EP1513745B1 - Waste collection device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for collecting waste, a receptacle in which a plastics bin liner bag is placed, a driver for driving a covering for constituting a plastics bag, the covering being contained in a compartment situated in the top portion of the receptacle. The driver serving to deliver the bag from the storage compartment to the bottom of the receptacle; sealing and cutting are used for acting on the covering leaving the compartment and subsequently for closing and separating the bag from the remainder of the covering once the bag has been filled with waste. The waste collector device of the invention may include a compactor for compacting the bag containing waste, and a device or mechanism for opening and closing a central orifice through which waste is introduced via the top portion of the collector device.

Description

The present invention relates to a waste collection device comprising a container in which is placed a plastic garbage bag.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for collecting or packaging waste to facilitate and simplify the operations of collection and packaging of waste in a household as well as professional use, and more particularly to improve comfort and hygiene of this use.

• un compartiment de stockage d'une enveloppe en forme de gaine ou chaussette destinée à constituer un sac réalisée dans un film plastique, ladite enveloppe étant contenue dans un compartiment de stockage, de préférence sous forme pliée, ledit compartiment étant situé dans la partie supérieure dudit récipient, de préférence à l'intérieur de celui-ci, et
• des moyens d'entraînement étant aptes à assurer le dévidement de ladite enveloppe depuis ledit compartiment de stockage à l'intérieur, de préférence jusqu'au fond, dudit récipient pour former un dit sac, et
• des moyens de scellage et de coupure, de préférence par thermoscellage et thermocoupure, de ladite enveloppe permettant de réaliser un dit sac à partir de ladite enveloppe sortant dudit compartiment, puis de fermer et de séparer du reste de ladite enveloppe, un dit sac une fois ce dernier remplit de déchets,
• ledit compartiment de stockage étant disposé de manière à définir un orifice central supérieur dudit récipient par lequel on peut introduire des déchets dans ledit sac.

The present invention more specifically relates to a waste collection device comprising a container in which is placed a plastic garbage bag comprising:

• a compartment for storing a jacket in the form of a sheath or sock intended to constitute a bag made of a plastic film, said envelope being contained in a storage compartment, preferably in folded form, said compartment being located in the upper part of said container, preferably inside it, and
• driving means being able to ensure the unwinding of said envelope from said storage compartment inside, preferably to the bottom, of said container to form a said bag, and
• sealing and cutting means, preferably by heat sealing and thermocouple, of said envelope for making said bag from said envelope coming out of said compartment, then closing and separating from the remainder of said envelope, said bag once the latter fills with waste,
• said storage compartment being arranged to define an upper central orifice of said container through which waste can be introduced into said bag.

In US 6,065,272 a waste collection device of this type is described in which the drive means are rotating rollers arranged one against the other in the region of the center of the container at all times. Indeed, said rollers bear permanently against the plastic sheath unwound from the upper storage compartment. When a waste is dropped directly above the container, said rollers move apart from one another at the passage of the waste but continue to exert pressure against the sheath and the waste so as to simultaneously drive the sheath and the waste. The constant pressure of the rollers on the sheath allows permanent containment of the container. However, the entrainment of waste inside the container is inseparable from the unwinding of the sheath out of its storage compartment.

In fact, the device described in US 6065272 is more particularly intended to package waste unitarily after having driven and crushed individually, while unwinding the length of a necessary and sufficient envelope to constitute a unit package.

This device is not usable in applications that do not allow the grinding or destructuring of the waste being collected in the container, particularly when the waste is smelly in mechanical contact with said waste during collection may result in increase of nuisances and constitute a significant disadvantage.

The device according to the invention therefore allows the distribution of a plastic film inside said container, the embodiment in the form of a bag and the establishment at the bottom of said container, and automatically without manual intervention of an operator. The plastic film in the form of a sock, packaged in said container, allows the production of bags whose bottoms and the top can be closed by means of a sealing device of the type creating a weld, especially by heat-sealing or any other method of sealing or cutting having the same function.

The object of the present invention is also to provide a device for collecting and packaging waste which avoids any contact of said waste with parts of said device other than said plastic garbage bag. Another aim is to avoid as much as possible any possible spread of odors, or even other possible emanations, coming from the inside of a said partially filled bag of waste with the outside.

Another object of the present invention is to be able to maximize the return on the collection and packaging of waste by allowing optimum filling of said bags.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collection and packaging device which excludes any manual handling of the bags and involves a maximum automated operation.

• il comprend, en outre, des moyens de fermeture et ouverture dudit orifice central dans la partie supérieure dudit récipient par lequel on peut introduire des déchets dans ledit sac, l'ouverture dudit orifice central étant déclenché lorsqu'un objet tel qu'un déchet est détecté au-dessus dudit orifice central, et ledit orifice central étant maintenu fermé entre l'introduction de deux déchets, lesdits moyens de fermeture et d'ouverture dudit orifice central étant situés au-dessus desdits moyens d'entraînement, et
• lesdits moyens d'entraînement sont aptes à :
  • adopter une position de dégagement dans laquelle ils délimitent une ouverture de la bordure supérieure du sac permettant l'introduction de déchets sans contact avec la bordure supérieure ouverte de ladite enveloppe, et
  • se déplacer de manière à venir coincer ladite enveloppe de film plastique sortant dudit compartiment dans la région du centre dudit récipient pour permettre l'entraînement dudit sac, le cas échéant sa descente jusqu'au fond dudit récipient.

To do this, the present invention provides a waste collection device comprising a container in which a plastic garbage bag of the type described above is placed, characterized in that

• it further comprises means for closing and opening said central orifice in the upper part of said container through which waste can be introduced into said bag, the opening of said central orifice being triggered when an object such as a waste is detected above said central orifice, and said central orifice being kept closed between the introduction of two wastes, said means for closing and opening said central orifice being located above said drive means, and
• said drive means are adapted to:
  • adopt a release position in which they define an opening in the upper edge of the bag allowing the introduction of waste without contact with the open upper edge of said envelope, and
  • moving so as to wedge said envelope of plastic film exiting said compartment in the region of the center of said container to allow the drive of said bag, if necessary its descent to the bottom of said container.

