Deposit machine unit with dispensing device, and method for its operation

Description

I. Area of ​​application

[0001] The invention relates to a deposit return machine unit according to the preamble of claim 1. II. Technical Background

[0002] Most deposit machines weigh the empty beverage container being inserted and refuse acceptance if this weight exceeds a target value, which is also the case with the correct type of beverage container if it contains residual liquid.

[0003] The customer then wants to empty the remaining liquid and disposes of it in an existing waste container, the replaceable bag of which may leak, resulting in significant soiling and rework. Dispensing devices are known in the form of standard sinks, but also as urinals, which, especially in public places like rest stops, often have an automatic flushing and / or disinfection system, but are not specifically adapted to the requirements of collecting residual liquids from beverage containers without causing significant soiling of the disposal device's basin or its surroundings.

[0004] From DE 600 35 500 T2, a reverse vending machine unit according to the preamble of claim 1 is known. The pouring device is designed with a pouring basin, referred to as a bowl, which is formed in a front cover of the reverse vending machine below a feed opening for bottles and cans and transitions into a drain pipe nozzle on an inside of the front cover, from which residues poured into the pouring basin land in a drain channel extending below a housing parallel to a front side of the reverse vending machine facing the customer, which is connected to a drain.

[0005] From DE 698 30 007 T2, a self-cleaning handwashing device is known, comprising a handwashing bowl which, during use, is mounted at a suitable height for washing hands. The handwashing bowl and its associated cover can be switched between a handwashing position and an inactive position. The handwashing device includes operating elements for switching the handwashing bowl and its cover between a handwashing position and an inactive position, a dispenser for dispensing water via a user's hands in the handwashing bowl, and a dispenser for dispensing soap via the hands in the handwashing bowl.

[0006] Deposit machine units are generally known to consist of at least two deposit machines arranged side by side, designed in such a way that, when connected directly side by side on a front facing the customer, there is a gap or free space between the front surfaces of the deposit machines. III. Description of the invention a) Technical task

[0007] The object of the invention is therefore to equip a deposit return machine unit comprising at least two adjacent deposit return machines with a pouring device for emptying beverage containers in a practical and space-saving manner. Furthermore, a method for operating the pouring device is to be provided. b) Solution of the task

[0008] This problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are defined in dependent claims 2 to 16 and method claims 17 and 18.

[0009] Regarding the Pouring device The design, which includes a sink with a wastewater connection, simultaneously solves the problem of providing a sink with minimal maintenance. This is achieved by including both a flushing device for automatic rinsing of the sink and a disinfection device.

[0010] The disinfection device includes a disinfectant dispenser, allowing users of the sink to disinfect their hands. As a side effect, depending on hand position, the sink basin may also be partially disinfected; however, the sink basin is primarily cleaned and disinfected regularly by the operator's staff.

[0011] A control system, usually an electronic one, is provided to control the rinsing device as well as the disinfection device.

[0012] A trap, such as a siphon, is installed at the wastewater connection or the wastewater pipe leading from it to prevent unpleasant odors from bothering users.

[0013] This provides a pouring device that, despite being used by lay users, requires very little maintenance and can still be operated hygienically for all involved.

[0014] In order to limit its use as much as possible to its intended purpose, namely the emptying of residual contents from bottles and beverage cans, and for easy placement in a surrounding device, the pouring device, viewed from the operator's side, is a maximum of 30 cm wide, in particular a maximum of 25 cm wide, in particular a maximum of 20 cm wide, measured horizontally.

[0015] The sink has a rear wall that extends higher than the front wall, as well as side walls that preferably reach up to a superstructure positioned above the sink and are tightly connected to it. Therefore, the sink can only be accessed through a front opening, which is also a maximum of 20 cm wide, and preferably 15 cm wide, thus limiting the insertion of items to correspondingly narrow containers.

[0016] If, in addition, the front opening, i.e. the vertical distance A1 between the upper edge of the front wall of the sink and the lower edge of the superstructure, is also not too high, for example not higher than 25 cm, or better yet not higher than 23 cm, this will further limit the size of the containers that can be inserted into and emptied from the opening.

