RU2727549C1 - Hardware-software system for receiving polyethylene bottles and aluminum cans - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: household waste collection; data processing.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to equipment for separate collection of solid domestic wastes, systems for automated analysis of solid domestic wastes (SDW), for vending machines. Software and hardware system for receiving polyethylene bottles and aluminum cans comprises at least one housing accommodating a container identification compartment comprising at least one video camera, microcontroller configured to process primary data for identifying containers and issuing commands to actuators to receive containers and pay compensation or failure in said operations, a container storage compartment and a reward distribution device, wherein the housing is equipped with a manual compactor, and the microcontroller is configured to recognize the pressed container moving on the tray, or is configured to communicate with the remote server, at least to transmit to the server information allowing to recognize the container, and to receive commands from the server to receive the package, or to pay compensation, or to refuse in the specified operations. Microcontroller may be configured to communicate with a remote server comprising databases and a program code of the trained neural network responsible for analyzing images and metadata received from the microcontroller. Hardware-software system may contain a user identification means which enables non-cash payment for the received container through a remote server. Container storage compartment is at least one big bag.EFFECT: invention is intended, mainly, for collection of polyethylene bottles and aluminum cans.4 cl, 5 dwg

Description

The invention relates to equipment for the separate collection of solid household waste, systems for automated analysis of solid household waste (MSW), vending machines and is intended primarily for collecting plastic bottles and aluminum cans.

Known automatic trash can based on artificial intelligence (AI) from Cambridge Consultants (https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/24/ai-recycle-bins-could-know-what-you-re-throwing-away/ ). The bin is designed to assist the user in determining the class of small waste (glasses, bottles, etc.). The ballot box is based on machine vision and artificial intelligence. It is also possible that there are scales under the platform, and sensors for infrared spectroscopy to determine the class of waste material. This system cannot scan waste paper, especially packaged paper. The maximum is to identify barcodes and identify the packaging by them.

A well-known fandomat is an apparatus for receiving plastic and metal bottles and cans (see, for example: https://fundomat.ru/fundomat or https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=31&v=UVTBl1ENNiI). When placing the can / bottle in the fandomat, the rollers turn it over until the barcode is detected by the scanner. The type of container is determined by the code, after which it is pressed and put into a container. This solution does not take into account a large number of containers that are not labeled with barcodes or containers on which the barcode is damaged (scratched or, for example, the paper label with the code is torn off).

There are known devices for receiving used containers, the work of which includes at least the following stages: receiving containers, analyzing containers, preliminary processing (crushing or crushing by means of various types of compactors), collecting in a special container (compartment), issuing (charging) remuneration ( see, for example: US4285426A, US5469783A). Such devices are fully automated, but, as a rule, they are energy-consuming and cumbersome.

A known device for receiving recyclable materials (RU183256U1), containing a receiving window, a movable flap with a drive, a recyclable material weight sensor, characterized in that the receiving window is additionally equipped with a barcode scanner, a recyclable weight sensor is made in the form of a strain gauge mounted on a movable flap, a device for receiving recyclable materials, it is additionally equipped with a sorting device made in the form of containers and a movable guide equipped with a drive, and each container is installed on a cantilever element equipped with a strain gauge weight sensor, in addition, the device for receiving recyclable materials is equipped with a printer and a computer, and the computer is connected to the scanner, load cells, drives and a printer. The absence of a container crushing device (compactor) in this case leads to fast filling of containers for receiving containers.

Known machine for receiving used bottle containers (RU2639065C2), containing a body in the form of a rectangular container with a door, a receiving device with an inlet for entering and exiting containers, a recognition device, a container storage device, a reward issuing device, while the receiving device is made in the form of a funnel with a recognition device at the end containing movable elements that provide an analysis of the dimensions of the rim of the bottleneck neck and interact with series-connected contacts located in the electric power circuit of the electromagnet, the armature of which is connected to the neck gripper element, and the receiving device is placed on a movable carriage moving along the guide rails by means of a screw pair driven by an electric motor, and the change in the direction of rotation of the electric motor is carried out by means of limit switches. This technical solution is intended practically for accepting bottles, in particular, polyethylene (PET) bottles.

