Abstract:
Automatic recycling device for empty containers, in particular bottles, cans, and the like, includes a cleaning device, a recognition unit, an introduction unit for the empty containers, at least one transport run, defined by a conveyor belt. Cleaning module and a method for operation of the automatic recycling device in a cleaning mode is likewise provided. Automatic or semi-automatic cleaning of at least one transport run of the automatic recycling machine is provided without installation of stationary cleaning devices. A separate cleaning module is provided that is insertable into the automated device, and which may be transported through the automated device by the conveyor belt. A stop holds the cleaning module stationary as conveyor belt runs, and cleaning fluid escaping from the cleaning module is dosed onto the conveyor belt. Thorough cleaning of conveyor belt and peripheral components is achieved thanks to foam formation and the wiping effect.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of application no. PCT/DE2004/002298, filed Oct. 12, 2004, which claims the priority of German application no. 103 47 565.6, filed 14 Oct. 2003, and each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a reverse vending machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a reverse vending machine including a cleaning module, as well as a procedure for operating the reverse vending machine in a cleaning mode.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Reverse vending machines are known from, for example, the following publications: WO 93/25981, EP 0561148 B1, DE 43 18  388 , DE 44 43 406, DE 36 05 921, DE 196 13 099 A1, DE 37 15 815 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,308, EP 0 612 046 A1, WO 93/03460, DE 93 21 439 U1, GB 1 552 927, DE-Gbm 73 12 603. These automats or automated machines are mainly used in large markets, shopping malls or beverage markets, and enable automatic redemption of empties such as bottles, cans, cups, etc.  
         [0004]     There are transport routes in reverse vending machines on which the empties are handled by the automated device. As a rule, these transport routes are conveyor belts.  
         [0005]     Since the empties typically contain residual fluid that can exit during handling in the reverse vending machine, severe contamination of the transport routes occurs after a certain period of operation, and also occurs in other units, and such impairs the operability of the automatic or automated device. According to the present state of the art, reverse vending machines are therefore manually cleaned at specific intervals. That is very expensive and, given the cramped space situations in the automatic device, also difficult, so that the quality of the cleaning suffers from it. Moreover, damage to automated device installations can occur from this cleaning activity.  
         [0006]     From EP 1 150 257 A1 a reverse vending machine for empties is already known, that has at least one entry unit, one recognition unit, and one output unit, as well as units which connect transport routes. At least one of these units and/or at least one of the transport routes is equipped with cleaning facilities for self-cleaning. Optimal and effective cleaning of the reverse vending machine is possible with it. Damage, as is possible from manual cleaning, is also avoided by this solution. Moreover, man hours are saved since the reverse vending machine, so to speak, cleans itself. The cleaning device is fixedly built-in in this reverse vending machine.  
         [0007]     As to the state of the art, there are, furthermore, conveyor belt cleaning installations as, for example, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,992, U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,594, U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,243, U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,616, U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,423 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,883, U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,915, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,200. These appliances, too, are stationary, i.e. solidly built-in facilities.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     An object of the present invention is to make a solution available that enables automatic as well as semi-automatic cleaning of at least one conveyor section without installing stationary cleaning devices.  
         [0009]     This object is solved in accordance with the invention with a reverse vending machine for empties including a cleaning device, a recognition unit, an entry unit for the empties, a conveyor belt, and the cleaning device including a separate cleaning module insertable into the entry unit. Further, the cleaning module is conveyable through the automated device via the conveyor belt. The cleaning module may include a hollow body fillable with cleaning fluid, and a contact surface configured for resting on a transport surface of the conveyor belt. The wall of the cleaning module may be perforated in a region of its contact surface, and through which a cleaning fluid exits, in use. Also, one of the reverse vending machine and the cleaning module may include a stop configured for stopping the cleaning module in a substantially stationary position on the conveyor belt when the conveyor belt is moving.  