[0017] On the other hand, this vertical distance A1 should be at least 15 cm, preferably at least 20 cm, in particular at least 25 cm, especially at least 30 cm, in order to be able to hold correspondingly slim containers relatively steeply with the outlet opening facing downwards over the sink and thereby reduce the splashing of liquids in the sink.

[0018] The horizontal distance A2 between the side walls of the sink should also have a minimum width of 10 cm. It is specifically recommended that the distance A2 between the side walls above the front wall be at least 10 cm, but no more than 20 cm, preferably no more than 18 cm, and preferably no more than 17 cm.

[0019] In order to accommodate the spouting device in the wall of another device without protruding far, the front wall of the superstructure is preferably designed to be approximately flush with the front wall of the spouting basin.

[0020] The underside, i.e. the bottom, of the superstructure can preferably be beveled or rounded relative to the front wall of the superstructure, i.e. in the area of ​​the lower front transverse edge of the superstructure, which allows containers to be placed even more steeply into the sink.

[0021] The superstructure is hollow, comprising a front wall, a base, side walls, and a roof, but accessible from the rear and optionally closable by a rear cover or door. The components necessary for the operation of the device, particularly electrical components, can be housed within the sealed, hollow superstructure. These components include the control unit and / or the pump for the disinfectant and / or the power supply for the pump and control unit with direct current and / or any valve of the disinfection device.

[0022] It can be stipulated that the transition from the back wall to the side walls of the sink is rounded with a radius of curvature of at least 1 cm, preferably at least 3 cm, preferably at least 5 cm. Furthermore, it can be stipulated that the transition from the back wall of the sink to the base of the superstructure is rounded with a radius of curvature of at least 1 cm, preferably 3 cm, preferably 5 cm. Finally, it can be stipulated that the transition from the side walls of the sink to the base of the superstructure is rounded with a radius of curvature of at least 1 cm, preferably 3 cm, preferably 5 cm.

[0023] Preferably, a storage container for disinfectant is located outside the spout device in order to keep its dimensions small.

[0024] The disinfection device is primarily intended for disinfecting the user's hands after using the spout. For this purpose, it has a nozzle as part of the disinfectant dispenser, through which disinfectant can be dispensed downwards from the base of the superstructure, allowing the user to hold their hands underneath.

[0025] At this point, it should be clarified that a nozzle is understood to mean any opening for dispensing a liquid, regardless of whether the nozzle channel narrows towards the outlet and thus accelerates the medium flowing through it or not.

[0026] The disinfectant dispenser is activated by means of an activation sensor, which the user activates by holding their hand underneath it; this is usually a non-contact proximity sensor, which is preferably located on the underside of the superstructure, preferably closer to the back wall of the sink than the disinfectant nozzle, so that when the activation sensor is triggered, the hands are already under the disinfectant nozzle.

[0027] It should be clear that the applied disinfectant not only wets the user's hands underneath, but, depending on the user's hand position and movement, also reaches the sink and especially its bottom, which is thereby automatically partially disinfected as well.

[0028] Since a container held in the opening of the spout for emptying should not trigger the activation sensor, it is positioned and its detection range is selected and adjusted so that a container held with its outlet opening as close as possible to the drain of the sink does not trigger the activation sensor.

[0029] The rinsing device is intended to rinse the interior of the sink with a rinsing liquid, preferably fresh water, and therefore has a fresh water connection to the drinking water network or another fresh water network.

[0030] A fresh water nozzle for dispensing the rinsing liquid, in particular the fresh water, is located either in the base of the superstructure or in the upper area of ​​the rear wall of the sink basin, in both cases, however, such that the spray direction of the fresh water nozzle is directed obliquely downwards and backwards towards the rear wall of the sink basin, down which the rinsing liquid runs to the drain, and preferably also partially wets the inner surfaces of the side walls of the sink basin via a widening spray cone.

