Abstract: A system for collecting waste objects for recycling including a reverse vending machine, RVM, and a carrier arrangement adapted to receive a devaluated waste object at a first location having a first elevation, and adapted to transport and deliver the devaluated waste object to a second location having a higher elevation than the first location and an inlet of the RVM. The system further includes a buffer arrangement adapted to receive the devaluated waste object from the RVM at a third location and to deliver the devaluated waste object to the carrier arrangement at the first location. The carrier arrangement includes at least one carrier adapted to move repeatedly between the first location and the second location. Further, a process of transporting and collecting waste objects.

Abstract: A method for an RVM system and an RVM system configured to implement the method. The method includes the steps of: receiving a set of used containers from a user through an infeed; initiating a new collection session and establishing a Session ID; initiating a transfer of the Session ID to a user via physical or digital means after the new collection session has been initiated; establishing a resulting return value for the set of used containers; linking the resulting return value to the Session ID, where the initiating of a transfer of the Session ID to a user is performed before the step of linking the resulting return value to the Session ID.

Abstract: A system for storing recyclable containers, such as used food or beverage containers, including a storage for housing recyclable containers, the storage having a set of inner surfaces which defines a storage volume for the recyclable containers; a transporting channel, the transporting channel including an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the inlet port is arranged to receive compressed and/or uncompressed recyclable containers, and the outlet port being arranged in at least one of the inner surfaces in the set of inner surfaces, a force feeding transporting mechanism configured to transport transfer at least one recyclable container through the transporting channel, and into the storage volume via the outlet port, a centre axis of the outlet port of the transporting channel is directed upwards from the horizontal plane at an angle, the angle being within the range of 15° and 85° at the outlet port of the transporting channel.

Abstract: A device for compression of emptied containers, the device for compression of emptied containers including a container compressing arrangement provided with a first and a second roller, each roller having annular segments provided with specially shaped protruding elements. The device is for compression of plastic bottles as well as metal cans.

Abstract: A device for singulation of used beverage or food containers received in bulk into individual objects, including: a first receiving area arranged for simultaneously receiving and keeping a plurality of containers; a second receiving area positioned at a higher vertical level than the first receiving area, wherein the device further includes a transporting device comprising a container elevating member for transporting a container from the first receiving area to the second receiving area wherein the elevating member is attached to said transporting device, moves along and is locked to a circumferential path around a first axis upon activation of the transporting device, and the first axis is inclined at an angle of 1° to 45° relative the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A device for sorting objects, such as used beverage or food containers, that are conveyed on a conveyor. The device includes a first guiding member which is pivotable about a first pivot axis and configured to, when the sorting device is situated in a first sorting position, guide containers in a first sorting direction, a second guiding member which is pivotable about a second pivot axis, a rotatable drive member, a first cam mechanism interconnecting the rotatable drive member with the first guiding member, and a second cam mechanism interconnecting the rotatable drive member with the second guiding member, wherein the device is configured to, upon rotation of the drive member, be actuated between the first sorting position and a second sorting position.

Abstract: A device for singulation of used beverage or food containers received in bulk into individual objects, including: a first receiving area arranged for simultaneously receiving and keeping a plurality of containers; a second receiving area positioned at a higher vertical level than the first receiving area, wherein the device further includes a transporting device including a container elevating member for transporting a container from the first receiving area to the second receiving area, wherein the elevating member is attached to said transporting device, moves along and is locked to a circumferential path around a first axis upon activation of the transporting device, and the first axis is inclined at an angle of 1° to 45° relative the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A system for detection of fraud attempts in reverse vending machine, which includes one radiation emitting device for illuminating a food or beverage container being received by the reverse vending machine, one radiation detection device configured to detect radiation reflected at and/or transmitted through and/or emitted from the food or beverage container in response to the illumination, one processing unit configured to: receive information corresponding to the detected radiation from the at least one radiation detecting device; analyze the information to determine the existence of additional radiation, which additional radiation is not received from valid food or beverage containers, and upon determination of the existence of the additional radiation classify the food or beverage container as fraudulent; as well as a reverse vending machine provided with such a system and a corresponding method.

