Rotary conveyor for returnable items

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0001The present invention is related in general to apparatus for handling items or objects, e.g. for receiving, sorting and storing returnable items or objects, such as empty beverage containers like bottles, cans or the like. The invention is particularly useful in connection with reverse vending machines, although certain aspects of the present invention may also find other fields of use. In particular, the present invention relates to a conveyor means for a facility for receiving returnable items, in particular containers such as bottles, cans and the like of plastic, glass or metal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0002In a decade or so, environmental and economical concerns have spurred significant developments in the field of facilities for collecting cans, bottles, jars and other containers, preferably for recovering the material for recycling purposes. These days, fully automatic systems are available that are capable of receiving and storing many different types of used containers, or even parts of used containers.

0003Arrangements for handling recyclable items like returnable empty beverage containers are <i>inter alia</i> known from the European publications <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP0384885A"><text>EP 0 384 885</text></patcit> (SIG Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft), <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP1311448A"><text>EP 1311448</text></patcit>, and the <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="WO0212096A"><text>International Patent Application publication WO02/12096</text></patcit> (<patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="EP1313656A"><text>EP 1313656</text></patcit>) (TOMRA SYSTEMS ASA) and <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="EP14677328A"><text>EP 14677328</text></patcit> (TOMRA SYSTEMS ASA).

0004Till now, available fully automated systems, so-called reverse vending machines (RVMs) and back-room systems, that are capable of receiving and storing used containers have been quite complex and expensive. They have, therefore, mostly been found in larger stores, shopping centers or supermarkets, or in special facilities put up for collecting recyclable items or objects.

0005Accordingly, for the customer who has recyclable items or objects in smaller quantities, and who may not have at disposal a proper vehicle to facilitate easy transportation of recyclable material to a larger store, shopping center or supermarket that may be located at a distance from the person's home, it is often easier to throw the recyclable items out with the garbage.

0006The currently available reverse vending machines normally deliver the received objects to a back-room receiving facility or a downstairs facility. The total installation is expensive, requires substantial space, is often complex to install and service, and has operational drawbacks, in particular from a cleaning point of view. Frequent cleaning of soiled operational parts, suitably with water or special cleaning agent, is very important to secure failsafe operation. Returnable beverage containers frequently contain beverage leftovers, which often happen to come into contact with operational parts, thus making such parts sticky and causing operational failure if not properly cleaned. Cleaning is more than often a messy operation, and care has to be made not to harm electrical components.

0007Most RVMs need to have the ability to inspect identifying features on the object, such as e.g. a bar code. If such features are not immediately seen by a dedicated detector, the object will need to be rotated to find if such features are indeed present. An object rotating mechanism is expensive and requires substantial space in the longitudinal or depth direction of the RVM. Further, if such RVMs are also to provide object sorting, an additional sorter has to be provided, adding further to the cost of the installation, and the dimension of the RVM as regards depth dimension is in some cases prohibitive when both a rotator and a sorter are to be included. Also, most owners of stores, shopping centers or supermarkets are concerned over RVMs requiring substantial and expensive space for collecting the containers received by the RVM, such space frequently being occupied by container collection tables.

0008<patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="WO0212096A"><text>WO0212096</text></patcit> discloses a device for controlling the conveying direction of liquid containers in the form of empty beverage packaging, for example, cans or bottles of any cross-section, where the conveying direction is either through a portion of the device, or sideways away from the conveying path where the containers are supported in a horizontal position, comprising a drum that is rotatably arranged above the conveying path and with its axis of rotation in the direction of the conveying path, wherein the drum has at least one container-adapted chamber, through-going in the direction of the axis of rotation, and with its mouth at the periphery of the drum, at least one container guide plate extending sideways and upwards from the conveying path along a portion of the circumference of the drum, and a container ejector mechanism arranged in connection with said chamber, where the mechanism is so adapted that on mechanical operation it will empty the chamber when the chamber opening has moved passed an upper edge of the container guide plate, and thus with force will thrust a container lying in the chamber out of the chamber.

0009<patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="DE10348009"><text>DE10348009</text></patcit> is related to a recycling automat, which employs an outer stationary drum and an inner rotating drum, which are mounted on the same axle. The outer drum serves as a receiver for the recycled goods and in combination with the inner drum rotates the inserted cans or bottles to ensure and aid the correct identification for the registration and the sorting of the goods. Furthermore, the inner drum conveys the returned empties to either the eject opening in case of a false empty or to the opening to press the empty good. The pressing of the empty recycle goods occurs automatically if detected as a plastic bottle or aluminium can by the sensors. The sorting is achieved by means of opening or closing flaps, which are built into the conveyor channel. After pressing the recycled goods fall into the corresponding container for cans, glass or plastic bottles.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

0010The present invention therefore has as a principal object to meet a long felt need to provide an improved automated facility for collecting returnable objects or items, such as recyclable items of plastic, metal or glass, and for overcoming the well-known mentioned drawbacks, thus yielding a low cost facility which exhibits optimal use of limited space, in particular floor space, that may be available almost everywhere, enabling their placement even in smaller stores, convenience stores, local gas stations and public areas. Thereby, such facilities may be more conveniently available to customers. These features and other features to appear through reading of the specification are some of the objectives of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

0011The invention is defined by the independent claims.

0012Embodiments are given by the dependent claims.

0013The present disclosure also describes an alternative to the drum type conveyor means in the form of a conveyor means having a movable plunger in a stationary elongate housing part.

0014The conveyor means as defined are particularly suitable for feeding returnable objects or items, particularly returnable containers like bottles, cans and the like, preferably made from plastic, glass or metallic material to a vertically or upwardly oriented storage for storing returnable objects or items in a substantially upwards filling direction.

0015More specifically, the conveyor means is adapted to handle, sort and convey returnable items or objects, and for feeding such items or objects into the substantially vertically or upwardly oriented storage space, without employing a vertical conveyor for filling the storage space.

0016In addition to the features of the invention as defined in claims, the present disclosure is also concerned with the inherent problems in a reverse vending machine of disconnecting operational units for cleaning purposes, services etc., and there is accordingly described a novel drive device in a reverse vending machine to forcibly drive at least one handling unit suited to handle empty packaging in the form of empty beverage containers.

0017It is well known in the art that equipment used for handling empty beverage containers in a reverse vending machine (RVM) is frequently soiled by beverage leftovers coming from the interior of such containers, and causing malfunction of the equipment or drive motor overload if not properly washed and cleaned at regular intervals, in many cases with a necessity for cleaning once every day.

0018Such equipment is conventionally made with drive motors firmly attached to the equipment either on the outside or internally, and with sophisticated or expensive plug /socket connection to power supply in the reverse vending machine.

0019When cleaning such equipment, often with hot water and/or pressurized water or other cleaning agent, motors and connectors may be damaged or get moist through intrusion of water, with the inherent risk of malfunction through leakage currents or even short-circuit. Therefore, expensive and sophisticated technical solutions have to be designed to avoid such damages or other operational problems or hazards. Such solutions may therefore include special purpose motors, plug and socket units, wiring etc.

0020The present invention therefore intends to overcome the present every-day problem linked with the operation of reverse vending machines which are in need of frequent cleaning to remove spillage of beverage leftovers which are more than often with a very high sugar content, resulting in sticky functional components and adherence between components, causing unnecessary wear and tear on functional components and drive units, causing reduced life of many components, as well as substantial risk of malfunction.

0021Preferred embodiments of the drive device appear from the detailed description.

