TOMRA SYSTEMS ASA Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150375944 | BULK FEED - A device and a method for singulation of used beverage containers received in bulk into individual containers and forwarding them towards a receiving station. The used beverage containers have different shapes and sizes. The device includes a rotating surface, a conveyor at least partly encircling said rotating surface and adapted to receive used beverage containers from the rotating surface and transport them away from the rotating surface; and an outer wall along the periphery of the conveyor at least along the part of the conveyor that encircles the rotating surface. The conveyor includes a first section where it is capable of receiving used beverage containers from the rotating surface, and a second section where it is only capable of transporting used beverage containers one by one and aligned with the direction of movement of the conveyor or otherwise fall back onto the rotating surface; | 12-31-2015 |
20140218510 | REVERSE VENDING MACHINE AND METHOD OF DETECTING DIRT IN A REVERSE VENDING MACHINE - A reverse vending machine, including: a chamber adapted to receive an object returned to the reverse vending machine; a plurality of cameras arranged around the perimeter of the chamber for viewing said object; a transparent or translucent plate arranged such that the cameras in use view the object obliquely through the transparent or translucent plate; and means adapted to couple light into the plate such that the light undergoes total internal reflection in the plate. Also, a method of detecting dirt in a reverse vending machine. | 08-07-2014 |
20140210967 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR READING FEATURES IN REVERSE VENDING MACHINES - A method, an imaging and light source module insertable in a reverse vending machine, and a reverse vending machine including an opening for entering objects into a chamber, a plurality of light sources and a plurality of imaging devices allowing at least one feature of an object in the chamber to be read, wherein the plurality of imaging devices and the plurality of light sources are arranged as a plurality of imaging and light units around the perimeter of the chamber, wherein each imaging and light unit including one 2D imaging device and one light source, the 2D imaging device and the light source is viewing and illuminating the object at a first and a second oblique angle, respectively, wherein the first and second oblique angles are in the range 45-75° relative to a centre-symmetrical line of the imaging and light units. | 07-31-2014 |
20140185960 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMAGING AN OBJECT - A system for imaging an object, the system including: a detection zone; a first unit adapted to selectively emit radiation of at least one first wavelength and radiation of at least one second, different wavelength for at least partly illuminating the object in the detection zone; a second unit adapted to capture at least partial images of the illuminated object; and an aperture placed in an optical path between the detection zone and the second unit. The aperture includes: a first, central area adapted to transmit radiation of at least the first wavelength(s) and the second wavelength(s); and a second area surrounding said first area, which second area is adapted to block radiation of the second wavelength(s), but transmit radiation of the first wavelength(s). Also, an imaging method, and use of a diaphragm in a reverse vending machine. | 07-03-2014 |
20140147005 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING FRAUD ATTEMPTS IN REVERSE VENDING MACHINES - A reverse vending machine, including: a chamber adapted to receive an object returned to the reverse vending machine; a plurality of cameras arranged around the perimeter of the chamber for viewing said object; a transparent or translucent plate arranged such that the cameras in use view the object obliquely through the transparent or translucent plate; and means adapted to couple light into the plate such that the light undergoes total internal reflection in the plate. Also, a method of detecting dirt in a reverse vending machine. | 05-29-2014 |
20110017851 | APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR DESTRUCTURING OF ARTICLES - An apparatus and a method for receiving and destructuring collectable items, the apparatus having at least one item destructurer ( | 01-27-2011 |
20100290767 | APPARATUS, AN OPTICAL UNIT AND DEVICES FOR USE IN DETECTION OF OBJECTS - An apparatus for generating and viewing an image of an item ( | 11-18-2010 |
20100079755 | OPTICALLY CONTROLLED DETECTION DEVICE - A diffractive optical element device for use in spectroscopy, where broadband light is emitted from a light source towards the optical element and from there is transmitted to at least one detector. The optical element has a plurality of diffractive dispersively focusing patterns, preferably partly integrated into each other, whose respective centers are two-dimensionally offset relative to each other in order to produce a plurality of spectra, where at least two are separate, but offset relative to each other and/or partly overlapping. In an alternative embodiment, the optical element consists of either one diffractive optical element that is related to a wavelength and produces a spectrum, or at least two diffractive optical elements which are related to respective wavelengths and which produce at least two mutually partly overlapping spectra to give a composite spectrum. The optical element is capable of producing at least one indication of upper and/or lower wavelength value in the spectrum. | 04-01-2010 |
20100026807 | SAFETY APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF FUNCTIONAL EQUIPMENT HAVING MOVABLE PARTS - The invention relates to a safety apparatus for controlling operation of functional equipment having movable parts. The apparatus is configured to use a camera to view and cause detection of a safety related event in a field of view of the camera. The device is useful in a reverse vending machine (RVM) for receiving, handling, sorting and storing returnable items or objects. The RVM includes an item supporting, rotating, sorting and conveyor unit, an upwardly oriented storage chamber for such items, the safety apparatus to avoid operational hazards, a camera aided detection device for detecting at least one of a bar code on and other characteristics, e.g. contour of an item, a simplified token system, and a drive system with a releasable power coupling for operating the sorting device and a further storage device. | 02-04-2010 |
20090120847 | MEANS IN A REVERSE VENDING MACHINE (RVM) FOR RECEIVING, HANDLING, SORTING AND STORING RETURNABLE ITEMS OR OBJECTS - The invention relates to means in a reverse vending machine (RVM) for receiving, handling, sorting and storing returnable items or objects. The RVM includes an item supporting, rotating, sorting and conveyor unit, an upright storage chamber for such items, a safety apparatus to avoid operational hazards, a camera aided detection device for detecting at least one of a bar code on and other characteristics, e.g. contour, of an item, a simplified token system, and a drive system with a releasable power coupling for operating the sorting device and a further storage device. | 05-14-2009 |
20090078617 | SORTER DEVICE - A device for directionally guiding articles of different shapes that are being conveyed on a conveyor off the conveyor with the aid of a movable gate ( | 03-26-2009 |
20080283356 | Method and System For Handling Empty Packaging - A method and a system for determining the remuneration for the return of identifiable empty packaging to a receiving point, wherein the empty packaging ( | 11-20-2008 |