JPH0471234B2 - - 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 empty can collection machine that presses empty cans and collects them in a collection box as described above, pebbles, pieces of wood, etc.
When foreign objects such as plastic sticks are thrown into the press, they become lodged in the press and cause it to become inoperable. This also applies when an empty can that has been put into the press gets caught in the press for some reason.

Therefore, in the past, when a foreign object gets caught,
The machine stops operating as a recovery machine, displays a malfunction message, and alerts maintenance personnel to manually remove the trapped foreign matter.

However, if the press device stops midway through pressing, or if the jam is complicated, it cannot be easily removed by hand, and the repair time becomes longer, making it difficult to use as a recovery machine. Problems arose when the operating rate decreased.

Furthermore, in order to prevent an excessive load from being applied to the press device when a foreign object is caught, it is proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7119/1987 to provide an overtorque safety means such as a torque limiter. However, since this is a continuous press and does not stop the operation by detecting foreign objects, the operator must find the foreign objects and stop the operation, and the collection machine of the present application is not constantly monitored by the administrator. is not applicable.

The present invention was developed in view of the above circumstances.The purpose of the present invention is to easily remove foreign matter stuck in the press machine, and to prevent empty cans from entering the press machine until the administrator arrives. To provide an empty can collecting machine which prevents problems and enables smooth restart.

(Means for Solving the Problems) According to the present invention, this purpose is achieved by providing an empty can inlet;
A shutter that guides the empty cans inputted from the empty can input port downward, a seal detector that detects the seal attached to the empty cans passing through the shutter, and a passage switch that guides some of the loaded empty cans to the discharge port. a mechanism, a press device that presses empty cans with seals guided from the passage switching mechanism and discharges them into a collection box, a coin dispensing device that detects the seals and dispenses coins, and a coin dispensing device that detects the seals and dispenses coins; a foreign object jamming detection means for detecting the foreign matter jamming; and based on the detection signal of the foreign matter jamming detecting means, the press device is operated in a direction opposite to the normal pressing direction to return to the press start position and stop. This is achieved by an empty can collecting machine characterized in that it is equipped with a control device that operates the path switching mechanism to a position where all input empty cans are guided to the discharge port and prohibits the coin dispensing device from dispensing coins.

(Operation) If foreign matter is caught, the press device operates in the opposite direction to the normal pressing direction, returns to the press start position, and the operation of the press device is stopped.
Therefore, when removing the foreign matter, it can be easily removed by human hands.

In addition, when the press stops due to foreign matter getting caught, all empty cans that have been put in are discharged to the discharge port.
At this time, even if a seal is detected, coin dispensing is prohibited. Therefore, once the foreign object is removed, the system can be restarted immediately.

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

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. .

A can receiving door 2A is attached to the input port 2 so as to be openable and closable using its lower edge as a fulcrum, and when empty cans are placed on the open can receiving door 2A and closed, the empty cans are loaded one by one. The insertion of empty cans is detected by the insertion detector 2B which detects that the can receiving door 2A is closed.

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 to selectively guide empty cans input from the input port 2 to the collection box 6 or the discharge port 4. Furthermore, a seal detector 10 is provided on the upstream side of the branch path 7 to detect the presence or absence of a seal. Also, collection box 6
A press device 11 and an empty can passage detector 12 for detecting that pressed empty cans have passed toward the collection box 6 are installed in the empty can passageway of the shooter 5 leading to the storage box 6 .
is provided.

The passage switching mechanism 9 includes a switching plate 9A and a solenoid 9B for operating the switching plate 9A. The switching plate 9A is connected to the press device 11 in which the sealed empty can is inputted and as described later.
When the number of empty cans remaining in the shooter space 11G is within the allowable number, the empty cans are transferred to the press device 11.
It can be switched to lead to.

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.Empty cans facing the collection box 6 with the switching plate 9A switched to the side shown by the imaginary line are moved to a swingable stopper plate 11F. It stops at the position , is pressed by the reciprocating motion of the movable plate 11D, and is stored in the collection box 6 through the gap between the stopper plate 11F and the wall surface of the shooter 5. At this time,
Empty cans stored in the collection box 6 are detected by an empty can passage detector 12. In this case, when the collection box 6 is full of pressed empty cans, the pressed empty cans will stay in the path of the empty can passage detector 12, and the detection signal of the empty can passage detector 12 will have a constant voltage level. It becomes a DC signal with Therefore, when the detection signal of the empty can passage detector 12 changes to a DC signal of a constant voltage level, it can be determined that the collection box 6 is full.

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.

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 (step 100), this empty can collecting machine becomes operational.
When the power is turned on, the control device 15 first determines whether or not the empty can collection machine can operate normally (step 101). That is, the press sensor 11E
The movable plate 11 of the press device 11 based on the output signal of
It detects whether or not D has returned to the press start position, and also detects whether the collection box 6 is full based on the output signal of the empty can passage detector 12, and further detects whether the coin exhaustion detector 13A is full. It is detected whether there is a shortage of coins for dispensing based on the output signal, and whether coins are jammed on the upstream side of the dispensing port 3 based on the output signal of the coin jam detector 13B.

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 collection box 6 is full, or if there is a coin shortage or a coin jam, it is determined that the machine is in an inoperable state, and the display lamp 14 remains off. In this case, the passage switching mechanism 9
The switching plate 9A is held at the position shown by the solid line in the figure until all causes of the inoperable state are removed, and all empty cans that have been put in are guided to the discharge port 4. Further, at this time, the coin dispensing device 13 is prohibited from dispensing coins. And once it is ready to drive,
When an empty can with a regular seal is inserted, the switching plate 9A is immediately switched to the side shown by the imaginary line. 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 111).

