ITUB20154595A1 - Useful device for the separation of solid urban waste. - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device useful for carrying out the separate collection of urban solid waste produced at home or in public places.

Separate collection indicates a municipal waste collection system which provides, for each type of waste, a first differentiation based on the type by the citizens, diversifying it from the totally undifferentiated collection, prevalent until a few years ago.

Ecological and environmental protection problems make it increasingly difficult to find areas for traditional landfills, in which to enter materials of all kinds, undifferentiated, sometimes polluting (such as medicines, batteries, solvents) or more often useful as a source of raw materials (such as aluminum, paper, plastic, glass).

The production of waste is constantly increasing and must be managed in such a way as to respect the environment, reduce disposal costs and recycle the materials present in municipal waste.

By differentiating the type of waste, different types of containers are required. In fact, separate collection presupposes that homogeneous waste is placed in the same container or bag (only paper or only plastic or only glass and so on).

Separate collection can be carried out on the street, door to door, through the use of private bins and through multi-material collection; while the types of waste are: organic, paper, glass, plastic, aluminum and ferrous materials.

TECHNIQUE NOTE

The known technique closest to the present invention is the "iBin" container proposed by the pupils of the "Volterra-Elia Technical Institute in Ancona.

This container, described below in Figure 1, recognizes different materials / waste such as paper, glass or plastic, based on their chemical characteristics.

A second container for separate waste collection known in the art (present in our homes) is shown in Figure 2. It essentially consists of a multi-space plastic structure, in which the compartments in which to insert the waste are identified by symbols .

A separate collection container in our streets is shown in Figure 3. It is a large variant of the container shown in Figure 2.

The container for the separate collection according to the present invention is not present in the art. The devices useful for the same purpose, known in the art, do not suggest the technical aspects and advantages obtainable with the container / device for separate waste collection in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 (known technique) shows the bin "iBin, designed by the students of the Technical Institute" Volterra-Elia of Ancona, useful for promoting the separate collection of waste and making it easier and faster by recognizing waste as paper, glass or plastic according to their chemical characteristics, which automatically positions itself in the correct compartment. iBin is a cylindrical bin divided into two overlapping sections, when the user approaches, the lid opens automatically thanks to ultrasonic sensors placed at the base of the structure. Once the waste has been inserted, recognition takes place in the upper section, a LED lights it up and three sensors measure the amount of light absorbed and reflected, and at this point a comparison takes place between the data obtained and a database recognizes the material. At the same time, the inside of the bin located in the lower part automatically rotates and positions itself in the correct compartment to receive the waste. The whole system, managed by a micro controller, is powered by rechargeable batteries from both the electricity grid and a photovoltaic panel.

Figure 2 (known technique) shows a container for separate waste collection consisting of a multi-space plastic structure, in which the spaces / drawers are identified by symbols within which to insert the waste that corresponds to the symbol.

Figure 3 (known technique) shows a container for separate waste collection present in our streets which is a large variant of the container shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 (Invention) shows the device according to the invention useful for carrying out separate waste collection, comprising:

• a parallelepiped or cylindrical central body / case (1) some elements of the device;

• an extractable drawer (2) suitable for containing four or more baskets (12, 13, 14, 15) for separate collection;

a knob (20), useful for extracting / storing the extractable drawer

(

a cap (3), placed at the upper base of the central body / case

(

a hinge (22), useful for opening the cap (3);

a sorter (4), which has the shape of a hollow parallelepiped with a square or cylindrical base, and has the particularity of having one of the four rectangular faces, inclined towards Color, so as to form a chute (21);

• an actuator / motor (9), connected to the lower base of the sorter (4), useful for making the sorter rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise, positioning the chute (21), depending on the choice made (paper, plastic , glass, metal), in the direction of the appropriate / right bin;

• a push-button panel (5), which includes 4 or more buttons (16, 17, 18, 19), useful for selecting the type of waste to be thrown away (each button represents a type or set of waste - paper, plastic , glass, metal) and a functional display (15) that indicates both the type of waste selected and all the information that is from time to time useful or necessary even remotely, and whether one of the four baskets (12, 13, 14, 15 ) is full;

• a barcode reader (6), (following an adequate programming by the User or through an update of the database thanks to an internet connection), useful for reading the barcodes present on the packages of the various waste (such as for example milk cartons or various types of cans);

• two or more brackets (10 and 11), connected between the central body / case (1) or to the walls of the cabinet and the lower base of the actuator / motor (9), through a classic coupling system (7 and 8) (such as plates and screws / bolts), useful for supporting and stabilizing the system formed by the sorter (4) and the actuator / motor (9);

Figures 5a and 5b (Invention) show a detail of the sorter (4) switched off / not in operation (figure 5a), and switched on / in operation (figure 5b).