[0031] At the same time, it must be ensured that the fresh water, i.e. the rinsing fluid, does not splash out of the sink basin, which is why the rinsing device and in particular its fresh water nozzle should be positioned and selected and adjusted with regard to its delivery range and operating pressure so that the rinsing fluid cannot rise along the inside of the front wall to its top edge.

[0032] Since there is a risk that foreign objects from the beverage container could also enter the sink, a strainer is installed in the drain at the bottom of the sink, at least upstream of the wastewater connection, to retain such solids. While a removable strainer is easier to clean, there is always the risk of theft by a user; therefore, if a removable strainer is used, its removal should only be possible with the aid of a tool.

[0033] Preferably, however, the sieve is firmly connected to the bottom of the sink, in particular formed in one piece with it, for example by the sieve consisting only of appropriately small openings in the bottom of the sink above the wastewater connection.

[0034] To minimize contamination of the splashing device caused by liquid splashing around, the splashing basin in particular can have an anti-splash feature: This can consist, for example, of the inner surfaces of the front wall, side walls and back wall of the splashing basin being as smooth as possible, polished in the case of metal, and / or equipped with a coating that allows the liquid to bead up and run off easily and without residue, i.e., has the so-called lotus effect, which also minimizes splashing and rebounding.

[0035] Another measure could be to have the side walls approach each other from back to front towards the front opening, and this undercut would make it very unlikely that liquid would splash out of the front opening.

[0036] Another measure to minimize splashing can be to have the bottom of the sink have a spout extending into the depths, the diameter of which preferably tapers conically and / or is no larger than the outer diameter of the neck of a standard beverage bottle. By inserting the neck of a bottle into the spout, splashing of the poured liquid can be largely avoided.

[0037] This can be further promoted by ensuring that this spout, with its longitudinal axis, is not vertical when installed in the spout device, but rather directed forwards, i.e. towards the front opening, and upwards, thus roughly in the orientation of the bottle held in the spout device for emptying.

[0038] Preferably, the drain in the base of the drain spout and, in particular, any sieve that may be present, are positioned at an angle, i.e., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spout, which facilitates the manufacture of the sieve holder.

[0039] Preferably, the spout can also include a usage sensor that detects the use of the spout – i.e., when a container is held in the front opening or hands are inserted into the front opening – for example, without contact, and / or a flow sensor that detects the flow of liquid through the drain. Knowledge of the usage processes, their frequency, and / or their duration can also be used to control the flushing device.

[0040] Furthermore, the drain device should also include a blockage sensor that reports when the drain is blocked by detecting a backflow of liquid either in the drain basin or in the adjoining wastewater connection and / or in the siphon, whereupon the associated control unit either issues a warning signal, in particular to the user, or automatically closes a locking device, such as a front flap or door, with which the front opening can be closed, in order to prevent further use of the drain device.

[0041] In order to prevent soiling, especially of the sink, even more reliably despite the designs described so far, all transitions between the walls of the sink, both to each other and to the floor, as well as to the floor of the superstructure above, should be rounded, preferably with a radius of curvature of at least 1 cm, better of at least 3 cm, better of at least 5 cm.

[0042] According to the invention, the dispensing device is not simply installed near a reverse vending machine for returning empty, deposit-bearing beverage containers, but is integrated into a space-saving reverse vending machine unit comprising at least two reverse vending machines arranged side by side. Reverse vending machines are often designed in such a way that even with an optimally small lateral distance between two adjacent reverse vending machines, a gap remains between their front frames. This gap extends sufficiently deep into a corresponding free space, allowing a dispensing device to be inserted into this otherwise unused space, particularly if it does not exceed the dimensions described above. The reverse vending machine unit equipped accordingly, according to the invention, is therefore not increased in size by the inclusion of the dispensing device.

[0043] Nevertheless, the user has the advantage that if a residue is detected in a returnable package, he can first empty it before inserting the now actually empty beverage container into the deposit machine, which avoids both soiling the user's hands and soiling the functional elements of the respective deposit machine.