0022In the following, the conveyor means of present invention, as well aspects related to a drive device, will be explained by way of examples and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals indicate the same elements, although as regards some elements, different reference numerals have been used for elements having same properties of functioning and for practical reasons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0023In the drawings: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li><figref idref="f0001">fig. <b>1</b></figref> shows in a perspective view, an exemplary mode of a reverse vending machine with object storage chamber; object supporting, rotating, sorting and conveyor means; camera-aided detector device; supplementary item/ object collector means; token dispenser; token reader; safety apparatus; and drive means,</li><li><figref idref="f0002">fig. <b>2</b></figref> is a partial sectional view of a drum type conveyor for a storage facility, being positioned in a first rotational position,</li><li><figref idref="f0003">fig. <b>3</b></figref> is a perspective view of the drum type conveyor shown in <figref idref="f0002">fig. 2</figref>,</li><li><figref idref="f0004">fig. <b>4</b></figref> is a partial sectional view of an embodiment of a drum type conveyor for incorporation in a storage facility, the drum being in a second rotational position with a piston like plunger element in a retracted position,</li><li><figref idref="f0005">fig. <b>5</b></figref> is a perspective view of the conveyor of <figref idref="f0004">fig. 4</figref>,</li><li><figref idref="f0006">fig. <b>6</b></figref> is a partial sectional view of an embodiment of a drum type conveyor for incorporation in the storage facility, the drum being rotated in a first direction from the second position to assume a third rotational position in which with the piston-like plunger element is in an advanced position,</li><li><figref idref="f0007">fig. <b>7</b></figref> is a perspective view of the positional state of the drum type conveyor of <figref idref="f0006">fig.6</figref>,</li><li><figref idref="f0008">fig. <b>8</b></figref> is a partial sectional view of an embodiment of a drum type conveyor for incorporation in a storage facility, with the drum rotated in a direction opposite to that starting at <figref idref="f0004">figs.4</figref>, <figref idref="f0005">5</figref> and ending at <figref idref="f0006">figs. 6</figref>, <figref idref="f0007">7</figref>, i.e. a rotation in clockwise direction - as viewed on <figref idref="f0008">fig. 8</figref> - from the second position to the first position to assume a further rotational position with the piston-like plunger in an advanced, downwardly facing position,</li><li><figref idref="f0009">fig. <b>9</b></figref> is a perspective view of positional state of the drum type conveyor of <figref idref="f0008">figure 8</figref>, as seen partly from below,</li><li><figref idref="f0010">fig. <b>10</b></figref> is a perspective view of an embodiment of a drum type conveyor for incorporation in a storage facility, having a roller and a load cell applied to the roller,</li><li><figref idref="f0011">fig. <b>11</b></figref> is an illustration of a drum type conveyor embodiment positioned in a cabinet with a bearing for the roller and load cell on a movable arm,</li><li><figref idref="f0012">fig. <b>12</b></figref> shows the bearing and load cell arrangement of <figref idref="f0011">figure 11</figref> with the movable arm positioned for bearing and load cell engagement with a roller,</li><li><figref idref="f0013">fig. <b>13</b></figref> is a principle sketch to illustrate drive means for rotatably driving a drum in said object supporting, rotating, sorting and conveyor means,</li><li><figref idref="f0014">fig. <b>14</b></figref> shows in a perspective view a reverse vending machine with object storage chamber; object supporting, rotating, sorting and conveyor means; item collector means; token dispenser; token reader; and drive means,</li><li><figref idref="f0015">fig. <b>15</b></figref> is a principle drawing showing a possible layout of a storage facility having multiple storage chambers, a conveying and sorting means, and means for reading information from, or detecting the type of, returnable item or object being positioned in an input receiving area.</li></ul>

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

<u>RVM overview</u>

0024<figref idref="f0001">Fig. <b>1</b></figref> illustrates in an exemplary embodiment a reverse vending machine (RVM) <b>1</b> embodying main inventive aspects of the present invention, .i.e. object storage chamber <b>2</b>; object supporting, rotating, sorting and conveyor unit <b>3</b>; camera-aided detector device <b>4</b>; supplementary item/ object collector means <b>5</b>; token dispenser <b>6</b>; token reader <b>7</b>, safety apparatus <b>8</b>, and drive means <b>9; 9'</b>. The unit <b>3</b> (later denoted as <b>200</b>) could have to have its longitudinal axis <b>3'</b> horizontal or forming an angle α with the horizontal, yielding angle β in the range ± 0° - 30°. In the more detailed disclosure to follow, the operational means <b>2</b> - <b>9</b> just mentioned will for practical reasons be denoted by other reference numerals. Direction is also made to <figref idref="f0014">fig. <b>14</b></figref> showing the figure of <figref idref="f0001">fig. <b>1</b></figref>, however with more reference numerals inserted to identify location of some of the various operational means which are extensively disclosed in the disclosure to follow in connection with <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006 f0007 f0008 f0009 f0010 f0011 f0012 f0013">figs. <b>2</b> - <b>13</b></figref>.

