Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for returning empties, in particular bottles and cans, having a bulk input, in which the empties (10) are moved from an input space (8) past a detection unit (14) by a conveyor device (1) rotating about the longitudinal axis thereof, and further having a conveyor device for implementing said method, comprising a plurality followers mounted transversely to the direction of conveyance and spaced a distance apart. An increased throughput is to be achieved with such a method and such a conveyor device. This is achieved in that the empties (10) are parallelized out of the input space (8) by the conveyor device (1) and fed to the detection unit (14) in a field array, or in that each follower (4) is designed to be wide enough to hold at least two empties (10) side by side, and that an angular momentum is applied to the empties (10) at least in the detection field (15) of the detection unit (14).

Abstract: Device for taking back empty containers, in particular plastic bottles and metal cans, with a housing which has apparatuses for processing inserted empty containers, an intake chute accessible from the outside that receives empty containers as bulk material and a bottom sloping downward in direction of intake chute. Device is provided that prevents or impedes insertion of excessively large objects into device. Device provides almost unimpeded insertion of empty containers as bulk material into intake chute, and simultaneously prevents that excessively large objects can enter into the device. The bottom of intake chute has a plurality of grooves arranged side by side and running in the intake direction, the grooves flowing into a passage opening leading to the device and whose cross-section is dimensioned in such a manner that empty containers aligned longitudinally in the intake direction can pass unimpeded through the grooves.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the detection and identification of objects, wherein an illumination device emits polychromatic light in the infrared range, creating a light curtain, or an essentially two-dimensional area of light in the X and Z axis. The light from the light curtain and light reflected or transmitted by an object in the light curtain is imaged, via aperture-imaging optics, onto an aperture that is in the optical path and behind the aperture-imaging optics. The aperture is an elongated opening extending along the Z axis. A wavelength-dispersive device, such as a grating, diffracts light admitted by the aperture wavelength-dispersively in a diffraction direction along the Y axis. An image sensor detects the diffraction image and generates image signals which are analyzed to identify the materials comprising the object. An output signal may be generated in response to the material identified.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the detection and identification of objects, wherein an illumination device emits polychromatic light in the infrared range, creating a light curtain, or an essentially two-dimensional area of light in the X and Z axis. The light from the light curtain and light reflected or transmitted by an object in the light curtain is imaged, via aperture-imaging optics, onto an aperture that is in the optical path and behind the aperture-imaging optics. The aperture is an elongated opening extending along the Z axis. A wavelength-dispersive device, such as a grating, diffracts light admitted by the aperture wavelength-dispersively in a diffraction direction along the Y axis. An image sensor detects the diffraction image and generates image signals which are analyzed to identify the materials comprising the object. An output signal may be generated in response to the material identified.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for recovering empty containers, in particular plastic bottles and metal cans, in which the empty containers are guided by a conveying means from a collecting chamber (bulk input) past detectors belonging to a detection unit, and discharging means for removing the empty containers from the conveying means are arranged downstream of the detection unit, in the conveying direction. The aim of the invention is to provide such an apparatus with an increased throughput. This aim is solved according to the invention in that the conveying means is configured as an inclined conveyor (3) which removes the empty containers (10) in a parallel manner on carriers (8, 28) from the collecting space (11) and feeds them to the detectors (15, 32, 33) in a uniformly spaced arrangement. The apparatus also has discharging means (16, 17) which extend transversely in at least two rows, on different levels, over the entire width of the inclined conveyor (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for returning empties, in particular bottles and cans, having a bulk input, in which the empties (10) are moved from an input space (8) past a detection unit (14) by a conveyor device (1) rotating about the longitudinal axis thereof, and further having a conveyor device for implementing said method, comprising a plurality followers mounted transversely to the direction of conveyance and spaced a distance apart. An increased throughput is to be achieved with such a method and such a conveyor device. This is achieved in that the empties (10) are parallelized out of the input space (8) by the conveyor device (1) and fed to the detection unit (14) in a field array, or in that each follower (4) is designed to be wide enough to hold at least two empties (10) side by side, and that an angular momentum is applied to the empties (10) at least in the detection field (15) of the detection unit (14).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process by which plastics are separated from recycled plastic mixtures according to type, whereby the plastic parts freed from metals are taken on fast moving conveyor belts isolated as a fine, light and/or coarse material and the plastic parts to be selected are removed from the plastic flow in at least one optomechanical sorting device of activatable ejectors.