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EP0738409B1 - Empty bottle collector - Google Patents

Empty bottle collector Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0738409B1
EP0738409B1 EP95904432A EP95904432A EP0738409B1 EP 0738409 B1 EP0738409 B1 EP 0738409B1 EP 95904432 A EP95904432 A EP 95904432A EP 95904432 A EP95904432 A EP 95904432A EP 0738409 B1 EP0738409 B1 EP 0738409B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bottle
empty bottle
empty
collector according
slide
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP95904432A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0738409A1 (en
Inventor
Richard Stiefel
Hans-Hermann Trautwein
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hans Hermann Trautwein SB Technik GmbH
Original Assignee
Trautwein SB Technik GmbH
Hans Hermann Trautwein SB Technik GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Trautwein SB Technik GmbH, Hans Hermann Trautwein SB Technik GmbH filed Critical Trautwein SB Technik GmbH
Priority to EP97111001A priority Critical patent/EP0802511B1/en
Publication of EP0738409A1 publication Critical patent/EP0738409A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0738409B1 publication Critical patent/EP0738409B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an empty bottle return device a housing with at least one lockable Entry opening accessible from outside for empty bottles, with an adjoining the input chamber Empty bottle magazine, with a motor-driven Conveyor, one through the input chamber taking the set empty bottle in the direction Empty bottle magazine on a linear displacement path has sliding bottle pushers, with a device located in the area of the input chamber for bottle detection, which is linear within the housing sliding back and forth, the displacement path of the bottle pusher Sensor slides crossing in the area of the input chamber which has a sensor for scanning the bottle contour and / or the bottle diameter is, and preferably with an output signal the control device responsive to the bottle detection device to control the conveyor and, if necessary a deposit payment, the input chamber a Space to hold an upright empty bottle and the empty bottle magazine one at the level of Magazine shelf to accommodate upright have standing empty bottles.
  • An empty bottle return device of this type is known (WO 85/05207), in which the conveyor means a through the input chamber, taking the set one with it Empty bottle towards empty bottle magazine on a linear Sliding and sliding bottle slider has, while the bottle detection device several linearly sliding back and forth within the housing, the displacement of the bottle pusher in the area of Input chamber has intersecting sensor slides, which with a sensor for scanning the bottle diameter are.
  • the sensors are designed there as mechanical probes, the diametrically opposite sides strike against the surface of the bottle.
  • EP-A2-567 732 are the empty bottles in different Levels via separately loadable input chambers entered into stationary magazine compartments.
  • a separate bottle detection device is provided, with the contour of the set empty bottle with in the input chamber engaging mechanical feelers scanned becomes.
  • the scanning takes place with the help of a Displacement movement of the sliding door responsive encoder, one with the output signals of the displacement sensor
  • Counters and storage means for storing counter readings of the counter in the form of a contour and size the value group defining the scanned empty bottle are.
  • the sensing elements are arranged on the sliding door and reach into the input chamber to trigger displacement, Counting and storing processes.
  • the empty bottles will after being scanned using one in the input chamber located turnstile via a curved feed channel transported into the empty bottle magazine. Once the magazine is full, it must be taken on the spot by individual removal the bottles are emptied.
  • the invention is based on the object an empty bottle return device of the type specified at the beginning to develop that easy handling when loading and emptying possible despite the high input frequency reliable bottle detection guaranteed.
  • the solution according to the invention is primarily based on the idea that with a small displacement between the Input chamber and the empty bottle magazine on as straight as possible Displacement distance and with a non-contact Scanning of the bottle contour particularly short input times can be achieved.
  • the empty bottle magazine over a lockable aligned transversely to the input opening Access opening accessible from the stationary input chamber is and that the conveyor a transverse to Entry direction through the entry chamber with entrainment the set empty bottle in the direction of the passage opening can be pushed back and forth on a linear displacement path Cross slide has.
  • the bottle detection device also one inside the housing
  • the input direction can be moved back and forth linearly, the displacement path of the cross slide in the area of the input chamber crossing sensor slide on, with sensors for contactless Scanning the bottle contour and / or the bottle diameter is equipped, the drive of the sensor slide with a displacement sensor triggered by the sensors is coupled for bottle detection.
  • the sensor slide one at the same time as a closing door for the passage opening trained side arm.
  • this boom can either receive and send organs or reflection mirrors designed as light barriers Sensors.
  • the invention provides that the sensor slide on the side of the shutter door bracket opposite the Input chamber a second, preferably the sensor elements has supporting boom. The second boom can do this through a housing-side boundary wall of the input chamber be concealed, the lateral boundary wall in the direction of displacement of the sensor slide can have elongated sensor diaphragms.
  • the sensors are advantageously optoelectronic Scanning elements, preferably as reflection or transmitted light barriers educated.
  • the bottle detection device in the area of the cross slide fixed to the housing between the input chamber and the passage opening Arranged sensors for contactless bottle scanning and one with the cross slide or its drive coupled displacement sensors triggered by the sensors Detection of the bottle contour and / or the bottle diameter on.
  • a sensor slide in the sense of the first alternative of the invention is unnecessary here.
  • a particularly simple embodiment in terms of construction stipulates that the on the housing Empty bottle placed by the motor driven cross slide detected and on the displacement through the sensor arrangement into the empty bottle magazine is moved. In this case also non-refundable bottles in the empty bottle magazine since the bottle detection during the Eject the empty bottle into the empty bottle magazine he follows. To reject this solution To allow non-refundable bottles, additional must Measures are taken with which the Empty bottle after scanning it back into the input chamber can be retrieved.
  • the invention proposed that the cross slide a platform for inclusion in the input chamber has set empty bottle that with the cross slide over the displacement path to the passage opening slidable or through it Can be inserted into the empty bottle magazine and after delivery the empty bottle can be returned to its starting position is. It is also useful to have a the passage opening or arranged on the cross slide, motorized bottle scraper intended for the empty bottle arranged on the platform, one after the control device In accordance with an output signal of the bottle detection device operable drive motor. Of the Bottle scraper is only activated if a permissible via the bottle detection device and / or depositable bottle to the control device is reported. An unapproved empty bottle will work again without actuating the bottle scraper withdrawn via the cross slide into the input chamber, at the same time signaling that an entry this bottle is not possible.
  • the bottle scraper can also act as a closing door be designed for the passage opening. Is further it is appropriate to keep the input chamber open to the side of the passage opening and the sensors limit by a partition that is perpendicular to the Direction of displacement of the cross slide is displaceable. This partition is advantageously with the scraper rigidly connected and movable together with it. On the opposite of the passage opening Side is useful on the cross slide or on the platform a cross slide-proof, delimiting the input chamber vertical side wall provided.
  • the input chamber can through a housing-fixed rear stop wall for the empty bottles are limited.
  • Another improvement the positioning accuracy of the empty bottle in the input chamber is achieved in that the footprint the input chamber by a housing-fixed front and rear limit threshold limited is.
  • the bottle weight can be used as a further bottle recognition feature equivalent to the contour features be made available with which Full bottles and empty bottles as well as bottles of approximately the same Contour but different weights apart can be.
  • the pressure sensor can designed as a pressure sensitive resistor or capacitor be. It is useful in an RC element Integrator circuit arranged, the output signal via a threshold switch or a comparator into a rectangular pulse with weight-dependent Pulse duration can be implemented.
  • a particularly simple and quick bottle exchange is achieved in that the empty bottle magazine in one that can be inserted into a magazine chamber of the housing Chassis is arranged. Another improvement is achieved in this regard if the housing at least two stacked one on top of the other Sensor slide and a cross slide equipped Input chambers and the chassis a corresponding Number of empty bottle magazines arranged one above the other has, the magazine bottoms of the empty bottle magazines with the chassis set in the magazine chamber with the spaces of the associated input chambers swear.
  • Chassis and / or at least on one side of the housing leading or arranged on the side of the input chambers Support rollers are provided over which the chassis when entering the magazine chamber with its castors from the floor to a defined position within the Housing can be lifted off.
  • the magazine bottoms expediently have one rectangular border as a stop for the Empty bottles on.
  • the fill level can in the opposite of the passage opening Border margin area on a pushed-on empty bottle attractive, preferably housing-fixed sensor element can be arranged, for example, as around a vertical axis pivotable lever is formed can be one in the beam path of a reflection light barrier arranged reflector carries or Microswitch actuated.
  • the empty bottle return device shown in the drawing consists essentially of a housing 10, two arranged one above the other in the housing, on one Entry opening 11 can be closed by a sliding door 12 Input chambers 14 for upright Empty bottles 16, one in a magazine chamber open to the front 18 of the housing adjustable chassis 20 with two empty bottle magazines arranged one above the other 22, and a control panel 24 with receipt button 26, Receipt 28 and display 30.
  • the housing-fixed footprint 32 forward and backward through an adjustment threshold 34 and a rear stop wall 36 is limited.
  • the footprint 32 of the input chambers 14 is via a passage opening 38 with the neighboring Empty bottle magazine 22 of the chassis 20 connected and aligns with the magazine bottom 40.
  • the passage opening 38 is through that at the same time as a sliding door trained boom 42 of the sensor slide 44 closable.
  • One opposite the first boom 42 Boom 46 of the sensor slide carries nearby its front end several, as optoelectronic Transceivers trained sensors 48 that together with the mirrors 50 on the bracket 42 reflection light barriers form for scanning the bottle contour.
  • the Sensor slide 44 is by means of a geared motor 52, a gear 54 and a rack 56 between a front, shown in solid lines Input position and a rear, in dashed lines Lines shown end position horizontally in the direction of the double arrow 58 to and fro.
  • the Empty bottle 16 remains when the sensor slide is moved 44 on their footprint 32 in the input chamber 14 stand.
  • the sensors move on the shifting distance 48 past the bottle and feel its diameter at different heights above the footprint 32.
  • the gear motor 52 drives with its output shaft 60 one as a gear 62 made of magnetizable material and a magnetic probe 64 formed incremental Sensor in cooperation with the Sensors 48 contributes to bottle detection.
  • the sliding door arm 42 gives the end position of the sensor slide 44 clear the passage opening 38. In this end position, the one in the input chamber 14 located empty bottle 16 with the help of a motor 66 driven cross slide 68, the displacement of the sensor slide 44 in the area of the input chamber 14 crosses through the passage opening 38 are pushed out into the empty bottle magazine 22.
  • the input chamber 14 is when the cross slide is retracted 68 in the lower part by the slider stamp 116 while limited by either the upper part a housing-fixed or by a sensor slide fixed Boundary wall is limited. If necessary in stamp 116 and in the boundary wall above Sensor screens, not shown, for the Cut out passage of the sensor light.
  • the footprint 32 of the input chamber 14 is a surface a weighing plate 70 formed with her Bottom against a pressure-dependent resistor 72 acts.
  • the resistor 72 forms together with the capacitor 76 which can be bridged by a switch 74 an integrator circuit formed by a comparator 78 is completed.
  • a square wave signal can be tapped, the pulse duration after Open switch 74 via the pressure dependent resistor 72 forms a measure of the bottle weight.
  • the output signal of the comparator 78 is in a timing element 80 of the microprocessor circuit 82 under formation of comparison values for weight detection evaluated.
  • the gear motor 52 a relative movement between the sensor slide 44 and the sensors 48 arranged thereon on the one hand and the empty bottle located in the input chamber 14 16 on the other hand and thus a contour recognition process initiated.
  • Decisive for the contour of the empty bottle 16 are the diameters in the different Measurement planes of the sensors 48, the determination of the of the respective diameter the entry and exit points to be used. As can be seen from Fig. 4, this will be in the incremental encoder encoder 84 62.64 converted count signal to the count input a counter 86 integrated in the microprocessor 82, where the beginning and end of the counting process can be determined using the limit switches 88.90.
  • the trigger switches 92.94 for the cross slide drive 66.68, the signal lamps 96.98, the locking magnet 100 for the sliding door 12 and the switch 102 via output ports 104 of the microprocessor circuit 82 controllable.
  • the state of the input ports 80,86,105 is queried cyclically via a microprocessor program.
  • the query cycle corresponds to the program cycle frequency, which in any case is greater than the counting frequency of the encoder 62.64 must be selected.
  • the incoming signals are evaluated via a Software program stored in the memory 106 of the microprocessor 82 using also in one Part of the memory 106 stored reference value sets.
  • the cross slide 68 is with the help of the gear motor 66, a Gear 67 and a rack 68 between a rear, Input position shown in solid lines and a front one, in dashed lines illustrated end position horizontally in the direction of Double arrow 69 can be pushed back and forth. Furthermore drives the geared motor 66 with its output shaft 160 a as a gear 162 made of magnetizable material and a magnetic probe 164 formed incremental Displacement sensor in cooperation with the sensors 148 contributes to bottle detection.
  • the cross slide 68 has a slide-resistant platform 120, which as Space for the empty bottle 16 to be set is used.
  • a slide-resistant Boundary wall 116 provided while the rear wall 36 of the input chamber is arranged fixed to the housing.
  • the platform 120 arrives with the one on it Bottle 16 via the displacement path through the passage opening 38 into the empty bottle magazine 22 and becomes bottle detection along the displacement path sensed by sensors 148 without contact.
  • the actual transfer of the empty bottle 16 into the empty bottle magazine 22 is carried out by a scraper 124, the with the cross slide 116 extended with the aid of a drive motor 126 across the platform 120 in front of the Passage opening 38 is moved so that the subsequent Retracting the cross slide 116 Empty bottle 16 is stripped from the platform 120.
  • the bottle scraper 124 is used in this embodiment at the same time as a closing door for the passage opening 42.
  • a passage to the sensors 148 and to the passage opening Preventing 38 is an additional one Partition 128 provided which is rigid with the wiper 124 connected and movable together with this can be.
  • the magazine bottoms 40 have a substantially rectangular shape Boundary edge 118 on that shown in the Embodiments through the vertical outer walls of the chassis 20 is formed.
  • the passage openings 38 are each through a wall opening in the input side Wall area of the chassis 20 formed, under the action of a spring, not shown when removing the chassis from the magazine chamber 18 are closed automatically.
  • the chassis 20 with relatively large casters 110 provided.
  • the bottles are used for emptying 16 first from the top magazine bottom 40 from above removed and, if necessary, in ready-made bottle crates sorted. For emptying the lower magazine bottom 40 becomes the previously emptied upper magazine bottom 40 for example on a hinge joint folded up to freely from above to the concerned Bottles 16 to be able to get.
  • the invention refers to an empty bottle return device with an input chamber 14 for empty bottles 16 and one Chassis 20 as a change magazine 22.
  • To a simple Handling when loading and emptying the change magazine 22 is the empty bottle magazine 22 via an aligned transverse to the input opening 11 closable passage opening 38 from the stationary input chamber 14 accessible from. Is further a conveyor is provided which transversely to Input direction through the input chamber 14 in Can be pushed back and forth towards the passage opening 38
  • Cross slide 68 has.
  • the bottle is recognized via a within the housing 10 in the input direction sliding back and forth, the displacement path of the cross slide 68 in the area of the input chamber crossing sensor slide 44, which with sensors 48 for Non-contact scanning of the bottle contour is.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
  • Branching, Merging, And Special Transfer Between Conveyors (AREA)
  • Glass Compositions (AREA)
  • Producing Shaped Articles From Materials (AREA)
  • Magnetic Ceramics (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Looms (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Sink And Installation For Waste Water (AREA)
  • Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
  • Centrifugal Separators (AREA)
  • Optical Measuring Cells (AREA)
  • Refuse Collection And Transfer (AREA)

