FR2536011A1 - Automatic and self-disinfecting hydraulic packaging press for the elimination and processing of infected clinical and hospital waste under appropriate hygiene conditions - Google Patents

Abstract

Automatic and self-disinfecting hydraulic packaging press for the elimination and processing of infected clinical and hospital waste. The press comprises a frame 1 with a double front access door 2, 4, a compression chamber 7 fed by front and rear hoppers, a piston 8 actuated by a compressor set 9 and cooperating with the chamber 7 to compress the waste put into containers placed in the chamber 7, an electronic circuit housed in a cabinet 10 of the frame 1 providing the control and monitoring of the automatic or manual operation of the machine. Application: continuous automatic or manual processing of infected waste.

Description

 The present invention relates to a hydraulic press acting in parallel as a wrapper and specially designed for the elimination and treatment of infected clinical and hospital residues, under appropriate hygienic conditions and with the special characteristic of being, moreover, self-disinfectable. .

 As we know, most of the waste produced in hospitals carries pathogenic germs and obviously the improper handling of contaminated clinical residues can have serious consequences for hospital hygiene, which gradually increase all the more that the amount of these residues also increases gradually over time. tn fact, if ten years ago we were counting on a global volume of waste of the order of 11 liters per bed per day, we easily reach today in large hospitals 15 to 20 liters per day per bed busy.

 rational treatment of waste therefore appears today to be a basic necessity, mainly due to the role played by improperly handled residues in the spread of hospital infection.

 There are basically three types of clinical waste: specific contaminated residues, food and hotel waste and recoverable waste such as packaging, paper, etc.

 In general, the problem of waste has been very poorly dealt with, despite the serious consequences that careless handling of contaminated clinical residues can have not only for patients and health personnel, but also for other people, all the more serious. that this waste carries hospital microorganisms resistant to antibiotics.

There is no doubt that it is essential to avoid: - the spread of pathogenic bacteria by the
transport of garbage bags, - accidental contamination, sometimes very serious, of
personnel, - contamination by large capacity containers
due to a leak, - contamination by very old containers
open, - multiplication of rodents and insects.

 The machine proposed by the invention eliminates all the conventional problems inherent in handling waste with conventional means and systems.

 First, it eliminates the disorderly circulation of poorly packaged waste. It also ensures the protection of personnel, firstly from the point of view of industrial accidents. It also makes it possible to eliminate deposits and storage of garbage with the parallel elimination of rodents9 from insects and bad odors. this ultimately reduces handling times and increases the operating capacity of incinerators.

 In fact, the machine that we recommend has been specially designed to press clinical residues, logically reducing their volume and packaging them correctly under suitable hygienic conditions using waterproof and resistant cardboard boxes duly reinforced, can be transported without risk of contaminating dissemination to the incinerator.

 Obviously, the machine will be placed as close as possible to the point of production of the residues in vaesbien understood, to minimize the mobility of the latter before their airtight packaging.

 More specifically, the machine proposed by the invention incorporates a compression chamber made from stainless steel to facilitate its perfect cleaning and disinfection, assisted by a compression device with an original guide system for its piston, a automatic loading hopper located in the front part of the machine, an automatic continuous loading hopper located downstream and again, in its front part and above the main door, an electronic control cabinet in which the circuit is placed machine operation control circuit, which incorporates a series of safety mechanisms which prevent any false maneuver or accident in the event of possible improper handling of the machine.

 The structure described is completed by an automatic disinfection unit which offers various possibilities, namely micronization of the bactericide in each compression cycle, disinfection based on germicidal lamps with ultraviolet radiation and disinfection by ventilation with vacuum in the chamber and filters bacteria in the mouth of the contaminated air outlet.

 An additional machine trolley has been provided for handling the boxes. The possibility has also been provided of using, as containers, instead of the above-mentioned waterproofed boxes, plastic bags, in which case it is necessary to use, likewise in addition, metallic, plastic or cardboard frames to be discarded and which collaborate in the adequate arrangement of the bag inside the compression chamber.

To complete the description which follows and better understand the characteristics of the invention, reference will be made to the appended drawings representing a nonlimiting example of embodiment, drawings in which: - Figures 1 (a, b, c) show a representation sch-matieue and
general of the hydraulic autstatic packing press
which constitutes the object of the present invention, which
is shown in front view (a), side view (b) and in plan view (c).

