US4919274A — Apparatus and method for handling returnable beve…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 187 words

An apparatus (10) for handling returnable beverage containers (C) of the type having a container identification code thereon identifying the origin of the container (C) for separating returnable containers from non-returnable containers, said apparatus (10) comprising: receptacle means (20) for receiving the container (C); and separation means (22) responsive to the container code and spaced from said receptacle means (20) for separating returnable containers from non-returnable containers; said apparatus (10) characterized by said receptacle means (20) including isolation chamber means (24) having an access (26) thereto and an exit (28) therefrom, said isolation chamber means comprises means for blocking off said separation means (22) from said isolation chamber means (24) and then for simultaneously blocking off said access (26) to said isolation chamber means (24) while receiving the container (C) through said access (26) and said separation means (22) from said isolation chamber means (24) and then for passing the container (C) from said exit (28) to said separation means (22) while blocking off said access (26) to said isolation chamber means (24) to continuously prevent access to said separation means (22) through said receptacle means (20).

Claim 2

Independent Claim 187 words

An apparatus (10) for handling returnable beverage containers (C) of the type having a container identification code thereon identifying the origin of the container (C) for separating returnable containers from non-returnable containers, said apparatus (10) comprising: receptacle means (20) for receiving the container (C); and separation means (22) responsive to the container code and spaced from said receptacle means (20) for separating returnable containers from non-returnable containers; said apparatus (10) characterized by said receptacle means (20) including isolation chamber means (24) having an access (26) thereto and an exit (28) therefrom, said isolation chamber means comprises means for blocking off said separation means (22) from said isolation chamber means (24) and then for simultaneously blocking off said access (26) to said isolation chamber means (24) while receiving the container (C) through said access (26) and said separation means (22) from said isolation chamber means (24) and then for passing the container (C) from said exit (28) to said separation means (22) while blocking off said access (26) to said isolation chamber means (24) to continuously prevent access to said separation means (22) through said receptacle means (20).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 76 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said means comprised in said isolation chamber means (24) including an access door (36) for closing said access (26), an exit door (38) for closing said exit (38), and interlock means (39) for controlling the movement of said access door (36) and said exit door (38) to close at least one of said access door (36) or said exit door (38) at all times.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 58 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 2 wherein the container (C) comprises a body of revolution symmetrical about a longitudinal axis thereof, further characterized by said isolation chamber means (24) including an elongated trough (30) for receiving and supporting the container (C) in a cradle-like position with the longitudinal axis thereof in a generally horizontal position.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by said trough (30) including first (32) and second (34) support walls angularly disposed in a longitudinally extending V-shape, said first support wall (32) including said exit door (38).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by said first support wall (32) being moveable relative to said second support wall (34).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 60 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 5 further characterized by said separation means (22) including code identification means (48) responsive to the container code for identifying the origin of the container (C), and rotation means (50) associated with said code identification means (48) for rotating the container (C) about the longitudinal axis thereof in a code identifying position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 48 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 6 further characterized by said separation means (22) including passage means (56) extending between said isolation chamber means (24) and said rotation means (50) for guiding the container (C) from said isolation chamber means (24) to said rotation means (50).

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 7 further characterized by said passage means (56) including a sloping ramp (56) extending from said trough (30) downwardly to said rotation means (50).

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 41 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 8 further characterized by said separation means (22) including guide means (58) associated with said rotation means (50) for continuously guiding the container (C) back into said code identifying position during rotation thereof.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 44 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 9 further characterized by said rotation means (50) including a pair of elongated cylindrical rollers (52,54) having respective parallel longitudinal axes, each of said rollers (52,54) being driven to rotate axially in a common angular direction.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 10 further characterized by said longitudinal axes of said pair of rollers (52,54) extending generally parallel of said trough (30) of said receptacle means (20).

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 30 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 11 further characterized by said longitudinal axes of each of said pair of rollers (52,54) being contained within a generally horizontal plane.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 49 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 12 further characterized by said guide means (58) including a first panel (60) extending laterally outwardly and upwardly of one of said rollers (52) and a second panel (62) extending laterally outwardly and upwardly of the other of said rollers (54).

