[0001] This invention is in the field of apparatus for selectively recovering, or collecting,
scrap metal of a given type such as aluminium containers and for compensating depositors
of such scrap based on the weight of said metal so collected.
[0002] The most relevant prior art known to applicant is that found in U.S. Patent 4,179,018
which issued on December 18, 1979 to John H.Miller and is entitled Method and Apparatus
for Selective Recovery of Metal Containers. The patent to Miller discloses apparatus
in which non- reusable aluminium cans such as are used to package soft drinks and
malt cereal beverages are segregated from other materials such as tinplated steel
cans that may be deposited in the apparatus. A start button, or switch is pushed by
the depositor to start the operation of the apparatus. The deposited materials are
conveyed by a conveyor belt to a magnetic separator that separates magnetic, ferrous,
materials such as tinplated steel cans from non-magnetic materials and stores the
ferrous materials in a storage bin for such magnetic materials.
[0003] More dense non-metallic materials are collected at the bottom of a pneumatic classifier
conveyor that transports the aluminium, non-ferrous, metal containers to a crusher.
The aluminium cans so transported are crushed and then weighed. After being weighed,
the crushed aluminium is conveyed by a pneumatic stacker conveyor and deposited into
an inclined storage compartment located at the top of the apparatus. The storage compartment
is located to facilitate the unloading of the storage compartment into a suitable
conveyance, such as a truck, so that the aluminium collected can be taken to a plant
where it can be recycled.
[0004] The apparatus is provided with a compensation dispenser which ---dispenses coins,
tokens, or other symbols of value, the amount, or value, of which is determined by
the weight of the non-ferrous materials that pass through the crusher and as weighed
by the weighing means during operation of the collection apparatus.
[0005] Apparatus such as that disclosed in the Miller patent is designed to be unattended
and is frequently placed in the parking lots of shopping centres. Such a location
makes it easier for persons who patronise the retail stores located in a shopping
centre and purchase beverages which are packaged in aluminium cans to dispose of such
cans after consuming their contents and obtain a return on their investment. The recovery
of scrap aluminium from this source saves energy and raw materials that would otherwise
be used to produce virgin aluminium while simultaneously reducing problems associated
with disposing of such cans after the contents have been consumed.
[0006] Because such apparatus is unattended, problems can occur, which if not promply detected
and remedied, can result in a malfunction in which the depositors would not be paid
for cans deposited, for example. Such malfunctions of the apparatus would work against
the conservation ethic that the apparatus is intended to encourage.
[0007] It is not uncommon for people to deposit metals into the apparatus other than aluminium.
While the apparatus segregates magnetic materials such as tinplated steel cans from
non-magnetic materials, the value of tinplated steel cans is so minimal at this time
as not to make it economical to collect them. There, thus is a need to notify depositors
when they deposit a tinplated steel can so that the despositor will not put anymore
tin cans into the apparatus. There is also a need, because the apparatus is unattended,
that the apparatus essentially diagnose whatever it is that caused it to cease operating
and to provide some guidance to a serviceman who is attempting to correct its problems.
[0008] The present invention provides improved metal collection apparatus for collecting
selected metals such as aluminium primarily in the form of used aluminium cans and
for compensating the depositors for such metal cans based on the weight of the selected
metal collected. The collecting apparatus is free-standing and is designed to function
unattended by a human operator. The apparatus is provided with a hopper into which
depositors place material, aluminium cans, which the machine is designed to collect.
The depositor then pushes a start button in the vicinity of the hopper to initiate
operation of the apparatus. The deposited material is carried from the hopper to a
classifier by an endless conveyor belt. The classifier segregates magnetic, or ferrous
metal, from non-magnetic materials.