More particularly, said drive means are constituted by first rollers located in said container below said storage compartment, said storage compartment disposed against the inner periphery of said container so as to define an upper central orifice of said container through which introducing said waste into said bag, and said first rollers are adapted to move from two opposite edges of said container to come jamming said envelope of plastic film exiting said compartment in the center region of said container, and allow driving said bag and its descent to the bottom of said container by rotation of said first rollers.

More particularly still, said first rollers are arranged parallel and, horizontally face to face, against or near two opposite edges of said container and are able to be moved mechanically in horizontal translation in a direction perpendicular to their horizontal axes from a release position. allowing the introduction of waste into said bag through said open central opening without contact with the upper edge of said bag, to a position close to the center of said container in which they come to wedge said envelope and allow the drive and, the where appropriate, its closure.

The opening of the envelope, according to the present invention, is maximum when the waste is introduced into the bag and the waste encounters no obstacle when introduced into the bag. In addition, the waste is not subject to any contact pressure before optional further compaction can not occur before sealing the upper opening of the bag once it filled with waste as explained below.

• - a) la fermeture de la bordure ouverte de ladite enveloppe en forme de chaussette sortant de son dit compartiment de stockage pour réaliser le fond d'un dit sac avant sa descente au fond dudit récipient, et
• - b) la fermeture d'un sac complètement ou partiellement rempli de déchets, notamment lorsque le sac est mis en place au fond du récipient, et
• - c) de préférence, la séparation d'un dit sac après sa dite fermeture par scellage en réalisant une coupure de ladite enveloppe de film plastique au-dessus de la zone correspondant à la fermeture par scellage de la bordure supérieure dudit sac rempli, et
• - d) de préférence, la réalisation d'un percement partiel de la bordure supérieure d'un dit sac au-dessus de la dite zone de fermeture, notamment la ligne de fermeture, de manière à constituer une poignée du sac rempli à évacuer, et
• - e) la fermeture par thermoscellage de l'extrémité inférieure de la bordure de l'enveloppe sortant dudit compartiment au-dessus de la zone correspondant à ladite coupure de séparation mentionnée à l'étape c), notamment la ligne de coupure, ou le cas échéant au-dessus de ladite poignée mentionnée à l'étape d).

More particularly, said sealing and cutting means, preferably by heat-sealing and thermocouping, make it possible to carry out the following steps comprising:

• a) closing the open border of said sock-like envelope issuing from said storage compartment to make the bottom of said bag before it descends to the bottom of said container, and
• - b) the closure of a bag completely or partially filled with waste, especially when the bag is placed in the bottom of the container, and
• - c) preferably, the separation of a said bag after said closure by sealing by cutting said envelope of plastic film above the area corresponding to the closure by sealing the upper edge of said filled bag, and
• - d) preferably, performing a partial piercing of the upper edge of said bag above said closure area, in particular the closure line, so as to constitute a handle of the filled bag to be evacuated, and
• e) closing by heat-sealing the lower end of the edge of the envelope coming out of said compartment above the zone corresponding to said separation cutoff mentioned in step c), in particular the cut-off line, or the if necessary above said handle mentioned in step d).

Advantageously, said drive means and said sealing and cutting means are situated in the upper part of said container and are able to cooperate in such a way as to be able to seal said plastic film in order to close a bottom of a said bag according to said steps a) and e), before the descent of said bag at the bottom of said container, and if appropriate after or concomitantly with said closure of the upper edge of a said filled bag according to step b), and the case after said cuts in steps c) and d).

In a preferred embodiment, said heat-sealing and thermocouping means are capable of carrying out said steps a) to e) concomitantly, and preferably comprise two heat-sealing plates arranged facing each other in parallel and able to move from two opposite edges of said container until to come in the region of the center of said container by wedging said envelope of plastic film between said two heat sealing and thermocoupure plates.

More particularly, said heat-sealing and thermocouple plates are disposed below said first drive rolls respectively, and are able to cooperate with the latter so that when said two first drive rollers are rotated so as to allow placing said bag at the bottom of said container, said heat sealing and thermocoupure plates are in spaced apart position to allow a passage and allow the descent of said bag between them.

More particularly, said heat-sealing and thermocouple plates are disposed below respectively said first drive rollers and integral with the latter, said first rollers being mounted flexibly so that when they are in the wedging position of a said envelope of film, it is still possible to bring said heat-sealing and thermocouple plates against each other in the center of said container to achieve said heat-sealing and said thermocoupure of said envelope wedged between said two plates.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the present invention the device comprises compacting means able to apply pressure to the constituent film of the bag once it has partially or completely filled with waste from outside the bag.

These compaction means come into action after introduction of the waste into the bag and just before sealing the opening of the bag and are therefore dissociated or independent of the drive means of the envelope.

The compacting device reduces the volume of waste inside the bag and thus reduce bag consumption and increase the time of use of a bag and thus reduce the number of bags change. These compaction means are optional, they can also be operated manually but preferably they are triggered automatically.

More particularly, said compacting means comprise pivoting compacting bars located beneath said heat-sealing and thermocouping means and able to pivot from a rest position in which said bars are respectively disposed against opposite edges of said container, to an inclined position. obtained by pivoting about an axis of rotation at their lower end which is fixed integrally against said opposite edges respectively of said container, until the upper end of said bars arrive in the region of the center of said container.

Preferably, the activation of said compacting means is automatically controlled by means of a sensor or a photoelectric cell as soon as said bag is more than half filled and preferably, after each new introduction of waste in said bag, then, when said bag is completely filled, said compacting means being maintained in compacting position until said heat sealing and or said thermocoupure for the closure of said bag full and optionally its separation is completed.