<u>Rotary Drum Type Conveyor Means</u>

0025Reference is made to <figref idref="f0002">fig. <b>2</b></figref>, to explain the drum type conveyor of the present invention. The drum type conveyor includes a drum shaped element that is rotary about a central, longitudinal axis of rotation <b>221</b>. A substantially rectangular and elongate recess-like space or cavity, being open at the peripheral area of the drum, is provided in the drum, for holding an elongate movable element which can be retracted and advanced, the movable element having an outer surface that in the advanced position preferably becomes substantially aligned with an outer surface of the drum. In the accompanying drawings, the movable element is denoted by the numeral <b>223</b>, and the space or cavity in the drum is denoted by reference numeral <b>222</b>. The rotational capability of the drum <b>220</b> is obtainedthrough use of bearings positioned in a region at each end of the drum, and positioned on the axis of rotation <b>221</b>. A part of the structure, such as a cabinet, can be adapted to hold the bearings in place, thereby allowing the drum to rotate with its outer surface <b>228</b> in proximity to the input receiving area <b>210</b> which is made to coincide with an inlet opening <b>425</b> (see <figref idref="f0014">fig. <b>14</b></figref>) in the cabinet <b>250</b> (see <figref idref="f0011">fig. <b>11</b></figref>), <b>428</b> (see <figref idref="f0014">fig. <b>14</b></figref>). As an alternative, as shown in <figref idref="f0003">fig. <b>3</b></figref> and in other drawing figures, the drum <b>220</b> may be positioned in a frame <b>240</b> to form a conveyor assembly for easy conveyor assembly removal for convenient conveyor cleaning, test, maintenance and replacement.

0026To ensure proper alignment and good fixation of the conveyor unit when located in a storage facility according to the invention, the frame <b>240</b> is suitably adapted to match a receiving frame <b>251</b> (<figref idref="f0011">fig. <b>11</b></figref>) that preferably is part of a cabinet <b>250</b> (<figref idref="f0011">fig. <b>11</b></figref>), <b>428</b> (<figref idref="f0014">fig. <b>14</b></figref>), and which facilitates any of the possible layouts of a storage facility, as exemplified by several of the previous figures.

0027Preferably, as shown in <figref idref="f0003">figs. <b>3</b></figref>, <figref idref="f0007"><b>7</b></figref> or <figref idref="f0009"><b>9</b></figref>, the moveable element <b>223</b> is driven by way of a moveable element drive means comprising a tappet or a roller <b>232</b>, being attached to the moveable element <b>223</b>, that follows a track <b>231</b> located proximal to an end of the drum and being stationary in respect of the drum. By providing a tappet or roller <b>232</b> on each side of the moveable element, made to engage with respective stationary tracks <b>231</b> located proximal to respective ends of the drum, a balanced driving force can be applied to the moveable element by the rotation of the drum. Thus, only the drum will require a drive for the assembly to operate as described here, as the moveable element will be driven by the movement of the drum relative to the stationary track. The shape of the track, i.e. the distance of the track from the axis of rotation of the drum, controls the position of the tappet or roller <b>232</b>, and, hence, the position of the moveable element, in a radial direction with respect to the drum center axis. The track is a single, continuous track <b>231</b> followed by the tappet or roller means <b>232</b>.

