On-site monitoring equipment for monitoring recyclable item processing in an account-based recycling system

Abstract

Modular monitoring equipment for use in recycling / reuse systems is described. The modular monitoring equipment may be located at the stage of a recycling process at which returned items are counted and / or identified. The modular monitoring equipment may connect to an account management system and evaluate collected data against known information from the account management system. Errors, discrepancies, or other triggering events may be brought to the attention of an operator of the recycling system.

Description

ON-SITE MONITORING EQUIPMENT FOR MONITORING RECYCLABLE ITEM PROCESSING IN AN ACCOUNT-BASED RECYCLING SYSTEMCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 615,915, filed on December 29, 2023, under Attorney Docket No. E0406.70010US00 and entitled "COLLECTION MONITOR," which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.BACKGROUNDField

[0002] Aspects of the technology described herein relate to monitoring equipment and techniques for on-site monitoring of recyclable item processing in an account-based recycling system.Related Art

[0003] Some recyclable containers have an associated deposit amount. For example, certain beverage cans and bottles have an associated deposit amount, which in some instances is prescribed by law. The amount is sometimes 5 cents or 10 cents per can or bottle. The consumer pays the deposit when purchasing the beverage bottles / cans at the grocery store and can return the bottles / cans after use to be refunded their deposit. Some recycling systems which refund the consumer’s deposit on the recyclable bottles / cans are account-based systems. The consumer establishes an account with the entity which processes the recyclable bottles / cans. After processing the returned bottles / cans to determine which ones are entitled to a refund, the entity deposits money into the consumer’s account based on how many bottles / cans the consumer returned.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0004] According to an aspect of the present technology, monitoring equipment is provided for monitoring processing of recyclable items in an account-based processing facility. The monitoring equipment comprises: a housing connectable to sorting equipment which scans and counts the recyclable items; storage disposed in the housing and configured to store data andprocessor-executable instructions; and processing circuitry disposed in the housing and coupled to the storage. The processing circuitry is configured to: receive input from the sorting equipment; receive an account identifier associated with a plurality of recyclable containers; receive account information from an account management system; compare the input from the sorting equipment to a reference value; and output a signal to an output device in the facility.

[0005] According to an aspect of the present technology, a method is provided of operating monitoring equipment located on-site at a recyclable container processing facility having sorting equipment. The method comprises: receiving input from the sorting equipment; receiving an account identifier associated with a plurality of recyclable containers; receiving account information from an account management system; comparing the input from the sorting equipment to a reference value; and outputting a signal to an output device in the facility.

[0006] According to an aspect of the present technology, a recyclable container processing facility is provided having on-site monitoring. The facility comprises: a plurality of recyclable container processing lines each having a sorting machine and monitoring equipment electrically coupled to the sorting machine; and a data staging system coupled to the monitoring equipment and configured to receive data from the monitoring equipment.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] Various aspects and embodiments of the application will be described with reference to the following figures. It should be appreciated that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Items appearing in multiple figures are indicated by the same reference number in all the figures in which they appear.

[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a flow of recyclable items and data in an accountbased recycling system, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present technology.

[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a recyclable item processing facility according to aspects of the present technology.

[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a sorting line and monitoring equipment as part of a recyclable item processing facility of the type illustrated in FIG. 2, according to a non-limiting embodiment.

[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates monitoring equipment according to a non-limiting embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a representation of a physical implementation of monitoring equipment according to aspects of the present technology

[0013] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a manner of operation of monitoring equipment of the type illustrated in FIG. 4, according to a non-limiting embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates a non-limiting example of the operation of monitoring equipment according to an embodiment the present technology, directed to monitoring the number of recyclable items in a bundle of such items.

[0015] FIG. 8 illustrates a non-limiting example of the operation of stating system according to an embodiment the present technology, directed to verifying that the sorting machine is reporting correctly.

[0016] FIG. 9 illustrates a method of operating monitoring equipment to ensure accurate processing of recyclable items rejected by a sorting machine.

[0017] FIG. 10 illustrate a non-limiting example of a method for monitoring operation of the sorting machine of a processing line.

[0018] FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart for a method of operating monitoring equipment of the types described herein to monitor the operating mode of a sorting machine.

[0019] FIG. 12 illustrates a computing system configured to perform aspects of the present technology.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Aspects of the present technology provide on-site monitoring equipment and techniques for monitoring recyclable item processing in an account-based recycling system. The monitoring equipment, which is referred to herein at times as a “collection monitor,” is a modular apparatus in some embodiments, coupled to the machinery which processes the recyclable items as well as additional sensors, and also to an on-site data staging system and an off-site data center. The monitoring equipment receives various inputs, including input from the sorting machinery as well as the additional sensors and the off-site data center, and outputs signals to one or more of the machinery, on-site output devices, the on-site data staging system, or the off- site data center. The monitoring equipment may monitor performance of the recycling operation both with respect to operation of the machinery and human employees and may rapidly detect any errors in the operation of either, thus generating alerts or even stopping recycling operations if warranted to ensure accurate operation. As a result, the account-based recycling system may operate with improved efficiency and accuracy, ensuring that patrons are appropriately credited for their returned items and that the machinery is in good working order.

[0021] The monitoring equipment may be located on-site with the recycling processing machinery. Such placement may ensure that the monitoring equipment is functioning at the same times as the recycling processing machinery. This differs from positioning the monitoring equipment remotely from the recycling processing facility, which can lead to divergences inoperating times, for example, if the remote location were to lose power or be unmanned at times when the recycling processing facility is operating. Moreover, locating the monitoring equipment on-site with the recycling processing machinery may ensure rapid detection of problems with the machinery and other recycling processing, and rapid corrective action. Problems may be detected, and corrective action taken, in a matter of minutes or less, rather than hours or days, which may lead to significantly greater accuracy by avoiding errors which propagate through the processing of hundreds or thousands of recyclable items.

[0022] The monitoring equipment may be modular. For example, the monitoring equipment may include a housing enclosing processing circuitry (e.g., a processor) and storage. The processing circuitry may process input signals from the recycling processing machinery and other sensors, and may output appropriate signals (e.g., warnings and / or control signals) to various other components of the recycling system. The modular nature of the recycling system allows it to be connected to any recycling processing line, irrespective of the type of accountbased recycling system in use. For example, the monitoring equipment may be deployed in automated sorting lines, hand-count sorting systems, or hybrid systems. Moreover, the modular nature of the monitoring equipment permits appropriate security of the equipment’s data processing. The monitoring equipment may effectively be plug and play in various types of recycling systems.

