Waste scanning method
First Claim
1. A method for sorting waste items, the method comprising:
- providing a waste sorting system comprising a plurality of container compartments, each container compartment configured to receive a removable container;
providing a plurality of removable containers;
wherein the removable containers are configured to be placed within the container compartments,wherein each of the removable containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste categories;
wherein at least one of the removable containers comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag;
wherein at least one of the container compartments comprises a radio frequency (RFID) reader;
wherein the RFID reader is configured to read the RFID tag to determine a position within the waste sorting system and the waste category of the container;
providing a scanner configured to determine a barcode located on a waste item;
providing a control system that compares information obtained from the barcode with waste item classification information;
assigning the waste item to at least one waste category;
identifying one of the removable containers based on the waste category;
automatically opening the identified removable container to move to the open position to permit disposal of said waste item; and
restricting access to the identified removable container after receipt of a waste item by locking said container in a closed position.
1 Assignment
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for disposing of medical waste is generally configured to sort waste items into a plurality of containers according to applicable rules and regulations governing the handling and/or disposal of such items. In some embodiments, a system comprises sorting stations each of which houses a number of disposable containers. Each station can identify an item of waste, determine the most appropriate container for the item, and facilitate disposal of the item in the appropriate container. In some embodiments, a detection system for determining a presence and/or a quantity of waste items within a container is also provided. In some embodiments, access to discarded waste items is restricted once the waste items have been placed in a container.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for sorting waste items, the method comprising:
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providing a waste sorting system comprising a plurality of container compartments, each container compartment configured to receive a removable container; providing a plurality of removable containers;
wherein the removable containers are configured to be placed within the container compartments,wherein each of the removable containers is associated with at least one of a plurality of waste categories; wherein at least one of the removable containers comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; wherein at least one of the container compartments comprises a radio frequency (RFID) reader; wherein the RFID reader is configured to read the RFID tag to determine a position within the waste sorting system and the waste category of the container; providing a scanner configured to determine a barcode located on a waste item; providing a control system that compares information obtained from the barcode with waste item classification information; assigning the waste item to at least one waste category; identifying one of the removable containers based on the waste category; automatically opening the identified removable container to move to the open position to permit disposal of said waste item; and restricting access to the identified removable container after receipt of a waste item by locking said container in a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification