HK1237301A1 - Disposal apparatus, disposal system and method for disposing of food leftovers - Google Patents

Description

Cleaning device, cleaning system and method for cleaning food waste

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a clearing device/processing device, a clearing system/processing system and a method for clearing food waste. Such a clearing device, clearing system and method are used in particular in the field of large kitchens or other kitchens for group catering, for example in restaurants, factory canteens, administrative offices, hospitals and care centres, schools, restaurants or other facilities where group catering is present. However, other fields of application can also be realized in principle. Particularly in smaller kitchens that can be used for catering together within the scope of the invention, for example in smaller restaurants.

Background

In a large number of facilities for collective catering, such as the large kitchen described above, waste is generated not only when food is supplied but also when tableware is cleaned, and such waste is hereinafter referred to as "food waste". The removal of such food waste is an object of the present invention. Food waste, which is usually present in solid or also in liquid form, may in particular contain organic waste, but may also contain other types of waste. The marginal conditions during cleaning are in particular sufficient hygiene, as few operating costs as possible for the personnel, as low a total outlay as possible and a small space requirement.

Different systems and methods for removing food waste are known from the prior art. The simplest variants are: collecting the food waste in a bin or other container at the production site; manually or automatically transporting the containers; emptying into a larger reservoir, in particular in a cooling chamber; and emptying or removing the large reservoir through a scavenger.

In an alternative variant, the food waste is thrown into the gutter at the production site, wherein the food waste is then automatically transported with water through a pipeline to a central location, for example in the basement of a building. Within the collection center, the food waste is usually dewatered and then temporarily stored as a relatively dry substrate in a container, usually also in a cooling chamber, after which the food waste is removed by a remover.

One or more working positions can be connected to the system in their delivery position. In addition to the dewatering, method steps for separating fat or for comminuting food waste can also be inserted into the process and/or corresponding devices can be provided centrally. The scrubber may, for example, burn off, deposit food waste, or deliver to a biogas digester.

In another variant, the food waste is fed to a delivery station, from where it is automatically sucked by means of vacuum technology, conveyed by means of a pipeline to a triturator and then temporarily stored as viscous material in a collection bin. Such systems typically do not require a cooling chamber, as they are mostly hermetically closed. The collection tank can be emptied periodically by means of a tanker truck and the viscous material can be fed, for example, to a biogas digester. It is also possible here to connect a plurality of work stations with their delivery stations to the system.

Thus, EP 1253094 a1, for example, describes a refuse removal device for wet refuse, in particular for refuse in large kitchens. The wet waste is transported by compressed air or negative pressure from a non-central delivery station to a central discharge device. There, a receiving funnel in the form of a mesh is provided, from which the liquid passes outwards to an outer receiving region, which liquid is periodically drained off. Thus, when the wet waste is conveyed to other processing devices, such as a mashing device and a dewatering press, the remaining wet waste has been dewatered as much as possible, after which the wet waste is led, for example, to a food waste bin.

Furthermore, waste compressors for compacting waste are known from the prior art. WO 2012/034917 a1, for example, describes a waste compactor comprising at least one solid conveyor worm, which is inclined and is turned downwards. The conveyor worm is arranged in a funnel-shaped housing which has a discharge opening at its lower end.

Furthermore, triturating devices are known from the prior art, in which a radially arranged chain rotates around an axis in a housing. DE4300784 a1 describes, for example, a method for comminuting appliances to be cleaned, in particular cooling devices and refrigerators, which has a rigid foam or hard plastic, in particular for the radiationless recovery of fluorocarbon compounds consisting of polyurethane foam and other components. In this method, a rigid foam or a rigid plastic is comminuted together with the remaining tool parts in a comminuting device. This trituration is carried out in a space closed with respect to the environment. The comminuting device operates downstream of a grinding system (Mullenensystem), wherein the comminuting is furthermore effected by moving the ground material relative to one another, and wherein essentially the following method steps are carried out: a) filling the mashing device with the material to be ground; b) rendering the inner space of the triturating device inert; c) grinding the material to be mashed; d) evacuating the inert gas and the gas formed during grinding; e) discharging the crushed material. The triturating device can have, for example, a rotating chain.

In a similar way, US 3,356,016B describes a triturating device for scrap iron. The triturating device moreover comprises a rotary chopping unit and a hammer mill. The shredding unit may for example have a rotating chain.

DE 7539649U 1 describes a device for treating waste, in particular for placement at the site of waste production. The device comprises receiving means for the waste, conveying and triturating means and control means. To receive the waste, a waste bin is arranged on the horizontal frame. The conveying device consists of at least one chain and a carrying element in the box, which runs via a gear on a drive shaft and a floating gear on a horizontally adjustable shaft. The triturating device is formed by a stationary knife and a movable carrying element on the inside of the casing, on the output end of the chain.

DE 29514167U 1 discloses a triturator for solid and pasty waste in liquids, comprising a housing with a rotating cutting element therein, which is connected to a rotary drive. Examples of the trash include food trash, and trash such as plastic parts and aluminum caps.

JP 2008-114149A discloses a removing device for removing food waste. A cylindrically shaped scavenging device is described in which water is added. The removal means comprise means for generating a circulation flow of the added water and rotary triturating means comprising a rotary element and a fixed element. So that the food-trash passes through the mashing device several times.

US 2010/0276526 a1 discloses a device for removing waste, which comprises a triturating unit, a device for dehydrogenating and a device for drying. The clearing device is suitable for clearing food waste. The triturating unit comprises a rotating blade and a shredder with parallel rotating shafts.

However, the clearing devices known from the prior art have a series of technical challenges in practice. Thus, the first of the above variants, including manual removal of food waste, is unhygienic and labour-intensive in practice, and requires personnel to empty and prepare the container.

Whereas automation devices are expensive and require more space. However, the space for the main components of the device can also be outside the real working area. The disadvantages of a cleaning device with a water flushing pipe are: the water is first of all required for transport and at the end of the process it must be removed from the waste again in a laborious manner. Furthermore, such devices are also relatively open and can easily generate odors, which can spread over the entire working environment. Furthermore, the collecting container must usually be placed in a cooling chamber.

When transporting in a pipeline by means of vacuum, it is often necessary to close the system so that hygiene can be easily controlled and odours avoided. However, it is disadvantageous here that in practice higher plant outlay and higher operating costs may be required.

Furthermore, the increasingly scarce resources in smaller kitchens, in particular the increasingly short supply of people in kitchens, and the increasingly narrow space conditions require hygienic, uncomplicated and cost-effective disposal of organic waste. Many smaller kitchens will use automatic cleaning equipment, wherein the large investments that are often necessary, however, often prevent the use in just smaller enterprises.

Another technical challenge is the increasing use of high quality biomaterials or substrates for energy generation in practice. It can be assumed that there will be economic interest in the future to utilize biological materials for biogas digesters and for commerce in small enterprises. Therefore, the removal device must meet the requirements for creating a substrate for such biogas digesters.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a removal device, a removal system and a method for removing food waste which at least avoid the disadvantages of the known devices and methods as much as possible. In particular, a cost-effective and compact removal device should be provided which can also be installed in smaller devices and which can produce biological material from food waste for biogas digesters in a simple, maintenance-free and cost-effective manner.

The object is achieved by a cleaning device, a cleaning system and a method for cleaning food waste having the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments which can be realized individually or in any combination are given in the dependent claims.

The terms "with," "having," "including," or "containing" or any language different therefrom are used in the following non-exclusive sense. Accordingly, these terms may refer not only to the case where there are no other features than the features recited by these terms, but also to the case where one or more other features are present. For example, the expression "a with B", "a includes B" or "a includes B" may refer not only to the case where no other element is present in a other than B (i.e., the case where a consists only of B), but also to the case where one or more other elements are present in a other than B, such as elements C, C and D, or even other elements.

Furthermore, it is noted that the terms "at least one" and "one or more" as well as variations of these terms or similar terms are generally used only once in the following cases: for example, when a feature or element is first introduced, the terms are used in association with one or more elements or features and are intended to indicate that the element or feature may be provided in single or multiple instances. When this feature or element is subsequently referred to again, the respective term "at least one" or "one or more" is generally not used anymore, however without limiting the following possibilities: the elements or features may be provided singly or in multiples.

Furthermore, the terms "preferred", "in particular", "for example" or similar terms are used below in connection with optional features, without thereby restricting the alternative embodiments. So that the features introduced by these terms are optional features and are not meant to limit the scope of protection of the claims and in particular of the independent claims by these features. The invention can thus, as will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, also be implemented using other designs. In a similar manner, features introduced by "in one embodiment of the invention" or by "in one embodiment of the invention" are understood as optional features, without thereby limiting the scope of protection of the alternative design or the independent claims. Furthermore, all possibilities of combinations of features introduced thereby with other features should not be infringed by these expressions introduced, which may be optional or essential features.

In a first aspect of the invention a clearing device for clearing food waste is presented. Food waste is generally understood within the scope of the present invention to mean here materials and objects which occur during the preparation or delivery of food and beverages and/or which may remain as a residue during the acquisition of the food or beverage. In particular the food waste may consist entirely of organic material or at least comprise organic material. The food waste can in principle be formed in solid or pasty form.

The removal of food waste is understood in principle to mean any treatment which comprises storing, preparing, storing, transporting, destroying or converting food wasteOr a combination of said treatments. The removal may include inter alia mashing, sealing or separating the food waste. Within the scope of the invention, the removal can be particularly triturated, as will be explained in more detail below. Mashing is generally understood within the scope of the present invention to mean the reduction in the size of the food waste by a corresponding processing, in particular a mechanical processing. So that, for example, food waste, in particular solid food waste, can in practice have parts of several cm³E.g. more than 5cm³Or more than 10cm³The volume of (a). Within the scope of trituration, this volume can be reduced to, for example, 2cm³Below, in particular 1cm³In the following, for example, only solid particles with a maximum size of 2cm are present after trituration³In particular 1cm³The food waste of (2). However, other types of comminution are also conceivable in principle.

The removal means comprise at least one triturator. The mashing device is to be understood as in principle any device which is arranged for mashing food waste according to the above definition. The mashing device may especially be arranged for mashing food waste in the following way: the solid component of the food waste has a maximum of 2cm after mashing³Preferably at most 1cm³The size of (c). Such mashing facilitates in practice the transport and removal of the food-waste mashed in this way, since the food-waste mashed in this way can be output by means of a pump, hose or pipe, for example, in contrast to large pieces of food-waste that are not mashed.

The triturator has at least one grinding chamber and at least one collection chamber. The milling chamber is connected to the collection chamber by one or more openings. The openings can be arranged in particular in the following manner: the mashed food waste can enter the collection chamber through an opening, e.g. a gap in the grinding chamber wall. A grinding chamber is understood within the scope of the invention to mean in principle any space in which food waste can be ground, in particular ground. The collecting chamber can in principle be understood within the scope of the invention as any space in which the mashed food waste can be collected and/or temporarily stored. The grinding chamber may, for example, have a volume of 1l to 1000l, in particular a volume of 10l to 100l, and particularly preferably a volume of 20l to 80l, for example 40 l. The collection chamber can likewise have, for example, a volume of 1l to 1000l, in particular a volume of 10l to 100l, and particularly preferably a volume of 20l to 80l, for example 40 l. However, it is noted that other dimensions can also be implemented.

At least one mashing device is arranged in the milling chamber, said mashing device having at least one beating tool for mashing the food waste. The triturating device can in principle be understood as any device which, as an integral part of the triturating machine, can carry out the actual triturating process according to the above definition of the term "triturating". The triturating device may comprise, in particular, a grinding mechanism. In this context, a beating tool for comminuting food waste can in principle be understood within the scope of the invention as any tool which can be used to mash food waste by mechanical action, in particular by beating. As will be explained in more detail below, the striking tool can have, in particular, a plurality of striking elements which can be set in motion, for example rotated, and which can then, when they strike the food waste, partially transfer their motion energy to the food waste and can thus mash the food waste.

Furthermore, at least one mixing device for generating motion in the food waste is arranged in the grinding chamber. A mixing device is therefore understood in principle as any device which is arranged to move and/or mix the food waste. The mixing device can in particular be arranged for generating a continuous or discontinuous flow inside the food waste, in particular inside the completely or partially mashed food waste. Accordingly, the mixing device can be arranged completely or partially as a flow device, as will be explained in more detail below. As mentioned above, the clearing means comprise at least one striking tool and at least one mixing device. Both the mixing device and the beating tool are arranged inside the grinding chamber. It is particularly preferred that the striking tool and the mixing device are designed in a spaced-apart manner, so that the mixing can be effected independently of the comminution. The striking tool and the mixing device can be driven, for example, by one drive or also by a plurality of separate drives. The movement of the mixing device can therefore be coupled to the movement of the triturating device, in particular of the beating tool, directly or by acceleration or deceleration, or can also be constituted completely independently of its movement.

As mentioned above, the striking tool can in particular have a plurality of striking elements, also referred to as striking links. The striking tool can in particular have at least a plurality of striking links which are connected to one another in an articulated manner. The striking tool can in particular have at least one chain.

The striking tool can in particular each have a chain on one side which is connected to at least one drive shaft. The drive shaft may in particular comprise one or more drive shafts. The chain may extend, for example, radially outward from the drive shaft during rotation. The striking tool can in particular have two chains arranged on opposite sides and connected to the drive shaft. Alternatively or additionally, the chain and/or the striking tool can also be connected with the drive shaft in other ways, preferably arranged in the following way: an imbalance of the striking tool is prevented by a corresponding balancing of the occurring centrifugal forces.

As mentioned above, the striking tool can in particular be rotated about at least one drive shaft.

The triturating device may in particular have at least one drive shaft and at least one drive means, wherein a drive means can in principle be understood as any means arranged for driving, in particular rotating, the drive shaft. The drive device can be arranged in particular for rotating the drive shaft at a rotational speed of at least 500 rpm to 2000 rpm and particularly preferably at 1000 rpm.

The drive can in particular have at least one toothed belt drive and/or at least one belt drive. Alternatively or additionally, however, other types of drives, for example gear drives or the like, can also be implemented. The drive means may in particular comprise a drive disc, in particular a belt disc, arranged outside the grinding chamber, which can be connected with the drive shaft. The drive means furthermore comprise at least one drive motor arranged outside the grinding chamber, which is connected to the drive shaft, for example by means of at least one transmission. For example, the drive motor can be connected to the drive shaft via at least one toothed belt drive, at least one belt drive and/or at least one gear drive in order to drive the drive shaft.

The drive shaft can in particular pass through the grinding chamber wall of the grinding chamber. At least one indentation may be provided, for example, at the location of the passage of the drive shaft through the grinding chamber wall of the grinding chamber, for example a lamella, which forms the grinding chamber wall at this location. The recess can be sealed, for example, by at least one seal.

As mentioned above, said triturating means and mixing means can be driven in particular by common driving means, for example by common driving means with said at least one driving motor outside the triturating chamber. The driving can be realized in the following way: the movement of the triturating device is coupled to the movement of the mixing device and/or vice versa. The drive can be realized with the same transmission ratio or also with a deceleration or acceleration. The drives can furthermore be effected in the same direction or also in opposite directions. The striking tool and the mixing device can be arranged, for example, axially spaced apart from one another on a drive shaft which is driven, for example, by a drive device.

As mentioned above, the mixing device is especially arranged for generating at least one flow in the food waste. The mixing device may in particular have at least one blade, preferably at least two or at least three blades. Thus, the mixing device may for example comprise at least one impeller. The vanes may in particular be arranged rotatably around a drive shaft, such as the drive shaft described above.

The mixing device can in particular be arranged for generating a movement in the food-waste in the region of the opening, so that the mashed food-waste is guided by the movement to the opening and can, for example, pass through the opening into the collecting chamber. In this way, for example, a movement can always be generated in the following manner: the completely or partially mashed food-waste enters the region of the opening after the above-mentioned mashing, i.e. for example in the region from which the mashed food-waste can pass through the opening. Furthermore, the mixing device can also be arranged for generating a pushing and/or a suction inside the food-waste, so that the mashed food-waste is guided to the opening by such pushing and/or such suction.

The milling chamber can in particular be divided into one or more sub-chambers. Thus, the grinding chamber may for example be divided into at least one charging chamber and at least one fines chamber. The charging chamber can in principle be used for receiving non-mashed food-waste, so that for example the non-mashed food-waste can enter directly or indirectly into the charging chamber. The fine material chamber may for example be arranged for accommodating completely or partially mashed food waste. Thus, the division of the grinding chamber into at least one charging chamber and at least one fines chamber can be realized, for example, in the following manner: non-mashed food-waste, e.g. food-waste above a maximum size or an equivalent size, cannot pass from the charging chamber into the fines chamber. For this purpose, for example, one or more partitions can be provided, which have one or more correspondingly dimensioned openings which prevent, at least as far as possible, the pieces of food-waste which have not been mashed from entering the fine material chamber. The at least one, in particular a plurality of, openings connecting the grinding chamber with the collecting chamber can be arranged in particular in the region of the fines chamber, so that the food waste comminuted in the grinding chamber passes at least partially from the fines chamber into the collecting chamber. However, it is also possible to arrange one or more openings completely or partially in the region of the charging chamber, since small pieces or mashed food waste may already be present in the charging chamber, which can also pass directly from the charging chamber into the collecting chamber.

The mashing device described above, in particular the beating tool described above for mashing food waste, may in particular be arranged completely or partially in the charging chamber, so that the mashing is carried out completely or partially inside the charging chamber. Alternatively or additionally, the triturating device may also be arranged, completely or partially, between the charging chamber and the fine material chamber.

The mixing device is preferably arranged completely or partially in the fines chamber. In this way, the above-mentioned mixing and/or the generation of motion in the food waste can be achieved in particular completely or partially in the fines compartment. Thus. In the fines chamber, a flow can be generated along the at least one opening, for example by means of a mixing device. However, the mixing device can also be arranged completely or partially or also additionally within the charging chamber.

