WO1999058427A1

WO1999058427A1 - Device and method for receiving packaging

Info

Publication number: WO1999058427A1
Application number: PCT/EP1999/001774
Authority: WO
Inventors: Uwe Stahl; Günther STAHL
Original assignee: Asg Automaten Systeme Gmbh
Priority date: 1998-05-09
Filing date: 1999-03-17
Publication date: 1999-11-18
Also published as: AU3414499A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for receiving packaging, especially tins, bottles, cups and tetrapaks, comprising at least one housing (3) with a receiving opening (15) and at least one collecting receptacle (39). The inventive device is characterized by a gaming machine (55), whereby a game of chance can be begun after one item of packaging has been received.

Description

Device and method for accepting packaging

description

The invention relates to a device for accepting packaging, in particular cans, bottles, cups, tetrapaks, according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for accepting packaging, in particular cans, bottles, cups, tetrapaks.

Devices and methods of the type mentioned here are known. They serve to accept or take back packaging, for example cans, cups, bottles and the like, which are used, for example, by the beverage, food and luxury goods industries. The known device has a housing with at least one insertion opening for the packaging and a collecting container into which the packaging is transferred after it has been introduced. The packaging collected by means of the acceptance device is, for example, sent for recycling. It has been shown that the known device is not used to the desired extent and a large part of the packaging ends up in the residual waste, which is disposed of in landfills and / or incineration plants.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device and a method for accepting packaging which do not have this disadvantage.

CONFIRMATION COPY To achieve this object, a device with the features of claim 1 is proposed. This comprises a housing with at least one insertion opening for the packaging and with at least one collecting container. Furthermore, the acceptance device comprises a gaming machine in which a game can be started after acceptance of a package. The acceptance device of the acceptance device can be improved by the gaming machine, so that a reduction in the amount of packaging supplied to the residual waste can be realized. The collected packaging can, for example, be recycled and used for new packaging. The constructive design of the gaming machine depends, for example, on the game that is to be played with the gaming machine. The gaming machine can be designed such that practically any game can be played. A relatively simple construction of the acceptance device can be achieved by using a slot machine known per se, which is preferably integrated in the acceptance device.

An exemplary embodiment of the acceptance device is particularly preferred, which is characterized in that the gaming machine has at least one rotatable disk which has at least one symbol on its side facing a viewing window provided on the housing. The principle of the gaming machine is based on that of a well-known slot machine, in which money can be won if the symbol is at a specific point after the disk has been braked. The rotating disc is most recognizable from the outside, so that passive participation in the game is possible. In another embodiment variant, it is provided that a person can influence the rotation of the at least one disk or the time at which the disk is braked from the outside by means of suitable actuating means. In a further variant of the gaming machine, it is provided that the person can choose between active and passive participation in the game. By directly involving the person in the game, the attractiveness of the acceptance device can be further improved.

In a further advantageous exemplary embodiment of the acceptance device, it is provided that the gaming machine comprises at least one rotatable roller over which a film strip with at least one symbol depicted thereon is guided. If this symbol is in a certain position after the roller has come to a standstill, which is braked, for example, after a predetermined period of time or by manual control, the game is won and a win can be achieved, for example. In this exemplary embodiment of the gaming machine too, the housing of the acceptance device can have a viewing window, so that the rotating roller and the film strip are visible from the outside, in order at least to allow passive participation in the game. In order to be able to involve a person in the game, an actuating device can be provided, by means of which the roller can be braked, for example. In an advantageous embodiment of the acceptance device it is provided that a profit can be associated with the symbol on the at least one disk and / or roller. The symbol can, for example, be a representation of the profit. For example, a voucher, cash, natural goods, sweets, for example chocolate and / or a real asset can be provided as prizes. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the profit is output directly via an output shaft on the housing of the acceptance device.

Advantageous refinements result from the remaining subclaims.

To solve the problem, a method for accepting packaging with the features of claim 8 is also proposed. This provides that a game is started after the packaging has been accepted. To participate in the game, at least one package is required which, after the package has been accepted or taken back, can be played by a receiving device provided for this purpose. A single package that generally has no or at least only a low value is the use with which participation in a game is possible. In the game there is preferably the possibility to make a profit. The attractiveness of the acceptance device operating according to the method described above can be improved as a result.