[0009] Heavier, or more dense, non-magnetic materials fall to a pneumatic conveyor that
carrier aluminium cans which are of a lesser density to a crusher. More dense non-magnetic
materials collect in the bottom of the pneumatic conveyor in a bin so provided. The
aluminium material which is conveyed by the pneumatic conveyor of the classifier to
the crusher where the material is crushed so that it is more compact and, thus, occupies
significantly less space when stored. After passing through the crusher, the crushed
material is weighed, its weight noted, and the crushed material, after it has been
weighed, is dumped into a stacker conveyor which transports the crushed aluminium
cans to a storage bin in which they are stored until forwarded to a recycling plant,
for example.
[0010] A digital electronic controller is provided to control the energisation of the motors
that drive the conveyors and the crusher and provide power to the classifier. The
weigher produces an analog signal that is digitised by an A to D converter. The controller,
based on the weight of the metals measured by the load cell of the weigher, causes
the compensation dispenser to dispense an appropriate amount of compensation in the
forms of coins or tokens, for example, to the depositor. The apparatus is provided
with motor alarm circuits which produce an alarm signal if any one of the motors is
not running properly when energised. The coin dispensing apparatus will produce alarm
signals if no coins or tokens are available to be dispensed.
[0011] A detector is provided which produces an alarm signal each time a piece of magnetic
material, such as in a steel can, is segregated from the materials deposited, as such
can falls into the receptical for magnetic material. An alarm will also be produced
when the container or recepticle for magnetised material is full. Another detector
is provided which produces an alarm signal if a jam occurs in the classifier conveyor,
since such a jam will prevent aluminium cans, for example, from being fed into the
crusher. The electronic controller also includes circuit means for calibrating the
load cell which is used to measure the weight of the aluminium cans deposited in the
apparatus to assure that it is accurately weighing the material dumped into the weighing
hopper of the weigher.
[0012] The digital electronic controller calibrates the magnitude of the calibration resistor
to that of the load cell before each cycle of operation. This calibration results
in a significant increase in the accuracy of measuring the weight of aluminium cans
deposited into apparatus, notwithstanding the replacement of the load cell or even
of the controller, or changes in temperature or variations in the power supply.
[0013] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent
from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, taken into
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications
may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the concepts of the
disclosure, and in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the collection apparatus with arrows indicating
the flow path through the apparatus;
Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of the controller of the apparatus;
Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of the driver board of the controller;
Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the power supply of the controller.
Figure 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control system;
Figure 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the microprocessor board;
Figure 7 is a schematic wiring diagram of the alarm indicator circuit; and
Figures 8A and 8B are a system flowchart for the collection apparatus.
[0014] In Figure 1 collection apparatus 20 is illustrated. Collection apparatus 20 is an
improvement over the apparatus described and claimed in U.S.Patent. 4,179,018 dated
December l8, 1979, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference into this
application. Collection apparatus 20 is free standing, and is frequently located in
public places such as the parking lots of shopping centres and operates unattended.
[0015] A depositor who has collected a supply of used aluminium cans, or aluminium scrap,
in any form, particularly of gauge not significantly thicker than that of aluminium
cans deposits such waste material in hopper 22. The material falls down chute 24 until
it contacts the upper surface of endless conveyor belt 26. The depositor, after depositing
the waste material in hopper 22, pushes start button 28 which initialises controller
30 and starts the operation of collector apparatus 20. Controller 30, which is a digital
electronic controller, details of which will be more fully set forth later, causes
belt conveyor motor 32, classifier motor 34, crusher motor 36 and a stacker motor
38 to be energised with electrical energy in the preferred embodiment. Conveyor belt
26 transports the material deposited onto it to magnetic separator 42 which cooperates
with the upper end of conveyor belt 26 to separate out, or segregate, ferrous material.
