The present invention relates to collecting empty returnable beverage containers.

Mainly in view of environmental reasons it is desired to collect empty beverage containers, such as cans and bottles, in particular plastic bottles. Such containers generally have a circumferential side wall and two longitudinal ends forming the bottom and top of the container, respectively. Commonly a closure, e.g. a cap, is present at the top. The containers each have a length between the two longitudinal ends.

Beverage containers which are, for example, envisaged to be handled by the system according to the invention, are plastic bottles, as these are expected to increasingly be collected around the world for the purpose of recycling. The same applies for metallic cans, e.g. aluminium cans. Many known beverage cans have a volume of 0.25 litre or 0.33 litre and a diameter of typically 3 - 8 cm and a height of 8 - 15 cm. Plastic beverage bottles may have a diameter of typically 3 - 15 cm and a height of 10 - 40 cm. For example, a typical 0.33 litre beverage bottle has a diameter of 6 - 7 cm and a height of 10 - 15 cm. Another common size is a 0.5 litre bottle.

The collection of empty beverage containers is nowadays mainly done in supermarkets, which implies that one has to keep the beverage container when empty and then return it to the supermarket. In view of increasing the return of these beverage containers and to avoid littering of the environment, there is a need for collection of the containers at the location where the public drinks the beverage, e.g. at an outdoor location.

For the collection of refuse in general, e.g. in public outdoor spaces, e.g. on the street, it is known to provide a system as disclosed in WO2019/221605. This known system comprises an open topped wheeled bin and a refuse collector and compactor device. The device has a housing with a front, rear, sides, and a top. A bin reception space is present within a lower section the housing. This space is accessible in a lateral direction to allow for placement and removal of the bin into and from the bin reception space. An insertion opening, closable by a movable cover, is present at the front of the housing. When the cover is opened, the refuse can be thrown directly into the bin. In order to avoid that the bin becomes full too quickly, the known device has a compactor mechanism that is mounted in the housing. The mechanism comprises a motorized actuator adapted to impart to a press element of the mechanism a pressing motion from an upper retracted position to a lower pressing position. This press element is introduced via the bin top opening into the bin in order to compact refuse that has been deposited in the bin, and adapted to impart to the press element a return motion from said lower pressing position to said upper retracted position so as to clear the top opening bin for continued depositing of refuse into the bin via the insertion opening.

The known system in WO2019/221605 is not designed specifically for collection of beverage containers. For example, the compaction mechanism is rather ineffective in compaction of beverage containers so that, in case only such containers were to be deposited into the bin, the bin would fill up very quickly.

It is therefor an aim of the invention to provide a system specifically adapted to the collection of beverage containers.

The invention provides a system for collecting empty returnable beverage containers according to claim 1 .

Generally the system comprises an open topped bin, e.g. as shown in WO2019/221605, and a collector and crusher device.

The collector and crusher device comprises:

- a housing having a front, rear, sides, and a top,

- a bin reception space within a lower section the housing, which bin reception space is accessible in a lateral direction to allow for placement and removal of the bin into and from the bin reception,

- an insertion opening at the front in an upper section of the housing, the insertion opening being configured to insert an empty returnable beverage container in a longitudinal direction thereof,

- a chute within the upper section of the housing and adjoining the insertion opening and configured so that a container inserted via the insertion opening slides along the chute to a lower end thereof,

- a crusher mechanism within the upper section of the housing and comprising: - a lower press plate member,

- an upper press plate member, wherein the lower and upper press plate members define an elongated crusher chamber between them, wherein the crusher chamber has an inlet arranged to receive the container sliding from the chute longitudinally into the crusher chamber, and an opposed outlet for discharge of a crushed container,

- a crusher drive assembly cooperating with one or both of the lower and upper press plate members so as to move the upper press plate member relative to the lower press plate member to crush the container and so as to distance the upper press plate member relative to the lower press plate member after crushing of the container, wherein the press plate members are arranged at an incline, so that, after crushing and distancing of the upper press plate member relative to the lower press plate, the crushed container slides out of the crusher chamber via the outlet, wherein the outlet of the crusher chamber is arranged such that the crushed container drops into the bin.

