ES2796573T3 - Compactor device for waste collection - Google Patents

Abstract

Compactor device for the collection (7) of waste, comprising: a containment structure (2) that has an introduction mouth (3) in its upper part; a loading tank (5) arranged to close the mouth (3) of introduction and movable between a reception position in which it exhibits a concavity (6a) oriented towards the outside of the containment structure (2) to receive at least one residue (7), and a closed position in which said concavity (6a) is internally oriented towards the containment structure (2); a transfer chute (10) having an upper part (11) arranged to receive the residue (7) from the loading tank (5) and a lower part (12) arranged on a drop compartment (14); a presser (13) movable towards the lower part (12) of the transfer ramp (10); an actuation lever (20) projecting externally to the containment structure (2); a control mechanism (19) mechanically connected to the actuation lever (20) to determine, upon translation of the actuation lever (20) from a release position to an actuation position, a movement of the reservoir (5) of load from the closed position to the reception position to allow the introduction of said residue (7) to the loading tank (5), and a movement of the presser (13) towards the transfer ramp (10) in order to cause a flattening of the residue (7) previously transferred from the loading tank (5) to the transfer ramp (10), characterized in that the lower part (12) of said transfer ramp (10) comprises a partition (17) that is movable with respect to the upper part (11) between a first position in which it cooperates with the presser (13) to compress the residue (7), and a second position in which it is positioned away from the presser (13) to release the fall of the residue (7) into the compartment (14) fall.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Compactor device for waste collection

The present invention relates to a compactor device for selective waste collection.

The device under consideration is particularly suitable to be installed in crowded public places, such as supermarkets, shopping centers, parks, trade fairs, to promote and / or increase the efficiency of the selective collection of certain types of waste.

The selective collection of municipal waste is normally carried out with the help of special containers, each one configured for the elimination of a certain type of waste by users.

In order to regulate and / or promote the correct use of the containers, it can be envisaged that these are equipped with user identification devices by introducing a code assigned to it, to allow the disposal of waste only for authorized users and / or to record discharges made for statistical purposes and / or for the purpose of awarding credits.

In order to improve the efficiency of the selective collection of bottles and / or plastic and / or paper wrappers, metal cans or other types of containers, it is often provided that the waste inserted into the container's inlet is transferred to an electromechanically operated compaction assembly, which exerts a pressing action on the residue to reduce its size before transporting it to a drop chamber.

Document US_2,968,235 discloses a waste collection apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1, in which the operation of a pedal causes the opening of a waste inlet mouth, simultaneously with a crushing action of a previously introduced waste , to then drop the crushed residue into a collection container.

JP_H11-347797A and US_2,887,040 provide other examples of waste collection apparatus which perform a crushing or compacting action on collected waste.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved compacting device compared to the prior art in terms of simplicity of operation and / or of use, and / or in terms of installation versatility.

In particular, the objective is to offer a compacting device that is suitable for pressing the waste, taking advantage of a pushing action required by the user himself in order to introduce the waste into the compartment for access to the container.

The aim is also to offer a compactor device that guarantees a high level of safety. In particular, for example, the objective is to prevent that the introduction of waste into the access compartment causes the user to bring his hands or other parts of his body to the moving elements intended to carry out the pressing.

The above aims and objectives are achieved by a compactor device for collecting waste as defined in claim 1.

Since no power source is needed to perform the pressing, the device under consideration turns out to be more reliable in terms of safety. Furthermore, in this way, the device under consideration can be easily installed, even in outdoor locations and / or in areas where no power line is provided, nor is it readily available.

The mechanical action exerted by the user makes it possible to achieve the crushing of a residue that has been previously introduced, possibly by a different user, simultaneously with the opening of the loading tank to allow the introduction of a new residue.

The invention may further comprise one or more of the following preferred features.

Preferably, the presser is configured to intercept the debris on the transfer chute.

Preferably, the presser is positioned on the bottom of the transfer chute.

Preferably, the presser is movable towards said lower part starting from a rest position in which it has a thrust surface oriented towards the transfer chute according to an inclined orientation, to stop in the lower part the debris descending along the transfer ramp.

Preferably, in the first position, the partition has a facing surface at its top, oriented towards the presser and which operates against the residue during crushing.

