IE65959B1 - A recycling storage system - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage system (1) is disclosed which has a housing (2) having inlets (8) for receiving items such as cans and a sidewall door. A flexible container (10) of preferably PVC material may be conveyed into the housing (2) by means of pulleys (21) and ropes (22). Cleats may be used for supporting the leading end of the container (10), while attachment eyes (13) and hooks (20) may be used for supporting the trailing end. Use of a flexible container (10) minimises transport space requirements both when the container is empty and full. Handling is also considerably simplified.

Description

The invention relates to a recycling storage system for used items such as cans, bottles, or paper. The invention relates particularly, but not exclusively to light-weight items such as cans and plastics bottles.

At present, recycling storage systems such as bottle or can banks comprise a plastics or a metal tank into which the items are inserted. When full, the tank is removed and is replaced with an empty tank. Transporting such a container when both empty and full requires considerable transport storage space.

Further, removal and transport of the tank is time-consuming and requires special loading equipment.

The invention is directed towards providing a recycling storage system which minimises the work involved in handling the goods for recycling and which minimises the amount of transport storage space required.

It is another object of the invention to allow easier handling of items for recycling at recycling plants.

The invention provides a recycling storage system for used items such as cans, the system comprising?a housing having side walls and a top wall, a wall having an item-reception inlet; a collapsible container for mounting within the housing and being of heavy-duty material whereby it is suitable for re-use, the container comprising:a re-sealable cover portion, and an attachment means mounted on the container, a door in the housing to facilitate insertion and removal of the container; means for conveying the container within the housing; and attachment means on the internal surface of the housing for engagement with the attachment means of the container for support thereof.

In one embodiment, the container is of flexible material, and is preferably waterproof.

In another embodiment, the conveying means comprises a pulley system. The pulley system may include a pulley mounted at a housing wall opposed to the door and a cleat for a rope running in the pulley.

Ideally, the pulley system comprises a pair of pulleys mounted at the housing wall opposed to the door.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above of a recycling storage system of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a collapsible container being inserted into a housing of the system; Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective and front views respectively of the system when the container is fully inserted; Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional side views of the system; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a full container when removed; Fig. 8 is a side view showing the first stage of a recycling process; Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective and plan views of a housing when closed; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative housing.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a recycling storage system, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The system 1 is for storage of items such as cans, plastic bottles, paper and bottles at a central recycling deposit bank. The system 1 is most suitable for light-weight items such as cans, or plastics bottles. The system 1 comprises a fabricated steel housing 2, having side walls 3, an end wall and a door 6 at the opposite end, and an apex roof 7. The roof 7 has inlets 8 for reception of used items.

The system 1 also comprises a collapsible, and in this embodiment, flexible container 10 which is of rectangular shape corresponding to the interior dimensions of the housing 2 when it is opened out. The container 10 is of heavy duty PVC material and has a top flap 11 which may be used for sealing the container by means of a zip 12. Several attachment eyes 13 are connected at each upper corner of the container 10.

The system 1 comprises support means for mounting the container 11 in the housing 2. The support means includes a pair of hooks 20 at the front corners of the housing 2, and a pulley mechanism comprising a pair of pulleys 21 (shown most clearly in Figs. 5 and 6) mounted in the housing 2 at the rear wall 5, a pair of ropes 22 running in the pulleys 21 and a pair of cleats 23. As described below, the pulleys 21 and the associated parts are not only to support the container 10, but also to convey it Into the housing.

In use, hooks 13 at the leading end of the container 10 are attached to the ends of the ropes 22 as shown in Fig. 1. The hooks are selected according to the size of the container to ensure that there is no bellying of the container. As shown in Fig. 2, a person pulls the free ends of the ropes 22, which action causes the container 10 to be pulled into the housing 2 via the pulleys 21. When the container 10 has been fully inserted into the housing 2, the free ends of the ropes 23 are caught in the cleats 23 so that the container 10 is supported at its leading end. This action is also shown clearly in Figs. 5 and 6. The attachment eyes 13 at the trailing end of the container 10 are then engaged with the hooks 20 of the housing 2 for support of the container 10 at its trailing end. Thereafter, the doors 6 are closed and storage system 1 is ready for reception of items for recycling, as shown in Fig. 8, 9 and 10.

Items such as cans or bottles are then inserted into the inlets 8 and dropped into the container 10. Because the container 10 is of waterproof PVC material, leaks from cans or bottles do not leak out into the housing 2, and thus hygiene of the system 1 is maintained. When full, the doors 6 are opened and the container 10 is simply pulled out of the housing 2 using its handle. It is then closed by zipping the flap 11 into position. The container 10 is very light, and even when full it may be manually loaded onto a transport vehicle. When full (as shown in Fig. 7) the container 10 collapses to the size of the load of items which it contains and thus no more storage space than is necessary is taken up for transport. Clearly, very little space is also required when transporting an empty container to the system 1 because the container 10 is flexible and may be folded up.

One important advantage which arises from the invention is the fact that it simplifies loading of items into a recycling plant. Referring now to Fig. 8, there is illustrated the container 10 being used for loading cans into a hopper 30 at the beginning of a recycling process. The container 10 is simply suspended from a pulley mechanism 31 with the flap 11 partially opened so that the cans may be dropped into the hopper 30 as required.

Thus, not only does the invention lead to ease of handling and transport for collection of items for recycling, but it also lends to ease of loading the items to a hopper or other container at the beginning of a recycling process.

Needless to say, the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described and may be varied in construction and detail. For example, it is envisaged that a collapsible container other than a flexible one may be used. For example, the container may have non-flexible foldable panels. It is also envisaged that support means for the container may comprise a framework which is movable Into and out of the housing on wheels or rails. It is also envisaged that the container may be dropped into the housing from above, a door being incorporated in the roof of the housing. The housing may be of any suitable shape, and in Fig. 11 there is shown an alternative construction having a single door. Further, instead of cleats, any type of gripping device such as a jammer having spring-biased jaws may be used.

The housing may be adapted for use with two or more containers supported alongside each other. This would, for example double the capacity of the storage system.

Claims (7)

1. A recycling storage system for used items such as cans, the system comprising:a housing having side walls and a top wall, a wall having 5 an item-reception inlet; a collapsible container for mounting within the housing and being of heavy-duty material whereby it is suitable for re-use, the container comprising; a re-sealable cover portion, and 10 an attachment means mounted on the container, a door in the housing to facilitate insertion and removal of the container; means for conveying the container into the housing; and attachment means on the internal surface of the housing 15 for engagement with the attachment means of the container for support thereof.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is of flexible material.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flexible material is waterproof.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveying means comprises a pulley system.

5. 5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pulley system includes a pulley mounted at a housing wall opposed to the door and a cleat for a rope running in the pulley.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pulley system comprises a pair of pulleys mounted at the housing wall

7. 10 opposed to the door.