Due to the inventive structure, the device is highly suited for handling of beverage containers, primarily (aluminium) cans and (plastic) bottles that are crushed, effectively flattened.

As both the chute and the press plate members are arranged at an incline, the inserted container slides towards and through the outlet under its own weight, thereby allowing for a simple structure of the device. In particular, it allows to avoid the presence in the device of any conveyance mechanism for the inserted container, which is preferred.

The inclination of the chute and the press plate members allows for the insertion opening to be present at the front of the device, at some height above the height of the bin reception space, within easy reach for members of the public, e.g. even for children. This is advantageous over a design wherein the insertion opening would be at the top of the housing, e.g. with a vertical arrangement of the chute and crusher mechanism. For example, the insertion opening is arranged at a height of between 115 and 130 centimetres, e.g. in combination with a 240 litre bin having a height of the upper rim about 102 centimetres. Another advantage associated with the inclination of the chute and the press plate members is that the total height of the housing can be kept limited. This is, for example, of relevance for the line of sight of people walking in vicinity of the device. Otherwise, e.g. in the mentioned vertical design, the height would be such that a device for a 240 litre bin would become a visual hindrance.

The device is envisaged, e.g. in appropriate embodiments thereof, to be used outdoors and/or indoors, e.g. in places where people are likely to consume beverages from beverage containers so that they can immediately/quickly dispose of the empty container. Outdoor spaces where the device may be of particular use, is a public refuse collection point, for example for a residential area, or an area near a (supermarket, a parking lot, or outdoor activity areas where people recreate such as parks, beaches, terraces, or festival grounds. Indoor spaces where the device may be of particular use are indoor catering establishments such as cafes and (takeaway) restaurants, or retail stores, supermarkets, sports venues.

In an embodiment, the crusher mechanism or a part of the crusher mechanism is displaceable between an operative position and a non-operative bin removal position relative to and within the housing of the device. In the operative position the inlet of the crusher chamber is arranged to receive the container sliding from the chute longitudinally into the crusher chamber, and the outlet of the crusher chamber is inside the bin, below the upper rim of the bin, and the lower and upper press plate members are arranged at an incline, so that, after crushing and distancing of the upper press plate member relative to the lower press plate, the crushed container slides out of the crusher chamber via the outlet. In the nonoperative bin removal position, the crusher mechanism is clear from the bin, spaced above the upper rim of the bin, so as to allow for placement and removal of the bin into and from the bin reception space in said lateral direction. This embodiment allows for optimization of the height of the insertion opening, the inclination of the chute and press plate members, and the height of the structure of the mechanism in view of the total height of the housing of the device.

In a preferred embodiment, the lower press plate member is displaceable between the operative position and the non-operative bin removal position relative to and within the housing of the device. Preferably, the remainder of the crusher mechanism does not move when the lower press plate member is displaced between these two positions.

In a practical embodiment, the lower press plate member is stationary, at least in the operative position thereof, and the upper press plate member is movable by the crusher drive assembly towards and away from the lower press plate member. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the lower press plate member is stationary in its operative position in order to perform the crushing of the container by means of the moving upper press plate member, with the lower press plate member being movable to the mentioned non-operative bin removal position when the bin is to be removed. For example, as preferred, the upper press plate member is in its uppermost position when the lower press plate member is moved to its non-operative bin removal position.

In a practical embodiment, the lower press plate member is pivotally mounted so as to be pivotal between the operative position and the non-operative bin removal position. For example, this motion between the two positions is done manually, e.g. a handle being mounted to the lower press plate member.

In a practical embodiment, the lower press plate member is pivotal about a horizontal pivot axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the crusher chamber, preferably extending above the inlet of the crusher chamber. In embodiments, this effectively allows to raise the rear end of the lower press plate member out of the bin, so above the upper rim of the bin, when pivoting the lower press plate member.

