Bottle Return Apparatus Automating Deposit Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing bottled water distribution systems burden retailers with the need for store personnel to verify and receive empty bottles returned by customers and manage deposit amounts, making it economically inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A bottle return apparatus with a bin, sensor, and receipt dispenser that automatically detects and records empty bottles, allowing customers to deposit them without employee intervention, and a method of selling bottled water that uses different purchase prices based on bottle return status, eliminating the need for retailers to manage deposits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If store personnel manually receive and verify empty bottles returned by customers, then bottle return verification is accurate, but retailer operational burden and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebottle return verification accuracyVSAvoidretailer operational burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables customers to self-verify bottle returns using mobile devices. Customers scan QR codes on bottles or use the app to register returns independently, eliminating the need for store personnel to manually verify each return while maintaining accurate tracking through automated database recording.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical verification process is replaced with an automated digital system. Mobile apps, QR code scanning, and automated database systems replace the manual inspection and verification that previously required store employee involvement, automating the entire return verification workflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If retailers manage deposit amounts for bottled water, then customer bottle returns are incentivized, but retailer financial management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebottle return rateVSAvoidfinancial management system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The deposit management function is extracted from the retailer's financial system and transferred to the bottled water company. The company directly manages deposit amounts, tracks returns through their automated system, and handles financial reconciliations, removing this complex financial management burden from retailers while maintaining the deposit incentive structure for customers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile application and automated tracking system serve as an intermediary between customers and the bottled water company. This intermediary automatically records returns, calculates deposit refunds, and manages the financial transactions, eliminating the need for retailers to directly manage deposit finances while still enabling the deposit incentive mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If home delivery service is provided to residential customers, then customer convenience is improved, but distribution cost efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer convenienceVSAvoiddistribution cost efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The business-to-business distribution model is copied and adapted for residential customers through retail locations. Instead of direct home delivery, bottles are made available at convenient retail locations where customers can purchase them, and returns are processed through the same automated system used for business customers, maintaining cost efficiency while providing accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution reduces the burden on retailers by automating the bottle return process and eliminating the need for deposit management, making it more economically efficient for retailers to sell bottled water.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor to detect bottles received into the bin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

A bottle deposited into the empty bin falls by gravity until stopped by the bottom of the bin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS8387771B2Bottled water distribution method and bottle return apparatus

Publication Date: 2013.03.05 DS SERVICES OF AMERICA INC

AI summary

Method and apparatus for bottled beverage distribution. Apparatus includes bin, means for receiving bottles, sensor and receipt dispenser. Method of selling includes providing an inventory, assigning identification indicia, assigning first and second purchase prices and positioning apparatus for receiving, storing and dispensing receipt. Method of distributing includes delivering to a first location water bottles, positioning at a second location a receiving, storing and receipt dispensing apparatus, and retrieving empty bottles from the apparatus. Method of distributing includes creating an account, assigning a first amount charged for each bottle sold, assigning a second amount deducted from the first amount for each bottle received, delivering bottles and positioning a receiving, storing and receipt dispensing apparatus. Method of distributing includes delivering inventory of drinking water, transferring ownership of the inventory, invoicing for each bottle delivered and retrieving empty drinking water bottles from bottle return apparatus.