As a prototype, an automatic container receiving machine (RU188755U1) was selected, containing a housing, a container recognition compartment with a device placed in it that collects information about a recognizable object, and a container recognition device by a microcontroller, a container storage compartment and a reward issuing device, characterized in that of a device that collects information about a recognizable object, it contains at least one video camera, and the microcontroller contains in its memory a neural network algorithm that makes it possible to recognize containers. The packaging is recognized by the characteristic appearance of the packaging. At the same time, there is no compactor, which also leads to fast filling of the container for receiving containers.

The objective of the invention is to organize the reception of plastic bottles and aluminum cans from the population, with optimization in several parameters, including capacity, energy consumption, dimensions.

This problem is solved by a hardware and software complex for receiving plastic bottles and aluminum cans, containing at least one housing, which contains: a container recognition compartment containing at least one video camera, a microcontroller capable of processing primary data for container recognition and issuing commands executive mechanisms for receiving containers and paying remuneration or refusal in these operations, a container storage compartment and a means for issuing a reward, in which, according to the proposal, a manual compactor is installed on the body, and the microcontroller is configured to recognize compressed containers moving along the tray, or is made with the ability to communicate with a remote server, at least for transmitting information to the server that allows the container to be recognized, and receiving commands from the server to receive containers or pay a fee or refuse to perform these operations.

The communication of the microcontroller with a remote server, as well as the presence of several cases (that is, several devices for receiving containers located remotely from each other) makes it expedient to place databases and program code of the trained neural network responsible for analyzing images and metadata received from the microcontroller directly on a remote server.

The presence of a remote server makes it possible to implement non-cash payment for the delivered container, for which it is necessary to install a user identification tool in each building, which allows non-cash payment for the received container through a remote server. Such a tool can be, for example, a smartphone linked to the user's bank account.

From the point of view of optimization (acceleration) of operations for unloading the collected containers, it is advisable to use big bags as storage compartments - elastic packaging made of polypropylene fabric, has slings and loops, and sometimes - a release valve for convenience and economy during unloading (see, for example: https://meshok-nn.ru/chto-takoe-big-begi or https://oplenke.ru/chto-takoe-big-beg-vidy-i-razmery/).

The invention is illustrated by drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an approximate appearance of the hardware and software complex (building with one receiving window).

FIG. 2 shows an explosion diagram of a hardware and software complex with one big bag.

FIG. 3 shows an explosion diagram of a hardware-software complex with two big bags.

FIG. 4 shows the container recognition compartment

FIG. 5 shows a simplified block diagram of the operation of the hardware-software complex.

The hardware and software complex for receiving plastic bottles and aluminum cans contains a body 1, consisting of front panels 3 fixed on the frame 2 (can be made in the form of a lockable door to access the elements of the hardware and software complex), side panels 4, rear panel 5 and covers 6. The housing contains: compartment 7 for container recognition (slide with retarder), video camera 8 (it is also possible to install other sensors, for example, ultrasonic range finder 9), microcontroller 10 (control module), which can be installed in the same housing with a cash dispenser money on the front panel 3, printing checks, etc. The body also contains one big bag 11 (Fig. 3) or two big bags 11 (Fig. 4). In the second case, the front panel consists of two, functionally independent, parts 12 and 13. In this case, in the variant with one big bag 11 on the front panel 3, one receiving window 14 is made (Fig. 3), combined with compartment 7 (it may be expedient , with low filling), and in the version with two big bags 11 - two receiving windows 15 and 16 for separate reception of plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Each big bag 11 is fixed on a slide 17 with a handle, which, in turn, are mounted on the rails 18. The front panel also has a display 19 that can display the progress of operations performed by the hardware and software complex, and also serve as an identification tool. On the outside of the front panel 2 (Fig. 3) or on the outside of one of the parts 12 or 13 (Fig. 4), there is a manual compactor 20. The compactor can be a device disclosed, for example, in patent FR2804631A1 (it should be noted that the presence The compactor allows to reduce the size of the receiving window 14 or receiving windows 15 and 16, in order, for example, to increase the anti-vandal characteristics of the housing 1). The microcontroller 10 of the hardware-software complex is in contact with a remote server 21 and a specific user device 22 belonging to a specific person who rejects the container. The presence of a manual compactor 20 allows you to avoid energy-intensive processes inside the case, which means that it becomes possible to use autonomous power sources, for example, solar panels 23 (optional).