Abstract

The collector has a housing with a bottle input chamber with closable insertion aperture, a motorised conveyor passing empties from the input chamber to a bottle magazine (22), a bottle detector and associated controller for the conveyor. There can be a deposit coin output. The insertion chamber has a surface for receiving upright bottles and the magazine has a base at the height of this surface for receiving upright bottles. The magazine is accessible from the stationary insertion chamber via a closable opening. The conveyor has a linearly reciprocally movable transverse slider and the detector has a reciprocally movable sensor slider (44) crossing the path of the transverse slider in the region of the insertion chamber (14). The sensor slider carries sensors (48) for contactless detection of the bottle contours and dia.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Leerflaschen-Rücknahmegerät mit einem Gehäuse, mit mindestens einer durch eine verschließbare Eingabeöffnung von außen her zugänglichen Eingabekammer für Leerflaschen, mit einem an die Eingabekammer anschließenden Leerflaschenmagazin, mit einer motorisch antreibbaren Fördereinrichtung, die einen durch die Eingabekammer hindurch unter Mitnahme der eingestellten Leerflasche in Richtung Leerflaschenmagazin auf einem linearen Verschiebeweg hin- und herverschiebbaren Flaschenschieber aufweist, mit einer im Bereich der Eingabekammer befindlichen Einrichtung zur Flaschenerkennung, die einen innerhalb des Gehäuses linear hin- und herverschiebbaren, den Verschiebeweg des Flaschenschiebers im Bereich der Eingabekammer kreuzenden Sensorschieber aufweist, welcher mit einem Sensor zur Abtastung der Flaschenkontur und/ oder des Flaschendurchmessers bestückt ist, und mit einer vorzugsweise auf Ausgangssignale der Flaschenerkennungseinrichtung ansprechenden Steuereinrichtung zur Ansteuerung der Fördereinrichtung und gegebenenfalls einer Pfandgeldausgabe, wobei die Eingabekammer eine Stellfläche zur Aufnahme einer aufrecht stehenden Leerflasche und das Leerflaschenmagazin einen auf der Höhe der Stellfläche befindlichen Magazinboden zur Aufnahme von aufrecht stehenden Leerflaschen aufweisen.The invention relates to an empty bottle return device a housing with at least one lockable Entry opening accessible from outside for empty bottles, with an adjoining the input chamber Empty bottle magazine, with a motor-driven Conveyor, one through the input chamber taking the set empty bottle in the direction Empty bottle magazine on a linear displacement path has sliding bottle pushers, with a device located in the area of the input chamber for bottle detection, which is linear within the housing sliding back and forth, the displacement path of the bottle pusher Sensor slides crossing in the area of the input chamber which has a sensor for scanning the bottle contour and / or the bottle diameter is, and preferably with an output signal the control device responsive to the bottle detection device to control the conveyor and, if necessary a deposit payment, the input chamber a Space to hold an upright empty bottle and the empty bottle magazine one at the level of Magazine shelf to accommodate upright have standing empty bottles.

Es ist ein Leerflaschen-Rücknahmegerät dieser Art bekannt (WO 85/05207), bei welchem die Fördereinrichtung einen durch die Eingabekammer hindurch unter Mitnahme der eingestellten Leerflasche in Richtung Leerflaschenmagazin auf einem linearen Verschiebeweg hin- und herverschiebbaren Flaschenschieber aufweist, während die Flaschenerkennungseinrichtung mehrere innerhalb des Gehäuses linear hin- und herverschiebbare, den Verschiebeweg des Flaschenschiebers im Bereich der Eingabekammer kreuzende Sensorschieber aufweist, welche mit einem Sensor zur Abtastung des Flaschendurchmessers bestückt sind. Die Sensoren sind dort als mechanische Tastorgane ausgebildet, die auf einander diametral gegenüberliegenden Seiten gegen die Flaschenoberfläche anschlagen.An empty bottle return device of this type is known (WO 85/05207), in which the conveyor means a through the input chamber, taking the set one with it Empty bottle towards empty bottle magazine on a linear Sliding and sliding bottle slider has, while the bottle detection device several linearly sliding back and forth within the housing, the displacement of the bottle pusher in the area of Input chamber has intersecting sensor slides, which with a sensor for scanning the bottle diameter are. The sensors are designed there as mechanical probes, the diametrically opposite sides strike against the surface of the bottle.

Bei einem weiteren bekannten Leerflaschen-Rücknahmegerät der genannten Art (EP-A2-567 732) werden die Leerflaschen in verschiedenen Ebenen über getrennt beschickbare Eingabekammern in stationäre Magazinfächer eingegeben. In jeder Eingabekammer ist eine eigene Flaschenerkennungseinrichtung vorgesehen, mit der die Kontur der eingestellten Leerflasche mit in die Eingabekammer eingreifenden mechanischen Tastorganen abgetastet wird. Die Abtastung erfolgt mit Hilfe eines auf die Verschiebebewegung der Schiebetür ansprechenden Weggebers, wobei ein mit den Ausgangssignalen des Weggebers beaufschlagter Zähler sowie Speichermittel zur Abspeicherung von Zählerständen des Zählers in Form einer die Kontur und Größe der abgetasteten Leerflasche definierenden Wertegruppe vorgesehen sind. Die Tastorgane sind an der Schiebetür angeordnet und greifen in die Eingabekammer zur Auslösung von Wegmeß-, Zähl- und Speichervorgängen ein. Die Leerflaschen werden nach ihrer Abtastung mit Hilfe eines in der Eingabekammer befindlichen Drehkreuzes über einen gekrümmten Zuführkanal in das Leerflaschenmagazin transportiert. Sobald das Magazin voll ist, muß es an Ort und Stelle durch Einzelentnahme der Flaschen entleert werden.In another known empty bottle return device mentioned type (EP-A2-567 732) are the empty bottles in different Levels via separately loadable input chambers entered into stationary magazine compartments. In every input chamber a separate bottle detection device is provided, with the contour of the set empty bottle with in the input chamber engaging mechanical feelers scanned becomes. The scanning takes place with the help of a Displacement movement of the sliding door responsive encoder, one with the output signals of the displacement sensor Counters and storage means for storing counter readings of the counter in the form of a contour and size the value group defining the scanned empty bottle are. The sensing elements are arranged on the sliding door and reach into the input chamber to trigger displacement, Counting and storing processes. The empty bottles will after being scanned using one in the input chamber located turnstile via a curved feed channel transported into the empty bottle magazine. Once the magazine is full, it must be taken on the spot by individual removal the bottles are emptied.

Zur Vermeidung dieses Nachteils ist es bei einem Leerflaschenrücknahmegerät an sich bekannt (DE-C-33 20 266), das Leerflaschenmagazin in einem in eine Magazinkammer des Gehäuses einschiebbaren Fahrgestell anzuordnen. Das Leerflaschenmagazin weist dort einen durch einen Kettenantrieb im Fahrgestell in der Höhe verschiebbaren Magazinboden auf, dessen Höhe durch die oberste, einen Endschalter berührende Flasche im Flaschenmagazin einstellbar ist. Die Flaschen werden liegend in die Eingabekammer eingelegt und durch einen Annahmerotor auf einer sich auf dem Magazinboden bildenden Flaschenpyramide abgelegt. Durch die selbsttätige Einstellung der Bodenhöhe wird vermieden, daß es beim Auftreffen der Flaschen auf der Flaschenpyramide zu einem Glasbruch kommt. Sobald das fahrbare Flaschenmagazin voll ist, wird es gegen ein Leermagazin ausgetauscht. Durch die liegende Flaschenaufnahme besteht jedoch die Gefahr, daß Restflüssigkeit aus den Flaschen auslaufen und zu einer Verschmutzung des Flaschenmagazins führen kann. Hinzu kommt, daß die wahllos im Flaschenmagazin durcheinander liegenden Flaschen bei der Entnahme und dem anschließenden Sortieren einen erheblichen Arbeitsaufwand erfordern.To avoid this disadvantage, it is an empty bottle return device known per se (DE-C-33 20 266), the Empty bottle magazine in a magazine chamber of the housing to insert retractable chassis. The empty bottle magazine has one there by a chain drive in Chassis height-adjustable magazine bottom, its height through the top one touching a limit switch Bottle is adjustable in the bottle magazine. The bottles are placed horizontally in the input chamber and by a Acceptance rotor on a forming on the magazine bottom Bottle pyramid filed. Through the automatic setting the floor height is avoided that it hits the bottles on the bottle pyramid to a broken glass is coming. As soon as the mobile bottle magazine is full, it will exchanged for an empty magazine. Through the lying bottle holder however, there is a risk that residual liquid leak from the bottles and contaminate the Bottle magazine can lead. Add to that the indiscriminate bottles in the bottle magazine at the Removal and subsequent sorting a significant Require labor.

Ausgehend hiervon liegt der Erfindung die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Leerflaschen-Rücknahmegerät der eingangs angegebenen Art zu entwickeln, das eine einfache Handhabung beim Beschicken und Entleeren ermöglicht und das trotz hoher Eingabefrequenz eine zuverlässige Flaschenerkennung gewährleistet.Proceeding from this, the invention is based on the object an empty bottle return device of the type specified at the beginning to develop that easy handling when loading and emptying possible despite the high input frequency reliable bottle detection guaranteed.

Zur Lösung dieser Aufgabe werden die in den Patentansprüchen 1 und 8 angegebenen Merkmalskombinationen vorgeschlagen. Vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen und Weiterbildungen der Erfindung ergeben sich aus den abhängigen Ansprüchen.To solve this problem, the in the claims 1 and 8 specified combinations of features proposed. Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

Der erfindungsgemäßen Lösung liegt vor allem der Gedanke zugrunde, daß bei einem kleinen Verschiebeweg zwischen der Eingabekammer und dem Leerflaschenmagazin auf möglichst geradliniger Verschiebestrecke und bei einer berührungslosen Abtastung der Flaschenkontur besonders kurze Eingabezeiten erzielt werden können. Um dies zu erreichen, wird gemäß der Erfindung vorgeschlagen, daß das Leerflaschenmagazin über eine quer zur Eingabeöffnung ausgerichtete verschließbare Durchtrittsöffnung von der stationären Eingabekammer aus zugänglich ist und daß die Fördereinrichtung einen quer zur Eingaberichtung durch die Eingabekammer hindurch unter Mitnahme der eingestellten Leerflasche in Richtung Durchtrittsöffnung auf einem linearen Verschiebeweg hin- und herverschiebbaren Querschieber aufweist.The solution according to the invention is primarily based on the idea that with a small displacement between the Input chamber and the empty bottle magazine on as straight as possible Displacement distance and with a non-contact Scanning of the bottle contour particularly short input times can be achieved. To achieve this, according to the Invention proposed that the empty bottle magazine over a lockable aligned transversely to the input opening Access opening accessible from the stationary input chamber is and that the conveyor a transverse to Entry direction through the entry chamber with entrainment the set empty bottle in the direction of the passage opening can be pushed back and forth on a linear displacement path Cross slide has.

Bei einer ersten Erfindungsalternative weist die Flaschenerkennungseinrichtung ferner einen innerhalb des Gehäuses in Eingaberichtung linear hin- und herverschiebbaren, den Verschiebeweg des Querschiebers im Bereich der Eingabekammer kreuzenden Sensorschieber auf, der mit Sensoren zur berührungslosen Abtastung der Flaschenkontur und/oder des Flaschendurchmessers bestückt ist, wobei der Antrieb des Sensorschiebers mit einem über die Sensoren getriggerten Wegaufnehmer zur Flaschenerkennung gekoppelt ist.In a first alternative of the invention, the bottle detection device also one inside the housing The input direction can be moved back and forth linearly, the displacement path of the cross slide in the area of the input chamber crossing sensor slide on, with sensors for contactless Scanning the bottle contour and / or the bottle diameter is equipped, the drive of the sensor slide with a displacement sensor triggered by the sensors is coupled for bottle detection.

Mit diesen Maßnahmen wird erreicht, daß die Vermessung bei ruhender Leerflasche durch Verschieben des Sensorschiebers erfolgt, so daß die lose auf der Stellfläche stehende Leerflasche während des Meßvorgangs keiner Erschütterung unterliegt, die die Messung verfälschen könnte. Da der Sensorschieber mit seinen berührungslos arbeitenden Sensoren sehr schnell auf dem Meßweg an der Flasche vorbeibewegt werden kann, erhält man eine relativ kurze Meßzeit. Am Ende der Meßstrecke ist der Sensorschieber aus dem Verschiebeweg des Querschiebers herausverschoben, so daß die Leerflasche nach erfolgter Flaschenerkennung aus der Eingabekammer durch die seitliche Durchtrittsöffnung hindurch in das Leerflaschenmagazin eingeschoben werden kann, bevor der Sensorschieber nach Zurückziehen des Querschiebers wieder in seine Ausgangsposition gebracht und die Eingabekammer für eine erneute Flascheneingabe freigegeben werden kann.These measures ensure that the measurement at empty bottle by moving the sensor slide takes place so that the empty bottle standing loosely on the shelf is not subject to vibration during the measurement process, that could distort the measurement. Because the sensor slide with its non-contact sensors be quickly moved past the bottle on the measuring path can, a relatively short measurement time is obtained. At the end of Measuring distance is the sensor slide from the displacement of the Cross slide moved out, so that the empty bottle after bottle recognition from the input chamber by the lateral opening into the empty bottle magazine can be inserted before the sensor slide after pulling the cross slide back into its starting position brought and the input chamber for another Bottle entry can be released.