Advantageously, said compacting arms comprise flexible or semi-rigid bands stretched in rigid frames so that when said compacting strips meet said bag filled with said incompressible waste, said compacting strips are deformed thereby avoiding the tearing of said plastic bag, and said pivoting of said compacting strips, is interrupted when it encounters a resistance corresponding to a predetermined compaction pressure.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the present invention, the device comprises means for closing and opening a central orifice in the upper part of said container through which waste is introduced into said bag, said closing and opening means being automatically controlled by by means of a sensor or a photocell so as to keep said closed container between the introduction of two wastes and so as to cause the opening of said central orifice when an object such as a waste is presented to the above the location corresponding to said central orifice.

Advantageously, said means for closing and opening comprise a moving strip wound between two second rollers arranged against two opposite edges of said container above said storage compartment, and the scrolling of said strip being obtained by rotation of said second rollers, and said strip scroll bar comprising a notch substantially of the shape of said central orifice so that when said notch coincides with said central orifice is in the open position for the introduction of said waste, and when a solid portion of said strip completely covers said upper central orifice , said container is in the closed position ensuring the confinement of said waste inside said container.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the present invention, said bag is put in place at the bottom of said container inside a box, said box being secured to a lower part of at least one of the edges of said container and said box resting on sliding means for evacuating said bag by pulling said lower portion of the edge of the container integral with said box.

According to another advantageous characteristic according to the invention, the device according to the invention is characterized in that it is equipped with electronic means making it possible to control and synchronize the following different steps, according to the information received from said sensors or photocells:
The present invention also relates to a method of collecting waste with a device according to the invention.

• 1. on scelle et coupe ladite enveloppe pour former le fond d'un dit sac à l'aide desdits moyens de scellage et de coupure (10₁, 10₂),
• 2. on entraîne ledit sac à l'intérieur dudit récipient, de préférence au fond dudit récipient, à l'aide desdits moyens d'entraînement (6₁, 6₂), et
• 3. on positionne lesdits moyens d'entraînement (6₁, 6₂) en position de dégagement dans laquelle il délimite une ouverture de la bordure supérieure du sac permettant l'introduction de déchets, et
• 4. on effectue l'ouverture dudit orifice central (1₂) à l'aide desdits moyens de fermeture et d'ouverture (17, 18₁, 18₅) lorsqu'un déchet est détecté au-dessus dudit orifice central (1₂), et
• 5. on introduit ledit déchet à travers ledit orifice central (1₂) ouvert, ledit déchet étant recueilli au fond d'un dit sac, et
• 6. on effectue la fermeture dudit orifice central (1₂) à l'aide desdits moyens de fermeture et ouverture (17, 18₁, 18₅) dudit orifice central (1₂) immédiatement après l'introduction dudit déchet à travers ledit orifice central (1₂) ouvert de l'étape 2, et
• 7. on effectue, le cas échéant, ledit compactage dudit sac avec lesdits moyens de compactage (14₁, 14₂).
• 8. on effectue le scellage et la coupure de la bordure supérieure dudit sac une fois rempli de déchets à l'aide desdits moyens de scellage et coupure (10₁, 10₂), et
• 9. on évacue le cas échéant ledit sac plein hors dudit récipient.

More particularly, the method of collecting waste according to the invention carries out the following successive steps:

• 1. is sealed and cut said casing to form the bottom of a said bag using said means of sealing and cutting (10 _1, 10 _2),
• 2. said bag is driven inside said container, preferably at the bottom of said container, by means of said drive means (6 ₁ , 6 ₂ ), and
• 3. positioning said drive means (6 ₁ , 6 ₂ ) in the release position in which it defines an opening of the upper edge of the bag for the introduction of waste, and
• 4. the opening of said central orifice (1 ₂ ) is effected by means of said closing and opening means (17, 18 ₁ , 18 ₅ ) when a waste is detected above said central orifice (1 ₂ ), and
• 5. introducing said waste through said central opening (1 ₂ ) open, said waste being collected at the bottom of said bag, and
• 6. closing said central orifice (1 ₂ ) by means of said closure means and opening (17, 18 ₁ , 18 ₅ ) of said central orifice (1 ₂ ) immediately after the introduction of said waste through said orifice central (1 ₂ ) opened from step 2, and
• 7. If necessary, said compacting of said bag is carried out with said compacting means (14 ₁ , 14 ₂ ).
• 8. sealing and cutting the top edge of said bag once filled with waste using said sealing and cutting means (10 ₁ , 10 ₂ ), and
• 9. where appropriate, said solid bag is removed from said container.

• La figure 1 représente une vue en perspective d'un dispositif de collecte de déchets selon l'invention,
• La figure 2 représente une vue en coupe médiane d'un dispositif de collecte selon l'invention comprenant un sac mis en place et à moitié rempli de déchets, les bras compacteurs étant en position au repos dégagés,
• La figure 3 représente une vue en coupe médiane d'un dispositif de collecte selon l'invention, le sac étant rempli au deux tiers et les bras de compactages étant mis en action de compactage,
• La figure 4 représente une vue en coupe médiane d'un dispositif de collecte selon l'invention dont le sac est plein, avec les bras de compactages en position de compactage et les plaques de thermoscellage en position de thermoscellage.
• Les figures 5 et 6 représentent chacune des deux plaques de thermoscellage et thermocoupure,
• La figure 7 représente la partie basse du dispositif en cours d'évacuation d'un sac plein, et la partie haute du dispositif avec son capot relevé.
• La figure 8 représente une vue des moyens d'ouverture / fermeture de l'orifice central dans la partie supérieure dudit récipient par lequel on introduit des déchets.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the light of the detailed description which follows with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a waste collection device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 represents a view in median section of a collection device according to the invention comprising a bag placed in place and half filled with waste, the compacting arms being in idle rest position,
• FIG. 3 represents a view in median section of a collection device according to the invention, the bag being filled to two-thirds and the compacting arms being set in compacting action,
• FIG. 4 represents a view in median section of a collection device according to the invention, the bag of which is solid, with the compacting arms in the compacting position and the heat-sealing plates in the heat-sealing position.
• FIGS. 5 and 6 show each of the two heat sealing and thermocouple plates,
• Figure 7 shows the lower part of the device during evacuation of a full bag, and the upper part of the device with its hood raised.
• FIG. 8 represents a view of the opening / closing means of the central orifice in the upper part of said container through which waste is introduced.