[0023] Thus, it should be appreciated that according to some embodiments of the present technology, a collection monitor is a modular unit positioned at a recyclable container sorting facility and embodied as a collection of hardware (e.g., processing circuitry) and software which operates to monitor the sorting operation for compliance with an account-based recycling redemption system.

[0024] The aspects and embodiments described above, as well as additional aspects and embodiments, are described further below. These aspects and / or embodiments may be used individually, all together, or in any combination of two or more, as the application is not limited in this respect. For simplicity of explanation, the following description makes explicit reference to recycling systems and materials for recycling. However, the features described apply equally to systems for processing materials for reuse other than recycling.

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a flow of recyclable items and data in an accountbased recycling system, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present technology. The illustrated account-based recycling system includes drop-off stations 102a, 102b... 102n, a transportation vehicle 103, a recyclable item processing facility 106, and a data center 108. As described further below, monitoring equipment of the type described herein is positioned in therecyclable item processing facility 106. However, the illustrated account-based recycling system is a non-limiting example, and monitoring equipment of the type described herein may apply in other configurations of recycling systems.

[0026] The recycling system of FIG. 1 includes a plurality of drop-off stations 102a, 102b... 102n. Patrons of the account-based recycling system may drop off recyclable items, such as bottles and cans, at the drop-off stations 102a- 102n. For example, patrons may bundle together a plurality of recyclable items (e.g., bottles and cans) for redemption in a larger container such as a bag, box, or tote. The patron may drop the bundle (e.g., container) of recyclable items at the drop-off station. The recyclable items may have associated deposit amounts for which the patron seeks a refund.

[0027] The drop-off stations may be at various locations and may take various forms. For example, the drop-off station may be at a retail location, in the parking lot of a retail location, in a remote area such as a wooded area or transfer station, or any other suitable location. The drop-off stations are remote from the recyclable item processing facility 106 and data center 108. The drop-off station may take the form of a building, depot, holding area in a retail store, or other suitable form.

[0028] In some embodiments, a patron may scan or otherwise enter one or more identifiers when dropping off the container of recyclable items. For example, the patron may scan an account identifier for an account that the patron wants to be credited the redeemable amount of money (or other form of redemption) associated with the recyclable items dropped off. The account identifier may be in the form of a barcode or other identifier. The patron may be the account holder in some situations but need not be. The patron may also, or alternatively, enter (e.g., scan) an identifier for the container in which the recyclable items are placed. For example, if the container is a bag, the patron may scan an identifier on the bag, such as a barcode. In this manner, the container may be linked to the account identified by the account identifier.

[0029] The recycling system may have any suitable number of drop-off stations, and the monitoring equipment described herein is not limited to operating in recycling systems having any particular type or number of drop-off stations, or for that matter in systems having drop-off stations at all. In some embodiments, though, the recycling system may have several drop-off stations 102a- 102n.

[0030] A vehicle 103 may transport the bundles (e.g., containers) 104 of recyclable items from the drop-off stations 102a- 102n to the recyclable item processing facility 106. The vehicle103 may be any suitable vehicle for transporting the bundles 104 and may do so at various times.

[0031] The recyclable item processing facility 106 is a facility having machinery for processing the recyclable items to determine an amount of money (or other form of redemption) to refund the account holder associated with a given bundle 104 of recyclable items, and having monitoring equipment of the type described herein. In some embodiments, the recyclable item processing facility 106 is a warehouse. The recyclable item processing facility 106 may include multiple processing lines, each with machinery for counting and sorting recyclable items from the bundles 104 and associating the recyclable items with an account in the account-based recycling system. In some embodiments, the recyclable item processing facility 106 may include equipment for baling the recyclable items into bales that can be, for example, provided to bottlers - the companies that bottle beverages - for them to recycle. The recyclable item processing facility 106 may include additional components and functionality described further below.

[0032] The recycling system of FIG. 1 further includes a data center 108. The data center 108 hosts an account management system 110 configured to manage the accounts of the account-based recycling system. The data center 108 is located remotely from the recyclable item processing facility 106 but communicates with the recyclable item processing facility over a communication link 112. For example, the recyclable item processing facility 106 and data center 108 may be coupled by a suitable network and may exchange data and / or control signals. In some embodiments, the recyclable item processing facility 106 and data center 108 are in separate sections of a building, separate buildings and / or in separate geographic locations.

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates a recyclable item processing facility including monitoring equipment of the types described herein, according to aspects of the present technology. The illustrated recyclable item processing facility may be an example of the recyclable item processing facility 106 of FIG. 1. As shown, the recyclable item processing facility 106 includes a plurality of processing lines 202a, 202b...202n. Each of the processing lines 202a- 202n includes various pieces of equipment for processing the recyclable items, for example by counting and optionally sorting the items. For example, in the non-limiting embodiment illustrated, each processing line 202a-202n includes a sorting machine 204, monitoring equipment 206, inflow sensor 208, outflow sensor 210, a scanner 212, and an output light 214. A worker 216 interacts with the machinery of the processing line.

[0034] The sorting machine 204 may be any suitable machine for scanning and counting recyclable items such as bottles and cans. For instance, the sorting machine 204 be anautomated machine having a barcode scanner configured to scan the barcodes on bottles and cans and to compile the scanned items into a file to be sent to different equipment within the recyclable item processing facility, such as the data staging equipment described further below in connection with FIG. 3. The sorting machine 204 may be a high-speed sorting machine configured to process thousands of recyclable items per hour. As shown, the sorting machine 204 may include a conveyor 205 to convey the recyclable items 207 into and out of the sorting machine. Although a single conveyor 205 is illustrated for each sorting machine in FIG. 2, some sorting machines have multiple conveyors which may operate at the same or different speeds from each other.

[0035] The worker 216 facilitates the processing of the recyclable items 207. For example, the worker may remove the recyclable items 207 from a bundle 104 and place them on the conveyor 205. The worker 216 may scan a bundle ID 203 associated with the bundle 104. The bundle ID 203 may be associated with the account of an account holder, for example in the manner described previously in connection with FIG. 1. The recyclable item processing facility may use the bundle ID 203 to link the individual recyclable items 207 from the bundle 104 to the account of the account holder. As described further below, the scanned bundle ID may be provided to the monitoring equipment 206 and / or to the sorting machine 204 (e.g., via the monitoring equipment). The worker 216 may perform various other functions as well, such as removing trash from the bundle 104, ensuring the recyclable items 207 are aligned on the conveyor 205 in a manner conducive to scanning by the sorting machine 204, and starting and stopping the sorting machine 204 as appropriate. Stopping the machine may involve ceasing functionality of the machine or blocking recyclable items from entering the sorting machine. For example, a gate may be moved (by the worker 216 or automatically) in front of the entrance to the machine to block recyclable items from entering. The actions taken by the worker 216 may be based on an operating protocol for the account-based recycling system.

