JPS6265196A - Empty can collection machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

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 juice, and canned beer.

(Prior Art) Recently, in order to improve the effectiveness of collecting empty cans of canned products such as canned coffee, canned juice, and canned beer, empty can collecting machines that utilize a deposit method (temporary square full method) have been used. The deposit method is to sell the canned products by adding a certain amount, for example 10 yen, as a deposit to the list price, and attaching a sticker to the bottom of the can as a mark of the deposit, and then selling the canned product with a sticker attached to the bottom of the can. In contrast, this is a system in which the above-mentioned similar funds are returned.

The empty can collection machine used for this deposit method is
Conventionally, it is detected whether or not an empty can inserted from the input slot has a sticker, and if a sticker is attached, coins equivalent to the entire deposit are dispensed from the coin dispensing opening, and the empty can that has been inserted is left as is, or It is configured to be pressed and collected in a collection box.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, when the empty can collection machine that presses the empty cans that have been put in as described above and collects them in a collection box, pebbles, pieces of wood, and plastics are removed from the input port by mischief. If foreign objects such as these are thrown into the press, they will become lodged in the press equipment and cause it to become inoperable. This also applies when an empty can that has been put into the press gets stuck in the press for some reason.

Therefore, conventionally, when a foreign object is trapped, the operation as a recovery machine is stopped, a failure message is displayed to notify maintenance personnel, and the trapped foreign object is manually removed.

However, if the press device is stopped midway through pressing, or if the jamming condition is complicated, it cannot be easily removed by hand, resulting in a long repair time.
There was a problem that the operating rate as a recovery machine decreased.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an empty can recovery machine that can easily remove foreign matter caught in a press device.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention includes a foreign object detection means for detecting that a foreign object is caught in a press device, and a detection signal from the foreign object detection means to detect a foreign object caught in the press device. The above object is achieved by providing a control device that operates in a direction opposite to the normal empty can pressing direction. That is, the purpose is to provide an empty can inlet, a chute for guiding the empty cans inputted from the empty can inlet downward, a seal detector for detecting the seal attached to the empty can passing through the chute, and a seal detector for detecting the seal attached to the empty can passing through the chute. A collection box that collects only empty cans, a press device that presses empty cans guided toward the collection box and discharges them into the collection box, and a coin dispensing device that dispenses coins when collecting empty cans with stickers. , a foreign object detection means for detecting that a foreign object is caught in the press device; and based on a detection signal of the foreign object detection means, the press device is operated in a direction opposite to the normal pressing direction. This is achieved by an empty can collecting machine characterized by comprising a control device for returning the press to the press start position and stopping the operation.

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

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

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention,
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 receiver is attached to the input port 2 so that the can receiver can be opened and closed using the lower edge of the door 2A as a fulcrum, and when the opened can receiver is closed by placing empty cans on the door 2A, empty cans are loaded one by one. When loading empty cans, the can receiver uses a loading detector 2 that detects when the door 2A is closed.
Detected by B.

The input port 2 communicates with a collection box 6 via a chute 5 that guides the empty cans placed downward, and also communicates with the discharge port 4 via a branch path 7 provided in the middle of the chute 5. A path switching mechanism 9 is provided on the branch path of the chute 5 for selectively guiding empty cans input from the input port 2 to the collection box 6 or the discharge port 4. Further, on the upstream side of this branch path 7, a seal detector IO is provided to detect the presence or absence of a seal. Further, in the empty can passageway of the chute 5 leading to the collection box 6, a press device 11 and an empty road excess detector 12 for detecting when pressed empty cans have passed toward the collection box 6 are provided. .

The passage switching mechanism 9 includes a switching plate 9A and a switching plate 9.
It has a solenoid 9B for operating the solenoid A. The switching plate 9A is switched to guide the empty can to the press device 11 when an empty can with a seal is inserted and the number of empty cans remaining in the chute space 11G of the press device 11 is within the allowable capacity as described later. It will be done.

The press device 11 is in contact with an eccentric cam IIB rotated by a press motor IIA and this eccentric cam 11B, and as the cam IIB rotates, it advances into the open street of the chute 5, and after a certain rotation, the tension spring 11C is attached. It consists of a movable plate LID that retreats from the can passage of the chute 5 due to force, and a press sensor IIE that detects when the movable plate 110 has advanced by the distance required for pressing, and the switching plate 9A is switched to the side shown by the imaginary line. Empty cans facing the collection box 6 in this state stop at the position of the swingable stopper plate 11F, are pressed by the reciprocating movement of the movable plate lID, and are pressed between the stopper plate 11F and the wall of the chute 5. It passes through the gap and is stored in the collection box 6. At this time, the empty cans stored in the collection box 6 are detected by the empty road excess detector 12. In this case, when the collection box 6 is full of pressed empty cans, the pressed empty cans will accumulate at the passage position of the empty road excess detector 12, and the detection signal of this empty road excess detector 12 will be at a constant voltage. It becomes a DC signal with a certain level. Therefore, it can be determined that the collection box 6 is full when the detection signal of the vacant road excess detector 12 changes to a DC signal of a constant voltage level. On the other hand, a coin dispensing device t13 is installed upstream of the coin dispensing port 3. This coin dispensing device 13 includes a coin outage detector 13 that detects a shortage of coins based on a change in the weight of the coin hopper.
A and a coin jam detector 13B for detecting that coins are jammed in the passageway leading to the payout port 3 are provided.