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 13 further characterized by said second panel (62) of said guide means (58) being coincidental with said passage means (56).

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 36 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 14 further characterized by said second wall (34) of said isolation chamber means (24) being an integral extension of said second panel (62) of said guide means (58).

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 65 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 14 further characterized by said separation means (22) including an accept station (64) for receiving returnable containers, a reject station (66) for receiving non-returnable containers, and ejection means (68) responsive to said code identification means (48) for transferring the container (C) from said rotation means (50) to either said accept station (64) or said reject station (66).

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 62 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 16 further characterized by said ejection means (66) including a sweeper arm (70) having a fixed pivot end (72) and a free sweeping end (74), said sweeping end (74) moveable in an arcuate path between said first (60) and second (62) panels of said guide means (58) and adjacent said pair of rollers (52,54).

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 58 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 17 further characterized by said ejection means (68) including a deflection gate (78) responsive to said code identification means (48) and moveable between an accept position for guiding the container (C) toward said accept station (64) and a reject position for guiding the container (C) toward said reject station (66).

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 18 further characterized by said code identification means (48) including an optical sensing device (49).

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 49 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 19 further characterized by said access door (36) of said isolation chamber means (24) including a swing arm (40) having a fixed pivot end (42) and a free swinging end (44), said access door (36) disposed at said swinging end (44).

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 20 further characterized by said accept station (64) including crushing means (84) for crushing returnable containers.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 34 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 21 further characterized by said crushing means (84) including an outer drum (86) and a crushing wheel (88) driven to rotate within said outer drum (86).

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 35 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 22 further characterized by said reject station (66) including a reject passage (114) for gravitationally guiding the container (C) to a position exterior of said apparatus (10).

Claim 25

Independent Claim 166 words

A method for handling returnable beverage containers (C) of the type having a container identification code thereon identifying the origin of the container (C) for separating returnable containers from non-returnable containers, said method comprising the steps of: identifying the container code at a code identifying station to identify returnable containers; transferring returnable containers to an accept station (64); transferring non-returnable containers to a reject station (66); said method characterized by placing the container into an isolation chamber (24) through an access (26) thereto while blocking off the code identifying station from the isolation chamber (24) and then blocking off the access (26) to the isolation chamber (24) while continuing to block off the code identifying station from the isolation chamber (24) and then passing the container (C) from an exit (28) of the isolation chamber (24) to the code identifying station while blocking off the access (26) to the isolation chamber (24) to continuously prevent access to the code identifying station through the isolation chamber (24).

Claim 26

Independent Claim 166 words

A method for handling returnable beverage containers (C) of the type having a container identification code thereon identifying the origin of the container (C) for separating returnable containers from non-returnable containers, said method comprising the steps of: identifying the container code at a code identifying station to identify returnable containers; transferring returnable containers to an accept station (64); transferring non-returnable containers to a reject station (66); said method characterized by placing the container into an isolation chamber (24) through an access (26) thereto while blocking off the code identifying station from the isolation chamber (24) and then blocking off the access (26) to the isolation chamber (24) while continuing to block off the code identifying station from the isolation chamber (24) and then passing the container (C) from an exit (28) of the isolation chamber (24) to the code identifying station while blocking off the access (26) to the isolation chamber (24) to continuously prevent access to the code identifying station through the isolation chamber (24).

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 67 words

A method as set forth in claim 24 wherein the isolation chamber (24) includes an access door (36) for closing the access (26) and an exit door (38) for closing the exit (28), said method further characterized by controlling the movement of the access (36) and exit (38) doors so that at least one of the access (36) or exit (38) doors is closed at all times.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 216 words

