JPS64750B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an empty can collecting machine for collecting empty cans of canned products such as canned coffee, canned coffee, and canned beer.

(Prior Art) Recently, empty can collection machines using a deposit method (temporary deposit method) have been used to improve the effectiveness of collecting empty cans of canned products such as canned coffee, canned coffee, and canned beer. What is the deposit method?
The canned product is sold at a fixed amount, e.g.
In this system, cans are sold with yen added as a deposit and a sticker attached to the bottom of the can to mark the deposit, and the deposit is returned for empty cans with the sticker attached.

Empty can collection machines used in such deposit methods conventionally detect whether or not an empty can inserted through an input port has a sticker attached, and if a sticker is attached, it is sent to the dispensing port for coins equivalent to the deposit. Empty cans that are taken out and put in are collected in a collection box either as they are or after being pressed.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the empty can collecting machine as described above, the press device is designed to be able to uniformly press the entire can only when the loaded empty can is guided in a predetermined direction. It is configured. Therefore, for example, in a press device that uniformly presses the entire can only when the loaded empty can is guided horizontally, the loaded empty can 20 is pressed against the empty can holding plate 21 as shown in FIG. 3a. When the can 20 is guided in the vertical direction on the upper surface, even if the movable plate 22 of the press device is moved back and forth once in the direction of the empty can 20 to press it, the empty can 20 will be pushed in its lower half as shown in FIG. 3b. Only the upper half is pressed, and the upper half remains unpressed. Usually 20 empty cans
When the entire body is pressed uniformly, it is discharged through the gap 24 between the holding plate 21 and the holding frame 23 toward the collection box. However, as shown in FIG. 3b, if the upper half of the empty can 20 is not pressed completely, it will not be able to pass through the gap 24, and the holding plate 2
and the holding member 23. Therefore, if subsequent empty cans are thrown in one after another in this state, the unpressed empty cans will become an obstacle for the subsequent empty cans, and the subsequent empty cans will also become incompletely pressed one after another, and eventually the upper surface of the holding plate 21 will be pressed. Many unpressed empty cans remain,
There is a problem that it becomes impossible to press.

On the other hand, an empty can passage detector 25 is provided in the passage leading to the collection box below the holding plate 21, which detects when the pressed empty cans 20 are headed toward the collection box. Figure 3b
If the empty cans remain in the form shown in the figure, the empty can passage detector 25 will continue to detect the passing of empty cans, and the collection box will be mistakenly recognized as being full and the pressed empty cans have piled up below the holding plate 21. There is a problem that the operation of the collection machine stops.

The present invention was developed in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to reliably press empty cans and discharge them to a collection box, no matter what condition the empty cans are guided into the press device, and to prevent the cans from becoming unpressable. To provide an empty can collection machine capable of preventing the user from misperceiving that a collection box is full.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a control device that reactivates the press device if a detection signal of a predetermined voltage level of an empty can passage detector continues for a certain period of time or more after the press device finishes pressing. By providing this, the above objective is achieved. That is, according to the present invention, the purpose is to provide an empty can input port, a shutter for guiding the empty cans input from the empty can input port downward, and a seal detector for detecting the seal attached to the empty can passing through the shutter. There is a collection box that collects only empty cans with stickers attached, and the empty cans guided toward this collection box are temporarily held on an empty can holding plate and pressed between a fixed holding frame and a movable plate. a press device that drops empty cans into a collection box through a space between an empty can holding plate and a holding frame, and a coin dispensing device that receives a detection signal from the seal detector and dispenses coins when an empty can with a seal is inserted. , an empty can passage detector which is provided close to the bottom between the empty can holding plate and the holding frame of the press device and detects when the pressed empty cans are directed to the collection box; This is achieved by an empty can recovery machine characterized by comprising a control device that restarts the pressing device on the condition that the detection signal of the empty can passage detector continues for a certain period of time or more after the pressing is finished.

(Function) If the detection signal of the empty can passage detector at a predetermined voltage level continues for a certain period of time or more, the press device is reactivated. For this reason, the unpressed empty cans complete the entire pressing process by newly pressing the unpressed portions, and then fall toward the collection box.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on examples.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, in which a front door 1 of the collection machine body is provided with an empty can input port 2, a coin payout port 3, and an empty can discharge port 4. .

The input port 2 communicates with a collection box 6 via a shutter 5 that guides the loaded empty cans downward.
It communicates with the discharge port 4 via a branch path 7 provided in the middle of the shooter 5 . A path switching mechanism 9 is provided on the branch path of the shooter 5 for selectively guiding empty cans input from the input port 2 to the collection box 6 or the discharge port 4, and further upstream of the branch path. is provided with a seal detector 10 for detecting the presence or absence of a seal. In addition, a press device 11 is provided in the empty can passageway of the shooter 5 leading to the collection box 6.
An empty can passage detector 12 is provided to detect when a pressed empty can has passed toward the collection box 6.