As mentioned above, the triturator may comprise at least one separating device arranged to separate the charging chamber and the fine chamber from each other. The separating device can thus be arranged, for example, to allow only food-waste of a predetermined maximum size, for example within a predetermined maximum diameter or equivalent diameter, to pass through, so that only such food-waste having the predetermined maximum size can pass from the charging chamber into the fines chamber. The separating device may comprise, in particular, at least one separating tray and/or at least one screen, also referred to below as separating screen. A separating tray is understood in this respect to be a tray which forms with at least one other element, for example the wall of the grinding chamber, at least one gap and/or intermediate chamber, the width of which limits, for example, the passage of the food waste to be mashed. The gap width of the gap, for example an annular gap, formed by the separating plate and the wall of the grinding chamber (also referred to as grinding chamber wall) can for example define the maximum size for food waste that can pass from the charging chamber into the fines chamber. The separating disk can be arranged immovably or can also be arranged movably, for example rotatably. In principle, however, other separating devices can also be realized. The separating device may in particular comprise at least one separating disk according to the above definition arranged between the striking tool and the mixing device. The striking tool, the mixing device and the separating device can be arranged, for example, on a common drive shaft. The separating device, in particular the separating disk, can be arranged, for example, between the striking tool and the mixing device, for example an impeller.

As described above, the charging chamber is arranged in the following manner: the non-mashed food-trash can be directly or indirectly entered into the charging chamber. The filling chamber can have, for example, at least one filling opening, through which the filling chamber can be filled with non-mashed food waste.

The fines chamber can be arranged in particular with respect to the charging chamber in the following manner: the mashed food-trash can move from the charging chamber into the fine material chamber due to its gravity. In particular, the mashed food-waste can slide by its gravity from the charging chamber into the fine material chamber, for example through the above-mentioned partition means. The fines chamber can thus be arranged, for example, at least partially below the charging chamber. The milling chamber can in particular have an axis, for example an axis of symmetry and in particular a cylindrical axis, wherein the axis is inclined at an angle to the horizontal, for example. The inclination may be, for example, 5 ° to 70 °, in particular 10 ° to 45 °. The milling chamber may in particular have a circular, polygonal or oval cross section. The milling chamber may in particular have a cylindrical or barrel shape. As mentioned above, the grinding chamber may in particular have the shape of an inclined cylinder or a cylindrical section or the shape of an inclined tub, wherein the inclination is preferably configured as described above in the following manner: the mashed food-trash can sink and/or slide by its gravity from the charging chamber into the fine material chamber. For this purpose, at least one inclined sliding surface can be provided in the grinding chamber, for example.

The bottom of the milling chamber can be inclined at an angle, for example, an angle of 5 ° to 70 °, preferably 10 ° to 45 °, to the horizontal. The inclination of the bottom relative to the horizontal in turn ensures that the comminuted food waste can slide from the charging chamber into the fines chamber. Alternatively or additionally, for example, various inclinations can also be implemented, so that the bottom of the grinding chamber can also be designed, for example, completely or partially as a funnel and/or a slide.

As mentioned above, the grinding chamber has one or more openings through which the grinding chamber is connected with the collection chamber. Thus, the grinding chamber may for example have at least one grinding chamber wall, wherein one or more openings are arranged in the grinding chamber wall and the mashed food waste can pass from the grinding chamber into the collection chamber. The openings can in particular form a screen. The grinding chamber walls can in particular be made completely or partially of a metallic material, for example a steel plate. Alternatively or additionally, however, other materials, for example plastic materials, may also be used.

Other possible embodiments relate in particular to the at least one opening, i.e. the one or more openings, through which the grinding chamber is connected with the collecting chamber. The one or more openings may especially form at least one screen. The opening or openings may in particular have a diameter or equivalent diameter of 1mm to 30mm, preferably a diameter or equivalent diameter of 3mm to 15 mm. Other dimensions can in principle also be realized. The one or more openings may in particular have a circular cross section. Alternatively or additionally, the one or more openings may also have other cross-sections, for example a polygonal cross-section and/or an elliptical cross-section.

The at least one milling chamber may in particular have at least one door for carrying out maintenance work. A door is generally understood here to mean at least one closable opening. The door may, for example, have at least one closure device selected from a flap, a removable cover, a slider, an enclosure, or other type of closure device. The at least one door can in particular have at least one seal, for example a circumferential rubber seal. The seal may for example prevent liquid food waste from escaping from the grinding chamber. Alternatively or additionally, a seal may also be arranged for preventing gases and/or odours from escaping from the grinding chamber.

Alternatively or additionally, the collecting chamber can also have at least one door for carrying out maintenance work. The definition of the term "door" and/or possible embodiments of the door can be referred to the description of the door of the crushing chamber. In particular, the door can in turn have at least one seal. The door of the milling chamber and the door of the collecting chamber can be designed as separate doors or also as a common door. For example, a common door can be provided, which can be opened together for carrying out maintenance work in the grinding chamber and/or the collecting chamber.

The collection chamber can in particular have at least one opening for manual emptying. The at least one opening for manual emptying may be provided, for example, on the bottom of the collection chamber. The at least one opening can be closed, for example, by at least one closure, for example, at least one screw closure. Other types of closures may also be used.

Furthermore, the removal device can have at least one pump for pumping the mashed food waste out of the collection chamber. For example, at least one opening can be provided in the collection chamber and/or at least one sleeve can be provided in the collection chamber, which is or can be connected to the pump. At least one pump for pumping the triturated food waste from the collection chamber can be, for example, an integral part of the removal device.

The removal device can furthermore have at least one level sensor for detecting at least one level of the comminuted food waste in the collection chamber. In this case, in principle, at least one arbitrary level sensor can be used, which can detect the level of the mashed food waste in the collection chamber on the basis of one or more physical measuring principles. The fill level sensor may, however, in particular comprise at least one float switch. The float switch may, for example, float on the food waste and be lifted with the food waste. The level sensor can generally be a digital level sensor or can also be arranged for detecting a plurality of levels in a stepless or multistage manner.

The cleaning device can furthermore have at least one control device which is provided for the complete or partial actuation of the cleaning device. The control means may be arranged in particular for operating at least the triturator of the removing means. Alternatively or additionally, the control means may however also be arranged for, for example, operating the above-mentioned pump to pump the mashed food waste out of the collection chamber.

The control device may thus comprise, for example, at least one electronic control device and/or at least one data processing device, which is/are arranged to control one or more functions of the cleaning device. In this case, a control device can in principle be understood as any device which is provided for actuating one or more further devices of the cleaning device. The control device may comprise, for example, at least one data processing device which is provided for executing one or more program operating processes and/or which is arranged for monitoring one or more processes of the cleaning device. The control device may furthermore comprise at least one user interface which is arranged to enable information and/or instructions to be input by a user and/or which is arranged to enable one or more information to be output to a user. The user interface may comprise, for example, at least one operating element, such as an operating field and/or a keyboard. Alternatively or additionally, the user interface may comprise at least one display, for example. The control device can furthermore comprise at least one electronic interface, for example at least one wired and/or at least one wireless interface. Information, data and/or instructions can be transmitted, for example, to the control device and/or from the control device to another device, for example, another computer, via the at least one electronic interface.

In addition to operating at least one triturator, the control means may be arranged in addition to operate and/or monitor one or more further elements of the removing means. For example, the at least one fill level sensor can transmit sensor data to the control device, for example, in a wireless and/or wired connection. The control device may for example generally be arranged for monitoring the level of material in the collection chamber.

Alternatively or additionally, the control device can, for example, again be arranged for controlling and/or monitoring the pumping out of the mashed food waste from the collecting chamber.

If the control device is arranged, for example, to monitor the fill level in the collection chamber, this monitoring may, for example, comprise issuing corresponding information and/or warnings to a user of the clearing device. The current fill level can be transmitted to the user, for example, via at least one display and/or at least one other type of display device. Alternatively or additionally, one or more warning signals may be emitted, for example, if the fill level exceeds a predefined maximum fill level.

Other possible embodiments relate to the design of the collecting chamber of the cleaning device. Thus, the bottom of the collection chamber may be inclined, for example, towards the collection point and/or the collection area. Alternatively or additionally, the bottom can also form a funnel, for example, completely or partially. The collection point or collection area in the bottom of the collection chamber may for example also be a point from which the suction of the food-waste can be started, for example by means of at least one of the above-mentioned pumps for pumping the mashed food-waste out of the collection chamber. Alternatively or additionally, at least one opening for manual emptying may in turn be arranged in the collection point or in the collection region.

The collecting chamber may in particular at least partially enclose the milling chamber. Thus, the clearing device may for example have a housing which forms a milling chamber and a collecting chamber, wherein the collecting chamber at least partially surrounds the milling chamber. The collecting chamber can, for example, surround the grinding chamber in an annular manner, so that an intermediate chamber is provided in the housing between the grinding chamber and the housing wall, which intermediate chamber forms the collecting chamber. In principle, however, other embodiments are also possible.

