EP0338929A1 - Refuse receptacle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a refuse receptacle. This device is characterised in that it has at least one orifice for the insertion of refuse (9) at the lower part of which is mounted in a pivoting manner a container (7) which is movable between a position for receiving refuse where it protrudes towards the exterior of the receptacle while being substantially horizontal, and an emptying position where it extends in a substantially vertical manner; and in that it comprises means of control allowing the said container (7) to change from one to the other of these positions, and means of closure (8) closing the said orifice (9) in both positions of the said container (7). Application to refuse collection. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a removable garbage container, of the kind which can be deposited in a suitably chosen place of an urban or rural site, which is gradually filled with garbage of all kinds by the users, and which is then removed to be replaced by an empty container, the full container then being transported to a landfill or a waste treatment plant where it is emptied and cleaned.

Such devices are well known in various embodiments, but they have a certain number of drawbacks, such as for example the fact that the orifice provided for the introduction of refuse can remain constantly open, which is obviously inconvenient.

Also, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a garbage container of this kind which overcomes the drawbacks of known devices, while being simple, reliable, relatively inexpensive and of a satisfactory appearance in terms of aesthetic.

According to the invention, this object, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved by means of a refuse container of the kind specified above which is characterized in that it has at least one orifice for introducing the garbage at the bottom of which is pivotally mounted a receptacle which is movable between a garbage reception position where it projects outwards from the container being substantially horizontal, and an emptying position where it extends substantially vertically ; and that it comprises control means allowing the receptacle in question to pass from one to the other of these positions, as well as closing means closing the orifice for introducing the refuse into the two positions of the receptacle .

It is understood that, in such a device, it suffices for the user to act on the control means specified above to cause the receptacle to appear before him. in the loading position. He deposits his garbage there, and then acts in reverse on the control means. The receptacle discharges inside the container the garbage it contains, however that before as after this operation, the container remains closed, which was one of the aims of the present invention.

Admittedly, devices known as “garbage dumps” are already known in which waste is deposited in a receptacle which is rotated, which, on the one hand, causes the waste to pass through a discharge pipe, and, on the other hand, closes a communication flap between the receptacle and the outside. According to another embodiment, the rotation of the receptacle is only possible if a cover is closed.

However, these known devices would be difficult to adapt to a garbage container of the kind in question here, and, above all, they do not have a receptacle which can project outwards, unlike that of the invention which, for so to speak, offers itself to the user so that he can deposit his garbage there, which is an advantageous arrangement.

According to a preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention, its sealing means comprise a double flap which is pivotally mounted, substantially in the middle, on the upper part of the refuse introduction orifice and which is associated with the control means of the device, its inner panel closing this orifice when the receptacle specified above is in the garbage reception position, and its outer panel closing it when this receptacle is in the emptying position.

Advantageously, the exterior and interior panels of this double flap form between them an almost flat angle and, preferably, around 140 °.

Preferably, the control member of the device is a handle integral with the outer panel of the double flap in question. The user lowers it to bring the outer panel of the double flap to close the refuse introduction hole in place of the other panel which pivots towards the inside of the container. Simultaneously, the receptacle tilts towards the interior of the latter to project the garbage there after passing between the two panels of the double flap.

This also prevents the disgorgement of garbage in the event of an overflow. When the waste reaches a certain level in the container, the inner panel of the double flap locks up on the pile and prevents the system from opening.

Preferably, the pivot axis of the double flap is integral with the latter and connected by a transmission to a tilting axis integral with the receptacle for receiving the refuse.

This transmission may consist of a Galle chain or a toothed belt passing over two toothed wheels secured respectively to the receptacle and to the double flap. Of course, it must be designed in such a way that these two members rotate in opposite directions to one another, because the double flap mounted at the top of the refuse introduction orifice and the receptacle which is mounted at its base must simultaneously pivot towards the inside of the container. In addition, the transmission ratio must be such that these two members arrive simultaneously in their end of travel positions, whether at the opening or at the closing.

As regards the container itself, it advantageously comprises several separate compartments which are intended, for example, for glass for one, packaging for another and for the garbage itself for the others, only the latter being provided with the device for introduction of the waste which has just been described.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the container according to the invention comprises a shaped box general parallelepiped, its various compartments being separated from each other by partitions which extend between its lateral edges and its central axis, the latter being able to be provided at its upper end with a hook or a similar member allowing the removal of the container by conventional crane handling equipment.

Preferably, the bottom of each of these compartments is pivotally mounted on an axis close to one of the edges of the box, and it can rotate, for example by means of a crank, which allows it to be opened for viewing. downward disposal of garbage contained in the container.

For security reasons, these funds are advantageously locked in the closed position by a bolt actuated from the outside by a handle.

