Patent US4532859A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4532859A
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US
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Method for identification of metal boxes or cans and an apparatus for carrying out said method
Assignee: Tomra Systems ASA
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Filing: 1983-11-01
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Granted: 1985-08-06
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Expires: 2003-11-01
Abstract
Abstract A method and an apparatus for identification and separation of metal boxes or cans, said can (1) being placed in a motor controlled cradle (7), and said cradle with the can being rotated in a first direction (a) to a first position with a first, preferably low stepping frequency, and then being rotated or influenced for rotation (b) back in a second and opposite direction (starting point position) with a second, preferably high stepping frequency, the time of said return movement simultaneously being measured as a function of the moment of inertia caused by said can and wherein said can as a function of the measurement of time and possibly of additional measurement of the can length and metal type is thrown out (A;B) of the cradle (7) either because said cradle is rotated further in said second direction (c) or because said cradle is rotated back (d) in the first direction and past said first position. Before the can is placed in said cradle it may be scanned inductively (3) and/or capacitively (21). Also, its length can be measured optically (11,12) while it is in the cradle. When the can is thrown out in said second direction it is thrown into a can compacting device (13). The apparatus may be used e.g. in a can return deposit apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Steinar Solordal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:06
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03B; B03B9/00; B03B9/06; B03B9/061; B07; B07B; B07B13/00; B07B13/10; B07B15/00; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/3404; B30; B30B; B30B9/00; B30B9/30; B30B9/3003; B30B9/3007; B30B9/32; B30B9/321; B30B9/325; G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/06; G07F7/0609; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S100/00; Y10S100/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for identification and separation of metal boxes or cans comprising: placing said can in a motor-controlled cradle; rotating said cradle in a first direction from a starting position to a first position with a first stepping frequency; rotating said cradle in a second and opposite direction into a second position with a second stepping frequency; measuring the time required to return said cradle from said first position to said second position; and discharging said can as a function of said time measurement either by further rotation of said cradle in said second direction or by rotating said cradle back in said first direction and past said first position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for identification and separation of metal boxes or cans comprising: placing said can in a motor-controlled cradle; rotating said cradle in a first direction from a starting position to a first position with a first stepping frequency; rotating said cradle in a second and opposite direction into a second position with a second stepping frequency; measuring the time required to return said cradle from said first position to said second position; and discharging said can as a function of said time measurement either by further rotation of said cradle in said second direction or by rotating said cradle back in said first direction and past said first position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second position is said starting position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second stepping frequency is greater than said first stepping frequency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 which further comprises scanning said can, prior to placing said can in said cradle, to determine can metal type and further using said determination in selecting where to discharge said can.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said can is scanned inductively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said can is scanned capacitively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said can is scanned inductively and capacitively.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
39 words
A method in accordance with claims 1 or 4 which further comprises measuring at least one dimension of said can while said can is in said cradle and further using said measurement in selecting where to discharge said can.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 or 4 which further comprises crushing said can discharged in said second direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 9 which further comprises measuring at least one dimension of said can while said can is in said cradle.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for identification and separation of metal boxes or cans comprising: a stepper motor; a rotatable cradle attached to said motor, said cradle being capable of receiving said box or can; means for obtaining a measure of the moment of inertia caused by said can in said cradle when said stepper motor acts to rotate said cradle from a frist position to a second position by means of a time measurement; and a signal processing and control unit for further activating said motor as a function of said time measurement to throw said can out of said cradle either by rotating said cradle past said second position or by rotating said cradle back and past said first position.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for identification and separation of metal boxes or cans comprising: a stepper motor; a rotatable cradle attached to said motor, said cradle being capable of receiving said box or can; means for obtaining a measure of the moment of inertia caused by said can in said cradle when said stepper motor acts to rotate said cradle from a frist position to a second position by means of a time measurement; and a signal processing and control unit for further activating said motor as a function of said time measurement to throw said can out of said cradle either by rotating said cradle past said second position or by rotating said cradle back and past said first position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, further comprising: a can inlet tube positioned adjacent to said cradle for conducting said can into said cradle; and a metal detector for detecting can metal type, provided on said tube, said detector communicating with said signal processing and control unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said detector is of the capacitive type.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said detector is of the inductive type.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
29 words
An apparatus in accordance with claims 11 or 12 further comprising means for measuring at least one dimension of said can communicating with said signal processing and control unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein said measuring means comprises: a light detector for emitting and receiving light, said detector positioned parallel to said can in said cradle; and a reflector positioned on the opposite side of said can in said cradle from said detector such that any light not impinging on said can is reflected back to and detected by said detector.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
25 words
An apparatus in accordance with claims 11 and 12 further comprising means for compacting said can discharged by rotating said cradle past said second position.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
26 words
An apparatus in accordance with 11 or 12 wherein said cradle is comprised of: a plurality of fins projecting out from and perpendicular to said cradle.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
26 words
An apparatus in accordance with 11 or 12 wherein said cradle is comprised of: a plurality of fins projecting out from and perpendicular to said cradle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein there are four said fins distributed at 90° intervals around said cradle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-08-05 | 1989-02-04 | 1989-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-08-05 | 1993-02-04 | 1993-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-08-05 | 1997-02-04 | 1997-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |