US3606478A - Trash and refuse depository system - Google Patents

Abstract

A NOVEL PNEUMATIC, AUTOMATIC TRASH AND REFUSE DEPOSITORY SYSTEM AND STATION WHICH COMPRISES A BAG FOR RECEIVING TRASH AND REFUSE POSITIONED FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TRASH. DOOR MEANS ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO BE OPENED WHEN DESIRED SO AS TO IMPOSE A VACUUM PRESSURE ON THE BAG TO REMOVE IT FROM THE PERFORATED OR MESH SUPPORT AND TO INTRODUCE THE BAG CONTAINING THE TRASH AND REFUSE INTO THE CONVEYING SYSTEM FOR TRANSMISSION TO A CENTRAL COLLECTION STATION.

Description

B. T. E. BOON TRASH AND' REFUSE DEPOSITORY SYSTEM Sept. 20, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 23, 1970 FIG. I.

FIG. 3.

Sept. 20, 197} a. T. E. BOON I TRASH AND REFUSE DEPOSITORY SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 23, 1970 "ll'llll'lill' INVENTOR BRUCE T. E. BOON BY United States Patent 3,606,478 TRASH AND REFUSE DEPOSITORY SYSTEM Bruce T. E. Boon, Wayne, N.J., assignor to Eastern Cyclone Industries, Inc., Fairfield, NJ. Filed July 23, 1970, Ser. No. 57,590 Int. Cl. 365g 53/00 US. Cl. 302-2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A novel pneumatic, automatic trash and refuse depository system and station which comprises a bag for receiving trash and refuse positioned for the introduction of the trash. Door means are also provided to be opened when desired so as to impose a vacuum pressure on the bag to remove it from the perforated or mesh support and to introduce the bag containing the trash and refuse into the conveying system for transmission to a central collection station.

This invention pertains to a novel pneumatic, automatic trash and refuse depository system and station which comprises a bag for receiving trash and refuse positioned for the introduction of the trash. Door means are also provided to be opened when desired so as to impose a vacuum pressure on the bag to remove it from the perforated or mesh support and to introduce the bag containing the trash and refuse into the conveying system for transmission to a central collecting station.

The present invention is specifically concerned with a novel trash and refuse collecting system comprising one or more unique collecting stations positioned at desired selected trash collecting points integrated with a pneumatic conveying system. The collecting stations are such that trash, laundry, debris, refuse and the like may be deposited therein at any time, and at periodic intervals the collecting station or stations may be activated either manually or automatically to introduce the bags into a pneumatic conveying system for passage to a central collecting point. In essence the station'comprises a bag positioned in a perforated or mesh support basket and pneumatic means for removing the bag containing the trash from the perforated or mesh support means and for introducing the bag into the pneumatic conveying system.

It is known that in industrial plants, hospitals and the like trash, laundry and the like accumulates throughout the various areas. The collection and transportation of these items represent significant costs. In addition when these collections and transportations are done manually the areas are never entirely clean and tidy. Thus, the present system not only reduces these large labor costs for collection and transmission of trash, but actually also improves cleanliness, safety features and overall hygenic conditions of all areas.

The present invention may be readily understood by reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments of the same.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a collecting station showing the housing door open, while FIG. 2 is a side view showing the air lock door open and the bag entering the pneumatic system.

FIG. 3 shows the bottom supporting structure of the housing with the perforated basket swinging out while FIG. 4 is an overall view of the collecting station.

Referring specifically to FIG. 1, the collecting station comprises a circular housing 1 with the hinged door 2 in the open position. When door 2 is clamped shut or otherwise secured the circular or cylindrical housing is substantially air tight except for the open bottom 3. The

bottom comprises cross bars 4 and 5 adapted to support the perforated basket, (FIG. 3). Perforated basket 6 is shown positioned within the circular housing 1 supporting within it trash bag 7, which bag is preferably a plastic type bag. The top of bag 7 overlaps preferably by about 1" or 2 the upper edge of the supporting perforated basket 6.