The passage switching mechanism 9 includes a switching plate 9A that switches the passage of the empty can to the collection box 6 side only when an empty can with a sticker affixed is thrown in, and this switching plate 9.
It has a solenoid 9B for operating A.

The press device 11 includes an eccentric cam 11B rotated by a press motor 11A;
A movable plate 11D contacts the cam 11B, advances into the empty can passage of the shooter 5 as the cam 11B rotates, and retreats from the can passage of the shooter 5 after a certain rotation by the biasing force of the tension spring 11C; and a press sensor 11E that detects when the can has traveled the distance required for pressing, and the empty can headed for the collection box 6 with the switching plate 9A switched to the side shown by the imaginary line stops at the position of the holding plate 11F. and movable plate 1
Pressed by 1D reciprocating motion, the holding plate 11
It is stored in the collection box 6 through the gap between F and the wall surface of the shooter 5 as a fixed holding frame. At this time,
Empty cans stored in the collection box 6 are detected by an empty can passage detector 12 provided close to the bottom of this gap.

On the other hand, a coin dispensing device 13 is installed upstream of the coin dispensing port 3. This coin dispensing device 13 includes a coin-out detector 13A that detects a shortage of coins based on a change in the weight of the coin hopper, and a coin jam detector 13A that detects that a coin is clogged in the passage leading to the dispensing port 3. A container 13B is provided.

Further, at the top of the front door 1, there is an indicator lamp 1 that indicates that the collection machine is ready for operation.
4 is provided.

All of the output signals of the various detectors described above are input to the control device 15. The passage switching mechanism 9, the press device 11, the coin dispensing device 13, and the display lamp 14 are controlled by this control device 15.

Note that the input port 2 is provided with a can receiving door 16 that has a storage space for one empty can, and when the can receiving door 16 is opened and the empty can is accommodated, the empty can is dropped into the shooter 5 by closing the door 16. configured to do so. Further, a loading detector 17 is provided at the entrance of the shooter 5, which is activated when the can receiving door 16 is closed and detects when an empty can is loaded.
The seal detector 10 is configured to start a seal detection operation after a certain period of time on condition that a detection signal is generated from the input detector 17.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an overview of the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to this flowchart.

First, when the power of the control device 15 is turned on, this empty can collecting machine is put into operation. Control device 15
When the power is turned on, it is first determined whether the empty can collecting machine can be operated normally or not (step 30).
That is, based on the output signal of the press sensor 11E, it is detected whether the movable plate 11D of the press device 11 has returned to the press start position, and based on the output signal of the empty can passage detector 12, it is detected whether the collection box 6 is full. Furthermore, based on the output signal of the coin out-of-coin detector 13A, it is determined whether there is a shortage of coins for dispensing, and furthermore, based on the output signal of the coin jam detector 13B, it is determined whether the coins are in the dispensing slot or not. It is detected whether the upstream side of No. 3 is clogged.

As a result, if it is found that the movable plate 11D has returned to the pressing starting position, the collection box 6 is not full, and there is no coin shortage or coin jam, the empty can collection machine will operate normally. It is determined that the display is enabled, and the display lamp 14 is turned on.

However, if the movable plate 11D does not return to the normal pressing starting position due to engagement with a pressed empty can, or if the collection box 6 is full, or if there is a coin shortage or a coin jam, It is determined that the vehicle is in an unoperable state, and the indicator lamp 14 remains in the off state. In this case, the switching plate 9A of the passage switching mechanism 9 is switched to the side shown by the imaginary line only when all the causes of the inoperable state are removed and an empty can with a regular sticker affixed is thrown in. Therefore, even if an empty can is thrown in when the system is in an inoperable state, the empty can is discharged to the outside from the discharge port 4 through the branch path 7 of the computer 5 (step 41).

On the other hand, when the state is ready for operation, the input port 2
When an empty can is thrown in, the empty can reaches the position of the seal detector 10.

When the empty can reaches the seal detector 10, the seal detector 10 detects whether a seal is attached to the bottom of the empty can (step 3). As a result, when a detection symbol indicating the presence of a seal is output from the seal detector 10, the control device 15 sends a payout command to the coin dispensing device 13, and causes the coin dispensing device 13 to pay out coins equivalent to the deposit from the payout port. (Step 32). At the same time, the solenoid 9B of the passage switching mechanism 9 is driven to switch the switching plate 9A to the side shown by the imaginary line. As a result, the empty can with the seal falls to the position of the stopper plate 11F of the press device 11 via the switching plate 9A. Further, empty cans without seals are discharged to the discharge port 4 through the branch path 7.

The control device 15 drives the press motor 11A after a certain period of time, taking into consideration the time it takes for the empty can to fall to the position of the holding plate 11F, and rotates the eccentric cam 11B once. As a result, the movable plate 11D reciprocates once, and the empty can at the position of the holding plate 11F is pressed, passes between the holding plate 11F and the wall of the shooter 5, falls toward the collection box 6, and is pressed. The process is completed (step 33).

