System for monitoring items in a container
AssigneeAdvanced Custom Engineered Systems & Engineered Co.
InventorChristopher M. Flood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container having a compactor and bin for waste is disclosed permitting on-premises and remote monitoring of the system and collection is disclosed. The system can also detect non-complaint materials placed therein and act thereon. Methods are further disclosed for inventorying identification tags for tracking packages, merchandise and tags disposed of.
Claims8
A container for holding waste wherein at least one of the items of waste includes a passive RFID tag having identification information thereon, comprising:
- a plurality of walls to contain the items;
- an opening for inserting waste items therethrough;
- a door for selectively closing the opening;
- a sensor for sensing whether the door is in an open or closed condition;
- an antenna positioned relative to the container for obtaining the identification information on the passive RFID tags;
- a control means for receiving a signal from the sensor and providing a signal to the antenna to activate the antenna based on the closed condition sensed wherein a passive RFID tag is activated upon activation of the antenna;
- means for reading the identification information on the passive RFID tags;
- means for either recording the read identification information or communicating the read identification information associated with the passive RFID tags;
- a means for compacting waste items;
- and
- means for automatically locking out the means for compacting in response to the read identification information from the passive RFID tag.
A method of reading identification information on passive RFID tags with each passive RFID tag being attached to an item in a waste container, comprising the steps of:
- providing a container having an opening selectively closable by a door;
- securing an antenna in a fixed position relative to the container for obtaining the identification information on the tags within the container;
- providing a sensor for sensing a condition of the door;
- using the sensor to sense whether the door is in an opened or closed condition;
- activating or deactivating the antenna based on the sensing step wherein a passive RFID tag is activated upon activation of the antenna;
- activating the antenna when the door is in the closed condition;
- collecting the identification information from the passive RFID tag when the door is in the closed condition;
- deactivating the antenna when the door is in the open condition;
- recording the identification information and/or communicating the identification information associated with the tags;
- providing means for compacting waste items within the container;
- and
- automatically locking out the means for compacting in response to the read identification information from the passive RFID tag without user intervention.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.