Preferably, the partition is guided in a sliding manner with respect to the upper part of the ramp, and is movable in parallel with respect to the latter.

Preferably, in the first position, the movable partition extends essentially over the continuation of the upper part of the transfer ramp, away from the cargo tank.

Preferably, in the second position, the facing surface of the partition is placed parallel to the top, in an underlying position relative to the top.

Preferably, the partition is movable by the action of the control mechanism. Preferably, the control mechanism further comprises: a first tie rod mechanically connected to the actuation lever; a second tie rod mechanically connected to the partition; first and second gripping members carried by the first and second tie rods, respectively.

Preferably, the first tie rod is movable towards the second tie rod as a consequence of a translation of the actuation lever towards the actuation position.

Preferably, the first and second gripping members are removably engageable with each other after the first tie rod approaches the second tie rod, and are mutually removable after translation of the actuating lever toward the release position, to allow reciprocal separation of the first and second tie rods.

Preferably, at least one auxiliary actuation lever is provided to control translation of the partition to the second position.

Preferably, return members are also provided, which elastically counteract the translation of the actuation lever towards the actuation position.

Preferably, relocation members configured to counteract translation of the partition toward the second position are also provided. Preferably, said drop compartment is formed in a lower part of the containment structure.

Preferably, a discharge port is defined between the presser in the rest position and the bottom of the transfer chute.

Preferably, said discharge port is defined between the presser and the partition in the first position. Preferably, a release mechanism is also provided which can be activated by the user to determine the sliding of the partition to the second position independently of actuation of the presser and / or other members of the compactor device.

Preferably, the release mechanism comprises an auxiliary lever that can be activated by means of a respective release pedal, to control the movement of the partition by means of at least one respective auxiliary tie rod.

Other characteristics and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred, but not limiting, embodiment of a compactor device for the collection of waste, according to the present invention. Said description will be set forth below with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided for illustrative purposes only and, therefore, not limiting, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a compacting device for collecting waste, according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows the compactor device of Figure 1 in a side sectional view;

Figure 2a shows an interrupted perspective view of a detail of the compactor device in the state of Figure 2;

Figure 3 shows a side sectional view of the compactor device during loading of a waste by a user;

Figure 3a shows an interrupted perspective view of a detail of the compactor device in the state of Figure 3;

Figure 4 shows a side sectional view of the compactor device during release of the actuation lever by a user;

Figure 5 shows the compactor device in a rest position in which the previously introduced residue has stopped near the zone of action of a presser;

Figure 6 shows the compacting device during the loading of additional waste by a user and the simultaneous crushing of the previously introduced waste;

Figure 7 shows the compactor device during release of the actuation lever by a user, in which the compacted debris falls into a drop compartment;

Figure 8 shows a phase of emergency intervention by the user to determine the discharge of a waste to the underlying drop compartment.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, number 1 globally indicates a compactor device for collecting waste 7, according to the present invention.

The compacting device 1 comprises a substantially box-shaped containment structure 2, made for example of metallic material, having an introduction mouth 3 in its upper part. More specifically, the introduction mouth 3 is preferably formed in the upper part of a front wall 4 of the containment structure 2. The front wall 4, or at least the part thereof having the insertion mouth 3, preferably extends in a substantially vertical plane or at a slight inclination with respect to the vertical.

A loading tank 5, arranged so as to occlude the introduction port 3, is oscillatingly secured to the containment structure 2. In other words, the loading tank 5 prevents a user from inserting their hands and / or objects directly into the containment structure 2 through the introduction port 3. The loading tank 5 may be substantially shaped as a cylindrical sector, a retaining wall 6 thereof defining a concavity 6a suitable for receiving at least one waste 7, for example a plastic bottle, to be poured into the compacting device 1. The concavity 6a is preferably delimited between a pair of side walls 8 arranged at opposite end edges of the retaining wall 6. The cargo tank 5 may be rotatably hinged to one or more supports 9 integral with respect to the containment structure 2, for example, near its side walls 8, preferably about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation X.

The loading tank 5 is mobile around its axis X of rotation between a reception position (Figures 3 and 6), in which it has its concavity 6a oriented towards the outside of the containment structure 2 to receive at least one residue 7 , and a closed position (Figures 2 and 5), in which said concavity 6a is oriented towards the interior of the containment structure 2.

In the vicinity of the cargo tank 5, inside the containment structure 2, a transfer ramp 10 is arranged, which extends along an inclined path away from the cargo tank 5 itself. The transfer chute 10 has an upper part 11 arranged to receive the residue 7 from the loading tank 5, on an upwardly facing sliding surface 11a. In the continuation of the upper part 11, the transfer ramp 10 also has a lower part 12 arranged to cooperate with a presser 13 positioned on the lower part 12 itself and movable towards the latter.

The lower part 12 is preferably arranged above a drop compartment 14 located in the lower part of the containment structure 2. In the drop compartment 14 a collection container 15 for the waste 7 discharged to the compacting device 1 can be removably housed. An opening door 16 arranged on a rear wall of the containment structure 2, on the side opposite the front wall 4, can facilitate the insertion and extraction of the collection container 15.

In a possible alternative embodiment, not shown, the drop compartment 14 receives the waste directly in the absence of additional containers, and the containment structure 2 has an openable lower part to allow the waste to be emptied into the container of a vehicle. motor, on which the entire device 1 is raised and suspended by means of a gripping, lifting and repositioning system on the ground, installed in the same vehicle used for collecting the waste. In a manner known per se, the opening and closing movements of the openable lower part can be controlled mechanically by means of the same gripping, lifting and repositioning system on the ground.

According to the invention, the lower part 12 of the transfer ramp 10 comprises a partition 17 which is mobile, advantageously, guided in a sliding manner, with respect to the upper part 11 of the ramp itself, and mobile in parallel with respect to it. last.

The partition 17 is movable between a first position, in which it extends substantially in the continuation of the upper part 11 of the ramp, away from the cargo tank 5, and a second position, in which the partition 17 is retracted towards the loading tank 5, under the top 11. More particularly, in the first position, the partition 17 has, in its upper part, its own facing surface 17a facing upwards and towards a thrust surface 13a belonging to the lower part of the presser 13. In this way, partition 17 it is suitable to operate against residue 7 during crushing, cooperating with the presser 13 itself to compress residue 7.

The facing surface 17a is preferably out of alignment with the sliding surface 11a of the upper part 11 of the transfer chute 10. Preferably, there is a step 18 defined in the transition zone between the upper part 11 and the lower part 12 of the transfer ramp 10.

In the second position, the facing surface 17a of the partition 17 is placed parallel to the upper part 11, in an underlying position with respect to the latter. In this way, it turns out that the partition 17 is far from the presser 13 to release the fall of the residue 7 in the falling compartment 14. Preferably, the translation of the partition 17 towards the second position is opposed by the return springs 17b, counterweights or other suitable repositioning members, operating, for example, between the partition itself and a fixed part with respect to the upper part 11 of transfer ramp 10.

At least one control mechanism 19, preferably housed above the drop compartment 14, is mechanically connected to an actuation lever 20 projecting from the containment structure 2. In the illustrated example, a pair of actuation levers 20 are provided interconnected with each other by a pedal 21 that extends horizontally near a lower region of the front wall 4.

Each actuation lever 20 is rotatably restricted to a side wall of the containment structure 2 to actuate, with its end opposite the pedal 21, a push strut 22 operating on the control mechanism 19.

The control mechanism 19 preferably has, next to each of the side walls 8 of the containment structure 2, a main lever 23 having a first end 23a rotatably restricted with respect to the containment structure 2. A first connecting rod 24 and a second connecting rod 25 are restricted to the main lever 23.

The first connecting bar 24 controls, on the opposite side of the main lever 23, a secondary lever 26 operatively connected to the cargo tank 5. Preferably, the secondary lever 26 has a proximal end 26a restricted with respect to the containment structure 2, and a distal end 26b having a slot 27 traversed by a restriction pin 28 integral with one of the side walls 8 of the reservoir 5 of load.

In turn, the second connecting bar 25 is restricted to the presser 13, to control its rotation around its own axis Y of articulation with respect to the containment structure 2.