         [0010]     A cleaning module, and a method of operating the reverse vending machine with the inventive insertable cleaning module are likewise provided in accordance with the invention.  
         [0011]     In the device according to the invention, the cleaning device is not built-in and stationary in the reverse vending machine, but is a separate module, which is like that of a reverse vending machine receiving empties via its entry unit in which insertion is possible.  
         [0012]     With insertion of the cleaning module in reverse vending machines, such runs in a cleaning mode. In this mode, stopping mechanisms of the automated device and/or of the cleaning module are activated so that the cleaning module is substantially kept in place by the latter with the running conveyor belt. These stop mechanisms can, for example, be of a mechanical, electromechanical, or electromagnetic type. They cause the cleaning module to not be further advanced on the conveyor belt when it is running.  
         [0013]     The cleaning module is a hollow body filled with cleaning liquid that can be applied to the transport surface of the conveyor belt having at least one supporting surface. Its at least one supporting surface is adjusted to the shape of the transport surface of the conveyor belt, so that with its at least one supporting surface it substantially lies flat on the transport surface. The wall of the cleaning module is perforated in the region of its contact surface. The cleaning medium exits through these perforations and moistens the conveyor. Given the relative movement between the conveyor belt and the cleaning module, foam formation occurs that moistens not only the transportation surface of the conveyer belt but also the pulleys of the conveyor belt and additional elements and devices in proximity to the conveyor belt. It has been found that this foam formation and the interplay with the mopping effect between the transportation surface of the conveyor belt and the contact surface of the cleaning module yield a good cleaning effect.  
         [0014]     This cleaning effect is substantially improved if the at least one supporting surface of the cleaning module includes a coating which receives the cleaning fluid and passes it to the transportation surface of the conveyor belt. Thereby a better distribution of the cleaning medium takes place on the transportation surface of the conveyor belt and foam formation is intensified. The coating can, for example, include webbing or microfiber tissue, so that sufficient wetting of the tissue is achieved, the perforations are advantageously constructed as through holes, whereby these through holes are expediently configured as bores.  
         [0015]     The cleaning mode of the reverse vending machine can be switched on manually or automatically. For automatic switching on of the cleaning mode, the recognition units, which are in place in the reverse vending machine anyway, are used. This can, for example, be handled by barcode readers or cameras. So that the cleaning module can be recognized by the recognition units as such, it is therefore equipped with barcodes, transponders, surface profilers, etc. The cleaning module, in particular, can however also be recognized by the camera on the basis of its configuration. If the presence of the cleaning module is recognized in the automated device via the recognition units, then the stop mechanisms are activated by a controller so that further transport/insertion of the cleaning mode on the conveyor belt is not possible for a preset time, despite a running conveyor belt. The cleaning module can, however, also include stop mechanisms such as a rod that strikes a sheet of metal situated in the automated device, so that the further transportation of the cleaning module is prevented and the conveyor belts can be cleaned.  
         [0016]     Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below.  
         [0017]     Relative terms such as left, right, up, and down are for convenience only and are not intended to be limiting. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a reverse vending machine according to the invention for empties, and that includes an insertable cleaning module;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is an embodiment of the cleaning module according to the invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is an embodiment of the cleaning module according to the invention lying on the transport surface of a conveyor belt of the reverse vending machine with an activated stop mechanism;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is another embodiment of the cleaning module according to the invention; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  shows individual components of the cleaning module embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     A reverse vending machine according to the invention shown in  FIG. 1  includes a housing  1  with an entry opening  2  in which may be inserted empties that are to be taken back, for example, bottles or cans. The reverse vending machine furthermore includes a control console  3  with a display  4 , a voucher printer  5  and a service button  6 . Below the entry opening  2 , there is a return opening  7  by which non-accepted empties are to be returned to a customer.  