In figure 5a the device is not in operation and therefore the cap (3) is closed not allowing the user to insert the waste inside the sorter 4

In figure 5b, the device is shown in operation; in fact, following an activation command through the buttons or through the barcode reader, the actuator / motor, by rotating the sorter (4) clockwise / counterclockwise, positions the chute (21) in the direction of the bin suitable for receiving the selected waste (in the example in figure 5b the chute is positioned in the direction of the basket (14)); following the positioning of the chute (21), the cap (3) opens automatically (rotating around the hinge (22)), allowing the user to insert the waste inside the sorter (4). Said waste slides through the chute (21) and ends up inside the appropriate basket (in the example in figure 5b the waste ends up in the basket (14)).

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device according to the invention, hereinafter also identified with the name "Recyclebot", is a household appliance designed to help users in the act of dividing waste according to the material of which they are made, or in making separate collection.

It is built to be fully integrated into standard kitchen furniture housings. In this way, once installed, it is not visible except for the trap door on the work surface necessary for inserting the waste. This hatch is closed by a lid which is opened by pressing one of the keys or by scanning a bar code. Before opening the lid, the internal selector is positioned so that the waste flows to the correct bin.

Recyclebot is connected to the internet so that it can access a database containing the association between barcodes and materials.

If this association is not present, the same user can make it. In fact, when, following a scan, recyclebot does not recognize the barcode, an invitation to the user appears on the display to press the button corresponding to the material he is throwing away. In this way, the association between the new barcode and the material is registered and from that moment any recyclebot connected to the internet will be able to draw on the association just made.

The disposal of waste with the device according to the invention provides further advantages, in fact the use of bar codes to distinguish the materials allows to know the consumer's tastes and to generate the daily / weekly shopping list.

Furthermore, the massive use of recyclebot would allow companies that deal with waste collection to know in real time the production, in a quantitative and qualitative sense, of waste. This information can be used to optimize the collection service by avoiding sending collection trucks to areas where waste production is low, while concentrating collection in areas where waste production is very high.

Collectors themselves can manipulate the shared association database to remotely tune recyclebot's behavior. For example, in a municipality it can be set that plastic and metal go in the same container, while in another municipality it is possible to set these materials in different containers.

The recording of waste production can be used for collection tax purposes, for this reason the verification process is a "third party <55>, that is, the infrastructure that continuously controls the device is completely autonomous, it uses a black box (the black box below will also be referred to as “Black Box <55>); in which: (a) the “Black Box includes a cpu, a WiFi device, a protected permanent memory for the data, a protected permanent memory for the program, a cryptoengine or cryptographic accelerator for encrypting and decrypting operations; in addition, (b) the "Black Box equipped with sensors that record and send, via cable or wireless, information relating to the opening, insertion, movement or tampering of the device or parts of it to the public or private company that manages the separate collection ( hereinafter "certifying body; (c) the" Black Box has a secret encryption and access key, and is managed solely by the certified re body; (d) the movement and / or tampering sensors applied to the collection basket allow generate alarms in the event of tampering with the system; (e) the alarms are cataloged by time and collected by an electronic control system in the "Black Box"; (f) the information collected during the monitoring period is accessible only to the institution certifier; (g) the system is able to autonomously detect if anomalies have occurred such as displacement of the control sensors, bypass of waste disposal systems, etc; (h) the system is in able to provide, in real time, this information to the certifier, and in this way the device according to the invention makes it possible to achieve the objective of being able to demonstrate that the correct management of waste disposal is the one certified by the sensor system for the entire monitoring period.

The hardware used for the operation of the device according to the invention consists of 2 cards available at any specialized shop whose specifications are public as they are released under an open source license.

The first board is called "Arduino UNO R3" the reference website is "https: / /www.arduino.cc/" through which you can buy it and access all the specifications. The person skilled in the art knows that further derivative versions of the same card can be used.

The second tab is called "Yun shield" the reference web system is "http: / / www. Dragino. Com / Products / yunshield / item / 86- yun- shield. Html" through which it is possible to purchase it and access all the specifications.

