Plastic bottle recovery device

Abstract

To provide a plastic bottle recovery device capable of preventing plastic bottles from being accumulated at a sorting point so that the plastic bottles can be efficiently stored in a storage section.SOLUTION: A plastic bottle recovery device comprises volume reduction means, sorting means, a storage section, and retention prevention means. The volume reduction means reduces the volume of the plastic bottles that are inserted, the sorting means guides the volume-reduced plastic bottles so that they fall into a biased portion of the storage section, and the retention prevention means promotes the fall of the plastic bottles that are retained near the sorting means into the storage section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a PET bottle recycling device. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART A PET bottle recovery device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the device for recovering PET bottles and the like described in Patent Document 1, PET bottles and the like are put into an inlet, and the bottles are subjected to a volume reduction process and then stored. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-175789 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The PET bottle recovery device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the storage capacity of the storage means is insufficient depending on the installation location and usage conditions. To address this issue, the inventor has attempted to increase the storage capacity by providing multiple storage sections and sorting and storing PET bottles in the multiple storage sections, or by using a single storage section and dropping the PET bottles into a biased section of the storage section to store them until the bag is full. However, there is still room for improvement, as the PET bottles tend to get stuck in the sorting area when storing them. The present invention addresses such problems. That is, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a PET bottle recovery device that can prevent PET bottles from becoming stuck at the sorting point so that PET bottles can be efficiently recovered in the storage section. In addition, this specification also proposes other improvements that contribute to efficient recovery work. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The PET bottle recovery device according to the present invention has at least the following configuration. The device comprises a volume reduction means, a sorting means, a storage section, and a retention prevention means, wherein the volume reduction means reduces the volume of the PET bottles that are inserted, the sorting means guides the reduced PET bottles to fall into a biased section of the storage section, and the retention prevention means promotes the fall of PET bottles that are retained near the sorting means into the storage section. Here, "near the sorting means" includes areas above and below the sorting means, as well as areas not in contact with the sorting means. Also, "biased area" means an area that is not in the center of the storage section, and particularly when there are multiple storage sections, it means an area that is biased toward one of the bags. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are overall conceptual diagrams of a PET bottle recovery device according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a front view of the PET bottle recovery device, (b) is a left side view of the PET bottle recovery device, and (c) is a top view of the PET bottle recovery device. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are perspective views (left perspective view and right perspective view) of a PET bottle recovery device. [Figure 3] 1(a) is a cross-sectional side view of the PET bottle recovery device, taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 4] This figure shows the state in which the front left door of the PET bottle recovery device is open, where (a) is a front view of the PET bottle recovery device, (b) is a left side view of the PET bottle recovery device, and (c) is a top view of the PET bottle recovery device. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing the state in which the front left door of the PET bottle recovery device is open, and are perspective views (left perspective view and right perspective view) of the PET bottle recovery device. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are perspective views (upper and lower perspective views) showing only the bag holding portion. [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view showing the state in which both the front left door and the front right door of the PET bottle recovery device are open and only the left bag holding part is pulled out. FIG. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining a PET bottle recovery device, in which FIG. 1A is an electrical functional block diagram of the PET bottle recovery device, and FIG. 1B is a functional block diagram of a control unit. [Figure 9] 1 is a conceptual diagram of a container insertion section of a PET bottle recovery device. [Figure 10] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining a detection unit and the like of a PET bottle recovery device, in which FIG. 1A is a left perspective view of a container insertion unit, and FIG. 1B is a front view of the container insertion unit. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom of the PET bottle recycling device 100 with a portion of the right side thereof cut away. [Figure 12] These are perspective views of a PET bottle recycling device with a portion of the top cut out, where (a) shows the state in which the disc with the cutout shape is tilted to the rear right, and (b) shows the state in which the disc with the cutout shape is tilted to the front left. [Figure 13] 1 is a perspective view of a PET bottle recovery device with both the front left door and the front right door open, with a portion of the upper part cut away. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are partial enlarged views showing a state in which a disc having a cutout shape is rotating, where (a) is a front view showing the inclined surface facing left front, and (b) is a front view showing the inclined surface facing right rear. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a side view showing the mountain-shaped protrusion. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a front view showing the height relationship between the notched disk, the mountain-shaped protrusion, and the hook portion. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a plastic bottle recycling device according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment of the present invention includes, but is not limited to, the contents shown in the drawings. In the following description of each drawing, parts that are common to parts already described will be assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0008] (Basic configuration of PET bottle recycling device) Fig. 1 shows an example of a PET bottle recycling device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a front view of the PET bottle recycling device, (b) is a left side view of the PET bottle recycling device, and (c) is a top view of the PET bottle recycling device. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the PET bottle recycling device. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 1(a).

[0009] When the PET bottle recovery device 100 is on standby, the outer door 111 of the article insertion section 110 is closed, and the inner door 112, which is provided between the container insertion section 110 and the bag holding section 140 and can be opened and closed, is also closed. The bag holding section 140 holds bags (plastic bags) used to recover empty containers. When recovering articles, the outer door 111 of the container insertion section 110 is opened, and a determination section 101 (not shown) determines whether an object placed on the placement section of the container insertion section 110 is an empty PET bottle to be recovered. If the object is determined to be an empty PET bottle, the outer door 111 is closed, and the inner door 112, which is provided between the container insertion section 110 and the bag holding section 140 (two bag holding sections 140 are provided in this embodiment), is opened, and the PET bottle is recovered in a bag held by the bag holding section 140. In this embodiment, the PET bottle recovery device is equipped with a volume reduction mechanism (also referred to as volume reduction unit 120 or container volume reduction unit), and by reducing the volume of PET bottles using the volume reduction mechanism (volume reduction unit 120), it is possible to recover a large number of reduced-volume PET bottles using two bags (plastic bags) of a specified capacity. In addition, the sorting means 151 can vary the direction in which the PET bottles are sent out, front to back, left to right, and so on, and further, the mountain-shaped protrusions 160 that cover the boundaries between the multiple storage units (bag holding units 140) ensure that the PET bottles are sent to the left and right storage units, allowing for efficient bag replacement for recovery.

