Abstract: The cup return automat has a cup insertion chamber (1), a cup collection chamber (10) and a stacking shaft (9) arranged over the cup collection chamber for the cups to be stacked in the stacking shaft (9), with a device for ejecting the formed cup stack (5") laterally into the cup collection chamber (10). In between the cup insertion chamber (1) and the stacking shaft (9) there is located a transfer device, which only allows any cup received in the cup insertion chamber (1) to pass into the stacking shaft (9) when in the cup orientation permitting the cup stacking and with the cup opening turned downwards.

Abstract: The device has a guide cylinder (8) receiving the cup (5), with a window (11) provided in the sidewall of the cylinder, further a reflective light beam detector (12) arranged outside the guide cylinder (8) close to the window (11), with a detection region directed through the window (11) into the interior space (13) of the guide cylinder (8), which detector in combination with a following signal processing circuit detects and evaluates the marking (4) located on the cup (5), and a catch member (17) and a positioning member (20), which are both arranged in axial projection diametrically opposite the window (11) and in the direction of the axis (16) of the guide cylinder (8) below the window (11), with the positioning member (20) between the window (11) and the catch member (17), and with each movable into and/or out of the interior space (13) of the guide cylinder (8) by its own controllable drive member (18, 21).