EP1775112A2 - Compacting container for household waste - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has a compacting piston (7) moving from bottom to top in a cylinder (6) for compressing the household waste, where the piston is pushed by a compression device (10) that is arranged under the piston. The piston exhibits a discharge opening (26) on a surface of a plate for fluids leaving from the waste, where the fluid is discharged into a fluid reservoir (28) through the discharge opening by a drain pipe (27).

Description

The present invention relates to a compacting container for household waste according to the preamble of claim 1.

The problem of composting household waste has become increasingly important over the past few years, mainly because of the increasing tendency of public authorities to introduce the so-called "bag fee". Given the environmental need to reduce the amount of domestic waste to be incinerated or otherwise disposed of, on the one hand the concept of "waste separation" and, on the other hand, the polluter pays principle has been introduced, according to which more has to be paid to produce more waste. This led to the idea that for each garbage bag, regardless of its weight, a tax is payable, which is charged directly with the price of the sack. Therefore, the user wants to fill the bag with the largest possible amount of waste, that is, compress the waste in the "prepaid" bag. According to the prior art, a whole series of proposals for the compression of household waste are known. Such devices are described, for example, in the following documents:
EP-0438978 . DE-19500049 . EP-0733466 . PCT WO 00/53514 . FR-2828180 . US-2003/0233950 ,

All of these solutions differ mainly in the different way of driving the piston, which compresses the waste contained in a container; however, all have one thing in common, namely that the compression piston, which compresses the waste that is normally in the bag that is to be disposed of, from top to bottom.

This means that the compression tank is designed as a cylinder, with an upper lid, in the middle of a shock device is mounted, which pushes the piston from top to bottom. So that the waste bag to be compacted in the container can be introduced into the container, the lid must be lifted together with the compression mechanism and the compression piston, an operation that is anything but pleasant to do, because it should be remembered that the lid must be made very solid in order to meet its function, and also provided with a locking system by which he remains held on the container, and which is able to withstand the upward acting force of compression. The same operation must be performed again when the sack of compacted waste is removed from the container. The top-down compaction of the waste, although it might seem more logical, involves such disadvantages for the handling of the garbage bag that no commercial success has yet been achieved.

The present invention therefore has for its object to eliminate the above-mentioned main drawback of the known solutions for the compression and to propose a compressor which allows a simple and quick loading and unloading of the sacks, wherein no heavy covers with compression mechanisms are to be lifted or handled. In addition, the invention compacting container for cleaning should be easy to disassemble, without the need for special tools are needed, it should cost little so that it is affordable for everyone.

All these advantages and others which are described below can be realized with a compression container having the properties according to the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

Thanks to the design that the compaction of the sack with household waste takes place from bottom to top, it is possible to realize a compaction container into which the sack to be compacted can be introduced from above without complicated lids, heavy devices and the compression Pistons must be lifted. Also, the extraction of the bag with the compacted waste is facilitated by the fact that him Compression piston upwards, so pushes towards the removal opening, instead of pushing him down to the container bottom, as was the case with the known prior art solutions. In addition, as shown in the detailed description, the present invention proposes an inventive solution to a problem that arises with any domestic waste compacting, namely the leakage of malodorous liquid from the compressed waste bag. This problem arises because in household garbage bags there is always liquid (water from foods such as fruits or meat at best, but also beverage soils, etc.) that easily causes the formation of bad rumors so precautions must be taken Such liquid can be effectively removed during compaction.

Fig. 1

einen Verdichtungs-Behälter in schematischer Perspektive mit den hauptsächlichen Komponenten;

Fig. 2

einen Verdichtungs-Behälter gemäss der Fig. 1 mit einer von aussen mittels einer Kurbel von Hand betriebenen Verdichtungsvorrichtung;

Fig. 3

einen Verdichtungs-Behälter gemäss der Fig. 1 mit einer von aussen mittels eines Elektromotors betriebenen Verdichtungsvorrichtung;

Fig. 4

einen Verdichtungs-Behälter gemäss der Fig. 1 mit einer mittels eines eingebauten Elektromotors betriebenen Verdichtungsvorrichtung;

Figuren 5 und 5a

Die schematisch dargestellte Auslegung einer in der Innenseite der Behälterwand eingelassenen Rille zum Sammeln und Ableiten der aus dem komprimierten Sack austretenden Flüssigkeit über den Rand des Verdichtungskolbens.

The present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to some embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show in the:

Fig. 1

a compaction container in a schematic perspective with the main components;

Fig. 2

a compression container according to FIG. 1 with a compression device operated externally by means of a crank;

Fig. 3

a compression tank according to FIG. 1 with a compression device operated externally by means of an electric motor;

Fig. 4

a compression container according to FIG. 1 with a compression device operated by means of a built-in electric motor;

FIGS. 5 and 5a

The schematically illustrated design of a recessed in the inside of the container wall groove for collecting and discharging the liquid emerging from the compressed bag over the edge of the compression piston.