The motor used to rotate the baskets is a motor produced by "DFRobotics" the reference website is "http: / / www. Dfrobot.com/ index. Php? Route = product / product & product id = 146 # .V hTUQytTIOw" , the motor used works at 5 volts and 0.8 Amps, the usable motors can go up to 220 volts and 30 Amps.

The software used for the operation and management of the device according to the invention is accessible / available at the web address "ww. Recyclebot.it / coderequest. Html".

Optionally, the device according to the invention can be equipped with:

- a "compactor" or a device dedicated to reducing the volume of waste introduced by crushing and / or shredding. Usable waste compactors are well known to those skilled in the art;

- special sensors that recognize the material to be disposed of through a quick analysis of the material itself, to be installed as an alternative to the reader and database proposed by the students of the Technical Institute of Ancona and shown in Figure 1; and as an alternative to the bar code present on the device in accordance with the present invention. These sensors, miniaturized, with the function of "spectrometer, spectrophotometer or automatic material analyzer" are well known to the skilled technician in the field and easily adaptable to the device according to the invention.

The device according to the invention can be built in different sizes and shapes, compatible with the intended use, and used in public places such as squares, museums, railway stations or any other place where it is needed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is a device useful for carrying out the separate collection of waste, comprising:

• at least one central body / case (1) of parallelepiped shape containing some elements of the device;

• at least one extractable drawer (2) suitable for containing four baskets (12, 13, 14, 15) to carry out separate collection;

• at least one knob (20), useful for extracting / putting away the extractable drawer

(2) ;

• at least one plug (3), placed at the upper base of the central body / case (1);

• at least one hinge (22), useful for opening the cap (3);

• at least one sorter (4), which has the shape of a hollow parallelepiped with a square base, and has the particularity of having one of the four rectangular faces, inclined towards Γίη terno, so as to form a slide

(21);

• at least one actuator / motor (9), connected to the lower base of the sorter (4), useful for making the sorter rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise, positioning the chute (21), depending on the choice made (paper, plastic, glass, metal), in the direction of the appropriate / right bin;

• at least one push-button panel (5), which includes 4 buttons (16, 17, 18, 19), useful for selecting the type of waste to be thrown away (each button represents a type of waste - paper, plastic, glass, metal ) and a functional display (15) which indicates both the type of waste selected and whether one of the four baskets (12, 13, 14, 15) is full;

• at least one barcode reader (6), which, following adequate programming by the user or through an update of the database thanks to an internet connection, is able to read the barcodes present on the packages of the various waste (such as milk cartons or various types of cans);

• at least two electronic boards as identified above;

• at least two brackets (10 and 11), connected between the central body / case (1) and the lower base of the actuator / motor (9), through a classic coupling system (7 and 8) (such as plates and screws / bolts), useful for supporting and stabilizing the system formed by the stator (4) and by the actuator / motor (9); as shown in Figures 4, 5a and 5b.

A further object of the present invention is the device described above in the form of a built-in kitchen appliance.

A further object of the present invention is the device described above which is useful for generating the daily or weekly shopping list.

A further object of the present invention is the device described above, useful for allowing the companies that deal with the collection of waste to know in real time the production, in a quantitative and qualitative sense, of the waste.

A further object of the present invention is the device described above, useful for optimizing the separate waste collection service, avoiding sending collection trucks to areas where the production of said waste is low, concentrating instead the collection in areas where production is of waste is very high.

A further object of the present invention is the device described above useful for allowing private, municipal or state companies that carry out separate collection to remotely set, via cable or wireless, that plastic and metal go into the same container in the same homogeneous territory ( optimization of separate collection).

A further object of the present invention is the device described above comprising a "Black Box" which records and sends information relating to the opening, insertion, movement or tampering of the device or parts of it to verify whether users tamper with the device itself to modify the quantity of waste placed in the container itself.

A further object of the present invention is the device described above useful for allowing public, private or certifying bodies to detect via cable or wireless the type and quantity of waste generated by a family in order to apply a more equitable taxation based on waste. products.

A further object of the present invention is the device described above in which the hardware used to operate the device consists of one or more electronic boards chosen from "Arduino UNO R3" and / or "Yun shield", or other useful boards. purpose.

A further object of the present invention is the device described above in which the motor used to rotate the baskets is a motor of 3-220 volts and 0.4-30 amperes, for the preferred domestic bus it is a motor of 5 volts and 0.8 ampere.