In a practical embodiment, the crusher device has a container stop member at the outlet of the crusher member that is configured to stop a container sliding into the crusher chamber and to allow for sliding of the crushed container out of the crusher chamber via the outlet. In an embodiment, the stop is stationary mounted, e.g. effectively forming the upper edge of the outlet of the crusher chamber. This avoids any complexity of the stop member. In another embodiment, the container stop member is movable between a blocking position and a retracted position, e.g. by an associated actuator, e.g. an electrically operated actuator. The latter design may, e.g., be of relevance if it is desired to allow for the passage of a noncrushed container into the bin, e.g. when a determination is made that the container that has been inserted cannot or should not be crushed. The latter could, e.g., be the case if the container is a glass bottle or a plastic bottle filled with gravel. The determination could be, for example, based on a monitoring of the crushing process, e.g. an overrun of force and/or consumed power, and/or scanning the container when it passes along the chute. When the determination is made that crushing is not desired and/or cannot be completed, the stop member can be moved away so that, when the container is no longer clamped between the press plate members the container slides into the bin. In embodiments, a log is made that an incorrect container has been dropped into the bin, e.g. notified to the person emptying the bin. In another approach, insertion of “incorrect” beverage containers is countered, by requesting the user to provide identification, e.g. via an app on a mobile phone, in order to be authorized to introduce the container. For example, the device has a movable cover configured to open and close the insertion opening, e.g. a manually openable cover. For example, a lock is associated with the cover, which lock only allows for opening of the cover once the user has been identified and authorized to open the cover. Should the user then insert an “incorrect” beverage container that cannot be crushed, the device may signal a malfunction and cease operation. It is then known who inserted the “incorrect” beverage container. An instruction or warning not to do the same in the future could the be relayed to the user, possibly with the (threat) of cancelling the authorization of the user. As will be appreciated, this approach will allow for a stationary design of the container stop member, thus benefiting the simplicity of the structure of the device.

Preferably, crushing of the container is done in a single crushing action. The press plates members, in practical embodiments, have a length that is matched to the length of the longest/tallest container to be flattened.

In an embodiment, the housing has a front door providing access to the bin reception space for said placement and removal of the bin into and from the bin reception space.

In an embodiment, the chute is, seen from above, perpendicular to the front of the housing.

In an embodiment, the bin is a wheeled bin, e.g. having two wheels arranged on an axis, e.g. embodied to be handled by a comb lifting device of a refuse collection vehicle.

In an embodiment, the bin has a hinged lid configured to close the top opening of the bin. It is however preferred that such hinged lid is absent, e.g. removed from a standard bin having such lid.

In an embodiment, the bin has a volume between 80 and 250 litres, e.g. of 120 or, most preferred, 240 litres.

In an embodiment, the bin is embodied in accordance with NEN-EN 840-1 2020 and embodied to be handled by a comb lifting device of a refuse collection vehicle.

In a practical embodiment, the crusher mechanism comprises a piercer member mounted on the upper press plate member and configured to pierce a container received in the crusher chamber so as to create a vent opening in the container, e.g. allowing for escape of air from an empty container closed by a cap during crushing of the container. For example, the piercer member is a tubular piercer member with a pointed end and a central venting passage for the air.

In a practical embodiment, the device comprises container recognition means configured to recognize the container that has been inserted via the insert opening. For example, one or more sensors and/or cameras are arranged along the chute for such purpose.

In a practical embodiment, the device is a reverse vending machine configured to cause some form a payment to the user that has inserted the container. For example, the device is linked to a automated financial system to effect a payment to the user, e.g. via a bank account or via a bank app on a mobile phone, etc.

In a practical embodiment, e.g. when the device is arranged away from the main electrical grid, the device may have a rechargeable battery that powers at least the drive of the crusher mechanism, preferably all electrical functions. For example, the battery is charged by a renewable energy source, e.g. wind and/or sunlight.

In an embodiment, the device comprises a solar-charged rechargeable battery to power the device. The device is provided with a solar panel connected to the battery, e.g. mounted at an exterior of the device, e.g. integrated with the top of the housing.

