IT202000014146A1 - POST-CONSUMER PROCESSING APPARATUS - Google Patents

Description

?Post-Consumer Article Processing Apparatus?

DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF TECHNIQUE

The present invention relates to the treatment of post-consumer articles, such as, by way of non-limiting example, absorbent sanitary products after their use. STATE OF THE ART

Absorbent sanitary products include, for example, baby diapers, incontinence products, feminine sanitary pads, tampons or other disposable absorbent products. Products for incontinence are, for example, adult pads and underpads for beds.

Incontinence products are widely used, as well as by private individuals, in specialized structures (such as hospitals, nursing and rehabilitation homes) which use them for their own patients or guests; these facilities are also responsible for the after-use disposal of these products.

The post-consumption treatment of absorbent sanitary products (which may contain the user's urine and excrement, with possible residues of pharmacological substances taken by the user himself) is complex and expensive, considering the bacterial and polluting content of these products.

Typically, absorbent sanitary products are disposed of as unsorted waste and placed in landfills. With regard to the costs of disposal and landfill storage, it should be noted that these costs are proportional to the weight/volume of the product to be disposed of.

Document EP-A-2596810 discloses a sterilization method of absorbent sanitary products based on the use of a pressurized autoclave with the introduction of steam at sterilization temperatures exceeding 138°C and reaching 200°C.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Applicant feels the need for a technique which facilitates and makes the treatment of post-consumer articles less expensive (which, like absorbent sanitary products, can have a significant bacterial content), both for the purposes of their disposal and for purposes of a possible recycling of part of the materials that compose them.

Purpose of the present invention? that of proposing an apparatus for the treatment of post-consumer products which satisfies the requirement indicated above and which, preferably, also presents flexibility? of use, in order to allow the realization of different types of treatment depending on the product considered.

The object of the present invention is an apparatus as defined by claim 1 and by particular embodiments thereof described by the dependent claims 2-13.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The constructive and functional characteristics of the invention can be better understood from the detailed description that follows, in which reference is made to the attached drawings which represent some preferred and non-limiting embodiments, in which:

figure 1 shows, in perspective view, a first exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for treating post-consumer products provided with an external container;

- figure 2 is a perspective view of an example of the apparatus, inside said container;

- figure 3 ? a longitudinal sectional view of said apparatus;

- figure 4 shows a cross section of said apparatus;

- figure 5 shows a perspective view of the apparatus, with a cutaway view of a portion thereof;

- figure 6 shows a top view of a second embodiment of the apparatus;

- figure 7 shows a vertical sectional view of the apparatus of figure 6;

- figure 8 shows a perspective view of a vertical section of the apparatus of figure 6;

- figure 9 shows, in perspective view, a particular embodiment of an apparatus similar to that of figures 1-5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With particular reference to the attached figures1-5, will described below is an apparatus for treating post-consumer articles 100 structured so as to carry out a separation of liquids from the treated articles and also a sanitization of the articles themselves.

The treatment apparatus 100 (hereinafter, for the sake of brevity, apparatus 100) ? particularly suitable for processing absorbent sanitary products such as, for example, baby diapers, incontinence products, feminine sanitary towels, tampons or other disposable absorbent products. The incontinence products that can be treated by the apparatus 100 are, for example, adult diapers and bed covering pads.

As known, absorbent sanitary products are composed of various materials, among which there are sheets of plastic material, cellulose fluff, absorbent polymers and non-woven sheets.

In the description that follows you will? reference, by way of preference and without limitation, to products for incontinence and, in particular, to adult diapers.

In the illustrated example, the apparatus 100 comprises an external container 1 (for example, box-shaped) equipped with support feet 2 (advantageously, equipped with elastic shock absorbers, not shown), with a door 3 for entering post-consumer items and with an outlet mouth 4 for the corresponding treated material. The pads can be inserted into the apparatus 100 manually or fed by a conveyor belt, not shown.

Inside the container 1, the apparatus 100 of the described embodiment comprises an inlet container 5 (for example, also suitable for carrying out the sanitization of post-consumer articles), and a dehydration apparatus 15, in communication with inlet container 5.

