Beverage container sorting and recycling equipment

Abstract

To provide a beverage container sorting and recycling device capable of more accurately sorting and storing containers, increasing the recycling rate, and reducing the environmental load. [Solution] The beverage container sorting and recycling device includes an input port, a conveying mechanism 4, an AI recognition mechanism 7, a sorting mechanism 5, and a material storage box 6, the AI ​​recognition mechanism is provided on the circumferential side of the conveying mechanism, a light source is further provided on the circumferential side of the AI ​​recognition mechanism, the sorting mechanism is attached to one side of the conveying mechanism, the material storage boxes include a glass bottle material storage box, a PET bottle material storage box, and an easy-open can material storage box, and the sorting mechanism sorts the beverage containers into the corresponding material storage boxes depending on the recognition results by the AI ​​recognition mechanism.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of beverage container sorting and recycling machines, and more particularly to a beverage container sorting and recycling machine. [Background technology]

[0002] In the current retail and consumption environment, glass bottles, PET bottles and easy-open cans are widely used as the main packaging materials for beverages in stores. While these packaging materials bring convenience to consumers, they also cause serious problems such as environmental pollution and resource waste.

[0003] Packaging made of different materials requires differentiated technologies and processes for recycling. Therefore, unless uniform and effective sorting and recycling is carried out, mixed or incorrect container input can lead to reduced recycling efficiency, increased processing costs, and even a decline in the quality of recycled materials due to mixed processing, resulting in more serious environmental pollution and resource waste.

[0004] Therefore, this invention is researching an efficient and intelligent beverage container sorting and recycling equipment that enables accurate sorting and storage of glass bottles, PET bottles, and easy-open cans, thereby increasing the container recycling rate, reducing mixed or incorrect disposal, improving resource utilization efficiency, and reducing the environmental burden. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE In order to more accurately separate and store containers, increase the recycling rate, and reduce the environmental impact, the present invention provides a beverage container sorting and recycling device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The beverage container sorting and recycling device of the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] A beverage container sorting and recycling facility comprising: The system includes an input port, a conveying mechanism, an AI recognition mechanism, a sorting mechanism, and a material storage box, wherein the AI ​​recognition mechanism is provided on the peripheral side of the conveying mechanism, and a light source is further provided on the peripheral side of the AI ​​recognition mechanism, and the sorting mechanism is attached to one side of the conveying mechanism, and the material storage boxes include a glass bottle material storage box, a plastic bottle material storage box, and an easy-open can material storage box, and the sorting mechanism sorts the beverage container into the corresponding material storage box according to the recognition result by the AI ​​recognition mechanism.

[0008] When the above technical solution is adopted, a beverage container is inserted through an input port, and the AI ​​recognition mechanism recognizes the type of beverage container. The beverage container passes through a conveying mechanism to a sorting mechanism, and the sorting mechanism inserts the corresponding beverage container into a glass bottle material storage box, a PET bottle material storage box, or an easy-open can material storage box according to the recognition result by the AI ​​recognition mechanism, thereby making the sorting of containers more accurate, increasing the recycling rate, and reducing the environmental burden.

[0009] Optionally, the input port includes a ring light, the ring light displays a first color when in a standby state, a second color when in a recycling process, and a third color when a malfunction occurs or maintenance is performed, the first color, the second color, and the third color being different colors.

[0010] Optionally, the device further includes a code reading mechanism provided on one side of said input port and located between said input port and said transport mechanism.

[0011] Optionally, the code reading mechanism comprises a mounting frame and a plurality of code readers, the mounting frame having a feed opening, the code readers being spaced apart about a periphery of the feed opening.

[0012] By adopting the above technical solution, when the beverage container passes through the supply port, the barcode can be reliably scanned by at least one code reader regardless of the direction it is facing, thereby ensuring that information on the beverage container can be obtained.

[0013] Optionally, the AI ​​recognition mechanism acquires information of the beverage container and compares it with the information acquired by the code reading mechanism, and if both pieces of information match, the conveying mechanism continues to convey the beverage container, and if both pieces of information do not match, the conveying mechanism returns the beverage container to the inlet.

[0014] The adoption of the above technical solutions can prevent malicious fraud, such as sticking barcodes on other objects and putting them into the device. The double verification mechanism greatly reduces the possibility of recognition errors and improves the accuracy of sorting and recycling.

[0015] Optionally, said transport mechanism is further provided with a weight sensor.

