System for monitoring items in a container

• US 8,056,817 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2008
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Custom Engineered Systems & Equipment Co.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Custom Engineered Systems & Equipment Co.
• Inventors: Flood, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Savusdiphol; Paultep
• Application Number:
  US12/035,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 235/435, 235/439, 235/487, 235/492, 235/451
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 9/3007 Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 9/3042 Containers provided with, or connectable to, compactor means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10415 the interrogation device being fixed in its position, such as an access control device for reading wireless access cards, or a wireless ATM banking machines in general G07F19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/84 Greenhouse gas [GHG] management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

A container having a compactor and bin for waste is disclosed permitting on-premises and remote monitoring of the system and collection is disclosed. The system can also detect non-complaint materials placed therein and act thereon. Methods are further disclosed for inventorying identification tags for tracking packages, merchandise and tags disposed of.

Claims

1. A container for holding waste wherein at least one of the items of waste includes a passive RFID tag having identification information thereon, comprising:

a plurality of walls to contain the items;

an opening for inserting waste items therethrough;

a door for selectively closing the opening;

a sensor for sensing whether the door is in an open or closed condition;

an antenna positioned relative to the container for obtaining the identification information on the passive RFID tags;

a control means for receiving a signal from the sensor and providing a signal to the antenna to activate the antenna based on the closed condition sensed wherein a passive RFID tag is activated upon activation of the antenna;

means for reading the identification information on the passive RFID tags;

means for either recording the read identification information or communicating the read identification information associated with the passive RFID tags;

a means for compacting waste items; and

means for automatically locking out the means for compacting in response to the read identification information from the passive RFID tag.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the antenna is mounted on a wall and a second opening is provided in the wall between the antenna and the items in the container to enhance signal communications between the antenna and items in the container and wherein the antenna is shielded by encasing it in a metal, except for the second opening.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the antenna is connected to a reader is also connected to a control panel for reading the data transmitted by the antenna and either storing the data or transmitting it to another system.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the reader further includes software and/or hardware for detecting non-compliant items and a system for alerting a worker an item in the container is non-compliant.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein the non-compliant item is a hazardous material.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the antenna is mounted to the door, the opening being provided in the door between the antenna and the items in the container to enhance signal communications between the antenna and items in the container.

7. A method of reading identification information on passive RFID tags with each passive RFID tag being attached to an item in a waste container, comprising the steps of:

providing a container having an opening selectively closable by a door;

securing an antenna in a fixed position relative to the container for obtaining the identification information on the tags within the container;

providing a sensor for sensing a condition of the door;

using the sensor to sense whether the door is in an opened or closed condition;

activating or deactivating the antenna based on the sensing step wherein a passive RFID tag is activated upon activation of the antenna;

activating the antenna when the door is in the closed condition;

collecting the identification information from the passive RFID tag when the door is in the closed condition;

deactivating the antenna when the door is in the open condition;

recording the identification information and/or communicating the identification information associated with the tags;

providing means for compacting waste items within the container; and

automatically locking out the means for compacting in response to the read identification information from the passive RFID tag without user intervention.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of securing the antenna further includes providing a second opening in the container between the antenna and the items in the container to enhance signal communications between the antenna and items in the container and further including the step of shielding the antenna from external noise by encasing it in a metal, except for the second opening.