초록 ▼

A solid medical waste collection system for collecting solid medical waste. The system includes a mobile cart with a bag for storing the waste. A pre-detection apparatus detects metal-containing objects prior to placing them inside the bag to reduce costs to the facility in which the cart is employe

A solid medical waste collection system for collecting solid medical waste. The system includes a mobile cart with a bag for storing the waste. A pre-detection apparatus detects metal-containing objects prior to placing them inside the bag to reduce costs to the facility in which the cart is employed. The system may also include a bag-tensioning mechanism for securing the bag to the cart.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A portable cart for collecting medical waste in a bag, the bag having an open end and a base opposite the open end, said cart including: a mobile base;a frame attached to said mobile base that is located above said mobile base, said frame configured to hold the bag to said frame so that the open

1. A portable cart for collecting medical waste in a bag, the bag having an open end and a base opposite the open end, said cart including: a mobile base;a frame attached to said mobile base that is located above said mobile base, said frame configured to hold the bag to said frame so that the open end of the bag is adjacent to and accessible from said frame;a loading station attached to said mobile base or said frame so as to be located adjacent the open end of the bag for receiving an object for disposal;a sensor for detecting if the object for disposal contains metal, said sensor being located adjacent the loading station for determining if the objects on said loading station contain metal; anda transfer mechanism located adjacent said loading station and the bag, said transfer mechanism having at least one moveable component that, when actuated, transfers objects on said loading station into the bag. 2. The portable cart of claim 1, wherein said loading station is a platform located adjacent the frame. 3. The portable cart of claim 2, wherein said platform is secured to said frame by at least one hinge so that said platform is able to move between a load position in which objects placed on said platform are detectable by said sensor and a dump position in which gravity causes objects on said platform to move into the bag, so that said platform and said hinge collectively function as said transfer mechanism. 4. The portable cart of claim 1, wherein said loading station and said transfer mechanism collectively include a conveyor mounted to said frame adjacent the open end of said bag that, when actuated, transports objects on said conveyor into the bag. 5. The portable cart of claim 1, wherein said loading station and said transfer mechanism collectively include at least one door moveably attached to said frame over the bag, said door having a first position in which said door holds objects placed thereon so that the objects can be detected by said sensor and a second position in which said door moves to allow objects placed thereon to fall into the bag. 6. The portable cart of claim 1, wherein said loading station and said transfer mechanism collectively include an assembly attached to said mobile base or said frame that selectively holds a section of the bag above the bag base closed and that opens the closed section of the bag, so that the closed section of the bag, when closed, functions as said loading station. 7. The portable cart of claim 6, wherein said assembly that holds the section of the bag closed includes: an elastic member that extends around at least a portion of the bag between the bag opening and the bag base, said elastic member configured to normally hold a section of the bag above the elastic member closed; anda release assembly that is attached to said elastic member for expanding said elastic member so that the expansion of the elastic member results in the opening of the section of the bag above the elastic member. 8. A portable cart for containing medical waste, the cart including: a mobile base;a frame attached to said mobile base that is located above said mobile base, said frame having an outer surface and an opening; anda bag removably mounted to said frame so as to be open within the frame opening wherein said bag has a peripheral section that defines an opening into said bag and that extends over the outer surface of said frame; anda bag tensioner mounted to said frame, said bag tensioner including: a first pin that is mounted to said frame that extends from the outer surface of said frame at a fixed location, said first pin mounted to said frame so that a first sub-section of the bag peripheral section can be disposed against said first pin; anda catch moveably mounted to the outer surface of said frame adjacent said first pin, said catch being shaped to receive a second sub-section of the bag peripheral section, wherein said catch is moveable relative to said first pin to move between a bag tension position in which said first pin and said catch cooperate to place the bag peripheral section in tension around the outer surface of said frame and a bag load position in which said first pin and said catch do not place the bag peripheral section in tension. 9. The portable cart of claim 8, wherein said bag tensioner further includes a lock assembly that extends between said frame and said catch and that, when said catch is in the bag tension position and the bag peripheral section is in tension, releasably holds said catch in the bag tension position. 10. The portable cart of claim 9, wherein said lock assembly of said bag tensioner includes a biasing component that, in the absence of said catch being held in the bag tension position, urges said catch towards the bag load position. 11. The portable cart of claim 9, wherein said bag tensioner lock assembly includes a ratchet assembly to which said catch is mounted. 12. The portable cart of claim 9, wherein said bag tensioner lock assembly includes a spring that extends between said frame and said catch to releasably hold said catch in the bag load position. 13. The portable cart of claim 8, wherein said catch is a second pin around which the second sub-section of the bag peripheral section is fitted. 14. The portable cart of claim 8, wherein said catch is a second pin around which the second sub-section of the bag peripheral section is fitted and said second pin is mounted to said frame to rotate around said first pin. 15. The portable cart of claim 8, wherein said catch is a second pin around which the second sub-section of the bag peripheral section is fitted and said second pin is mounted to said frame to engage in translational motion relative to said first pin. 16. The portable cart of claim 8, wherein said catch is moveably mounted to the outer surface of said frame to engage in translational movement relative to said first pin. 17. The portable cart of claim 8, wherein said catch is a gripping assembly that is moveably attached to the outer surface of said frame, said gripping assembly including adjacent members that pinch against the second sub-section of the bag peripheral section to hold the second sub-section of the bag peripheral section. 18. The portable cart of claim 8, wherein said catch is a gripping assembly that is moveably attached to the outer surface of said frame, said gripping assembly including adjacent gripping members that pinch against the second sub-section of the bag peripheral section to hold the second sub-section of the bag peripheral section between said gripping members and said gripping assembly is mounted to said frame to engage in translational movement relative to said first pin. 19. The portable cart of claim 8, wherein: said bag tensioner includes a second pin that is statically mounted to the outer surface of said frame around which a third sub-section of the peripheral section of said bag is disposed; andsaid catch is mounted to said frame so that the second sub-section of the peripheral section of said bag held by said catch is located between the first sub-section of the peripheral section of said bag disposed against said first pin and the third sub-section of the peripheral section of said bag disposed against said second pin. 20. The portable cart of claim 8, wherein: said first pin is mounted to said frame to rotate around the location at which said first pin is mounted to said frame; andsaid catch is connected to said first pin to rotate around said first pin as a result of the rotation of said first pin. 21. The portable cart of claim 8, wherein said frame includes at least one stepped surface that extends outwardly from the outer surface of said frame. 22. The portable cart of claim 8, wherein: said frame includes at least one stepped surface that extends outwardly from the outer surface of said frame; andsaid bag tensioner is configured to place the peripheral section of said bag in tension around at least a portion of the outer surface of said frame located below the at least one stepped surface of said frame. 23. The portable cart of claim 8, further including a metal detector and an alarm mounted to said frame, said metal detector configured to: determine whether or not a metal object is inserted into said bag through said frame; andif a metal object is inserted into said bag, actuate said alarm.