JP2023079366A - Device for pushing and crushing cup - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a device for pushing and crushing a cup which facilitates positioning of the cup and can push and crushes the cup with a relatively small power.SOLUTION: A device for pushing and crushing a cup includes a slide which is elongated from a projection port and has a bottom face capable of sliding the cup in an axial direction thereon, a stopper which is provided on an end part of the side opposite to the projection port of the slide, a groove part which is elongated along in such a direction that the slide is elongated and is provided on the bottom face with a width smaller than a diameter of the cup, a holding part provided on the opposite side of sandwiching the groove part therebetween with respect to the slide, a pushing blade part which folds up the cup in a radial direction, pushes the cup into the groove part and moves into the holding part while squeezing the cup on the groove part by the movement as a plate-shaped pushing blade part movably provided between a first position and a second position located on the holding part side and moves the cup into the holding part, and a movement mechanism part which moves the pushing blade part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a cup crushing device capable of crushing a cup in a compact manner.

A paper cup crushing device capable of crushing a paper cup in the axial direction has been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This paper cup crushing device has a projection (head) that can be fitted into a groove on the bottom of the paper cup, a cradle, and a hole (movable part) provided in the cradle into which the projection can be appropriately fitted. To crush a paper cup using a paper cup crushing device, first, the paper cup is placed upside down on a cradle, and the projection (head) is lowered from above. As a result, the projections fit into the grooves in the bottom of the paper cup, and the head can crush the entire paper cup up to the upper surface of the movable part of the cradle.

JP-A-2002-192390

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional paper cup crushing device, it is necessary to turn the paper cup upside down and accurately place it on the upper side of the hole (movable part). If the paper cup cannot be positioned correctly, there is the problem of not being able to crush the paper cup accurately. Moreover, since the crushing (buckling) of the paper cup in the axial direction is deformation in the direction in which the paper cup has the highest rigidity, there is a problem that a considerably large force is required to crush the paper cup. Therefore, it is necessary to use a motor with a large driving force, which causes a problem of increased cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cup crushing device that facilitates the positioning of the cup and allows the cup to be crushed with a relatively small amount of force.

The above problems are solved by the present invention described below. That is, the cup-crushing device of the present invention (1) comprises a slide extending from an inlet and having a bottom surface on which the cup can be slid in the axial direction;
a stopper provided at the end of the slide opposite to the inlet;
A groove extending along the direction in which the slide extends in the vicinity of the stopper and provided in the bottom surface with a width smaller than the diameter of the cup, the first end connected to the bottom surface and the first end. a groove having a second end opposite the portion;
a holding portion provided on the opposite side of the slide with the groove portion sandwiched therebetween;
It is movable between a first position spaced apart from the groove and facing the groove, and a second position located in the groove and having a tip thereof closer to the holding part than the second end. A plate-shaped pushing blade provided in the first position to the second position, the cup stopped by the stopper being folded in the radial direction and pushed into the groove, and the groove a pushing blade portion for moving the cup pushed inward into the holding portion while squeezing the cup so as to project toward the holding portion with the groove portion;
a moving mechanism that moves the pushing blade between the first position and the second position;
Prepare.

Further, the cup-crushing device of the present invention (2) is the cup-crushing device according to (1),
The cross section of the bottom surface and the groove in the direction intersecting with the direction in which the slide extends is funnel-shaped.

Further, the cup-crushing device of the present invention (3) is the cup-crushing device according to (1) or (2),
The tip of the pressing blade portion has a substantially acute angle.

Further, the cup-crushing device of the present invention (4) is the cup-crushing device according to any one of (1) to (3),
The cup is a paper cup.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cup crushing device that facilitates the positioning of the cup and can crush the cup with a relatively small amount of force.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing an overall image of a cup-crushing device of an embodiment and a holding portion inside a housing. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a slide, a pressing blade, and a holder inside a housing of the cup-crushing device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a slide, a stopper, and a pushing blade portion inside the housing of the cup crushing device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a slide, a groove, a pressing blade, and a moving mechanism inside the housing of the cup-crushing device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the pushing blade further advances (lowers) in the slide, the groove, and the pushing blade shown in FIG. 4 and the cup is squeezed by the pushing blade and the groove; . FIG. 6 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the push blade further advances (lowers) to the second position in the slide, the groove, and the push blade shown in FIG. 5 and the cup is dropped onto the holding portion. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the holder shown in FIG. 1 and a cup stored in the holder in a folded state; FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing, in comparison, the holder and the cup stored in the holder in an unfolded state; FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing an overall image and a moving mechanism of a cup-crushing device of a modification;