In any case, the triturator can be arranged inside a housing, in particular an external housing, of the removing device. The triturator can therefore have a triturator housing which surrounds the milling chamber and the collection chamber and which is in turn arranged inside the outer housing of the purge device. The housing or the outer housing may for example have at least one loading opening for the food waste, wherein the loading opening may be connected to the grinding chamber. The loading opening may for example comprise at least one hopper. The loading opening may be connected to the grinding chamber, for example, by at least one channel and/or at least one pipe system. The insertion opening can be arranged in particular in a working surface of the housing, in particular in an upper working surface and particularly preferably in a flat working surface. The loading opening can be arranged, for example, in a cover plate of the housing. The housing may furthermore have a chassis and/or another type of holder which can hold the clearing device.

As described above, the cleaning device can be arranged in particular in a particularly small installation space, so that the cleaning device can also be used in smaller kitchens. The housing can thus have a height of, for example, at most 1.5m, preferably at most 1.0 m. The cleaning device can be designed in particular as a table module or a lower table module, so that the cleaning device has a maximum height of the usual working surface. In principle, however, any desired size of the clearing device can be realized. Alternatively or additionally, the purging device can also be integrated into one or more larger purging systems, for example one or more of the above-described purging systems of the prior art. The removal device can therefore also be used, for example, as a component of the apparatus described in EP 1253094 a 1. Other application areas may also be realized.

The housing of the cleaning device, i.e. the outer housing, may in particular also have at least one door. Reference is made to the above description with regard to possible definitions of the term "door" and with regard to possible designs of the door. The door can be constructed in particular in the following manner: the triturator can be reached by opening the door. The door can in particular have at least one removable partition, for example a removable front flap. Alternatively or additionally, the door can also be, for example, a door with a vertical hinge, for example a door arranged on the front side, which can be opened by means of a vertically oriented hinge. In principle, other designs of the door can also be realized.

In another aspect of the invention, a cleaning system for cleaning food waste is presented. In this context, a cleaning system is understood within the scope of the present invention to mean a device consisting of a plurality of components which are permanently or reversibly connected to one another and are used for cleaning food waste. The components of the purging system may be arranged spatially close to each other, for example in the same chamber, but may also be arranged remote from each other, for example at different locations and/or in different chambers.

The cleaning system comprises at least one cleaning device according to the invention, for example according to one or more of the embodiments described above or in more detail below. Thus, the purging system may include one purging device, two purging devices, or more than two purging devices.

Furthermore, the removal system comprises at least one collecting container connected or connectable to the removal device for receiving the mashed food waste. The collection container may also be referred to as a waste container. In this context, a collecting container is understood within the scope of the invention to mean in principle any container which is connected or can be connected to at least one removal device, for example by means of at least one temporarily or permanently installed line, and which is suitable for receiving food waste comminuted in the removal device. The collecting container can be constructed, for example, in the form of a tub and/or a box. The collecting container can have, for example, at least one receiving space for receiving the food waste, which is completely or partially enclosed by the at least one container wall. The container wall may for example be made completely or partially of at least one metal material and/or of at least one plastic material. Furthermore, the collecting container can have at least one door and/or at least one closure, for example at least one lid and/or at least one sliding door. Furthermore, the collecting container can comprise in particular at least one connection and/or at least one sleeve for a line through which the mashed food waste can pass from the at least one removal device, in particular the at least one collecting chamber of the at least one removal device, into the receiving chamber, for example by pumping.

The collecting container can be installed in a stationary manner, for example at a central collecting location, for example in a hospital or in a basement, or can also be constructed in a movable manner or in a transportable manner. In the latter case, the collecting container may for example be arranged temporarily in the vicinity of the removing device, for example temporarily connected to the removing device by at least one line, wherein in this case the mashed food-waste is passed from the removing device, for example from a collecting chamber of the removing device, for example by a pumping process, into the collecting container. Thus, as mentioned above, the removal device can for example comprise at least one pump for pumping the triturated food waste out of the collection chamber of the removal device. The pump may be arranged for pumping the mashed food waste from the collection chamber of the device to a collection container. Alternatively or additionally, at least one pump may however also be included in the purging system, which pump is not a component of the purging device, but which pump is, for example, a component of the collecting container in whole or in part and/or which pump is designed as a separate pump in whole or in part. Alternatively or additionally, the collecting chamber of the cleaning device can also be emptied by means of a vacuum device, which can be assigned to the collecting container, for example. Accordingly, the removal system can have, for example, at least one underpressure device, i.e. a device which is arranged to generate an underpressure and with this underpressure to convey the mashed food waste from the collecting chamber of the removal device to the collecting container. The vacuum device can be, for example, a component of the collection container or be connected to the collection container. The collecting container can be connected or connectable to at least one collecting chamber of at least one cleaning device, for example, by at least one line. The lines may be permanently or reversibly installed or may also be installed only temporarily.

The cleaning system can be constructed in different ways and can in principle be flexibly adapted to the respective needs and situations. Only a single cleaning device can be provided, which can be installed in a stationary manner, for example, in the area of a kitchen and/or in a work area. The emptying of the collection chamber into the collection container can be initiated automatically or by the user at regular or irregular intervals, for example on the basis of the level information provided by the at least one level sensor in the collection chamber of the cleaning device. As mentioned above, for this purpose, the collecting container can be arranged stationary and connected to the collecting chamber, for example by at least one line, or the collecting container can be temporarily connected to the collecting chamber, for example by: the collection container is temporarily disposed adjacent the removal device.

Alternatively, the purging system can also be designed as a larger purging system with a plurality of purging devices, which are permanently or temporarily connected to one or more collecting containers, for example by way of a line system comprising one or more lines. In this way, for example, it is also possible to use correspondingly larger kitchens by: the removal system serves as a delivery station for the food waste, which performs the trituration and the subsequent transfer into at least one collection container.

The purging system can optionally have a system control, which can be designed centrally or non-centrally. The at least one optional control device of the at least one clearing device may for example be an integral part of the system control device or may be arranged for communication with the system control device, for example for unidirectional or bidirectional exchange of information and/or instructions. With regard to possible embodiments of the system control, reference can in principle be made to the possibilities of alternative control of the purging device.

The removal device can furthermore have at least one pump for pumping the mashed food waste out of the collection chamber. For example, at least one opening can be provided in the collection chamber and/or at least one sleeve can be provided in the collection chamber, which is or can be connected to the pump. At least one pump for pumping the triturated food waste from the collection chamber can be, for example, an integral part of the removal device.

In another aspect of the invention, a method for removing food waste is presented. The method comprises the steps set forth in detail below, which can be carried out, for example, in the order described. In principle, however, another sequence can also be implemented. Furthermore, one or more of the method steps may be carried out overlapping in time, simultaneously or repeatedly.

The method comprises the following steps: at least one triturator is filled with food waste. The triturator has at least one trituration chamber and at least one collection chamber, wherein the trituration chamber is connected to the collection chamber by one or more openings, for example by one or more sieves. Filling the grinding chamber with food waste comprises: the food waste is conveyed to the grinding chamber. The method further comprises: the food waste in the grinding chamber is mashed at least once by means of at least one beating tool. Further the method comprises: the movement in the food waste is generated at least once in the grinding chamber by means of at least one mixing device. In this case, in particular, the comminuted food waste can be discharged continuously or discontinuously from the grinding chamber into the collecting chamber by means of a movement in the food waste which is generated in the grinding chamber by the mixing device.

With regard to possible embodiments and/or definitions of terms used in the context of the description of the method, reference is made to the above description of the cleaning device and to the following examples. The method can be carried out in particular using a cleaning device according to the invention, for example according to one or more of the embodiments described above, and/or using one or more of the embodiments described in more detail below. Furthermore, the method can be carried out, in particular, using a cleaning system according to the invention, for example, according to one or more of the embodiments described above, and/or using one or more of the embodiments described in more detail below. Accordingly, reference may be made to the description of the cleaning device and/or the cleaning system with regard to possible embodiments of the method. In principle, however, other designs are also conceivable.

The proposed removal device and the proposed method for removing food waste have a number of advantages over known removal devices and methods. This is a particularly important advantage, in particular, in that the installation space of the cleaning device and/or of the system comprising the cleaning device can be kept very small. In response to this, as described above, the clearing device may also be used in smaller kitchens or other smaller facilities for catering in groups. In particular, the cleaning device can even be designed as a lower table module. In principle, there is no need to access a separate room, for example, in a basement below the actual kitchen or installation.

Furthermore, the removal device can in principle be designed as a closed system. Thus, the cleaning device may be hygienic and have little odor. The food waste can be converted directly at the production site into pumpable mashed material, which can then be applied without further treatment, for example in a biogas digester.

Furthermore, only a small amount of water or other cleaning agent is required or in principle no water or other cleaning agent is required for operating the cleaning device. Thus, such liquid in principle does not have to be removed from the waste. Furthermore, no fresh water connections and no waste water connections are required. Overall, the construction conditions required for the operation of the cleaning device and the operating costs can therefore be significantly reduced.

Furthermore, the cleaning device according to the invention can be operated continuously or alternatively only discontinuously when there is a low accumulation of food waste.

In the cleaning device, for example in the delivery station of the cleaning device, only a small number of components are required in principle. As a result, the cleaning device can be designed in a compact, robust and functionally reliable manner as a whole, as described above. Furthermore, a cost-effective design can be achieved due to the small number of components.