In particular, the inlet container 5 and the dehydration apparatus 15 are placed on a support surface 9 (which acts as the bottom of the container 1) and kept in position by suitable brackets 10. The inlet container 5 and the apparatus dehydration chambers 15 are arranged, according to the embodiment described, so as to be aligned along a horizontal axis parallel to the support plane 9.

In greater detail, the inlet container 5 (preferably in the shape of a hopper) comprises a first tank 6 (Fig. 3) into which the articles to be treated can be introduced by means of the door 3. In the first tank 6, according to this example, a plurality of of injectors 7 of a sanitizing liquid. The injectors 7 are connected to a supply pipe (not shown) of the sanitizing liquid which can be placed in circulation thanks to a first pump 8, arranged, for example, on the support surface 9.

Referring to incontinence products, the sanitizing liquid includes, for example, detergent products or other suitable chemicals, mixed with water. Note that the sanitization times, after the absorption of the chemical products or detergents, are typically a few tens of seconds. The use of low pressure steam to be emitted from the injectors 7 is not excluded.

The first tank 6 houses, at least in part, a first conveyor device 11 which, for example, is made by means of a screw conveyor equipped with coils 12 mounted on a rotor 13, preferably tubular. The rotor 13 of the transport screw 11 can? be set in rotation by a suitable gearmotor (not shown) mechanically connected to a pulley 14. According to the illustrated embodiment, the rotor 13 is parallel to the support plane 9.

The screw conveyor 11 ? configured in such a way as to carry out the transport of the articles treated from the first tank 6 towards the dehydration apparatus 15, to which ? connected, for example, by means of a tubular fitting 16.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first tank 6 is also provided with at least one mixing device 17 configured so as to break/crumble more? pieces and/or separate into pi? layers the diaper, moving them so as to facilitate mixing with the sanitizing products and therefore facilitate the absorption of these products.

Advantageously, the mixing device 17 can comprise a first screw mixer 20 including first coils 18 mounted on a first cylindrical rotor 19. In particular, the first rotor 19 is parallel to the rotor 13 of the transport screw 11 and ? placed, for example, above it and so that the first coils 18 cooperate with the coils 12 of the rotor 13 in the breaking action of the pad and/or in the transport action.

In particular, the mixing device 17 can (optionally) also include a second screw mixer 21, similar to the first mixer 20, and equipped with a second rotor 22 provided with second coils 23. According to the particular embodiment shown in the figures, the first rotor 19 and the second rotor 22 are arranged above and laterally with respect to the rotor 13 of the screw conveyor 11 but the first rotor 19 and the second rotor 22 could also be arranged below the rotor 13.

The first and second rotors 19 and 22 of the first and second auger mixers 20 and 21 can be rotated by relative gearmotors 24 and 25, external to the tank 6.

The first screw mixer 20 and the second screw mixer 21 can be moved so as to rotate in mutual or discordant directions and, in particular, so as to rotate in a discordant direction with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor 13 of the auger 20, to facilitate the crushing of the article to be treated.

The optional presence of relative inverters automatically allows to reverse the direction of rotation, modify the torque and/or the number of revolutions associated with the screw mixers 20 and 21 in the event of a situation of excessive effort due, for example, to the presence items to be treated of non-compliant items such as, for example: towels, rubber or latex gloves, cutlery, cans, plastic or glass bottles.

Furthermore, the dehydration apparatus 15 comprises a second tank 26 (with watertight walls), for example, of a cylindrical shape, in which mounted a rotatable basket 27 configured to be placed in rotation and to separate the articles from the liquids contained therein by centrifugation. The second tank 26 and the rotatable basket 27 are in communication both with the tubular fitting 16, at one end, and with the outlet mouth 4, at one end. opposite.

The rotating basket 27 ? advantageously provided with a plurality? of through holes 28 distributed, for example, in a uniform manner over a large part of its surface. In particular, the revolving basket 27 can have a truncated cone shape and ? arranged so that its minor section faces the tubular fitting 16 and its major section faces the outlet mouth 4. This arrangement of the rotatable basket 27 facilitates a homogeneous distribution of the treated material and its movement towards the outlet exit 4.

