Abstrict Returnable beverage containers, on which a deposit has been paid
at purchase, are returned to a return center for the containers,
for example, in a retail outlet. At the return center, the returned
containers are sorted and counted, and data about them are entered
on a computerized cash register. A clerk at the return center sorts
and counts the containers by brand, size, material, and amount of
deposit, and the cash register produces a credit slip for the customer.
At the return center, the beverage containers are sorted by material
and placed into respective receptacles therefor, based upon scrap
grade, that is, material type, but without regard for the brand.
When the receptacles are full, they are emptied into compartmentalized,
locked hampers, which, when filled, are transported to a transfer
station where the contents of each hamper compartment are weighed
and then processed. The computerized cash register records the number
of containers returned for each brand and associates this with the
respective distributors. A can crusher is located at the beverage
return center, and has a vibratory hopper. Removable bulkheads between
the compartments of the hamper can be adjusted for seasonal or demographic
variations in the mix of aluminum, clear glass, and colored glass
containers that are returned.
Claims We claim:
1. A method of redeeming and disposing of returnable empty beverage
containers, including aluminum cans and glass bottles, returned
to a return center on which containers when sold to a consumer the
consumer has paid a refundable deposit and the beverage containers
of particular brands having been provided from respective distributors
to a retailer, a deposit having been credited to the respective
distributor from the retailer for each of such full containers provided,
said deposit being credited to said return center from each said
distributor for each such empty beverage container of the respective
brand, but without requiring physical return of the empty containers
to the respective distributors, the method comprising the steps
of:
(a) counting the containers delivered by the consumer to the return
center by brand, size, and material;
(b) entering the count of containers of each brand, size, and material
as derived from the previous step into a cash register input device
associated with a programmed data processor;
(c) computing, for each said consumer, credit data with returned
container information indicating the refund of deposit due the consumer
in accordance with the counts as entered into the cash register
input device;
(d) providing the consumer with said credit data;
(e) sorting the redeemed glass and aluminum containers according
to material without regard for brand;
(f) sorting the redeemed glass containers so sorted into receptacle
bins provided therefor at said return center;
(g) placing the redeemed aluminum can containers into a can crushing
unit at said beverage return center, which automatically crushes
said cans to reduce their volume and deposits the same in a crushed
can receptacle bin;
(h) transferring the glass containers and the crushed cans in said
bins to respective hamper means situated away from the return center;
(i) disposing of the containers transferred to said hamper means;
(j) computing in said data processor the total number of empty
containers of each respective brand returned to aid return center
by said consumer; and
(k) associating the number of returned containers of each brand,
and computing in said data processor a credit due to the return
center for the total of returned empty containers of the brands
distributed by said distributor and returned to said return center.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said hamper means includes a compartmentalized
hamper having movable bulkheads that divide said hamper into compartments
which are lockable, the bulkheads being adjustable to change the
relative size of the respective compartments to conform with the
proportions of containers of the respective types of materials.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:
(l) auditing the results of the above steps (j) and (k) by
(i) computing a theoretical weight of each said hamper compartment
based on the numbers of containers of each said type of material
returned, as based on the information entered on said computerized
cash register;
(ii) weighing the contents of each hamper compartment when filled
with said returned containers to measure the actual weight thereof;
and
(iii) printing the actual and theoretical weights for a comparison
therebetween.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein said hamper has an end door and
said bulkheads are suspended and are locked against swinging by
a lock member.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein weighing of the contents of the
hamper compartments is carried out by
(1) weighing the full hamper;
(2) releasing said end door and dumping the contents of the compartment
defined between it and the next of said bulkheads;
(3) weighing the hamper again;
(4) releasing the lock member of said next bulkhead permitting
it to swing when the hamper is dumped, and then dumping the contents
of the compartment defined between said bulkhead and the next successive
bulkhead;
(5) weighing the hamper again; and
(6) successively releasing each remaining bulkhead, dumping the
contents of the compartment behind it, and weighing the hamper again
until all said compartments of the hamper have been emptied, the
weight difference between successive weighings giving the measured
actual weight of the contents of each said compartment.
