DE4125312A1 - Measuring contents weight of identifiable refuse container - weighing container on collection vehicle before and after emptying, storing measured weight and detected identity - Google Patents

Abstract

The measuring of the contents weight of an identifiable refuse container (22) as it is emptied into a collection vehicle (10) involves weighing the container on the vehicle when still full and again after emptying. The wt. of the refuse is derived from the two measured wt. values and the identity of each container is detected. The identity of each container is detected. The identity of the container and its measured contents wt. are then stored in association with each other in a portable data recorder, linked to an onboard computer. ADVANTAGE - Contents wt. of refuse container and corresp. identity determined during conventional emptying process with minimal modification to electrical and hydraulic systems of refuse collection vehicles.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus identifiable to determine the weight of the content Garbage bins when emptying them into a garbage collector 17 according to the preamble of claims 1 and 17 respectively suitable waste container.

With the accounting method currently used at Household waste disposal is a flat-rate allocation of costs Consideration of those incurred in the individual households Amounts of waste. Efforts of individual mill producers, their own Reducing the amount of household waste is not rewarded. From help can only create a billing procedure here is related to the amount of waste to be disposed of. A weight-based recording of household waste from Vo lumen detection preferred, especially since the landfill fees after the garbage weight can be calculated.

It is an essential objective of the invention, the advance Setting for such an accounting based on the amount of waste creation process. This is only possible if the In stop of each individual waste container is recorded by weight and a specific mill producer, for example can be assigned to a household or the like.

Accordingly, the object of the invention is a method and devices and also a suitable garbage can are available to make the determination of the weight of the content of a  Garbage can in the usual emptying process Garbage collection vehicle while identifying the Allow garbage can, so that the garbage found weight of a certain garbage can and thus a certain Garbage producers can be assigned. The necessary Changes and additions to the electrical and hydraulic system the collection vehicle should be kept to a minimum stay. It is also essential that the emptying process due to the weighing and identification taking place significant complication or delay. Furthermore, it should be possible to complete the whole process or partially run automatically.

This problem is solved by applying the features that each in the characterizing part of claims 1, 17 and 25 are led. Advantageous developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

The method according to the invention for determining the garbage important and the device used for this make it possible Weight of the garbage actually put into the collection vehicle ascertain. That is, the weight of the garbage container goes not in the final weight determined. So that's enough Teaching according to the invention also the legal requirements, which must be observed when determining the weight. So go z. B. such portions of the garbage, which may be during the emptying process remain in the container because they e.g. B. on the wall of the same cling to, not in the bottom line. Since it's always just about that Determination of the net weight of the waste goes further the possibility of different and therefore different use heavy waste bins because their weight in the end result is of no importance.

It is also advantageous that the ver driving necessary additional devices and measures men can be easily trained on the collection vehicles.  

So it is possible to swap existing collection vehicles retrofitting. The same applies to the garbage containers that must be equipped with facilities that enable automatic identification. It is also required derlich to create conditions for the Ab the assignment of the respective identified garbage to a specific household or the like. This is a matter of organization, just a one repeated change or adjustment required.

Depending on the circumstances, it can also be necessary to provide special measures so that only the people who are authorized to put garbage in the garbage can can give. This can easily be done by that the waste container is kept in a location that is suitable for Third party is not easily accessible. It is also possible to equip the garbage container so that it is unauthorized can not be opened.

The computer attached to the collecting vehicle can be used as a Mikrocom be trained. The evaluation of the data collected can later on a common data ver work system. This can be done using a portable storage happen with the computer at the collection vehicle and connected to data processing system can. But it is also possible to collect from the computer vehicle recorded data first to store in this and later wirelessly if necessary or otherwise in a suitable manner to a To transfer evaluation device.

The determination of the garbage given in the collecting vehicle follows by a simple subtraction step, by the Ge weight of the emptied container from that of the filled container is subtracted. This can already be done in the computer, which is attached to the collecting vehicle. This arithmetic step  can also be used in the downstream data processing location.

