GB2290039A

GB2290039A - Waste disposal chute for multi-storey building

Info

Publication number: GB2290039A
Application number: GB9419617A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sung-Kyu Kang
Original assignee: Korea Institute of Energy Research KIER
Current assignee: Korea Institute of Energy Research KIER
Priority date: 1994-06-08
Filing date: 1994-09-29
Publication date: 1995-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-29
Also published as: GB9419617D0; KR970007459B1; GB2290039B; JPH082611A; KR960000727A

Abstract

Apparatus for automatically sorting, removing and measuring waste materials in a multi-storey building in which selection buttons (3) are installed near the refuse throw-away openings (1) and (1'). On activation of the selection buttons (3), the normally closed openings (1) and (1') are opened. At the same time, a rotary duct (2') installed at the end of a hopper discharge conduit (2) is moved to discharge into one of collection containers (5, 5') by a motor (7). A separate discarding entrance (4) near each opening (1) for valuable waste materials such as empty bottles, cans or milk boxes, is located which leads to collecting container (8). A weight (or volume) measuring instrument (12) can be installed on the lower end portion of the rotary duct (2') and this instrument (12) is connected to a meter (13) located in a residents dwelling in the building. <IMAGE>

Description

AUTOMATIC REFUSE SORTING APPARATUS The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically sorting, removing and measuring refuse or waste materials, for instance, in densely populated areas such as large apartment buildings, department stores, office buildings and the like.

At present, waste materials in such buildings are generally discharged through a single or dual discharge conduit in the building or alternatively they are put into an outdoor collection container.

In the discharge conduit method, sorting the discharged waste materials is difficult, so if this is required, the existing discharge conduit often has to be closed down, or in the case of a newly constructed apartment building, the discharge conduit is not built at all. In the case of the outdoor collection container method, large containers are placed in the parking area or in the basement space of the building so that the residents can discard their waste material into them directly. As a result, any existing discharge conduit is generally closed down when these large collection containers are installed. This results in both an economic loss and a reduction in useable space in the building.In addition, large collection containers ale left until they are completely full which means that in the meantime, any organic waste materials will decompose and create a health risk and foul smells. Also, if the container cover is left open, the refuse in it can blow away.

Residents in buildings complain about this situation, so the location of the collection containers is continuously changed. As a result, the removal of the waste material becomes more difficult, and that the aesthetic appearance of the building is spoilt. Furthermore, the refuse collection containers can cause traffic accidents and/or contribute to traffic congestion. Also, the sorting of waste materials is not done because discarding them is difficult with these known methods.

Another solution to the problem is to provide people with bags into which they can put their refuse either for free or for a fee. However, the problem with this is that the people do not always use these bags.

The present invention is intended to overcome or substantially reduce the above described disadvantages of conventional systems.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for automatically sorting waste material, in which the existing waste material discharge conduits of buildings can be utilized so as to assure convenience for the people living in the building, the sorted removal rate for the waste material being improved.

It is a further object to improve space utilization and the environmental sanitation as well as the convenience of refuse removal.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus of the present invention; and FIGURE 2 illustrates a part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a refuse removal apparatus of the invention installed in a multi-storey building (not shown) and includes at least one normally closed refuse disposal opening provided on each floor of the building (only two openings 1,1' are shown). Selection buttons 3 are installed near the refuse openings 1 and 1'. On selection of button 3, the openings 1 or 1' are opened. At the same time, a rotary duct 2' fitted to the end of hopper discharge conduit 2 is rotated by motor 7 and bevel gears 10 and selects one of boxes 5 and 5' in which the refuse will be collected. A separate duct 4 for valuable waste material such as empty bottles, cans, and milk boxes and the like is provided immediately adjacent each opening 1,1' which leads to a valuable waste material collecting box 8.A weight (or volume) measuring instrument 12 is preferably installed on the lower end portion of the rotary duct 2', and this instrument 12 is connected to a meter 13 for each residence in the building.

The operation of the apparatus of the present invention described and illustrated will now be described. When waste material is to be discharged through one of the openings 1 or 1', the selection button 3 disposed adjacent the opening entrance has to be pushed and the discarding entrance will then open (if the button is not pushed, the opening is not opened). At the same time, the motor 7 is energised and rotates the bevel gears 10 attached to the duct 2' so the duct 2' rotates to the relevant collection box 5 or 5'.

Thus, any waste material discarded through a throw-away opening 1 will pass through the hopper discharge conduit 2 and be directed automatically into the selected collection box 5 or 5' in a sorted manner. At the same time, the waste materials can be measured by the measuring instrument 12, and the measured value recorded on the meter 13.

Any valuable waste materials can be put in the separate entrance duct 4 in an opening 1 or 1' and it will then drop into the valuable waste material collection box 8. These valuable waste materials are preferably decelerated by an impact absorbing device (not shown) to dissipate the impacts.

Each of the collection boxes 5,5' or 8 is provided with wheels 9 and handles (not shown), so that they can be manually handled in a convenient manner.

For sanitary reasons, a disinfectant spraying button (not shown) can be provided so that after discarding waste materials, via an opening 1, the user can push the disinfectant spraying button whereby disinfectant will be sprayed over the waste materials in the relevant collection box.

With an apparatus of the present invention as described above, either an existing or a newly built waste material removal duct can be effectively utilized and the waste material removing efficiency can be improved. Further, a beneficial effect is given to the sanitation and environmenL, as well as to the convenience of the people using the building. Furthermore, as the sorted discarding of refuse is provided, valuable time is saved. By sorting the refuse, the volume of refuse to be buried or incinerated is reduced. The measurement of waste materials is also made possible in conformity with a waste material quantity based system.

It will be appreciated that the system illustrated shows only 2 refuse accepting openings 1 and 1' but that any number of openings can be provided depending on the number of storeys in the building.

Claims

1. Apparatus for installation in a multi-storey building for automatically sorting refuse comprising a duct for directing refuse to one of a plurality of refuse collection containers, the duct having at least one normally closed inlet thereto, the end of said duct including refuse directing means whereby refuse in the duct can be selectively fed to any one of the collection containers, the position of said refuse directing means being selected by control means located adjacent each inlet whereby activation of said means opens the inlet for the admission of refuse and moves the refuse directing means to feed the refuse into the selected collection container.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the refuse directing means comprises a rotary head fitted to the end of the duct.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rotary head is moved by a motor on energisation of the control means located at the or each inlet.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the or each opening is closed by a door which is opened on actuation of the control means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein measuring means are provided in or adjacent the refuse directing means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said measuring means are connected to a meter located in a residence in the multi-storey building.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a separate duct is located adjacent the or each refuse opening and leads directly to a separate valuable refuse receiving container.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a selection button installed near the or each normally closed refuse opening and operable to open said normally closed opening when selected, a rotary duct connected to the lower end of a hopper discharge conduit, refuse collection containers for receiving refuse from said rotary duct, a motor and bevel gears for rotating said rotary duct to the relevant collection container, a weight (or volume) measuring instrument installed on the end portion of said rotary duct for measuring the weight (or volume) of the discharged refuse materials, a home meter connected to said weight (or volume) measuring instrument, a valuable refuse material discarding duct located near each refuse opening for discarding valuable refuse materials, and a separate valuable refuse material collection container for receiving the valuable refuse materials from said valuable refuse material discarding duct.

9. Apparatus for installation in a multi-storey building for automatically sorting refuse substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.