IL263668B2

IL263668B2 - Refuse admission column and method therefor

Info

Publication number: IL263668B2
Application number: IL263668A
Authority: IL
Inventors: Lazar Zisu
Original assignee: S I E Ashkelon Ltd; Lazar Zisu
Priority date: 2018-12-12
Filing date: 2018-12-12
Publication date: 2023-09-01
Also published as: IL263668B1; IL263668A

Description

5556IL SPC-04 FOR FILING REFUSE ADMISSION COLUMN AND METHOD THEREFOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to refuse collection, and 5 specifically to methods and devices for controlling admission of waste to underground refuse collection containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there 10 is provided a refuse insertion column for depositing waste by a user. The column is adapted for mounting over a waste collection underground bin and includes an upper insertion inlet aperture through which waste can be introduced into the column by dropping, and a lower aperture through which the waste can fall to the waste collection underground bin. The column 15 further includes an inlet lid biased to close by gravitation for selectively covering or opening the upper insertion inlet aperture, and a lid opening mechanism for opening of the lid by the user. The column further includes a lower gate for blocking passage from the column to the underground waste collection bin by blocking or opening the lower aperture, wherein the 20 gate is biased by virtue of gravitation into a closed, refuse-blocking state. and can be forced by a drive to open. The gate includes a gate drive for selectively opening the gate into an open, refuse-conveying state, only 5556IL SPC-04 FOR FILING when the inlet lid is closed, and wherein the opening of the gate is conducted without the user intervention. The column further includes an interface/sensor for determining at least one authorization/safety parameter, wherein the parameter includes the lid being open or its closure being interrupted, and/or an access/safety enable/disable indication. The 5 column further includes a controller for activating/deactivating the gate drive to open the gate when the lid is closed, OR release the gate to close when the lid is open or closure of the lid is interrupted, according to the parameter.

The column may further feature a lid locking mechanism, activated/deactivated by the controller per the parameter, for selectively 10 locking and unlocking the lid, for allowing opening of the lid only when the lower gate is closed and upon receiving an access enable indication.

In an optional embodiment, the lower gate includes a sluice-like radial gate for blocking passage from the column to the underground waste collection bin by blocking or opening the lower aperture, wherein the gate 15 is rotatably biased by virtue of gravitation into a default closed, refuse- blocking state, and can be forced by a drive to rotate by into an open refuse- conveying state.

In an optional embodiment, the gate drive locks the gate in an open or closed state, irrespective of the status of said lid, until activated 20 otherwise by the controller.

In an optional embodiment, the lid includes a frontally openable pivotal flap lid for covering or opening the upper insertion aperture, wherein 5556IL SPC-04 FOR FILING the flap lid pivots about a rear hinge, and the lid opening mechanism includes a foot pedal for forcing opening of the lid, and a lever mechanism for transmitting a displacing force from the pedal to the lid, upon stepping down over the pedal by the user.

In an optional embodiment, the parameter is at least one 5 indication of:  open/closed lid/lid closure interruption;  stepped-down lid-opening foot-pedal;  receiving control signal from an operations control center;  predetermined timing; 10  filling up of the column/underground collection bin;  optical/chemical sensing of waste type;  interface for user fed data;  user-identifying camera;  fire detection; and 15  signal respective of an upcoming bin emptying procedure.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is thus provided a method for controlling conveyance of waste into a waste collection underground bin. The method includes mounting a refuse insertion column enclosed by an inlet lid and an outlet gate, both of which 20 are kept closed by gravitation, over the waste collection underground bin.

The method further includes monitoring lid open/closed status, and determining at least one safety gate parameter by at least one 5556IL SPC-04 FOR FILING interface/sensor for activating opening of the gate, wherein the parameter includes at least one of: open/closed lid, and a (safety) gate enable/disable indication/signal. The method further includes deactivating OR activating, per the determined gate parameter, opening of the gate while the inlet lid is closed, and releasing the gate to close when the lid is open or closure of 5 the lid is interrupted.

The method may further include monitoring gate open/closed status, determining at least one authorization/safety lid parameter by at least one interface/sensor for releasing lock of the lid, wherein the parameter includes at least one of: the lower gate being closed, and a 10 safety/access enable/disable indication/signal, and activating/deactivating lock/release of the lid, per the determined parameter for refusing access by keeping the lid locked by activating lid lock/deactivating lid release, OR allowing access by deactivating lid lock/activating lid release for allowing opening of the lid by the user. 15 Optionally, at least one of the lid parameter and/or gate parameter includes at least one indication of:  open/closed/closure interrupted lid/gate;  stepped-down lid-opening foot-pedal;  receiving control signal from an operations control center; 20  predetermined timing;  filling up of the column/underground collection bin;  optical/chemical sensing of waste type; 5556IL SPC-04 FOR FILING  interface for user fed data; and  fire detection; and  signal respective of an upcoming bin emptying procedure. 5556IL SPC-04 FOR FILING BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a chute 5 column, constructed and operative in accordance with the invention, showing an upper lid in an opened position, and including a cut-out view showing part of the inner assembly with a lower gate in a closed position; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view from one side of the embodiment of Figure 1, showing the lid opening/closing mechanism; 10 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view from the other side of the embodiment of Figure 1, showing the lower gate opening/closing mechanism; Figure 4 is an exploded view of the lid of the embodiment of Figure 1, and its opening/closing mechanism shown in Figure 2; 15 Figure 5 is an exploded view of the lower gate of the embodiment of Figure 1, and its opening/closing mechanism shown in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view from one side of the embodiment of Figure 1, showing the lid in a closed position with its lid drive mechanism and the lower gate in an opened position; 20 Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view from the other side of the embodiment of Figure 1, showing the lid in a closed position and the lower gate in an opened position with its gate drive mechanism; and 5556IL SPC-04 FOR FILING Figure 8 is a block diagram of a method for depositing waste in a waste collection underground bin, operative in accordance with the invention. 5556IL SPC-04 FOR FILING

