NL2017956B1 - Waste container - Google Patents

Abstract

Waste container comprising an inlet with an outer lid and an inner lid. When the outer lid is opened it gives access to a space between the two lids. The inner lid is suspended by load cells independently from the outer lid.

Description

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The Netherlands (21) Application number: 2017956 © Application submitted: 08/12/2016

Θ 2017956

BI PATENT (51) Int. CL:

B65F 1/10 (2017.01) B65F 1/14 (2017.01)

Application registered: (73) Patent holder (s): 19/06/2018 Snaas Metaalwaren B.V. in Hoorn. (43) Application published: - (72) Inventor (s): Pieter Andries van der Wulp in Hoorn. (47) Patent granted: Jeroen Nicolaas Polycarpus Snaas in Hoorn. 19/06/2018 (45) Patent issued: θ Authorized representative: 20/06/2018 ir. A.R. Aalbers in Amsterdam.

(54) WASTE CONTAINER (57) Waste container including an inlet with an outer member and an inner member. When the outer member is opened it gives access to a space between the two members. The inner member is suspended from load cells independently from the outer member.

NL BI 2017956

This patent has been granted regardless of the attached result of the research into the state of the art and written opinion. The patent corresponds to the documents originally submitted.

NL24469-SE / av

WASTE CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a waste container including an inlet with an outer member and an inner member, the outer member giving access to a space between the two members when the outer member is opened.

Such double-lidded inlets are particularly used with underground waste containers, e.g., in urban environments.

Such underground waste containers usually include a fixed underground outer bin or tank, usually or concrete, with an open top side, and an inner container which can be placed in and out of the tank through the tank's open top side. The waste container typically also comprises a cover platform for opening and closing the upper opening, and an inlet column mounted on the cover platform. Such an inlet column may have a lidded inlet above ground level and a passage extending from the inlet through the cover platform. Waste inserted through the inlet falls through the passage into the inner container. When the inner container needs emptied, the cover platform is removed, the inner container is lifted out of the outer tank and emptied, e.g., in a waste collection vehicle. After emptying the inner container is put back into the outer tank and the cover platform is returned to its position closing off the outer tank. An example of such an underground waste container is disclosed in EP 2 821 352 A1.

For safety reasons, the member usually comprises a sluice, with an inner member, giving access to the container, and an outer member giving access to a space above the inner member and an inner member. The inner and outer members are suspended in a housing. The inner member can only be opened when the outer member is closed. The inner and outer member can for example be coaxially rotatable cylindrical drums, both having an opening. A transmission left the two drum such that they rotate in opposite directions. The outer drum has a handle and can be rotated by a user between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position the outer drum closes off the inlet. The opening in the outer member opens into the interior of the housing and is not accessible to a user. In this position, the opening of the inner member provides a passage between the interior of the member and the interior of the inner waste container. In the open position the opening of the inner and outer drums are aligned and accessible for a user, while the inner drum closes off the inlet. In this position the user can deposit waste in the interior of the inner drum. When he subsequently closes the outer drum, the inner drum opens towards the interior of the inner waste container, so the collected waste falls into the inner waste container.

Access to the waste container can be restricted, for instance by use or an identification system. Such an identification system can for example be linked to a weight sensor system. This allows monitoring of the amount of waste that is deposited by an individual user. This can for example be linked to a tax system.

With the double drum inlets described above it has been proposed to suspend a weighing unit below the two drums. After closing the double drum member, collected waste falls onto the weighing unit. After weighing, the weighing unit is tilted or retracted to let the waste fall into the inner container. Such weighing systems are complicated, expensive, not sufficiently reliable and not enabling a desired degree of calibration.

It is an object of the invention to provide a waste collection system with a more reliable and less complicated weighing system which can be calibrated.

The object of the invention has been achieved with a waste container including an inlet with an outer member and an inner member, the outer member giving access to a space between the two members when the outer member is opened, where the inner member is suspended by load cells independently from the outer member. This makes it possible to use the inner member as a reliable weighing scale, which can be calibrated.

A control unit can be used to open the inner member when the outer member returns to a closed position and to maintain the inner member in its closed position when the outer member is not in its closed position. A position sensor can be used to detect the closed position of the outer member.

The inner and outer members can for example be coaxially rotatable nested drums. The waste container will typically be an underground container, but the weighing system can also be used with other types of waste collection containers.

If the waste container is an underground waste container, it will typically have an outer tank with an open top side, and an inner container receivable within the outer container, so the inner container can be removed to be emptied by a waste collection service. A removable cover platform can be used to close off the open top side of the outer tank and including an inlet column with the inlet and the inner and outer lids.

The control unit may include a battery, in particular a battery that can be replaced or reloaded, e.g., by means of one or more solar cells.

The invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, showing an exemplary embodiment.

Figure 1: shows in perspective view of underground waste Figure 2: container; shows the container or Figure 1 when opened; Figure 3: shows in front view the inlet column of the Figure 4: container or Figure 1; shows a longitudinal cross section along line A- Figure 5: A in Figure 3; shows the inlet column or Figure 3 in side view; Figure 6: shows a cross section along line B-B in Figure 3; show the inner member assembly from different Figure 7A-F: Figure 8A-F: angles; show the outer drum from different angles.

Figures 1 and 2 show an underground waste container 1 with an outer bin or tank 2 which is permanently underground. The top of the outer tank 2 is covered by a cover platform 4 which can be hung between a horizontal closed position (Figure 1) and an open position (Figure 2). In the closed position the cover platform 4 is at ground level. The outer tank 2 has an open top side 6. Inside the outer tank 2 is an inner container 8 (Figure 2), which can be removed when the cover platform 4 is in the open position, to allow the inner container 8 to be emptied .

The cover platform 4 carries an inlet column 10 with an inlet opening 12 allowing a user to deposit waste into the waste container 1. The inlet opening 12 is closed off by a member assembly 14 including coaxially rotatable nested inner and outer drums enclosing an air lock chamber.

The inlet column 10 comprises a housing 16 with an inner frame 18 with three brackets 20 projecting from the column's top side.

Figures 3-5 shows the inlet column in more detail. In the upper left corner, the column 10 is provided with a scanner 11 for an ID card, only authorized users can deposit their waste into the waste container 1. The weight data can be linked to the identification data, eg, for enabling a weight proportional waste tax regime.

Figure 4 shows the inlet column in a vertical cross section along line A-A in Figure 3, while Figure 5 shows a side view with a side face or the inlet column broken away. Figure 6 shows a horizontal cross section along line B-B in Figure 3.

As shown in Figure 5, a horizontal support beam 22 is mounted to the inner side wall or the inlet column 10. A similar support beam is mounted to the inner side or the opposite side wall. The upper side of the support beam carries a bearing 24 for the outer drum 26 of the lid assembly. The lower side of the support beam 22 carries a suspension flange 28. An inner member assembly 30 is fully suspended from the suspension flanges 28 by means of load cells 32.

Figures 7A-F show the inner member assembly 14 in different views. As particularly shown in Figures 7E and 7F the inner member assembly 14 is suspended from the suspension flanges 28 and the load cells 32. The inner member assembly 14 comprises a base frame 34 with a rectangular main section 36 and brackets 38A, 38B at side faces of the main section 36 hanging down from the load cells 32.

Figure 7D shows a top view of the inner member assembly. At the left side the bracket 38A is J-shaped and hangs down from only one load cell 32. At the other side the bracket 38B is Ushaped in top view and hangs down from two load cells 32. It has been found that such an arrangement of three load cells 32 allow reliable weighing. The width of the main section 36 is substantially less than the space between the suspension flanges 28. The J-shape and U-shape of the respective brackets 38A, 38B bridge the respective gaps between the main section 36 and the suspension flanges 28. These gaps give way to a bearing support flange 40 with a bearing 41 for a rotatable inner drum 42. The bearing support flange 40 is an upwardly extending flange or the respective bracket 38A, 38B. The length of the bearing supports 40 is such that the inner drum 42 is coaxially aligned with the outer drum 26 and the respective bearings 24.

