Kiosk For Recycling Electronic Devices

• US 20120191562A1
• Filed: 04/04/2012
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecoatm Incorporated (Coinstar Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: ECO ATM Incorporated
• Inventors: Bowles, Mark Vincent, Tullie, Thomas L., Beane, John Andrew, Ploetner, Jeff, Miller, John, Vesco, Neil
• Granted Patent: US 10,055,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.3
• 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;

a transparent plate within the inspection area; and

at least one imaging component within the inspection area.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a carousel with a plurality of electrical connectors, each of the plurality of electrical connectors different and removably connectable to an electronic device.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the imaging component is a camera.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the inspection area further comprises:

an upper chamber and a lower chamber, wherein the upper chamber comprises a plurality of mirrors;

an upper chamber camera; and

a lower chamber camera.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the combination of each of the upper chamber camera, the lower chamber camera and the plurality of mirrors allow for obtaining a multi-angled views of an electronic device placed on the transparent plate.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the combination of each of the upper chamber camera, the lower chamber camera and the plurality of mirrors allow for obtaining a 360 degree view of an electronic device placed on the transparent plate, wherein the transparent plate is rotatable.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the inspection area has ultraviolet lighting.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the plurality of mirrors in the inspection area allow for an image of a reflection of an electronic device placed on the transparent surface.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a combination of imaging components for each of the upper chamber and lower chamber and the plurality of mirrors allow for a multiple view image of the device placed on the transparent surface.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a combination of imaging components for each of the upper chamber and lower chamber and the plurality of mirrors allow for determining a height, width, shape, 3-D profile or length of the electronic device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a processor configured to offer a consumer a pre-acquisition purchase price for a recycled electronic device with the pre-acquisition purchase price established by a winning bid from a bidder of a plurality of bidders.

12. A method for analysis of an electronic device and financial remuneration to a user for submission of the electronic device, the method comprising:

positioning an electronic device on a transparent plate for automatic transport to an inspection area of a recycling kiosk, the inspection area having at least one imaging component;

imaging the electronic device within the inspection area for visual analysis for identification and condition of the electronic device; and

determining a value for the analyzed electronic device.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising performing an electrical analysis of the electronic device.

14. The method according to claim 12 further comprising measuring the luminescence from a LCD screen of the electronic device within an illumination period.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the recycling kiosks comprises:

a housing;

a user interface on an exterior surface of the housing for the user to input information;

a plurality of electrical connectors, at least one electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors capable of connecting to the electronic device placed within the inspection area;

an electrical connector retraction mechanism for automatically retracting an electrical connector connected to an electronic device;

a processor within the housing and in communication with the at least imaging component, each of the plurality of electrical connectors and the user interface, the processor configured to identify the brand and model number of the electronic device based on at least one of the information from the user and the images from the at least one camera, the processor configured to determine the at least one electrical connector to dispense to the inspection area, the processor configured to perform a visual analysis of the display of the electronic device, the processor configured to perform an electrical analysis of the electronic device, and the processor configured to determine a financial remuneration value for the electronic device.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the inspection area further comprises:

an upper chamber and a lower chamber, wherein the upper chamber comprises a plurality of mirrors;

an upper chamber camera; and

a lower chamber camera.

17. A method for analysis of an electronic device and financial remuneration to a user for submission of the electronic device, the method comprising:

identifying an electronic device;

soliciting bids for a used model of the electronic device;

receiving bids for the used model of the electronic device from a plurality of bidders;

setting a purchase price to pay for the used model of the electronic device based on the plurality of bids received from the plurality of bidders;

identifying a used model of the electronic device at a recycling kiosk for the mobile electronic device;

verifying the integrity of the used model of the electronic device at the recycling kiosk;

offering the purchase price for the used model of the electronic device at the kiosk; and

purchasing the used model of the electronic device.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the recycling kiosks comprises:

a housing;

a user interface on an exterior surface of the housing for the user to input information;

a plurality of electrical connectors, at least one electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors capable of connecting to the electronic device placed within the inspection area;

an electrical connector retraction mechanism for automatically retracting an electrical connector connected to an electronic device;

a processor within the housing and in communication with the at least imaging component, each of the plurality of electrical connectors and the user interface, the processor configured to identify the brand and model number of the electronic device based on at least one of the information from the user and the images from the at least one camera, the processor configured to determine the at least one electrical connector to dispense to the inspection area, the processor configured to perform a visual analysis of the display of the electronic device, the processor configured to perform an electrical analysis of the electronic device, and the processor configured to determine a financial remuneration value for the electronic device.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the inspection area further comprises:

an upper chamber and a lower chamber, wherein the upper chamber comprises a plurality of mirrors;

an upper chamber camera; and

a lower chamber camera.