EP3594151A1

EP3594151A1 - Container for collecting material, as well as apparatus and method for managing a plurality of such containers

Info

Publication number: EP3594151A1
Application number: EP19186156.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Edoardo AMERINI
Original assignee: Tesmapri SpA
Current assignee: Tesmapri SpA
Priority date: 2018-07-13
Filing date: 2019-07-12
Publication date: 2020-01-15
Also published as: IT201800007164A1

Abstract

Container (10) and apparatus (100) for collecting material, preferably clothing, especially second hand. Each container (10) comprises a door (19) provided with an electrically drivable lock (21) associated with a microprocessor (27) connected to an antenna (28). The container (10) has no permanent electric power and the current to actuate the lock (21) and the microprocessor is selectively transferable by induction from an external terminal device (22) drivable by an authorized operator, under the control of the microprocessor (27). The apparatus (100) also comprises a remote central processor (36) configured to send to each external terminal device (22) information about the container (10) from which to remove the material.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a container for collecting material, preferably garments, especially second-hand ones, such as clothes, shoes, or other, as well as an apparatus and a method for managing a plurality of containers. In particular, the container is of the type without an autonomous electric power, while it is provided with an anti-intrusion closing device protected by advanced cryptography which can be commanded only by means of an external terminal device issued to an authorized operator. Moreover, the apparatus and the method according to the present invention allow to monitor the status of each container, such as for example the degree of fullness, and to manage in a programmed way, through the use of an always active management software installed on a server, the modes for collecting the garments from the containers by authorized operators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Containers have been known for many years for the collection of garments, especially second-hand ones, which are normally disposed along roads, or in easily accessible places, by authorized bodies and/or organizations, to allow citizens to donate, also anonymously, still usable garments, so that they can be re-used or recycled.
Each known container normally comprises a quite strong frame provided internally with a containing compartment, which a user who wishes to insert one or more garments therein can easily access by means of a suitable insertion aperture, with which a safety device is normally associated, which prevents anyone from removing the content of the containing compartment through the same insertion aperture. The frame is also provided with a removal aperture, selectively closable by means of a door, provided with a lock accessible from the outside, by means of a key, through which only authorized operators provided with the corresponding key can carry out the removal of the garments, that is, the emptying of the containing compartment.
A container is also known in which an electric lock is associated with the door, powered by a source of energy, which can be an electric line to which the container is permanently connected, or an accumulator installed inside the container itself. The electric lock is selectively activatable by means of an external terminal device powered electrically.
One example of a known container is described in European patent application EP-A-2,93 7,298 in the name of the Applicant.
However, the known container has the disadvantage of having to be electrically powered permanently, which makes it expensive.
In the sector of containers, in particular those for garments, especially second-hand ones, the need to monitor the state of fullness of the containers themselves is known, in order to define removal programs, and therefore to define an optimized sequence in terms of timings and route for the operators to reach the different containers of a determinate geographical area, or of a determinate territory, and perform the removal of the garments.
The need is also known for safely managing the removal operations of the garments so that they are performed only by authorized operators.
A known solution to manage the removal of garments from a plurality of containers is described in European patent application EP-A-3.269.667 in the name of the Applicant.
This known solution to manage containers also requires the presence of containers permanently powered electrically and therefore as a whole is rather expensive.
One purpose of the present invention is to provide a container for collecting material, preferably garments, especially second-hand ones, such as clothes, shoes, or other, that is simple, reliable and economical and that does not require constant electric power to the container.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and perfect a method for managing a plurality of containers, which does not require constant electric power to each of them.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus to manage containers that allows the removal of the material contained therein only by authorized operators.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus to manage containers that allows to monitor in real time the actions performed by each operator.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
In accordance with the above purposes, a container for collecting material, preferably garments, especially second-hand ones, comprises an internal containing compartment configured to contain the above material conferred from the outside, a removal aperture in communication with the containing compartment and configured to allow the authorized removal of the material.
The container can also comprise an insertion aperture, generally provided with a safety device, through which the material, that is, the garments, can be inserted. The insertion aperture is generally disposed in an upper portion of the container, above the removal aperture.
Moreover, a closing member is associated with the removal aperture configured to selectively close the latter and to prevent unauthorized access to the containing compartment. In particular, the closing member comprises a door provided with an electrically drivable lock.
According to a characteristic of the present invention, the container is without permanent electric power and comprises first electromagnetic induction means connected to the lock and configured to selectively receive electrical energy by induction, at least to drive the lock, by means of second electromagnetic induction means provided on an autonomous external terminal device associable with the container, wherein the second electromagnetic induction means are selectively connectable to an energy accumulation device of the external terminal device itself in order to induce an electric current through the first electromagnetic induction means.
According to another characteristic of the present invention, the container also comprises a first microcontroller connected to the second electromagnetic induction means and to the lock and configured at least to memorize a univocal identification code of the container on which it is installed.
According to another characteristic of the present invention, the container also comprises first transceiver means connected to the first microcontroller and configured to receive/transmit in wireless mode information from/to second transceiver means provided in the external terminal device.
According to another characteristic of the present invention, the first microcontroller is configured to command the actuation of the lock only when it receives from the external terminal device the univocal identification code of the container.
Embodiments described here also concern an apparatus to manage a first plurality of containers for collecting material, preferably garments, comprising both the first plurality of containers, and also a second plurality of external terminal devices, each associable with an operator, wherein the number of the first plurality of containers is not constrained by the number of the second plurality of external terminal devices.
According to a further characteristic of the present invention, the apparatus also comprises a remote central processor connected in wireless mode to the second plurality of external terminal devices and configured to communicate with the external terminal devices, at least in order to selectively send to a determinate external terminal device which is in the possession of a determinate authorized operator information relating to at least one target container on which to perform an operation to remove the material contained in the target container.
According to a further characteristic of the present invention, the information comprises at least the geographical position of the at least one target container and the corresponding univocal identification code.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the external terminal device comprises a second microcontroller connected to the second transceiver means in order to transmit to the first microcontroller, by means of the first transceiver means, the univocal identification code of the target container.
According to another characteristic of the present invention, the external terminal device also comprises one or more of the following electronic components: a module to transmit data via the Internet, a GPS/GSM module, a display, a keyboard having one or more keys.
Embodiments described here also concern a method for managing a first plurality of containers for collecting material, preferably garments, comprising: a first operating step, in which a remote central processor sends to an external terminal device, issued to a determinate authorized operator, information on at least one determinate target container, including both the geographic position of the determinate target container and also a univocal identification code of the latter; a second operating step, in which the authorized operator approaches the external terminal device to the target container so as to transfer electric current to the latter by electromagnetic induction and to power at least a first microcontroller of the container; a third operating step, in which the external terminal device sends the identification code of the container to the first microcontroller, which verifies the correctness of the identification code received in order to determine the opening of the lock of the door of the containing compartment of the container, so that the authorized operator can access the containing compartment and remove the material contained therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