Hereinafter, embodiments of the cup crushing device will be described with reference to the drawings. The cup crushing device of the embodiment can reduce the cup storage space and collect and store the cups at a high density when used cups are collected and stored for recycling in a coffee shop or a store, for example. be.
[Embodiment]

A cup crushing device 11 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the cup crushing device 11 includes a housing 12, an inlet 13 provided on the front surface of the housing 12, and an opening lower than the inlet 13 on the front surface of the housing 12. A door portion 14 provided, a slide 15 extending obliquely downward from the inlet 13 toward the inside of the housing 12, a stopper 16 provided at the end of the slide 15 opposite to the inlet 13, and a stopper. 16, a groove portion 17 provided on the bottom surface 15A of the slide 15, a holding portion 18 provided on the opposite side of the slide 15 with the groove portion 17 interposed therebetween, and a second groove portion facing the slide 15 (groove portion 17). A pushing blade portion 21 movable between a first position P1 and a second position P2 positioned in the groove portion 17, and a moving mechanism portion for moving the pushing blade portion 21 between the first position P1 and the second position P2. 22 and.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 12 is formed in a box shape by combining metal flat plates (panels), for example. The inlet 13 is configured with a through hole large enough to allow the cup 23 to be inserted. The inlet 13 is formed in a semicircular shape or a rectangular shape that is convex upward. The housing 12 has, around the slot 13, a display section 24 indicating that it is a "paper cup slot".

The housing 12 has a housing body 25 and a door portion 14 that can be opened and closed with respect to the housing body 25 . The door portion 14 is formed in a flat plate shape (panel shape). The door portion 14 is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the housing body 25 via a hinge mechanism or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the door portion 14 is rotatable between, for example, a closed position Q1 in which the housing body 25 is closed and an open position Q2 in which the housing body 25 is opened. is configured to While the door portion 14 is in the open position Q2, the store manager takes out the holding portion 18 from the inside of the housing 12 and collects the folded cup 23, or removes the empty holding portion 18 from the housing 12. can be returned to the inside of the

The slide 15 is made of a plate material made of metal or resin. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom surface 15A of the slide 15 is formed obliquely so that the installation height increases from the center toward the outside. That is, the bottom surface 15A has a shape that expands upward. The outer portion of the slide 15 is fixed to the inner surface of the housing 12 by welding, screwing, or the like. The slide 15 allows the cup 23 to slide in the axial direction (long axis direction) of the cup 23 . The shape of the slide 15 is not limited to this. For example, it may have a U-shaped cross section like a playground slide.

The stopper 16 is formed of a plate material made of metal or resin. As shown in FIG. 3, the stopper 16 is provided to rise upward from the end (end) of the slide 15 . The stopper 16 can receive and hold the cup 23 sliding down the slide 15 at that position. The stopper 16 is integrally formed with the slide 15 and is bent by sheet metal working (pressing) so as to stand up against the slide 15 . When the stopper 16 is made of resin, the stopper 16 is fixed to the slide 15 by screwing or fitting.

