Refuse container, method and controller therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to a refuse container (1) on swivel-castors (2) having a horizontal rotation axis (3) and being rotatably around a vertical swivel-axis (4), and connected to a respective mounting plate (5). It is proposed to fix the mounting plate (5) to a bottom side (11) of the container (1) via a respective load cell (6), the load cell (6) having a top side (61) and a bottom side (62), and being configured to indicate a force exerted onto the top side (61) relative to the bottom side (62) by means of a signal. The bottom side (62) of the respective load cell (6) is fixedly connected to the respective mounting plate (5) connected to the swivel-castor (2), and the top side (61) of the load cell (6) is fixedly connected to the bottom side (11) of the refuse container (1) such that the load cells (6) together encounter the full load of the container (1) with its contents, and together transfer said full load to the wheels (2) of the container (1), so that the signals of the load cells (6) together originate from said full load.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the quantification of the contents of a refuse container, i.e. the determination of the amount of refuse present in its internal space, based on sensor measurements. In particular, the invention is envisaged for application in industrial environments, e.g. wherein large amounts of waste products of manufacturing processes are collected, e.g. sorted by material in dedicated containers. The envisaged containers typically have an internal volume in the range of 600-2000 Litres. In particular, envisaged standard containers have an internal volume of 660L, 770L, 1070L, or 1100L. They are wheeled bins comprising wheels of the swivel-castor type. The bins are typically loaded from the top, comprising a pivoting lid covering a top opening for receiving the refuse.

[0002] As is known for any type of refuse container, the quantification through sensor measurements enables to anticipate on e.g. an expected fullness of the containers by timely emptying, to facilitate efficient use thereof, and e.g. on an expected maximum loading of the containers, to optimize both handleability and lifetime. The sensor measurements can be processed as is known in the art by a controller to indicate the quantification of the contents and / or required or advised actions, but also e.g. to keep track of the amount of weight produced over time. In known examples, the controller is capable of transmitting relevant processed data to visually or audially inform a user, e.g. via a display message and / or audio signal, and / or capable of wirelessly transmitting the quantification and / or the required or advised actions to a server, e.g. enabling remote monitoring of the container status.

[0003] Presently, the quantification is generally done by providing sensors in the internal space, in particular visual sensors in the top of the container to determine the volume of the refuse or the filling level of the container, and / or weight sensors at the bottom of the container to determine the weight.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide improved quantification of the contents of the envisaged refuse containers. At least, it is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative to the present practices of such quantification.

[0005] In a first aspect thereof, the invention provides a method of retrofitting a refuse container on wheels, according to claim 1. Furthermore, the first aspect provides a refuse container on wheels, e.g. a refuse container retrofitted by the method of claim 1, according to claim 5. The first aspect furthermore provides a quantification method according to claim 8, which is made possible by the inventive configuration of the refuse container. The first aspect furthermore provides a controller according to claim 12 for executing the method in an automated manner. Preferred embodiments are defined in the subclaims.

[0006] In the first aspect, the present invention provides in particular for the envisaged containers, that the measurements are performed by sensors which form part of the container, but are provided outside the internal space thereof. In this way, sensors may be less exposed to the conditions of this internal space, which are often moist, polluted and / or unhygienic. Furthermore, sensors may be more easily accessible. Potential advantages thereof lie for example in terms of reduced required efforts in daily cleaning, maintenance, and replacement of parts, but also accuracy and lifetime through a reduction in the exposure of sensitive parts to the mentioned conditions potentially being harmful to the working parts of the sensors and their electronic connections and facilitation of said cleaning, maintenance and replacement. The improved accessibility may increase the possibilities and / or ease of connection to devices processing the measurements.

[0007] The first aspect of the invention provides a configuration of weight sensors which not only leads to the mentioned advantages already related to the provision of the sensors outside the internal space thereof, but may furthermore be achieved through a particularly efficient, effective, cost-friendly and non-labor intensive method of retrofitting of existing refuse containers on wheels of the mentioned type. On top of this, the resulting retrofitted container may furthermore provide an improved accuracy of quantification, while at the same time providing robustness, through the simplicity of the solution and involved economical number of additional parts relative to the original container, i.e. prior to retrofitting.

[0008] The invention furthermore relates to configurations wherein instead of a load cell, another weight sensor is used which is also configured according to the claim.

