JPH0467238B2 - - 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 slot has a sticker, and if a sticker is attached, the coins equivalent to the deposit are collected as coins. The empty cans dispensed from the dispensing port and placed therein are collected as they are or are pressed and collected in a collection box.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above-mentioned empty can collection machine, if empty cans or foreign objects get caught in the press device or the collection box becomes full, the machine becomes inoperable.
It is important to detect the occurrence of such a situation as soon as possible and to restore normal operating conditions.

Therefore, it is generally considered that separate detectors are used to detect empty cans or foreign matter being bitten and when the collection box is full, but this increases the number of detectors and increases costs. Not only does this become a factor, but safety measures against malfunction of the detector must be taken into consideration for each detector, which makes the entire control system complicated, which is undesirable.

In addition, conventional empty can collection machines have seal detection and
Coins are dispensed under both conditions of detecting empty cans on the stopper plate of the press machine, but for example, if an empty can with a seal is inserted with a string attached
This is a so-called string pulling action in which the coin is lowered to the top of the stopper board, and when the coin comes out, the string is pulled up before the press device operates to pull up the empty can from the top of the stopper board, and then the empty can is returned to the stopper board. There was also the possibility that the coins would be stolen.

The present invention was developed in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to use a single detector to detect when an empty can or foreign object is caught in the press device, when the collection box is full, and to prevent string-slinging, etc. To provide an empty can collection machine capable of dealing with mischief.

(Means for Solving the Problems) According to the present invention, this purpose is achieved by providing an empty can inlet;
A shutter that guides empty cans inputted from the empty can input port downward; a seal detector that detects stickers attached to empty cans passing through the shutter; and a collection box that collects only empty cans with stickers attached. A press device that presses the empty cans guided toward the collection box and discharges them into the collection box, and a press device installed directly below the empty can discharge section of this press device to detect when the pressed empty cans have headed toward the collection box. When two conditions are met: the empty can passage detector and the seal detector detect that the inserted empty can has a seal, and the empty can passage detector detects the passage of a pressed empty can. In addition to outputting a coin dispensing command, if an empty can passage detection signal is not output within a certain period of time after the press is completed, it is determined that an empty can or a foreign object has been caught, and the detection signal of the empty can passage detector is determined to be a predetermined value. a control device that determines that the collection box is full and stops the operation if it continues for more than a period of time; and a coin dispensing device that dispenses coins in accordance with the coin dispensing command output from the control device. This is achieved by an empty can collection machine characterized by comprising:

(Function) Even if the seal detector detects a seal on an empty can, if the empty can passage detection signal is not output, coins will not be dispensed, and the pressed empty can will not go to the collection box after the pressing is completed, so the empty can If the passage detection signal is not output, it is determined that an empty can or a foreign object has been caught. Conversely, if the number of pressed empty cans is estimated to reach the empty can discharge area of the press device and the empty can passage detection signal is continuously output for a certain period of time or more, it is determined that the collection box is full. . Therefore, a single empty can passage detector can detect whether a pressed empty can is heading toward the collection box, whether an empty can or a foreign object has become lodged in the press device, or whether the collection box is full. It becomes possible to detect three states.

(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.

In this case, if the press device 11 presses the loaded empty cans while standing vertically as shown in FIG. It is provided at the empty can discharge portion of the press device 11 within the range of the vertical length L of the empty can starting from the position. Further, if the press device 11 presses the loaded empty can in a horizontal state as shown in FIG. Installed at the empty can discharge site within the applicable range.

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. 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 of the shooter 5. At this time, the empty cans stored in the collection box 6 are detected by the empty can passage detector 12. In this case, when the collection box 6 is full of pressed empty cans, the pressed empty cans are detected by the detector 1.
The detection signal of this detector 12 becomes a DC signal having a continuous constant level. Therefore, it can be determined that the collection box 6 is full when the detection signal of the detector 12 changes to this constant voltage level DC signal.

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.

Note that the input port 2 is provided with an opening/closing door 16 that has a storage space for one empty can;
Empty cans stored with the door opened are configured to fall into the shooter 5 by closing the door 16. Further, a loading detector 17 is provided at the entrance of the shooter 5, which is activated by closing the opening/closing door 16 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.

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.

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 port 3 or not. Detects whether or not there is a blockage on the upstream side.

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 start position due to engagement with pressed empty cans or foreign objects, or if the collection box 6 is full, or if there is a coin shortage or a coin jam. If so, it is determined that the vehicle is in an inoperable 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 empty cans are thrown in during a non-operational state, the empty cans will pass through the branch path 7 of the shooter 5 to the discharge port 4.
is discharged to the outside (step 38).

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 is detected by the feeding detector 17. When the control device 15 detects that an empty can is thrown in based on the output signal of the feeding detector 17, the control device 15 detects a certain amount of time that takes into account the time required for the thrown empty can to reach the position of the detector 10 through the seal detector 10. After a period of time, it becomes operational.

Therefore, the inserted empty can is detected by the seal detector 10.
When the position is reached, the seal detector 10 detects whether a seal is affixed to the empty can (step 31), and if no seal is affixed, the switching plate 9 of the passage switching mechanism 9 is not switched; Shooter 5
remains connected to branch road 7. By this,
Empty cans without seals are discharged from the discharge port 4.

However, if a seal is attached, a seal detection signal is output from the seal detector 10, so the control device 15 uses the solenoid 9 of the passage switching mechanism 9 on the condition that it receives this seal detection signal.
B 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.