It is therefore seen, in summary, that the container according to the present invention, by its simplicity of operation, can perfectly be rented for a season at a tourist station, since it does not require any additional specialized service or equipment. Indeed, such a device can be removed or installed by current transport companies whose services are rented for the season.

We can for example remove the full containers every day, replace them with empty containers, transport them to a landfill or a treatment plant where they are emptied, and clean them for placement the next day.

• - La figure 1 représente une vue en coupe schémati­que du conteneur à ordures de l'invention qui est prise selon un plan passant sensiblement par son axe de symétrie vertical; et :
• - La figure 2 montre une vue en coupe horizontale du conteneur prise selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1.

The description which follows, and which has no limiting character, will make it possible to understand clearly how the present invention can be put into practice. It should be read against the accompanying drawings, among which:

• - Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of the garbage container of the invention which is taken along a plane passing substantially through its vertical axis of symmetry; and:
• - Figure 2 shows a horizontal sectional view of the container taken along line II-II of Figure 1.

As can be seen in the figures, the garbage container according to the invention, in its embodiment shown, has the general shape of a parallelepiped whose edges are rounded for aesthetic reasons. This box is designated as a whole by the reference 1 and it has four compartments 2a to 2d, two of which, 2a and 2c for example, may be intended for the waste proper, the other two 2b and 2d being able to receive glass and packaging respectively. which we know is interesting to collect separately.

The four compartments 2a to 2d are separated from each other by vertical partitions 3 which each extend between an edge of the parallelepipedic box 1 and a central rod 4 surrounding the vertical axis of symmetry thereof. This rod 4 is extended above the roof 5 of the box 1 by a ring 6 or by a similar member enabling the container to be removed and put in place, for example by means of a winch mounted on a transport vehicle.

Each of the compartments intended to receive the refuse proper is provided with a device for introducing refuse according to the invention which is shown in its open position or for receiving refuse on the left-hand side of FIG. 1 in solid bold lines. , and, in its closed position, in normal lines on the right and on the left of this same figure. The compartments intended for glass and packaging, for their part, are provided with introduction devices of the conventional type, not shown, which will not be discussed here, since they are outside the scope of the invention.

On the contrary, the device for introducing refuse according to the invention comprises a receptacle 7 in the form of a shovel and a double flap generally designated by the reference 8, which are pivotally mounted, respectively, at the base and at the top of a rectangular orifice 9 formed in the wall of the compartment concerned of the box 1.

More specifically, the receptacle 7 is movable about a horizontal axis 10 between a refuse reception position shown in bold black on the left-hand part of FIG. 1, position where it projects horizontally towards the outside of the box, and a closed position where it extends slightly towards the interior of the latter, as shown in normal lines on the right and on the left of the same figure 1.

As has been said, the receptacle 7 has the shape of a shovel, and it is constituted by two inverted roof planes which meet along a lower edge 7a and which are flanked on both sides by a vertical wall 7b. In its open position, a generally horizontal bucket is thus obtained, making it possible to collect a sufficiently large volume of garbage, while, in its closed position, the part of the bottom of the shovel lying between the edge 7a and the axis of pivoting 10 is substantially vertical, which allows the garbage to flow downwards inside the box 1.

As regards now the double flap 8, it extends substantially symmetrically on either side of its axis of rotation 11 at the top of the opening 9, and it consists of two panels, one exterior , 8a, and the other interior, 8b, which form between them an almost flat angle α equal, for example, to approximately 140 °. At its free end, the outer flap 8a has a handle 12 which can be a crossbar.

By pivoting around the axis 11 counterclockwise, the flap 8 can pass from a position shown in bold black lines on the left-hand side of FIG. 1, where its outer panel 8a s' extends upwards outside the box 1, and where its inner panel 8b is substantially directed towards the tilting axis of the receptacle 7 by closing the box 1, at a position shown in normal lines on the right and left on the same figure 1 where the outer panel 8a has sensitive ment taken the place of the other, 8b, so that it is directed towards the axis of rotation 11 of the flap 8, while the free end of the interior panel 8b is located in the vicinity of the roof 5.

The axes of rotation 10 and 11 of the receptacle 7 and of the double flap 8, respectively, are connected together by a transmission shown very schematically at 13 in FIG. 1. This transmission 13 is reverse, which means that the axes 10 and 11 rotate in opposite directions with respect to each other. In addition, its ratio is such that the receptacle 7 and the double flap 8 pass together from their positions shown in bold black lines on the left of FIG. 1 to those indicated in normal lines. Such transmission by chains or toothed belts, for example, are well known in the art, and therefore will not be described here in detail.