The evaluation of the determined weights can be done using the absolute value method or using the Rela effective value procedure. In the absolute value method, di the measured weight for calculating the disposal cost Most used, for example, with a price per kilo is multiplied. In the relative value method, the ge measured weights converted into percentages. The total waste The weight of the collecting vehicle is usually used at the landfill Way determined, then using the determined Percentages of the cost share of each individual mill producer is fixed. This method has the advantage that it is based on the absolute weight does not matter, with the result that the Accuracy of the weighing device not the otherwise required Chen high demands are to be made. This generally has the advantage that the measures required in the other case Men, especially maintenance, inspection or the like maintaining the accuracy of the weighing over long periods of time eng can be expensive.

In the drawing is an embodiment of the invention shown. Show it

Fig. 1 is a side view of a refuse-collection vehicle with the lifting device in the starting position,

Fig. 2 shows one of Fig. 1 corresponding view but with the lifting means in an intermediate position

Fig. 3 is a FIG. 1 corresponding view but with the lifting device in the emptying position

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lift arms,

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of one of the weighing sensors,

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of the mounted on the collection truck overall device,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a garbage container.

The refuse collection vehicle 10 shown in Figs. 1-3 is provided in the usual manner on its rear side with egg ner conventional lifting means 12, the two par allelogrammartig cooperating lifting arms pairs 14, 16 has pivotally mounted in a known manner to a support arm 18 are attached, which in turn from the collecting vehicle 10 getra gene. At the end facing away from the support arm 18 of the lifting arms 14 , 16 , a bracket 20 for the waste container 22 is introduced . The latter is suspended in the holder 20 in the usual manner.

The two lifting arms 16 of the lower pair in the illustration in FIGS . 1 and 2 are each provided, according to the illustration in FIG. 4, with a weighing device which has strain gauges connected to a measuring bridge 24 . The bridge is fed from a bridge amplifier 26 . The amplified measurement signal is fed via the output 28 to a computer placed on the collecting trolley 30 , which also serves as a control device (cf. FIG. 6). The circuit diagram of the attached to the two He bear 16 weighing device is shown in Fig. 5 Darge.

In detail, the arrangement is such that a bolt is guided through the bore 66 between the two end bores, each of the two arms 16 , on which the Kol benstange a lifting cylinder 32 engages. The lifting arms 14 of the other pair of lifting arms essentially serve only as the parallel guide. In any case, in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 2, in which the weighing process is carried out, the lifting arms 14 are not or only to such a small extent acted upon by the weight of the waste container 22 that this is negligible. It is therefore sufficient for the weighing process, the loading of the lifting arms 16 by the garbage container 22 Festgestel len.

Fig. 1 shows the starting position of the parts in which the lifting device 12 assumes its lower position and the garbage container 22 is suspended in the holder 20 for performing the emptying process.

From the starting position shown in Fig. 1, the emptying process begins, which can be solved by hand or automatically, for example, that the garbage container suspended in the Hal 20 actuates a switch or the like. The movement from the starting position into the emptying position shown in FIG. 3 is effected by the lifting cylinder 32 , which is controlled by the computer 30 via a solenoid valve 34 .

In the course of the pivoting movement between the initial position shown in Fig. 1 and the emptying position shown in FIG. 3 assumes the lifting device 12 a in which the two lifting arms pairs 14, 16 extend substantially horizontally, and thus the lifting arms shown intermediate position a in Fig. 2, 16 by the garbage container 20 carried by them due to the above-described arrangement practically exclusively on bending supply. In this intermediate position, the upward movement of the lifting device with the filled refuse container located thereon is interrupted. For this purpose, a position sensor 36 is used which , at or shortly before reaching the intermediate position shown in FIG. 2, gives a signal to the computer 30 which triggers a control command for the solenoid valve 34 , through which the movement of the lifting cylinder 32 is interrupted so that the Lifting device 12 and thus the waste container 22 carried by it remain in the intermediate position shown in FIG. 2 for a short time. Now the first how is carried out, namely in that the bending of the two parallel lifting arms 16 is determined by the strain gauges be. The two bridge amplifiers 26 carry the ana log signals of the two strain gauges 24 through the outputs 28 to the computer 30 , which also serves as an A / D converter. The values are stored in the computer 30 or in a special memory. In this case, it is advisable to proceed in such a way that successive measured values are called up from the measuring bridges at short intervals, the storage of a measured value taking place when this has no or only a slight deviation from the previous measured value of the same measuring bridge. This measure serves to prevent influences of the measuring process by vibrations of the lifting arms and acceleration forces. For this reason, the movement of the lifting device for the measurement is briefly interrupted. It is to be prevented that low-frequency natural vibrations of the arms falsify the measurement result. These considerations also apply to determining the weight of the emptied container.