Further advantageous embodiments of the method result from the remaining subclaims. The invention is explained below with reference to a drawing. Show it:

Figure 1 shows a cross section through a first embodiment of an acceptance device in principle;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the acceptance device according to FIG. 1;

Figure 3 shows a part of a second embodiment of an acceptance device in side view and

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the acceptance device according to FIG. 3.

The device for accepting packaging described below can be used in general, for example for cans, bottles, cups and / or tetrapaks or the like. The packaging can for example consist of glass, metal, for example aluminum, plastic, paper and / or cardboard. In the following, the items mentioned above, regardless of their material, shape and size, are generally referred to as packaging.

Figure 1 shows a highly schematic cross section of a first embodiment of a device 1 for accepting packaging. The acceptance device comprises a housing 3, a front side 5, a rear side 7, two side walls, of which only the side wall 9 is shown in the view selected in FIG. 1, which has an underside 11 and an upper side 13. At the front 5 is one Throw-in opening 15 is provided, to which a receiving space 17 adjoins, which - seen in the vertical direction - is arranged in an area below the throw-in opening 15. In this exemplary embodiment, the receiving space 17 is formed by the interior of a hollow cylinder which is inclined downward relative to an imaginary horizontal. In another embodiment (not shown), the receiving space is formed by a shaft. The insertion opening 15 can be closed by means of a first closure element 21, which is formed here by a flap 25 which can be pivoted about an axis 23 running perpendicular to the image plane of FIG. The flap 25 which can be pivoted in the direction of a double arrow 27 is shown with a solid line in a first functional position 21, in which the insertion opening 15 is closed. The flap 25 is shown with a dashed line in a second functional position 31, in which the insertion opening 15 is accessible from the outside.

From Figure 1 it can be seen that the receiving space 17 has a bottom 29 which is formed by a second closure element 31 in this embodiment. This can be pivoted in the direction of a double arrow 37 by means of a drive 33, for example an electric motor, about an axis 35 running perpendicular to the image plane in FIG. The bottom 29 of the receiving space 17 is shown with a solid line in a first functional position in which a package 37 introduced into the receiving space 17 is held therein. In a second functional position of the floor, shown with a broken line, the passage from the receiving space 17 is closed a region, seen in the vertical direction, below the receiving space 17, in which a collecting container 39 is arranged, is released. The collecting container 39, which has an opening 41, is arranged opposite the receiving space 17 such that when the base 19 is pivoted into the second functional position, the packaging 37 located in the receiving space 17 falls through the opening 41 into the collecting container 39.

A detection device 47 is assigned to the receiving space 17 and serves to control the packaging 37 introduced into the receiving space 17. In this exemplary embodiment, the packaging 37 is a can which has information 49 on its outer surface which is checked by the recognition device 47. In the exemplary embodiment of the acceptance device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the information 49 is a bar code which is read by the recognition device 47 comprising at least one bar code reading device (scanner). The structure and function of the bar code reading device is known per se, so that its description is omitted.

Furthermore, the acceptance device 1 in this exemplary embodiment comprises a central control unit 51, to which the detection device 47, the drive 33, the second closure element 31 and a sensor 53 which detects the functional position of the first closure element 21 are connected via a connecting line.

In the following, the function of the acceptance device 1 shown in FIG. In order to dispose of a package 37 having at least one item of information 49 on the outer surface, the first closure element 21 must be folded up manually in the direction of the double arrow 27. As a result, access to the insertion opening 15 on the front side 5 of the housing 3 is released and the packaging 37 can be introduced into the receiving space 17. During this process, the second closure element 31 forming the base 29 is in its functional position shown in solid line in FIG. Only after the insertion opening 15 has been closed by the first closure element 21, which is detected by the sensor 53, does the recognition device 47 begin to check the information 49 on the packaging 37. After the recognition device 47 has checked and accepted the information 49, the Control unit 51 transmits a signal. Thereupon the drive 33 cooperating with the base 29 is activated, whereby the base 29 is pivoted into its second functional position shown in broken lines. The passage from the receiving space 17 to the collecting container 39 arranged below is thus released and the packaging 37 automatically arrives in the collecting container 39. The base 29 is then pivoted back into the first functional position, so that the receiving space 17 is closed again at the bottom. Another packaging can now be disposed of in the manner mentioned above.

