Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
  • A47L9/10—Filters; Dust separators; Dust removal; Automatic exchange of filters
  • A47L9/106—Dust removal
  • A47L9/108—Dust compression means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B30—PRESSES
  • B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
  • B30B9/00—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
  • B30B9/30—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for baling; Compression boxes therefor
  • B30B9/3003—Details
  • B30B9/301—Feed means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B30—PRESSES
  • B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
  • B30B9/00—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
  • B30B9/30—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for baling; Compression boxes therefor
  • B30B9/3003—Details
  • B30B9/3039—Fluid removing means

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for compacting waste in a vacuum-type waste recovery device.
• Waste separated in a vacuum cleaner is often stored, either in the filter bag or in a sealed container, depending on the separation device used. It is frequently observed that the accumulated waste occupies a large volume compared to their respective size. It is thus regularly necessary to change or empty the bag or tray when the latter does not appear to have been used to the full.
• a sealed mounted mechanism comprises a handling member which can slide vertically against the action of a spring.
• a conical compression element is placed at the end of a vertical arm linked to the handling member. By actuating the handling member vertically, the conical compression element is allowed to settle the dust in the waterproof bag.
• Document DE 38 25 773 also discloses the use of means for conveying separate waste in a tank type vacuum cleaner. This conveying, towards a sealed bag, is ensured either by a helical screw or by a piston, actuated by a control member.
• the means used only allow the waste to pass from the tank to the waste recovery bag with a simple packing effect by the screw or the piston, which allows only a small gain in storage volume.
• These means also allow fine dust to be conveyed to the waterproof bag, but there is always a risk that this fine dust may be discharged into the atmosphere, especially when the device is opened or during compression, or even if the bag is pierced, for example during the routing, by the piston or by the screw, of waste (s) having sharp edges.
• Document WO 00/54644 presents, for its part, a method for emptying the dust present in a first container of vacuum cleaner, in a second removable container connected in leaktight manner to said first container.
• the first container comprises, at one of its ends, a filter making it possible to retain part of the dust separated from the suction air.
• the first container has, in its lower part, a drain orifice closed by a hatch. Before the emptying operation, the first container is hermetically coupled by its emptying orifice to the filling orifice of the second evacuation container. The dust collected in the first container is then transferred to the second container which is removable.
• Such a process allows the first container to be emptied without causing dust clouds.
• Several alternative embodiments of the invention are proposed, among which are means for compressing the waste, by a piston carrying the waste separation filter.
• a variant describes the possibility of adding a caking agent to make small "bricks" of agglomerated dirt. This device makes it possible to compact the aspirated waste while allowing the fine dust to be agglutinated.
• One of the major drawbacks of this type of embodiment is, during compression, on the evacuation of air in the volume to be compressed.
• This air is expelled through the filter, which can, on the one hand, lead to rapid degradation of such a filter, and on the other hand, make the operation dependent on the degree of clogging of the filter, in particular as regards concerns the efforts to be made, by the user, to manage to compress the waste.
• the compression operation may even fail if the filter becomes completely clogged.
• One of the aims of the present invention is to solve the problems raised by the prior art, by providing simple solutions and a relatively low cost of implementation.
• the present invention is achieved using a device for compressing waste sucked into a vacuum cleaner and separated from the suction stream, comprising:
• a container for storing waste of constant section comprising a waste inlet opening
• a piston capable of sliding in the container, along the walls generated by the constant section over a determined length, said piston being in substantially sealed connection with said walls, characterized in that the device comprises a cup for receiving liquid, said cup being in aeraulic connection on the one hand with the container and on the other hand with the outside by means of a valve.
• the proposal for a piston device for compressing the aspirated waste allows a significant saving of space by minimizing the volume of the aspirated waste, once compressed.
• valve makes it possible to evacuate the air during the compression of the waste, while avoiding creating an air leak in the suction circuit during the operation of the vacuum cleaner, by this duct open towards the outside.
• the cup is located opposite the piston, which simplifies the architecture of the device.
• the constant section of the container extends substantially vertically, the container being disposed substantially vertically on the cup.
• the vertical arrangement of the compression device may indeed be preferred to an inclined or horizontal arrangement, although technically possible, by the effect of gravity resulting which results in a more homogeneous distribution of the waste according to the direction of compression.
• the horizontal arrangement may be desired in order to save space for the device in the waste recovery device.