The rotating basket 27 ? mechanically connected, for example, at the tubular fitting 16, to a first pulley 29 which can? be made to rotate, by means of a relative belt connected to a second pulley 30, by a motor 31.

Furthermore, according to an example, inside the rotatable basket 27, in correspondence with its connection to the tubular fitting 16, mounted a distributor element 32 (preferably funnel-shaped) which facilitates the correct distribution of the material to be treated inside the basket itself, avoiding its accumulation in the inlet portion of the rotatable basket 27.

The dehydration apparatus 15 can? preferably be equipped with a further conveyor device 33 which can be made, for example, by means of a further screw conveyor, comprising a further rotor 34 with further coils 35.

The further screw conveyor 33 allows to move the treated material to allow its extraction from the mouth 4. The further rotor 34 develops, for example, according to a longitudinal axis of the rotatable basket 27 and comprises a connecting portion 36 which extends extends inside the tubular rotor 13 of the screw conveyor 11, until it connects to a third pulley 36, which can? be set in rotation by a relative gearmotor (not shown).

It should be noted that the rotor 13 of the screw conveyor 11, the first and second rotor 19 of the screw mixers 20 and 21 and the further rotor 34 can rotate by interacting with relative bearings, suitably arranged.

According to a preferred embodiment, the rotatable basket 27 is also equipped with a? further plurality? of injectors 38 which can be used to inject at least one of the following substances inside the drum: water, steam, sanitizing liquid.

Preferably, the? Further plurality? of injectors 38 ? mounted on a cylindrical support 51, coaxial with the further stator 34. The tubular shape of the stator 13 and of the further stator 34 allow the flow of fluids or the arrangement of further flexible pipes in the cavities? of the stators themselves. A rotary distributor 54, in fluid connection with one end of the stator 13, can according to an example, to supply the fluid to be injected into the basket 27 through the plurality of injectors 38. The rotary distributor 54 is not ? was shown in Figures 4 and 5.

As shown in the figures, the apparatus 100 can? comprising a steam generator 39 (for example, low pressure steam) connected, according to one example, to the further plurality of injectors 38. The use of steam, pu? have the purpose of providing a contribution to the sanitization of the treated article.

Advantageously, the apparatus 100 can? be equipped with a centrifugal fan 42 (at low pressure) for the exchange of air inside the container 1. An air filter 40, mounted on the container 1, can? be provided for filtering (for the purpose of sanitizing) the air leaving the container 1. For example, the air filter 40 can? include an activated carbon cartridge.

Furthermore, the apparatus 100 preferably includes a waste liquid extraction pump and a water filter 41, chosen to filter the liquids leaving the apparatus 100.

For example, the steam generator 39, the water filter 41 and the centrifugal fan 42 are housed in an internal container 45 (figure 5) and fixed on the support surface 9.

The outlet mouth 4, connected to the second tank 26 and therefore to the basket 27, can have the shape of a corrugated tube (corrugations 43) on which to fit, for example, a bag capable of containing the material resulting from the treatment.

At the outlet 4 ? associated, preferably, with a banding machine 44 (schematically indicated in figure 3) configured to close the two ends of a film which wraps the material resulting from the treatment forming a package (for example, of the "candy" type). According to one example, the film can? be in a stretchable material or a heat-shrinkable material.

The bag or the complete packet formed at the outlet 4 of the apparatus 100 can be removed manually or can? be removed using a conveyor belt (not shown).

The apparatus 100 ? such as to operate under the control of a control module 46, such as a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). In particular, the control module 46 ? configured to command each moving member or each local control component (including the pumps and inverters) of the apparatus 100 described above to manage the selected treatment, allowing to vary between different possible types of treatment.

Each gearmotor of which ? equipped with the? apparatus 100 ? connected to an engine, for example, shared between pi? gearmotors according to specific design choices.

Furthermore, the apparatus 100 can? be provided with an i pi? germicidal lamps, arranged so as to act on the article during its treatment.