This way the full weight of the inner drum 42 is suspended from the load cells 32. This makes it possible to use the inner drum 42 as a very reliable and accurate and weighing means, which can be calibrated.

The inner drum 42 comprises two circular side walls 44 and a cylindrical segment wall 46 extending between the two circular side walls 44. The cylindrical segment wall 46 has a width sufficient to close off the open top side of the rectangular main section 36.

The U-shaped bracket 38 Houses an electric motor 48 coupled to the bearing 41 or the inner drum 42 via a belt 50 (Figure 7F). A control unit is arranged to activate the electric motor 48 to rotate the inner drum 42 between the closed position, as shown in the drawings, and an open position allowing waste to fall down from the inner drum 42 into the inner waste container 8.

Figures 8A-F show the outer drum 52 or the member assembly 14 and its bearings 24. The rotatable outer drum 52 is supported at both sides by bearings including a bearing bracket 54. Like the inner drum 42, also the rotatable outer drum 52 comprises two circular side walls 56 and a cylindrical segment wall 58 extending between the two circular side walls 56. The width of the cylindrical segment 58 is sufficient to close the inlet opening 12 or the housing 16 of the inlet column 10.

A sensor is used to detect the position of the outer drum 52. If it is opened, the inner drum 42 is moved to its closed position. Only if the outer drum 52 is closed, the inner drum 42 can be moved to the open position.

At one side of the outer drum 52 the bearing bracket 54 carries a lock 60 with a retractable locking pin 62 and a drive 64 for moving the locking pin 62 between a locking position and a retracted position (see figures 8A and 8D). The circular side wall 56 at this side of the outer drum 52 is provided with a strip 64 with a series of four stops 66 arranged to engage the locking pin 62 in a given position of the outer drum 52. Normally, the locking pin 62 is in the locking position, engaging the outer one of the four stops 66. In this position the locking pin 62 blocks rotation of the outer drum 52 and locks the member assembly 14 in the closed position.

When an identity card or an authorized user is scanned by the scanner 11, the control unit triggers retraction or the locking pin 62 and the outer drum 52 can be rotated to open the member assembly 14. In this position, the inner drum 42 still closes off the inlet column 10 and blocks direct access to the waste container 8. Now the user has access to the space between the inner and outer drums 42, 52 and can deposit his waste in the inner drum 42. The control unit detects that the inner drum 42 is loaded and receives weighing data from the load cells 32. After the user is finished the outer drum 52 is closed again. The weighing data received just after closure or the outer drum 52 is processed by the control unit, e.g., by linking the data to identity information, read from the user's identity card, and by failure and / or transferring the data to a central data processing system.

After weighing, the control unit triggers the electric motor for rotating the inner drum to its open position, so the waste can fall down into the inner waste container 8.

Claims (7)

CONCLUSIONS A waste container provided with an inlet with an outer closure and an inner closure, the outer closure giving access in an open position to a space between the two closures, the inner closure being supported by or suspended from weighing cells independently of the outer closure . A waste container according to claim 1, comprising a control unit which is adapted to open the inner seal when the outer seal is placed in a closed position and to keep the inner seal in the closed position when the outer seal is not in the closed position. Waste container according to claim 2, comprising a sensor for detecting the closed position of the outer closure. A waste container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner and outer closures are coaxially rotatable cylinder segments. Waste container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the waste container is an underground container. Waste container according to claim 5, comprising an outer bin with an open top side and an inner bin that can be received in the outer bin. Waste container according to claim 6, provided with a removable platform that covers the open top of the outer tray and which comprises an inlet column provided with said inlet and said inner and outer closures. «5SSS .I approx R Y .. Ai YOU·