Ferrous materials such as tinplated steel cans will fall down through chute 44 and
will be collected in ferrous metal receptical 46. Non-ferrous metals such as aluminium
containers, or cans, are discharged into the entrance of pneumatic classifier conveyor
48. Denser non-magnetic waste materials, substantially more dense than aluminium cans,
fall into or collect in receptical 50 which is located under conveyor 48. Aluminium
cans, or containers, are conveyed upwardly by the pneumatic classifier conveycr48
and are discharged into crusher 54. Aluminium cans, after being crushed, are discharged
into weighing hopper, or container, 56. The weight of the material in hopper 56 is
measured by conventional load cell 58. The voltage across the load cell, which is
an analog voltage, is digitized, as will be described later and is applied to controller
30 which based on the difference in weight between the weight of hopper 56 with crushed
cans in it, and the weight of hopper 56 after the contents have been dumped, calculates
the amount of compensation to be paid to the depositor and causes compensation dispenser
60 to dispense the proper-amount of coins, tokens, etc. The contents of hopper 56
are dumped by energising a solenoid to open door 62 of hopper 56. The crushed non-ferrousmetal
from hopper 56 falls into the pneumatic stacker conveyor 64 which transports the crushed
aluminium material to storage compartment 66, where the aluminium is collected and
stored until a sufficient load, or amount, is collected which is then dumped into
a truck, for example, to be taken to a facility where the scrap metal can be recycled.
[0016] Controller 30 controls the energisation of four motors, conveyor motor 32, classifier
motor 34 , which drives the blower 68, stacker motor 38, which drives the blower 70,
and crusher motor 36, which provides the energy for crusher 54. In addition, controller
30 produces control signals which cause compensation dispenser 60, to dispense quarters,
nickels, pennies, and tokens in the preferred embodiment. A multihopper dispenser
such as one designated as model 33-22-000, which is manufactured by National Rejectors
Inc. (Div. of UMC Ind.Inc.) of Hot Springs, Arkansas, may be utilised as compensation
dispenser 60. Collector 20 is provided with an out-of-order display 72 which identifies
the function that is out of order as sensed by controller 30. Out-of-order display
72 is positioned within the housing of apparatus 20.
[0017] Controller 30 is provided with a calibration circuit to calibrate the load cell 58,
to make certain that it is properly calibrated,i.e. it will accurately measure the
weight of the material deposited in hopper 56 and dumped into stacker conveyor 64.
Controller 30 also senses any alarm signals produced as a result of a motor failure.
Coin dispenser 60 is provided with means for producing alarm signals if no coins are
available to be dispensed or if dispenser 60 is jammed. In addition, one of the major
causes of problems with the prior art collectors of the type disclosed in U.S.Patent
4,179,018 is that ferrous metal receptical 46 will become filled, which creates a
jam and renders apparatus 20 inoperative. A conventional electromagnetic infrared
radiation detector 74 is mounted at the upper end of receptical 46. Each time a can
of ferrous metal, for example, falls into receptical 46, it will break or interrupt
the light beam across the entrance to receptical 46. The breaking of the beam is evidence
that a tinplated steel can, for example, was deposited in hopper 22. The breaking
of the light beam produces an alarm signal which causes buzzer 75 to sound to indicate
to the depositor that a ferrous metal can has been deposited. If the signal is continuous
i.e. the beam of electromagnetic energy at the entrance to receptical 46 remains broken
for a substantial period of time measured in a fraction of a second, such a condition
indicates that receptical 46 is fill, which is a cause for a second alarm condition
which occurs 30 seconds later.
[0018] A second electromagnetic detector 80 is mounted in the discharge nozzle of classifier
conveyor 48 to sense if a jam has occurred. If a jam is sensedrby detector 80, controller
30 prevents additional cans from being fed into the crusher 54. Controller 30 also
produces a control signal to energise a solenoid which is not illustrated in Figure
1 to open door 62 of weighing bucket 56 after the contents of bucket 56 have been
weighed. Controller 30 also calculates the weight of the material dumped into conveyor
64 from the digitized voltages across load cell 58 by comparing the weight of weighing
bucket 56 after dumping its contents with the weight of bucket 56 and its contents
immediately prior to its being dumped. Based on the weight of material dumped from
bucket 56, controller 30 calculates the compensation to be paid to the depositor and
energises the appropriate coin dispensers of compensation dispenser 60 to provide
the computed amount of compensation. Systems are provided which produce alarm signals
which when applied to controller 30 cause .... controller 30 to light the appropriate
signal light on out-of-order display 72 to identify the cause of the failure. For
certain types of failure controller 30 is programmed to respond by re-energising the
components which was the source of the alarm signal to see if the problem can be cleared
or corrected, and if the problem is not corrected, controller 30 will de-energise
all the motors and provide a signal at status signal light 76 which identifies to
would be depositors that apparatus 20 is non-operational.
