1. Process for monitoring the functioning andor adjustment of an optoelectronic sensor arrangement exhibiting at least two optical transmitters, to each of which an optical receiver is assigned, such that each optical receiver is designed as a laterally-resolving optical receiver and such that each of the optical transmitters and the corresponding optical receivers are so positioned relative to each other that light beams emitted from the optical transmitter can be detected by the corresponding optical receiver after being reflected by a boundary surface, which process involves the following steps:
a) storing a maximum permissible distance between the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and the boundary surface, as determined by recording an object recorded at a plurality of defined distances from the optoelectronic sensor arrangement by at least two light beams,
b) detecting current position-proportional reception values for each optical transmitter and corresponding optical receiver,
c) determining current relative positions for reception values of any two adjacent optical transmitters, and
d) comparing the current relative positions for the reception values with stored reference values for the relative positions.
2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the reference values for the relative positions are determined for the defined distance between the optical transmitters and the boundary surface in accordance with the following steps:
e) detecting the position-proportional reception values for each optical transmitter and the corresponding optical receivers for the defined distance between the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and the boundary surface,
f) storing the detected receptions values as reference reception values,
g) determining the relative positions for the reception values of any two adjacent optical transmitters, and
h) storing the determined relative positions as reference values for the relative positions.
3. Process according to claim 1, wherein the reference values for the relative positions are determined for a plurality of different distances between the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and the boundary surface.
4. Process according to claim 1, wherein a size of the object determines the maximal permissible distance between the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and the boundary surface as determined and stored.
5. Process according to claim 1, wherein steps b) through d) are performed before each startup of the optoelectronic sensor arrangement andor at regular intervals during operation.
6. Optoelectronic sensor arrangement, comprising:
at least two optical transmitters, each having an assigned optical receiver, such that assigned optical receivers are designed as laterally-resolving optical receivers and such that each of the optical transmitters and the corresponding optical receivers are so positioned relative to each other that a light beam emitted by the optical transmitter is detected by the corresponding optical receiver after being reflected by a boundary surface; and
an evaluating and control unit configured to store a maximum permissible distance between the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and the boundary surface by:
recording an object recorded at a plurality of defined distances from the optoelectronic sensor arrangement by at least two of the light beams detecting the current position-proportional reception values for each optical transmitter and corresponding optical receiver,
determining the current relative positions for the reception values of any two adjacent optical transmitters, and
comparing the current relative positions for the reception values with reference values stored in the evaluating and control unit for the relative positions.
7. Optoelectronic sensor arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the optical transmitters emit a collimated light beam.
8. Optoelectronic sensor arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the optical transmitters emit light in the visible spectrum.
9. Optoelectronic sensor arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the optical receivers take the form of a segmented diode or a pixel array.
10. Optoelectronic sensor arrangement according to claim 6, wherein a control unit is provided which is suited to control the optical transmitters in such a way that said optical transmitters, one relative to another, emit a light beam in manner that is staggered over time.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A container driver comprising:
a generally planar chassis having a front side and a back side, and a top edge, a bottom edge, a right edge and a left edge;
hook means slidably extending from the top edge of the chassis for engaging the rim of a container to be moved;
two drive wheels rotatably secured along the bottom edge of the chassis;
two drive motors secured to the chassis, each drive motor providing motive energy a drive wheel;
one or more operator controls transforming operator input into speed and direction signals;
a control assembly receiving the speed and direction signals and providing motor control signals to the two drive motors according to the speed and direction signals;
weight transfer means secured to the chassis for transferring weight from a container to be moved to the two drive wheels through the chassis.
2. The container driver of claim 1 further comprising:
extension means for powered extension and retraction the hook means under operator control;
3. A method for moving a four wheeled refuse container comprising the steps:
orienting a container driver having two drive wheels adjacent to the approximate center of a side of a four wheeled refuse container;
extending a hook means from the top of the container driver to engage a rim of the refuse container;
engaging the rim of the refuse container with the hook means;
manipulating operator controls to drive a weight transfer paddle from a bottom edge of the container driver up under a bottom edge of the refuse container to transfer a portion of the weight of the refuse container to the container driver;
manipulating operator controls to supply motive energy to drive wheels of the container driver to move the container driver and the engaged refuse container.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of manipulating operator controls to supply motive energy further comprises:
manipulating operator controls to independently supply motive energy to each of the two drive wheels of the container driver to move the container driver and the engaged refuse container.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of extending a hook means further comprises:
manipulating operator controls to apply power to extend a hook means upwardly from the top of the container driver past a rim of the refuse container;
manipulating operator controls to apply power to retract the hook means to engage the rim of the refuse container.