WO2003070374A1

WO2003070374A1 - Apparatus for crushing glass wastes

Info

Publication number: WO2003070374A1
Application number: PCT/IT2003/000089
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giovanni Santi
Original assignee: Giovanni Santi
Priority date: 2002-02-19
Filing date: 2003-02-18
Publication date: 2003-08-28
Also published as: AU2003212645A1; ITBS20020013A1

Abstract

An apparatus for crushing glass wastes comprising a container (2) having a bottom wall (3), a side wall (4) extending transversally from the peripheral profile of the bottom wall (3) a housing compartment (5) for at least a glass waste. The apparatus further comprises means for crushing said glass waste associated to the container (2) and moving within the housing compartment (5). Said means for crushing the glass waste can comprise a compression element (9) vertically moving within the housing compartment (5) for crushing the glass waste.

Description

APPARATUS FOR CRUSHING GLASS WASTES

DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for crushing glass wastes. In particular, the present invention can be advantageous for domestic use, in shops and anywhere glass components such as for instance bottles, cans, etc. have to be crushed. As is known, houses as well as restaurants produce and gather a series of wastes comprising also glass components such as for instance common empty bottles. Usually, due to environmental regulations providing for separate waste collection, wastes are separated according to the material they are made of and their size is advantageously reduced. As a matter of fact, in particular as far as cardboard containers or plastic bottles are concerned, the user manually crushes said objects in order to reduce their size and economize space. This operation is impossible for glass bottles or containers due to obvious problems related to the nature of such material. As a matter of fact, it should be pointed out that glass, beyond having a certain resistance and therefore not being manually crushable, is also particularly dangerous because of the cutting splinters forming when said objects are crushed. Consequently, a great drawback of traditional methods of waste disposal consists in that unused glass containers or any other wastes made of this material cannot be reduced in size. Under these circumstances the user has to keep in the house quite large and therefore bulky glass objects, which are often piled up in small spaces before being carried to suitable glass bins placed on the roads. A further drawback consists in the danger represented by glass objects, which can break due to accidental collisions that can take place in the house or when they are carried to separate waste collection bins. As mentioned above, crushing glass objects results in several cutting splinters or small portions that are particularly dangerous for the user.

Therefore, the present invention aims at carrying out an apparatus for crushing glass wastes which enables to obviate the aforesaid drawbacks. In particular, a technical aim of the present invention is to provide for an apparatus for crushing glass wastes which enables to greatly reduce the size of said whole glass wastes. A further aim of the present invention is to provide for an apparatus for crushing glass wastes which is of easy and convenient use and which prevents the user from coming into contact with glass splinters. Another aim of the present invention is to provide for an apparatus for crushing glass wastes which can be used with various glass items of different size. A final aim of the present invention is to provide for an apparatus for crushing glass wastes which is resistant and simple and cheap to be carried out . The technical task and the aims referred to are substantially achieved by an apparatus for crushing glass wastes whose characteristics are disclosed in the enclosed claims. Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be evident from the detailed description ,of a preferred though not exclusive embodiment of an apparatus for crushing glass components shown in the enclosed drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus for crushing glass wastes according to the invention;

- Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the apparatus of Figure

1;

- Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

- Figure 4 is a section of the apparatus of Figure 3 according to line IN- IN;

- Figure 5 is a side view of an execution variant of an apparatus for crushing glass wastes;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 5;

-Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a plurality of apparatus of the type shown in Figure 1 arranged one above the other.

