AU2011100927A4 - Waste Processing Apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A waste processing apparatus is arranged within a sea-container, and can be transported to remote sites in order to process waste. The apparatus includes means for sorting waste into different streams such as glass, plastics and 5 organic matter, and for volume reduction of each stream. -- ] 0t

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION For an Innovation Patent Invention title: "WASTE PROCESSING APPARATUS" Applicant: BENJAMIN CRAIG HARRIS Associated provisional applications: The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 "WASTE PROCESSING APPARATUS" Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the processing of waste. It is particularly 5 envisaged for the processing of waste in remote locations. Background to the Invention In modern Australian cities and large towns the processing of waste is becoming increasingly sophisticated. The traditional practice of simply 10 dumping waste into landfill has become increasing unacceptable, for both environmental and economic reasons. In the modern world it has become important to recycle waste material when possible, and otherwise to provide waste treatment processes such as biological treatment of organic waste both to reduce the disposed volume and to ameliorate environmental threats. 15 In remote locations, such as mine sites, remote communities and the like, such processing of waste is frequently impractical. The cost of building a waste processing facility (assuming that there is space available) can make such construction economically impractical. Instead, it is often necessary to transport generated waste over long distances to sites where it can be 20 processed. Such a procedure introduces further problems. It is necessary to store waste until a sufficient volume for transport has been collected. The storage of mixed waste, in addition to attracting rodents and insects, can cause cross contamination of the waste, significantly reducing the prospects of successful 25 sorting and recycling. Mixed, unprocessed waste is extremely bulky, and sufficient storage facilities must be provided. Finally, the transport of bulky waste is in itself an expensive and potentially hazardous operation. The present invention seeks to provide a means by which waste produced in remote locations can be efficiently processed. 30 3 Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a waste processing apparatus arranged within a transportable container; the waste processing apparatus including a sorting area in which particular waste 5 streams can be separated, and at least one volume reducing means arranged to reduce the volume of a particular waste stream. The waste streams may include glass; paper and cardboard; metals; plastics (hard and soft); and organic waste. Possible volume reducing means include a glass crusher; a cardboard baler; a plastics shredder; an organic matter shredder; and a 10 composting bin. Preferably, the waste processing apparatus includes a feed system having an inlet and a continuous loop belt passing through the sorting area. The inlet may be associated with a bin lifter, arranged to lift and empty waste collection bins into the inlet and onto the continuous loop belt. 15 The sorting area may have a number of separate receptacles into which different waste streams can be sorted. The continuous loop belt may empty onto a shredder supply belt. The shredder supply belt may be arranged to transport unsorted waste from the sorting area to a shredder. This may be arranged for the shredding of organic 20 waste. There may be a further continuous loop belt arranged to transport shredded organic waste from the base of the shredder to an outlet chute. It is preferred that the transportable container be a sea-container. 25 Brief Description of the Drawings It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the waste processing apparatus of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible, and consequently the particularity 30 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 an exterior view of a waste processing apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 4 Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the waste processing apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an interior view of the waste processing apparatus of Figure 1, looking towards an inlet; 5 Figure 4 is an interior view of the waste processing apparatus of Figure 1, looking away from the inlet; and Figure 5 is an interior view of the waste processing apparatus of Figure 1, looking inward from an end opposite to the inlet. 10 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring to the Figures, there can be seen a waste processing apparatus housed within a sea-container 10. The sea-container 10 has a first end wall 12 opposite a second end wall 14, and a first side wall 16 opposite a second side wall 18. A door 20 is provided in the middle of the first side wall 16 to permit 15 access inside the sea-container 10. The interior of the sea-container 10 includes an open space 22 inside the door 20 and along a portion of the first side wall 16 where a worker can stand, and various elements of machinery located along the end walls 12, 14 and the second side wall 18. 