• des moyens d'entraînement (6₁, 6₂) d'une enveloppe (2₁) destinée à constituer un sac (2) plastique contenu dans un compartiment (4) situé dans la partie supérieure dudit récipient (1), et lesdits moyens d'entraînement (6₁, 6₂) assurant le dévidement dudit sac depuis ledit compartiment de stockage (4) jusqu'au fond (1₁) dudit récipient (1), et
• des moyens de scellage et de coupure (10₁, 10₂), de préférence par thermoscellage et thermocoupure, de ladite enveloppe sortant dudit compartiment (4), puis de fermer et de séparer du reste de ladite enveloppe, un dit sac (2) une fois ce dernier remplit de déchets (20).

The waste collection device comprises a container 1 in which a garbage bag 2 made of plastic is placed, characterized in that it comprises:

• driving means (6 ₁ , 6 ₂ ) of a casing (2 ₁ ) intended to constitute a plastic bag (2) contained in a compartment (4) located in the upper part of said container (1), and said means driving (6 ₁ , 6 ₂ ) unwinding said bag from said storage compartment (4) to the bottom (1 ₁ ) of said container (1), and
• sealing and cutting means (10 ₁ , 10 ₂ ), preferably by heat-sealing and thermocouping, of said envelope coming out of said compartment (4), then closing and separating from the remainder of said envelope, a said bag (2) once the latter fills with waste (20).

The waste collection device according to the invention comprises compacting means (14 ₁ , 14 ₂ ) of the bag containing waste and means for closing and opening (17, 18 ₁ -18 ₄ ) a central orifice through which the waste is introduced through the upper part of the collection device.

More precisely, the waste collection device according to the present invention comprises a parallelepipedal rigid container 1 in which a plastic envelope 2 is placed in order to constitute a bag.

The plastic bag 2 comes to rest at the bottom 1 ₁ of the container 1 in a lower box 3 which ensures its maintenance and allows to contain the waste 20 in case of tearing of the bag 2 and finally allows the evacuation of the bag 2 as it will be explained more far.

The container 1 comprises at its upper part a peripheral storage compartment 4 resting on a flat peripheral frame 5 forming a support, said storage compartment 4 serving to store a plastic film 2, in particular polyethylene allowing the realization of the bags 2. The film 2 ₁ is stored in the form of a folded sock in said peripheral compartment 4, which has a peripheral slot (not shown) allowing its unwinding and the output of said film in the form of sock. It is understood that the peripheral compartment 4 defines a central orifice 1 ₂ in the upper part of the container 1 through which the waste 20 is introduced into the bag 2 when it has been put in place to the bottom 1 ₁ of the container 1.

The container 1 is equipped inside with means for placing the bag by unfolding the plastic film 2 ₁ out of its compartment 4, said means are constituted by two said first drive rollers 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ which are arranged and operate in the following manner.

Said first rollers 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ are arranged face to face along two opposite edges 1 ₃ , 1 _{4 of} said container 1, that is to say parallel to each other. They can turn on themselves around their longitudinal axis which is therefore an axis of rotation. They are able to be displaced in translation in a transverse direction, that is to say the direction perpendicular to their axis, that is to say still in the direction of the other two lateral edges of said container 1.

Said first drive rollers of the bag 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ are mounted between two lateral support plates 7 ₁ , 7 ₂ themselves mounted below said support frame 5. Said side plates 7 ₁ , 7 ₂ are arranged against the two edges 1 ₃ , 1 ₄ opposite said container and are interconnected by transverse rods 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ and 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ arranged along the other two opposite edges 15, 16 of the container so as to leave said upper central orifice 1 ₂ defined by said compartment 4. These guide rods are constituted by worm on which carts can move. Two carriages 9 _t , 9 ₂ move along each of the first guide rods 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ and are each integral with the end of said first drive rollers 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ and thus allow the displacement of said first rollers. 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ from the edges 1 ₃ , 1 ₄ of the container 1 towards the center thereof so as to come and pinch the plastic film 2 constituting said bag. One at least 6 ₁ of the said drive roller is equipped with a first motor 6 _3, fixed at one of its ends for rotation on itself. Said first motorized roll 6 ₁ drives the rolling of the second driving roller 6 ₂ by means of two toothed pulleys fixed on the axes and at the end of each of said drive rollers 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ and thus constitutes a gear when the two rollers 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ are in contact. The axes of the first rollers 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ are mounted on the two lateral guide rods 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ at their ends and on the first carriages 9 ₁ , 9 ₂ via return springs contained in the part 6 ₄ which modulates the spacing of said first rollers 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ against each other depending on the thickness of the plastic film constituting the bag 2.

Said first rollers make it possible to unwind so to lower the sheath constituting the envelope to the bottom of the collector, but they can also, if they are rotated in the opposite direction, up the sheath to save, if one wishes optimize the length of sheath used compared to the waste it contains and therefore sealed just above this waste. When the first rollers are in the separated position, they define a large bag opening, of square section, facilitating the descent of the waste in the bag. The flexible mounting mode of said drive rollers 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ also makes it possible to heat-seal and thermocouple the plastic film to seal the end edge of the film forming an envelope and thus form the bottom of the bag before it is put into place. in place as explained below.

Indeed, the film 2 ₁ initially leaves its compartment 4 forming an open tubular flexible envelope. Said container 1 is also equipped with heat-sealing and thermocouple means 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ which make it possible to seal the envelope to form the bottom of a bag before it flows to the bottom of the container 1. The heat-sealing means and thermocoupure 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ therefore comprise two heat sealing and thermocouple plates 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ . These two heat-sealing and thermocouple plates 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ are mounted below said first drive rollers 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ and are integral with those ci and said first carriages 9 ₁ , 9 ₂ . Said heat-sealing and thermocouple plates 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ are thus moved by the same carriages 9 ₁ , 9 ₂ in the transverse direction from the opposite edges 1 ₃ , 1 ₄ of the container 1 towards the center of the container by displacement along two transverse guide rods 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ consist of worm. Said heat-sealing and thermocouple plates 10 ₁ , 10 _2, however, are slightly offset by approximately 1 cm with respect to said first drive rollers 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ so that when said first rolls 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ are in contact one against the other said heat-cutting and thermosealing plates 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ leave a free space between them allowing the bag 2 to unfold while passing between said plates 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ to reach the bottom 1 ₁ of container 1. As said first drive rollers 6 _1, 6 ₂ are flexibly mounted on return springs 6 ₅ it was possible to bring said further plates 10 ₁ 10 ₂ against each other to perform the heat sealing and thermocoupure continuing to move the carriages 9 ₁ , 9 ₂ to the centers which is made possible because the mounting of said drive rollers allow their lateral movement.