         [0024]     A cleaning module  8  is insertable into the reverse vending machine via the entry opening  2 , as is indicated in  FIG. 1 . The cleaning module  8  in this embodiment includes a hollow body with a lockable filling opening  9  for a cleaning fluid. It includes two contact surfaces  10  which configured for contacting transportation surfaces  11  of a conveyor belt  12 . The conveyer belt  12  is arranged in the reverse vending machine and normally serves to transport the empties that are introduced. In this embodiment, it is constructed from two conveyer belts that are placed diagonally to each other, by which a V-shaped conveyor groove is constructed. Contact surfaces  10  of the cleaning module are fitted to this V-shape of the transportation surfaces of the conveyor belt  12 . They lie flat on the transportation surfaces  11 , as best seen in  FIG. 3 . Of course, the cleaning module  8  can also be produced with other contact surfaces  10  and/or another contact surface  10  configured to the respective shape of the transport surface of the conveyor belt  12 .  
         [0025]     Contact surfaces  10  of cleaning module  8  are coated with a microfiber tissue and/or netting. Below this coating, the wall of the cleaning module  8  is perforated. These perforations, which are not obvious from the representation, are in the front as well as upper area of the cleaning module  8 , i.e. provided in the region of the contact surfaces that are close to the filling opening  9 . This arrangement of the perforations is necessary so that the cleaning fluid does not run out when the cleaning module  8  is stored in an upright position. It is therefore obvious that with vertical storage the maximum level of cleaning fluid in the cleaning module  8  is to be below the perforation(s).  
         [0026]     For cleaning of the conveyor route of the reverse vending machine, it is switched into the cleaning mode. This can take place manually, if, for example, one of the service buttons that is inaccessible to customers is operated. Upon activation of this service button a locking bolt  14  is driven into the conveying path of the conveyor belt  12 , and which is, for example, moved by a linear drive  15  into this position, as may be appreciated from  FIG. 3 . The input cleaning module  8  then runs via the entry opening  2 , facilitated by the conveyor belt  12  running in the direction of the arrows  16  against the stop bolt  14  so that the cleaning module  8  comes to a stationary stop on conveyor belt  12 , which goes through under the cleaning module  8 . Thereby, there is a mopping contact between the contact surfaces  10  of the cleaning module  8  and the transport surfaces  11  of the conveyor belt  12 . Simultaneously, cleaning fluid leaves cleaning module  8  through the perforations and that is distributed by the microfiber coating  13 . A foaming formation occurs on the basis of the mopping contact. The foaming is further transported by conveyor belt  12  so that it not only covers the transport surfaces  11  of the conveyor belt  12 , but also its undersides as well as the pulley shaft  17 . The cleaning of the stretch of conveyor is to be kept up until the desired cleaning effect is achieved. The cleaning time can be defaulted by, for example, a timer circuit. After expiration of this cleaning period, the linear drive  15  drives the bolt  14  out of the conveyor path of the conveyor belt  12 , so that the cleaning module  8  is conveyed out of the reverse vending machine or onto a connecting conveyor belt  12 . In the latter case, a bolt  14  is also retracted in the conveyor path of the connecting conveyor belt  12 , which then holds the cleaning module  8  on this conveyer belt  12  in a stationary position. The same procedures then play out as depicted above. After expiration of the preset cleaning time, bolt  14  is then brought out of the conveyor path of the conveyor belt  12  and the cleaning module  8  is turned off vertically by a switch on an empties collecting table.  
         [0027]     Instead of a manual switching of the reverse vending machine into the cleaning mode, this switching on can also take place automatically. For this, the recognition unit that is already integrated into the automated device is used anyway. For releasing the automatic cleaning mode, the cleaning module  8  is inserted into the entry opening  2  of the reverse vending machine  1 . The conveyor belt  12  then conveys the cleaning module  8  to the recognition unit  18 . Via the recognition unit  18 , the system automatically recognizes whether the object which has entered is a cleaning module  8  or an empty. This recognition can take place by means of a barcode reader  18 . 1 , for example, that detects appropriate barcodes  19  on the cleaning module  8  or, however, by a camera  18 . 2 , by which particular characteristics, for example, a specific gap  20  of the cleaning module  8 , are detected. If the system has recognized the entered object as a cleaning module  8 , then the bolt  14  is, for example, once again extended, whereby the conveyor belt  12  keeps on running.  