The control device 15 drives the press motor 11A in normal rotation after a certain period of time, taking into account the time it takes for the empty can to fall to the position of the stopper plate 11F, and drives the eccentric cam 11B.
Rotate once. As a result, the movable plate 11D reciprocates once, and the empty can located at the stopper plate 11F is pressed (step 32).
The collection box 6 passes between the 1st floor and the wall of the shooter 5.
The press will fall towards the end and the press will be completed.

The control device 15 monitors the press time required during the press operation in the press device 11 (step
33) If the time required for pressing greatly exceeds the fixed time t, it is determined that a foreign object other than an empty can, such as a pebble, has become trapped (step 40), and the trapped foreign object should be removed by maintenance personnel. Display lamp 14
At the same time, a foreign object is displayed on a maintenance display panel (not shown) (step 41), and the operation is stopped (step 42).

However, if the required pressing time is within t hours, the control device 15 determines whether the pressed empty can has definitely headed toward the collection box 6 by checking whether the detection signal of the empty can passage detector 12 has been generated. (Step 34). As a result, if an empty can passage detection signal is input from the empty can passage detector 12 within a certain period of time after the pressing is completed, it is determined that the pressed empty can is headed for the collection box 6, and the coin dispensing device 13 A coin payout command is sent, and coins equivalent to the deposit are paid out (step 35).

However, if the empty can passage detection signal is not input even after a certain period of time has passed after the pressing is completed, it is checked whether empty can passage detection signals for N or more empty cans have already been input. That is, the control device 15 counts each time the loading detection signal of the loading detector 17 is issued, and conversely, counts this every time the empty can passage detection signal is issued and each time an empty can is discharged from the discharge port 4 by a detector (not shown). The count value is subtracted to monitor the number of empty cans existing in the shooter 5 leading to the press device 11. If the count value is N or more, that is, N or more empty cans remain in the shooter 5. If there is an empty can, the movable plate 11 of the press device 11
It is determined that the empty can is stuck in D and a can jam is occurring (step 39), and the indicator lamp 14 is turned off in order to have maintenance personnel remove the stuck empty can, and at the same time, an abnormality is displayed on the maintenance display panel ( Step 41), and the operation is stopped (Step 42).

In this case, since the storage capacity of empty cans in the shooter 5 is set to N, if the empty can passage detection signal is not output for N or more empty cans, it is determined that a can jam has occurred. If the capacity is one, it is determined that a can jam has occurred on the condition that the empty can passage detection signal is not output after pressing is completed.

On the other hand, after the press is completed, the empty can passage detection signal is output, but if this detection signal is continuously output for T time or more, the control device 15 detects whether the pressed empty can is detected by the empty can passage detector. 1
The amount is estimated up to position 2, and it is determined that the collection box is full (steps 37 and 43). After this determination, an abnormality display is displayed and the operation is stopped (steps 41 and 42). However, if the empty can passage detection signal is a pulse signal corresponding to the empty can passage time, it is determined that the collection box 6 has space left to accommodate empty cans, and the system waits for the next empty can to be inserted.

In addition, in the operation stop state and the power outage state, the switching plate 9A is switched so that the shutter 5 communicates with the branch path 7. Therefore, all the empty cans put in in such a state are discharged from the discharge port 4.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the present invention provides an empty can passage detector that detects when pressed empty cans head toward the collection box directly below the empty can discharge portion of the press device, so that the seal detector Even if an empty can has been detected, if the empty can passing detection signal is not output, coins will not be dispensed. Also, if the empty can passing detection signal is not output because the pressed empty can does not go to the collection box after the press is completed. This makes it possible to determine that an empty can or a foreign object has become entangled.

Conversely, if the number of pressed empty cans is estimated to reach the empty can discharge area of the press device and the empty can passage detection signal is continuously output for a certain period of time or more, it is determined that the collection box is full. becomes possible. As a result, one of the empty can passage detectors detected that the pressed empty cans were heading towards the collection box, and that there was a pressing error, that is, the pressed empty cans were stuck inside the press device instead of heading towards the collection box, causing the empty cans to accumulate. It is now possible to detect three conditions: the presence of a foreign object in the press, the presence of foreign matter in the press device, and the fact that the collection box is full.The number of detectors in the entire device can be reduced. We were able to significantly improve performance in terms of maintenance and reliability. Furthermore, since the empty can detection is performed after the pressing is completed, that is, by using the empty can passage detector, there is an effect that "mischief" such as fishing with a line can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an empty can collection machine according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an overview of the operation of the embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the mounting position of an empty can passage detector. be. . DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Front door, 2...Input port, 3...Discharge port, 4...Discharge port, 5...Shooter, 6...Collection box, 7...Diversion path, 9...Aisle switching mechanism, 10
...Seal detector, 11...Press device, 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. A collection box to be collected, a press device that presses the empty cans guided toward the collection box and discharged them to the collection box, and a press device installed directly below the empty can discharge section of this press device to press the pressed empty cans to the collection box. an empty can passage detector that detects that the empty can has been turned; the seal detector detects that the inserted empty can has a seal; and the empty can passage detector detects the passage of a pressed empty can. When the conditions are met, a coin dispensing command is output, and if an empty can passage detection signal is not output within a certain period of time after the pressing is completed, it is determined that an empty can or a foreign object has been caught, and the empty can passage detection is performed. A control device that determines that the collection box is full and stops operation if the detection signal of the machine continues for a predetermined time or more; and a control device that disburses coins according to the coin dispensing command output from the control device. An empty can collection machine characterized by comprising a coin dispensing device.