6. The method of claim 2 wherein said glass containers are placed
into said receptacles and are transferred from the receptacles to
the respective locked compartments without crushing or fracturing
a substantial number of them.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said can crushing unit has a vibratory
hopper to receive said redeemed aluminum can containers, including
vibrating means for feeding said aluminum can containers from the
hopper to an inlet of the can crushing unit, and a compartment beneath
the can crushing unit wherein said crushed can receptacle bin is
reposed.
8. A compartmentalized hamper for storage, transport, and disposal
of beverage containers of three or more types of material which
are to be maintained segregated in said hamper, comprising an elongated
box having a front end, side walls, a bottom, a top, and a rear
end, said rear end being formed as a lockable door hinged to one
or more of said side walls, bottom, and top, said top having a plurality
of lockable compartment doors thereon along its length for access
to the interior of the box, and said front end and bottom including
means permitting loading of said box onto a truck bed for transport
and disposal of the containers in said box;
a plurality of movable bulkheads disposed across said box defining,
between successive ones thereof and between bulkheads and the front
and rear ends, compartments for the containers of respective types
of material;
means permitting the position of the bulkheads to be moved forward
or rearward along the box to conform to the volume ratio of the
respective material types of containers in said compartments; and
means selectively permitting said bulkheads to swing open upwards
and to the rear when the hamper is tilted rearward so that successive
ones of said compartments, from the rear end to the front end of
the box, can be emptied serially.
9. The compartmentalized hamper of claim 8 wherein each said bulkhead
includes pivot bar means attached to the bulkhead at a top portion
thereof and extending laterally outwards, said box including respective
pivot means on opposite side walls and movable between a plurality
of spaced positions for receiving and holding the pivot bar; and
said selective restraining means including a restraining lock member
insertable into an aperture in a respective one of said bulkheads
and a plurality of mounting apertures in said side walls in vertical
registry with said pivot means spaced positions, through which said
lock member is inserted to restrain said bulkhead.
10. The compartmentalized hamper of claim 9 wherein said pivot
means include angle members mounted on side walls of said box near
a top thereof and each including a projecting horizontal flange
having pairs of openings along its length, and associated pivot
members each formed of a bar and two projecting fingers thereon,
the fingers each fitting through respective ones of the openings
of said pairs of openings.
11. The compartmentalized hamper of claim 10 wherein said pivot
member is a generally F-shaped member.
12. A can crushing device for reducing the volume of deposit non-refillable
metal containers which are returned to a beverage return center
for redemption of deposit on said metal containers, comprising a
can crushing unit having a top-feeding inlet for uncrushed cans
and a can crusher outlet for crushed cans; a vibratory hopper on
said can crushing unit and having an open top into which the redeemed
cans returned to said return center are randomly placed, having
an outlet feeding the inlet of said can crushing unit, and vibratory
means for imparting vibratory motion to said hopper to facilitate
movement of said cans in said hopper generally downwards towards
said can crushing unit and to prevent jamming of the cans in said
hopper; and a removable receptacle disposed beneath said can crusher
outlet for receiving the crushed cans.
13. A can crushing device as in claim 12 wherein said hopper includes
a shell having an open top and an outlet at its bottom connecting
to said inlet of the can crushing unit, and a plurality of baffles
disposed between the top and the bottom of the shell for guiding
the cans to said outlet.
14. A can crushing device as in claim 12 wherein said vibrating
means includes a vibrator device connected to an underside of one
of said baffles.
15. A can crushing device as in claim 12 including a safety interlock
switch permitting operation of said can crushing unit only when
said hopper is positioned in place thereon.