In order to prevent the acceptance device 1 from being misused and other undesired objects from being inserted into it, see that if the object located in the receiving space 17 is not recognized and has no or the wrong information on the outer surface, it is not fed to the collecting container 39. The unrecognized object can, for example, be fed to an output not shown in FIG. 1 or collected in a further, separate collecting container.

A gaming machine 55 is integrated into the acceptance device 1 shown in FIG. 1, which here is connected via a connecting line 56 to the central control unit 51 of the acceptance device 1, into which a control (not shown) for the gaming machine 55 is integrated. The structure of an exemplary embodiment of the gaming machine is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the exemplary embodiment of the acceptance device 1 shown in FIG. 1. Parts that correspond to those in FIG. 1 are provided with the same reference numerals, so that reference is made to the description of FIG. 1. On the front side 5 of the acceptance device 1, a viewing window 61 is provided above the insertion opening 15, behind which three disks 63a, 63b and 63c of the gaming machine 55 are rotatably arranged. The panes 63a to 63c each have on their side 65 facing the viewing window 61 at least one symbol, not shown in FIG. 2, which is, for example, the representation of a win. After the acceptance device 1 has accepted a packaging, the game is either by means of the control unit 51 (Figure 1) or started manually. The disks 63a, 63b and 63c are rotated about their central axis. If, for example, at least one of the symbols behind a field 67 on the viewing window 61 can be seen after the discs have been braked, the game is won.

In this exemplary embodiment, it is provided that after a game has been won, a profit, for example cash, a voucher, chocolate, and / or a real asset, for example a CD, can be taken from an output slot. A total of three output chutes 69a, 69b and 69c are provided on the front side 5 of the acceptance device 1, which are arranged one below the other. The attractiveness of the acceptance device is significantly improved simply by the possibility of winning a price when returning a specific packaging.

It is clear from everything that the design of the gaming machine, its functional principle and the game that can be played with the machine are practically arbitrary. It is important that the acceptance of the acceptance device is improved. It is therefore not a question of how the gaming machine is structured in detail, but only that the game is attractive.

The procedure for accepting packaging according to claim 8 is readily apparent from the above. This provides that a game is started after the acceptance of, for example, special packaging having a certain characteristic feature. This can a high acceptance of the acceptance device can be ensured.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of part of an embodiment of a device 101 for accepting packaging, which is shown in a highly schematic manner. The acceptance device 101 here comprises a total of two acceptance shafts, of which, in the functional position of the acceptance device 101 shown in FIG. 3, a first acceptance shaft 103.1 is arranged in an acceptance area 105 and the second acceptance shaft 103.2 is arranged in a processing area 107 of the acceptance device. The receiving shafts 103.1, 103.2 formed here by hollow cylinders can be displaced with the aid of a transport device 119 which, in this exemplary embodiment, comprises a rotor 113 which can be rotated about a vertically oriented axis 111 and to which the receiving shafts 103.1, 103.2 are attached on opposite sides. The acceptance shafts 103.1, 103.2 are arranged symmetrically to the axis of rotation 111 of the rotor 113 which can be rotated here in an imaginary horizontal plane, that is to say their distance from the axis of rotation 111 is the same. The direction of rotation (double arrow 115) of the rotor 113 which can be driven by means of a drive (not shown in FIG. 3), for example an electric motor, can be varied. The receiving shafts 103.1, 103.2 are each assigned an electromagnetic slide 117, each of which can be displaced into two functional positions by a separate drive 119. The slide 117 and the drives 119 are attached to the rotor 113. FIG. 3 shows the slide 117 in its second functional position, in which the lower opening 121 of the receiving shafts, viewed in the vertical direction 103.1, 103.2 released, that is not covered. In the first functional position, the slider 117, which is rotatably articulated on the rotor, is displaced radially outward, as seen from the axis of rotation 111, so that the opening 121 is closed, that is to say covered. An object placed in the acceptance shafts 103.1, 103.2, for example packaging, cannot therefore fall out of the acceptance shafts due to gravity. The slide 117 can be displaced independently of one another, so that, for example, the slide 117 assigned to the acceptance shaft 103.1 is arranged in its first functional position and at the same time the slide 117 assigned to the acceptance shaft 103.2 is arranged in the second functional position.

