System and apparatus for handling deposit beverage containers

A system comprising:

• a load assembly configured to hold a plurality of deposit beverage containers, the load assembly comprising an outlet end;
• a tray configured to receive the deposit beverage containers from the outlet end of the load assembly, the tray having one or both of the following components detachably coupled thereto:
• a sort bar configured to stop individual deposit beverage containers from sliding across the tray long enough to allow a user to sort individual deposit beverage containers, and
• a chute configured to direct the deposit beverage containers in a path across the tray;
• and
• a feed channel configured to receive the deposit beverage containers from the tray, the feed channel disposed along a bottom edge of the tray;
• and
• a count module coupled to an end of the feed channel and configured to receive and count the deposit beverage containers from the feed channel.

A system comprising:

• a load assembly configured to hold a plurality of deposit beverage containers, the load assembly comprising an outlet end, a lift actuator that is controllable by a user to lift and lower the plurality of deposit beverage containers to one or more upward dumping positions and to one or more lower loading positions, respectively, and a vibrator;
• a tray configured to receive the deposit beverage containers from the outlet end of the load assembly, wherein the tray is elevated a distance above the ground so as to allow a user easy access to the deposit beverage containers;
• a sort bar coupled to the tray and configured to stop individual deposit beverage containers from sliding across the tray long enough to allow the user to manually sort the individual deposit beverage containers;
• a feed channel configured to receive the deposit beverage containers from the tray, the feed channel disposed along a bottom edge of the tray, the feed channel comprising a bottom panel having a V-shaped contact surface;
• and
• a count module coupled to an end of the feed channel and configured to receive and count the deposit beverage containers from the feed channel.