16. A can crushing device as in claim 12 in which said can crushing
unit includes an inner rotating cylinder and an outer stationary
cylinder having an axis off the axis of the inner cylinder, and
means guiding the cans into the space between the inner and outer
cylinders.
17. A can crushing device as in claim 12 including a housing for
said unit and having a closable compartment beneath said unit in
which said removable receptacle is reposed.
18. A can crushing device as in claim 12 and further comprising
a beverage return counter adjacent said device including a counter
horizontal surface, with spaced openings therethrough; a plurality
of receptacle bins disposed beneath said counter at the locations
of said openings to receive clear glass, colored glass, and plastic
redeemed containers, respectively; and a computerized cash register
having means for entering the brand and material type of each container
that is redeemed at said beverage return counter.
19. A method of redeeming and disposing of returnable empty beverage
containers, including aluminum cans and glass bottles, returned
to a return center and on which containers when sold to a consumer,
the consumer has paid a refundable deposit and the beverage containers
of particular brands having been provided from respective beverage
distributors to a retailer, a deposit having been credited to the
respective distributor from the retailer for each of such full containers
provided, said deposit being credited to said return center from
each said distributor for each such empty beverage container of
the respective brand, but without requiring physical return of the
empty containers to the respective distributors, the method comprising
the steps of:
(a) counting the containers delivered by the consumer to the return
center by brand, size and material;
(b) entering the count of containers of each brand, size, and material
as derived from the previous step into a cash register input device
associated with a programmed data processor;
(c) computing, for each said consumer, credit data with returned
container information indicating the refund of deposit due the consumer
in accordance with the counts as entered into the cash register
input device;
(d) providing the consumer with said credit data;
(e) sorting the redeemed glass and aluminum containers according
to material without regard for brand;
(f) placing the redeemed glass containers so sorted into receptacle
bins provided therefor at said return center;
(g) placing the redeemed aluminum can containers into a can receptacle
bin;
(h) transferring the glass containers and the cans in said bins
to respective hamper means situated away from the return center;
(i) disposing of the containers transferred to said hamper means;
(j) computing in said data processor the total number of empty
containers of each respective brand returned to aid return center
by said consumer; and
(k) associating the number of returned container of each brand,
and computing in said data processor a credit due to the return
center for the total of returned empty containers of the brands
distributed by said distributor and returned to said return center.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein said hamper means comprises
locked compartments of an exterior compartmentalized hamper having
movable bulkheads dividing said locked compartments from one another.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for sorting and
accounting for items and is more particularly directed to a novel
and advantageous method, especially at a retail outlet, of sorting
and accounting for returnable beverage containers in connection
with their redemption by consumers.
In several states, laws have been enacted that specify that each
container of carbonated beverages, mineral water, beer or other
malt beverage sold in the state must carry with it a minimum deposit.
This deposit, which is usually five cents per container, is paid
initially by the retail outlet or dealer to the distributor who
may be the brewer, bottler, or more often, wholesaler. The dealer,
in turn, must charge this deposit to the purchaser of the beverage.
The purchaser can redeem the deposit at any retail outlet that
carries the brand of beverage in question by returning his empty
container to the outlet. Under most state bottle return laws, it
is the legal responsibility of the distributor to pick up the empty
containers and to pay the retail outlet the amount of the deposits
plus a handling fee that may be about one-and-one-half cents per
container. This procedure, while environmentally beneficial, places
an undesired burden on retail outlets and distributors. Quite often,
the cost to the dealer or retailer exceeds the alloted handling
fees, largely because of labor costs.
Many attempts have been made to streamline the returns procedure
and render it more efficient. These attempts include, for example,
the so-called "reverse vending machine" into which a consumer
feeds returnable cans which are automatically counted and credited
to the consumer.
