Garbage box, garbage collection system, and garbage collection method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12103181-B2
Application number	US-202117520997-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2021
Priority date	Jan 21, 2021
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

A garbage box includes an opening-closing unit and a switch on a predetermined surface, the switch being a switch by which the opening-closing unit is opened. The garbage box is installed such that the predetermined surface faces a base surface with a predetermined interval from the base surface, the base surface being a floor surface or a ground surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A garbage collection system including a garbage box and an autonomous mobile robot,
the garbage box including an opening-closing unit and a switch on a predetermined surface, the switch being a switch by which the opening-closing unit is opened,
the garbage box being installed such that the predetermined surface faces a base surface with a predetermined interval from the base surface, the base surface being a floor surface or a ground surface,
the autonomous mobile robot moving to a position of the garbage box,
the autonomous mobile robot operating the switch, and
the autonomous mobile robot collecting the garbage in the garbage box.

2. The garbage collection system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the autonomous mobile robot includes a placement unit on which garbage in the garbage box is placed, the placement unit being capable of rising and falling; and
the autonomous mobile robot operates the switch using the placement unit.

3. The garbage collection system according to claim 2 , wherein the autonomous mobile robot operates the switch in a vertical direction, by causing the placement unit to rise.

4. The garbage collection system according to claim 2 , wherein the autonomous mobile robot operates the switch in a horizontal direction, by moving in a state where a height of the placement unit is a predetermined height.

5. The garbage collection system according to claim 2 , wherein the autonomous mobile robot causes the placement unit to rise at a predetermined position.

6. The garbage collection system according to claim 2 , wherein the autonomous mobile robot causes the placement unit to rise at a predetermined position, and causes the placement unit to fall in tune with an action in which the opening-closing unit is opened downward.

7. A method for collecting garbage in a garbage box,
the garbage box including an opening-closing unit and a switch on a predetermined surface, the switch being a switch by which the opening-closing unit is opened,
the garbage box being installed such that the predetermined surface faces a base surface with a predetermined interval from the base surface, the base surface being a floor surface or a ground surface,
an autonomous mobile robot moving to a position of the garbage box,
the autonomous mobile robot operating the switch.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein:
the autonomous mobile robot includes a placement unit on which garbage in the garbage box is placed, the placement unit being capable of rising and falling; and
the autonomous mobile robot operates the switch using the placement unit.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the autonomous mobile robot operates the switch in a vertical direction, by causing the placement unit to rise.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the autonomous mobile robot operates the switch in a horizontal direction, by moving in a state where a height of the placement unit is a predetermined height.

11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the autonomous mobile robot causes the placement unit to rise at a predetermined position.

12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the autonomous mobile robot causes the placement unit to rise at a predetermined position, and causes the placement unit to fall in tune with an action in which the opening-closing unit is opened downward.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Iwamoto Kunihiro
• Takagi Yutaro
• Itozawa Yuta
• Komura Hirotaka

Classifications

• B25J9/1664

  characterised by motion, path, trajectory planning · CPC title

• B65F1/1473

  Receptacles having wheels · CPC title

• B65F1/1452

  Lifting, hoisting, elevating mechanisms or the like for refuse receptacles (lifting in general B66) · CPC title

• B65F1/16

  Lids or covers ({B65F1/1421 takes precedence}; pedal or hand-lever operated {for containers in general} B65D) · CPC title

• B25J11/0085

  Cleaning · CPC title