An apparatus (10) for handling returnable beverage containers (C) of the type having a container identification code thereon identifying the origin of the container (C) for separating returnable containers from non-returnable containers, said apparatus (10) comprising: receptacle means (20) for receiving the container (C); and separation means (22) spaced from said receptacle means (20) for separating returnable containers from non-returnable containers, said separation means (22) including code identification means (48) responsive to the container code for identifying the origin of the container (C), and rotation means (50) for rotating the container (C) in a code identifying position adjacent said code identification means (48) to position the container (C) for identifying the container code thereon, said rotation means (50) including at least two elongated cylindrical rollers (52, 54) supported for rotation about respective parallel axes fixed relative to said code identification means (48); said apparatus (10) characterized by said separation means (22) including a first panel (60) fixed relative to said code identification means (48) and extending laterally outwardly and upwardly of one of said rollers (52) and a second panel (62) fixed relative to said first panel (60) and extending laterally outwardly and upwardly of the other of said rollers (54) for continuously guiding the container (C) back into said code identifying position while being rotated.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 216 words

An apparatus (10) for handling returnable beverage containers (C) of the type having a container identification code thereon identifying the origin of the container (C) for separating returnable containers from non-returnable containers, said apparatus (10) comprising: receptacle means (20) for receiving the container (C); and separation means (22) spaced from said receptacle means (20) for separating returnable containers from non-returnable containers, said separation means (22) including code identification means (48) responsive to the container code for identifying the origin of the container (C), and rotation means (50) for rotating the container (C) in a code identifying position adjacent said code identification means (48) to position the container (C) for identifying the container code thereon, said rotation means (50) including at least two elongated cylindrical rollers (52, 54) supported for rotation about respective parallel axes fixed relative to said code identification means (48); said apparatus (10) characterized by said separation means (22) including a first panel (60) fixed relative to said code identification means (48) and extending laterally outwardly and upwardly of one of said rollers (52) and a second panel (62) fixed relative to said first panel (60) and extending laterally outwardly and upwardly of the other of said rollers (54) for continuously guiding the container (C) back into said code identifying position while being rotated.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 46 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 26 further characterized by said separation means (22) including passage means (56) extending between said receptacle means (20) and said rotation means (50) for guiding the container (C) from said receptacle means (20) to said rotation means (50).

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 28 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 27 further characterized by said second panel (62) of said guide means (58) being coincidental with said passage means (56).

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 93 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 28 further characterized by said receptacle means (20) including isolation chamber means (24) having an access (26) thereto and an exit (28) therefrom for receiving the container (C) through said access (26) while preventing passage from said isolation chamber means (24) to said separation means (22) and for passing the container (C) from said exit (28) to said separation means (22) while blocking off the access to said isolation chamber means (24) to prevent access to said separation means (22) through said receptacle means (20).

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 72 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 29 further characterized by said isolation chamber means (24) including an access door (36) for closing said access (26), an exit door (38) for closing said exit (28), and interlock means (39) for controlling the movement of said access door (36) and said exit door (38) to close at least one of said access door (36) or said exit door (38) at all times.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 58 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 30 wherein the container (C) comprises a body of revolution symmetrical about a longitudinal axis thereof, further characterized by said isolation chamber means (24) including an elongated trough (30) for receiving and supporting the container (C) in a cradle-like position with the longitudinal axis thereof in a generally horizontal position.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 40 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 31 further characterized by said trough (30) including first (32) and second (34) support walls angularly disposed in a longitudinally extending V-shape, said first support wall (32) including said exit door (38).

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 26 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 32 further characterized by said first support wall (32) being moveable relative to said second support wall (34).

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 32 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 33 further characterized by said passage means (56) including a sloping ramp (56) extending from said trough (30) downwardly to said rotation means (50).

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 33 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 34 further characterized by said longitudinal axes of said pair of rollers (52,54) extending generally parallel of said trough (30) of said receptacle means (20).

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 30 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 35 further characterized by said longitudinal axes of each of said pair of rollers (52,54) being contained within a generally horizontal plane.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 32 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 36 further characterized by said second support wall (34) of said isolation chamber means (24) being an integral extension of said second panel (62).

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 65 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 36 further characterized by said separation means (22) including an accept station (64) for receiving returnable containers, a reject station (66) for receiving non-returnable containers, and ejection means (68) responsive to said code identification means (48) for transferring the container (C) from said rotation means (50) to either said accept station (64) or said reject station (66).