The present invention is more closely directed to a so-called third-party
collection and redemption system in which a company independent
of the distributors and retailers accounts for the returnable bottles
and cans, and carts off the returned containers from the retailer's
facility. The third-party collection agent notifies each distributor
of the number of cans and bottles collected, collects a fee from
the retailers for disposing of the returnable containers, and credits
the distributors for the scrap value of the container materials
which are sold to a recycler.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a collection and sorting
method and apparatus which facilitates, at the retailer end, the
collection of returnable cans, and renders their removal and transport
more efficient.
It is another object of this invention to provide a collection
and sorting method and apparatus which adapt for and accommodate
seasonal and demographic variations in the ratios of sales of clear
bottles, colored bottles and cans.
The method of this invention is a computerized third-party system
which involves a large number of grocery stores, supermarkets, beverage
retailers, and distributors for the carbonated beverages sold therein.
In this method, the retailers are provided with a programmable
computerized cash register which keeps track of the quantity of
containers that customers bring in for redemption by brand and by
type of container (i.e., glass, aluminum, plastic). The retailer
is also provided with a compartmentalized hamper for holding the
returned containers, these having compartments for clear glass bottles,
colored glass bottles, and aluminum cans. The partitions between
successive compartments can be moved to adjust for the ratio of
cans to bottles, or clear to colored bottles, etc.
Under New York State law, for example, as under the laws of several
other states, each container for carbonated drinks, mineral water,
beer, or other malt beverages, whether in glass, plastic, aluminum,
or steel containers, sold in the state at any outlet, for consumption
on or off premises, must carry with it a minumum five cent deposit.
That deposit is paid initially by the retail outlet to the distributor,
who may, for example, be a brewer, a bottler, or a wholesaler. The
retail outlet in turn must charge this deposit to each purchaser.
The purchaser can redeem the empty container for the deposit at
any retail outlet that sells that brand even if he did not purchase
the filled beverage containers there. Under this procedure, it is
the legal responsibility of the distributor to pick up the returned
empties and pay to the dealer the deposit amounts plus a handling
fee of one-and-one-half cents per container. The containers are
labeled with deposit information. The labels often indicate the
several states where the beverage may be sold and where the containers
may be redeemed.
The system of this invention facilitates this entire process and
avoids the need for the distributors to pick up the empties and
to dispose of them. A Beverage Return Center is set up in each store.
This Beverage Return Center is comprised of a twelve-foot long by
three-foot wide counter (size s approximate) which is used for the
sorting of containers by scrap grade, i.e., clear glass bottles,
colored glass bottles, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles. The counter
has openings, and respective 44-gallon plastic barrels or similar
receptacles for the various scrap grades to be placed under the
respective openings.
Also at the Beverage Return Center is a special electronic cash
register (ECR) similar to the ones used in fast food restaurants.
The ECR has programmed in it the container type, brand, and size
for each individual beverage item handled in the store. The ECR
also "knows" which distributor handles which brands of
beverage. The ECR serves a dual function: It prints a customer receipt
for the containers returned and it maintains a permanent record
of the number of containers returned for each individual distributor.
At the end of each week, the store has a record and provides each
distributor with a printout detailing the amount owed to the store
for refunds of deposit. Software in the ECR allocates the deposit
for containers of a given brand to the appropriate distributor.
As soon as the plastic barrels become filled at the Beverage Redemption
Center, store personnel empty the barrels into compartmentalized
locked holding bins of the hamper, the latter being on premises
but outside the building; when filled, the hamper is picked up by
the third-party agent and transported to a transfer station. The
weight of containers in each bin is determined and the containers
are crushed and processed for recycling. Then the hamper is returned.
Copies of the ECR tapes are sent to the third-party agent. Based
on these data, the appropriate distributors are billed for the agent's
fees and are credited for the scrap value of their containers. Security
of the system is guaranteed in two ways:
1. An independent accounting firm audits store procedures as well
as the third-party agent's activities. The accounting firm also
uses "mystery shopper" techniques to test the accuracy
of data entry.
