Patent Publication Number: US-7714527-B2

Title: Garbage container automatically openable through infrared induction

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to a garbage container, and more particularly to a garbage container with an automatic cover. 
   2. Description of Related Arts 
   The existing garbage containers, having an automatic cover, do not have stroke switch, so the opening and closing time of the cover is controlled by a timing device. If the time interval is set longer than the time of actuation for the cover, the driving motor is still electrified after the opening or closing action is completed. In other words, the driving motor is blocked and unable to move after the opening or closing action is completed. If the time interval is set too short, the opening or closing action of the cover cannot be fully completed. 
   In addition, such automatically openable garbage containers generally use battery as the power source. However, the rotating speed is gradually slowing down as the battery voltage keeps dropping. Therefore, the time of the opening and closing process is changing with respect to the voltage of the battery. 
   Even through the automatically openable garbage container do have stroke switch, the design of the stoke switch is not proper. Some stroke switches are installed beside the cover, and connected with the space of the garbage container. After used for some time, the stoke switch will be corroded by the gas in the garbage container, which may affect the performance of the stroke switch, such as the contact disabling. Some stroke switches are too complicated to be installed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   A main object of the present invention is to provide an automatically openable garbage container through infrared induction, using the cooperation between the stroke switch and the cam, and coordinating the opening and closing action of the garbage container to switch on or off the driving motor, and to avoid the block of the driving motor. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatically openable garbage container through infrared induction, installing the automatic cover-opening device in a casing to avoid switch disabling that may affect the performance of the present invention. 
   Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides an automatically openable garbage container through infrared induction, comprising: 
   a garbage container, having at least one opening for littering at one side, and a cover mounted on the opening for littering in moveable manner from an opening position to a closing position; 
   an infrared induction device, mounted in the garbage container above the opening for littering, comprises an infrared transmitting tube and a infrared receiving tube, wherein the infrared transmitting tube transmits infrared pulse signals in front of the opening for littering forming a induction area, and the infrared receiving tube receives the infrared pulse signals reflected by a barrier in the induction area and converts the infrared pulse signals to corresponding electric signals; 
   an automatic cover-opening device mechanically connected with the cover via a cable; and 
   a control unit communicatively connected with the infrared induction device and the automatic cover-opening device, 
   wherein the automatic cover-opening device comprises: 
   a driving motor connected with the control unit; 
   a first set of reduction gears connected to the output shaft of the driving motor to be driven; 
   a cable-collecting wheel connected with the first set of reduction gears wherein one end of the cable is connected to the cable-collecting wheel, and the other end is connected to the cover; 
   a second set of reduction gears connecting to the output shaft of the cable-collecting wheel to drive the cable-collecting wheel; and 
   a cam connecting to the output shaft of the second set of reduction gears to be driven, that can rotate to touch a cover-opening stroke switch and a cover-closing stroke switch respectively, wherein the cover-opening stroke switch and cover-closing stroke switch is electrically connected with the control unit via a wire. 
   Accordingly, the automatic cover-opening device is mounted in a casing mounted on the upper inner side of the garbage container. 
   Accordingly, when the cover is in opening position, the cam rotates happening to touch the cover-opening stroke switch, meanwhile the cover-opening stroke switch sends a signal to the control unit to control the driving motor to stop rotating, and the friction of the first set of reduction gears, the second set of reduction gears and the driving motor is larger than the weight of the cover. 
   Accordingly, when the cover is in opening position, the infrared transmitting tube keeps sending infrared pulses signals to the induction area, and the cover does not close until the infrared receiving tube can not receive the infrared pulses signals reflected by the barrier. 
   Accordingly, when the cover is in closing position, the cam rotates happening to touch the cover-closing stroke switch, meanwhile the cover-closing stroke switch sends a signal to the control unit to control the driving motor to stop rotating. 
   Accordingly, the garbage container further comprises an electric motor positive and negative turn driving circuit to connect the control unit with the driving motor. 
   Accordingly, the garbage container further comprises an infrared driving circuit, an amplifying circuit, and a comparative circuit, wherein the control unit is connected with the infrared transmitting tube through the infrared driving circuit, and the infrared receiving tube is connected with the control unit through the amplifying circuit and the comparative circuit. 
   Accordingly, the output of the first set of reduction gears in mechanically connected with the input of the second set of reduction gears. 
   Accordingly, the cover is pivotally mounted on a shaft base via a shaft. 
   Accordingly, the cam comprises two pin rods or swing rods having a predetermined separated angle respectively, wherein the two pin rods or swing rods touch the cover-opening stroke switch and cover-closing stroke switch respectively. 
