APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USED CONTAINER COLLECTION
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein used container collection. A system for used container intake, comprises a receptacle configured to receive used containers from customers, a sensor system configured to detect dimensions and conditions from containers placed in the receptacle, a used container database, a conveyor system, and a control circuit coupled to the sensor system and the used container database. The control circuit being configured to assign a container identifier to a container detected by the sensor system, measure a container dimension of the container with the sensor system, determine a container condition based on whether the container is suitable for reuse, associate the container dimension with the container identifier in the used container database, and cause the conveyor system to route the container based on the container condition.
1 . A system for used container intake, comprising:
a receptacle configured to receive used containers from customers;
a sensor system configured to detect dimensions and conditions from containers placed in the receptacle;
a used container database;
a conveyor system; and
a control circuit coupled to the sensor system and the used container database, the control circuit being configured to:
assign a container identifier to a container detected by the sensor system;
measure a container dimension of the container with the sensor system;
determine a container condition based on whether the container is suitable for reuse;
associate the container dimension with the container identifier in the used container database; and
cause the conveyor system to route the container based on the container condition.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system comprises one or more of: a camera, an optical sensor, a laser distance sensor, and a range sensor.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
locate a logo and/or a shipping label on the container; and
cause a labeling system to apply a covering over the logo and/or the shipping label on the container.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the logo is located based on comparing an image of the container with a logo database storing images of a plurality of logos.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the container condition based detecting for straight lines in a shape of the container.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the container condition based detecting for discolorations in an image of the container.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the container condition comprises one or more of: landfill, recyclable, and reusable.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause a labeling system to apply one or more of the container identifier, a container dimension indicator, and a container condition indicator to the container.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the container is transported in an un-collapsed state on the conveyor system.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the container comprises one or more of a box, a cardboard box, a plastic box, a bin, a basket, and a tote.
11 . A method for used container intake, comprising:
assigning, with a control circuit, a container identifier to a container detected by a sensor system configured to detect dimensions and conditions from containers placed in a receptacle, the receptacle being configured to receive used containers from customers;
measuring a container dimension of the container with the sensor system;
determining, with the control circuit, a container condition based on whether the container is suitable for reuse;
associating, with the control circuit, the container dimension with the container identifier in a used container database; and
causing a conveyor system to route the container based on the container condition.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor system comprises one or more of: a camera, an optical sensor, a laser distance sensor, and a range sensor.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
locating a logo and/or a shipping label on the container; and
causing a labeling system to apply a covering over the logo and/or the shipping label on the container.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the logo is located based on comparing an image of the container with a logo database storing images of a plurality of logos.
15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining the container condition based detecting for straight lines in a shape of the container.
16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining the container condition based detecting for discolorations in an image of the container.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the container condition comprises one or more of: landfill, recyclable, and reusable.
18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
causing a labeling system to apply one or more of the container identifier, a container dimension indicator, and a container condition indicator to the container.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the container is transported in an un-collapsed state on the conveyor system.
20 . An apparatus for used container intake comprising:
a non-transitory storage medium storing a set of computer readable instructions; and
a control circuit configured to execute the set of computer readable instructions which causes to the control circuit to:
assign a container identifier to a container detected by a sensor system configured to detect dimensions and conditions from containers placed in a receptacle, the receptacle being configured to receive used containers from customers;
measuring a container dimension of the container with the sensor system;
determining a container condition based on whether the container is suitable for reuse;
associate the container dimension with the container identifier in a used container database; and
cause a conveyor system to route the container based on the container condition.