Last Monday’s post about the anthropomorphic dancing beverage cans, was meant to be followed by this one about Lucky Can, a now defunct brand of reverse vending machine whose 1992 trademark was another anthropomorphic dancing beverage can.
But then on Monday night Hurricane Sandy came along and knocked out our power for a few days, so I am only now getting to follow up…
Photos above via: Dog Cat Stroll, 2009
René Wilhelm’s 1990 “Apparatus for Collecting Articles” patent for Egapro AG describes a reverse vending machine that worked like a slot machine, offering prizes or discounts as a recycling incentive…
… a combination can crusher and slot machine. When a can is placed in the deposit slot, a sensor determines whether it is made of aluminum, steel or another material. If steel or aluminum, it is accepted and five wheels spin behind transparent windows.
The reward, which can be coupons of differing values for various products or services, depends on the alignment of symbols after the wheels come to rest. Someone depositing an empty soda can might receive a discount coupon for the purchase of more soda or other products.
Gambling on a New Recycling Device
NY Times, December 06, 1989
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PARK RIDGE, N.J. — A&P is testing Lucky Can, a can recycling machine that resembles a slot machine and issues coupons to “winners,” at a supermarket here. Based on its early success, odds are it will be rolled out to other stores, the company said.
The unit, installed across from the cheek-outs at this A&P store, has drawn much attention, said Michael Rourke, vice president, corporate affairs for the Montvale, N.J.-based chain. “We’ve had nothing but good response.”
Supermarket News | December 21, 1992
Although they never really caught on in the US, they were big in Singapore and in Japan for a while…
“People do recycle without the machine but it’s on an ad-hoc basis. And some people find that it’s a chore that they have to keep it and then bring it down to some collection center without any returns. But we try to position these machines as something fun, conveniently located and get some reward for it when you recycle.”
Singapore: “Lucky Can Machine” Encourages People to Recycle
AP Archive, 1996
As positive as Lucky Can’s early press coverage was, the novelty of the machines apparently wore off and, in Tokyo, they were delegated for a time to low rent locations and dimly lit pedestrian underpasses…
(More about the downfall of Lucky Can, after the fold…)
A Lucky Can recycling flow chart from EcoNet.gr.jp
The website for the company that managed the Lucky Can machines in Tokyo now confirms that their Lucky Can machines are no longer in operation.
※ very unfortunately, is a condition that has failed Kang lucky today. On non, there is no budget to install the new cans lucky repair.
I very sorry
Recycling at Lucky Kan We are currently suspended.
A 2011 study even cited a defunct Lucky Can machine covered with spider webs…
Tang Fu-Lun, The Study of Beverage Container Recycling Process and
Potential Market for Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) in JAPAN
Regarding the combination of gambling and reverse vending machines, Wikipedia mentions that the concept had been criticized as a gateway gambling addiction aimed at children, although gambling laws in many states of the US make a specific exception for RVMs…
The deposit of any empty beverage container into a reverse vending machine does not constitute consideration nor shall a reverse vending machine be deemed to be a slot machine…
And René Wilhelm was not the only one to seek patents for recycling slot machines. Grant G. Curlman’s 1995 patent for an “Environmental Protective Amusement and Vending Method and Apparatus” is another example…
Meanwhile, Lucky Can’s inventor is now CEO of Vicap Systems.
See also: Keedoozle
Built a couple machines like these in the 80’s called ECCO Slot which dispensed store product coupons after an aluminum can was insert push a large red button, can would be recycled and a slot wheel would spin ( PC) program and coupons would print.
Can anyone tell me why these machines are not a success?
Lucky Can scheiterte in Deutschland. als das Duale System etabliert wurde. Das Dosenpfand sorgte dafür, dass die Kunden sich das Pfandgeld zurückholten. Damit war die Idee der Freiwilligkeit verbunden mit dem Spiel- und Gewinnanreiz gestorben.
Lucky Can failed in Germany. when the dual system was established. The can deposit ensured that the customers got the deposit back. The idea of voluntariness combined with the incentive to play and win had died.