The object of the invention relates to an automatic product-return apparatus with rotating intermediate storage unit, which has a housing, a holding unit positioned in the internal space of the housing containing at least one compartment for collecting the products to be retured, furthermore, a feeding zone arranged on the housing provided with at least one receipt door for inserting the products to be returned, and a product forwarding part-unit located in the internal space of the housing interposed between the feeding zone and the holding unit, where the product forwarding part-unit has a rotation shaft that rotates as compared to the housing, and at least two space delimiting elements secured to the rotation shaft and encompassing a transport space, the rotation shaft is in a torque-transfer connection with a drive unit, and the drive unit is in a signal-transmission connection with a control unit.

Automatic vending apparatuses performing the sale of various products are known of widely. Such apparatuses, among others, are disclosed, in publication documents numbers US 2014/0175109 and US 2014/0260999. The essence of these is that they serve for the sale of the products stored in them, and they dispense the products placed in their storage space in accordance with the customer’s demands.

Recently automatic apparatuses have become known of with which used products may be handed in under verified circumstances. These apparatuses are usually used in factories, production plants for returning worn out or damaged tools, and protective equipment without the use of personnel. In such cases and important requirement is to be able to collect the various worn or damaged objects so that they are sorted.

Such an automatic selective collection apparatus is disclosed in utility model specification registration number HU 4.847. The essence of this is that separated compartments are used for storing the individual collected products. The returned objects are taken to the given compartment by a given angle of rotation in a horizontal plane around a uniquely designed vertical axle, and in such a way that a locked storage unit forwards the given object between the return position and the storage compartment. And by rotating over the desired storage compartment the base of the storage unit slides from under the object, and in this way the object falls into the selected compartment

The undoubted advantage of the solution is that it is able to collect the returned objects selectively and by excluding unauthorised abuse. However, its deficiency is that due to the vertical position of the axle performing the rotation of the locked storage unit and the required volume of the compartments it is only suitable for the selective return of a limited number of various objects.

A further disadvantage is that due to the two motors performing the movement of the operation unit its energy use is greater than what is desirable.

Another disadvantage is that due to the harmonised operation of the two motors and the requirement for forwarding the object without it getting stuck, the possibility of faults and the maintenance demand are greater.

The objective with the arrangement according to the invention was to overcome the deficiencies of the known solutions and to create an automatic product return apparatus, which, in addition to its simple structure and its sabotage-proof, reliable operation, operates with favourable energy use, and makes it possible, in accordance with the demands, to position a larger number of compartments than the known solutions that are of differing size to selectively collect the returned objects.

The recognition that led to the structure according to the invention was that if the product forwarding part-unit adapted for receiving the products to be returned is formed in an unconventional way, and, in a novel way, a horizontally positioned rotation shaft is used to move it, furthermore, if the “stations” implementing the steps involved with returning the products are arranged in a different way to that known in the internal space of the apparatus, and if the product forwarding part-unit is separated into product receipt part- spaces equal to the number of stations implementing the steps of product return, then the entire return process may be performed with the use of a single motor on a product movement track that is free of the risk of blockage, and so the task may be solved. In accordance witli the set objective the automatic product-return apparatus with rotating intermediate storage unit according to the invention, - which has a housing, a holding unit positioned in the internal space of the housing containing at least one compartment for collecting the products to be returned, furthermore, a feeding zone arranged on the housing provided with at least one receipt door for inserting the products to be returned, and a product forwarding part-unit located in the internal space of the housing interposed between the feeding zone and the holding unit, where the product forwarding part-unit has a rotation shaft that rotates as compared to the housing, and at least two space delimiting elements secured to the rotation shaft and encompassing a transport space, the rotation shaft is in a torque-transfer connection with a drive unit, and the drive unit is in a signal- transmission connection with a control unit, - is set up in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the rotation shaft is at an angle of inclination to the vertical main plane of the housing of a maximum of 10°, furthermore at least three dividing elements are inserted in the transport space encompassed by the two space delimiting elements connected to the rotation shaft, and the transport space is separated into at least three separated product receipt part-spaces using the dividing elements, a position-monitoring part-unit consisting of one position signal detecting element and at least one position signal transmitting element cooperating with it is positioned in the internal space of the housing, where either the position signal detecting element or the position signal transmitting element is securely fixed in the housing, while the other is associated with at least one of the product receipt part-spaces of the product forwarding part-unit, and is connected to the rotating product forwarding part-unit or to its rotation shaft, furthermore the space part of the internal space of the housing enclosed by a delimiting plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotation shaft and lying on the point of intersection of the two neighbouring space delimiting elements and the longitudinal axis of the rotation shaft contains an insertion space-part connected with a receipt door, a monitoring space-part equipped with an image recording device, and a storage space-part accommodating a compartment, and each of the product-receipt part-spaces enclosed between the space delimiting elements and the two dividing elements are in connection with the insertion space-part, the monitoring space-part and then the storage space-part cyclically and temporarily in order one after the other. A further feature of the apparatus according to the invention may be that the individual space delimiting elements are provided with receipt openings, while the individual dividing elements have securing protrusions protruding from the given dividing element and leading through the receipt opening, furthermore the dividing elements are supplemented with openings arranged near to the securing protrusions, the securing protrusions of the given dividing element are pushed through the receipt openings of the neighbouring space delimiting elements, the ends of the securing protrusions passing through the receipt openings are bent, and in this way the dividing element is secured to the space delimiting elements with a form-locked connection.