All necessary components of the cleaning device can furthermore be integrated in a space-saving manner in the cleaning device, which is designed completely or partially as a delivery station. A single collecting container, which can receive, for example, one or more days of waste, can be arranged, for example, at a central location. The receiving container can be connected to the collecting chamber, for example, by a pipe system, wherein for example the above-mentioned pump can be used for pumping the mashed food waste from the collecting chamber into the collecting container or waste container.

Since a separate cleaning device in the form of a separate delivery station must in principle require a small installation space, it is also possible to use a plurality of devices of this type in a kitchen, for example. In principle, no control-technical connection of the individual cleaning devices to one another is required. Alternatively, however, a plurality of the clearing devices can also be coupled to form a clearing system.

By preparing the food waste into a comminuted and preferably pumpable mass, also referred to as base material, it is furthermore possible to use small pipe cross sections. The above-mentioned pumps and/or lines, by means of which the mashed food waste can be pumped from the collecting chamber into the collecting container or waste container, can thus be designed in very small dimensions. For example, the following catheter cross-sections can be used: it has a diameter of at most 75mm or less than 75mm, preferably at most 50 mm. Thus, the collection chamber can be connected, for example, to a cannula which has a catheter cross section of not more than 50mm, for example according to DN 50 mm. Small-sized catheters can be laid virtually problem-free everywhere in terms of construction technology.

In summary, a compact and cost-effective cleaning system can be realized with the present invention. The clearing device is also suitable for collective foodSmaller kitchens. The cleaning device can in principle be constructed in the lower part) And can be flexibly mounted in a working position, for example in a dishwashing station and/or in a preparation area. The food waste can be directly mashed at the production site and then transported into a collection tank, for example by means of a hose or a pipe. The collection chamber may thus be connected to a larger collection container, collection tank or waste container by one or more conduits. The pump described above may be provided for such transport.

The removal means may comprise a triturator as described above, which triturator may comprise a shell and a grinding mechanism. The food-trash can be conveyed to the masher through the passage. The triturated material can be pumped out of the triturator, for example, a collection chamber, by means of a pump. Furthermore, as mentioned above, a control device may be provided.

In the housing of the triturator there may be provided a real grinding chamber in which the grinding mechanism may, for example, rotate. The housing of the triturator can be formed, for example, by a surrounding wall, also referred to above as the grinding chamber wall. It is thus possible to create an additional space between the milling chamber of the triturator and the real housing wall, which space can be used as a collection chamber according to the above description. The walls of the milling chamber may be at least partially perforated so that liquids and/or particles below a certain size may pass from the milling chamber into the intermediate chamber and/or the collection chamber. As mentioned above, the whole grinding mechanism can be tilted backwards and in this way mounted in the triturator. In this way, it is ensured by the inclination of the grinding chamber that the food waste is conveyed to the triturating device, in particular the grinding mechanism, in particular due to its own weight. However, the bottom of the grinding chamber can be formed at least at an angle to the comminuting means, in particular the grinding means. The bottom can likewise have a recess and can be designed, for example, as a component of the grinding chamber wall or as a separate bottom. Thus, the bottom can form, for example, a screen and can be constructed, for example, in the following manner: only sufficiently comminuted material below a certain particle size can pass into the collecting chamber below the bottom.

The triturating device, in particular the crushing mechanism, can be equipped with at least one, preferably two or more flexible beating elements, such as chains. The striking tool can be fixed to the sleeve, for example. The striking elements can be arranged in particular in the following manner: so that no unbalance occurs and the clearing device can thus, as a whole, operate very acoustically and with low vibrations. The striking element can preferably be made of a very stable material, for example hardened steel. In principle, however, other designs of the striking element can be realized.

As already mentioned, at least one partition can furthermore be provided in the milling chamber. The above can be constituted in particular in a simple manner such that the separating disc is mounted directly after the triturating device. The separating disk can be arranged in a simple manner such that it forms a gap towards the grinding chamber wall, through which gap only sufficiently comminuted material can flow back into the fines chamber. Alternatively or additionally, however, the separating disk can also have one or more recesses and accordingly be designed, for example, completely or partially as a sieve disk. The sieve tray can likewise be connected to a drive shaft, for example a sleeve, and can rotate, for example, with the mashing device. Alternatively or additionally, at least one separating device, for example at least one sieve tray, can also be mounted in the milling chamber in such a way that it is stationary. Alternatively or additionally, at least one separating device, for example at least one sieve tray, may in turn be mounted such that it can rotate freely and, for example, has its own drive. The separating means, for example a sieve tray, can thus rotate, for example, at any speed of rotation, along or opposite to the direction of rotation of the triturating device.

After the separating device, for example after the separating disk, a mixing device can be arranged, for example in the fines chamber. The mixing device can be used, for example, to generate a flow when the grinding means rotates, which flow is achieved, for example, via the sieve tray and/or the separating device and/or which flow, in the case of a simple separating tray, reaches behind the separating tray, for example, via an external gap. Thus, the mixing device may generally in this embodiment or in other embodiments be arranged for generating a movement of the food-waste from the charging chamber through the separating device into the fines chamber. Since the triturated material flows behind the separating means, it is possible to convey the non-triturated material towards the triturating means, for example towards the beating means. This improves the functioning of the triturator. The mixing device can thus be designed in particular as a flow device. The flow means can be realized, for example, by a plurality of vanes on the back side of the separating means, for example a separating disk. Alternatively or additionally, however, the flow device can also generally have the shape of a propeller or other structure and need not be directly part of the separating disk or be connected to the separating disk.

As mentioned above, the space formed behind the divider disc may also be referred to as a fines chamber. The fines chamber may in turn be connected to the collection chamber via one or more openings, for example via one or more gaps. The collecting chamber may for example be provided at the side and/or lower part of the crushing chamber. The fully comminuted material can thus be collected in the collection chamber via the one or more openings.

The striking tool and the mixing device and optionally the above-mentioned elements of the separating device can, as described, in particular be arranged on a common drive shaft, for example a common shaft. The structure can thus be constructed very simply and cost-effectively.

The grinding means, in particular the beating tools or at least the mixing device, which may be designed as a flow device, may be driven in the same rotational direction or may also be driven in the opposite rotational direction. The latter can result in particular in that blockages which may occur in the separating device, for example in the sieve tray and/or the separating tray, can be eliminated.

The triturating device, for example the grinding means, can be driven in particular by at least one electric motor. In particular, at least one electric motor having at least one reduction gear in the form of at least one belt drive, for example at least one belt drive, can be used. The triturating device may therefore in particular have at least one drive or at least one transmission, for example with at least one belt transmission, in particular for driving the grinding mechanism. In general, the cleaning device and the method for cleaning food waste can thus be constructed in a very low-noise manner. In addition, overload protection can be ensured in this way, in particular in the case of belts, for example, wedge belts. In principle, other embodiments for the transmission, such as flat belt transmissions, wide toothed belt transmissions, metal belt transmissions, gear transmissions, are also conceivable. In principle, combinations of the drives or transmissions are also conceivable. The mashing device, e.g. the grinding means, has a nominal rotational speed of e.g. 1000 rpm. As mentioned above, however, other rotational speeds may also be used.

Furthermore, at least one level sensor and/or other types of level detection devices can be arranged in the collection chamber, i.e. for example in the housing of the triturator, outside the grinding chamber and/or in an intermediate chamber between the grinding chamber walls and the housing of the triturator. The fill level in the collecting chamber can be detected, for example, by means of at least one fill level sensor. As mentioned above, in particular, at least one float switch can be used in a simple manner.

As already mentioned, at least one pump can be connected to the collecting chamber, with which the comminuted and/or pasty foodstuff waste can be pumped out of the removal device, which can also be designed as a delivery station. The pump can in principle be designed in any desired manner. The pump may in particular have at least one vane pump. In principle, however, other pump types, such as hose pumps or eccentric screw pumps, can also be used.

The triturator can be arranged, for example, oscillating inside the casing of the removing device, i.e. inside the outer casing. This reduces noise and/or vibrations in the working environment, in particular. The cleaning device can also be adapted to the working environment in this way in a simple, comfortable and noise-free manner.

The entire structure of the cleaning device, in particular of the delivery station, can furthermore be designed such that all components are easily accessible, in particular for maintenance situations. Thus, the triturator may have, for example, a housing provided with the above-mentioned at least one door, so as to allow, for example, an unhindered access to the internal cavity. The above-mentioned alternative pump can also be designed and installed in such a way that maintenance work can be carried out easily if necessary. The pump can be reached in a simple manner, for example, by removing a front or rear partition or side wall of the outer housing of the cleaning device.

Furthermore, as already mentioned above, at least one opening can be provided on the bottom of the collecting chamber, through which opening the collecting chamber can also be emptied, for example manually.

In order to improve the hygiene overall during the interruption of operation and to prevent odours from occurring, the filling opening can be cleaned, for example, with water and/or a disinfectant. Furthermore, the filling opening can also be designed in a closable manner. The cleaning device can therefore have at least one closure element for closing the filling opening. The closure can have, for example, at least one permanently or reversibly lockable stopper. Alternatively or additionally, however, in principle also other closure devices, for example flaps, slides or other types of closure devices, can be used.