[0036] The monitoring equipment 206 is a combination of hardware (e.g., processing circuitry and storage) and software configured to monitor operation of the processing line 202a- 202n. In some embodiments, such as that illustrated in FIG. 2, the monitoring equipment 206 is configured to monitor the operations of a single, respective processing line 202a-202n. Thus, a recyclable item processing facility like that illustrated in FIG. 2 may include multiple instances of the monitoring equipment 206. The monitoring equipment 206 may be coupled to the various other components of a processing line illustrated to receive input signals from those components and / or to provide output signals to the components, as also described further below.

[0037] The inflow sensor 208 and outflow sensor 210 may detect flow of the recyclable items 207 into and out of the sorting machine 204. For example, the inflow sensor 208 and / or outflow sensor 210 may be optical sensors, cameras, infrared sensors, or any other suitable sensor configured to detect the presence of recyclable items 207 on the conveyor 205. The inflow sensor 208 and outflow sensor 210 may be coupled to the monitoring equipment 206 to provide input signals to the monitoring equipment so that the monitoring equipment can monitor the flow of recyclable items into and out of the sorting machine 204.

[0038] Scanner 212 may serve to scan bundle IDs 203 for purposes of linking recyclable items 207 in a bundle 104 to the account of an account holder. The scanner 212 may be any suitable type of scanner for doing so, and therefore may depend on the type of bundle ID 203 being used. For example, if the bundle ID 203 is a barcode, the scanner 212 may be a suitable scanner for scanning such barcodes (e.g., a barcode scanner). If the bundle ID 203 is a different type of identifier, the scanner 212 may be a suitable type for scanning that different type of ID. In some embodiments, the scanner 212 is suitable for scanning multiple types of bundle IDs 203.

[0039] The scanner 212 may be operated in various ways. For example, if the scanner is handheld then the worker 216 may manipulate the scanner 212 to scan the bundle IDs 203. If the scanner 212 is mounted, then the worker 216 may present a bundle 104 to the scanner to scan the bundle ID 203. Other manners of operating the scanner 212 are possible.

[0040] In some embodiments, the scanner 212 may be part of the monitoring equipment 206 or may be replaced by a scanner of the monitoring equipment 206. The scan of the bundle ID may be intercepted by the monitoring equipment 206 and provided to the sorting machine 204 rather than having a separate scanner for the monitoring equipment and the sorting machine. The sorting machine may receive the bundle ID from the monitoring equipment 206 and use the bundle ID to link scanned recyclable items (e.g., bottles and cans) to an account associated with the bundle ID.

[0041] The output light 214 may serve as an indicator of the operating state of the sorting machine 204. For example, the output light 214 may include multiple light colors, which may be activated depending on the operating status of the sorting machine. For example, the output light 214 may include red, yellow, and green lights, which may be activated as appropriate to indicate that the sorting machine 204 is stopped, is experiencing a warning condition, or is operating normally, respectively. Other colors and other associations of any such colors with the operating status of the sorting machine may be used. Moreover, other types of indicators in addition to or besides lights may be used, such as audible indicators. In some embodiments, the monitoring equipment 206 is coupled to the output light 214 (or other outputindicator) and configured to control the output light based on determinations the monitoring equipment 206 makes of the operating status of the sorting machine 204 and / or other components of the processing line 202a-202n.

[0042] The non-limiting recyclable item processing facility 106 of FIG. 2 shows a plurality of processing lines 202a-202n. Any suitable number of processing lines from one up to more than ten (e.g., ten, 15, 20, between 5 and 20, or more) may be provided. As described previously, the processing lines may be high-speed processing lines configured to process thousands of recyclable items (e.g., bottles and cans) in an hour. Thus, in combination, the recyclable item processing facility 106 may be configured to process tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, or more, of recyclable items in an hour and attribute the associated refund amounts for such items to appropriate accounts. Slowing or shutting down a processing line may represent a significant loss in productivity, and having errors in the counting performed by a processing line may create significant errors in the monetary amounts (or other form of redemption) credited to various accounts of account holders. Thus, the monitoring equipment 206 may serve to ensure efficient and accurate operation at high volume.

[0043] FIG. 3 illustrates a processing line and monitoring equipment as part of a recyclable item processing facility according to an embodiment of the present technology. For example, the processing line may be one of the processing lines (e.g., processing line 202a) of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 illustrates a single processing line 202a connected to a data staging system 302 and a data center 304. Although only a single processing line is illustrated in FIG. 3, any one or more of the processing lines illustrated in FIG. 2 may be connected to the staging system 302 and data center 304 and that in general a recycling system such as that shown in FIG. 3 may include a plurality of processing lines.

[0044] The recycling system 300 of FIG. 3 includes the processing line 202a, a data staging system 302, and data center 304. The sorting machine 204 and monitoring equipment 206 of the processing line 202a are coupled to the staging system 302 by an equipment network 308. The staging system 302, data center 304, and monitoring equipment 206 are coupled by a separate network 310. The networks 308 and 310 may be any suitable network types. For example, the equipment network 308 may be a local area network (LAN). The network 310 coupling the data center 304 to the monitoring equipment 206 and data staging system 302 may be a wide area network (WAN), as an example.

[0045] The data staging system 302 may include any suitable hardware for performing its functions of staging data for transmission to the data center 304. For example, as illustrated, the data staging system 302 may include a management server 312 and storage 314, which maycommunicate on a data staging network 316. The storage 314 may be a storage-area-network (SAN) in some embodiments, although other storage technologies (including other distributed storage technologies) may be used.

[0046] The data staging system 302 is configured to receive data from the sorting machine 204 and to prepare the data for transmission to the data center 304. For example, the data staging system 302 may receive data files from the sorting machine 204. The data files may indicate a number of scans made by the sorting machine 204 for a given bundle 104 of recyclable items 207. In addition, if any of the recyclable items was rejected by the sorting machine and hand-scanned by the worker 216, then the data staging system 302 may also receive that information in the file. The data staging system 302 may pre-process the data. For example, the data staging system 302 may filter the data or summarize the data from the sorting machine 204. The data staging system 302 may then send the data to the data center 304.