In the case of another version of the apparatus more than two space delimiting elements are secured to the rotation shaft, and at least two transport spaces next to one another are created.

It is preferable from the point of view of the invention if the longitudinal axis of the rotation shaft is at an angle of inclination to the vertical main plane of the housing of 90°.

In the case of yet another different embodiment of the apparatus four dividing elements at right angles to each other are interposed between two space delimiting elements, and in this way the given transport space is divided up into four, identically sized product-receipt part-spaces.

In the case of another different embodiment of the invention the position signal detecting element is a micro-switch. And the position signal transmitting element is a pressure plate protruding from the peripheral space delimiting element and operating the micro-switch.

In the case of another embodiment of the apparatus the rotation shaft has a rectangular cross-section, and at least one end of the rotation shaft is adapted for connection to a connection piece.

In the case of yet another version of the invention the space delimiting elements are shaped as circular discs. In the case of another different embodiment of the apparatus a back rotation prevention part-unit is interposed between the product forwarding part-unit and the housing, where the back rotation prevention part-unit has a first hooking element secured to the housing and a second hooking, element connected to the product forwarding part-unit.

The apparatus, according to the invention has numerous preferable characteristics. The most important of these is that as a consequence of the unconventionally positioned rotation shaft, and the structure of the product forwarding part-unit, and the novel path taken by the individual product-receipt part-spaces arranged in it the entire operation of the apparatus may be solved with a single motor, which does not only result in more energy- efficient operation, but also makes the apparatus more reliable and free of blockages.

An additional advantage originating from the possibility of the use of a single motor is that as the probability of faults is significantly lower, the demand for maintenance is also significantly reduced.

Another advantage originating from the single-motor drive is that there is less need for rotating or moving parts and torque transfer connections, which further improves reliability and reduces the possibility of faults. In addition to this it makes the assembly and maintenance of the apparatus simpler and faster, it also makes production easier and also reduces manufacturing costs.

I may also be viewed as a significant advantage that as a result of the use of the horizontal rotation shaft, even by placing several housings next to one another, several, differently sized compartments may be placed next to one another that may be operated by a single motor by connecting the coaxially aligned rotation shafts. This provides a much broader service possibility for the user, as with a single motor drive the secure and cost- effective automatic return of several types of product may be realised.

It may also be viewed as an advantage that the space delimiting elements and the dividing elements forming the product forwarding part-unit may be simply coupled to and uncoupled from each other and so the apparatus may be transformed in a short time for the return of products of different size, which could not be easily realised in the case of the known solutions.

Another advantage is that as a result of its novel structure sabotage-proof operation may be simply implemented, and the operation of the apparatus may be made to comply with safety at work and accident prevention criteria.

Further details of the apparatus according to the invention will be explained in detail with reference to figures, wherein

Figure 1 shows a front view of a possible embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention in partial cross-section,

Figure 2 shows a view of the apparatus according to figure 1 taken from the direction II, in partial cross-section,

Figure 3 shows a view of the apparatus according to figure 1 taken from the direction III, in partial cross-section,

Figure 4 shows a view of a version of the product forwarding part-unit according to the invention,

Figure 5 shows a view of the apparatus according to figure 4 taken from the direction V,

Figure 6 presents a detail of the connection of the space delimiting element, and the dividing elements of the product forwarding part-unit.