[0009] It is noted, that the magnitude range of the forces measurable by the load cell (or other weight sensor being configured to provide the same functionality) may lie between the mentioned range of 0.1-10kN, e.g. be 0.1-6kN or 0.4-8kN, etc. For example the lower limit may be adjusted to match the weight of the empty container.

[0010] The first aspect of the invention will be described in relation to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments shown therein are however in no way limiting to the invention, and merely provide an illustrative example of the invention. Variations within the scope of the invention can be readily envisaged by the skilled person. In the drawings, figure 1illustrates in a perspective view a refuse container according to the invention, retrofitted according to the inventive method, figure 2illustrates in a side view a bottom portion of the same container, figure 3illustrates in a side view a magnification onto one of the wheels of a container according to the state of the art, prior to retrofitting according to the method of the invention, figure 4illustrates a corresponding magnified view onto the same one of the wheels, after retrofitting according to the method of the invention, figure 5illustrates in a perspective view, one of the wheels assembled with the additional parts provided during retrofitting, figure 6illustrates in the magnified view of figures 3 and 4, the wheel of a container according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0011] Figures 1-2 and 4-6 illustrate a refuse container 1 on wheels 2 according to the invention. The refuse container has an internal volume of 600 to 1200 Litres for holding refuse.

[0012] The wheels 2 are each of the swivel-castor type, having a horizontal rotation axis 3. The swivel-castors are furthermore rotatably around a vertical swivel-axis 4, connected to a respective mounting plate 5. The swivel-axis is indicated in figure 5, the mounting plate in figure 4. The swivel-castors are a standard part of containers of this type and size.

[0013] Each of the swivel-castors 2 is fixed to a bottom side 11 of the container 1 via a respective load cell 6. The load cell 6 has a top side 61 and a bottom side 62, and is configured to indicate a force exerted onto the top side relative to the bottom side by means of a signal, as is known in the art. The force is in the magnitude range of 0.1 to 10 kN, to suit the practically expected load thereon resulting from the weight of the container along with its contents, i.e. the refuse held thereby.

[0014] The bottom side 62 of the respective load cell 6 is fixedly connected to the respective mounting plate 5 connected to the swivel-castor 2, and the top side 61 of the load cell 6 is fixedly connected to the bottom side 11 of the refuse container 1 such that the load cells 6 together encounter the full load of the container 1 with its contents, and together transfer said full load to the wheels 2 of the container 1, so that the signals of the load cells 6 together originate from said full load.

[0015] From the figures it can readily be recognized, that the simple construction according to claim 5 makes that the load cells 6 are exposed to the full load of the container 1 and its contents, since they form a single interconnecting link between the container and the wheels 2, when considering the line of the transfer of the load of the container 1 to the swivel-castors 2. That is, there are no parts which transfer the load parallel to the load cells 6, only parts in series therewith. In the depicted embodiments, the load cells 6 are each placed in series with respective plates 8, 7, and 5 and the housing and axes 3 of the wheels 2 transferring the load to the ground surface via the wheels 2 itself. The load cells 6 encountering the full load, makes that the signals produced thereby are a direct result of the full load, which prevents uncertainties with regard to the part of the load transferred via other parts, which optimizes the signal-to-noise ratio and facilitates calibration, all to the benefit of the accuracy of the measurement. Furthermore, the fact that the load cells 6 are provided above each of the swivel-castors 2, makes that the load is measured at multiple horizontal locations along the container, in particular at the corners thereof which is inherent to the locations of the wheels 2, which may further contribute to the accuracy relative to a measurement at one horizontal location only.

[0016] In the shown embodiments, the top side 61 of each load cell 6 is connected to the bottom side 11 of the container 1 via a respective upper auxiliary plate 7. Top side of the load cell is fixed to this upper auxiliary plate 7, and the upper auxiliary plate 7 is in turn fixed to the bottom side 11 of the container 1. In particular the upper plate 7 is fixed above the mounting plate 5, and covers the full horizontal extension of the load cell 6. It provides a flat surface for forming a favorable interface with the top side 61 of the load cell 6, independently of the surface of the bottom side 11 of the container 1.

[0017] In the shown embodiments, the bottom side 62 of each load cell 6 is fixed to the mounting plate 5 via a respective lower auxiliary plate 8. The bottom side 62 of the load cell 6 is fixed to the lower auxiliary plate 8, and the lower auxiliary plate 8 is in turn fixed to the mounting plate 5. In particular the lower auxiliary plate 8 is covers the full horizontal extension of both the mounting plate 5 and the load cell 6. It provides a flat surface for forming a favorable interface with the bottom side 62 of the load cell 6, independently of the surface of the mounting plate 5.