2. The weight of containers picked up by the third-party agent
are compared to the theoretical weight calculated in the ECR and
based on the number of returns of each scrap grade.
These two procedures together disclose fraud or gross mismanagement,
if any, of the retailer.
According to an object of this invention, a method of redeeming
and disposing of returnable empty beverage containers is presented,
in which a consumer returns aluminum cans, glass bottles, and other
containers to a return center, for example in a grocery supermarket,
for redemption and return of the refundable deposit. At the counter,
a clerk counts the containers delivered by the consumer to the return
center by brand, size and material, and then enters the count of
the containers of each brand, size and material into a computerized
cash register that is associated with a program data processer.
The computerized cash register computes for the consumer credit
data with returned container information indicating the refund of
deposit due the consumer based upon the count or number of containers
returned of each type, and the consumer is then provided with a
credit slip in the form of a cash register receipt. The computerized
cash register and programmed data processor keep track of the number
of containers of each type that have been returned for each brand,
and then associate each brand with its respective distributor, so
that the supermarket can be reimbursed for the redemptions.
The clerk then sorts the redeemed glass and aluminum containers
according to material and without regard for brand, and places the
returned glass containers so sorted into separate receptacle bins
provided for that purpose at the return center. The redeemed aluminum
containers are placed into a can crushing unit at the beverage return
center, which automatically crushes the cans to reduce their volume
and then automatically deposits these crushed cans in a crushed
can receptacle. When these receptacle bins are filled, their contents
of glass containers and crushed cans are transferred to respective
locked compartments of an exterior compartmentalized hamper that
is usually kept outside at the rear or side of the supermarket.
This hamper has moveable bulkheads dividing the locked compartments
from one another. These bulkheads are adjustable to change the relative
size of the respective compartments to conform with the relative
volume of containers of the respective types of materials stored
in each of the compartments. This is a beneficial feature because
there is a significant seasonal variation in mix of aluminum and
glass containers from summer to winter, and significant variations
from one community to another.
When any one of the compartments is completely filled, the hamper
is placed on a truck bed and the truck is driven to a recycle center.
The respective weights of the contents of each of the locked containers
is measured at the recycle center. First the full hamper is weighed.
Then, an end door of the hamper is released, and the contents of
the compartment between the end door and the first of the moveable
bulkheads is dumped. The hamper is weighed again. Then, a releasable
lock member is removed from the first of the bulkheads, permitting
it to swing when the hamper is dumped, and then the contents of
the next compartment are dumped. After this, the hamper is again
weighed.
Each remaining bulkhead is successively released, and the contents
of the compartment behind it dumped, following which the hamper
again is weighed, until all of the compartments in the hamper have
been emptied. The weight difference between successive weighings
of the hamper give the measured actual weight of the contents of
each of the compartments.
From the computerized cash register and the associated data processor,
the total number of the empty containers of each respective material
type is calculated, and a theoretical weight of each of the hamper
compartments is computed, based on the number of containers of each
such type returned. An audit is carried out based on a comparison
of the actual measured weight with the theoretical calculated weight.
The computerized cash register and data processor associate the
number of returned containers of each brand with the respective
distributor, and also calculate a credit for the retailer from each
distributor for the number of containers returned for which that
distributor has responsibility.
The metal containers are crushed in the store, but the glass containers
are placed, intact, into the receptacles in the store. The glass
containers are preferably not crushed or fractured, except for an
insubstantial amount of breakage, until after being transferred
to the hamper. It has been found that the aluminum cans maintain
their integrity even when crushed, so that residual beverage in
the container will not leak out and attract insects. However, glass
containers do not have this property, so they are left unbroken
in the store and any residual beverage stays within the container
until after they are transferred outside.
Preferably, the can crushing unit has a vibratory hopper to receive
the redeemed aluminum can containers, including an electric vibrator
for vibrating the hopper so that the containers are consistently
fed from the hopper to an inlet of the can crushing unit, and a
compartment beneath the can crushing unit reposes the receptacle
bin for the crushed cans.
