FR3027884A3 - STACKABLE CONTAINER FOR THE COLLECTION OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE - Google Patents

Abstract

A container (1) adapted to contain household waste, comprises a body (10) defining a collection cavity (2) for receiving waste introduced by an access opening (3) and provided with a bottom wall (10A ), a first and a second closure means (4A, 4B) can be associated with the access opening (3). The first closure element (4A) of a first container (1) serves as support for a bottom wall (10A) of a second container (1) stackable on the first container (1). The body (10) comprises a front wall (12) extending from the bottom wall (10A) to an edge portion (3B) of the access opening (3), the front wall (12) comprises a part extending over the entire vertical extent of the body (10). The body (10) further comprises engagement means (13), configured to cooperate with gripping means for the mechanized lifting of the container (1).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a stackable container which is adapted for use in particular for the selective sorting of household waste and which can be lifted by means of mechanical arms to be able to empty it. BASIC TECHNIQUE OF THE INVENTION Sorting is a system of selection and collection of waste which is widely used in Italy and abroad and which provides for a distribution of waste according to their type by citizens in their homes ; thus, the wet part and the dry part, in turn diversified into paper, glass, plastic, etc., are separated upstream, so that the different types are placed in corresponding suitable containers which are generally of small dimensions , that is to say which have a capacity of the order of 20 to 50 liters. The following sorting process, which has been shown to be the most efficient, is the so-called "door-to-door" method, which provides for citizens to place the waste container outside their home. at designated days and times, in accordance with the quality of what is stated in an established program; appropriate vehicles will then be used to carry out the waste collection, during which the containers are emptied and to then carry out the transport and the transfer of these to the dump. One problem, often complained of by citizens in municipalities where selective collection of the type described above is concerned, is that in the small spaces of their homes, a large number of containers must be provided, in particular one for each type of waste.

This problem has been solved by the use of containers that can be stacked on top of each other in order to exploit the spaces in height and thus reduce the space required.

For example, EP1760011 discloses a container for the selective collection of waste which comprises a body defining a housing for said waste and provided with at least one access opening located in the upper part of the container, and closure means associated with said access opening and movable between a closed position of said opening and an open position of said opening. Said closure means comprise at least a first closure member and a second closure member for closing the respective portions of said access opening, said first closure member being hingedly connected to said container, said second closure member being hingedly connected to said first closure member.

Consequently, the arrangement of said closure means makes it possible to stack several containers one above the other, each resting on the first closure element of the one situated below, while keeping the inner housing accessible to insert the waste, thanks to the second closing element, movable independently of said first closure element. A container of the type described above is adapted to be entered manually by the operator so that he can empty the contents of the container into the vehicle for collection. To accelerate and facilitate container emptying operations, it would be desirable to lift them mechanically, advantageously by means of mechanical arms normally used for the handling of large containers, that is to say above 60 liters, for example according to UNI EN 1501-5: 2011. It would therefore be advisable to equip such containers with means of engagement, preferably in accordance with Community legislation, for example in the form of a "comb attachment" designed according to the UNI EN 840 standard. However, the fact of equipping said containers of appropriate engagement means, adapted to cooperate with the gripping means of the mechanical arm, has proved to be a problem that can not be solved in a banal way, because it has been observed that the small size of these containers and their geometry particular prevent the mechanical arm to find a stable support on the body of the container, which therefore tends to oscillate during lifting operations, which greatly stresses these engagement means which can then easily break. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by means of a container for collecting household waste which is made in a stackable manner and which is equipped with means sufficiently robust to make it suitable for mechanized lifting. To achieve the above objective, an object of this invention is to provide a household waste collection container which is absolutely convenient to use and also to move for the user. Another object of the present invention is to provide a waste collection container that is easy and economical to produce and has a pleasing appearance. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device specially designed for the manufacture of a stackable container for waste collection according to the present invention.

The object, objects and advantages mentioned above, as well as others which will become apparent from the following description, are achieved by a container as defined in claim 1 and by a manufacturing device as defined in the claim. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The advantages and advantageous characteristics of a stackable container suitable for the collection of household waste according to the present invention will be better illustrated in the description of particular but not exclusive embodiments, represented by way of example. non-limiting in the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of containers according to the present invention which are arranged stacked on each other; - Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a container according to the present invention resting on a support plane; Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a container according to the present invention in a sliding configuration on a bearing plane; FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of a container according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a perspective and sectional view of a container of the preceding figures; and - Figure 6 schematically shows a device particularly suitable for the manufacture of a container according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring to the figures above, in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a pair of containers 1 for household waste according to the present invention arranged in a stacked manner. In the following description will be used terms such as "above", "below", "upper" "lower", "up", "down", "front", "posterior" or the like; the person skilled in the art will have no difficulty in understanding that these terms refer to the orientation of the container in its normal working position, or in use, as shown in the accompanying figures.

