EP4114650A1

EP4114650A1 - Electronic device, compacting device, waste management system and method for monitoring

Info

Publication number: EP4114650A1
Application number: EP21710532.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Iiro KANKAANSYRJÄ
Original assignee: Kapasity Oy
Current assignee: Kapasity Oy
Priority date: 2020-03-06
Filing date: 2021-02-25
Publication date: 2023-01-11
Also published as: WO2021176137A1; FI20205239A1

Abstract

An electronic device, compacting device, waste management system and method of monitoring. The electronic device (E) is a separate device mountable to an electric supply system (7) of the compacting device (1) and configured to sense and monitor electric energy supplied to a motor (M) of the compacting device.

Description

Electronic device, compacting device, waste man agement system and method for monitoring

Background of the invention

The invention relates generally to recycled mate rial and waste handling processes, storage means and related systems.

More specifically the disclosed solution relates to an electric device connectable to an electric supply system of a compacting device. The compacting device is intended for compacting input material into smaller volume. The input material may be refuse material or recycling material, for example.

The invention further relates to a compacting de vice, a method for monitoring the compacting device and also to a waste management system for arranging emptying of sev eral compacting devices.

The field of the invention is defined more specif ically in the preambles of the independent claims.

Different compacting devices are widely used for collecting, compacting and storing household and industrial waste and refuse material. The compacting devices need to be emptied time to time and typically when proper degree of fullness is reached. The emptying of the container generates costs, wherefore it is economical that the container is not emptied until it has achieved a sufficient level of full ness. Therefore, various fullness monitoring systems have been proposed for that purpose. Documents WO-9939899-A1 and US-5016197-A disclose some compacting devices. However, the known solutions have shown to contain some disadvantages.

Brief description of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved electric apparatus, compacting device and waste management system. A further object is to provide a novel and improved method for monitoring a compacting device. The electric apparatus according to the invention is characterized by the characterizing features of a first independent apparatus claim.

The compacting device according to the invention is characterized by the characterizing features of a second independent apparatus claim.

The system according to the invention is character ized by the characterizing features of a third independent apparatus claim.

The method according to the invention is character ized by the charactering features and steps of an independ ent method claim.

An idea of the disclosed solution is that an elec tric device is presented which can be connected to an elec tric supply system of a compacting device. In general, the mentioned compacting device comprises compacting means for compacting input material into smaller volume. The electric device comprises one or more sensing devices and is config ured to monitor electric energy supplied to the compacting device in order to produce monitoring data of the compacting device. The mentioned electric device is mounted outside an electric cabinet of the compacting device and it comprises one or more data communication devices for communicating the monitoring data to one or more external electrical de vices.

An advantage of the disclosed solution is that the sensing and monitoring of the input electric energy provides valuable data which can be analyzed and utilized in a ver satile manner. The disclosed measuring arrangement is easy to arrange and does not require complicated devices and mounting procedures. Further, the disclosed solution also provides an inexpensive and operatively flexible way to produce interesting data on operation, status and condition of the compacting device or compactor.

According to an embodiment, the electric device is a separate device from the basic structure of the compacting device. An advantage of this embodiment is that the dis closed electric device does not require any modifications to the basic compactor and its electric system. Thereby implementation of this solution may be easy, inexpensive and quick.

According to an embodiment, the electric device is an independently operating device connectable to the elec tric supply line or supply system. The electric device is compatible with any electrically operable compacting de vice. Thus the independently operating electric device pro vides a flexible and versatile solution for the monitoring.

According to an embodiment, the electric device is retrofittable in connection with any existing compacting device. Thus, the solution provides an easy way to update compacting devices that are already in use and allows also them to be provided with different monitoring systems and automatic emptying arrangements.

According to an embodiment, the electric device is a mobile electric meter connectable to the compacting device and capable to transmit data, and possibly analyze the data too. The mobile electric meter may be used for temporarily analyzing input electric energy of the compactor in order to determine its properties, or to define a suitable emp tying interval. The device may be used to provide sensing data for a predetermined monitoring period.

According to an embodiment, the compacting device is provided with at least one electrical actuator for providing operating power for the compacting means. The compacting means may comprise one or more hydraulic cylin ders and the electrical actuator is a hydraulic pump for generating hydraulic power for a hydraulic circuit where the hydraulic cylinders are connected. Energy consumption of the electrically operated hydraulic pump or pumping unit is monitored and valuable data for controlling the compact ing device is gathered. According to an embodiment, the data communication device utilizes wireless data communication paths like ra dio networks, 4G, 5G, or WiFi. The 4G refers to a fourth generation cellular network technology, and the 5G is a fifth generation cellular network technology. The 4G and the 5G networks are digital cellular networks.