FIG. 2 schematically shows the machine,
which is presented in front view with its door open
to show its internal structure, - Figure 7 shows a detail of the guidance system
special for the compression piston, - Figure 4 shows another detail corresponding to the
connection between the cylinder and the compression piston, - Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the assembly of
the machine in which its front hoppers are detached
and back and the different controls and the different
indicators which collaborate in the correct functioning of
the machine, - Figure 6 schematically shows one of the multiples
possible electronic circuits for controlling the
machine7 suitably housed in its corresponding cabinet, - Figure 7 shows in perspective the carriage provided for
handling of the weighed boxes, - Figure 8 shows the perspective in the same way
special for compacting cardboard bales, - figure 9 corresponds to a similar representation
that of Figure 2, but in which we added
the three disinfection and contamination systems, - Figures 10 (a, b) show finally an example and a
Practical reading of the boxes used for packaging
Contaminated clinical residues, represented in the state
open (a) and closed (b).

 From these figures, we can see how the machine proposed by the invention is constructed from a carcass (or frame) 1, of general prismatic-rectangular configuration, in the front face and lower of which is disposed a main door 2 on which is disposed in turn a front loading hopper 3, while in its upper region is disposed a second door 4 which gives access to various mechanisms of the machine, as is will see further.

In this complementary door 4 are installed mainly the command and control elements of the machine.

 In the rear wall of the machine is provided a hopper 5 for continuous automatic loading, which includes a safety bar 6.

 @ inside the carcass 1 already mentioned is disposed at the lower tartie a compaction chamber 7 on which acts a compression piston 8 actuated by a hydraulic troop 9. Inside said carcass 1 is also housed, in its upper and opposite extreme region to the hydraulic group 97 the electrical cabinet 10 in which is housed the corresponding control circuit of the machine.

 The compacting chamber 7 which, as has been said, is made of stainless steel or another material facilitating its perfect cleaning and disinfection, presents a special characteristic @ by the fact that one of its walls lateral, designated by the reference numeral 11, is movable in the lateral direction.

 The compression piston 8 moves perfectly guided throughout its travel, in order to avoid deformations and damage to the walls of the chamber, including ruptures of the packaging when, due to the uneven hardness of the waste , the compression load is not centered. For this, the piston 8 comprises lateral pads 12 assisted by vertical rollers 13 and lateral rollers 14 which, by grouping in pairs at the extreme positions, ensure perfect sliding of the piston 8 relative to the cylinder 15.

 In order to absorb the small clearance which exists between the compression piston and its guides, thus avoiding deformations or ruptures of the cylinder rod, provision has been made to make the connection between the compression piston 8 and the cylinder 16, as can be seen in the detail of FIG. 4, by means of a ball joint 17 which absorbs the play of which we have just spoken.

the machine operates via an electronic circuit mounted
18 preferably on a plate, ~ printed circuit / housed in the cabinet 10 and with which collaborate a transformer 19, fuses 20 ,. a disconnector 21, an operating contactor 22 and a power contactor and overload relay 23.

 The description of the electronic circuit has been omitted voluntarily to leave the market the choice between many solutions with a view to determined operational ends which are really important, which will be described below.

 Via multiple connectors 24, the circuit is to be connected to a fuse holder selector 25, an operating push button 26, an authorization pilot 27 preferably of green color, a stop push button d 'emergency 28, a push button for raising the piston 29, a push button for lowering the piston jO, a pilot indicator for filling the boxes 31J, preferably red, a safety push button 32, a manual-automatic switch 33, a manual continuous operation switch 34 and a manual automatic operation switch 35. The circuit 18 must also apply a series of safety rules, among which are the following: if the main door 2 is opened, the machine stops automatically; by opening the loading hopper 3, the machine also stops automatically; it also stops if the upper door 4 is opened.

 the overload relay 23, thermal relay, provides electrical protection for the machine, while the hydraulic protection is provided by pressure limiters, additional protection being provided by means of a pressure switch. When the pressure exceeds the preset value in the pressure switch, the piston fails to compact and reverses the direction of its movement each time the box has not yet been filled. When the gearbox has been filled and the pressure exceeds the preset value, the hydraulic unit engine stops and the red pilot lights up.

