Method and Apparatus for Selective Scrap Metal Collections

1. A can collection apparatus for collecting aluminum cans from an assortment of trash, including tin-plated steel cans, plastics, paper items, glass, and the like, and for compensating the depositor of the aluminum cans based on the weight of the aluminum cans so deposited, said can collection apparatus comprising: start means responsive to actuation by a depositor for initiating the system and starting all conveyor motors; input conveyor means for transporting said assortment of trash from a first input conveyor station to a second input conveyor station; input hopper means for receiving the deposited assortment of trash placed therein by a depositor, and for depositing same onto the first input conveyor station of said input conveyor means; magnetic separator means proximate said second input conveyor station for separating out ferrous metal, including tin-plated steel cans, from said assortment of trash and dropping said ferrous metal into a steel can receptacle; separator means including a separator conveyor means for transporting a non-ferrous assortment of trash from a first separator conveyor station to a second separator conveyor station, said first separator conveyor station having a separator input; said second input conveyor station discharging said non-ferrous assortment of trash into the input of said separator means; heavys detection means operatively disposed within the input of said separator means, and including an impact platform means for determining the weight of each of the items of said assortment of trash as they fall from said second input conveyor station onto said impact platform means as a function of the displacement of said impact platform means, said heavys detection means discharging all of said non-ferrous assortment of trash into the first separation conveyor station; a digital metal detector means for separating out non-ferrous metal, such as aluminum cans, from the remaining assortment of trash, said second metal detection means including means for generating a transaction complete signal if no aluminum cans are detected for a pre-determined period of time indicating that the depositor is done placing said assortment of trash into the input hopper means; means responsive to the detection of heavys and to the detection of non-ferrous metals such as aluminum cans for dropping heavys and non-metals, such as plastics, paper items, glass, and the like, into a non-metal and heavys receptacle; weighing means including a weighing bucket whose weight is initially zeroed for weighing the crushed aluminum cans deposited therein on a continuous basis, means for sensing when the weight bucket is full and generating a full signal in response thereto, means responsive to at least one of said full signal and said transaction complete signal for initiating a cycle pause, taking a final weight reading, and activating a door dump solenoid to open the bucket door and drop the contents thereof, and means for reclosing the door and ending the cycle pause to begin weighing again; crusher means receiving aluminum cans from the second separator conveyor station of said separator means for crushing said cans and emptying the crushed aluminum cans into said weight bucket, said crusher means being responsive to said cycle pause for shutting off for permitting incoming aluminum cans to be stored at the input thereof until crushing resumes when the cycle pause is ended, said crusher means further including detector means operatively disposed at the input thereof for generating a full alarm signal if too many aluminum cans accumulate at the crusher input; a storage bin conveyor means for transporting crushed aluminum cans from a first storage bin conveyor station to a second storage bin conveyor station; said input conveyor means, said separator conveyor means and said storage bin conveyor means operating on a continuous basis from the time a depositor activates the start means and begins placing said assortment of trash into the input hopper means until the cycle is complete and a transaction complete signal is received, said conveyors being responsive to various alarm signals indicative of a need to stop the conveyors for shutting down the continuous mode of operation until the alarm condition is cleared; lateral transfer means operatively disposed proximate the output of said weight bucket for receiving crushed aluminum cans dumped from said weight bucket and transferring the said crushed aluminum cans to said first storage bin conveyor station; a storage bin means operably disposed proximate the second storage bin conveyor station for transferring the conveyed crushed aluminum cans to said storage bin for temporary storage therein; coin dispenser means responsive to control signals for dispensing compensation to the depositor in accordance with the measured weight of aluminum cans deposited, said coin dispensing means including means for detecting a coin jam and an out-of-coins condition and for generating an out-of-money alarm signal in response thereto, said coin dispenser means being responsive to control signals for periodically dispensing the highest valued coin therein each time a weight of crushed aluminum cans corresponding thereto is weighed, and for dispensing the remaining coins to provide compensation to the nearest one cent whenever a pause cycle occurs indicating that the weighing bucket is full or when the transaction is complete; display means operably disposed to the depositor of aluminum cans for displaying thereto alarm conditions, an out-of-order condition, a separate out-of-money light, a continuous display of weight in some even integral amount, a continuous display of compensation calculated in the largest denomination coin present in the dispenser means, and for dispensing said coin for each weight unit corresponding thereto, and for displaying the full total weight to the nearest tenth and hundredth of a pound and the final total compensation to the nearest cent when the weighing bucket is full and when the transaction is complete; microprocessor-based control means responsive to alarm signals, weight readings, start signal, compensation rate, time delays, and monitored status information for generating various control signals for controlling the operation of the present signal, said control means rechecking alarm conditions at periodic intervals for restoring system operation if the problem has been solved.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said digital metal detector means is a digital self-adjusting metal detector for separating non-ferrous metallic objects from non-metals and for generating a signal when a non-ferrous metal, such as an aluminum can, is detected.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for dropping heavys and non-metals, such as plastic, paper items, glass, and the like, into said non-metal and heavys receptacle includes a normally-opened separator dump door operably disposed above said non-metals and heavys receptacle; solenoid means operatively coupled to said normally opened separator dump door, said solenoid means being responsive to the detection of a non-ferrous metal object, such as an aluminum can, for closing the door and permitting the separator conveyor means to transport said aluminum can over said closed separator dump door to the input of said crusher means, said solenoid means then restoring the separator dump door to its normally-opened position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for automatically dispensing at least one manufacturer's coupon per transaction through a coupon slot as a bonus to depositors for conserving aluminum, saving energy, and cleaning up the environment, and to encourage depositors to use a given manufacturer's products or the like, the coupons being dispensed at no cost to the depositors.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input conveyor means includes means operably disposed proximate thereto for detecting the occurrence of a jam thereon and generating a jam alarm signal indicative thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said storage bin conveyor includes means operably disposed proximate the storage bin conveyor for detecting the occurrence of a jam thereon and for generating a storage bin conveyor jam alarm signal indicative thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said start means includes a digital metal detector means operably disposed proximate said input hopper means for detecting metal material placed into the input hopper by a depositor and generating a signal indicative thereof, said control means being responsive to said indicative signal signal for generating a start command signal and turning on the system.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said start means includes a start switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input conveyor means includes a driven conveyor drum proximate to said input conveyor discharge station, a plurality of magnetic means operably disposed about the surface of said drum for attracting and retaining ferrous metal objects, such as tin-plated steel cans and the like, to the outside surface of an input conveyor belt through at least 180 degrees as said belt circles said drum before losing magnetic attraction and dropping said ferrous metal material after the portion of the first conveyor means on which the ferrous material was magnetically retained passes off of the drum, and further including delivery chute means operably disposed beneath the point on said drum where the magnetic attraction becomes insufficient to hold said ferrous material for receiving the dropped ferrous material and directing same to the said steel can receptacle.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heavys detector means further includes a cantilever beam member; a counterweight operatively disposed proximate one end portion of said cantilever beam member; said impact platform being pivotally attached to said cantilever beam member; and microswitch means operatively associated with the opposite end portion of said cantilever beam member for being activated whenever an article of sufficient weight falls upon said impact platform and is heavy enough to overcome the counterweight on said cantilever beam and permit the opposite end theretof to contact said micro-switch, said micro-switch generating a heavys alarm signal indicative of the presence of a heavy falling on said impact platform.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said system includes a telephone link with a remote station for servicing said apparatus, an auto-dialer means for automatically dialing the telephone number of said remote station and conveying various alarm messages thereto, and wherein said microprocessor-based control means includes means responsive to alarm conditions for activating said auto-dialer means, including activating said auto-dialer in response to a signal indicating that the storage bin is full and must be emptied.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for generating signals indicative of various alarm conditions and transmitting same back to a remote station via communication means for requesting a truck for emptying said storage bin, for requesting maintenance, for requesting a supply of coins, and the like.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 including self-adjusting means associated with said microprocessor-based control means for providing critical adjustments on zeroing, initializing, calibration, and metal sensing without human intervention for calibration or the like.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein means for storing the compensation ratio for the aluminum cans is selectively adjustable from 1.cent. per pound to $9.99 per pound.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said weighing bucket includes a flange operatively disposed above the entrance thereto; a plurality of first fastening means operatively coupled to said flange at positions insuring an even distribution of the bucket weight therebetween; a stabilizer platform; a plurality of second fastening means equal in number to said plurality of first fastening means and operatively coupled to said stabilizer platform and positioned to insure an even distribution of any weight applied thereto; a plurality of strap means operatively securing corresponding first and second fastening means for supporting said weighing bucket, said weighing means further including a load cell; a universal joint operatively coupling said load cell to said stabilizer platform for significantly improving the weighing accuracy of said weighing means.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said plurality of first fastening means, said plurality of second fastening means, and said plurality of strap means each include 3.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said weighing bucket door includes a lightweight durable bucket door to reduce oscillations due to opening and closing the bucket door.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said bucket door further includes a polypropylene plastic material for achieving a long-lasting extended life while simultaneously damping or eliminating transient oscillations when the door is opened and closed.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for automatically calibrating said weighing means, said automatic calibrating means being updated at the start of each new cycle of operation for improving the accuracy of the said weighing means.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further including means for initalizing said load cell, said load cell initializing including a sample resistor means having a voltage displacement value exactly equivalent to a strain on the load cell of a pre-determined fixed weight, said resistor means being switched into the circuit and the resulting voltage measured by said microprocessor means, the measured value of voltage being used to establish the weight equivalent of said pre-determined amount under the present set of variable conditions for insuring a good load cell measurement accuracy under all conditions.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input conveyor means includes flapper means operably disposed proximate a rising portion of said conveyor means for preventing said assortment of trash from becoming stuck on top of the conveyor lugs for preventing jams and the like and for preventing cans and the like from rolling back down the conveyor.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said input conveyor means further includes brace means operably disposed proximate to top surface of said conveyor means for stripping out over-sized objects and material such as paper bags, plastics, and the like, to prevent jams.

23. The collector apparatus of claim 21 wherein each of said conveyor means further includes means of detecting jams and generating an alarm signal indicative thereof.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said flapper means of said input conveyor includes a mercury switch means for determining whether or not the input conveyor is moving.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said separator conveyor means operably disposed proximate said conveyor means for detecting a jam thereon and generating a separator jam alarm signal indicative thereof.

26. The collector apparatus of claim 25 further including means for detecting a loss of power and generating a signal indicative thereof, said control means being responsive to said signal indicative of the loss of power for generating a reset signal, and said non-volatile memory being responsive to said reset signal for automatically storing the working data into the non-volatile memory for preserving same throughout the power out situation until power is once more restored and normal system operation resumed.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said separator conveyor means includes flapper means operably disposed proximate the top surface of said conveyor for preventing said assortment of trash from becoming stuck on top of the conveyor lugs and the like to prevent jams and to prevent cans from falling backward.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 further including a second display means internal to said housing for displaying at least one of alarm conditions, full status conditions, accounting data and the like to maintenance personnel and the like.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said flapper means of said separator conveyor includes a mercury switch means for determining whether the separator conveyor is moving.

30. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said storage bin conveyor means includes flapper means operably disposed proximate the top surface of said conveyor for preventing crushed aluminum cans from being stuck proximate to top of conveyor lugs for preventing a jam or the like and to prevent cans from rolling back down the conveyor.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said flapper means of said storage bin conveyor includes a mercury switch means for determining whether the storage bin conveyor is moving.

32. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for detecting a steel can dropping into said steel can receptacle and for generating a steel can signal in response thereto said control means responsive thereto for advising the depositor thereof.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said steel detecting means includes a digital metal detector operably disposed proximate the dropping means for detecting ferrous metal objects, including tin-plated steel cans, and generating a signal indicative thereof, said control means operating said display to advise the depositor that a steel can was received, said digital metal detectors signals being counted by said control means to determine when said steel can receptacle is full.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 further including means for detecting when said steel can receptacle is full and generating a full receptable alarm signal in response thereto.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 further including means for detecting when said non-metal and heavys receptacle is full, and generating a receptacle full alarm signal indicative thereof.

36. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said storage bin further includes a separation partition means operatively separating the said storage bin from said input conveyor means, separator means, crusher means, weighing means, and storage bin conveyor means; said apparatus further including a centrifugal fan means, a motor for driving said centrifugal fan means, a substantially hollow housing means having an opening in the upper portion thereof, a paddle wheel metering means operatively disposed in said opening for rotating to deposit a given amount of crushed aluminum cans into said housing with each partial revolution between said paddles, means for operatively coupling the output of said centrifugal blower into an inlet in a rear portion of said housing, a means for directing substantially all crushed aluminum cans conveyed in said storage bin into said metering device, conduit means operably coupled to an outlet on the opposite end of said housing for conveying by blowing crushed aluminum cans metered into said housing out of said storage bin for loading into transportation means for transport to a recycling center or the like.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said conduit means includes means operably disposed up one wall of said storage bin and across the ceiling to an outlet in said housing for blowing stored cans therethrough, said conduit means having a generally rectangular cross-section.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said control means keeps track of the weight of aluminum cans emptied from the weighing bucket to determine when the storage bin is full and generating an alarm signal indicative thereof.

39. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said metering means includes a motor for driving same and the force of said centrifugal fan is such that the crushed aluminum cans from said storage bin are passed through said metering device and out of said bin at a rate of approximately 5,000 pounds of crushed aluminum cans per hour, this rate being selectively variable by increasing speed of metering means, size of opening, and paddles and the like.

40. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said storage bin includes means for detecting when said storage bin is full and generating a storage bin full signal in response thereto.

41. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for self-testing various alarm conditions periodically to assist in trouble-shooting and the like, and for automatically restarting if the alarm condition has cleared.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 further including means responsive to the occurrence of an alarm condition for testing the alarm condition on a periodic basis to minimize down time and restore the operation of the system if the alarm condition is cleared.

43. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor-based control system includes a non-volatile memory for storing the current compensation rate and the like to prevent tampering.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said non-volatile memory automatically stores away working data each time the power goes off, the memory system including means for detecting an impending power failure and sending a signal indicative thereof to said microprocessor-based control system, said control system generating a store signal and transmitting same to said non-volatile memory to insure that all working data is saved until the power is again restored and system operation is re-established.

45. Collector apparatus for collecting scrap metal of a given type from an assortment of refuse including ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, and non-metals, such as glass, plastic, paper, and the like, and for compensating depositors of such scrap metal of a given type based on the weight of said scrap metal of a given type deposited, comprising: input hopper means adapted to have an assortment of refuse, including metal of said given types, placed therein; classifier means for classifying and separating said scrap metal of a given type from said assortment of refuse; an input conveyor means having an input conveyor motor for transporting said assortment of refuse deposited in said input hopper means to said classifier means; ferrous metal separator means operatively disposed proximate the upper end of said input conveyor means for separating out ferrous materials, including tin-plated steel cans, from said assortment of refuse, and for depositing said ferrous scrap metal which is not of said given type, into a first receptacle; said upper end of said input conveyor means depositing the remaining non-ferrous assortment of refuse into said classifier means; means operably disposed at the input of said classifier means for detecting heavys and generating a signal indicative thereof; said classifier means further including digital metal detector means for detecting non-ferrous metals such as aluminum cans, said classifier means depositing said detected heavys and undetected non-metals into a second receptacle; a crusher powered by a crusher motor, for crushing non-ferrous scrap metal of a given type; a classifier conveyor means for transporting non-ferrous scrap metal of said given type to the crusher; a weigher having a hopper for weighing material dropped into the hopper, said weigher being positioned so that the material passing through the crusher is deposited in the hopper, said weigher including means for producing electrical signals which are a function of the weight of the hopper and of the material placed in the hopper from the crusher; said weigher generating said weight indicative signals on a continuous basis and including means for determining when a pre-determined weight of aluminum cans have been deposited into said hopper for generating a signal indicative thereof; said means for detecting non-ferrous metals generating a transaction complete signal whenever no incoming aluminum cans have been detected for a pre-determined period of time; said weighing means responsive to a control signal generated in response to said transaction complete signal and said indicative signal for entering a time out state; said time out state turning off said crusher motor so that incoming aluminum cans accumulate in the input thereto during the weighing operation, and said weighing means delaying a predetermined time for stabilizing the weighing bucket and obtaining a final reading of bucket plus deposited crushed aluminum cans, mean responsive to the termination of the weighing operation for opening the bucket dump door and dumping the contents thereof; said weighing means weighing the hopper itself after a predetermined period of time for stabilization, so that the weight of the bucket plus contents less the weight of the bucket is equal to the weight of the contents to a very high degree of accuracy; a storage compartment for said non-ferrous metal of a given type; a storage bin conveyor means having a storage bin conveyor motor for transporting crushed non-ferrous metal of said given type dumped from said weigher hopper to said storage compartment for temporary storage therein; a coin dispenser means responsive to the control signals for dispensing compensation to the depositor, for producing an out-of-order alarm system for identifying the absence of coins to be dispensed, and a jam alarm signal for indicating the presence of a coin jam within said dispenser; means for monitoring the operation of the motors and producing a motor alarm signal indicative of a failure thereof; jam monitoring means operably disposed proximate to said input conveyor means, said separator conveyor means, and said storage bin conveyor means, for detecting a jam and generating a jam alarm signal indicative thereof; digital metal detecting means associated with the chute directing steel cans into said first receptacle for tin-plated steel cans and for ferrous metals and operably disposed proximate said chute for detecting steel cans and the like and enerating a count signal indicative thereof; means responsive to an indication that said first receptacle is full for generating an alarm signal indicative thereof; means associated with said non-metal and heavys receptacle for detecting when said receptacle is full and generating an alarm signal indicative thereof; means operably disposed proximate the input of said crusher for detecting the presence of the jam and generating an alarm signal indicative thereof, and for detecting when the input to said crusher is full for generating an alarm condition indicative thereof; means for detecting when storage bin is full and generating an alarm condition indicative thereof; a microprocessor-based control means for producing control signals for energizing and de-energizing the input conveyor motor, the classifier conveyor motor, the crusher motor, and the storage bin conveyor motor; for automatically calibrating the weighing system; for automatically initializing the load cell; for dumping the weigher hopper; for determining the weight of said given type of non-ferrous metal deposited in the weighing bucket; for determining the amount of compensation to be paid to the depositor; for controlling the dispensing of the largest value of coin in the dispenser each time the weight in the bucket is incremented by a corresponding amount; means for displaying the compensation and incrementing same each time said largest value of coin in said dispenser is dispensed; means for continually weighing the contents of said weighing hopper indicating to the depositor each time a given increment is added, signalling time out in response to a transaction complete signal and in response to the weight in said weighing bin having reached a predetermined amount for turning off the crusher motor and allowing incoming cans to accumulate at the input thereof while the weighing operation is completed, for initially weighing, after a predetermined delay, the weight of the hopper plus contents, for subsequently dumping the contents, for then weighing, after a predetermined delay, the weight of the empty bucket, for calculating the difference to arrive at the final weight for which the depositor is to be compensated, displaying the weight to the depositor to the nearest tenth and one-hundredth of a pound and displaying the compensation to the nearest one cent, operating said dispenser means in terms of lesser value coins to pay the final amount to said nearest cent, said control means responsive to said alarm signals for energizing alarms as appropriate, for indicating alarm conditions and out-of-order indications on said display means, and for de-energizing the motors of said apparatus if the condition causing an alarm persists for more than a predetermined period of time, said control means further including means for periodically retesting the alarm condition and re-activating the system if the alarm condition no longer exists.

46. The collection apparatus of claim 45 wherein said scrap metal of a given type is aluminum and primarily aluminum cans, and said ferrous metal is primarily tin-plated steel cans, and wherein said non-metals include glass, plastic, paper, and the like.

47. The collector apparatus of claim 45 wherein said means for detecting heavys includes a heavys door operably disposed at the entrance of said classifier means and responsive to the weight of articles of said non-ferrous assortment of refuse as they fall on said heavys door and displace a member associated with said door a pre-determined distance for determining articles heavier than a pre-determined threshold weight.

48. The collector apparatus of claim 45 wherein said means for detecting non-metals includes a digital self-adjusting metal detector means used to separate non-ferrous metallic objects from non-metals, said digital self-adjusting metal detector also generating a transaction complete signal whenever no non-ferrous metallic objects have been detected for a predetermined period of time, indicating that the depositor has completed his transaction.

49. The collector apparatus of claim 45 wherein said classifier means includes a normally-opened trapdoor operably disposed above said non-metals and heavys receptacle for normally dumping non-metal materials, such as plastics, paper, glass, and the like, plus heavys therethrough, and means responsive to the detection of non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum cans, for generating a signal indicative thereof, said microprocessor-based control means being responsive to said indicative signal for generating a control signal and further including means responsive to said control signal for closing said trapdoor to enable the classifier conveyor means to transport said non-ferrous metal into said crusher with non-metal refuse and heavys being dropped through said trapdoor into said second receptacle.

50. The collector apparatus of claim 45 wherein said heavys detector includes a heavys door, a cantilever beam pivotally connected to said heavys door, a counterweight proximate the end of said cantilever beam for setting a threshold weight for determining a heavy; and a microswitch operably disposed proximate the opposite end of said cantilever beam, such that objects falling onto said door will displace the opposite end of said cantilever beam some distance, and when the distance is sufficient to contact said microswitch, said microswitch generates a signal indicative of the detection of a heavy at the input of said classifier means.

51. The collector apparatus of claim 45 wherein weigher apparatus includes means for auto-calibration of said weigher means at the start of each cycle, means for initializing said load cell to improve the voltage-to-count ratio thereof and thereby the accuracy of said weighing system.

52. The collector apparatus of claim 45 further including means for detecting aluminum cans entering the classifier but not reaching the weighing bucket.

53. The collector apparatus of claim 45, wherein said input conveyor means, said classifier conveyor means, and said storage bin conveyor means include means for preventing jams.

54. The collector apparatus of claim 45 wherein a pre-set computation rate is stored in a non-volatile static memory so as to render it tamperproof.

55. The collector appartus of claim 45 wherein said input hopper means includes a curved slide means for preventing persons from inserting arms and the like and getting injured or committing vandalism.

56. The collection apparatus of claim 45 wherein said hopper includes a flange operably disposed above the opening thereof, and said weigher apparatus further includes a rectangular plate, strap means operably disposed between said flange and said plate equally distributing the weight of said hopper and the contents thereof over said plate, a load cell for measuring the weight of said bucket, and a universal joint operatively coupling the load cell to the plate for greatly improving the accuracy of the weighing apparatus.

57. The collector apparatus of claim 56 wherein said hopper further includes a hopper dump door for emptying the contents of said hopper when the weighing operation is complete, means for detecting the presence of an open door and generating an alarm signal indicative thereof, solenoid-operated means for releasing said door, said door including a lightweight plastic material such as polypropylene for damping and substantially eliminating transient oscillations produced when opening and closing said door, thereby further improving the accuracy of the weighing system.

58. The collector apparatus of claim 45 wherein said input conveyor means continually operates throughout the cycle and does not stop, even during the weighing operation, when the weighing operation begins, the crusher motor stops and the aluminum cans supplied by said input conveyor means and said classifier conveyor means are temporarily stored at the input of said crusher until the weighing operation is complete and the crusher is again energized.

59. The collector apparatus of claim 58 wherein said crusher includes means operably disposed at the input thereof for detecting the presence of a jam and generating a crusher jam signal indicative thereof and for detecting when the crusher input is full for generating a crusher full alarm system indicative thereof.

60. The collector apparatus of claim 45 wherein said storage bin is physically separated from said input conveyor means, said classifier means, said crusher, said weighing means, and said storage bin conveyor means; and wherein said apparatus further includes a centrifugal fan having a fan motor, said centrifugal fan producing a stream of air, and means for directing said stream of air through said storage bin for emptying said bin by blowing the crushed aluminum cans out of said bin and into the back of a means for carrying the cans to a recycling center or the like.

61. The collector apparatus of claim 60 wherein said storage bin includes a housing means; an aperture in the top of said housing means; paddle-like metering means operatively disposed in the aperture of said housing, said metering means collecting a pre-determined amount of crushed aluminum cans in adjacent paddles and metering motor means for operatively rotating said paddle means for dumping said pre-determined amount of cans between paddles into said housing with each fraction of a rotation thereof; and means for operatively coupling the output of said centrifugal fan into one end of said housing and conduit means operatively coupled to the opposite end of said housing to an outlet proximate the ceiling for blowing crushed aluminum cans out of said storage bin and into means for conveying the crushed aluminum cans to a recycling center or the like.

62. The collector apparatus of claim 61 wherein said storage bin further includes sloping slide means for directing substantially all crushed aluminum cans fed into said storage from said storage bin conveyor means toward said metering means and where the force of said air and the speed of said paddle-like metering means, is such that approximately 5,000 pounds of crushed aluminum cans per hour can be emptied from said storage bin without manual intervention.

63. The collector apparatus of claim 62 wherein said rate is selectively variable.

64. The collector apparatus of claim 61 wherein said conduit has a generally rectangular cross-section.

65. The collector apparatus of claim 45 wherein each of said jam detection means, said receptacle full detector means, and said tin-plated steel can detection means, includes an electro-magnetic radiation detector which operates in the infrared spectrum.

66. The improved collector apparatus of claim 65 wherein said classifier includes a normally-opened trapdoor means operably disposed above said second receptacle for dropping non-metals and heavys therethrough into said second receptacle; solenoid means responsive to the detection of non-ferrous metal by said digital metal detector for closing said trapdoor and allowing the classifier conveyor to transport the detected aluminum can into the input hopper of the crusher; and further including means for overriding a metal detection signal for maintaining said trapdoor opened whenever a heavy is calculated to arrive at said trapdoor on said classifier conveyor for dumping said heavy into said second receptacle even though it may comprise metal.

67. In a collection apparatus for collecting aluminum cans from an assortment of material and for compensating a depositor for such aluminum cans as a function of the weight of the aluminum cans deposited in the storage compartment of the apparatus, said apparatus having an input means for receiving said assorted material placed therein by a depositor, a start button for initiating operation of the system, a first conveyor for transporting assorted material from the input means to a classifier, said classifier detecting and segregating ferrous metal such as tin-plated steel cans from the non-ferrous materials and for depositing the ferrous metal in a ferrous metal receptacle and for depositing the non-ferrous material into a classifier conveyor, said classifier also including means for detecting heavys, metal detector means for detecting non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum cans, and means for separating non-ferrous metals from non-metals, said classifier conveyor transporting non-ferrous metals comprising aluminum cans to a crusher input hopper for loading said aluminum cans into a crusher and for dumping non-metals and heavys into a second receptacle, said crusher compacting aluminum cans and loading the crushed aluminum cans into a weigher bucket of a weigher means for measuring the weight of the crushed aluminum cans in said bucket, a storage bin, a storage bin conveyor means for transporting the crushed aluminum cans after being weighed and dumping same into the storage bin, and a microprocessor-based control system for initiating the system, for energizing the various motors of the system, for monitoring system operations, for controlling system initiation and calibration, for processing alarm signals, for performing weighing calculations, for performing compensation calculations, and for operating a coin dispenser means for paying the calculated compensation to the depositor, the improvement comprising: said means for detecting heavys includes impact platform means operably disposed within the entrance of said classifier for receiving the various non-ferrous materials dropped from the end of said first conveyor means; a cantilever beam pivotally coupled to said impact platform means, said cantilever beam including an elongated beam portion and a counterweight operably disposed proximate the end portion of said elongated beam for establishing a threshold weight over which valve any falling object will be classified as a heavy; a microswitch means operably disposed proximate the opposite end of said cantilever beam and a predetermined distance therefrom, the weight of an object falling onto said impact platform means being taken as a function of the displacement of the impact platform means and the opposite end of said cantilever beam, said opposite beam of said cantilever beam activating said microswitch whenever the weight of an object falling on said impact platform is greater than the threshold established by said counterweight; and said microswitch generating a heavys signal to said microprocessor-based control system in response to the detection of a heavy falling upon said impact platform.

68. The improved collection apparatus of claim 67 wherein said classifier for detecting and segregating ferrous metals includes an end portion of said first conveyor, the end portion of said first conveyor including an upper conveyor drum and a plurality of magnetic devices operatively disposed about the outer surface of said drum, the rotation of said magnet-covered drum by said first conveyor attracting ferrous materials, such as tin-plated steel cans, to the surface of said first conveyor for at least 180 degrees around said drum, with said magnetic attraction weakening as said first conveyor comes off of said drum until said ferrous materials are dropped from said first conveyor; chute means for operatively receiving the ferrous materials dropped from said first conveyor means for operatively directing said ferrous materials into said ferrous metal receptacle.

69. The improved collection apparatus of claim 67 further including a metal detector means for detecting non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum cans and generating a signal indicative thereof.

70. The improved collection apparatus of claim 67 wherein said metal detection means includes a digital self-adjusting metal detector for separating non-ferrous metallic objects from non-metals, said digital metal detector including means for generating an aluminum can detection signal each time such detection occurs, said signal being supplied to said microprocessor-based control system for generating a termination complete signal whenever no aluminum cans are detected for a pre-determined period of time, and for indicating to the microprocessor-based control system when aluminum cans are entering the classifier but not reaching the weighing bucket.

71. The improved collection apparatus of claim 67 further including means for determining the number if aluminum cans that have passed said metal detector in said classifier but have not reached said weighing bucket.

72. The improved collector apparatus of claim 67 further including digital self-adjusting metal detector means operably disposed proximate said chute means for detecting the presence of a tin-plated steel can dropped into said ferrous receptacle and for generating a signal indicative thereof, and wherein the said microprocessor-based control system includes means responsive to said steel can indicative signal for displaying the fact that a steel can has been deposited to the depositor.

73. The improved collector apparatus of claim 72 further including electromagnetic radiation producing and detection means operably disposed proximate the top of said ferrous receptacle for producing a receptacle full alarm signal whenever the ferrous receptacle is full, and said second receptacle including electromagnetic radiation and detecting means including electromagnetic radiation in the infrared spectrum for detecting when said second receptacle is full and generating a second receptacle full alarm signal indicative thereof.

74. The improved collections apparatus of claim 73 wherein said crusher input hopper includes electromagnetic radiation producing and detecting means, including radiation in the infrared spectrum for detecting the presence of a jam in said crusher input hopper and generating a crusher jam alarm system indicative thereof and for detecting a crusher input full condition and generating an alarm signal indicative thereof; and said control system responsive to said jam signal and said full signal for generating a command for stopping all conveyors until the condition causing the alarm is rectified.

75. The improved collector apparatus of claim 67 further including display means for displaying both the weight and compensation plus various alarm conditions to the depositor.

76. The improved collector apparatus of claim 75 wherein a second display means is operatively disposed within said apparatus for displaying alarm conditions and codes for assisting maintenance personnel and the like.

77. The improved collection apparatus of claim 67 wherein said first conveyor, said classifier conveyor, and said storage bin conveyor are operated continuously for improved system throughput; means responsive to the weight of crushed aliminum cans in said hopper having attained a predetermined weight for generating a begin weighing command; said microprocessor-based control system responsive to at least one of said begin weighing commands and said transaction complete signal for initiating a time out state; control system responsive to said time out state for stopping said crusher and accumulating incoming aluminum cans at the crusher input while said time out state exists; for terminating the time out state when weighing is complete; and means responsive to the termination of said time out state for reactivating the crusher to restore normal system operation.

78. The improved collection apparatus of claim 77 wherein said weigher includes a load cell and said weighing bucket and the crushed aluminum cans therein are weighed on a continuous basis as cans are added from the output of said crusher, said weight bucket and the crushed aluminum cans therein being accurately weighted a pre-determined time delay after said time out state is declared and the combined weight reading is sent back to said control system, said control system generating a dump command, said weight bucket including a dump door and means responsive to said dump command opening said bucket door and emptying the contents of said bucket onto said storage conveyor, said bucket including means for closing said bucket door after the weight bucket is emptied, said load cell measuring the weight of the empty bucket after a pre-determined time delay after the door is closed and sending the weight reading back to the control system, said control system subtracting the weight of the empty bucket from the weight of the bucket plus cans to calculate the weight of the cans and then multiplying the weight of the cans by a stored compensation rate to get the actual compensation due the depositor, said control system responsive to the weight of said empty bucket for ending said time out state and restoring normal system operations by reactivating said crusher.

79. The improved collection apparatus of claim 78 wherein said bucket door includes a lightweight durable plastic material such as polypropylene for reducing transient oscillations due to opening and closing the bucket door and for achieving a long-lasting extended life door.

80. The improved collector apparatus of claim 78 wherein said weight bucket includes a flange operatively disposed above the input opening thereto; fastening means operatively connected to three separate portions of said flange for evenly distributing the weight of said bucket and the contents thereof; a weight distribution platform having three fastening means operatively disposed thereon for equally sharing the weight distribution of said bucket and the contents thereof; strap means operatively connecting each of the fastening means of said flange to a corresponding fastening means of said weight distribution platform for equally balancing and supporting the weight of said bucket; load cell means for generating electrical signals indicative of the weight of said bucket and the contents thereof; and a universal joint operatively coupling said load cell and said weight distribution platform for improving the weighing accuracy of the system.

81. The improved collection apparatus of claim 78 further including means for auto-calibrating said weigher, said auto-calibrating means including an analog to digital converter; an instrument amplifier for receiving signals from the load cell and amplifying the load cell signal; means for summing the amplifier output; means for providing the summed output to the input of an analog-to-digital converter; means for coupling the output of the analog-to-digital converter to the microprocessor-based control system; a latching digital-to-analog converter; means for amplifying the output of the digital-to-analog converter to provide an inverted signal and means for summing the inverted signal with the output of the instrument amplifier to produce a signal within the range of the analog-to-digital converter to provide a resulting voltage; establishing a reference setting for the analog-to-digital converter and the digital-to-analog converter using a diode array; and means for adjusting the voltage so that it lies within the full input voltage range of both the analog-to-digital converter and the digital-to-analog converter, thereby automatically calibrating the weighing system.

82. The improved apparatus of claim 81 further including means for initializing the load cell for accurate weighing over a wide range of variables including a resistor having a voltage displacement value exactly equivalent to the strain on the load cell of a fixed number of pounds, means for switching said sample resistor in and measuring the resultant voltage; utilizing the measured voltage to establish a weight of said fixed number of pounds under the presence of variable conditions, so that even if the variables change, the accuracy of measurement will still be within acceptable accuracy tolerances.

83. The improved collection apparatus of claim 78 wherein said weigher and said control means include means for detecting an open bucket door and generating the signal indicative thereof.

84. The improved collection apparatus of claim 67 including the non-volatile memory means for storing the present rate of compensation to prevent tampering and the like.

85. The improved collection apparatus of claim 84 further including means for detecting an impending power failure and generating a signal indicative thereof; said microprocessor-based control system being responsive to said signal indicative of an impending power failure for transmitting a store imformation command; and said non-volatile memory being responsive to said store information command for storing all current working information therein until power is restored.

86. The improved collection apparatus of claim 67 wherein said apparatus further includes display means operably disposed adjacent said input means for displaying information to the depositor, said display means for displaying weight in predetermined increments on a continuous basis so long as crushed aluminum cans continue to be fed into said weighing bucket; for displaying compensation increments in the highest value of coins available in the coin dispenser each time a weight equivalent of the highest coin value is placed into the weighing bucket; for displaying final values when the transaction is complete, including the exact weight of aluminum cans deposited to the nearest tenth and one-hundredth of a pound and the total value of compensation to be paid therefor to the nearest penny.

87. The improved collection apparatus of claim 86 wherein said coin dispenser includes means for dispensing at least quarters, nickels, and pennies, means responsive to each unit of weight deposited into the weighing bucket corresponding to the largest value of coin in said coin dispenser for dispensing one of said coins and for continuing to dispense said largest value of coin in the dispenser each time that weight of aluminum cans corresponding thereto is added to the weight bucket and finally dispensing smaller value coins when the transaction is complete and the weight is final to compensate the depositor for the value of aluminum cans deposited to the nearest penny.

88. The improved collector apparatus of claim 67 further including means for separating said storage bin from the remainder of said system; means for generating the stream of air; and means responsive to said stream of air for blowing substantially all crushed aluminum cans stored in said storage bin out of said storage bin and into means for receiving said crushed aluminum cans for carrying same to a recycling center or the like.

89. The improved collector apparatus of claim 88 wherein said means for generating a stream of air includes a centrifugal fan and a fan motor for powering said fan and wherein said means responsive to said stream of air includes an enclosed housing operably disposed in the bottom of said storage bin; aperture means formed in the top of said housing; metering means having a metering motor for rotating a shaft and paddle means operatively coupled to said rotating shaft such that the space between adjacent paddles collects a predetermined amount of crushed aluminum cans and carries this metered amount into the housing with each partial revolution of said shaft; means for operatively coupling the output of said centrifugal fan to an input of said housing; and conduit means operatively coupled to the output of said housing, up to the ceiling of said apparatus and adjacent an aperture through a wall of said apparatus for transporting the air-driven crushed aluminum cans from said storage bin through said conduit means and out said opening for emptying said storage bins quickly and without human intervention.

90. Improved collector apparatus of claim 89 wherein said storage bin includes flow-directing chutes extending from a predetermined distance proximate the ceiling of the apparatus to the aperture in said housing to that substantially all cans dropped into said storage bin are funnelled into said metering means and wherein the rate of air flow is such that approximately 5,000 pounds of cans an hour can be pneumatically pumped out of said storage bin and into a transport means for taking the cans to a recycling center or the like.

91. The improved collection apparatus of claim 90 wherein the rate at which crushed aluminum cans which are pumped out of said storage bin may be selectively varied by increasing and decreasing the rotation of said metering means.

92. In a collection apparatus for collecting aluminum cans from an assortment of material and for compensating a depositor for such aluminum cans as a function of the weight of the aluminum cans deposited in the storage compartment of the apparatus, said apparatus having an input means for receiving said assorted material placed therein by a depositor, a start button for initiating operation of the system, a first conveyor for transporting assorted material from the input means to a classifier, said classifier detecting and segregating ferrous metal such as tin-plated steel cans from the non-ferrous materials and for depositing the ferrous metal in a ferrous metal receptacle and for depositing the non-ferrous material into a classifier conveyor, said classifier also including means for detecting heavys, metal detector means for detecting non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum cans, and means for separating non-ferrous metals from non-metals, said classifier conveyor transporting non-ferrous metals comprising aluminum cans to a crusher input hopper for loading said aluminum cans into a crusher and for dumping non-metals and heavys into a second receptacle, said crusher compacting aluminum cans and loading the crushed aliminum cans into a weigher bucket of a weigher means for measuring the weight of the crushed aluminum cans in said bucket, a storage bin, a storage bin conveyor means for transporting the crushed aluminum cans after being weighed and dumping same into the storage bin, and a microprocessor-based control system for initiating the system, for energizing the various motors of the system, for monitoring system operations, for controlling system initiation and calibration, for processing alarm signals, for performing weighing calculations, for performing compensation calculations, and for operating the coin dispenser means for paying the calculated compensation to the depositor, the improvement comprising: said first conveyor, said classifer conveyer, and said storage bin conveyor operating continuously from the initiation of the cycle until the transaction is complete for improving the throughput of the system; said metal detection means for detecting non-ferrous metal includes means for generating an aluminum can detection signal each time an item of non-ferrous metal is detected; said control system being responsive to said aluminum can detection signal for generating a transaction complete signal whenever no aluminum can detection signal has been generated for a predetermined period of time; weighing means including means for detecting when the contents of said weight bucket have reached a predetermined weight for generating a time to weigh signal; said microprocessor-based control system including means of responding to at least one of said transaction complete and said time to weigh signal for initiating a time out state; said weighing means including a load cell for continually generating an electrical signal indicative of the weight of said weight bucket plus the contents thereof, said load cell being responsive to said time out signal for weighing the bucket plus contents after a predetermined time delay, said microprocessor-based control system being responsive to the completion of weighing said bucket less the contents thereof for generating a dump signal, said bucket including the dump door and means responsive to said dump signal for operatively opening said door to drop the contents thereof to said storage bin conveyor and means for closing the door after all cans have been dumped from the bucket, said load cell means weighing said empty bucket a predetermined time delay after said door closes and said microprocessor-based control system subtracting the weight of the bucket from the weight of the bucket plus contents to get the weight of the crushed aluminum cans contained therein and for multiplying the weight of the crushed aluminum cans by the present compensation rate stored in a non-volatile memory to prevent tampering for obtaining the amount to be paid the depositor, said microprocessor-based control system ending said time out state and reactivating the crusher when the weighing operation is complete for returning the system to normal operation.

93. The improved collection apparatus of claim 92 wherein said bucket door includes a lightweight durable plastic material such as polypropylene for damping out and terminating transient oscillations produced from opening and closing said door while simultaneously extending the life of said door.

94. The improved collection apparatus of claim 92 wherein said weight bucket includes a flange operatively disposed above the entrance thereto; said weighing means including a connection platform; strap means for operatively connecting portions of the flange of said bucket to corresponding portions of said connection means for evenly distributing the weight of the bucket thereover; a load cell means for continuously generating an electrical signal indicative of the weight of the bucket plus contents; and a universal joint means operatively coupling said load cell and said connecting means for more accurately weighing the contents of said bucket.

95. The collection apparatus of claim 92 wherein said apparatus further includes means for auto-calibrating said weighing means at the start of each cycle and for initializing the load cell by recalculating the representative voltage with a standard voltage at the beginning of each cycle.

96. In a collection apparatus for collecting aluminum cans from an assortment of material and for compensating a depositor for such aluminum cans as a function of the weight of the aluminum cans deposited in the storage compartment of the apparatus, said apparatus having an input means for receiving said assorted material placed therein by a depositor, a start button for initiating operation of the system, a first conveyor for transporting assorted material from the input means to a classifier, said classifier detecting and segragating ferrous metal such as tin-plated steel cans from the non-ferrous materials and for depositing the ferrous metal in a ferrous metal receptacle and for depositing the non-ferrous material into a classifier conveyor, said classifier also including means for detecting heavys, metal detector means for detecting non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum cans, and means for separating non-ferrous metals comprising aluminum cans to a crusher input hopper for loading said aluminum cans into a crusher and for dumping non-metals and heavys into a second receptabcle, said crusher compacting aluminum cans and loading the crushed aluminum cans into a weigher bucket of a weigher for measuring the weight bucket of a weigher means for measuring the weight of the crushed aluminum cans in said bucket, a storage bin, a storage bin conveyor means for transporting the crushed aluminum cans after being weighed and dumping same into the storage bin, and a microprocessor-based control system for initiating the system, for energizing the various motors of the system, for monitoring system operations, for controlling system initiation and calibration, for processing alarm signals, for performing weighing calculations, for performing compensation calculations, and for operating the coin dispenser means for paying the calculated compensation to the depositor, the imrovement comprising: said first conveyor, said classifier conveyor, and said storage bin conveyor operating continuously fron the initiation of the cycle until the transaction is complete for improving the throughput of the system; said metal detection means for detecting non-ferrous metal includes means for generating an aluminum can detection signal each time an item of non-ferrous metal is detected; said control system being responsive to said aluminum can detection signal for generating an aluminum can detection signal each time an item of non-ferrous metal is detected; weighing means including means for detecting when the contents of said weight bucket have reached a predetermined weight for generating a time to weigh signal; said microprocessor-based control system including means of responding to at least one of said transaction complete and said time to weigh signal for initiating a time out state; said weighing means including a load cell for continually generating an electrical signal indicative of the weight of said weight bucket plus the contents thereof, said load cell being responsive to said time out signal for weighing the bucket plus contents after a predetermined time delay, said microprocessor-based control system being responsive to the completion of weighing said bucket less the contents thereof for generating a dump signal, said bucket including the dump door and means responsive to said dump signal for operatively opening said door to drop the contents thereof to said storage bin conveyor and means for closing the door after all cans have been dumped from the bucket, said load cell means weighing said empty bucket a predetermined time delay after said door closes and said microprocessor-based control system substracting the weight of the bucket from the weight of the crushed aluminum cans contained therein and for multiplying the weight of the crushed aluminum cans by the present compensation rate stored in a non-volatile memory to prevent tampering for obtaining the amount to be paid the depositor, said microprocessor-based control system ending said time out state and reactivating the crusher when the weighing operation is complete for returning the system to normal operation: wherein said apparatus includes a display operatively disposed proximate and input means for viewing by the depositor; said apparatus for compensating a depositor including a coin dispenser for dispensing several differend denominations of coins for the like; said display being operatively controlled by said microprocessor-based control system for continually displaying a weight reading and updating same each time a fixed increment of weight is added to the hopper, means for displaying and periodically updating the value of compensation to be paid to the depositor in multiples of the highest denomination coin in said dispenser, said microprocessor-based control system being responsive to the termination of said time out state for indicating on said display means the exact weight of aluminum cans received from the depositor to the nearest one one-hundredth of a pound and the total value of compensation to be paid therefor to the nearest penny.

97. The improved collection apparatus of claim 96 wherein said display means includes a separate means for brightly illuminating an "out of money" condition and a seven segment LED display means for displaying an out of order message and for displaying other types of alarm conditions, so that the displayed message or alarm condition is clearly visible even in bright sunlight; and said coin dispenser being responsive to said microprocessor-based control system for dispensing one of the highest denomination coins each time the weight equivalent thereof is dropped into said bucket, so that the depositor is being compensated on a continuous bases as the crushed aluminum cans are placed into the bucket, and for paying any remaining compensation due at the end of the time out period in smaller denomination coins so as to make payment to the nearest penny possible.

98. The improved collection apparatus of claim 97 further including coupon dispenser means and a slot in said apparatus, said coupon dispenser means being responsible to at least one of start of transaction, end of transaction and predetermined weight and coin amounts for dispensing at least one manufacturer's coupon, store coupon, and the like through said slot for said despositor and without charge thereto.

99. In a collection apparatus for collecting aluminum cans from an assortment of material and for compensating a depositor for such aluminum cans as a function of the weight of the aluminum cans deposited in the storage compartment of the apparatus, said apparatus having an input means for receiving said assorted material placed therein by a depositor, a start button for initiating operation of the system, a first conveyor for transporting assorted material from the input means to a classified, said classified detecting and segregating ferrous metal such as tin-plated steel cans from the non-ferrous materials and for depositing the ferrous metal in a ferrous metal receptacle and for depositing the non-ferrous material into a classified conveyor, said classifier also including means for detecting heavys, metal detector means for detecting non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum cans, and means for separating non-ferrous metals, said classifier conveyor transporting non-ferrous metals comprising aluminum cans to a crusher input hopper for leading said aluminum cans to a crusher and for dumping non-metals and heavys into a second receptacle, said crusher compacting aluminum cans and loading the crushed aluminum cans into a weigher bucket of a weigher means for measuring the weight of the crushed aluminum cans in said bucket, a storage bin, a storage bin conveyor means for transporting the crushed aluminum cans after being weighed and dumping same into the storage bin, and a microprocessor-based control system for intitiating the system, for energizing the various motors of the system, for monitoring system operations, for controlling system initiation and calibration for processing alarm signals, for performing weighing calculations, for performing compensation calculations, and for operating the coin dispenser means for paying the calculated compensation to the depositor, the improvement comprising: said first conveyor, said classifier conveyor, and said storage bin conveyor operating continuously from the initiation of the cycle until the transaction is complete for improving the throughput of the system; said metal detection means for detecting non-ferrous metal includes means for generating an aluminum can detection signal each time an item of non-ferrous metal is detected; said control system being responsive to said aluminum can detection signal for generating a termination complete signal whenever no aluminum can detection signal has been generated for a predetermined period of time; weighing means including means for detecting when the contents of said weight bucket have reached a predetermined weight for generating a time to weigh signal; said microprocessor-based control system including means of responding to at least one of said transaction complete and said time to weigh signal for initiating a time out state; said weighing means including a load cell for continually generating an electrical signal indicative of the weight of said weight bucket plus the contents thereof, said load cell being responsive to said time out signal for weighing the bucket plus contents after a predetermined time delay, said microprocessor-based control system being responsive to the completion of weighing said bucket less the contents thereof for generating a dump signal, said bucket signal for operatively opening said door to drop the contents thereof to said storage bin conveyor and means for closing the door after all cans have been dumped from the bucket, said load cell means weighing said empty bucket a predetermined time delay after said door closes and said microprocessor-based control system subtracting the weight of the bucket from the weight of the bucket plus contents to get the weight of the crushed aluminum cans contained therein and for multiplying the weight of the crushed aluminum cans by the present compensation rate stored in a non-volatile memory to prevent tampering for obtaining the amount to be paid the depositor, said microprocessor-based control system ending said time out state and reactivating the crusher when the weighing operation is complete for returning the system to normal operation; and further including means for detecting an open bucket door and generating an alarm signal indicative thereof.

100. In a collection apparatus for collecting aluminum cans from an assortment of material and for compensating a depositor for such aluminum cans as a function of the weight of the aluminum cans deposited in the storage compartment of the apparatus, said apparatus having an input means for receiving said assorted material placed therein by a depositor, a start button for initiating operation of the system, a first conveyor for transporting assorted material from the input means to a classifier, said classifier detecting and segregating ferrous metal such as tin-plated steel cans from the non-ferrous materials and for depositing the ferrous metal in a ferrous metal receptacle and for depositing the non-ferrous material into a classifier conveyor, said classifier also including means for detecting heavys, metal detector means for detecting non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum cans, and means for separating non-ferrous metals from non-metals, said classifier conveyor transporting non-ferrous metals comprising aluminum cans to a crusher input hopper for loading said aluminum cans into a crusher and for dumping non-metals and heavys into a second receptacle, said crusher compacting aluminum cans and loading the crushed aluminum cans into a weigher bucket of a weigher means for measuring the weight of the crushed aluminum cans in said bucket, a storage bin, a storage bin conveyor means for transporting the crushed aluminum cans after being weighed and dumping same into the storage bin, and a microprocessor-based control system for initiating the system, for energizing the various motors of the system, for monitoring system operations, for controlling system initiation and calibration, for processing alarm signals, for performing weighing calculations, for performing compensation calculations, and for operating the coin dispenser means for paying the calculated compensation to the depositor, the improvement comprising: means for operatively segregating said storage bin from said input conveyor, classifier conveyor, crusher, weigher, and storage bin conveyor; A centrifugal fan for generating a high speed stream of air; a hollow housing means operatively disposed proximate the floor of said storage bin; an opening in the top of said housing means; metering means including a paddle wheel operably disposed in said opening for collecting a predetermined quantity of crushed aluminum cans between adjacent paddles and dropping said cans sequentially into said housing as the paddle wheel is rotated; said metering means including means for controlling the speed of rotation of said paddle wheel and thus the rate at which said quantities of cans are dumped into said hollow housing means; means for operatively coupling the output of said centrifugal fan into an input of said housing means; and conduit means operatively coupling an output of said housing to an output port in said apparatus for blowing said cans out of said storage bin and into a vehicle means for carrying the cans to a recycling center or the like.

101. The improved collection apparatus of claim 100 wherein said conduit means has a generally rectangular cross-section.

102. The improved collection apparatus of claim 100 wherein said storage bin further includes flow-directing means operably disposed up the walls of said bin for receiving the crushed aluminum cans dumped therein by storage bin conveyors and directing substantially all of said cans into said metering paddle wheel to be pneumatically pumped out of the storage bin through said output conduit means at a rate of approximately 5,000 pounds of crushed aluminum cans per hour without human intervention or the like.

103. The improved collection apparatus of claim 102 wherein said storage bin further includes means for detecting when said storage bin of crushed aluminum cans is substantially full and for generating a signal indicative thereof and means for detecting when said bin is substantially empty and generating a signal indicative thereof.

104. The improved collection apparatus of claim 103 wherein said apparatus further includes communication means for signaling a remote location when at least one of the following conditions occurs: (a) the storage bin is full, (b) the ferrous metal receptacle is full, (c) the second receptacle is full, (d) an alarm condition exists which cannot be cleared, (e) the coin dispenser is out of coins, (f) some other type of alarm condition exists, and said microprocessor-based control system being responsive to one or more of said conditions for operating said communication device and signalling the remote station thereof.

105. The improved collection apparatus of claim 104 wherein said communications device includes a telephone line, an automatic dialer, means responsive to the control system for operating the automatic dialer to reach the control station, and means responsive to said control system for selecting a predetermined recorded message indicative of the particular problem at hand and transmitting same over said telephone line back to said remote station.

106. In a collection apparatus for collecting aluminum cans from an assortment of material and for compensating a depositor for such aluminum cans as a function of the weight of the aluminum cans deposited in the storage compartment of the apparatus, said apparatus having an input means for receiving said assorted material placed therein by a depositor, a start button for initiating operation of the system, a first conveyor for transporting assorted material from the input means to a classifier, said classifier detecting and segregating ferrous metal such as tin-plated steel cans from the non-ferrous materials and for depositing the ferrous metal in a ferrous metal receptacle and for depositing the non-ferrous material into a classifier conveyor, said classifier also including means for detecting heavys, metal detector means for detecting non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum cans, and means for separating non-ferrous metals from non-metals, said classifier conveyor transporting non-ferrous metals comprising aluminum cans to a crusher input hopper for loading said aluminum cans into a crusher and for dumping non-metals and heavys into a second receptacle, said crusher compacting aluminum cans and loading the crushed aluminum cans into a weigher bucket of a weigher means for measuring the weight of the crushed aluminum cans in said bucket, a storage bin, a storage bin conveyor means for transporting the crushed aluminum cans after being weighed and dumping same into the storage bin, and a microprocessor-based control system for initiating the system, for energizing the various motors of the system, for monitoring system operations, for controlling system initiation and calibration, for processing alarm signals, for performing weighing calculations, for performing compensation calculations, and for operating the coin dispenser means for paying the calculated compensation to the depositor, the improvement comprising: said metal detector means for detecting non-ferrous metals including a digital self-adjusting metal detector for detecting the presence of aluminum cans and for generating an aluminum can detection signal each time an aluminum can is transported thereby by said classifier conveyor; normally-opened trapdoor means for dumping non-metals and heavys into said second receptable; said means for separating non-ferrous metals from non-metals including solenoid means operatively coupled to said trapdoor means for normally holding said trapdoor open to drop heavys and non-metals, including plastics, papers, glass, and the like, into said second receptacle and said solenoid means being responsive to the detection of an aluminum can for closing said trapdoor means for allowing said aluminum can to be transported to said classifier conveyor into the input hopper of the crusher.

107. The improved collection apparatus of claim 106 wherein said digital metal detector means and said microprocessor-based control system detect whenever an aluminum can has entered said classifier and has not reached said weight bucket.

108. The improved collector apparatus of claim 106 wherein said means for detecting heavys includes a impact plate operatively disposed at the input of said classifier; a cantilever beam including an elongated end portion and an opposite end, said cantilever beam being pivotally coupled to said impact plate proximate the center thereof; counterweight means operatively disposed on the elongated end of said cantilever beam for selectively establishing a threshold weight for determining whether or not a falling object is a heavy; and a microswitch operably disposed proximate the opposite end of said cantilever beam such that whenever a heavy falls onto said impact plate and displaces said impact plate and the opposite end of said cantilever beam a predetermined distance to activate said microswitch, said microswitch outputs a heavy detect signal.

109. The improved collection apparatus of claim 108 further including means responsive to said heavy detect signal for overriding said solenoid means and maintaining said trapdoor open to drop said heavy into said second receptacle, even if said heavy includes some metal.

110. The improved collection apparatus of claim 106 wherein said input conveyor, said classification conveyor and said storage bin conveyor are all operated continuously from initiation of the system until completion of transaction or increasing the throughput of said apparatus; said metal detector means and said control system generating a transaction complete signal if no aluminum cans are detected for a predetermined period of time, indicating that the depositor is done placing cans into the input means; means for detecting when the weight bucket contains a predetermined amount of aluminum cans and for generating a begin weighing signal in response thereto; said control system being responsive to at least one of said transaction complete and said begin weighing signals for establishing a time out state; said control system being responsive to said time out state for (a) turning off said crusher and storing incoming aluminum cans in the crusher input hopper; (b) measuring weight of the bucket plus the weight of aluminum cans contained therein after a predetermined time delay; (c) dumping the contents of said bucket after weighing is complete; (d) measuring the weight of the empty bucket after a second predetermined time delay; (e) calculating the weight of aluminum cans which were in the bucket and for which compensation must be paid; (f) calculating the compensation to be paid to the depositor based on the calculated weight of aluminum cans deposited thereby; and (g) ending the time out state, re-energizing the crusher, and renewing system operation.

111. The improved collection apparatus of claim 110 wherein said crusher input hopper includes means for detecting when the hopper is full and generating a signal indicative thereof, said control system being responsive to said signal indicative of a full crusher hopper for terminating the operation of said conveyors until the weighing operation is complete.

112. In a method of controlling a collection apparatus for collecting aluminum cans from an assortment of material and for compensating a depositor for such aluminum cans as a function of the weight of the aluminum cans deposited in the storage compartment of the apparatus, said apparatus having an input means for receiving said assorted material placed therein by a depositor, a start button for initiating operation of the system, a first conveyor for transporting assorted material from the input means to a classifier, said classifier detecting and segregating ferrous metal such as tin-plated steel cans from the non-ferrous materials and for depositing the ferrous metal in a ferrous metal receptacle and for depositing the non-ferrous material into a classifier conveyor, said classifier also including means for detecting heavys, metal detector means for detecting non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum cans, and means for separating non-ferrous metals from non-metals, said classifier conveyor transporting non-ferrous metals comprising aluminum cans to a crusher input hopper for loading said aluminum cans into a crusher and for dumping non-metals and heavys into a second receptacle, said crusher compacting aluminum cans and loading the crushed aluminum cans into a weigher bucket of a weigher means for measuring the weight of the crushed aluminum cans in said bucket, a storage bin, a storage bin conveyor means for transporting the crushed aluminum cans after being weighed and dumping same into the storage bin, and a microprocessor-based control system for initiating the system, for energizing the various motors of the system, for monitoring system operations, for controlling system initiation and calibration, for processing alarm signals, for performing weighing calculations, for performing compensation calculations, for operating the coin dispenser means for paying the calculated compensation to the depositor, and for displaying both the weight and compensation plus various alarm conditions to the depositor, the improved method comprising: sensing when the start button is pushed; energizing the first conveyor, the classifier conveyor, the crusher, and the storage bin conveyor; continuously operating said first conveyor, classifier conveyor, and storage bin conveyor until the depositor is done placing cans in the input means indicating that the transaction is completed; detecting the presence of a heavy dropping from the first conveyor into the classifier; maintaining a trapdoor open for dropping non-metal objects and heavys into the second receptacle; closing the trapdoor to allow detected aluminum cans to pass through the classifier conveyor into the input hopper of the crusher; detecting when the input hopper of the crusher is full; determining the weight of material dumped into the bucket of the weigher on a continuous basis; dispensing compensation in the largest coin denomination present each time a weight corresponding to said largest value denomination is weighed; turning off the crusher whenever the depositor is through placing cans into the input means or the weight in the bucket has reached a value at which time weighing is commanded; temporarily storing the incoming aluminum cans in the crusher input; measuring the weight of the bucket plus the aluminum cans contained therein after a predetermined time delay; generating a dump signal after said weighing is complete; opening the bucket dump door in response to the dump signal for emptying the bucket into the storage bin conveyor; closing the bucket door; measuring the weight of the empty bucket after a predetermined delay time; calculating the weight of the bucket plus the aluminum cans contained therein less the weight of the bucket to get the weight of aluminum cans deposited; reading the current value of compensation stored in the non-volatile memory; multiplying the weight of the aluminum cans deposited times the current compensation rate to get the total compensation due the depositor; dispensing appropriate valued coins to compensate the depositor to the nearest penny; displaying the continuous weight in predetermined increments, the ongoing compensation in increments of the largest value of coin in the dispenser, and the total weight at the end of the transaction to the nearest one-hundredth of a pound and the total compensation to the nearest penny; restoring the operation of the crusher once the weighing cycle is complete.

113. The improved method of claim 112 further including the steps of stopping the conveyor whenever the input hopper of the crusher is full.

114. In a scrap metal collection apparatus, an electronic controller comprising: means for automatically calibrating the weighing means and initializing a load cell to insure the accuracy of the system; means for generating a transaction complete signal whenever no aluminum cans have been fed to the input by the depositor for a predetermined period of time; means for detecting when a weight bucket has attained the predetermined weight at which weighing is advisable; means responsive to the transaction complete signal and to the attainment of said predetermined weight for generating a time out state; means for turning off the crusher to prevent additional crushed aluminum cans from being fed into the weigher hopper during said time out state; means for weighing and recording, a predetermined time delay after declaration of the time out state, the weight of the scrap metal weighing container and its contents prior to immediately dumping the container; means for subsequently weighing the empty container after a predetermined time delay after dumping; means for subtracting the weight of the scrap metal weighing container its contents less the weight of the empty container to obtain the weight of the scrap metal contained therein; and means for operating said scrap metal collection conveyors on a continuous basis so long as the depositor supplies aluminum cans thereto for improving the throughput of the collection apparatus; means for multiplying the weight of the scrap metal contained therein times the current compensation rate to obtain the total compensation due the depositor; means for automatically calibrating the weighing means prior to the next cycle; and means for ending the time out state, re-energizing the crusher, and restoring normal system operations.

115. The electronic controller of claim 114 further including means for storing a plurality of coins each having a different value; means for dispensing a coin of the highest value each time a weight equivalent thereof is deposited into the weighing means; means responsive to the time out state for completing the compensation in lesser value coins to the nearest penny.

116. In a scrap metal collection apparatus, an electronic controller comprising: means for automatically calibrating the weighing means and initializing a load cell to insure the accuracy of the system; means for generating a transaction complete signal whenever no aluminum cans have been fed to the input by the depositor for a predetermined period of time; means for detecting when a weight bucket has attained the predetermined weight at which weighing is advisable; means responsive to the transaction complete signal and to the attainment of said predetermined weight for generating a time out stage; means for turning off the crusher to prevent additional crushed aluminum cans from being fed into the weigher hopper during said time out state; means for weighing and recording, a predetermined time delay after declaration of the time out state, the weight of the scrap metal weighing container and its contents prior to immediately dumping the container; means for subsequently weighing the empty container after a predetermined time delay after dumping; means for subtracting the weight of the scrap metal weighing container and its contents less the weight of the empty container to obtain the weight of the scrap metal contained therein; means for multiplying the weight of the scrap metal contained therein times the current compensation rate to obtain the total compensation due the depositor; means for automatically calibrating the weighing means prior to the next cycle; means for ending the time out state, re-energizing the crusher, and restoring the normal system operations; means for initially energizing the scrap metal collection conveyors and operating said conveyors on a continuous basis so as long as the depositor supplies aluminum cans thereto for improving the throughput of the collection apparatus; said crusher having an input hopper and said system further including means for detecting when the crusher input hopper is full and generating the signal indicative thereof; and means responsible to said signal indicative of a full crusher input hopper for shutting of the conveyors until the time out stage is complete and crusher operation resumed.