fig. 1 is a schematic view of a container for collecting material, preferably garments, especially second-hand ones, according to the present invention;
fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the container of fig. 1 in association with an autonomous external terminal device, drivable to selectively open a door of the container itself and for other functions;
fig. 3 is an illustrative diagram of an apparatus according to the present invention to manage a plurality of containers the same as that in fig. 1.

We must clarify that in the present description and in the claims the terms front, upper, high, low, below and left, with their declinations, have the sole function of better illustrating the present invention with reference to the drawings and must not be in any way used to limit the scope of the invention itself, or the field of protection defined by the attached claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

With reference to fig. 1, a container 10 according to the present invention, for collecting material, preferably garments, especially second-hand ones, comprises a frame 11 substantially having the shape of a parallelepiped, and having an upper surface 12 preferably arched, which acts as a roof.
The frame 11 defines internally and toward the bottom a large containing compartment 13, having for example preferably a capacity of a few cubic meters and configured to receive the above material conferred from the outside.
The frame 11 also includes a front wall 14 which, in the upper part, is provided with an introduction aperture 15, through which the material to be conferred can be easily introduced into the container 10, so that it falls by gravity into the containing compartment 13.
Preferably, the container 10 can be provided with a safety device 16, associated with the introduction aperture 15 and configured to prevent access, through the latter, to the containing compartment 13 to fraudulently remove the material contained therein. The safety device 16 can be of any known type whatsoever, such as for example of the type described in the international patent application WO-A-2014/122630 in the name of the Applicant, or which will be developed in the future.
In the front wall 14 there is also a wide removal aperture 17, preferably disposed below the introduction aperture 15, and configured to allow easy access to the containing compartment 13, in order to allow the removal of the material contained therein only to authorized personnel, as will be described in more detail below.
A closing member 18 is associated with the removal aperture 17 and is configured to selectively and completely close the same removal aperture 17 and therefore the containing compartment 13.
In the example shown here, the closing member 18 comprises a door 19 with a substantially rectangular shape and having a first side (on the left in fig. 1) hinged on the frame 11, by means of hinges 20, and a second side, opposite the first, on which, inside it, an electrically drivable lock 21 is disposed, which preferably is not visible from the outside.
Advantageously, the external surface of the door 19 is smooth and has no handle, lock keyhole, or other opening means. It should be noted that the position of the lock 21 can be chosen as desired by the manufacturer and that the position indicated in figs. 1 and 3 is purely indicative and not limitative.
For example, according to some embodiments, the hinges 20 can be disposed on the right, or left, side and can be not visible from the outside, so that it is not possible to identify from the outside the opening direction, and therefore the position of the lock 21.
Moreover, since according to a characteristic of the present invention the container 10 is not permanently powered with any source of electrical energy, that is, neither by means of a connection to an electric current distribution network, nor by means of one or more current accumulators or batteries, the lock 21 is of the type that receives the electric command for its actuation from the outside, for example to pass from a closed position of the door 19 to an open position thereof and vice versa, by electromagnetic induction.
According to some embodiments, the container 10 is provided with a first coil 26, or primary coil, disposed inside the containing compartment 13 and electrically connected to the lock 21, suitable to receive an electric current by electromagnetic induction.
In the example given here it is provided that this electromagnetic induction is advantageously provided by an autonomous external terminal device 22 (figs. 2 and 3), which comprises a second coil 23 (fig. 2), or secondary coil, and an energy accumulation device 24, for example consisting of a current accumulator, or an electric battery, of the rechargeable type, connectable to the second coil 23 by means of a key, or button, 25, which acts as a switch.
According to some embodiments, the external terminal device 22 comprises a recharging system 37 connected to the accumulation device 24 and configured to allow the recharging of the latter from the outside. By way of example, the recharging system can comprise electrical connectors and/or circuits suitable to be connected to an electric power source, and possibly configured to adapt to different electric voltages, electrical circuits suitable to allow recharging through contact and electromagnetic induction, or other.
According to some embodiments, not shown, it can be provided that the door 19 and the external terminal device 22 are provided with respective magnetic elements suitable to cooperate with each other in order to guarantee a correct reciprocal positioning of the first coil 26 and of the second coil 23.
