Detecting when the dustbin is full

[DaveL]

Last year we had a thread where the problem of knowing when the bin on the dust collector is full, I suggested a paddle the gets slowed by the rising dust level.
Here is my first go at this solution.

The paddle is rotated by a small 12v motor at 5rpm.

The small power supply has resistor in series with the motor and when the voltage across the resistor increases, the sounder and LED are turned on.

It is still in a trail phase, I will keep an eye on it, I think I might need to add a couple of blades to the current paddle, if the bin is a bit too full when it sounds the alarm.

 

[Wizard9999]

The ingenuity displayed on this site never ceases to amaze me :eusa-clap: .

As you say, by the time the device is triggered the bin will be brimming with dust, so lowering the detection point a bit may improve it further.

Terry.

 

[9fingers]

I've a couple of other solutions on the round-2-it list.
1 Capacitive proximity sensor few quid on ebay

2 Optical method. Shine a light across the inlet hose with some sort of time constant to look for continuous blocking of the beam.

I would then use that signal to shut off the extractor rather than just an alarm.

Nice to see someone has got off the pot and done something though :eusa-clap:

Bob

 

[Mike G]

Obviously you just sit your bin on a see saw, with a counterweight on the other end which is of the weight of a (full) bin+ contents. When that tips due to the bin being full, it releases a big heavy steel ball to roll along a slide, which tips a sprung loaded thingamyjig which bashes into a pole with a weight in a basket at the top, which falls off and lands on another see-saw, triggering the release of the big plastic cage to rattled down a pole onto the top of the rat. Or something...

 

[AndyP]

Obviously you just sit your bin on a see saw, with a counterweight on the other end which is of the weight of a (full) bin+ contents. When that tips due to the bin being full, it releases a big heavy steel ball to roll along a slide, which tips a sprung loaded thingamyjig which bashes into a pole with a weight in a basket at the top, which falls off and lands on another see-saw, triggering the release of the big plastic cage to rattled down a pole onto the top of the rat. Or something...

I much prefer the Wallace and Gromit solution

 

[kirkpoore1]

I've a couple of other solutions on the round-2-it list.
1 Capacitive proximity sensor few quid on ebay

2 Optical method. Shine a light across the inlet hose with some sort of time constant to look for continuous blocking of the beam.

I would then use that signal to shut off the extractor rather than just an alarm.

Nice to see someone has got off the pot and done something though :eusa-clap:

Bob

I've got one that uses method 2. It uses a garage door sensor to detect a light blockage, and that triggers a strobe light and sound after a moderate delay. Works fine, except that the strobe light isn't very visible in my shop (my back is to it when running my thicknesser), and I have the sound turned off to avoid a startle reflex when doing something critical dangerous. Made by a guy in North Carolina.

Kirk

 

[Wizard9999]

Obviously you just sit your bin on a see saw, with a counterweight on the other end which is of the weight of a (full) bin+ contents. When that tips due to the bin being full, it releases a big heavy steel ball to roll along a slide, which tips a sprung loaded thingamyjig which bashes into a pole with a weight in a basket at the top, which falls off and lands on another see-saw, triggering the release of the big plastic cage to rattled down a pole onto the top of the rat. Or something...

I much prefer the Wallace and Gromit solution

But doesn't the sawdust created from different woods weigh significantly different amounts? "How about a nice cup of tea and then back to the drawing board, eh lad!"

 

[9fingers]

Obviously you just sit your bin on a see saw, with a counterweight on the other end which is of the weight of a (full) bin+ contents. When that tips due to the bin being full, it releases a big heavy steel ball to roll along a slide, which tips a sprung loaded thingamyjig which bashes into a pole with a weight in a basket at the top, which falls off and lands on another see-saw, triggering the release of the big plastic cage to rattled down a pole onto the top of the rat. Or something...

I much prefer the Wallace and Gromit solution

But doesn't the sawdust created from different woods weigh significantly different amounts? "How about a nice cup of tea and then back to the drawing board, eh lad!"

Indeed it does. Also a for any given timber type, a bin full of shavings will weigh less than a bin full of sawdust which will weigh less than a bin full of sander dust.

Bob

 

[Rod]

Mine empties into clear plastic sacks [emoji3]

Rod

 

[Wizard9999]

Mine empties into clear plastic sacks [emoji3]

Rod

Heaven forbid you are suggesting this is a non-problem and doesn't need solving! No chance of a job at Apple for you Rod .

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Mine empties into clear plastic sacks [emoji3]Rod

+ 1.

Heaven forbid you are suggesting this is a non-problem and doesn't need solving! No chance of a job at Apple for you Rod .

That is excellent news. :lol: :lol:

 

[tracerman]

Its so gratifying to see that the Great British Eccentric is still alive , at least in spirit , and that the great Heath-Robinson is being emulated . Presumably the bin if filled will be quite heavy to lift , so why not simply put a Perspex window in the bin at an optimum level , then visit the bin every day and empty it when you see the level over the window . Sorry to be a party pooper . posting.php?mode=reply&f=23&t=1304#

Steve

 

[AndyP]

I think Steve that this has been tried and the perspex window soon gets scratched and or covered in dust to such an extent as to render it opaque.

I operate the tap it with a stick method. My highly trained ears can detect how full the bin is by the resonance of the "tap".

 

[DaveL]

I have 2 bins, on casters so in theory when one is full it can be rolled away and replaced by the other.
The main problem with checking before using the dust collector is the rate at which the planer/thicknesser produces shavings at.
I cannot use a plastic bag to collect the dust, the way the cyclone works, the bin is at a negative pressure and the bag would be sucked up the pipe.

 

[Rod]

Mine has a wire cage to prevent that but it didn't prevent this when it suffered a blockage!

I also use two bags one inside the other.
The damage was easily repaired.

Rod