[0018] The container according to the invention is advantageously obtainable by a method according to the invention of retrofitting an existing container of the envisaged type. This is illustrated in the figures by incorporating the magnified view of figure 3 of an existing container of the envisaged type, for comparison with the same view of figure 4 of the retrofitted container according to the invention. A container according to the invention results from the inventive method starting with a refuse container 1 on wheels 2 having an internal volume of 600 to 1200 Litres for holding refuse, the wheels each being of the swivel-castor type, having a horizontal rotation axis 3 and being rotatably around a vertical swivel-axis 4 connected to a respective mounting plate 5. Therein, as shown in figure 3, the mounting plate 5 of each of the swivel-castors 2 is initially fixedly connected to a bottom side 11 of the container 1 so as to connect the swivel-castor to the container. The method for obtaining the inventive container 1 requires at least the following steps for each of the swivel-castors 2.

[0019] The connection of the swivel-castor 2 to the container 1 is to be released by disconnecting the respective mounting plate 5 from the bottom side 11 thereof, and the respective mounting plate 5 is to be released from the bottom side 11 of the container 1.

[0020] A load cell 6, is to be provided having a top side 61 and a bottom side 62, and being configured to indicate a force exerted onto the top side relative to the bottom side thereof by means of a signal, wherein the force is in the magnitude range of 0.1 to 10 kN.

[0021] The bottom side 62 of the load cell 6 is to be fixedly connected to the mounting plate 5, e.g. the top side thereof, and the top side 61 of the load cell 6 is to be fixedly connected to the bottom side 11 of the container 1, so as to fixedly reconnect the swivel-castor 2 to the container 1 via the mounting plate 5 and now the load cell 6.

[0022] The fixed connection obviously includes a fixed connection via another rigid part, for example via the auxiliary plates 7 and 8 as is shown.

[0023] It is remarked here, probably in abundance, that the order in which the steps are executed should not necessarily be the order in which the steps are mentioned here in order to achieve the same container. For example, the load cell may be provided before the release of the connection of the wheel 2 to the container 1. Or, the connection between the bottom side 62 of the load cell 6 to the mounting plate 5 and the connection between the top side 61 and the bottom side 11 of the container 1 may be reversed in order. The steps do not necessarily have to all be executed for one wheel 2 before the steps can be executed for another - they may be executed in parallel for multiple wheels 2 at the same time. The skilled person readily recognizes other possible variations in the order to achieve the same result within the scope of the inventive method.

[0024] As is preferred and provided in the embodiment of the inventive container 1 shown, the fixed connections are achieved by providing fastening means extending through boreholes in the different parts to be connected. This is particularly advantageous in view of the fact that in the envisaged existing containers prior to retrofitting, the mounting plate 5 is fixed to the bottom side 11 of the container 1 in this manner. Multiple holes are provided in the mounting plate 5 which are vertically adjacent to corresponding holes in the bottom surface 11 of the container, through which respective fasteners extend for fixing the mounting plate 5, and therewith the wheels 2, to the container. In the method of retrofitting such container 1, the method step of releasing the connection of each swivel-castor to the bottom side of the container comprises removing the respective fasteners prior to said clearing of the respective mounting plate from the bottom side of the container. The upper auxiliary plates 7 are provided in this method, wherein the step of fixedly connecting the top side 61 of the respective load cell 6 to the bottom side of the container further comprises fixing this top side 61 to the auxiliary plate 7. For each of the swivel-castors, the provided respective upper auxiliary plate 7 has multiple holes 71, such that these are also configured to be positionable vertically adjacent the holes in the bottom side of the container accommodating the, or other, respective fasteners therethrough and into the holes in the bottom side of the container. The step of fixedly connecting the top side 61 of the respective load cell 6 to the bottom side of the container further comprises fastening the, or other, respective fasteners through the holes of the upper auxiliary plate 7 and into the vertically adjacent holes in the bottom side of the container. Advantageously, the same fasteners may be used as initially provided in the holes prior to retrofitting, which is particularly economical.