A container 1 according to the present invention comprises a body 10 which extends along an axis of extension ZZ disposed, in use, substantially vertically, that is to say perpendicularly to a support plane P such that the ground, and which defines inside a collection cavity 2 closed at the lower level by a bottom wall 10A and adapted to receive the waste that can be introduced into said cavity through an opening 2 access 3, advantageously located in the upper part of said container 1. Said access opening 3 can be closed by closure means 4 which can be associated with the body 10 of said container and which are movable relative thereto to move between a closed position, wherein said closure means 4 is substantially abutting the edge portions of said access opening 3, thereby preventing the introduction of the waste, and an open position in which said Closure yens 4 are at least partially disengaged from the edge portions which define said access opening 3, thereby transferring the waste into said collection cavity 2 and then emptying it into the collection vehicle. Said closure means 4 preferably comprise at least a first closure element 4A and a second closure element 4B, adapted to close the respective parts of the access opening 3. In particular, said first closure element 4A is movable relative to the body 10 of the container being connected thereto in an articulated manner on a first axis of rotation XX which extends substantially in correspondence with a first edge portion 3A of said access opening 3. Said second element closing member 4B is movably movable relative to said first closure member 4A by being hingedly connected thereto on a second axis of rotation YY, substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation XX and substantially in correspondence with one side. of said first closure member 4A opposite to that to which it is hingedly connected to said container 1. As shown in FIG. thus allows access to the collection cavity 2 by the portion of the access opening 3 which is controlled by said second closure member 4B, regardless of the position of said first closure member 4A. This is particularly advantageous in that said first closure member 4A can serve as a support for the bottom wall 10A of another container 1, which offers the possibility of having two or more containers stacked on top of each other and which makes it possible to exploit the space in height overall. Therefore, as can be seen in Figure 1, even when two or more containers are stacked on top of each other, the collection cavity 2 of each of them is still accessible to introduce the waste by the part of the access opening 3 which can be closed by said second closure member 4B. Advantageously, as shown in the accompanying figures, said first closure element 4A and said second closure element 4B may be located in different planes; in particular, in the closed position, said first element 4A is substantially in a horizontal plane, that is to say parallel to the support plane P, so as to provide a stable support to the container 1 arranged in a stacked manner above, while said second closure member 4B may be located in a plane inclined with respect to the layout plane of said first closure member 4A. In addition, advantageously, said first axis of rotation XX, to which said first closure member 4A is hingedly connected, can be defined by a rigid and elongated member 15 which is associated in a projecting manner with the body 10 of the container 1 in correspondence of said first edge portion 3A; in this case, said first closure member 4A is rotatably constrained at the ends of said rigid member 15 through a pair of mounting shoulders 14 (Fig. 4). Advantageously, said element 15 is therefore suitable for forming a gripping handle, which facilitates the manual gripping of the container 1 by the users. The body 10 of the container 1 is provided with a rear wall 11, preferably located in a substantially vertical plane, which is adapted to be backed, in use, to the wall of a building, at the top of which is placed said first edge portion 3A to which said first closure member 4A is hingedly connected. On the opposite side of said body 10 with respect to said rear wall 11, and facing thereto, there is provided a front wall 12, which extends from the bottom wall 10A of said container 1 to a second edge portion 3B of said access opening 3, on which said second closure member 4B abuts in the closed position.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, said front wall 12 comprises at least one part lying in a plane inclined at a first angle α with respect to the axis of extension ZZ of said body 10, said first angle a being preferably less than 30 ° to provide the necessary stability to said container 1. Preferably, the entire front wall 12 is in a plane inclined at said first angle α with respect to said extension axis ZZ; alternatively, a pair of ribs disposed on said front wall 12, each of which has a thickness varying linearly from the bottom wall 10A to the second edge portion 3B, so as to define said inclined plane. The fact that at least a portion of said front wall 12 is located in an inclined plane allows said second closure member 4B to rotate sufficiently on said second axis of rotation YY in order to be able to easily introduce waste into the cavity. collecting 2 of a container 1, even when there is another container stacked on it.

According to a very advantageous characteristic of the invention, the body 10 is also provided with engagement means 13, configured to cooperate with appropriate complementary shape gripping means provided on mechanical arms in order to lift the container 1 and the then empty the contents into the collection vehicle. Said engagement means 13 are preferably formed from a portion 13 projecting from said front wall 12 and disposed near said second edge portion 3B of said access opening 3; said part 13A defines, below, a recess 13B, open in the lower part and advantageously protruding inside so that said gripping means firmly engage in at least a part thereof, as is clearly visible in Figure 5. Preferably, said engagement means 13 are designed according to UNI EN 840, and are advantageously made in one piece with the body 10 of the container 1; alternatively, they can be mounted or associated therewith in a second time.

Therefore, in order to lift the container 1 and empty it, the mechanical arm of the vehicle used for the collection is brought close to said engagement means 13 and inserted under said projecting portion 13A, so that the gripping means s' engage with the inner shape made in the recess 13B. According to a very advantageous characteristic of the invention, said projecting portion 13A is arranged to be inclined at a second angle 13 with respect to the inclined plane on which at least a portion of said front wall 12 is located, said angle 13 being preferably equal to about 900; in fact, this particular configuration advantageously allows the mechanical arm, which is used to collect the waste, to bear against the front wall 12, which prevents the container 1 from tilting / oscillating during the lifting and emptying operations , which avoids the accidental disengagement of the gripping means of said engagement means 13 or the possible and undesirable rupture of this "of the latter.

Said container 1 may also comprise a gripping handle 30, advantageously "U" -shaped and pivotally mounted through the respective free ends 30A in correspondence of the top of the body 10, on opposite sides of said access opening 3.

Said gripping handle 30 also preferably comprises selective locking means (not shown) which make it possible to keep the first closure element 4A locked in the position in which it closes the relative part of said access opening 3.

Advantageously, said selective locking means may be activated by rotation of said handle 30 between a rest position and an operating position (FIG. 2), and may consist of a projecting tooth integral with the handle 30 and being selectively engageable with a fin provided on said first closure member 4A. Such means are particularly useful when the container 1 is placed in the street waiting to be picked up and emptied by the collection vehicle, as they prevent the opening by stray animals or accidental spilling of the container itself. . A container 1 according to the present invention may also be provided with handling means 20, such as for example a pair of handling wheels which are preferably arranged in the lower zone of said rear wall 11, close to said bottom wall 10A , and which are adapted to facilitate the movement of said container 1. In this respect, one can advantageously use said handle 30 to manipulate said container 1, first by rotating the body 10 on said pair of wheels 20 to lift said bottom wall 10A of said support plane P on which it rests in use (Figure 3), then guiding the displacement thereof by dragging on said pair of wheels 20.

Advantageously, the edge portions defining said access opening 3 may be made to create a pair of recesses 31, arranged opposite each other, each on a respective side of said container 1 substantially in correspondence of said ends. Freeing 30A of said handle 30. Said recesses 31 are adapted to serve as a stop when said handle 30 reaches its operating position, which defines the maximum rotation, and provides an advantageous support to the body 10 of the container 1 during the handling of the one As is shown in FIG. 3, a container 1 according to the present invention may be made from any material or combination of material which makes it suitable for use. for the collection of waste, especially household. According to a preferred embodiment, said container is made from a molded polymeric material. In Figure 6 there is shown a device 100 which can be advantageously used to manufacture the body 10 of a container 1 according to the present invention. Said device 100 essentially comprises an injector unit 101 suitable for injecting the molten polymer material inside a mold 102, comprising for example a fixed plate 102A, to which is connected a matrix, correctly positioned, and a movable plate 102B , on which the punch is made. Since said protruding portion 13A, which defines said recess 13B, substantially forms an undercut exterior to the body 10 of the container 1, the extraction operations of the mold container 102, once fabricated, can be quite complicated, particularly in the case where the molding and extraction axis EE coincides with the extension axis ZZ of the body 10 of the container 1. In fact, in such a situation, the projecting part 13, which defines said recess 13B, does not does not automatically disengage from the mold, and therefore the forced extraction of the body 10, once manufactured, can deteriorate. Therefore, advantageously, the molding and extraction axis EE of said mold 102 is provided to be suitably inclined, in particular at an angle substantially equal to said first angle α with respect to the extension axis ZZ said body 10; in this way, said projecting portion 13A does not create an undercut in that, as has been said, it is inclined at an angle 13 substantially equal to 90 ° to the extension of said front wall 12. In this way, the extraction operations of the part, once manufactured, are simplified and accelerated, which also eliminates the risk of damage to the part itself.

In conclusion, it is therefore evident from the foregoing that the present invention achieves the goals and benefits originally intended. It has in fact been created a container 1, intended for the collection of household waste, which is stackable and which is provided with engagement means 13 which make it possible to raise said container in a mechanized manner by means of automatic means normally provided on the vehicles used for waste collection. In fact, advantageously, the particular geometry of the body 10 of the container 1 and gripping means 13 provided for the mechanical lifting ensures a solid coupling thereof with the corresponding gripping means of the mechanical arms to lift and empty the container, this which prevents damage or breakage.

In addition, there is provided a device specifically designed to implement the manufacturing process of said containers in a simple and economical way. It also evidently results how a container 1 according to the present invention is absolutely practical for the use for which it is designed in that it can be conveniently placed in user dwellings, as well as others of the same type, without causing excessive congestion because of the stackability.

Finally, a container 1 according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of specially designed means, such as the wheels 20, the handle 30 and the handle 15, which facilitate transportation for users in the collection locations.

Naturally, the invention is capable of many modifications or variations without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by any of the appended claims.

In addition, the materials used in the manufacture of the present invention, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the individual components, may be the most appropriate depending on the specific requirements.

Claims (9)

REVENDICATIONS1. Container (1) adapted to contain household waste, comprising: a body (10) extending along an axis of extension (Z-Z), said body (10) defining a collection cavity (2) adapted for receiving waste that can be introduced through an access opening (3) and provided with a bottom wall (10A), closure means (4) which can be associated with said access opening (3) and comprising at least one at least one first closure member (4A) and a second closure member (4B) adapted to close respective portions of said access opening (3), said first closure member (4A) being connected to the body (10) of rotatively on a first axis of rotation (XX) extending substantially in correspondence of a first edge portion (3A) of said access opening (3), said second closure member (4B) being connected to said first member closing (4A) rotatably on a substantially parallel second axis of rotation (YY) to said first axis of rotation (XX), and wherein said first closure member (4A) of a first container (1) serves as support for a bottom wall (10A) of a second container (1) stackable on said first container (1), the collection cavity (2) of each of said stacked containers (1) being accessible through a portion of said access opening (3) closable with said second closing element (4B), characterized in that said body (10) comprises a front wall (12) extending from said bottom wall (10A) to a second edge portion (3B) of said access opening ( 3), said front wall (12) comprising at least a portion extending over the entire vertical extent of the body (10) and lying in a plane inclined at a first angle (a) in relation to said extension axis (ZZ), said body (10) further comprising engagement means (13), configured to cooperate with the preheating means for the mechanized lifting of the container (1), said engagement means (13) being arranged near said second edge portion (3B) so as to project from said front wall (12) along a plane inclined at a second angle (f3) with respect to the inclined plane in which is located said at least a portion of said front wall (12). 2. Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein said second angle () is substantially equal to 900. Container (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first angle (a) is less than 300. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said engagement means (13) comprises a projection (13A) defining below a recess (13B), said recess (13B) being open in the lower part and formed inside so that at least a part thereof can come into engagement with said gripping means. 25 5. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said engagement means (13) are formed integrally with said body (10). The container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a U-shaped grip handle (30) rotatably mounted on said body (10) through respective free ends (30A). ), in correspondence of opposite sides of said access opening (3), said gripping handle (30) being provided with locking means that can be selectively activated by rotation of said handle (30) in the passage between a rest position and an operating position, said locking means comprising a projecting tooth integral with said grip handle (30) selectively engageable with a fin disposed on said first closure member (4A). Container (1) according to claim 6, wherein a pair of recesses (31), arranged facing each other, is provided on opposite sides of said access opening (3), said recesses. (31) being adapted to serve as a stop to limit the rotation of said handle (30). 8. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising handling means (20) formed from a pair of wheels disposed near said bottom wall (10A). 9. Device (100) for manufacturing a body (10) of a container (1) according to claim 1, comprising a mold (102) provided with a fixed plate (102A) connected to a matrix and to a plate mobile device (102B), on which a punch is formed, characterized in that the molding and extraction axis (EE) of said mold (102) is inclined with respect to the extension axis (ZZ) of said body ( 10) at an angle substantially equal to said first angle (a).