With regard to the operation of the apparatus 100, consider, for example, the treatment of products for incontinence such as incontinence pads which in the apparatus 100 can undergo a sanitizing and dehydration treatment. According to an example, bags are inserted in the hopper 5, and therefore in the first tank 6, containing one or more bags. diapers, which may have been rolled up after use.

The action of the first and second screw mixer 20 and 21 in the first tank 6, together with the optional simultaneous rotation of the screw conveyor 11, causes the bags (usually waterproof) to break and can also cause the diapers to break, with a relative crushing, which entails the exposure of portions of the diapers containing liquid or moist matter.

Inside the tank 6, the incontinence pads are also sprayed, by means of the injectors 7, with the disinfectant liquid, for the purposes of sanitizing or pre-washing them.

The diapers (intact or in pieces) are then transported, by means of the screw conveyor 11, from the first tank 6 to the second tank 26, passing through the tubular connection 16.

In the second tank 26, the distributor element 32 distributes the diapers by fall inside the rotatable basket 27. Furthermore, the control module 46 can? be configured so as to command a first rotation of the basket 27, with a first speed? angular, which favors a uniform distribution of the pads on the back wall of the basket itself, for the purposes of correct balancing of the revolving basket 27.

Before dehydration, ? It is possible to carry out a washing of the diapers in the basket 27, by spraying them with a washing liquid emitted by the second plurality? of injectors 38.

Subsequently, the control module 46 commands a rotation cycle of the rotatable basket 27, at a second speed? angular, higher than the first speed? angular, and such as to cause, in an adequate interval of time, a dehydration of the pads (in pieces), by centrifugation.

In particular, the liquid extracted from the diapers can come out of the holes 28 and be collected in the second tank 26 to be sucked in by the relative pump.

The centrifugal fan 42 draws in air from outside the apparatus 100, through a grid, circulating the air which then escapes through the filter 40.

The diapers what? dehydrated are moved, by the further screw conveyor 33, towards the outlet 4 where they can be conveyed in another bag, a ?candy? or to a belt conveyor.

It should be noted that the apparatus 100 makes it possible to obtain, thanks to the high level of dehydration that can be achieved, a reduction in weight and volume of the treated material ranging, for example, between 40% and 60%.

It should be observed that the apparatus 100 can? also be used to carry out a (partial or total) inertization of drugs present in the incontinence pads. It should in fact be noted that the urine or excrement collected in the pad may contain residues of drugs administered to the user of the pad itself.

According to this possible modality? of use, inside the first tank 6, during the mixing and breaking of the incontinence pads, a liquid containing substances suitable for rendering inert or partially inert any drugs present in the treated incontinence pads is injected by means of the first injectors 7. To this end, distributors of the inerting liquid can be provided arranged along the duct which feeds the plurality of of injectors 7.

The apparatus 100 can? also be used to obtain a more sanitization? thrust and, for example, such as to approximate or achieve a sterilization of the treated diapers.

There? ? obtainable, after the passage in the first tank 6 as already? described, by injecting into the rotatable basket 27, by means of the further injectors 38, sterilizing liquids and/or by introducing water vapor (at low pressure).

According to another embodiment, the apparatus 100 is such as to also carry out a washing of the treated article. This washing can take place by blowing into the first tank 6 and during the action of the first and second mixers 20 and 21 a liquid containing detergent. Washing can be completed in the second tank 26, inside the drum 27 placed in rotation both for washing purposes and for carrying out dehydration.

It should be noted that, for both solutions described above, the treatment carried out inside the first tank 6 (sanitization and possible crushing and/or washing) and that carried out in the second tank 26 (further dehydration and possible further spraying) can take place simultaneously, in the presence of a continuous transport of material from the tank 6 to the basket 27.

Nonetheless, ? It is possible to control the apparatus 100 so that the treatment carried out in the first tank 6 and that carried out in the second tank 26 (and in the basket 27) take place alternately, without continuous transport of material from the tank 6 to the basket 27.

The apparatus 100 described above has a generally horizontal structure but ? It is possible to implement the teachings described here also in an apparatus 200 (figures 6-8) with an overall vertical structure.