It an embodiment, the device is embodied to be powered by the electric grid. In an embodiment, the device is embodied to be powered both by a renewable source and the electric grid, e.g. a AC-DC converter being present to convert the AC power of the electric grid into a DC power which charges the battery.

In embodiments, the device comprises level detection means for detecting the level of crushed beverage containers in the bin. For example, these means include one or more of:

- a sensor directed at the inside of the bin for directly measuring the actual level of crushed beverage containers present in the bin, e.g. an acoustic transceiver, an ultrasonic transceiver, an infrared transceiver, a laser transceiver, an inductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, or a camera,

- a sensor for detecting passing of a beverage container through the crusher mechanism, e.g. through the insert opening, through the chute, and/or through the outlet of the device, e.g. a light sensor, a movement sensor, or a camera, - a sensor for detecting opening and closing of a cover of the device configured for closing off and opening the insertion opening, e.g. a magnetic sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to determine the number of times the door has been opened since a predetermined time instant, e.g. a time instant at which the bin has been emptied.

The invention also relates to a device as discussed herein.

The invention also relates to a method for collecting empty returnable beverage containers wherein use is made of a system as discussed herein.

The system according to the invention will now be discussed with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

- fig. 1 shows an example of a system according to the invention, wherein the door of the housing is closed and the bin is parked within the housing of the device,

- fig. 2 shows the system of figure 1 from a side,

- fig. 3 shows the system of figure 1 with the front door removed for clarity,

- fig. 4 shows the top portion of the bin and the crusher mechanism with the lower press plate member in its operative position and the upper press plate member in upper position,

- fig. 5 shows the view of figure 4 with the upper press plate member having been moved towards the lower press plate member,

- fig. 6 shows a view onto the front of the device illustrating the insertion opening, a bottle inserted therein, the upper portion of the bin, as well as the crusher mechanism of the device,

- fig. 7 shows in side view the crusher mechanism with a bottle in the crusher chamber before crushing,

- fig. 8 shows in a view similar to figure 7 the lower press plate member being brought in its non-operation bin removal position,

- fig. 9 the situation of figure 8 from another angle. With reference to the figures 1- 9 an embodiment of the system will be described.

Generally the system comprises an open topped bin 1 , e.g. as shown in WO2019/221605, and a collector and crusher device 20.

The bin 1 as shown is a 240 litre bin.

The bin has a bin bottom, bin side walls 3, a bin top opening 4, and an upper rim 5.

The bin is a wheeled bin, having two wheels 6 arranged on an axis.

The bin 1 is embodied to be handled by a comb lifting device of a refuse collection vehicle.

The bin 1 is designed to have a hinged lid configured to close the top opening of the bin. It is however preferred that such hinged lid is absent, e.g. removed from a standard bin having such lid.

The bin is embodied in accordance with NEN-EN 840-1 2020 and embodied to be handled by a comb lifting device of a refuse collection vehicle.

The collector and crusher device 20 comprises a housing 30 having a front 31 , rear 32, sides 33, 34, and a top 35. For example, as preferred, the housing is made of metallic plate material, e.g. steel plate. The housing may have an internal framework supporting the plate material.

It is illustrated, as preferred, that the housing 30 has a rectangular horizontal cross-section.

It is illustrated that the housing 30 includes a hinged front door 36, preferably as here extending over the height of the front. The door 36 thus forms the font of the housing 30. The door 36 here also forms portions of the sides and the top adjoining the front of the housing.

A lock is envisaged for the front door 36, e.g. allowing only for access by staff members, e.g. in view of emptying the bin, maintenance, etc.

A bin reception space 40 is present within a lower section of the housing 30. This bin reception space 40 is accessible in a lateral direction, here from the front once the door 36 is opened, to allow for placement and removal of the bin 1 into and from the bin reception space 40.

The front, here the door 36 of the housing, is provided with an insertion opening 50. This opening 50 is located in an upper section of the housing. The insertion opening 50, here circular as preferred, is configured to insert an empty returnable beverage container 100 in a longitudinal direction thereof, so with one of its ends first.