With reference to the enclosed figures, the numeral 1 globally refers to an apparatus for crushing glass wastes according to the present invention. The apparatus 1 comprises a container 2, having for instance a substantially cylindrical or preferably ellipsoidal shape, having a bottom wall 3 and a side wall 4 extending transversally from the peripheral profile of the bottom wall 3 and defining a housing compartment 4 for at least a glass waste or component. Advantageously, as shown in the enclosed figures to a mere indicative and therefore non-limiting purpose, the container 2 can have a substantially oval cross section housing items with an elongated shape such as bottles or the like. Under these circumstances, also the peripheral profile of the bottom wall 3 is oval; however the cross section of the container 2 as well as the peripheral profile of the bottom wall 3 can have any shape and size according to the various needs, such as the place of use and the kind of glass components to be crushed. An access opening 6 leading to said housing compartment 5 is arranged opposite the bottom wall 3, which access opening 6 is delimited by an upper edge 7 of the side wall 4. A portion of the upper edge 7 of the aforesaid side wall 4 defines a projecting lip 8 extending outside from said side wall 4. In particular, in the case shown in the enclosed figures, in which the upper edge 7 has an elliptical profile, the projecting lip 8 is placed on an end of a longer axis 7a of the aforesaid elliptical profile (see in particular Figures 3 and 5) . The lip 8 extends transversally from the side wall 4 and defines an inner surface 8a arranged so as to push out the crushed glass component. The lip 8 is advantageously shaped so as to fit into the opening of common bins for separate glass collection by opening the rubber fins generally closing said opening. The side wall 4 has at least a guide 4a projecting into the housing compartment 5 and developing from the bottom wall 3 to the access opening 6 along a generatrix of the container 1. preferably, as shown in the enclosed figures, the side wall 4 has two parallel guides 4a arranged on opposite sides within said housing compartment 5. Preferably, the bottom wall 3 can have a stiffening plate 3a granting a higher resistance to said bottom wall 3. The plate 3a is arranged within the housing compartment 5 and abuts against the bottom wall 3 (see Figure 4) . Moreover, the bottom wall 3 can be provided with a plurality of ribs 3b projecting from the bottom wall towards the housing compartment 5. The ribs 3b extend one parallel to the other and develop in longitudinal direction transversally to the longer axis of the oval profile of the bottom wall 3. Furthermore, according to the execution variant shown in the enclosed figures the ribs 3b can project from the stiffening plate 3a applied onto the bottom wall 3, instead of projecting from said bottom wall. The apparatus 1 further comprises means for crushing the glass waste associated to the container 2 and moving within the housing compartment 5. In the embodiment shown said means for crushing the glass waste comprise a compression element 9 fitting into the access opening 6 and moving vertically within the housing compartment 5 for crushing and then smash- ing the glass components introduced into said housing compartment 5 and lying on the bottom wall 3. It should be pointed out that the means for crushing the glass waste can be carried out in different ways in order to crush said glass component. In further detail, the compression element 9 comprises an operating portion 10, for instance a flat one, substantially disk-shaped and having preferably a counter-shaped peripheral profile corresponding to the cross section of the container 2. It is thus possible to prevent glass splinters from getting out of the container. It should be pointed out that the enclosed figures, in which the bottom wall 3 is oval, show an operating portion 10 having an oval peripheral profile. Said operating portion 10 has a lower surface 10a facing the bottom wall 3, and an upper surface 10b opposite said lower surface 10a. A side surface 10c having a planar profile substantially parallel to the side wall 4 of the container 2, is defined between the two lower 10a and upper 10b surfaces. A handle 11 is engaged on the upper surface 10b of the operating portion 10, which handle extends above the upper surface 10b so as to be seized by a user. In further detail, said handle 11 is substantially bar-shaped and defines a first end 11a secured to the upper surface 10b, and a second end lib opposite the first one 11a and having the shape of a ring (Figures 1-4) or a bar (Figures 5-7) so as to be seized by the user. It should be noted that, as better shown in Figure 1, the second end lib can always project from the access opening 6 so as to be handled easily by the user. The operating portion 10 further has at least a rib 12 projecting from the lower surface 10a and abutting against the bottom wall 3. Advantageously, as shown in the enclosed figures, there is a plurality of parallel ribs 12 extending from the lower surface 10a in a transversal direction with respect to the longer axis of the oval profile of the operating portion 10. Said ribs 12 are preferably wedge-shaped so' as to help the crushing of the glass component placed between the bottom wall 3 and the compression element 9. As an alternative said ribs 12 could consist of tips, crushing elements or other protuberances for crushing glass. For instance, in the execution variant of Figures 5-7 there is a plurality of crushing elements 12 whose tips are preferably substantially shaped as a chisel.