[0025] In case a lower auxiliary plate 8 is also provided for each swivel-castor 2, as is the case in the illustrated example, this lower auxiliary plate 8 preferably has holes 81, corresponding to the holes of the respective mounting plate 5, such that these are configured to be positionable vertically adjacent the holes in the mounting plate 5 accommodating the, or other, respective fasteners therein and through the holes in the mounting plate 5, and the step of fixedly connecting the bottom side 62 of the respective load cell 6 to the mounting plate comprises fixing the bottom side 62 to the lower auxiliary plate 8 and fastening the, or other, respective fasteners through the holes of the mounting plate 5 and into the vertically adjacent holes 81 in the lower auxiliary plate 8. Of course, also here the same fasteners as initially used may be used here, e.g. where other fasteners are used for the upper auxiliary plate 7.

[0026] According to common practice the fasteners are bolts, wherein the mentioned holes are bolt holes, although other fastening means may be applied within the scope of the invention.

[0027] In figure 5 it is shown, that the load cell 6 may be connected to the upper auxiliary plate 7 by fastening means as well through dedicated holes therethrough distinct from the mentioned holes for fastening the plate 7 to the container bottom side 11. The distinct dedicated holes are preferably provided between the last mentioned holes, as is the case for the illustrated embodiment, and the load cell 6 obviously has corresponding vertically adjacent holes. The load cell 6 is connected to the lower auxiliary plate 8 in a similar fashion.

[0028] A particular embodiment of the container 1 according to the invention advantageously provides that the height increase of the container 1 corresponding to the added height of the additional parts 6, 7, 8 relative to the existing container without these parts is reduced, preferably is substantially or completely eliminated. An embodiment wherein the height difference is substantially eliminated, is illustrated in figure 6.

[0029] In such embodiment, the load cell 6 is supported via a rigid interconnecting part such as to be operative between the mounting plate 5 and the bottom of the container 11, whilst supported onto the rigid interconnecting part with its bottom side 62 lower than the mounting plate 5, preferably with substantially its full height lower than the mounting plate. The rigid interconnecting part is in the figures the auxiliary lower plate 8, having an upper section 82 and a parallel and adjacent lower section 83 interconnected by an intermediate section 84 bridging an elevation between the upper and lower sections 82, 83, wherein the bottom side of the load cell is fixed to the lower section 83 of the lower auxiliary plate 8, and the upper section 82 of the lower auxiliary plate 82 to the mounting plate 5, such that the lower section of the lower auxiliary plate extends horizontally beyond and vertically below the mounting plate. Therein the elevation bridged by the intermediate section 84 corresponds to substantially the height of the load cell 6. The top side 61 of the load cell 6 is fixedly connected to bottom side 11 of the container via another rigid interconnecting part which bridges the horizontal distance between the load cell and the location of mounting to the bottom side 11 of the container. Here this other interconnecting part is the respective upper auxiliary plate 7, having a proximate section 72 and an adjacent distal section 73, wherein the top side 61 of the load cell 6 is fixed to the distal section 73 of the upper auxiliary plate 7, and the proximate section 72 of the upper auxiliary plate 7 is fixed to the bottom side 11 of the container 1, above the mounting plate 5. The skilled person may verify that other variations are possible, wherein the load cell 6 is physically supported vertically lower than the mounting plate 5 but still operative between the bottom side 11 of the container and this mounting plate by similar interconnecting parts bridging at least part of the height of the load cell 6 at a horizontal distance from the mounting plate 5.

[0030] Limiting or substantially or completely eliminating the height increase of an existing container 1 after retrofitting with the load cells 6 is relevant in applications where use spaces are specifically configured for accommodating the containers 1, adapted to their dimensions including the height thereof. The discussed embodiment enables to retrofit the container 1 such that there is no need to adjust the dimensions of these use spaces because of the retrofitting.

[0031] An embodiment of the inventive container comprises a controller which is programmed to consecutively: collect the signals of the load cells 6 respectively interconnecting the swivel-castors 2 with the container 1, retrieve the total weight indicated by the signals of the load cells, either by converting the individual signals thereof to respective weight values and adding up all weight values to obtain a total weight value, or by adding up the signals of all of the load cells and converting the added up signals to obtain the total weight value, subtract a predetermined weight of the container, i.e. excluding its contents, from the total weight value, so as to obtain the weight of the contents of the refuse container, and produce one or more output signals representing the weight of the container contents for transmission via the one or more outputs.

[0032] The output signals may be made known to the user in a desired way, of which multiple examples are known in the art. For example, via a message on a display of the container connected to the controller, or an audio signal by an audio device of the container connected to the controller.