   These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an automatically openable garbage container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side sectional enlarged view of the automatically openable garbage container according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of an automatic cover-opening device of the automatically openable garbage container according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of working principle of the automatically openable garbage container according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a chart flow of the microcontroller chip program of the automatically openable garbage container according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a preferred circuit diagram of the automatically openable garbage container according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are schematic views of cam structure with pin rods according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  are schematic views of cam structure with swing rods according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, an automatically openable garbage container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the garbage container comprises a container body  10  with a cover  13 , an automatic cover-opening device  20 , an infrared induction device  50 , and a control unit communicated with the infrared induction device  50  and the automatic cover-opening device  20 , such a microcontroller chip. 
   The container body  10  has an opening for littering  11  on the side, and a door  15  under the opening for littering  11 . The cover  13  is mounted on a shaft base  16  of the container body  10  through a shaft  16 , and the cover is moveable between an opening and a closing position. The automatic cover-opening device  20  is connected with the cover  13  through a cable  241 . The infrared induction device  50  comprising an infrared transmitting tube and an infrared receiving tube is mounted on the container body  10  above the opening for littering. The infrared transmitting tube transmits infrared pulse signals forming an induction area  56  in front of the opening for littering, and the infrared receiving tube receives the infrared pulse signals reflected by a barrier  60 , converts the infrared pulse signals to the corresponding electrical signal, and outputs the electrical signal to the control unit. 
   When the infrared induction device  50  inducts a barrier  60 , the control unit controls automatic cover-opening device  20  to draw back the cable  241 , driving the cover  13  from a closing position to an opening position. And contrarily, when the infrared induction device  50  inducts a barrier  60  being away, the control unit controls automatic cover-opening device  20  to release the cable  241 , letting the cover  13  from an opening position to a closing position. 
   Please referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  of the drawings, the structure of the automatic cover-opening device  20  of the automatically openable garbage container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The automatic cover-opening device  20  packed in a casing  21  is mounted on the up and inner side of the container body  10 . The automatic cover-opening device  20  in the casing comprises a driving motor  22 , a first set of reduction gears  23 , a cable-collecting wheel  24 , a second set of reduction gears  25 , a cover-opening stroke switch  261 , a cover-closing stroke switch  262 , and a main circuit board  27 . The first set of reduction gears  23  comprises two single gears  231  and  234  and two tandem gears  232  and  233 , and the second set of reduction gears  25  comprises two single gears  251  and  253  and one tandem gear  252 , wherein the single gear  234  and  251  use a same shaft. 
   The single gear  231  is disposed on the output shaft  221  of the driving motor  22 , driving the gears  232 ,  233  and  234  in turn though the connection between them. The cable-collecting wheel  24  uses a same shaft with gears  234  and  251 . One end of the cable  241  is connected with the cable-collecting wheel  24 , and the other end of the cable  241  is connected with the cover  13  through the casing  21 . The cable-collecting wheel  24  is mechanically connected with a cam  28  through a connection with gears  251 ,  252  and  253  in turn. The cam  28  can touch stroke switches  261  and  262  when it rotates. The main circuit board  27  comprises a comparative circuit  271  and an infrared driving circuit  272 , a control unit  273 , and an electric motor positive and negative turn driving circuit  274 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The cover-opening stroke switch and cover-closing stroke switch are connected with the control unit  273 , such as microcontroller chip, through data lines  281  and  282 . The main circuit board  27  is connected with the induction device  50  though a data line  29 . 
   The control unit  273  controls the infrared transmitting tube sending infrared pulse signals to the induction area  56  in a predetermined time interval. When a barrier is close to the induction area  56 , the infrared receiving tube receives the infrared pulse signals reflected by the barrier, and sends a control signal to the control unit  273 , and then the control unit controls the opening or closing of the cover  13 . 
   To open the cover  13 , the driving motor  22  rotates clockwise driving the cable-collecting wheel  24  to rotate anti-clockwise via the first set of reduction gears, and drawing back the cable  241  to drive the cover  13  from a closing position to an opening position. Meanwhile, the output shaft of the cable-collecting wheel  24  drives the cam  28  to rotate via the second set of reduction gears  25 . As the cable-collecting wheel  24  rotates anti-clockwise for a few circles, the cover  13  is opened to a maximum extent, the opening position. The cam  28  also rotates anti-clockwise to a certain degree happening to touch the cover-opening stroke switch  261 . The cover-opening stroke switch  261  controls the driving motor  22  to stop rotating clockwise via circuit. 
