GB2264451A - Compacting device - Google Patents

Abstract

A compacting device for household waste comprises a body 10 defining a reception chamber 12 therein having an inlet 22 and an outlet 24. Four compactors 14, 16, 18, 20 are arranged to act in three orthogonal directions in the body 10. The compactors 14, 16, 18, 20 are movable by fluid operable rams 30 between first positions and second positions to compact waste matter deposited into the reception chamber 12. One of the compactors 20 acts to eject a compacted block 40 of waste matter by continued travel in its compacting direction after a door 38 providing a reaction surface during compaction has been opened for discharge. The waste may be shrink wrapped or bound with tape. <IMAGE>

Description

COMPACTING DEVICE The invention relates to a waste compacting device and particularly but not exclusively to a household waste compacting device.

Methods of waste disposal available to the householder are limited; municipal rubbish collection occurs weekly in most regions with rubbish being stored in dustbin bags in the meantime. Refuse collectors, however, often refuse to collect garden refuse or broken glass. For larger items and those items which the municipal service refuses to collect there are municipal tips which often have separate areas for disposal of recyclable waste e.g., glass, papers, aluminium.

The cost of establishing and maintaining a weekly rubbish collection is borne, usually, by the local taxpayer. A weekly collection is necessary for two reasons. Firstly if rubbish is sitting in a bin for a long time, particularly in warm weather then there is an increased risk of disease. Secondly the simple storage of the rubbish alone is a problem, especially for those with a lack of space, due to the smell and general unsightliness of the rubbish.

Problems arise with the system when rubbish is not collected and is allowed to accumulate. Also due to the bulkiness of household waste, large plastic bags are used to contain the rubbish, which, ecologically speaking, is undesirable.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these problems.

According to the invention there is provided a household waste compacting device comprising a hollow body, a reception area being defined therein, having an inlet and an outlet, and compaction means arranged within the body and movable between a non compacting first position and a compacting second position whereby waste matter deposited into the reception area through the inlet can be compacted for discharge through the outlet.

In that way rubbish is compacted into a block with most of the air and any water previously contained or entrapped therein, having been squeezed out. As there is less chance of bacterial breeding in the drier block the risk of disease is reduced and unpleasant odour lessened. Also, as the block is much less bulky, waste storage is less of a problem for those with limited space.

Preferably the compaction means includes a compactor comprising a reaction plate mounted on the body by, for example, support struts with a fluid operable ram attached thereto, the said ram preferably projecting into the body of the device and having a compacting face at its end within the body.

The outlet may be in the form of a door. The door preferably acts as a compaction plate against which waste is compacted in the compaction stage. In that way the reception area is sealed at the outlet to the user while compaction occurs.

The compaction means may be operated in two or three mutually perpendicular directions. In the latter case, the compaction means can produce a cuboid block in a relatively straightforward manner. Such a block is easier to stack and store although, if desired, the block could be otherwise shaped, e.g. disc like or cylindrical.

Preferably the compaction means includes a plurality of said compaction faces which move relative to each other in a manner such that they do not obstruct each other during actuation and such that the minimum amount of waste material is allowed to escape, during compaction. In a preferred embodiment one compacting face has a shape and area substantially similar to that of a side of the reception area towards which or away from which the compacting face is movable and, in the most preferred embodiment: that compactor is one which acts downwards onto the top of the waste.

Preferably four compactors are provided. In such an embodiment the first compactor may be disposed on top of the reception area for acting downwards second and third compactors may be disposed on opposite sides of the reception area for acting horizontally inwardly and a fourth compactor may be provided on the opposite face of the reception area to the outlet for acting towards the outlet.

In the embodiment where the door acts as a compaction plate for a compactor in the compaction stage and where four compactors are provided as in the previous embodiment the first compactor preferably has a compacting face substantially similar in shape and area to the top side of the reception area, the first compactor preferably being the first to be actuated in the compaction stage such that the waste material is partially compressed, the second and third compactors then preferably acting against each other to compress the material further and then the fourth compactor preferably acts against the door, the door acting as a reaction plate, so that the cuboid block is formed.

