Automated trash management system

Abstract

An automated trash management system for remotely measuring the fullness of a plurality of trash containers is disclosed. Each container is provided with a remote sensing unit for generating a signal proportional to a characteristic of the container by which the extent of fullness of the container may be determined. A transmission linkage, typically a telephone line, is provided from each remote sensing unit to a central unit, where a data base of the signals transmitted from a particular trash container may be stored and analyzed. A hauler is called from the central unit location by a user after a determination from the data base that a particular trash container is in a condition of fullness warranting emptying. Several embodiments of the invention are disclosed in that for compactor equipped containers, the instantaneous pressure applied to the compression member of the compactor is monitored and processed either with limit switch data or without to determine a sequence of data signals indicative of the fullness of the container. In another pressure monitoring embodiment, the work of the compression member during a compaction stroke, is determined and analyzed as to the extent of fullness of the container. In another embodiment, current applied to the motor which drives the hydraulic pump of the compression member is monitored as a substitute for measuring pressure directly. In an embodiment of the invention applicable for non-compaction containers and compaction containers alike, a weight signal proportional to the weight of the container is compared to a predetermined weight signal for each container to determine its degree of fullness.