The operating procedure of the hardware and software complex for receiving plastic bottles and aluminum cans is as follows:

- The user places the container in the compactor 20 and, by acting on the handle of the compactor, crushes a plastic bottle or can (the container volume decreases up to 80%).

- The user through the receiving window 14 or one of the receiving windows 15 or 16 places the crumpled container in compartment 7.

- Compartment 7 collects data on crumpled containers (from video camera 8, range finder 9, etc.) and transfers data to microcontroller 10.

- Directly in the microcontroller 10 or on the server 21, data is processed and a decision is made to accept containers or refuse to accept (the neural network determines the plastic bottle by the presence of a neck, lid or bottom, then the size of the compressed container is compared with the standard dimensions of the slide, as a result of which it is calculated to what type of PET container is the object in the photo or not? A pressed aluminum can is determined in the same way. The bottom and lid of the can are taken as the basis).

- If a refusal comes from the server 21, the corresponding information is displayed on the display 19. In this case, a scheme can be implemented in which the user will be asked to remove the unaccepted container himself, or a mechanism can be implemented to eject the unaccepted container or place it in a special compartment with subsequent disposal according to the general principle (reward is not charged).

- When the user places all the available containers in compartment 7, he can receive a monetary reward either in cash, or, on a command from the server 21, to the account linked to the user device 22, having previously scanned the QR code on the display 19 with this device (a special Appendix).

- The filling of the big bags 11 can be carried out through the ultrasonic range finder 9. If necessary, the filled big bags 11 are removed and new ones are installed in their place.

- Removing the container is carried out as follows: the operator opens the front panel 3 or separately parts 12 and 13, using a slide 17 with a handle, pushes the big bag 11 forward, removes it from the suspensions and loads it into the car. Then he places an empty big bag 11 on special hooks, pushes it inside the housing 1, refills the coin dispenser if necessary, and closes the panel 3 or separately parts 12 and 13.

On the basis of the hardware and software complex, a wide network for the collection of plastic bottles and aluminum cans can be implemented. Such a network can include a large number of dispersed devices (buildings 1), connected through a single server 21.

Claims (4)

1. A hardware and software complex for receiving plastic bottles and aluminum cans, containing at least one housing, which houses a container recognition compartment, containing at least one video camera, a microcontroller capable of processing primary data for container recognition and issuing commands to actuators to receive containers and pay remuneration or refusal in these operations, a container storage compartment and a means for issuing a reward, characterized in that a manual compactor is installed on the case, and the microcontroller is configured to recognize compressed containers moving along the tray, or is configured to communicate with a remote the server, at least, for transmitting information to the server that allows the container to be recognized, and receiving commands from the server to accept the container, or to pay a fee, or to refuse the specified operations. 2. Hardware and software complex according to claim 1, characterized in that the microcontroller is configured to communicate with a remote server containing databases and program code of a trained neural network responsible for analyzing images and metadata received from the microcontroller. 3. Hardware and software complex according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it contains a user identification tool that allows cashless payment for the received container through a remote server. 4. Hardware and software complex according to any one of paragraphs. 1 or 2, characterized in that the container storage compartment is made in the form of at least one big bag.

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