Furthermore, an indicator lamp 14 is provided at the top of the front door 1 to indicate that the collection machine is ready for operation. All the output signals of the various detectors mentioned above are sent to the control device 15.
is man-powered. 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 control device 15 is powered on (step 10
0), this empty can collection machine is in operation. Control device 1
5, upon turning on the power, it is first determined whether or not the empty can collecting machine can operate normally (step 101). That is, based on the output signal of the press sensor IIH, the movable plate 11D of the press device 11 is moved to the press start position. Detecting whether the recovery box 6 has returned or not, and detecting whether the collection box 6 is full based on the output signal of the empty road excess detector 12.
Further, it is determined whether there is a shortage of coins for dispensing based on the output signal of the coin out detector 13A, and whether or not coins are jammed on the upstream side of the dispensing port 3 based on the output signal of the coin jam detector 13B. Detect.

As a result, if it is found that the movable plate 110 has returned to the pressing start 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 this is possible, 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 switching plate 9A of the passage switching mechanism 9 is held at the position shown by the solid line in the figure until all causes of the inoperable state are removed. Once the machine is ready for operation, the switching plate 9A is immediately switched to the side shown by the imaginary line when an empty can with a regular seal is inserted.

Therefore, even if an empty can is thrown in when the operation is disabled, the empty can is discharged to the outside from the discharge port 4 through the branch path 7 of the chute 5 (step it t).

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 because a power cutoff such as a power outage occurred during the pressing, and the pressing is not yet completed. Press motor I of device 11
The IA is rotated in the normal direction to move the movable plate 110 in the same direction as the normal pressing direction (step 105).

As a result, even if the power is cut off while the pressing is not completed, the empty cans that are in the middle of pressing and are in the position of the stopper plate 11F at the time of restart are completely pressed and stored in the collection box 6 (step 112).

On the other hand, when an empty can is inserted into 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),
Upon determining that there is a seal, the control device 15 sends a payout command to the coin payout device 13, and causes the coin payout device 13 to pay out coins equivalent to all deposited coins from the payout port. (Step 104) 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 through the switching plate 9A to the position of the stopper plate 11F of the press device i11.

The control device 15 controls the press motor llF 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 llF.
A is driven in normal rotation, and the eccentric cam 11B is rotated once (step 105). As a result, the movable plate 11D reciprocates, and the empty can located at the stopper plate 11F is pressed.
It passes between the stopper plate 11F and the wall of the chute 5 and falls toward the collection box 6 (step 112), and this fall is detected by the empty road over-inspection device 12, and the control device 15 waits for the next empty can to be inserted. becomes.

In addition, when empty cans are continuously put in, the control device 1
115 indicates the number of subsequent sealed cans guided to the press device 11 by the switching mechanism 9 and the empty street excess detector 12.
The number of empty cans remaining in the chute 11G near the press device 11 is constantly monitored from the difference between the number of empty cans that have passed through the
While this remaining empty can exists, the motor I of the press device 11
Operate IA continuously. When there are no remaining empty cans, motor I
IA stops. In addition, when the number of remaining empty cans reaches the capacity capacity of the chute space lIG 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.

On the other hand, if the drive current of the press motor IIA exceeds a certain value or the required press time exceeds a certain time, the control device 15 determines that a foreign object has been caught (step 106). If a jam occurs, the press device 11 is operated in a direction opposite to the normal press direction (step 107), and the control device 15 operates the movable plate 11 in a direction opposite to the normal press direction.
Press motor 11A until 0 returns to the press start position.
(step 107).

As a result, once the movable plate 11A has returned 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, a maintenance display panel (not shown) is displayed. An abnormality is displayed (step 109) and the operation is stopped (step 110).
.

After that, when the foreign object that has become stuck is removed by maintenance personnel and the power is turned on again (step 100), the control device 1
5 performs the above operation again.

As a result, if there is no reason for the operation to be stopped, the display lamp 14 is turned on and the system is in a standby state for empty cans to be loaded.

If the loaded empty can does not have a seal, switch plate 9A
The chute 5 is controlled to communicate with the branch road 7 without switching. 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 chute 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 in F below, 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. Return to normal state and stop operation of the recovery machine. For this reason, it becomes possible to remove foreign matter caught in the press device very easily using human hair in a short period of time, and the recovery machine returns to normal operation after the power is turned on again, thereby preventing a decrease in the operating rate.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

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 outline of the operation of this embodiment. 1... Front door, 2... Inlet, 3...
Payout port, 4...Discharge port, 5...Chooter, 6...Collection box. 7... Branch road, 9... Passage switching mechanism,
lO...Seal detector, 11...Press device, 12
...Overinspection of vacant roads is a problem. 13... Coin dispensing device, 14... Display lamp, 15... Control device.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) An empty can inlet, a chute that guides the empty cans inputted from the empty can inlet downward, a seal detector that detects a seal attached to an empty can passing through the chute, and an empty can with a seal attached. a collection box that collects empty cans; a press device that presses empty cans guided toward the collection box and discharges them into the collection box; a coin dispensing device that dispenses coins when collecting empty cans with stickers; A foreign object detection means detects that a foreign object is caught in the press device, and the press device is operated in a direction opposite to the normal pressing direction based on a detection signal from the foreign object detection means. An empty can collecting machine characterized by comprising a control device for returning to a starting position and stopping operation. (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 required press time has elapsed over a certain period of time. (3) Empty can recovery 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 a press device reaches a certain value or more. Machine.