0028In <figref idref="f0002">fig. <b>2</b></figref>, the drum <b>220</b> is shown in a first rotational position with the movable element in an advanced position and pointing downwards, and with a returnable object/ item <b>10</b> entered into the input receiving space or area <b>210</b> to be placed on an upward facing region of the outer circumferential surface <b>228</b> of the drum <b>220</b>. In a preferable embodiment, the drum type conveyor includes an elongate roller <b>243</b>, or other means to allow rotation of the item while keeping the item in the input receiving area, to facilitate a rotation of a returnable object/ item <b>10</b> resting on the drum surface <b>228</b> as the drum <b>220</b> is put into rotation about its axis of rotation <b>221</b>. In particular, when the returnable item is provided with a readable code for identification of the item or for providing specific information about the container, rotation of the object/ item <b>10</b> will often be required to position the part of the object/ item <b>10</b> carrying the code such that it becomes readable, for example by use of a reader or recognizing device <b>20</b> located to observe the input receiving area. The drum type conveyor has also a guide <b>241</b>, e.g. a curved plate member, that extends from the area <b>210</b> to the output <b>224</b>, as will be further explained in connection with <figref idref="f0008">fig. <b>8</b></figref>. Further guides <b>241</b>, e.g. as also shown on <figref idref="f0008">fig. <b>8</b></figref>, could extend from the area 210 down to the output <b>226'</b>.

0029<figref idref="f0003">Fig. <b>3</b></figref> depicts in a perspective view the drum <b>220</b> in the first rotational position as shown in <figref idref="f0002">fig. <b>2</b></figref> and with the returnable item <b>10</b> resting on an upwardly facing part of the drum circumference. In the embodiment of <figref idref="f0003">fig. <b>3</b></figref>, the conveyor is provided with a roller driving <b>244</b> means for driving the roller <b>243</b> in conjunction with driving of the drum, such that the surface velocity of the roller <b>243</b> is in a range of a velocity of a rolling surface <b>228</b> of the drum when rotated. Preferably, the roller driving means <b>244</b> comprises a gear drive arrangement that mechanically provides a rotation of the roller <b>243</b> by the rotation of the drum <b>220</b>. Movement in an axial direction of a returnable object/ item <b>10</b> being positioned in the input receiving area and resting on the drum <b>220</b> and roller <b>243</b> is in part restricted by end walls <b>229</b> associated with and located at each end of the drum <b>220</b>, and in part by elements <b>242</b> that constitute the frame <b>240</b>. Depending on the design of the means for driving the movable piston-like element <b>221</b> between its retracted position and its advanced position, the conveyor shown in <figref idref="f0003">fig. <b>3</b></figref> can be provided with a single output <b>224</b>, corresponding to only one particular angular drum rotary position, or with a second output at a different angular rotary position of the drum.

0030In <figref idref="f0004">fig. <b>4</b></figref>, the drum <b>220</b> is shown in a second rotational position with the space or cavity opening in the drum facing the input receiving area, and with the movable element <b>223</b> moved to the retracted position. This has thereby allowed the returnable object/ item <b>10</b>, shown in <figref idref="f0002">fig. <b>2</b></figref> as resting on the circumferential drum surface <b>228</b>, to fall into the recess-like space or cavity <b>222</b>, as the drum is rotated to arrive at the second position after rotation from the first position, and be contained by the drum <b>220</b>. The same situation is also shown in the perspective view of <figref idref="f0005">fig. <b>5</b></figref>, which shows parts of interior side walls of the space <b>222</b> and the drum end walls <b>229</b>, which contribute to restrict a movement of the returnable object/ item <b>10</b> such that it may not go beyond the space provided by the cavity <b>222</b>.

0031In <figref idref="f0006">fig. <b>6</b></figref>, a partial sectional view of the drum type conveyor shows the drum in a third angular position, where the movable element has been moved in a first and counter- clockwise direction from the retracted position shown in <figref idref="f0004">figs. <b>4</b></figref> and <figref idref="f0005"><b>5</b></figref> to an advanced position to drive the returnable item to the first output <b>224</b>, preferably for the purpose of driving the object/ item <b>10</b> towards the in-feed opening of a storage chamber <b>110</b>. If driven in a second and clockwise direction to a second output, which is either output <b>226</b> or output <b>226</b>', but not both, in-feed to a respective storage chamber <b>112</b> or <b>114</b> could be envisaged. The drum type conveyor is provided with said guide <b>241</b> to restrict the item <b>10</b> to its location in the cavity <b>222</b> while the drum is being rotated from the second position with the space <b>222</b> facing the input receiving area <b>210</b> to the third angular position where the opening of the cavity <b>222</b> is facing the first output <b>224</b>. The same situation is also shown in perspective view <figref idref="f0007">fig. <b>7</b></figref>, with the opening of the cavity <b>222</b> aligned with the first output <b>224</b> and with the movable element <b>223</b> in an advanced position.