A further object of the present invention is the device described above characterized in that it is equipped with a "compactor" useful for reducing the volume of waste introduced by crushing and / or shredding.

A further object of the present invention is the device described above characterized in that the bar reader is replaced by one or more sensors which recognize the material to be disposed of by means of spectrophotometric analysis or other suitable fast "materials" analyzer.

A further object of the present invention is the device described above characterized in that it is built in different sizes and shapes, compatible with the buso in charge, usable in the home or in public places.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Operation of the device of Figure 4

The device shown in Figure 4 can be activated in two ways:

• Through the barcode reader (6);

• Using the buttons (16, 17, 18, 19);

Following activation, the actuator / motor (9), by rotating the sorter (4) clockwise / counterclockwise, positions the chute (21) in the direction of the basket suitable for receiving the selected waste; following the positioning of the chute (21), the cap (3) opens automatically (rotating around the hinge (22)), allowing the user to insert the waste inside the sorter (4). This waste slides through the chute (21) and ends up inside the basket in charge.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Container for the separate collection of municipal solid waste, comprising: • at least one central body (1) with a parallelepiped or cylindrical shape; • at least one extractable drawer (2); • at least four baskets (12, 13, 14, 15); • at least one sorter (4), in the shape of a hollow parallelepiped with a square base which has the particularity of having one of the four rectangular faces, inclined towards Color, so as to form a chute (21); • at least one motor (9), connected to the lower base of the sorter (4), useful for making the sorter rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise, positioning the chute (21) in the direction of the right basket; • at least one push-button panel (5), which includes at least 4 buttons (16, 17, 18, 19), useful for selecting the type of waste to be disposed of, and a functional display (15) which indicates both the type of waste selected and all information that is useful or necessary from time to time, even remotely, both when one of the four baskets (12, 13, 14, 15) is full; • at least one barcode reader (6); • at least one electronic board; • at least two brackets (10 and 11), connected between the central body (1) or to the walls of the container cabinet, and the lower base of the motor (9), through a coupling system (7 and 8); • optionally: at least one plug (3), placed at the upper base of the central body (1); at least one hinge (22) useful for opening the cap (3); at least one knob (20), useful for extracting / storing the extractable drawer (2); and at least one Black Box. 2. Device of claim 1, characterized by the fact that the certified body continuously controls the device through a Black Box, in which: - the “Black Box” includes a cpu, a WiFi device, a protected permanent memory for the data, a protected permanent memory for the program, a cryptoengine or cryptographic accelerator for encrypting and decrypting operations; - the Black Box is equipped with sensors that record and send, via cable or wireless, information relating to the opening, insertion, movement or tampering of the device or parts of it, generating alarms in the event of tampering with the system, in which these alarms are recorded and sent in real time to the certifying body; - the "Black Box" has a secret encryption and access key, and is managed solely by the certified re body; - the alarms are cataloged by time and collected by an electronic control system in the "Black Box"; - the information collected during the monitoring period is accessible only to the certifying body; - the system is able to autonomously detect if anomalies have occurred such as displacement of the control sensors, bypass of waste disposal systems. 3. Device of claim 1, characterized by the fact that, through the "Black Box" the certifying body: - can have information, via cable or wireless, on the quantity and type of waste present in each individual container; - can have information on the quantity and type of waste present in a given territory; - can have two different materials conveyed in the same container, such as plastic and metal or glass and metal, for remote optimization of separate waste collection; - know the quantity and quality of waste produced in a single housing unit; - can assess the taxation to be applied on the basis of the type and quantity of waste produced by a single housing unit. 4. Device of claim 1, characterized in that it can generate the daily or weekly shopping list on the basis of the waste disposed of. 5. Device of claim 1, wherein the hardware used to operate the device consists of one or more electronic boards selected from the group comprising the "Arduino UNO R3" board and / or the "Yun shield" board. 6. Device of claim 1, wherein the motor used to rotate the baskets is a 3-220 volts and 0.4-30 amp motor; preferred home use is a 5 volts 0.8 amp motor. 7. Device of claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with a "compactor" for reducing the volume of the waste introduced by crushing and / or shredding. 8. Device of claim 1, characterized in that the bar reader is replaced by one or more sensors which recognize the material to be disposed of by means of spectrophotometric analysis or other suitable fast material analyzer. 9. Device of claim 1, characterized in that it is constructed in different sizes and shapes for use in apartments or in public places. 10. Device of claim 1, in the form of a household appliance, preferably built-in.