Abstract: Container compressing arrangement, mountable in a reverse vending machine, for compacting empty containers, in particular beverage bottles or cans which are preferably made of plastic or metallic material, such as PET or tinned metal, the container compressing arrangement including: a first and a second rotatable roller, each of the rollers having a working surface arranged between two oppositely arranged ends, wherein the rollers are arranged adjacent to each other to rotate in opposite directions around a respective rotation axis in a common geometrical xz-plane; and wherein the working surface includes a plurality of ridges extending across the working surface, in an axial direction of the roller, and distributed in the circumferential direction of the working surface, each ridge having a longitudinal extension in the axial direction.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system and use of a least one sensor in a reverse vending machine for empty beverage containers for, on the sensor's detection at least one biometric feature of a person, allowing such a feature to serve as an identifying token for return value due for empty beverage containers delivered by the person to the reverse vending machine. The biometric feature is, at a return value payout point and by using at least one other sensor, redetected and re-recognized as a previously registered feature for payment of the return value in the form of a payout of the return value, credit for the return value or issuance of a lottery ticket with a stake equivalent to the return value. Said biometric feature is selected from at least one of the group consisting of: fingerprints, facial features, eye characteristics, iris features, handprints, palm line patterns, blood vessel patterns, body shape, height, weight, DNA-characteristics and voice spectrum.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for receiving and destructuring collectable items, the apparatus having at least one item destructurer (112,113) at an exit of the apparatus. The apparatus comprises an item receiving floor (114); an item pusher (115) reciprocally slidable along the floor, means for causing an item when placed on the floor to be engaged by one or the other side of the pusher and pushed towards and into engagement with said destructurer, and pusher drive means (117) configured to provide gradually increasing pushing force on the item towards the destructurer. Means may be provided for selectively causing an item when placed on the floor either to exit through the floor via a trap door device or to be engaged by one or the other side of the pusher and pushed towards and into engagement with said destructurer.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating and viewing an image of an item (95) against a reflective surface (94) with a light source (85), a camera (97) and operational electronics (98) installed on a single, common circuit board (99) located with a plane thereof along an exterior upright wall (102?) of a closed optics compartment (102). The light source faces a window element (103) of the closed optics compartment with a first light guide part (86) and directs light further into the optics compartment by means of a second light guide part (86?) located on the other side of the window element and aligned with the first light guide part (86). An optical unit is located in the optics compartment and comprises a light path extender (89, 90, 91), a light source input region, a lens unit (93), and at least one image detection output region.

Abstract: A method and a system for determining the remuneration for the return of identifiable empty packaging to a receiving point, wherein the empty packaging (7; 8) is identified with respect to at least one selected characteristic thereof, for example, dimension, type of packaging, type of material, recyclability, and deposit value, if any. The remuneration for individual types of empty packaging is related to at least two of a plurality of legal entities (10-15) which, for the return of empty packaging, are remuneration-providing and connectable to a remuneration coordinator (9) in communication with the receiving point in the form of a reverse vending machine (1), and to the remuneration level of the connected legal entities that is applicable at any given time for a particular type or particular types of empty packaging.

Abstract: The reverse vending machine (RVM) receives, handles, sorts, and stores 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.

Abstract: The reverse vending machine (RVM) receives, handles, sorts, and stores 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.

Abstract: The safety apparatus for controlling operation of functional equipment having movable parts is configured to use a camera to view and cause detection of a safety related event in a field of view of the camera. The device is useful in a reverse 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 upwardly oriented storage chamber for such items, the 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.

Abstract: A method and device for individually transporting articles of different type, size, weight, material or shape to one delivery location of a plurality of delivery locations that is designated for the respective article. The articles are placed one by one in respective transport containers, and the respective article is caused at a desired respective delivery location to be transferred from its transport container to a collecting or storage bin, disintegrator or further conveyor dedicated to the article, the transport container at the designated delivery location being made to discharge the article under the effect of gravity or with the aid of a separate, controlled actuating means. The respective article is identified prior to it being placed in a transport container. Identification may, for example, be related to the material of which the article is made.

Abstract: The reverse vending machine (RVM) receives, handles, sorts, and stores 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.

Abstract: A device for moving articles between positions at time intervals. The device includes at least two gates disposed sequentially in the direction of travel of the article which can controllably be opened and closed. Upstream of each gate there is formed a temporary holding area for the article. The two gates (1; 2; 3; 4) are controllable by means of one single drive motor (8) or actuator. The two gates (1; 2; 3; 4) are each associated with one control element (5; 6) rotatable about a respective axis of rotation, and the drive motor or actuator (8) is adapted to move one actuating element (7) that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and which is common to the respective control elements (5; 6) of the two gates.