It is shown here, that the device 20 has a movable cover 55 configured to open and close the insertion opening 50, e.g. a manually openable cover. For example, a lock is associated with the cover 55, which lock only allows for opening of the cover once the user has been identified and authorized to open the cover. For example, the lock keeps the cover closed when the bin is full so that no more containers can be inserted. For example, after inserting the container, the user must close the cover 55 before the crushing is performed, the cover being locked by a locking device so that opening during crushing is impossible.

It is shown here, that the cover 55 is integrated with the hinged front door 36, e.g. embodied as shown as a tiltable cover 55. Tilting can be done by grasping a grip on the cover 55 as shown, and/or by operating an associated foot pedal 56, here also integrated with the front door 36.

A chute 60 is arranged within the upper section of the housing 30 and adjoins the insertion opening 50. The chute 60 is configured so that a container 100 that has been inserted via the insertion opening 50 slides under its own weight along the chute to a lower end thereof. The chute is, seen from above, perpendicular to the front of the housing.

The device 20 has a crusher mechanism 70 within the upper section of the housing.

The crusher mechanism 70 is configured to flatten a beverage container 100 in transverse direction of the container. For example, the mechanism can effect a force of at least 100 kg to crush the container. Possible higher forces, e.g. several hundreds of kilograms of force, are envisaged as well, e.g. depending on the containers to be crushed. Preferably, a single crusher action is performed to flatten the container 100.

The mechanism 70 has a lower press plate member 75 and an upper press plate member 85. These lower and upper press plate members 75, 85 define an elongated crusher chamber 90 between them. The crusher chamber 90 has an inlet 91 arranged to receive the container 100 sliding from the chute 60 longitudinally into the crusher chamber 90, and an opposed outlet 92 for discharge of a crushed container 100.

The crusher drive assembly 95 cooperates here with the upper press plate member 85 so as to move the upper press plate member 85 towards the lower press plate member 75 to crush the container 100 and so as to distance the upper press plate member 85 away from the lower press plate member 75 after crushing of the container 100.

It is shown that when the device 20 is operational, the press plate members 75, 85 are arranged at an incline, so that, after crushing and distancing of the upper press plate member relative to the lower press plate, the crushed container 100 slides out of the crusher chamber via the outlet 92.

The outlet of the crusher chamber 90 is arranged such that the crushed container 100 drops into the bin 1.

As both the chute 60 and the press plate members 75, 85 are - when the device 20 is operational - arranged at an incline, the inserted container 100 slides towards and through the outlet 92 under its own weight. This allows, as illustrated, to avoid the presence in the device 20 of any conveyance mechanism for the inserted container.

The inclination of the chute 60 and the press plate members 75, 85 allows for the insertion opening 50 to be present at the front of the device, at some height above the height of the bin reception space 40, within easy reach for members of the public, e.g. even for children.. For example, the insertion opening is arranged at a height of between 115 and 130 centimetres, e.g. in combination with a 240 litre bin 1 having a height of the upper rim 5 about 102 centimetres.

The total height of the housing is kept limited. This is, for example, of relevance for the line of sight of people walking in vicinity of the device. Otherwise, e.g. in the mentioned vertical design, the height would be such that a device for a 240 litre bin 1 would become a visual hindrance.

The device 20 is envisaged to be used outdoors and/or indoors, e.g. in places where people are likely to consume beverages from beverage containers. It is illustrated here, that the lower press plate member 75 is displaceable between an operative position and a non-operative bin removal position relative to and within the housing of the device.

In the operative position the inlet 91 of the crusher chamber 90 is arranged to receive the container 100 sliding from the chute 60 longitudinally into the crusher chamber 90, and the outlet 92 of the crusher chamber is inside the bin 1 , below the upper rim 5 of the bin, and the lower and upper press plate members 75, 85 are arranged at an incline, so that, after crushing and distancing of the upper press plate member relative to the lower press plate, the crushed container 100 slides out of the crusher chamber via the outlet 92.

