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US 11,725,977 B2Granted
Automated collection and scale system
AssigneeThe Heil Co.
InventorJohn Michael Curotto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This disclosure describes a collection bin for a waste collection vehicle. The collection bin includes a weighing system with a processor for measuring the weight of material collected from each waste container and associating this weight with appropriate data, such as the owner of the waste container.
Claims26
A side-loading waste collection vehicle, comprising:
- a chassis;
- a cab coupled to a front portion of the chassis;
- a hopper coupled to the chassis rearward of the cab;
- an automated robotic arm configured to move through a dump cycle where the robotic arm performs at least the following actions:
- extending outward in a transverse direction relative to the hopper, grasping a waste container, and dumping material from the waste container;
- one or more sensors attached to, and residing on, the robotic arm, the one or more sensors configured to:
- output data signifying a start of the dump cycle, and
- output data signifying an end of the dump cycle;
- and
- a weighing system comprising a scale detached from, and residing off of, the robotic arm, the weighing system configured to produce weight measurements in response to the start or the end of the dump cycle signified by the output data.
7 more elements
A side-loading waste collection vehicle, comprising:
- a chassis;
- a cab coupled to a front portion of the chassis;
- a hopper coupled to the chassis rearward of the cab;
- a collection bin comprising an enclosure comprising a front wall and a rear wall connected by opposing side walls, the enclosure removably coupled to the side-loading waste collection vehicle configured to dump material disposed in the enclosure into the hopper carried by the side-loading waste collection vehicle;
- an automated robotic arm configured to move through a dump cycle where the robotic arm performs at least the following actions:
- extending outward in a transverse direction relative to the hopper, grasping a waste container and dumping material from the waste container;
- one or more sensors configured to:
- output data signifying a start of the dump cycle, and
- output data signifying an end of the dump cycle;
- and
- a weighing system comprising a scale attached to, and residing on, the collection bin, the weighing system configured to produce weight measurements in response to the start or the end of the dump cycle signified by the output data.
8 more elements
A side-loading waste collection vehicle, comprising:
- a chassis;
- a cab coupled to a front portion of the chassis;
- a hopper coupled to the chassis rearward of the cab;
- a collection bin comprising an enclosure comprising a front wall and a rear wall connected by opposing side walls, the enclosure removably coupled to the side-loading waste collection vehicle configured to dump material disposed in the enclosure into the hopper carried by the side-loading waste collection vehicle;
- an automated robotic arm configured to move through a dump cycle where the robotic arm performs at least the following actions:
- extending outward in a transverse direction relative to the hopper, grasping a waste container, and dumping material from the waste container;
- one or more first sensors attached to, and residing on, the robotic arm, the one or more first sensors configured to:
- output data signifying a start of the dump cycle, and
- output data signifying an end of the dump cycle;
- and
- one or more second sensors configured to output data signifying a dumping of material from the collection bin into the hopper;
- and
- a weighing system comprising a scale detached from, and residing off of, the robotic arm, the weighing system configured to produce weight measurements in response to the output data of the one or more first sensors or the one or more second sensors.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.