초록 ▼

Apparatus for collection of metal containers and for direct payment of refund deposits for containers bearing a distinguishing indicia, including an exterior housing having an access port therein, a container access area sized to accommodate both crushed and non-crushed containers, a metal detector

Apparatus for collection of metal containers and for direct payment of refund deposits for containers bearing a distinguishing indicia, including an exterior housing having an access port therein, a container access area sized to accommodate both crushed and non-crushed containers, a metal detector for determining whether a container offered by a customer is substantially aluminum or steel, an optical sensing device for detecting the presence of the distinguishing indicia, a movable shelf responsive to the metal detector and the optical scanning device for accepting a container identified as being substantially aluminum or steel and bearing the distinguishing indicia, a dispenser for dispensing refunds for containers accepted, a crusher for crushing the containers, and a bag for storing the crushed containers.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for collecting and storing empty metallic containers having a distinguishing indicia thereon and for issuing predetermined return deposits for collected containers comprising: preselection means for exposing a crushed or non-crushed container offered by a customer to an electromagnetic fie

Apparatus for collecting and storing empty metallic containers having a distinguishing indicia thereon and for issuing predetermined return deposits for collected containers comprising: preselection means for exposing a crushed or non-crushed container offered by a customer to an electromagnetic field for identifying whether said container is substantially either aluminum or steel without establishing direct electrical contact with said container, and for detecting the presence of said distinguishing indicia on said crushed or non-crushed container; said preselection means including a container access area configured to accommodate both crushed or non-crushed containers for exposure to said field; means for accepting only a container identified by said preselection means as being substantially aluminum or steel and as having said distinguishing indicia thereon, independent of the configuration of said container; dispensing means responsive to said preselection means for dispensing a predetermined payment in return for containers having a substantially aluminum or steel composition and carrying said distinguishing indicia; means cooperating with said accepting means for crushing said containers; and means for storing crushed containers received from said crushing means.