Method and arrangement for encouraging the return of a rolling vehicle, such as a supermarket shopping trolley

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, characterized in that, the gate (14) being lockable in the closing condition, it is unlocked if there is a satisfactory result for the first check, and it is locked when it has returned to its closing condition after the passage.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a first identity check is carried out during a predetermined period of time beyond which, if the second check is not conclusive, the issue of a ticket is prevented or the gate (14) is locked.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the bars (B) are counted on one side only of the trolley (C).

Claim 9

An installation for putting into operation the method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising means for controlling access to a reception area for vehicles, which means opens when a vehicle is pushed in the direction of access and is provided with a means for return to the closing position, several devices for checking the identity of the vehicle, a dispenser of reward tickets, and a control unit for the correct sequential progress of the operations controlling the ticket dispenser, characterized in that, the access control means comprising at least one gate (14, 114), a first checking device (35, 37 1 , 38 1 ) is located upstream of the said gate (14, 114) and the second checking device (36, 37 2 , 38 2 ) is located between the first checking device and the gate (14, 114) such that the second check is carried out while the vehicle is passing through the gate, the installation also comprising an element (32) which is sensitive to the closing position of the gate and is connected to the said control unit (S, C) to prevent the issue of a ticket if the gate (14, 114) is not in its closing position after the vehicle (C, 110) has passed through.

Claim 10

An installation according to claim 8, characterized in that it also comprises a lock (27, 31) to immobilize the access control gate (14) in the closing position, the lock being retractable under the control of the first checking device (35, 37 1 , 38i).

Claim 11

An installation according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, the first and second checking devices comprising respectively a photoelectric device whose emitter (37) and receptor (38) are arranged on either side of the access to the reception area, the emitter (37) and the receptor (38) of one device are offset in height with respect to one another so that the ray emitted is inclined with respect to the horizontal reference plane on which the vehicle (C) to be introduced into the reception area moves.

Claim 12

An installation according to claim 10, characterized in that the emitter (37) and the receptor (38) of each device are mounted so that their height is adjustable on a substantially vertical support (39).

Claim 13

An installation according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that, each checking device being of photoelectric type comprising an emitter and a receiver, a group for counting signals is associated with each of these devices.

Claim 14

An installation according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the access control means comprises two gates (14, 114) whose edges are opposite one another in the closed position.

Claim 15

An installation according to claim 13, characterized in that the outer vertical edge (15) of the gate or of each gate (14) is a shaft mounted so as to rotate and integral with a sector (27) comprising at least one perforation (28) into which the core of an electromagnet (29) may be engaged to lock the said gate.

Claim 16

An installation according to one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that it comprises visual and/or sound signalling means (V i , V 2 , V 3 ) indicating in particular the possibility of inserting the vehicles into the access, the out-of-order condition of the installation, and a fault in operation, these means being borne by the transverse bar of an upturned U porch defining the entrance of the reception area.

Claim 17

An installation according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one of the checking devices comprises a component chosen from metal detectors, photoelectric cells of reflexion type functioning with or without a reflector, and receptive photoelectric cells associated with a distant element which emits a ray with a predetermined wavelength.

Claim 18

An installation according to claim 16, characterized in that the metal detector (119) is located on the gate or on each gate (114) so as to be brought substantially into contact with a part of the vehicle (110) when it is pushed against the gate(s).

Claim 19

An installation according to claim 16, characterized in that the reflecting photoelectric cell (116) is associated with a reflector (117) borne by the vehicle (110) or mounted at a fixed point which is separated from the cell, by a space which at least a part of the vehicle must cross.

Claim 20

An installation according to claim 16, characterized in that the vehicle (110) forms the reflector associated with the photoelectric cell . (116) of reflexion type.

Claim 21

An installation according to one of claims 8 to 19, characterized in that it comprises, downstream of the gate, a vehicle conveyor (121, 130) controlled by the checking devices after the insertion of the vehicle (110) into the reception area.

Claim 22

An installation according to claim 20, characterized in that the conveyor comprises two lateral belts (121) with a serrated outer surface (122), extending on either side of a passage for inserting the vehicle (110) into the reception area and capable of cooperating by their outer serrated surface with the lateral walls of the vehicle (110) to entrain it.

Claim 23

An installation according to claim 21, characterized in that the two lateral belts (121) are at a variable distance one from the other and form for example a driven path narrowing towards its end which is opposite the entrance end for the vehicle (110).

Claim 24

An installation according to claim 21, characterized in that the conveyor (130) is of chain or belt type and has perpendicular fingers (136) on its outer surface for the entrainment of the vehicle (11) by hooking a part (137) of it by one of the said fingers (136).

Claim 25

An installation according to claim 23, characterized in that the conveyor (130) is arranged slightly above the ground, the fingers (136) being orientated vertically in order to hook a lower (137) transverse bar of the vehicle (110) when the latter is brought above the upstream end of the conveyor (130).

Claim 26

An installation according to claim 24, characterized in that the conveyor (130) is preceded and followed by inclined planes (139, 140) making it easier to bring the vehicle (110) to the entrance of the conveyor and to discharge it at the exit of the conveyor.