[0033] In an embodiment the one or more outputs comprise a transmitter for wireless transmission of the output signals to an external server, and the controller is furthermore programmed to incorporate in the one or more output signals an identification of the associated refuse container for transmission along with the quantification of the contents thereof. This is particularly advantageous when multiple containers are being managed and monitored at the same time by the same user.

[0034] An embodiment of the inventive container with the controller furthermore enables to, e.g. further, quantify the contents of the container in terms of volume as well based on the weight measurement by the load cells 6. This is particularly advantageous considering that common practice is to provide a visual sensor inside the container for this purpose, which requires both expensive, energy-consuming and sensitive devices furthermore requiring advanced processing to obtain useful results, and the exposure thereof to the undesired conditions of the inner space of the container, while the accuracy is often unsatisfactory because of the limitations on the visual range and quality of such devices. Such advantageous embodiment provides a controller as part of the container, which is programmed to quantify the contents of the refuse container, and is thereto operatively connected via one or more inputs thereof to all of the load cells 6 for receiving the respective signals thereof, and configured to transmit the quantification via one or more outputs thereof.

[0035] In such embodiment, the controller is furthermore programmed to calculate a volume of the contents of the refuse container based on the predetermined density, including dividing the obtained weight of the contents of the refuse container by the predetermined density, the predetermined density optionally having incorporated a correction factor for intermediate air between pieces of refuse. For example the predetermined density may be based on known scientific values and / or experiments and / or experience over time. The predetermined density may be stored in a memory, e.g. adjusted over time based on experience.

[0036] This embodiment is in particular envisaged for applications wherein the material of the refuse is fairly constant over the use of the container 1. In examples, refuse is formed by waste products of a manufacturing process which does not change over time, or waste products of different manufacturing processes resulting in waste products of the same or fairly similar constitution - e.g. in a plant processing a certain type of plastics, a certain type of wood, metal, and so on. For such refuse, the specific gravity, or the density, may be fairly constant, which enables to determine or at least estimate the volume of the refuse based on the weight - and thus the weight indication by the load cells 6. The load cells 6, being provided outside the internal space, and the controller providing the volume values by relatively simple programming, forms a cost-effective and efficient solution to the problems encountered with the described prior art practice. In methods of retrofitting, considering that containers often already comprise a controller, a simple addition in the programming may thus already suffice to obtain an automated volume quantification, e.g. in addition to the weight quantification.

[0037] The invention also relates to the controller as such, and a method of quantification the controller is programmed to execute - e.g. by an external controller or e.g. at a connected server.

[0038] The inventors realize that the method of quantification may be applied in a refuse container based on weight measurements obtained by other configurations than in the inventive container. In a second aspect thereof, therefore the invention provides a method for quantifying the contents of a refuse container, comprising the steps of collecting the signals of the load cells (6) respectively interconnecting the swivel-castors (2) with the container (1) retrieving the total weight indicated by the signals of the load cells, either by converting the individual signals thereof to respective weight values and adding up all weight values to obtain a total weight value, or by adding up the signals of all of the load cells and converting the added up signals to obtain the total weight value, subtracting a predetermined weight of the container, i.e. excluding its contents, from the total weight value, so as to obtain the weight of the contents of the refuse container, and calculating a volume of the contents of the refuse container based on the predetermined density, including dividing the obtained weight of the contents of the refuse container by the predetermined density, the predetermined density optionally having incorporated a correction factor for intermediate air between pieces of refuse.

[0039] The second aspect also relates to a controller programmed to execute the method, and a refuse container provided with such controller.