In the container 10 there are also both a control unit, for example a first microcontroller 27, also electrically connected to the first coil 26, and also a first antenna 28, connected to the first microcontroller 27.
According to some embodiments, the first coil 26 is connected to an accumulation device 38 suitable to accumulate the electrical energy supplied by the first coil 26 when the latter is powered by the second coil 23.
According to some embodiments, the microcontroller 27 is connected to the first coil 26 by the accumulation device 38.
According to some embodiments, the microcontroller 27 can be configured to detect the quantity of electric charge accumulated in the accumulation device 38.
According to some embodiments, the lock 21 and/or the antenna 28 can be powered by the microcontroller 27.
According to possible variant embodiments, it can be provided that the lock 21 and/or the antenna 28 are powered directly by the accumulation device 38.
According to some embodiments, the first microcontroller 27 is configured to generate, when activated, a serial code identifying the determinate container 10 on which it is installed and/or other information about the same container 10.
According to variant embodiments, the first microcontroller 27 can be configured to also generate, and/or store information on the contents of the container 10, such as for example if the corresponding containing compartment 13 is partially or completely full. This can occur with the help of suitable sensors of a known type and not shown in the drawings.
The external terminal device 22 also comprises a control unit, for example a second microcontroller 29, suitable at least to store a temporal removal program associated with an authorized operator who has been issued with the external terminal device 22 itself.
According to some embodiments, the external terminal device 22 also comprises a second antenna 32, suitable to communicate via radio with the first antenna 28 provided in the container 10, at least to allow the exchange of information between the first microcontroller 27 and the second microcontroller 29.
According to some embodiments, each external terminal device 22 is associated with an authorized operator, who is assigned a specific temporal removal program. According to some embodiments, each temporal removal program can comprise a list of containers 10 from which to carry out the removal operations, a route, or itinerary to reach the different containers 10, possible time intervals in which to carry out the removal operations, in addition to the information relating to each target container 10.
According to some embodiments, the external terminal device 22 also comprises a module 30 to transmit data via the Internet, by means of which it can communicate in real time, in wireless mode, with a remote central processor 36, for example a central management server, at least to receive information regarding the temporal removal program and information about one or more target containers 10.
According to some embodiments, the external terminal device 22 comprises a GPS/GSM interface module 31, by means of which the remote central processor 36 can monitor in real time the geographical position of the external terminal device 22 and therefore of the operator associated with it.
According to further embodiments, the external terminal device 22 comprises a display 33 and a keyboard 34 having one or more keys 34a, configured to enter data, or activate some functions that can be provided by the second microcontroller 29, all powered by the energy accumulation device 24. By means of the keyboard 34 the operator can enter information relating, for example, to the state of fullness of the container 10, which can be sent in wireless mode and in real time to the remote central processor 36.
Furthermore, the second microcontroller 29, the module 30 to transmit data via the Internet, the GPS/GSM interface module 31 and the display 33 are connected to each other by connection channels 35 for the transfer of data.
Optionally, the external terminal device 22 can also comprise a loudspeaker and a microphone, of the known type and not shown in the drawings.
An apparatus 100 (fig. 3) according to the present invention comprises a first plurality of containers 10, a second plurality of external terminal devices 22, each of the type described above, and a remote central processor 36, of a known type and connected in wireless mode with each of the external terminal devices 22.
It should be clarified that the number of the first plurality of containers 10 is not necessarily the same as the number of the second plurality of external terminal devices 22, the two values not being constrained to each other. In fact, the number of the containers 10 depends on how many of them are located, or scattered, in a determinate geographical area, which can also be very large, such as one or more cities, or one or more regions, while the number of external terminal devices 22 is correlated to the number of operators in service in a determinate period of time and who are authorized to carry out the removal of the material contained in one or more containers 10 assigned to him/her.
The functioning of the apparatus 100, which also defines the method for managing the first plurality of containers 10 according to the present invention, is as follows.
In a first operating step, the remote central processor 36 sends to an external terminal device 22 issued, temporarily or permanently, to a determinate authorized operator, a specific temporal removal program providing an indication to go to one individual determinate target container 10, or a series of determinate target containers 10 to be reached in sequence.