In the non-operative bin removal position of the lower press plate member 75, the crusher mechanism is clear from the bin 1 , spaced above the upper rim 5 of the bin, so as to allow for placement and removal of the bin 1 into and from the bin reception space in the lateral direction. As explained, this allows for optimization of the height of the insertion opening 50, the inclination of the chute 60 and press plate members 75, 85 (and thus the self-sliding conveyance of the container 100), and the height of the structure of the mechanism in view of the total height of the housing 30 of the device.

It is shown that whilst the lower press plate member 75 is displaceable between the operative position and the non-operative bin removal position relative to and within the housing of the device, the remainder of the crusher mechanism does not move when the lower press plate member 75 is displaced between these two positions.

In the operative position thereof, the lower press plate member 75 is stationary when the crushing of a container 100 is done. The upper press plate member 85 is forcefully moved by the drive assembly towards the lower press plate member to transversely compress and permanently flatten the container 100.

When the bin 1 is full and has to be removed, the door 36 is opened and the lower press plate member 75 is brought into its non-operative position. It is shown that the upper press plate member is in its uppermost position when the lower press plate member is moved to its non-operative bin removal position.

It is illustrated, that the lower press plate member 75 is pivotally mounted so as to be pivotal between the operative position and the non-operative bin removal position. For example, s shown, this motion between the two positions is done manually. A handle 77 is mounted to the lower press plate member 75 to perform the pivoting of the lower press plate member.

It is illustrated that the lower press plate member 75 is pivotal about a horizontal pivot axis 76 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the crusher chamber 90, here extending above the inlet of the crusher chamber 90. This effectively allows to raise the rear end of the lower press plate member 75 out of the bin 1 , so above the upper rim 5 of the bin, when pivoting the lower press plate member.

The crusher mechanism has a container stop member 93 at the outlet 92 of the crusher chamber 90 that is configured to stop a container 100 sliding into the crusher chamber 90 and to allow for sliding of the crushed container out of the crusher chamber via the outlet 92. As shown, the stop member 93 is stationary mounted, effectively forming the upper edge of the outlet 92 of the crusher chamber. This avoids any complexity of the stop member.

It is shown that the crusher mechanism comprises a piercer member 120 mounted on the upper press plate member 85 and configured to pierce a container 100 received in the crusher chamber 90 so as to create a vent opening in the container, e.g. allowing for escape of air from an empty container closed by a cap during crushing of the container. For example, the piercer member 120 is a tubular piercer member with a pointed end and a central venting passage for the air.

In a practical embodiment, the device 20 comprises container recognition means configured to recognize the container that has been inserted via the insert opening. For example, one or more sensors and/or cameras are arranged along the chute 60 for such purpose.

In a practical embodiment, the device 20 is a reverse vending machine configured to cause some form a payment to the user that has inserted the container. For example, the device is linked to an automated financial system to effect a payment to the user, e.g. via a bank account or via a bank app on a mobile phone, etc.

In a practical embodiment, e.g. when the device is arranged away from the main electrical grid, the device 20 may have a rechargeable battery that powers at least the drive 95 of the crusher mechanism, preferably all electrical functions. For example, the battery is charged by a renewable energy source, e.g. wind and/or sunlight. In an embodiment, the device comprises a rechargeable battery to power the device. The device is provided with a solar panel connected to the battery, e.g. mounted at an exterior of the device, e.g. integrated with the top of the housing.

In embodiments, the device 20 comprises level detection means for detecting the level of crushed beverage containers in the bin 1. For example, these means include one or more of:

- a sensor directed at the inside of the bin for directly measuring the actual level of crushed beverage containers present in the bin, e.g. an acoustic transceiver, an ultrasonic transceiver, an infrared transceiver, a laser transceiver, an inductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, or a camera,

- a sensor for detecting passing of a beverage container through the crusher mechanism, e.g. through the insert opening, through the chute, and/or through the outlet of the device, e.g. a light sensor, a movement sensor, or a camera,

- a sensor for detecting opening and closing of a cover of the device configured for closing off and opening the insertion opening, e.g. a magnetic sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to determine the number of times the door has been opened since a predetermined time instant, e.g. a time instant at which the bin has been emptied.