Environmental Products Corp.

Ken R Powell

Bruce H DeWoolfson

David McAuley Alexander

Rusty Driscoll

John D Millhiser

Warner Schumacher

Hon Zhang

An apparatus and method for determining a characteristic of a material, such as composition and/or color, has an electromagnetic radiation source having a first amount of circular polarization. The electromagnetic radiation from the source has the capability of passing through the material. A processor determines the characteristic of the material based on changes in the electromagnetic radiation caused by passing through the material. Changes in electromagnetic radiation include changes in rotation. Additionally, the processor may determine what, if any, electromagnetic radiation was blocked by the material and the amplitude of the electromagnetic radiation passing through the material.

Method for determining a characteristic of a material

An acceptance assembly for a commodity collection, densification, and storage device includes a frame, an insert tube disposed in the frame defining an inlet for receiving a commodity and an outlet, a sensor disposed in the frame proximate the outlet for sensing a feature of the commodity, and an iris device disposed in the frame between the outlet and the sensor. The iris device includes a base secured to the frame and defining an opening therethrough adjacent the outlet, and further includes three plates swingably secured to the base, the plates being pivotable between a first position covering the opening and the outlet, and a second position uncovering the opening and the outlet. The iris device precludes access to the sensor via the inlet of the insert tube when the iris device is in the first position.

Acceptance assembly for a reverse vending machine

An apparatus for identifying information contained in deviations in the surface of an article, such as aluminum cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles, has a source for radiating the article to provide a reflection from the deviations. An observing device observes the deviations in the reflection characteristics. A computer algorithm identifies the deviations and determines whether they correlate to a known pattern of surface deviations. The deviations are in the form of a plurality of lines having a predetermined uniquely identifiable spacing, providing a pattern which may be easily detected by its reflection characteristics and compared to a known pattern of surface deviations. The plurality of lines may be arcs orientated relative to a point on the surface of the article to provide an origin for the arcs, thereby permitting the article to be rotated about its origin for easy location and measurement.

Method and apparatus for identifying information contained in surface

A container cutting assembly includes first and second parallel counter-rotatable shafts defining first and second axes. A first and second plurality of cutting wheels are positioned on the first and second shafts, respectively, interleaved with cutting wheels on the other shaft. Each cutting wheel has several cutting teeth, each tooth having a leading surface and two trailing surfaces. The second trailing surface has a preselected length. The leading surface and first trailing surface define a cutting edge, which is skewed with respect to the respective axis, defining a cutting point. Each cutting wheel is positioned on the shaft such that each cutting point of each tooth passes between two second trailing surfaces of cutting teeth disposed on either side approximately midway along the preselected lengths thereof. The cutting points of corresponding teeth in each plurality of cutting wheels align in lines which are parallel and coplanar to the respective axes. A driver drives the shafts, and a suspension system is provided between the driver and the shafts to absorb and release excess energy applied to the assembly.

Container cutting assembly

An apparatus for analyzing the character of a translucent container including a light source for directing a beam of light along an optical axis through a container. A first optical analyzer is provided for analyzing the color of light passing through a container. The first optical analyzer includes one or more detectors for generating signals in response to light incident thereon. A first directing means directs one or more portions of the beam of light passing through the container toward the one or more detectors. Means are provide for determining the color of the container depending upon the relative magnitudes of the signals from the one or more detectors.

Apparatus and method for detection of material used in construction of

A commodity densification and storage assembly has a housing having an insert port for receiving a commodity, such as aluminum cans, glass bottles, and PET bottles. The assembly further includes a device for densifying the commodity oriented downstream of the insert port; a storage device for storing the densified commodity; and a pneumatic device for conveying the densified commodity to the storage device. The pneumatic device includes an inlet pipe for receiving the densified commodity from the densifying device. The inlet pipe is in communication with the storage device. The pneumatic device further has a blower for creating suction and an outlet pipe in communication with the storage device and the blower. The blower draws the densified commodity to the storage device through the inlet pipe via suction. Additionally, the pneumatic device includes an air filter system for preventing densified commodity from entering the blower. The filter system includes a cartridge filter and a device for storing and delivering fluid under pressure. The blower draws air that passes in sequence through the inlet pipe, through the storage device, through a primary filter, and through the cartridge filter in a first direction. The device for storing and delivering fluid under pressure to the cartridge filter causes the introduced fluid to pass through the cartridge filter in a second direction opposite the first direction for cleaning the cartridge filter.

Filter and filter cleaning system for a reverse vending machine

An assembly is provided for densifying and distributing recycled commodities, such as aluminum cans, glass bottles, and PET bottles. A sensor senses a feature of the commodity, including material of composition and color. Based on the sensed material of composition, the commodity is either shredded (aluminum and PET) or crushed (glass) into densified material. A distribution device receives the densified material and, according to its sensed material of composition and color, distributes it to the proper storage path for storage in one of a plurality of segregated storage bins.

Commodity densification assembly having a multiple path distribution

A method of collecting a plurality of commodities includes the steps of densifying each of the pluralities of commodities into a plurality of densified materials, collecting the plurality of densified materials into at least one of a plurality of segregated temporary storage bins, and transferring at least one of the plurality of densified materials to at least one of a plurality of segregated storage compartments on a mobile multi-compartment storage vehicle.

Method of collecting densified commodities using a mobile

A commodity collection, densification and storage assembly comprises a housing, an insert port in the housing for receiving a commodity, a gate mechanism adjacent the insert port movable between an open and closed position for allowing the commodity to pass therethrough into the housing, an intake device for drawing the commodity from the insert port through the gate mechanism, a first sensor device for sensing the presence of an object in the gate mechanism, a second sensor for verifying whether the inserted commodity is a participating commodity and for determining a composition of the commodity, a densification assembly for densifying the commodity, a storage compartment for storing the densified commodity according to its composition, a removal device for removing the densified commodity from the densifier to the storage compartment, and a timing device for coordinating a sequential operation of the intake device, gate mechanism, second sensor, densification assembly and removal device. The assembly may receive a plurality of various commodities while maintaining the separation of each type of inserted commodity.

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Centreville, VA, United States of America

Ken R Powell