Claims

1. Method of retrofitting a refuse container (1) on wheels (2), the refuse container having an internal volume of 600 to 2000 Litres for holding refuse, the wheels each being of the swivel-castor type, having a horizontal rotation axis (3) and being rotatably around a vertical swivel-axis (4) connected to a respective mounting plate (5), wherein the mounting plate (5) of each of the swivel-castors (2) is initially fixedly connected to a bottom side (11) of the container (1) so as to connect the swivel-castor to the container, the method comprising the steps of, for each of the swivel-castors (2): - releasing the connection thereof to the container (1) by disconnecting the respective mounting plate (5) from the bottom side (11) thereof, and clearing the respective mounting plate from the bottom side of the container, - providing a load cell (6), the load cell having a top side (61) and a bottom side (62), and being configured to indicate a force exerted onto the top side relative to the bottom side thereof by means of a signal, wherein the force is in the magnitude range of 0.1 to 10 kN, - fixedly connecting the bottom side (62) of the load cell (6) to the mounting plate (5), e.g. the top side thereof, and fixedly connecting the top side (61) of the load cell (6) to the bottom side (11) of the container (1), so as to fixedly reconnect the swivel-castor (2) to the container via the mounting plate and now the load cell, said reconnection being such that all of the load cells (6) together encounter the full load of the container (1) and its contents, and together transfer said full load to the wheels (2) of the container, so that the signals of the load cells together originate from said full load.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein for each of the swivel-castors (2), the step of fixedly connecting the top side (61) of the load cell (6) to the bottom side (11) of the container (1) comprises providing a respective upper auxiliary plate (7), fixing the top side of the load cell to the upper auxiliary plate, and fixing the upper auxiliary plate to the bottom side of the container, e.g. fixing it above the mounting plate (5), and optionally, the step of fixedly connecting the bottom side (62) of the load cell (6) to the mounting plate (5) comprises providing a respective lower auxiliary plate (8), fixing the bottom side of the load cell to the lower auxiliary plate, and fixing the lower auxiliary plate to the mounting plate.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein for each of the swivel-castors (2), the connected mounting plate (5) has multiple holes, wherein each of the swivel-castors is initially fixedly connected to the bottom side of the container via respective fasteners through the holes of the mounting plate and into vertically adjacent holes in the bottom side (11) of the container (1), wherein for each of the swivel-castors, the step of releasing the connection of each swivel-castor from the bottom side of the container comprises removing the respective fasteners prior to said clearing of the respective mounting plate from the bottom side of the container, and wherein for each of the swivel-castors, the provided respective upper auxiliary plate (7) has multiple holes (71), e.g. corresponding to the multiple holes of the respective mounting plate, such that these are also configured to be positionable vertically adjacent the holes in the bottom side of the container accommodating the, or other, respective fasteners therethrough and into the holes in the bottom side of the container, and the step of fixing the upper auxiliary plate to the bottom side of the container comprises fastening the, or other, respective fasteners through the holes of the upper auxiliary plate and into the vertically adjacent holes in the bottom side of the container, and optionally wherein where applicable, for each of the swivel castors (2), furthermore, the provided respective lower auxiliary plate (8) having holes (81), e,g. corresponding to the holes of the respective mounting plate, such that these are configured to be positionable vertically adjacent the holes in the mounting plate accommodating the, or other, respective fasteners therein and through the holes in the mounting plate, and the step of fixing the lower auxiliary plate to the mounting plate comprises fastening the, or other, respective fasteners through the holes of the mounting plate and into the vertically adjacent holes in the lower auxiliary plate.

4. Method according to claim 2 and optionally claim 3, wherein for each of the swivel-castors (2), the respective lower auxiliary plate (8) has an upper section (82) and a parallel and adjacent lower section (83) interconnected by an intermediate section (84) bridging an elevation between the upper and lower sections (82,83), and said fixing of the bottom side (62) of the load cell (6) to the lower auxiliary plate (8) is executed by fixing said bottom side to the lower section (83) of the lower auxiliary plate, and said fixing of the lower auxiliary plate to the mounting plate (5) is executed by fixing the upper section (82) of the lower auxiliary plate to the mounting plate, such that the lower section (83) of the lower auxiliary plate extends horizontally beyond and vertically below the mounting plate (5), and the respective upper auxiliary plate (7) has a proximate section (72) and an adjacent distal section (73), and said fixing of the top side (61) of the load cell (61) to the bottom side (11) of the container comprises fixing the top side of the load cell to the distal section (73) of the upper auxiliary plate (7), and fixing the proximate section (72) of the upper plate to the bottom side of the container, above the mounting plate.

5. Refuse container (1) on wheels (2), the refuse container having an internal volume of 600 to 2000 Litres for holding refuse, the wheels each being of the swivel-castor type, having a horizontal rotation axis (3) and being rotatably around a vertical swivel-axis (4), connected to a respective mounting plate (5), wherein each of the swivel-castors (2) is fixed to a bottom side (11) of the container (1) via a respective load cell (6), the load cell having a top side (61) and a bottom side (62), and being configured to indicate a force exerted onto the top side relative to the bottom side by means of a signal, wherein the force is in the magnitude range of 0.1 to 10 kN, wherein the bottom side (62) of the respective load cell (6) is fixedly connected to the respective mounting plate connected to the swivel-castor (2), and the top side (61) of the load cell is fixedly connected to the bottom side (11) of the refuse container such that the load cells together encounter the full load of the container with its contents, and together transfer said full load to the wheels (2) of the container, so that the signals of the load cells together originate from said full load.