         [0028]     Also, an electromagnet  21  below the conveyor belt  12  can be designated as a stop mechanism for the cleaning module  8  instead of the bolt  14 . This electromagnet  21  is indicated in  FIG. 2  by a spool  21 . In this case, a magnetic body  22  is arranged in cleaning module  8 , as it emerges as shown in  FIG. 2 , in which for visualization of the magnetic body  22  the upper side of the cleaning module  8  is accordingly displayed as broken away. The stationary stopping of the cleaning module  8  via an electromagnet  21  can, of course, also be provided by a manually started cleaning mode.  
         [0029]     In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a second preferred embodiment of a cleaning module  8  is represented. This cleaning module  8  includes a base  23  constructed as tub-shaped and a top  24  constructed as a cover. The base  23  and the top  24  are connectable together as interlocking parts. This base  23  shows openings or breakthroughs  25  constructed as bores on the contact surfaces  10 . The contact surfaces  10  conform, moreover, to the V-shape of the transport surfaces  11  of the conveyor belt. The contact surfaces  10  are coated with a microfiber tissue  13 . The cleaning fluid is filled in the cleaning module  8  by a separate bottle  26  that is insertable into a notch  27  provided in the top  24  that fits the contour of the bottle  26 , as emerges from the top view representation of the top  24  according to  FIG. 5  and from  FIG. 4 . The bottle  26  is not lying directly on a base  30  of the top  24 , but is distanced from it. Clearance ledges  31  that protrude from the base  30  take care of this and bottle  26  lies lengthwise thereon. The clearance ledges  31  are implemented slantwise, so that the bottle  26  lies inclined, and when cover  26 . 1  is opened the cleaning fluid can run out. It first reaches an opening  32  provided in the base  30  of the top  24  and from there through the breakthroughs  25  into the microfiber coating  13 . The bottle  26  can even be secured with an additional clamping bracket  28  that is pushed in by its edges into the longitudinal grooves  33  provided in the base  23  and lies on the bottle  26  from above.  
         [0030]     The cleaning module  8  is only filled in this embodiment before the cleaning application with the fluid, inasmuch as the opened bottle  26  is inserted so that the breakthroughs  25  can guarantee a quick and effective wetting of the microfiber tissue  13  with the cleaning fluid. Since the cleaning module  8  is not stored with filled cleaning fluid and/or an inserted closed bottle  26 , there is no danger of cleaning fluid escaping out through breakthroughs  25  during storage of the cleaning module  8 .  
         [0031]     For cleaning of the conveyor route of the reverse vending machine, cleaning module  8  is inserted into the reverse vending machine. The camera  18 . 2  recognizes the contour of the cleaning module  8  and can therefore automatically shift into the cleaning mode of the automated device. The cleaning module  8  is equipped with a stop stick  29 , which, upon transportation of the cleaning module  8  on the conveyer belts  12 , drives against a stop arranged in the reverse vending machine that is, for example, constructed as a cover plate, and blocks the further conduct of the module  8 . Since the conveyor belt  12  keeps on running then, as in the first implementation example, a cleaning effect is generated by the mopping contact between the microfiber coating  13  of the transportation surface  11  of the conveyor belt  12 . Via the enlarged perforations  25 , the cleaning fluid can exit the module  8  faster and moisten the microfiber tissue  13 , so that the conveyor belt  12  can become more efficiently foamed up throughout with the cleaning fluid. This leads to a shorter cleaning period and improved cleaning of the conveyor belt  12 .  
         [0032]     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, and uses and/or adaptations of the invention and following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention or limits of the claims appended hereto.