0032In <figref idref="f0008">fig. <b>8</b></figref>, a partial cross sectional view of the drum type conveyor shows the situation based on the situation shown in <figref idref="f0004">fig. <b>4</b></figref>, now with the drum rotated in a second and opposite rotational direction (clockwise direction in the example), whereby the returnable object/ item <b>10</b> that was received in the space or cavity <b>222</b> when the drum was in its second rotational position has been carried by the drum through a rotation of the drum through approximately 180° so that the drum assumes its first position as shown on <figref idref="f0002">figs. <b>2</b></figref> and <figref idref="f0003"><b>3</b></figref>. The object/ item is driven out from the space <b>222</b> by the movable element <b>223</b> moving from a retracted position to an advanced position, but also by the effect of gravity. A guide <b>241</b> is provided to restrict the movement of the object/ item 10 when held in the space <b>222</b> while the drum is being rotated from the second rotational position with the space facing the input receiving area <b>210</b> to the first rotational position with the opening of the space <b>222</b> and the curved face <b>223</b>' of the element <b>223</b> being in register with the output <b>226</b>'. The situation of <figref idref="f0008">fig. <b>8</b></figref> is also shown in the perspective view from below of <figref idref="f0009">fig. <b>9</b></figref>, with the item <b>10</b> exiting from the conveyor at the alternative output <b>226</b>'.

0033For conveying an item <b>10</b> that has entered the recess-like space or cavity to one out of two possible outputs in a specific embodiment of the combined drum conveyor and sorter, different directions of rotation can be used. For example, in the embodiments shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006 f0007 f0008 f0009">figs. <b>2- 9</b></figref> of the accompanying drawings, the drum would be rotated in a first direction (e.g. counter-clockwise, as shown) to deliver the item at the first output <b>224</b>, while a rotation in a second direction (e.g. clockwise, as shown) would be applied to the drum for delivering the item <b>10</b> at a second output <b>226</b> or <b>226</b>'.

0034Thus, in the present context, there are in effect four main rotary positions of the drum <b>220:</b><ol id="ol0001"><li>a) the first rotary position with the recess <b>222</b> and the element <b>223</b> facing downwards;</li><li>b) the second rotary position with the recess <b>222</b> and the element <b>223</b> facing upwards, thus facing the input receiving area,</li><li>c) the third rotary position with the recess <b>222</b> and the element <b>223</b> facing the first output <b>224</b>, and</li><li>d) the fourth rotary position with the recess <b>222</b> and the element <b>223</b> facing the second output <b>226</b> or facing the alternative second output <b>226</b>'. If facing output <b>226</b>', the fourth rotary position will in effect be the same as the first rotary position.</li></ol>

0035Now, with reference to <figref idref="f0010">figs. <b>10</b></figref><b>,</b><figref idref="f0011"><b>11</b></figref> and <figref idref="f0012"><b>12</b></figref>, a load cell arrangement for determining a mass of a returnable item positioned on the drum type conveyor of the invention will be explained. When positioned to rest on the drum <b>220</b> or when rotating the drum <b>220</b> to spin the item <b>10</b>, the item <b>10</b> will also in part be resting on or rotating with the roller <b>243</b>, if such roller <b>243</b> is provided. Reference is also made to <figref idref="f0002">fig. <b>2</b></figref> to see how the object/ item <b>10</b> will be resting against the roller <b>243</b>. For making a decision as to whether or not to accept the object/ item <b>10</b> for storage in the facility according to the invention or to determine an appropriate storage chamber in an embodiment having multiple storage chambers, the mass of the object/ item <b>10</b> should be determined. To facilitate a mass determination, the roller <b>243</b> is provided with at least one bearing <b>245</b> support the roller shaft <b>247</b> at one end of the roller, which bearing <b>245</b> is connected to and supported by a load cell <b>246</b>. In the exemplary embodiment shown in <figref idref="f0010">fig. <b>10</b></figref>, the load cell <b>246</b> is attached to a frame <b>240</b> for the conveyor, while a further bearing <b>248</b> is provided at an opposite end of the roller.