[0010] 1 to 3, a plastic bottle recovery device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a container insertion section 110 provided at the top of a main body 100B of the device, and an outer door 111 provided outside the opening of the container insertion section 110. A display operation section 3, a transmitter / receiver 4 (not shown), and a reader / writer 17 (card reader / writer) are provided on the front side of the main body 100B of the device, near the top of the outer door 111. A luggage hook 100f is also provided on the front side of the main body 100B of the device.

[0011] In addition, a space is provided below the container insertion section 110 to guide the containers to the bag holding section 140, and an inner door 112 is provided in the container insertion section 110 to send the PET bottles P toward that space.

[0012] In this embodiment, the PET bottle recovery device 100 is provided with a volume reduction unit 120 (volume reduction mechanism) and a sorting means 151 between the inner door 112 and the bag holding unit 140, and a mountain-shaped protrusion 160 that covers the boundary between the multiple storage units (bag holding units 140) is provided below the sorting means 151. When the inner door 112 is open, the volume reduction unit 120 crushes and reduces the volume of the PET bottle P from the container insertion unit 110, and sends the reduced volume PET bottle to the top surface of the sorting means 151. The sorting means 151 varies the direction in which the PET bottle is sent out, including front, back, left, and right. The mountain-shaped protrusion 160 reliably sends the PET bottle to the left or right storage unit.

[0013] The main body 100B of the PET bottle recycling machine 100 is larger than conventional models. The increased height and depth are expected to increase the amount of collected bottles per collection bag change. In particular, the width is doubled compared to conventional models, allowing two bags (plastic bags) to be placed side by side. By switching from one bag to the other when the other bag becomes full, the number of collected bottles can be significantly increased with almost no downtime. More specifically, it is rare for a manager of a PET bottle recycling machine to be able to devote himself or herself solely to managing the machine. Typically, the manager manages the machine during free time while performing various tasks at the store where the machine is installed. However, with two bags, when one bag becomes full, the bottles can be switched to the other bag and collection can continue. Previously, bag changes were performed during spare time between other tasks, which sometimes resulted in the bag being changed even before it was full. In this embodiment, if the bag is replaced after switching to the other bag, it is possible to reliably use up all the contents until the bag is full. The manager can replace the bag when he has other work scheduled and there are no users around. Furthermore, unlike this embodiment, if two smaller bags are used to collect the same amount as one conventional bag, the bag filled with empty containers will be half the weight and size, so all tasks such as collecting bags, installing new bags, and moving collection bags can be carried out efficiently, reducing downtime.In this way, there is no need to periodically monitor the device to determine when to replace the bags, and the manager can prioritize his or her main duties.The two-bag collection system offers many benefits, such as ensuring that the bags to be collected are always full.

[0014] The main body 100B of the PET bottle recovery device 100 has slide rails 144 (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3) that function as moving parts that allow the two bag holding parts 140 to move back and forth between an in-device storage position and a bag replacement position. The main body 100B has a front left door 100LD and a front right door 100RD that correspond to the two bag holding parts 140, respectively.

[0015] A light-transmitting window 100A is provided on the front side of each of the front left door 100LD and the front right door 100RD, and is configured so that the PET bottles contained in the bags (plastic bags) can be seen from the outside.

[0016] Furthermore, the main body 100B of the device is provided with a cap insertion section 108 on the front side, and is configured so that caps inserted into the cap insertion section 108 are stored in a cap storage section (not shown) via a cap passage (not shown). In conventional devices, the cap storage section had to be located at the expense of part of the PET bottle storage space, but in this embodiment, the width dimension has been doubled, so it is possible to place the cap storage section at a position higher than the PET bottle storage space with ample space. The cap passage (not shown) may have a mechanism for separating caps from items smaller than caps. Specifically, the cap passage (not shown) may be branched, and a mesh member at the branching point may be used to discharge and accumulate leftover cigarette butts, rainwater, etc. via a separate route, while only caps are stored in the cap storage section (not shown).

[0017] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, which is a side cross-sectional view of the PET bottle recovery device 100 (cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1(a)), the volume reduction unit 120 shown in FIG. 1 has a structure in which a pair of rotating shafts 811, 911 are rotatably supported. A gear is provided at one end of the rotating shaft 811 and is configured to mesh with a gear provided at the other end of the rotating shaft 911. These rotating shafts 811, 911 are driven to rotate by a drive motor (not shown). In the space behind the area surrounded by the dashed-line circle B in FIG. 3, on each of the pair of rotating shafts 811, 911, compression rollers 81, 91 having blade surfaces on both axial sides, and spacers (not shown) having a smaller diameter than the compression rollers 81, 91 and a slightly thicker thickness than the compression rollers 81, 91, are alternately arranged in the axial direction.

[0018] The outer periphery of the compression roller 81 provided on one rotating shaft 811 is positioned between the compression rollers 91 provided on the other rotating shaft 911, and is positioned a predetermined distance away from the spacers provided between the compression rollers 91 provided on the other rotating shaft 911.

[0019] A feeding mechanism (not shown) is provided above the volume reduction section 120. The feeding mechanism (not shown) has a rotating shaft with multiple blades (not shown) acting as paddles. When the rotating shaft of the feeding mechanism (not shown) rotates, the blades (not shown) rotate around the rotating shaft as the center of rotation, guiding the PET bottle P to the volume reduction section 120.

[0020] The rotating shafts 811 and 911 are rotated by a drive motor (not shown). When driven, the rotating shafts 811 and 911 rotate in opposite directions, and the plastic bottle P inserted in the center is compressed by the compression rollers 81 and 91, and the reduced-volume plastic bottle is output downward.

[0021] Below the volume reduction unit 120, a sorting means 151 is disposed for varying the direction of delivery of PET bottles in various directions, including front, back, left, and right. The sorting means 151 is a thin polycarbonate disk with four cutouts at the isosceles portions 152 of an obtuse isosceles triangle (see also FIG. 14 ). The overall shape of the sorting means 151 resembles the cutouts of cherry blossom petals (hereinafter, these cutout shapes are referred to as “cherry blossom cuts”). By rotating the disk left and right, the disk tilts to the right front, left front, right rear, and left rear. Here, the cherry blossom cuts function as a retention prevention means that effectively prevents PET bottles from piling up above or below the sorting means 151. This will be described later.