Um bei offener Eingabekammer mit einfachen Mitteln einen Durchgriff in das Leerflaschenmagazin durch die Durchtrittsöffnung hindurch zu verhindern, wird gemäß einer vorteilhaften Ausgestaltung der Erfindung vorgeschlagen, daß der Sensorschieber einen zugleich als Verschlußtür für die Durchtrittsöffnung ausgebildeten seitlichen Ausleger aufweist. In diesem Ausleger können sich entweder Empfangs- und Sendeorgane oder Reflexionsspiegel der als Lichtschranken ausgebildeten Sensoren befinden. Eine weitere vorteilhafte Ausgestaltung der Erfindung sieht vor, daß der Sensorschieber auf der dem Verschlußtür-Ausleger gegenüberliegenden Seite der Eingabekammer einen zweiten, vorzugsweise die Sensorelemente tragenden Ausleger aufweist. Der zweite Ausleger kann dabei durch eine gehäusefeste seitliche Begrenzungswand der Eingabekammer verdeckt angeordnet sein, wobei die seitliche Begrenzungswand in Verschieberichtung des Sensorschiebers langgestreckte Sensorblenden aufweisen kann.To make a simple entry with an open input chamber Reaching into the empty bottle magazine through the passage opening Preventing it is according to an advantageous Embodiment of the invention proposed that the sensor slide one at the same time as a closing door for the passage opening trained side arm. In this boom can either receive and send organs or reflection mirrors designed as light barriers Sensors. Another advantageous embodiment the invention provides that the sensor slide on the side of the shutter door bracket opposite the Input chamber a second, preferably the sensor elements has supporting boom. The second boom can do this through a housing-side boundary wall of the input chamber be concealed, the lateral boundary wall in the direction of displacement of the sensor slide can have elongated sensor diaphragms.

Um die Eingabe- und Erkennungszeit für die Leerflaschen weiter zu verkürzen, wird gemäß einer weiteren vorteilhaften Ausgestaltung der Erfindung vorgeschlagen, daß die seitliche gehäusefeste Begrenzungswand und/oder der der Verschlußtür gegenüberliegende Sensorschieber-Ausleger im unteren, der Stellfläche benachbarten Bereich eine Ausnehmung für den Durchtritt des Querschiebers aufweisen. In diesem Falle kann der Querschieber mit seiner Stirnfläche in seiner bezüglich der Durchtrittsöffnung zurückverschobenen Endstellung den unteren Teil einer seitlichen Begrenzungswand der Eingabekammer bilden. Ferner ist es möglich, den Sensorschieber schon wieder in seine Ausgangslage zurückzuschieben, bevor der Querschieber nach erfolgtem Quertransport wieder in seiner zurückverschobenen Endstellung angelangt ist.At the input and recognition time for the empty bottles shortening is according to another advantageous Embodiment of the invention proposed that the lateral boundary wall fixed to the housing and / or that of the closing door opposite sensor slide arm in the lower, the Space adjacent area a recess for the Have passage of the cross slide. In this case the cross slide with its end face in its respect the end position moved back through the opening lower part of a side boundary wall of the input chamber form. It is also possible to use the sensor slide to move back to its starting position before the cross slide in its back after the transverse transport has moved back to the end position.

Vorteilhafterweise sind die Sensoren als optoelektronische Abtastorgane, vorzugsweise als Reflexions- oder Durchlicht-Lichtschranken ausgebildet.The sensors are advantageously optoelectronic Scanning elements, preferably as reflection or transmitted light barriers educated.

Bei einer zweiten Erfindungsalternative weist die Flaschenerkennungseinrichtung im Bereich des Verschiebewegs des Querschiebers zwischen Eingabekammer und Durchtrittsöffnung gehäusefest angeordnete Sensoren zur berührungslosen Flaschenabtastung und einen mit dem Querschieber oder dessen Antrieb gekoppelten, über die Sensoren getriggerten Wegaufnehmer zur Erfassung der Flaschenkontur und/oder des Flaschendurchmessers auf. Ein Sensorschieber im Sinne der ersten Erfindungsalternative ist hierbei entbehrlich. In a second alternative of the invention, the bottle detection device in the area of the cross slide fixed to the housing between the input chamber and the passage opening Arranged sensors for contactless bottle scanning and one with the cross slide or its drive coupled displacement sensors triggered by the sensors Detection of the bottle contour and / or the bottle diameter on. A sensor slide in the sense of the first alternative of the invention is unnecessary here.

Eine in konstruktiver Hinsicht besonders einfache Ausführungsform sieht vor, daß die auf der gehäusefesten Stellfläche aufgestellte Leerflasche von dem motorisch angetriebenen Querschieber erfaßt und auf dem Verschiebeweg durch die Sensoranordnung hindurch in das Leerflaschenmagazin verschoben wird. In diesem Falle werden auch nicht pfandfähige Flaschen in das Leerflaschenmagazin übernommen, da die Flaschenerkennung während des Ausschiebens der Leerflasche in das Leerflaschenmagazin erfolgt. Um bei dieser Lösungsvariante eine Abweisung nicht pfandfähiger Flaschen zu ermöglichen, müssen zusätzliche Maßnahmen getroffen werden, mit denen die Leerflasche nach ihrer Abtastung wieder in die Eingabekammer zurückgeholt werden kann.A particularly simple embodiment in terms of construction stipulates that the on the housing Empty bottle placed by the motor driven cross slide detected and on the displacement through the sensor arrangement into the empty bottle magazine is moved. In this case also non-refundable bottles in the empty bottle magazine since the bottle detection during the Eject the empty bottle into the empty bottle magazine he follows. To reject this solution To allow non-refundable bottles, additional must Measures are taken with which the Empty bottle after scanning it back into the input chamber can be retrieved.

Um dies zu erreichen, wird gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausgestaltung der Erfindung vorgeschlagen, daß der Querschieber eine Plattform zur Aufnahme der in die Eingabekammer eingestellten Leerflasche aufweist, die mit dem Querschieber über den Verschiebeweg bis zur Durchtrittsöffnung verschiebbar oder durch diese hindurch in das Leerflaschenmagazin einführbar und nach Übergabe der Leerflasche in seine Ausgangsstellung zurückführbar ist. Zweckmäßig ist hierbei zusätzlich ein im Bereich der Durchtrittsöffnung oder auf dem Querschieber angeordneter, motorisch angetriebener Flaschenabstreifer für die auf der Plattform angeordnete Leerflasche vorgesehen, der einen über die Steuerungseinrichtung nach Maßgabe eines Ausgangssignals der Flaschenerkennungs einrichtung betätigbaren Antriebsmotor aufweist. Der Flaschenabstreifer wird hierbei nur dann betätigt, wenn über die Flaschenerkennungseinrichtung eine zulässige und/oder pfandfähige Flasche an die Steuerungseinrichtung gemeldet wird. Eine nicht zugelassene Leerflasche wird ohne Betätigung des Flaschenabstreifers wieder über den Querschieber in die Eingabekammer zurückgenommen, wobei zugleich signalisiert wird, daß eine Eingabe dieser Flasche nicht möglich ist.To achieve this, according to a preferred embodiment the invention proposed that the cross slide a platform for inclusion in the input chamber has set empty bottle that with the cross slide over the displacement path to the passage opening slidable or through it Can be inserted into the empty bottle magazine and after delivery the empty bottle can be returned to its starting position is. It is also useful to have a the passage opening or arranged on the cross slide, motorized bottle scraper intended for the empty bottle arranged on the platform, one after the control device In accordance with an output signal of the bottle detection device operable drive motor. Of the Bottle scraper is only activated if a permissible via the bottle detection device and / or depositable bottle to the control device is reported. An unapproved empty bottle will work again without actuating the bottle scraper withdrawn via the cross slide into the input chamber, at the same time signaling that an entry this bottle is not possible.

Der Flaschenabstreifer kann zugleich als Verschlußtür für die Durchtrittsöffnung ausgebildet sein. Weiter ist es zweckmäßig, die Eingabekammer im geöffneten Zustand zur Seite der Durchtrittsöffnung und der Sensoren hin durch eine Trennwand zu begrenzen, die senkrecht zur Verschieberichtung des Querschiebers verschiebbar ist. Vorteilhafterweise ist diese Trennwand mit dem Abstreifer starr verbunden und gemeinsam mit diesem verschiebbar. Auf der der Durchtrittsöffnung gegenüberliegenden Seite ist am Querschieber oder an der Plattform zweckmäßig eine querschieberfeste, die Eingabekammer begrenzende vertikale Seitenwand vorgesehen.The bottle scraper can also act as a closing door be designed for the passage opening. Is further it is appropriate to keep the input chamber open to the side of the passage opening and the sensors limit by a partition that is perpendicular to the Direction of displacement of the cross slide is displaceable. This partition is advantageously with the scraper rigidly connected and movable together with it. On the opposite of the passage opening Side is useful on the cross slide or on the platform a cross slide-proof, delimiting the input chamber vertical side wall provided.