• the cup of the waste compression device comprises means for guiding the vertical walls of the container for its precise positioning in said cup.
• This arrangement makes it possible in particular to maintain the container in the cup during the waste compression operation. It also makes it possible to center the container in the cup or to offset it according to the positions of the opening or openings to best control the evacuation of air from the container during compression by the piston.
• the guide means consist of vertical walls comprising at least one opening, in connection with at least one opening formed in the container, making it possible to control the evacuation of air from the storage container and to reduce turbulence caused by the passage of air.
• the air connection between the cup and the container can advantageously be provided by crenellations made in the lower part of the container and / or of the vertical guide wall when the latter is present. This arrangement makes it possible to distribute the evacuation of the air and possibly the liquid, resulting in a more homogeneous compression of the waste.
• the cup constitutes the bottom of the waste storage container, which, like a stopper, comes to close said container.
• This architecture is particularly advantageous insofar as the container can therefore be completely open in its lower part which then constitutes a preferred opening for the evacuation of agglomerated waste.
• This architecture is compatible with the conformation in slots of the lower part of the container and / or of the vertical guide wall.
• the lower part of the storage container has a horizontal part pierced with orifices.
• the evacuation of the air during compression is thus distributed over a multitude of orifices in the same compression plane, which allows a significant evacuation of the air, while allowing a homogeneous distribution of the liquid rising from the cup. to the container waste.
• At least one seal is disposed between the piston and the vertical walls of the container. It is then preferable that the walls of the container do not have a break in curve in order to guarantee sealing by said seal.
• the container is cylindrical.
• a preferred variant embodiment of the invention uses a scraper seal to clean the internal surface of the cylinder or of the filter as will be explained later.
• the piston comprises a control member accessible by the user and connected to the piston through a cover of the container provided for this purpose.
• the piston control can be actuated mechanically by the user, or the latter can start, by means of a switch, a motor allowing the descent of the piston into the container, a pressure or torque sensor allowing stop the engine when a certain compression ratio is reached or when a certain force opposing the advance of the piston is reached.
• the piston includes a device for projecting liquid into the container. This feature allows better compaction of waste by promoting its agglomeration.
• the liquid spraying device comprises a circuit for supplying liquid to regularly distributed orifices and opening onto the face of the piston disposed opposite the waste to be compressed.
• a circuit for supplying liquid to regularly distributed orifices and opening onto the face of the piston disposed opposite the waste to be compressed Such an arrangement makes it possible to spread the liquid uniformly over the waste to be compacted, while not complicating the general device.
• the projection of liquid can be controlled by the user or else be triggered automatically by the descent of the piston, for example before compression or during compression.
• the operations of spraying liquid and compressing waste are automatic.
• a gelling or solidifying product either over time, or in air, or in heat or in light is associated with the liquid, allowing better agglomeration of the waste.
• the waste compression device is associated with means for ejecting the waste in the form of agglomerated waste, at the simple request of the user.
• a device finds its application preferably in waste recovery devices where the separation of waste is carried out by a device of the cyclonic or inertial type. Such a device is then placed in the waste collection circuit.
• the present invention is not however limited to this single type of application, the walls of the container of the waste compression device being able to consist at least partially of a filter and to constitute a means of separation of waste.
• the walls consist of a porous plastic support on which is deposited an expanded PTFE film, which makes it possible, not only to offer a large filtration surface, but also, by the PTFE film, to have a surface that can be easily cleaned and on which the waste is difficult to hang.
• FIG. 1 schematically presents, in a sectional view, the principle of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the piston isolated from the other constituent parts of the invention.
• FIG. 3 represents a construction detail of an embodiment of the receiving cup of the waste container
• FIG. 4a and 4b show details of two other embodiments of the aeraulic connection between the cup and the container
• - Figure 5 illustrates the implementation of the invention in a vacuum cleaner comprising a device for separating waste by centrifugation
• FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view, in section, of the invention according to a variant embodiment using a dust filter
• FIG. 7 shows another possible implementation of the invention in a vacuum cleaner comprising a device for separating waste by a dust filter
• FIG. 8 shows alternative embodiments of the present invention.
• FIG. 1 One of the embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises a waste container 1 having a cylindrical wall 2. This container also has a side opening 8, through which the sucked waste 9 is introduced, in the direction F 8 , into the container 1. The lower part of the container 1 has at least one opening, as will be explained below. from the description.