A vacuum exists in conduit or conveying duct 8 which is imposed from a central suction blower system operating in a conventional manner. This vacuum is not imposed beyond airtight door 9 until the door is opened to convey bag 7 into the conveying duct. A manual or automatic control 10 functions to initiate a conventional operating means which opens and closes door 9. A hinged trash depository door 11 is positioned in the housin above the bag through which trash material may be dropped into the bag. FIG. 2 shows seal door 9 open wih the bag 7 passing from basket 6 into conveying duct 8.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3, a supporting rod 12 is hinged at 13 to the bottom of housing 1 and is hinged at 14 to the bottom of basket 6. Perforations 15 are shown in the bottom of basket 6. Thus by swinging supporting rod 12 about hinge 13 so that hinge 14 is opposite hinge 13 and above the bottom of 1 and by swinging basket 6 about hinge 14 the bottom of basket 6 will be substantially concentric with the bottom of housing 1, and will be positioned within housing 1. Door 2 of housing 1 can then be closed to completely encase basket 6.

In operation door 11 may be swung open and material, trash, debris, laundry and the like passed through door 11 and dropped downwardly into bag 7. When bag 7 is full, or at periodic intervals, clock or hand mechanism 10 will function to initiate operation of conventional means to open airtight door 9. The vacuum existing in duct 8 will cause atmospheric air to flow through the open bottom of housing 1, up along the sides of perforated basket 6 and through the holes in the bottom and the side of basket 6. This will cause bag 7 containing the trash to pass through open door 9 into the conveying duct 8. The bags from the various collecting stations will then be collected at a central disposal station. After the bag has passed by door 9, the door operating means will close the door thus sealing off the vacuum pressure existing in duct 8 from housing 1.

In order to reload the unit for the next cycle, housing door 2 is swung open and the basket 6 swung into position as shown in FIG. 3. A new bag 7 is inserted in basket 6 and the mechanism then swung back within housing 1 and housing door 2 clamped shut, thus initiating a new cycle.

FIG. 4 illustrates in further detail the disposal station. Elements similar to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are similarly numbered. The basket loading access door or housing door 2 is shown in the open position. The perforated basket 6 is shown both in the operating and in the open bag loading position. The swing out support arm 12 for basket 6 is clearly illustrated. Also a conventional linkage 20 to operate the air lock door 9 is illustrated. This linkage is preferably operated by an air cylinder 21 energized by a control mechanism 10.

It is within the concept of the present invention to actuate the opening of the seal door 9 mechanism by the weight of the trash or refuse in the bag. Thus by conventional switch means when the Weight of the trash in the bag reaches a predetermined amount, a switch, positioned for example below the bag or basket will close to actuate the opening of seal door 9, thus passing the loaded bag into the conveying system. An external warning light may also be utilized to alert personnel as to the proper time to install or to refrain from installing a new bag.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A trash-refuse conveying system which comprises in combination: (1) a collection station; (2) a conveyin'g duct extending from said collection station to (3) a depository station; (4) means for imposing a vacuum pressure within said duct; said depository station characterized by (5) an elongated housing one end of which is in communication with the atmosphere and the other end of which is attached to said duct; (6) a seal door, adapted to open and close, positioned between the other end of said housing and said duct; (7) a perforated bag support means within said housing; (8) a bag positioned within said bag support means and (9) a loading door in said housing positioned above said bag for the introduction of trash-refuse into said bag whereby when said sealing door is opened said bag containing said trash-refuse will pass from said perforated bag support means, through said sealing door, through said duct and be conveyed to said collecting station.

2. System as defined by claim 1 wherein said housing is further characterized; (10) by a bag loading door positioned in said housing in a manner to permit said perforated bag support means to be removed from within said housing to without said housing.

3. System as defined by claim 2 wherein said bag support means is removed from within said housing by swinging the same to without said houing by means of; (11) a supporting swing arm one end of which is pivotally attached to said housing while the other end is pivotally attached to the lower end of said bag supporting means.

4. System as defined by claim 3 wherein the length of said arm is substantially equivalent to the diameter of said housing.

5. System as defined by claim 1 wherein said bag support means is a cylindrical element, the upper end of which is open, the lower end of which comprises a perforated plate.

6. System as defined by claim 5 wherein the circumferential side of said cylindrical element is perforated.

7. System as defined by claim 1 wherein said seal door is adapted to open at periodic intervals actuated by, (12) a time mechanism.

8. System as defined by claim 1 wherein said seal door is adapted to open in response to (13) anactuating switch which is triggered by the weight of refuse in said bag.

9. System as defined by claim 1 wherein the upper edge of said bag laps over the upper edge of said perforated support means.

10. System as defined by claim 1 wherein said bag comprises a plastic bag.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 570,161 10/1896 Fordyce 3022 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,378,809 10/1964 France 302-2 ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 30226, 36

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