Apparatus for beverage container recovery and deposit refund system
First Claim
1. In combination with a beverage vending machine for dispensing purchased beverages, said machine being provided with a coin return system, the improvement comprising;
- means for receiving purchased beverage containers having a deposit associated therewith,means for remitting said deposit upon appropriate identification via actuation said coin return system and means comprising at least two movable elements for contacting a returned container, said elements controlling at least two switch means in a circuit for identifying said container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for the recovery and recycling of metal, glass, plastic and paper containers and combinations thereof for beverages and similar article containers, which provides reimbursement of container deposits or fees upon the return of such containers. Apparatus and methods may be incorporated in an article dispensing machine with common coin exchange system and with a common container storage system. Apparatus and methods may be a self-contained unit independent of an article dispensing system. Apparatus and methods have the capability of performing operations of compacting, sorting, and storing received containers of varying composition. Apparatus and methods provide for removal of recovered containers from incorporated and self-contained container recovery systems. Apparatus and methods have the capability for reducing, detecting and controlling errors in the return of unacceptable containers. Apparatus and methods provide for the accounting of the recovered containers.
41 Citations
12 Claims
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1. In combination with a beverage vending machine for dispensing purchased beverages, said machine being provided with a coin return system, the improvement comprising;
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means for receiving purchased beverage containers having a deposit associated therewith, means for remitting said deposit upon appropriate identification via actuation said coin return system and means comprising at least two movable elements for contacting a returned container, said elements controlling at least two switch means in a circuit for identifying said container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 11. In combination with a machine for receiving bottles and cans and remitting payment therefor, the improvement comprising means locating and identifying signs, codes and lables for determining the appropriate amount of payment for containers having differing amounts of deposit value and a deposit remitting means controlled by the determining means.
Specification