Kiosk for recycling electronic devices

• US 10,055,798 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2012
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecoatm Incorporated (Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ecoatm Incorporated (Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Bowles, Mark Vincent, Tullie, Thomas L., Beane, John Andrew, Ploetner, Jeff, Miller, John, Vesco, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Mincarelli, Jan P
• Application Number:
  US13/438,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20120191562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,330 Days
• Field of Search: 705 11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0287 being disposable or recyclable
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of an electronic device such as a mobile phone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes electrical connectors and an inspection area with an upper chamber, a lower chamber, a transparent plate and at least one camera in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the electronic device for determination of a value of the electronic device. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor and a display for user interaction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recycling electronic devices, the apparatus comprising:

an inspection area having a surface configured to support an electronic device;

a carousel rotatably mounted adjacent to the inspection area in a non-horizontal orientation and configured to rotate about a non-vertical axis;

a plurality of electrical connectors carried by the carousel and disposed around a periphery of the carousel, at least one electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors configured to connect to the electronic device when the at least one electrical connector is rotated into position adjacent to an edge portion of the surface via the carousel; and

a processor in communication with the carousel and the at least one electrical connector, wherein the processor is configured to rotate the carousel about the non-vertical axis to position the at least one electrical connector adjacent to the edge portion of the surface for connection to the electronic device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone, and wherein the at least one electrical connector is configured to connect to the mobile phone.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of electrical connectors has the same shape, and wherein the plurality of electrical connectors are interchangeably carried by the carousel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical connectors includes at least a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector, wherein the first electrical connector is operably coupled to a first cartridge removably secured in the carousel, wherein the second electrical connector is operably coupled to a second cartridge removably secured in the carousel, and wherein the second cartridge is interchangeable with the first cartridge.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a detachment mechanism positioned proximate the carousel, wherein the detachment mechanism is configured to releasably engage the at least one electrical connector while the processor is performing an electrical inspection of the electronic device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a detachment mechanism positioned proximate the carousel, wherein the detachment mechanism is configured to releasably engage the at least one electrical connector, and wherein the detachment mechanism is further configured to automatically disconnect the at least one electrical connector from the electronic device.

5. An apparatus for recycling electronic devices, the apparatus comprising:

an inspection area configured to receive the electronic device;

a carousel rotatably mounted adjacent to the inspection area; and

a plurality of electrical connectors carried by the carousel, at least one electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors configured to connect to the electronic device, wherein each of the electrical connectors includes a movable member and a unique connection plug for connection to a corresponding electronic device, and wherein the movable member is configured to move outwardly relative to the electrical connector to automatically disconnect the connection plug from the corresponding electronic device.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a detachment mechanism positioned proximate to the inspection area and separate from the carousel, wherein the detachment mechanism is configured to engage the at least one electrical connector, and wherein the detachment mechanism is further configured to drive the corresponding movable member outwardly relative to the at least one electrical connector to automatically disconnect the connection plug from the corresponding electronic device.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a detachment mechanism positioned proximate to the inspection area and separate from the carousel, wherein the detachment mechanism is configured to engage the at least one electrical connector, and wherein the detachment mechanism includes a pair of hinged arms configured to engage the corresponding movable member and drive the movable member outwardly relative to the at least one electrical connector to automatically disconnect the connection plug from the corresponding electronic device.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a detachment mechanism positioned proximate to the inspection area and separate from the carousel,

wherein the detachment mechanism is configured to engage the at least one electrical connector,

wherein the detachment mechanism is also configured to drive the corresponding movable member outwardly relative to the at least one electrical connector to automatically disconnect the connection plug from the corresponding electronic device while holding the at least one electrical connector stationary relative to the inspection area, and

wherein the detachment mechanism is further configured to release the at least one electrical connector and let the electrical connector retract onto the carousel after the disconnecting the connection plug from the corresponding electronic device.