[0022] Furthermore, the PET bottle recovery device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention performs a process to notify the user when the bags (plastic bags) held in the bag holding unit 140 become full. For example, when the PET bottle recovery device 100 detects an operation by a manager or a cleaner to open the bag holding unit 140, more specifically, an unlocking operation to pull out the bag holding unit 140 to the bag replacement position, the PET bottle recovery device 100 performs a process to notify the user to clean the placement unit on which the items are placed.

[0023] 4A, 4B, and 4C are diagrams showing a state in which the front left door 100LD of the PET bottle recovery device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention is open and the bag holding unit 140 is pulled out, where (a) is a front view of the PET bottle recovery device, (b) is a left side view of the PET bottle recovery device, and (c) is a top view of the PET bottle recovery device. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the PET bottle recovery device 100 with the bag holding unit 140 pulled out.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, the bag holding unit 140 is primarily composed of a frame and does not include side or bottom panels. Conventional PET bottle recycling machines place bags (plastic bags) inside a box consisting of left and right side panels, a rear panel, and a front panel. The entire box is then pulled out to the front for bag replacement. While this process is not problematic when placing bags, removing a bag full of PET bottles requires lifting the heavy bag directly up from the box, placing a considerable burden on the worker. In contrast, this embodiment, which does not include side or front panels, allows the bag to be removed and moved forward and left and right, in addition to upward, i.e., toward the bag's opening. Therefore, lifting the heavy bag is unnecessary. Furthermore, since the device does not include a bottom panel, the bag holding unit 140 can be pulled out while a cart is placed adjacent to the PET bottle recycling machine 100, allowing for a more effortless replacement process. As shown in FIG. 4, with the front left door 100LD open and the front right door 100RD closed, the cart can be conveniently approached from the right side. Also, both the front left door 100LD and the front right door 100RD may be configured to be able to open up to 180 degrees. By configuring in this way, it becomes possible for a cart to approach from any direction. It can be seen from FIG. 4 that the cherry blossom-cut disk of the sorting means 151 is tilted left and forward so that the plastic bottles P can be sent out in the left-front direction.

[0025] As shown in the right perspective view of FIG. 5, a slope SL attached by a 180-degree hinge is provided on the inner surface of the bottom plate on the front open side of the PET bottle recovery device 100. Normally, the slope SL is in a spring-loaded state, but when attempting to pull out the bag holding portion 140, the slope SL is pushed up by the bag (plastic bag) full of PET bottles, causing the slope SL to naturally collapse. This slope SL allows the bag (plastic bag) full of PET bottles to be smoothly transferred from the PET bottle recovery device 100 to the cart. When a new bag is attached, the slope SL returns to its spring-loaded state, but interference between the soft empty plastic bag and the slope SL is not a significant problem, allowing the bag to be attached easily.

[0026] Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing only the bag holding unit 140. Fig. 7 shows a state in which the front left door 100LD and the front right door 100RD of the plastic bottle recovery device 100 are both open and only the left bag holding unit 140 is pulled out.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 7 , slide rails 144 are provided on the left and right inner surfaces and the central partition of the device's main body 100B. These slide rails function as moving parts that allow the bag holder 140 to move back and forth between the storage position and the bag exchange position. The bag holder 140 is based on an upper frame and includes a bag push-out part 143 that functions as a structural member and pushes out the bag from the rear when the bag holder 140 is advanced to the bag exchange position, three or more pillars 141 (in this embodiment, pillars 141 at the four corners), hooks 142 corresponding to each of the pillars 141 and provided at or near the top, and a handle 147. As is clear from the relative positions of the slide rails 144 and hooks 142, the slide rails 144 are positioned at a height closer to the opening of the bag than the bottom of the bag when the bag is held. Because there is no bottom plate to support the bag, the weight of the bag exerts force on the hooks 142, and this positioning is advantageous in terms of weight balance. The bag pushing section 143 is also provided with a bag drawing means 1431. More specifically, the plastic bag is held by being hooked onto the split packing.

[0028] The hooking portion 142 has, for example, elastomer properties, and more specifically, is made of an elastic body or non-slip material made of resin such as rubber. By using such a shape and material, the bag can be safely and easily hooked and removed, and further, by using a material with good adhesion such as rubber, the upper opening of the bag can be hooked without sagging. Furthermore, the hooking portion 142 has a shape that protrudes outward, which makes it easy to hook a bag. Furthermore, the tip of the hooking portion 142 is formed in a substantially spherical shape, which makes it difficult for the bag to tear.

[0029] An example of a method for replacing bags (plastic bags) for collecting items will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, with the left front door 100LD open, a cart is placed adjacent to the left front side of the main body 100B of the device from the front or right side of the main body 100B. Next, the bag holder 140 is pulled forward. As the bag holder 140 is pulled out, the bag pusher 143 also moves forward, pushing out bags filled with PET bottles. A full bag can be easily moved onto the cart by pushing down the slope SL and sliding along the slope SL. Once the bag is completely positioned on the cart, the four corners of the bag hooked on the hooks 142 are removed, and the bag is placed on the cart. In this way, the bag filled with PET bottles can be collected without requiring much force. When a trolley of an appropriate size is not available or when the trolleys cannot be parked adjacent to each other due to layout constraints, some burden will be incurred, but even so, the burden of work will be reduced because the heavy bags do not need to be lifted above the height of the bag holding section 140 and can be pulled out forward or to the right. After collecting the full bags, the end (top) of the empty bag (plastic bag) is hooked onto the rubber balls (hooking parts 142) at the four corners, and the rear of the bag is hooked onto the split packing, and then bag holding part 140 is pushed into main body part 100B of the device, taking care to ensure that the bottom end of the bag does not fall on slope SL. If a bag with holes in the top four corners is prepared, the bag can be easily and reliably hooked onto hooking parts 142, which is convenient.