Note that in the figures that follow, the components are equal or similar to those already? described will be identified with the same numerical references.

In the apparatus 200 the rotating basket 27 is arranged vertically. In particular, considering the truncated-conical basket 27, its portion with the smallest section? facing the support plane 9, while the one with the largest section ? facing up. Also, in basket 27 ? the mixing device 17 is inserted in the form of a screw mixer with first rotor 19 and first coils 18. Advantageously, crushing fins 47 are mounted on the same rotor 19, suitable for cutting and crushing the material that accumulates on the bottom of the revolving basket 27. The first rotor 19 ? which can be operated by a first gearmotor 48. In particular, the fins 47 are integrated on the distributor element 32.

Can? a top feed can be provided, by inserting the items to be treated into the hopper 5, which is included in the revolving basket 27.

? It is possible (optionally) to provide for the articles to be treated to be introduced into the apparatus 200 by means of a lateral hopper 5L including the conveyor device 11 in the form of a screw conveyor with rotor 13 and coils 12, driven by a second gearmotor 49.

In the hopper 5 and/or in the basket 27 the injectors 7 and/or 38 can be arranged for introducing the sanitizing and/or washing substances, similarly to what has been described above with reference to figures 1-5. For example, with reference to figure 8, the injectors can be integrated in the first rotor 19 (suitably hollow) in a position which, according to a particular shape, is? next to the crushing fins 47. For the extraction of the material already? treaty ? it is envisaged that the further screw conveyor 33 is arranged in a duct 52 which extends laterally to the hopper 5.

With reference to extraction, the treated material which has accumulated in the basket 27 is pushed towards the upper part of the basket itself (also due to the truncated cone shape of the basket 27) where, thanks to a level limiting element 53 (for example, a eraser), ? directed towards an opening of the duct 52. In the duct 52, the further screw conveyor 33, driven by a third gearmotor 50, moves the material towards the mouth 4.

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a particular version of the apparatus 100 (with a "horizontal" structure) described above which highlights the use of shock absorbers. In greater detail, according to the example of figure 9, the hopper 5 (which includes the first tank 6) is? supported by a first frame 55 connected to a bearing frame 56 (which includes the brackets 10 and which is integral with the support plane 9) by means of shock absorbing devices 57, such as, for example, hydraulic shock absorbers. Furthermore, the second tank 26 (in which the rotating basket 27 is housed) is? supported by a second frame 58 connected to the bearing frame 56 by further shock absorbing devices 59 (similar to the shock absorbers 57). Note that the shock absorbers 57 or 59 may also be employed in the apparatus of FIGS. 1-5 and that of FIGS. 6-8.

The devices described can be built with different possible dimensions ranging from those for use in disposal or recycling plants to those, which are more? reduced, suitable for use, for example, in hospitals, nursing homes, protected residences or rehabilitation centres.

With regard to absorbent sanitary products and, in particular, to products for incontinence, the treatment apparatus described is particularly advantageous. In fact, it allows to obtain a sanitization (up to a possible sterilization) of the treated material, lowering the bacterial load, thus facilitating the modalities? implementation of subsequent possible stages of treatment such as, for example, the disposal or recovery of recyclable materials.

At the same time, the dehydration action obtainable with the apparatus described here allows the weight (and also the volume) of the treated material to be considerably reduced, significantly reducing disposal and/or storage costs.

You observe for? that the apparatus described above (in its various embodiments) can? also be used for the post-consumer treatment of articles other than absorbent sanitary products. For example, it cannot be excluded that this apparatus can be used in the private sector, in the artisan sector, in the food, chemical, pharmaceutical, textile industries, in plants intended for the recycling or recovery of raw or secondary materials or in waste disposal. Furthermore, the sterilization of the coriander of plastic materials before extrusion is mentioned.

Other possible applications include use in the food industry, for example, for the recovery of lycopene from tomato processing waste, recovery of essential oils from orange, lemon and grape waste.