[0019] While it is not a part of this invention, it is contemplated that at such time as
collector 20 is de-energised or inactivated by controller 30, controller 30 can send
an appropriate signal to a central office by radio or telephone indicating that there
is a problem at a given site where the apparatus 20 is located so that a serviceman
can be promptly sent to the site to correct it.
[0020] The hardware comprising controller 30 is illustrated in Figures 2-6. In the systems
schematic of Figure 2, the microprocessor 84, a standard microprocessor, in the preferred
embodiment a Motorola 6802, which is provided with a clock circuit 86, a restart circuit
88 and an interrupt and power down circuit 90. As is conventional, microprocessor
84 is connected by data and address buses to memory 92 and addressable input/output
ports 94. The I/O ports 94 are connected to sensors through filter network 96 and
through driver circuits 98 control signals to control the operation of the apparatus
20 are amplified to useful levels. The output of load calibration circuit 100 which
is an analog voltage, is digitised by A to D converter 102. All of the components
of controller 30 are standard commercially available electronic components.
[0021] In Figure 3 additional details of some of the sources of signals supplied to microprocessor
84 and of the signals used to control apparatus 20 are illustrated. Alarm signals
from classifier, conveyor, crusher and stacker motors 32, 34, 36 and 38 are applied
to detector circuit 104 which produces a motor fail signal if any of the signals applied
to circuit 104 represents an alarm condition.
[0022] The signals applied to solid-state relay driver circuits 106 causes the weighing
hopper, or bucket, 56 to dump its contents by opening dump door 62. The in cycle signal
from MPU 84 energises the relays that provide power to motors 32,34,36,38 and 40.
Pay-out signals, as produced by MPU 84, are applied to driver circuit 108. Alarm signals
from dispenser 60 indicating that the coin tubes of dispenser 60 are full are applied
to circuit 110. If dispenser 60 is functioning properly, no alarm signal is transmitted
to MPU 84. If an alarm condition exists, an alarm signal is transmitted to MPU 84
which sends back to disable signal which stops the dispensing of coins or tokens and
shuts down apparatus 20, as is described below.
[0023] Figure 4 is a schematic of the power supply 112 for controller 30. Commercially available
power 118 volt single phase AC is applied to the system through transformer 114. The
voltage is rectified to + 12, and ± 5 volt regulated DC power which is produced by
commercially avaliable voltage regulars 115, 116 and 117. Circuit 112 also produces
unregulated + 12 volt DC current.
[0024] Figure 5 is a wiring diagram of controller 30 of apparatus 20. Power for apparatus
20 flows through fuses 118 and solenoid powered relays 120. The I/O Ports P
1 - P
6, 1
21, 122, 123, 124, 125, and 126 of Figure 5 transmit signals to and from MPU 84 (see
Figure 6B) using connector 51 while circuit TS1 128 has applied to it alarm signals
as indicated. Proper operation of the storage, or stacker motor 38 is sensed by the
voltage across resistor 130 which is high when motor 38 is energised and running properly
and low when motor 38 stops rotating when power is applied to motor 30, for example.
[0025] In Figure 5C additional details of the circuit connections of load cell 58 to controller
30 are illustrated as are details of electromagnetic detector 80. Electromagnetic
detector is substantially identical to detector 74.
[0026] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the microprocessor board of controller 30. Corresponding
blocks of the system schematic of Figure 2 are identified in Figure 6. Figure 7 is
an electrical wiring diagram of the alarm indicator 72.