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 57 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 38 further characterized by said ejection means (68) including a sweeper arm (70) having a fixed pivot end (72) and a free sweeping end (74), said sweeping end (74) moveable in an arcuate path between said first (60) and second (62) panels and adjacent said pair of rollers (52,54).

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 58 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 39 further characterized by said ejection means (68) including a deflection gate (78) responsive to said code identification means (48) and moveable between an accept position for guiding the container (C) toward said accept station (64) and a reject position for guiding the container (C) toward said reject station (66).

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 23 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 40 further characterized by said code identification means (48) including an optical sensing device (49).

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 49 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 41 further characterized by said access door (36) of said isolation chamber means (24) including a swing arm (40) having a fixed pivot end (42) and a free swinging end (44), said access door (36) disposed at said swinging end (44).

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 24 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 42 further characterized by said accept station (64) including crushing means (84) for crushing returnable containers.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 34 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 43 further characterized by said crushing means (84) including an outer drum (86) and a crushing wheel (88) driven to rotate within said outer drum (86).

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 35 words

An apparatus (10) as set forth in claim 44 further characterized by said reject station (66) including a reject passage (114) for gravitationally guiding the container (C) to a position exterior of said apparatus (10).

Claim 49

Independent Claim 244 words

An apparatus (10) for handling returnable beverage containers (C) of the type having a container identification code thereon identifying the origin of the container (C) for separating returnable containers from non-returnable containers, said apparatus (10) comprising: a trough (30) having an access (26) thereto and an exit (28) therefrom and including first (32) and second (34) support walls angularly disposed in a longitudinally extending V-shape, said first support wall (32) being movable relative to said second support wall (34) toward and away from said exit (28); an access door (36) for closing said access (26) to said trough (30); a pair of elongated cylindrical rollers (52,54) having respective parallel longitudinal axes, each of said rollers (52,54) being driven to rotate axially in a common angular direction; a sloping ramp (56) coplanar with said second support wall (34) and extending downwardly therefrom adjacent said pair of rollers (52,54); a first panel (60) extending laterally outwardly of said pair of rollers (52,54) and away from said sloping ramp (56); an optical sensing device (48) disposed adjacent said pair of rollers (52,54) and responsive to the container code; a sweeper arm (70) having a fixed pivot end (72) and a free sweeping end (74), said sweeping end (74) moveable in an arcuate path between said first panel (60) and said sloping ramp (56) and adjacent said pair of rollers (52,54); an accept station (64) for receiving returnable containers; and a reject station (66) for receiving non-returnable containers.

Claim 50

Independent Claim 244 words

An apparatus (10) for handling returnable beverage containers (C) of the type having a container identification code thereon identifying the origin of the container (C) for separating returnable containers from non-returnable containers, said apparatus (10) comprising: a trough (30) having an access (26) thereto and an exit (28) therefrom and including first (32) and second (34) support walls angularly disposed in a longitudinally extending V-shape, said first support wall (32) being movable relative to said second support wall (34) toward and away from said exit (28); an access door (36) for closing said access (26) to said trough (30); a pair of elongated cylindrical rollers (52,54) having respective parallel longitudinal axes, each of said rollers (52,54) being driven to rotate axially in a common angular direction; a sloping ramp (56) coplanar with said second support wall (34) and extending downwardly therefrom adjacent said pair of rollers (52,54); a first panel (60) extending laterally outwardly of said pair of rollers (52,54) and away from said sloping ramp (56); an optical sensing device (48) disposed adjacent said pair of rollers (52,54) and responsive to the container code; a sweeper arm (70) having a fixed pivot end (72) and a free sweeping end (74), said sweeping end (74) moveable in an arcuate path between said first panel (60) and said sloping ramp (56) and adjacent said pair of rollers (52,54); an accept station (64) for receiving returnable containers; and a reject station (66) for receiving non-returnable containers.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-04-23	1993-10-23	1994-04-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-04-23	1997-10-23	1998-04-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-04-23	2001-10-23	2002-04-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus and method for handling returnable beverage container

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