In the acceptance area 105, an acceptance unit 123 is provided, which is arranged in an area above the acceptance shafts 103.1, 103.2. The acceptance unit 123 here comprises a passage 125 having a through opening, which is used to receive a packaging that can be inserted into the acceptance device 101 through an insertion opening (not shown), and a light barrier 127, by means of which the introduction of a packaging into the hollow cylinder 125 can be determined. In the functional position of the acceptance device shown in FIG. 3, the acceptance shaft 103.1 is arranged in the acceptance area 105. The lower side 129 of the passage opening of the channel 125 facing the receiving shaft 103.1 can be closed by means of a closure element 131, which here is formed by a flap 135 which can be pivoted about a vertical axis 133 by means of a drive 132, for example an electric motor. The flap In this arrangement pe 135 can be pivoted in a plane perpendicular to the image plane of FIG. 3. The closure element 131 and the drive 132 are stationary on a frame 137 of the acceptance device 101.

A rotary plate 139, which can be rotated about a vertical axis 143 by means of a drive 141, for example an electric motor, is arranged in a stationary manner below the acceptance shaft 103.1 located in the acceptance area 105. The turntable 139 is arranged at a distance from the channel 125 of the acceptance unit 123 and exactly below it. The acceptance shafts 103.1, 103.2 can be introduced into the intermediate space 145 between the acceptance unit 123 and the turntable 139 using the horizontally pivotable rotor 113, as shown in FIG. 3. In the area of the turntable 139, a material detection device 147 is attached, which has at least one sensor, not shown, with the aid of which the material of the packaging inserted in the respective acceptance shaft arranged in the acceptance area 105 can be determined.

A first stand 151, to which a recognition device 153 is attached, is fastened to a base plate 149 of the acceptance device 101 attached to the frame 137 in the acceptance area 105. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the recognition device 153 comprises a reading device for bar codes, 2-D codes and / or stacked bar codes, which is not shown in any more detail. The reading device comprises at least one light source, for example a laser, whose light beam passes through a vertical slot (not shown) in the Sheath of the acceptance shafts 103.1, 103.2 can be directed into the interior of the acceptance shafts. The structure of the reading device, which is also referred to as a scanner, is known per se, so that it is not described in more detail. A packaging (not shown) that is introduced into the acceptance shaft can be checked with the recognition device 153. If the packaging has at least one bar code, 2-D code and / or stacked bar code on its outer surface, this can be read by the reading device. If the code is accepted by the recognition device 153, the packaging can be accepted and transferred to the processing area 107. In the event of a non-recognition or a “wrong” code that is not accepted by the recognition device 153, the packaging can be sent to an output (not shown) of the acceptance device 101 or a separate collecting container.

In a preferred embodiment of the recognition device 153, a reading device is provided, with the aid of which a bar code, 2-D code and / or stacked bar code can be read, and the image of the packaging, that is to say its outer shape / contour, can be determined or is recognizable. Due to this configuration, an acceptance device 101 can be implemented with a simple structure. Furthermore, it is possible to identify "wrong" packaging with a high degree of certainty.

In another exemplary embodiment, not shown, that of the recognition device comprises a video camera, which also contains the contents of the acceptance slot compares stored images and accepts or does not accept packaging according to the specifications. It is clear that other embodiments of the detection device are possible. It is important that at least one characteristic feature of the packaging can be determined by means of the recognition device, so that a distinction can be made between the packaging that is to be accepted by the acceptance device and the packaging or objects that are not desired.

Furthermore, a height measuring device 155 is provided in the acceptance area 105, which comprises a drive unit 157, consisting of a motor and a rack and pinion gear. A rack 159 can be displaced in the vertical direction (double arrow 161) by means of the drive unit 157. With the aid of the height measuring device 155 arranged above the acceptance shaft, the height of a packaging placed in the acceptance shaft 105 arranged in the acceptance area 105 can be determined.

The detection device 153, the material detection device 147 and the height measurement device 155 serve the same purpose, namely the determination of at least one characteristic feature of the packaging placed in the acceptance area 105 in the acceptance shaft. In another embodiment of the acceptance device, for example, only one or two of these devices are used. If the acceptance device is used, for example, to accept packaging consisting only of plastic, the use of the material rial detection device sufficient to check the packaging.