[0016] By adopting the above technical solution, the weight sensor can determine whether the weight of each beverage container meets the set weight requirement, and if the weight is too heavy or too light, it is determined that there is residual liquid in the beverage container or there is a suspicion of fraud, and the beverage container is returned. Recycling beverage containers with a large amount of residual liquid will have a negative impact on the subsequent recycling quality. The weight sensor contributes to improving the accuracy of sorting and recycling.

[0017] Optionally, said transport mechanism is further provided with a metal detection sensor.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the metal detection sensor can distinguish between iron, aluminum and three other materials, and the main purpose is to distinguish whether the container is an aluminum can. Even in markets where iron cans are rejected, the metal detection sensor can still distinguish them, improving the accuracy of sorting and recycling.

[0019] Optionally, the transport mechanism includes two transport belts arranged side by side, and the height of the two transport belts on sides approaching each other is lower than the height of the sides separating each other.

[0020] By adopting the above technical solution, when the beverage container is placed between the two conveyor belts, the beverage container can be transported more stably, and if there is liquid remaining in the inserted container, the liquid will be collected in the central recess, which is convenient for subsequent cleaning.

[0021] Optionally, the sorting mechanism includes a drive member and two sorting members, the sorting members having guide members on their sides facing away from each other and one of the sorting members having a guide member on one of its sides facing each other, and when the drive member drives the two sorting members toward the same side, the beverage containers fall along the guide member into the plastic bottle material storage box or the glass bottle material storage box, and when the drive member drives the two sorting members toward both sides, the beverage containers fall along the guide member into the easy-open can material storage box.

[0022] Optionally, the storage device further includes a compressor disposed above the plastic bottle material storage box and the easy-open can material storage box and connected to the sorting mechanism.

[0023] When the above technical solution is adopted, the beverage containers enter the compressor through a sorting mechanism, and the compressor compresses the plastic bottles and easy-open cans, which then fall into the corresponding material storage box, thereby reducing the space occupied by the plastic bottles and easy-open cans, and allowing more beverage containers to be stored in the material storage box. Effect of the Invention

[0024] As described above, the present invention has at least one beneficial technical effect:

[0025] 1. Beverage containers are inserted through the input port. The AI ​​recognition mechanism obtains the beverage container information and sorts the beverage containers. The beverage containers pass through the conveying mechanism to the sorting mechanism. The sorting mechanism places the corresponding beverage containers into a glass bottle material storage box, a PET bottle material storage box, or an easy-open can material storage box according to the recognition result by the AI ​​recognition mechanism, thereby making the sorting of containers more accurate, increasing the recycling rate, and reducing the environmental burden.

[0026] 2. When a beverage container passes through the supply port, the barcode is reliably scanned by at least one code reader regardless of the direction it faces, thereby ensuring that information about the beverage container can be obtained.

[0027] 3. It can prevent malicious fraud, such as sticking barcodes on other objects and throwing them into the device. The double verification mechanism greatly reduces the possibility of recognition errors and improves the accuracy of sorting and recycling. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a beverage container sorting and recycling device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a beverage container sorting and recycling device according to an embodiment of the present invention with the main body removed; FIG. [Diagram 3] 1 is an exploded structural schematic diagram showing an input port of a beverage container sorting and recycling device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 2 is a structural schematic diagram showing a code reading mechanism in the beverage container sorting and recycling device according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is a structural schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the AI ​​recognition mechanism and the conveying mechanism in a beverage container sorting and recycling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a weight sensor and a metal detection sensor in a beverage container sorting and recycling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7]2 is a structural schematic diagram of the beverage container sorting and recycling device according to the embodiment of the present invention when the sorting mechanism is in a glass bottle recycling state; FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a structural schematic diagram of the beverage container sorting and recycling device according to the embodiment of the present invention when the sorting mechanism is in a PET bottle recycling state; FIG. [Figure 9] 2 is a structural schematic diagram of the beverage container sorting and recycling device according to the embodiment of the present invention when the sorting mechanism is in an easy-open can recycling state; FIG. [Figure 10] 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a beverage container sorting and recycling device according to an embodiment of the present invention with the front part of the main body removed; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0030] The embodiments of the present invention disclose a beverage container sorting and recycling device. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the beverage container sorting and recycling device includes a main body 1, an input port 2, an AI recognition mechanism 7, a conveying mechanism 4, a sorting mechanism 5, and a material storage box 6, where the input port 2 is provided on one side of the main body 1, and the beverage containers are input through the input port 2. In some embodiments, the beverage container sorting and recycling device further includes a code reading mechanism 3, where the code reading mechanism 3, the AI ​​recognition mechanism 7, the conveying mechanism 4, the sorting mechanism 5, and the material storage box 6 are all provided within the main body 1.