According to an embodiment, the data communication device utilizes global Internet of Things networks i.e. IoT networks. The IoT network may be the Sigfox network ecosys tem, for example. The IoT network offers a communication channel for basic sensor and measurement data that is much more affordable than mobile telephone networks and uses simpler terminal equipment. The IoT network technology is designed only for the needs of the IoT and for transmitting small amounts of data. The IoT operates in license-free frequency bands and uses a very narrow bandwidth and a minimal transmission speed. Together with a relatively low frequency, these features give the technology excellent en ergy-efficiency, long range, good noise resistance and high penetration.

According to an embodiment, the data communication may alternatively be wired. Then the data may be transmitted via the wired connection to a separate control device or data transmitter.

According to an embodiment, the data communication of the device may be arranged to communicate with a data communication system of a facility in connection of which the compactor is arranged.

According to an embodiment, the data communication device is integrated to be an inseparable part of the elec tric device.

According to an embodiment, the data communication device is a separate module connectable to the electric device.

According to an embodiment, the electric device is in data communication connection with a waste management system in order to manage emptying intervals of the con tainer. The electric device may transmit the sensing data to the waste management system which then determines suit able emptying intervals, or alternatively, the electric de vice may be provided with a control unit for analyzing the gathered data, for determining the emptying intervals, and for sending emptying requests for the waste management sys tem.

According to an embodiment, the electric device is an adaptor configured to be mounted between two electric connectors of the electric supply system of the compactor.

According to an embodiment, the electric device is a portable device. In other words, the electric device is intended to be used without a fixed mounting and can thereby be considered to be a mobile device.

According to an embodiment, the electric device is designed for tool free mounting. Then the device is easy and quick to mount, and further the mounting does not re quire any special skills or authorization for electrical installations.

According to an embodiment, the electrical device is an adaptor mountable between a wall socket and a cable socket of an electrical supply cable of the electrical sup ply system. In other words, the electric device is mounted between two power sockets. Then the electric device is pro vided with two power socket for receiving the wall socket and the cable socket. The sockets are typically three phase power sockets. The device is very easy and quick to be mounted by anyone.

According to an embodiment, the electric device may be an adaptor mounted between two power supply cables, both provided with electric connectors, which may be connected to receiving sockets of the adaptor.

According to an embodiment, the electrical device is an independent module configured to be mounted on an outer surface of the compacting device. According to an embodiment, the electric device is provided with mechanical mounting elements for implementing the mentioned surface mounting. The mounting means may com prise quick couplings elements or surfaces. Further, the mechanical mounting elements may be clips, straps, and clamps, for example.

According to an embodiment, the electric device is provided with magnetic mounting elements for implementing the surface mounting. Cover structures of the compactors are typically made of steel plates, whereby the compactors are provided with plenty of suitable mounting positions. Further, the mounting position can be easily changed since the mounting does not require any additional elements and does not cause any permanent markings or changes to the mounting surface.

According to an embodiment, the sensing device is an electric supply meter configured to sense amount of elec tric energy consumed by the compacting device.

According to an embodiment, the electric supply me ter or electricity meter may operate by continuously meas uring the instantaneous voltage (volts) and current (am peres) to give energy used, for example in kilowatt-hours. Further, variations in the sensed values indicate operating cycle of the compacting means, whereby the compacting phase and energy used for the compacting can be determined.

According to an embodiment, the sensing device com prises a sensing loop mountable around an electric supply wire and may thereby implement contactless sensing princi ples.

According to an embodiment, number of executed com pressing strokes of the compressing means can be determined in response to the monitoring data comprising data on con sumed electrical energy as a function of time. For example, the energy consumption during the compressing stokes is significantly greater as during the returning strokes. According to an embodiment, the electric device may be configured to measure voltage (volts) and current (am peres) in order to determine generated compressing force and to thereby determine fullness of the container. Force resisting the movement of the compacting means is dependent on fullness of the compactor. More force is needed when the container is nearly full.