It only follows that, if one starts from the position shown in bold black lines on the left of FIG. 1, and if, by means of the handle 12, the double flap 8 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow F, the receptacle 7 rocks in the direction of the arrow F ′ towards the inside of the box 1 where it projects the garbage which has been deposited there. This movement stops in the position shown in normal lines and is limited - moreover in both directions - by stops not shown.

It can be seen that, in the first of these positions, the receptacle 7 in the form of a shovel or bucket is, in a way, stretched towards the user so that he can deposit his garbage therein, while the panel 8b of the double flap 8 closes opening 9.

In the other position, on the contrary, it is the panel 8a which is passed behind the receptacle 7 to close the opening 9, while the receptacle has poured into the caisson 1 the garbage which it contains. Thus, the container of the invention is closed in these two positions, even if a user has forgotten to act on the handle 12 for folding the receptacle 7, which obviously limits the nuisance.

Finally, it will be noted that, when a compartment provided with such a device is full, its opening is prevented by the fact that the inner panel 8b of the double flap 8 strikes the top of the pile of refuse and prevents the complete tilting of the receptacle 7, which constitutes an interesting security.

As regards the emptying of the container which has just been described, the bottom 14 of each of its compartments 2a to 2d is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis 15 adjacent to the corresponding side wall. It is therefore movable between a closed position shown in broken lines in Figure 1 where it is blocked by a bolt indicated very schematically at 16 and mounted on the central rod 4, and a closed position shown in solid lines where the garbage can s' escape down.

To allow the bottom of the compartment to pivot towards the open position, it is first necessary to clear the bolt 16 against a return spring not shown by pulling on an external handle 17 to which it is connected by a cable flexible 18.

Then rotates a removable crank 19 that has been introduced into an irreversible reducer 20, the latter then rotating in the desired direction the axis 15 and the bottom 14 which is integral therewith.

The device can be configured in such a way that the rotation of the crank 19 simultaneously opens or closes all the compartments 2a to 2d of the casing 1. It is however possible to provide one or more additional cranks, such as that shown in 19 ′, to act on the bottom of one or more other compartments. Such variants are within the reach of ordinary skill in the art, and will therefore not be described in detail here.

It will also be noted that the edges of the bottoms 14 of the compartments 2a to 2d are raised to prevent the flow ment of foul-smelling liquids from garbage, and that a double wall 21 is advantageously placed inside the box to enclose, under the shelter of garbage, the mechanisms of receptacle 7 and bottom 14.

Finally, when the bottoms 14 are open, the interior of the box can be effectively cleaned by vertical tubes which are introduced there from below and which comprise at their upper part rotating jets projecting under high pressure water and disinfectant.

In the foregoing, reference has been made to the case of a substantially parallelepipedic box, the area of which occupied on the ground could be, for example, 2.50 × 2.50 m, and which has four equal compartments, the volume of the whole then being approximately 10 m³. In a less bulky version, however, one could use a half-box, like the one represented on the right or left of the line XX ′ of FIG. 2 which would then include a central compartment 2b framed by half of each of the two compartments 2a and 2c then delimited by an additional wall 22.

Claims (10)

1. Garbage container, characterized by the fact that it has at least one garbage introduction orifice (9) at the bottom of which is pivotally mounted a receptacle (7) which is movable between a garbage reception position where it projects outward from the container while being substantially horizontal, and an emptying position where it extends substantially vertically; and that it comprises control means allowing said receptacle (7) to pass from one to the other of these positions, as well as shutter means (8) closing said orifice (9) in the two positions of said receptacle (7). 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that said closure means comprise a double flap (8) which is pivotally mounted, substantially in its middle, on the upper part of said orifice (9) and which is associated with said means control panel, its inner panel (8a) closing this orifice (9) when said receptacle (7) is in the garbage reception position, and its outer panel (8b) closing it when this receptacle (7) is in the emptying position. 3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the exterior (8a) and interior (8b) panels of said double flap (8) form between them an almost flat angle and, preferably, around 140 °. 4. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said control member is a handle (12) integral with the outer panel (8b) of said double flap (8). 5. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pivot axis (11) of said double flap (8) is integral with the latter and connected by a transmission (13) to an axis of tilting (10) integral with said receptacle (7). 6. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises several separate compartments (2a to 2d). 7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a box (1) of generally parallelepiped shape, its various compartments being separated from each other by partitions (3) which extend between its lateral edges and its axis central (4). 8. Container according to any one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the bottom (14) of each of said compartments (2a to 2d), with a view to its opening towards the outside, is pivotally mounted on an axis (15) near one of the edges of said box (1). 9. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that said funds (14) are locked in the closed position by a bolt (16) actuated from the outside by a handle (17). 10. Container according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the central axis (4) of said box (1) comprises at its upper end a member (6) for hooking to a handling machine.

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