FR3034961B1 - FURNITURE OF GENUS ASHTRAY, FOR THE COLLECTION OF MEGOTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a furniture of the ashtray type for the collection of butts. This furniture (1) comprises an outer wall (2) defining at least one treatment chamber (3) of said butts. The outer wall (2) has at least one through passage (51) for the introduction of butts into said treatment chamber (3), which treatment chamber (3) is equipped with: - electromechanical processing means (8) for crushing / grinding said butts, able to extinguish any incandescent portion of the latter, and - means (9) for storing said butts from said electromechanical processing means (8).

Description

Technical field to which the invention relates

The present invention relates to the furniture of the ashtray type for the collection of butts.

Technological background

An ashtray is a container for the ashes of tobacco, but also the butts of cigarettes and cigars.

Most ashtrays are small, for domestic use.

There are also large ashtrays, intended to be installed in a place or public space (or private).

This second type of ashtray is furniture, forming a sort of specialized bin for the reception of tobacco waste (ash, butts, etc.).

Such ashtray type furniture is particularly useful in order to reduce soil pollution in public places with cigarette butts or ashes.

However, these current furniture are not completely satisfactory for the following reasons: - they are generally unattractive, with visibly accessible butts, - they require a frequent evacuation of cigarette butts collected, operation in addition relatively unpleasant, - they are also subject at fire starts.

There is therefore a need for furniture of the ashtray type able to remedy these disadvantages.

Object of the invention

The present invention therefore relates to ashtray furniture for the collection of cigarette butts.

This ashtray-type furniture, for the collection of butts, includes an outer wall delimiting at least one treatment chamber said butts.

This outer wall has at least one through passage which communicates with said at least one treatment chamber for the introduction of butts into said at least one treatment chamber.

In addition, the at least one treatment chamber is equipped with: electromechanical processing means, for crushing and / or grinding said butts, able to extinguish any incandescent portion of said butts, and means for storing said butts from said electromechanical processing means.

Such furniture overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art: it avoids visual access to collected butts; it makes it possible to space the frequency of evacuation of the butts collected, thanks to the reduction in size resulting from the crushing and / or grinding operation; - it avoids any fire departure.

The crushed butts obtained can additionally enter a recycling circuit.

According to a preferred embodiment, the electromechanical processing means comprise: means for crushing said butts, and / or means for grinding said butts.

In this case, according to advantageous characteristics: the electromechanical processing means comprise means for crushing said butts and means for grinding said butts; the crushing means are arranged upstream of the grinding means; - The crushing means consist of two juxtaposed rollers, preferably grooved rollers, between which said butts are intended to pass to be crushed / flattened; preferably, a first roll is carried by support means which allow clearance clearance from a second roll and which provide an elastic return of said first roll near said second roll, so as to allow the passage of different sizes of butts between said rollers; - The grinding means consist of an endless screw terminated by a grid or a blade mill; - The electromechanical processing means comprise an electric motor member which is coupled with the means for crushing said butts and / or the means for grinding said butts;

According to other advantageous characteristics of the furniture according to the invention: the electromechanical processing means cooperate with control means which comprise (i) means for detecting the presence of a hand of the user facing said at least one through passage and / or a butt at the level of the electromechanical processing means, for the operation of the electromechanical processing means, and (ii) timer means for the operation of the electromechanical processing means for a determined period of time ; - Lighting means are arranged so as to orient their light rays in the direction of said at least one through passage; in this case, preferably, the storage means comprise filling detection means, and the lighting means cooperate with control means which are connected with said filling detection means and which comprise means for generating a signal illuminated when a certain filling threshold is reached; said at least one through passage consists of a circular orifice whose diameter is between 5 mm and 20 mm, inclusive; said outer wall has a plurality of through orifices juxtaposed with said at least one through passage, which through-orifices have an opening smaller than that of said at least one through-passage, so as to allow scraping of the butt by the user before his introduction; through said at least one through passage.

Detailed description of an example of realization

The present invention will be further illustrated, without being limited in any way, by the following description of a particular embodiment in relation to the appended figures in which: FIG. 1 is a general and perspective view of the furniture according to the invention; ; - Figure 2 is a side view of the furniture according to Figure 1; - Figure 3 shows the furniture according to Figures 1 and 2, with a portion of its outer wall disassembled to visually access its electromechanical processing means; FIG. 4 is a partial and enlarged view of detail IV of FIG. 3; - Figure 5 shows, in isolation and in perspective, the electromechanical processing means equipping the furniture according to Figures 1 to 4.

The furniture 1 according to the invention, shown in Figures 1 to 3, consists of a kind of ashtray furniture.

This furniture 1 is a container for receiving the waste from tobacco products, including butts of cigarettes and cigar butts.

"Tobacco products" refers in particular to cigars and cigarettes.

"Butts" means a piece of cigar or cigarette, not consumed.

Such a butt may have different compositions, for example: for a cigarette with a filter: the cigarette butt consists of the filter, a few remains of tobacco and ash, and paper: for a cigarette without filter: the butt is composed of tobacco, paper and ashes.

The furniture 1 is intended to be implanted in a public place, for example a street, a beach, an airport, a building entrance, a station. The implementation of the furniture 1 can be done in different ways: - placed or fixed to the ground, - attached to a wall, to form a wall ashtray, or - fixed on any other support, for example a floor lamp.

The furniture 1 has for example, without limitation, the following dimensions: a height of between 500 mm and 1000 mm, a width of between 200 and 400 mm, and a depth of between 100 and 200 mm.

The structure of this furniture 1 is described below in relation to FIGS. 1 to 5.

The furniture 1 comprises an outer wall 2 defining two superposed chambers 3, 4 (visible in FIGS. 3 and 4): an upper chamber 3 which is adapted to the treatment of the butts deposited by the smokers, and a lower chamber 4 for the reception miscellaneous waste (paper, plastic, etc.).

The outer wall 2 has an approximately parallelepipedal general shape, comprising a set of faces: - an upper face 21, intended to be oriented upwards, - a lower face 22, intended to be oriented towards the ground, - a front face 23 a rear face 24, and two lateral faces 25.

This outer wall 2 is for example constituted by a set of plates made of metal.

The front face 23 comprises different removable or opening flaps: - an upper flap 231, to access the upper chamber 3 (this upper flap 231 is removed in Figure 3), and - a lower flap 232 to access the lower chamber 4.

These flaps 231, 232 are each movable between a closed position and an open position.

The lower flap 232 includes a light 2321 for depositing the waste in the lower chamber 4.

The upper face 21 comprises a portion 211 which has the general shape of a grid in which are formed several lights 5 (Figure 4), namely: - through passages 51, to allow smokers to introduce their butts (possibly incandescent ) in the upper chamber 3, and - through orifices 52, juxtaposed and surrounding the through passages 51, to allow smokers to scrape their incandescent butts before releasing through the through passages 51 above.

The through passages 51 and the through holes 52 each communicate with the treatment chamber 3, so that butts and ashes can fall into the underlying treatment chamber 3.

Each through passage 51 here has a generally circular (or cylindrical) shape, the diameter of which is advantageously between 5 mm and 20 mm, preferably between 9 and 16 mm, more preferably between 10 mm and 15 mm (inclusive limits). ).

These through passages 51 are for example 3 to 7, regularly distributed on the surface of the gate 211.

In general, the through passages 51 may have any other shape (for example an elongated slot-shaped orifice) which is adapted to the introduction of butts, while limiting the passage of other waste.

Each through orifice 52 has a smaller diameter than that of the through passages 51.

Each through orifice 52 has for example a diameter of the order of 5 to 10 mm (inclusive).

These particular dimensions of the lights 5 have the advantage of limiting the risk of introducing a body other than a cigarette / cigar butt, or ashes, through the gate 211.

The treatment chamber 3 is in turn equipped with different superimposed means for the treatment of the butts deposited by the smokers (FIGS. 3 and 4): a funnel structure 7 underlying the gate 211; electromechanical means of treatment 8, for crushing and / or grinding the butts deposited, and - means 9 for storing butts from said electromechanical processing means 8.

The funnel structure 7 is directly underlying the gate 211.

This funnel structure 7 is intended to channel and group the tobacco products falling through the gate 211, and in particular the butts, towards the electromechanical processing means 8.

This funnel structure 7 comprises in particular: - an upper opening (not visible), connected to the gate 211, and - a lower opening 71, opening facing the electromechanical processing means 8.

The surface of the upper opening corresponds to the surface of the grid 211; the surface of the lower opening 71 corresponds to the surface of the rollers crushing means described below.

The electromechanical processing means 8 comprise devices or devices whose mechanism operates with electricity.

By "electromechanical means" is meant in particular an electrical apparatus, that is to say an electromechanical device based on electromagnetism and allowing the conversion of electrical energy into work or mechanical energy.

These electromechanical processing means 8 are adapted to crush and / or grind the butts, in particular so as to reduce their bulk in the storage means 9, and to participate in extinguishing any incandescent portion of these butts before they 'reach the means of storage 9.

"Crushing" generally means a flattening action, and possibly grinding, of these butts.

The electromechanical processing means 8 comprise here: - means 81 for crushing the butts, then - means 82 for grinding the butts from the crushing means 81.