The control device 15 monitors the detection signal of the empty can passage detector 12 after pressing is completed, and if a detection signal with a pulse width corresponding to the passage time of the pressed empty can is generated, the pressed empty can is reliably collected. It is determined that the empty can is headed for box 6, and the next new empty can is placed in the queue. However, if the detection signal of the empty can passage detector 12 is continuously output for more than t time, which greatly exceeds the passage time of the empty can,
It is determined that the empty cans that have been pressed once remain in the press device 11 without being pressed (step 34), and the press device 11 is restarted to re-press the empty cans that have not been pressed yet (step 35). ).
Thereafter, the detection signal of the empty can passage detector 12 is monitored again, and it is determined whether the re-pressed empty cans have headed for the collection box 6 or not. As a result, if a pulse signal corresponding to the transit time of the empty can is output from the empty can passing detector 12, it is determined that the re-pressed empty can is definitely headed for the collection box 6, and the next empty can is placed in the waiting area. However, if the detection signal of the empty can passage detector 12 continues to be output for more than t time, it is determined that the collection box 6 is full (steps 36 and 38), and an abnormality is displayed. After performing this (step 39), the operation of the empty can collecting machine is stopped (step 40).

In this way, if the detection signal of the empty can passage detector 12 continues for a period of time t or more, the pressing operation is performed again, so that no matter what condition the empty cans are guided into the press device, they are pressed uniformly. This makes it possible to discharge unpressed empty cans to the collection box 6, thereby preventing empty cans that have not been pressed from remaining in the press apparatus and making it impossible to press them. In addition, by monitoring whether the detection signal of the empty can passage detector 12 continues for more than t time after re-pressing, it is possible to determine whether the collection box 6 is full or that empty cans that have not been pressed are inside the press device. It is now possible to distinguish and determine whether empty cans remain in the empty can collection machine, and it is possible to prevent the operation of the empty can collection machine from being stopped due to confirmation that the collection box 6 is full. Furthermore, if the loaded empty can does not have a seal (step 31), do not switch the switching plate 9A.
Control is performed so that the computer 5 connects to the branch road 7.
As a result, the empty can without a seal is discharged from the discharge port 4 (step 41). Further, in a power outage state, the switching plate 9A is switched so that the shutter 5 communicates with the branch path 7. Therefore, all empty cans put in during the power outage are discharged from the discharge port 4 (steps 30 and 41).

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the present invention temporarily holds empty cans on the empty can holding plate, temporarily holds the empty cans between the fixed holding frame and the movable plate, and presses the empty cans between the fixed holding frame and the movable plate. When an empty can is dropped from between the empty can holding plate and the fixed holding frame, an empty can passage detector installed close to the bottom of the press sends a detection signal of empty can passage for a certain period of time after the pressing device finishes pressing. We installed a control device that restarts the press device if the output continues, so if the detection signal of the predetermined voltage level of the empty can passage detector continues for a certain period of time, the press device will restart the press device. do. For this reason, the unpressed empty cans complete the entire pressing process by newly pressing the unpressed portions, and then fall toward the collection box. Therefore, no matter what state an empty can is guided into the press device, it can be reliably pressed and ejected toward the collection box, and there is no possibility that it will become unable to be pressed.
Misconception that the collection box is full can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an empty can collecting machine according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an overview of the operation of the embodiment, and Fig. 3 is an empty can that has not been pressed in a conventional empty can collecting machine. FIG. . 1...front door, 2...inlet, 3...outlet, 4...
Discharge port, 5... Shuter as a fixed holding frame, 6...
Collection box, 7... Branching path, 9... Passage switching mechanism, 10
...Seal detector, 11...Press device, 11D...Movable plate, 11F...Empty can holding plate, 12...Empty can passage detector, 13...Coin dispensing device, 14...Display lamp, 15...Control device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An empty can input port, a shutter that guides empty cans input from the empty can input port downward, a seal detector that detects seals attached to empty cans that pass through the shutter, and a system that detects only empty cans with stickers attached. The collection box to be collected and the empty cans guided toward the collection box are temporarily held on an empty can holding plate and pressed between a fixed holding frame and a movable plate, and the pressed empty cans are then pressed between the empty can holding plate and the holding frame. a press device that drops coins into a collection box through a space between the coins, a coin dispensing device that receives a detection signal from the seal detector and dispenses coins when an empty can with a seal is inserted, and an empty can holding plate of the press device and a holding plate. Between the empty can passage detector and the frame: an empty can passage detector which is installed close to the bottom and detects when the pressed empty cans are directed to the collection box; An empty can collecting machine comprising: a control device that restarts the press device on condition that the detection signal continues for a certain period of time or more.