[0027] The normal sequence of operation of controller 30 commences when start switch 28
is activated. Conveyor motor 32, motor 34 of classifier 48, motor 36 of crusher 54;
and stacker motor 38 which drives the stacker blower 70 are turned on by controller
30 or could be sequenced on for less peak power consumption. As aluminium cans are,
for example, fed into hopper 22, they fall down chute 24 and are lifted by conveyor
26. While cans are being carried up belt 26, controller 30 initiates system calibration.
System calibration consists essentially of using a known resistor which is matched
to that of the load cell and measuring the resulting artificially produced weight
compared to the empty weight of scale bucket, or weighing hopper, 56. The difference
between the empty weight of bucket, 56 and the weight attributed to the known resistor
represents exactly two pounds. This value is set at the start of every initial cycle.
By the time cans reach the top of conveyor 26, the calibration is complete. The first
can should reach scale bucket 56, in the preferred embodiment, in approximately eight
seconds from time of deposit. As the cans are dumped from the conveyor belt 26 into
classifier 48 all tinplated steel cans are separated out and fall into ferrous receptical
46. As each tin can falls separately into receptical 46, it will interrupt the beam
of light, infrared radiation, in the preferred embodiment, of detector 74 which will
produce a momentary alarm signal. Aluminium cans fall into classifier conveyor 48
and are conveyed by compressed air produced byHLower 68 through conveyor 48 to crusher
54. After being crushed by crusher 54, the aluminium cans are dumped into scale bucket
56. While crushed cans are being dumped into bucket 56, controller 30 is monitoring
the weight of bucket 56 as sensed by load cell 58 as the crushed cans accumulate.
When this weight reaches three-quarters of a pound, in the preferred embodiment, or
after waiting for a predetermined period of time, 30 seconds, conveyor 26 is shut
down by deenergising motor 32, and the remaining cans in the classifier and crusher
54 are allowed to continue to be processed and to accumulate in bucket 56 from the
time conveyor belt 26 stops until hopper 56 is dumped which is approximately six seconds
later. Just prior to scale or hopper dump, a final weighing is performed. The shutting
off of the conveyor belt after three-quarters of a pound has been accumulated in bucket
56 prevents the scale bucket from being overloaded. It takes about two seconds to
dump hopper 56. Another three seconds is used before the weight of the empty hopper
56 is measured. The empty weight of hopper 56 after it is dumped is used in determining
the weight of the crushed cans dumped.
[0028] By employing this method, only cans actually dumped into stacker 64 are paid for.
After bucket 56 has been dumped, conveyor 26 is turned on again and cans are allowed
to proceed through the system.
[0029] If no cans are in the weighing hopper 56 when it is dumped, or if the weight of such
cans is less than that of a given number of cans, controller 30 goes into a final
payout cycle and controller 30 shuts down.
[0030] If the weight of the crushed cans in hopper 56 is either three-quarters of a pound,
or if it is greater than the prescribed number of cans, four for example, controller
30 repeats the above cycle with the exception that the system is not re-calibrated.
The amount weighed is converted to an amount to be dispensed to the depositor based
on a given amount per pound, such as twenty-five cents per pound. As apparatus 20
processes cans, the amount to be dispensed is determined by controller 30 in pennies,
nickels, and quarters. Each time a quarter's worth of aluminium cans is weighed and
dumped into stacker conveyor 64, a quarter is paid to the customer. On the last cycle
all remaining amounts due the depositor are paid out by dispenser 60.
[0031] Five types of alarm signals are produced, (1) when one or more of the motors is not
working, (2) when coin dispensers 60 are not working, (3) if the system is out of
calibration, (4) if a jam occurs and (5) overflow of steel cans. Controller 30 is
programmed to sense when a motor should be on, and if a motor is not running when
it should be. If that is the case, out-of-order alarm 78 is turned on, and controller
30 will shut down, or stop, the operation of collector apparatus 20 and alarm indicator
display 72 to display the type of failure that occurred. Operation of coin dispenser
60 is monitored in a similar manner. Each time a coin is dispensed, a request is made
to put another coin in the coin tube of dispenser 60. This is done by rotating the
drum of dispenser 60. Should no coin be in the drum, or should a coin be stuck, or
if there is a jam in the coin dispenser, out-of-order display 72 will indicate a coin
problem. The alarm is delayed for a predetermined period of time, thirty-three seconds
in the preferred embodiment.