As mentioned above, the cleaning device, which can be designed as a delivery station, can in particular be a component of a cleaning system, which comprises at least one cleaning device. Furthermore, as also described above, the removal system can comprise at least one collecting container which is permanently or reversibly connected to the at least one collecting chamber. The removal system may, for example, comprise at least one line system which connects the collecting container to the at least one collecting chamber. Furthermore, the above-mentioned at least one pump may be provided for pumping the mashed food-waste from the collecting chamber into the collecting container periodically or at irregular intervals or as required. Thus, the removal device can be arranged, for example, as a delivery station at the location where the food waste is formed, whereas the collecting container can be arranged, for example, at other locations of the building, for example in a basement and/or a yard.

The proposed clearing device also has significant advantages over the above-mentioned prior art in particular. Thus, DE 29514167U 1 furthermore does not describe the following features: divided into a milling chamber and a collecting chamber, wherein in the milling chamber a mixing device is arranged, which is arranged for generating a movement in the food-waste therein. This difference can in particular significantly reduce the installation space of the cleaning device. Furthermore, the triturating effect can be significantly increased and at the same time the use of water can be reduced. Instead, DE 29514167U 1 provides a fixed deflector which acts as a striking plate (pralbleche) and therefore additionally always requires an already existing movement of the food waste which is deflected by the deflector. Accordingly, the design described in DE 29514167U 1 always requires the additional supply of a large amount of water, which can be avoided in the context of the proposed cleaning device.

Moreover, the proposed device has significant advantages with respect to documents JP 2008-114149A, US 2010/0276526 a1 and DE4300784 a1, since these documents do not disclose the features of the proposed scavenging device. Therefore, in JP 2008-. And in JP 2008-: the water is fed in for transport or for mashing the food-trash. However, the water input causes the following disadvantages: the water fed in at the end of the process must again be removed from the waste in a complicated manner, which, even if this could be achieved in principle, can in principle be handled without the use of water as a transport medium in comparison with the proposed solution.

Although the water supply is not mandatory in US 2010/0276526 a1, this comes at the cost of a conveying worm through a complex conveying system. This in turn leads to a large additional installation space. Furthermore, the conveying system is not provided in the grinding chamber itself and no movement is induced in the grinding chamber itself, so that the food waste is not kept in movement in the grinding chamber itself. In response to this, the triturating effect of the device proposed herein is due to the triturating effect of the device described in US 2010/0276526 a 1.

In summary, the following embodiments are particularly preferred within the scope of the invention:

embodiment 1: a removal device for removing food waste, comprising at least one triturator, wherein the triturator has at least one grinding chamber and at least one collection chamber, wherein the grinding chamber is connected to the collection chamber by one or more openings, wherein at least one triturator is arranged in the grinding chamber, said triturator having at least one beating tool for triturating the food waste, wherein additionally at least one mixing device for generating a movement in the food waste is arranged in the grinding chamber.

Embodiment 2: the removing device according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the mashing means comprises a crushing mechanism.

Embodiment 3: a clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the striking tool is constructed separately from the mixing device.

Embodiment 4: a clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the striking tool has at least a plurality of striking links hingedly connected to each other.

Embodiment 5: a clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the striking tool has at least one chain.

Embodiment 6: a clearing arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the striking tools each have a chain on one side connected to at least one drive shaft.

Embodiment 7: a clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the striking tool has two chains arranged on mutually opposite sides and connected with a drive shaft.

Embodiment 8: a clearing arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the striking tool rotates about a drive shaft.

Embodiment 9: the removal device according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the triturating device has at least one drive shaft and at least one drive means, wherein the drive means are arranged for rotating the drive shaft, in particular at 500-.

Embodiment 10: the clearing device according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the drive device has a belt drive, in particular a belt drive.

Embodiment 11: the clearing device according to the previous embodiment, wherein the drive means comprises a drive disc, in particular a belt disc, arranged outside the grinding chamber, connected to the drive shaft.

Embodiment 12: the clearing device according to any of the first three embodiments, wherein the drive device further comprises at least one drive motor arranged outside the grinding chamber, which is connected to the drive shaft.

Embodiment 13: the clearing device according to any of the four previous embodiments, wherein the drive shaft passes through a milling chamber wall of a milling chamber.

Embodiment 14: the removing device according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the triturating device and the mixing device are driven by a common driving means.

Embodiment 15: a clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the striking tool and the mixing device are arranged on the drive shaft axially spaced from each other.

Embodiment 16: the clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the mixing device is arranged for generating a flow in the food waste.

Embodiment 17: the clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the mixing device has at least one vane, preferably at least two or at least three vanes.

Embodiment 18: the clearing device according to the previous embodiment, wherein the vanes are arranged to be rotatable around a drive shaft.

Embodiment 19: the clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the mixing device is arranged for generating a movement in the food-waste in the area of the opening, whereby the mashed food-waste is guided to the opening by the movement.

Embodiment 20: the clearing device according to the previous embodiment, wherein the milling chamber is divided into: at least one charging chamber for containing food-trash that has not been mashed; and at least one fine material chamber for containing the completely or partially mashed food waste.

Embodiment 21: the purge device according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the triturating device is arranged wholly or partly in the charging chamber or between the charging chamber and the fine material chamber.

Embodiment 22: the clearing device according to any of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the mixing device is arranged completely or partially in the fines chamber.

Embodiment 23: the removal device according to any one of the three preceding embodiments, wherein the triturator has at least one separation device for separating the charging chamber and the fine chamber, wherein only food waste within a predetermined maximum dimension can pass through the separation device.

Embodiment 24: the clearing device according to the previous embodiment, wherein the separating means is selected from a separating disc and a screen.

Embodiment 25: a clearing device according to any one of the first two embodiments, wherein the striking tool, the mixing device and the separating device are arranged on a common drive shaft.

Embodiment 26: the purging device according to any one of the preceding six embodiments, wherein the charging chamber is fillable with non-mashed food waste through at least one charging port.

Embodiment 27: the removing device according to any one of the seven preceding embodiments, wherein the fine material chamber is arranged relative to the charging chamber in such a way that the mashed food-trash moves from the charging chamber into the fine material chamber due to its gravity.

Embodiment 28: the purging device of any of the preceding eight embodiments, wherein the fines chamber is disposed at least partially below the charging chamber.

Embodiment 29: the clearing device according to any of the preceding nine embodiments, wherein the milling chamber has an axis, in particular a cylindrical axis, inclined at an angle to the horizontal.

Embodiment 30: the clearing device according to the previous embodiment, wherein the inclination angle is 5 ° to 70 °, in particular 10 ° to 45 °.

Embodiment 31: the clearing device according to any of the two previous embodiments, wherein the milling chamber has a circular, polygonal or elliptical cross-section.

Embodiment 32: the clearing device according to any of the first three embodiments, wherein the milling chamber has a cylindrical shape or a barrel shape.

Embodiment 33: the clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the bottom of the crushing chamber is inclined at an angle with respect to the horizontal, in particular at an angle of 5 ° to 70 °, preferably at an angle of 10 ° to 45 °.

Embodiment 34: the clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the milling chamber has at least one milling chamber wall, wherein one or more openings are arranged in the milling chamber wall and enable mashed food waste to pass from the milling chamber into the collecting chamber.

Embodiment 35: the clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more openings form at least one screen.

Embodiment 36: the clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more openings have a diameter of 3mm to 15mm or an equivalent diameter.

Embodiment 37: the clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the milling chamber has at least one door for carrying out maintenance work, in particular a door with at least one seal.

Embodiment 38: the clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the collecting chamber has at least one door for carrying out maintenance work, in particular a door with at least one seal.

Embodiment 39: the removal device according to the first two embodiments, wherein the door of the milling chamber and the door of the collecting chamber are designed as a common door.

Embodiment 40: the clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the collecting chamber has at least one opening for manual emptying.

Embodiment 41: the removal device according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the removal device furthermore has at least one pump for pumping the mashed food waste out of the collection chamber.

Embodiment 42: the removal device according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the removal device furthermore has at least one level sensor for detecting at least one level of mashed food waste in the collection chamber.

Embodiment 43: the clearing device according to the previous embodiment, wherein the level sensor has at least one float switch.

Embodiment 44: the clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the clearing device has at least one control device, wherein the control device is controlled for fully or partially operating the clearing device.

Embodiment 45: the clearing device according to the previous embodiment, wherein the control device is further arranged for monitoring the level of material in the collection chamber.

Embodiment 46: the clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the bottom of the collection chamber is inclined towards the collection point or collection area.

Embodiment 47: the clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the collection chamber at least partially encloses a milling chamber.

Embodiment 48: the purge device according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the triturator is arranged inside the casing of the purge device.

Embodiment 49: the clearing device according to the previous embodiment, wherein the housing has at least one loading opening for inputting food waste, wherein the loading opening is connected with the grinding chamber.

Embodiment 50: the clearing device according to the previous embodiment, wherein the loading port comprises a hopper.