Claims

5556IL SPC-05 CLAIMS CLEAN 263668/ -27- CLAIMS

1. Refuse insertion column for depositing waste by a user, the column being adapted for mounting over a waste collection underground bin, comprising: 5 a) an upper insertion inlet aperture through which waste can be introduced into the column by dropping; b) a lower aperture through which said waste can fall to said waste collection underground bin; c) an inlet lid biased to close by gravitation for selectively covering 10 or opening said upper insertion inlet aperture; d) a lid opening mechanism for opening of said lid by the user; e) a lower gate for blocking passage from said column to said underground waste collection bin by blocking or opening said lower aperture, wherein said gate is biased by virtue of gravitation into a 15 closed, refuse-blocking state, wherein said gate comprises a gate drive for selectively opening said gate into a refuse-conveying state, only when said inlet lid is closed and wherein said opening is conducted without the user intervention; f) an interface/sensor for determining at least one 20 authorization/safety parameter, wherein said parameter comprises at least one of: said lid being closed/open/lid-closure is interrupted; and 5556IL SPC-05 CLAIMS CLEAN 263668/ -28- an access/safety enable/disable indication; and g) a controller for activating/deactivating said gate drive to open said gate when said lid is closed OR release said gate to close when said lid is open or lid-closure is interrupted, per said parameter. 5

2. The refuse insertion column of Claim 1, further comprising a lid locking mechanism, activated/deactivated by said controller per said parameter, for selectively locking and unlocking said lid, for allowing opening of said lid only when said lower gate is closed and upon receiving an access enable indication. 10

3. The refuse insertion column of Claim 1, wherein said lower gate comprises a sluice-like radial gate for blocking passage from said column to said underground waste collection bin by blocking or opening said lower aperture, wherein said gate is rotatably biased by 15 virtue of gravitation into a closed, refuse-blocking state, and can be forced by a drive to rotate by into an open refuse-conveying state.

4. The refuse insertion column of Claim 1, wherein said gate drive locks said gate in an open or closed state, irrespective of the status of 20 said lid, until activated otherwise by said controller. 5556IL SPC-05 CLAIMS CLEAN 263668/ -29-

5. The refuse insertion column of Claim 1, wherein said lid comprises a frontally openable pivotal flap lid for covering or opening said upper insertion aperture, wherein said flap lid pivots about a rear hinge, and said lid opening mechanism comprises: a foot pedal for forcing opening of said lid; and 5 a lever mechanism for transmitting a displacing force from said pedal to said lid, upon stepping down over said pedal by the user.

6. The refuse insertion column of Claim 1, wherein said parameter 10 includes at least one indication selected from the list consisting of: open/closed lid/lid closure interruption; stepped-down lid-opening foot-pedal; receiving control signal from an operations control center; predetermined timing; 15 filling up of the column/underground collection bin; optical/chemical sensing of waste type; interface for user fed data; user-identifying camera; fire detection; and 20 signal respective of an upcoming bin emptying procedure. 5556IL SPC-05 CLAIMS CLEAN 263668/ -30-

7. Method for controlling conveyance of waste into a waste collection underground bin, comprising the procedures of: mounting a refuse insertion column enclosed by an inlet lid and an outlet gate, both of which are kept closed by gravitation, over the waste collection underground bin; 5 monitoring lid open/closed status; determining at least one safety gate parameter by at least one interface/sensor for activating opening of said gate, wherein the gate parameter includes at least one of: open/closed lid/lid-closure interruption; and 10 a (safety) gate enable/disable indication/signal; deactivating OR activating, per said determined gate parameter, opening of said gate while said inlet lid is closed; and releasing said gate to close when said lid is open or closure of said lid is interrupted. 15

8. The Method for controlling conveyance of waste of Claim 7, further comprising the procedures of monitoring gate open/closed status; determining at least one authorization/safety lid parameter by at 20 least one interface/sensor for releasing lock of said lid, wherein the lid parameter includes at least one of: said lower gate being closed; and 5556IL SPC-05 CLAIMS CLEAN 263668/ -31- a safety/access enable/disable indication/signal; and activating/deactivating lock/release of said lid, per said determined parameter for refusing access by keeping said lid locked by activating lid lock/deactivating lid release, OR allowing access by deactivating lid lock/activating lid release for allowing opening of said lid by 5 the user.

9. The Method for controlling conveyance of waste of Claims 7 or 8, wherein at least one indication of said lid parameter and/or said gate parameter comprises at least one of: 10 open/closed/closure-interrupted lid/gate; stepped-down lid-opening foot-pedal; receiving control signal from an operations control center; predetermined timing; filling up of the column/underground collection bin; 15 optical/chemical sensing of waste type; interface for user fed data; and fire detection; and signal respective of an upcoming bin emptying procedure.