0036A second and alternative embodiment of a load cell arrangement of <figref idref="f0010">fig. <b>10</b></figref> for determining a mass of a returnable object/ item <b>10</b> resting on the roller <b>243</b> is depicted on <figref idref="f0011">fig. <b>11</b></figref>. The arrangement includes a bearing <b>252</b> to be applied to one end of the roller shaft <b>247</b> when the conveyor is positioned in a cabinet <b>250</b>. In this particular embodiment, the shaft <b>247</b> is partly free to move about in a plane perpendicular, suitably vertically, relative to the roller's <b>243</b> axis of rotation, and with the bearing <b>252</b> applied to the end part of the shaft <b>247</b> of the roller <b>243</b> after positioning the drum type conveyor in the cabinet <b>250. 251</b> denotes an electrical connection to the load cell <b>253</b>. Thus, in <figref idref="f0011">fig. <b>11</b></figref>, the removable bearing <b>252</b> and its associated load cell <b>253</b> is shown in a detached position, while, in <figref idref="f0012">fig. <b>12</b></figref>, the cabinet arm <b>250'</b> holding the bearing <b>252</b> has been relocated to a position where the bearing <b>252</b> engages the bearing receiving end of the roller shaft <b>247</b> to provide a bearing with a load cell <b>253</b> referenced to the cabinet <b>250</b> or to the frame <b>240.</b> The embodiments of <figref idref="f0010 f0011 f0012">fig. <b>10 - 12</b></figref> are particularly advantageous to avoid as far as possible the risk that remaining liquid contents in returnable objects/ items <b>10</b> that are positioned on top of the conveyor typically can be spilled, as such spillage will likely require more frequent removal of the conveyor assembly from the cabinet than normally for cleaning away spilling of such unwanted liquid. Also, the use of the load cell prevents an RVM user from being successful with a swindle attempt by entering a full, unopened beverage container into the receiving area and place on top of the drum. The detection system <b>20</b> will - as to be explained later - according to predetermined data determine that a specific observed and recognized item should have a specific weight or weight range. If the item is a full beverage can or bottle, the RVM will determine that there is a potential swindle situation and may trigger an alarm. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the drive means for operating the conveyor is separable from the drum type conveyor itself (as will be explained later), such that, by removing the conveyor from the storage facility assembly, the load cell will remain at the facility (i.e. located on the cabinet arm <b>250'</b>) and thus be protected from being subject to possibly harmful cleaning agents and water that typically would be used for cleaning the conveyor. If the load cell is located on the frame <b>240</b> of the conveyor, as depicted on <figref idref="f0010">fig. <b>10</b></figref>, special measures must be taken to ensure that the load cell is not damaged in any washing or cleaning operation of the conveyor <b>200</b>. Thus the embodiment of <figref idref="f0011">figs. <b>11</b></figref> and <figref idref="f0012"><b>12</b></figref> would be the preferred embodiment.

<u>Electro-mechanical Drive Device</u>

0037<figref idref="f0013">Figs. <b>13</b></figref> and <figref idref="f0014"><b>14</b></figref> show that the unit <b>200</b> is powered by a motor <b>404</b> via a gear <b>500</b> which engages a gear <b>501</b> on the unit <b>200</b> to turn the drum <b>220</b> and in so doing also moving the element <b>223</b>. The roller <b>243</b> is forcibly moveable through interaction between a small gear <b>502</b> and the substantially larger gear <b>501</b>. Motor <b>404</b> is fixedly attached to the framework <b>503</b> of the RVM via brackets <b>504</b>, whereas the unit can be pulled out entirely from the RVM cabinet <b>428</b> (see reference <b>250</b> on <figref idref="f0011">figs. <b>11</b></figref> and <figref idref="f0012"><b>12</b></figref>) for cleaning, as indicated by arrow <b>505</b>, and be pushed into the cabinet again after cleaning for gear engagement between gears <b>500</b> and <b>501.</b> No electrical parts are present on the unit <b>200</b>, just mechanical parts which stand wet cleaning, and even high pressure wet cleaning without any problem.