Embodiment 51: a cleaning device according to any one of the two preceding embodiments, wherein the loading opening is connected to the grinding chamber by at least one channel.

Embodiment 52: the clearing device according to any of the first three embodiments, wherein the loading opening is arranged in a working plane of the housing, in particular in an upper working plane and particularly preferably in a flat working plane.

Embodiment 53: the clearing device according to any one of the five previous embodiments, wherein the housing has a chassis.

Embodiment 54: the clearing device according to any of the first six embodiments, wherein the housing has a height of at most 1.5m, preferably at most 1.0 m.

Embodiment 55: the removal device according to any one of the seven preceding embodiments, wherein the housing has at least one door, in particular at least one door with vertical hinges and/or at least one removable partition, wherein the triturator can be reached by opening the door.

Embodiment 56: a disposal system for disposing of food waste, comprising at least one disposal device according to any one of the preceding embodiments, and further comprising at least one collection container connected or connectable to the disposal device for receiving mashed food waste.

Embodiment 57: the purging system according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the collection container is connected or connectable to the collection chamber of the purging device by at least one conduit.

Embodiment 58: a method for removing food waste comprising: loading at least one triturator with food waste, wherein said triturator has at least one grinding chamber and at least one collection chamber, wherein the grinding chamber is connected to the collection chamber by one or more openings, said loading comprising the transportation of the food waste to the grinding chamber, wherein said method furthermore comprises: comminuting the food waste in the grinding chamber by means of at least one striking tool, wherein the method further comprises: the movement in the food waste is generated at least once in the grinding chamber by means of at least one mixing device.

Embodiment 59: the method according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the method comprises: use of a clearing device according to any of the preceding embodiments relating to a clearing device.

Embodiment 60: method according to either of the two first embodiments, wherein the triturated food-waste is continuously or discontinuously transferred from the grinding chamber to the collection chamber by means of a movement in the food-waste.

Drawings

Further details and features of the invention are given by the following description of preferred embodiments, in particular in relation to the dependent claims. The individual features can be realized in this case individually per se or in several combinations with one another. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described. Embodiments are schematically shown in the drawings. In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify identical or functionally identical elements or elements that correspond to one another in terms of their function. In which is shown:

FIG. 1 shows an overall perspective view of an embodiment of a clearing device according to the invention;

fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the clearing device according to fig. 1 in cross-section;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the clearing device with the front flap removed; and

fig. 4 shows a top view of the cleaning device according to fig. 1 with the upper cover part removed and an exemplary embodiment of a cleaning system.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 4 show a possible embodiment of a cleaning device 110 for cleaning food waste according to the invention in different views and illustrations. The clearing device 110 may also be referred to as a delivery station (aufgabestion) or designed and/or used as a delivery station. Here, fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the clearing device 110, fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the clearing device 110 in cross section along the section line a-a in fig. 3, fig. 3 shows a front view of the clearing device 110 with the front flap removed, and fig. 4 shows a top view of the clearing device 110 with the upper cover part removed. These figures are referred to collectively in the ensuing description. As is also schematically shown in fig. 4, the cleaning device 110 can be a component of a cleaning system, which is described in more detail below.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the cleaning device 110 preferably comprises an outer housing 112, which is preferably multi-part. As can be seen, for example, in fig. 1, the outer housing includes, for example, a front bezel 114, a side bezel 116, an upper cover portion 118 (also referred to as a work surface), and optionally a bracket 120. As can also be seen in fig. 2, the outer housing 112 may have a rear baffle 122. The flaps 114, 116 and 122 and the upper cover part 118 may each be fixedly mounted, but may also be constructed in such a way that they are each individually detachable. In particular, the front baffle 114 can be configured in a removable manner so that components within the interior cavity of the outer housing 114 can be accessed by removing the front baffle.

Inside the housing is housed a mashing machine 124. The triturator 124 can be arranged, for example, inside the casing 112 by means of corresponding suspension structures, not shown in the drawings, which produce, for example, a vibration damping effect. The masher 124 includes a masher housing 126 and is divided into a grinding chamber 128 and a collection chamber 130. As can be seen in fig. 3, the grinding chamber 128 is completely or partially surrounded by a collecting chamber 130. The milling chamber 128 is formed by at least one milling chamber wall 132 which forms a milling chamber housing 134 as part of the mill housing 126. The collection chamber 130 is essentially formed by at least one collection chamber wall 136, which forms a collection chamber housing 138. The crushing chamber 128 and the collecting chamber 130 can be open toward the front baffle 114 and closed by a common door 140, which can be seen in particular in fig. 2 and 4. The door 140 may have, among other things, a seal 142. By opening the door 140, for example by removing the door 140, the collection chamber 130 and/or grinding chamber 128 and the devices therein and/or the food waste can be accessed.

Furthermore, the triturator 124 has inside the grinding chamber 128 at least one triturating device 144, also called grinding means. The triturating device 144 comprises at least one beating tool 146, in particular a beating tool 146 having a plurality of beating links 148 articulated to each other. The at least one striking tool 146 may include, inter alia, one or more chains 150. Accordingly, the mashing device 144 can be designed in particular as a chain grinding mechanism.

The striking tool 146 is connected in the illustrated embodiment to at least one drive shaft 154, which may also be referred to as a drive shaft (antithesbelele), via at least one socket 152. As can be seen in fig. 2, a drive shaft 154 extends from the grinding chamber 128 on the back side of the grinding chamber housing 134, for example via a shaft seal 156 or via other types of guiding structures.

In the grinding chamber 128, in addition to the triturating device 144, there is arranged at least one mixing device 158. The mixing device 158 may have, for example, a plurality of blades 160 and/or a propeller. The vanes 160 may be coupled, for example, directly or indirectly to the drive shaft 158. In the example shown in fig. 2, the blade 160 is connected to the drive shaft 154, for example, by means of a separating disk 162, which is an integral part of a separating device 164. Thus, the blades 160 can be arranged, for example, on the side of the separating disc 162 facing away from the triturating device 144, so that the separating disc 162 is located between the beating tool 146 and the mixing device 158. Alternatively, the blades 160 can also be directly connected to the drive shaft 154 or arranged completely separate from the triturating device 144. The mixing device 158 is generally arranged for inducing a movement, such as a flow, inside the food waste contained in the grinding chamber 128.

The milling chamber 128 is divided by a partition 164 into a charging chamber 166 and a fines chamber (feinrail) 168. The filling chamber 166 can be filled with food waste via a filling opening 170, which can also be referred to as a filling opening 172, and a passage 174, which can be embodied, for example, in a completely or partially funnel-shaped manner, which are arranged in the upper cover part 118. The passage 174 may, for example, open into an opening 176 at the upper end of the grinding chamber 128.

The triturating device 144 is driven by at least one driving device 178 through the driving shaft 154. The drive 178 may comprise, for example, a drive motor 180 and a belt drive, for example, with at least one belt 182. The belt 182 may, for example, drive a drive disc 184 that is coupled to the drive shaft 154.

As can be seen for example in fig. 2 and 3, the grinding chamber 128 can be constructed in particular in the following manner: the food waste slides from the charging chamber 166 into the fines chamber 168 during or after mashing, by its own weight and/or by the movement or flow generated by means of the mixing device 158. For this purpose, the bottom 186 of the grinding chamber 128 can be tilted, for example, in the following manner: food waste can be slid from the charging chamber 166 into the fines chamber 168. The base 168 can have an angle of inclination α with respect to the horizontal, which in this exemplary embodiment can be, for example, 10 ° to 45 °, for example 30 °. Other designs may also be implemented. As in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the grinding chamber 128 can be embodied, for example, in a similar manner substantially cylindrically, with a cylindrical axis 188, which is likewise inclined, for example, at an angle α, relative to the horizontal.

In the illustrated embodiment, the grinding chamber 128 is connected to the collection chamber 130 through a plurality of openings 190 in the grinding chamber wall 132. The grinding chamber wall 132 can be designed, for example, completely or partially as a screen. In this manner, the food waste being mashed can pass from the grinding chamber 128 into the collection chamber 130 at a maximum diameter and/or an equivalent diameter, which may be dictated by the opening 190.

In the collecting chamber 130, the bottom 192 of which can be inclined, for example, toward the collecting region 194, at least one opening 196 can be provided, for example, in the collecting region 194 for manual emptying. The opening can be closed, for example, with at least one closure 198, for example, with a screw closure.

Furthermore, the removing device 110 may have at least one pump 200 for pumping the mashed food-trash out of the collecting chamber 130. The pump 200, which can be seen in particular in fig. 3 and 4, can suck up food waste from the collection space 130, for example by means of at least one suction pipe 202, which preferably opens again into the collection region 194, and can convey it, for example by means of a line 204, to a collection container 205 or waste container shown in fig. 4. The collection container 205 or waste container may be temporarily or permanently connected to the cleaning device 110, for example. The collecting container 205 can, for example, form a cleaning system 207 together with at least one cleaning device 110, as is also shown in fig. 4.

Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the clearing device 110 has at least one fill level sensor 206, in particular at least one float switch 208. The fill level sensor 206 can, for example, monitor the fill level in the collection chamber 130 and transmit corresponding fill level information to a control device 210 of the purging device 110, for example. The control device 210, which can be provided independently of the fill level sensor 206, can be arranged, for example, in a front flap 214 and/or can comprise at least one operating element 212 that is accessible from the front flap 114. The control means 210 can be arranged in particular for operating the triturating means 144, for example by operating the drive motor 180 accordingly. Furthermore, the control device 210 can be arranged, for example, to monitor the level of the material in the collection chamber 130 and/or to control the pumping of the food waste out of the collection chamber 130 by means of the pump 200.

In operation of the purge device, the drive shaft 154 drives the triturating device 144. The striking chain 148 of the striking tool 146 is preferably arranged here in the following manner: no imbalance occurs during rotation. The striking link 148, also referred to as striking element, is preferably made of a very durable material, such as hardened steel. The food waste is mashed by means of the beating tool 146. The partition 164 enables the mashed food waste to pass from the charging chamber 166 into the fine material chamber 168. This access can be achieved, for example, by a circumferential gap 214 between the separating disk 162 and the grinding chamber wall 132, via which gap the sufficiently comminuted material can flow into the fines chamber 168. Alternatively or additionally, however, the separating disk 162 can also have one or more recesses and, for example, form a sieve disk. The sieve discs may for example likewise be connected with the sleeve 152 and/or the drive shaft 154 and thus rotate together with the grinding mechanism. Alternatively, however, the sieve tray can also be arranged in the grinding chamber 128 in such a way that it stops during the operation of the triturating device 144. Alternatively or additionally, the separating disk 162, for example a sieve disk, can again be mounted such that it can rotate freely, has its own drive and can thus rotate, for example, at any rotational speed or also counter to the direction of rotation of the triturating device 144.

The mixing device 158 is arranged downstream of a separating device 164, for example a separating disk 162. When the comminuting means 144 is rotated, a flow can be generated, for example, by means of the mixing device 158, which flow can cause the comminuted material to flow out into the fines chamber 168 via the separating means 164 (for example sieve trays and/or slots 214). Thereby, non-mashed ground material may be transported towards the mashing device, for example, which may improve the action of the mashing device 144. As described above, the mixing device 158, which may also be referred to as a flow device, may be realized, for example, by a plurality of blades on the rear side of the separating disk 162. The mixing device may, however, also have the shape of a propeller or may have another design and in principle need not be directly part of the separating disk 162 or connected to it.

As described above, the grinding chamber 128 and in this case in particular the fines chamber 168 is connected to the collection chamber 130 via a plurality of openings 190, which may be embodied as notches, for example. The collecting chamber 130 may, for example, be located at the side and/or lower part of the grinding chamber 128 and may, for example, be designed as an intermediate chamber between the grinding chamber 128 and the outer housing 112. The collecting chamber 130 may furthermore completely or partially enclose the crushing chamber. The mashed material may be collected in the collection chamber 130.

Preferably, the elements of the triturating device 144 and of the mixing device 158 are arranged on at least one common drive shaft 154, for example a shaft, as described above. The design of the cleaning device 110 can thus be significantly simplified and cost-effective. The grinding mechanism and the mixing device 158 of the mashing device 144 may be driven in the same rotational direction or also in different rotational directions. Operation can also be achieved with a regular or on-demand controlled reverse direction of rotation. The latter embodiment can in particular eliminate blockages in the slot 114 and/or in the sieve tray.

The drive motor 180 may be designed, for example, completely or partially as an electric motor. The drive 178 can, for example, have a reduction gear in the form of a belt drive having a belt 182 and a drive disk 184. This results in principle in less noise and overload protection. The mashing device 144, i.e. the grinding means, has a nominal rotational speed of, for example, 1000 rpm.

The pump 200 can be designed, for example, as a vane pump. Alternatively or additionally, however, one or more other pump types, for example hose pumps and/or eccentric screw/progressive cavity pumps, may also be used.

The entire triturator 124 can be suspended, for example, in an oscillating manner in the basic structure of the removing device 110. As a result, as described above, noise and vibrations in the operating environment of the cleaning device 110 are significantly reduced in principle. Furthermore, the entire structure of the cleaning device 110 can be constructed in the following manner: all components are easily accessible, for example if maintenance is performed. This may be accomplished, for example, by the at least one door 140 and/or by the partially removable baffles 114, 116, and 122. Thereby providing easy and unobstructed access to the lumen of the clearing device 110. The pump 200 can also be installed and inserted, for example, in the following manner, and maintenance work can be easily performed if necessary.

As mentioned above, the clearing device 110 may in particular have a filling opening 170. In order to improve hygiene and avoid odor during intermittent operation, the fill opening 170 and/or the channel 174 may be periodically cleaned, for example, with fresh water and/or other cleaning liquids. Furthermore, the filling opening 170 can be closed, for example, by a closure, for example, by at least one lockable closure, which is not shown in the drawings.

List of reference numerals

110 clearing device

112 outer casing

114 front baffle

116 side baffle

118 upper cover part

120 support

122 backside baffle

124 mashing machine

126 mashing machine shell

128 grinding chamber

130 collection chamber

132 grinding chamber walls

134 grinding chamber housing

136 collection chamber wall

138 Collection Chamber housing

140 common door

142 sealing element

144 mashing device

146 striking tool

148 hit chain link

150 chain

152 sleeve

154 drive shaft

156 shaft seal

158 mixing device

160 blade

162 divider disc

164 divider

166 charging chamber

168 fine material chamber

170 charging port

172 loading port

174 channel

176 opening

178 driving device

180 drive motor

182 leather belt

184 drive disk

186 bottom

188 cylinder axis

190 opening

192 bottom

194 collection area

196 opening

198 closure member

200 pump

202 suction tube

204 pipeline

205 collecting container

206 level sensor

207 purge system

208 float switch

210 control device

212 operating element

214 gap

Claims (19)

1. A removal device (110) for removing food waste, comprising at least one triturator (124), wherein the triturator (124) has at least one grinding chamber (128) and at least one collection chamber (130), wherein the grinding chamber (128) is connected to the collection chamber (130) via one or more openings (190), wherein at least one triturator (144) is arranged in the grinding chamber (128), which triturator has at least one beating tool (146) for comminuting food waste, wherein additionally at least one mixing device (158) for generating a movement in the food waste is arranged in the grinding chamber (128).

2. Clearing device (110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the striking tool (146) has at least a plurality of striking links (148) articulated to each other.

3. The clearing device (110) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the striking tool (146) has at least one chain (150).

4. The clearing device (110) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said triturating device (144) and mixing device (158) are driven by a common driving device (178).

5. The clearing device (110) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the striking tool (146) and the mixing device (158) are arranged on the drive shaft (154) axially spaced from each other.

6. The clearing device (110) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mixing device (158) is arranged for generating a flow in the food waste.

7. The clearing device (110) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the milling chamber (128) is divided into: at least one charging chamber (166) for containing non-mashed food-trash; and at least one fine material chamber (168) for containing the food waste, completely or partially mashed.

8. The purge device (110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the triturating device (144) is arranged completely or partially in the charging chamber (166) or between the charging chamber (166) and the fine material chamber (168).

9. The clearing device (110) according to any of the two preceding claims, wherein the mixing device (158) is arranged completely or partially in a fines chamber (168).

10. The removal device (110) according to any one of the three preceding claims, wherein the triturator (124) has at least one dividing device (164) for dividing the charging chamber (166) and the fine material chamber (168), wherein only food waste within a predetermined maximum size can pass through the dividing device (164).

11. The clearing device (110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the separating device (164) is selected from a separating disc (162) and a screen.

12. Clearing device (110) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the striking tool (146), the mixing device (158) and the separating device (164) are placed on a common drive shaft (154).

13. The purging device (110) according to any of the six preceding claims, wherein the fines chamber (168) is arranged relative to the charging chamber (166) such that the mashed food waste moves from the charging chamber (166) into the fines chamber (168) due to its gravity.

14. The clearing device (110) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom of the crushing chamber (128) is inclined at an angle to the horizontal.

15. The removal device (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the removal device (110) furthermore has at least one pump (200) for pumping the mashed food waste out of the collection chamber (130).

16. The clearing device (110) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the clearing device (110) furthermore has at least one level sensor (206) for detecting at least one level of mashed food-waste in the collection chamber (130).

17. The clearing device (110) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the collecting chamber (130) at least partially encloses a milling chamber (128).

18. A removal system (207) for removing food waste, comprising at least one removal device (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, and furthermore comprising at least one collecting container (205) connected or connectable to the removal device (110) for receiving mashed food waste.

19. A method for removing food waste, the method comprising: charging at least one triturator (124) with food waste, wherein said triturator (124) has at least one grinding chamber (128) and at least one collection chamber (130), wherein the grinding chamber (128) is connected to the collection chamber (130) through one or more openings (190), said charging comprising the delivery of the food waste to the grinding chamber (128), wherein said method further comprises: grinding the food waste in the grinding chamber (128) by means of at least one beating tool (146), wherein the method further comprises: the movement in the food waste is generated at least once in the grinding chamber (128) by means of at least one mixing device (158).