Figures 1 to 3 show a version of the apparatus according to the invention that is adapted for the selective collecting per type of auxiliary equipment used in hospitals, for example, but it may also be used for the collection of used work gloves or even lathe tools in metal machining plants. It may be observed that the product forwarding part-unit 40, the holding unit 20 containing the compartments 21 for receiving the various products 1 and their temporary storage, as well as the drive unit 2, the control unit 3, the position-monitoring part-unit 4 and the image recording device 5 are located in the protected internal space 11 of the housing 10. The feeding zone 30 may be found on the housing 10, in which a number of receipt doors 31 are located equal to the number of compartments 21 of the holding unit 20. Figure 1 clearly shows that the product forwarding part-unit 40 has a rotation shaft 41, the longitudinal axis 41a of which, in the position shown in figure 1, is horizontal, and in this way the longitudinal axis 41a and the vertical main plane 12 of the housing 10 are at an angle of inclination a to each other equal to a right angle. As the holding unit 20 located in the internal space 11 of the housing 10, in the case of this embodiment, comprises three compartments 21, the space delimiting elements 42 are arranged on the rotation shaft 41 of the product forwarding part-unit 40 in such a way that together they create three transport spaces 43.

The structure of the product forwarding part-unit 40 is better illustrated in figure 4. It may be seen that the transport spaces 43 each enclosed by two neighbouring space delimiting elements 42 are divided into the product-receipt part-space 43a, the product- receipt part-space 43b, the product-receipt part-space 43c and the product-receipt part- space 43d here by four dividing elements 44. It must be noted here that in order to perform the entire return process it may be sufficient to have the product-receipt part-space 43a, the product-receipt part-space 43b, and the product-receipt part-space 43c, i.e. three part- spaces, but from the point of view of manufacture and assembly, the division into four quarter circular cylinder sectors is preferable. Here then the product-receipt part-space 43a, the product-receipt part-space 43b, the product-receipt part-space 43c and the products receipt part-space 43 d have the same size and shape as each other. It may also be observed that the rotation shaft 41 having a longitudinal axis 41a belonging to the product forwarding part-unit 40 and carrying the space delimiting elements preferably lias a rectangular cross-section.

Moving on now to figure 5, this shows a side view of the left peripheral space delimiting element 42 of the product forwarding part-unit 40 presented in figure 4. Here the receipt openings 42a may be observed, into which only the securing protrusions 44a of the dividing elements 44 indicated in figure 6 are connected.

Figure 6 illustrates the connection of an intermediate space delimiting element 42 and the dividing elements 44 located on its two sides with an expanded view of a node point. It may be clearly seen that the securing protrusion 44a of the dividing element 44 has been guided through the receipt opening 42a formed in the space delimiting element 42, and that the end 44b of the securing protrusion 44a of the dividing element 44 is located on the side of the space delimiting element 42 opposite the given dividing element 44. This end 44b may be simply bent, and so the given dividing element 44 may be connected to the space delimiting element 42 using a form-locked connection.

Figure 6 also shows that an opening 44c is formed in the dividing element 44 next to the securing protrusion 44a of every dividing element 44. This opening 44c is for receiving the end 44b of the securing protrusion 44a of the dividing element 44. It must also be mentioned here that by suitably forming the opening 44c the sliding of the dividing elements 44 in their own plane may be prevented.

Returning now to figure 1, it illustrates that between each of two neighbouring space delimiting elements 42 the delimiting planes 45 passing through the interception point 41b of the space delimiting elements 42 and the longitudinal axis.41a of the rotation shaft 41 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 41a of the rotation shaft 41 create a virtual space- part 13 in the internal space 11. This space-part 13, as shown in figure 3, may be divided into three parts each with a different task. The first is the insertion space-part 13 a, which is located between the receipt door 31 and the transport space 43 of the product forwarding part-unit 40 protected by the receipt door 31. The second is the monitoring space-part 13b, which is that part of the internal space 11 of the housing 10 where the image recording device 5 is located, and where an archive photograph is made of the returned product 1. While the third is the storage space-part 13c, which actually accommodates the compartment 21 of the holding unit 20 placed in the given space-part 13. It must be mentioned here that the listing of the insertion space-part 13 a, the monitoring space-part 13b and the storage space-part 13c was made in the order of the path taken by the product 1 during operation.

It may also be observed in figure 1 that the connection piece 6 may be located at the end 41c of the rotation shaft 41 of the product forwarding part-unit 40 opposite to the drive unit 2, i.e. on the right side of figure 1, with which an additional apparatus may be coupled on the right side of the given apparatus, not visible in figure 1. In this case the apparatus coupled on the right has no drive unit 2, instead at its connection position it has a formation accommodating the connection piece 6.