The above and many other objects, features, and advantages of this
invention will become more fully understood from the ensuing detailed
description of a prefered embodiment, which should be considered
in connection with the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a beverage return counter according
to this invention.
FIG. 2 is an elevation, partly cut away, of a can crushing unit
according to an embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the compartmentalized hamper according
to an embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the hamper of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V--V of FIG. 4
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI--VI of FIG.
5.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII--VII of FIG.
4.
FIGS. 8 9 and 10 illustrate the sequence for emptying the hamper
of FIG. 4.
FIG. 11 is a flow chart of the process of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows a beverage return center, of the type which is typically
found in a supermarket or redemption center which may have a large
turnover in the number of containers sold and redeemed. At the beverage
return center, there is a beverage return counter 10 having a flat
countertop 12 on which the returned containers are placed by the
customer, and with respective openings 14 therein for plastic, one-way
clear glass, and one-way colored glass containers. Receptacles,
which are favorably forty-four gallon plastic barrels 16 are disposed
beneath the countertop 12 at the positions of the openings 14. A
computerized cash register 18 sits atop the countertop 12. A can
crushing unit 20 at one end of the return counter 10 serves to reduce
the volume occupied by the returned aluminum cans.
Beer and soft drink containers are placed by the consumer onto
the countertop 12 and the data relating to the number of cans of
each particular brand, the number of clear glass bottles of each
brand, the number of colored glass bottles of each brand, and the
number of plastic containers for each brand are entered by a clerk
onto the computerized cash register 18. This can be done on the
keyboard of the register 18 or by use of a bar code reader (not
shown). The register 18 produces a cash register tape for the customer
indicating the amount of store credit to be given to the customer
for returning the redeemable containers. Refillable beer and soft
drink containers are credited in a similar fashion, but the refillable
containers are stored separately, as they must be returned to the
distributor and thence to the bottler or brewer to be refilled.
As shown in FIG. 2 the can crushing unit 20 has a hopper 22 with
an open top into which the store clerk deposits the aluminum cans.
A can crushing mechanism 24 is disposed beneath the hopper 22 and
a receptacle bin 26 is disposed beneath the crushing mechanism 24.
The hopper 22 is formed of a shell 28 with an upper baffle 30 and
a lower baffle 32. The latter leads to an opening 34 through which
the cans fall to the can crushing mechanism 24. A vibrator motor
36 is here attached to the underside of the lower baffle 32 and
vibrates the hopper 22. The vibration prevents the cans from bridging
together and jamming in the hopper 22.
The can crushing mechanism 24 has an outer housing 38 containing
a rotating cylinder-type crushing machine 40. The latter is formed
with an outer static cylinder 42 and inner rotating drum 44. These
have vertical axes, but the axis of the drum 44 is offset from that
of the cylinder 42. A guide member 46 disposed beneath the opening
34 leads the cans from the opening into the space between the cylinder
42 and the drum 44. A metal arm 48 projects downward into the space
between the cylinder 42 and the drum 44 and guides the cans that
fall therein so that they are carried into the narrow part of the
space between the cylinder 42 and the drum 44 where they are crushed.
The crushing machine 40 also has a frame 50 which suspends the rotating
drum 44 a motor 52 and a belt drive 54 for transmitting power
from the motor 52 to the drum 44.
An interlock switch 56 connects the housing 38 of the can crushing
mechanism 24 with the receptacle bin 26 therebelow, and renders
the motor 52 inoperative whenever the housing 38 is removed. A similar
interlock 58 is provided between the housing 38 and the hopper 22
so that the motor 52 will not operate when the hopper 22 is removed.
The receptacle bin 26 has an enclosed compartment 60 with a lockable
front door panel 62 and a removable receptacle 64 is disposed within
the compartment 60 beneath the outlet of the crushing machine 40.