[0047] Additionally, the monitoring equipment 206 may send data to the data staging system 302. For example, the monitoring equipment 206 may send the data is collects from various sensors of the processing line 202a to the data staging system 302. That information may include information about the number of recyclable items entering and exiting the sorting machine 204, information about the speed of operation of the sorting machine 204, or other diagnostic information.

[0048] In an alternative embodiment, the sorting machine 204 may send its data to the monitoring equipment 206, which may then send the data to the starting system 302. Thus, it should be appreciated that various data flows between the sorting machine 204, monitoring equipment 206, and staging system 302 are possible.

[0049] The data center 304 hosts the account management system (e.g., account management system 110 of FIG. 1) for the account-based recycling system. The data center 304 may be located remotely from the recyclable item processing facility (e.g., in a separate section of a building, in a separate building and / or in a separate geographic location) and may include suitable hardware for performing its functions, such as a server (e.g., a platform server) 318 and storage 320, coupled by a data center network 322. The storage 320 may be a distributed storage system configured to provide data redundancy and accessibility.

[0050] As described above, for example in connection with FIG. 2, the monitoring equipment 206 is configured to monitor operation of the processing line 202a. The monitoring equipment 206 may receive input signals from the various components of the processing line 202a. The monitoring equipment 206 may also receive input from the data center 304. For example, the monitoring equipment may receive information about the types of accounts that aresupported by the account management system and characteristics of those accounts. For example, the monitoring equipment 206 may receive information indicating that the supported account types include business accounts and personal accounts and may receive associated information such as the typical number of recyclable items for those types of accounts, or threshold information such as the highest acceptable number of recyclable items for those account types. The monitoring equipment 206 may send outputs to the data staging system 302, data center 304, or output devices, such as the output light 214.

[0051] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of monitoring equipment according to a nonlimiting embodiment of the present technology. The monitoring equipment of FIG. 4 may serve as the monitoring equipment in FIGs. 2-3, for example. However, not all monitoring equipment according to aspects of the present application has the same construction, inputs, or outputs shown in FIG. 4.

[0052] The monitoring equipment 402 of FIG. 4 may include processing circuitry 404 and storage 406. The processing circuitry 404 may process the various data the monitoring equipment 402 receives from a sorting machine 408, sensors (e.g., light sensor 410, belt speed detector 411, scanner 412, and sorting machine scanner 413), and data center 414, and may store the data in the storage 406. The storage 406 may also store executable instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry 404, cause the processing circuitry 404 to perform the various functions of the monitoring equipment 402. For example, in some embodiments the processing circuitry 404 is a processor, and the storage 406 stores processor-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform one or more of functions described herein as being attributed to the monitoring equipment. The storage 406 may a single storage device (e.g., a single disk, tape, solid state memory) or a collection of storage devices.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, the monitoring equipment 402 may receive inputs from the sorting machine 408, a light sensor 410, a belt speed detector 411, a scanner 412, a sorting machine scanner 413, and a badge scanner 415. The sorting machine 408, light sensor 410, and scanner 412 are example implementations of the sorting machine, light sensors, and scanner of FIG. 2, described previously. The belt speed detector 411 may be a sensor which detects the speed of one or more conveyors of the sorting machine. The sorting machine scanner 413 may be a sensor which monitors operation of the scanner on the sorting machine which scans individual recyclable items.

[0054] The badge scanner 415 may be used to permit a worker to interact with the monitoring equipment 402, for example to restart the equipment if it has been stopped. In someembodiments, restarting any of the equipment of the processing line (e.g., processing line 202a) may require worker authorization as administered by a badge scan. Thus, a badge scanner may be provided. If the monitoring equipment stops the sorting machine or other components from operating, the worker may, in some embodiments, be required to scan a badge to restart operation of the equipment. In some embodiments, restarting the equipment might require a manager to scan his or her badge. For example, a manager badge scan may be required to override an exception. As an example, if the monitoring equipment stops the sorting machine 408 because the number of scanned containers exceeds an acceptable threshold, a manager may override the action of the monitoring equipment and permit the sorting machine to continue operating by scanning his or her badge.

[0055] The monitoring equipment 402 may further receive inputs from the data center 414 and staging system 416. The data center 414 is an example of the data center 304 and the staging system 416 is an example of the staging system 302 of FIG. 3, both of which have been described previously. The monitoring equipment 402 may be configured to output signals to various output devices 418, such as a monitor 420 and a light tower 422. The output signals may be provided via a relay 417. Although a single relay is shown, more than one relay may be provided. For example, a relay may be provided for each output device 418 to which the monitoring equipment 402 sends signals.

[0056] FIG. 5 illustrates a representation of a physical implementation of monitoring equipment according to aspects of the present technology. For example, the monitoring equipment 502 is an example implementation of the monitoring equipment 402 and monitoring equipment 206 described previously. The monitoring equipment 502 has a housing 504. The housing may be of metal or a combination of materials. The monitoring equipment 502 includes a plurality of ports 506 configured to receive cables for connecting to other components of the processing line. For example, the ports 506 may accept a cable connecting the monitoring equipment 502 to the sorting machine, a light sensor, a scanner, or any other component described herein to which monitoring equipment may connect. Additionally, or alternatively, the monitoring equipment 502 may include wireless communication circuitry 510 configured to connect wirelessly to one or more of the components of the processing line, staging system, or data center.

[0057] The monitoring equipment 502 further comprises processing circuitry 512 and storage 514, which may be of the same types described previously herein in connection with FIG. 4.

[0058] The monitoring equipment 502 also comprises a keypad 508 permitting a worker (e.g., worker 216) to interact with the monitoring equipment. Although a keypad is illustrated, other forms of interfaces may be used, such as a graphical user interface (GUI), voice recognition interface, or any other suitable component.

[0059] The physical form of the monitoring equipment 502 permits it to be placed onsite in a recyclable item processing facility, such as that illustrated in FIGs. 1-3. For example, the monitoring equipment 502 may be positioned next to a sorting machine of a processing line in a recyclable item processing facility. Positioning the monitoring equipment on-site with the recyclable item processing facility may provide various benefits described previously herein.