The groove portion 17 is formed of a plate material made of metal or resin. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the groove 17 is provided in the center of the bottom surface 15A of the slide 15. As shown in FIGS. The groove portion 17 is elongated along the direction in which the slide 15 extends. The groove portion 17 is formed by two opposed flat plates. The groove portion 17 extends vertically and penetrates the bottom surface 15A of the slide 15 . As shown in FIG. 6, the groove 17 has a first end 31 connected to the bottom surface 15A, a second end 32 opposite to the first end 31, and a and a groove body 33 connecting the two ends 32 . The groove portion 17 is formed integrally with the slide 15 at the first end portion 31 . When the groove 17 is made of resin, the groove 17 is fixed to the slide 15 by screwing or fitting.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the slide 15 and the groove 17 have a funnel-shaped (Y-shaped) cross section in a direction intersecting (perpendicular to) the direction in which the slide 15 extends. The groove portion 17 is bent downward (downward in the vertical direction) with respect to the slide 15 by sheet metal working (press working). The width of the groove portion 17 in the direction intersecting (perpendicular to) the direction in which the slide 15 extends is slightly larger than the thickness of the pushing blade portion 21 in the same direction and smaller than the diameter of the cup 23. formed by The width of the groove portion 17 can be appropriately set according to the size of the cup 23, the rigidity of the cup 23, the thickness of the pressing blade portion 21, and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the holding portion 18 is configured by a general dust box, and is formed in the shape of a bucket that opens upward.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the pressing blade portion 21 is formed in a flat plate shape by a metal plate material, and elongates in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) and the depth direction of the cup crushing device 11 . A tip 21A (lower end) of the pushing blade portion 21 is formed sharp, for example, at an acute angle. In addition, the tip 21A (lower end) of the pushing blade portion 21 has an acute angle when viewed as a whole. good. Alternatively, the pressing blade portion 21 may be a thin plate shaped like a Chinese knife. The pressing blade portion 21 is not limited to being made of metal, and may be made of synthetic resin such as acrylic, vinyl chloride, or the like. The acute-angled tip 21A of the pressing blade portion 21 contacts the cup 23, so that the cup 23 can be folded in two. At that time, the direction in which the cup 23 is folded is the radial direction of the cup 23 . As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the pressing blade portion 21 has a first position P1 that is spaced apart from the groove portion 17 and faces the groove portion 17, and a second position P1 that is positioned inside the groove portion 17 and has a tip 21A that is positioned at a second end. It is movable between a second position P<b>2 located closer to the holding portion 18 than the portion 32 .

As shown in FIG. 4, the moving mechanism 22 is composed of, for example, a general pneumatic cylinder. The movement mechanism part 22 includes a rod 22A, and can move the rod 22A forward and backward in the vertical direction. A push blade portion 21 is fixed to the tip of the rod 22A. The moving mechanism unit 22 is, for example, fixed to the inner surface of the top plate 12A of the housing 12 in an upside down state. The configuration of the moving mechanism section 22 is not limited to a pneumatic cylinder, and may be a hydraulic cylinder, a direct-acting motor, a solenoid, or any other direct-acting actuator.

The cup 23 is preferably a paper cup (paper cup). Cup 23 may be a cup made of plastic, biodegradable plastic, or other material.

Next, a cup-crushing method using the cup-crushing device 11 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 8. FIG.

A customer who visits a coffee shop or a store can wash the inner surface of the cup 23 with water or the like as necessary before throwing the used cup 23 into the cup crushing device 11 . When the customer puts the used cup 23 into the slot 13, the cup 23 slides down the slide 15 and contacts the stopper 16 to be held at that position, as shown in FIGS.

When the customer presses an operation button (not shown), the movement mechanism 22 (pneumatic cylinder) is activated to move the push blade 21 downward. The pushing blade portion 21 is positioned in the groove portion 17 from a first position P1 (indicated by a solid line in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3) separated from the groove portion 17, and the tip 21A thereof is closer to the holding portion 18 side than the second end portion 32. 3 or the solid line in FIG. 6), the tip 21A of the pushing blade 21 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cup 23 as shown in FIG. The cup 23 is pressed radially to fold the cup 23 in half.

When the pushing blade portion 21 further advances (lowers) toward the second position P2, the pushing blade portion 21 pushes the cup 23 into the groove portion 17 as shown in FIG. When the pusher blade 21 moves forward (lower) as it is, the pusher blade 21 presses the cup 23 toward the holding portion 18 while drawing the cup 23 so that it becomes convex toward the holding portion 18 like drawing. At that time, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cup 23 is squeezed by the groove portion 17, particularly the first end portion 31 of the groove portion 17, and the pressing blade portion 21 and the groove portion 17 (the first end portion 31 ) yields completely into a V-shape due to the squeezing action of . As a result, the strain on the cup 23 can be eliminated, and the cup 23 is prevented from returning to its original cylindrical shape within the holding portion 18 . As a result, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the volume of the cup 23 is less than half of its cylindrical state before being crushed.