Um ein Umkippen der Leerflasche beim Einstellen in die Eingabekammer zu vermeiden, kann die Eingabekammer durch eine gehäusefeste rückwärtige Anschlagwand für die Leerflaschen begrenzt werden. Eine weitere Verbesserung der Positioniergenauigkeit der Leerflasche in der Eingabekammer wird dadurch erreicht, daß die Stellfläche der Eingabekammer durch je eine gehäusefeste vordere und rückwärtige Begrenzungsschwelle begrenzt ist.To prevent the empty bottle from tipping over when it is placed in the To avoid input chamber, the input chamber can through a housing-fixed rear stop wall for the empty bottles are limited. Another improvement the positioning accuracy of the empty bottle in the input chamber is achieved in that the footprint the input chamber by a housing-fixed front and rear limit threshold limited is.

Gemäß einer weiteren vorteilhaften Ausgestaltung der Erfindung ist die Stellfläche innerhalb der Eingabekammer als Wägeplatte ausgebildet, die einen ausgangsseitig mit der Steuereinrichtung verbundenen Drucksensor aufweist. Damit kann das Flaschengewicht als weiteres, den Konturmerkmalen gleichwertiges Flaschenerkennungsmerkmal zur Verfügung gestellt werden, mit welchem Vollflaschen und Leerflaschen sowie Flaschen etwa gleicher Kontur jedoch unterschiedlichen Gewichts auseinandergehalten werden können. Der Drucksensor kann dabei als druckempfindlicher Widerstand oder Kondensator ausgebildet sein. Er ist zweckmäßig in einem RC-Glied einer Integratorschaltung angeordnet, deren Ausgangssignal über einen Schwellenwertschalter oder einen Komparator in einen Rechteckimpuls mit gewichtsabhängiger Impulsdauer umsetzbar ist.According to a further advantageous embodiment of the Invention is the footprint within the input chamber designed as a weighing plate, the one on the output side pressure sensor connected to the control device having. The bottle weight can be used as a further bottle recognition feature equivalent to the contour features be made available with which Full bottles and empty bottles as well as bottles of approximately the same Contour but different weights apart can be. The pressure sensor can designed as a pressure sensitive resistor or capacitor be. It is useful in an RC element Integrator circuit arranged, the output signal via a threshold switch or a comparator into a rectangular pulse with weight-dependent Pulse duration can be implemented.

Ein besonders einfacher und rascher Flaschenaustausch wird dadurch erzielt, daß das Leerflaschenmagazin in einem in eine Magazinkammer des Gehäuses einschiebbaren Fahrgestell angeordnet ist. Eine weitere Verbesserung in dieser Hinsicht wird erzielt, wenn das Gehäuse mindestens zwei übereinander angeordnete, mit je einem Sensorschieber und einem Querschieber ausgestattete Eingabekammern und das Fahrgestell eine entsprechende Anzahl übereinander angeordnete Leerflaschenmagazine aufweist, wobei die Magazinböden der Leerflaschenmagazine bei in die Magazinkammer eingestelltem Fahrgestell mit den Stellflächen der zugehörigen Eingabekammern fluchten. Letzteres wird dadurch ermöglicht, daß am Fahrgestell und/oder am Gehäuse mindestens einseitig auf der Seite der Eingabekammern angeordnete Leit- oder Stützrollen vorgesehen sind, über die das Fahrgestell beim Einfahren in die Magazinkammer mit ihren Fahrrollen vom Boden in eine definierte Position innerhalb des Gehäuses abhebbar ist.A particularly simple and quick bottle exchange is achieved in that the empty bottle magazine in one that can be inserted into a magazine chamber of the housing Chassis is arranged. Another improvement is achieved in this regard if the housing at least two stacked one on top of the other Sensor slide and a cross slide equipped Input chambers and the chassis a corresponding Number of empty bottle magazines arranged one above the other has, the magazine bottoms of the empty bottle magazines with the chassis set in the magazine chamber with the spaces of the associated input chambers swear. The latter is made possible by the fact that Chassis and / or at least on one side of the housing leading or arranged on the side of the input chambers Support rollers are provided over which the chassis when entering the magazine chamber with its castors from the floor to a defined position within the Housing can be lifted off.

Zweckmäßig weisen die Magazinböden einen im wesentlichen rechteckigen Begrenzungsrand als Anschlag für die Leerflaschen auf. Zur Signalisierung des Füllzustands kann in dem der Durchtrittsöffnung gegenüberliegenden Begrenzungsrandbereich ein auf eine aufgeschobene Leerflasche ansprechendes, vorzugsweise gehäusefestes Sensorelement angeordnet werden, das beispielsweise als um eine vertikale Achse verschwenkbarer Hebel ausgebildet sein kann, der einen im Strahlengang einer Reflexionslichtschranke angeordneten Reflektor trägt oder einen Mikroschalter betätigt.The magazine bottoms expediently have one rectangular border as a stop for the Empty bottles on. For signaling the fill level can in the opposite of the passage opening Border margin area on a pushed-on empty bottle attractive, preferably housing-fixed sensor element can be arranged, for example, as around a vertical axis pivotable lever is formed can be one in the beam path of a reflection light barrier arranged reflector carries or Microswitch actuated.

Im folgenden wird die Erfindung anhand eines in der Zeichnung in schematischer Weise dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiels näher erläutert. Es zeigen

Fig. 1
eine Frontansicht eines geschlossenen Leerflaschen-Rücknahmegeräts;
Fig. 2
eine Vorderansicht des Leerflaschen-Rücknahmegeräts mit abgenommener Fahrgestellblende;
Fig. 3
eine Draufsicht auf das Leerflaschen-Rücknahmegerät bei abgenommenem Gehäuseoberteil;
Fig. 4
ein Schema der Flaschenerkennungseinrichtung;
Fig. 5
eine Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 3 für ein abgewandeltes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Leerflaschen-Rücknahmegeräts.
The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown schematically in the drawing. Show it
Fig. 1
a front view of a closed empty bottle return device;
Fig. 2
a front view of the empty bottle return device with the chassis panel removed;
Fig. 3
a plan view of the empty bottle return device with the upper housing part removed;
Fig. 4
a schematic of the bottle detection device;
Fig. 5
a representation corresponding to FIG. 3 for a modified embodiment of an empty bottle return device.

Das in der Zeichnung dargestellte Leerflaschen-Rücknahmegerät besteht im wesentlichen aus einem Gehäuse 10, zwei übereinander im Gehäuse angeordneten, an einer Eingabeöffnung 11 durch je eine Schiebetür 12 verschließbaren Eingabekammern 14 für aufrecht stehende Leerflaschen 16, einem in eine nach vorne offene Magazinkammer 18 des Gehäuses einstellbaren Fahrgestell 20 mit zwei übereinander angeordneten Leerflaschenmagazinen 22, sowie einem Bedienungspult 24 mit Bontaste 26, Bonausgabe 28 und Display 30.The empty bottle return device shown in the drawing consists essentially of a housing 10, two arranged one above the other in the housing, on one Entry opening 11 can be closed by a sliding door 12 Input chambers 14 for upright Empty bottles 16, one in a magazine chamber open to the front 18 of the housing adjustable chassis 20 with two empty bottle magazines arranged one above the other 22, and a control panel 24 with receipt button 26, Receipt 28 and display 30.