[0060] As described previously, the monitoring equipment and techniques described herein add both the detection and correction of problems to the beginning of the processing of recyclable items, for example at the point at which the returned recyclable items are counted / identified. Many types of problems may be detected and addressed using monitoring equipment and techniques of the types described herein. For example, among the types of problems that can be detected and addressed are:• Missing information about collected recyclable items: Returned recyclable items not yet identified in the system (e.g., because the item is a new type of item not yet recognized by the account management system), and partial scanning of returned items;• Machine errors, as described further below;• Operator errors, as described further below; and• Fraudulent activities, as described further below.

[0061] Machine errors that can be detected and notified in real time include (but are not limited to):• Scanner failures;• Failure to send information to the account management system or other downstream processes; and• Data collected for fewer recyclable items than found downstream during processing (creating the need for retrospective assignment).

[0062] Various operator errors can be detected by the monitoring equipment and notified in real time. Some non-limiting examples include:• Failure to scan account holder account tags and process-based tags;• Failure to scan the next account resulting in incorrect use of the previous account;• Rescanning a previous account holder’ s account instead of moving on to the next account for a bundle of returned items;• Incorrect processing of material for one recycling market on a processing line set up for another market;• Accidentally partially or fully combining one bundle of items within another bundle of items (mixing items) either due to scanning mistakes or scanner failures; and• General failure of a worker to follow a prescribed operational process.

[0063] Fraudulent activities that can be detected and notified in real time by monitoring equipment include (but are not limited to):• Discrepancies regarding average bundle size;• Potential bag tag over bag tag situations, such as the placement of a fraudulent account’s bag tags over the account holder’s bag tag;• Operator fraud such as scanning a fraudulent account’s bag tag instead of the tag on the bag;• Excessive items being assigned to a particular account;• Too much variation in returned items versus past account history; and• Use of previously suspended accounts (e.g., in situations in which the account holder is paid onsite).

[0064] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a manner of operation of monitoring equipment of the type illustrated in FIGs. 2-4, according to a non-limiting embodiment.

[0065] The process 600 begins with the receipt of various inputs by the monitoring equipment. For example, at stage 602 the monitoring equipment may receive input from the data center. The input may be information about account types, acceptable limits for certain account types, or other information outlining acceptable tolerances and activities within the account-based recyclable processing system.

[0066] At stage 604, the monitoring equipment may receive account information, such as an account identifier. For example, the account identifier may be received from a scanner of a processing line, as described previously in connection with FIG. 2. However, alternative manners of providing the account identifier to the monitoring equipment may be used. Receipt of the account identifier may signal a new bundle of recyclable items is being processed by the sorting machine of the processing line.

[0067] At stage 606, the monitoring equipment may receive input from the sorting machine. The input may be any of the types described previously herein as being provided from a sorting machine to monitoring equipment. For example, in some embodiments the input is a count number provided by the sorting machine indicative of the number of recyclable items the sorting machine has counted for a given account.

[0068] At stage 608, the monitoring equipment may receive input from one or more sensors. For example, the monitoring equipment may receive input from sensors of the types described in connection with FIGs. 2 and 4. In some embodiments, the monitoring equipment receives input from an inflow sensor and outflow sensor which detect the flow of recyclable containers into and out of the sorting machine.

[0069] At stage 610, the monitoring equipment evaluates one or more of the inputs received in stages 602, 604, 606, and 608 for accuracy. The evaluation may be performed by processing circuitry of the monitoring equipment. The evaluation may take various forms depending on the quantity being evaluated. For example, the evaluation may involve comparing a count number of recyclable items received at stage 606 from the sorting machine to a threshold count number received at stage 602 from the data center based on the type of account to which the recyclable items belong. Alternatively, the evaluation may involve comparing a timing of receipt of the inputs from the sorting machine at 606 and the account identifier at 604 to an expected protocol as received from the data center at stage 602. Still other forms of evaluation are possible. Moreover, stage 610 may involve performing multiple evaluations, either of different types of inputs or of the same type of input at different times.

[0070] At stage 612 the monitoring equipment may provide an output notification and / or control signal to one or more components of the account-based recycling system. For instance, if the evaluation at stage 610 indicates an error condition, an error notification may be generated and output at stage 612 to relevant components, such as to an output light (e.g., of the type illustrated in FIGs. 2 and 4), the sorting machine, or the data center. In some embodiments, the output notification may be provided to a monitor viewable by a worker (e.g., worker 216) so that the worker can take corrective action. In some embodiments, a control signal may be generated and output, for example to control operation of the sorting machine.

[0071] The ordering of the stages in method 600 is non-limiting. One or more of the stages may occur in parallel, periodically, and / or in response to other stages. For example, the inputs may be received at various times, the evaluation(s) done repeatedly as new inputs are received, and the outputs (of stage 612) generated periodically or in response to the result of the evaluation(s) at stage 610. Thus, it should be appreciated that the method 600 is non-limiting,and the various aspects of the technology described herein may utilize different stages and / or different ordering of stages.

[0072] FIG. 7 illustrates a non-limiting example of the operation of monitoring equipment according to an embodiment the present technology, directed to monitoring the number of recyclable items in a bundle of such items. This use case verifies the recyclable item processing system is registering the correct number of a recyclable items (e.g., bottles and cans).

[0073] The method 700 begins at stage 702, at which the monitoring equipment first receives the account number (or other identifier) associated with the bundle of recyclable items. In some embodiments, the monitoring equipment intercepts the account number as it is being provided to the sorting machine, in the manner previously described. For example, the monitoring equipment may receive the account number when it is scanned on a bundle of recyclable items, and may then provide the account number to the sorting machine.

[0074] At stage 704, a valid range of the number of recyclable items is set based on the type of account represented by the received account number. In some embodiments, this information is downloaded from the platform server of the data center which identifies acceptable count numbers for compliance with the number of recyclable items typical for an individual account versus a business account. The valid range for a personal account will be smaller than that for a business account in at least some embodiments.

[0075] At stage 706, a count number of the recyclable items being processed by a sorting machine is compared to the valid range from stage 704.

[0076] If the number of recyclable items is within the valid range at stage 708 then the process returns to stage 706, and repeats.

[0077] If the count number is outside the valid range at stage 708 then a determination is made at stage 710 whether the count number is close to the valid range (e.g., within 5% of the valid range). If yes, then at stage 712 a notification is sent to the worker (e.g., worker 216) and the process returns to stage 706. The notification may include guidance to the worker on corrective action to take.

