The present disclosure relates to a system and method for reusing reusable items and borrowing reusable items which can be checked out and returned. In an embodiment, the system is adapted to display a user selectable option for reusing one or more reusable items and a user selectable option for borrowing one or more reusable items; upon user selection of the option for reusing one or more reusable items, display one or more impacts resulting from the one or more user selections; and upon user selection of the option to borrowing one or more reusable items, display instructions for checking-out a borrowed item, notify that the borrowed item is successfully checked out, and display one or more impacts resulting from the one or more borrowed reusable items. In an embodiment, the reusable items comprise food containers and utensils.

A container deposit return system having a housing, a crushing assembly and a control system. The crushing assembly is positioned within the housing and has a first crushing wall and a second crushing wall spaced apart from the first crushing wall defining a crush cavity, and, a crushing wall movement assembly structurally configured to move the first crushing wall relative to the second crushing wall to direct the first crushing wall toward and away from the second crushing wall. The two crushing walls are configured crush a container that is positioned within the crush cavity. The control system having at least one imaging sensor, the imaging sensor configured to record an image the container before crushing and after crushing.

According to various embodiments, a compactor arrangement (202) may have the following: a compactor (102); an empty-container transport device (202t) for transporting empty containers (104) in the compactor arrangement (202) in a transport region (1000t) above the empty-container transport device (202t); a first anti-encroachment guard structure (1000s) which laterally delimits the transport region (1000t) and which is provided between the transport region (1000t) and the compactor (102), wherein the first anti-encroachment guard structure (1000s) defines a feed region (1000d) through which empty containers (104) can be fed laterally out of the transport region (1000t) to the compactor (102); and a guard device (1002) having a second anti-encroachment guard structure (1002s) which is configured such that, selectively, an encroachment from the direction of the transport region (1000t) into the feed region (1000d) can be prevented.

A outdoor large item vending system for large items such as propane tanks, liquid petroleum gas cylinders of various sizes and other items that must be stored in and dispensed from a hazardous location compliant system (i.e. a Class I, Division 2 compliant system). The vending system can be placed on a store front, parking lot, campsite, or park, and comprises a main housing having compartments to hold large items such as propane container, which are dispensed from the compartments when a payment is made through a credit card reader interface located in the main housing. The large item vending system of the invention is powered by AC current which is turned to DC power by a power supply, or DC batteries charged by AC power and/or solar power, or by other power means.

A fraud detection system for a reverse vending machine, the system including: a detector adapted to detect at least one container entered into the reverse vending machine; a compactor load sensor adapted to measure load of a compactor of the reverse vending machine during operation, wherein the compactor is adapted to compact entered containers downstream of said detector; and a compactor load sensor monitoring device configured to determine whether the detected at least one container is compacted as expected based on the load measured by the compactor load sensor.

Provided is a computer-implemented method for predicting payment transactions using a machine learning technique that includes receiving transaction data, generating a categorical transaction model based on the transaction data, determining a plurality of prediction scores including determining, for one or more users, a prediction score in each merchant category of a plurality of merchant categories for each predetermined time segment of a plurality of predetermined time segments, where a respective prediction score includes a prediction of whether a user will conduct a payment transaction in a merchant category at a time associated with a predetermined time segment associated with the respective prediction score, determining a recommended merchant category and a recommended predetermined time segment of at least one offer, generating the at least one offer, and communicating the at least one offer to the one or more users. A system and computer program product are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a system consisting of a) a plurality of containers having an information label which contains a unique and distinct container identification that can be read out, b) a first read device for reading out container identifications from information labels and for generating a data string on the basis of the read out container identification, c) a database (4) for storing the data string in a database entry and d) a control device which initiates the transmission of the generated data string to the database (4).

A reverse vending machine is provided that includes an interface cabinet having an inlet portal. At least one bin is provided for receiving the accepted recyclable container. A roller system identifies and sorts the recyclable containers. A crusher is driven by a motor with a mechanical coupling between the crusher and the motor. The crusher is adapted to receive various containers and is positioned intermediate between the roller system and the bin. A cart or frame displaceable relative to the interface cabinet, the crusher is mounted on the cart or the frame. A reverse vending machine in another embodiment includes a interface cabinet, the interface cabinet having an inlet portal for recyclable container input and a rejected container depository. At least one bin and a roller system are provided along with a wash system for cleaning components of the interface cabinet between the inlet portal and the bin.

The invention relates to a method for identifying pledged property, comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus, comprising: a guide tube in a substantially erect position, comprising an inlet and an outlet; and means for analysing the dynamic luminescence behaviour of a luminescent substance; wherein the means for analysing the dynamic luminescence behaviour of the luminescent substance are disposed so as to analyse the dynamic luminescence behaviour of the luminescent substance in the guide tube, even if said luminescent substance is in motion; introducing a pledged property containing the luminescent substance into the guide tube through the inlet; analysing the dynamic luminescence behaviour of the luminescent substance contained in the pledged property using the means for analysing the dynamic luminescence behaviour of the luminescent substance; and classifying the pledged property according to the result of the analysis.

A method for registering a reimbursement to a user depositing a recyclable article for recycling, includes: a) providing a visually readable marking on the article, visually representing a code; b) reading, using the mobile device, a location-representing signal; c) comparing the read signal to a corresponding predetermined physical location or area; d) using a camera of the mobile device to visually depict the marking, and interpreting the code; and e) automatically registering the reimbursement based upon the code. Step c) is performed before step d), and in the additional step of activating a visual depiction software function which is used for depiction in step d), which activation is only performed if the read signal corresponds to the predetermined physical location or area in step c).