Smart Trash Receptacle Bag Position Sensing for Automatic Replacement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smart trash receptacles lack the ability to detect the position of a trash bag within the receptacle, leading to potential breakage during automatic bag replacement and limiting further intelligence in these systems.
Innovation Solution
A trash bag detection device using a transmitter and receiver, communicatively coupled with a control mechanism, that can detect the presence and position of a trash bag through direct or reflected signals, allowing for controlled fan operation to prevent bag breakage and ensure proper fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automatic bag replacement is implemented using fan evacuation, then bag replacement automation is improved, but bag breakage risk increases due to inability to detect bag position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using optical sensors (transmitters and receivers) to continuously monitor the trash bag position during the automatic replacement process. The control mechanism receives signals from the sensors and adjusts the fan operation accordingly, stopping the fan when the bag is properly positioned to prevent breakage. This closed-loop feedback system enables automated operation while maintaining reliability.
2Productivity
If fan evacuation is used for automatic bag replacement, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision of bag position is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical position detection methods with optical sensing technology. Transmitters and receivers emit and detect optical signals to precisely determine the trash bag position without mechanical contact. This substitution enables both high-speed automated operation and precise position measurement, resolving the contradiction between productivity and measurement precision.
3Reliability
If manual or semi-automatic bag replacement is used, then bag position control is improved, but labor consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automation where the control mechanism autonomously monitors bag position through optical sensors and automatically controls the fan operation throughout the replacement process. This eliminates the need for manual intervention while maintaining precise position control, simultaneously improving reliability and reducing time loss compared to manual methods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise detection of the trash bag position, preventing breakage and enhancing the reliability and stability of smart trash receptacles by controlling the fan's operation based on detection signals, thus improving automatic bag replacement processes.
Implementation Method 1
the signal received by the receiver is a direct signal transmitted from the transmitter or a signal from the transmitter that has been reflected
Implementation Method 2
a fan can be used to evacuate the air from a trash receptacle, making the ambient atmospheric pressure higher than the air pressure in the receptacle
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a trash bag detection device for a smart trash receptacle, comprising a transmitter for transmitting a signal and a receiver for receiving a signal, both the transmitter and the receiver being disposed on internal surfaces of the trash receptacle, wherein the signal received by the receiver is a direct signal transmitted from the transmitter or a signal from the transmitter that has been reflected. The present invention also discloses a smart trash receptacle incorporating such a trash bag detection device and a method for control of automatic bag replacement. With the present invention, the position of a trash bag in the trash receptacle can be automatically detected, allowing improved intelligent control of the trash receptacle. This is helpful in protecting the trash bag, saving resources, reducing potential safety risks of the smart trash receptacle and increasing its stability and reliability.