Empties sorting device and empties return system

An empties return system, comprising:

• an empties sorting device, comprising:
• an empties sorting table with a table surface, an empties feed section, to which empties of different types can be fed, and with an empties discharge section, wherein the empties discharge section has a discharge section dividing device with at least one discharge section partition wall, by which the empties discharge section is divided into at least one first and one second empties collecting channel, which are separated from one another by the at least one discharge section partition wall;
• an empties conveying device, which is installed on the empties sorting table and which extends between the empties feed section and the empties discharge section and which is designed in such a way that the empties fed to the empties feed section can be transferred by the empties conveying device from the empties feed section to the empties discharge section in a transfer conveying direction;
• an empties guiding device with a movable empties guiding element, which is arranged on the empties sorting table upstream of the empties collecting channels in respect of the transfer conveying direction and which is designed to be movable at least into a first guiding position, which is associated with the first empties collecting channel, and a second guiding position, which is associated with the second empties collecting channel, in order to guide the empties conveyed in the transfer conveying direction on the empties sorting table by the empties conveying device selectively to the first and the second empties collecting channel, wherein the movable empties guiding element moves linearly in a direction generally parallel to the table surface and in a direction generally transverse to the transfer conveying direction in order to move the empties guiding element into the first and the second collecting channels;
• and
• a controller, which has a sensor, by which the respective type of empties among the empties fed to the empties feed section can be automatically detected, and which is connected to the empties guiding device and which is designed to control the movement of the empties guiding element into the first and second guiding positions in accordance with the type of empties detected in order thereby to guide the empties selectively to the first empties collecting channel and the second empties collecting channel according to the type of empties;
• wherein the discharge section partition wall between the empties collecting channels can be moved parallel to the table surface under the control of the controller, thus allowing an associated empties collecting channel size to be varied;
• and
• an automatic empties return appliance, into which empties can be inserted manually and from which the empties inserted can be fed automatically towards the empties feed section of the empties sorting table.