[0031] Specifically, the code reading mechanism 3 is provided on one side of the insertion port 2, the beverage container is inserted through the insertion port 2, and the code reading mechanism 3 scans the barcode on the beverage container to obtain the information. The code reading mechanism 3 is also located between the insertion port 2 and the conveying mechanism 4, and assists in sorting the beverage container after obtaining the information. In another embodiment, only the AI ​​recognition mechanism 7 may be provided, or both the code reading mechanism 3 and the AI ​​recognition mechanism 7 may be provided. The AI ​​recognition mechanism 7 is provided on the peripheral side of the conveying mechanism 4 and is used to recognize the beverage container, which is further conveyed by the conveying mechanism 4 to the sorting mechanism 5, which is attached to the side of the conveying mechanism 4 away from the code reading mechanism 3 and sorts the beverage container into the corresponding material storage box 6 according to the recognition result by the AI ​​recognition mechanism 7.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the input port 2 includes a ring light 21, and in this embodiment, the ring light 21 is composed of a circuit board and a light electrically connected to the circuit board, and the input port 2 further includes a mounting base 22 and a transparent cover 23, and referring to FIG. 1, the mounting base 22 is attached to the main body 1, the ring light 21 is attached to the mounting base 22, the transparent cover 23 covers the ring light 21 and is engaged with the mounting base 22, and the color of the light is transmitted through the transparent cover 23.

[0033] In the standby state, the ring light 21 displays a first color, specifically, the first color is green, and when the ring light 21 displays green all the time, it indicates to the user that "the machine is currently in normal standby state and can be inserted", in the recycling process, the ring light 21 displays a second color, specifically, the second color is blue, and the ring light 21 can display green all the time or can be in a blinking state, instructing the user that "the machine is in object recognition state, please wait", when the machine is faulty or the operator is performing maintenance on the machine, the ring light 21 displays a third color, specifically, the third color is red, and the ring light 21 can display red all the time or can be in a blinking state, instructing the user that "the machine is faulty and cannot be inserted". The first, second, and third colors are different colors, but in another embodiment, the first, second, and third colors may be other colors as long as the three colors are different from each other, and may be set according to the actual situation.

[0034] 4, in some embodiments, the code reading mechanism 3 includes a mounting frame 31 and a plurality of code readers 32, the mounting frame 31 is mounted on the inner surface of the main body 1, the mounting frame 31 has a supply port 33, the supply port 33 is connected to the input port 2, and the centers of the two are on the same line. The beverage container enters through the input port 2 and then the supply port 33, and at the same time, the code reader 32 detects the barcode information of the beverage container, and the code readers 32 are provided at intervals on the outer periphery of the supply port 33. In this embodiment, six code readers 32 are provided at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the supply port 33 and screwed to the mounting frame 31, thereby ensuring that at least one code reader 32 scans the barcode information on the beverage container, so as to perform more accurate sorting. In other embodiments, the code reader 32 may be appropriately set according to conditions such as the scanning range of the code reader 32 and the size of the supply port 33.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the conveying mechanism 4 includes two parallel conveying belts, the height of the two conveying belts being lower on the sides approaching each other than the height of the sides moving away from each other, i.e., the two conveying belts are arranged with an upward inclination along the sides moving away from each other, whereby both sides of the beverage container are in close contact between the two conveying belts, the beverage container can be conveyed more stably, and if liquid remains in the inserted container, the liquid collects in a central recess, which is advantageous for subsequent cleaning.

[0036] In some embodiments, the AI ​​recognition mechanism 7 includes a camera, which acquires information of the beverage container, including the type, brand, appearance, material, color, completeness, etc. of the beverage container, and the camera is provided directly above the conveying mechanism 4. The information recognized by the AI ​​recognition mechanism 7 is compared with the information acquired by the code reading mechanism 3, and if both pieces of information match, the conveying mechanism 4 continues conveying the beverage container, and if both pieces of information do not match, the conveying mechanism 4 returns the beverage container to the input port 2, thereby sorting the beverage container more accurately, avoiding human fraud, and improving sorting efficiency.

[0037] Referring to Figure 6, a light source 8 is further provided around the AI ​​recognition mechanism 7. In this embodiment, specifically, the light sources 8 are provided on both sides of the camera, and the longitudinal direction of the light source 8 is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the conveying mechanism 4, thereby enabling the light source 8 and the camera to more accurately photograph and recognize the beverage container.