[0044] Regarding the procedure To operate such a deposit return machine unit, as described above, the rinsing device is either controlled by the controller. activated at set time intervals or after each detected use of the spout device or after each activation of the activation sensor for the disinfection device.

[0045] In interval control, the time intervals can also be made dependent on the detected use of the pouring device or activation of the activation sensor determined per unit of time.

[0046] If the spout device includes a blockage sensor, either a warning indicator is displayed or a closure device, such as a front door or front flap of the spout device, is automatically closed by the control system after the sensor is triggered. c) Examples of implementation

[0047] Embodiments according to the invention are described in more detail below by way of example. The figures show: Figure 1a: the pouring device in front view, Figure 1b: from spout in rear view, Figure 1c: a horizontal section through the pouring device along line C - C in Figure 1a , Figure 2a:The pouring device in side view, vertically cut, with a flat bottom when emptying a bottle, Figure 2b: The pouring device in side view, vertically cut, with a recessed bottom when emptying a bottle, Figure 2c: the pouring device in the same view as Figure 2a , when disinfecting a user's hands, Figure 3: a reverse vending machine unit with a pouring device.

[0048] As the Figure 1a , b, c As can be seen, the pouring device 1 roughly has the shape of an upright cuboid.

[0049] What is the best way? Figure 2a As can be seen, the pouring device 1 consists of three sections arranged one above the other, namely the lower sink 2, the upper superstructure 20, the open space 23 in between.

[0050] The horizontal cross-section of the pouring device 1 is preferably rectangular and / or constant over its entire height, wherein, viewed from the front, a rim 24 is present projecting laterally upwards and / or downwards over the cuboid housing – which primarily consists of sheet metal, preferably stainless steel sheet metal – which serves as a stop when inserting the pouring device 1 into a wall opening, as shown in Figure 2a hinted at.

[0051] The free space 23, in particular its front opening with the distance A1 in height between the base 20b of the superstructure 20 and the upper edge of the front wall 2a of the sink 2 and the distance A2 between the two side walls 2c, 2d, is dimensioned such that bottles up to a size of approximately 1.5l capacity can be inserted neck-first into the free space 23 and tipped upwards, so that their remaining contents can flow into the sink 2 and the drain 2b1 therein into its base 2b, namely via a wastewater connection 6a at the base 2b of the sink 2 into a wastewater pipe 6b, in which a siphon 7 is preferably installed as an odor trap.

[0052] The superstructure 20 is connected to the drain basin 2 by the fact that its side walls 2c, d and rear wall 2e preferably extend upwards to the superstructure 20, wherein the side walls 2c, d are preferably formed integrally with the side walls 20c, d of the superstructure 20.

[0053] The superstructure 20 is hollow and accessible from the rear, and on this rear side is either permanently open or can be closed by an opening door or flap, and closed on all other sides.

[0054] This contains the other components required for the pouring device 1: See below. Figure 2c - in the floor 20b of the superstructure 20, approximately in its middle, a disinfectant nozzle 17 is arranged, which - see Figure 2c- releases disinfectant downwards into the free space 23, triggered by a contactless sensor, i.e. proximity sensor 22, also arranged in the floor 20b, which is located next to or - as shown - preferably behind the disinfectant nozzle 17.

[0055] As soon as the user's hand triggers this proximity sensor 22, the associated control unit 1* releases a burst of disinfectant downwards via the disinfectant nozzle 17, allowing the user to clean their hands.

[0056] Specifically, the control unit 1* opens and closes a valve 19 – located as close as possible to the nozzle 17 – which is situated in the connecting line between the disinfectant pump 18 and the nozzle 17. The disinfectant supply to the pump 18 comes from a preferably external and appropriately sized reservoir 21 for disinfectant, which can be connected to the pump 18 via a hose connection located in the rear wall or rear door of the superstructure 20.

[0057] The rear wall or rear door may also contain plug contacts for connecting the electrical power supply 25, which is also arranged in the superstructure 20 and which may be housed in the same housing together with the control unit 1*.