20 Located opposite the door 20, and against the second side wall 18, is a sorting area 24. The sorting area 24 extends about half way along the length of the sea-container 10, from an inlet flap 26 to an outer edge 28. The sorting area 24 includes a horizontally aligned, continuous loop belt or conveyor 30 which extends between an idler roller 32 located adjacent the 25 first end wall 12 and a driven roller 34 at the outer edge 28. The conveyor 30 is spaced from the second side wall 18. Between the conveyor 30 and the second side wall 18 are a number of waste receptacles. The waste receptacles are formed by vertically aligned dividers 36 which divide the area into separate regions, and moveable bins 38 located beneath each region. 30 Each region has an associated sign 40 mounted on the second side wall 18 above its respective bin 38. A step 42 is located within the open space 22, running alongside the sorting area 24. The step 42 is arranged so that at least one worker can stand on the 5 step 42 in order to easily access the upper surface of the conveyor 30 and to transfer waste travelling along the conveyor 30 into its appropriate bin 38. The step 42 is formed in two sections which meet at a central join 44. Each of the sections is hinged at an outer end thereof, enabling the step 42 to be lifted 5 out of position. This, in turn, allows for the bins 38 to be removed from their position for emptying by being wheeled under the conveyor 30 into the open space 22. The sea-container 10 has a waste inlet 50 located within the first end wall 12, above the conveyor 30. A hydraulically powered bin lifter 52 is positioned 10 beneath the waste inlet 50, and is arranged to empty bins (including skip bins and wheelie bins) into the waste inlet 50 and onto the conveyor 30. Immediately inside the first end wall 12, adjacent the second side wall 18, is a waste receiving area 54. The waste receiving area 54 is separated from the sorting area 24 by the inlet flap 26, ensuring that workers within the waste 15 processing apparatus are not threatened by splashes or overflow from tipping of a bin onto the conveyor 30. The hydraulic system for operating the bin lifter 52 may be located beneath the waste receiving area 54. In addition to the bins 38, the waste processing apparatus includes three 20 volume reducing means associated with three waste streams: glass, cardboard, and organic matter. A glass crusher 60 is located between the waste receiving area 54 and the first side wall 16. A worker standing on the step 42 can thus pick out any glass on the conveyor 30, turn to his or her left, and toss the glass into the glass crusher 60. 25 A cardboard baler 62 is located adjacent the first side wall 16 at an end of the open space 22. A worker standing on the step 42 can thus pick out any cardboard on the conveyor 30, turn to his or her right, and toss the cardboard into the cardboard baler 62. A shredder 64 is located along the second side wall 18, about half way 30 between the outer edge 28 of the sorting area 24 and the second end wall 14. A shredder supply belt 66 runs between an idler roller 68 located beneath the driven roller 34 of the conveyor 30, and a driven roller 70 located above the shredder 64. Any organic matter on the conveyor 30 can be left by the 6 workers, and allowed to fall over the end of the conveyor 30 onto the shredder supply belt 66, and thence into the shredder 64. In the embodiment of the drawings there is a further continuous loop belt, being a shredder outlet belt 72. The shredder outlet belt 72 runs between an 5 idler roller 74 located beneath the shredder 64, and a driven roller 76 located above an outlet chute 78. The outlet chute 78, positioned near the second end wall 14, is arranged to guide shredded matter into a disposal bin 80, which may be a compost bin for organic matter as shown in Figure 2 or a wheelie bin as shown in Figure 5. 10 It will be appreciated that the shredder 64 may be used for other waste streams. For instance, once a bin 38 containing hard plastics has been removed, this may be placed in the bin lifter 52. The apparatus could then be operated without the need for sorting, causing the entire contents of this bin to be passed through the shredder 64. 15 It is anticipated that the second end wall 14 of the sea-container 10 would be opened during use, as shown in Figure 5, and closed for transportation of the sea-container 10. It will be further appreciated that the sea-container 10 can be transported into remote locations with relative ease, and then operated to greatly reduce the 20 volume of waste produced at the location. Further, the reduced volume waste is separated into components for environmentally appropriate action, such as crushed glass; shredded plastic; baled cardboard and composted organic waste. Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are 25 deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

1. A waste processing apparatus arranged within a transportable container; the waste processing apparatus including a sorting area in which particular waste streams can be separated, and at least one volume reducing 5 means arranged to reduce the volume of a particular waste stream.

2. A waste processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waste processing apparatus includes a feed system having an inlet and a continuous loop belt passing through the sorting area.

3. A waste processing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the 10 sorting area has a number of separate receptacles into which different waste streams can be sorted.

4. A waste processing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the continuous loop belt empties onto a shredder supply belt arranged to transport unsorted waste from the sorting area to a shredder. 15

5. A waste processing apparatus as hereinabove described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BENJAMIN CRAIG HARRIS By his Patent Attorneys ARMOUR IP 20 P2052AU00