The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 10, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 24, 2001
Johann Löning, Oldenburg, DE;
Siegmar Hecht, Ilmenau, DE;
Prokent AG, Ilmenau, DE;
Abstract
An automatic empty container return machine includes a detection unit operable for identifying whether or not an empty container is of a predetermined category, an input unit located upstream of the detection unit for receiving empty containers to supply the empty containers to the detection unit, an output unit located downstream of the detection unit for receiving empty containers that have been identified by the detection unit as being of the predetermined category, a transport stage having a conveyor for transporting empty containers from the input unit through the detection unit to the output unit, and a self-cleaning arrangement having components integrated with at least one of the input unit, detection unit, output unit and transport stage and being operable at selected times to clean surfaces thereof that are preselected to be cleaned.