Waste receptacle and system having visual indicator

• US 10,035,647 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2017
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rubicon Technologies Holdings LLC (Founder SPAC)
• Original Assignee: Rubicon Global Holdings, LLC (Founder SPAC)
• Inventors: Rodoni, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy
• Application Number:
  US15/635,879
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/002 with means for opening or closing of the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/06 with flexible inserts, e.g. bags or sacks B65F1/0073 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1473 Receptacles having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1484 relating to the adaptation of receptacles to carry identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/16 Lids or covers B65F1/1421 takes precedence; pedal or hand-lever operated for containers in general B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/128 Data transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/138 Identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/1443 Electrical
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/1446 Mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/152 Material detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/168 Sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/182 Volume determining means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/184 Weighing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/02 with means for discharging refuse receptacles thereinto conveyor construction B65G; loaders separate from vehicles B66F; fluid power control systems in general F15B
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/041 Pivoted arms or pivoted carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/52 Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture with walking sticks A45B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30232 Surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/00 : Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 : Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A system is disclosed for monitoring waste collected by a service vehicle. The system may include a receptacle having an opening configured to receive waste, and an indicator associated with the receptacle and configured to visually indicate an amount of waste inside the receptacle. The system may also include a sensor configured to capture an image of the visual indicator and to generate a signal corresponding to the image, a display, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the display. The controller may be configured to cause a representation of the amount of waste in the receptacle to be shown on the display based on the signal.

Claims

1. A waste receptacle, comprising:

a bag having an opening configured to receive waste;

a visual indicator associated with the bag and configured to indicate a weight and volume of waste inside the bag based on deformation; and

a processor configured to;

monitor signals generated by an optical sensor at a first customer location, the signals including visual images of an exterior of a first receptacle having visual indicators on the exterior of the first receptacle, wherein the optical sensor is located on-board a service vehicle;

determine the first receptacle associated with the first customer location; and

determine the waste weight and volume associated with the first receptacle at the first customer location based on the visual images and the determination of the first receptacle associated with the first customer location;

wherein the determination of the waste weight and volume based on the visual images is determined based on referencing a map stored in a memory, the map correlating the visual indicators to a weight and volume of waste.

2. The waste receptacle of claim 1, wherein the bag is configured to stretch as it is loaded, and the visual indicators include at least one marking on the bag.

3. The waste receptacle of claim 2, wherein the at least one marking changes in size during stretching of the bag.

4. The waste receptacle of claim 2, wherein the at least one marking changes in color during stretching of the bag.

5. The waste receptacle of claim 2, wherein the at least one marking includes two markings that move apart during stretching of the bag.

6. The waste receptacle of claim 2, wherein the at least one marking includes:

a first marking generally aligned with a pull of gravity acting on the waste; and

a second marking oriented generally orthogonal to the first marking.

7. The waste receptacle of claim 1, wherein:

the waste receptacle includes a strap connected to the bag;

the strap is configured to stretch during loading of the bag; and

the visual indicator includes at least one marking on the strap.

8. The waste receptacle of claim 7, wherein:

the visual indicator is a first visual indicator;

the bag is configured to stretch during loading; and

the waste receptacle further includes at least a second visual indicator having at least one marking on the bag.

9. A waste receptacle, comprising:

a rigid container having an opening configured to receive waste;

a support configured to support the rigid container; and

a visual indicator disposed between the rigid container and the support, wherein the visual indicator is configured to indicate a weight and volume of waste inside the rigid container; and

a processor configured to;

monitor signals generated by an optical sensor at a first customer location, the signals including visual images of an exterior of a first receptacle having visual indicators on the exterior of the first receptacle, wherein the optical sensor is located on-board a service vehicle;

determine the first receptacle associated with the first customer location; and

determine the waste weight and volume associated with the first receptacle at the first customer location based on the visual images and the determination of the first receptacle associated with the first customer location;

wherein the determination of the waste weight and volume based on the visual images is determined based on referencing a map stored in a memory, the map correlating the visual indicators to a weight and volume of waste.

10. The waste receptacle of claim 9, wherein the support includes a wheel.

11. The waste receptacle of claim 10, wherein the visual indicator includes:

a second receptacle connected to one of the rigid container and the wheel;

a plunger connected to the other of the rigid container and the wheel; and

a resilient member disposed between the receptacle and the plunger.

12. The waste receptacle of claim 11, wherein the visual indicator includes at least one marking on at least one of the rigid container, the wheel, the receptacle, and the plunger.

13. A system for monitoring waste collected by a service vehicle, comprising:

a receptacle having an opening configured to receive waste;

an indicator associated with the receptacle and configured to visually indicate a weight and volume of waste inside the receptacle;

a sensor configured to capture an image of the indicator and to generate a signal corresponding to the image;

a display; and

a controller in communication with the sensor and the display, the controller being configured to cause a representation of the weight and volume of waste in the receptacle to be shown on the display based on the signal; and

a processor configured to;

monitor signals generated by the sensor at a first customer location, the signals including images of the indicator located on an exterior of the receptacle, wherein the sensor is located on-board a service vehicle;

determine the receptacle associated with the first customer location; and

determine the weight and volume of waste in the receptacle at the first customer location based on the images and the determination of the receptacle associated with the first customer location;

wherein the determination of the weight and volume of waste in the receptacle based on the images is determined based on referencing a map stored in a memory, the map correlating the indicator to the weight and volume of waste.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the controller includes the map; and

the controller is configured to;

cause the representation of the weight and volume of waste in the receptacle to be shown on the display based on the determination.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the receptacle includes a bag that is configured to stretch as the bag is loaded with waste, and a strap connected to the bag that is also configured to stretch when the bag is loaded with waste; and

the indicator includes at least one marking on at least one of the bag and the strap.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one marking changes in at least one of size and color during stretching of the bag or the strap.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one marking includes two markings that move apart during stretching of the bag or the strap.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one marking includes:

a first marking generally aligned with a pull of gravity acting on the waste and configured to indicate a weight of the waste inside the bag; and

a second marking oriented generally orthogonal to the first marking and configured to indicate a volume of the waste inside the bag.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the receptacle includes;

a rigid container having an opening configured to receive waste; and

a support configured to support the rigid container; and

the indicator is disposed between the rigid container and the support.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the support includes a wheel.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the indicator includes:

a second receptacle connected to one of the rigid container and the wheel;

a plunger connected to the other of the rigid container and the support; and

a resilient member disposed between the receptacle and the plunger.