JP2017206333A - Garbage box monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a garbage box monitoring system capable of detecting a state where garbage is accumulated up to prescribed height with high accuracy while suppressing power consumption.SOLUTION: A garbage box monitoring system 1 includes: a garbage box 2 having a body 21; a garbage detection sensor 3 installed on an inside surface 25 of the body 21 to transmit a detection wave in a horizontal direction; a monitoring device 4 for acquiring detection information by the garbage detection sensor 3 to monitor a garbage accumulation state; and a notification device 5 connected to the monitoring device 4 so that a signal can be transmitted and received to notify a garbage accumulation state on the basis of the signal received from the monitoring device 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a trash can monitoring system for monitoring the accumulation state of trash in a trash can.

  In stores such as convenience stores and supermarkets, trash cans are installed outdoors. When the trash box is full, the trash is scattered around, so it is desirable to replace the trash bag as soon as it becomes full. Since the timing of filling up the trash can is irregular and it is troublesome to check frequently, a system for monitoring the accumulation state of trash in the trash can is desired.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes a system in which a sound wave transmission / reception device and a wireless device are attached to a trash can and wirelessly transmitted to an administrator that the trash is full.

JP 2012-101865 A

  However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, no consideration is given to accurately detecting a state where dust is full. In addition, no consideration is given to the suppression of power consumption of the sound wave transmitting / receiving device or the like.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a trash can monitoring system that can accurately detect a state in which dust is accumulated to a predetermined height while suppressing power consumption. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention obtains detection information by a dust bin having a main body, a dust detection sensor installed on the inner surface of the main body and transmitting a detection wave in a horizontal direction, and detection information by the dust detection sensor. A monitoring device that monitors the accumulation state of the dust, and a notification device that is connected to the monitoring device so as to be able to transmit and receive signals and that reports the accumulation state of the dust based on a signal received from the monitoring device. This is a trash can monitoring system. According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect a state in which dust is accumulated to a predetermined height.

  The monitoring device acquires the detection information at each first sleep interval, and determines whether the dust exceeds a predetermined height, and the dust is predetermined in the first determination step. If it is determined that the height exceeds the detection height, the detection information is acquired for each second sleep interval shorter than the first sleep interval, and whether or not the dust exceeds a predetermined height is determined. 2 When the determination step and the second determination step determine that the dust exceeds a predetermined height continuously for a predetermined number of times, a signal indicating the accumulation state of the dust is transmitted to the notification device. The transmission step may be executed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress power consumption and accurately detect a state in which dust is accumulated up to a predetermined height.

  A plurality of the dust detection sensors are installed, and the monitoring device transmits to the notification device according to the number of the dust detection sensors that have detected that the dust exceeds a predetermined height in the transmission step. The signal to be changed may be changed. As a result, it is possible to distinguish and report whether dust is accumulated to a predetermined height as a whole or only a part is accumulated to a predetermined height.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a trash can monitoring system capable of accurately detecting a state in which dust is accumulated up to a predetermined height while suppressing power consumption.

Schematic diagram showing the outline of the trash can monitoring system 1 Cross section at the center of the trash box 2 in the Y direction Sectional view at the center of the trash box 2 in the X direction The flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the monitoring apparatus 4 The flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the notification apparatus 5

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a trash can monitoring system 1 according to the present embodiment. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the trash can 2 at the center in the Y direction, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the trash can 2 at the center of the X direction.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the trash can monitoring system 1 includes a trash can 2 installed outdoors in a convenience store, a supermarket, etc., a trash detection sensor 3 attached to the trash can 2, and detection information by the trash detection sensor 3. And a monitoring device 4 that monitors the accumulation state of garbage, and a notification device 5 that is installed in the store and can send and receive signals to and from the monitoring device 4.

  2 and 3, the trash box 2 includes a main body 21 and a dust container 23 installed inside the main body 21. The garbage container 23 is covered with a garbage bag (not shown). Garbage is thrown away from the inlet 22 and is accumulated in the garbage container 23 having the opening 24. When the garbage in the garbage container 23 is accumulated to a predetermined height, the garbage bag is replaced. The shapes and materials of the main body 21 and the dust container 23 of the trash box 2 are not particularly limited, and the trash box monitoring system 1 can be applied to almost all outdoor trash boxes that are normally used.