[0078] If the count number is well outside the valid range as determined at stage 710, then more significant action may be taken. For example, at stage 714 the monitoring equipment can alert local management (e.g., signal an issue with the sorting machine to maintenance or work shift leads), or even stop the machine if the issue warrants it. Stopping the machine may involve ceasing functionality of the machine or blocking recyclable items from entering the sorting machine. For example, a gate may be moved in front of the entrance to the machine to block recyclable items from entering.

[0079] In some embodiments, notifications and alerts sent as part of method 700 may be sent by text such as short message service (“sms”). In some embodiments, the monitoring equipment may not issue the notifications or alerts itself but instead may notify the staging system and / or data center which may then issue such notifications and alerts, or control issuance of such notifications and alerts.

[0080] FIG. 8 illustrates a non-limiting example of the operation of a staging system according to an embodiment the present technology, directed to verifying that the sorting machine is reporting correctly. The staging system may be of the type illustrated and described in connection with FIG. 3, as an example. The sorting machine is designed to process at high speed and requires maintenance on a regular basis. It may be difficult to detect when the sorting machines are starting to have performance issues. These issues may show up in data inconsistencies in data retrieved from the staging system.

[0081] The method 800 begins with the staging system receiving data from a sorting machine at stage 802. The sorting machine may be of the types described herein, and the data may be the type of data provided by such sorting machines. For example, the data may be a file indicating scans performed by the sorting machine on recyclable items from a bundle.

[0082] At stage 804, the staging system may receive data from the monitoring equipment coupled to the sorting machine. The data may include, among other things, the same type of data provided by the sorting machine. For example, if the sorting machine provides the staging system with data about the number of recyclable items scanned for a given bundle, the monitoring equipment may likewise provide the same type of information.

[0083] At stage 806, the staging system may compare the data received from the sorting machine with the data received from the monitoring equipment.

[0084] At stage 808 a determination is made whether the comparison at stage 806 indicates that the data received from the monitoring equipment and the data received from the sorting machine are consistent. If they are (“Yes”), then the method returns to stage 802. If they are not (“No”), then an alert or other corrective action may be taken at stage 810 by the staging system. For example, the staging system may send an alert to the data center, a manager, or the worker (e.g., worker 216) indicating that the sorting machine may need maintenance.

[0085] Thus, the method 800 reflects how the monitoring equipment may facilitate an evaluation of the accuracy of the recyclable item processing.

[0086] FIG. 9 illustrates a method of operating monitoring equipment to ensure accurate processing of recyclable items rejected by a sorting machine.

[0087] When the sorting machine is unable to read the ID on a recyclable item, such as the barcode on a can or bottle, the sorting machine rejects the item. The worker (e.g., worker 216) then processes the item manually. For example, the worker puts the item through a path that detects the item and registers the item status in the sorting machine. In some local regulations, for instance, the recyclable item processing system must record these hand scanned items to record them as being recycled. The monitoring equipment can monitor this data and send it to the staging system to make sure the recyclable items are being properly being processed.

[0088] The method 900 begins at stage 902 with the monitoring equipment detecting that a recyclable item has been rejected by the sorting machine. This may occur because, for example, the sorting machine is unable to read a barcode on the recyclable item.

[0089] At stage 904, the monitoring equipment may detect that the rejected recyclable item has been scanned in an alternative manner. For example, the monitoring equipment may detect a hand scan of the rejected recyclable item by a worker.

[0090] At stage 906, the monitoring equipment sends to the staging system data about the alternative scan of the rejected recyclable item. This information may be sent on an individual basis or in combination with other data about the scanning of recyclable items from a bundle.

[0091] The staging system may then process the data from the monitoring equipment in a suitable manner. For example, the staging system may reconcile the data about the rejected recyclable item with data received from the sorting machine. If the data can be reconciled, the recyclable item processing system may continue its operation. If the two cannot be reconciled, the staging system may issue an alert to a worker or to the data center or may take another suitable corrective action.

[0092] The monitoring equipment may be used to evaluate whether sorting machinery of the recyclable item processing facility requires maintenance. The monitoring equipment may include, or couple to, sensors to monitor the operation of the sorting machine, such as belt speed, scanning operation, and rejections of recyclable items. Data from such sensors may indicate suboptimal operation of the sorting machine, such as slipping conveyor belts, dirty scanners, or other problems.

[0093] Further to the method 900 or as an alternative, the number of recyclable items rejected by the sorting machine may be compared to the number of recyclable items counted as rejected by a worker. If the number of recyclable items entering the sorting machine and recorded by the machine as being rejected differs from (e.g., is larger than) the number of itemsprocessed by a worker as being rejected, then such data suggests either that the machine is operating inaccurately and may need maintenance or that the worker is operating incorrectly. Either way, corrective action can be taken, such as but not limited to issuing an alert to the worker or a manager.

[0094] FIG. 10 illustrates a non-limiting example of a method for monitoring operation of the sorting machine of a processing line. The method 1000 begins at stage 1002, in which the monitoring equipment receives belt speed information of one or more conveyors of the sorting machine. The belt speed information may be received from a sensor of the sorting machine or a separate sensor.

[0095] At stage 1004, the monitoring equipment receives input indicative of the sorting machine scanner functionality. As described previously, the sorting machine may include one or more scanners for scanning IDs (e.g., barcodes) on recyclable items. That is a different scanner than the scanner which may scan bundle IDs. The monitoring equipment may receive the information about the operation of the sorting machine scanner from the sorting machine itself or from a separate sensor.

[0096] At stage 1006, the monitoring equipment may evaluate the belt speed information and the input indicative of sorting machine scanner functionality to assess operation of sorting machine to determine whether they indicate a potential malfunction or suboptimal operation of the sorting machine. If so, an alert may be generated to a worker or the data center, or another corrective action may be taken.

[0097] As has been described previously, monitoring equipment of the types described herein may be used to evaluate compliance with business processes of an account-based recycling system. For example, the operation of an account-based recycling system may have different modes for processing the recyclable items. Example modes include:• Individual returns where the sorting machine reads the contents of an individual container (e.g., bag) for an account;• Business returns where the machine reads the contents of large returns of recyclable items where there are a large number of recyclable items in a single return;• Enhanced Reject Mode (ERM), being a mode that eliminates the need for the worker to process recyclable items rejected by the sorting machine and the account holder is paid for the reject. This mode allows the worker to run a bundle (or many bundles) of recyclable items much faster and the rejects are processed later for billing; and• Reject Mode, in which the rejected recyclable items from ERM are processed again to determine whether the sorting machine can recognize the recyclable item(s) and the account holder can be credited. This mode may be run multiple times as needed.