• 1 -- une première fois à la première utilisation du dispositif c'est à dire lors de la première mise en place d'un sac. Avant le déroulement complet du film enveloppe pour l'installer jusqu'au fond du récipient 1, on réalise la fermeture de l'enveloppe par thermoscellage pour constituer le fond du sac.
• 2 -- ensuite, lorsqu'un sac est plein, les plaques de thermoscellage et thermocoupure permettent de :
  • a. thermosceller l'ouverture supérieure du sac et ainsi fermer le sac,
  • b. séparer par thermocoupure le sac ainsi fermé, du film situé au-dessus qui était en continuité du sac avant sa fermeture,
  • c. thermosceller l'enveloppe ouverte ainsi créée pour constituer le fond du sac suivant qui sera mis en place, c'est à dire descendu au fond 1₁ du récipient 1, après évacuation du sac plein 2 précédent,
  • d. créer une fente dans la partie supérieure de la bordure du sac plein situé au-dessus de la ligne de scellement par thermocoupure.

The heat-sealing and thermocouping of the plastic film 2 occur under the following circumstances:

• 1 - a first time at the first use of the device that is to say during the first introduction of a bag. Before the complete unfolding of the envelope film to install it to the bottom of the container 1, the envelope is closed by heat-sealing to form the bottom of the bag.
• 2 - then, when a bag is full, the heat sealing and thermocouple plates make it possible to:
  • at. heat seal the top opening of the bag and thus close the bag,
  • b. to separate by thermocoupure the bag thus closed, of the film located above which was in continuity of the bag before its closure,
  • vs. heat-seal the open envelope thus created to form the bottom of the following bag which will be put in place, that is to say lowered to the bottom 1 ₁ of the container 1, after evacuation of the previous full bag 2,
  • d. create a slot in the upper portion of the solid bag edge located above the thermocouple seal line.

In fact the operations a) to d) mentioned above are carried out concomitantly taking into account the structure of the plates of themoscellage and thermocoupure 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ which will be explained below.

A first heat sealing and thermocouple plate 10 ₁ comprises two longitudinal grooves along its lower and upper edges, grooves in which armored resistors 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ are fixed which allow the realization of the seals of the bottom of the upper bag and the border upper of the lower bag.

Below the upper resistor 11 ₁ there is a first heating wire 12 ₁ fixed on said first heat sealing plate 10 ₁ stretched between two fixing holes 13 ₁ , 13 ₂ . This first heating film 12 ₁ cooperates with the second heat sealing plate 10 ₂ being housed in a first slot ₄ of said second heat-cutting and thermosheet plate 10 ₂ when the two said heat-sealing and thermocouple plates 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ are applied against each other in contact. The film is then cut and the two bags are separated by thermocoupure because the wire passes through the film 2 passing through the second said plate 10 ₂ going to be accommodated in the first slot 10 ₄ when the two said plates 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ are contacted. A second heating wire 12 ₂ is disposed under the first heating wire 12 ₁ , extending over a shorter length than said first heating wire 12 ₁ . This second heating wire 12 ₂ cooperates with a second slot 10 ₅ of the second plate heat seal ₁₀ February. Said second slot ₅ is thus arranged opposite the second heating wire 12 ₂ and operates in the same manner as the first heating wire 12 ₁ / first slot ₄ . Said second heating wire 12 ₂ cooperates with said second slot ₅ to thermally cut a handle 2 ₁ in the upper edge of the solid bag 2 which has just been concomitantly closed by heat-sealing with the aid of said second lower resistor 11 _2.

Of course, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the sealing and cutting of the bags can be carried out by other methods than heat sealing and thermocouping.

The waste collection device according to the invention further comprises compacting means 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ and 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ , 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ , 16 ₃ , 16 ₄ of the bag 2 once it is filled. partially or totally waste 20.

The compacting means comprise pivoting compacting arms 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ mounted against the inner walls of the opposite edges 1 ₃ , 1 ₄ of the container 1. these compacting arms 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ pivot about their axes of rotation 14 ₃ , 14 ₄ located at the lower ends of said compactor arms 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ . Said lower ends are fixedly placed against said opposite edges 1 ₃ , 1 ₄ respectively of said container 1, so that by pivoting their upper ends can tilt and come closer to each other by pressing the walls of the bag 2 outside of it in its lower part. This causes packing of the waste contained in the bag 2, avoiding any contact with said waste.

In the rest position, before being put into action, said compactor arms 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ are arranged substantially vertically against the sides of the container 1, thus releasing the opening of the bags and thus allowing the introduction of waste 20 into said bags .

The pivoting of said compactor arms 14 ₁ , 14 _{2 is} carried out according to the following mechanism. The upper end of said arm compactors 14 _1, 14 ₂ can be close to the center of the container 1 since they are connected through connecting arm ₁₅ January, 15 ₂ in the form of parrallèlogrammes deformable second transverse guide rods 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ arranged transversely and providing the junction between said lateral support plates 7 ₁ , 7 ₂ . It is understood that said second transverse rods 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ are situated below said first transverse rods 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ and below said heat-sealing and thermocouple plates 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ . Said second transverse rods 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ are constituted by worms supporting a second motor 16 ₃ for the displacement of two carriages 16 ₄ , 16 ₅ , each secured to one end of said link arms 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ sure each of the transverse rods 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ . The pivoting of said compactor arms 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ occurs when said second carriages 16 ₄ , 16 ₅ and thus said link arms ₁ , 15 ₂ are moved towards the center of the container. The lower end 14 ₃ , 14 ₄ fixed said compactor arms 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ is located at about half the height of the bag 2.