Activation of the compactor device 1 causes the actuation levers 20 to translate between a rest position and an actuation position by a pushing action exerted by the user on the pedal 21. Preferably, at least one traction spring 29 or members Equivalent return returns elastically counteract the translation of the drive levers 20 toward the drive position.

In the rest position (Figures 2 and 5), the secondary lever 26 holds the cargo tank 5 in its closed position. At the same time, the second connecting bar 25 maintains the presser 13 in a respective rest position in which the thrust surface 13a is oriented towards the transfer ramp 10, in an inclined orientation with respect to the latter. In this case, the pushing surface 13a of the presser 13 is suitable to intercept the descent of the residue 7 along the transfer chute 10, to stop it in the partition 17 of the lower part 12 (Figure 5).

In the activated position, that is, with the pedal 21 lowered (Figures 3 and 6), the secondary lever 26 causes a translation of the loading tank 5 from the closed position to the reception position to allow the introduction of a residue 7 to loading tank 5. At the same time, the second connecting bar 25 causes a translation of the presser 13 towards the transfer chute 10 to cause a crushing of a residue 7, if any, previously transferred from the loading tank 5 to the transfer chute 10.

Preferably, the control mechanism 19 is also configured to determine the movement of the partition 17 in order to facilitate the fall of the residue 7 into the falling compartment 14, preferably at the moment when the presser 13 returns to the rest position .

For this purpose, it may be provided, for example, that the control mechanism 19 comprises at least one first tie rod 30 mechanically connected to actuation lever 20. In the illustrated example, a pair of first tie rods 30 are provided in the form of spaced apart rods parallel to each other. Each first tie rod 30 is preferably connected to a second end 23b of the main lever 23, for example, at a point C of common articulation with the second tie rod 25.

At least one second tie rod 31, for example, comprising one or more cables guided through respective return pulleys 32, is mechanically connected to partition 17 of transfer ramp 10.

First and second gripping members 33, 34, which are removably engageable with each other, are respectively connected to the first and second coupling bars 30, 31, preferably by means of first and second movable cross members 35, 36 . In a possible embodiment, the first and second gripping members 33, 34 may comprise, for example, hook elements 33, for example, in the form of arms that can elastically oscillate around respective hinge pins 37 (Figure 3a), which can be engaged and disengaged with respective engagement seats 34 carried by the second movable cross piece 36, overcoming the spring force of the thrust springs (not shown). Alternatively, the first and second gripping members 33, 34 may be magnetically coupled to each other.

The first coupling bars 30 are movable towards the second coupling bars 31, as a result of the translation of the actuation levers 20 towards the actuation position due to a thrust exerted on the pedal 21, in order to couple the first members 33 gripping with the second gripping members 44, as best shown in Figure 3a.

Once the actuation levers 20 reach the actuation position, the residue 7 is pressed against the partition 17 and the loading tank 5 rotates the concavity 6a towards the outside of the containment structure in order to allow the introduction of a new residue. The action exerted by the user on the pedal 21 leads to the crushing of the residue previously introduced at the moment in which the loading tank has been opened for the introduction of the new residue.

When the pedal 21 is released, the action of the tension spring (s) 29 leads to the translation of the actuating levers 20 towards the release position, with the simultaneous translation of the presser 13 towards the rest position. The mutual engagement of the first and second gripping members 33, 34 causes the partition 17 to be translated by the action of the second linkage bars 32 away from the presser 13, sliding under the upper part 11 of the ramp 10. After Reaching the second position of partition 17, the first gripping members 33 interfere with the respective fixed cams 38 (Figure 3a), causing their disengagement from the second gripping members 34.

In this way, the movable transverse parts 35, 36, as well as the first and second coupling bars 30, 31 end up progressively moving away, at the moment in which the partition 17 is repositioned in the first position by the return springs 17b.

Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 show the operating sequence of the compactor device 1 during the execution of two consecutive work cycles, starting from a hypothetical initial state in which the device has never been used until now.

This initial state is shown in Figure 2, in which the actuation levers 20 are in the rest position and keep the pedal 21 in the raised position. The loading tank 5 is in the closed position, while the partition 17 is in the respective first position, below the presser 13 held, in the rest position, raised at a certain distance from the partition itself. No object is interposed between presser 13 and partition 17.

Figure 3 shows an operational stage in which a user accesses the compactor device 1 by pressing the pedal 21 downwards. The stroke carried out by the drive levers 20 leads to the actuation of the main lever 23 of the control mechanism 19. Consequently, the secondary lever 26, controlled by the first connection bar 24, leads to the rotation of the loading tank 5 to the reception position, in order to allow the introduction of a residue 7 into the concavity 6a, through the introduction opening 3 available on the front wall 4.

Simultaneously with the rotation of the loading tank 5, the second connecting bar 25 causes the presser 13 to be lowered towards the partition 17. At the same time, the movement of the main lever 23 imposes, by means of the first connecting bars 30, a approach of the first movable crosspiece 35 to the second movable crosspiece 36, which determines the mutual engagement of the first and second gripping members 33, 34. Figure 4 shows the compacting device 1 during the ascent of the control pedal 21 after its release by the user. The traction springs 29 move the drive levers 20 back to the rest position, while the cargo tank 5 is returned to the closed position by means of the control mechanism 19. Simultaneously, the main lever 23 returns the first tie rods 30 back to the position initial and, due to the mutual coupling between the first and second gripping members 33, 34, the translation of the partition 17 towards the second position, below the first part 11, is determined by means of the second coupling bars 31.

Just as partition 17 reaches the second position, the action of the fixed cams 38 determines the mutual disengagement of the first and second gripping members 33, 34 with the resulting return of partition 17 to the first position as shown in FIG. Figure 5.

Rotation of the loading tank 5 towards the closed position drops the residue 7 into the first part 11 of the transfer chute 10. The residue 7 descends along the ramp 10, but before it has completely passed the first part 11, the partition 17 has already been repositioned in the first position. The fall of the residue 7 into the collection compartment 14 is therefore intercepted by the presser 13, which has meanwhile returned to its rest position. Therefore, residue 7 is still coupled between partition 17 and presser 13.

Figure 6 shows the compacting device 1 when a user activates the pedal 21 again to introduce a new residue 7 to the loading tank 5. When the pedal 21 is actuated again, the lowering of the presser 13 towards the operative position causes the previously introduced residue 7 to be pressed against the partition 17. The step 18 arranged between the upper part 11 and the lower part 12 of the chute 10 Transferring facilitates effective retention of residue 7, preventing it from rising along transfer slide 10 during the crushing stage.

As can be seen in Figure 6, when the pedal 21 released by the user returns to the raised position, the resulting translation of the partition 17 towards the second position facilitates the fall of the crushed residue 7 into the collection tank 15. At the same time, the repositioning of the loading tank 5 in the closed position releases the new residue 7 at the top 11 of the transfer chute 10.

The new residue 7 descends along the transfer ramp 10 and will stop between the presser 13 relocated in the operative position and the partition 17 relocated in the first position, again disposing the compactor device 1 in the state of Figure 5 for the execution of additional operating cycles.

In the illustrated example, the compactor device 1 is designed for the collection of plastic bottles, and the sizes of its components are studied for the purpose of treating this type of waste.

In order to avoid jams due to the introduction of relatively small foreign bodies, it can advantageously be provided that between the presser 13 in the rest position and the lower part 12 of the transfer chute 10, that is to say between the presser 13 and partition 17 in the first position, a discharge port L is defined. The discharge port L has an amplitude greater than the minimum detectable size in the residue 7 to be introduced to the compactor device 1. In this way, the non-crushed residue 7 is prevented from falling into the collection compartment 14. However, the discharge port L is large enough to allow the passage of smaller bodies, such as pieces of wood, stones or other objects other than those for which the compactor device 1 is designed to collect.

In order to avoid permanent jamming of the compactor device due to the introduction of filled and closed bottles, and / or foreign bodies of dimensions comparable to those of the waste 7, an unlocking mechanism 39 is also preferably provided which can be activated by the user , to determine the sliding of the partition 17 towards the second position independently of the actuation of the presser 13 and / or other members of the compacting device 1. Preferably, the release mechanism 39 comprises an auxiliary lever 40 which can be activated by means of a respective release pedal 41, to control the movement of the partition 17 by means of at least one respective auxiliary coupling bar 42.

In the illustrated example, an auxiliary opening 43 is arranged in the front wall 4 to introduce caps or other closure elements previously removed from the bottles 7 to facilitate their crushing. Downstream of the auxiliary opening 43, the plugs can be transported to an auxiliary tank, not shown.

The compactor device 1 can also be provided with a user identification system by reading IRFD cards or other type of code, for example, by means of a special reader 44 and a printing unit housed in the containment structure to emit to through a slit 45 receipts certifying the use of the compactor device 1. The reader 44 and the printer can be powered by batteries that can be recharged, if necessary, using photovoltaic panels, without any need for connections to mains.

Claims (15)

1. Compactor device for the collection (7) of waste, comprising: a containment structure (2) having an introduction mouth (3) in its upper part; a loading tank (5) arranged to close the mouth (3) of introduction and movable between a reception position in which it exhibits a concavity (6a) oriented towards the outside of the containment structure (2) to receive at least one residue (7), and a closing position in which said concavity (6a) is internally oriented towards the containment structure (2); a transfer chute (10) having an upper part (11) arranged to receive the residue (7) from the loading tank (5) and a lower part (12) arranged on a drop compartment (14); a presser (13) movable towards the lower part (12) of the transfer ramp (10); an actuation lever (20) projecting externally to the containment structure (2); a control mechanism (19) mechanically connected to the actuation lever (20) to determine, upon translation of the actuation lever (20) from a release position to an actuation position, a movement of the reservoir (5) of load from the closed position to the reception position to allow the introduction of said residue (7) to the loading tank (5), and a movement of the presser (13) towards the transfer ramp (10) in order to cause a crushing of the residue (7) previously transferred from the loading tank (5) to the transfer chute (10), characterized in that the lower part (12) of said transfer ramp (10) comprises a partition (17) that is movable with respect to the upper part (11) between a first position in which it cooperates with the presser (13) to compress the residue (7), and a second position in which it is positioned away from the presser (13) to release the fall of the residue (7) to the drop compartment (14). Device according to claim 1, in which the presser (13) is configured to intercept the residue (7) along the transfer chute (10). Device according to claim 1 or 2, in which the presser (13) is positioned on the lower part (12) of the transfer chute (10). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the presser (13) is movable towards said lower part (12) starting from a rest position in which it has a thrust surface (13a) oriented towards the ramp (10) transfer according to an inclined orientation, to stop in the lower part (12) the residue (7) that descends along the transfer ramp (10). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which, in the first position, the partition (17) has a facing surface in its upper part, facing the presser (13) and operating against the residue (7 ) during crushing. Device according to claim one or more of the preceding claims, in which the partition (17) is guided in a sliding manner with respect to the upper part (11) of the slider, and is movable in parallel to the latter. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which, in the first position, the movable partition (17) extends essentially over the continuation of the upper part (11) of the transfer ramp (10), away of the loading tank (5). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which, in the second position, the partition (17) is placed parallel to the upper part (11), in an underlying position with respect to the latter. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the partition (17) is movable by actuation of the control mechanism (19). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the control mechanism (19) further comprises: a first coupling bar (30) mechanically connected to the actuation lever (20); a second tie rod (31) mechanically connected to the partition (17); First and second gripping members (33, 34) carried, respectively, by the first and second coupling bars (30, 31). Device according to claim 10, in which: the first tie rod (30) is movable towards the second tie rod (31) as a result of a translation of the actuation lever (20) towards the actuation position, and The first and second gripping members (33, 34) are removably engageable with each other after approaching the first tie rod (30) to the second tie rod (31), and are mutually removable after the movement of the actuation lever (20) towards the release position, to allow a reciprocal separation of the first and second coupling bars (30, 31). Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one auxiliary actuation lever (40) for controlling the movement of the partition (17) to the second position. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which a discharge port (L) is defined between the presser (13) in the rest position and the lower part (12) of the transfer chute (10) . Device according to claim 13, wherein said discharge port is defined between the presser and the partition in the first position. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising a release mechanism (39) that can be activated by the user for determining the sliding of the partition (17) towards the second position independently of the actuation of the presser (13), comprising the release mechanism (39) an auxiliary lever (43) activatable by a respective release pedal (41), to control the movement of the partition (17) by at least one respective auxiliary coupling bar (42).