According to an embodiment, the electric device com prises at least one control unit configured to produce data on degree of fullness of a container of the compacting device in response to monitoring data received from the monitoring. Further, the control unit is configured to pro duce and send automatically status data on degree of full ness of the container to a waste management system in order to arrange emptying of the container. The control unit may be provided with one or more processors for executing one or more computer programs designed for analyzing the sensing data. The control unit may also include an input device for feeding parameters and control commands to be taken into consideration in the analyzing process.

According to an embodiment, the control unit is configured to estimate proper emptying moment and to sched ule pick-up time for the container together with the waste management system. In other words, the control unit may be configured to create emptying intervals and update them.

According to an embodiment, the control unit is configured to produce compaction ratio data in response to the received monitoring data.

According to an embodiment, the control unit is configured to calculate a fullness value, which indicates the degree of fullness of the container and which may be provided with at least one predetermined threshold value. When the threshold value is exceeded the control unit trig gers a signal to the waste management system and indicates that the compactor is nearly full, after which the waste management system or the control unit itself communicates to a waste collection vehicle that the container needs to be emptied.

According to an embodiment, the electric device is configured to provide at least one control unit external to the compacting device with the monitoring data whereby the external control unit is configured to produce data on de gree of fullness of a container of the compacting device in response to monitoring data received from the monitoring. Further, the external control unit is configured to produce automatically status data on degree of fullness of the con tainer and to provide a waste management system with the produced status data in order to arrange emptying of the container.

According to an embodiment, the monitoring data is transmitted to an external server or cloud service wherein the emptying is scheduled on the basis of the determined fullness value. The server or cloud service may be arranged to monitor simultaneously a large number of compacting de vices.

According to an embodiment, the gathered monitoring data is used for producing condition data of the compactor. Condition status of the entire device may be determined, or alternatively, it may be possible to monitor condition of one or more critical components.

According to an embodiment, the gathered monitoring data is used for producing data for a predictive maintenance system in order to determine service needs and for example determining components which will fail soon and needs to be substituted before the failure occurs.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution relates to a compacting device for compacting input material into smaller volume. The compacting device comprises: com pacting means for executing the compacting measures; a con tainer for receiving the compacted material; a hydraulic system comprising at least one hydraulic pump for producing hydraulic energy to at least one hydraulic cylinder for actuating the compacting means; at least one electric motor for driving the mentioned hydraulic pump; and an electrical supply system for providing required electric energy for the electric motor. The compacting device is connectable to an electric supply for supplying the needed electric energy. Further, the electric supply is provided with an electric device which is configured to generate monitoring data on properties of the electric energy supplied to the electric motor driving the hydraulic pump. The electric device may be in accordance with any one of the features and embodi ments disclosed in this document.

According to an embodiment, the container is an interchangeable container of a trailer or a truck.

According to an embodiment, the compacting means may be alternatively be moved directly by means of one or more electrical actuators, such as electric rotation motors or electrical linear motors. Thus, the compacting means may be fully electrically operating devices.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution relates to a waste management system for arranging emptying of several compacting devices. The waste management system comprises: several separate compacting devices, each of which comprises compacting means for compacting input ma terial into a smaller volume and a container for receiving the compacted material; and a fullness determining system provided in each compacting device to identify when the container needs to be emptied. The system further comprises at least one control unit for receiving data relating to degree of fullness of the container and is configured to communicate with at least one waste collection vehicle or truck for arranging pick-up of the containers for emptying them. The waste management system is configured to receive sensing data from several electrical devices mounted to electric supply systems of the compacting devices. The men tioned electrical devices may be in accordance with devices, features and embodiments disclosed in this document. The disclosed waste management system is configured to monitor the operation of the compacting device in response to the received sensing data and is configured to determine full ness of each of the compacting devices and is configured to schedule dedicated emptying instant for each of the moni tored compacting devices. Thus, the system may provide a central management for the emptying process.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution relates to a method for monitoring a compacting device com prising compacting means for compacting input material into smaller volume and a container. The method comprises: mon itoring operation of the compacting device by means of at least one sensing device; transmitting monitoring data to at least one control unit; and processing the received mon itoring data in the control unit and producing monitoring data in response to the received monitoring data. The method further comprises monitoring properties of electric energy supplied to the compacting device by means of a separate electric device mounted to an electric supply system of the compacting device. Operation of the compacting means is examined by analyzing the properties of the supplied elec tric energy.

According to an embodiment, the method comprises mounting the separate electric device outside an electric cabinet of the compacting device.

According to an embodiment, the method comprises mounting the separate electric device to an electric supply wire.

