US 12,378,068 B2
Refuse collection with auger and contamination detection panel
David C. Gentry, Chattanooga, TN (US); Eric Evans, Fort Payne, AL (US); Bryan Stewart, Chattanooga, TN (US); Anthony B. Giles, Chattanooga, TN (US); and Michael Shane Peek, Pisgah, AL (US)
Assigned to The Heil Co., Chattanooga, TN (US)
Filed by The Heil Co., Chattanooga, TN (US)
Filed on Jul. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/811,246.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/219,659, filed on Jul. 8, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0011695 A1, Jan. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. B65F 3/22 (2006.01); B65F 3/14 (2006.01)
CPC B65F 3/22 (2013.01) [B65F 2003/146 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
26. A refuse collection vehicle, comprising:
a body comprising a storage compartment;
a packer system coupled to the body, wherein the packer system is operable to pack refuse into the storage compartment;
one or more refuse support panels coupled to the body, wherein the refuse support panels are configurable to support refuse while characteristics of the refuse are sensed;
one or more sensing devices configured to capture sensor data associated with one or more characteristics of refuse while the refuse is on at least one of the one or more refuse support panels;
a refuse support panel actuator system comprising one or more actuators configured to move at least one of the one or more refuse support panels such that refuse is dropped into the packer system; and
a control system configured to control the packer system based at least in part on the sensor data.
 
28. A method of collecting refuse, comprising:
placing refuse on a panel on or in a refuse collection vehicle;
capturing, using one or more sensors, sensor data associated with one or more characteristics of the refuse on the panel;
moving the panel to drop at least a portion of the refuse from the panel; and
controlling, using a control system, a packer system based at least in part on the sensor data, wherein the controlling comprises:
causing the packer system to pack at least a portion of the refuse that has been released from the panel into a storage compartment.