In the functional position of the acceptance device 101 shown in FIG. 3, the acceptance shaft 103.2 is arranged in the processing area 107. A compression device 163, which is part of a volume reduction device, is provided in the area located above the acceptance shaft 103.2. The compression device 163 fastened to a cross member 165 of the frame 137, also referred to as a press, comprises a drive device 167 with a motor and a rack and pinion gear as well as a rack 169 which can be displaced in the vertical direction (double arrow 161) by means of the drive device 167. A press ram 173 is attached to the rack 169. Beneath the compression device 163, on the opposite side, there is a press table 175 attached to the base plate 149, on which a packaging transferred from the acceptance shaft 103.2 from the acceptance area 105 to the processing area 107 can be placed. By a method of the rack 169 down the punch 173 retracts the acceptance chute into the interior, whereby the located therein, lying on the press platen 175 packaging compressed or -ge ^¬ is pressed.

The extrusion die 173 comprises in this embodiment a rigid with the rack 169 of first pressure plate 174a and a interengageable with a lying on the press platen 175 packaging into abutment, second pressure plate 174b, the relatively ge ^¬ genüber the first pressure plate 174a displaceable is. Spring elements 176, for example compression springs, are provided between the pressure plates 174a, 174b. The press ram 173 described here can be used particularly advantageously for compressing cans. When the ram 173 is shut down, the second pressure plate 174b is pressed against the can. It is possible to tilt the second pressure plate against the spring force of the spring elements 176 compared to the first pressure plate. This begins to squeeze the can at its weakest point. Due to the force compensation realized with the spring elements, only relatively small forces are generated during the pressing process, so that a simple and easy construction of the acceptance device can be realized.

The volume reduction device here further comprises a shredding device 177, also referred to as a shredder, which is arranged below the press table 175 in a channel (not shown) leading to a collecting container or in its mouth region. The comminution device 177 is — viewed in plan view of the acceptance device 101 (FIG. 4) —arranged laterally to the press table 175. The construction of such a shredding device, which breaks up a package, which may have been compressed beforehand, into at least two, preferably into many parts, is known per se, so that the description thereof is omitted. By arranging the comminution device in the channel, the divided packaging can be removed directly from the processing area 107 of the acceptance device 101. The channel in which the crusher 177 is arranged is part a sorting unit 179 which has at least one channel leading to a collecting container, not shown. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the sorting unit 179 has a plurality, preferably two to six channels, for the packaging transferred from the acceptance area 105 to the processing area 107. The channels of the sorting unit 179 preferably each lead into a separate collecting container.

The function of the acceptance device 1 is described in more detail below on the basis of an acceptance process:

A packaging (not shown) is introduced from above into the channel 125 of the acceptance unit 123, the opening of which is closed on the side facing the acceptance shaft by means of the pivotable flap 135. After an empty acceptance shaft, for example the acceptance shaft 103.1 has been positioned below the acceptance unit 123 by a rotary movement of the rotor 113, the flap 135 is pivoted and the packaging preferably falls automatically into the acceptance shaft 103.1 and comes to rest on the turntable 139. The flap 135 is now pivoted back again to close the channel 125 on its side facing the acceptance slot 103.1. The packaging arranged within the acceptance shaft 103.1 is largely centered by rotating the turntable 139. The rotation of the packaging enables the stationary recognition device 151 to read at least one characteristic feature of the packaging, here a code provided on the outer surface of the packaging. Alternatively or in addition the height of the packaging is determined by means of the height measuring device 155 and / or the material from which the packaging is made is determined by means of the material detection device 147. After the packaging has been checked and accepted, the slide 117 assigned to the acceptance shaft 103.1 is shifted into its first functional position, in which it closes the lower opening of the acceptance shaft 103.1. The slide 117 thus serves as a base in order to hold the packaging in the acceptance slot 103.1. By a horizontal rotation of the rotor 113, the acceptance shaft 103.1 with the packaging held therein is transferred from the acceptance area 105 to the processing area 107. In this case, the second acceptance shaft 103.2, which is also attached to the rotor 113, is moved from the processing area 107 to the acceptance area 105 and made available for introducing further packaging.