[0098] Leaving the sorting machine in a previous mode or having the sorting machine configured to run in an inappropriate mode can lead to significant data issues with the assignment of recyclable items to an account The monitoring equipment may communicate with the data center (e.g., the platform server of the data center) to understand the current operation of the sorting machine, and is able to stop the operation if it detects the sorting machine running in the wrong operating mode by monitoring the account information scanned and how the system is registering a recyclable item.

[0099] FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart for a method of operating monitoring equipment of the types described herein to monitor the operating mode of a sorting machine. The method 1100 begins at stage 1102 at which the monitoring equipment receives input from the data center identifying the intended current operating mode of the sorting machine.

[0100] At stage 1104, the monitoring equipment may receive information from the sorting machine indicative of the operating mode of the sorting machine. The data may be a mode indicator from the sorting machine, or other data that would indicate the operating mode of the sorting machine, such as whether the sorting machine is flagging recyclable items that are rejected.

[0101] At stage 1106, the monitoring equipment may compare the information received at stages 1102 and 1104 to determine if they are consistent. If they are, the monitoring equipment may take no action. If, however, they are not, the monitoring equipment may take corrective action at stage 1108, such as generating an alert or stopping operation of the sorting machine.

[0102] The example processes of FIGs. 7-11 are non-limiting. It should be appreciated that monitoring equipment of the types described herein may perform additional or alternative functions.

[0103] As should be appreciated from the description above, various aspects of the invention may be implemented on one or more computer systems, such as the exemplary system 1200 shown in FIG. 12. Computer system 1200 includes processor 1210, memory 1220, nonvolatile storage 1230, and a display 1240. The processor may be an example of the processing circuitry of the types described herein. The processor may perform one or more functions of the monitoring equipment described herein, such as those functions associated with FIGs. 6-11.Instructions for the processor may be stored, for example, in non-volatile storage 1230, and data may be stored, for example, in memory 1220. Alternatively, instructions for the processor may be stored in the memory 1220 and data may be stored in the non-volatile storage 1230. In still further embodiments, the memory 1220 and non-volatile storage 1230 may both store instructions and / or data. The memory and / or non-volatile storage may be a disk (e.g., an optical disk), a compact disk (cd), a solid-stage memory, or any other memory, and in some embodiments may be configured to store process-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor 1210 cause the processor to perform any of the methods described herein. It should be appreciated that the memory 1220 and non-volatile storage 1230 are non-transitory media in at least some embodiments. Optionally, a display 1240 may be provided, for example so that personnel may interact with the processor and view data output by the processor.

[0104] It should be appreciated from the foregoing description that there are many variations on the monitoring equipment and monitoring techniques described herein.

[0105] For example, in some embodiments the monitoring equipment includes a count sensor that counts the number of items that go into the sorting machine. The monitoring equipment can leverage historical information to detect when there seem to be too many items in the bundle or a potential bundle-in-bundle situation.

[0106] In some embodiments, the monitoring equipment is programmed to directly control the sorting machine in response to a problem. For example, the monitoring equipment may slow or shut down the sorting machine, drop guards that help direct and segregate collected material, and / or redirect material for special downstream processing.

[0107] In some embodiments, the monitoring equipment may also optionally accept direct input from the worker / operator either based on their initiative to alert the system to a problem or based on a prompt from the monitoring equipment requesting operator input to determine the best response. This enhancement expands the potential responsiveness of the monitoring equipment to problems during the collection process.In some embodiments, the account management intelligence can either reside in a separate system (e.g., a data center) accessed by the monitoring equipment via a network or can be bundled in the monitoring equipment itself. With either approach, account management is added to the devices used for initial counting / identification of collected items.

[0108] The aspects of the present technology may provide various benefits. Some such benefits have been described already. Some are described below. It should be appreciated that not all benefits are provided by all embodiments and that benefits other those listed may be realized in accordance with aspects of the present technology.

[0109] According to aspects of the present technology, monitoring equipment for monitoring recyclable item processing is deployed at the beginning of the process for counting / identifying returned recyclable items. Such positioning within the processing flow helps deter fraud involving operators since potential fraud can be detected in real time. In essence, account management functionality is moved to a point early in the process flow of processing recyclable items for refunds (or other forms of redemption).

[0110] The monitoring equipment may check for account fraud and use account history to check that the volume of the returned items does not exceed expectations for the account. The monitoring equipment may check for bundle-in-bundle problems (described above). In a streamlined application, the monitoring system would notify operators about potential problems so that operators can take actions to address the problems. Enhancements to such a solution include the ability to provide notifications to operators at the monitoring equipment, to accept input from the operators, and to directly control the collection equipment (e.g., the sorting machines) in response to problems. The monitoring equipment also could collect sensor data that could be used to predict equipment maintenance needs, spurring proactive maintenance prior to equipment failures. In addition, further error and fraud detection algorithms may be deployed by the monitoring equipment.

[0111] An account management system may identify and address some problems of improper sorting activity, such as machine failures or operator failures, but in a retrospectively manner when deployed on the back end of the recycling / reuse process as opposed to at the beginning of the process for counting / identifying returned items. The inventors have recognized that deploying at least some such functionality at the point of the recycling / reuse process at which the returned items are being counted and identified would be beneficial for the reasons described above.

[0112] Monitoring equipment and techniques of the types described herein may facilitate processing of previously unrecognized items. The landscape of items collected for recycling changes constantly. New products are launched continuously, and products are launched into new markets on a regular basis. An account management system within a recycling system must learn about new items in order to credit the customer for their return, bill the distributor for their processing, and direct the material for appropriate disposition. The faster new items can be identified, the more accurately the account management system can assign items for credit and billing / disposition. Monitoring equipment and techniques of the types described herein speed the identification of previously unrecognized items so that the system may be updated to recognize them and process them correctly.