When the bag 2 is two-thirds full, it performs a first compaction (Figure 3). Then, if desired, a new compaction is performed after each introduction of new waste inside the garbage bag 2. Finally, when the garbage bag 2 is considered full is carried out final compaction (Figure 4). During the final compaction, the compaction arms 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ remain inclined in compacting position to allow the closing heat sealing of the bag and the thermocoupure for its separation. And said arms return rollers in a substantially vertical rest position against said sides opposés1 _3, 1 ₄ of the container 1 when the heat sealing and hot-cutting are completed.

To prevent tearing of the bag during compaction, compactors pivot arm are in fact made of a rigid frame, said frame supporting a flexible belt or semirigid not shown stretched inside said frame May _14. This embodiment makes it possible to exert a pressure during compaction by means of said flexible or semi-rigid strip, which causes a deformation of the band when pressure is exerted, thus preventing tearing of the bag 2 by case of presence of incompressible waste. In addition the motor 16 ₃ actuating the pivoting of the compactor arms 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ is equipped with a device allowing its disengagement when the pressure exceeds a certain threshold, said pressure threshold is adjustable depending on the nature of the waste to be collected.

The pivoting of the compactor arms 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ can obviously be provided by a different mechanism than the systems of the connecting arms 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ guided by said second transverse rods formed of worm 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ .

The waste collection device according to the invention is furthermore equipped in its upper part with a sensor, not shown, notably an ultrasonic sensor making it possible to check the level of filling of the garbage bag by a known distance measurement principle. for example. Thus when the distance between the waste 20 and the sensor has a value that corresponds to filling the bag to two-thirds, said compactor arms 14 ₁ and 14 ₂ are automatically actuated. Also after each introduction of a waste 20 which causes a change in height of the top of the waste a new compaction is automatically controlled if desired. Finally, when the sensor measures the complete filling of the garbage bag 2, the compactor arms 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ are held in an inclined compacting position and the heat-sealing and thermocouple plates 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ are actuated by automatic displacement of the ci until coming into contact with each other as mentioned above.

Note however that it is possible that the actuation of compactor arms 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ may be optional. Thus in some hospital uses it is forbidden to compact the waste. In this case it will be satisfied in the collection device according to the invention to close the bag by heat sealing when it is full, but without compacting.

After heat sealing and closure of a full bag, unwinding and placing a new bag 2 thus created is also triggered automatically after evacuation of the full bag outside the container 1 as described below.

The evacuation 3 ₂ of a full garbage bag 2 is done in the following manner. The lower box 3 is slidably mounted on support rails, so that it can be output outside the container 1 in the manner of a drawer front 3 ₁ .

In the case where the bag is evacuated before its complete filling, the opening of the drawer 3 ₁ automatically controls the disconnection of the actuating motors of the different elements of the collecting device according to the invention such as compacting arms 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ . This evacuation March ₂ is done manually, but can also be motorized and controlled automatically.

For hygiene purposes, and according to another advantageous feature of the present invention, the waste collection device is equipped at its upper part with a device that automatically handles the opening and closing of the upper part of the container 1c. that is to say access to the opening of the bag 2 placed in the container 1. Between two introductions of waste 20 in the collection device according to the present invention the upper part of the container is closed thus confining the waste in the container even if the bag 2 is not yet full and is still open.

A closing / opening device of the upper part of the container 1 is constituted by a moving strip 17 which passes between two second rollers 18, and 18 ₂ respectively disposed against two opposite edges of the container 1 and above said storage compartment 4 of the folded film 2 ₁ . The moving strip 17 has a notch forming an opening of the same shape as the central opening ₁₂ defined by the peripheral compartment 4 and said peripheral support frame 5 on which it rests. When, by moving the moving strip 17 between said second rollers 18 ₁ , 18 ₂ , said opening of said moving strip 17 coincides with said central opening 1 ₂ of the upper part of the container 1, said container 1 is thus opened and can introduce waste into the bag 2. When scrolling the strip 17, it is a solid portion of the strip 17 which covers said central opening of the container 1, said container is then closed and can no longer introduce waste 20 in the bag 2.

A third motor 18 ₄ causes the rotation of said second roller 18, which also then causes the rotation of said second roller 18 ₂ by means of a transverse connecting belt 18 ₅ connecting the axes of said second rollers 18 ₁ and 18 ₂ by means of pulleys ends 18 ₃ . The actuation of said motor 17, actuating the rotation of the rollers 18 ₁ , 18 ₂ and thus the movement of the strip 17 until the opening of the container 1 is triggered by a sensor or a photoelectric cell (not shown) which detects the presence either waste 20 which are brought facing the top of the container 1, or any other object such as the hand of an operator also presented facing the top of the closed opening of the container 1. Then, the closure of the container 1 also triggers automatically after a few seconds of opening.

Without departing from the scope of the present invention provide an opening / closing system 17 upper container 1 different including a tilting closed lid. However, the system proposed according to the horizontal circulation invention has the advantage of minimizing the air movements and therefore the air exchange between the outside and the inside of the bag filled with waste. In hospital use, this horizontal opening system avoids possible contamination problems.

Said second rollers 18 ₁ , 18 ₂ which allow the scrolling of said moving strip allowing the opening / closing of the upper container 1 are housed in a hollow peripheral cover 19 located above said peripheral compartment 4 and allowing access for the fill with a new film folded 2 ₁ when it is exhausted. Said hollow cover 19 mounted on a hinge 19 ₁ on one of its side so as to lift it 19 ₂ by tilting.

An important advantage of the invention is that all the means used, be they the unwinding means of the bag, the heat-sealing means and the compacting means always act from the outside on the envelope of the plastic film constituting the wall of the bags 2 and therefore without contact with said waste 20; which is also a guarantee of hygiene. Thus waste always falls directly into the bag without any contact with the various means used.

