AU2008101102A4

AU2008101102A4 - Glass crusher

Info

Publication number: AU2008101102A4
Application number: AU2008101102A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Harrie Hofstede
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-11
Filing date: 2008-11-11
Publication date: 2009-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2016-11-11

Description

P001 Section 29 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Glass crusher The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 00 O GLASS CRUSHER SFIELD OF THE INVENTION O The present invention relates to the crushing of glass. It is particularly Z envisaged for use in a commercial establishment, such as a bar, from which empty bottles and other glass waste must be removed.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Bars, restaurants and similar commercial establishments generate a large volume of waste glass, most particularly empty glass bottles. The storage and disposal of this waste creates a number of problems.

00 0 10 Traditionally, empty bottles and the like are deposited within refuse bins N within the establishment. Periodically, such as at the end of a worker's shift, these bins are emptied into a central bin, often located outside the premises. The central bin may be an industrial one, with capacity in excess of 1m 3 Alternatively, the central bin may be one of a number of designated 'glass only' bins, usually 240L in size. The contents of the central bins are generally removed by a contractor at perhaps weekly intervals, and taken for recycling or for land-fill.

Empty bottles are bulky by nature, as they can not be readily collapsed when discarded. As a result, the number of 'glass only' bins or the capacity of the industrial bin required is disproportionate to the actual quantity of waste glass being generated. As the space for keeping these bins is often limited, this can present a significant problem for some establishments. In addition, the increased volume of material requiring collection adds to the costs involved.

The traditional arrangement can also lead to problems with noise. The act of emptying one refuse bin of empty bottles into another is inherently noisy. This can be of particular concern when the establishment is located in or near a residential area, and the emptying of the bins may be occurring late at night.

An attempt has been made to address this problem by the use of a glass crushing device marketed by Spartel Pty Ltd. This device has a crushing unit suspended above a crushed glass receptacle. The receptacle thus replaces the refuse bin within the establishment, but contains crushed glass rather than whole bottles. When the receptacle is filled, it is removed from underneath the crushing unit and emptied into the central bin.

00 O Although this overcomes many of the problems outlined above, use of C1 such a glass crushing device creates some other problems. Firstly, the weight of O the crushed glass in the receptacle can be problematic, when it needs to be Z removed for emptying. In practice, this means that only relatively small quantities of glass can be crushed before the receptacle requires emptying. It can be awkward to manoeuvre the receptacle from underneath the crushing unit, and this can introduce significant occupational health and safety concerns. This concerns are further exacerbated by the prospect of spilling crushed glass.

The present invention has been developed in light of these problems.

00 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ci In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for use in disposal of glass, the apparatus including a reducing means for breaking glass into smaller pieces, the reducing means having an inlet into which glass can be placed, and an outlet from which the smaller pieces exit the reducing means, the apparatus also having means for moving the outlet between a first position located within or adjacent to a receptacle and a second position located outside the receptacle.

This arrangement allows the outlet to be placed close to the base of a receptacle, which may be a wheeled bin, in order for the crushed glass to be safely deposited into the receptacle. When it is necessary to remove the receptacle, the outlet may be moved into its second position so as not to impede movement of the receptacle. The arrangement also allows for the use of receptacles of differing heights.

Preferably, the means for moving the outlet moves the entire reducing means. This may be in a vertical direction, such that the reducing means can be lowered into a bin for use and then raised from the bin to allow the bin to be taken away.

The reducing means may be positioned on a frame, the frame having an upwardly extending rail on which the reducing means can travel. The reducing means may be supported by a pressurised fluid, such as a hydraulic fluid. The reducing means may also include a positioning means such as a brake or other locking mechanism to maintain the reducing means in its desired position.

00 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS cI It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to o preferred embodiments of the glass crusher of the present invention. Other Z embodiments are possible, and consequently, the particularity of the following discussion is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front perspective of a glass crusher in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side perspective of the glass crusher of Figure 1; and 00 C 10 Figure 3 is a rear view of the glass crusher of Figure 1.

C DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the figures, there is shown an apparatus for use in the volume reduction of glass bottles, being a glass crusher 10. The glass crusher 10 has a frame 12, on which is mounted a reducing means 14.

The frame comprises a base 16 and an upright member 18. The base 16 has two parallel side bars 20, joined by a perpendicular cross bar 22. The arrangement is such that the side bars 20 and cross bar 22 combine to form three sides of a rectangular bin receiving area 24, the fourth side being open.

The upright member 18 extends vertically from the centre of the cross bar 22.

The frame 12 includes an upwardly extending rail 26. The rail 26 is parallel to, and spaced from, a portion or the upright member 18. It is affixed to the upright member by suitable brackets 28.

The reducing means 14 includes an operating portion 30, a mounting portion 32 and a positioning portion 34. The operating portion 30 has an inlet 36 on an upper surface 38, and an outlet (not shown) on a lower surface 40. The operating portion also has a switch 42.

The mounting portion 32 is arranged about the rail 26, and arranged to move vertically up and down the rail 26. The positioning portion 34 passes around the upright member 18, and is arranged to move along the upright member 18 as the reducing means 14 moves along the rail 26.

00 O In a preferred form of the invention, the reducing means 14 is supported N relative to the upright member 18 by fluid pressure, such as hydraulic pressure. In o an alternative embodiment, this may be achieved by pneumatic pressure.

Z The hydraulic pressure allows the reducing means 14 to be raised and lowered easily by a user without requiring a large degree of force.

The positioning portion 34 includes a brake having a handle 44. Activation of the brake fixes the reducing means 14 relative to the upright member 18.

The operating portion 30 of the reducing means 14 comprises a glass crushing device as known in the art.

00 0 10 In order to use the glass crusher 10, the reducing means 14 may be raised 0 N to its highest position on the upright member 18. A bin, which may for instance be a 120L or 240L wheeled bin, or a larger steel bin, can then be positioned within the receiving area 24.

The glass crusher 10 can then be lowered so that the lower surface 40 sits across the top of the bin.

Bottles and other glass to be crushed can be placed in the inlet 36, and the operating portion 30 activated by means of the switch 42 to crush the glass. The crushed glass is ejected from the outlet directly into the bin beneath.

When the bin is filled, the reducing means 14 can again be raised to its highest point, allowing the bin to be easily wheeled away. A new bin can then be brought in to be filled with crushed glass in its turn.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in disposal of glass, the apparatus including a Z reducing means for breaking glass into smaller pieces, the reducing means having an inlet into which glass can be placed, and an outlet from which the smaller pieces exit the reducing means, the apparatus also having means for moving the outlet between a first position located within or adjacent to a Sreceptacle and a second position located outside the receptacle. 00

2. An apparatus for use in disposal of glass as claimed in claim 1, wherein Sthe means for moving the outlet moves the entire reducing means in a substantially vertical direction.

3. An apparatus for use in disposal of glass as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reducing means is positioned on a frame, the frame having an upwardly extending rail on which the reducing means can travel.

4. An apparatus for use in disposal of glass as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reducing means is supported by a pressurised fluid. An apparatus for use in disposal of glass as hereinabove described with reference to the accompanying drawings. HARRIE HOFSTEDE WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS UIP1193AU00