The fourth compactor may then be further actuated to eject the block of waste material from the outlet after the door has been opened. The order of operation of the compactors can be varied if desired.

The reception area may have a sump disposed thereunder in order to collect excess fluid. Preferably the sump is further provided with a pump acting therein, to pump excess fluid away.

The block may be bound after compaction. Preferably the binding may occur during the ejection of the block from the reception area. The binding may be in the form of a bag or a tape and in the most preferred embodiment the binding is a shrink wrapping.

The device may be provided with a plurality of reception areas e.g. for separating paper from other waste. Each reception area is preferably provided with its own compaction means. Preferably a reception area for paper is provided. In the latter case, a water source may be formed in the reception area for paper to soak the paper prior to compaction.

In embodiments with a separate reception area for paper there may be a shredding device at the input opening to the reception area.

In a preferred embodiment the input opening is closed off to the reception area by an openable flap to prevent accidental access. Preferably compaction is prevented until the flap is closed. The flap may be locked during operation of the device. This prevents the machine from being operated with, for instance, a hand in the way of the compacting face. Preferably, actuation of the compaction means will not occur if the flap is open.

Preferably the door in the output opening is locked during compaction and in the most preferred embodiment actuation will not occur if the door is open.

A device in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device with parts of the side cutaway, Fig. 2 is a frontal elevation of the device showing a kitchen unit cutaway, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention with parts of the wall cut away.

One embodiment of the waste compaction device is shown in Fig. 1 comprising a body indicated generally at 10 having walls 11, defining a reception area 12, four compactors indicated generally at 14, 16, 18 and 20 disposed around the body 10 and inlet and outlet openings 22 and 24 respectively formed in one wall 11 of the body 10.

The compactors 14, 16, 18, 20 are located on four sides of the body 10 respectively. The compactor 14 is located on top of the device as viewed in Fig. 1 for acting vertically towards a base (not shown) of the device, the compactors 16 and 18 are located on opposite sides of the device and act horizontally in opposition to each other and the compactor 20 is located on a rear side of the device and acts in opposition to the side of the device in which the openings 22 and 24 are formed. Each compactor 14, 16, 18, 20 comprises a reaction plate 26 mounted on and spaced away from the body 10 by support struts 28.

The reaction plate 26 has a cylinder of a hydraulic ram 30 mounted thereon, the ram 30 projecting into the body 10 through an aperture 32 in the associated wall 11 of the body 10.

The ram 30 of compactor 14 has a compacting face 34a located on its piston rod end within the body 10. The compacting face 34a of the compactor 14 fits with working clearance between the walls 11 defining the reception area 12 in order to allow the face 34 to move downwardly during the compaction stage.

The ram 30 of compactors 16, 18 have compaction faces 34b, 34c, which are rectangular and of substantially identical shape, the length of each face 34b, 34c being slightly less than the distance between insides of the walls 11 at the front and rear of the body 10 in order to allow movement of the faces 34b, 34c towards each other during the compaction stage.

The ram 30 of compactor 20 has a compaction face 34d which is substantially similar in shape and size to the outlet opening 24.

The rams 30 are powered by a hydraulic pump driven by a motor (not shown). Suitable valves (also not shown) are provided which can be controlled from a control panel 31 to operate the rams 30.

The inlet opening 22 is formed in the front wall 11 of the body 10 adjacent the top of the body 10. A flap 36 is provided on the body 10 and is hinged at its lower edge to enable the flap to be swung outwards.

Waste material can then be deposited through the inlet opening 22 and into the flap. The reception area 12 is then closed to prevent access to the reception area 12 during compaction. The opening of the flap 36 is limited by stops (not shown) in order to prevent free access to the inside of the device. The flap 36 may be provided with a lock (not shown). Preferably, operation of the rams 30 is inhibited until the flap 36 is locked.

The outlet opening 24 is formed in the same side of the body 10 as the inlet opening 22 and is formed adjacent the base of the body 10. A door 38 is provided on the body 10 and is hinged at its upper edge such that it tends, under gravity, to fall shut.

The door 38 is further provided with a lock (not shown) which causes the door to be locked shut during compaction.