The crusher unit can have an automatic switch for the motors 36
and 52 for example, weight actuated or photoelectrically actuated.
A manual switch can be used for this purpose as well.
With this device, the aluminum cans are crushed to about one-fifth
of their original volume. Consequently, more returned cans can be
transferred from the return counter per trip than if the cans were
not so crushed.
The compartmentalized hamper employed according to this embodiment
of the invention is shown in FIGS. 3-7. In this embodiment, the
hamper is generally formed of a box-type trash container, or box
100 designed to load onto the flatbed of a truck for transport to
a dumping or recycling site. This container or box 100 has a front
wall 102 opposed side walls 104 a bottom 106 and a back 108 which
is arranged as a hinged door that is normally locked shut. The front
end wall 102 and the bottom 106 are provided with rollers and other
known means 12 to permit loading of the box 100 onto a truck bed.
A top 110 of this box 100 is provided with a series of pairs of
locked doors 112 which are kept padlocked shut by means of locking
bars 114. From the back to the front, the box has compartments 116
118 and 120 with the compartment 116 of this embodiment being
for aluminum cans, compartment 118 for colored glass bottles, and
compartment 120 for clear glass bottles. Transverse bulkheads 122
serve as septa to separate the respective containers 116 from 118
and 118 from 120.
As shown in FIG. 5 the bulkheads each have a pivot rod 124 welded
across the top thereof and extending outwardly through a slot 126
in the side wall 104 of the box. Support members 128 formed of angle
braces each have a flange 130 protruding outward, and pairs of holes
132 are provided in the protruding flange 130 at a number of positions
along its length. For each support member 128 a generally F-shaped
pivot member 134 has a pair of round prongs 136 that project upwardly
through the pair of holes 132 in the flange 130 of the support member
128 and a flat base member 138 which is disposed below the support
flange 130. Similar pairs of holes 140 in registry with the holes
132 are provided in a box-like overlapping portion of the top 110.
Also, as shown in FIG. 6 a hole 144 through one of the round prongs
136 receives a pin (not shown) to retain the pivot member 144 in
place.
Each of the F-shaped pivot members 134 surrounds the protruding
end of the rod 124 to define a pivot location about which the bulkhead
122 can swing. If this position is to be changed, the pivot member
134 is pulled downwards out of the holes 132 and 140 and then the
bulkhead 122 and its pivot rod 124 can be slid along slots 126 to
a position between another pair of holes 132 and the pivot member
134 replaced at the new location.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 the bulkheads 122 are held from swinging
by means of lock rods and a lock support 150 disposed at the bottom
of the side walls 104. Each lock support 150 is formed of an angle
member 152 welded to the side wall 104 at the bottom thereof, with
a plurality of pipe stubs or tubes 154 each spaced about six inches
apart so as to be in vertical alignment with the positions of the
pairs of holes 132 for the pivot member 134. An additional lock
support 156 is disposed in line with the pipe stubs 154 adjacent
a brace 157 on the side wall 104.
An ell-shaped lockrod 158 passes through one of the pipe stubs
154 and into an opening 159 in the bulkhead 122 to lock the bulkhead
122 against swinging motion. An angle member 160 having an apertured
upstanding flange 161 is welded to the bottom of the box 100. A
lead seal 162 has a wire passing through apertures in the flange
161 of the angle member 160 and through the end of the lockrod 158
to keep the lockrod 158 in place.
As aforesaid, when any of the compartments 116 118 or 120 becomes
completely filled, the third-party agent is called in, and the agent
brings a flatbed truck 164 to load the box 100 and carry the same
to a dumping or recycling site. At that location, the full box 100
is weighed, and then the hinged back gate 108 is opened, and the
box 100 tilted, as shown in FIG. 8 to empty the crushed cans from
the compartment 162.
