Waste Enclosure Fullness Sensing With Bag-Stabilizing Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to develop an efficient and accurate system for monitoring and managing the fullness levels of electrically-powered waste enclosures to prevent overflow and minimize maintenance costs, as frequent emptying and accurate detection of fullness are crucial for maintaining community waste management efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system includes sensors to monitor bin content fullness, a processor to control operations, and a sleeve to prevent false detection by keeping the bag in place, ensuring accurate sensing and efficient collection procedures, with optional features like solar panels, transmitters, and remote control capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If waste enclosures are monitored manually without sensors, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of fullness levels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and mechanical level indicators with optical sensors that use light beams to detect waste fullness levels. The sensor system automatically measures the position of the waste bag and detects fullness without mechanical contact, substituting mechanical monitoring with optical detection to achieve higher precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a reflective element as an intermediary between the sensor and the waste bag. The sensor emits light that reflects off the waste bag surface, and the reflective element enhances this reflection to provide a clear signal for fullness detection. This intermediary mechanism enables accurate measurement while keeping the sensor system relatively simple.
2Productivity
If sensors are installed to monitor fullness levels, then productivity of waste collection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The waste enclosure system performs self-monitoring and self-reporting of fullness levels. The sensors automatically detect when the waste bag reaches fullness thresholds and trigger notifications without human intervention. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual checking and enables automated collection scheduling, significantly improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback loop where sensors continuously monitor waste bag position and fullness level, process this information through a control unit, and provide real-time feedback via indicators or remote notifications. This feedback mechanism enables proactive waste management, allowing collection services to respond before the enclosure becomes completely full, optimizing collection routes and timing.
3Measurement precision
If the waste bag is allowed to move freely in the bin, then ease of operation for bag installation is improved, but measurement precision of fullness levels deteriorates due to false detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different functional qualities to different regions of the bin interior. The upper portion of the bin contains a designated sensing zone with reflective elements positioned at specific heights to detect fullness levels. The lower portion allows the waste bag to move freely during installation and normal use. This spatial differentiation of qualities enables both accurate measurement and operational convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-positions reflective elements and defines sensing zones before waste accumulation begins. These preliminary arrangements ensure that as the waste bag fills and moves, it will eventually reach the predetermined sensing zones, triggering accurate fullness detection. The system is prepared in advance to handle bag movement while maintaining measurement capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for controlling electrically-powered trash receptacles and monitoring fullness levels. The system can include a storage enclosure and a bin contained inside the storage enclosure, the bin configured to receive and store items deposited in the storage enclosure, wherein an inside portion of the bin is at least partially covered by a bag placed inside the bin to hold the items deposited in the storage enclosure. The system can also include a sensor configured to sense a content fullness state of the bin and a processor configured to control operations performed by the sensor. In addition, the system can include a sleeve configured to be installed over an inside portion of the bin and the bag, the sleeve at least partially restricting a movement of the bag.