   To close the cover  13 , the driving motor  22  rotates anti-clockwise driving the cable-collecting wheel  24  to rotate clockwise, and releasing the cable  241  to close the cover  13  from a closing position to an opening position by its own weight. As the cable-collecting wheel  24  rotates clockwise for a few circles, the cover  13  is entirely closed, the closing position. Meanwhile, the cam  28  also rotates clockwise to a certain degree happening to touch the cover-closing stroke switch  262 . The cover-closing stroke switch  262  controls the driving motor  22  to stop rotating anti-clockwise via circuit. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates the schematic diagram of electromechanical working principle of the automatically openable garbage container of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , three outputs of the control unit  273  are connected with the infrared driving circuit  272  and the electric motor positive and negative turn driving circuit  274  respectively, and the inputs of control unit  273  are connected with the comparison circuit  271 , cover-opening stroke switch  261 , and cover-closing stroke switch  262  respectively. The infrared receiving tube  52  is connected with the input of an amplifying circuit  53 , the output of the amplifying circuit  53  is connected with the input of a comparison circuit  271 , and the infrared transmitting tube  51  is connected with the infrared driving circuit  272 . In this preferred embodiment, the infrared transmitting tube  51 , the infrared receiving tube  52 , and the amplifying circuit  53  are disposed in the casing of the infrared induction device  50 . The comparison circuit  271 , the infrared driving circuit  272 , the control unit  273 , and the electric motor positive and negative turn driving circuit  274  are mounted on the main circuit board  27 . 
   The operation of the present invention is described explicitly hereinafter with  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 . 
   The control unit  273  controls the infrared transmitting tube  51  via the infrared driving circuit  272  sending infrared pulse signals to the induction area  56  in a predetermined time interval. When a barrier is close to the induction area  56 , the infrared receiving tube  52  receives the infrared pulse signals reflected by the barrier  60 . The signals are sent to an input of the control unit  273  through the amplifying circuit  53  and the comparison circuit  271 . After the control unit  273  receives the signals, the output of the control unit  273  controls the electric motor positive and negative turn driving circuit  274  to make the driving motor  22  rotate clockwise. And the driving motor  22  drives the cable-collecting wheel  24  to rotate anti-clockwise via the first set of reduction gears to enlace the cable  241  to the cable-collecting wheel  24 , so the other end of the cable  241  opens the cover  13 . As the cover is opened to the maximum extent, the cam  28  rotates anti-clockwise to a certain degree happening to touch the cover-opening stroke switch  261 , and then the cover-opening stroke switch  261  sends a signal to the input of the control unit  273  to stop the clockwise rotation of the driving motor  22  via electric motor positive and negative turn driving circuit  274 . Because the weight of the cover  13  is less than the friction between the first and second set of reduction gears  23 ,  24  and the driving motor  22 , the cover remains opening. Meanwhile, the infrared induction device  50  keeps transmitting infrared pulse signals to the induction area  56 . If the barrier is still in the induction area  56 , and the infrared receiving tube  52  receives the infrared pulse signals reflected by the barrier, the cover  13  remains opening. 
   Once the barrier leaves the induction area  56 , and the infrared receiving tube  52  can not receive the infrared pulse signals reflected by the barrier, the cover  13  will remain opening for at most 3 s. And then the control unit  273  controls the electric motor positive and negative turn driving circuit  274  to make the driving motor  22  rotate anti-clockwise. The driving motor  22  drives the cable-collecting wheel  24  to rotate clockwise via the first set of reduction gears to release the cable  241 , and the cover  13  closes the opening for littering  11  by its own weight. Meanwhile, the cam  28  rotates clockwise to a certain degree happening to touch the cover-closing stroke switch  262 , and then the cover-closing stroke switch  262  sends a signal to the input of the control unit  273  to stop the anti-clockwise rotation of the driving motor  22  via the electric motor positive and negative turn driving circuit  274 . When the cover is fully closed, the driving motor stops rotating. Thus an opening and closing process is completed. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6  of the drawings, a preferred circuit diagram according to the present invention is illustrated. The cover-opening strokes  261  and the cover-closing stroke switch  262  are connected with a resistance R 15  and a resistance R 14  in series respectively, and connected to the two ends of the power source respectively. Meanwhile, the junction of the over-opening strokes  261  and the resistance R 15  and the junction of the cover-closing stroke switch  262  and the resistance R 14  are connected with a port RB 1  and a port RB 2  of the microcontroller chip IC 3  as the  273  shown in  FIG. 4 . When the cam  28  touches the cover-opening strokes  261 , RB 1 =0 (low voltage) and RB 2 =1 (high voltage); when the cam  28  touches the cover-closing stroke switch  262 , RB 1 =1 (high voltage) and RB 2 =0 (low voltage). The microcontroller chip judges the stopping moments of clockwise or anti-clockwise via the high or low voltage of the ports RB 1  and RB 2 . 