The crushing means 81 are thus formed upstream of the grinding means 82, taking into account the routing direction of the butts.

These crushing means 81 are overlying (above) grinding means 82.

The crushing means 81 thus make it possible to flatten the butts, to extinguish at least part of their incandescent parts (or even to extinguish all the incandescent parts).

As illustrated in particular in Figure 5, the crushing means 81 consist of two juxtaposed rollers 811,812, preferably grooved rollers, between which is formed a passage 813 (oriented vertically) for the routing of butts to crush.

The first roll 811 and the second roll 812 are both rotatable, along axes of rotation parallel to each other.

The first roller 811 (motor) is associated with motor means 83 described below; the second roller 812 (slave) is free to rotate.

The passage 813 between the two rollers 811,812 has a variable width, so as to allow the routing of different sections or sizes of butts.

For this, one of the two rollers 811, 812 (in this case the second roll 812, on the right in FIG. 5) is carried by support means 814 which have two functions: - to allow a gap clearance with respect to the first roller 811 (left in FIG. 5), and - providing an elastic return of the second roller 812 near the first roller 811.

The support means 814 consist for example of a plate carrying the second roller 812 by means of spring members.

For their part, the grinding means 82 allow a reduction of the butts in a grind (for example a plurality of pieces, chips, aggregates or a powder).

These grinding means 82 consist for example of an endless screw terminated by a grid, or a blade mill.

These grinding means 82 comprise a rotary tool (not visible) rotated by motor means 83.

These grinding means 82 further comprise: an upstream entrance 821, in the form of a vertical chute located in the extension and directly underlying the passage 813 of the crushing means 81, a downstream outlet 822, for example the grid, and a downstream ramp 823 for guiding the ground materials to the storage means 9.

The electromechanical processing means 8 here comprise a single electric motor unit 83 which is coupled with the crushing means 81 and the grinding means 82.

This electric motor unit 83 thus ensures the operation and the driving of both crushing means 81 and grinding means 82.

The motion transmission is advantageously effected by means of a belt system 84: a master upstream belt 841 extends between the electric motor unit 83 and the first roller 811, and a downstream belt 842, slave, extends between the first roller 811 and the grinding means 82.

The storage means 9 consist of a simple tray.

This tray 9 here consists of a kind of drawer extractable in translation to facilitate its emptying.

The operation of the electromechanical processing means 8 is controlled by control means 10 (FIG. 5).

These control means 10 are advantageously made based on a microcontroller (integrated circuit that includes the processor elements, memory, peripheral unit, and input-output interface).

They advantageously comprise a computer program comprising program code instructions recorded on a computer readable medium, for controlling the associated functional means, when said program operates on said control means 10.

These control means 10 advantageously comprise: - presence detection means (not shown), to ensure the operation (activation) of the electromechanical processing means 8, and - timer means, to ensure the operation of the means electromechanical treatment 8 over a period of time determined after their operation.

The presence detection means are selected from the means for detecting: - a hand of a person facing the through passages 51 and / or - a butt at the level of the electromechanical processing means 8.

These presence detection means advantageously consist of remote contactless detection means, for example infrared detection means.

The timer means are in turn configured to ensure, advantageously, the operation of the electromechanical processing means 8 for a period of about 20 to 30 seconds.

This determined time is adjusted so that the butt has the time to travel from the gate 211 to the storage means 9, via a treatment by the electromechanical processing means 8.

More preferably, each operating cycle corresponds to the passage time of an end-butt in the crushing means 81 or in the grinding means 82.

The storage means 9 advantageously comprise filling detection means (not shown) which are connected to the control means 10, so as to emit a signal (local or remote) when a determined filling threshold is reached.

These filling detection means consist for example of optical detection means.

Moreover, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the upper face 21 of the furniture 1 is advantageously equipped with a protective structure 27, forming a hood or roof.

The protective structure 27 has the particular function of preventing the rain from falling on its upper face 21, and thus prevent the entry of water into the furniture 1, through its gate 211.

This protective structure 27 extends the rear face 24 and extends cantilevered above and away from the upper face 21.

The lower face 271 of this protection portion 27, facing the upper face 21, is here equipped with lighting means 12.

These lighting means 12 are arranged so as to orient their light rays in the direction of the gate 211, thus attracting the attention of a possible user.

To control their operation, these lighting means 12 also cooperate with the control means 10, allowing for example permanent lighting.

The control means 10 then advantageously comprise means for generating a light signal when the determined filling threshold is reached (for example 80% of the volume of the storage means 9).

This light signal may for example consist of a change of color or a particular flicker.

These control means 10 may also comprise switch means 15 so as to stop the operation of the processing means 8 in the event of removal of the upper flap 231. The set of electrical components of this furniture 1, in this case the electromechanical means 8 and the control means 10, are connected to a power supply source.

