Waste collection system

• US 9,067,245 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gerald Hubbell, James Hughes
• Original Assignee: Gerald Hubbell, James Hughes
• Inventors: Hubbell, Gerald, Hughes, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Bollinger, David H
• Application Number:
  US13/999,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20140305851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 209/546, 209/552, 209/577, 209/583, 209/587, 209/630, 209/655, 209/702, 209/703, 209/707
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 2501/0054 Sorting of waste or refuse
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/3412 according to a code applied to the object which indicates a property of the object, e.g. quality class, contents or incorrect indication sorting according to size measured by light-responsive means B07C5/10; sorting according to optical properties B07C5/342; for packages B65D79/02; for information carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/0033 specially adapted for segregated refuse collecting, e.g. receptacles with several compartments; Combination of receptacles B65F1/0093 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1426 Housings, cabinets or enclosures for refuse receptacles B65F1/006, B65F1/1452 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1473 Receptacles having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2001/008 Means for automatically selecting the receptacle in which refuse should be placed
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/108 Authorization means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/148 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/168 Sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/176 Sorting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/10 Waste collection, transportation, transfer or storage, e.g. segregated refuse collecting, electric or hybrid propulsion

Abstract

A waste collection system to identify and classify waste materials into a plurality of pre-established categories and then to sort into and collect the waste materials by the plurality of the pre-established categories for subsequent disposal comprising a cabinet to house a plurality of collection bins or containers corresponding to the plurality of pre-established categories of waste materials to receive and collect the waste materials by the corresponding pre-established category, a waste sorting assembly to selectively direct the waste materials into the collection bin or container corresponding to the particular category of waste material, a latch mechanism to selectively engage the waste sorting assembly to control access into the cabinet and a system control to identify and classify waste materials into one of the plurality of pre-established categories and to direct the categorized waste material into the appropriate or corresponding collection bin or container for subsequent disposal.

Claims

1. A waste collection system to identify and classify waste materials into a plurality of pre-established categories and to sort into and collect the waste materials by the plurality of the pre-established categories for subsequent disposal, said waste collection system comprising a cabinet including an access opening to house a plurality of collection bins or containers corresponding to said plurality of pre-established categories of waste materials to receive and collect the waste materials by the corresponding pre-established category, a waste sorting assembly to selectively direct the waste materials into said collection bin or container corresponding to the particular category of waste material, and a system control to identify and classify waste materials into one of the plurality of pre-established categories and to direct the categorized waste material into said corresponding collection bin or container for subsequent disposal, said waste sorting assembly comprising a first waste sorting subassembly to direct categorized waste material to a first collection bin or container and a second waste sorting subassembly to direct categorized waste material to a second collection bin or container, said first waste sorting subassembly comprising a first directional chute movable between a first position and a second position by a first chute positioning device and said second waste sorting subassembly comprises a second directional chute movable between a first position and second position by a second chute positioning device, said first directional chute of said first sorting subassembly comprising a trough-like chute panel that when in said first position to cover said access opening rotatably coupled to said cabinet and said second directional chute of said second sorting subassembly comprises a substantially flat chute panel including a front portion, a diagonally inclined or disposed front chute panel forming an angle of greater than 90°

extending forwardly from said front portion of said substantially flat chute panel, a pair of chute side walls extending upwardly from said substantially flat chute panel and an open rear portion rotatably coupled to opposite sides of said cabinet.

2. The waste collection system of claim 1 wherein said first chute positioning device comprises a first positioning element and a second positioning element operatively coupled and selectively movable relative to each other coupled to said cabinet and said first directional chute and said second chute positioning device comprises a first positioning element and a second positioning element operatively coupled and selectively movable relative to each other coupled to said cabinet and the second directional chute respectively.

3. The waste collection system of claim 2 wherein said first chute positioning device comprises a gas spring to pivot said first directional chute from said first position to said second position to open said access opening of said cabinet to allow access to the interior thereof and said second chute positioning device comprises an actuator including a first positioning member or element mounted to opposite sides of said cabinet by a mounted bracket and a mounting cross member coupled to a second positioning member or element by a cross member coupled to opposite sides of said second directional control chute.

4. The waste collection system of claim 3 wherein said second positioning member or element comprises a worm gear coupled by a gear.

5. The waste collection system of claim 1 wherein categorized waste material is deposited in a first collection bin or container when said second directional chute is moved forward in said first position to said second position and said second collection bin or container is in said second position.

6. The waste collection system of claim 5 wherein categorized waste material is deposited in said second directional chute when said first directional chute and said second directional chute are in said second position.

7. The waste collection system of claim 6 wherein categorized waste material is deposited from said second directional chute to a second collection bin or container when said second directional chute is moved from said second position to said first position.

8. A waste collection system to identify and classify waste materials into a plurality of pre-established categories and to sort into and collect the waste materials by the plurality of the pre-established categories for subsequent disposal, said waste collection system comprising a cabinet including an access opening to house a plurality of collection bins or containers corresponding to said plurality of pre-established categories of waste materials to receive and collect the waste materials by the corresponding pre-established category, a waste sorting assembly to selectively direct the waste materials into said collection bin or container corresponding to the particular category of waste material, and a system control to identify and classify waste materials into one of the plurality of pre-established categories and to direct the categorized waste material into said corresponding collection bin or container for subsequent disposal, said waste sorting assembly comprising a first waste sorting subassembly to direct categorized waste material to a first collection bin or container and a second waste sorting subassembly to direct categorized waste material to a second collection bin or container, said first waste sorting subassembly comprising a first directional chute movable between a first position and a second position by a first chute positioning device, said first waste sorting subassembly further including a latch mechanism to selectively secure said first directional chute of said first waste sorting subassembly in said first position.

9. The waste collection system of claim 8 wherein said the latch mechanism comprises a rotary latch including a latch housing or enclosure mounted to said cabinet to house a micro-switch and spring to selectively rotate or open said latch member from a first or latched position to a second or unlatched position having a slot formed therein relative to a recess formed in said latch housing or enclosure mounted to said cabinet and a striker bolt mounted on one side of said first directional chute.

10. The waste collection system of claim 9 wherein said latch housing or enclosure is offset relative to said cabinet to bisect said recess inclined relative from about 30 degrees to about 40 degrees and preferably about 35 degrees from the horizontal to properly align said striker bolt relative to said slot and said recess when said latch member moves between said latched position and unlatched position.

11. The waste collection system of claim 10 wherein said recess is inclined from about 30 degrees to about 40 degrees.

12. The waste collection system of claim 10 wherein said recess is inclined at about 35 degrees.

13. A waste collection system to identify and classify waste materials into a plurality of pre-established categories and to sort into and collect the waste materials by the plurality of the pre-established categories for subsequent disposal, said waste collection system comprising a cabinet including an upper portion and an access opening to house a plurality of collection bins or containers corresponding to said plurality of pre-established categories of waste materials to receive and collect the waste materials by the corresponding pre-established category, a waste sorting assembly to selectively direct the waste materials into said collection bin or container corresponding to the particular category of waste material, and a system control to identify and classify waste materials into one of the plurality of pre-established categories and to direct the categorized waste material into said corresponding collection bin or container for subsequent disposal, said system control comprising a scanner reader aligned with a scanner window and a data input device aligned with an input device together with a hard drive, a microprocessor/computer board, an input/output board, a printed circuit board, a wifi circuit with antenna and a USB hub located in the upper portion of said cabinet.