Kiosk for recycling electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10055798-B2
Application number	US-201213438924-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2012
Priority date	Oct 2, 2008
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of an electronic device such as a mobile phone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes electrical connectors and an inspection area with an upper chamber, a lower chamber, a transparent plate and at least one camera in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the electronic device for determination of a value of the electronic device. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor and a display for user interaction.

First claim

We claim as our invention the following:

1. An apparatus for recycling electronic devices, the apparatus comprising:
an inspection area having a surface configured to support an electronic device;
a carousel rotatably mounted adjacent to the inspection area in a non-horizontal orientation and configured to rotate about a non-vertical axis;
a plurality of electrical connectors carried by the carousel and disposed around a periphery of the carousel, at least one electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors configured to connect to the electronic device when the at least one electrical connector is rotated into position adjacent to an edge portion of the surface via the carousel; and
a processor in communication with the carousel and the at least one electrical connector, wherein the processor is configured to rotate the carousel about the non-vertical axis to position the at least one electrical connector adjacent to the edge portion of the surface for connection to the electronic device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone, and wherein the at least one electrical connector is configured to connect to the mobile phone.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of electrical connectors has the same shape, and wherein the plurality of electrical connectors are interchangeably carried by the carousel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical connectors includes at least a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector, wherein the first electrical connector is operably coupled to a first cartridge removably secured in the carousel, wherein the second electrical connector is operably coupled to a second cartridge removably secured in the carousel, and wherein the second cartridge is interchangeable with the first cartridge.

5. An apparatus for recycling electronic devices, the apparatus comprising:
an inspection area configured to receive the electronic device;
a carousel rotatably mounted adjacent to the inspection area; and
a plurality of electrical connectors carried by the carousel, at least one electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors configured to connect to the electronic device, wherein each of the electrical connectors includes a movable member and a unique connection plug for connection to a corresponding electronic device, and wherein the movable member is configured to move outwardly relative to the electrical connector to automatically disconnect the connection plug from the corresponding electronic device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a detachment mechanism positioned proximate the carousel, wherein the detachment mechanism is configured to releasably engage the at least one electrical connector while the processor is performing an electrical inspection of the electronic device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a detachment mechanism positioned proximate the carousel, wherein the detachment mechanism is configured to releasably engage the at least one electrical connector, and wherein the detachment mechanism is further configured to automatically disconnect the at least one electrical connector from the electronic device.

8. An apparatus for recycling electronic devices, the apparatus comprising:
an inspection area configured to receive the electronic device;
a carousel rotatably mounted adjacent to the inspection area;
a plurality of electrical connectors carried by the carousel, at least one electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors configured to connect to the electronic device, wherein electrical connectors of the plurality of electrical connectors are interchangeable and include at least a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector, wherein the first electrical connector carries a first connection plug and the second electrical connector carries a second connection plug that is different than the first connection plug, wherein the first connection plug is configured to be removably connected to a first model of electronic device, and wherein the second connection plug is configured to be removably connected to a second model of electronic device that is different than the first model of electronic device; and
a detachment mechanism positioned proximate the inspection area and separate from the carousel,
wherein the detachment mechanism is configured to releasably engage the first electrical connector when the first connection plug is removably connected to the first electronic device at a first time, and
wherein the detachment mechanism is further configured to releasably engage the second electrical connector when the second connection plug is removably connected to the second electronic device at a second time different than the first time.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a detachment mechanism positioned proximate to the inspection area and separate from the carousel, wherein the detachment mechanism is configured to engage the at least one electrical connector, and wherein the detachment mechanism is further configured to drive the corresponding movable member outwardly relative to the at least one electrical connector to automatically disconnect the connection plug from the corresponding electronic device.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a detachment mechanism positioned proximate to the inspection area and separate from the carousel, wherein the detachment mechanism is configured to engage the at least one electrical connector, and wherein the detachment mechanism includes a pair of hinged arms configured to engage the corresponding movable member and drive the movable member outwardly relative to the at least one electrical connector to automatically disconnect the connection plug from the corresponding electronic device.

11. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a detachment mechanism positioned proximate to the inspection area and separate from the carousel,
wherein the detachment mechanism is configured to engage the at least one electrical connector,
wherein the detachment mechanism is also configured to drive the corresponding movable member outwardly relative to the at least one electrical connector to automatically disconnect the connection plug from the corresponding electronic device while holding the at least one electrical connector stationary relative to the inspection area, and
wherein the detachment mechanism is further configured to release the at least one electrical connector and let the electrical connector retract onto the carousel after the disconnecting the connection plug from the corresponding electronic device.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first electrical connector has the same shape as the second electrical connector, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a plurality of cables carried by the carousel, the plurality of cables including at least a first cable and a second cable,
wherein a distal end of the first cable is operably connected to a first side of the first electrical connector and the first connection plug extends outwardly from an opposite second side of the first electrical connector, and
wherein a distal end of the second cable is operably connected to a first side of the second electrical connector and the second connection plug extends outwardly from an opposite second side of the second electrical connector.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of cables carried by the carousel,
wherein the plurality of cables include at least a first cable and a second cable,
wherein a distal end of the firs

Assignees

• Bowles Mark Vincent
• Tullie Thomas L
• Beane John Andrew
• Ploetner Jeff
• Miller John
• Vesco Neil
• Ecoatm Llc

Inventors

• Bowles Mark Vincent
• Tullie Thomas L
• Beane John Andrew
• Ploetner Jeff
• Miller John
• Vesco Neil

Classifications

• H04M1/0287

  being disposable or recyclable · CPC title

• G06Q30/0278

  Product appraisal · CPC title

• G06Q30/00

  Commerce · CPC title

• H04M1/24

  Arrangements for testing · CPC title

• G06Q10/00

  Administration; Management · CPC title