This power source can be: - autonomous, through a battery connected to solar panels, or - outdoor, by connecting the furniture 1 to an electrical network.

In practice, a smoker can introduce his butt through one of the passages 51 of the grid 211 of the upper face 21 of the furniture 1.

Prior to this introduction, the smoker can scrape his butt at this grid 211 to facilitate the extinction of the incandescent portion.

The presence detection means then detect the hand of the user or the butt, which ensures the operation (or start) of the electromechanical processing means 8 by means of the control means 10.

The electromechanical processing means 8 operate for a predetermined time, under the control of the timer means, for example between 20 and 30 seconds.

The butt introduced drops by simple gravity through the passage 51 and then along the funnel structure 7 until reaching the electromechanical processing means 8.

This butt is then conducted within the electromechanical processing means 8: - through the crushing means 81, so as to crush it by passing between the two rollers 811,812, then - through the grinding means 82, so transform the flattened butt into a grind.

In particular, the flattened butts fall by simple gravity from the crushing means 81 to the upstream inlet 821 of the grinding means 82.

And the shreds leave via the downstream outlet 822 and slide along the downstream ramp 823 from the grinding means 82, so as to finish their run in the storage means 9.

The crushing means 81 have the advantage of promoting the extinction of a possible incandescent portion of the butts; the grinding means 82 make it possible to permanently extinguish any incandescent portion that may persist after passing through the crushing means 81.

The ground material, leaving the grinding means 82, then drops by simple gravity to the storage means 9.

The butts thus reach the storage means 9 in an extinct state, which makes it possible to avoid any risk of fire.

When the determined filling threshold is reached in the storage means 9, the lighting means 12 emit a light signal.

The presentation in the form of crushed material makes it possible to optimize the volume of the butts within the storage means 9, which limits the frequency of emptying required.

The furniture 1 according to the invention thus has various advantages: - effective extinction of the butts, avoiding the risk of fire, - a reduction in the size of the butts, so as to limit the frequency of emptying for the storage means 9 - The shaping of crush facilitates the recycling and recovery of cigarette butts, - less strenuousness and dirt during the collection of butts.

Claims (10)

1. Furniture of the ashtray type, for the collection of butts, characterized in that it comprises an outer wall (2) delimiting at least one treatment chamber (3) of said butts, which outer wall (2) has an upper face ( 21) comprising a grid (211) in which at least one through passage (51) is provided which communicates with said at least one treatment chamber (3) for the introduction of butts into said at least one treatment chamber (3). ), and in that said at least one treatment chamber (3) is equipped with: - electromechanical processing means (8), for crushing and / or grinding said butts, able to extinguish any incandescent part of the latter, and - means (9) for storing said butts from said electromechanical processing means (8), and in that the upper face (21) of the furniture (1) is equipped with a protective structure (27) forming a cover or roof. 2. Furniture of the ashtray type, according to claim 1, characterized in that the electromechanical processing means (8) comprise: - means (81) for crushing said butts, and / or - means (82) for grinding said butts . 3. furniture ashtray type according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises means (81) for crushing said butts and means (82) for grinding said butts, and in that said crushing means (81) ) are provided upstream of said grinding means (82). 4. furniture ashtray type according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the crushing means (81) consist of two juxtaposed rollers (811, 812), between which said butts are intended to pass for to be crushed / flattened. 5. Furnitures of the ashtray type according to claim 4, characterized in that a first roller (812) is carried by support means (814) which allow clearance in spacing relative to a second roller (811) and which ensure resiliently biasing said first roll (812) proximate said second roll (811) so as to allow different sizes of butts to pass between said rolls (811,812). 6. furniture ashtray type according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the grinding means (82) consist of a worm ended by a grid or a blade mill. 7. furniture ashtray type according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the electromechanical processing means (8) comprises an electric motor member (83) which is coupled with the means (81) for crushing said butts and / or means (82) for grinding said butts. 8. furniture ashtray type according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the electromechanical processing means (8) cooperate with control means (10) which comprise: - means for detecting the presence of a hand of the user facing said at least one through passage (51) and / or a butt at the electromechanical processing means (8), for putting into operation! said electromechanical processing means (8), and - timer means, for the operation of said electromechanical processing means (8) for a determined period of time. 9. Ashtray furniture according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises lighting means (12) which are arranged to orient their light rays towards said at least one passage through (51). 10. Furnitures of the ashtray type, according to claim 9, characterized in that the storage means (9) comprise filling detection means, and in that said lighting means (12) cooperate with control means ( 10) which are connected with said fill detection means and which comprise means for generating a light signal when a determined filling threshold is reached.