Additionally figure 3 also shows the position of the back rotation prevention part-unit 7 which excludes the possibility of rotating the product forwarding part-unit 40 backwards. The back rotation prevention part-unit 7 serves protection against sabotage, and its task is to not permit the violent retrieval of the product 1 after it has been placed into the product forwarding part-unit 40 by forcing the product forwarding part-unit 40 to rotate in the direction opposite to its normal direction of rotation.

The back rotation prevention part-unit 7 here comprises several first hooking elements 7a and second hooking elements 7b. In the case of the given embodiment four first hooking elements 7a are secured to the peripheral space delimiting element 42 at 90° intervals, i.e. equal to the number of part-spaces. While here the second hooking element 7b is secured to the stationary structural element supporting the rotation shaft 41 of the product forwarding part-unit 40. The second hooking element 7b is a bent piece made from a flexible material that permits the first hooking element 7a coming into contact with it to slide over it in the one direction but hooks it in the other direction.

Moving over now to figure 2, it illustrates the drive unit 2 that drives the rotation shaft 41 of the product forwarding part-unit 40. Here the drive unit 2 is formed by a stepping motor 2a having a ribbed wheel 2b and a ribbed belt 2c cooperating with the ribbed wheel 2b, where the ribbed belt 2c is in a torque-transfer connection with the rotation shaft 41. Naturally, the drive unit 2 may be formed in other ways also. It is important however for it to be easily controlled and it should be able to deliver a large amount of torque.

Figure 2 also illustrates the position-monitoring part-unit 4. The position-monitoring part-unit 4 comprises the position signal detecting element 4a, in this case a micro-switch 4aa, and several position signal transmitting elements 4b. The number of position signal transmitting elements 4b here is four, but this depends on how many parts the transport space 43 is divided into by the dividing elements 44. If there are only three product-receipt part-spaces 43 a, 43b, 43 c,. then, naturally, only three position signal transmitting elements 4b are required. Here the position signal transmitting elements 4b are secured to the side of the peripheral space delimiting element 42 closer to the drive unit 2 facing the drive Unit 2. And the position signal detecting element 4a is secured to the structural element supporting the rotation shaft 41 of the product forwarding part-unit 40, But, naturally, it may also be secured to any stationary structural element located in the housing 10. In this way the position signal detecting element 4a is stationary, while the position signal transmitting elements 4b rotate together with the product forwarding part-unit 40. In the case of the given embodiment the position signal transmitting elements 4b are pressure plates 4bb.

It is noted here that in the case of a suitable arrangement the pressure plates 4bb of the position-monitoring part-unit 4 and the first hooking elements 7a of the back rotation prevention part-unit 7 may be the same. However, this is not obligatory, it only makes manufacture easier and may reduce the specific production costs.

It is also important to highlight that the position-monitoring part-unit 4 may also differ from that presented. Therefore, the monitoring of the rotation of the product forwarding part-unit 40 and its positioning at given positions may be performed by an optical sensor, for example.

The operation of the apparatus according to the invention presented in the figures is as follows. The person wishing to return the product 1 identifies him/herself and the product 1 to be returned using a data input unit connected to the control unit 3 of the apparatus. After this the control unit 3 makes it possible to open the appropriate receipt door 31 of the feeding zone 30. Then the person places the given product 1 into the product-receipt part- space 43a enclosed by the two space delimiting elements 42 and two dividing elements 44 of the product forwarding part-unit 40 that is located in the insertion space-part 13a of the given space-part 13 of the internal space 11. Following this the receipt door 31 is closed and can no longer be opened.

The control unit 3 detects the closing of the receipt door 31 and sends a signal to the drive unit 2 to rotate the rotation shaft 41 of the product forwarding part-unit 40. The rotation shaft 41 starts to rotate and, viewing figure 2, it starts to rotate the product forwarding part-unit 40 in the anticlockwise direction. The rotation of the rotation shaft 41 continues until the next position signal transmitting element 4b, i.e. the pressure plate 4bb, of the position-monitoring part-unit 4 secured to the space delimiting element 42 reaches the position signal detecting element 4a, i.e. the micro-switch 4aa. As the pressure plate 4bb pushes the micro-switch 4aa, and so sends a signal to the control unit 3, the control unit 3 stops the stepping motor 2a of the drive unit 2.

In this position the product-receipt part-space 43a containing the inserted product 1 has rotated by 90°, and gets into the monitoring space-part 13b of the given space-part 13. Here the image recording device 5 is located, which takes a photograph of the product 1, and records the fact of return in this way.

Naturally, when the product-receipt part-space 43a rotates the still empty product-receipt part-space 43a also rotates, and now this product-receipt part-space 43b gets into the insertion space-part 13a of the space-part 13. This status remains in this way until a new user wishes to return another product 1 to be collected in a compartment 21 of the holding unit 20.