According to an embodiment, the method comprises providing the electric device with at least one integrated control unit and analyzing the monitoring data by means of the control unit of the electric device. Selected data is transmitted from the integrated control unit to one or more external control units.

According to an embodiment, the method comprises providing the mentioned integrated control unit with at least one computer program for analyzing the monitoring data. The integrated control unit comprises a processor for executing the input computer program and input means for feeding the control unit with control commands, selections, base data and limit values.

According to an embodiment, the method comprises transmitting the monitoring data gathered by the separate electrical device via a data communication path to at least one external control unit. The monitoring data is analyzed by means of the external control unit.

According to an embodiment, the method comprises transmitting the monitoring data to a cloud service or to at least one server and analyzing the data therein.

According to an embodiment, the method comprises providing the electric device with an IoT device (Internet Of Things) capable to communicate with at least one data network.

According to an embodiment, the method comprises transmitting the monitoring data to at least one external computer or portable electrical terminal device and analyz ing the data therein.

According to an embodiment, the method comprises analyzing the received data on the supplied electric energy and determining number of executed compacting strokes and required electric power of the detected compacting stokes. Fullness of the container of the compacting device is de termined by means of the detected data on the compacting strokes.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution may be configured to determine a fullness value or fullness rate of the container or storage.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution may be configured to determine whether size and capacity of the compacting device and its container is sufficient or not. The system may detect if the emptying frequency is too frequent and a need for a device with greater capacity occurs. This way emptying costs may be degreased.

According to an embodiment a predetermined degree of fullness may also trigger a signal light or other visual indication for indicating that the compactor is full or nearly full. The system has already ordered a pick up but the visual indication may provide additional data for the users and for the drivers of the trucks.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution may be used in connection with compactors that compact waste material or recyclable fractions (e.g. paper, plastics, textiles, cans, cardboard, mixed waste). The compactor may be a horizontal or vertical compactor and it may be static, traversable or transportable. Further, the compactor may utilize a moving screw, pendulum or plate as a compacting part or element.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed solution may be used in connection with baling presses too. The baling press may be configured to compress corrugated pa perboard, paper material, textile material, construction materials and corresponding materials into smaller volume.

According to an embodiment, the compacting device is configured to receive input material from mobile waste bins. The bin may contain solid garbage and liquid, such as household waste.

According to an embodiment, the above mentioned bin may contain solid refuse material.

In this document the compacting device is also called as a compactor.

The above disclosed embodiments and features may be combined in order to form suitable solutions that are needed.

Brief description of the figures

Some embodiments are described in more detail in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a compacting device,

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of an electric connection of a compacting device and its monitoring system, Figure 3 is a schematic side view of an electric device mounted between a wall socket and a cable socket of a compactor,

Figure 4 is a schematic side view of an electric device mounted between two cable sockets,

Figure 5 is a schematic side view of an electric device mounted on an outer surface of a compacting device, Figures 6 is a schematic side view of an electric device and its components,

Figure 7 is a schematic view of a waste management system,

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing some use cases of gathered monitoring data, and

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing some possi ble data communication paths for transmitting data between an electric monitoring device and related apparatuses.

For the sake of clarity, the figures show some em bodiments of the disclosed solution in a simplified manner. In the figures, like reference numerals identify like ele ments.

Detailed description of some embodiments

Figure 1 discloses a compacting device 1 intended for compacting input material into smaller volume by means of compacting means 2. The compacting means 2 execute com pacting measures in accordance with a compacting cycle and the compacted material is stored inside a container 3. The compacting means may be operated by means of pressurized hydraulic fluid. Therefore, the device 1 comprises a hy draulic system 4 comprising at least one hydraulic pump P for producing hydraulic energy to at least one hydraulic cylinder 5 for actuating the compacting means 2. The hy draulic pump P may be driven by means of an electric motor M. The hydraulic system 4 may also comprise a tank 6 and a hydraulic circuit with needed hydraulic conduits and valves.

The compacting device 1 is also provided with an electrical supply system 7 for providing required electric energy for the electric motor M. The system 7 may comprise an electric cabinet 8 provided with needed electric con nectors, safety devices, control means and a control system CS for controlling operation of the compacting device 1. The electrical supply system 7 comprises a power supply cable 9 connectable to an electric supply ES for supplying the needed electric energy.