[0030] (Electrical configuration of the PET bottle recycling device) FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of the electrical configuration of the plastic bottle recovery device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is a conceptual diagram of the container insertion section 110 of the PET bottle recovery device 100. Fig. 10 is a diagram for explaining the detection section and the like of the PET bottle recovery device, and in detail, Fig. 10(a) is a left perspective view of the container insertion section, and Fig. 10(b) is a front view of the container insertion section.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 8 , the PET bottle recovery device 100 includes a control unit 1 (CPU), a memory unit 2, a display / operation unit 3, a transmission / reception unit 4, an outer door drive unit 5, an inner door drive unit 6, a weighing unit 7, a metal detection sensor 8, a PET sensor 901, a container detection sensor 902, a safety detection sensor 903, a door position sensor 10, a door lock unit 11, a volume reduction drive unit 15, a reader / writer 17, a deflection drive unit 18, and an imaging unit 19. The device also includes a fullness detection unit 181 that detects when the storage unit is full. Each component is electrically connected by a signal line or the like. However, these are merely examples, and it is not necessary to include all of the sensors. Only the necessary sensors may be included, taking into account the required specifications and costs. In this embodiment, for example, the PET sensor 901, the container detection sensor 902, and the safety detection sensor 903 are configured by the optical sensor 9. Furthermore, the weighing unit 7, metal detection sensor 8, PET sensor 901, container detection sensor 902, safety detection sensor 903, and imaging unit 19 are provided near the placing unit 116 or on the placing unit 116 itself, and function as container authenticity detection means 180 that provides characteristics for determining whether or not a placed item is a target for collection depending on a predetermined processing mode of the control unit 1, specifically, a first mode (normal processing mode) or a second mode (cleaning mode), or the state of the PET bottle collection device, and also function as cleaning detection means 180 that detects whether or not cleaning has been performed on the placing unit 116. The control unit 1 controls one or more detection units (such as the weighing unit 7, metal detection sensor 8, PET sensor 901, container detection sensor 902, safety detection sensor 903, and imaging unit 19) differently depending on the first mode (normal processing mode) or the second mode (cleaning mode). Furthermore, the control unit 1 may determine the detection result of the fullness detection unit 181 to determine the location and storage unit in which to drop the plastic bottle.

[0032] The control unit 1 (CPU) comprehensively controls each component of the PET bottle recovery machine 100. The control unit 1 executes a control program, for example, to cause a computer to realize the functions of the present invention. The control unit 1 has a determination unit 101 that determines whether an inserted item is a recovery target based on the detection results from the container authenticity detection means and cleaning detection means 180, etc., and determines whether the placement unit 116 of the PET bottle recovery machine 100 has been cleaned.

[0033] The memory unit 2 is a storage device such as a RAM or a ROM. The memory unit 2 stores control programs and the like. The memory unit 2 also stores the characteristics of the PET bottles to be collected. The characteristics of the PET bottles include, for example, the range of the container mass and the characteristic amount for determining whether or not they are made of resin material.

[0034] The display operation unit 3 performs a predetermined display under the control of the control unit 1. The display operation unit 3 also outputs a signal according to an operation by a user or the like to the control unit 1. The display operation unit 3 is, for example, a touch panel display device.

[0035] Under the control of the control unit 1, the transmitting / receiving unit 4 performs predetermined communication with other terminal devices (computers) via a wireless communication path or a wired communication path.

[0036] The reader / writer 17 (card reader / writer) is a transmitting / receiving device that communicates with contactless IC cards, IC tags, etc., and performs predetermined communication under the control of the control unit 1. In addition, the PET bottle recovery device 100 may have, instead of the reader / writer 17, a code reader that reads a barcode or two-dimensional code that indicates a card identifier (member identifier) ​​recorded on the member card CD.

[0037] The outer door driving unit 5 is a motor or the like for opening and closing the outer door 111, and is controlled by the control unit 1.

[0038] The inner door driving unit 6 is a motor or the like for opening and closing the inner door 112, and is controlled by the control unit 1 to drive the inner door to an open state or a closed state.

[0039] The deflection drive unit 18 controls the rotation of the folded disk of the sorting means 151 so that it tilts to the right front, left front, right rear, and left rear, so that when one bag becomes full, collection is switched to the other bag and the plastic bottles are collected, and so that the PET bottles do not accumulate unevenly in the bag.

[0040] The weighing unit 7 measures the mass of the PET bottle or non-collection target object placed on the placement unit 116 of the container insertion unit 110 (in the first mode (normal processing mode)). The weighing unit 7 is a weighing device such as a load cell. Furthermore, weighing unit 7 is used as a sensor that determines whether or not a container placed on placement unit 116 of container insertion unit 110 can be collected by detecting the weight (measured value) of any remaining drink or the like in the container. Weighing unit 7 is also configured to be able to determine the total weight of the containers stored in bag holding unit 140 by accumulating the weight values ​​of containers that have been determined to be collectable. This function eliminates the need to provide a weighing means in bag holding unit 140, allowing bag holding unit 140 to have a large capacity, and allows weighing unit 7 itself to be made smaller. Because the objects to be weighed are relatively small, there is no need to provide a large weighing means. Furthermore, the weighing unit 7 also functions as a safety sensor. Specifically, since the outer door 111 is configured to move from an open state toward the placing unit 116 to close, for example, when a user's hand, arm, or the like is caught between the outer door 111 and the placing unit 116, the weighing value measured by the weighing unit 7 fluctuates, and the control unit detects this fluctuation, making it possible to easily detect that the user's hand, arm, or foreign object has been caught between the outer door 111 and the placing unit 116. Furthermore, in the second mode (cleaning mode), when removing dirt from the mounting portion 116, a forceful cleaning load is applied to the mounting portion 116, and the level of the signal indicating the measurement value fluctuates in the measuring portion 7; specifically, if the cleaning is performed correctly and sufficiently, the value becomes a relatively large value (measured value) with a large fluctuation range, while if the cleaning is insufficient, the value becomes a relatively small value (measured value) with a small fluctuation range. In the cleaning mode, the control portion 1 detects whether the cleaning is being performed properly based on the fluctuation range of the measurement value by the measuring portion 7; specifically, if the fluctuation range of the measurement value is equal to or greater than a set threshold, it determines that the cleaning is being performed properly, and if it is less than the set threshold, it determines that the cleaning is insufficient. The process of determining whether cleaning is being performed is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and for example, it is assumed that cleaning is actually being performed while the measurement value output from the measuring unit 7 continues to fluctuate. In detail, the control unit 1 may determine that cleaning is being performed correctly and sufficiently if the time during which the measurement value output from the measuring unit 7 continues to fluctuate is equal to or longer than a set time, and may determine that cleaning is insufficient if the time is shorter than the set time.