The return of the next such product 1 takes place in the same way as that already described. Naturally, the given product 1 may get into that given part of the transport space 43 between two space delimiting elements 42 of the product forwarding part-unit 40 the receipt door 31 of which the control unit 3 permits to be opened. In this way the control unit 3 essentially controls the selected collection of the various products 1 by permitting the opening of the appropriate receipt door 31.

After the receipt door 31 that was just opened has been closed the control unit 3 once again instructs the stepping motor 2a of the drive unit 2 to rotate the rotation shaft 41 of the product forwarding part-unit 40. In this case during the rotation of the rotation shaft 41 the next pressure plate 4bb secured to the space delimiting element 42 approaches the micro- switch 4aa, and when it reaches it the stepping motor 2a stops once again. Now the product-receipt part-space 43b gets into the monitoring space-part 13b of the space-part 13 and the image recording device 5 takes a photograph of the product 1 placed in it.

When the product-receipt part-space 43b of the product forwarding part-unit 40 rotates, the product-receipt part-space 43 a also continues to rotate and on rotating out of the monitoring space-part 13b it gets to the storage space-part 13c of the space-part 13. The given compartment 21 of the holding unit 20 is located in this storage space-part 13c in which the same type of products 1 have to be collected. And after the product-receipt part- space 43 a has rotated by an additional 90°, the free opening of the product-receipt part- space 43a itself not bordered by space delimiting elements 42 or dividing elements 44 turns downwards towards the compartment 21. And in the given position due to the force of gravity the product 1 falls into the compartment 21 and is stored there temporarily. Then the product-receipt part-space 43a becomes empty, and is again suitable for getting into the insertion space-part 13a of the space-part 13 during the movement of the rotation shaft 41 of the product forwarding part-unit 40.

However, during the rotation of the product-receipt part-space 43b the product-receipt part-space 43c turns into the insertion space-part 13a of the space-part 13 and gets under the receipt door 31 of the feeding zone 30. It is ready to receive the next identical type of product 1.

During every 90° rotation of the rotation shaft 41 one of the hooking elements 7a of the back rotation prevention part-unit 7 also rotates along with the space delimiting element 42 carrying them. During the rotation the next first hooking element 7a approaches the second hooking element 7b, tiien causing flexible deformation to it, it passes by it. When the fist hooking element 7 a passes by the second hooking element 7b it then regains it original shape, and so does not permit the first hooking element 7a to turn back from the other direction, instead it catches it as a result of the geometrical shape of the second hooking element 7b. In this way, therefore, the product forwarding part-unit 40 may only rotate in the direction in which the stepping motor 2a of the drive unit 2 rotates the rotation shaft 41.

When the next product 1 is inserted the rotation shaft 41 of the product forwarding part- unit 40 rotates by another 90°, in this way the image recording device 5 takes a photograph of the product 1 that has got into the product-receipt part-space 43c, while the returned product 1 falls out of the product-receipt part-space 43b into the compartment 21, and the empty product-receipt part-space 43d gets under the receipt door 31 of the feeding zone 30. The process presented above may be repeated cyclically as long as the apparatus according to the invention is switched on.

On the basis of the presented return process it can be clearly seen that by moving the product forwarding part-unit 40 having a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis 41a selected and well documented, secure product return may be performed more simply and more efficiently than in the case of the known versions with a vertical shaft.

Therefore the apparatus according to the invention may be used to good effect in all places where there is a need for the fast and secure return of various products of varying size using a small amount of energy, and optionally the scope of the returned products and their size may change from time to time.

List of references

1 product

2 drive, unit 2a stepping motor 2b ribbed wheel 2c ribbed belt

3 control unit

4 position-monitoring part-unit 4a position signal detecting element 4aa micro-switch

4b position signal transmitting element 4bb pressure plate

5 image recording device

6 connection piece

7 back rotation prevention part-unit 7a first hooking element 7b second hooking element

10 housing 11 internal space

12 vertical main plane

13 space-part

13a insertion space-part 13b monitoring space-part 13c storage space-part

20 holding unit 21 compartment

30 feeding zone 31 receipt door

40 product forwarding part-unit 41 rotation shaft 41a longitudinal axis 41b interception point 41c end

42 space delimiting element 42a receipt opening

43 transport spaces

43 a product-receipt part-space 43b product-receipt part-space 43c product-receipt part-space 43d product-receipt part-space 44 dividing element 44a securing protrusion 44b end

44c opening

45 delimiting plane α angle of inclination