• the container 1 In order to compress the accumulated waste, the container 1 is provided with a piston 12 which can slide along the cylindrical wall 2, against the friction force of at least one circular seal 14 housed in a groove formed on the periphery of the piston 12.
• an actuating arm 10 of the piston 12 advantageously opens out from the container 1 in its upper part forming a cover. This actuating arm is accessible by the user to compress the accumulated waste.
• One of the features of the invention resides in the use of a closed cup 6 which is filled with a liquid 16 when it is desired to compress the accumulated waste. By then placing the container 1 in the cup 6 filled with liquid 16, a connection is established between the interior of the container and the liquid through the opening or openings of the container 1.
• the cup 6 has a duct 13 connected to the outside of the suction circuit or even outside of the device, by a valve 15.
• the latter allows air circulation only from the inside to the outside of the cup 6. Sealing zones are therefore provided between the cup 6 and the container 2 so that the only possible passage of air from the inside of the container to the outside of the device, at the level of the cup, is produced only through the valve 15.
• the cup 6 also comprises, in this embodiment, vertical walls 4 for guiding the container 1. These walls may include means for locking the container on the cup 6, for example by a quarter-turn or bayonet-type system .
• Such a locking system is shown in FIG. 3, the notch 23 allowing the container 1 to be locked, the latter having a lateral lug coming into connection with the said notch when the container is positioned in the cup 6.
• this locking diagram preferably have at least two notches and at least two pins.
• Such a locking system can also be used to create an opening in the wall 4 towards the liquid 16, the locking of the container in the notch 23 making it possible, through the resulting opening 21 or a part thereof, to create an air communication between the waste inside the container, and the liquid then contained in the cup 6.
• the piston 12 comprises a device for spraying liquid inside the container 1.
• This device comprises a circuit 18 for supplying the liquid terminated by orifices 20 arranged, preferably regularly, on the surface of the piston 12 facing the accumulated waste.
• the liquid supply circuit 18 can be located inside the actuating arm 10, as shown, or outside.
• This circuit 18 can optionally be connected to a reservoir containing the liquid to be sprayed, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8 by an injection bulb 190.
• the liquid supply circuit is connected to a pump in order to send the liquid under pressure to the container, making it possible in particular to unclog the orifices liable to become clogged during compression piston on the waste.
• the container is completely open in its lower part and the connection with the liquid 16 is made, either under the wall 4, or through said wall, for example by taking advantage of the opening generated by the locking system when it is present.
• Figure 4a shows a possible configuration of the lower part of the cylindrical wall 196 of the waste container by proposing a multitude of openings 197 in any form, such as slots, as illustrated in this figure. These openings are advantageously distributed regularly over the periphery of the wall 196. When guide walls of the container are present at the level of the cup, openings are then formed in said guide walls in order to bring the interior of the air into correspondence cup with the inside of the container.
• FIG. 4b presents another variant embodiment of the invention, where a horizontal wall 41 completes, in addition to the vertical guide walls 40, the reception of the container 1.
• This horizontal wall is pierced with a multitude of orifices 22 and is arranged in such a way that a liquid blade 161 is present under this wall.
• liquid is introduced into the container, for example through the orifices 20 of the piston 12 as mentioned, although all another process is possible.
• This operation can be carried out manually or automatically, possibly with a control of the liquid level.
• the piston is then slowly driven downward, in the direction F 2 , either manually or automatically by a motor, or even by using the pressures and depressions delivered by the vacuum cleaner. An additional liquid can possibly be carried out at this stage of the process.
• the liquid 16 permeates the dust and waste 9 by rising through the orifices (21, 22, 201), in the direction F e , essentially by capillarity.
• This introduction of liquid through the lower part of the container promotes compacting and the holding between them of compacted waste, in addition to the spraying through the orifices 20 of the piston 12 of a liquid product.
• the size of the air exhaust openings is judiciously determined. Too small an opening size would make compression difficult, while not promoting the ascent of the liquid in the container. On the contrary, too large an opening size would certainly allow rapid evacuation of the air, but would risk generating too great a rise in liquid and / or too rapid expulsion of the air through the liquid. not allowing good retention of fine dust in the liquid. Depending on the liquid used, its wetting power and its viscosity, the size of the openings is between a few tens of ⁇ m and a few mm.