According to some embodiments, the remote central processor 36 can communicate with the external terminal device 22 in wireless mode, for example via radio, through its own antenna, not shown in the drawings, to the second antenna 32, for example by means of the display 33, via Internet data network, or other communication protocols.
Furthermore, the operator is also provided with both the geographic coordinates of the position of each determinate target container 10 and also a univocal identification code of each of them.
According to some embodiments, for each target container 10 possible information can also be provided on the position in which, in each of them, the first coil 26 is disposed, a position that advantageously could also be different from one container 10 to another.
In this way, guided by the GPS/GSM interface module 31 of the external terminal device 22 in his/her possession, the operator can easily reach, possibly with a collection vehicle, each determinate container 10.
Once arrived on site, in a second operating step, the operator approaches from the outside the external terminal device 22 to the position, known to him/her, in which the first coil 26 is located, after which he/she activates the key 25, thus transmitting by electromagnetic induction an electric current to the first coil 26 which is located in the container 10.
In this way, the first microcontroller 27 is therefore energized, which, through the respective antennas 28 and 32, can communicate via radio with the second microcontroller 29, so as to receive the univocal identification code of that determinate activated container 10.
In a third operating step, the first microcontroller 27 verifies the correctness of the identification code received and, if it recognizes it as correct, the first microcontroller 27 activates the opening of the lock 21, which opens, thus allowing the operator to open the door 19, to access the containing compartment 13 and to remove the material contained therein.
According to some embodiments, after having verified the correctness of the identification code, the first microcontroller 27 can verify whether a determinate quantity of electric charge sufficient to drive the lock 21 is present in the accumulation device 38. If the quantity of charge stored is sufficient, the first microcontroller 27 can send an impulse to the lock 21 to drive it, discharging the accumulation device 38. On the contrary, if the quantity of charge is not sufficient, the first microcontroller 27 can continue to monitor the quantity of charge stored until it reaches a suitable level, and then send the impulse.
According to some embodiments, the first microcontroller 27 is configured to compare the identification code received with its own stored identification code.
According to some embodiments, if the identification code received is the same as the identification code stored, the electrical energy stored in the energy accumulation device 24 is supplied to the lock 21 to determine its opening.
According to variant embodiments, it can be provided that the identification code is provided on each occasion by the operator by means of the keyboard 34 to the second microcontroller 29 which then communicates it to the first microcontroller 27 which proceeds to check it.
According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the first microcontroller 27, with a communication in wireless mode, for example via radio, through the antennas 28 and 32, sends information on the container 10 activated to the second microcontroller 29, which can retransmit it to the remote central processor 36.
Once this removal function is finished, in a fourth operating step, the operator closes the door 19.
According to possible embodiments, it can be provided that the operator again approaches the external terminal device 22 to the position in which, in the container 10, the second coil 26 is located.
By pressing the key 25 the operator causes a new induction of electric current, which commands the closing of the lock 21, under the control of the first microcontroller 27.
According to variant embodiments, it can be provided that the lock 21 is of the snap-in type and that, once the door 19 is closed, it automatically repositions itself in a closed condition.
The operator will then possibly continue his operations of removing the material from the other containers 10 assigned to him/her by repeating the second, third and fourth steps, all under the control of the remote central processor 36.
The data received by the remote central processor 36, substantially in real time, from each of the external terminal devices 22 of the second plurality of containers 10, including therein the actual geographical position of each of them, can be processed for an update on the loading and removal situation of each of the containers 10 of the first plurality of containers 10 and will also allow to carefully program the subsequent removals, optimizing the collection times and costs.
According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the remote central processor can update in real time the removal programs associated with the individual external terminal devices 22, as a function of the information received by the operators through them, and in particular on the state of fullness of the containers 10.
It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the container 10, to the apparatus and corresponding method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of containers for collecting materials, preferably garments, especially second hand, as well as apparatuses and corresponding methods for managing a plurality of such containers, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