According to this embodiment, the following can be said. The cup crushing device 11 is provided with a slide 15 extending from the inlet 13 and having a bottom surface 15A on which the cup 23 can be slid in the axial direction, and the end of the slide 15 opposite to the inlet 13. a stopper 16, and a groove 17 extending in the direction in which the slide 15 extends in the vicinity of the stopper 16 and having a width smaller than the diameter of the cup 23 and provided in the bottom surface 15A, the first end connected to the bottom surface 15A. 31 and a second end 32 positioned opposite to the first end 31; a holding portion 18 provided on the opposite side of the slide 15 across the groove 17; 17 and facing the groove portion 17, and a second position P2 located in the groove portion 17 and the tip thereof positioned closer to the holding portion 18 than the second end portion 32. A plate-like push blade portion 21 provided so as to be capable of folding the cup 23 stopped by the stopper 16 in the radial direction and pushing it into the groove portion 17 by moving from the first position P1 to the second position P2, a pushing blade portion 21 for moving the cup 23 pushed into the groove portion 17 into the holding portion 18 while being squeezed by the groove portion 17 so as to be convex toward the holding portion 18; and a moving mechanism portion 22 that moves between two positions P2.

According to this configuration, the cup 23 is radially folded, pushed into the groove portion 17, squeezed in the groove portion 17 like drawing, and then dropped into the holding portion 18, so that the cup 23 is folded. You can surrender to a state. As a result, it is possible to prevent the cup 23 from returning to the cylindrical shape inside the holding portion 18 and effectively prevent the cup 23 from becoming bulky inside the holding portion 18 . Therefore, the cups can be held in the holding portion 18 at high density. In addition, according to the above configuration, since the cup 23 can be deformed in the radial direction where the rigidity of the cup 23 is small, the cup 23 can be deformed with a relatively small amount of force as compared with the conventional technique in which the cup is deformed in the axial direction. can be destroyed. Therefore, it can be realized with the moving mechanism portion 22 having a small driving force, and the manufacturing cost of the cup crushing device 11 can be reduced. Alternatively, for example, as in a modified example described later, even in the case of a structure in which the cup 23 is manually crushed, the user's work load can be reduced without requiring a large work force from the user. Further, according to the above configuration, since the cup 23 can be deformed in the radial direction, it is possible to move between the first position P1 and the second position P2 compared to the conventional technology in which the cup is deformed in the axial direction. The stroke of the pressing blade portion 21 can be reduced. As a result, the cost of the moving mechanism 22 can be reduced, or the structure of the moving mechanism 22 can be simplified in the case of a structure in which the cup 23 is manually crushed as in a modified example described later.

In this case, the cross section of the bottom surface 15A and the groove 17 in the direction intersecting with the extending direction of the slide 15 is funnel-shaped. With this configuration, the cross section of the bottom surface 15</b>A can be shaped like a mortar, and cups 23 of various sizes can be positioned in the vicinity of the groove portion 17 . As a result, it is possible to prevent the cup 23 from being displaced and preventing the pressing blade portion 21 from pushing the cup 23 into the groove portion 17 due to the displacement of the cup 23 .

In this case, the tip 21A of the pressing blade portion 21 forms a substantially acute angle. According to this configuration, the cup 23 can be sharply folded. This allows the folding of the cup 23 and the subsequent yielding of the cup 23 to proceed more smoothly. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the cup 23 from restoring its cylindrical shape again within the holding portion 18 .

In this case the cup 23 is a paper cup. According to this configuration, paper cups that are bulky but easily deformable can be stored in the holding section 18 so as not to be bulky. This allows paper cups to be efficiently recycled.

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, a modification of the cup-crushing device 11 of the embodiment described above will be described. In the following modified examples, portions different from the embodiment will be mainly described, and illustration or description of portions common to the embodiment will be omitted.

Similar to the embodiment, the moving mechanism section 22 can move the pushing blade section 21 between the first position P1 and the second position P2. As shown in FIG. 9, the configuration of the moving mechanism section 22 may be such that the pressing blade section 21 is moved up and down by human power via a foot pedal 41, for example. That is, the moving mechanism section 22 has a foot pedal 41 and a power transmission mechanism 42 that transmits the operating force of the foot pedal 41 . The power transmission mechanism 42 includes, for example, a link mechanism 44 via a rod-shaped lever portion 43, a wire 45 connected to the link mechanism 44, a pulley 46 for suspending the wire 45, and a cover (not shown) covering the pulley 46. and a spring portion 47 that returns the link mechanism 44 to its original position. The spring portion 47 is composed of, for example, an extension coil spring. The wire 45 is made of a flexible material such as a metal material such as steel wire. The cover can hold the wire 45 wound around the pulley 46 so as not to fall off the pulley 46 . 9 schematically shows the moving mechanism 22. The position of the lever 43, the number, length, and angle of the link mechanism 44, the number of the pulleys 46, and the cam mechanism can be adjusted as appropriate. By interposing it, the stroke length and the like of the forward and backward movement of the push blade portion 21 can be appropriately adjusted. The pressing blade portion 21 has a sufficient mass so that the cup 23 can be crushed by its own weight and dropped to the holding portion 18 . Alternatively, the pressing blade section 21 may have a structure like a paper cutter. That is, the push blade portion 21 is configured to be rotatable about a support shaft, and is pulled toward the cup 23 via the wire 45 at the force point on the opposite side of the support shaft, thereby folding the cup 23 in the radial direction. It may be a structure that allows

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, a cup crushing method using the cup crushing device 11 of this modified example will be described.