Bei dem Ausführungsbeispiel nach Fig. 3 enthalten die stationären Eingabekammern 14 eine gehäusefeste Stellfläche 32 die nach vorne und hinten durch je eine Einstellschwelle 34 sowie eine rückwärtige Anschlagwand 36 begrenzt ist. Die Stellfläche 32 der Eingabekammern 14 ist über eine Durchtrittsöffnung 38 mit dem benachbarten Leerflaschenmagazin 22 des Fahrgestells 20 verbunden und fluchtet mit deren Magazinboden 40. Die Durchtrittsöffnung 38 ist durch den zugleich als Schiebetür ausgebildeten Ausleger 42 des Sensorschiebers 44 verschließbar. Ein dem ersten Ausleger 42 gegenüberliegender Ausleger 46 des Sensorschiebers trägt in der Nähe seines vorderen Endes mehrere, als optoelektronische Sendeempfänger ausgebildete Sensoren 48, die zusammen mit den Spiegeln 50 am Ausleger 42 Reflexionslichtschranken zur Abtastung der Flaschenkontur bilden. Der Sensorschieber 44 ist mit Hilfe eines Getriebemotors 52, einem Zahnrad 54 und einer Zahnstange 56 zwischen einer vorderen, in durchgezogenen Linien dargestellten Eingabestellung und einer rückwärtigen, in gestrichelten Linien dargestellten Endstellung horizontal in Richtung des Doppelpfeils 58 hin- und herverschiebbar. Die Leerflasche 16 bleibt beim Verschieben des Sensorschiebers 44 auf ihrer Stellfläche 32 in der Eingabekammer 14 stehen. Auf der Verschiebestrecke wandern die Sensoren 48 an der Flasche vorbei und tasten deren Durchmesser auf verschiedener Höhe über der Stellfläche 32 ab. Außerdem treibt der Getriebemotor 52 mit seiner Abtriebswelle 60 einen als Zahnrad 62 aus magnetisierbarem Material und einer Magnetsonde 64 ausgebildeten inkrementellen Wegaufnehmer an, der im Zusammenwirken mit den Sensoren 48 zur Flaschenerkennung beiträgt. In der rückwärtigen Endstellung gibt der Schiebetür-Ausleger 42 des Sensorschiebers 44 die Durchtrittsöffnung 38 frei. In dieser Endstellung kann die in der Eingabekammer 14 befindliche Leerflasche 16 mit Hilfe des mit einem Motor 66 angetriebenen Querschiebers 68, der den Verschiebeweg des Sensorsschiebers 44 im Bereich der Eingabekammer 14 kreuzt, durch die Durchtrittsöffnung 38 hindurch in das Leerflaschenmagazin 22 ausgeschoben werden.3 contain the stationary input chambers 14 a housing-fixed footprint 32 forward and backward through an adjustment threshold 34 and a rear stop wall 36 is limited. The footprint 32 of the input chambers 14 is via a passage opening 38 with the neighboring Empty bottle magazine 22 of the chassis 20 connected and aligns with the magazine bottom 40. The passage opening 38 is through that at the same time as a sliding door trained boom 42 of the sensor slide 44 closable. One opposite the first boom 42 Boom 46 of the sensor slide carries nearby its front end several, as optoelectronic Transceivers trained sensors 48 that together with the mirrors 50 on the bracket 42 reflection light barriers form for scanning the bottle contour. Of the Sensor slide 44 is by means of a geared motor 52, a gear 54 and a rack 56 between a front, shown in solid lines Input position and a rear, in dashed lines Lines shown end position horizontally in the direction of the double arrow 58 to and fro. The Empty bottle 16 remains when the sensor slide is moved 44 on their footprint 32 in the input chamber 14 stand. The sensors move on the shifting distance 48 past the bottle and feel its diameter at different heights above the footprint 32. In addition, the gear motor 52 drives with its output shaft 60 one as a gear 62 made of magnetizable material and a magnetic probe 64 formed incremental Sensor in cooperation with the Sensors 48 contributes to bottle detection. In the back The sliding door arm 42 gives the end position of the sensor slide 44 clear the passage opening 38. In this end position, the one in the input chamber 14 located empty bottle 16 with the help of a motor 66 driven cross slide 68, the displacement of the sensor slide 44 in the area of the input chamber 14 crosses through the passage opening 38 are pushed out into the empty bottle magazine 22.

Die Eingabekammer 14 wird bei zurückgezogenem Querschieber 68 im unteren Teil durch den Schieberstempel 116 begrenzt, während sie im oberen Teil entweder durch eine gehäusefeste oder durch eine sensorschieberfeste Begrenzungswand begrenzt ist. Erforderlichenfalls sind im Stempel 116 und in der darüber befindlichen Begrenzungswand nicht dargestellte Sensorblenden für den Durchtritt des Sensorlichts ausgespart.The input chamber 14 is when the cross slide is retracted 68 in the lower part by the slider stamp 116 while limited by either the upper part a housing-fixed or by a sensor slide fixed Boundary wall is limited. If necessary in stamp 116 and in the boundary wall above Sensor screens, not shown, for the Cut out passage of the sensor light.

Da die auf dem Boden 108 aufstehenden Fahrrollen 110 des Fahrgestells 20 einem allmählichen Verschleiß unterliegen, müssen Vorkehrungen getroffen werden, die eine verschleißunabhängige Ausfluchtung zwischen den Stellflächen 32 der Eingabekammern 14 einerseits und den Magazinböden 40 des Fahrgestells 20 andererseits bei in die Magazinkammer 18 eingeschobenem Fahrgestell 20 gewährleisten. Hierzu sind auf der Seite der Eingabekammern 14 in die Magazinkammer 18 eingreifende Stützrollen 112 vorgesehen, auf die das Fahrgestell 20 beim Einschieben in die Magazinkammer 18 unter Abheben der eingabekammerseitigen Fahrrollen 110 mit einer Führungsrinne 114 aufläuft.Since the casters 110 standing on the floor 108 the chassis 20 is subject to gradual wear, precautions must be taken that a wear-independent alignment between the Footprints 32 of the input chambers 14 on the one hand and the magazine floors 40 of the chassis 20 on the other hand when the chassis is inserted into the magazine chamber 18 20 ensure. For this are on the input chamber side 14 support rollers engaging in the magazine chamber 18 112 provided on the chassis 20 at Pushing it into the magazine chamber 18 while lifting the input-chamber-side castors 110 with a guide trough 114 accumulates.

Die Stellfläche 32 der Eingabekammer 14 ist als Oberfläche einer Wägeplatte 70 ausgebildet, die mit ihrer Unterseite gegen einen druckabhängigen Widerstand 72 einwirkt. Der Widerstand 72 bildet zusammen mit dem durch einen Schalter 74 überbrückbaren Kondensator 76 eine Integratorschaltung, die durch einen Komparator 78 abgeschlossen ist. Am Ausgang des Komparators 78 ist ein Rechtecksignal abgreifbar, dessen Impulsdauer nach Öffnen des Schalters 74 über den druckabhängigen Widerstand 72 ein Maß für das Flaschengewicht bildet. Das Ausgangssignal des Komparators 78 wird in einem Zeitmeßglied 80 der Mikroprozessorschaltung 82 unter Bildung von Vergleichswerten für die Gewichtserkennung ausgewertet. Im Anschluß daran wird über den Getriebemotor 52 eine Relativbewegung zwischen dem Sensorschieber 44 und den darauf angeordneten Sensoren 48 einerseits und der in der Eingabekammer 14 befindlichen Leerflasche 16 andererseits und damit ein Konturerkennungsvorgang eingeleitet. Maßgebend für die Kontur der Leerflasche 16 sind die Durchmesser in den verschiedenen Meßebenen der Sensoren 48, wobei für die Bestimmung des jeweiligen Durchmessers die Eintritts- und Austrittspunkte benutzt werden. Wie aus Fig. 4 zu ersehen ist, wird das in dem Impulsformer 84 des inkrementalen Weggebers 62,64 umgeformte Zählsignal an den Zähleingang eines im Mikroprozessor 82 integrierten Zählers 86 gelegt, wobei der Anfang und das Ende des Zählvorgangs über die Endschalter 88,90 bestimmt werden.The footprint 32 of the input chamber 14 is a surface a weighing plate 70 formed with her Bottom against a pressure-dependent resistor 72 acts. The resistor 72 forms together with the capacitor 76 which can be bridged by a switch 74 an integrator circuit formed by a comparator 78 is completed. At the output of the comparator 78 a square wave signal can be tapped, the pulse duration after Open switch 74 via the pressure dependent resistor 72 forms a measure of the bottle weight. The The output signal of the comparator 78 is in a timing element 80 of the microprocessor circuit 82 under formation of comparison values for weight detection evaluated. Subsequently, the gear motor 52 a relative movement between the sensor slide 44 and the sensors 48 arranged thereon on the one hand and the empty bottle located in the input chamber 14 16 on the other hand and thus a contour recognition process initiated. Decisive for the contour of the empty bottle 16 are the diameters in the different Measurement planes of the sensors 48, the determination of the of the respective diameter the entry and exit points to be used. As can be seen from Fig. 4, this will be in the incremental encoder encoder 84 62.64 converted count signal to the count input a counter 86 integrated in the microprocessor 82, where the beginning and end of the counting process can be determined using the limit switches 88.90.

Weiter sind die Auslöseschalter 92,94 für den Querschieberantrieb 66,68, die Signallampen 96,98, der Verriegelungsmagnet 100 für die Schiebetür 12 und der Schalter 102 über Ausgabeports 104 der Mikroprozessorschaltung 82 ansteuerbar. Der Zustand der Eingabeports 80,86,105 wird über ein Mikroprozessorprogramm zyklisch abgefragt. Der Abfragezyklus entspricht dabei der Programmzyklusfrequenz, die in jedem Falle größer als die Zählfrequenz des Weggebers 62,64 gewählt werden muß.In addition, the trigger switches 92.94 for the cross slide drive 66.68, the signal lamps 96.98, the locking magnet 100 for the sliding door 12 and the switch 102 via output ports 104 of the microprocessor circuit 82 controllable. The state of the input ports 80,86,105 is queried cyclically via a microprocessor program. The query cycle corresponds to the program cycle frequency, which in any case is greater than the counting frequency of the encoder 62.64 must be selected.

Die Auswertung der ankommenden Signale erfolgt über ein im Speicher 106 des Mikroprozessors 82 abgelegtes Softwareprogramm unter Verwendung von ebenfalls in einem Teil des Speichers 106 abgelegten Referenzwertsätzen.The incoming signals are evaluated via a Software program stored in the memory 106 of the microprocessor 82 using also in one Part of the memory 106 stored reference value sets.

