Battery recycling
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorHeather N. Bean
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and a method provide a convenient way for consumers to recycle used batteries. The apparatus is a self-contained station or kiosk that accepts used batteries from a consumer and dispenses one or both of fully charged batteries and credit for the used battery to the consumer. The method determines one or more of chemistry, rechargeability and condition of the used battery, assigns a credit value to the used battery, and dispenses a form of credit based on the assigned credit value. The present invention recycles one or both of used rechargeable and used nonrechargeable batteries and separately dispenses fully charged batteries. Used rechargeable batteries are recharged and reused, and used non-rechargeable batteries are collected for proper disposal according to regulations.
Claims27
An apparatus for recycling a used battery comprising:
- a receptacle that receives one or both of the used battery and a payment;
- a dispenser that dispenses one or both of a fully charged battery and a credit amount for the received used battery;
- and
- a controller that monitors the receptacle and controls the dispenser.
An apparatus for recycling a used battery comprising:
- a consumer access point where a consumer deposits the used battery;
- a battery tester that measures a characteristic of the deposited used battery to determine rechargeability;
- a dispenser that dispenses a form of credit, a value of the credit being based on the determined rechargeability;
- and
- a controller that controls the battery tester and the dispenser, and that communicates with the consumer at the consumer access point.
A method of recycling a used battery comprising:
- determining one or more of chemistry, rechargeability and condition of the used battery;
- assigning a credit value to the used battery based on the one or more determined chemistry, rechargeability and condition;
- and
- dispensing a form of credit based on the assigned credit value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.