The registration of the determined weight of the filled container in the computer 30 triggers a further control command for the solenoid valve 34 with the result that the lifting cylinder 32 is acted upon again and the movement of the lifting device 12 in the direction of the emptying position according to FIG. 3 is continued until the latter has been reached. The upper end position of the lifting device 12 and thus of the refuse container 22 is determined by a position sensor 38 . After receipt of the related signal in the computer 30 , for example as a function of time, a signal can be given to the solenoid valve 34 so that the lifting cylinder 32 is actuated in the opposite direction after performing the emptying and the lifting device is lowered. The position sensor 38 also serves to make it possible for the computer or the control device 30 to distinguish between lifting and lowering of the holding device 12 .

After reaching the intermediate position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing, in which the lifting arm pairs 14 , 16 again run essentially horizontally, the movement of the lifting device 12 is again interrupted for a short time in order to determine the bending of the lifting arms 16 perform a weighing process, which is used to determine the weight of the garbage container 22 after emptying, and is in the manner already described be. Also here applies that, if necessary, several consecutive signals, each corresponding to a measured value, are given to the computer, which only saves the last signal when it does not differ from the second-to-last signal, or only within a defined tolerance limit differs. After registration of the data relating to the empty weight of the waste container 22 , a further signal to the solenoid valve 34 causes the cylinder 32 to be actuated again in order to effect the remaining lowering movement until the position shown in FIG. 1 is reached, in which the empty waste container is lifted by the lifting device 12 or the holder 20 thereof is removed. The difference between the values determined in the two weighing processes gives the weight of the contents of the waste container emptied into the collecting vehicle. Since both lifting arms 16 carry the garbage container together, the bend of each individual lifting arm 16 corresponds to only a part, normally approximately half, of the weight of the filled or emptied waste container carried by the holder 20 . It follows from this that the signals coming from the measuring bridges of the two lifting arms 16 must be added in order to arrive at the respective weight of the container. It is only a simple add-on process that can be carried out by computer 30 or later by an evaluation computer without difficulty. In any case, it generally applies that the computing operations to be carried out for the determination of the garbage given in the collection vehicle can be carried out either directly on the collection vehicle or possibly later where the data are evaluated to calculate the respective cost components.

On the collecting vehicle 10 , a receiver 40 is also brought in so that it receives in a certain position of the waste container 22 an emitted from a transmitter 42 attached to this waste container 42 identifier 40 , by means of which the waste container can be identified and thus assigned to a particular waste producer. This identifier is a link 44 z. B. in the form of a customer number to the computer 30 ge and stored so that they correspond to the data found, the corre sponding to the weights of the associated garbage container or the determined from the weight of the contents of the garbage container.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, a portable data memory 46 is also provided, which is just attached to the collecting trolley 10 and connected to the computer 30 solvable bar. This data memory can be removed, for example after the end of a collecting trip of the garbage truck 10 , and can be connected to a stationary data processing system for evaluating the collected data.

The attached to the garbage container 22 transmitter 42 can be designed as a trans ponder, which sends the identifier as a response signal upon receipt of a query signal sent, for example, by the receiver 40 , which is decrypted, for example, in the intermediate member 44 and passed on to the memory 30 in a suitable form becomes. To transfer the identifier in the manner described above, it is only neces sary that the two interacting parts 44 and 42 are attached to the collecting vehicle 10 and the garbage container 22 in such a way that they can transmit the identifier in at least one relative position of the parts.