In FIG. 1, 1 represents the base consisting of a pedestal, on which the entire inventive compacting container is anchored. From the base 1 extend at least three vertical tie rods 2 (wherein in Fig. 1 and in the following Figures 2 to 4 are each shown four), at the upper end by means of a hinge 3, a lid 4 is fixed, which is upwards can be opened to open the container, or can be folded down to close the container, according to the arrows f1 and f2. To facilitate opening and closing of the container is a handle 5, which is attached to the front part of the lid 4.

Between the base 1 and the lid 4, in the space surrounded by the tie rods 2 a cylinder is mounted, which forms the actual container 6, and which consists of sheet metal or preferably of plastic. In the latter case, it is advantageous to choose a marketable cheap Plastic pipe, as it is used in large quantities for other industrial purposes (sewer systems).

In the interior of the container, a compression piston 7 is housed, which can be driven in the container by a compression mechanism, which will be described below, driven up and down (see the arrows m1 and m2).

To eliminate the risk that the compression piston 7 tilts in the cylinder 6, and to improve the seal between the piston 7 and the cylinder 6 is provided according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, that the compression piston 7 at its periphery 8 an upward cylindrical edge 9, so that a displaceable in the cylinder 6 drip tray is formed. Thanks to this, the piston 7 can move up and down in the cylinder 6, without jamming and without a rigid and accurate guide in the cylinder 6 would be necessary. This is very important because it can easily happen during the Clutching the lying on top of the piston 7 waste bag an eccentric force acts on this, which seeks to tilt him and to jam in the cylinder 6.

The present invention differs from the known prior art in that after opening the lid 4, the waste bag to be compacted (not shown) is placed on the compression piston 7, which is moved upward for compression, by a compression mechanism 10, the is arranged below the compression piston 7, is pushed from bottom to top. In this case, this mechanism may generally be any device capable of exerting sufficient impact force on the bottom of the compression piston 7 (mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, etc.). Therefore, the choice of the most suitable compression device 10 is directed in advance to the cost issue, since the compression container according to the invention must be inexpensive, so that it can gain widespread use in the market. In addition, another technical aspect to keep in mind, namely that when compressing a rubbish bag the force exerted on the compression piston 7 force with increasing compression of the Sakkes, that is, with increasing stroke - in our case from bottom to top - of the piston 7 increases , For this reason, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the compression device 10, which pushes the compression piston 7, has a ratio which increases its compression force on the piston 7 the further up it is located.

A "classic" mechanism of this kind, which also costs little, for example, a four-armed scissors jack with the arms 11, 11 ', 11 ", 11'" and the actuating threaded rod 12th

A mechanism of this kind is shown by way of example in all the accompanying drawings (except in FIGS. 5 and 5a) and corresponds to FIG Jack with central thread for lifting cars, for example for a wheel change.

The arms of a jack of this type - actually a particular embodiment of the four-armed scissors jack - cause at the beginning of the movement, when the rubbish bag is not yet compacted, the torque to be applied to the thread 12 for rotation is relatively high as it decreases This results in an automatic, at least partial balance between the decreasing force required to "open" the arms of the jack 10 and the increasing compressive force as the wastes in the bag increase in density , which acts from above on the compression piston 7. Thanks to this effect lighter and therefore less expensive elements for the compression mechanism 10 can be selected, which is advantageous in terms of the economy of the inventive compressor.

The compression mechanism 10 in its preferred embodiment as a scissors jack with adjusting thread 12, according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 2 (all the same as in the Fig. 1 elements shown are also designated by the same reference numerals ), are manually operated by the thread is rotated by means of a suitable crank 13 which can be placed on one end of the threaded rod 12. Of course, it is also possible to provide the use of a reduction motor to further facilitate the process of compaction of the waste in the bag, the reduction motor such as the in Fig. 3 designated 14 outside at the end of the threaded rod 12 can be placed or inside the Container may be installed as the in Fig. 4 denoted by 15 reduction motor, with which the threaded rod 12 by means of a drive pinion (not shown) can be rotated.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is then provided that to facilitate the handling of the compacting container, the lid 4 can be swung open by pivoting about a hinge 3 (as already described), and the lid 4 is provided with a snap-in snap closure , A closure system (of many conceivable) of this type is shown in the sense of an example in the solutions according to FIGS. 1 to 4. In this particular case, the two tie rods 2 mounted on the opposite side of the hinge 3 can be bent slightly forward by pulling on the handle 16 connecting them at the top, for which purpose the natural flexibility of the long tie rods exploits. At their upper ends, the front tie rods 2 are provided with a thickening 17, while the lid 4 for each drawbar 2 has a slot 18 through which the tie rod projects through in the locked position. If the two front tie rods 2 are pulled forward by means of the handle 16, the tie rods will come out of the slots 18 and the cover 4 will be released so that it can be conveniently unfolded when the waste bag is to be inserted or removed. The lid 4, the tie rods 2, the hinge 3 and the quick release 17, 18 must of course be dimensioned so that they can withstand the greatest pressure exerted by the compression piston 7 compression.

If necessary, the quick-release fastener 17, 18 - be it in the above-described design or in analogous other design ways - be equipped with a securing device, for example, to lock the slots 18 and prevent unwanted opening of the cover 4 during the process of compaction of the rubbish bag ,

All types of municipal waste compacting containers are faced with the not inconsiderable problem that liquid leaks out of the rubbish bag during the process of compaction. This is unavoidable because household waste is usually wet material or liquid. Liquid that comes out of the bag runs downwards and causes bad odors to spread if not caught.

To solve this problem, it is provided according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is shown in Figures 1, 5 and 5a, that in the inside 19 of the container 6 in its lower half (see Figures 5 and 5a) a collection and drainage channel 20 is recessed for liquids that emerge from the waste during compaction. The channel 20 extends from two points 21 and 21 'on the cylindrical inner wall 19 of the container 6 and combines two collection points 22 and 22' on the cylindrical inner wall 19 of the container 6, which are diametrically opposed, and terminates in two vertical gutter pieces which drain the liquid down into a liquid reservoir 24 which can be withdrawn. The reservoir 24 is formed in the example shown as an example housed in the base 1 box. This first solution mainly concerned the absorption of the liquid, which flows off the cylindrical edge 9 of the compression piston 7 and passes through the gap between the edge 9 and the inner wall 19 of the container 6. However, it remains possible that the liquid squeezed out of the rubbish bag remains in the bowl formed by the compression piston 7 and its edge 9. Also, this liquid must be able to be removed, which according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, can be accomplished by providing that the compression piston 7 in the surface of the shell or the plate 25 of Piston 7 has a drain opening 26 for the liquid, which ensures together with a suitably arranged tube 27 for the discharge into a withdrawable liquid reservoir 28.

The functioning of the inventive compression container is simple and requires no special explanations. When inserting a waste bag to be compressed, make sure that the compression piston 7 is in its lowest position, so that between the piston 7 and the cover 4 enough space remains free.

Incidentally, the compression of the bag is most easily done, be it by using a hand crank or by using a reduction motor 14 or 15. Because the compressed bag is removed from the top, it is sufficient to remove the pressure of the compression piston 7 and to let the compression device 10 drive back, and to open the lid 4 after unlocking the quick release. From time to time, the liquid accumulated in the reservoirs 24 and 28 must also be removed to prevent the formation of bad odors.

The device according to the invention costs little thanks to the use of commercially available components which are widely used, and can easily be cleaned by spraying it with water. However, the particular advantages already explained above result from the fact that the bag to be compressed with waste from bottom to top instead of according to the prior art is compressed from top to bottom.

List of reference numerals used in the figures

1

Base

2

drawbars

3

hinge

4

cover

5

handle

6

Container or cylinder

7

pistons compressor

8th

Circumference of the compressor piston

9

Cylindrical rim

10

Compression mechanism

11

Scissor arms (11, 11 ', 11 ", 11"')

12

Drive threaded rod

13

winch

14

Reduction gear motor

15

Reduction gear motor

16

handle

17

thickening

18

slot

19

Inner wall of the container (6)

20

ditch

21

the highest point

22

collection point

23

vertical drainage groove

24

reservoir

25

Shell on the piston (7)

26

Drain opening for the liquid

27

pipe

28

reservoir

Claims (10)

Household waste compacting container having a vertical cylindrical container (6), a hinged lid (4) on the upper part and a compression piston (7) movable in the cylinder (6),
characterized,
in that the piston (7) for compressing the waste in the cylinder (6) moves from bottom to top, pushed by a compression device (10) arranged under the compressor piston (7). Compaction container according to claim 1,
characterized,
in that the circumference (8) of the compression piston (7) has an upwardly directed cylindrical edge (9), whereby a movable shell is formed in the cylinder (6). Compaction container according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the compression device (10), which pushes the compression piston (7) from the bottom up, causes a force translation of the driving force applied to them, which increases the compression force acting on the piston (7) the more up the compression piston located. Compacting container according to claim 3,
characterized,
in that the compression device is a scissors lifter (11, 11 ', 11 ", 11'") with a threaded rod (12) for actuation. A compacting container according to claim 4,
characterized,
in that the compression device (10) is a jack with a central threaded rod. A compacting container according to claim 4,
characterized,
that the drive threaded rod (12) is rotated by hand with a suitable crank handle (13). A compacting container according to claim 4,
characterized,
in that the drive threaded rod (12) is rotated by means of an electric reduction motor (14, 15). Compaction container according to claim 1,
characterized,
in that the cover (4) can be opened by opening about a horizontal hinge (3) and is provided with a quick-release fastener which engages (17, 18). Compaction container according to claim 1,
characterized,
in that in the inner wall (19) of the container (6) in the lower half of the container (6) is embedded a groove (20) for collecting and discharging the liquids which emerge from the waste during compression, wherein the groove (20) which originates from two upper points on the cylindrical inner wall (19) of the container (6) and in two diametrically opposite collection points (22, 22 ') on the inner wall of the container (6) and in two vertical groove pieces (23, 23 '), which drain the liquid down into a withdrawable liquid reservoir (24). Compression container according to claims 1 and 2,
characterized,
that the compression piston (7) in the surface of the plate (25) has a drain opening (26) for the emerging from the waste liquid through which by means of a suitable drain pipe (27) the liquid is discharged into a withdrawable liquid reservoir (28).

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