[0058] The proximity sensor 22 is selected and / or set with regard to its detection range so that it is not triggered by a container B - be it a bottle or can - placed at an angle from the outside into the free space 23 with its neck pointing towards the bottom 2b.

[0059] Instead, a usage sensor 14 can be provided separately, which detects the insertion of a container B into the free space 23 and can, for example, also be positioned in the base 20 of the superstructure 20, but close to its front edge.

[0060] Additionally or instead, such a usage sensor 14 can also be located at the wastewater connection 6a or at the bottom 2b of the sink 2, in that it is a sensor that can detect liquid flowing along it.

[0061] In order to be able to clean the sink 2 automatically, a rinsing fluid nozzle 16 is arranged in the back wall 2e, through which fresh water is preferably dispensed as rinsing fluid, and which is why this is connected on the back of the back wall 2e via a fresh water connection 3a of the sink device 1 to a fresh water line 3b.

[0062] The fresh water nozzle 16 projects only slightly into the free space 23 from the rear wall 2e and has a downwardly and rearwardly directed spray pattern, so that the inside of the rear wall 2e is rinsed with fresh water in a cone that widens downwards, as shown in Figure 1a shown, which also rinses the inner surfaces of the side walls 2c, d.

[0063] The pressure and flow rate are set so that the rinsing fluid, especially water, cannot flow so far upwards along the front wall 2a that it reaches its upper edge and rinsing fluid could escape forwards from the sink basin 2.

[0064] Preferably, the inner surfaces of the base, front wall, side walls and back wall of the sink are equipped with a non-stick coating that allows liquids to drain downwards with as little residue as possible, the so-called lotus effect, in order to keep the soiling of the sink to a minimum.

[0065] To minimize splashing of liquid emptied from container B into the drain basin 2, the side walls 2c, 2d could also be spaced increasingly further apart from front to back, minimizing the splashing of liquid from these walls forward out of the free space 23.

[0066] Another measure to minimize splashing is in Figure 2b depicted: While in Figure 2a The bottom 2b of the drain basin 2 is flat, as is the case with the design of the Figure 2b a spout 8 in the base 2b, which extends downwards from the surrounding base surface, in this case not vertically downwards, but diagonally downwards and backwards, corresponding to the insertion direction of a bottle inserted into the free space 23 with its neck facing diagonally upwards.

[0067] The spout 8 has a diameter large enough to accommodate the necks of standard bottles. Specifically, the spout 8 is conically shaped, tapering towards the bottom, allowing the bottle neck to be inserted to a greater or lesser extent depending on its diameter. The minimal space between the bottle neck and the spout 8 virtually eliminates splashing.

[0068] For this purpose, it may also be useful to have the front wall 2a, at least in its upper area, end further forward than, for example, the front of the superstructure 20, in order to reliably allow a container B to be inserted with the bottle neck into the spout 8 with optimal alignment of the container B to the direction of the spout 8.

[0069] Preferably, regardless of the design, a sieve 9 is also located above the wastewater connection 6a to retain solid impurities such as stones, cigarette butts and the like.

[0070] In terms of the design of Figure 2a These could be a large number of small holes drilled close together in the sheet metal of base 2b, as in Figure 1c as shown, and also in the solution according to Figure 2b ,wherein the sieve 9 is preferably arranged at an angle to the horizontal, i.e. preferably at a right angle to the direction of the spout 8.

[0071] Preferably, the spout device 1 also includes a blockage sensor 15 to automatically detect a blockage in the wastewater connection 6a or wastewater pipe 6b, so that the control unit 1* can then issue a corresponding warning message on a display (not shown) on the front or back of the superstructure, or close the open side of the free space 23 by means of a front flap (also not shown) and thereby prevent further use of the spout device 1.

[0072] The blockage sensor 15 can be located in the rear wall or one of the side walls of the sink basin 2 below the height of the front edge of the front wall 2a.