[0032] A turn-on, turn-off cycle is used to try to shake loose coin jams. If within the
predetermined period of time coins are placed properly in the tubes, the out-of-order
alarm will not occur.
[0033] If for any reason controller 30 cannot be calibrated (that is the calibration of
load cell 58 cannot be accomplished), out-of-order indicator 78 will come on and display
72 will indicate a calibration failure. The calibration failure is usually due to
problems with load cell 58 such as the cable to load cell 58 not being properly plugged
in. Jams from classifier 48 usually cause a back-up of cans in front of crusher 54.
These jams are detected by detector 80 at the time scale door 62 is opened. When such
a jam occurs, the output of detector 50 produces a classifier alarm which is displayed
on out-of-order display 72 and controller 30 will shut down apparatus 20 and energise
out-of-order alarm 78.
[0034] Detectors 74 and 78 detect special failure of collector apparatus 20. Detector 74
monitors the level of steel cans that have been put into steel can receptical 46 and
will provide a continuous output signal when this level reaches the maximum allowable
level. Detector 74 also provides an audible alarm whenever a steel can drops into
the ferrous material receptical 46. An infrared light beam of detector 74 and a IR
sensor are used to generate this signal. When the light beam is not interrupted, the
signal is low. When the light beam is broken, a high level logic one signal is produced.
This signal is coupled into buzzer 75 via a one-shot multivibrator. The length of
time the buzzer is energised will always be the same regardless of the length of the
input pulse. Detector 80 operates in substantially the same way as detector 74 except
that its location is such that it can detect cans which are piled up in front of crusher
54. Sensor 80 is enabled to produce an alarm signal on at the time the scale dump
signal is transmitted by controller 30. Should there be cans blocking the light when
sensor 80 is enabled, a jam has occurred an alarm is sent to controller 30.
[0035] The magnitude of calibration resistor 131 is chosen to match that of load cell 58
if hopper 56 has two pounds of crushed cans in it, or it produces a voltage equivalent
to that of two pounds. The differential change in voltage V
1/1b is measured for a one-pound deflection on the load cell, than the voltage V
test is measured across known resistor R
test. From this information the valve of resistor 131 is calculated, as follows:
[0036] 
[0037] Once the value of resistor 131 is calculated, it is tested to determine that it is
accurate with respect to two pounds of weight being placed in weighing hopper 56.
[0038] By using this technical approach to load cell matching with the calibration resistor
131, the following system advantages are achieved:
1. Power supply voltage fluctuations do not affect pay out.
2. Temperature variations that affect components will not affect payout.
3. Changes in bucket weight will not affect pay out.
4. Either load cell or controller can be changed without affecting payout.
5. Improved weighing accuracy.
[0039] In Figures 8A and 88, the system flowchart of collection apparatus 20 ia illustrated.
The program is entered at the label start 132. The first Action is to initialise microprocessor
84, block 134. This is accomplished by clearing all random access memory (RAM) and
setting up system constants. Once the microprocessor 84 is initialised, controller
30 is ready for use. As the program progresses, output ports P
2, P
3 and P
4 are cleared. Next processor 84 tests for a par out request, test block 136. Each
par out requests results in the activation of each of the coin dispensers once producing
a quarter, a penny and a nickel. Once a par out is requested, the tubes on the coin
dispenser 60 are disabled. This prevents the coin tubes from being filled again which
in turn allows all coins in the tubes to be dispensed. This is important when an exact
control of the amount of money is required.