A customer who visits a coffee shop or a store can wash the inner surface of the cup 23 with water or the like as necessary before throwing the used cup 23 into the cup crushing device 11 . When the customer puts the used cup 23 into the slot 13, the cup 23 slides down the slide 15 and comes into contact with the stopper 16 and is stopped at that position.

When the customer depresses the foot pedal 41 , the link mechanism 44 of the moving mechanism section 22 rotates about the lever section 43 . At that time, the link mechanism 44 is rotated against the pulling force of the spring portion 47 . When the end of the link mechanism 44 rotates upward, the wire 45 connected to the end 44A of the link mechanism 44 rises. Due to the driving force (pushing force) of the wire 45, the pushing blade portion 21 suspended by the wire 45 and the pulley 46 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2. The pushing blade part 21 can push the folded cup 23 into the groove part 17 at the same time as folding the cup 23 into a double-folded state, and drop it into the holding part 18 with the momentum. At that time, the direction in which the cup 23 is folded is the radial direction of the cup 23 . Further, as in the above embodiment, the cup 23 is squeezed by the groove portion 17, particularly by the first end portion 31 of the groove portion 17, and squeezed by the pressing blade portion 21 and the groove portion 17 (first end portion 31). By action, it yields completely in a V-shape so as to be convex towards the holding part 18 . As a result, the strain on the cup 23 can be eliminated, and the cup 23 will not be restored to its original cylindrical shape within the holding portion 18.例文帳に追加As a result, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the volume of the cup 23 is less than half of its cylindrical state before being crushed.

When the customer releases the foot pedal 41, the action of the spring portion 47 rotates the link mechanism 44 around the lever portion 43 to its original position. As a result, the foot pedal 41 rotates upward along the slit formed in the door portion 14 . The wire 45 connected to the end portion 44A is pulled downward, and the pressing blade portion 21 moves upward from the second position P2 to the first position P1.

In addition, in this modification, a guide for guiding the pressing blade portion 21 to the groove portion 17 is provided along the moving path of the pressing blade portion 21 so that the pressing blade portion 21 is properly inserted into the groove portion 17. is of course also good. Alternatively, it is of course possible to adopt a structure in which the pressing blade portion 21 is pulled by the wire 45 from below as the foot pedal 41 is stepped on.

The above embodiments and modifications can be implemented with various replacements and modifications. In addition, it is naturally possible to appropriately configure the invention by appropriately combining the embodiments and modifications.

11 cup crushing device 13 inlet 15 slide 15A bottom surface 16 stopper 17 groove 18 holding portion P1 first position P2 second position 21 push blade 21A tip 22 moving mechanism 23 cup 31 first end 32 second end

Claims (4)

a slide extending from the inlet and having a bottom surface on which the cup can be slid axially;
a stopper provided at the end of the slide opposite to the inlet;
A groove extending along the direction in which the slide extends in the vicinity of the stopper and provided in the bottom surface with a width smaller than the diameter of the cup, the first end connected to the bottom surface and the first end. a groove having a second end opposite the portion;
a holding portion provided on the opposite side of the slide with the groove portion sandwiched therebetween;
It is movable between a first position spaced apart from the groove and facing the groove, and a second position located in the groove and having a tip thereof closer to the holding part than the second end. A plate-shaped pushing blade provided in the first position to the second position, the cup stopped by the stopper being folded in the radial direction and pushed into the groove, and the groove a pushing blade portion for moving the cup pushed inward into the holding portion while squeezing the cup so as to project toward the holding portion with the groove portion;
a moving mechanism that moves the pushing blade between the first position and the second position;
A cup crushing device comprising: 2. The cup crushing device according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface and the groove have a funnel-shaped cross section in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the slide. 3. A cup crushing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said tip of said pressing blade has a substantially acute angle. The cup crushing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cup is a paper cup.

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