On the other hand, if the movable plate 11D has not returned to the normal pressing start position (step 102), it is determined that the pressing has not been completed due to a power cutoff such as a power failure occurring during pressing, and the pressing device 1
The press motor 11A of No. 1 is rotated forward, and the movable plate 11
D is moved in the same direction as the normal pressing direction (step 105).

As a result, even if the power is cut off without the press being completed, the empty cans that are in the middle of being pressed and are in the position of the stopper plate 11F when the operation is restarted will be completely pressed and stored in the collection box 6 (step 112). .

When an empty can is inputted from the input port 2 and a detection signal indicating that a predetermined seal is attached to the empty can is generated from the seal detector 10 (step 103), the control device 15 detects "sealed". Based on the determination, a payout command is sent to the coin payout device 13, and coins equivalent to the deposit are paid out from the payout opening (step 104). At the same time, the solenoid 9B of the passage switching mechanism 9 is driven, and the switching plate 9A is activated.
Switch 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 111 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 (step 105). By this,
The movable plate 11D reciprocates, the empty can located at the stopper plate 11F is pressed, and the empty can at the stopper plate 11F is pressed.
and the wall of the shooter 5 and fall toward the collection box 6 (step 112), this fall is detected by the empty can passage detector 12, and the control device 15 waits for the next empty can to be inserted.

Note that when empty cans are continuously introduced, the control device 15 keeps track of the number of subsequent sealed cans guided to the press device 11 by the switching mechanism 9 and the number of cans passed through the empty can passage detector 12. Based on the difference, the number of empty cans remaining in the shutter 11G near the press device 11 is constantly monitored, and the motor 11A of the press device 11 is continuously operated while the remaining empty cans remain. When there are no remaining empty cans, the motor 11A stops. In addition, when the number of remaining empty cans reaches the number that can be accommodated in the shutter space 11G of the press device 11, the control device 15 switches the path to the side that leads the empty cans to the press device 11 even if the seal detector 10 detects an empty can with a seal. This sealed empty can is discharged to the discharge port 4 without switching the mechanism 9, and dispensing of coins is prohibited.

If the drive current of the press motor 11A exceeds a certain value or the time required for pressing exceeds a certain time, the control device 15 determines that a foreign object has been caught (step 106). If a jam occurs, operate the press device 11 in the opposite direction to the normal press direction (step
107). The control device 15 reverses the press motor 11A until the movable plate 11D returns to the press start position (step 107).

As a result, when the movable plate 11A returns to the press starting position (step 108), the indicator lamp 14 is turned off to allow maintenance personnel to remove the trapped foreign matter, and at the same time, the indicator panel for maintenance (not shown) is turned off.
An abnormality is displayed (step 109), and the operation is stopped (step 110). That is, the switching mechanism 9 guides all input empty cans to the discharge port 4, and the coin dispensing device 13 prohibits coin dispensing.

After that, maintenance personnel removes the stuck foreign object, and when the power is turned on again (step 100),
The control device 15 performs the above operation again.

As a result, if there is no cause for inoperability, the display lamp 14 is turned on and the system is in a standby state for empty cans.

If the loaded empty can does not have a seal, the switching plate 9A is not switched and the shutter 5 is controlled to communicate with the branch path 7. As a result, empty cans without seals are discharged from the discharge port 4.

Note that 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 a power outage are discharged from the discharge port 4.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, when foreign matter is caught in the press device, the press device is operated in the opposite direction to the normal pressing direction to return to the press start position. and stop the operation of the press equipment. All empty cans that are subsequently introduced are guided to the discharge port and are prevented from entering the press device. Also, during this period, coins will not be dispensed even if an empty can with a sticker is inserted. This makes it possible to manually remove foreign objects caught in the press equipment in a short time, and eliminates the situation where a large number of empty cans get into the press machine while the press machine is stopped, making it impossible to restart the machine. Does not occur. Therefore, after restarting, the recovery machine immediately returns to normal operation, thereby preventing a decrease in the operating rate.

[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, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an overview of the operation of this embodiment. 1...front door, 2...inlet, 3...outlet, 4...
Discharge port, 5... Shooter, 6... Collection box, 7... Branch path, 9... Passage switching mechanism, 10... Seal detector,
11...Press device, 12...Empty can passage detector, 1
3... Coin dispensing device, 14... Display lamp, 15...
Control device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of 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 passing through the shutter, and a passage switching mechanism that guides a portion of the empty cans to a discharge port; a press device that presses the sealed empty cans guided from the passage switching mechanism and discharges them into a collection box; and a coin dispenser that detects the seal and dispenses coins. a device, a foreign object detection means for detecting that a foreign object is caught in the press device, and a device that moves the press device in a direction opposite to the normal pressing direction based on a detection signal from the foreign object detection means. and a control device that causes the press to return to the press start position and stop, operates the passage switching mechanism to a position where all input empty cans are guided to the discharge port, and prohibits the coin dispensing device from dispensing coins. Characteristic empty can collection machine. 2. The empty can recovery machine according to claim 1, wherein the foreign object entrapment detection means detects the occurrence of a foreign object entrapment state when the press time period exceeds a certain period of time. 3. The empty can recovery machine according to claim 1, wherein the foreign object entrapment detection means detects the occurrence of a foreign object entrapment state when the drive current of a press motor constituting the press device reaches a certain value or more.