[0040] Should there be no par out, the microprocessor 84 checks for a failure, or for an
alarm signal. Alarm signals are detected in the interrupt routine. Processor 84 is
now ready to monitor start switch 28. Once start switch 28 is activated, apparatus
20 is in cycle. The cycle starts by turning on power to the motors 32, 34, 36 and
38. A predetermined delay, two seconds for example, is entered next. This delay allows
sufficient time for mechanical stabilisation of apparatus 20.
[0041] After stabilisation, the calibration routine is entered. First a typical value of
three times is established for the number of attempts at calibration that will be
tried. Calibration resistor 131 is switched in, and after a delay of a few milliseconds,
the voltage across the calibration resistor is measured and digitised. The relay or
MOS switch (MC14066 made by Motorola) controlling the calibration is then turned off,
and the normal reading of load cell 58 is used thereafter. The difference between
the normal reading and the callibration reading represents exactly two pounds of weight.
This is used as the weighing standard as long as this cycle continues. Once a good
calibration is achieved, the price per pound is calculated and placed in memory for
later use. After still another delay, the system is set up using solid-state switches,
to sense, for motor failures. The program is now in two parallel loops. One loop is
a thirty second time out loop, and the other loop is a three-quarter pound in scale
bucket 56 loop. The system will go into its dump cycle whenever either of these loops
is completed. When the program is in its dump cycle (DUMCYE label), conveyor motor
32 is turned off and its breaker/motor sense is disabled. A fixed period of time,
approximately six seconds, is allowed to clear cans from conveyor 48. When this six-second
period ends, bucket 56 is weighed, and its weight expressed as a voltage is converted
into a digital quantity by A2D converter 102. Bucket 56 is then dumped, and after
a delay of two seconds, the empty weight of bucket 56 is measured. The difference
between the weight of bucket 56 when empty and its weight with cans in it, is the
weight of the cans dumped into stacker conveyor 64. If the weight of four or more
cans is measured in bucket 56, a second cycle of operation is set. Each time a pound
of cans is received, pound counter 138 is incremented once. The amount of money to
be paid is accumulated, and each time a quarter's worth of cans is received, a quarter
is paid out by dispenser 60. This cycle continues, in the preferred embodiment, until
less than four cans are received in a cycle. Once this occures, controller 30 goes
into its payout cycle where money to be paid to a depositor is paid out as quarters,
pennies and nickels. If during a cycle a preset number of pounds of cans is received,
a token can be dispensed by dispenser 60. Should the no-cycle flag still be set, then
controller 30 shuts off, and the operation is completed. Each time a start switch
28 is activated, a similar cycle of operation is started.
[0042] While the invention has been particularly described and shown in reference to the
preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various changes in form and detail and omissions may be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
1. Apparatus for collecting scrap metal and for compensating depositors of such first
type of metal as a function of the weight of the first type of metal deposited in
the storage compartment of the apparatus, said apparatus having an input hopper 22,
an actuator 28, a first conveyor 26 for conveying scrap metal from the hopper 22 to
a classifier 42, said classifier segregating a second type of metal from the first
type, depositing the second type of metal in a second type of metal receptacle 50
and for depositing the first type of netal in a classifier conveyor 48, said classifier
conveyor transporting the first type of metal to and loading said material into a
crusher 54; said crusher crushing the first type of said metal and loading it into
a weigher bucket 56 of a weigher 58 which measures the weight of the weigher bucket
and its contents; a stacker 64 for conveying the first type of metal after being weighedto
the storage compartment 66; characterised in comprising:
a controller 30 responsive to a signal from the actuator 28 for energizing the first
conveyor 26, the classifier 42, the crusher 54 and the stacker 64, for calibrating
the weigher 58, for weighing materials dumped in the bucket of the weigher 58, for
dumping the materials from the weigher bucket 56 into the stacker for storage in the
compartment, and for dispensing compensation for the material weighed,
an alarm display 72;
means 30 for producing a motor alarm signal if the first conveyor, the classifier,
the crusher, or the stacker is not functioning when energized;
means 74 for producing a second type metal alarm each time a second type is deposited
in the second type metal receptacle and for producing a second type metal overflow
alarm if the second type metal receptacle is full: .
means 80 for producing a classifier jam alarm signal:
means 60 for producing a dispenser alarm signal if the dispenser malfunctions; said
control system responsive to any such alarm signals causing the alarm display to be
enabled to identify the source of the alarm signal and to stop further operation of
the apparatus.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the controller 30 is a digital
electronic controller.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the controller 30 comprises
means for stopping operation when there is no more metal to be processed.