Fuses 20 protect the machine against short circuits in the power circuit and the operating circuit
The red emergency stop button allows you to instantly stop the machine when necessary, slum The safety button allows you to operate with the door open, although it is necessary to braid them simultaneously two push buttons, using each hand, to reduce the risk of accident.

 the operating contactor 22 prevents the voltage applied to the motor or to the coils of the elect @ @ - valve from suddenly reversing the current of the network after a possible failure of the supply. To start the machine, it is necessary to first press the start push button 26.

 The rear hopper 5 incorporates the safety bar 6 already mentioned, which does not allow, by accident, the rr..iin to enter the compression chamber, since by touching the bar the machine is automatically stopped.

This hopper is also designed in accordance with industrial safety standards, which require a minimum distance between the operator and the moving part of the machine.

 bous the disinfection anal, the machine incorporates a micro @ isation system of the bactericide, 6 in the compression cycle from a high pressure bottle containing the bactericide, which corresponds to the same reference number 36, as well as a system of germicidal lamps with ultraviolet radiation 37 and a ventilation system 38 with vacuum in the chamber and bacteriological filters in the outlet of the contaminated air. These automatic disinfection systems can be used independently or in combination, depending on the needs of each particular case.

 Contaminated clinical residues are packed in boxes 39, like those represented in FIGS. 10 (a4b), waterproofed and sealed after filling, but it is also possible to use plastic bags whose prismatic configuration corresponds to that of the chamber as containers. 7. To facilitate the anipulation of the bags "9, when these have been weighed, the machine comprises, in cutter, a carriage 40, like the one which is represented on the make 7.

 When it comes to compacting cardboard bales, the special guide 41 shown in FIG. 8 is used.

In accordance with the structure described, the operation of the machine is as follows:
After connecting the power switch, the green authorization light should come on; the automatic switch is then contacted.

 Then we press. the miston up push-button and the machine piston then goes up to its highest extreme position. The main door is opened, the bag-cardboard device is introduced and a previously prepared cardboard box, with the side wings folded outwards, placing the bag-cardboard device below.

The correct position of the box inside the protection frame of the compaction chamber having been checked, the main door is closed.

 With the machine prepared, residue deposits are made by opening the loading hopper and; each time said hopper closes, the piston executes an automatic descending cycle, compacting the product and rising for a new loading.

 When the loading capacity of the box is reached, the piston stops and the red light corresponding to the pilot indicating the filling of the boxes comes on. At this time, we must compact three or four times, without loading, and if the red pilot goes out, we can increase the loading of the machine.

 When the box is filled, the i - tone is raised by acting on the corresponding push button until the pilot indicator of filling of the boxes goes out. At this time, the main door is opened and the box is removed by pulling it horizontally from the bag-cardboard device.

 The box is closed and reinforced in an appropriate manner, while the described cycle is repeated in the machine.

 When you want the machine to work in manual cycle, the process is similar to the previous case, after having actuated the corresponding switch, except that, each time that the loading hopper is closed7, the button must be actuated. piston descent button.

 The functioning of the machine will be identical when plastic bags are used as containers, with the only exception, as it has been said, that the bag must have an aluminum, plastic or cardboard frame which will give it a suitable configuration.

 If one wishes to make bales, additional tools, of the conventional type, will be necessary, which will be introduced into the chamber and compacted at the time of packaging; -then twine or iron is introduced into the grooves of the tool, a knot is made at its end and it is introduced into the two hooks arranged in the rear part of the compaction chamber. After filling, the piston is raised, the main door is opened, the knots of the twine or the ferret wire are untied or it is passed over the cardboard until it is placed in contact with its other end. This takes place with the open sort - by simultaneously pressing the safety push-button and the push-button for lowering the piston and with the piston pressing the bale, the ends of the twine or wire are tied. then the ball by raising the piston and it is removed by pulling it horizontally out of the base of the tool; when using the automatic loading hopper 5 arranged in the rear part of the machine, loading continues as long as there is an object inside said hopper, an object which is detected by the interruption of a radius light which strikes a photocell, which in turn controls the compaction cycle. The control device ensures permanent repetition of the machine's working cycle as long as there are residues in the hopper (5).

 It goes without saying that the invention has only been described by way of nonlimiting illustration, and that, without departing from the scope of the invention, numerous modifications can be made to the hydraulic packaging press. , described and shown.

