Repository For Recyclable Containers And Method For Unmanned Operation Thereof
AssigneesEver Green Environmental Corporation, Yellow Environmental Inc.
InventorsMichael Wadden, Jonathan Drover, Vinayak Bhat
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for depositing of recyclable articles includes an internally-compartmented structure. The compartments are accessed through hatches which are selectively closed with covers. The system includes a user-operated kiosk which controls operation of the covers in response to user information and the degree to which the compartments are filled with recyclable articles. The kiosk includes a display for directing the user to deposit the articles into specific compartments and a user interface for entry and display of user-specific information.
Claims26
A system for depositing of recyclable articles comprising:
- a) a structure configured to house multiple storage compartments configured to temporarily store the articles, said structure comprising hatches open to the exterior of the structure and configured to permit the articles to be deposited into individual ones of the compartments, hatch covers for independently closing the hatches, and a plurality of actuators for independently closing and unlocking the covers by remote actuation;
- b) a user interface for receiving input from a user and displaying information to the user, wherein the user input includes user identification information and the quantity of articles or bundles of articles which the user intends to deposit, and the displayed information includes identification of a selected one or ones of the compartments into which the user can deposit the articles;
- and
- c) a controller in electronic communication with the user interface and the actuators, wherein the controller is configured to determine the capacity status of said compartments, to determine which compartment has capacity to receive the quantity of the articles identified by the user based on said capacity status, and to control selected ones of the actuators associated with corresponding ones of the compartments for opening and closing of the hatch covers associated with the selected ones of the compartments.
A kiosk for controlling a system for depositing of recyclable articles, wherein the system comprises a structure configured to house multiple storage compartments configured to temporarily store the articles, said structure comprising hatches open to the exterior of the structure and configured to permit the articles to be deposited into individual ones of the compartments, hatch covers for independently closing the hatches, and a plurality of actuators for independently locking the covers by remote actuation;
- the kiosk comprising
- a) a user interface for receiving input from a user and displaying information to the user, wherein the user input includes user identification information and the quantity of articles or bundles of articles which the user intends to deposit, and the displayed information includes identification of a selected one or ones of the compartments into which the user can deposit the articles;
- and
- b) a controller in electronic communication with the user interface and the actuators, wherein the controller is configured to determine the capacity status of said compartments, to determine which compartment has capacity to receive articles from the user based on said capacity status, and to control selected ones of the actuators associated with corresponding ones of the compartments for opening and closing of the hatch covers associated with the selected ones of the compartments.
A method of collecting bundled articles from a user at an unmanned repository, said repository comprising a structure having a plurality of internal compartments each being accessible by a corresponding hatch, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) identifying the user;
- b) receiving information indicating the number of article-filled bundles that the user proposes to deposit at the repository;
- c) generating a label for each of the bundles to be deposited, wherein the label uniquely identifies the user and the bundle;
- d) determining the capacity status of the compartments to receive additional articles from users, based on the quantities of previous deposits of articles from users in specific ones of the compartments;
- e) actuating one or more specific hatches to open to permit the user to access one or more selected compartments for depositing the bundles;
- and
- f) closing the hatches after a predetermined duration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.