Das Ausführungsbeispiel nach Fig. 5 unterscheidet sich von demjenigen nach Fig. 3 vor allem dadurch, daß die als optoelektronische Sendeempfänger ausgebildeten Sensoren 148 und ihre Spiegel 50 gehäusefest im Bereich des Verschiebewegs des Querschiebers 68 angeordnet sind, so daß der Sensorschieber 44 entfällt. Der Querschieber 68 ist mit Hilfe des Getriebemotors 66, einem Zahnrad 67 und einer Zahnstange 68 zwischen einer rückwärtigen, in durchgezogenen Linien dargestellten Eingabestellung und einer vorderen, in gestrichelten Linien dargestellten Endstellung horizontal in Richtung des Doppelpfeils 69 hin- und herverschiebbar. Außerdem treibt der Getriebemotor 66 mit seiner Abtriebswelle 160 eine als Zahnrad 162 aus magnetisierbarem Material und einer Magnetsonde 164 ausgebildeten inkrementalen Wegaufnehmer an, der im Zusammenwirken mit den Sensoren 148 zur Flaschenerkennung beiträgt. Der Querschieber 68 weist eine schieberfeste Plattform 120 auf, die als Stellfläche für die einzustellende Leerflasche 16 dient. Zur Seite des Antriebsmotors 66 hin ist eine schieberfeste Begrenzungswand 116 vorgesehen, während die Rückwand 36 der Eingabekammer gehäusefest angeordnet ist. Die Plattform 120 gelangt mit der auf ihr befindlichen Flasche 16 über den Verschiebeweg durch die Durchtrittsöffnung 38 hindurch in das Leerflaschenmagazin 22 und wird entlang dem Verschiebeweg zur Flaschenerkennung durch die Sensoren 148 berührungslos abgetastet. Die eigentliche Übergabe der Leerflasche 16 in das Leerflaschenmagazin 22 erfolgt durch einen Abstreifer 124, der bei ausgefahrenem Querschieber 116 mit Hilfe eines Antriebsmotors 126 über die Plattform 120 hinweg vor die Durchtrittsöffnung 38 verfahren wird, so daß beim anschließenden Zurückziehen des Querschiebers 116 die Leerflasche 16 von der Plattform 120 abgestreift wird. Der Flaschenabstreifer 124 dient bei diesem Ausführungsbeispiel zugleich als Verschlußtür für die Durchtrittsöffnung 42. Um bei geöffneter Eingabekammer 14 einen Durchgriff zu den Sensoren 148 und zur Durchtrittsöffnung 38 zu verhindern, ist zusätzlich eine Trennwand 128 vorgesehen, die starr mit dem Abstreifer 124 verbunden und gemeinsam mit diesem verschiebbar sein kann.5 differs 3 mainly by the fact that the sensors designed as optoelectronic transceivers 148 and their mirrors 50 fixed to the housing in the area of the displacement path of the cross slide 68 are so that the sensor slide 44 is omitted. The cross slide 68 is with the help of the gear motor 66, a Gear 67 and a rack 68 between a rear, Input position shown in solid lines and a front one, in dashed lines illustrated end position horizontally in the direction of Double arrow 69 can be pushed back and forth. Furthermore drives the geared motor 66 with its output shaft 160 a as a gear 162 made of magnetizable material and a magnetic probe 164 formed incremental Displacement sensor in cooperation with the sensors 148 contributes to bottle detection. The cross slide 68 has a slide-resistant platform 120, which as Space for the empty bottle 16 to be set is used. To the side of the drive motor 66 is a slide-resistant Boundary wall 116 provided while the rear wall 36 of the input chamber is arranged fixed to the housing. The platform 120 arrives with the one on it Bottle 16 via the displacement path through the passage opening 38 into the empty bottle magazine 22 and becomes bottle detection along the displacement path sensed by sensors 148 without contact. The actual transfer of the empty bottle 16 into the empty bottle magazine 22 is carried out by a scraper 124, the with the cross slide 116 extended with the aid of a drive motor 126 across the platform 120 in front of the Passage opening 38 is moved so that the subsequent Retracting the cross slide 116 Empty bottle 16 is stripped from the platform 120. The bottle scraper 124 is used in this embodiment at the same time as a closing door for the passage opening 42. To with the input chamber 14 open a passage to the sensors 148 and to the passage opening Preventing 38 is an additional one Partition 128 provided which is rigid with the wiper 124 connected and movable together with this can be.

Die Magazinböden 40 weisen einen im wesentlichen rechteckigen Begrenzungsrand 118 auf, der bei den gezeigten Ausführungsbeispielen durch die vertikalen Außenwände des Fahrgestells 20 gebildet ist. Die Durchtrittsöffnungen 38 werden durch je einen Wanddurchbruch im eingabeseitigen Wandbereich des Fahrgestells 20 gebildet, die unter der Einwirkung einer nicht dargestellten Feder beim Herausnehmen des Fahrgestells aus der Magazinkammer 18 selbsttätig geschlossen werden.The magazine bottoms 40 have a substantially rectangular shape Boundary edge 118 on that shown in the Embodiments through the vertical outer walls of the chassis 20 is formed. The passage openings 38 are each through a wall opening in the input side Wall area of the chassis 20 formed, under the action of a spring, not shown when removing the chassis from the magazine chamber 18 are closed automatically.

Sobald einer der Magazinböden 40 voll ist, wird über das durch eine auftreffende Leerflasche 16 betätigte gehäusefeste Sensorelement 120 die Reflexionslichtschranke 122 oder ein Mikroschalter unter Abgabe eines "Voll"-Signals ausgelöst und die Schiebetür 12 der betreffenden Eingabekammer 14 gesperrt. Damit kann nur noch die andere Eingabekammer 14 mit Leerflaschen beschickt werden, bis auch deren Leerflaschenmagazin 22 voll ist. Ein Weiterbetrieb ist dann erst wieder möglich, wenn das Fahrgestell 20 mit den vollen Flaschenmagazinen 22 durch eines mit leeren Magazinen ersetzt wird. Um eine leichte Manövrierbarkeit zu gewährleisten, ist das Fahrgestell 20 mit relativ großen Fahrrollen 110 versehen. Zum Entleeren werden die Flaschen 16 zunächst vom oberen Magazinboden 40 von oben her entnommen und gegebenenfalls in bereitstehende Flaschenkästen einsortiert. Zum Entleeren des unteren Magazinbodens 40 wird der zuvor entleerte obere Magazinboden 40 beispielsweise an einem Scharniergelenk nach oben geklappt, um von oben her frei an die betreffenden Flaschen 16 herankommen zu können.As soon as one of the magazine bottoms 40 is full, over that operated by an impacting empty bottle 16 housing-fixed sensor element 120 the reflection light barrier 122 or a microswitch giving a "Full" signal triggered and the sliding door 12 of the concerned Entry chamber 14 locked. So only still the other input chamber 14 loaded with empty bottles until their empty bottle magazine 22 is full. Continued operation is only possible again when the chassis 20 with the full bottle magazines 22 replaced by one with empty magazines becomes. To ensure easy maneuverability, is the chassis 20 with relatively large casters 110 provided. The bottles are used for emptying 16 first from the top magazine bottom 40 from above removed and, if necessary, in ready-made bottle crates sorted. For emptying the lower magazine bottom 40 becomes the previously emptied upper magazine bottom 40 for example on a hinge joint folded up to freely from above to the concerned Bottles 16 to be able to get.

Zusammenfassend ist folgendes festzustellen: Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf ein Leerflaschen-Rücknahmegerät mit einer Eingabekammer 14 für Leerflaschen 16 und einem Fahrgestell 20 als Wechselmagazin 22. Um eine einfache Handhabung beim Beschicken und Entleeren des Wechselmagazins 22 zu gewährleisten, ist das Leerflaschenmagazin 22 über eine quer zur Eingabeöffnung 11 ausgerichtete verschließbare Durchtrittsöffnung 38 von der stationären Eingabekammer 14 aus zugänglich. Weiter ist eine Fördereinrichtung vorgesehen, die einen quer zur Eingaberichtung durch die Eingabekammer 14 hindurch in Richtung Durchtrittsöffnung 38 hin- und herverschiebbaren Querschieber 68 aufweist. Die Flaschenerkennung erfolgt über einen innerhalb des Gehäuses 10 in Eingaberichtung hin- und herverschiebbaren, den Verschiebeweg des Querschiebers 68 im Bereich der Eingabekammer kreuzenden Sensorschieber 44, der mit Sensoren 48 zur berührungslosen Abtastung der Flaschenkontur bestückt ist.In summary, the following can be stated: The invention refers to an empty bottle return device with an input chamber 14 for empty bottles 16 and one Chassis 20 as a change magazine 22. To a simple Handling when loading and emptying the change magazine 22 is the empty bottle magazine 22 via an aligned transverse to the input opening 11 closable passage opening 38 from the stationary input chamber 14 accessible from. Is further a conveyor is provided which transversely to Input direction through the input chamber 14 in Can be pushed back and forth towards the passage opening 38 Cross slide 68 has. The bottle is recognized via a within the housing 10 in the input direction sliding back and forth, the displacement path of the cross slide 68 in the area of the input chamber crossing sensor slide 44, which with sensors 48 for Non-contact scanning of the bottle contour is.

