Apparatus for receiving and storing empty bottles

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically receiving empty bottles and storing them in an internal container includes a mechanism which discriminates against improperly sized bottles and also returns the monetary deposit which may have been made at the time of purchase of the full bottle. The apparatus includes a bottle conveyor mechanism which accepts bottles in a horizontal position on sprocket discs and, after suitable actuation of door-locking and dimension-checking switches, rotates the discs and transports the bottle upwardly. The positive insertion of the transported bottle into the bottle storage container above causes a realignment of the bottles already stored there. The stored bottles align themselves in parallel layers until a limit switch prevents further operation when the container is filled up.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.