[0038] In some embodiments, the conveying mechanism 4 is further provided with a weight sensor 9. The weight sensor 9 may be provided on the upper or lower surface of the conveying belt depending on the type of the conveying belt, and the weight sensor 9 can determine whether the weight of each beverage container meets the set weight requirement, and by identifying that the weight is too heavy or too light, it is determined that there is residual liquid remaining in the beverage container or there is a suspicion of fraud, and the beverage container is returned. Recycling a beverage container with a large amount of residual liquid remaining will have a negative impact on the subsequent recycling quality. The weight sensor 9 contributes to improving the accuracy of sorting and recycling.

[0039] In some embodiments, the conveyor mechanism 4 is further provided with a metal detection sensor 10, which may be provided on the upper or lower surface of the conveyor belt depending on the type of the conveyor belt. The metal detection sensor can distinguish between iron, aluminum, and three other types of materials, which can further assist in recognizing beverage containers, and the main purpose is to identify whether the container is an aluminum can. Even in markets where iron cans are rejected, the metal detection sensor 10 can be used to distinguish them, improving the accuracy of sorting and recycling.

[0040] Referring to Figure 7, the material storage boxes 6 include a glass bottle material storage box 61, a PET bottle material storage box 62, and an easy-open can material storage box 63; also referring to Figure 2, the sorting mechanism 5 receives the information read by the code reading mechanism 3, and sorts the beverage containers into the corresponding material storage boxes 6, thereby making the sorting of containers more accurate, increasing the recycling rate, and reducing the environmental burden.

[0041] 7, in some embodiments, the sorting mechanism 5 includes a driving member 51 and two sorting members 52. In this embodiment, the driving member 51 includes a first motor 511 and a second motor 512, and the sorting member 52 includes a first sorting member 521 and a second sorting member 522, where the first sorting member 521 has a plate-like structure and the second sorting member 522 has a triangular prism-like structure. The first motor 511 and the second motor 512 rotate the first sorting member 521 and the second sorting member 522, respectively. The opposite sides of the sorting member 52 are provided with a guide member 11, and one of the sides of the sorting member 52 that are close to each other is also provided with a guide member 11. In this embodiment, the side of the first sorting member 521 facing the second sorting member 522 is also provided with a guide member 11, and the length and angle of the guide member 11 are set according to the distance and position between the sorting member 52 and the material storage box 6.

[0042] When the first motor 511 and the second motor 512 respectively rotate the first sorting member 521 and the second sorting member 522 toward the same side, the beverage container falls along the guide member 11 into the PET bottle material storage box 62 or the glass bottle material storage box 61. When the two sorting members 52 all rotate to one side of the second sorting member 522, that is, to the side opposite the first sorting member 521 of the second sorting member 522 (the reference direction is the right side in the figure), the beverage container falls into the glass bottle material storage box 61 along the guide member 11 on the side opposite the second sorting member 522 of the first sorting member 521. In this embodiment, a buffer mechanism is further provided in the glass bottle material storage box 61, and a rubber belt is stretched in the buffer mechanism, thereby playing a role in buffering the falling glass bottles, preventing the glass bottles from breaking, and increasing the recycling rate.

[0043] Referring to Figure 8, when both sorting members 52 rotate to one side of the first sorting member 521, i.e., to the side of the first sorting member 521 opposite the second sorting member 522 (in the figure, the reference direction is the left side), the beverage containers fall into the PET bottle material storage box 62 along the guide member 11 on the side of the second sorting member 522 opposite the first sorting member 521.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 9, when the driving member 51 drives the two sorting members 52 toward both sides, that is, in this embodiment, the reference direction is that the first motor 511 drives the first sorting member 521 to rotate it to the left, and the second motor 512 drives the second sorting member 522 to rotate it to the right, and there is a gap between the first sorting member 521 and the second sorting member 522, which corresponds to the direction of the outlet of the conveying mechanism 4. In this case, the beverage containers are restricted by the second sorting member 522 along the guide member 11 of the first sorting member 521 and fall into the easy-open can material storage box 63.

