Apparatus for identifying containers from which refuse is collected and compiling a historical record of the containers

Abstract

An apparatus on-board a haulage vehicle interrogates a device having a machine-readable code, retrieves the code in conjunction with a loading event, senses the change in the load and generates data indicative thereof. The apparatus includes an electronic processor on-board the vehicle that collects the data and the machine-readable code. The data and code are correlated and compiled by the processor into a historical record of the loading events for later use. A memory is in communication with the electronic processor for containing the historical record. Preferably, the apparatus includes a mechanism for adding material to the load hauled by the vehicle, which brings the device having the machine-readable code into close proximity with a sensor. The sensor successfully retrieves the code only in conjunction with the adding of material to the load. In the illustrated embodiment, the material added to the load is from a container to which is secured the device having the machine-readable code.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.