Container (10) for collecting material, preferably garments, comprising an internal containing compartment (13) configured to contain said material conferred from the outside, a removal aperture (17) in communication with said containing compartment (13) and configured to allow the authorized removal of said material, wherein a closing member (18) is associated with said removal aperture (17) and is configured to selectively close said removal aperture (17) to prevent unauthorized access to said containing compartment (13), and wherein said closing member (18) comprises a door (19) provided with an electrically drivable lock (21), characterized in that said container (10) is without permanent electric power and comprises first electromagnetic induction means (26) configured to selectively receive electrical energy by electromagnetic induction, at least to drive said lock (21), and second electromagnetic induction means (23) provided on an autonomous external terminal device (22) associable with said container, wherein said second electromagnetic induction means (23) are selectively connectable to an energy accumulation device (24) of said external terminal device (22) in order to induce an electric current through the first electromagnetic induction means (26).
Container (10) as in claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a first microcontroller (27) connected to said first electromagnetic induction means (26) and to said lock (21) and configured at least to memorize a univocal identification code of the container (10) on which it is installed.
Container (10) as in claim 2, characterized in that it also comprises first transceiver means (28) connected to said first microcontroller (27) and configured to receive/transmit in wireless mode information from/to second transceiver means (32) provided on said external terminal device (22).
Apparatus to manage containers (10) for collecting material, characterized in that it comprises:
- a first plurality of containers (10) as in any of the claims from 1 to 3;