[0045] Referring to Fig. 10, in some embodiments, the beverage container sorting and recycling device further includes a compressor 12 provided above the PET bottle material storage box 62 and the easy-open can material storage box 63. The compressor 12 compresses the PET bottles and easy-open cans to reduce their volume, reduce the space occupied by the PET bottles and easy-open cans, and ensure recycling. Referring also to Fig. 9, it is understood that the compressor 12 is connected to the sorting mechanism 5 means that the beverage containers fall into the compressor 12 along the guide member 11 of the sorting mechanism 5, are compressed by the compressor 12, and then enter the PET bottle material storage box 62 or the easy-open can material storage box 63.

[0046] In this embodiment, the beverage container sorting and recycling device further includes a printer 13 that prints out recycling information such as the type and number of beverage containers to create a receipt that serves as a recycling voucher for the user. The beverage container sorting and recycling device also has a bonus function, and the printer 13 can also print bonus vouchers, etc.

[0047] The implementation principle of the beverage container sorting and recycling device according to the embodiment of the present invention is as follows: beverage containers are inserted through an input port, an AI recognition mechanism obtains beverage container information to sort the beverage containers, the beverage containers pass through a conveying mechanism to a sorting mechanism, and the sorting mechanism puts the corresponding beverage containers into a glass bottle material storage box, a PET bottle material storage box or an easy-open can material storage box according to the recognition result by the AI ​​recognition mechanism, thereby making the container sorting more accurate, increasing the recycling rate and reducing the environmental burden.

[0048] The above are the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, any equivalent modifications made according to the structure, shape and principle of the present invention shall be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1 Main unit 2 Inlet 21 Ring Light 22 Mounting base 23 Transparent cover 3 Code reading mechanism 31 Mounting frame 32 Code Reader 33 Supply port 4. Conveyor mechanism 5. Selection mechanism 51 Driving member 511 First Motor 512 Second Motor 52 Sorting materials 521 First sorting member 522 Second sorting member 6 Material Storage Box 61 Glass bottle material storage box 62 PET bottle material storage box 63 Easy Open Can Material Storage Box 7 AI recognition mechanism 8 light source 9 Weight Sensor 10 Metal detection sensor 11 Guide member 12 Compressor 13 Printers

Claims

1. A beverage container sorting and recycling device, comprising: a sorting mechanism for sorting beverage containers into a corresponding one of the material storage boxes according to the recognition results by the AI ​​recognition mechanism; a sorting mechanism for sorting beverage containers into a corresponding one of the material storage boxes according to the recognition results by the AI ​​recognition mechanism; a light source for sorting beverage containers into a corresponding one of the material storage boxes according to the recognition results by the AI ​​recognition mechanism;

2. 2. The beverage container sorting and recycling device of claim 1, wherein the input port includes a ring light, the ring light displays a first color during a standby state, a second color during a recycling process, and a third color when a malfunction occurs or maintenance is performed, the first color, the second color, and the third color being different colors.

3. 2. The beverage container sorting and recycling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a code reading mechanism provided on one side of the input port and positioned between the input port and the conveying mechanism.

4. 4. The beverage container sorting and recycling device of claim 3, wherein the code reading mechanism includes a mounting frame and a plurality of code readers, the mounting frame having a supply opening, the code readers being spaced apart from one another around the outer periphery of the supply opening.

5. The beverage container sorting and recycling device of claim 1, characterized in that the AI ​​recognition mechanism acquires information about the beverage container and compares it with the information acquired by the code reading mechanism, and if the two pieces of information match, the conveying mechanism continues to convey the beverage container, and if the two pieces of information do not match, the conveying mechanism returns the beverage container to the input port.

6. 2. The beverage container sorting and recycling device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying mechanism is further provided with a weight sensor.

7. 2. The beverage container sorting and recycling device according to claim 1, wherein the transport mechanism is further provided with a metal detection sensor.

8. The beverage container sorting and recycling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveying mechanism includes two conveying belts arranged side by side, and the height of the two conveying belts on the sides approaching each other is lower than the height of the sides moving away from each other.

9. The sorting mechanism includes a drive member and two sorting members, the sorting members having guide members on sides that are away from each other, and one of the sorting members having a guide member on one of the sides that are close to each other, and when the drive member drives the two sorting members toward the same side, the beverage containers fall along the guide member into the PET bottle material storage box or the glass bottle material storage box, and when the drive member drives the two sorting members toward both sides, the beverage containers fall along the guide member into the easy-open can material storage box.The beverage container sorting and recycling device of claim 1,

10. 10. The beverage container sorting and recycling device according to claim 1 or 9, further comprising a compressor provided above the PET bottle material storage box and the easy-open can material storage box and connected to the sorting mechanism.

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