After the receiving shaft 103.1 containing the packaging has arrived in the processing area 107, it is treated accordingly, for example depending on the packaging material, the height of the shape and / or the information read by the recognition device on the outer surface of the packaging. Beverage cans can be pressed together, for example, by means of the compression device 163. For this purpose, the slide 117 assigned to the acceptance shaft 103.1 is shifted into the second functional position (FIG. 3), so that the beverage can comes to rest on the press table 175. Then the press ram 173 can press the beverage can together as described above. Then the reduced-volume beverage can by a movement of the receiving shaft 103.1 pushed or pushed by the press table 175 and introduced into the channel of the sorting unit 179 leading to the corresponding collecting container. In the case of a packaging consisting of glass, for example a bottle, in this exemplary embodiment it is not pressed together, but instead is fed, for example, to the comminution device 177 or, untreated, that is to say neither compressed nor comminuted, introduced directly into the collecting container provided for this purpose.

The processing or processing of a packaging in the processing area 107 can be varied in this exemplary embodiment and is selected, for example, depending on the material and / or the shape of the packaging. For example, PET bottles can be collected uncompressed or reduced in volume, the reduction in volume being achieved by compressing and / or crushing. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the comminution device 177 —as described above — is designed in such a way that it can be used to cut up a wide variety of materials, for example glass, plastic, metal, for example aluminum, and fibrous materials (paper, cardboard, cardboard) . In another advantageous exemplary embodiment, a plurality of different comminution devices are provided, which are used for comminuting different materials; for example a shredder for plastic, another shredder for glass and a third for metal. FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the acceptance device according to FIG. 3. The same parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that reference is made to the description of FIG. 3. In the functional position of the acceptance device 101 shown in FIG. 4, the rotor 113 is rotated, for example counterclockwise, as a result of which the acceptance shaft 103.1 is transferred from the acceptance region 105 to the processing region 107 and the acceptance shaft 103.2 from the processing region 107 to the acceptance region 105. The receiving shafts 103.1, 103.2, each formed here by a hollow cylinder with a circular-cylindrical cross section, are arranged on an imaginary straight line G intersecting the axis of rotation 111 of the rotor 113, that is to say on opposite sides of the rotor 113. As seen in the direction of rotation of the rotor 113 At a distance of 180 ° from the arrangement of the receiving shafts 103.1, 103.2, the axis of rotation 111 of the rotor is simultaneously the axis of symmetry. The rotor 113 is formed here by a disk-shaped wing which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a drive shaft 181 which can be acted upon by a drive unit 183 with a drive or braking torque. The drive unit 183 preferably has a motor, for example an electric motor, and a transmission.

In the receiving area 105, openings 185, 187 are provided in the base plate 149, which are provided on each side of the turntable 139, laterally offset from this. The breakthroughs 185 and 187 are used in the event that packaging is not recognized, that is to say in the case of "incorrect packaging" in the sensory sense, the packaging from the acceptance area To deploy 105. The packaging, which is arranged in one of the receiving shafts and lies on the turntable 139, is thrown from the turntable 139 when the rotor 113 is rotated by means of the receiving shaft and, depending on the direction of rotation of the rotor 113, falls into the opening 185 or 187 and, for example, arrives from there into a separate collecting container or to an output (not shown) of the acceptance device 101. It is clear that in this embodiment the slide 117 serving as the bottom for the acceptance shaft is only required for the transfer of packaging from the acceptance area 105 to the processing area 107 becomes.

In this exemplary embodiment, the sorting unit 179 provided in the processing area 107 comprises a total of four channels 188a, 188b, 188c and 188d, which preferably each lead to a separate collecting container (not shown). The channels 188a, 188b are separated from one another in their opening area facing the press table 175 by a sorting flap 191 pivotable about an axis 189 and the channels 188c, 188d by a sorting flap 191 'pivotable about an axis 189'. After the packaging has been recognized and possibly compressed in the processing area 107 by means of the compression device 163, this is pushed off the press table 175 by a movement of the acceptance shaft. In the functional position of the sorting flaps 191, 191 ′ shown in FIG. 4, the packaging would reach the channel 188a when the rotor 113 was rotated counterclockwise and into the channel 188c if the rotor 113 was rotated clockwise. It it is pointed out that the shredding device 177, not shown in FIG. 4, is provided in one of the channels of the sorting unit 179.

In another embodiment (not shown), a plurality of comminution devices are provided, which are preferably arranged in different channels of the sorting unit and are used, for example, for comminuting different materials. These can have an identical structure.

