Means in a reverse vending machine (RVM) for receiving, handling, sorting and storing returnable items or objects
AssigneeTomra Systems ASA
InventorsGeir Saether, Tom Lunde
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to means in a reversed vending machine (RVM) for receiving, handling, sorting, and storing returnable items or objects. The RVM includes an item supporting, rotating, sorting and conveyor unit, an upright storage chamber for such items, a safety apparatus to avoid operational hazards, a camera aided detection device for detecting at least one of a bar code on and other characteristics, e.g. contour, of an item, a simplified token system, and a drive system with a releasable power coupling for operating the sorting device and a further storage device.
Claims21
1-174. (canceled)
A token system for use with a reverse vending machine suitable for receiving empty packaging in the form of empty beverage containers, the reverse vending machine being configured by means of a processor to determine return value of the empty packaging and to cause dispensing a token from a token dispenser said token being related at least to the return value, the processor being configured to transfer directly or via a central computer installation to a rewarding unit or a check-out unit information related to a readable token code and information related to said return value, the rewarding unit or check-out unit having a second code reader in order to provide a reward related to the return value represented on the validated token, and invalidation means in order to make the validation of the token invalid,
- wherein the token is a ready made, pre-coded card which is dispensable from said dispenser operable with the reverse vending machine and a first code reader located at the dispenser to code read the code(s) on the card when dispensed, and wherein the first code reader operative with said processor.
A token system for use with a reverse vending machine suitable for receiving empty packaging in the form of empty beverage containers, the reverse vending machine being configured by means of a processor to determine return value of the empty packaging and to the return value to be related at to a token, the processor being configured to transfer directly or via a central computer installation to a rewarding unit or a check-out unit information related to the token and said return value in order to validate the token, the rewarding unit or check-out unit having a code reader in order to provide a reward related to the return value represented on the validated token, and invalidation means in order to make the validation of the token invalid,
- wherein the token is a personal card of a user of the reverse vending machine,
- wherein said card is presentable to an encoder means which is operative with said reverse vending machine, and
- wherein the encoder means is configured for entering into the card information in the form of either a card code or a card code plus said return value,
- wherein the encoder means is connected to said processor, and
- wherein the card is an r.f.-card or magnetic stripe card.
A token system for use with a reverse vending machine suitable for receiving empty packaging in the form of empty beverage containers, the reverse vending machine being configured by means of a processor to determine return value of the empty packaging and to cause the return value to be related to a token, the processor being configured to transfer directly or via a central computer installation to a rewarding unit or a check-out unit information related to a readable token and said return value in order to validate the token, the rewarding unit or check-out unit having a second code reader in order to provide a reward related to the return value represented on the validated token, and invalidation means in order to make the validation of the token invalid,
- wherein the token is an optically readable card, an r.f. readable card or a magnetic stripe readable card from which is transferable to the reverse vending machine processor via a first card reader information in the form of a card code.
A token system related to a reverse vending machine which is configured to detect and identify characteristic features of an object, tokens being dispensable one-by-one from a token dispenser and configured to be related to an object being observable and detectable for object identification, wherein each token has pre-applied, optical marking(s) thereon being readable by means of a first dedicated optical reader, e.g. a camera arranged in relationship to a token output on the reverse vending machine.
189-196. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.