6. Refuse container (1) according to claim 5, wherein for each swivel-castor (2), the bottom side (62) of the load cell (6) is fixedly connected to the mounting plate (5) via respective lower auxiliary plate (8) having an upper section (82) and a parallel and adjacent lower section (83) interconnected by an intermediate section (84) bridging an elevation between the upper and lower sections (82,83), wherein the bottom side of the load cell is fixed to the lower section (83) of the lower auxiliary plate (8), and the upper section (82) of the lower auxiliary plate (82) to the mounting plate (5), such that the lower section of the lower auxiliary plate extends horizontally beyond and vertically below the mounting plate, and the top side (61) of the load cell (6) is fixedly connected to the bottom side (11) of the container via a respective upper auxiliary plate (7) having a proximate section (72) and an adjacent distal section (73), wherein the top side of the load cell is fixed to the distal section (73) of the upper auxiliary plate (7), and the proximate section (72) of the upper auxiliary plate is fixed to the bottom side of the container, above the mounting plate.

7. Refuse container (1) according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a controller, programmed to quantify the contents of the refuse container, the controller being operatively connected via one or more inputs thereof to all of the load cells (6) for receiving the respective signals thereof, and configured to transmit the quantification via one or more outputs thereof, the controller being programmed to consecutively: - collect the signals of the load cells 6 respectively interconnecting the swivel-castors (2) with the container (1), - retrieve the total weight indicated by the signals of the load cells, either by converting the individual signals thereof to respective weight values and adding up all weight values to obtain a total weight value, or by adding up the signals of all of the load cells and converting the added up signals to obtain the total weight value, - subtract a predetermined weight of the container, i.e. excluding its contents, from the total weight value, so as to obtain the weight of the contents of the refuse container and - produce one or more output signals representing the weight of the container contents for transmission via the one or more outputs.

8. Refuse container (1) according to claim 7, wherein the one or more outputs comprise a transmitter for wireless transmission of the output signals to an external server, and the controller is furthermore programmed to incorporate in the one or more output signals an identification of the associated refuse container for transmission along with the quantification of the contents thereof.

9. Refuse container (1) according to claim 7 or 8, furthermore being programmed to: - calculate a volume of the contents of the refuse container based on the predetermined density, including dividing the obtained weight of the contents of the refuse container by the predetermined density, the predetermined density optionally having incorporated a correction factor for intermediate air between pieces of refuse.

10. Method of quantifying the contents of a refuse container (1) on wheels (2) according to claim 5, 6, 7, or 8, comprising the steps of: - collecting the signals of the load cells (6) respectively interconnecting the swivel-castors (2) with the container (1), - retrieving the total weight indicated by the signals of the load cells, either by converting the individual signals thereof to respective weight values and adding up all weight values to obtain a total weight value, or by adding up the signals of all of the load cells and converting the added up signals to obtain the total weight value, - subtracting a predetermined weight of the container, i.e. excluding its contents, from the total weight value, so as to obtain the weight of the contents of the refuse container.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the material of the contents of the container (1) has a predetermined substantially homogeneous density, further comprising the steps of: - calculating a volume of the contents of the refuse container based on the predetermined density, including dividing the obtained weight of the contents of the refuse container by the predetermined density, the predetermined density optionally having incorporated a correction factor for intermediate air between pieces of refuse.

12. Controller for a refuse container (1) on wheels (2) according to claim 5, 6, 7, or 8, programmed to quantify the contents of the refuse container, the controller being operatively connected via one or more inputs thereof to all of the load cells (6) for receiving the respective signals thereof, and configured to transmit the quantification via one or more outputs thereof, the controller being programmed to execute the method of claim 9 or 10, and to produce one or more output signals representing the weight and / or volume of the container contents for transmission via the one or more outputs.

13. Controller according to claim 12, wherein the one or more outputs comprise a transmitter for wireless transmission of the output signals to an external server, and the controller is furthermore programmed to incorporate in the one or more output signals an identification of the associated refuse container for transmission along with the quantification of the contents thereof.

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