  The dust detection sensor 3 is, for example, a reflective ultrasonic distance sensor, and is installed on the inner side surface 25 of the main body 21. The dust detection sensor 3 transmits an ultrasonic wave as a detection wave in the horizontal direction (= direction orthogonal to the Z direction) from the transmitter 31, and a time T [sec] until the reflected wave is received by the receiver 32. ] Is detected to detect the presence / absence of an object and the distance D [m] to the object. The distance D to the object is obtained by the equation D = V × T / 2, where V [m / s] is the speed of sound of the ultrasonic wave. Further, the dust detection sensor 3 has a temperature sensor, and corrects the sound velocity V of the ultrasonic wave with an equation of V = 331.5 + 0.6t in consideration of the influence of the temperature t [° C.], and the distance to the object D is calculated. Thereby, the distance D to the object can be accurately calculated. The dust detection sensor 3 is not limited to the reflection type ultrasonic distance sensor, and may be a transmission type ultrasonic distance sensor, an infrared distance sensor, or another distance sensor.

  It is desirable to install a plurality of dust detection sensors 3. Referring to FIG. 2, one dust detection sensor 3 is bonded to each of the opposing inner side surfaces 25 of the main body 21. Referring to FIG. 3, one dust detection sensor 3 is adhered to the position of the center of the inner surface 25 of the main body 21 in the Y direction. The other dust detection sensor 3 is adhered to the position. However, the positional relationship between the plurality of dust detection sensors 3 is not limited to this, and the inner surfaces 25 of the main body 21 that are opposed to each other may be disposed so as to be shifted in the Y direction or the Z direction.

  The monitoring device 4 executes a program and controls the overall operation of the monitoring device 4, a storage unit that stores programs and data, and a communication unit that transmits and receives signals to and from other devices by wire or wirelessly. . Examples of wireless communication means include ZigBee (registered trademark), WiFi, Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the like.

  For example, the monitoring device 4 may be placed on the upper surface of the main body 21 of the trash box 2 or adhered to the rear surface or the inner surface 25. The signal from the dust detection sensor 3 and the notification device 5 may be used. It can be installed anywhere as long as it can transmit and receive.

  The monitoring device 4 acquires the detection information of the dust detection sensor 3 at a predetermined interval, and determines whether or not the dust exceeds a predetermined height. The predetermined height can be changed as appropriate by changing the installation position of the dust detection sensor 3.

  When the dust in the dust container 23 is accumulated to a predetermined height, the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitter 31 of the dust detection sensor 3 is reflected by the dust and the detected distance is shortened. If the difference between the distance detected by the dust detection sensor 3 (= detection information) and the distance of the reference value (for example, the distance between the opposing inner surfaces 25 of the trash box 2) is equal to or greater than the threshold, It is determined that the garbage exceeds a predetermined height.

  In addition, since the ultrasonic wave may be irregularly reflected on an object having a large surface undulation such as dust, the monitoring device 4 cannot detect the distance due to the irregular reflection of the ultrasonic wave. In this case, it is determined that the dust exceeds a predetermined height.

  If the dust detection sensor 3 transmits a detection wave in the vertical direction (= Z direction) toward the inside of the dust container 23, whether the dust has accumulated to a predetermined height depending on the distance to the accumulated dust. It will be judged whether or not. Therefore, when the ultrasonic wave is irregularly reflected on the dust and the accurate distance cannot be measured, it is not possible to determine whether or not the dust is accumulated to a predetermined height. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the dust detection sensor 3 transmits a detection wave in the horizontal direction and determines as described above, so that dust is accumulated to a predetermined height even if the ultrasonic waves are irregularly reflected on the dust. Whether or not can be accurately determined. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect a state in which dust is accumulated up to a predetermined height.

  The reporting device 5 executes a program and controls the overall operation of the reporting device 5, a storage unit that stores programs and data, and a communication unit that transmits and receives signals to and from other devices by wire or wirelessly. , And reports the accumulation state of dust based on the signal received from the monitoring device 4. In addition, the reporting device 5 may include LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamps 51 to 53 and a speaker 54 as reporting means. For example, the LED lamp 51 is green, the LED lamp 52 is yellow, and the LED lamp 53 is red.

  The reporting device 5 may be a smartphone, a PC (Personal Computer), or the like. In this case, the reporting means by the reporting device 5 can use a general-purpose function provided in a smartphone or PC.

  The installation location of the reporting device 5 is, for example, a location where a store clerk is always located, such as around a cashier counter in the store, but is not particularly limited.