The device is provided with a sump 6 located at the base of the device to collect fluid squeezed out of the waste during compaction. The sump 46 may be provided with a pump (not shown) to facilitate the evacuation of the water to a drain.

In order to use the device and with the rams 30 fully retracted, the operator opens the flap 36 and loads the waste material into the reception area 12 through the inlet opening 22. Having ensured that both the flap 36 and the door 38 are closed the compaction can be initiated at the push of a button on the control panel 31.

During compaction, the compactor 14 is actuated first, crushing the waste material into a plate-like block.

At full extension of its ram 30, the face 34a stops short of the upper edges of faces 34b, 34c. When the compactor 14 reaches the end of its compaction stroke, the two compactors 16, 18 are actuated simultaneously so that the faces 34b, 34c move towards each other to compress the plate- like block into an elongate block with a width substantially similar to the width of the outlet opening the side compactors 16, 18 at which point movement of the faces 34b, 34c ceases. At that point the compacted waste is bounded on four sides by the faces 34a, 34b, 34c and the base of the body 10.

The rear compactor 20 is then actuated to move its compaction face 34d towards locked door 38 until the block of waste material (indicated at 40 in Fig. 1) is compressed to its final size. The door 38 is then unlocked and the rear compactor 20 is actuated further to eject the block 40 from the reception area 12.

The device can be arranged to be installed as part of a fitted kitchen unit 42 (see Fig. 2).

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention which is similar in many respects to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and various parts corresponding to parts in Figs. 1 to 3 carry the same reference numerals. The device is provided with a tunnel 4 leading from the outlet 24 and having a shrink wrap facility (not shown) which wraps the block 0 in strong plastic film in order to prevent the block 40 from expanding upon being ejected from the device.

The film also reduces odour from the block and makes the block easier to handle.

Fig. 5 shows the shrink-wrap facility for use with the embodiment of Fig. 4. Beneath the tunnel 44 is provided a roll of plastic film 60. Film is drawn off the top of the roll 60 over a smaller roller 61 onto a conveyor 62. A second roll of strong plastic film 63 is provided above the first roll 60 and above the tunnel 44. Plastic film from the roll 63 passes over a smaller roll 64 down towards the conveyor 62.

Downstream of the small rollers 61, 64 is a sealing station 65. The sealing station 65 comprises a rectangular sleeve 66 on spring rams 67. The rectangular sleeve 66 is sized to receive a block 40 from the compaction device. The lower edge of the sleeve 66 is heated metal and at the front and rear of the sleeve 66 are provided slidable knives 69. The knives 69 slide upwardly and downwardly and have a downwardly facing cutting edge.

The conveyor 62 then slopes downwardly and downstream of the sealing station 65 is a shrinking station 70.

This comprises a tunnel through which a block passes on the conveyor 62. The tunnel 71 includes two hot air blowers 72 which blow hot air downwardly through the roof of the tunnel onto a block passing therethrough. In operation, a compacted block 40 is ejected by the rear compactor 20 through the door 38 and tunnel 44. The block 40 is advanced on the conveyor 62 and a film of strong plastics material is laid under it from the roll 60 and over it from the roll 63. When the block 40 lies under the sealing station 65 the sleeve 66 is lowered to lightly stretch the plastics over the block 40. When the lower edge 68 of the sleeve touches the upper and lower layers of plastic film together, the heated lower surfaces 68 seal the plastic films together.The knives 69 are shown in the lowered position but initially are raised and after a period of time to allow sealing, the knives 69 are lowered to cut or perforate the plastic film layers ahead of and behind the block 40. The sleeve 66 is then raised and the block is advanced to slowly pass through the tunnel 71. The hot air blown from the hot air blowers 72 causes the plastic layer around the block to shrink over the block so that at the end of the conveyor 62 the shrink wrapped block can be lifted and carried away for storage or disposal.

