JPH1177680A - Pet bottle volume reducing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a polyethyleneterephthalate(PET) bottle volume reducing machine which is compact and suitable for household use. SOLUTION: A PET bottle 5 is put into a receiving container 1 whose inside is heated by a heater 7, and compressed air is supplied into the container 1 from an air container and others so that the bottle 5 is pressed by the compressed air from the outside and the air in the bottle 5 is discharged through a pouring port 3 which is attached to a lid 2 and opened outside the container 1 to crush the bottle 5 by compressive force against the atmospheric pressure and the rigidity of the bottle 5 which is reduced remarkably by heating.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a PET bottle volume reducing machine suitable for home use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) has been increasing as waste from households.
Because of its large volume, storage and management at home was very troublesome until a recycler or refuse disposal company could collect it.

On the other hand, as a method for reducing the volume of PET bottles, PE bottles are used.
Pressure is applied to a T bottle to crush it, or it is heated and compressed.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, PET
The force required to reduce the volume of the bottle is large, and when the booster mechanism is used, the mechanism is likely to be complicated and large. Further, in the case of heating and compression, since a dedicated heating device is used, the structure is likely to be complicated and large. Furthermore, when the compression direction for volume reduction is not constant, for example, when compressing in the radial direction of a PET bottle, it is necessary to deform a spout or bottom that requires a large compression force for volume reduction. It requires a mechanism to create it, and the structure may be complicated and large.

[0005] As described above, the conventional apparatuses have problems, and are not suitable for home use.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide a PET bottle volume reducing machine which is simple and compact and is suitable for home use.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a PET bottle is housed in a storage container whose inside is heated by a heating means and compressed air is supplied to the storage container from a compressed air supply mechanism. While being pushed by compressed air from the outside, the air inside the PET bottle is discharged through a spout attached to the lid and opened to the outside of the storage container. It is characterized in that the PET bottle is crushed by overcoming the reduced rigidity of the PET bottle.

[0008] Since an existing bicycle air supply or the like can be used as the compressed air supply mechanism, the apparatus can be provided at low cost. In addition, the atmosphere in the storage container becomes a predetermined temperature atmosphere in a short time in a state close to hermetic.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a view showing a schematic configuration of a storage container of a PET bottle storage container, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a method of using the storage container.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a storage container main body for storing the PET bottle 5, and reference numeral 2 denotes a lid, which is configured to cover the container main body 1 and be fastened. Seal member (not shown)
Is provided.

The lid 2 is provided with a female screw 6 which matches the male screw of the spout 3 of the PET bottle 5.
Screw 3 is fixed. In addition, a seal member is also provided in the vicinity of the female screw 6 of the lid 2 for maintaining the adhesion after the PET bottle 5 is mounted.

As a compressed air supply mechanism for sending compressed air into the storage container 1, for example, a bicycle air tank 8 is used. A pipe 4 with a one-way valve is provided.

In the present embodiment, the bicycle air inflator 8 is used as the compressed air supply mechanism.
For automobiles, sports balls (volleyball, soccer ball, basketball), automobile compressors, household general-purpose compressors, and the like can be used.

Further, in order to heat the inside of the storage container 1 to a predetermined temperature atmosphere, a heater 7 is guided into the storage container, and a PET bottle 5 is provided so that the heat in the storage container 1 does not escape.
A heat insulating cap 9 made of urethane foam, which allows air to pass therethrough but does not easily conduct heat, is attached to the spout 3 of the container.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. First, the lid 2 is removed from the storage container 1 in advance. Then, a PET bottle 5 to be crushed is prepared, a male screw portion provided at the spout 3 of the PET bottle 5 is screwed into the female screw 6 from the back side of the lid 2, and the heat insulating cap 9 is attached. Attach to the spout 3 (FIG. 2a).

Thereafter, the lid 2 on which the PET bottle is mounted is mounted on the storage container main body 1 (FIG. 2B). As shown in FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 3, the method of mounting the lid lock mechanism of a cooler box or the like (FIG. 3 a) is as follows. Either a method of fitting into the groove of the main body (FIG. 3B), an electric pot, a mechanism for locking the lid of the rice cooker (FIG. 3C), or the like is used. In addition, the heat insulating cap 9 is configured such that the lid 2 is
, And then attached to the spout 3.

Next, the hose of the air inflator 8 of the bicycle used as the compressed air supply mechanism is attached to the tube 4 of the lid 2. In the case where a plurality of PET bottles are to be continuously processed, if the hose is kept attached to the pipe 4, the detachment work every time can be omitted.

Next, by operating the heater 7, the inside of the storage container 1 is heated to a predetermined temperature atmosphere to heat the PET bottle 5, whereby the rigidity of the PET bottle 5 is reduced.
The interior of the storage container 1 is maintained in a state close to hermetic, and since the heat insulating cap 9 is attached to the spout 3 of the PET bottle 5, the interior of the storage container 1 is insulated. Then, the inside of the storage container 1 reaches a predetermined temperature atmosphere.

The compressed air is sent into the storage container 1 by operating the air supply 8. (FIG. 2c). Since a sealing member is provided at a contact portion between the storage container body 1 and the lid 2 and a contact portion between the vicinity of the female screw 6 of the lid 2 and the PET bottle 5, the storage container into which compressed air is sent by the air supply 8. The inside of 1 is maintained at a predetermined pressure required to crush the PET bottle.

As described above, the PET bottle 5 is pressed by the compressed air sent into the storage container 1 while the PET bottle 5 is pressed.
The air in the PET bottle 5 is discharged through the heat-insulating cap 9 made of urethane foam, which is attached to the spout 3 and allows air to pass through.
If the rigidity of the ET bottle 5 itself is exceeded, the PET bottle is crushed (FIG. 2d). As the material of the heat insulating cap, any material can be used as long as it insulates heat to some extent and allows air to pass therethrough. In addition to urethane foam, materials made of the same material as styrene foam or corrugated cardboard can be used.

After crushing the PET bottle 5,
The pressure release valve (not shown) provided on the lid 2 is opened, the compressed air in the storage container 1 is released, the lid 2 is taken out, and the crushed PET bottle 5 is taken out.

Further, the PET bottle 5 to be crushed next time is mounted on the lid 2 and the PET bottle 5 is similarly crushed.

The following configuration is also one of the embodiments according to the present invention.

(1) A storage container for storing a PET bottle, a compressed air supply mechanism for supplying compressed air to the storage container, and a heating means for heating the inside of the storage container with solar energy, A PET bottle volume reducing machine comprising a lid configured to mount a PET bottle with its spout open outside the storage container.
In addition, as a heating means, specifically, there is a method of coloring the outer periphery of the storage container with a color (for example, black) that easily absorbs sunlight, or providing a condenser lens.
Energy can be saved, and a power supply and the like are not required.

(2) A storage container for storing the PET bottle, a compressed air supply mechanism for supplying compressed air to the storage container, and a heating means for heating the inside of the storage container, together with the PET bottle corresponding to the storage container A PET bottle volume reducing machine, comprising: a lid configured to be attached to a spout by opening the spout outside the container; and a heat-insulating cap having air permeability to be attached to the spout. In particular, by providing a heat-insulating cap with air permeability, PET
With the air in the bottle discharged, the inside of the storage container can be heated to a predetermined temperature in a short time.

[0026]

According to the present invention, as described above, a compressed air supply mechanism is provided as a compressed air supply mechanism in a storage container for storing a PET bottle by crushing the PET bottle using compressed air. The cost can be reduced by simply combining the two, and when using an existing air supply for bicycles, only the space for storing the storage container is newly required, and the installation space for home use is easily secured. it can. Further, since the inside of the storage container is in a state close to hermetic, the atmosphere becomes a predetermined temperature atmosphere in a short time by the heating means, and the PET bottle is heated.
The rigidity of the ET bottle decreases, and the PE
T bottle can be crushed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a storage container of a PET bottle volume reducing machine.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a method of using a PET bottle volume reducing machine.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a method of attaching a lid to a storage container.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Storage container 2 ... Lid 3 ... PET bottle spout 5 ... PET bottle 7 ... Heater 9 ... Breathable heat insulation cap

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A storage container for storing a PET bottle, a compressed air supply mechanism for supplying compressed air to the storage container, and a heating means for heating the inside of the storage container, and the pouring of the PET bottle corresponding to the storage container. A PET bottle volume reducing machine comprising a lid configured to be mounted with a mouth opened outside a storage container.