The compacting device 1 further comprises a feed opening 10 through which material to be compacted can be fed A to a compacting chamber. The compacting means 2 may comprise a horizontally movable plunger 11 for pressing B the fed material towards the container 3. The pressing sys tem is shown in Figure 1 in a highly simplified manner. When the container is filled to a certain degree of fullness, the container 3 can be removed C from the basic device and can be transported by means of a truck or corresponding vehicle to a tipping position for emptying it. After being emptied, the container 3 is returned back and then the device 1 is again ready to receive new material and to execute compacting cycles.

The electric power consumption monitoring system disclosed in this document can be implemented in connection with the compacting device 1 shown in Figure 1 and also in connection with other type of compactors, such as vertical and screw compactors.

Figure 2 discloses that a power supply cable 9 of an electrical supply system 7 is connected to a wall socket 12 of an electric supply ES. This way an electric cabinet 8 is in electric connection to an electric network 13. Electric power consumption can be monitored by means of an electric device E arranged to detect and monitor electric energy supplied via the supply cable 9. The electric device E comprises a sensing device S for producing sensing data. The sensing device may be provided with a ring-shaped meas uring head 14, loop or probe which can be arranged around or nearby the cable 9.

Figure 3 discloses an electronic device E mounted between a contact element 15 of a wall socket 12 and a contact element 16 of a supply cable 9. Electric power is transmitted through the electric device E and its features can be monitored.

Figure 4 discloses that an electric device E is mounted between a first contact element 16a of a first supply cable 9a and a second contact element 16b of a second supply cable 9b. Electric power is transmitted through the electric device E and can be monitored.

Figure 5 discloses that an electric device E con nected to an electric supply system 7 of a compactor 1 is mounted on an outer surface 17 of a body of the compactor 1. The device E is connected via a supply cable 9 to an electric supply and is arranged to provide sensing data on electric passing through it.

As can be noted in Figures 2 - 5, the electric device is a separate apparatus and can be arranged outside the basic electric system and the electric cabinet 8. Thereby the device is easy to mount and the mounting re quires no special skills or licenses.

Figure 6 discloses an electric device E comprising a body 18 and receiving elements 19a, 19b for receiving electric connecting elements such as sockets. The body 18 may be provided with a fastening element 20, which may be a magnetic element, for example. Inside the body 18 may be one or more sensors S, control units CU, memory devices ME and data communication devices D.

Figure 7 discloses a waste management system WMS, which may comprise one or more data communication devices D, user interfaces UI, control units CU and memory devices ME. The system WMS may communicate with several electric devices E arranged to monitor several compactors. The system WMS may also communicate with several trucks T for ordering, scheduling and managing emptying of containers of the com pactors. Furthermore, the system WMS may communicate with one or more external electric devices or systems, such as with one or more control units CU, servers SE, electronic terminal devices ET, predictive maintenance systems PM and control systems CS.

Communication between the system WMS and the related devices and systems may be one way or two way communication.

Figure 8 discloses some possible ways to implement gathered sensing data. These issues and features are already discussed widely above in this document.

Figure 9 discloses some possible ways to provide data communication between the disclosed electronic moni toring device and the electronic system of the compactor. These issues and features are already discussed widely above in this document.

The drawings and the related description are only intended to illustrate the idea of the invention. In its details, the invention may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An electric device (E) connectable to an electric supply system (ES) of a compacting device (1), which com pacting device (1) comprises compacting means (2) for com pacting input material into smaller volume; characterized in that the electric device (E) comprises at least one sens ing device (S) and is configured to monitor electric energy supplied to the compacting device (1) in order to produce monitoring data of the compacting device (1); the sensing device (S) is an electric supply meter configured to sense amount of electric energy consumed by the compacting device (1); and wherein the electric device (E) is mounted out side an electric cabinet (8) of the compacting device (1); and the electric device (E) further comprises at least one data communication device (D) for communicating the monitoring data to at least one external electrical device.

2. The electric apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the electric device (E) is in data communication connection with a waste management system (WMS) in order to manage emptying intervals of a container (3) of the com pacting device (1).

3. The electric device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electric device (E) is an adaptor configured to be mounted between two electric connectors (16a, 16b) of the electric supply system (ES) of the compacting device

(D .

4. The electric device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the electrical device (E) is an adaptor mountable between a wall socket (12) and a cable socket (16) of an electrical supply cable (9) of the electrical supply system (ES).

5. The electric device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the electrical device (E) is an independent module configured to be mounted on an outer surface (17) of the compacting device (1).