0038Thus, it is clearly seen that the advantages offered by the present invention reside in that the unit <b>200</b> is connected via a mechanically separable power transfer coupling formed by gears <b>500</b> and <b>501</b>, the gear <b>500</b> being operated by the motor <b>404</b> which is stationary fixed in the cabinet <b>428</b>. Thus the electrically powered drive <b>404</b>, <b>500</b> is located separable from the unit <b>200</b> and its gears <b>501, 502</b>.

<u>Upwardly Oriented Storage</u>

0039<figref idref="f0015">Fig. <b>15</b></figref> illustrates a further exemplary embodiment layout of the present invention that utilizes a highly compact drum based conveyor (as shown in <figref idref="f0002 f0003 f0004 f0005 f0006 f0007 f0008 f0009">Figs. <b>2-9</b></figref>) with as many as three different storage chambers, denoted by <b>110, 112</b> and <b>114</b>, for storing different types of returnable items <b>10</b>. The conveyor <b>200</b> is adapted to receive items <b>10</b> in an input receiving area <b>210</b>, and to move and output the item, based on certain criteria and a decision made by a controller that operates a drum drive unit, at either a first output <b>224</b> for driving the item into a storage space <b>110</b>, or to a second output, which is either the second output <b>226</b> for driving a received item <b>10</b> into the related storage chamber <b>112</b>, or the second output <b>226'</b> for, in this particular embodiment, allowing also gravity to assist in moving the item <b>10</b> from the conveyor to the related storage space <b>114</b>. The storage space <b>114</b> is particularly useful for items to which a relatively high driving force should not be applied, such as for example fragile glass items or heavy items, such as bottles that carry significant amounts of liquid contents, or for other reasons are found unsuitable for being driven into one of the upright storage spaces <b>110</b> or <b>112</b> for elevated storing above the level of the input receiving area.

0040Although three storage chambers <b>110, 112</b> and <b>114</b> are shown on <figref idref="f0015">fig. <b>15</b></figref>, in a practical embodiment with a rotary conveyor and sorter as depicted, only two storage chambers will be used e.g. <b>110, 112; 110, 114;</b> or <b>112, 114</b> with the related outputs <b>224, 226; 224, 226';</b> or <b>226; 226'</b>.

0041In the layout of <figref idref="f0015">fig. <b>15</b></figref>, the storage chamber <b>110</b> is provided with an overflow opening that provides communication to a supplementary storage chamber <b>161</b>. The facility layout shown provides a highly compact design, augmented by the use of the compact drum type conveyor means. For a person who is to deposit a returnable object/ item at the facility, there is conveniently an input receiving area <b>210</b> located as shown in the lower half of the facility. The facility includes a returnable object/ item recognition unit <b>20</b>, which can include, or be connected with a controller for controlling the operation of the conveyor <b>200</b>. The recognition unit <b>20</b> can be of an optical or acoustic type, or employ other or supplementary technology, such as magnetic, mechanical or electrical sensing to determine the type of returnable object/ item <b>10</b> that has been placed in the input receiving area <b>210</b>, or to read information or identifying features (e.g. bar-code) carried by, or located on, the item <b>10</b>. In particular, with regard to the storage chambers <b>110; 112</b>, by employing a movable side wall <b>130; 132</b> or a removable storage chamber <b>114</b>, the storage chamber <b>114</b> can be extended to fill the unused space shown to appear below the first storage chamber <b>110</b>. To facilitate easier filling of the upright oriented storage chambers <b>110</b> and <b>112</b>, a deflector <b>180</b> can also be included.

0042Modification of the various elements, means and devices related to the numerous aspects of the present invention would be conceivable within the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims.