US 7,596,311 B2
Means in a reverse vending machine (RVM) for receiving, handling, sorting and storing returnable items or objects
Geir Sæther, Asker (Norway); Ronald Sivertsen, Vettre (Norway); and Tom Lunde, Blommenholm (Norway)
Assigned to Tomra Systems ASA, Asker (Norway)
Filed on Jul. 18, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/814,205.
Application 11/814205 is a continuation of application No. PCT/NO2006/000029, filed on Jan. 24, 2006.
Claims priority of application No. 20050401 (NO), filed on Jan. 25, 2005; application No. 20050402 (NO), filed on Jan. 25, 2005; application No. 20050403 (NO), filed on Jan. 25, 2005; application No. 20050404 (NO), filed on Jan. 25, 2005; application No. 20050405 (NO), filed on Jan. 25, 2005; application No. 20050406 (NO), filed on Jan. 25, 2005; and application No. 20050407 (NO), filed on Jan. 25, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2007/0292117 A1, Dec. 20, 2007
Int. Cl. G03B 15/03 (2006.01); G03B 17/48 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 396—431  [396/182] 58 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for enabling camera viewing of characteristic features of an object in order to subsequently enable processing of signals related to viewed features,
wherein a single camera having a field of view is arranged to carry out viewing of at least a first region and a second region of an object when the object is at an observation location, the camera viewing of the first region being in a first direction of viewing which is different from a second direction of viewing for the second region,
wherein a first light source is located to provide a first direction of light to illuminate the first region of the object to assist the camera in viewing at said first region the contour of an object, and
wherein a second light source is located to provide a second direction of light to illuminate the second region of the object in a direction different from the first direction of light from the first light source to assist the camera in viewing at said second region any identity feature located on the object, and wherein the first direction of light that illuminates the first region of the object intersects the second direction of light that illuminates the second region of the object.