[0041] The metal detection sensor 8 detects whether an object placed on the placement section 116 of the empty container insertion section 110 is metallic or non-metallic (in the first mode (normal mode)). In this embodiment, when the metal detection sensor 8 detects that the object placed on the placement section 116 is metallic, the control section 1 determines that the object placed on the placement section 116 is not a target object for collection. 10(b), the metal detection sensor 8 is provided on the inner door 112. The metal detection sensor 8 may also be provided on the placement section . Furthermore, in the second mode (cleaning mode), for example, when the cleaner is wearing a metal product such as a metal ring on a finger or wrist, or when the cleaning tool contains metal, the metal detection sensor 8 detects the metal. In the cleaning mode, the control unit 1 determines whether cleaning has been performed correctly and sufficiently based on the metal detection result by the metal detection sensor 8, the length of time the detection has been performed, etc.

[0042] In this embodiment, the PET sensor 901, the container detection sensor 902, and the safety detection sensor 903 are optical sensors 9. The optical sensors 9 are configured to receive light from a light-emitting unit provided on one of the left and right sides of the mounting unit 116 with a light-receiving unit provided on the other side.

[0043] 10, the PET sensor 901 is configured to receive light from a light-emitting unit provided on one of the left and right side walls 116W of the mounting unit 116 with a light-receiving unit provided on the other side. The PET sensor 901 also includes a polarizing plate and is configured to receive light through the polarizing plate, and is configured to be able to detect PET bottles to be collected by detecting polarized light that has passed through a translucent PET bottle (in the first mode (normal processing mode)). The control unit 1 detects light received through a translucent PET bottle placed on the loading section of the container insertion section using the light receiving section (optical sensor 9) of the PET sensor 901, and determines whether the PET bottle is a target for collection based on the detection signal from the optical sensor 9 (in the first mode (normal processing mode)).

[0044] 10, the container detection sensor 902 is configured to receive light from a light-emitting unit provided on one of the left and right side walls of the placement unit 116 with a light-receiving unit provided on the other side. When a plastic bottle or the like is placed on the placement unit 116 of the container insertion unit, the control unit 1 determines whether or not an empty plastic bottle has been placed based on the intensity of the light received by the light-receiving unit of the container detection sensor 902 (in the first mode (normal processing mode)).

[0045] As shown in Fig. 10, the safety detection sensor 903 has a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit provided on the left and right sides near the insertion slot. Specifically, the safety detection sensor 903 is provided at a position where the outer door 111 is in a closed state, and is configured so that light from the light-emitting unit provided on one of the left and right sides is received by the light-receiving unit provided on the other side. The control unit 1 detects whether, for example, a human hand or the like is present at the insertion slot or near the insertion slot based on the intensity of light received by the light-receiving unit of the safety detection sensor 903. If the light-receiving unit can receive light from the light-emitting unit of the safety detection sensor 903, the control unit 1 determines that a human hand or the like is not present at the insertion slot. If the light-receiving unit cannot receive light, the control unit 1 determines that a human hand or the like is present at the insertion slot and determines, for example, that the outer door 111 cannot be closed safely (in the first mode (normal processing mode)).

[0046] In the second mode (cleaning mode), the above-mentioned PET sensor 901, container detection sensor 902, and safety detection sensor 903 are light detection sensors, and the control unit 1 may detect whether cleaning has been performed based on, for example, the number of times the light emitted from the light-emitting unit of each sensor toward the light-receiving unit is blocked by the cleaner's hand or cleaning tools, or the time for which the light is blocked.

[0047] In addition, the control unit 1 may determine whether cleaning is being performed based on the output signals from a combination of two or more of the three sensors described above (PET sensor 901, container detection sensor 902, and safety detection sensor 903). Furthermore, in the second mode (cleaning mode), the control unit 1 may determine how much of the placement unit has been cleaned, depending on the type of light detection sensor from which light is blocked. In detail, if the control unit 1 detects that light is blocked only by the safety detection sensor 903 provided on the front side of the mounting unit, it may determine that only the front part of the mounting unit has been cleaned, and if the above-mentioned PET sensor 901, container detection sensor 902, and safety detection sensor 903 detect that light is blocked, it may determine that both the front and back parts of the mounting unit have been cleaned.

[0048] For example, an imaging unit 19 that captures an image of the placement unit 116 may be provided near the placement unit 116. The imaging unit 19 is used, for example, to determine whether an item placed on the placement unit 116 is a collection target or a non-collection target (in the first mode (normal processing mode)). It may also determine whether a film remains attached to a PET bottle or whether a cap remains attached. The orientation and placement position of the PET bottle may also be detected to determine whether to collect the bottle. Because the neck portion of a PET bottle has high economic value when recycled, it is necessary for the neck portion and the body portion of the PET bottle to be collected as a single unit. However, in a recovery device equipped with a volume reduction unit, if the PET bottle is not placed in the correct position and orientation (see also FIG. 9 ), the neck portion may be separated from the body portion during volume reduction. Therefore, it is very important to detect and determine the placement position and orientation. If it is determined that the insertion direction is incorrect, it is preferable to provide proactive guidance to the user by displaying a message such as "The bottle was inserted incorrectly" or an animation showing the correct direction. The number of bottles placed on the placement section at one time may be determined and volume reduction processing performed according to the number of bottles. In this case, it is preferable to count multiple bottles per collection. Conversely, the system may be configured to not accept PET bottles if an unprocessable number of bottles are placed. Furthermore, the image capture unit 19 may be used to determine whether the placement section 116 has been cleaned by a cleaner or the like, depending on the processing mode of the control unit 1, specifically, the first mode (e.g., normal processing mode) or the second mode (cleaning mode), or the state of the PET bottle collection device.

[0049] The PET bottle recycling machine is provided with the above-mentioned sensors around the loading section for determining whether or not recycling is necessary. For example, in a conventional PET bottle recycling machine, an item is taken into the machine, it is determined whether or not it is a collection target, and non-collection targets are discharged from a discharge port different from the input port. Since the device has a determination section, it is necessary to provide a discharge port. On the other hand, the PET bottle recycling device according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured so that there is no need to take in the objects to be recycled because sensors that determine whether or not recycling is required are installed in the loading section, which corresponds to the device's input port. This means that there is no need to install an outlet, and a small PET bottle recycling device can be provided.