The collecting device according to the invention comprises an electronic card (22) ensuring the control of the individual motors for actuating the rotation of said first rollers 6 _1, 6 _2, second roll 18 ₁ 18 ₂ or the movement of said first rollers 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ and said heat sealing plates 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ and / or the pivoting of said compactor arms 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ , depending on the information received from said sensors.

Moreover the electronic board also manages disconnection of the various means of heat sealing, and means for compacting, and other during the evacuation March ₂ advance or not a bag out of said container 1.

The electronic card thus manages both the security and the use functions of the waste collection device according to the invention.

It will be noted that the control sensor of the opening of the container 1 also makes it possible to check the non-obstruction of said opening by improperly introduced waste.

Finally, it should be noted that the device can be programmed so as to produce single waste casings by waste, as needed, that is to say without waiting for the complete filling of the bag for its closure by heat-sealing and evacuation. But more generally one carries out a global collection with evacuation of the full bags.

A waste collection and conditioning device according to the mention can be advantageously used, as an integrated or non-integrated trash bin in a kitchen or bathroom, in use or for use in a community including a hospital or in the community. restoration. Finally, a collection and packaging device according to the invention can be adapted to contain several containers side by side or several bags 2 side by side in the same container 1 so as to perform a selective sorting of waste.

Claims (17)

1. A waste collector device comprising a receptacle (1) in which a plastics bin liner bag (2) is placed, the device comprising:

   - a storage compartment (4) for storing a covering (2₁) in the form of a sheath or sock for forming a bag (2) and made of a plastics film, said covering (2₁) being contained in a storage compartment (4), preferably in folded form, said compartment (4) being situated in the top portion of said receptacle (1), preferably inside it;

   - drive means (6₁, 6₂) suitable for delivering said covering from said storage compartment (4) inside of said receptacle (1) to form said bag, preferably down to the bottom (1₁) of said receptacle (1);

   - seal and cutter means (10₁, 10₂), preferably operating by heat-sealing and hot-cutting, for sealing and cutting said covering (2₁), enabling a said bag (2) to be made from said covering leaving said compartment (4), and subsequently enabling a said bag (2) to be closed and separated from the remainder of said covering once the bag has been filled with waste (20); and

   - said storage compartment (4) being disposed in such a manner as to define a top central orifice (1₂) of said receptacle (1) through which waste (20) can be introduced into said bag (2);

   
   the device being characterised in that:

   - it further comprises means (17, 18₁, 18₂) for opening and closing said central orifice (1₂) in the top portion of said receptacle (1) through which it is possible to introduce waste (20) into said bag (2), opening of said central orifice (1₂) being triggered when an article such as some waste is detected over said central orifice, and said central orifice (1₂) being kept closed between two occasions on which waste (20) is introduced, said means (17, 18₁, 18₂) for opening and closing said central orifice being situated above said drive means (6₁, 6₂); and

   - said drive means (6₁, 6₂) are suitable;

   • for adopting a disengaged position in which they define an opening in the top margin of the bag enabling waste to be introduced therein without coming into contact with the open top margin of said covering; and

   • for moving so as to pinch said plastics film covering coming from said compartment in the central region of said receptacle to enable said bag to be entrained, and where appropriate to be lowered down to the bottom of said receptacle.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said drive means (6₁, 6₂) are constituted by first rollers (6₁, 6₂) situated in said receptacle beneath said storage compartment (4), which said storage compartment (4) is located against the inside periphery of said receptacle (1) in such a manner as to define a top central orifice (1₂) of said receptacle (1) through which said waste (20) can be introduced into a said bag (2), and said first rollers (6₁, 6₂) are suitable for moving from two opposite sides (1₃, 1₄) of said receptacle (1) until they pinch said plastics film covering (2₁) coming from said compartment (4) in the centre region of said receptacle (1), and enable said bag to be driven and lowered to the bottom (1₁) of said receptacle (1) by rotating said first rollers (6₁, 6₂).
3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that said first rollers (6₁, 6₂) are disposed in parallel, facing each other horizontally, and against or dose to two opposite sides (1₃, 1₄) of said receptacle (1), and are suitable for being moved mechanically in horizontal translation in a direction perpendicular to their horizontal axes from a disengaged position enabling waste to be introduced into said bag through said central open orifice (1) without coming into contact with the top margin of said bag, to a close-together position towards the centre of said receptacle in which they pinch said covering and enable it to be driven, and where appropriate to be closed.
4. A device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said seal and cutter means (10₁, 10₂) enable the following steps to be performed:

   - a) closing the open margin of said covering (2₁) in the form of a sock coming from said storage compartment (4) so as to make the bottom of a said bag (2) prior to lowering, it to the bottom (1₁) of said receptacle (1);

   - b) dosing a bag (2) that is completely or partially filled with waste (20);

   - c) preferably, separating a said bag (2) after it has been closed by sealing, by cutting said plastics film covering above the zone corresponding to the sealed closure of the top margin of said full bag;

   - d) preferably piercing part of the top margin of a said bag (2) above said closure zone so as to constitute a handle (2₁) in the full bag that is to be removed; and

