle of the paddle device.

Item 3. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of items 1-2, wherein the paddle device comprises at least two paddles distributed circumferentially around the shaft, wherein, when any one of the paddles has dropped an object from its trailing side onto the compactor, upon continued rotation of the rotatable shaft, the leading side of the next paddle to arrive at the compactor is adapted to press the object against the compactor.

Item 4. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of items 1-3, comprising a sensor for determining that the at least one paddle is located in said object-receiving position, wherein the sensor is in communication with said controller for signalling to the controller when the at least one paddle is located in said object-receiving position.

Item 5. The reverse vending machine as claimed in item 4, wherein the sensor continuously monitors the current position of the at least one paddle.

Item 6. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of items 4-5, wherein the sensor is connected to the rotatable shaft.

Item 7. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of items 1-6, wherein the controller is adapted to stop the rotation of the shaft in the object- receiving position until an object has been received by the trailing side of the at least one paddle, and thereafter continue the rotation of the shaft for enabling the received object to be dropped to the compactor.

Item 8. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of items 1-7, wherein, in operation, the compactor is always located below the at least one paddle as seen in a vertical direction.

Item 9. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of items 1-8, wherein the compactor comprises rollers for compacting, shredding and/or cutting the objects.

Item 10. The reverse vending machine as claimed in item 9, wherein the trailing side of the at least one paddle is provided with an alignment portion which aligns a received object on the trailing side such that when the object is dropped onto the compactor, a central geometrical axis of the object extends parallel with central geometrical axes of the rollers.

Item 11. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of items 1-11 , comprising a chute interconnecting the receiving section and the

compartment, wherein objects are transferrable from the receiving section to the compartment via the chute.

Item 12. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of items 1-11 , comprising a hatch located in the receiving section or between the receiving section and the compartment, the hatch having an open state and a closed state, wherein the controller is adapted to set the hatch in the open state upon determination that the at least one paddle is in its object-receiving position and to set the hatch in the closed state when the paddle is not in its object- receiving position.

Item 13. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of items 1-12, wherein said object-receiving position is a first object-receiving position for receiving objects of a first size, wherein the at least one paddle further has at least a second object-receiving position for receiving objects of a second size, the reverse vending machine further comprising a size determining means for determining the size of the object, wherein the controller is configured to activate the transfer of an object from the receiving section to the

compartment when the at least one paddle is in the object-receiving position associated with the determined size of the object.

Item 14. A method of operating a reverse vending machine which comprises a receiving section for receiving objects, in particular used food or beverage containers,

a compactor for reducing the volume of the objects, the method comprising: moving the at least one paddle circumferentially around said axis of rotation, wherein, as seen in its direction of movement, the at least one paddle has a leading side and a trailing side, determining when the at least one paddle is located in an object-receiving position, transferring, upon determination that the at least one paddle is located in said object-receiving position, an object received by said receiving section to said compartment such that the object lands on the trailing side of the at least one paddle, and rotating the rotatable shaft such that the object that has landed on the trailing side of the at least one paddle is dropped onto the compactor.

Item 15. The method as claimed in item 14, comprising continuing rotating the rotatable shaft such that the leading side of the at least one paddle, or the leading side of any following paddle of the paddle device presses the object against the compactor.

Item 16. The method as claimed in any one of items 14-15, comprising stopping the rotation of the shaft when the at least one paddle has reached its object-receiving position until an object has been received.

Claims

1. A reverse vending machine configured to validate and accept a range of used containers, including small-sized containers having a first diameter corresponding to the smallest diameter the reverse vending machine is configured to accept and large-sized containers having a second diameter corresponding to the largest diameter the reverse vending machine is configured to accept, said reverse vending machine comprising

2. The reverse vending machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein objects which have been dropped from the trailing side of the at least one far reaching paddle or a shorter reaching member onto the compactor are, upon further rotation of the rotatable shaft, pressed against the compactor by the leading side of the at least one far reaching paddle, or the leading side of any following far reaching paddle of the paddle device.

3. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 -2, wherein the paddle device comprises at least two far reaching paddles and two shorter reaching members distributed circumferentially and alternatingly around the shaft, wherein, when any one of the paddles or members has dropped an object from its trailing side onto the compactor, upon continued rotation of the rotatable shaft, the leading side of the next far reaching paddle to arrive at the compactor is adapted to press the object against the compactor.

4. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 -3, comprising a sensor for determining that the paddle device is located in said object-receiving position, wherein the sensor is in

communication with said controller for signalling to the controller when the paddle device is located in said object-receiving position.

