Tomra Systems A/s

Other

A/s Tomra Systems

Mekatronikk A/s

Tore Planke

Tommy Wincent

Halvor Wergeland

Andreas Nordbryhn

Kristian Holmen

Geir Hanevold

Steinar Solnordal

Tor Sjo Slashedwall

Asbjo Slashedrn Bendiksen

Merchandise dispensing by exchange of subsequently validated card

A device for handling empty beverage containers, comprising

Device for handling empty beverage containers

A conveyor for lightweight objects, such as plastic beverage containers, includes an upward facing conveyor surface and a drive for causing the conveyor surface to move. An air suction device located below the conveyor surface draws air through the conveyor surface. The drawn air creates an object-stabilizing suction force on an object located on the conveyor surface when the conveyor moves relative to the air suction device. The conveyor has provision for changing the suction force imposed on the object while it is being transported on the conveyor surface.

Conveyor with variable suction force

A system for positioning of articles in a box or crate means, said box or crate means positionable on table means being selectively shiftable in two horixontal x, y directions through indexed motion and said articles being controllably supplied through chute means from above into said box or crate means at proper x, y positions of said table means relative to said chute means. Means are provided for delivering said box or crate means from a stack chute means capable of holding a stack of box or crate means.

Apparatus for positioning articles in boxes or crates

A system for identification, separation and compacting of empty beverage cans including a first device for distinguishing between cans to be accepted and not accepted and rejecting non-acceptable cans, and for detecting at least one dimension of a can to be compacted, and for determining a can redemption value based on such detection, and a second device for compacting the can through interaction of a three arm device, a first arm contacting a mid-portion of the can and compressing that mid portion, and second and third arms acting on end regions on either side of the mid-portion to compress the remaining portions of the can. The arm device is retracted and the compacted can is removed after the compressing action is completed by the arm device.

Handling and compacting of empty beverage cans

A device for generating, detecting, and characterizing a raster image of the contour of an object, wherein a narrow concentrated light beam (1) is emitted towards a light beam deflector means (3) causing said light beam (1) to sweep repeatedly across a plane (19) through which the object is guilded, and where the light beams not screened by said object are received, and are opto-electrically transformed into electrical signals, e.g. pulse trains which are characteristic of the incremental portions of a raster image of said object, said signals being processed to yield a characteristic expression of the contour of said object. A retro-reflector (5;32) is placed in such a manner that light beams (10) not screened by said object are reflected back across said plane (19) at a second angle of scattering which is equal to or larger than said first angle of scattering, and a detector (11) receives the reflected light beams (10) and transforms them into said signals, preferably for forming a successive pulse train. When a continuous light beam is used the retro-reflector is provided with a plurality of narrow non-reflecting and mutually stripes (6) across the retro-reflector (5). When a pulsed light beam is used a nontreated retro-reflector (32) is used. The plane across which the light beam (1) sweeps may be caused to oscillate in which case a two-dimensional raster image of the contour of the object is formed.

Apparatus for generating detecting and characterizing a raster image of

A method for the identification of metal cans for beverages or the like, at least one area of identification (7; 8) being provided extending around the entire circumference of the can (1) and not being interrupted by a possible other decoration or the like on said can, which area of identification (7; 8) is formed by a number of alternating contrasting stripes (9-13) the mutual width (.tau..sub.1, .tau..sub.2, .tau..sub.3) of which is measured by at least one detector (19-25; 20, 20'; 23; 32'), an identification value (K), e.g. a deposit value, which is characteristic of said can being calculated by the aid of a calculating circuit (33). The measurement may be carried out while said can passes the detector or is briefly at rest. The can is provided with two areas of identification (7;8) at the upper and lower end portions, respectively, of said can (1). The areas of identification (7;8) are provided on said can simultaneously with any other decoration or the like (3, 4, 5, ). The apparatus provided for carrying out said method comprises said detector and the detector may be optically connected with a read head (20). Said read head may comprise two parts (21, 22), one (21) of which being optically connected with the detector (19) and the other part (22) being connected with a light source (24) for illuminating the area of identification on the can. The transition between said two parts (21,22) is defined by a straight separating line (23) oriented in parallel with the stripes of the area of identification.

Method and an apparatus for the identification of metal cans

A method for contour recognition of completely or partly transparent objects (2), e.g. containers like glass or plastic bottles, the object being advanced through an illumination and detector station (3-13; 3, 4, 20, 21) and there being illuminated on at least part of its circumference. The light reflected by the object (2) is viewed by a detector (4,3) against a background that is dark relative to the object, and the viewed image is recorded and converted to pulse signals that are processed to yield a numerical code characteristic of the object. During recording distinct signals are generated which are characteristic of the width (b.sub.n) of the object relative its corresponding height (h.sub.n) for a number of levels (n). The signals are then processed in a threshold circuit (24) and a pulse generating circuit (25) for the generation of the pulse signals (P), for each height (h.sub.n) two pulses (22', 23') being formed, the distance between the leading edge of the first pulse (22') and the trailing edge of the second pulse (23' ) defining the width (b.sub.n) of the object at said height (h.sub.n). The distinctive signals are preferably generated by a TV camera, e.g. a CCD camera. Utilization especially in connection with contour recognition of return bottles.

Method for contour recognition of totally or partly transparent objects,

A cutting device for a continuous paper web (4), said web being advanced from a paper web supply (8) by the aid of at least one advancing means (11, 14, 15) to a feed-out location (17) where the cutting may take place, a deflector (16) being provided downstream of said advancing means (11, 14, 15) and changing the direction of movement of said web (4), so that the web is advanced toward the feed-out location (17). A stationary knife (18) is provided downstream of said deflector (16), the edge of said knife (18) being arranged so as to face away from said feed-out location (17) and toward said deflector (16) and the edge of said knife forming an acute angle with said deflector means (16). Said deflector is a sheet shaped to be bendable toward the base of said knife, the edge of said knife (18) not contacting and cutting said paper web until the free end (4') of the web is pulled, e.g. by hand (19), in a direction forming an angle with said deflector (16) and, thus, bending it. The edge of the knife may have an optional shape.

Cutting device for a continuous paper web

Apparatus for sorting containers such as bottles according to their shape, size or color in which there is a conveyor along which the containers pass with a plurality of exits. Container recognition apparatus is provided which controls means to direct the different containers to selected ones of the exits.

Apparatus for sorting containers for liquids

Apparatus for identifying containers comprises a memory in which data relating to physical characteristics of containers is stored, a conveyor for transporting containers through a scanning station comprising a plurality of light detectors and a light source and signal generating means for generating signals distinguishing between those detectors obscured from said source by a container passing through said station and those not so obscured and means for comparing those signals with said data to identify the container. There is also disclosed a method of identifying containers utilizing such apparatus.

Method and a device for automatic pattern recognition of liquid

Apparatus for conveying articles of different physical characteristics, particularly bottles of different sizes and weights which comprises a generally upright tubular guide through which the articles pass and, towards a lower delivery end of the guide tube, a rotating roller projects into the tube to contact the articles and slow them down before the articles are delivered to article receiving members from which they are ejected to be transported to a receiving station.

Apparatus for conveying articles

An apparatus for automatic recognition and registration of bottles includes detectors positioned to detect a light pattern from bottles passing a sensing stage. The outputs of the sensors are detected and converted to unique output signals for application to a computer and registration circuit. The computer circuit is pre-programmed to provide an output corresponding to the value of a given bottle passing through the sensing stage. The output of the computer is applied to a printing system for enabling a printer output corresponding to the value assigned to a series of bottles registered by the apparatus.

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Nykirke, Norway

Tore Planke