Fig. 6 shows a further embodiment of the invention which is again similar in many respects to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and also to that shown in Fig. 4 and parts corresponding to parts in Figs. 1 to 4 carry the same reference numerals. The body 10 is provided with a vertical divider 10a whereby to define two reception areas 121 and 122. Two top compactors 141 and 142 are provided along with outlets 241 and 242, the outlets 241, 242 having shrink wrap tunnels 441, 442 extending therefrom. The inlet opening 22 has two channels 221, 222, one channel 221 leading to one reception area 121 and the other channel 222 leading to the other reception area 122. The device further comprises two rear compactors 201, 202 (not shown). This arrangement is such that rubbish can be separated out into different categories of waste e.g., paper or glass from food waste.During operation of the compactors 16, 18, the faces 34b, 34c compress waste material against the divider 10a.

Further embodiments of the invention could include a device having three or more separate reception areas 12 with respective top and rear compactors and respective inlets and outlets.

Fig. 7 shows a further version of the device in which a separate reception area 12 is provided defined by an upwardly facing trough 75 in place of the flap 36.

The trough 75 includes a shredder in the form of aligned intermeshed cutting augers 76 prior to the inlet 22. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8 there is also provided a water source in the form of a pipe 77 running around the upper surface of the plate of the upper compacter 14. The pipe 77 includes outwardly facing apertures 78 and the pipe 77 is supplied with water under pressure to form a jet cleaning system and also to aid in the compaction of paper and like substances which break up in water to a mulch.

In a further embodiment, the device may be housed in a cylindrical metal drum with the walls of the drum forming reaction surfaces for the horizontal compacters 16, 18, 20. The cylindrical drum gives a strong reaction structure.

Claims (29)

1. A compacting device comprising a main body: a reception chamber being defined therein having an inlet and an outlet, and compaction means arranged within the body and movable between a first position and a second position whereby matter deposited into the reception chamber through the inlet can be compacted by movement of the compaction means from the first position to the second position for discharge through the outlet.

2. A compacting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is for domestic use.

3. A compacting device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the compaction means includes a fluid operable ram.

4. A compacting device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the compaction means comprises at least one movable compaction surface.

5. A compacting device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the compaction means includes a compaction surface which is of substantially the shape and area of an axial cross-section of the reception chamber.

6. A compacting device as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the compaction means operates in two or three mutually perpendicular directions.

7. A compacting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein four compaction surfaces are provided acting in three mutually perpendicular directions, two of the compaction surfaces acting in opposite directions.

8. A compacting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is a door to close the outlet.

9. A compacting device as claimed in claim 8; wherein the door acts as a compaction face against which matter is compacted by the compaction means.

10. A compacting device as claimed in claim 9, wherein, where the compaction means comprises a plurality of movable compaction surfaces, the last compaction surface to move acts to compact matter against the door.

11. A compacting device as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the compaction surface which acts towards the door moves transversely.

12. A compacting device as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the compaction surface which acts towards the door also acts to eject the compacted matter after opening of the door.

13. A compacting device as claimed in any of claims 8 to 12, wherein the door in the output opening is locked during compaction.

14. A compacting device as claimed in any of claims 8 to 13, wherein the compaction means will not operate unless the door is closed.

15. A compacting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inlet opening is closed off to the reception chamber by an openable barrier.

16. A compacting device as claimed in claim 15, wherein compaction is prevented until the barrier is closed.

17. A compacting device as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the barrier is lockable closed.

18. A compacting device as claimed in any of claims 15, 16 and 17, wherein actuation of the compaction means will not occur if the barrier is open.

19. A compacting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reception chamber has a sump disposed thereunder in order to collect excess liquid.

20. A compacting device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the sump is provided with a pump acting therein, to pump excess liquid away.

21. A compacting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the compacted matter is bound after compaction.

22. A compacting device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the binding occurs during the erection of the compacted matter from the reception chamber.

23. A compacting device as claimed in claim 21 or claim 22, wherein binding is done with tape.

24. A compacting device as claimed in claim 21, 22 or 23 wherein binding is done by shrink wrapping.

25. A compacting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is a shredding device at the input opening to the reception chamber.

26. A compacting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is a water source in the device to wet the matter to be compacted.

27. A compacting device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is provided with a plurality of reception chambers.

28. A compacting device as claimed in claim 27, wherein each reception chamber is provided with its own compaction means.

29. A compacting device substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, 6, 7 or 8 of the accompanying drawings.