Thereafter, the box is again weighed, and the lock rods 158 removed
from the rear bulkhead 122 so that the latter is permitted to swing.
Then, the box 100 is again tilted, as shown in FIG. 9 and the colored
glass bottles from the compartment 118 are dumped out. Again, the
box 100 is weighed, the lock rods 158 removed from the forward bulkhead
122 and then the clear glass bottles from the compartment 122 are
dumped as shown in FIG. 10.
The empty box 100 is weighed, and then the same is returned to
the retailer. Upon return, or prior to return of the box 100 to
the supermarket, the positions of the bulkheads 122 can be adjusted,
and the lock rods 158 are replaced.
The flow chart of FIG. 11 illustrates the entire process, which
can be briefly described as follows:
The method of this invention is set in motion by the consumer or
purchaser, who brings his empty containers to the supermarket or
other retailer in order to redeem his or her deposit. Upon arriving
at the supermarket, the consumer brings the returned containers
to the beverage return center, as in block [1]. At the return center,
as mentioned above, the clerk can sort and count the returned containers
as in block [2] with the containers being sorted according to brand,
e.g. "Coca-Cola" soft-drink, "Matt's" beer,
etc., and according to the type of material, such as aluminum, plastic,
clear glass, or colored glass. If there are different amounts of
deposit for the different sizes of containers, the clerk may also
enter the size, for example 12 ounce, 16 ounce, 64 ounce, etc.,
and the amount of deposit.
The clerk enters his count of the returned containers, according
to brand, size, and material as noted above, into the computerized
cash register 18 as in block [3], and the computerized cash register
18 immediately produces a credit slip (block [4]) which the consumer
can cash at the checkout counter. At that time, the clerk places
the plastic, clear glass and colored glass containers into the respective
receptacles 16 (block [5]) and places the cans into the can crusher
block (block [6]). When any of these receptacles 16 or 64 are filled,
they are transferred away from the beverage return center into the
rear of the store (block [7]) and the aluminum, clear glass, colored
glass containers are emptied into respective compartments 116 118
120 of the box 100 (block [8]). The plastic containers are shredded
(block [9]).
As aforesaid, when any one of the compartments 116 118 120 become
filled, the hamper or box 100 is picked up by the third-party agent
and is taken to transfer site or dump site (block [10]) the contents
of each compartment are weighed and are unloaded (block [11]). The
colored glass and clear glass containers are crushed and loaded
on respective trailers to be sold to glass recyclers, as in blocks
[12] and [13], while the aluminum is baled, and loaded onto vans
or trucks and sold to an aluminum recycler, as in block [14].
If there is an anticipated need to change the volume capacity of
the various material types of container, the positions of the bulkheads
122 can be reset, as in block [15]. Then, the hamper or box 100
is returned to the supermarket (block [16]).
All of the information entered into the computerized cash register
18 is stored, and the cash register 18 maintains a permanent record
of the number of containers returned for each individual distributor.
This is carried out by cross-referencing, in software, the respective
brands with the appropriate distributor serving the particular supermarket
(block [17]). From that information, at the end of each week the
programmed data processer associated with the electronic cash register
provides, for each respective distributor, a printout detailing
the amount owed by the distributor to the outlet for refund and
handling charges, as in block [18]. The distributor, for his part,
is credited with or reimbursed for the salvage value of the bottles,
cans, and other containers.
The purpose of weighing the contents of each of the compartments
116 118 and 120 of the hamper or box 100 when the hamper is taken
to the transfer station is to provide checks on the security of
the procedure. Thus, an audit is carried out as in block [19], comparing
the actual weight of the salvageable containers with a theoretical
weight generated from the computerized cash register 18 to ascertain
whether there has been any significant loss of containers between
redemption and salvage.
While the invention has been described in detail with reference
to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the invention
is not limited to that embodiment and the invention can be embodied
in many other forms without departing from the scope or spirit of
the invention, as defined in the appended claims. |