Said crushing elements 12' are designed so as to crush glass efficiently without smashing it excessively into small splinters, since that could give rise to problems during glass recycling concerning the separation of possible impurities. Said crushing means are controlled in their movements within the container by the guiding means 4a, which enable to avoid that said crushing means can get stuck in the container or not slide correctly. In the embodiment examples shown, two opposite recesses 13 are obtained on the side surface 10c of the operating portion 10, each of which is counter-shaped with respect to its respective guide 4a. Under these circumstances, as better shown in the plan view of Figure 3, the guides 4a are fitted into the recesses 13, which slide on the whole longitudinal profile of said guides 4a. Preferably, the side surface 10c of the operating portion 10 can further have an elastic element 14 extending on the whole lateral surface 10 and abutting against the side wall 4. For instance, said elastic element can consist of a plurality of brushes 14a extending transversally from the planar profile of the side surface 10c. Said brushes 14a abut against the side surface 4 so as to scrape on the latter when the compression element 9 is shifted. The elastic element enables to prevent glass fragments and splinters from getting out of the apparatus . The container 2 is preferably provided with a shaped portion 16 enabling a plurality of apparatus to be piled up one above the other (see Figure 7) . Said shaped portion 16 consists for instance of a step 16 as the one shown in Figure 5. Preferably, the compression element 9 can be made by heavy and very resistant material to ease the compression work. It is also possible to fill up said element with heavy material. As shown in Figure 5, the compression element 9 can consist of a main body 9a made of plastic and of a pressure plate 9b die- cast with the crushing elements 12, for instance made of cast iron, which can be screwed onto the main body. Also the con- tainer 2 is preferably made of a highly resistant material, so as to tolerate the impact of the operating portion onto the glass component. The container 2 is further equipped with a grip 15, for instance a handle hinged outside said container 2, making transport easier. In an execution variant such grip 15 can be a foldaway handle arranged on the bottom of the container 2, so as to help to pour the crushed glass. In an alternative embodiment, not shown in the enclosed figures, the apparatus can further comprise means for automatically operating the means for crushing the glass waste, such as for instance an electric motor or other kind of motor with its control system. For instance, in the case of the compression element 9 the motor acts operatively onto said element so as to shift it vertically within the housing compartment 5.

Given the previous structural description the apparatus according to the present invention works as follows. The user introduces at least a glass component into the housing compartment 5 laying said component onto the bottom wall 3. Obviously, under these circumstances the compression element 9 is not fitted into the container 2 but is associated to said container 2 after introducing the component . The user now takes the compression element 9 and introduces it into the container 2 by sliding the recesses 13 on the guides 4a. Thanks to the crushing exerted by the ribs 12 and by the op- erating portion 10 on the glass component, the latter is crushed into small pieces. Advantageously, the user can go on crushing the glass component so as to obtain smaller pieces, thus getting a component with a suitably reduced size. The invention has important advantages .

First of all, the present invention enables to reduce the size of glass components of about 70%, housing the latter within the container. As a matter of fact, it should be pointed out that the glass components crushed and reduced into small pieces highly reduce their size, so that a large number of crushed glass components can be piled up in the container. This allows to empty the apparatus after quite long time intervals, thus being highly convenient for the user. A further advantage consists in its handiness, since the ribs enable to crush glass without exerting too much pressure on the glass component. Another advantage consists in that the user never comes into contact with the glass splinters within the container. Furthermore, the glass splinters can be introduced into suitable glass bins without being touched by the user. This advantage is due to the projecting lip which can be introduced into the aforesaid collection bin and direct the splinters poured out of the container. Moreover, it should be pointed out that the brushes do not allow glass dust to get out of the container during the crushing stage, and by scraping on the side wall they clean up possi- ^• ll -

ble residues lying on said side wall . Eventually, it should be pointed out that the invention is easy and resistant and extremely cheap. The invention thus conceived can undergo several changes and variants, all of which fall within the framework of the inventive idea characterizing it. All details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements and in practice all materials used as well as sizes can be of any kind according to the various needs .