The garbage container 22 shown in FIG. 7 of the drawing can be closed in the usual way by a pivotably attached cover 48 . In order to prevent unauthorized persons from putting garbage into the container 22 , this is provided with a bracket 50 with which the lid 48 can be secured in its closed position. The two webs 52 of the bracket 50 are pivotally attached to the container 22 in its lower region. Both webs 52 are formed in two parts, a coil spring 54 being arranged in each case between the section 52 a and the section 52 b attached to the container 22 . Furthermore, both web sections 52 a with an angled area 58 are hen each, which engages over an upper edge area 60 of the garbage container 22 and is pulled under the action of the associated helical spring 54 with such a large force against this edge area and thus on this supports that the bracket can not be pivoted manually. The serving as a lock for the cover 48 central portion 56 of the bracket 50 is formed as a separate part which, for example, is connected via a padlock 62 to one web 52 and via a joint to the other web 52 in such a way that after removal of the Padlock 62 can be pivoted by the authorized user in a position in which it releases the cover 48 .

At the garbage collection vehicle 10 when using such secured garbage container at least a small hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is appropriately attached, which engages in the handling of the container 22 in the course of emptying the bracket 50 and the springs 54 apart so far that the bracket for the purpose of releasing the Lid 48 can be pivoted. The latter can also be done automatically by a suitable device attached to the collection truck or the lifting device 12 . After the emptying process, the bracket can then be pivoted back into its position securing the cover 48 . In order to be able to use the same devices for both processes, it will be expedient to bring them in such a way that they engage the bracket 50 in the emptying position of the waste container according to FIG. 3.

The invention has the great advantage that already before existing garbage collection vehicles with the neccessary Chen facilities can be retrofitted without this any interference with the statics or the kinematics of the Lifting device would be required. In particular, it is without Difficulties possible, the strain gauges on lifting arms usual design and quality to attach.

The same applies to the waste container. Already existing waste containers can easily be retrofitted, in particular with a locking bar and a transponder. The latter is not shown in Fig. 7.

Claims (27)