In FIG. 4, a sensor system 195 is shown in the processing area 107 attached to a second stand connected to the base plate 149, by means of which the receiving shafts 103.1, 103.2 can be arranged in a precise position in the processing area 107 below the compression device or above the press table 175. Since in this exemplary embodiment the receiving shafts 103.1, 103.2 — viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotor — are arranged at a distance of 180 ° from one another, the other of the two receiving shafts is also positioned exactly in the receiving area 105.

It is clear from everything that the acceptance device 101 can also have more than two acceptance shafts for the packaging, preferably three, four, six or eight acceptance shafts. As a result, the time between two acceptance processes, that is, the waiting time of the user, can be further reduced. The acceptance shafts are preferably independent from their number - seen in the direction of rotation of the rotor - arranged at the same distance from each other.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the acceptance device 101 comprises a gaming machine, not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This serves to improve the attractiveness of the acceptance device. For example, after a package has been accepted, a game is started in which a prize can be won. The game can be started manually or automatically by a control. The gaming machine that can be integrated into the acceptance device 101 has at least one output for the price that can be found in the output of a game won. Cash, sweets (chocolate, sweets), natural goods, tangible assets, for example CD, a voucher and / or the like can be issued as the price for a game won. In an advantageous embodiment of the gaming machine, it is provided that a separate expenditure is provided for each different win (a prize can consist of several wins).

The costs for the acceptance devices 1, 101 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 can be financed, for example, with advertising. For this purpose, the acceptance device can comprise windows for advertising posters, for example, which can be backlit, for example, by means of a light source. In another embodiment it is provided that the acceptance device comprises a monitor on which advertising videos are shown. The acceptance devices 1, 101 can furthermore comprise an automatic fill level measuring device which transmits the fill level in the at least one collecting container by means of a remote data transmission device. Using the transmitted data, for example, the routes of the collection vehicles can be optimized. If the acceptance device comprises a gaming machine, the number of games, the prizes issued and / or the number of prizes still in the machine can also be transmitted as an alternative or in addition to the fill level data in the collecting container.

In summary, it should be noted that the spatial separation between the acceptance of packaging in the acceptance area 105 and the processing of the packaging in the processing area 107 means that a short period of time can be achieved between two acceptance processes. The waiting time for a person who wants to bring the packaging into the acceptance device 101 is therefore very short. Because at least one characteristic feature of the packaging is determined after it has been introduced, it is possible to collect the packaging according to type. The volume reduction of the packaging in the processing area with the aid of the compression device and / or the comminution device enables larger time intervals between two empties of the collecting container (s) receiving the packaging, without the need to use a collecting container with a larger volume. By using a volume reduction device, a compactly designed acceptance device can be realized. Special It is also advantageous that the acceptance device 1, 101 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4 can be used to accept various types of packaging, for example cans, bottles, mugs, tetrapaks and the like. The packaging can consist of different materials, for example plastic, metal, glass and / or paper / cardboard. The acceptance device can thus be used universally, although sorting by type is possible despite the acceptance of different packaging.

Claims

Expectations

1. Device for accepting packaging, in particular cans, bottles, mugs, tetrapaks, with a housing (3; 103) having at least one insertion opening (15) and with at least one collecting container (39), characterized by a slot machine (55) a game can be started after accepting a package (37).

2. Acceptance device according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaming machine (55) comprises at least one rotatable disc (63a; 63b; 63c) which has at least one symbol on its side facing a housing (3) provided with viewing window (61).

3. Acceptance device according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaming machine (55) comprises at least one rotatable roller over which a film strip with at least one symbol shown thereon is guided.

4. Acceptance device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a profit can be associated with the symbol.

5. Acceptance device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gaming machine (55) has at least one output shaft for the profit.

6. Acceptance device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the prize is a voucher, cash, natural goods, sweets and / or a real asset.

7. Acceptance device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a controller for the gaming machine (55) is provided, which is integrated in a central control unit (51) of the acceptance device (1; 101).

8. A method for accepting packaging, in particular cans, bottles, mugs, tetrapaks, in particular with a device according to claim 1, characterized in that a game is started after the acceptance of packaging.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the game is started automatically or manually.

10. The method according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that a profit can be achieved in the game.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the profit is a voucher, cash, natural goods, sweets and / or a real asset.