• the liquids used are preferably water to which it is possible to add antimicrobial or disinfectant products, such as bleach, to avoid microbial development, or even an acaricide product. We can also make the liquid more or less viscous to adjust for optimum operation of the device.
• the liquid may contain a gelling or even solidifying product on contact with air or over time or even under the effect of light or heat.
• a product can be added to the liquid or else introduced beforehand into the container, for example in the form of a powder.
• FIG. 5 shows a first example of application of the invention in the waste collection circuit separated by a device 30 of the inertial type.
• a device 30 of the inertial type.
• the device 30 is connected, on the one hand by its conduit 38, to a suction group, and on the other hand, by its mouth 32, on the surface to be cleaned.
• the waste is therefore sucked through the mouth 32, and enters a first conduit 34 where it is rotated by a screw 35.
• the waste therefore takes a rotational movement, according to the arrow indicated in dotted lines. They then enter a chamber 36 comprising the conduit 38 substantially in the axis of the screw 35.
• Waste, rotated, are then separated from the air stream which continues its travel through the pipe 38 in the direction F 3 8, while the waste falls by inertia and by gravity onto the inclined plane 81 to enter the device compaction 101 in the direction F 8 ⁇ .
• drive devices can be used to convey the separated waste to the container, for example by a conveyor belt or by a helical screw system or Archimedes screw rotating around its axis at low speed.
• Figures 6 and 7 show other examples of implementation of the invention in devices comprising a separation of waste by a filter.
• the compacting device 102 differs from the devices presented above by the presence of a filter 50 in a ring, housed in the cylindrical wall 200.
• the device is then inserted into the aeraulic suction circuit and the air entering with the waste through the mouth 8 is filtered by the filter 50.
• a cylindrical tube (not shown) in the upper part of the device makes it possible to convey the filtered air to the suction group.
• seals 140 Scrape the surface of the filter 50, promoting its unclogging. These seals then preferably have a shape of lip to promote this scraping effect, or even unclogging of the filter 50.
• FIG. 7 A variant of this arrangement of the filter is presented in FIG. 7 in a top view.
• the filter 501 is no longer in a crown on the wall of the container but is arranged in an arc of a circle over part of the periphery of the cylindrical wall 201.
• a duct 502 then routes the filtered air to the suction group.
• This simplified diagram allows a light structure of the device for easy disassembly when emptying the container.
• the present invention is not limited to the use of a liquid filter located in the lower part of the waste storage container, but also covers, more generally, any device for compacting waste where the air is expelled, either from the lower part of the container as previously explained, or from the upper part, that is to say through the piston.
• the air is evacuated through the piston 120 which comprises an aeraulic connection by a duct 11 in relation, on the one hand with the interior of the container 100, and on the other hand with the inside of a cup 170 containing the liquid 16.
• the cup is closed by a cover from which emerges a tube 130 surmounted by a valve 150 as previously explained in FIG. 1.
• the present variant is not limited to the arrangement of the liquid filter in the piston, but also includes the configurations where the bubbling filter is located outside the compression or even suction system, but where the evacuation of air during compression is carried out by a tube passing through the piston.
• This architectural principle can be used in devices comprising a separation of waste by a filter, as presented in FIGS. 6 and 7.
• the compression step remains substantially similar to what has already been mentioned, although the filling of the cup 170 is independent of the amount of liquid projected onto the waste to be compacted.
• the principle of the invention therefore consists in using a piston device associated with a projection of liquid in order to compress and compact waste, said compression being carried out in aeraulic connection with a cup containing a liquid in order not only to expel the air from the container, but also to prevent any leakage of particles, and in particular fine particles, during the waste compression operation.
• This cup when it is located near the accumulated waste, and in particular when it constitutes the bottom of the container, also allows the impregnation of the waste by the ascent of part of the liquid in the container containing the waste, in order to '' standardize the distribution of the liquid within the waste.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
• Filters For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
• Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
• Separation, Recovery Or Treatment Of Waste Materials Containing Plastics (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=8862130

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (29)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2001
  • 2001-04-09 FR FR0104826A patent/FR2823091B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-03-19 DE DE60225905T patent/DE60225905T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-03-19 WO PCT/FR2002/000954 patent/WO2002085175A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2002-03-19 EP EP02764072A patent/EP1385411B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-03-19 AT AT02764072T patent/ATE390880T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events