[0050] The door position sensor 10 detects the positions of the outer door 111 and the inner door 112, and outputs a signal relating to the positions of the outer door 111 and the inner door 112 to the control unit 1. The control unit 1 controls the open / closed state of the outer door 111 and the inner door 112 based on the signal.

[0051] The door lock unit 11 has a locking device such as a solenoid, and is controlled by the control unit 1 to lock the movement of the outer door 111 and the inner door 112 as necessary.

[0052] Note that, as a process by which determination unit 101 determines whether an object placed on the container loading unit 110 is eligible for collection at the loading unit or inner door 112, various appropriate methods can be adopted depending on differences in specifications, such as whether the detection means is composed only of an optical sensor or whether an imaging means is also provided. For example, a more advanced determination can be made by performing two determinations, such as performing a first determination using one sensor when the outer door is open and a second determination using another sensor when the outer door is closed. Conversely, a configuration can be adopted in which only detection of an article being placed on the outer door is performed when the outer door is open, and then determining whether the item is eligible for collection after the outer door is closed based on that detection. In this way, the optimal determination method can be adopted depending on the required specifications and cost of the device.

[0053] (Specific Configuration of Allocation Means) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the bottom of the PET bottle recovery device 100, with a portion of the right side cut away. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the PET bottle recovery device 100, with a portion of the top cut away, where (a) shows a state in which the notched disk is tilted toward the rear right, and (b) shows a state in which the notched disk is tilted toward the front left. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the PET bottle recovery device 100, with a portion of the top cut away, with both the front left and right doors open. FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged view showing a state in which the notched disk is tilted, where (a) is a front view showing the disk tilted toward the front left, and (b) is a front view showing the disk tilted toward the rear right.

[0054] As can be clearly seen by looking into the PET bottle recovery device from below in Figure 11, a sorting means 151 is disposed below the volume reduction unit 120, and is capable of discharging containers reduced in volume by the volume reduction unit 120 in various directions, such as front, back, left, and right. More specifically, sorting means 151 has the shape of a thin polycarbonate disk with four notches on the periphery at isosceles portions 152 of an obtuse isosceles triangle, and the overall shape can be described as a cherry blossom cut. By rotating the disk left and right, the disk is configured to tilt to the right front, left front, right rear, and left rear.

[0055] FIG. 12(a) shows a state in which the inclined surface of the disk is facing right rear. In this state, the reduced container is discharged behind the bag on the right (plastic bag). FIG. 12(b) shows a state in which the inclined surface of the folded disk is facing left front. In this state, the reduced container is discharged in front of the bag on the left (plastic bag). Although not shown, when discharging the reduced container to the right front or left rear, the inclined surface of the folded disk can be faced right front or right rear.

[0056] 13 is a perspective view with a portion of the upper part of the PET bottle recovery device 100 cut away, showing both the front left door and the front right door in an open state. Both doors are opened when both storage compartments become full, when in cleaning mode (including maintenance mode), when some kind of error occurs, etc.

[0057] Figure 14 is a partially enlarged view showing a state in which a disk having a cutout shape is rotating. The disk having a cutout shape is driven to rotate around a vertical shaft 1511. The disk is supported in a tilted state with respect to the vertical shaft 1511, so that by rotating the vertical shaft 1511 left or right, the disk tilts to the front right, rear right, rear left, and front left. Figure 14(a) shows the state in which the inclined surface faces the front left, and Figure 14(b) shows the state in which the inclined surface faces the rear right.

[0058] (Configuration of the drawing section as a means for preventing retention) The sorting means previously devised by the inventor was a bent metal disk. The bending process oriented the bottles toward the destination, and the sliding properties of the metal meant that the PET bottles would slide off efficiently. However, in actual use, if there was even a small amount of leftover liquid in the empty container, or if the container was wet but not completely empty, the bottle would not be rejected by the judgment unit and would be directed to the volume reduction and recovery process. However, the liquid in the PET bottle would sometimes stick to the disk, even though it was light. The previously devised sorting means was equipped with a link mechanism that allowed it to take a horizontal position as well as an inclined position while rotating left and right. This allowed for a more precise orientation to the discharge destination, and by taking the horizontal position, it was possible to move the bag holder back and forth between the storage position and the bag exchange position within the device without interfering with the bent disk.

[0059] When a PET bottle is lightly attached to the disk and the next PET bottle is delivered, the PET bottle accumulates between the top of the disk and the bottom of the volume reduction section. However, there are other major factors that cause this accumulation. As the collection bag becomes nearly full, the sorting means and the empty containers in the collection bag are constantly in contact with each other near the top of the pile of empty containers in the collection bag. On the other hand, in areas of the collection bag farther from the sorting means, the degree of empty container accumulation is low, and the bag as a whole can still accommodate empty containers. Since it is efficient to store containers until the bag is full, the sorting means continues to sort containers into that bag. However, containers sorted by the sorting means come into contact with the top of the pile of empty containers in the bag, preventing the empty containers from falling completely from the sorting means. This chain reaction causes empty containers that fall from the volume reduction section into the sorting means to accumulate above the sorting means. In this case, the hard metal disks barely bend, leaving the PET bottles nowhere to escape, and they are crushed on the spot, sometimes resulting in a tight pile-up. Therefore, the inventor replaced the disks with polycarbonate ones, making them more flexible. This reduces the likelihood of the PET bottles being crushed by the sorting device, and the reaction force at the bent parts pushes the bottles out, alleviating the phenomenon of PET bottles piling up to a certain extent. However, this does not completely eliminate the accumulation, and it cannot be said to be sufficient. The accumulation of PET bottles can cause serious problems for the recovery equipment. If PET bottles accumulate between the bottom of the volume reduction section and the top of the sorting means and form a tight bond, no matter how much the sorting means rotates, the bond cannot be removed. Furthermore, as the number of containers sent from the volume reduction section increases, the drive unit (motor and gears) of the sorting means becomes overloaded. Ultimately, this damages the recovery equipment's components, and even if the bond formed by the accumulation is removed, the recovery equipment becomes unusable.

