Methods and apparatus for processing recyclable containers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An assembly for densification of recyclable containers, comprising:
- an intake port that receives a recyclable container for processing;
a conveyor operatively connected to the intake port and configured to transport a recyclable container received at the intake port;
a plurality of densification devices, each device being configured to receive a recyclable container transported by the conveyor and to densify a recyclable container into a densified material;
at least one computer-readable medium on which is stored information descriptive of at least one recyclable container;
a size detection device configured to examine a recyclable container transported by the conveyor and to determine whether the recyclable container exceeds a predetermined size;
a scanning device operatively coupled to the size detection device and configured to determine at least one characteristic of the recyclable container, the scanning device including a bar code reader and a belt, the bar code reader being configured to detect bar code information printed on the recyclable container, the bar code reader being operable to detect the bar code information within a scan area, the belt being arranged to rotate the recyclable container at a rotation speed so that the bar code is presented to the bar code reader within the scan area, the rotation speed being defined at least in part by whether the size detection device determines whether the recyclable container exceeds the predetermined size; and
at least one processor operatively coupled to the scanning device which, upon the detection of the at least one characteristic by the scanning device, compares the at least one characteristic to the information stored on the at least one computer-readable medium, and upon a successful comparison, selects which of the plurality of densification devices to which the recyclable container should be conveyed.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for processing recyclable containers. In one embodiment, an assembly is provided which comprises an intake port, a plurality of densification devices each configured to densify a recyclable container, a computer-readable medium on which container information is stored, a scanning device for determining a characteristic of the container, and a processor which selects one of the plurality of densification devices to which the recyclable container should be conveyed based on the characteristic(s) determined by the scanning device.
50 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An assembly for densification of recyclable containers, comprising:
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an intake port that receives a recyclable container for processing; a conveyor operatively connected to the intake port and configured to transport a recyclable container received at the intake port; a plurality of densification devices, each device being configured to receive a recyclable container transported by the conveyor and to densify a recyclable container into a densified material; at least one computer-readable medium on which is stored information descriptive of at least one recyclable container; a size detection device configured to examine a recyclable container transported by the conveyor and to determine whether the recyclable container exceeds a predetermined size; a scanning device operatively coupled to the size detection device and configured to determine at least one characteristic of the recyclable container, the scanning device including a bar code reader and a belt, the bar code reader being configured to detect bar code information printed on the recyclable container, the bar code reader being operable to detect the bar code information within a scan area, the belt being arranged to rotate the recyclable container at a rotation speed so that the bar code is presented to the bar code reader within the scan area, the rotation speed being defined at least in part by whether the size detection device determines whether the recyclable container exceeds the predetermined size; and at least one processor operatively coupled to the scanning device which, upon the detection of the at least one characteristic by the scanning device, compares the at least one characteristic to the information stored on the at least one computer-readable medium, and upon a successful comparison, selects which of the plurality of densification devices to which the recyclable container should be conveyed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An assembly for densification of recyclable containers, comprising:
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an intake port configured for receiving a recyclable container for processing; a conveyor operatively connected to the intake port and configured to transport a recyclable container received at the intake port; a plurality of densification devices configured to receive a recyclable container transported by the conveyor and to densify the recyclable container into a densified material; at least one computer-readable medium on which is stored information descriptive of at least one recyclable container; a scanning device configured to examine a recyclable container transported by the conveyor and to determine at least one characteristic of the recyclable container; at least one processor operatively coupled to the scanning device which, upon the determination of the at least one characteristic of the recyclable container by the scanning device, compares the at least one characteristic with the information stored on the at least one computer-readable medium, and upon a successful comparison, selects which of the plurality of densification devices to which the recyclable container should be conveyed; and at least one storage bin that receives densified material from the at least one densification device; wherein one of the plurality of densification devices is a glass crushing device which densifies glass containers, and wherein the assembly further comprises an airtight passageway between the glass crushing device and the storage bin. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An assembly for densification of recyclable containers, comprising:
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an intake port configured for receiving a recyclable container for processing; a conveyor operatively connected to the intake port and configured to transport a recyclable container received at the intake port; a plurality of densification devices each configured to receive a recyclable container transported by the conveyor and to densify the recyclable container into a densified material; at least one computer-readable medium on which is stored information descriptive of at least one recyclable container; a scanning device configured to examine a recyclable container transported by the conveyor and to determine at least one characteristic of the recyclable container received via the intake port; and at least one processor operatively coupled to the scanning device which, upon the determination of the at least one characteristic of the recyclable container by the scanning device, compares the at least one characteristic with the information stored on the at least one computer-readable medium, and upon a successful comparison, selects which of the plurality of densification devices to which the recyclable container should be conveyed; wherein one of the plurality of densification devices is a glass crushing device which densifies glass containers, the glass crushing device residing in a casing, the glass crushing device comprising at least one member which rotates about the shaft within the casing, each member having a flat face. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification