System for auditing refuse collection

• US 20020030595A1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Automation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cardinal Automation, Inc.
• Inventors: Kasik, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,448,898 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/14 Other constructional features; Accessoriesholders or carriers for hand articles A45F5/00; fastening devices E05C

Abstract

A signaling device is mated with a conventional container to develop a change in state for indicating that the container has been accessed. The change in state can be developed manually, or automatically when the cover of the container is opened, to signal that the container has been accessed, and can be automatically returned to the initial state as part of the procedures used to empty the container. The signaling device is used in combination with a system for auditing a refuse collection process so that subscribers to the service can be charged for service according to usage. This then motivates the subscribers to call for collections of their refuse only from containers that are substantially full, or to compensate the refuse collection service for additional container pick-ups.

Claims

1. An apparatus for auditing a refuse collection process performed by a service vehicle for emptying contents from a refuse container into a hopper associated with the service vehicle, for receiving the contents in the hopper, the apparatus comprising:

signaling means coupled with the container and changeable from a first state signaling that refuse collection is not to be performed to a second state signaling that refuse collection is to be performed, for signaling that the contents of the container are to be accessed; and

identifying means coupled with the service vehicle, for automatically identifying containers having the signaling means in the second state, to indicate that the contents of the identified containers are to be emptied into the receiving hopper of the service vehicle, and for automatically identifying the refuse collection process performed on each of the identified containers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signaling means is a signal apparatus coupled with the container for movement between a first position signaling that the refuse collection is not to be performed and a second position signaling that the refuse collection is to be performed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the container includes a body for receiving the contents through an opening formed in the container, a cover for enclosing the opening in the body of the container, and a hinged connection for joining the body and the cover so that the cover can rotate relative to the body, and wherein the signal apparatus includes:

an attachment assembly coupled with the hinged connection of the container, for engaging portions of the hinged connection so that the attachment assembly can rotate relative to the hinged connection and so that the signaling apparatus can rotate about the hinged connection and relative to the body and the cover;

a flag extending from the attachment assembly and having a configuration capable of extending over the cover; and

a stop extending from the attachment assembly and having a configuration capable of engaging the body of the container.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the flag and the stop are rotatable relative to the cover and the hinged connection, between a lowered position in which the flag is positioned over the cover and the stop is spaced from the body of the container, and a raised position in which the flag is placed in a generally vertical orientation and the stop is in contact with the body of the container.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the attachment assembly includes a first band section having a first curved portion and a second band section having a second curved portion, and wherein the first band section is combined with the second band section so that the first curved portion opposes the second curved portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first band section has a first mounting bracket coupled with an end of the first curved portion, and wherein the second band section has a second mounting bracket coupled with an end of the second curved portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 which further includes attachment means for connecting the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket, to combine and form the attachment assembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the flag extends from the first band section and wherein the stop extends from the second band section.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the flag and the stop extend from opposing sides of the attachment assembly.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for automatically identifying the containers having the signaling means in the second state includes means for identifying a corresponding subscriber to the refuse collection process.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 which further includes alphanumeric markings applied to the container which are unique to the subscriber.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the alphanumeric markings applied to the container include an upper row of up to ten characters and a lower row of up to twenty characters.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 which further includes optical character recognition means for identifying the alphanumeric markings applied to the container.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 which further includes a fiducial marking applied to container.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 which further includes means for identifying the fiducial marking and for aligning the optical character recognition means responsive to positioning of the fiducial marking.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 which further includes a video signal receptor positioned for alignment with the containers, and a processor coupled with the receptor for receiving video signals from the receptor.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the receptor is a CCD camera.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 which further include a light coupled with the receptor, for illuminating the markings applied to the container.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the light is a strobe light.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the light is an infrared light.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the containers include a contrasting background for receiving the markings, for distinguishing the markings applied to the container.

22. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the processor is coupled with the service vehicle, for coordinating operations of the processor with operations of the service vehicle.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the processor is coupled with a container lifting mechanism associated with the service vehicle, for correlating operations of the processor with operations of the lifting mechanism.

24. The apparatus of claim 10 which further includes a coded label applied to the container which is unique to the subscriber.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 which further includes means for reading the coded label applied to the container.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the means for reading the coded label applied to the container is a bar code reader.

27. The apparatus of claim 10 which further includes means coupled with the container, for wireless transmission of a signal which is unique to the subscriber.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the wireless transmission means is an RF transmitter.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for automatically identifying the refuse collection process performed on each of the identified containers includes means for counting a number of times that the containers have been accessed.

30. The apparatus claim 1 wherein the means for automatically identifying the refuse collection process performed on each of the identified containers includes means for measuring an amount of the refuse removed from the containers, by weight.

31. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes means for detecting an unsuccessful identifying of the container and the refuse collection process performed on the container, and an alarm coupled with the detecting means for signaling detection of the unsuccessful identifying.

32. The apparatus of claim 1 which further includes memory for storing data corresponding to the identified containers and the refuse collection process performed.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 which further includes a time stamp applied to the stored data.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 which further includes means for transferring the stored data to a processing unit remote from the service vehicle.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the transferring means is a wireless transmitter.

36. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the transferring means is a portable memory device.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the changing of the apparatus from the first state to the second state includes the step of moving a signaling apparatus coupled with the container from a first position signaling that the refuse collection is not to be performed to a second position signaling that the refuse collection is to be performed.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the first state corresponds to a lowered orientation for the signaling device and wherein the second state corresponds to a raised orientation for the signaling device.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein the step of automatically identifying each of the serviced containers includes the step of identifying a corresponding subscriber to the refuse collection process.

41. The method of claim 40 which further includes the step of identifying alphanumeric markings unique to the subscriber.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of identifying the alphanumeric markings includes optical character recognition of the alphanumeric markings.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the step of identifying the alphanumeric markings further includes the steps of identifying a fiducial marking, and aligning the optical character recognition responsive to the identifying of the fiducial marking.

44. The method of claim 40 which further includes the step of identifying a code unique to the subscriber.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the step of identifying the code includes the step of reading a bar code.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein the step of identifying the code includes the step of receiving a wireless transmission of the code.

47. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of automatically identifying the serviced containers is coordinated with operations of the service vehicle.

48. The method of claim 37 wherein the step of automatically identifying the refuse collection process performed on each of the serviced containers includes the step of counting a number of times that the containers have been accessed.

49. The method of claim 37 wherein the step of automatically identifying the refuse collection process performed on each of the serviced containers includes the step of measuring an amount of the refuse removed from the containers, by weight.

50. The method of claim 37 which further includes the steps of detecting an unsuccessful identification of the serviced container and the refuse collection process performed on the serviced container, and providing an alarm signal responsive to the detection of an unsuccessful identification.

51. The method of claim 37 which further includes the step of storing data corresponding to the identified containers and the refuse collection process performed.

52. The method of claim 51 which further includes the step of recording a time stamp in combination with the storing of the data.

53. The method of claim 51 which further includes the step of transferring the stored data to a processing unit remote from the service vehicle.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the transfer of the stored data includes a wireless transmission of the data from the service vehicle to the remote processing unit.

55. The method of claim 37 wherein the containers are correlated with a subscriber to the refuse collection process, and wherein the method further includes the step of charging the subscriber according to the refuse collection process which has been performed.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the subscribers are charged responsive to a number of times that the containers have been accessed.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the subscribers are charged responsive to a determined weight of the contents removed from the containers.

37. A method for auditing a refuse collection process performed by a service vehicle for emptying contents from a refuse container into a hopper associated with the service vehicle, for receiving the contents in the hopper, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

changing an apparatus coupled with the container from a first state signaling that refuse collection is not to be performed to a second state signaling that refuse collection is to be performed, signaling that the contents of the container are to be accessed;

servicing containers having a signaling apparatus in the second state, using the service vehicle, including emptying the contents of the serviced containers into the receiving hopper;

bypassing containers having a signaling apparatus in the first state; and

automatically identifying each of the serviced containers, and the refuse collection process performed on each of the serviced containers.