[0073] The blockage sensor 15 can be located at the wastewater connection 6a and detect liquid standing in it, and in this way also be functionally combined with the usage sensor 14 if it can also detect liquid flowing past it.

[0074] Figure 3 shows that no additional space is required for the installation of a pouring device 1 into a deposit machine unit 100 consisting of two adjacent deposit machines 101: A typical deposit machine 101 has - viewed from its front, the customer side - at least a first input opening 104 into which a single container B such as a bottle or a can can be inserted, as well as an operating unit 103 - in this case arranged next to it.

[0075] The operating unit 103 has a display 106 and a receipt generator 108 for issuing the deposit receipt and usually an operating button 107 with which one or more functions can be triggered.

[0076] In the present case, the deposit machine 101 has a further, significantly larger, second input opening 105 in the area below compared to the first input opening 104, into which an entire empty crate L filled with containers B, mostly bottles, can be inserted.

[0077] As can be seen, the deposit machines 101 are inserted into the opening of a wall, wider in their rear area than at their front, so that the front walls of adjacent deposit machines can only be placed side by side up to a gap 102.

[0078] Since the widening only begins over a certain distance in the depth direction, an equally wide empty space is created in front of it in the area of ​​gap 102, so that a pouring device 1 can be installed in the gap 102 and the empty space behind it, without the deposit machines 101 having to be placed further apart. REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0079] 1. Pouring device 1. Control unit 2. Pouring basin 2a. Front panel 2b. Bottom 2b1. Drain 2c, d. Side panel 2e. Back panel 3. Flushing device 3a. Fresh water connection 3b. Fresh water line 4, 4a, 4b. Disinfection device 5. Disinfectant dispenser 6a. Wastewater connection 6b. Wastewater line 7. Odor siphon 8. Pouring spout 9. Strainer 10. Upright, vertical 111. Transverse direction 122. Transverse direction 13. Anti-splash device 14. Usage sensor 15. Blockage sensor 16. Fresh water nozzle, flushing fluid nozzle 17. Disinfectant nozzle 18. Pump 19. Valve 20. Superstructure 21. Reservoir 22. Activation sensor Proximity sensor 23 Free space 24 Frame 25 Power supply 100 Deposit machine unit 101 Deposit machine 102 Gap, free space 103 Operator unit 104 Input slot 105 Input slot 106 Display 107 Operating button 108 Receipt generator Container Empty crate

Claims

1. Deposit return vending machine unit (100) with - at least one deposit return vending machine (101), - an emptying device (1) for emptying beverage residues from beverage containers (B) with - an emptying basin (2) which has a wastewater connection (2a); characterised in that - the deposit return vending machine unit (100) comprises at least two deposit return vending machines (101) side by side, - which are designed such that, when directly connected side by side, a gap or a free space (102) is provided between their front surfaces on the front side facing the customer, - the emptying device (1) is arranged in the gap or free space (102); - wherein the emptying device (101) comprises: - a rinsing device (3) with, in particular, a fresh water connection (3a) for automatically rinsing the emptying basin (2), - a disinfection device (4) with a disinfectant dispenser (5) for disinfecting the user's hands (H) and, if necessary, the emptying basin (2), - a control unit (1*) for controlling the rinsing device (3) and the disinfection device (4).

2. Deposit return vending machine unit according to claim 1, characterised in that - the emptying basin (2), viewed from the customer side, has a horizontal width of a maximum of 30 cm, in particular a maximum of 25 cm, in particular a maximum of 20 cm.

3. Deposit return vending machine unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that - the wastewater connection (2a) is connected to a wastewater pipe (6) and an odour trap, in particular an odour siphon (7), is arranged in the wastewater pipe (6) or in the wastewater connection (2a).

4. Deposit return vending machine unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that - the emptying basin (2) has a front wall (2a) that is significantly lower compared to the side walls (2c, d) and a rear wall (2e).