Claims

1. Apparatus for crushing glass wastes characterized in that it comprises : a container (2) having a bottom wall (3) , a side wall (4) extending transversally from the peripheral profile of said bottom wall (3) and defining with said bottom wall (3) a housing compartment (5) for at least a glass waste, and means for crushing said glass waste, associated to said container (2) and moving within said housing compartment (5) .

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said crushing means comprise a compression element (9) vertically moving within said housing compartment (5) for crushing said glass waste.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said container (2) has above an access opening (6) leading to said housing compartment (5) , and in that said compression element (9) can be fitted into said access opening (6) .

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bottom wall (3) has a substantially oval peripheral profile.

5. Apparatus according to claims 3 or 4, characterized in that said side wall (4) comprises an upper edge (7) defining the access opening (6) , said edge (7) having a projecting lip (8) extending outwardly from said side wall (4) so as help to pour the crushed glass.

6. Apparatus according to any of the claims 2 to 6, characterized in that said compression element (9) is substantially counter-shaped to the side wall of said container and comprises an operating portion (10) having a lower surface (10a) facing said bottom wall (3) , an upper surface (10b) opposite said lower surface (10a) .

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said operating portion (10) is substantially disk-shaped and in that said compression element (9) further comprises a side surface (10c) whose planar profile is substantially parallel to the side wall (4) of the container (2) .

8. Apparatus according to claims 6 or 7, characterized in that said operating portion (10) has a substantially oval peripheral profile.

9. Apparatus according to any of the claims 6 to 8, characterized in that said operating portion (10) has a handle (11) engaged on the upper surface (10b) of said operating portion (10) and extending above said upper surface (10b) .

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said handle (11) is substantially bar-shaped and comprises a first end (11a) associated to the upper surface (10b) of the operating portion (10) , and a second end (lib) opposite the first one, having a substantially ring shape and projecting from said access opening (6) .

11. Apparatus according to any of the claims 6 to 10, char- acterized in that said operating portion (10) has at least a rib (12) projecting from said lower surface (10a) and abutting against the bottom wall (3) .

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that said operating portion (10) has a plurality of parallel ribs (12) extending on the whole profile of the lower surface (10a) .

13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said crushing means are equipped with at least a crushing element (12) for breaking glass.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that said operating portion (10) has a plurality of said crushing elements (12) projecting from said lower surface (10a) and abutting against the bottom wall (3) .

15. Apparatus according to claims 13 or 14, characterized in that said crushing elements (12) are substantially shaped as a chisel arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal profile of the bottom wall.

16. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises guiding means (4a) for guiding the movement of said means for crushing glass within said housing compartment (5) .

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that said side wall (4) has at least a guide (4a) projecting into said housing compartment (5) and developing on a generatrix of the container (2) , said guide (4a) to be fitted into a recess (13) obtained in the side surface (10c) of the operating portion (10) so that the operating portion (10) slides within said housing compartment (5) .

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that said side wall (4) has two projecting guides (4a) arranged on opposite sides of said side wall (4) , said guides (4a) to be introduced into respective recesses (13) obtained on the side surface (10c) of the operating portion (10) .

19. Apparatus according to any of the claims 7 to 18, characterized in that said operating portion (10) comprises an elastic element (14) engaged on the whole side surface (10c) of the operating portion (10) and abutting against the side wall (4) .

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that said elastic element (14) comprises a plurality of brushes (14a) extending transversally from the side surface (10c) so as to scrape on the side wall (4) of container (2) .

21. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bottom wall (3) has a plurality of parallel ribs (3b) projecting from said bottom wall (3) towards the housing compartment (5) .

22. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said container (2) is substantially cylindrical or ellipsoidal.

23. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises means for automatically operating said means for crushing said glass waste.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that said means for automatically operating said crushing means comprise a motor.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that said motor acts operatively onto said compression element (9) so as to shift it vertically within said housing compartment (5) .

26. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said container (2) is equipped with a shaped portion (16) enabling a plurality of apparatus (1) to be piled up one above the other.

27. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said container (2) is provided with a grip (15) helping to carry the apparatus (1) and/or to pour crushed glass.