Patents by Inventor Geir Saether

Geir Saether has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11972452
    Abstract: A fraud detection system for a reverse vending machine, the system including: a detector adapted to detect at least one container entered into the reverse vending machine; a compactor load sensor adapted to measure load of a compactor of the reverse vending machine during operation, wherein the compactor is adapted to compact entered containers downstream of the detector; and a compactor load sensor monitoring device configured to determine whether the detected at least one container is compacted as expected based on the load measured by the compactor load sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: TOMRA SYSTEMS ASA
    Inventors: Geir Saether, Ronald Sivertsen, Tom Lunde, Johnny Njåstad
  • Patent number: 11891242
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TOMRA SYSTEMS ASA
    Inventors: Geir Saether, Kristian Hovde
  • Publication number: 20220106110
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Tomra Systems ASA
    Inventors: Geir SAETHER, Kristian HOVDE
  • Publication number: 20210097564
    Abstract: A fraud detection system for a reverse vending machine, the system including: a detector adapted to detect at least one container entered into the reverse vending machine; a compactor load sensor adapted to measure load of a compactor of the reverse vending machine during operation, wherein the compactor is adapted to compact entered containers downstream of the detector; and a compactor load sensor monitoring device configured to determine whether the detected at least one container is compacted as expected based on the load measured by the compactor load sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: TOMRA SYSTEMS ASA
    Inventors: Geir SAETHER, Ronald SIVERTSEN, Tom LUNDE, Johnny NJÅSTAD
  • Patent number: 10902436
    Abstract: A fraud detection system for a reverse vending machine, the system including: a detector adapted to detect at least one container entered into the reverse vending machine; a compactor load sensor adapted to measure load of a compactor of the reverse vending machine during operation, wherein the compactor is adapted to compact entered containers downstream of said detector; and a compactor load sensor monitoring device configured to determine whether the detected at least one container is compacted as expected based on the load measured by the compactor load sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: TOMRA SYSTEMS ASA
    Inventors: Geir Saether, Ronald Sivertsen, Tom Lunde, Johnny Njåstad
  • Publication number: 20180232745
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fraud detection system for a reverse vending machine, the system comprising: a detector adapted to detect at least one container entered into the reverse vending machine; a compactor load sensor adapted to measure load of a compactor of the reverse vending machine during operation, wherein the compactor is adapted to compact entered containers downstream of said detector; and a compactor load sensor monitoring device configured to determine whether the detected at least one container is compacted as expected based on the load measured by the compactor load sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: TOMRA SYSTEMS ASA
    Inventors: Geir SAETHER, Ronald SIVERTSEN, Tom LUNDE, Johnny NJÅSTAD
  • Patent number: 9399555
    Abstract: A conveyor module for a reverse vending machine, which is mountable to a docking unit, and includes at least one conveyor belt; a housing for supporting the at least one conveyor belt, and a force receiving element for receiving a driving power for driving the at least one conveyor belt, which force receiving element is accessible from outside of the conveyor module through an opening in the housing. Further, a docking unit for a conveyor module of a reverse vending machine includes a housing, and a force feed element for outputting a driving power to the conveyor module, which force feed element is accessible from outside of the docking unit through an opening in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOMRA SYSTEMS ASA
    Inventors: Brynjar Aarseth Fonnelop, Geir Saether
  • Publication number: 20150259151
    Abstract: A conveyor module for a reverse vending machine, which is mountable to a docking unit, and includes at least one conveyor belt; a housing for supporting the at least one conveyor belt, and a force receiving element for receiving a driving power for driving the at least one conveyor belt, which force receiving element is accessible from outside of the conveyor module through an opening in the housing. Further, a docking unit for a conveyor module of a reverse vending machine includes a housing, and a force feed element for outputting a driving power to the conveyor module, which force feed element is accessible from outside of the docking unit through an opening in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Brynjar Aarseth Fonnelop, Geir Saether
  • Patent number: 7754990
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Tomra Systems ASA
    Inventor: Geir Saether
  • Publication number: 20090120847
    Abstract: The invention relates to means 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 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: TOMRA SYSTEMS ASA
    Inventors: Geir Saether, Ronald Sivertsen, Tom Lunde
  • Publication number: 20080027581
    Abstract: The invention relates to means in a reversed 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 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: Tomra Systems ASA
    Inventors: Geir Saether, Tom Lunde
  • Publication number: 20080025826
    Abstract: The invention relates to means 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 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: Tomra Systems ASA
    Inventor: Geir Saether
  • Publication number: 20070292117
    Abstract: The invention relates to means 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 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: TOMRA SYSTEMS ASA
    Inventors: Geir Saether, Ronald Sivertsen, Tom Lunde