For example, ? is it possible to state that the apparatus described can? be used when carrying out: washing, coloring of products or fabrics, dehydration, liquid/solid separation, sanitization from drugs, bacteria, viruses and drying.

Key to the numerical references of the figures:

- treatment apparatus 100

- external container 1

- support feet 2

- door 3

- outlet mouth 4

- inlet container 5

- 5L side hopper

- first tank 6

- plurality? of injectors 7

- first pump 8

- support plan 9

- brackets 10

- screw conveyor 11

- turns 12

- rotor 13

- pulley 14

- dehydration apparatus 15

- tubular fitting 16

- mixing device 17

- first turns 18

- first rotor 19

- first screw mixer 20

- second screw mixer 21

- a second rotor 22

- second turns 23

- gearmotors 24 and 25;

- second tank 26

- rotating basket 27

- plurality? of through holes 28

- first pulley 29

- second pulley 30

- engine 31

- distributor element 32

- further transport device 33 - further rotor 34

- further coils 35

- connecting portion 36

- third pulley 37

- further plurality? of injectors 38 - steam generator 39

- air filter 40

- liquid filter 41

- centrifugal fan 42

- corrugations 43

- banding machine 44

- internal container 45

- control module 46

- crushing fins 47

- first gearmotor 48

- second gearmotor 49

- third gearmotor 50

- cylindrical support 51

- conduit 52

- level 53 limiter

- rotary distributor 54

- first frame 55

- bearing frame 56

- shock absorber devices 57

- second frame 58

- further shock absorber devices 59

Claims (13)

A post-consumer item handling apparatus (100; 200), comprising: an input container (5; 5L) structured for inputting post-consumer items into the apparatus (100; 200); a rotatable basket (27) in communication with the input container (5; 5L) configured to receive said articles and to be rotated so as to separate by centrifugation the articles from the liquids contained therein; an outlet (4) for extracting the articles after treatment placed in communication with the rotatable basket (27); a mechanical device (33) for transporting the articles from the rotatable basket (27) towards the outlet (4); an emission device (7;38) of a sanitizing substance of said articles introduced into the apparatus. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein: said emission device (7, 38) ? arranged so as to allow the distribution of liquid substances in the inlet container (5) and/or in the rotatable basket (27). The apparatus (100) according to claim 2, wherein: - said input device comprises a plurality? of injectors (7;38); - the apparatus comprises a pump (8) for circulating said liquid substances. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, further comprising: a tank (26) for collecting said extracted liquids in which ? housed the rotating basket (27); a motor (31) mechanically connected to the revolving basket (27) to make it rotate 5. Apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical device (33) for conveying the articles from the rotatable basket (27) towards the outlet (4) comprises: a screw conveyor (33) at least partially housed in said rotatable basket (27) and including a rotor (34) on which relative coils (35) are mounted; a motor device connected to the rotor (34) so as to cause rotation of the rotor (34). 6. Apparatus (100) according to claims 3 and 5, wherein said plurality? of injectors includes a first plurality? of injectors (38) integrated in said rotor (34) of the screw conveyor (33). The apparatus (100, 200) according to claim 1, wherein: - the inlet container (5; 5L) defines a further tank (6); - called plurality? of injectors includes a second plurality? of injectors (7) integrated in said further tank. The apparatus (100, 200) according to claim 1 or 7, further comprising a further conveyor device (11) at least partially arranged in the input container (5;5L) and configured to transport the articles towards the rotatable basket (27). 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said further conveyor device (11) comprises a further screw conveyor comprising a further rotor (13) and further coils (12). The apparatus (100, 200) according to claim 1, further comprising a first mixing device (17, 47) configured to break into more? parts of said articles and mixing said parts together. The apparatus (100, 200) according to claim 10, wherein the mixing device (17, 47) comprises at least one screw mixer (20, 21). 12. Apparatus (100, 200) according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising a programmable control module (46) which can be configured to manage the apparatus according to timing and methods? of pre-established treatment. 13. Apparatus according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said apparatus is configured to carry out the treatment of absorbent sanitary products selected from: incontinence products, diapers, feminine sanitary towels, absorbent pads.