[0060] Faced with these problems, the inventors came up with the idea of ​​providing a retention prevention means to prevent PET bottles from being retained near the sorting means. The retention prevention means facilitates the dropping of PET bottles into the storage section. In an embodiment of the present invention, the retention prevention means is a cherry blossom cut having four notches on the circumferential surface of a disk with isosceles portions 152 of an obtuse isosceles triangle, and functions as a scraping section. Here, the cherry blossom cut functions as a retention prevention means that effectively prevents PET bottles from piling up above or below the sorting means 151. In other words, the isosceles portions 152 of the cherry blossom cut naturally rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the sorting means 151. With the conventional simple polycarbonate disk without any notches, there were no uneven parts that could be caught on the PET bottle, so it was not possible to expect it to scrape out a clogged PET bottle. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, the isosceles part 152 of the cherry blossom cut rotates, so that the cherry blossom cut catches on any part of the reduced volume PET bottle body, making it possible to scrape out the PET bottle.

[0061] The shape of the notch is not limited to a cherry blossom cut (having an isosceles portion). The isosceles portion is not oriented in the direction of rotation, but it may be an asymmetrical shape oriented in the direction of rotation. Furthermore, the retention prevention means does not have to be a notch. For example, a protrusion on the front or back of the sorting means can also have the effect of scraping out PET bottles that are about to clog.

[0062] Furthermore, the drawing unit may be realized by a member that does not move in the same way as the sorting means, by providing a plate-shaped member similar to that of the sorting means on the front or back of the sorting means. For example, the scraping unit may be configured by rotating in the opposite direction to the sorting means or at a different rotational speed than the sorting means. In this case, the power for the scraping unit may be configured to be obtained from the same means as the power means for the sorting means using an appropriate gear mechanism, or a power source separate from that for the sorting means may be provided.

[0063] Furthermore, the following mechanism can also be adopted. (1) A mode in which the protrusions distributed on the surface of the sorting means are advanced: The sorting means is desirably as flat as possible to ensure the directionality of the PET bottles. For this reason, the surface is kept flat during the sorting process. On the other hand, when the sorting direction is changed by rotating the means, the protrusions rise from the surface and act to scrape out the PET bottles. (2) A mode in which the sorting means is moved up and down: The distance between the bottom end of the volume reducing section and the top surface of the sorting means is changed. Since PET bottles accumulate between these two, if a drive unit is provided so that the sorting means can be moved downward or upward from the position when sorting, and if the sorting means is controlled to move up and down during standby, it is expected that the accumulation will be eliminated. (3) Folding the top plate of the sorting means: By folding the top plate of the sorting means downward, it is expected that the accumulation of PET bottles will be eliminated by causing the bottles to fall.

[0064] (Configuration of mountain-shaped protrusions as retention prevention means) In previous devices, accumulation and clogging of PET bottles occurred not only between the upper surface of the disk and the lower part of the volume reduction unit, but also in the space between the lower surface of the disk and the bag holding unit, and in the space created by the bending of the plastic bag and the lower surface of the disk. Since reduced-volume PET bottles often remain crushed and united, allowing for directional sorting using the sorting means, they sometimes fail to remain united and are shattered. When shattered, the bottle fragments can scatter to locations unrelated to the direction of the sorting means. The scattered fragments can also accumulate on the support supporting the bag holding unit 140 and the sorting means 151, and even penetrate the bottom of the sorting means 151. The gradual accumulation of these fragments can create a strong wall. A receptacle slightly larger than the circumference of the sorting means can form below the sorting means, and this receptacle can catch containers before they are transferred from the sorting means to the bags. Furthermore, if this phenomenon continues, it may develop into a serious situation in which containers pile up between the lower end of the volume reducing section and the upper surface of the sorting means.

[0065] Therefore, in this embodiment of the present invention, a sufficient space is provided between the disk and the bag holder, and a mountain-shaped protrusion 160 is provided in this space to cover the boundary between the multiple storage compartments. FIG. 15 is a side view showing the mountain-shaped protrusion 160. FIG. 16 is a front view showing the height relationship between the notched disk, the mountain-shaped protrusion 160, and the hooking portion 142. The mountain-shaped protrusion in this embodiment of the present invention, more specifically, the triangular roof, separates PET bottles and their fragments to the left and right, preventing them from clogging the underside of the disk. At the same time, because the fragments are forcibly sent to the left and right, they do not fall between two plastic bags.

[0066] The rear end of the mountain-shaped protrusion 160 is bent upward to form a rear rising portion 161. The rear rising portion 161 sends the plastic bottle fragments forward, preventing them from falling and accumulating in the gap between the rear surface of the plastic bag and the rear part of the device housing. Previously, the fragments that fell into this gap required the time and effort of retrieving them when changing the plastic bag.

[0067] In this embodiment of the present invention, other measures are taken to prevent plastic bottle fragments from falling into the gap between the rear of the plastic bag and the rear portion of the device housing. Each of the multiple storage sections (bag holding sections 140) is provided with a bag retraction mechanism 1431 on the rear side of the device. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 16 , two oval-shaped gaskets are provided in the bag push-out section 143, which functions to push the bag from the rear when the bag holding section 140 is advanced to the bag replacement position. The plastic bag is hooked and held by the oval-shaped gaskets. Previously, when changing bags, workers had to push the rear of the plastic bag backward, but this task was often neglected or forgotten. By hooking the plastic bag onto the bag retraction mechanism 1431, simply by retracting the bag holding section 140 along the slide rail 144 to the storage position within the device, the plastic bag can be sufficiently retracted without creating an excessive gap between the rear of the plastic bag and the rear portion of the device housing. This configuration was made possible by the inventors, who focused on preventing debris from falling between the two plastic bags, and also became aware of preventing debris from falling into the back of the bags.

[0068] Providing sufficient space between the disk and the bag holder has the secondary effect of making it possible to pull out bag holder 140 even if the disk is not in a horizontal position. As shown in Figure 16, mountain-shaped protrusion 160 is located below the notched disk, and hook 142 is located below that, so there is no risk of interference between notched disk and hook 142. Previously, to avoid interference between the two components, it was necessary to provide a link mechanism to allow the disk to be in a horizontal position. However, because the height relationship has been set to prevent interference, sorting means 151 can be configured with a simple structure that simply connects notched disks to vertical shaft 1511 at an angle, contributing to cost savings.