Claims (8)

R e v e n d i c a-t i o n s 1. Hydraulic automatic wrapping press and  self-disinfecting for disposal and treatment,  under appropriate hygienic conditions, residues  infected clinics and hospitals, c a r a c t e r i s e  in that it is constituted by a frame or carcass (1) mu-  has a double front access door (2, 4) inside  of which a compression chamber (7) is arranged  having a front access by a loading hopper  front (4) and rear access via rear hopper (5)  designed for automatic continuous loading and a piston  (8) operated by a compresseu-r group (9) and collaborating  with said chamber (7), however it is provided as  waterproof and insertable boxes (39) packaging  in the compression chamber (7) - plastic bags  suitably adjusted to adopt the configuration  prismatic corresponding to said chamber (7) also being  usable, containers that close and seal  after filling, ordering and  the control of the functioning of the machine being realized  by means of an electronic circuit (18) housed  in a cabinet (10) which is installed inside  the carcass (1) of the machine. 2. Automatic hydraulic packing press and  self-disinfecting for disposal and treatment  under appropriate hygienic conditions; residues  infected clinics and hospitals according to the  claim 1,  characterized  in that the compression chamber (7) is made of steel  stainless steel or other easily disinfectable material. 3. Automatic hydraulic packing press and  disinfectable for disposal and treatment;  under appropriate hygienic conditions, residues  clinics and hospitals infected according to the  claim 1,  characterized  in that the piston (8) has lateral pads  (12) which are connected to the cylinder (15) and collaborate  with lateral (14) and vertical (13) rollers for  achieve perfect guidance of said piston (8)  all over his coat. 4. Automatic hydraulic packing press and  disinfectable for disposal and treatment7  under appropriate hygienic conditions, residues  clinics and hospitals infected according to the  Claim 1, characterized in that the piston (8) is connected to the rod on the cylinder (16-) by means of an articulated joint of the ball joint (17) which absorbs the small play of said fliston (@) compared to its guides. 5. Automatic hydraulic baling press and  self-disinfecting for disposal and treatment,  under appropriate hygienic conditions, residues  infected clinics and hospitals according to claim 1, characterized in that the control system comprises a fuse holder selector (25), an operating push button (26), an authorization pilot (27), an emergency stop (28), a piston up push-button (29), a piston down push-button (30), a pilot filling indicator for boxes (31), a safety push-button (32 ) and a manual-automatic switch (33) as well as a continuous-manual switch (34) and an automatic-manual switch (35), controls to which is connected - via multiple connectors (24) the electronic circuit (18). 6. Automatic self-disinfectable hydraulic packing press for the elimination and treatment, under appropriate hygienic conditions, of infected clinical and hospital residues according to claim 1, characterized in that the main door (2) has a switch (21 ) connected to the electronic circuit (18) which causes the automatic stop of the machine having the opening of said door (2), stop which also occurs when the door (2) is opened corresponding to the front hopper (3) or to the opening of the upper door (4), however a thermal relay (23) is provided which protects the machine electrically, as well as pressure limiters which protect it hydraulically and a pressure switch which provides additional protection and limits the maximum pressure piston (8) on the compression chamber (7), a set of fuses (20) protecting the power and operating circuits against possible short-circuits, while the stop push-button t emergency (28) allows the machine to be stopped instantly in any circumstance and the safety push button (32) allows movements of the piston (8) when the door (2 ) is open. 7. Automatic hydraulic packing press and  self-disinfecting for disposal and treatment,  under hygienic conditions- appropriate1 residues  clinics and hospitals infected according to  foregoing claims,  c a r a c t é r i s é e  in that it incorporates, among other things, a triple system  self-disinfection including a d-e system  micronization of the bactericide (36) in each cycle  system, a system of germicidal lamps with  ultraviolet radiation (37) and a system of  ventilation (38) with depression in the  compression (7) and bacteriological filters dens fa  outlet for contaminated air. 8. Automatic hydraulic packing press and  self-disinfecting for disposal and treatment 7--  under appropriate hygienic conditions, residues  clinics and hospitals infected according to the  claim 1, c a r a c t e r z s s e  in that the rear automatic hopper (5) for  continuous loading incorporates a cell device  photoelectric which realizes the permanent repetition of the working cycle of the machine also for a long time @ when there are residues in said hopper (5),