8. An apparatus for recycling electronic devices, the apparatus comprising:

an inspection area configured to receive the electronic device;

a carousel rotatably mounted adjacent to the inspection area;

a plurality of electrical connectors carried by the carousel, at least one electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors configured to connect to the electronic device, wherein electrical connectors of the plurality of electrical connectors are interchangeable and include at least a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector, wherein the first electrical connector carries a first connection plug and the second electrical connector carries a second connection plug that is different than the first connection plug, wherein the first connection plug is configured to be removably connected to a first model of electronic device, and wherein the second connection plug is configured to be removably connected to a second model of electronic device that is different than the first model of electronic device; and

a detachment mechanism positioned proximate the inspection area and separate from the carousel,

wherein the detachment mechanism is configured to releasably engage the first electrical connector when the first connection plug is removably connected to the first electronic device at a first time, and

wherein the detachment mechanism is further configured to releasably engage the second electrical connector when the second connection plug is removably connected to the second electronic device at a second time different than the first time.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first electrical connector has the same shape as the second electrical connector, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a plurality of cables carried by the carousel, the plurality of cables including at least a first cable and a second cable,

wherein a distal end of the first cable is operably connected to a first side of the first electrical connector and the first connection plug extends outwardly from an opposite second side of the first electrical connector, and

wherein a distal end of the second cable is operably connected to a first side of the second electrical connector and the second connection plug extends outwardly from an opposite second side of the second electrical connector.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of cables carried by the carousel,

wherein the plurality of cables include at least a first cable and a second cable,

wherein a distal end of the first cable is operably connected to the first electrical connector and a distal end of the second cable is operably connected to the second electrical connector,

wherein the detachment mechanism is configured to release the first electrical connector after the first connection plug has been disconnected from the first electronic device, and release the second electrical connector after the second connection plug has been disconnected from the second electronic device,

wherein the first cable is configured to automatically retract the first connector from the detachment mechanism after the detachment mechanism has released the first connector, and

wherein the second cable is configured to automatically retract the second connector from the detachment mechanism after the detachment mechanism has released the second connector.

14. An apparatus for recycling electronic devices, the apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an inspection area within the housing;

a carousel rotatably mounted within the housing;

an electrical connector carried by the carousel, wherein the carousel is configured to dispense the electrical connector for connection to an electronic device within the inspection area; and

a detachment mechanism configured to automatically detach the electrical connector from the electronic device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the electrical connector is removably connected to the carousel.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the electrical connector includes:

a cartridge;

a plug at a distal end portion of the cartridge; and

a cable extending proximally from the cartridge.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a retraction mechanism configured to automatically retract the electrical connector after the detachment mechanism automatically detaches the electrical connector from the electronic device.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein:

the electrical connector includes a movable member; and

the detachment mechanism is configured to engage the movable member to disconnect the electrical connector from the electronic device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein:

the electrical connector includes

a cartridge,

a plug at a distal end portion of the cartridge, and

a cable extending proximally from the cartridge; and

the movable member is at the distal end portion of the cartridge.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the detachment mechanism is configured to move the movable member distally to disconnect the electrical connector from the electronic device.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the detachment mechanism includes hinged arms configured to engage the movable member to disconnect the electrical connector from the electronic device.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein:

the electrical connector includes a plug configured to connect to the electronic device within the inspection area;

the electrical connector has a first state in which the plug extends distally beyond the movable member at a distal end portion of the electrical connector;

the electrical connector has a second state in which the movable member extends distally beyond the plug at the distal end portion of the electrical connector; and

the detachment mechanism is configured to move the electrical connector from the first state to the second state.

24. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein:

the electrical connector is a first electrical connector;

the apparatus further comprises a second electrical connector carried by the carousel; and

the first and second electrical connectors are interchangeable.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein:

the first electrical connector includes a first plug configured to connect to the electronic device within the inspection area;

the first plug is of a first type;

the second electrical connector includes a second plug configured to connect to a different electronic device within the inspection area; and

the second plug is of a second type different than the first type.