   - e) closing the bottom end of the margin of the covering coming from said compartment (4) by heat-sealing above the zone that corresponds to said separation cut mentioned in step c), or where appropriate above said handle (2₁) mentioned in step d).
5. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that said drive means (6₁, 6₂) and said seal and cutter means (10₁, 10₂) are situated in the top portion of said receptacle (1) and are suitable for co-operating in such a manner as to be capable of sealing said plastics film so as to dose a bottom of a said bag (2) in said steps a) and e), prior to lowering said bag (2) to the bottom (1₁) of said receptacle (1), and where appropriate after or together with said closure of the top margin of a said full bag in step b), and where appropriate after said cuts of steps c) and d).
6. A device according to claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said heat-seal and hot-cutter means (10₁, 10₂) are suitable for performing said steps a) to e) simultaneously, and preferably comprise two heat-seal plates (10₁, 10₂) placed facing each other in parallel and suitable for moving from two opposite sides (1₃, 1₄) of said receptacle (1) into the centre region of said receptacle, pinching said plastics film covering (2₁) between said two heat-seal and hot-cutter plates (10₁, 10₂).
7. A device according to claims 5 and 6, characterised in that said heat-seal and hot-cutter plates (10₁, 10₂) are placed below said first drive rollers (6₁, 6₂) respectively, and are suitable for co-operating therewith so that when said two first drive rollers (6₁, 6₂) are rotated so as to enable, said bag to be placed at the bottom (1₁) of said receptacle (1), said heat-seal and hot-cutter plates (10₁, 10₂) are in a spaced-apart position so as to allow said bag (2) to pass through and be lowered between them.
8. A device according to claim 7, characterised in that said heat-seal and hot-cutter plates (10₁, 10₂) are disposed respectively beneath said first drive rollers (6₁, 6₂) and are secured thereto, said first rollers (6₁, 6₂) being mounted in flexible manner so that when they are In a position pinching a said covering, it is still possible to move said heat-seal and hot-cutter plates (10₁, 10₂) against each other in the centre of said receptacle (1) in order to perform said heat-sealing and said hot-cutting of said covering (2₁) pinched between said two prates (10₁, 10₂).
9. A device according to claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it includes compactor means (14₁, 14₂) suitable for applying pressure against the film constituting the bag (2) once it is partially or completely filled with waste (20), said pressure being applied to the outside of the bag.
10. A device according to claim 9, characterised in that said compactor means comprise pivotally-mounted compactor bars (14₁, 14₂) situated beneath said heat-seal and hot-cutter means (10₁, 10₂) and suitable for pivoting from a rest position in which said bars (14₁, 14₂) are disposed against respective opposite sides (1₃, 1₄) of said receptacle (1) to a tilted position obtained by pivoting about respective pivot axes (14₃, 14₄) situated at their bottom ends which are secured against said respective opposite sides (1₃, 1₄) of said receptacle (1) until the top ends of said bars (14₁, 14₂) reach the centre region of said receptacle (1).
11. A device according to claim 9 or claim 10, characterised in that said compactor, means (14₁, 14₂) is actuated automatically using a photoelectric cell or a sensor, as soon as a said bag (2) is more than half full, and preferably after each new introduction of waste (20) into said bag (2), and then when said bag (2) is completely full, said compactor means (14₁, 14₂) are maintained in the compacting position until after said heat-sealing and/or said hot-cutting for closing said full bag and, where appropriate, for separating it.
12. A device according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterised in that said compactor arms (14₁, 14₂) include flexible or semi-rigid strips tensioned across rigid frames (14₅) so that when said compactor Strips (14₁, 14₁) encounter said bag (2) filled with said incompressible waste (20), said compactor strips deform, thereby avoiding tearing said plastics bag, and said pivoting of said compactor strip is interrupted on encountering resistance corresponding to a predetermined compacting pressure.
13. A device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that it includes means (17, 18₁, 18₅) for opening and closing a central orifice (1₂) in the top portion of said receptacle (1) through which waste (20) is introduced into said bag (2), said opening and closing means (17) being controlled automatically by means of a photoelectric cell or a sensor so as to keep said receptacle (1) closed between two occasions on which waste (20) is introduced, and so as to cause said central orifice (1₂) to open when an article such as waste (20) is presented over the location corresponding to said central orifice (1₂).
14. A device according to claim 13, characterised in that said opening and dosing means (17) comprise a moving strip wound between two second rollers (18₁, 18₂) disposed respectively against two opposite sides (1₅, 1₆) of said receptacle (1) over said storage compartment (4), with movement of said strip (17) being obtained by rotating said second rollers (18₁, 18₂), said moving strip including an opening, preferably of substantially the same shape as said central orifice (1₂), so that when said opening coincldes with said central orifice (1₂) said receptacle is in an open position allowing waste (20) to be introduced, and when a solid portion of said strip (17) completely covers said top central orifice (1₂), said receptacle is in a closed position, thereby confining said waste inside said receptacle (1).
15. A device according to claims 1 to 14, characterised in that said bag (2) is put into place at the bottom (1₁) of said receptacle (1) inside a box (3), said box (3) being secured to at least a bottom portion (3₁) of one of the sides (1₅) of said receptacle (1), and said box resting on slider means enabling a said bag (2) to be removed by pulling said bottom portion of the side (1₃, 1₄) of the receptacle (1) that is secured to said box (3).
16. A device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that it is fitted with electronic means (22) enabling the various steps listed below to be controlled and synchronized as a function of information received from said photoelectric cells or sensors:

    1. closing and opening said central orifice (1₂);

    2. driving said plastics film covering (2₁) for forming the bag (2) so as to put into place at the bottom (1₁) of said receptacle (1);

    3. performing said compacting steps using said compactor means (14₁, 14₂);

    4. performing said sealing and cutting steps using said seal and cutter means (10₁, 10₂); and

    5. interrupting the above steps in the event of a bag (2) being removed out from said receptacle (1).
17. A method of collecting waste with a device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the following steps are performed in succession:

    1. sealing and cutting said covering to form the bottom of a said bag using said seal and cutter means (10₁, 10₂);

    2. driving said bag inside said receptacle, preferably to the bottom of said receptacle, using said drive means (6₁, 6₂);

    3. putting said drive means (6₁, 6₂) in a disengagement position in which they define an opening at the top margin of the bag, enabling waste to be introduced therein;

    4. opening said central orifice (1₂) using said closing and opening means (17, 18₁, 18₅) whenever waste is detected above said central orifice (1₂);

    5. inserting said waste through said open central orifice (1₂), said waste being collected in the bottom of a said bag;

    6. closing said central orifice (1₂) using said means (17, 18₁, 18₅) for closing and opening said central orifice (1₂) immediately after said waste has been introduced through said central orifice (1₂) opened in step 2;

    7. where appropriate, compacting said bag using said compactor means (14₁, 14₂);

    8. seating and cutting the top margin of said bag once full of waste using said seal and cutter means (10₁, 10₂); and

    9. where appropriate, removing said bag from said receptacle.

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