- a second plurality of external terminal devices (22), each associated with an authorized operator, and configured to open one or more target containers (10) of the first plurality of containers (10) on the basis of a temporal removal program associated with said specialized operator, wherein the number of said first plurality of said containers (10) is not constrained by the number of said second plurality of said external terminal devices (22); and

- a remote central processor (36) connected in wireless mode to said second plurality of said external terminal devices (22) and configured to selectively send, to a determinate external terminal device (22), associated with a determinate authorized operator, a specific temporal removal program containing information relating to at least one target container (10), said information including both the geographic position of said determinate target container (10) and also a univocal identification code of the latter, in order to enable said external terminal device (22) to perform an operation to remove the material contained in said target container (10).
Apparatus as in claim 4, characterized in that said external terminal device (22) comprises a second microcontroller (29) connected to second transceiver means (32) in order to transmit to said first microcontroller (27), by means of said first transceiver means (28), said univocal identification code of the container (10) and in that said first microcontroller (27) is configured to command the actuation of said lock (21) only when it receives from said external terminal device (22) said univocal identification code of the container (10).
Apparatus as in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said external terminal device (22) comprises a module (30) to transmit data via the Internet, by means of which it can communicate in real time, in wireless mode, with said remote central processor (36), at least to receive information concerning said temporal removal program and said one or more target containers (10), and/or to transmit information relating to a determinate target container (10).
Apparatus as in any claim from 4 to 6, characterized in that said external terminal device (22) also comprises one or more of the following electronic components: a GPS/GSM interface module (31), a display (33), a keyboard (34) having one or more keys (34a).
Method for managing containers (10) for collecting materials as in any of the claims from 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises: a first operating step, in which a remote central processor (36) sends to an external terminal device (22), issued to a determinate authorized operator, a temporal removal program containing information on at least one determinate target container (10), said information including both the geographic position of said determinate target container (10) and also a univocal identification code of the latter; a second operating step, in which said authorized operator approaches said external terminal device (22) to said target container (10) so as to transfer electric current to the latter by electromagnetic induction and to power a first microcontroller (27) of said container (10); and a third operating step, in which said external terminal device (22) provides said identification code to said microcontroller (27), which verifies the correctness thereof in order to determine the opening of said lock (21), so that the authorized operator can access said containing compartment (13) and remove the material contained therein.
Method as in claim 8, characterized in that, after opening said lock (21) of said target container (10), it provides to transmit to said remote central processor (36), by means of said external terminal device (22), information at least on the state of fullness of said target container (10).
Method as in claim 9, characterized in that it provides to modify in real time, remotely, the temporal removal program associated with an external terminal device (22), so as to authorize or respectively prevent access to a determinate target container (10) by said external terminal device (22).