5. Deposit return vending machine unit according to claim 4, characterised in that - the side walls (2c, d) and the rear wall (2e) extend upwardly over the emptying basin (2) to a frontally closed, hollow superstructure (20) and are tightly connected thereto.

6. Deposit return vending machine unit according to claim 5, characterised in that - a gap (A1) between the upper edge of the front wall (2a) and the superstructure (20) is sufficient to be able to partially insert a container (B), such as a bottle or can, into an opening between the superstructure (20) and the front wall (2a), in particular at an angle, and to empty it into the emptying basin (2), - wherein the side walls (2c, d) preferably approach one other from the rear to the front, towards the opening.

7. Deposit return vending machine unit according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that - a front wall (20a) of the superstructure (20) is flush with the front wall (2a) of the emptying basin (2), - wherein preferably the lower, front transverse edge of the superstructure (20), i.e. the transition between the front wall (20a) and the base (20b) of the superstructure (20), is chamfered or rounded for the steepest possible insertion of containers (B).

8. Deposit return vending machine unit according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that - the control unit (1*) and / or a pump (18) and / or a power supply unit (25) and / or a valve (19) of the disinfection device (4) are arranged in the hollow superstructure (20)9. Deposit return vending machine unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that - a reservoir (21) for disinfectant used in the disinfectant dispenser (5) is arranged outside the emptying device (1) and / or - a disinfectant nozzle (17) of the disinfectant dispenser (5) for dispensing disinfectant into the base (20b) of the superstructure (20) is arranged above the emptying basin (2) wherein - the disinfectant dispenser (5) can be activated by means of an activation sensor (22), in particular a contactless proximity sensor (22), which is arranged in the base (20b) of the superstructure (20) closer to a / the rear wall (2e) of the emptying basin (2) than the disinfectant nozzle (17b).

10. Deposit return vending machine unit according to claim 9, characterised in that - the activation sensor (22) is positioned and selected and adjusted with respect to its detection range so that a container (B) held from the front inclined over the emptying basin (2) so that it can be emptied is not detected by the activation sensor (22).

11. Deposit return vending machine unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that - a fresh water nozzle (16) of the rinsing device (3) is positioned and selected and adjusted with respect to its dispensing range and operating pressure such that the dispensed rinsing liquid, in particular fresh water, does not rise along the inside of the front wall (2a) to its upper edge.

12. Deposit return vending machine unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that - the fresh water nozzle (16) of the rinsing device (3) is arranged in the rear wall (2e) of the emptying basin (2) or the bottom (20b) of the superstructure (20), - with a spray direction (16') directed obliquely rearwards and downwards toward the rear wall (2e) of the emptying basin (2).

13. Deposit return vending machine unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that - the emptying basin (2) has an emptying spout (8) extending from a base (2b) of the emptying basin (2) into its depth, - which is dimensioned in particular so that the bottle necks of most, in particular all, common, returnable deposit bottles can be inserted into the emptying spout (8).

14. Deposit return vending machine unit according to claim 13, characterised in that - the emptying spout (8) is arranged with its longitudinal axis (8') inclined upwards and forwards, towards the front side of the free space (23), - in particular the drain (2b1) and in particular the sieve (9) is arranged inclined at an angle, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (8') of the emptying spout (8).

15. Deposit return vending machine unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that - at least one blockage sensor (15) is provided which detects a backflow of liquid in the emptying basin (2), in particular at the wastewater connection, and is connected via signalling means to the control unit (1*) wherein - in particular a closing device, such as a front flap, is provided for closing the emptying device, in particular initiated by the control unit (1*).

16. Deposit return vending machine unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that - the emptying device (1) fills the gap or the free space (102).

17. Method for operating an emptying device (1) of a deposit return vending machine unit according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the rinsing device (3) is activated by the control unit (1*) - either at defined time intervals - or after each detected use of the emptying device (1) - or after each activation of the activation sensor (22) for the disinfection device.

18. Method according to claim 17, characterised in that after triggering of a / the blockage sensor (15), either a warning indication is displayed or a front door or front flap of the emptying device (1) is automatically closed.