4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the controller
30 comprises means for producing a classifier jam alarm signal if metal is detected
at the entrance of the crusher when the weighing bucket is emptied.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in comprising control
means 30 for determining the amount of compensation to be paid to the depositor and
for producing control signals to control the dispensing of compensation.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterised in comprising a coin dispenser 60
responsive to control signals for dispensing compensation to the depositor and for
producing an alarm signal identifying the absence of coins to be dispensed or a jam
of the dispenser.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in comprising control
means 30 for deenergising the apparatus if the condition causing an alarm signal persists
for more than a predetermined period of time.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that said first type
of metal comprises aluminium cans and said second type of metal comprises ferrous
metal.
9. A scrap metal collection apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised
in that electronic controller 60 comprises:
means for weighing and recording the weight of a scrap metal weighing container and
its content prior to immediately dumping the container;
means for dumping the contents of the scrap metal container: and
means for weighing and recording the scrap metal weighing container after the contents
of the container are dumped.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the means 58 for measuring
the weight of the weighing container and contents substantially continuously measures
their weight.
11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that means are provided for
calculating an exact standard reference weight; and
means are provided for computing the weight of the scrap metal contents as a ratio
of the previously calculated exact standard reference weight, said calibrating means
including means for measuring said exact standard reference weight prior to the operation
of said means for weighing and recording the weight of said scrap metal weighing container
and its scrap metal content prior to a subsequent weighing cycle.
12. The method of controlling collection apparatus for collecting aluminium cans and
for compensating a depositor of such cans as a function of the weight of the aluminium
cans deposited in the storage compartment of the apparatus, said apparatus having
an input means 22, an actuator 28, a first conveyor 26 for conveying material from
the input means 22 to a classifier 42, said classifier segregating ferrous metal from
non-ferrous metal, depositing ferrous metal in a ferrous metal receptacle and for
depositing ferrous metal in a ferrous metal receptacle 50 and for depositing aluminium
cans in a classifier conveyor 48; said classifier conveyor transporting aluminium
cans to and loading said cans into a crusher 54, said crusher crushing aluminium cans
and loading crushed cans into a weigher bucket 56 of a weigher 58 which measures the
weight of the weigher bucket and the crushed aluminium cans in said bucket; a stacker
64 for conveying the crushed aluminium cans after being weighed and dumped into the
storage compartment 66, the method being characterised in comprising:
sensing when the actuator 28 is actuated;
energizing the first conveyor 26, the classifier 42, the crusher 54, and the stacker
64;
calibrating the weigher 58;
determining the weight of materials dumped in the bucket of the weigher 56;
dispensing compensation based on the weight of aluminium cans placed in the bucket;
and
compensating depositors based on the product of the weight of crushed aluminium cans
dumped out of the bucket of the weigher times a predetermined price per pound (kilogram).
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, characterised in comprising the steps of:
weighing and recording the weight of a scrap metal weighing container and contents
immediately prior to dumping the container;
dumping the contents of the scrap metal container; and
weighing and recording the weight of the scrap metal weighing container after the
contents of the container are dumped.
14. The method as claimed in claim l3,characterised in including the steps of:
calculating an exact standard reference weight;
computing the weight of the scrap metal contents as a ratio of the previously calculated
exact standard reference weight; and
calibrating the step of weighing and recording the weight of the weighing container;
said calibrating step including measuring the exact standard reference weight prior
to the operation of the step of weighing and recording the weight of the scrap metal
weighing container and its scrap metal content prior to a subsequent weighing cycle.