5. The reverse vending machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the

sensor continuously monitors the current position of the paddle device.

6. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of claims 4-5, wherein the sensor is connected to the rotatable shaft.

7. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 -6, wherein the controller is adapted to stop the rotation of the shaft in the object-receiving position until an object has been received by the trailing side of the at least one far reaching paddle or the trailing side of a shorter reaching member, and thereafter continue the rotation of the shaft for enabling the received object to be dropped to the compactor.

8. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 -7, wherein, in operation, the compactor is always located below the paddle device as seen in a vertical direction.

9. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 -8, wherein the compactor comprises rollers for compacting, shredding and/or cutting the objects.

10. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 -9

comprising a chute interconnecting the receiving section and the compartment, wherein objects are transferrable from the receiving section to the compartment via the chute.

11.The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 -10, comprising a hatch located in the receiving section or between the receiving section and the compartment, the hatch having an open state and a closed state, wherein the controller is adapted to set the hatch in the open state upon determination that the paddle device is in its object-receiving position and to set the hatch in the closed state when the paddle device is not in its object-receiving position.

12. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 -11 , wherein, when the paddle device is situated in said object-receiving position, the shortest distance between the free end of the at least one far reaching paddle and the opposing inner wall portion of the compartment is less than said first diameter.

13. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 -12, wherein, when the paddle device is situated in said object-receiving position, the shortest distance between the free end of the at least one shorter reaching member and the opposing inner wall portion of the compartment is 0.9 or less times said first diameter.

14. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 -13, wherein the shortest distance between the free end of the at least one shorter reaching member and the opposing inner wall portion of the compartment is 0.9 or less times said second diameter.

15. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 -14, wherein, when the paddle device is situated in said object-receiving position, the shortest distance between the free end of the at least one shorter reaching member and the opposing inner wall portion of the compartment is at least 1.1 , more preferably at least 1.2 and most preferably at least 1.25 times the shortest distance between the free end of the at least one far reaching paddle and the opposing inner wall portion.

16. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 -15, wherein, when the paddle device is situated in said object-receiving position, the shortest distance between the free end of a shorter reaching member and the surface of a small-sized container held by said at least one far reaching paddle is in the range of 10-50 mm, more preferably of 20-40 mm and most preferably 25-35 mm.

17. The reverse vending machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 -16, wherein the free end of a shorter reaching member is arranged within a circle sector of 10-60°, more preferably 30-50° and most preferably 35- 45° from said trailing side of said at least one far reaching paddle.

18. A reverse vending machine comprising

wherein, as seen in its direction of movement, each of the at least one far reaching paddle and the at least one shorter reaching member has a trailing side, wherein a free end of a shorter reaching member is arranged within a circle sector of 10-60°, more preferably 30-50° and most preferably 35-45° from a trailing side of said at least one far reaching paddle,

19. A method of operating a reverse vending machine which comprises a receiving section for receiving objects, in particular used food or beverage containers,

a paddle device provided inside the compartment, the paddle device comprising a rotatable shaft having a geometrical axis of rotation, at least one far reaching paddle and at least one shorter reaching member, each of the at least one far reaching paddle and the at least one shorter reaching member being connected to the rotatable shaft and extending towards the periphery of the compartment, and a compactor for reducing the volume of the objects, the method comprising: moving the paddle device circumferentially around said axis of rotation, wherein, as seen in its direction of movement, each of the at least one far reaching paddle and the at least one shorter reaching member has a trailing side, and wherein the shortest distance between a free end of said far reaching paddle and an opposing inner wall portion of the compartment is less than the shortest distance between a free end of said shorter reaching member and said inner wall portion, determining when the paddle device is located in an object-receiving position, transferring, upon determination that the paddle device is located in said object-receiving position, an object received by said receiving section to said compartment such that the object lands on the trailing side of the at least one far reaching paddle or on the trailing side of the at least one shorter reaching member, and rotating the rotatable shaft such that the object that has landed on the trailing side of the at least one far reaching paddle or on the trailing side of the at least one shorter reaching member is dropped onto the compactor.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, comprising continuing rotating the rotatable shaft such that the leading side of the at least one far reaching paddle, or the leading side of any following far reaching paddle of the paddle device presses the object against the compactor.

21.The method as claimed in any one of claims 19-20, comprising

stopping the rotation of the shaft when the paddle device has reached its object-receiving position until an object has been received.