  Since the dust detection sensor 3 and the monitoring device 4 are installed outdoors, it is desirable to use a primary battery such as a dry battery as a power source. In the present embodiment, power consumption is suppressed in the processing of the monitoring device 4 to be described later with reference to FIG.

  When a plurality of trash bins 2 are installed, the trash detection sensor 3 and the monitoring device 4 may be installed for each trash bin 2, or only the trash detection sensor 3 is installed for each trash bin 2, and one monitoring device 4 is installed. May be. In either case, a trash can number that uniquely identifies the trash can 2 is defined.

  Next, processing of the trash can monitoring system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In the following, it is assumed that there are a plurality of trash bins 2, and one monitoring device 4 and two trash detection sensors 3 are installed for one trash bin 2.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of each monitoring device 4. When the power is turned on, the monitoring device 4 performs an initialization process (step S1). In the initialization process, initialization of each variable, measurement of a reference value distance, and the like are performed.

  Next, the monitoring device 4 acquires the first detection information by the first dust detection sensor 3, and determines the first detection information (step S2). If the monitoring device 4 determines that the dust does not exceed the predetermined height based on the first detection information, the monitoring device 4 substitutes 0 for the variable A (step S3). On the other hand, if the monitoring device 4 determines that the dust exceeds the predetermined height based on the first detection information, the monitoring device 4 substitutes the value A + 1 for the variable A (step S4). Here, the variable A holds the number of times that the monitoring device 4 continuously determines that the dust exceeds a predetermined height based on the first detection information.

  Next, the monitoring device 4 acquires the second detection information from the second dust detection sensor 3 and determines the second detection information (step S5). If the monitoring device 4 determines that the dust does not exceed the predetermined height based on the second detection information, the monitoring device 4 substitutes 0 for the variable B (step S6). On the other hand, when the monitoring device 4 determines that the dust exceeds the predetermined height based on the second detection information, the monitoring device 4 substitutes the value B + 1 for the variable B (step S7). Here, the variable B holds the number of times that the monitoring device 4 continuously determines that the dust exceeds a predetermined height based on the second detection information.

  Next, the monitoring device 4 performs comprehensive determination of the variables A and B (step S8). When both the variables A and B are 0, the monitoring device 4 transmits a first signal indicating that the dust accumulation state is good together with the trash box number to the notification device 5 (step S9) and sleeps for 3 minutes. (Step S10), it repeats from Step S2. When one of the variables A and B is 1 or more and less than 3, the monitoring device 4 sleeps for 10 seconds (step S11) and repeats from step S2. When one of the variables A and B is 3 or more, the monitoring device 4 has a trash box number and a second signal indicating that a part of the trash is accumulated up to a predetermined height or trash as a whole. Is transmitted to the reporting device 5 (step S12), 0 is substituted into variables A and B (step S13), and sleeps for 3 minutes (step S14). Repeat from.

  In step S12, the monitoring device 4 transmits the second signal if only one of A and B is 3 or more, and transmits the third signal if both A and B are 3 or more. As described above, the monitoring device 4 changes the signal to be transmitted to the notification device 5 according to the number of dust detection sensors 3 that have detected that dust exceeds a predetermined height. If only one of A and B is 3 or more, it is considered that dust is partly accumulated and accumulated to a predetermined height. On the other hand, if both A and B are 3 or more, it is considered that dust is accumulated to a predetermined height as a whole. As described above, the monitoring device 4 according to the present embodiment can distinguish and detect whether dust is accumulated to a predetermined height as a whole or only a part of the dust is accumulated to a predetermined height. It becomes.

  In addition, when the monitoring apparatus 4 detects that the voltage of the primary battery which is a power supply has fallen, it performs interruption control with respect to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, and the voltage of the primary battery has fallen. The signal shown is transmitted to the reporting device 5. The sleep time in steps S10, S11, and S14 is not limited to the combination of 3 minutes and 10 seconds, and can be changed as appropriate. Further, the determination reference value in step S8 is not limited to the combination of 0 times, 1 to less than 3 times, and 3 times or more, and can be changed as appropriate.