Claims (28)

  1. An empty bottle collector comprising a housing (10), at least one intake chamber (14) for empty bottles (16) accessible from outside through a closeable intake opening (11), an empty bottle store (22) following the intake chamber (14), a feeding mechanism which can be driven by a motor and which has a bottle slide (68) which can be moved back and forth through the intake chamber (14) taking along the inserted empty bottle (16) on a linear path of movement in the direction of the empty bottle store (22), a mechanism (44, 48; 70, 72) provided in the area of the intake chamber (14) for recognizing the bottles, which mechanism has a sensor slide (44) which can be moved back and forth linearly within the housing (10) and crosses the path of movement of the bottle slide (68) in the area of the intake chamber (14) and which sensor slide is equipped with a sensor (48) for scanning the bottle contour and/or the bottle diameter, and a control mechanism (82) preferably reacting to output signals of the bottle-recognizing mechanism for controlling the feeding mechanism (68) and, if desired, a refund output (28), wherein the intake chamber (14) has a placement surface (32) for receiving an upright positioned empty bottle (16) and the empty bottle store (22) has a store floor (40) at the level of the placement surface for receiving upright positioned empty bottles, characterized in that the empty bottle store (22) is accessible from the stationary intake chamber (14) through a closeable aperture (38) aligned transversely with respect to the intake opening (11), that the bottle slide is designed as a transverse slide (68) movable transversely with respect to the intake direction, that the sensor slide (44) is equipped with sensors (48) for the contactless scanning of the bottle contour and/or of the bottle diameter, and that the drive (52) of the sensor slide (44) is coupled with a path indicator (62, 64) triggered through the sensors (48) for recognizing the bottle.
  2. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sensor slide (44) has a lateral arm (42), which is at the same time designed as a closure door for the aperture (38).
  3. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 2, characterized in that the sensor slide (44) has a second arm (46) preferably carrying the sensors (48) on the side of the intake chamber (14), which side is opposite the arm (42).
  4. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 3, characterized in that the second arm (46) opposite the intake chamber (14) is covered with a housing-fixed lateral boundary wall.
  5. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 4, characterized in that the lateral boundary wall has sensor shields elongated in the direction of movement of the sensor slide (44).
  6. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the lateral housing-fixed boundary wall and/or the sensor slide arm (46) opposite the closure door (42) have a recess for passage of the transverse slide (68, 116) in the lower area adjacent to the placement surface (32).
  7. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 6, characterized in that the transverse slide (68) forms, with its front surface (116) in its end position moved back with respect to the aperture (38), the lower part of a lateral boundary wall of the intake chamber (14).
  8. An empty bottle collector comprising a housing (10), at least one intake chamber (14), which is accessible from outside through a closeable intake opening (11) for empty bottles (16), an empty bottle store (22) following the intake chamber (18), a feeding mechanism (68) which can be driven by a motor and which has a bottle slide (68) which can be moved back and forth through the intake chamber (14) taking along the inserted empty bottle (16) in the direction of the empty bottle store (22) on a linear path of movement, a mechanism (44, 48; 70, 72) provided in the area of the intake chamber (14) for recognizing the bottles, and a control mechanism (82) preferably reacting to output signals of the bottle-recognizing mechanism for controlling the feeding mechanism (68) and, if desired, a refund output (28), wherein the intake chamber (14) has a placement surface (32) for receiving an upright positioned empty bottle (16) and the empty bottle store (22) has a store floor (40) provided at the level of the placement surface for receiving of upright positioned empty bottles (16), characterized in that the empty bottle store (22) is accessible from the intake chamber (14) through an aperture (38) aligned transversely with respect to the intake opening (11), that the bottle slide is designed as a transverse slide (68, 116) which can be moved transversely with respect to the intake direction, and that the bottle-recognizing mechanism has in the area of the path of movement between intake chamber (14) and aperture (38) sensors (148) arranged fixedly on the housing for the contactless bottle scanning and a distance sensor (162, 164) for recognizing the bottles, which distance sensor is coupled with the transverse slide (68, 116) or its drive (66) and is triggered through the sensors (148).
  9. The empty bottle collector according to one of the Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the intake chamber (14) is delimited by a housing-fixed rearward stop wall (36) for the empty bottles (16).
  10. The empty bottle collector according to one of the Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the placement surface (32) of the intake chamber (14) is delimited by a housing-fixed front and rearward boundary plate (34).
  11. The empty bottle collector according to one of the Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the sensors (48) are designed as optoelectronic scanning members, preferably as reflected or transmitted light barriers.
  12. The empty bottle collector according to one of the Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the placement surface (32) has, within the intake chamber (14), a scale (70) connected to the control mechanism (82) on an output side.
  13. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 12, characterized in that the scale has a scale plate with a pressure sensor, which is preferably designed as a pressure-sensitive resistor (72) or capacitor.
  14. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 13, characterized in that the pressure sensor is arranged in a RC-element (72, 76) of an integrator circuit, the output signal of which can be converted into a square-wave impulse with an impulse duration dependent on the weight of the bottles through a threshold-value switch or a comparator (78).
  15. The empty bottle collector according to one of the Claims 8 to 14, characterized in that the transverse slide (68) has a platform (120) for receiving the empty bottle (16) placed into the intake chamber (14), which bottle can be moved with the transverse slide over the path of movement to the aperture (38) or can be introduced through said aperture into the empty bottle store (22) and can be returned - if desired after the transfer of the empty bottle (16) - back to its initial position.
  16. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 15, characterized by motor-driven bottle-removing means (124) arranged in the area of the aperture (38) for the empty bottle (16) arranged on the platform (120) engaging the empty bottle store (22).
  17. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 16, characterized in that the bottle-removing means (124) is designed at the same time as a closure door for the aperture (38).
  18. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 15, characterized in that the transverse slide (68) has a preferably motor-driven bottle-removing means, which moves the empty bottle (16) from the platform (120) into the empty bottle store (22).
  19. The empty bottle collector according to one of the Claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the bottle removing means (124) has a drive motor (126), which can be operated through the control mechanism (82) in accordance with an output signal of the bottle-recognizing mechanism.
  20. The empty bottle collector according to one of the Claims 15 to 19, characterized in that the platform (120) has a vertical sidewall (122), which is fixed on the transverse slide and defines the intake chamber, on its side opposite the aperture (38).
  21. The empty bottle collector according to one of the Claims 15 to 20, characterized by a partition wall (128) which delimits the intake chamber (14) toward the side of the aperture (38) and the sensors (148) and which is movable perpendicularly with respect to the direction of movement of the transverse slide.
  22. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 21, characterized in that the partition wall (128) is rigidly connected to the bottle-removing means (124) and can be moved together with same.
  23. The empty bottle collector according to one of the Claims 1 to 22, characterized in that the empty bottle store (22) is arranged in a carriage (20) movable into a store chamber (18).
  24. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 23, characterized by guide or support rollers (112) arranged on the carriage (20) and/or on the housing at least on one side on the side of the intake chamber (14), through which rollers the carriage (20) can be lifted when moving into the store chamber (18) with its rollers (110) from the floor (108) into a defined position within the housing (10).
  25. The empty bottle collector according to one of the Claims 23 and 24, characterized in that the housing has at least two intake chambers (14) arranged one above the other and each equipped with a sensor slide (44) and/or a transverse slide (68), and the carriage (20) has a corresponding number of empty bottle stores (22) arranged one above the other, wherein the store floors (40) of the empty bottle stores (22) are aligned with the placement surfaces (32) of the associated intake chambers (14) when the carriage (20) is positioned in the store chamber (18).
  26. The empty bottle collector according to one of the Claims 1 to 25, characterized in that the store floors (40) have an essentially rectangular boundary edge preferably formed by vertical carriage walls, and that a preferably housing-fixed sensor element (120) reacting to an empty bottle (16) moved thereon is arranged in the boundary edge area opposite the aperture (38).
  27. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 26, characterized in that the sensor element (120) is designed preferably as a lever pivotable about a vertical axis against the force of a spring, which lever carries a reflector arranged in the beam path of a reflecting light barrier or operates a microswitch.
  28. The empty bottle collector according to Claim 26 or 27, characterized in that the sensor element (120) is arranged in the area of an edge corner of the store floors (40), and that the aperture (38) at its associated boundary edge is positioned shifted off-center toward a diagonally opposite boundary edge corner.
EP95904432A 1994-01-07 1994-12-07 Empty bottle collector Expired - Lifetime EP0738409B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP97111001A EP0802511B1 (en) 1994-01-07 1994-12-07 Empty bottle reverse vending device

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE4400251 1994-01-07
DE4400251 1994-01-07
PCT/EP1994/004074 WO1995019020A1 (en) 1994-01-07 1994-12-07 Empty bottle collector

Related Child Applications (1)

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EP97111001A Division EP0802511B1 (en) 1994-01-07 1994-12-07 Empty bottle reverse vending device

Publications (2)

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EP0738409A1 EP0738409A1 (en) 1996-10-23
EP0738409B1 true EP0738409B1 (en) 1998-03-18

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EP97111001A Expired - Lifetime EP0802511B1 (en) 1994-01-07 1994-12-07 Empty bottle reverse vending device

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US (1) US5788045A (en)
EP (2) EP0738409B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2997317B2 (en)
AT (2) ATE216109T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2179806A1 (en)
DE (3) DE59410102D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2115354T3 (en)
FI (1) FI962760A7 (en)
NO (1) NO314864B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1995019020A1 (en)

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ES2115354T3 (en) 1998-06-16
FI962760L (en) 1996-07-05
EP0802511B1 (en) 2002-04-10
US5788045A (en) 1998-08-04
EP0802511A3 (en) 1997-11-19
NO962851D0 (en) 1996-07-05
DE59405496D1 (en) 1998-04-23
WO1995019020A1 (en) 1995-07-13
NO314864B1 (en) 2003-06-02
CA2179806A1 (en) 1995-07-13
EP0802511A2 (en) 1997-10-22
ATE216109T1 (en) 2002-04-15
FI962760A0 (en) 1996-07-05
JP2997317B2 (en) 2000-01-11
DE4443406A1 (en) 1995-07-13
EP0738409A1 (en) 1996-10-23
NO962851L (en) 1996-08-22
DE59410102D1 (en) 2002-05-16
ATE164248T1 (en) 1998-04-15
FI962760A7 (en) 1996-07-05
JPH09507323A (en) 1997-07-22

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