   Referring the flow chart as show in  FIG. 5  with  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6 , when a barrier  60  entering into the induction area  56  is confirmed, the program sets RA 0 =1 and RA 1 =0, and the transistors Q 2  and Q 5  conduct. At this moment, the driving motor  22  is applied with positive voltage to rotate clockwise. As the driving motor drives the cable-collecting wheel  24  and the cam  28  to rotate via sets of reduction gears  23  and  25 , the program keeps judging the voltage of the port RB 1 . When the cam  28  rotates anti-clockwise happening to touch the cover-opening stroke switch  261 , the cover-opening stroke switch  261  is switched on. And then the high voltage of the port RB 1  turns to low voltage, and the program sets RA 0 =0 and RA 1 =0 to cut off Q 2  and Q 5 . The driving motor  22  stops rotating due to no current flow. Then the program controls the port RB 3  to send a set of infrared coded pulse to the induction area  56 , in order to judge whether the barrier leaves the induction area. If the barrier  60  is still in the induction area, the program makes judgment in 3 s. 
   Once the barrier leaves the induction area, the program sets RA 0 =0 and RA 1 =1. Q 3  and Q 4  conduct. At this moment, the driving motor  22  is applied with negative voltage to rotate anti-clockwise. As the driving motor drives the cable-collecting wheel  24  and the cam  28  to rotate via sets of reduction gears  23  and  25 , the program keeps judging the voltage of the port RB 2 . When the cam  28  rotates clockwise happening to touch the cover-closing stroke switch  262 , the cover-closing stroke switch  262  is switched on. The high voltage of the port RB 2  turns to low voltage, and then the program sets RA 0 =0 and RA 1 =0 to cut off Q 4  and Q 3 . The driving motor  22  stops rotating due to no current flow. Thus a cover opening and closing process is completed, and then the program returns to be ready for the next process. 
   The cam described in the present invention mainly has a function of touching the cover-opening and cover-closing stroke switch, not only the concept in the conventional mechanism. The cam in the conventional mechanism is only a special case of the present invention. When the projection portion of the cam is widened, the return angle of the cam needed to touch the cover-opening stroke switch or the cover-closing stroke switch becomes smaller; when the projection portion of the cam is narrowed, the return angle of the cam becomes bigger, so changing the width of the projection portion can adjust the return angle of the cam, so as to adjust the rotation circles of the cable-collecting wheel under the circumstance of the gear ratio unchanged, to change the stroke of the cable  241  to adjust the opening angle of the cover  13  or to be suitable for the garbage container of different size. 
     FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  8 A,  8 A illustrate two alternative modes of the cam structure of the present invention.  FIG. 7B  is the top exterior view of  FIG. 7A , and  FIG. 8B  is the top exterior view of  FIG. 8A . As shown in  FIGS. 7A , and  7 B, the cam structure of the present invention can be replace by two pin rods  283  and  284 . The pin rod  283  is in charge of touching the cover-opening stroke switch  261 , and the pin rod  284  is in charge of touching the cover-closing stroke switch  262 . Two pin rods are fixed on the gear  253 , so adjusting the separation angle between the pin rods  283  and  284  can change the stroke of the cable  241 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the cam structure of the present invention can be replace by two swing rods  285  and  286 . The swing rod  285  is in charge of touching the cover-opening stroke switch  261 , and the swing rod  286  is in charge of touching the cover-closing stroke switch  262 . Two swing rods are fixed on the gear  253 , so adjusting the separation angle between the swing rods  285  and  286  can change the stroke of the cable  241 . 
   The present invention coordinates the opening and closing of the cover through cooperation of the stroke switch and the cam, which effectively avoids the block of the driving motor. The present invention also mounts the automatic cover-opening device such as stroke switch in a casing, such that the performance of the stroke switch can be assured, because the garbage container will not be corroded by the gas in the garbage container to cause the contact disabling. The garbage container has a simple structure, a reliable performance, and is easy to install and cost effective. Further more, the present invention has an automatic cover-opening function through infrared induction controlled by a microcontroller integrating optics and electromechanics. 
   One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. 
   It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.