  According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the monitoring device 4 acquires detection information from the dust detection sensor 3 at every first sleep interval (3 minutes in the example of FIG. 4), and the dust reaches a predetermined height. If it is determined in the first determination step (= the flow including step S10) whether or not the dust exceeds the predetermined height in the first determination step, the first interval shorter than the first sleep interval is determined. Detection information is acquired from the dust detection sensor 3 every two sleep intervals (in the example shown in FIG. 4, 10 seconds), and a second determination step for determining whether the dust exceeds a predetermined height (= In the flow including step S11) and in the second determination step, when it is determined that the dust exceeds the predetermined height continuously for a predetermined number of times, a signal indicating the dust accumulation state is transmitted to the notification device 5. Send step = The flow) comprises the step S12, the execution. Thus, it is possible to accurately detect a state in which dust is accumulated up to a predetermined height while suppressing power consumption.

  If it is attempted to determine whether or not the dust exceeds a predetermined height with only one detection information, an error may occur if the dust detection sensor 3 transmits a detection wave while the dust is being thrown in. It is conceivable that a determination occurs. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since it is determined whether or not dust exceeds a predetermined height from a plurality of detection information with a fixed sleep interval, erroneous determination can be reduced.

  Further, if the detection information is continuously acquired at a short sleep interval, the power consumption increases. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a long sleep interval is set in the first determination step, and a short sleep interval is set in the second determination step. As a result, power consumption can be suppressed, and delay in timing for reporting a state in which dust is accumulated up to a predetermined height can be avoided.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the notification device 5. The reporting device 5 performs an initialization process when the power is turned on (step S21). In the initialization process, each variable is initialized, a timer is reset, and the like.

  Next, the reporting device 5 confirms whether or not a signal is received from the monitoring device 4 (step S22). When the signal is not received from the monitoring device 4 (No in Step S22), the reporting device 5 confirms whether or not the signal is received for 10 minutes (Step S23). If no signal has been received for 10 minutes (Yes in step S23), the reporting device 5 causes the red LED lamp 53 to blink quickly (step S24). At this time, the notification device 5 may output the buzzer sound by changing the type of the buzzer with the speaker 54 so that the trash can 2 that has not received a signal for 10 minutes can be identified. The determination time in step S23 is not limited to 10 minutes and can be changed as appropriate.

  Moreover, when the signal is received from the monitoring apparatus 4 (Yes of step S22), the notification apparatus 5 acquires a trash box number (step S25), and reports according to the received signal.

  When the first signal is received (step S26), the reporting device 5 turns on the blue LED lamp 51 (step S27). At this time, the notification device 5 changes the type of buzzer sound with the speaker 54 and outputs the trash box number so that the monitoring device 4 that has transmitted the first signal can identify the trash box 2. May be. The same applies to steps S29, S31 and S33.

  When the second signal is received (step S28), the reporting device 5 turns on the yellow LED lamp 52 (step S29). When the third signal is received (step S30), the reporting device 5 turns on the red LED lamp 53 (step S31). When the signal indicating the voltage drop is received (step S32), the reporting device 5 causes the red LED lamp 53 to blink slowly (step S33).

  A store employee or the like replaces the trash bag in the trash box 2 or inspects the monitoring device 4 or the like according to the content of the report by the report device 5. Thereby, even if an employee or the like does not frequently check the trash box, the trash bag of the trash box 2 can be exchanged at an appropriate timing.

  The preferred embodiments of the trash can monitoring system according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the present application, and these naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

1 .... Trash monitoring system 2 .... Trash 3 .... Trash detection sensor 4 .... Monitoring device 5. ......... Notification device 21 ......... Main body 25 ...... Inside

Claims (3)

A trash can with a body,
A dust detection sensor installed on the inner surface of the main body and transmitting a detection wave in a horizontal direction;
A monitoring device for acquiring detection information by the dust detection sensor and monitoring a storage state of dust in the trash box;
A notification device that is connected to the monitoring device so as to be able to transmit and receive signals, and that reports the accumulation state of the dust based on a signal received from the monitoring device;
A trash can monitoring system comprising: The monitoring device
A first determination step of acquiring the detection information at each first sleep interval and determining whether the dust exceeds a predetermined height;
When it is determined in the first determination step that the dust exceeds a predetermined height, the detection information is acquired at every second sleep interval shorter than the first sleep interval, and the dust is at a predetermined height. A second determination step for determining whether or not
In the second determination step, when it is determined that the dust has exceeded a predetermined height continuously for a predetermined number of times, a transmission step of transmitting a signal indicating the accumulation state of the dust to the notification device;
The trash box monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein: A plurality of the dust detection sensors are installed,
In the transmission step, the monitoring device changes the signal transmitted to the notification device according to the number of the dust detection sensors that detect that the dust exceeds a predetermined height. The trash box monitoring system according to claim 2.

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