1. A method for determining the weight of the contents of an identifiable garbage container ( 22 ) when emptying the same into a garbage collecting vehicle ( 10 ), the garbage container ( 22 ) being raised from a starting position into the emptying position and after being emptied into an end position is lowered, in which it is removed from the collecting vehicle ( 10 ), characterized in that the waste container ( 22 ) on the collecting vehicle is weighed during the emptying process in the filled state and after the emptying process is weighed in an empty state and both weights are recorded in order to determine the weight to determine the emptied content, and in connection with the emptying process each garbage container ( 22 ) is identified by an identifier assigned to it and a signal corresponding to the identifier is stored in such a way that the determined weights of a garbage container ( 22 ) and / or the determined weight the contents of the identifier of this waste container s are assigned. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the Determination of the weight of the filled waste container before loading the movement from the starting position to the emptying begins position. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the Determination of the weight of the emptied waste container Completion of the lowering movement from the emptying position in the end position in which the garbage container from the collecting drive stuff is removed, takes place. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the determination of the weight of the filled waste container ( 22 ) takes place in an intermediate position between the starting position and emptying position. 5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the determination of the weight of the emptied waste container ( 22 ) is carried out in an intermediate position between the emptying position and the end position. 6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the movement between the starting position and Drain position or drain position and end position interrupted to carry out the respective weighing process becomes. 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the interruptions of the movements of the refuse container ( 22 ) before and after emptying take place in the same position of the lifting device ( 12 ). 8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the starting position and the end position of the refuse container ( 22 ) coincide. 9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weighing device during a weighing process successively gives several signals corresponding to the Ge determined in the computer ( 30 ) and a measurement result is only registered when two successive measurement results within one certain narrow error tolerance range. 10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computer ( 30 ) controls the associated with the emptying of the garbage container ( 22 ) movements of the holder and the parts cooperating therewith at least partially according to a predetermined program. 11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification and weighing results relate to the data are registered in a portable data memory ( 46 ) which is connected to the computer ( 30 ) attached to the collecting trolley ( 10 ) and to a separate evaluation computer can be. 12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identifier of the respective garbage container ( 22 ) is given contact-free by a transmitter ( 42 ) arranged on the container ( 22 ) to a receptacle located on the collecting trolley ( 10 ) ( 40 ). 13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the identifier is automatically retrieved from the recording device ( 40 ). 14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the refuse container ( 22 ) with a lid ( 48 ) in the closed position securing releasable closure ( 50 ) is provided, which is moved at the latest in the emptying position such that it covers the lid ( 48 ) releases. 15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure ( 50 ) of the refuse container ( 22 ) is automatically brought back into its closed position of the cover ( 48 ) securing position after emptying. 16. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the weighing processes and the retrieval of the identifier of the respective waste container ( 22 ) and the storage of the resulting data are carried out automatically by a control device. 17. On a waste collection vehicle ( 10 ) attached device for determining the weight of the content of an identifiable refuse container ( 22 ) when emptying it into a refuse collection vehicle ( 10 ), one with a holder ( 20 ) for the refuse container ( 22 ) provided lifting device ( 12 ) is seen through which the waste container ( 22 ) is brought from an initial position into an emptying position and from this into an end position in which it is removed from the collecting vehicle ( 10 ), characterized in that the He device ( 12 ) is provided with at least one weighing device ( 24 , 26 ) which detects the weight of the filled waste container ( 22 ) and the weight of the waste container ( 22 ) after it has been emptied, and a computer ( 30 ) on the collecting trolley ( 10 ) ) is arranged, in which the data corresponding to the results of the weighing processes are given, and a device ( 42 ) is attached to the waste container ( 22 ) t is that during the handling of the waste container in connection with the emptying process transmits an identifier assigned to this waste container ( 22 ) to a receiver ( 40 ) attached to the collecting vehicle ( 10 ) and the receiver ( 40 ) with the computer ( 30 ) or an associated memory ( 46 ) is connected, in which the identifier is registered so that it can correspond to the data corresponding to the determined weights of the respective waste container ( 22 ). 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the lifting device (12) is provided with at least one lifting arm (16) which is at least device in certain positions of the lift (12) under the action of the total weight of the refuse container (22) and is provided with the weighing device ( 24 , 26 ) which is connected to the computer ( 30 ). 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the at least one lifting arm ( 16 ) when carrying out the weighing operations through the waste container ( 22 ) is essentially only subjected to bending. 20. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the weighing device has at least one strain gauge  points and each lifting arm with at least one strain gauge fen is provided. 21. The device according to one of claims 18-20, characterized in that two juxtaposed lifting arms ( 16 ) are provided, which stand together during the bending process under the action of the entire weight of the waste container ( 22 ). 22. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computer ( 30 ) is provided with a control device, or is designed as such, by means of which all the processes associated with emptying and weighing the container ( 22 ) are timed and / or be controlled depending on the route. 23. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the waste container ( 22 ) with one of the sen lid ( 48 ) in the closed position securing closure ( 50 ) is provided and the lifting device ( 12 ) and / or the Sam melwagen ( 10 ) have a device by which the United closure ( 50 ) is released before emptying, so that the lid ( 48 ) of the waste container ( 22 ) can be opened. 24. The device according to claim 23, characterized in that the lifting device ( 12 ) and / or the collecting carriage ( 10 ) have a device by which the closure ( 50 ) is brought back into its closed position after emptying. 25. The device according to claim 17, characterized in that the identifier of the respective waste container ( 22 ) emitting device is designed as a transponder ( 42 ). 26. Garbage container for use in the method according to claims 1-16, characterized in that it with a cover ( 46 ) in its closed position securing releasable Ver closure ( 50 ), which can be lockable, and a device ( 42 ) is, which sends an identifier for identifying the garbage container depending on a certain external influence. 27. Garbage container according to claim 26, characterized in that the fuse is formed as a substantially U-shaped bracket ( 50 ), the two webs ( 52 ) so pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis on the body of the garbage container ( 22 ). attached that the two webs binding middle portion ( 56 ) of the bracket ( 50 ) in one end position secures the cover ( 48 ) in its closed position, at least one of the two webs ( 52 ) under the action of a spring means ( 54 ) stands, which acts on the bracket ( 50 ) in the direction of the cover ( 48 ).