[0113] The monitoring equipment according to some embodiments described herein is a modular device, suitable for various approaches to collection of items for recycling / reuse, that moves some intelligence of an account management system to the beginning of the process for counting / identifying returned recyclable items. The monitoring equipment leverages account management functionality to detect and adjust accounting in response to machine errors, operator errors, and known fraudulent activities without exposing proprietary aspects of such functionality. By adding the use of this intelligence to the beginning of the process for handling recyclable items, the monitoring equipment expedites the allocation of credits to account holders and the assignment of materials to distributors for billing and / or disposition, allows early detection of errors during the processing of returned items, including machine errors, resulting in the ability to limit the impact of those errors, and reduces the need for post-hoc adjustments to crediting and billing / allocation processes (which entail the use of highly- skilled and expensive resources after- the-fact). Also, greater accuracy in assigning collected items for reimbursement and billing / disposition reduces the likelihood of complaints from patrons and distributors later; such complaints may involve investigation and rectification, can negatively affect company image, and can deter future willingness to participate in recycling / reuse.

[0114] The monitoring equipment according to some embodiments results in the account holder benefitting from faster and more accurate crediting for their returned items, the distributor benefitting from faster and more accurate accounting of their returned items, and account management companies benefitting from greater automation at the beginning of the process for counting / identifying returned items, which in turn reduces costly manual processes downstream. In addition, the modular monitoring equipment is designed for use with the variety of item collection models currently in use (including but not limited to hand count systems, reverse vending machines, and factory solutions using traditional bulk sorting machines) and can be commercialized for use by third-party recycling / reuse partners while maintaining the confidential operating details (e.g., sensitive data) involved in detecting machine errors, operator errors, and fraudulent activities.

[0115] Aspects of the present technology reduce the occurrence of errors in an accountbased recycling system. Compared to systems which have an account management system only at a position within the processing workflow that is delayed from the initial counting and sorting, monitoring equipment according to aspects of the present technology may more quickly identify and / or correct errors and other issues of the types described herein.

[0116] Monitoring equipment according to various aspects described herein is a modular device that allows connection of various recyclable item collection systems to an accountmanagement system for speedier detection and response to the problems noted above. The account management system may be a proprietary system. According to some embodiments, the monitoring equipment adds the intelligence of the account management system to an earlier phase of the process where it may be needed to identify and rectify issues in a timely manner. Errors and fraud can be detected and addressed when they occur. The monitoring equipment also allows for expansion of data collection, enabling the ability to expand and refine algorithms for detecting machine errors, operator errors, and fraudulent activities.

[0117] Thus, aspects of the present technology are faster, more efficient, and more accurate than approaches relying on human detection and responses or after-the-fact accounting adjustments.

[0118] As described previously, in some embodiments the monitoring equipment is a modular box that has an input for an account scanner and an output from the scanner to the processing machine used to track returned items. The monitoring equipment has a network connection providing access to an account management system, which in some embodiments may be a proprietary account management system. The monitoring equipment reads the account holder’s account information (from a physical or virtual account card or from a scannable code associated with the account) using the scanner. The collection monitor then promptly reads the account information for the account holder. Based on the historical data stored for the account, error and fraud detection algorithms can detect potential errors and fraud and can respond promptly to these problems. The monitoring equipment can alert operators, shift managers, and other interested parties via displayed alerts, text messages, email notifications, and other means of a potential problem allowing quick human response to the problem.

[0119] The monitoring equipment allows a non-proprietary processing machine to be connected to a proprietary account management platform for such services as fraud detection, account management, and billing, among other possible proprietary functions provided by the proprietary system.

[0120] The aspects described herein have application in both the recycling and reuse industries. Reuse applications include but are not limited to services such as those found at airports that lend items (such as food containers, coffee cups, electronic equipment) to customers at one destination for a fee that is partially or completely reimbursed at another destination.

[0121] The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”

[0122] The phrase “and / or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that areconjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and / or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and / or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.

[0123] As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.

[0124] Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.

[0125] The terms “approximately” and “about” may be used to mean within ±20% of a target value in some embodiments, within ±10% of a target value in some embodiments, within ±5% of a target value in some embodiments, and yet within ±2% of a target value in some embodiments. The terms “approximately” and “about” may include the target value.

[0126] Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

[0127] Having described above several aspects of at least one embodiment, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be object of this disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. Monitoring equipment for monitoring processing of recyclable items in an account-based processing facility, the monitoring equipment comprising: a housing connectable to sorting equipment which scans and counts the recyclable items; storage disposed in the housing and configured to store data and processor-executable instructions; and processing circuitry disposed in the housing, coupled to the storage, and configured to: receive input from the sorting equipment; receive an account identifier associated with a plurality of recyclable containers; receive account information from an account management system; compare the input from the sorting equipment to a reference value; and output a signal to an output device in the facility.

2. The monitoring equipment of claim 1, wherein input from the sorting equipment comprises a count number representing a number of recyclable items counted by the sorting equipment as being associated with the account identifier.

3. The monitoring equipment of claim 1 or any other preceding claim, wherein the input from the sorting equipment is information indicative of a speed of a conveyor of the sorting equipment.

4. The monitoring equipment of claim 1 or any other preceding claim, wherein the account information from the account management system comprises a type of account.

5. The monitoring equipment of claim 4 or any other preceding claim, wherein the type of account is a business account or personal account.

6. The monitoring equipment of claim 5 or any other preceding claim, wherein the account information further comprises a threshold number of recyclable items for the type of account, and wherein the reference value is the threshold number.

7. The monitoring equipment of claim 1 or any other preceding claim, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to output data to a data center located remotely from the monitoring equipment.

8. The monitoring equipment of claim 7 or any other preceding claim, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to output the data to an account management system in the data center.

9. The monitoring equipment of claim 1 or any other preceding claim, wherein the output device is a light indicator.

10. The monitoring equipment of claim 1 or any other preceding claim, wherein the output device is a monitor.

11. The monitoring equipment of claim 1 or any other preceding claim, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to output data a data staging system located at the account-based processing facility.

12. The monitoring equipment of claim 1 or any other preceding claim, wherein the signal output by the processing circuitry is a signal to stop operation of the sorting equipment.

13. A method of operating monitoring equipment located on-site at a recyclable container processing facility having sorting equipment, the method comprising: receiving input from the sorting equipment; receiving an account identifier associated with a plurality of recyclable containers; receiving account information from an account management system; comparing the input from the sorting equipment to a reference value; and outputting a signal to an output device in the facility.

14. A recyclable container processing facility having on-site monitoring, the facility comprising: a plurality of recyclable container processing lines each having a sorting machine and monitoring equipment electrically coupled to the sorting machine; anda data staging system coupled to the monitoring equipment and configured to receive data from the monitoring equipment.

15. The recyclable container processing facility of claim 14, wherein the data staging system is configured to send data to an account management system located remotely from the recyclable container processing facility.

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