6. The electric device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electric device (E) comprises at least one con trol unit (CU) configured to produce data on degree of fullness of a container (3) of the compacting device (1) in response to monitoring data received from the monitoring; and the control unit (CU) is configured to produce and send automatically status data on degree of fullness of the container (3) to a waste management system (WMS) in order to arrange emptying of the container (3).

7. The electric device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electric device (E) is configured to provide at least one control unit (CU) external to the compacting de- vice (1) with the monitoring data whereby the external con trol unit (CU) is configured to produce data on degree of fullness of a container (3) of the compacting device (1) in response to monitoring data received from the monitoring; and the external control unit (CU) is configured to produce automatically status data on degree of fullness of the container (3) and to provide a waste management system (WMS) with the produced status data in order to arrange emptying of the container (3).

8. A compacting device (1) for compacting input material into smaller volume, wherein the compacting device (1) comprises: compacting means (2) for executing the compacting measures; a container (3) for receiving the compacted mate rial; a hydraulic system (4) comprising at least one hy draulic pump (P) for producing hydraulic energy to at least one hydraulic cylinder (5) for actuating the compacting means (2); at least one electric motor (M) for driving the mentioned hydraulic pump (P); an electrical supply system (7) for providing re quired electric energy for the electric motor (M); and the compacting device (1) is connectable to an electric supply (ES) for supplying the needed electric en ergy; characterized in that the electrical supply system (7) is provided with an electric device (E) which is in accordance with any one of the preceding claims 1 - 7; and wherein the electric device (E) is configured to generate monitoring data on properties of the electric en ergy supplied to the electric motor (M) driving the hydrau lic pump (P).

9. A waste management system (WMS) for arranging emptying of several compacting devices (1), wherein the waste management system (WMS) com prises: several separate compacting devices (1), each of which comprises compacting means (2) for compacting input material into a smaller volume and a container (3) for receiving the compacted material; a fullness determining system provided in each com pacting device to identify when the container (3) needs to be emptied; and at least one control unit (CU) for receiving data relating to degree of fullness of the container (3) and is configured to communicate with at least one waste collection vehicle (T) for arranging pick-up of the containers (3) for emptying them; characterized in that the waste management system (WMS) is configured to receive sensing data from several electrical devices (E) mounted to electric supply systems (7) of the compacting devices (1), and wherein the electrical devices (E) are in accordance with any one of the preceding claims 1 - 8; and the waste management system (WMS) is configured to monitor the operation of the compacting device (1) in re sponse to the received sensing data; and wherein the waste management system (WMS) is configured to determine fullness of each of the compacting devices (1) and is configured to schedule dedicated emptying instant for each of the monitored compacting devices (1).

10. A method of monitoring a compacting device (1) comprising compacting means (2) for compacting input mate rial into smaller volume and a container (3), and wherein the method comprises: monitoring operation of the compacting device (1) by means of at least one sensing device (S); transmitting monitoring data to at least one control unit (CU); and processing the received monitoring data in the con trol unit (CU) and producing monitoring data in response to the received monitoring data; characterized by monitoring properties of electric energy supplied to the compacting device (1) by means of a separate electric device (E) mounted to an electric supply system (7) of the compacting device (1); sensing amount of electric energy consumed by the compacting device (1) by means of an electric supply meter serving as the mentioned sensing device (S); and examining operation of the compacting means (2) by analyzing the properties of the supplied electric energy.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, charac terized by mounting the separate electric device (E) outside an electric cabinet (8) of the compacting device (1).

12. The method as claimed in claim 10 or 11, char acterized by mounting the separate electric device (E) to an electric supply cable (9).

13. The method as claimed in any one of the preced ing claims 10 - 12, characterized by providing the electric device (E) with at least one integrated control unit (CU) and analyzing the monitoring data by means of the control unit (CU) of the electric device (E) and transmitting selected data from the inte grated control unit (CU) to at least one external control unit.

14. The method as claimed in any one of the preced- ing claims 10 - 12, characterized by transmitting the monitoring data gathered by the separate electrical device (E) via a data communication path to at least one external control unit, and analyzing the monitoring data by means of the ex- ternal control unit.

15. The method as claimed in any one of the preced ing claims 10 - 14, characterized by analyzing the received data on the supplied electric energy and determining number of executed compacting strokes and required electric power of the detected compacting stokes; and determining fullness of the container (3) of the compacting device (1) by means of the detected data on the compacting strokes.