[0069] (Another embodiment) FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing an example of a plastic bottle recovery device 100' that recovers empty containers (PET bottles, etc.) to be recovered, as a plastic bottle recovery device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Although not shown in Figure 17, a sorting means 151' is provided inside the device, making it possible to switch the direction in which the reduced volume empty containers are released at appropriate times. This prevents the bridging phenomenon that tends to occur when containers are released in a uniform direction, making it possible to store empty containers evenly within the bag. This also makes it possible to store containers evenly, evenly, all the way to the corners of the bag.

[0070] <Summary of the embodiment> [Technical field] The present invention relates to a PET bottle recycling device. [Background technology] BACKGROUND ART A PET bottle recovery device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the device for recovering PET bottles and the like described in Patent Document 1, PET bottles and the like are put into an inlet, and the bottles are subjected to a volume reduction process and then stored. [Prior art document] [Patent documents] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-175789 A [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be solved by the invention] The PET bottle recovery device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the storage capacity of the storage means is insufficient depending on the installation location and usage conditions. Therefore, the inventors have attempted to increase the storage capacity by providing multiple storage sections and sorting and storing the PET bottles among the multiple storage sections. However, there is still room for improvement, as the PET bottles tend to get stuck in the sorting areas during storage. The present invention addresses such problems. That is, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a PET bottle recovery device that can prevent PET bottles from becoming stuck at the sorting point so that PET bottles can be efficiently recovered in the storage section. In addition, this specification also proposes other improvements that contribute to efficient recovery work. [Means for solving the problem] (1) As described above, one aspect of this embodiment is a PET bottle recovery device 100 comprising a volume reduction means 120, a sorting means 151, a storage section 140, and retention prevention means 152, 160, wherein the volume reduction means 120 reduces the volume of the PET bottles that are inserted, the sorting means 151 guides the reduced volume PET bottles to fall into the biased section of the storage section 140, and the retention prevention means 152, 160 promotes the fall of PET bottles that are retained near the sorting means 151 into the storage section 140. According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the PET bottles from being accumulated at the sorting area.

[0071] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is the PET bottle recovery device 100 described in (1), in which the retention prevention means 152 is a notch shape 152 provided on the end surface of the sorting means 151. According to the above-mentioned configuration, it is possible to prevent the PET bottles from remaining on the upper surface of the sorting means 151 with a simple structure.

[0072] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is the PET bottle recovery device 100 described in (1), in which the retention prevention means 152, 160 are operating mechanisms that are linked to the operation of the sorting means 151. According to the above configuration, the PET bottles can be reliably prevented from remaining on the upper surface of the sorting means 151 by the operating mechanism.

[0073] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is the PET bottle recovery device 100 described in any one of (1) to (3), in which the retention prevention means 152, 160 operates to scrape out any PET bottles that are retained in the PET bottle collection device 100 in accordance with the sorting operation of the sorting means 151. According to the above configuration, the power of the distribution means can be effectively utilized.

[0074] (5) One aspect of this embodiment is the PET bottle recovery device 100 described in (1), in which the retention prevention means 152, 160 are arranged below the sorting means 151 and are protruding portions that cover the vicinity of the center of the storage section with a mountain-shaped configuration, making it difficult for retention to occur. According to the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the PET bottles from being accumulated on the lower surface of the sorting means 151 with a simple structure, and also to prevent the PET bottles from falling between the storage sections.

[0075] (6) One aspect of this embodiment is the plastic bottle recovery device 100 according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the storage section 140 includes a bag drawing means 1431 on the rear side of the device. According to the above configuration, the plastic bag can be pulled in sufficiently without creating an excess gap between the rear surface of the plastic bag and the rear portion of the device housing.

[0076] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. Furthermore, the embodiments shown in the above figures can be combined with each other as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in terms of purpose, configuration, etc. Conversely, it is also possible to extract some of the described contents and consider them as a single invention. For example, the bag retracting means provided on the rear side of the storage section (bag holding section) is not directly related to preventing PET bottles from clogging up in the sorting means, so this part alone can be considered an independent invention. Furthermore, it will be understood that the bag retracting means is significant even in a PET bottle recovery device that does not have a sorting means and has only a single storage section. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1...Control unit (CPU) 2...Storage section 3…Display operation section 7...Weighting unit (load cell, etc.) 8...Metal detection sensor 9...Optical sensor 17...Reader / writer 18...Deflection drive unit 19...imaging unit 100...PET bottle recycling device 100B...Main body (main body of PET bottle collection device) 101…Judgment section 110...Container input section (goods input section) 111...Outer door 112...inner door 116...Placement section 120…Volume reduction section (volume reduction mechanism) 140...Bag holding section (storage section) 141...Column part 142...Latching part 143...Bag extrusion section 1431...Bag retraction means 144...Slide rail 151…Distribution means 1511…Vertical axis 152...Isosceles part (cutout shape, retention prevention means) 160...Chevron-shaped protrusion (retention prevention means) 161...Rear rising section 180...Container authenticity detection means and cleaning detection means 901...PET sensor (optical sensor) 902...Container detection sensor (optical sensor) 903...Safety detection sensor (optical sensor) P...PET bottles (empty containers, items)

Claims

1. The apparatus includes a volume reducing means, a sorting means, a storage section, and a retention prevention means, The volume reducing means reduces the volume of the inserted PET bottle, The sorting means guides the reduced volume PET bottles so that they fall into the biased portion of the storage section, The retention prevention means promotes the dropping of PET bottles retained near the sorting means into the storage section. A PET bottle recycling device.

2. The retention prevention means is a notch provided on the end surface of the sorting means.

2. The PET bottle recovery device according to claim 1.

3. The retention prevention means is an operating mechanism that operates in conjunction with the operation of the distribution means.

2. The PET bottle recovery device according to claim 1.

4. The retention prevention means operates to scrape out the retained PET bottles in response to the sorting operation of the sorting means.

4. The PET bottle recovery device according to claim 1, wherein the PET bottle recovery device is a device for recovering PET bottles.

5. The retention prevention means is disposed below the sorting means and is a protruding portion that covers the vicinity of the center of the storage section in a mountain-like shape, thereby making it difficult for retention to occur.

2. The PET bottle recovery device according to claim 1.

6. The storage section is provided with a bag retracting means on the rear side of the device.

6. The PET bottle recovery device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 5.

Images